Egg retrieval went pretty smoothly today. We arrived at the clinic early (summer Friday traffic was much better than anticipated), and sat for about 15 minutes before we were called in. I remember walking in through the "IVF Suite" door with a special password protected door. Then a nurse asked me the usual questions: health, drugs, when was the last I ate or drank, etc. Then I changed into my gown, cap and booties.
Steve, the nurse anesthetist, came and talked to me. He asked me if I have had any problems in the past and I said no. I did mention though that the last time I had my egg retrieval, I threw up when I got home. He said he would give me some Zo.fran, the kind of drug pregnant women use for nausea. He did say though, it may or may not help. He was also going to give me something for my allergy congestion, and said I would feel pretty thirsty when I woke up.
Then Dr. Hopeful came in and chatted with us for a bit. I was glad that she was the one doing the egg retrieval this time. She was feeling pretty optimistic about this. The right ovary was still in a difficult location, but she said she wouldn't know if she could get to it until I was asleep. I was concerned that we didn't have too many mature eggs, especially only 3 on the left ovary. She thought my numbers looked very similar to my last cycle and she wasn't too worried. She said all we need is ONE good embryo. Plus we would be doing ICSI, so that would help too.
Babe and I hugged, said our good byes, and he was off to the Andrology lab, and I was off to procedure room 1. Steve had me hop up on the table and he covered me up with a warmed blanket, fresh out of the warming oven. Steve then put an IV in a vein in my arm. This is new since in all my past surgeries, I've always had them in a vein in my hand. Steve said "looks like someone's been poking you a lot lately, huh? You've got a nice juicy vein." He was kind of a funny guy. I preferred it that he put the IV in my arm anyway. I think it hurt less. At the last IVF, the IV wasn't put in quite right, and it hurt for a bit. After the IV was put in, it was time for my "nice little nap" and the triple cocktail of meds (not sure what was in it) was injected into the IV.
The next thing I know, I woke up in the recovery room, and in walked Babe and Dr. Hopeful. Dr. Hopeful was able to retrieve from both ovaries. Yup, both ovaries.
7 eggs were retrieved.
I guess Dr. Hopeful had to press down on my abdomen (when I was asleep), and I guess the right ovary moved to a location that was accessible. I don't know how many eggs were retrieved from each ovary. Dr. Hopeful seemed pretty happy with how things turned out. We'll see what happens next.
I was given some water and liquid Tyle.nol. Yuck, I can't stand liquid meds of any kind! Next thing I know, it was time to dress, a wheelchair was pushed in, and it was time to go home. We were out of the clinic by 9:30 and were home by 10 am. On the way home, I could feel all the turns and bumps on the road. I kept telling Babe to take it easy. It was a little better this time though. The last time I thought I was going to throw up in the car. Just in case, we brought along a barf bag. Luckily we didn't need it.
The first thing I did when I got home was walk into the bathroom and threw up my liquid Tyle.nol. It still amazes me how fast something comes out the other way when you don't want it to! My first thought was, God, I hope I don't have to throw up like this when I am pregnant. But if I do, bring it on!
I felt much better after that. I brushed my teeth, took my first dose of tetracy.cline, ate something and went to bed. I spent most of the day sleeping, getting up a couple of times only to eat, drink, take my tetracy.cline and tyle.nol, and use the bathroom. Recovery is going fine. I'm still a little sore, but not too bad. It hurts if I sneeze or cough hard.
So now we wait. I was hoping we would be able to get more eggs, but I think I am fortunate to have 7, and from both ovaries. Last time we had 8 from one ovary. Now, we pray that the eggs are mature and especially that they are of GOOD quality.
I will be getting a call on Sunday with a report of how many eggs were mature and how many fertilized. We are doing ICSI this time, so I am praying that we will have many fertilized, and hopefully we will have some to freeze.
