… at least according to Fertility Friend.
With a temp of 98.0 this morning, the coverlines finally showed up using the Advanced Method. Just like the last (and only) ovulatory cycle, my coverline is at 97.5. With my higher temp, higher than anything before this, I’m certain that I actually ovulated this time. Something happened, in any case.
FF thinks I ovulated the same day as the IUI. Is that good? Or not so good? And maybe it’s wrong, anyway. I know you can still register a surge after the egg is released, but does anyone know for how long? I was still surging when I went to bed that night. In which case it might only be 2DPO.
I’d like to say the TWW is going quickly, but we all know that’s never the case. For fun, I looked back on last IUI’s chart to see the different crappiness I felt at different times. Just to keep me kind of sane and avoid imagining symptoms.
The IUI yesterday went great. Aside from the usual discomfort with the speculum, the rest of the procedure didn’t hurt at all. (In great contrast to last time when it felt like she was digging a hole through my cervix with a knitting needle.)
The “fertility socks” that Sandra had knit were sadly at the store, so I had to make do with these beauties. Not bad, eh?
Since the IUI wasn’t until 2:45, we had time to take the dogs to the park for a good run around. It was pretty cool out yesterday… you can totally feel fall sneaking up.
All in all, it was a great day. Was it a lucky day? I’m really hopeful. I’ve had a good feeling about this cycle from the beginning, despite all the setbacks. I ended up using about 3 more OPKs last night and was still showing a hormone surge when I went to sleep. This morning? No surge! So I think the timing of the IUI was pretty darn great.
And now the waiting begins….
Sandra’s out buying a box of digital OPKs right now. The test line (on the right) is definitely MORE pink than the control line, but it’s also just slightly thinner. Of course, in this photo, they look the same. I used a generic test last night before bed, and that one was pretty dark too. Not AS dark as the control line, but more dark than usual considering I’d drank 2L of water and a glass of wine within the hour before.
So. I’m going to hope I can pee again in a few minutes and we’ll get a second opinion before I go blow $1000 on a poorly-timed IUI.
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Edited to add:
We’ve discovered that none of the drug stores in our area are open before 8am so I used another generic “Life” brand test and it’s definitely positive. The test line is slightly darker than the control line and just as thick.I’ve called into the clinic to report my surge and give them all the vital details; chart number, name, specimen number, you know the drill.
My IUI appointment was set at 2:45p, so I’m wondering if they’ll still need me in for the ultrasound this morning. I’m actually hoping they do. It’d be nice to see what’s going on in there.
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Edited AGAIN to add….
Nope, they don’t want to do the ultrasound. But I did buy a digital OPK anyway and got a huge smiley face. So, 2:45 is it. Now we’re going to take the pups to the park and try to keep my mind off it.
So, I have to go for another ultrasound tomorrow. Another one. So maybe there’s hope. But then the nurse phoned back and advised me to “make love” tonight. Between 8 and 9pm.
I was silent for a moment. Would she get it?
And finally I said, “Ummm. That’s not going to do any good. I’m with a woman.”
And she apologized. Again.
I don’t know why this is so hard to remember/understand???????
I’m so angry I could scream.
Instead, I’m eating a grilled cheese sandwich.
Nothing is happening in my ovaries. Both follicles only grew 1mm or so over 2 days. They think it’s likely I already ovulated and somehow missed it. Or things are just taking longer than to be expected. I had to go for bloodwork to figure out wtf is going on.
So it sounds like this cycle is probably a wash. The follicles (1.7 and 1.9) aren’t big enough for them to want to trigger, and have stopped growing for the most part.
Argh.
Saturday was the semi-monthly bill paying day chez indigirl and sandra. I had let the mail pile up a little too much over the past few weeks of craziness, and there were a few surprises. The biggest of which was a massively huge bill for 4 straws of Big F’in Man plus a nominal $20 shipping charge.
I called the bank, but being Saturday, Debbie the Sp3rm Lady wasn’t around to answer any billing questions. My confusion came from the fact that although we had ordered 6 straws (to get a price break), Debbie had only been able to buy 2 back in April. And we’d paid for those when we did the first IUI.
