Again this post may be a little too much information for some, but it is meant as a record for my sake.
29.
29 eggs. Wow.
I am feeling a little overwhelmed about 29 eggs being retrieved today. I can't help thinking that it is no wonder I hurt before the procedure! The retrieval process was very straight forward and relatively non stressful. It was also faster that I expected it to be. I spent vastly more time recovering from the anaesthesia than the retrieval actually took.
So, not to scare anyone that will be going in for a retrieval, but......it hurt, a lot. The first thing that I was aware of when I first woke up was that I hurt. Like a nine out of ten on the pain scale kind of hurt. A heating pad across my stomach helped some, but the thing that helped the most? Emptying my bladder. I currently have a very mild case of OHSS, in fact I had fluid in my abdomen before we even left the clinic. So I have to measure all fluid intakes and outputs. I know, gross. Even worse? The first output after the procedure was scary dark.....like brown sludge, dying of dehydration dark. It seems to have resolved itself, but it really freaked me out. I am thinking that it may have been from an antibiotic ointment or something that was used during retrieval, any other ideas?
I still really hurt, and that is after two regular tylenol and one prescription tylenol plus codine. So far the drugs have just taken the sharpest edge off the pain. I would say that I'm at about a seven on the pain scale still. The heating pad, couch and netflix have been my best friends. For the OHSS, I have to drink lots of gatorade, in fact I am not allowed regular water. I am also supposed to have thirty grams of whey protein twice a day. Smoothie anyone?
We will get our fertilization report tomorrow, and I am going to bed until then!
Monday, January 21, 2013
ICLW
Welcome to all of you ICLW'ers!
I have my egg retrieval today, the first day ICLW. I am scared, anxious, excited and generally overwhelmed. Thanks for the support and well wishes in advance, and I will take all the sticky vibes you want to send me!
Thanks for stopping by!
Sunday, January 20, 2013
The night before egg retrieval
This time tomorrow night, we will have babies sitting on a petri dish somewhere.
Crazy.
I am so anxious, excited and nervous! Also, I hurt! I am so ready for these little eggs to come out! Mark and I are guessing the number of eggs that will be retrieved. Since we have a wee friendly wager going with it, I want to get the guesses down so that he can't argue about it when I win!
Mark's guess: 19
My guess: 15
What is your guess?
Crazy.
I am so anxious, excited and nervous! Also, I hurt! I am so ready for these little eggs to come out! Mark and I are guessing the number of eggs that will be retrieved. Since we have a wee friendly wager going with it, I want to get the guesses down so that he can't argue about it when I win!
Mark's guess: 19
My guess: 15
What is your guess?
The trigger and more!
I had originally planned on posting every day during the IVF stimming process in order to have a record of how things have gone, but that so did not happen. I just have not felt up to it. So, today is a wee bit of a catch up day.
My second follicle check was uneventful. I was worried when I went in that morning, because when I had awoken, all my symptoms had miraculously disappeared. Apparently, it's normal to have good days and bad days, and everything looked fine. The symptoms came back with a vengeance that afternoon. The clinic does not like to provide information as far as the size and number of follicles, so I walked away with nothing but the comment that I was "responding great". I avoided a blood draw, which made me very happy! I started drinking 32 ounces of Gatorade to help with staying hydrated and minimizing risks of ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome, I also spent most of the day on the couch watching netflix. We also discovered that letting the menopur sit for a few minutes after mixing it causes the drug to burn less when injected.
My third follicle check was a bit of a jumble. As I was driving to my appointment that I thought was at noon, I received a phone call from the clinic asking why I was over an hour late. I don't know how the wires got crossed, but it all worked out in the end. The scan seemed to go well in that again there were many verbal reassurances that I was "responding well". We were told to order one more dose of ganirelix and blood was drawn for the E2. The side sffects kicked up a notch, with me feeling very bloated, lower back pain, and urination being extremely painful. I drank more Gatorade, hung out on the couch, and downed water like it was going out of style. During the evening injections we discovered that my stomach had turned black and blue form all the needle sticks.
Yesterday was the fourth follicle check and the last! We were not given an official follicle count but we saw one labeled "follicle 17, 15mm" on the computer screen. We were told that there were two follicles over 18mm, which technically qualified us for triggering. So, it was up to my estrogen levels as to whether I would trigger or not. Blood was drawn and I was sent on my way with trigger instructions. We were also given HCG by the clinic because they had ordered a lupron trigger for me, but decided HCG would be better. A couple hours later we received the call that we would be triggering at midnight! We ended up being late triggering by ten minutes because the alarm that we had set did not go off, but the clinic says that it is not a big deal! We didn't end up using the dose of ganirelix the clinic had us order. Again, I spent most of the day with bad T.V., Gatorade, and worsening side effects.
