We just got the call from the doctor. I knew it wouldn't be early because she never is :)
Anyway out of the 18 eggs collected she had managed to fertilize 15 of them. I am so relieved after yesterday's drama.
My instructions now are to keep hydrated and rest well, Keep up with the medications and wait for another call on Monday with the progress report.
This report will tell us how many have continued to grow further and what level they are at. Depending on their grade they will either go back in on this day or hopefully Wednesday. The chances of success are better on Wednesday after 5 days of cell division but 3 days is still good.
Many women i have talked to did day 3 and have had perfect bundles of joy.
The progesterone was fine apart from Richards slightly nauseated feeling from having to inject it. Im sure that will improve over time.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
The Retrieval
So what can i tell you, I can't really remember much.
We went in yesterday at 9am in preparation for the retrieval. There were 3 other couples all having the same treatment done. I was taken back to the same room i had the horrible camera experience in and told to strip from the waist down (they always say this ) and wait for the doctor.
The rooms are not very sound proof so i could hear the lady next door was just coming round and her husband had been brought in. I love listening to pass the time - oops
The anaesthetist comes in and starts asking me questions about allergies and where in England i was from - She had lived in London for many years. She hooked up the IV and the nurse put on the blood pressure cuff. I remember her administering the drug and the nurse putting socks on me. The next thing i know a nurse is shouting my name, Its a really great sleep you get!
The brought Rich in and we waited for the doctor.
We managed to get 18 eggs which the doctor was very pleased with, so off we went on our way home.
Just as we arrived back and i had set up camp on the sofa the nurse called. She informed me that Rich had to go back because there was a problem with the sample :( - Cue slightly hysterical drugged up wife sobbing like mad on the sofa. I felt bad at this but it was a little uncontrollable.
Rich headed back to the doctors probably wondering how on earth he would manage it again but of course was a star and had no trouble.
He did question the technicians and felt that he got conflicting answers so concluded that they had probably messed it up. He had to wait until they told him the sample was good. Poor sod!
So now we had to wait for tomorrow and a call with a fertilization report. I had to start the steroids tonight and the progesterone injections which was fun!
Only a small bit of bloating occurred but everything felt OK.
We went in yesterday at 9am in preparation for the retrieval. There were 3 other couples all having the same treatment done. I was taken back to the same room i had the horrible camera experience in and told to strip from the waist down (they always say this ) and wait for the doctor.
The rooms are not very sound proof so i could hear the lady next door was just coming round and her husband had been brought in. I love listening to pass the time - oops
The anaesthetist comes in and starts asking me questions about allergies and where in England i was from - She had lived in London for many years. She hooked up the IV and the nurse put on the blood pressure cuff. I remember her administering the drug and the nurse putting socks on me. The next thing i know a nurse is shouting my name, Its a really great sleep you get!
The brought Rich in and we waited for the doctor.
We managed to get 18 eggs which the doctor was very pleased with, so off we went on our way home.
Just as we arrived back and i had set up camp on the sofa the nurse called. She informed me that Rich had to go back because there was a problem with the sample :( - Cue slightly hysterical drugged up wife sobbing like mad on the sofa. I felt bad at this but it was a little uncontrollable.
Rich headed back to the doctors probably wondering how on earth he would manage it again but of course was a star and had no trouble.
He did question the technicians and felt that he got conflicting answers so concluded that they had probably messed it up. He had to wait until they told him the sample was good. Poor sod!
So now we had to wait for tomorrow and a call with a fertilization report. I had to start the steroids tonight and the progesterone injections which was fun!
Only a small bit of bloating occurred but everything felt OK.
Friday, May 29, 2009
The week before retrieval
So first sorry for not keeping this going when it was happening - Ive been busy :-)
On Tuesday i returned to the doctors office to have an ultrasound and estrogen blood test. My doctor informed me all looked excellent and my eggs were doing well. She is not one to give out too much info (i think she thinks people over analyse!!) I was advised that all looked great for Friday and there were probably about 15 eggs. You couldn't see them all on the screen but i guess in her professional opinion there are some hidden by others. I was told to carry on with the drugs to stimulate for 2 more days and then given a lesson on the HCG shot that Richard was to give me on Wednesday night.
