Day 20

I'm still feeling off which isn't the best. I managed to go into work for a few hours his morning but kept getting head spins and nausea to the point where I just needed to close my eyes and go home.

My Mum came over to look after me which was nice- got set up in front of the tv and heater and some fresh flowers and chocolate. Of course I don't have any appetite so they are just sitting there looking delicious.

Fingers crossed tomorrow I'll start to feel better and I can get through a full day of work. I have this Friday off as annual leave and there is a public holiday next Monday so I'll have a good rest once I get through to the weekend.

Day 19

A lot has been happening so here is the cliff-notes version.

Trigger injection happened last Monday 23rd at 10.15pm, followed by egg collection on Wednesday morning. We got 14 eggs, of which 13 were suitable for ICSI and 10 fertilised.

By Day 3 we had two main embryos, a 5 cell and 6 cell, so they were both transferred. I haven't actually called to see if there were any to freeze as on the day it didn't sound like there were any others left.

Here are our two embryos- no naming them this time round.

Unfortunately the day after egg collection I was very unwell, culminating in having to call the after hours IVF number - vomiting, full body shakes, dizziness, and cramping. I ended up getting through it but it was pretty awful.

I've been off work since last Wednesday as a result of the egg collection with bouts of nausea, vomiting, constipation, light headed, and crippling anxiety. Hopefully tonight I'll get some relief

I had a PCV test this morning to check on the potential for OHSS which showed elevated levels (43- normal is under 30). My Dr wants me to start on baby aspirin until my pregnancy test and continue to take it easy.

Beta is June 8th.

Back to the lounge recliner for me.

Day 13 - Ready to go

How things change in a couple of hours! I got the call from the clinic to say that I would have egg pick up on Thursday and it would be a freeze-all cycle for two reasons - risk of OHSS and also my progesterone levels had risen to 4 which can reduce pregnancy success as it can make the uterine lining hostile to embryos. Not the news I wanted to hear!

My concerns with this boil down to the fact that last cycle, the two embryos that we transferred would not have been considered freeze quality, so we would have had nothing. I would rather transfer two poor embryos than nothing, especially with this being the last fresh cycle we do. Of course if it looks like we have a couple of embryos growing to blastocyst, by all means freeze them all, but if they are poor quality, no way.

I relayed these concerns to the nurse and she spoke with my Dr who has turned into a freeze-all - question mark, which just means that we will assess how I respond after egg collection and what the embryo development is like before we make a final decision. Thank goodness for that.

With that change though, the Dr decided to bring forward egg collection to Wednesday. Unfortunately I wont have my Dr doing egg collection - this is Kevin Artley who I haven't met before, but I'm sure he is more than capable.

So last night at 10.15pm I had two trigger injections - the second one was to help the follicles mature that little bit more as they were a little on the small side on the scan yesterday. Egg Collection is booked in for 10.15am Wednesday morning, and I have arranged to be off work for the rest of the week. I'm feeling a bit off today from all of the drugs, and my ovaries feel so heavy and uncomfortable - I have to walk very slowly and gently because they can get quite painful if I forget!

I also checked in with the clinic about Murray's frozen sperm samples. The first sample was only 2% motility but the second sample had 5% motility which is a huge improvement on the 0.01% fresh sample last IVF. He will still give a fresh sample tomorrow which they will analyse and then choose the best sample to use to fertilise the eggs.

All systems are go!

Day 12

Another bad blood test experience today. I'm super sensitive to the needles, even when they use a smaller gauge needle than usual.

 

My eggs are looking good – I have 32 follicles greater than 10mm, and another 20+ smaller antral follicles. Saturday was 21 follicles greater than 10mm, so it's definitely moving along, although I wish we had bigger follicles rather than just lots! The lead follicle is 19mm

 

 

It looks like my doctor is only doing egg collections on Tuesdays and Thursdays so if egg collection is on Friday, I will have someone else doing it (but I confirmed it's not Dr T who I won't let anywhere near me!). Usually on the weekends, the patient's own doctor will do the egg collection, so I'm hoping that either I go on Thursday or Saturday.

Day 11

My blood test yesterday morning was awful, lots of digging around to find a vein - my arm is pretty bruised up today. On the plus side, I have plenty of follicles as usual with about 20 larger than 10mm.   I had a day off from tests today, but I am back  at the clinic tomorrow morning for another blood test and scan. 

I started the Cetrotide injections on Saturday afternoon. Usually I have Orgalutran but they wanted to try something different. 

Hormone levels as of Sat morning are:

Estrogen - 10560

LH - 14

Progesterone - 4.3

Day 7

My first blood test and ultrasound was yesterday, and as usual, I have plenty of eggs growing. There were 10+ follicles one each ovary, although the ones on the left were a lot smaller (under 6mm) compared to the right ovary (under 10mm). My estrogen was 1090, and I have to go back tomorrow for another blood test, and then Friday for bloods and a scan.

I am so tired at the moment, I come home from home exhausted and fall into bed. Maybe it's the weather, or potentially just having a lot on my plate. I don't know. Off to have a nap before dinner.

Day 2 ~ ART #21 ~ IVF #10

There is nothing new under the sun. It certainly feels that way for me.

We have officially commenced the cycle – I took my Luveris and Puregon (150iu) this morning, and my first blood test and scan are on next Tuesday morning.

Thankfully the timing of the cycle has worked out okay – originally egg collection was going to line up with my Mum's 50^th birthday party which would have been devastating!

Luckily my period held off a few extra days and it shouldn't interfere now.

 

I am ever hopeful, but also a realist. If it hasn't worked by now, it is unlikely to work. God performs miracles and I continue to pray that one happens, but I also believe that we are blessed either way.

The Bible says 'Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted (Matthew 5:3). Not Blessed are those who have everything going well in their lives.

We already know the pain of infertility, but permanent childlessness is going to be an adjustment and something that as much as I try and anticipate and prepare for it, I will never be ready for the feelings that are going to come at the end of this cycle, regardless of outcome.