Which finally brings us to today! Which will be a great day simply because I do not get stuck with a needle today! I took a pregnancy test this morning to make sure the HCG was working in my body, which it was, and I then called to confirm that with the clinic. I have to say that there is something cruel about taking a pregnancy test and getting a positive result under those circumstances! Mark took his antibiotic this morning, and we signed the final documents. We now wait. I have a few more things on my preprocedure checklist, but other than that I just need to report to the clinic at 11:30 tomorrow morning for egg retrieval. I am excited, scared and slightly dreading going under anesthesia again. I had a really hard time sleeping last night due to not being able to get comfortable, and my stomach is very distended, especially on the left side, where I have more follicles. I can no longer wear my regular jeans, and have to wear things with an elastic waist, both because I am so distended and because the waistband on jeans sits right against my bruised pincushion of a stomach, which hurts! The clinic has reiterated several times between last night and this morning that I need to be drinking LOTS of water and Gatorade, so that is the plan for today as well as more chilling out on the couch. Walking hurts, standing hurts, sitting hurts and laying on my left side is excruciating. Urinating is the most painful experience that I have ever had, except for maybe the HSG last spring.
I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that we are nearing the end of this process!
My second follicle check was uneventful. I was worried when I went in that morning, because when I had awoken, all my symptoms had miraculously disappeared. Apparently, it's normal to have good days and bad days, and everything looked fine. The symptoms came back with a vengeance that afternoon. The clinic does not like to provide information as far as the size and number of follicles, so I walked away with nothing but the comment that I was "responding great". I avoided a blood draw, which made me very happy! I started drinking 32 ounces of Gatorade to help with staying hydrated and minimizing risks of ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome, I also spent most of the day on the couch watching netflix. We also discovered that letting the menopur sit for a few minutes after mixing it causes the drug to burn less when injected.
My third follicle check was a bit of a jumble. As I was driving to my appointment that I thought was at noon, I received a phone call from the clinic asking why I was over an hour late. I don't know how the wires got crossed, but it all worked out in the end. The scan seemed to go well in that again there were many verbal reassurances that I was "responding well". We were told to order one more dose of ganirelix and blood was drawn for the E2. The side sffects kicked up a notch, with me feeling very bloated, lower back pain, and urination being extremely painful. I drank more Gatorade, hung out on the couch, and downed water like it was going out of style. During the evening injections we discovered that my stomach had turned black and blue form all the needle sticks.
Yesterday was the fourth follicle check and the last! We were not given an official follicle count but we saw one labeled "follicle 17, 15mm" on the computer screen. We were told that there were two follicles over 18mm, which technically qualified us for triggering. So, it was up to my estrogen levels as to whether I would trigger or not. Blood was drawn and I was sent on my way with trigger instructions. We were also given HCG by the clinic because they had ordered a lupron trigger for me, but decided HCG would be better. A couple hours later we received the call that we would be triggering at midnight! We ended up being late triggering by ten minutes because the alarm that we had set did not go off, but the clinic says that it is not a big deal! We didn't end up using the dose of ganirelix the clinic had us order. Again, I spent most of the day with bad T.V., Gatorade, and worsening side effects.
Which finally brings us to today! Which will be a great day simply because I do not get stuck with a needle today! I took a pregnancy test this morning to make sure the HCG was working in my body, which it was, and I then called to confirm that with the clinic. I have to say that there is something cruel about taking a pregnancy test and getting a positive result under those circumstances! Mark took his antibiotic this morning, and we signed the final documents. We now wait. I have a few more things on my preprocedure checklist, but other than that I just need to report to the clinic at 11:30 tomorrow morning for egg retrieval. I am excited, scared and slightly dreading going under anesthesia again. I had a really hard time sleeping last night due to not being able to get comfortable, and my stomach is very distended, especially on the left side, where I have more follicles. I can no longer wear my regular jeans, and have to wear things with an elastic waist, both because I am so distended and because the waistband on jeans sits right against my bruised pincushion of a stomach, which hurts! The clinic has reiterated several times between last night and this morning that I need to be drinking LOTS of water and Gatorade, so that is the plan for today as well as more chilling out on the couch. Walking hurts, standing hurts, sitting hurts and laying on my left side is excruciating. Urinating is the most painful experience that I have ever had, except for maybe the HSG last spring.