Again, I have to remind myself that God is in control. Please pray with me that there will be the perfect number of mature eggs, the perfect number of eggs that will fertilize, the perfect number of embryos that will make it to day 5, and the perfect of number of embryos to be frozen.
Thank you all for your support, best wishes and especially for keeping me in your prayers. I will update as I find out more.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
It's Almost Time
Well, it's almost time.
Had my stim day 13 appointment yesterday. Here's where I was yesterday:
Lining: 10 mm
Right ovary: 16.5, 15.5, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10
Left ovary: 21, 18, 15.5, 14, 13, 13, 11
It seems like my lining has shrunk, but the nurse is not concerned. Sometimes it's a matter of angle. Also, it looks like one of my eggs have shrunk, but again, it could be sometimes the measurements aren't 100% accurate. The nurse couldn't tell me for sure if I would trigger last night or today. It would all depend on my blood work and Dr. Hopeful. I was hoping it would last night since I didn't want to have to order more Meno.pur.
Well the nurse called me back in the afternoon, and I was to trigger last night. So last night I had my HCG shot at 8:30. Babe did an awesome job with that and it didn't hurt one bit.
I am now scheduled for my egg retrieval at 8:30 am tomorrow (Friday) morning. We have to be at the clinic at 7:30. It looks like Dr. Hopeful will be the one performing my egg retrieval.
Please pray that the procedure goes well, and that the they will retrieve a good number of mature eggs. Also, pray that they may be able to access the right ovary.
Well I also had my job interview yesterday. I think it went fairly well. I was pretty nervous in the beginning, and may have rambled on for a bit. But they only spent the 1st half hour asking me questions. And the other half, it was my turn to ask them questions. It ended up more like a Q&A session. All in all, I think the interview went well. I thought it was going to be 2 interviews, but this is the only one. They are still interviewing more candidates next week, so I will find out in a couple of what their decision is. Of course I hope they offer me a job, but I'm just glad that it's over. Now I can just focus on the rest of the IVF cycle.
So tomorrow morning it is! Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow.
Had my stim day 13 appointment yesterday. Here's where I was yesterday:
Lining: 10 mm
Right ovary: 16.5, 15.5, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10
Left ovary: 21, 18, 15.5, 14, 13, 13, 11
It seems like my lining has shrunk, but the nurse is not concerned. Sometimes it's a matter of angle. Also, it looks like one of my eggs have shrunk, but again, it could be sometimes the measurements aren't 100% accurate. The nurse couldn't tell me for sure if I would trigger last night or today. It would all depend on my blood work and Dr. Hopeful. I was hoping it would last night since I didn't want to have to order more Meno.pur.
Well the nurse called me back in the afternoon, and I was to trigger last night. So last night I had my HCG shot at 8:30. Babe did an awesome job with that and it didn't hurt one bit.
I am now scheduled for my egg retrieval at 8:30 am tomorrow (Friday) morning. We have to be at the clinic at 7:30. It looks like Dr. Hopeful will be the one performing my egg retrieval.
Please pray that the procedure goes well, and that the they will retrieve a good number of mature eggs. Also, pray that they may be able to access the right ovary.
Well I also had my job interview yesterday. I think it went fairly well. I was pretty nervous in the beginning, and may have rambled on for a bit. But they only spent the 1st half hour asking me questions. And the other half, it was my turn to ask them questions. It ended up more like a Q&A session. All in all, I think the interview went well. I thought it was going to be 2 interviews, but this is the only one. They are still interviewing more candidates next week, so I will find out in a couple of what their decision is. Of course I hope they offer me a job, but I'm just glad that it's over. Now I can just focus on the rest of the IVF cycle.
So tomorrow morning it is! Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Oh My Bloatness!
Remember when I said I felt "full" last night? Well I'm actually really bloated.
Didn't really think that I that bloated, was since I have been feeling pretty good this cycle. Until I pulled out my suit last night. I wanted to make sure that my pant suit still fit me. The last time I wore the pants, which was not that long ago, it fit fine, in fact it was a little loose. Last night, I could barely button them! I'm not getting another suit so I just hope that I don't pass out in those pants!
