CD10: Follistim Day 8 Response (3rd Monitor)

Well, the good news is that I’ve got robust ovaries and plenty of growing follicles. Dr Hansard said that if we were doing IVF, then they would be perfect.

Well, we are not doing IVF… but first, my stats:

Endometrial Lining = 8.3 -> 9.5 -> 9.9
Right Ovary = 10, 9, 7, 7 mm -> 13, 12, 10, 9, 8.8, 7 mm -> 18, 17, 17, 15, 12, 12, 12, 11, 11, 10, 9 mm
Left Ovary = 10, 8 mm ->15, 13, 12, 11, 9.9 mm -> 22, 20, 18, 14, 14, 13, 13, 12, 12 mm

CD3: 373
CD8: 1516
CD10: 3800

Notice anything odd? Well, my Estradiol results appear to be very high versus expectation (~2000) despite having minimal dosages in the last 2 days - 50 IU in CD9 and 25 IU in CD10. Moreover, the Estradiol results did not appear to be correlated with the ultrasound results. WIth those high Estradiol results, it was expected that I would have more mature follicles. (Not that I did not have enough… Dr Hansard suggested that I do have enough at about 6 mature follicles and about 3 possible follicles.).

As of today, my total Follistim dosage is 575 IU for the whole 8 days. Dr Hansard said that compared to some other women’s dosage (where 1 day’s dosage is 600 IU to get 3 follicles), my case seem to be that my ovaries/follicles take a life of its own even with the slightest stimulation.

Dr Hansard cautioned me that I have high risk of developing Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) due to my advanced maternal age and anovulation background. She said that if I ovulate (triggered by Ovidrel), there is a high possibility that I go into OHSS and that I would be very sick (2 million times more than what I am currently experiencing). Also, if we go ahead and take the risk to get pregnant, I will be very sick during the pregnancy. Then there is also the risk of multiples…

Dr Hansard said that she was the one who was pushy about the laparoscopy and the rest of the treatment, so it might feel strange that she is recommending that we do not proceed with this cycle. She said that her main concern is my health. And I appreciate her for that.

Aside from the financial aspect of the treatment, my other concern was that this 1 cycle will pass by again. However, if you look at it from a broader perspective, it is 1 cycle versus the 40 cycles we’ve let pass already. True…

Dr Hansard offered me free Follistim for the next cycle since we do not have insurance coverage for the reproductive treatments. That is about $500 and will definitely help.

Meanwhile, my 550 IU Follistim leftover? I was to just keep it in the refrigerator. I started that in June 4… so according to the drug’s literature it is good for 28 days once opened. So that will be good until July 2.

I was given Loestrin24Fe birth control pills to prevent from ovulating. And I come back on June 26 to see if the follicles have gone back to their normal size. Until then, we take one day at a time…

COST: $0 (Looks like Dr Hansard did not charge me for this Ultrasound. Thanks!!! Every cost avoidance helps the pocketbook…)