A Real Post About TTC

(if you're not interested in all things infertility, this would be one to skip:)

Here are the facts: I am cd 8. I took Clomid cd 3-7 (my doctor wanted me on it 5-9, but I've been on it 3-7 before, and that's a much more typical protocol for short-cycled gals like me). Now, back at Wonderful Former Fertility Clinic (WFFC), I would have gone in today for ultrasound monitoring, at which point the med students would have conferred with my doctor and made a decision about (a) when to come in again for additional monitoring or (b) when to do the trigger shot and schedule the IUI. I had many many many Saturday morning ultrasounds and Monday or Tuesday IUIs.

Current Clinic, however, is closed both Saturday and Sunday, which creates numerous logistical difficulties, most notably in the scheduling of IUI. But they also prefer to do only one ultrasound to check for follicular development, the day before or the day of a likely trigger shot. In my case, this has been cd 10, so I am scheduled to go in on Monday. I thought it might be a good idea to ask if I could go in yesterday (cd 7) as well but ultimately decided against it. Turns out, it would have been really useful info.

I surged this morning. Now, I know that clomid can cause a false positive lh surge on an OPK. I also know that I never, ever tested cd 8 for this very reason at WFFC. I never tested until *after* I'd gone in for monitoring and then I tested only to see if I surged prior to trigger shot. I also know that I did indeed surge on two occasions (one of which was the cycle I conceived my kid) more than a day prior to a scheduled trigger shot. So here are my options at this point:

(a) assume it was a real surge, take my trigger shot, and have my IUI when I'm scheduled to go in for monitoring Monday morning

(b) assume that because it's only cd 8 and because there was no monstrously large follicle at my baseline sono on cd 3 that it's a "fake" Clomid surge and wait it out

The first plan risks triggering an underdeveloped follicle, the second plan risks mis-timing the IUI. I suppose (c) would be to go ahead with monitoring on Monday, also request an lh blood test and determine at that point whether to trigger or not and whether to have an IUI Mon, Tues, or even Wed. I wish I knew what things looked like in there. My ovaries feel like they're going to explode.

Needless to say, this is a moment when working with a real fertility clinic would be mighty nice.

Updated to add: Well, yesterday I managed to convince myself that it must be a false positive. Much info on many websites would suggest as much. But I woke up in the middle of the night--and insomnia is a major impending ovulatory sign for me--and started thinking. I used a *trigger shot* as early as cd 8 on Clomid. Now granted, that was coupled with sonographic evidence of a follicle at 19.5 mm, but what it does say is that my body can be ready to ovulate sooner than five days post-Clomid. This morning, a second positive on the OPK (and I'm not talking faint lines here, this is clear as day), and I know for a fact that I have tested (negative) on cd 9, which makes this surge all the more likely to be genuine. I don't want to waste a vial (not to mention the cost of the IUI), but I think I'll be kicking myself if I don't have an IUI tomorrow morning. Then, possible IUI on Tues, after a trigger shot, if the doctor seems to think that's a good idea. Happy birthday to me.

Another update: I tested again, and I'm not surging. Which either means the real deal is over, or I'm gearing up for the real thing. I guess we'll make that call tomorrow at the sono. In other news, I'm having serious abdominal discomfort/swelling, which has me vaguely thinking about Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome. No ovulation "ping," yet, just a weird feeling like there's too much in my lower abdomen.