At today's stim day 12 appointment:
Lining: 12 mm
Right ovary: 15.5, 15.5, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10 mm
Left ovary: 18, 16, 14.5, 14, 14, 11 mm
I'm getting really close. I will have my HCG (trigger) shot either tonight or tomorrow night. I'm hoping it's tomorrow. I want to give the 14's a chance to catch up. The clinic likes follicles to be at least 15 mm before doing the HCG shot.
Unless the blood work comes back with anything different, I am to continue my current meds of 150IU Meno.pur, 300IU Follis.tim and Ganirelix, and go back for another ultrasound tomorrow morning. I will most probably have my HCG shot tomorrow and egg retrieval on Friday.
If not, they will call me this afternoon, and let me know if I need to have my HCG shot tonight, and then egg retrieval would be on Thursday.
It's all going to work out, timing wise. Though tomorrow will be a bit tricky - 8:45 am appointment at the clinic, and 10 am job interview. It will be close!
I'm off to prep for my job interview. Wish me luck!
Didn't really think that I that bloated, was since I have been feeling pretty good this cycle. Until I pulled out my suit last night. I wanted to make sure that my pant suit still fit me. The last time I wore the pants, which was not that long ago, it fit fine, in fact it was a little loose. Last night, I could barely button them! I'm not getting another suit so I just hope that I don't pass out in those pants!
At today's stim day 12 appointment:
Lining: 12 mm
Right ovary: 15.5, 15.5, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10 mm
Left ovary: 18, 16, 14.5, 14, 14, 11 mm
I'm getting really close. I will have my HCG (trigger) shot either tonight or tomorrow night. I'm hoping it's tomorrow. I want to give the 14's a chance to catch up. The clinic likes follicles to be at least 15 mm before doing the HCG shot.
Unless the blood work comes back with anything different, I am to continue my current meds of 150IU Meno.pur, 300IU Follis.tim and Ganirelix, and go back for another ultrasound tomorrow morning. I will most probably have my HCG shot tomorrow and egg retrieval on Friday.
If not, they will call me this afternoon, and let me know if I need to have my HCG shot tonight, and then egg retrieval would be on Thursday.
It's all going to work out, timing wise. Though tomorrow will be a bit tricky - 8:45 am appointment at the clinic, and 10 am job interview. It will be close!
I'm off to prep for my job interview. Wish me luck!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Stim Day 11 Update
Today is day 11 of stims. I added Ganire.lix to my morning shots this morning. This will ensure that my body does not ovulate before my retrieval. So 2 shots in the morning now - Ganire.lix and Meno.pur.
I had may appointment with AcuGirl today. I had to move up my appointment this week as I have my job interview on Wednesday. I told her I was a little concerned that the follicles are growing slow, but she assured me that may not necessarily be a bad thing. We want quality, not quantity. She used the heating lamp in my pelvic area again, and it felt good after. I have been feeling "full" in my ovaries all day. Tomorrow morning I go back for another ultrasound to see how my follies are growing.
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that this won't interfere with my job interview on Wednesday. Or maybe I sayg that the job interview won't interfere with this IVF cycle? Where are my priorities??
AcuGirl and I had a discussion about how this cycle is going. I have to say, I'm not sure if it's the acupuncture, the TCM herbs, not being on loopy Lu.pron, or just being distracted with the whole job thing this cycle, but I have not been feeling much side effects or stress. At all.
No headaches, no hot flashes, no stress. I'm feeling pretty good! AcuGirl believes the TCM herbs really help with side effects. I'm not sure what it is, but I am not complaining. It feels like this cycle has flown by. I can't believe I am almost at my retrieval already.
I have to prep for my job interview, but I am so not motivated......
