Since I have never made it to transfer before, you'll have to excuse all these really practical, boring, detail oriented posts I've had going on the last few days. This one is no exception! :)
Could IVF veterans answer these for me please?
1. When we do the PIO shots (KG is a pro - these haven't been bad for me), I get a little bit of oil that leaks out...are we doing something wrong?
2. Do I really need to drink 32 ounces of water for transfer? Would 20 do? I'm afraid I'll burst before the procedure!
3. How many of you transferred 1 embryo? The doctor is emphatic that if we have any to freeze, we should only transfer 1. This makes sense to me because I am not prepared for twins at all and multiples carry a higher risk of preterm labor. But, as many of you know, it is a difficult choice.
_________________________________
As of today, 15 of our embies are 6-8 cell, and "perfect" according to my doctor. This is exceptionally great news.
So, why am I still so scared something bad will happen?
Showing posts with label icsi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label icsi. Show all posts
Friday, April 13, 2012
Sunday!
I got the call this morning that we will transfer on Sunday. When I asked how my embies were doing the nurse said almost all of them were great and that, "You sure have a lot of them!"
So excited!
So excited!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Suspense
So, I ended up going to work today, because my students had a couple of big events going on. Actually, it is better than being at home. At least at work, I'm distracted. Well, somewhat distracted.
All morning, I have been watching my phone.
Tick, tock. Tick, tock. As the time got closer and closer to noon, I got more and more panicked. Why were they taking so long to call with my fertilization results? Was it bad news again? Last time, my doctor called me with the bad news close to lunchtime...is that why she is waiting? Until she has a break?
I literally felt like I was going to have a panic attack, I became so stressed.
Then, the call came. I knew it was going to be okay, the minute I saw that the nurses were the ones calling.
So, here's the good news:
Out of the 26 eggs retrieved yesterday, 23 were mature. Out of those 23, 20 fertilized normally.
That's right folks, 20.
We hear Friday morning whether we will do a 3 or a 5 day transfer. Here's hoping the little embies keep on keepin' on.
Looks like all the prayers, vibes, fertility socks, and crossed fingers and toes did the trick.
Do me a favor...keep 'em coming?
All morning, I have been watching my phone.
Tick, tock. Tick, tock. As the time got closer and closer to noon, I got more and more panicked. Why were they taking so long to call with my fertilization results? Was it bad news again? Last time, my doctor called me with the bad news close to lunchtime...is that why she is waiting? Until she has a break?
I literally felt like I was going to have a panic attack, I became so stressed.
Then, the call came. I knew it was going to be okay, the minute I saw that the nurses were the ones calling.
So, here's the good news:
Out of the 26 eggs retrieved yesterday, 23 were mature. Out of those 23, 20 fertilized normally.
That's right folks, 20.
We hear Friday morning whether we will do a 3 or a 5 day transfer. Here's hoping the little embies keep on keepin' on.
Looks like all the prayers, vibes, fertility socks, and crossed fingers and toes did the trick.
Do me a favor...keep 'em coming?
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
"You're an egg machine."
...or so SKB told me via text when I told her they got 26 eggs today. I beat my record.
On the way home, KG and I even treated ourselves to outrageously good doughnuts at our local bakery. Seriously, they are AMAZING.
I'm sore, groggy, and relieved it's over.
Pins and needles until I get the fertilization results tomorrow! In the meantime, DVR and Powerade.
On the way home, KG and I even treated ourselves to outrageously good doughnuts at our local bakery. Seriously, they are AMAZING.
I'm sore, groggy, and relieved it's over.
Pins and needles until I get the fertilization results tomorrow! In the meantime, DVR and Powerade.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Lucky 100th post
At least I'm hoping it's lucky.
Just got the call from my nurse. Looks like I am in the safe zone with my estrogen levels (2,238 - phew) with lots of follicles on both sides now (still way more on the right - the tech counted 19 on the right and 5 on the left this morning), and "nice, thick lining."
Tonight we trigger.
Tomorrow I channel every positive thought I have.
Retrieval is at 7am Tuesday morning.
Thank you for all your support, comments, and cyber love this week. I really feel all of you holding me up.
Crossing eyes, fingers, and toes.
Just got the call from my nurse. Looks like I am in the safe zone with my estrogen levels (2,238 - phew) with lots of follicles on both sides now (still way more on the right - the tech counted 19 on the right and 5 on the left this morning), and "nice, thick lining."
Tonight we trigger.
Tomorrow I channel every positive thought I have.
Retrieval is at 7am Tuesday morning.
