Speaking too soon: a little known but deadly disease

As you may have guessed from the title, there is now a potential issue. Of course, if you were less optimistic than I, you might have guessed that from the post below. But I was enjoying my happy day too much to want to spoil it with worry, at least for a few hours. For the same reason, I've decided to leave the post below intact rather than spoil it with my new bad mood. So if you haven't already, you need to read the post below first.

Dr I can't understand a word you're saying because my English is crap and I don't want to have a discussion with you anyway (Dr ICUWBMEICAIDWTHACWYA, or Dr ICU for short) just called. I have five follicles. Two on the right, three on the left. Three are at 12mm, one at 11mm, one at 10mm. Hormone levels: LH 4.3, E2 2000. Before you freak out, this is in the UK measurement of pmol/litre as opposed to the US measurement of pg/mol, so the US equivalent number would be 545 (thanks Mare!).

So the good news is I respond well. The bad news is maybe I respond too well. If all five continue to develop, we will get cancelled. If we have three, they will go ahead, but only if we sign all sorts of disclaimers about multiple pregnancy. Now H and I have discussed this, and as an academic option, we have agreed that we would do selective reduction if we have more than twins. I know that's a very difficult point of view for some people, and who knows how I will actually feel if it comes to that, but that's what we think we can handle.

It's a bit ridiculous because given we have not got pregnant for over a year on our own, what's the chance of 5 or even 2 eggs fertilising, developing and implanting successfully this time? But suddenly we have to think about this. If it was up to me I'd go ahead even with 5, but the clinic won't - not sure if that's a legal obligation or not.

I'm pissed off because the doctor was such a plonker. He kept asking me why I wanted to know things, and when I asked him for the units of the E2, just to be on the safe side, he asked me if I was a medic before he would give them to me. When I asked several times if I should continue at the current dose, he said things along the lines of: "I would have told you if we wanted you to drop the dose." Yes, fuckwit, I know that, but I'm asking you a question about what's going to happen if I continue, and what is likely to happen if I reduce or stop the dose? Why can't you tell me why it's a bad idea for me to stop taking the drugs or reduce the dose somewhat. He never answered the question. Do you guys know? Would all the eggs just stop developing?

I'm also pissed off because before we started the cycle I asked if I really needed to do the drugs since I seem to ovulate fine on my own, and they didn't really give me a satisfactory answer but insisted that this was the right way to do an IUI cycle. It's still possible they were right, it just doesn't feel that way right now.

I don't really have any option but to continue as I'm scared all the follicles will croak if I drop the dose. I go in again on Friday for a scan and more bloods. I've gone from being 100% convinced that in 3 weeks we'd be pregnant, (Stupid, I know, but I was enjoying it), to being 60% convinced that we won't even be able to try.

Where's that optimism when you need it??

Comments

[Donnie]

Thalia,

I had four follies, and it appears that only one hung around.

Even if they cancel you, you can still do a little horizontal reproductive therapy. I know they tell you not to... but I'm with you on this one.

Above and beyond that, though, I will be hoping that you do NOT get cancelled! It's too bad your Dr. was such a jerk... are you stuck with him?

Good luck, and hold on to hope, ok?
-D.

[susie]

I was thinking along the same lines as Donnie. Even if they stop you, if you've got eggs, you can at least try at home.

I do hope you get to do the IUI, though. Maybe two of those follicles will pull out in front in the next day or so.

Sorry the doctor was such an ass.

[mm]

Yeah your doctor is definitely going for the gold in the Asshole Olympics. Is there another doctor in your clinic who has a better bedside manner? Hoping that you don't get canceled, but if you do, at least you won't have to deal with that creep anymore this cycle.

[amanda]

I really hope you don't get canceled. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that two or three of those follicles decide to steal the show. Oh, and you doctor can kiss my ass. You have every right to that information.

[Mellie]

Thalia, I'm so sorry Dr. ICU was such an ass. Don't let him stop you from continuing to ask questions. I'm fascinated that they say they'll cancel the cycle because you have 5 follicles - as you know, that's exactly what I had and we went forward with the iui.

I wouldn't second guess the clinic for the use of drugs with the cycle. I believe that studies show higher success rates with IUI and superovulation. I had never heard of doing gonadatropins AND clomid though. What injectible drug are you using again?

For comparison purposes, I'll tell you that on my cd9 I had 5 follicles all between 12 - 15mm. My E2 was 472 and on cd10 they reduced my dosage. I know I'm no doctor, but I think you're progressing beautifully! If they do cancel you I'd definitely try to have sex as much as possible over the next 5 days.

Hoping it works...

[Teendoc]

OK, where is the deadly disease? You can't put a title like that into play when a doctor is reading your blog!

I'm sure your IUI will be fine and you won't end up with higher order multiples unless you are 22 years old.

Good luck!

[chee chee]

What a prick! What -- you're not entitled to ask questions about your medical treatment.

Hope that you are able to proceed this cycle. I think my RE says between 2-4 mature follies are ideal. BTW -- I asked my RE the same question about taking meds since I ovulate on my own and he insisted that the increased eggs would increase our chances of success.

Good luck!

[Nico]

Last cycle I had either 3 or 4 follicles that were the right size to produce eggs. I was worried about multiples. I didn't even get one. I too think you should go forward...

[millie]

I hope you can just keep going with this cycle. I think you'll be fine with multiple follicles. I can't believe your doc is giving you such a hard time about asking questions.

[Emily]

I fired the last doctor who talked to me like that. What a dick. I'm not sure why they want to do drugs when you ovulate fine. I think it's the mentality that more eggs means a better chance of getting a good egg as opposed to only one egg a month and who knows how many months it takes to get a good egg (that's coming from my adeled 40 year old brain mind you).

Good luck.

[Z]

some doctors can be such asswipes!

[cass]

Seriously, what an asshat. I really don't understand the concept of patients who DON'T ask for the details - how is that even possible?

[wessel]

Oh no, Thalia! I had forgotten that in the UK, they bend over backwards to avoid multiples. Argh! Cancelling for 5 follicles seems so stupid to me! But what would I know--I often had 5 or 6 follicles and still didn't get pregnant. Do they modify that rule if the woman is older or has diminished ovarian reserve? I certainly hope so. How frustrating.

I would also reduce to twins, if not to a singleton. I would love to have twins (heck, I'd love to have quadruplets), but my uterus is congenitally deformed and too small, so even twins would be reckless. I hope you never have to make that decision to reduce. I can't imagine how awful that would be. Nope, just one healthy kicking baby for Thalia! :-)

Good luck with this cycle.