September 2016 - IVF #4, Progress!

Today's check went well.  We have 5 follicles (2 on the right and 3 on the left) that are doing very well and are measuring between 10-13mm diameter each and a few smaller ones that may or may not come around.  My doctor wants me to start the Cetrotide tonight, which is an additional shot that keeps my body from ovulating the follicles that have formed, allowing them to keep on growing to the right size for retrieval.

For the visually inclined, the current cycle looks like this with today being Day 7:

After my test results came back today, this is what the follicle and estrogen progress looks like so far:

So far this is looking better than rounds 2 and 3.  We need these 5 (or more??) to keep progressing evenly up to ~20mm diameter each.  Next check (as the graphic above shows) will be on Wednesday morning. In the meantime, this is what the next two nights will look like, circa 8pm.

One day's worth of shots (3): Left: Menopur, Right upper: Gonal-F, Right lower: Cetrotide

Additionally today, my doctor put me back on the thyroid medicine...it seems my TSH levels have gone back up out of ideal range, so back on the Synthyroid pills for the foreseeable future.  This came as a result of the refresh of my annual blood tests.  Remember the photo of a dozen or so blood vials from September of last year?  Yeah, we did 10 of those vials again last Tuesday...yaaaaay...  Thankfully the TSH levels were the only surprise.  All other tests were normal / negative, showing no new concerns.

On a lighter note, the chorus of LMFAO's "Shots!" is currently the soundtrack in my brain every evening during this phase of the process.  I have seriously considered making it my shots alarm soundtrack.  Warning for the easily offended or those who do not enjoy rap, crude adult language is involved...