Big Long Sigh - Here we go!

It's Sunday night and I am happily sitting at home typing on my pretty new little mac notebook that David bought me today.  Nice timing, hon!  Now I can keep up on my forums and blog while on my next baby-making trip to Vancouver.

Speaking of which, I leave tomorrow afternoon!  I am pretty excited about it, and very hopeful, which part of me finds oddly silly as we've had nothing but three years of heartache... but the other part of me keep thinking that *obviously* it's our turn and I can't wait to get the next positive test.

The nurse assigned to me, Vanessa, is wonderful.  She's on the phone with me at every step and I feel very taken care of.  I've been lucky to do my first week of monitoring and meds from here, avoiding an extra week away from work and all the extra money to travel.  Plus I am much more preoccupied with work and family so I'm not obsessing with everything.

My first scan was amazing.. I have 30 to 31 antral follicles, which is great!  These are the little follicles on the ovaries that are prepared to release eggs.  Antral follicle counts, or AFCs are a great indicator of the ovarian reserve (how many eggs are there), and this number, at my age, is really cause for celebration!  It means we have a high chance of lots of eggs and decent quality ones.

Total number of antral follicles	Expected response to injectable stimulating drugs and chances for IVF success
Less than 4	Extremely low count, very poor (or no) response to stimulation. Cycle cancellation is likely. Should consider not attempting IVF at all.
4-6	Low count, we are concerned about a possible/probable poor response to the stimulation drugs. Likely to need high doses of FSH product to stimulate ovaries adequately. Higher than average rate of IVF cycle cancellation. Lower than average pregnancy rates for those cases that make it to egg retrieval.
7-10	Reduced count. Higher than average rate of IVF cycle cancellation. Moderately reduced chances for pregnancy success as a group.
11-15	Normal (but intermediate) count, the response to drug stimulation is sometimes low, but usually adequate. Slight increased risk for IVF cycle cancellation. Pregnancy rates as a group slightly reduced compared to the "best" group.
16-30	Normal (good) antral count, should have an excellent response to ovarian stimulation. Likely to respond well to low doses of FSH product. Very low risk for IVF cycle cancellation. Some risk for ovarian overstimulation. Best pregnancy rates overall as a group.
Over 30	High count, watch for polycystic ovary type of ovarian response. Likely to have a high response to low doses of FSH product. Higher risk for overstimulation and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Very good pregnancy rate overall as a group, but some cases in the group have egg quality issues and somewhat lower chances for pregnancy.

Tomorrow I go for another blood test in the morning and then the flight in the afternoon.  I'm already missing my husband, kids, my mom and the girls at the shop, but I am looking forward to a visit with my long time girlfriend Simar, and exploring the gorgeous city again!