Lucky #7?

After finding out that IUI #6 was a bust, we began IUI #7 almost immediately. 

I went downtown for the CD3 baseline ultrasound and bloodwork on Wednesday and they dispensed the meds for this cycle.  I was not allowed to start, however, until the bloodwork showed that the cyst in my left ovary was not affecting my hormone levels.  Later that afternoon, I got the call that my estrogen levels were completely within the normal range and that we were cleared to begin with Lucky #7. 

Just last night, I took my last study pills and I am going in on Wednesday morning for a CD10 ultrasound and bloodwork.  Last cycle, CD10 was on a Saturday, so all of the follow-up monitoring ended up throughout the rest of the business week.  Hopefully, two of the monitoring appointments this time will end up on the weekend, though I will most likely have to come in really late on Tuesday or Wednesday for an IUI. 

Last cycle, when my beta was negative, the on-call RE called with the results of the test, but then the research coordinator herself called and spoke to me and was genuinely "not OK" that it was negative.  Obviously, the nurses and doctors always wanted success before, but it really seemed like Jean was more supportive and more personally involved in my case and that they have higher expectations of success in the study.  Afterall, their success rates are much higher than at the clinical level.

Obviously, her level of concern or how supported I feel is not going to affect the outcome of the cycle, but it has been so much easier to cope in this study than the lonely, herded feeling of clinical practice. 

From here on out, were betting on Lucky 7s!  Maybe a trip to the casino is in order!