Eight is my new favorite number.

I haven't posted much about this IVF cycle. Well haven't posted anything about it. I feel like I talked SO much about the last cycle that it made it so consuming. Then having it fail, learning of my DOR diagnosis, and   having to tell EVERYONE that we talked with about it that it didn't work made me go into the closet with this one. My interwebz friends know what's going on as well as a very few select and wonderful people in real life. And that was enough for me this go around. I just didn't want to update everyone every single day and talk about it non stop. I think it would have made me batty.

So here's my update all in one post! We maxed out on stims from day 1. And lemme tell ya, that's a lot of drugs. LOTS. Thank goodness for insurance cause I probably blew through $8,000 in drugs this cycle. Yikes! Things started out slowly- but started improving relative to last cycle. My e2 levels were rising better, my follicle counts were higher, my attitude was better. We triggered Tuesday and had retrieval today.

8 eggs! Holy Shit! 8! I was hoping for anything over 4, but I was so relieved when the nurse told me 8. I'm in quite a bit more pain today than last time, but I'm taking my vicoden and rolling with it. I'm going to go into work tomorrow and just see how I feel. I should get the fert report tomorrow as well. At my last monitoring appointment on Tuesday they were all really close in size so I'm hoping that will lead to high numbers of mature eggs. J was also scheduled for a surgical extraction of sperm as a back up this morning and based on the SA from yesterday and the fact that we have frozen sperm as a back up- it was cancelled and we were told it wasn't necessary. So far- all good news. We're planning for a 3 day transfer on Sunday unless we hear otherwise.

Cross everything. Everything you have. I'm dangerously hopeful.

Egg Retrieval Part 2

Now that I'm feeling more human/rational- I can tell the real story of Egg Retrieval.

We decided to stay at my Mom's the night before. She lives about 10 minutes away from the clinic and with the way things have been going- I didn't want to risk weather or some freak traffic accident throwing a wrench into the plans. Plus we had to be there at 6:30am.

So we got there, got taken back, changed into attractive hospital garb. And then you wait. For a loooooong time. Too long for someone who is a total anxious looney tune already. J tried to calm me down by telling me funny (not funny at the time) stories and being insanely positive. He reminded me that this is the furthest we've ever gotten. And it's been so hard to get here. And he's right. I should be happy that we got to this step.

They came in and explained what would happen and then the nurse anesthetist came and put my IV in. They asked me to verify who I was about 60 million times, which is good I guess. No need to mix up anyone's eggs. Unless you'd like to mix me up with someone who had like 20? Hmmm? Ok, sike.

Anyway- The doc also came to talk to me and verify what they would do in the lab. ICSI was a yes, but no assisted hatching unless the lab believed it to be necessary. Check. I'd never met this doc before- at Le Baby Factory- the rotate through the docs who do the retrievals so you get who you get. But he was nice none the less.

When it was show time- I walked to the OR with the nurse and they put me up in giant stirrups. And the next thing I remember I was waking up in recovery. For serious- I don't even remember laying down. That part is kind of awesome. When I woke up I instantly wanted to know how many eggs we had. The nurse wasn't sure yet, but would let me know. I felt like I was going to hurl so they gave me some zofran in my IV and it went away pretty quickly. The pain wasn't bad- like really bad cramps, kinda. J appeared from the waiting area and the nurse told me there were 4 eggs. And then I broke down.

Everyone keeps telling me I should be happy there are 4 and that it only takes one. Sure- all this is right. It just sucks to go through ALL THIS SHIT and end up with 4. It's disappointing that my body is failing me. It terrifies me that all the waiting we did could have really hurt our chances. And it just sucks.

Lots of people have said good things to me and helped me maintain perspective which is something I need desperately. It's all out of my hands now. Science did it's part and it's in God's hands now. I can only concentrate on one step at a time. We've never been able to get this far before. So now I can only focus on getting the fert report today. Please just let us make it to transfer. Please, please, please. I'll get the report this afternoon.

Back from Egg Retrieval

Only got 4. I'm pretty disappointed. I don't even know what else to say.
I'll get the fert report tomorrow.