Thank you for all your support, comments, and cyber love this week. I really feel all of you holding me up.
Crossing eyes, fingers, and toes.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Anyone interested in an IVF update?
If you aren't into numbers and nitty-gritty, feel free to skip this post. Sometimes I like analyzing numbers, so you'll have to indulge me.
So last cycle, My med protocol looked like this:
BCP for weeks and weeks
Lupron (10iu to start, then 5iu when stims started)
75iu of Menopur and 150iu of Gonal-F for the first 3 days of stimming
150iu of Menopur and 150iu of Gonal-F for the next 7 days
Pregnyl trigger
23 eggs retrieved, 19 mature
That cycle, my estrogen looked like this:
15 (4th day of stims), 187, 404, 1,085, 1,940 (triggered that night) - 11 days of stims
This cycle, the protocol was nearly identical, except for one thing: she started me at 150/150 of Menopur and Gonal-F right off the bat. As a result, my estrogen rose a bit more quickly.
Here have been my estrogen numbers since Monday:
Mon (4th day of stims): 40, 254, 684, today: 1608
Follicle count: 14 on the right, 4 on the left
Largest follicle today: 16mm
The nurse told me to stop Gonal F tonight (but still do 150u of Menopur - fun!). She thinks tonight will be the last night of stims, trigger tomorrow, and retrieval on Tuesday.
We are nearing the finish line.
So, I'm considering taking off both the day of retrieval and the day after. I have 2 reasons:
1. I was in a lot of pain last time. Seriously, I was not prepared to be in that much pain.
2. If our results are similar to last time, I really, really don't want to have to take that call with children all around me. That was so, so awful in January.
Last thought: Please God, let the ICSI work.
I'm curious for the experts to answer this question: With numbers rising this quickly, how worried should I be about OHSS? I mean, they are reducing my stims tonight, but I went from 684 to 1608 in 24 hours....
Fitting, for the end of a cycle.
So last cycle, My med protocol looked like this:
BCP for weeks and weeks
Lupron (10iu to start, then 5iu when stims started)
75iu of Menopur and 150iu of Gonal-F for the first 3 days of stimming
150iu of Menopur and 150iu of Gonal-F for the next 7 days
Pregnyl trigger
23 eggs retrieved, 19 mature
That cycle, my estrogen looked like this:
15 (4th day of stims), 187, 404, 1,085, 1,940 (triggered that night) - 11 days of stims
This cycle, the protocol was nearly identical, except for one thing: she started me at 150/150 of Menopur and Gonal-F right off the bat. As a result, my estrogen rose a bit more quickly.
Here have been my estrogen numbers since Monday:
Mon (4th day of stims): 40, 254, 684, today: 1608
Follicle count: 14 on the right, 4 on the left
Largest follicle today: 16mm
The nurse told me to stop Gonal F tonight (but still do 150u of Menopur - fun!). She thinks tonight will be the last night of stims, trigger tomorrow, and retrieval on Tuesday.
We are nearing the finish line.
So, I'm considering taking off both the day of retrieval and the day after. I have 2 reasons:
1. I was in a lot of pain last time. Seriously, I was not prepared to be in that much pain.
2. If our results are similar to last time, I really, really don't want to have to take that call with children all around me. That was so, so awful in January.
Last thought: Please God, let the ICSI work.
I'm curious for the experts to answer this question: With numbers rising this quickly, how worried should I be about OHSS? I mean, they are reducing my stims tonight, but I went from 684 to 1608 in 24 hours....
Fitting, for the end of a cycle.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Thank You
The support I got from all of you yesterday was staggering and humbling. Some of you even said how much my blog helps you, and that made me feel extremely grateful. I am so lucky to have you all, as well as my wonderful friends IRL.
There are no words to describe how stunned and disappointed we are. It still seems surreal. I have to say, of all the worries I had about this cycle, I didn't see this one coming. One minute, I was waiting to hear when my transfer would be, the next the ground disappeared beneath me. I was at school when I got the call, and apparently I turned as white as a ghost and staggered out of my classroom. Thank goodness I have a teaching partner who could take over. I apparently drove home (although it's foggy in my memory) and then spent the next 8 hours crying off and on, finally passing out at 8:30.
Biggest lesson learned? Don't go to sleep after crying that long. I woke up this morning looking like a swollen monster - seriously, it looked like I needed an Epipen.
Today, we are trying to regroup and make sense of what happened. This is extremely difficult with so little information.
His Royal Fabulousness and I have the same questions that many of you asked in your comments. Here are some of the things I know:
1. 19 of my 23 eggs were mature and healthy.
