Day 2 of Prolonged Coasting

I went in for yet another E2 today. The results: a decrease to 8138. DH and I had a chance to speak with Dr. Saleh. He explained the pros and cons of prolonged coasting.

• Coasting means the stim meds are stopped and the follicles allowed to slow down before hCG administered. Usually does not affect egg quality if less than 3-4 days.
• Sometimes coasting doesn't necessarily mean E2 will go down, it could always go up.
• If E2 continues to increase, then the cycle will be automatically cancelled. The next cycle I could do would be in September so my ovaries can take a break. July would be too soon and there is no cycle in August.
• If E2 decreases (it could take a while) then cycle can continue and HCG shot administered.
• If after HCG is administered and OHSS symptoms are really bad, then follicles will be fertilized, left to grow to blasts and then frozen. If they grow to blasts it already means they are good follicles. These can be transferred at next round of cyclers and due to vitrification process (bypass crysalization step and no risk in losing any at thawing), the success rate of pregnancy is the exact same as a fresh cycle.
• It is really up to us if we want to cancel cycle, but just because we used 2 amps this cycle and produced tons of follicles, at next cycle I can be reduced to use 1 amp and produce absolutely nothing. This is a risk that we will be taking.

So the plan is this. I am to continue on Lupron and Heparin shots, along with ASA, Prenatal, Folic Acid and dexamethasone. My next E2 will be on Monday along with another U/S.

I just have to add that we went to a private party at the Dallas Petroleum Club yesterday. It was DH's boss' 50th Wedding Anniversary Party. It was a surprise party he threw for his wife. It was so great. They are wonderful people. Anyway, the Dallas Petroluem Club is a the premier private city club in Texas with national recognition (one of the top twenty in the entire nation). All I can say is WOW! I was speechless. I had O'Dourves and drank Don Perier. I had to go shopping for this one and find something that would make me fit right in. I thought I looked pretty good, but according to DH, he said I looked like "Marilyn Monroe!" What a compliment. He had never complimented me in this way! He was proud to be showing me off to his friends this time! I got so many compliments from everyone. I will try to put up a picture later. This was a very memorable ocassion.