Mrs Red's retrieval day!!!! And everything leading up

Today was the day! I could hardly sleep last night, I was so excited!

I started my injectables on Saturday April 21, .01mL of microdose HCG, and 150 IUI of gonal-f. Hubby started taking doxycycline twice a day to make sure he doesn't get sick. I went Tuesday April 24 for stimulation day 3 E2 and sonogram. I had 4 follicles at 8-9mm! But my e2 was only 34 so they increased my meds to 225 IUI gonal-f same microdose HCG.
Thursday April 26 I went fr my next r2 and sono. I had more follicles at 8-9mm but nothing more than that. They called me later with my e2 and it was only 61 and it needed to be more than 100.... I cried at work. I was so stressed at work and I know it was effecting me... They increased my meds to 300 IUI and said come in on Saturday... So we decided to be a little more diligent and started up juicing again...

Friday after work, we made a commitment to having a stress free (as much could be controlled) weekend and no work talk or thinking of work. We went to the movies Friday and saw 21 jump street, very funny and it helped kick start the weekend. The. Saturday morning we went back and praise God, my e2 was 467!!! My sono showed I had a handful of eggs over 10mm and one at 14! So same dose and come in Monday with my meds and to bring one of the cetratide kits! For dinner we went and ate sushi to celebrate and because if all goes well I won't get to eat it for a while

Monday we get to the doctor after having a juice packed with fruits and veggies full of phytoestrogens. My sono showed 16 follicles over 10 mm! And like 3 at 15 mm! I ran out of gonal-f and spent the day calling around to get a good price for a 900 iui pen.... Took .01 mL of the microdose at the doctors office, then they called later and confirmed to keep taking 300 IUI of gonal-f and to take my cetratide medicine. Cetratide is a medicine to prevent the mature eggs from releasing on their own. My e2 Monday was 1264!

Took .01 mL microdose hcg, 300iui gonal-f and cetratide tuesday and then went back to the doc Wednesday. They told me to take all my doses for the day and that would be my last dose of those medicines. At 9pm Wednesday night I took 1CC of novarel to mature my eggs. At the sono it showed I had 13 follicles that were ready and thy said the rest would probably continue maturing. The sonographer gave me a print out of my "kissing ovaries"

Thursday I went in the morning for another e2, and they reminded me to brig warm socks and to take a fleet enema that night and no food after midnight. I have to admit.... The enema was uncomfortable and weird but I'm doing everything they say to do!

This morning I couldn't sleep, partly because my "kissing ovaries" we're pushing on my bladder and I have to pee soooo often lol! I'm so thankful I haven't gotten sick with how big they are. We got to the clinic at 710, they took us back an got me changed. I swore I had to pee but only a little came out. It hurts to pee because oh the ovary size but it's not too bad. They put me in the room and hooked me up to the iv. Miguel kissed me and then I saw the doctor for a sec, they gave me "loopy" medicine and it made me sleepy but I fought it, I wanted to be nosey loo. Then the doctor came and said we were ready, they wrapped my legs with some dark blue tarp looking things and they started the anesthesia, it burned like bad carpal tunnel days. Then I was out, I woke up to the nurse and anesthesiologist talking about vacations lol first thing I said was "go on a cruise" lmao, we talked for a while as I woke up then they got Miguel and got me animal crackers. He told me they got 29 eggs! Even the doctor was shocked! A while later they said I could go home and gave me instructions for the next 4 days.

We went and got breakfast then home. I slept for a few hours and then logged into work to make sure everything was set so no one will call me lol. Now we wait for the report on how many fertilized! :-D

God is great!

My "kissing ovaries"

Ashley's IVF

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 ;)

"Infertile" vs "Infertility"

Google: "not fertile; unable to reproduce"

MedicineNet.com: "Not able to conceive after a year of regular intercourse without contraception"

thefreedictionary.com: "no fertile; unproductive; barren; incapable of producing offspring; sterile"

I am not infertile. To me, infertile and infertility are two DIFFERENT things.
Infertile is when your eggs are gone. You can't produce sperm or the sperm has too many issues to overcome.
Infertility is not being able to conceive naturally.

I suffer from infertility. My eggs don't release from the ovary into the fallopian tubes. BUT. I have eggs, therefore I am not "infertile". As you read my posts, you can probably notice that I dance around the use of that word. I will change it. Infertile is a word lacking any hope.

 I have hope. Lots of hope.

~Shannon