Wednesday, February 3, 2010

So disappointed...

6 eggs.

Out of 18 follicles they found 6 eggs.
With an E2 of over 10000 they still only got 6 eggs. What went wrong I don't know. I spoke to the doctor, she said I had not ovulated earlier, all the follicles were there. I asked maybe the 5000 unit trigger was too little. She said they drained all the follicles and not just those that were big.
If I have to say I have any hope for this cycle I would be lying through my teeth. I'm thinking maybe the metothrexate in September has affected the egg production despite the impressive number of follicles. What a blow.
Tomorrow I'll be called with the fertilization report. I feel very close to that woman who had to be called by the doctor because none fertilize.

Update: I have done a bit of reading and I think now I know what went wrong. There is actually a name for the condition and it's called Empty Follicles Syndrome. When the number and size of follicles correlates well with E2 levels, the most plausible explanation for poor egg retrieval is an error in the trigger. I of course triggered at the right time, so timing would not have been the problem. But I was told to use only half the dose that would have been normally used. Just to explain better, if women forget to take the trigger, at ER they will get no eggs at all despite the presence of follicles of the right size. It's not like they get immature eggs. I think I would have been ok if I had been warned that 5000 U was what I had to take to prevent OHSS but that the possibility of retrieving a high number of eggs was small. Given that I specifically asked the nurse about this and she was completely positive that 5000 U would have been sufficient to trigger everything I didn't think about it at all. I feel I was not given the full picture and I am indeed dreading the call tomorrow. Perhaps I should call the clinic and see if I can talk to the Favorite Doctor.

Update 2: thank you for all your comments, I'm trying really hard not to give up hope but I'm sure you understand it's not easy. I did call the clinic, I could barely talk on the phone and left a message for my Favorite Doctor asking if she could call back because ER didn't go very well. She of course called back and was very sorry about it all. I told her I thought the trigger had not been enough she said possibly, but that many women do well with just 5000 U (Hi, I'm the one that falls in the 2% shitty stats of ectopics...twice...I mean come on..). She said it was a difficult decision to make, they didn't want to chance me having OHSS and having to freeze it all given that I don't do well with FETs. I said of course I would have understood that but when I asked the nurse she dismissed me quickly saying I didn't need to worry. I told her I thought all the 6 eggs would have been immature. She said I'm going down to the lab and ask, I'll call you back. So all the eggs were mature and have been injected. We have to wait and see if they fertilize tomorrow. I'm still not that much better, this was a shit result and there's no sugaring of the pill.

29 comments:

Kate said...

Oh boy. That's the worst - to have high hopes based on the numbers and follicles, only to have the retrieval report not match up.
I hope that the 6 are bloody fantastic eggs though, and that they all fertilize and divide properly.
I still think you have a good chance of success, since you've gotten pregnant (just in the wrong spot) in the past, and must make good embryos and eggs and be able to implant to get that far. Will be hoping for good news to come from the embryologist, and for an intrauterine pregnancy for you despite only getting 6 eggs.
So sorry for your disappointment.

Adele said...

Fran love I'm so sorry. I'm aching for you. I think Kate is absolutely right, though: you've had a bad run of luck with where those embryos ended up, but you are clearly able to make good ones. They divide, they implant, they hold on. 6 eggs from 18 follicles would make anyone feel shortchanged, but the numbers thing seems like such a fluky predictor. A friend had 18 eggs fertilize and zero implant. My sister-in-law had 2. Both implanted and she has twin boys. Am sending such good thoughts your way. And hugs.

Life Happens said...

I'm sorry you feel so disappointed! I hope the six that you do have will fertilize! My RE always told me, it's not the quantity, but the quality. I know that probably doesn't make you feel any better, but I will pray for you!!! Can't wait for the report.

Jess said...

I am sorry to hear this! Praying that all 6 fertilize and are perfect.

Photogrl said...

((HUGS)), Fran.

I know you're disappointed.

Quality over quantity. I have high hopes for those 6 eggies of yours!

Hang in there...

Momasita said...

Fran, I'm sorry you're disappointed. Hugs! I think 6 eggs is plenty - they're 6 quality eggs. I'll be sending good fertilization thoughts your way. Chin up, you are not out of things!

TeeJay said...

What a let down. But on the good side, let's hope that your 6 are wonderfully mature and fertilize well. Try not to dwell on it, I know that's easier said than done, but you have 6 eggs to root for now. And we will be rooting for them too. I pray we get a great fert report later.

Christa said...

I'm so sorry Fran. I've never heard of that happening. I hope those 6 end up growing all the way!

Kim said...

Fran: I agree with all the other ladies. It's quality over quantity. I don't want to repeat what everyone else said, but I think at this point it will help you to hear it over and over again. Those 6 eggs can blow someone elses 14 out of the water. Sending lots of love and light to those 6 eggs and I am still very hopeful and excited for you.

Heather said...

Ouch. That does sting. I'm sorry to hear about this. I am keeping my fingers crossed that those 6 eggs are rock stars. Incidentally, my own RE wrote about 'empty follicle syndrome' in his blog a few months back. You might want to check it out.
http://www.ivfauthority.com/search/label/empty%20follicles

Take care. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.

Melissa G said...

Haven't we been subjected to enough disappointment already?!

I'm so sorry the numbers weren't what you'd hoped for. I don't blame you one bit for feeling frustrated.

Crossing everything that you get a fantastic fert report.

Hugs.

Circus Princess said...

