CD2: The reluctant cycler

AF arrived in all her glory and here I am on CD2. Today was my baseline appointment with the dildo-cam. I drove the hour and forty-five minutes to the clinic way up north and paid my $15 copay. They wanted me to prepay the entire cycle before my baseline and I protested, "Can't we just make sure that I'm even going to cycle before I pay?" The receptionist agreed and smiled. She was nice.

They weighed me on the way to the room. I tossed shoes and sweater, trying to get anything off of me that would add weight. I hate the scale. And recently I've felt a bit heavy so I just wanted to avoid that entirely. I came in a few pounds lighter than my last visit. Weird. Maybe the scale needs calibration?

Escorted to the room, I waited yet another 20 minutes whilst sitting on the exam table, bleeding onto the pad they left me. At this point I realize my meter is running out in 20 minutes. I grabbed some towels to shove between my legs, wrapped the paper drape around me, and stuck my head out the door. And waited. Finally a nurse came by and said, "We're running behind. One doctor! You're next." I signed and said something about my meter running out in 20 minutes and could they please try to get to me...

Back on the table for another 10 minutes or so...they finally arrive. Comments went around about how much I appeared to be bleeding. "Uhmm...yes...you did say for me to come in on cycle day 2 and this is pretty much what it's like. Always. For the last 30-something years." Heh.

So the young girl doctor (not my usual RE) found 6 follies on the right, and a mere 3 on the left. I have a 12mm endometrioma (blood filled cyst) on the left ovary that has persisted for a few months now and will require surgery to remove should I ever want to go back down that route again). 9 in all. I should be pleased that at 44 I'm still making eggs, but I am a bit reluctant about trying again after having given up for so long. I really can't say why at this point but I have very specific reasons for my reluctance (the point is secrecy for the time being - as there is a chance that my partner's ex is reading this and looking for some sort of bait or weapon to bludgeon him with - wouldn't be the first time - so I write with a bit of caution these days. Just a bit.)

*snark*

Anyways, I paid my portion of the bill on my way out. $1356. I felt tremendously guilty that my portion was a meager 10%. I'm so used to paying cash for my IVF cycles that, finally having insurance, I felt awkward. But also elated at the same time that I wasn't breaking the bank to do this yet again. And get this: PGD and co-culture are covered by my insurance. As is cryofreezing. I think I have died and gone to IVF heaven.

So tonight's my first shot of Gonal F and medrol.

Let the good times roll.