January 08, 2004
Gonal-F Cycle 1, checkup 3
The visit to Dr. Vaugn's office went much better than the visit to the lab. The ultrasound revealed that a follicle in my left ovary had reached 18mm by 14mm, so averaging 16mm. Several other follicles in both ovaries had grown as well, but none that much. Unfortunately, the follicle still isn't large enough to be released, but Dr. Vaugn said that once they're about that size, follicles tend to grow at a rate of 2mm per day.
When I asked Dr. Vaughn what my next two dosages of Gonal-F should be, he said, "I'm still thinking about it." He was debating between two doses of 150 UIs or 225 UI and then 150 UI. I asked if there was any risk of me taking the higher dose and he said, "Well, not really. I guess I'm not worried about overstimulating your ovaries."
No kidding, since I only have one follicle even close to ready. So, I have two more nights of Gonal-F injections, then Saturday morning I have blood drawn and shortly after, another checkup. If the follicle has grown enough, then I'll have an hCG injection and Sunday and Monday we'll do IUIs. After that, it's a two week wait until I can do a pregnancy test.
Bloodwork (a rant)
This morning's blood draw didn't go well (in my opinion). As I have done for over a year now, I suggested the use of a butterfly needle to facilitate the blood draw. The tech ignored me and pulled out a regular needle and a syringe. She proceeded to stab this much larger needle into my elbow (in the same spot that was used for the last two draws), and then move it back and forth and in and out slightly while trying hard to suck out my blood with the syringe.
It HURT! Way more than any other time that I can remember having blood drawn, and it seemed to take forever. She was having a difficult time getting blood, which is probably why she kept wiggling the damn needle. I was just about to tell her to take it the fuck out when she removed it.
My previous visit, the tech used a butterfly needle and it took one small poke and about 15 seconds to get enough blood. This time, the bitch took almost a minute to get half as much blood as they usually take.
I left the lab in pain and mightily pissed off. If that woman ever ends up as my tech again, she's either going to use a butterfly needle or she's going to get someone else to do it.