High Progesterone, Another Blood Test, and the Fate of Our First IVF Cycle

I did not sleep well last night. Before going to bed, I tried researching high progesterone at the beginning of an IVF cycle. Apparently this does not often happen (no wonder my nurse said that she was confused by my blood test results) and it can lead to the clinic cancelling the IVF cycle (high progesterone can negatively impact implantation of the fetus). It also seems to be largely a mystery what causes it. Usually, the opposite problem happens, where women have low progesterone levels. Some clinics seem to roll with it and continue the cycle, while others will just cancel it. I could not imagine having just gone through two weeks of Estrace (horrible), having psyched myself up to inject myself with two or more hormones per day for the next two weeks and all the other nasty stuff that's a part of this IVF process, and having just dropped about $10,000 on drugs, needles, and the cycle, then being told that it was being cancelled and that I would have to wait for Day 18 again to start the Estrace nightmare all over again (talk about Groundhog Day).

After not enough sleep, I awoke to my alarm, took my basal body temperature as usual, and dragged myself out of bed. My body is still in turmoil (now to trying to adjust to NOT taking Estrace and the plunging estradiol levels I imagine) and I felt awful, but I had to go to the Victoria Fertility Clinic for my 10:30 AM appointment to get another blood test to see where my progesterone level is today (and if they are less mystified by me and my weird hormone levels).

My husband, though exhausted, came with me.

At least we're both wearing Kelly green and blue . . .

We waited for a few minutes, then my blood was drawn by one of the nurses (my nurse was not working today). They said they'd call me this afternoon to let me know whether or not I should start my hormones today (I was supposed to start the Dexamethasone tablets at 9:00 AM this morning, but they told me to get a blood test first and then wait to hear from them as it could be taken later in the day and they needed to ascertain first if I should actually be starting today or not).

This image makes me shudder. Oh how I hate needles. I can't believe I'll be using them every day for weeks (unless this cycle is cancelled).

My husband and I ran a couple of errands and had lunch downtown at our favourite Japanese restaurant, Sen Zushi. It was delicious and took our minds away from our (even more) uncertain future for a while. We returned home and waited. And waited.

Midway through the afternoon, a nurse from the Victoria Fertility Clinic called and told me that my blood tests were normal today and that I should proceed with the hormones in my protocol starting today (as originally scheduled). I  would take the Dexamethasone right away and then the injections between 6-9 PM, as originally set. Starting the next day, the Dexamethasone would be taken in the morning as set on my IVF protocol.

Now let the magic begin. . . .

Right hand ring, check, bracelet, check, cotton gauze, check! All glammed up for Saturday.