So, as it turns out, Debbie was able to get the 4 more straws, and did so a few months back. They just never told us. *rolling eyes*
It looks like we might be just fine for this baby at least, and hopefully have some left when we work on #2. Hopefully.
But now we have to come up with another $2500. This month. Ouch.
Today’s ultrasound is at 11am. I’m having a hard time waiting. I want to see if those follicles are still developing. I want to ask about the trigger shot. And I want to just go ahead and get knocked up already. Or at least try.
Back in April during the first cycle, I’d thought that we’d probably be pregnant by now. 5 cycles = nearly an 80% chance. Little did I know I wouldn’t even ovulate in the meantime. And now, I’m suspecting that the Clomid still didn’t really do much, so it might be another five months before we have another chance. PCOS is hard. I guess I just thought that all the drugs would easily overcome my body’s irregularities. Guess not.
So. IUI me already.
Damnit.
Somehow, knowing that the chances of an LH surge and subsequent ovulation this cycle are making me even more crazy to just freaking have it happen already.
Is it morning yet?
And more importantly, when will it be sp3rm day??????
Today’s ultrasound showed two follicles that are developing beyond what they saw on Thursday - good news! Both are on the left side; one is 1.8cm and the other is 1.5cm. So. The doctors were happy.
Next step - to start using the OPKs and go back for another ultrasound on Monday.
I feel like I have nothing but questions these days. It’s the first time we’ve done an u/s monitoring cycle. And my clinic isn’t fabulous at giving too much information out at any point in time. For example, it’s likely that my follicles are 1.3 - 1.6 cm, not mm. But then, I’m trying to remember if they actually used a measurement anyhow. I remember the numbers, but not the words, so this is probably indicative of my general state of mind this week.
I have been eating horrible the last few days. I probably mentioned, but I’ve been going to weight watchers for the last 3 weeks, which I know doesn’t fit into TTC, but losing those five first pounds probably went a long way to kickstarting my cycle. But yeah, the last couple of days have had more booze and eating out than works well. Today I’m paying the price; I feel horribly bloated. My baggy jeans are not so baggy today.
On top of that, I didn’t get to yoga at all this week, and the shala has almost no classes over the weekend because of some visiting instructors. And if we do an IUI on Monday, it’s not like I’ll be going to yoga monday night.
So keep your fingers crossed that tomorrow’s ultrsound only shows a couple of those follicles developing. I don’t want to have to cancel another cycle!
Of all possible ironies, there’s a chance… a chance… that this cycle may get canceled because TOO MANY FOLLICLES ARE DEVELOPING. Right now, I have one that measures 1.6mm, and five (FIVE) more that measure 1.3 - 1.4mm.
It’s early… only Day 10… so I’ll be going back for another ultrasound on Saturday afternoon sometime. I’ll have to phone in tomorrow to get the appointment. The nurse today thinks that if they see one (or two or three) developing nicely on Saturday, I might take the hcg shot on Saturday night and do the IUI on Monday. Our good friend Stacey is due to have her C section on Monday, so I’m voting for the universe cooperating with us on that day as well. Feels like a good omen.
One thing that’s been frustrating for me… it’s hard to track down specific information. Is 1.6mm considered “good” at this point? How big does the follicle get? Finally I found some information:
In a natural (unstimulated cycle) or Clomiphene Citrate cycle, mature follicle size is between 18 - 30 mm. If triggered, these cycles are typically triggered when follicle size is between 17-26mm
So, that gives me some ideas for what to hope for on Saturday. But, the nurse did seem to think that something is going on. Yay. Now let’s just hope only 3 of those follicles continue to develop. I am going to be so pissed if I get too many after so many months of none.
The best part? I bought some new boots yesterday and wore them today, totally forgetting that they make you take everything off… except your shoes. Now THAT was a good look. Blue gown. Naot boots. Bare legs and bare everything else.
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Edit: Those follicles are more likely 1.3 - 1.6cm, not mm. Oops. Guess there’s a really good chance of IUI this month afterall!
