Good News .... I Think

Ok, today's scan was .... encouraging. I didn't gain any follicles so it appears the drastic cut to stims worked. The follicles also didn't grow any since yesterday so perhaps the reduction was too great?

The follicles also mystically got a little smaller and switched ovaries. I am thinking that may be the 2 wand maidens measuring differently and writing the follicles in the wrong column.

Today's results:

Right: 1.5, 1.5, 1.4, 1.4, 1.4, 1.3, 1.3, 1.3, 1.3, 1.3, 1.1, 1.0
Left: 1.5, 1.3, 1.3, 1.3, 1.1, 1.1, 1.0, 0.8

This makes more sense to me since it is my right side that feels more swollen and sore.

I don't have my estrogen level yet but I am hoping that since I didn't add any follicles and they didn't grow that perhaps my estrogen stayed the same......

My lining is now at .91

Thalia, I wondered about not doing a fresh transfer too. Here are my thoughts. Although my estrogen went to 12,000 last time and I ended up with a crap load of follicles, I did not hyperstimulate in terms of I did not have significant fluid retention after retrieval or transfer. I also did not manage to stay pregnant. I had 7 frozen day 5 blastocysts. We did 2 frozen transfers and never got pregnant. My very unscientific and unsupported theory is that the poor little things were completely wigged out on estrogen and therefore the quality of the embryo's was compromised from the get go. Of course, the embryo's were graded "perfect" and most had very little fragmentation, reached blast stage, and survived the thaw so what the hell do I know.

When I mentioned my "wigged out on estrogen theory" to my doctor. She just smiled and nodded and said, "hmmmm.... well..... it would be a good idea to try to keep your estrogen level down this cycle."

I believe my clinic says that estrogen level under 6000 is "standard" or "acceptable". I vaguely remember that from my last cycle. I can't remember if that was their general standard or their standard for people with PCOS who tend to "explode" at the end.

Those are my thoughts, I haven't really come to any conclusions yet. Of course, given the difference in success rates between fresh and frozen transfers, my preference obviously would be to have a fresh transfer if possible.

Lisa, you mentioned that your estrogen "exploded" at the end of your last cycle but you controlled it by dropping your dose. Was this the cycle that resulted in your pregnancy? I would be interested to know if people get pregnant and stay pregnant with elevated E2 levels?


UPDATED
****So I found this relating to Estradiol conversion******

How do I convert my Canadian Estradiol (E2) numbers to American measurements?

In Canada E2 levels are measured in picomols and in the United States E2 levels are measured in picograms. If you want to compare numbers, here is how to convert them:
Canadian E2 ÷ 3.67 = American E2
American E2 x 3.67 = Canadian E2

That means my 4000 E2 level would be equivalent to a 1089 E2 level in the US. It also means that Lisa's E2 level of 5000 with Julia topped 18,000 Canadian. I can't tell you how much hope that gives me.

Yup hope. Come on people, I can't remain an ostrich forever. I've got all those follicles waving at me every morning and each one whispers to me "I might be the one". Besides.... I need something to get me through the second retrieval.