It's Getting Real...IVF - Part 2

First let me apologize for not posting in almost a month! The holiday's, getting back into the swing of school, and directing my school play has left little time to sit and put thoughts together. That being said...HAPPY NEW YEAR! To those who are like me and on this TTC (trying to conceive) journey...hoping that this is our year!

I left off last post saying that I could not go through with my embryo transfer at the time of retrieval. Let me back track about this.

After the egg retrieval, you go in either 3 or 5 days later for your embryo transfer. Mine was going to be a day 5, and during this time you really don't go to the doctor. Not knowing what feelings/pains were normal after the retrieval, I had no clue that what I was feeling was not good. After the first or second day of cramps, etc. I started to feel nauseous and had severe stomach pains if I laid on my side. I was also on antibiotics at this point and couldn't pinpoint what was the cause of the discomfort. I went to the doctor the day before the scheduled transfer, and only the technician was there. She said that I had some fluid around my uterus, but would have to go to the doctor before the transfer the following day either way (over an hour from where we live). We did, and found out that I had OHSS (Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome). Basically, hormone levels are so high that the ovaries get enlarged, and can cause fluid all around the uterus. This is not uncommon for women who undergo fertility treatments due to all the hormones. In any case, because of this, I couldn't have the transfer and the embryos that remained had to be frozen (at this point the 16 fertilized ones dwindled down to 11...still a really good number to have). When you get pregnant, your hormone levels increase rapidly, so had I gotten pregnant at the time, it would have been dangerous for me and baby. So, that was a no go. I stopped the hormones and had to take some meds to bring my levels back down. A few days later I was back to normal.

Although I had to wait another month (which when you're TTC, is an eternity) the best part was that I was shot-free for about two weeks. Good times. Two weeks later I had to start up the progesterone shots and estrogen patches to prepare for the embryo transfer and hopefully for it to work. I don't think I mentioned this before, but the progesterone shots...well....they are in the ass muscle, and the needle is the length of my pinky finger. Go ahead...look at your hand and take stock of what I just said. They did get easier over time after my husband and I found a good system that minimized bruising and discomfort. But they literally are a pain in the ass.

The embryo transfer finally came, and I went in the same "surgical" room as the retrieval, but this time you are awake. My husband wasn't able to come in, so I kept saying "If I get pregnant, you won't have even been in the room with me!" Ha. The doctors have you repeat your name about 20 times, insert a catheter and then insert the embryo. You feel very little, and 3 minutes later it was over. All I kept thinking was...."holy sh*t...it's in there". I laid in the recovery area for about 20 minutes and then we were on our way to the TWW. If you have ever tried to conceive, you probably know the TWW. The TWO WEEK WAIT! The time you have to wait to find out if you are pregnant. During this time I still had to do the shots and patches which was beginning to wear on me. Almost two months of shots, and I was over it.

And so, just as I had to wait almost two weeks to find out the results.....so will you! Honestly, the TWW every month is almost as bad as all the disappointing negative test results. It's stressful, and all you can think about. So with that, if you are eagerly waiting to hear what the results were....I feel ya!

Peace. Love. TWW.