In The Morning

Approximately 12 hrs until we find out if we have any embryos & when we expect to transfer & if there were enough additional mature eggs to cryo.

I checked the posts from last time & the doctor called around 9a, so we are headed to bed to awake & get the news!

I am already hopeful, but know this is just one more step...

Retrieval Done

Egg retrieval is done & we are headed back home.

Out of the 18 follicles, only 9 eggs were retrieved. We don't know how many are mature, but the best three eggs will be fertilized. On Wednesday we get a report of the fertilized eggs & how many (if any) oocytes/eggs could be frozen.

That is it. Will update more when I have updates. This time, I have a tylenol #3 script in case I need it. Oh, I feel good. A bit sleepy & achy, but good. I was instructed to drink lots of gatorade & not so much water, so I guess that means a slight risk for OHSS.

Countdown...

We are stayed up in the hotel here in Jacksonville in anticipation.

We are to be at the clinic at 7a. We still have to sign some consents... the oocyte cryo as I was wondering if we might decide on possible embryo cryo if it looked like it might be a possibility. At this point, we are probably going to cryo some oocytes, but not embryos. It will be up to the FS to decide to fertilize two or three eggs. And I will be on pins & needles to even see if they will make it to transfer or not.

So, here is how we expect tomorrow to flow...

7a: arrive at clinic, sign consents, confirm payment for oocyte cryo, pre op stuff
8a-9a: procedure, doctor will discuss with Nick number of eggs retrieved, number of eggs that will be fertilized
9:30a: discharged, pick up meds from pharmacy to deliver back to clinic (loaned me some), head to hotel to meet MIL & baby to do breakfast & drive the 3+ hrs home

I am almost hoping to just sleep & then when I wake up, the next big step will be completed. We will know how many mature eggs we have to begin with. Our clinic gives fert reports the second day after transfer, so by 10a Wednesday morning, I will know if we have embryos, how many, & what day transfer will be.

Hope you all have a wonderful evening.

Retrival Scheduled

For Monday.

I only had ten days worth of stims, so cue the emotional craziness. Yesterday was a mess trying to get them for tonight & I was dreading this morning to rummage up the meds, but one of the IVF nurses called early this morning. One of the satellite offices had some meds I could borrow. I made the three hour round-trip this morning.

I am alternating between aggravation & calm-ness (okay, not a word, but ya get what I'm saying?)... more calm than I thought I'd be.

I am currently visiting my g'parents so DH is not here to give me the trigger shot. I am hoping it'll work out for my cousin to do the injection. I have read of others doing their own triggers, but any advice on that? I am not sure how logisticallly I could? We have to do in the booty... upper quadrant.

Otherwise, we are trying to reduce stress as much as possible. Went to the beach today & heading to the zoo tomorrow evening. It all still feels out of body. The doctor seems optimistic about the cycle based on our first IVF. He will decide Monday if he will have two or three eggs fertilized. I am not sure what we will cut off on the number of eggs to justify oocyte freezing... maybe four? We had most follicles in the 14-16 range, so I know there will be several many (most?) will be immature.

Better go. This evening was a reminder of making sure E gets a nap... tomorrow we will nap!

Almost to Final U/S

Had our 3rd u/s today and we still have 12 follicles on the right side & 6 follicles on the left side. Most of them seem to be in the same range of sizes, so that is good! I find out tomorrow morning when our next appt will be once the nurse consults with the doctor. Will probably be Thursday at the fertility clinic.

I also asked about the oocyte cryo & it'll be a little be extra money, but only half of what I thought. She said they'd freeze even 5 eggs, but hopefully we will have 8 or 10 to freeze over what is fertilized. Will talk more to the doctor on Thursday, but we are probably only going to have 3 fertilized at egg retrieval.

I am still feeling a bit uncomfortable, but thrilled we actually do have that many follicles. I know follicles don't equal mature eggs, but it's still over three times what we had last time.

Will update more later as we know.

For future reference; the sizes I caught of the follicles...
RT: 7,8,9,9,10,10,10,10,10 (missing three of them)
LT: 2,3,5,6,8,8

Ganirelix Start

This morning, we began the Ganirelex injections. I sat in the parking lot at McDonald's & bared my hip. Didn't hurt so much during the injection, but it really hurt afterwards. Like stabbing/achy pain. Anyone else familiar with this?

The stims & ovaries haven't felt as bad, but I have been wearing loose clothes & sleeping a lot. I don't know if it's the meds, but I have been pretty tired lately.

I have another u/s tomorrow morning. I am guessing the afternoon call from the nurse will include setting up a (final?) appt in Jax on Wednesday or Thursday. Appears we may trigger Thursday or Friday still.

So, that is pretty much it. I am nervous that I don't have much belly tenderness... but, I will know more after tomorrow's appt.

Hope you all have a wonderful evening!

You Won't Believe It...

Because I still don't believe it.

At the scan, the technician counted 12 on my left side & 6 on my right side. All ranging in size from 2-10 with seven size 8s. Umm, that HAS to be wrong.

Here's why I think so... the technician that usually works for the satellite office was not in, so someone else did the u/s. I even asked if it was difficult to keep all the different "separated" so as not to confuse the same ones more than once. She was very sweet & replied "Yes, which is why I should stop talking & play closer attention".(I tend to ask a lot of questions!) We also only started with nine antral follicles & I carry the diagnosis of diminished ovarian reserve.

So, Monday is my next u/s with the normal technician, so maybe that will reflect a bit more accurately the number. I start Ganirelex Sunday morning, too. Appears we may still be looking at ER next Saturday or Sunday.

BUT, if that is correct, WOW! How in the world?! How is my body rocking out all these follicles? It may seem silly, but tue fact that literally everything is different this cycle makes me a bit nervous. If there are that many more eggs, maybe oocyte cryo would be an option.

We will just keep chugging along. I bought a comfy dress today to wear, my Mom bought some yoga pants for me, & we bought some jersey knit to make a skirt out of! I need gentle waistband clothing now! Pretty uncomfortable in any position & tire easily.

Wanted to update you all! Will post more later.