Today's appointment confirmed why I LOVE my RE. I was in the clinic around an hour-and-a-half, about 45 minutes of which I spent sitting in my RE's office talking about my cycle and life in general. That just doesn't happen when doctors are having to play the billing game -- perhaps an argument for concierge medical care? I digress.
He liked my lining (.6), and estrogen level (796 after just four days of stims -- booyah), but wasn't too keen on the development of a "lead follicle" (measuing 1.3). The concern is that, although I remain within protocol numbers, the lead follicle will signal its superiority and all the other little follicles will give up the fight - not what we want to happen. So, I start an antagonist drug tonight and go back on Saturday morning for another round of ultrasound/bloodwork. Our RE did emphasize that if he's not completely happy with how everything looks, he's calling off this cycle. Have I mentioned how much I love this guy? He really has our best interest at heart, and wants us to have the best shot possible at becoming parents. We are so blessed. Sigh.
Anybody else dealt with the lead follicle issue??
He liked my lining (.6), and estrogen level (796 after just four days of stims -- booyah), but wasn't too keen on the development of a "lead follicle" (measuing 1.3). The concern is that, although I remain within protocol numbers, the lead follicle will signal its superiority and all the other little follicles will give up the fight - not what we want to happen. So, I start an antagonist drug tonight and go back on Saturday morning for another round of ultrasound/bloodwork. Our RE did emphasize that if he's not completely happy with how everything looks, he's calling off this cycle. Have I mentioned how much I love this guy? He really has our best interest at heart, and wants us to have the best shot possible at becoming parents. We are so blessed. Sigh.
Anybody else dealt with the lead follicle issue??
16 comments:
my major problem last cycle was that i had a lead follicle that was too big. it made them trigger me early and it meant that i had a whole bunch of immature follicles! yuck.
glad that other things seem to headed in the right direction.
So good that he was honest with you about the possibilities. That is so great, you are lucky!
I have not had the lead follie problem so far.
I hope that the antagonis does its job and you get to keep going if the doc thinks it is right. Good Luck!
Just found your blog and I wanted to wish you luck. I have just finished IVF #2 and we will find out next week if it worked! Hoping and praying for a miracle! Good luck!
I went (as he said) from 0 - 100 too quickly but they were all growing too quickly so they slowed things down and stretched it out...
Glad to hear you got to talk with your RE for so long! That's so reassuring & so nice to not be rushed out by your doctor!
As far as the lead follie goes, I don't have any experience w/ that... my follie count sucked! LOL
Hoping the new antagonist therapy will work that lead follie issue!!
i have had that lead follicle issue and had read about it on lots of other blogs/boards. it seems like often they are able to get the smaller ones to catch up, which happened for me, but it's so great that they are on top of it. good luck!!
In my first IVF cycle, I had a dominant follicle like that, already up to 14mm on day 6. I was on Lupron and Follistim. We basically ignored the lead follicle and let all the rest grow to the correct size. I think when I triggered the lead follicle was 30-40mm, and the rest (plenty of them) were in the target 17-20mm range.
Sorry I don't know much about lead follicles. I hope the new meds help the little guys catch up!
That's great that your RE spent so much time talking with you. I hope the rest of your stimming goes well - do you feel any side effects? I'm on Stim day #3!
It sounds like you have a great doctor! Good Luck!
Your RE does sound wonderful! What is concierge medical care, btw? I've never heard the term.
GL with your cycle!
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(here from ICLW)
Its always a good thing to like your RE,
Happy ICLW!
It's such a wonderful feeling to have a Dr. you are comfortable with. Newbie here to your blog...just catching up quickly on your timeline. Hope that things go well this cycle!!!
I cannot imagine talking to my RE about life in general -- if he gets my name right, it's a good day. You are a lucky lady!
Good luck with the cycle.
ICLW
Antagonist protocol should help that...good luck and keep us posted!
~ICLW
Lucky you to have such a great RE on your side. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
Happy ICLW!
Not sure what protocol you have here but lead follicles appear to be more common in a lupron microdose/flare protocol. And yes, that often means they weren't able to get them all to grow at the same pace so the 'supposed' best follie will be mature before the next group behind it.
Doesn't mean it isn't a nice juicy one but often time they won't retrieve for less than 4 follies. Not sure if that is because they want to spare you the expense of a retrieval, counting towards one insurance-wise, or just because statistically it isn't good.
So IUI sounds amazing. I am hoping that this super follie will be kind to the spermies and make the miracle of life happen!
Good luck!
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