So I started to write this yesterday and then forgot to post it for some reason. Oops! I’ll update it since I now have more info!
I had an ultrasound yesterday morning and it sounded like things were moving along as expected. As of yesterday, I had:
- 7 follicles on the left ranging from 10-21mm
- 12 follicles on the right ranging with the largest at 17mm
When my nurse called in the afternoon she said it looked like 9 were mature already and there might be more mature by the next morning (today), and indicated that I should expect to most likely trigger Wednesday evening for a retrieval on Friday.
She also said my LH was “a little high” so they had me take an extra dose of Ganirelix last night. I also took it this morning of course. Cue continued paranoid thoughts about ovulating early.
Fast forward to this morning … another ultrasound and bloodwork. As of this morning, I had:
- 7 follicles on the left ranging from 14-24mm
- 12 follicles on the right ranging from 14-22mm
The ultrasound tech thought that there were at least 7 that were already mature, and about 5 that would likely be mature soon (16 and 17mm).
Nurse Tracy called about 20 minutes ago to confirm that my retrieval will in fact be on Friday (!!) and that the transfer will be either on Monday or Wednesday (hopefully Wednesday for 5 day transfer). This is causing some work stress because I have to reschedule 3 days worth of patients (of course all of this is falling on my heaviest patient load days M/W/F … if it was on T/Th/S/Su I would be fine!) but I’m sure it will work out. It’s just hard because it means I have to overbook myself other weeks to fit them in since rescheduling in my next available would be in like May or something ridiculous. Ugh.
Still feeling very full and a bit of pressure, which makes total sense. I’ll get another call from a nurse later this afternoon telling me what time the trigger and retrieval will be, and I definitely plan to grill them about my LH levels and follicles and such.
OK these IVF posts have been super update-y and kind of boring. Oh well! I’m sure I’ll have more info later and maybe will update again. Has anyone else’s experience been similar in terms of number and size of follicles? Also anyone had to double the Ganirelix because of high LH? Should I be as paranoid as I am about ovulating early?
Zero experience in this area but so excited for you that it’s happening sooooon!
Ah thanks!
When looking at the follicles on the ultrasound, it always seemed so arbitrary to me how they measure them with their little clicker. Really, a tiny movement of the mouse could mean 2mm in real life, and they do it so quickly that it seems hard to be accurate. Regardless, it sounds like you have PLENTY of ripe, juicy follicles coming up!! Good luck with retrieval!
I hope so! Guess we’ll see on Friday π
Yay!! Everything sounds good!! So excited for you!! xoxo
Thanks!
I wouldn’t worry about ovulating early. The medication should prevent that. Even if you do ovulate, you most likely won’t lose very many eggs. My wife ovulated a bit and lost about 10 follicles. Wasn’t a big deal. I don’t think it’s as common, but they do stimulate you so much that you have sooooo many eggs and some to spare!
I hope so! They said my LH was back down so I’m feeling better about it!
Cheering for you from the sidelines over here! Ovulating early was one of my biggest freak outs during IVF. My best advice is to try to have faith in your doctor and the drugs. Worrying isn’t going to help anything. I just checked back to my IVF days (August 2014 in my archives if you feel like perusing) and on retrieval day they took 16 eggs but only 10 ended up being mature.
Oh that’s so helpful!
And thanks π
That’s awesome!!! GOod luck today with the retrieval! Hope it all goes well and that you get loads of follicles mature!