I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that we are nearing the end of this process!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
First IVF Ultrasound
This post may be a little too much information for some, so you may wan to skip it! This is meant mostly as a reminder for me of our IVF experience.
This morning was the fateful day of my first ultrasound to find out how I am responding during this IVF cycle. To be completely honest, I wasn't expecting much. I never responded well to the drugs during our IUI cycles, so I figured I would have the same experience, plus, the nurse practitioner had warned me in advance to not be upset if there wasn't a whole lot going on.
The appointment started like any other, bottoms off and on the table, feet in stirrups, yada, yada. After a light knock, in walked the RE and a nurse. NOT my RE. The ultrasounds are done by the nurse practitioners, so seeing the other RE in the practice, sort of freaked me out a bit. However, I ended up super glad that she was there. The nurse was new, and being trained by the RE in exactly how the clinic wants ultrasounds done. This meant that the ultrasound took forever, was super uncomfortable, and super thorough. The results? Twenty to twenty-five follicles on each ovary. Ten of those follicles are very much in the lead at 12- 14 mm, the rest smaller. I cried, right there on the table when I found out I had follicles in the 12-14 mm range. During the IUI attempts, we were never able to get a follicle larger than an 11. I was so afraid of that happening again!
My E2 was drawn, and depending on the results my dosages may be changed. I start the ganirelix tonight in order to avoid premature ovulation. Tomorrow, I go back for another ultrasound to see what other progress is being made.
As far as symptoms and side effects go, it hasn't been too bad so far:
This morning was the fateful day of my first ultrasound to find out how I am responding during this IVF cycle. To be completely honest, I wasn't expecting much. I never responded well to the drugs during our IUI cycles, so I figured I would have the same experience, plus, the nurse practitioner had warned me in advance to not be upset if there wasn't a whole lot going on.
The appointment started like any other, bottoms off and on the table, feet in stirrups, yada, yada. After a light knock, in walked the RE and a nurse. NOT my RE. The ultrasounds are done by the nurse practitioners, so seeing the other RE in the practice, sort of freaked me out a bit. However, I ended up super glad that she was there. The nurse was new, and being trained by the RE in exactly how the clinic wants ultrasounds done. This meant that the ultrasound took forever, was super uncomfortable, and super thorough. The results? Twenty to twenty-five follicles on each ovary. Ten of those follicles are very much in the lead at 12- 14 mm, the rest smaller. I cried, right there on the table when I found out I had follicles in the 12-14 mm range. During the IUI attempts, we were never able to get a follicle larger than an 11. I was so afraid of that happening again!
My E2 was drawn, and depending on the results my dosages may be changed. I start the ganirelix tonight in order to avoid premature ovulation. Tomorrow, I go back for another ultrasound to see what other progress is being made.
As far as symptoms and side effects go, it hasn't been too bad so far:
- Sitting upright is a little uncomfortable....well,.... that is, it's a little more uncomfortable than everything else, which is also uncomfortable. Everything just feels swollen and heavy.
- The menopur injections get more painful with each one, how they burn! The burning also does not go away immediately.
- Urinating is...weird. The emptier my bladder gets while urinating, the more uncomfortable the process is.
- I did the hysterical, ugly cry yesterday over the choice of restaurant of all things! I knew at the time that the whole thing was ridiculous, but the waterworks just would not stop.
- I miss sleep. I toss and turn at night until the wee hours of the morning. I am not feeling particularly tired during the days, but come evening, I am wiped out!
- I go back and forth between wanting to eat everything in sight, and food being completely unappealing.
- The area of my injection sites hurts! I have been living in pajamas because the very idea of putting jeans on and having the waistband against the injection sites is enough to make me cringe.
Friday, January 11, 2013
The Hysteroscopy Experience
Note: this post is mostly so that I will remember the past couple days. There may be a few more details than you want to read!
I had my hysteroscopy yesterday, and I am told that all went well. The RE did find an extra little polyp hiding out on my cervix, as well as the one on my uterus that they were originally after. Hopefully, that means that there will be no other surprises lurking around! I have decided though that Timpanogos hospital is awesome! The nurses were great, and the drugs were even better! The anesthesiologist put the drugs in my IV before the bed was wheeled out of the prep room and I don't even remember getting to the hallway outside the room! I woke up about four hours later and slowly worked through the fog to be able to go home. It took a while for me to be released after I woke up because my oxygen stats kept dropping, but I eventually figured out that I needed to keep breathing even when I nodded off! The sweetest thing was that every time I would slightly wake up during recovery, Mark was at my side, holding my hand and stroking my hair. What an amazing husband I have!
