Well, I just like to give a quick update about our IVF journey. We started stimulation drugs two weeks ago and on Wednesday 3/21 we had our retrieval! On Monday they knew I was a little over stimulated (OHSS) so they gave me some medicine to help with that because usually the symptoms get worse after the retrieval. The retrieval went well. Hubby was in the operating room, I was under anethisea, we got 13 eggs!! Since the retrieval I've been very bloated (which is very normal I'm told) but other than that I've felt good so far. On Friday we found out we will be doing a Day 5 transfer (on Monday, March 26) and that is when we will find out how many embyros made it and if we'll have some to freeze too. For now I'm just focused on preventing and reducing the OHSS symptoms (they can get worse or onset if I become pregnant too) by staying hydrated and not being on my feet for too long. I've been doing stuff around the house but then resting when I feel like I've had enough. We are praying every moment and stay positive! I'll update you when I know more.
Well, yesterday our transfer went very well. We got to the clinic and they did a
quick OHSS check on me. Things look good with that they just want to monitor me
again tomorrow to make sure things stay that way. After the OHSS check they
went over our post-transfer instructions. I was on bed rest with bathroom privileges
starting right after the transfer until Wednesday. They require this to give
the best chance possible for the embryo(s) to implant. They also don't want you
showering or bathing until 2 days after the transfer. I can go back to work
Wednesday but cannot do any strenuous activities or lift more than 10 lbs until
my pregnancy test, which will be on 4/4/12 & 4/6/12. They will not give me
results until 4/6/12. If I do get pregnant we won't know how many implanted
until a couple weeks later when we can see by ultrasound.
After we went over the post-transfer instructions they took us into the procedure
room. I took my valium (they have you take this so you are relaxed and able to
sleep/rest after the transfer) than the Embryologist came in to tell us what
has happened since our retrieval. Out of our 13 eggs retrieved, 10 were mature
and that they could ICSI. Out of those 10, 8 fertilized normally. We had 3
grade 1 embryos on Monday (3/26/12) they chose the best two to transfer and the
third was frozen. The will continue to watch the other 5 and will freeze up to
5 more but the Embryologist said she's hoping for at least a few more. She said
they are all doing well, but they will only freeze the ones that are good
quality. We will know how many are frozen sometime next week. Of the two great
quality ones that were transferred one was already starting to hatch (ready to
implant) and the other wasn't far behind! We are so happy and so excited!!! We
are also so lucky to such great and supportive friends and family. My parents
brought dinner last night which was so nice.
P.S. Of course there is nothing good on tv ;)
Everything (other than the OHSS) sounds great!!! I'm excited for you guys and am glad you are sharing the journey with us! GOOD LUCK!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for y'all!!! So are you having to stay on bed rest with it or is it more of a precaution thing? Why did they do a day 5 transfer? Is that always how long transfers take? Do they know how many they will implant? Did the retrieval hurt? I'm so nervous!!! I went today for day 3 e2 and estradiol check
ReplyDeleteMrs Red - Bed rest is required by my clinic strictly because they want to give the embryos the best possible chance to implant. The doctor places them in the endometrial canal but its still up to my body and the embryo to attach and "hold on." With IVF your your retrieval day is the day that the sperm meet the egg. The Embrologists then watch the egg to see if it fertilizes normally and if it does then they watch that the cells are dividing like they should be and that there isn't fragmentation. The Embryologist decided if the embryo should go back into the womans body on day 3 or day 5 after fertilization. If the embryo(s) are doing ok but have some fragmentation or aren't progressing very strong they will put them in on Day 3 because they want the embryos to be in their "natural" environment so they can do the best they possibly can. Day 5 transfers you usually have strong embryos that do great outside of their natural environment. The embryos are also farther along and sometimes start hatching on the day of transfer which means that they have a better chance of implanting. (I hope this makes sense) Occassionally if they Embryologist thinks the embryos will make it to a day 5 transfer but then start doing poorly they will do a day 4 transfer.
ReplyDeleteSince the implanting is up to my body and the embryo, if I become pregnant, we won't know until the ultrasound a few weeks from now, how many implanted. One, two or none could implant.
For the retrieval I was under anesthesia, my husband got to be in the room to watch though. It didn't hurt because I couldn't feel it but you do bloat quite a bit. I feel like I look 4 months pregnant for the past 6 days. The nurse said especially with patient's that have some OHSS the bloating doesn't go down for a while, especially if you get pregnant because the HCG hormone is what creates the OHSS symptoms. But even with the OHSS I feel like the only symptom I have is the bloating -which is uncomfortable but tolerable. As for right now all I can do is take it easy, do what I'm told and PRAY that this works :)
Good luck - If you have ANY other questions I am happy to help.
So excited for the update!!! I hope everything continues going beautifully!
ReplyDeleteYay!!! I was thinking about u today, glad to hear everything is going so great! :-)
ReplyDeleteHello, I am going through an IVF right now but using a surrogate. Im on CD12. I only have to follicles that are growing and the doc isnt very optimistic about it. I was told that my cycle could be cancelled tomorrow:( Is this your first cycle?
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone :) Got GREAT news today that we have 5 embryos that they froze!!!! YAY! That means only one didn't make it out of the 8 that fertilized correctly.
ReplyDeleteKaitlin- yes this is my first cycle. I'm sorry to hear you only have two follicles this cycle, but its definitly better than none! I know my RE told us from the beginning if there isn't three then she doesn't to the retrieval, but some doctor's offices will if there is one or two. Maybe the protocol for the injections your one will be made longer to see if you develop one or two more. It depends on soooooooooooo much. I'm thinking of you and hoping things go well. Keep your chin up. The last two years of our infertility journey was full of disappointment, it feels serial that I'm this happy - I can hardly remember the last time I felt like this- and its simply because I have HOPE. I am scared and worried my results at the end of this week won't be good but I'm staying focus on being optimistic and hoping for the very best - I hope you can do the same.
Any update?? :-)
ReplyDelete