Happy Valentines Day!
It suddenly occurred to me today that it's been a year ago today since my retrieval for IVF. I remember the anesthetologist making some comment about a Valentines baby. If that procedure would have worked, our baby would have come home around November. As much as we wanted each treatment to work & to be the last, I'm glad our baby will be born in the spring instead of right before the holidays!
Showing posts with label retrieval. Show all posts
Showing posts with label retrieval. Show all posts
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Friday, February 23, 2007
Retrieval & transfer
I've been away from my computer for roughly a week & a half, I think that's some kind of record for me. I've been trying to rest just like the doctors expect so that everything will go right with this first round of IVF!
~ RETRIEVAL 2/14/07~
We had our retrieval on Valentine's Day in the early AM. I got a little nervous just as a I was in the back room waiting for my turn (someone else had to be there even earlier than us for their retrieval). But it was no big deal, just a little prick to numb me up for the IV. Then once the IV was in and they were ready, I was out like a light. The last thing I said (or remember saying anyway) is 'that was fast'. I had started to feeel the anesthesia as soon as he said he'd started it. The procedure takes about 10 mins itself, it's all the other hoopla that takes awhile. I got a little nauseated from the anesthesia but was sent on my way pretty soon. Jack got me home & made sure I was all comfy & following dr orders. They had gotten 20 eggs from me which is really good!
DM came by shortly after we got home and she helped DH to take care of me. I was surprised to find the worst part was the bloating & gas. It was miserable! It went away very very slowly & really was uncomfortable through Friday.
~ TRANSFER 2/19/07 ~
Our transfer had been tentatively scheduled for Saturday morning. However, we heard from the embryologist on Fri that he wanted to wait until Monday. Of the 20 eggs, 18 were usuable (1 not viable & 1 was immature). They performed ICSI on all 18 and 16 of them fertilized normally. As of Fri, they were ranging from 2-5 cells (that was Day 2) and he felt they would benefit from being cultured thru the weekend. Sat he called us again saying that we'd transfer at 2:30 on Monday and that 9-10 of our embies were looking 'really good' (Day 3).
I felt a lot better through the weekend, having finally been able to get rid of the majority of the bloating and get around better. DM had stayed thru Fri AM and then was just me & DH for the weekend. By then I really didn't need much, was just anxious for Monday to come.
We started off at the acupuncture clinic a few buildings down. My acupuncturist did some needling to prepare my body for the transfer. Then we headed over to NCCRM.
Compared to the retrieval (and its afteraffects), the transfer was a cakewalk. First they showed us the embryos in the incubator (thru a microscope), said they wanted to transfer THREE embryos! and then got me ready for transfer. They got the US ready so the dr could see what he was doing, then they transferred our babies thru a cathedar into my uterus. There was no pain (all I had was a valium) and it was over quick. Then DH & I just chatted while I laid there for 15 minutes.
2 of the 3 embies were blastocysts which is supposed to be a good thing. So we really are excited and hoping to find that I'm pregnant! In the picture they gave us, only one (lower middle) was actually a blastocyst at the time. I think he said they had taken this picture Monday morning and that the one on the right became a blastocyst during the day before the transfer.
Afterward, we went back over for more acupuncture & then on home. I was on bedrest through Thursday and then still resting today though I've been up & about. I go back tomorrow to have my progesterone levels checked & then on 3/5 have the first beta test. (That's when we find out if I'm preggo or not). Though they do 3 tests and want to see the numbers rising, so I'm not sure if they consider us pregnant for sure until the 3rd beta.
~ RETRIEVAL 2/14/07~
We had our retrieval on Valentine's Day in the early AM. I got a little nervous just as a I was in the back room waiting for my turn (someone else had to be there even earlier than us for their retrieval). But it was no big deal, just a little prick to numb me up for the IV. Then once the IV was in and they were ready, I was out like a light. The last thing I said (or remember saying anyway) is 'that was fast'. I had started to feeel the anesthesia as soon as he said he'd started it. The procedure takes about 10 mins itself, it's all the other hoopla that takes awhile. I got a little nauseated from the anesthesia but was sent on my way pretty soon. Jack got me home & made sure I was all comfy & following dr orders. They had gotten 20 eggs from me which is really good!
DM came by shortly after we got home and she helped DH to take care of me. I was surprised to find the worst part was the bloating & gas. It was miserable! It went away very very slowly & really was uncomfortable through Friday.
~ TRANSFER 2/19/07 ~
Our transfer had been tentatively scheduled for Saturday morning. However, we heard from the embryologist on Fri that he wanted to wait until Monday. Of the 20 eggs, 18 were usuable (1 not viable & 1 was immature). They performed ICSI on all 18 and 16 of them fertilized normally. As of Fri, they were ranging from 2-5 cells (that was Day 2) and he felt they would benefit from being cultured thru the weekend. Sat he called us again saying that we'd transfer at 2:30 on Monday and that 9-10 of our embies were looking 'really good' (Day 3).
