Ultrasound #1 & Our FSH Angel of Mercy

Sunday. J and I drove to Dr. Z's for our first ultrasound since I started the FSH shots. They found 12 follicles when we thought there was only 10. Thank god. Every single extra one helps us just that much more. Their size was closely grouped which was a good thing. Uterine lining close to 9mm, which is the thickness required in order to do the egg retrieval. So it would appear that I'm responding well to the drug. Dr. Z said that a 41 year old woman normally has 6 to 10 follicles. That seems high to me, but I am grateful that I have as many as I do. I only hope that the quality is as good as the quantity. There is always something to worry about with IVF. It just doesn't let up.

They took blood to test my E2 and prolactin levels. Results should be in tomorrow. I'll have to return in two days for another ultrasound, but J will be in Arizona so I'll have to make the drive myself.

So we're not sure yet if I will need more FSH. Holding Pattern was our angel of mercy and offered to sell me her extra Gonal F pens for a very reasonable price. I don't know what we would have done otherwise. Well we would have had to buy extra and the inflated price of $60+ for each 75iu. I figure at Dr. Z's prices that would be something like $360/day for FSH alone. Gulp. So we met Holding Pattern at a Starbucks on the Penninsula and chatted a bit about things. She is adopting a little girl from overseas and is embarking along her new path. She has gone through more than most of us can ever imagine in the realm of IVF so it will be heartwarming to see someone like her attain her goal of motherhood.