I returned on Wednesday for another check and its amazing to see how these eggs grow in one day. At this appointment i was told no more stimulation for fear of overdoing it now. My estrogen level had returned the previous day at 2300 which is great and strong. Considering this started under 20 i feel remarkably good.
Wednesday night was the night of the HCG - this drug allows the eggs to be released. Its timed to be administered 35 hours before retrieval so Rich had to inject it into my hip/butt region for me. This is something he doesn't like doing but has to get used to because i need to receive another there for about a month!
So now i am good to go, Today is retrieval day. I am nervous but mainly of the anaesthetic and lack of control i guess.
I will be back to report once the sedation wears away.
On Tuesday i returned to the doctors office to have an ultrasound and estrogen blood test. My doctor informed me all looked excellent and my eggs were doing well. She is not one to give out too much info (i think she thinks people over analyse!!) I was advised that all looked great for Friday and there were probably about 15 eggs. You couldn't see them all on the screen but i guess in her professional opinion there are some hidden by others. I was told to carry on with the drugs to stimulate for 2 more days and then given a lesson on the HCG shot that Richard was to give me on Wednesday night.
I returned on Wednesday for another check and its amazing to see how these eggs grow in one day. At this appointment i was told no more stimulation for fear of overdoing it now. My estrogen level had returned the previous day at 2300 which is great and strong. Considering this started under 20 i feel remarkably good.
Wednesday night was the night of the HCG - this drug allows the eggs to be released. Its timed to be administered 35 hours before retrieval so Rich had to inject it into my hip/butt region for me. This is something he doesn't like doing but has to get used to because i need to receive another there for about a month!
So now i am good to go, Today is retrieval day. I am nervous but mainly of the anaesthetic and lack of control i guess.
I will be back to report once the sedation wears away.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
One week down one to go
So this week was stimulation week. 2 More drugs added to the mix, Menopur and Follistim.
I had used the follistim before during our IUI procedures so knew how to use the loaded pen but the Menopur required mixing every night and drawing up into a syringe!
No real problems this week and although the trousers have no gotten a bit tight around the belly i think i am doing good. I had one hiccup on the first night where I used the wrong needle. I was quite nervous and remembered the nurse saying use the grey needle. I used a grey needle but then was convinced it was wrong. I turned the box upside down and there at the bottom hidden among the syringes was 5 LIGHT grey needles - whoops!!!.. No harm done, no pain caused only a little bruise.
As you can see from the picture there is a BIG difference
There is grey and then there is light grey :-) The follistim Pen - this one is easy!
Last night the dose of the Follistim doubled. Today i feel achy so hopefully my follicles are growing.
Tuesday is ultrasound day and we will get to see how the follies are doing. I will also get Estrogen levels checked. They do this again on Wednesday and then hopefully Friday will be egg retrieval day.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Baseline Scan
Friday 15th May
I had my baseline scan done today which basically where the doctor measures the uterus lining and the ovaries to make sure they are ready for stimuation. Everything looked great apparently even though i had 2 left over small cysts on the right ovary. I have come to realise that this is very normal.
Last Wednesday night saw the last birth control pill and i feel so different again since stopping. It really does pack on some extra water retention. Currently i have seen no weight gain, just a little thickening around the hips!!!.
Tomorrow (Monday 18th) i start the stimulation medication.This is the stuff that will make me produce multiple eggs. I have to do 2 injections in the evening into my tummy - Menopur and Follistim. I have to continue with the Lupron as well in the morning but at a lowe dose. MY poor stomach is going to feel like a pin cushion.
My next appointment is the 26th May to check with a scan and more bloods to measure estrogen. It should all be good based on the last few months of stimulating for IUI.
I had my baseline scan done today which basically where the doctor measures the uterus lining and the ovaries to make sure they are ready for stimuation. Everything looked great apparently even though i had 2 left over small cysts on the right ovary. I have come to realise that this is very normal.