Hoping for an incredible 100% fert report! How 'bout being on the right side of low odds for a change, huh? Big hugs!

Fertility Chick said...

Oh Fran I'm sorry that you're disappointed and frustrated - I know I would be feeling the same. But my fingers are crossed for some good news from the embryologist - you deserve it!! Thinking about you!!

Courtney said...

I'm sorry that this wasn't the initial report that you wanted to hear. Hang in there. I hope you get a GREAT fertilization report tomorrow!!

Michele said...

DAMMIT! I'm sorry, Fran. I am so sorry. I would totally call the clinic.

Praying and hoping.

Flower said...

Be encouraged, my friend. Praying that all 6 fertilize and divide as they should.

Mad Hatter said...

I'm so sorry, hon. No one can blame you for being disappointed with 6 out of 18. Hoping the fertility report tomorrow is filled with wonderful news and at he end of this you have your greatest wish. We've all seen people with 20 eggs end up with no pregnancy, and I've followed a blog of a woman who had a natural IVF - one embryo - and she's due to have her baby anytime.
Thinking of you...((hugs))
Love,
Maddy

C said...

((HUGE HUGS))

I'm so sorry. I know the disappointment. Get some rest and wait to hear for the fantastic report you're going to get tomorrow.

xxoo

Petrucia said...

Fran darling!
oh my! so much worry...
I'm sorry about the trigger, I'm sorry they might not have given you the whole picture
and please know that I'm here cheering for you, sending you all kinds of good fertilization vibes!
this is so hard! it's so freaking difficult to navigate through so much hoping and dreading.
hugs hugs hugs

Lut C. said...

That is a disappointment! Really.

But, but, 6 is not zero, there is a chance. I guess you don't want to hear anecdotes, because they don't predict anything about your outcome. I'll just hope for you that amongst those 6 there is the one!

Hang in there.

Clare said...

Sorry you are so disappointed Fran. I know it's not what you wanted, but there is still hope, you still have 6 eggs - there is still a chance. I am wishing it for you with all my heart.

BB said...

Darn! I hope the 6 mature ones are supper eggs. Crossing my fingers for tomorrows report! I am thinking of you! {HUGS}

none said...

Sorry that today's result was such a disappointment. I hope you get good, encouraging news tomorrow. Sending positive +++ growing embie vibes your way.

tireegal68 said...

gosh that sucks big time. It seems that there is no exactness to this whole shebang at all and just when we have high hopes they are dashed.
It sounds good that the eggs are all mature. I know it must be so hard to be optimistic, so I'll just say to you I'll be checking in on you to see how you are doing and try not to sugar coat it. big time hugs of course!

Best When Used By said...

Oh, Fran, my heart sinks at your disappointment. Nothing like getting your hopes up only to be shot down. Okay, so here we are - 6 eggs. You've got 6! And those 6 are STRONG because they made it despite the low trigger. So give them a chance, hon! Don't let your emotions spiral out of control, okay? As I type this, it's already "tomorrow" for you, and I'm hoping and praying you will have 6 beautiful fertilized little embryos starting to grow. Sending hugs and love.

Saige said...

Oh Fran, all is not lost. I am sorry to hear you are so down trodden. I don't blame you for feeling so upset, especially when hopes were high that it would go better. Six eggs is still pretty good, especially when all you really need is one good one. I think your chances are still great. Don't lose hope yet. Hold out for the six that were retrieved. I will pray with you that you get at least one, but that you maybe get three or more. All isn't lost. I wish I could give you a big hug and take you out for something tasty to eat to cheer you up.

Keep us all posted on how things go. You are very much in my thoughts and prayers.

*HUGE hugs*

Baby Smiling In Back Seat said...

Bleh. Hopefully you don't have side effects from having so many follicles and you're spared that salt in the wound.

Fingers crossed for great fertilization results for the 6.

Anonymous said...

Fran my friend, time for some tough love... I know you are disappointed with the 6/18 result and I would be too if in the same position, so please don't take this the wrong way...

BUT your clinic did the right thing by erring on the side of caution and triggering you with less - OHSS is not pleasant to say the least - ask me I had one of the worst cases ever. Perhaps the did screw up and could have got you more eggs if they triggered you with a higher dose but you do not want to be in the position where you are too sick from OHSS - vomiting with dioreah and so sore you can hardly walk to the transfer bed whilst trying to have your embies put back where they belong.

You have 6 mature eggs - that is still really good in the greater scheme of things and all 6 were injected. That means you have 6 chances of great embryo's.

Also remember that you do managed to fall pregnant (sorry I'm not trying to downplay how sucky it was that the last two were in the tubes but that is no longer a factor in play here cos you don't have tubes anymore) relatively easily.

It's not over by any means my friend. Not by a long shot. You have got The Super Six going on there... and I have a feeling you'll be "properly" pregnant pretty soon.

Hang in there! Praying for you.

xxx

elliej said...

Hi Fran, I'm sorry about the egg yield. Thinkling of you; this wait to fertilisation is always so hard. Just to say in March 09 at CCRM I got 6 eggs, 3 mature, 3 fertilised, 3 blasts and after CGH testing they were all normal, which gives a good chance of pregnancy (have not done FET yet). November 09 10 eggs, 5 fertilised, 2 blasts, neither normal after CGH testing. Quality is so key. I'm really rooting for the quality of the eggs you have and a great fert report; it is encouraging that they were mature. Yes, you should catch a break. Thinking of you elliejxxxx