Reassurance....sort of

Mr.Right and I both went in for my blooddraw this morning because Dr.Dry had said he'd be there and we could talk about what's going on and what to do next (following up on my Monday phone call with him.) It was actually a good conversation. We've found that Dr.Dry can be pretty short and distracted when you talk to him during 'monitoring' time in the morning. I guess this is to be expected since he's running between ultrasound rooms and consulting with lots of other patients. But, he actually sat down with us and was really rather expansive in his discussion.

So, not much new except for maybe a 3rd theory: the growing follicle might have been left over from last cycle. Because I didn't ovulate "vigorously" (recall the low progesterone readings post last month's Ovidrel shot) the egg might not have released and just stuck around. And the Vivelle estrogen and Ganirelix might have ramped it up again. Anyhow, that's in the past.

What's in the future? Well, we'll see what my progesterone level is today and whether I did any better at ovulating with the HCG shot on Monday night. Then, probably, an ultrasound and bloodwork on the day I'll start Ganirelix again (day 9 after ovulation -probably next Friday) to see if the cyst is, indeed, gone. If it's not gone, Dr.Dry is talking about aspirating it so it will be gone by the start of my next cycle. Apparently aspirating the cyst is basically the same procedure as egg retrieval. Great. I wonder how much that's going to cost us? (since I presume it's not included in the 'global' IVF fee we've already paid....sigh.)

Anyhow, we'll see. Hopefully, the follicle/cyst will go away on its own. A week from Friday is a long way off. Thankfully, it looks like that next appointment won't interfere with my trip to Atlanta. At any rate, I could probably also fly back Wed. night if I needed to go in Thurs. morning.

Finally, me being me, I did ask Dr.Dry about what effect, if any, my disobedient hormones and ovaries may have on success of donor eggs for me. Basically, the answer is that it should not be relevant. The main thing my body will need to do is be suppressed (which Dr.Dry assured me was usually not a problem --- and I have a history (with BCPs) of being over-suppressed) and it will need to make a good lining - which has never been a problem for me.

Yes, I realize the question was probably a bit premature. We're not *quite* there yet. Although I think, in my mind, I've pretty much moved on already. This last attempt with my own eggs is just something to get done and get out of the way. Of course, I have a tendency to think ahead. As my mom always says, I was thinking and planning what college I was going to go to when I was in 7th grade (and hadn't even started high school yet!)

Thanks for all the thoughtful and helpful comments from everybody (as always from my loyal commenters, but also from my new readers!!). I guess we always knew it might come to this. I just figured this last attempt would be quicker and more straightforward (oh, why do we delude ourselves over and over again!!) than it has turned out to be. But again, I'm taking all this 'trouble' my body is causing us as just more sign that we do need to move on. I'm almost anxious to do so now. Although i know it's going to take even more patience. By the time we really discuss this with my sister; by the time she goes through all the testing and approvals; by the time we line up our cycles......I'm guessing we're talking at least 6 months. And then, it may not work. And we might have to start the whole process over with anonymous donor eggs.

Of course, in the meantime, Mr.Right was perusing his alumni magazine from his high school (he went to boarding school in New England so they have these kinds of things) and saw that a woman he vaguely knew who graduated a year behind him (i.e. she's my age) got married in July 2008 (just 6 months before us) and had a baby in June 2009. We both had a moment of jealousy and shared snarky 'must be nice' comments. I am glad he shared it with me though. It feels like a little bit of a breakthrough in getting him to share more of his feelings with me about all of this.

A beautiful, sunny, warm day with most of the leaves having now turned. Off to enjoy!