I felt a lot better through the weekend, having finally been able to get rid of the majority of the bloating and get around better. DM had stayed thru Fri AM and then was just me & DH for the weekend. By then I really didn't need much, was just anxious for Monday to come.
We started off at the acupuncture clinic a few buildings down. My acupuncturist did some needling to prepare my body for the transfer. Then we headed over to NCCRM.
Compared to the retrieval (and its afteraffects), the transfer was a cakewalk. First they showed us the embryos in the incubator (thru a microscope), said they wanted to transfer THREE embryos! and then got me ready for transfer. They got the US ready so the dr could see what he was doing, then they transferred our babies thru a cathedar into my uterus. There was no pain (all I had was a valium) and it was over quick. Then DH & I just chatted while I laid there for 15 minutes.
2 of the 3 embies were blastocysts which is supposed to be a good thing. So we really are excited and hoping to find that I'm pregnant! In the picture they gave us, only one (lower middle) was actually a blastocyst at the time. I think he said they had taken this picture Monday morning and that the one on the right became a blastocyst during the day before the transfer.
Afterward, we went back over for more acupuncture & then on home. I was on bedrest through Thursday and then still resting today though I've been up & about. I go back tomorrow to have my progesterone levels checked & then on 3/5 have the first beta test. (That's when we find out if I'm preggo or not). Though they do 3 tests and want to see the numbers rising, so I'm not sure if they consider us pregnant for sure until the 3rd beta.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
retrieval tomorrow
My bw today showed beta level of 273. I think that just shows that the HcG shots are working from last night. Anyway, nothing to eat or drink after midnight tonight (no shots tonight yippee!) and then off to the clinic in the AM. Wish me luck!
Monday, February 12, 2007
got a date
Today my bw showed levels were low enough to set a retreival date (they didnt tell me what the level was though). So we go in at 8:30 Wed (Happy Valentine's Day). I still have to do more bw tomorrow (and I thought I was going to get a day off). Tonight I have to take 2 'trigger' shots of HcG at 10PM.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
almost there
My estrogen levelled off today at 5206 (was 5204 yesterday). I was told that is good, but needs to go a little lower (around 4000 range) before they can give me my trigger (HcG) shot. So they gave me more of that Ganirelix Acetate shot to help bring it down. So that plus Lupron & back in the morning for bw. I don't know how fast it will go down (it went up plenty fast), but when it hits the right level, then they'll tell me to take my trigger shot & give me a date/time for the retrieval. So, I'm thinking maybe Wed...
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Start Lupron tomorrow
DH & I went back to NCCRM today... I had another U/S & he had to leave a 'backup' deposit in case anything happens the day of the retrevial. These guys are supposed to be good at what they do, but I have to say they leave a lot to be desired in the bedside manner & patient education arenas. I never seem to know what's going on unless I ask.
Turns out I was supposed to have already had my meds overnighted from the pharmacy but I didn't. She said it wouldn't matter to start the Lupron a day later. So I had to jump on the phone & get it overnighted so it'll be here tomorrow. Turns out when the pharmacy asked me if I wanted to hold my order, he meant the whole order when I thought he was just asking about one specific med. I didn't realize the order would come all at once. I thought I'd get each med as I needed it. Even the lady I talked to today assumed I had understood that. Anyway, it's supposed to be here tomorrow & since I work@home, it should be no big deal.. I'll be here to get it.
Lupron is a little shot, so I'm not worried about that part. I'm sure it'll be no big deal. But the side-effects I'm not looking forward to. I've heard some horror stories about how others reacted to this one. I guess we'll see ...
Turns out I was supposed to have already had my meds overnighted from the pharmacy but I didn't. She said it wouldn't matter to start the Lupron a day later. So I had to jump on the phone & get it overnighted so it'll be here tomorrow. Turns out when the pharmacy asked me if I wanted to hold my order, he meant the whole order when I thought he was just asking about one specific med. I didn't realize the order would come all at once. I thought I'd get each med as I needed it. Even the lady I talked to today assumed I had understood that. Anyway, it's supposed to be here tomorrow & since I work@home, it should be no big deal.. I'll be here to get it.
Lupron is a little shot, so I'm not worried about that part. I'm sure it'll be no big deal. But the side-effects I'm not looking forward to. I've heard some horror stories about how others reacted to this one. I guess we'll see ...
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
IVF schedule
I got my IVF schedule today. :) It's still likely to change a little depending on the various tests, but it looks like the retrieval (getting the eggs) will be around mid-Feb and then the transfer (putting 'em back) would be 3 days later. I might be a bit of an emotional roller-coaster the next two months.. be afraid, be very afraid. LOL!
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