Fishing for FSH

I had a bit of a minor epiphany yesterday when it came time to phone the GP's office to get my FSH result.  Some of you may recall that I have in times past- ( for example here) -whined about the open-plan arrangements at my office and the difficulties of trying to make or receive assisted reproduction related phone calls from my desk.  Yesterday was typical in that I spent most of the morning waiting for the coast to clear, but every time I went to lift the handset, someone would magically materialise at my elbow. And then they would stand there for a quarter of an hour, discussing something tedious and work-related. Imagine! This happens AT WORK! Damn them.

Heh. Finally after the third or thirteenth attempt, my eye happened upon my handbag lying on the floor by my feet and suddenly it was like a gigantico lightbulb going off in my tiny, pointy head. Eureka!  I could call using my mobile phone!

In case you are rolling your eyes, saying to yourself, "well DUH, Mare. What took you so long," I should point out that it was only recently that I acquired said mobile phone (or cell, if you prefer, which I do but when in Rome...). Previously  I always had one of these tickytacky pay-as-you-go plastic brick thingies. Ugly as hell, but fine in an emergency, or to receive calls; however, also subject to perishingly expensive call rates if used regularly and hence not exactly the right tool for long spells of spelunking into the telephonic abyss.  And as anyone who has even remotely dabbled in the world of fertility treatment will know, frequent expeditions into that abyss are the norm. 

I don't know why for the love of Wensleydale cheese it never before occured to me before now to get a contract phone, where I could gab for hours, send text messages and balance on one leg  while waiting on hold for 20 minutes- without taking out a second mortgage to pay for it. But it didn't. I suppose I am a bit, uh, prim about spending money on things which my inner skinflint convinces me I don't really need. And it was only of late that crappy pay-as-you-go mode became pretty much untenable; plus the phone that I loved and that matched my handbag was only available as a contract. Heh. Are you marveling at the apparent contradiction of frivolity and prim there?  I am.

Anyway, I realised I have a phone, and I can use it. OK, so perhaps not much of an epiphany as far as these things go but it reminded me of the need to continually apply lateral thinking to these situations. Instead of calling from under my desk, I snuck out to the empty photocopy room, hid behind a plant, and rang from there. Oh blissful relative privacy.

Of course the nurse wanted to fob me off with a hasty "normal", but she hadn't reckoned on the might of the tenacious infertile. THE NUMBER.  GIVE ME THE NUMBER. And she did. It was 6.1 which is actually lower than before. Yay!

Yes, dear friends, I know the numbers are not the be-all-end-all and I am wary of placing too much stock in these things. I guess I was looking for more of a possible barometer- I mean, if it had shot up to above a certain level, then the fact of the matter is that there are certain clinics who simply won't even consider treating me.  Whereas now they might.

So the question is... now what?

Comments

[Jen]

It's so frustrating when you're hoping for a yes or no, and instead get a maddening "maybe," isn't it?

If you want it to be, it's certainly good news. Hoping that the days to come will bring some clarity on this point.

[Squarepeg]

6.1 is excellent no? I don't recall your FSH history - if it is not totally "clean" will some clinics turn you down? I think my FSH was somewhere around 4.8 or so, which I was told was "excellent," surely 6.1 would fall under the same category.

Congrats on the mobile :)

[Lut C.]

Indeed, now what. Are you coming back to the island? Or maybe rather not?

I'm on the edge of my seat. Who needs days of our lives! Soaps are dooooomed!!!

[Alchemilla]

Now what, indeed. So happy you and E are still thinking about it.

[Alexandra/Infertile Gourmet]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH run to your nearest fabulous clinic with fab rates! Hurry! Run for your life!

or ummm you know if you care to get treatment or something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! calmly exiting your blog....

[Jill]

Now what? Well, now it is time to make some grown-up decisions. Heh. I am having to make some myself, though not fertility related. But it is damn hard. Good Luck.

[Toni]

Great numbers...my decision would be to start immediately. But I'm a 'immediate gradification' girl...the decision is up to you guys. Again...you know my take on it :)

[Amyesq]

Congratulations! That is wonderful! I don't know what you are going to do with that information, but the point it you have the choice.

And the phone thing made me laugh. So true. I remember texting you and you teling me "I check my mobile like once a week." Now welcome to the fantastic world of cool mobiles. Mine is pink. What;s yours? :)

[Amyesq]

Congratulations! That is wonderful! I don't know what you are going to do with that information, but the point it you have the choice.

And the phone thing made me laugh. So true. I remember texting you and you telling me "I check my mobile like once a week." Now welcome to the fantastic world of cool mobiles. Mine is pink. What's yours? :)

[maya]

6.1 is excellent. I think the RE's like anything under 10 or 11. SO congrats!!!

[millie]

Wensleydale cheese? Cracking good.

Yay for the fabo fsh.

[JennaM]

Good for you. The phone, the bloodwork, the proactive demand for results... you are a wonder, dear girl. Keep moving forward!

All good things to you...

xoxo
JennaM

[Mollywogger]

6.1? Fabulous! You've got mine beat!

Well done.

[SouthernComfortable]

Great news! So glad to hear it.

[Mel]

6.1 is fantastic! Congratulations on the good results. And as a former school teacher, I totally can relate to the lack of space for a phone call. Luckily, middle school kids are so self-absorbed that I would call from the hallway and speak cryptically and no one paid me a bit of attention.

[Georgia]

Yay for good numbers!!!!