Last Wednesday night saw the last birth control pill and i feel so different again since stopping. It really does pack on some extra water retention. Currently i have seen no weight gain, just a little thickening around the hips!!!.
Tomorrow (Monday 18th) i start the stimulation medication.This is the stuff that will make me produce multiple eggs. I have to do 2 injections in the evening into my tummy - Menopur and Follistim. I have to continue with the Lupron as well in the morning but at a lowe dose. MY poor stomach is going to feel like a pin cushion.
My next appointment is the 26th May to check with a scan and more bloods to measure estrogen. It should all be good based on the last few months of stimulating for IUI.
Monday, May 11, 2009
DRUGS :-)
So my drugs were delivered by Mrs FedX overnight - its pretty good service but then you would expect that for the amount of money the meds cost :-)
The medication regime spans over about a month.
I started with the birth control pill as explained before and then move on to a drug called Lupron - this works to switch off my own ovary stimualtion so it can be done under control by other meds. I'll be on this for 2 weeks
I started it on Saturday whilst on my trip to England. I had to carry it as handluggage in a cool bag and then at the time i needed to inject it i was at a wedding! So there i am sitting in the car at the hotel of the wedding stick a needle in my stomach. Day 2 i went one better - this time it was in the toilet on the aircraft on the flight back to LA :-)
Today is day 3 - nothing special today, kitchen in chez Strange - he he he
I feel good so far, others have complained of headaches but nothing i can complain about yet.
I have an ultrasound on Friday 15th to see if everything is ready for the stimulation.
I thought i would post a pic of all the meds and needles :-) 
Having a look around April 30th 2009
Ok so again i have been rubbish at updating, life seems to of gotten really busy!
April 30th was the day i had to have one more procedure before signing the consent forms for IVF. They wanted to go in and have a look around with a camera to make sure my uterus wasn't scarred or had anything that would hinder implantation of the embryos.
Well let me tell you now having strong pelvic floor muscles do nothing for women before child birth except tighten and cramp so much that your doctor cant get the camera in!!!!.
Now when i say camera i am talking fiber optic thickness but i would easily of thoight she was trying to ram a TV camera up there.
Lets just say hysteroscope procedures are not as easy as the doctors say they are!.
Anyway it was all done eventually and we got to see in colour (believe me at this point i was close to kicking her in the head) that my uterus is nice and clear and ready for babies - yey.
Once i climbed down off the ceiling we met with the nurse and she had us sign all the forms - basically stuff like we own the embryos and we will freeze any and if we want to get rid of them we will give written consent etc.
After this followed the timescale protocal with all the drug information
The drugs were ordered and off we went
Its so nice to know there is nothing wrong but we will still have to wait and see how the eggs and spermies perform. We are very lucky that our insurance covers an extra procedure called ICSI which means they actually pick a good sperm and inject it in.
April 30th was the day i had to have one more procedure before signing the consent forms for IVF. They wanted to go in and have a look around with a camera to make sure my uterus wasn't scarred or had anything that would hinder implantation of the embryos.
Well let me tell you now having strong pelvic floor muscles do nothing for women before child birth except tighten and cramp so much that your doctor cant get the camera in!!!!.
Now when i say camera i am talking fiber optic thickness but i would easily of thoight she was trying to ram a TV camera up there.
Lets just say hysteroscope procedures are not as easy as the doctors say they are!.
Anyway it was all done eventually and we got to see in colour (believe me at this point i was close to kicking her in the head) that my uterus is nice and clear and ready for babies - yey.
Once i climbed down off the ceiling we met with the nurse and she had us sign all the forms - basically stuff like we own the embryos and we will freeze any and if we want to get rid of them we will give written consent etc.
After this followed the timescale protocal with all the drug information
The drugs were ordered and off we went
Its so nice to know there is nothing wrong but we will still have to wait and see how the eggs and spermies perform. We are very lucky that our insurance covers an extra procedure called ICSI which means they actually pick a good sperm and inject it in.
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