2. KG's sperm also all looked good.
3. They expected excellent fertilization and my RE was genuinely shocked.
4. She said they checked for lab error, compared with other ER's that day, and spoke with the embryologist.
5. At this point, there is no explanation for why none of my eggs fertilized. They think this could be why my IUIs didn't work, but they can't point to a specific problem.
6. The RE said we will do ICSI next time, and that they have good success rates. They don't do ICSI unless there are known sperm/egg issues, so therefore we did not plan on it for my first retrieval. I also plan on asking about assisted hatching. I did ask about why they couldn't do ICSI after the fact and her nurse said it was too late.
7. I am at one of the top fertility clinics in the country, seeing one of the top REs, in one of the medical centers of the universe (Boston). I don't think this is a result of a lab error. I think this is just a really fucked up, rare, horrible outcome to an otherwise promising IVF cycle.
Where do we go from here? For now, we are on hold. I stopped all meds and now have to wait for AF. Then I'll go back on the pill for a while. Then, we'll see how my ovaries are looking, and start over. We are also compiling a list of questions for our WTF?! appointment with the RE in a couple of weeks.
I'm still pretty uncomfortable from ER, and generally feel pretty shitty. Hiding out with a bottle of wine (thanks Smoon) sounds like a good plan for now.
KG made me promise that we won't give up yet. But, with his big blue eyes, he did admit that he's, "...tired of being in the 1%." Amen.
Edited to add: If you or someone you know has had zero fertilization, please comment.
There are no words to describe how stunned and disappointed we are. It still seems surreal. I have to say, of all the worries I had about this cycle, I didn't see this one coming. One minute, I was waiting to hear when my transfer would be, the next the ground disappeared beneath me. I was at school when I got the call, and apparently I turned as white as a ghost and staggered out of my classroom. Thank goodness I have a teaching partner who could take over. I apparently drove home (although it's foggy in my memory) and then spent the next 8 hours crying off and on, finally passing out at 8:30.
Biggest lesson learned? Don't go to sleep after crying that long. I woke up this morning looking like a swollen monster - seriously, it looked like I needed an Epipen.
Today, we are trying to regroup and make sense of what happened. This is extremely difficult with so little information.
His Royal Fabulousness and I have the same questions that many of you asked in your comments. Here are some of the things I know:
1. 19 of my 23 eggs were mature and healthy.
2. KG's sperm also all looked good.
3. They expected excellent fertilization and my RE was genuinely shocked.
4. She said they checked for lab error, compared with other ER's that day, and spoke with the embryologist.
5. At this point, there is no explanation for why none of my eggs fertilized. They think this could be why my IUIs didn't work, but they can't point to a specific problem.
6. The RE said we will do ICSI next time, and that they have good success rates. They don't do ICSI unless there are known sperm/egg issues, so therefore we did not plan on it for my first retrieval. I also plan on asking about assisted hatching. I did ask about why they couldn't do ICSI after the fact and her nurse said it was too late.
7. I am at one of the top fertility clinics in the country, seeing one of the top REs, in one of the medical centers of the universe (Boston). I don't think this is a result of a lab error. I think this is just a really fucked up, rare, horrible outcome to an otherwise promising IVF cycle.
Where do we go from here? For now, we are on hold. I stopped all meds and now have to wait for AF. Then I'll go back on the pill for a while. Then, we'll see how my ovaries are looking, and start over. We are also compiling a list of questions for our WTF?! appointment with the RE in a couple of weeks.
I'm still pretty uncomfortable from ER, and generally feel pretty shitty. Hiding out with a bottle of wine (thanks Smoon) sounds like a good plan for now.
KG made me promise that we won't give up yet. But, with his big blue eyes, he did admit that he's, "...tired of being in the 1%." Amen.
Edited to add: If you or someone you know has had zero fertilization, please comment.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
spoke too soon
You know it is bad when your RE calls you herself.
0.
Zip.
None.
That's how many of my 23 eggs fertilized.
Even more frustrating? 19 of my eggs and KG's sperm all looked perfect. They have no explanation.
I can't remember some of what she said because I was so stunned. What I do remember is that she said next time, we would do ICSI.
Utter despair.
0.
Zip.
None.
That's how many of my 23 eggs fertilized.
Even more frustrating? 19 of my eggs and KG's sperm all looked perfect. They have no explanation.
I can't remember some of what she said because I was so stunned. What I do remember is that she said next time, we would do ICSI.
Utter despair.
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