Patience, Grasshopper

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I want to thank everyone for their thoughtful suggestions and support. Last night my DH and I discussed everything at length. We weighed the possible benefits and risks of proceeding. If my estradiol levels come down to the normal range and we want to keep the transfer on schedule for Thursday, I had to start the progesterone last night. But you know progesterone starts the clock and then you either HAVE TO transfer or cancel.

We decided to start the progesterone. This morning I had blood drawn at the outside monitoring clinic rather than the lab I had been using. We won't know the results for several hours yet. There is a possibility that the lab we had been using generated erroneous results and that my estradiol level has been fine all along. If my level comes back today at, say, 200 or 300, then the lab's results were probably wrong. If the results come back at 700 or 800, then we have a problem.

But having had time to calm down and think this thing through, we decided that if the estradiol level is unstable, or borderline too high, and if the RE feels that the present circumstances are not optimal for transfer, my DH and I decided we will agree with the RE and cancel this cycle.

We can do another cycle in 6 weeks. We would take a lower dose of estradiol and hopefully attain good levels from the outset. Waiting 6 weeks is not the end of the world. I really want these embryos, and if we lose them just because we are anxious and rush this cycle, we will be back on a waiting list for other embryos for who knows how long. Maybe several months or more.

To me, it's worth waiting for the perfect pitch before we swing the bat. So I am learning patience.

--UPDATE 2pm --

Today's E2 level came back at 599.
Now the question becomes, was the first lab result (939) wrong or are my levels dropping that fast? The RE says if we could prove yesterday's lab result was wrong, she's fine with doing the transfer. But there is no way to prove it. If, on the other hand, my levels are in fact dropping that fast, then I will start bleeding in a couple of days and we will lose the embryos.

Erring on the side of caution, we will probably cancel the cycle. I'll go back on BCPs for 10 days to help regulate my hormones, then stop BCPs for AF, then restart a new cycle (and get all b/w done at the monitoring clinic). The good thing is that we have most of the meds, so the cost won't be quite as huge. It's a little disappointing, but I feel like we're making the safest decision.

---SECOND UPDATE 4 PM---
We cancelled. I start BCPs tomorrow. I'm really feeling pretty good about this. My gut is saying "good move." I'm learning to trust my gut. Well, it's either my gut or it could also be the wine I'm already drinking! ;)
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