Off to a good start

I had my first monitoring appointment yesterday (day 5 of stims) and I have to say I was completely nervous about what they would say.  I've been given such grim news about this cycle at every turn, I was sure there was going to be something else.  The nurse said she saw 4-5 follicles on one side and 4 on the other.  She said they were small (not measurable yet), which, in her tone, sounded a little behind.  I was surprised that I started a HEAVY (heavier than my norm) period on Sunday (day 2 of stims) and thought for sure my body was turning against me, this is the "grow and make welcome" phase of things, not the "get it all out" phase.  I emailed the nurse that day to let her know and to my surprise, she replied that they totally expected that.  Well, shows you what I know.  So at my u/s yesterday I was sure my lining would be thin and I would have to worry about catching up (I've had thin lining issues with other cycles), but, to my surprise, it was great, right where it should be!  My E2 is 172, which in the RE's words was "great".  So who knew, maybe things are actually working in there!

I looked back at my stats from my son's IVF and on stim day 5 I had 2 follicles, but my E2 was a little over 200.  That cycle I had a slow start and then picked up and ended up "cruising" (as they called it, still growing follicles without meds) at the end.  I ended up with 14 oocytes with that cycle, so I'm feeling pretty good about things this time. 

I don't go back until Sunday.  That seems like a long time.  My other clinic had me come in every day from stim day 5 until I was ready to for retrieval (7 days) and while I think that was excessive and expensive, it was nice to know how things were going day to day.  Maybe its better to not know and be able to relax and enjoy the ride until then.

Speaking of my appointment on Sunday, I arranged for a co-worker to cover me in the event I had an appointment Mon or Tues (she's doing IVF at my clinic as well and more than willing to help me out).  I didn't pre-arrange anyone for Sun because its July 4th and I was just SURE that they wouldn't want to see me then.  Well, as fate would have it, they do (of course), so I've been trying to find someone to cover for me.  Its not an easy task, it is a holiday!  I found one coworker, but she has already prefaced by saying that if they ask her if she wants to be reduced (called off, our census is low so they are reducing the staff by 5-6 people/ shift lately), she's taking it.  I know the scheduling thing will work out.  I'm trying not to get too worked up about it, really, I'm not.