I have had relatively little pain from the actual surgery, but I have had other related complaints. I woke up with the worst sore throat from being intubated, and a really nasty cough. They are still bothering me 24 hours later, so I will just have to wait and see how long that persists. The muscles in my calves, as well as my knees, are really achy from the compression sleeves that they use to prevent blood clots. Funny story there, they didn't have any sleeves that were short enough for my short person calves, so they had to go up over my knees. As a result, stairs are tortuous right now, but after a few days, I should be back to normal.
Today, I had my follow up at the clinic. I had a normal transvaginal ultrasound that revealed a lack of cysts, did the most painful pap smear EVER! and had my blood drawn for my E2 tests. After all of that, we were given the green light to continue on with the cycle. Consents were turned in, a horribly large amount of money was paid and instructions for injections were received. Mark gave me the first follistim injection with the pen when we got back home this morning. Almost immediately afterwards, I went back to bed and slept almost six hours. I hope that doesn't become my life for the next couple weeks!
Does anyone have experience with using the overloaded amount in the pen injections? Our nurse has us dialing our pen up to the full load amount of 350 iu even though it is considered only a 300 iu maximum injectible dose. Anyone else instructed to do the same? I was just a little worried, because even with doing that, there is still a wee bit of drug left in the cartridge. Since i have been such a poor responder in the past, I want every drop of drug I can get! Any advice?
I had my hysteroscopy yesterday, and I am told that all went well. The RE did find an extra little polyp hiding out on my cervix, as well as the one on my uterus that they were originally after. Hopefully, that means that there will be no other surprises lurking around! I have decided though that Timpanogos hospital is awesome! The nurses were great, and the drugs were even better! The anesthesiologist put the drugs in my IV before the bed was wheeled out of the prep room and I don't even remember getting to the hallway outside the room! I woke up about four hours later and slowly worked through the fog to be able to go home. It took a while for me to be released after I woke up because my oxygen stats kept dropping, but I eventually figured out that I needed to keep breathing even when I nodded off! The sweetest thing was that every time I would slightly wake up during recovery, Mark was at my side, holding my hand and stroking my hair. What an amazing husband I have!
I have had relatively little pain from the actual surgery, but I have had other related complaints. I woke up with the worst sore throat from being intubated, and a really nasty cough. They are still bothering me 24 hours later, so I will just have to wait and see how long that persists. The muscles in my calves, as well as my knees, are really achy from the compression sleeves that they use to prevent blood clots. Funny story there, they didn't have any sleeves that were short enough for my short person calves, so they had to go up over my knees. As a result, stairs are tortuous right now, but after a few days, I should be back to normal.
Today, I had my follow up at the clinic. I had a normal transvaginal ultrasound that revealed a lack of cysts, did the most painful pap smear EVER! and had my blood drawn for my E2 tests. After all of that, we were given the green light to continue on with the cycle. Consents were turned in, a horribly large amount of money was paid and instructions for injections were received. Mark gave me the first follistim injection with the pen when we got back home this morning. Almost immediately afterwards, I went back to bed and slept almost six hours. I hope that doesn't become my life for the next couple weeks!
Does anyone have experience with using the overloaded amount in the pen injections? Our nurse has us dialing our pen up to the full load amount of 350 iu even though it is considered only a 300 iu maximum injectible dose. Anyone else instructed to do the same? I was just a little worried, because even with doing that, there is still a wee bit of drug left in the cartridge. Since i have been such a poor responder in the past, I want every drop of drug I can get! Any advice?
Sunday, January 6, 2013
So far.....
I was finally able to talk with our clinic and I was given such great news! First off, Mark's results were in, and let's just say that he was a total rockstar! After his last slightly abnormal results, we were afraid that we were going to need to do ICSI, but it seems like we have dodged that bullet.
Secondly, the IVF coordinator was able to calm my nerves regarding doing the hysteroscopy so close to the IVF. Apparently, there is some research that indicates that it improves pregnancy success rates when done the same cycle. I will take anything that I can get at this point, but I never thought that I would be thankful for a uterine polyp!
Right now, I only have two more days of the birth control, and three more days of the doxycycline. Then the real drugs begin!
Secondly, the IVF coordinator was able to calm my nerves regarding doing the hysteroscopy so close to the IVF. Apparently, there is some research that indicates that it improves pregnancy success rates when done the same cycle. I will take anything that I can get at this point, but I never thought that I would be thankful for a uterine polyp!
Right now, I only have two more days of the birth control, and three more days of the doxycycline. Then the real drugs begin!
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