I had may appointment with AcuGirl today. I had to move up my appointment this week as I have my job interview on Wednesday. I told her I was a little concerned that the follicles are growing slow, but she assured me that may not necessarily be a bad thing. We want quality, not quantity. She used the heating lamp in my pelvic area again, and it felt good after. I have been feeling "full" in my ovaries all day. Tomorrow morning I go back for another ultrasound to see how my follies are growing.
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that this won't interfere with my job interview on Wednesday. Or maybe I sayg that the job interview won't interfere with this IVF cycle? Where are my priorities??
AcuGirl and I had a discussion about how this cycle is going. I have to say, I'm not sure if it's the acupuncture, the TCM herbs, not being on loopy Lu.pron, or just being distracted with the whole job thing this cycle, but I have not been feeling much side effects or stress. At all.
No headaches, no hot flashes, no stress. I'm feeling pretty good! AcuGirl believes the TCM herbs really help with side effects. I'm not sure what it is, but I am not complaining. It feels like this cycle has flown by. I can't believe I am almost at my retrieval already.
I have to prep for my job interview, but I am so not motivated......
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Stim Day 10 Update
I had my 7:30 am Sunday appointment today. I was surprised to see how busy the clinic was. I suppose our reproductive cycles don't care what day of the week it is at the clinic!
At stim day 10:
Lining = 9 mm
Right ovary = 13 & 11 mm, plus 13 smalls (less than 10 mm)
Left ovary - 11, 12, 15x11 (averages 13), 10 mm, plus 7 smalls
It looks like my follicles are taking their own sweet time to grow. Hopefully that's a good sign, hopefully it means they will produce mature eggs. I will be adding my ganire.lix shots with my Meno.pur shots tomorrow morning. The want to make sure my lead follicle in my left ovary (the 15x11) does not cause my body to ovulate before retrieval.
It's good to see that my ovaries are making progress, though not very quickly. I just hope that the smaller follicles can catch up with the lead follicle. I'm also glad that my right ovary is not producing too many follicles. Hopefully that means the meds are being used to build up the ones in the left ovary. A reminder, the last time, they could not access my right ovary because it was in a "difficult" location. As far as I can tell, nothing has changed, and this probably means they will not be able to access it this time too. So, hopefully the meds are being channeled to the left ovary.
But then again, who knows? It's too hard to tell what would happen!
I have another appointment on Tuesday morning for another ultrasound. we'll see then how much they have progressed. It's starting to look like my interview on Wednesday is a go!
My BIL is arriving tonight to stay with us for a week. There will be lots of sneaking around for shots this week. We'll have to see how retrieval day works out with him in town!
At stim day 10:
Lining = 9 mm
Right ovary = 13 & 11 mm, plus 13 smalls (less than 10 mm)
Left ovary - 11, 12, 15x11 (averages 13), 10 mm, plus 7 smalls
It looks like my follicles are taking their own sweet time to grow. Hopefully that's a good sign, hopefully it means they will produce mature eggs. I will be adding my ganire.lix shots with my Meno.pur shots tomorrow morning. The want to make sure my lead follicle in my left ovary (the 15x11) does not cause my body to ovulate before retrieval.
It's good to see that my ovaries are making progress, though not very quickly. I just hope that the smaller follicles can catch up with the lead follicle. I'm also glad that my right ovary is not producing too many follicles. Hopefully that means the meds are being used to build up the ones in the left ovary. A reminder, the last time, they could not access my right ovary because it was in a "difficult" location. As far as I can tell, nothing has changed, and this probably means they will not be able to access it this time too. So, hopefully the meds are being channeled to the left ovary.
But then again, who knows? It's too hard to tell what would happen!
I have another appointment on Tuesday morning for another ultrasound. we'll see then how much they have progressed. It's starting to look like my interview on Wednesday is a go!
My BIL is arriving tonight to stay with us for a week. There will be lots of sneaking around for shots this week. We'll have to see how retrieval day works out with him in town!
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