Retrieval on monday

Last scan this morning and all looks good. I think I have 20 follicles in total and 14 are of a very good size. Also I was scanned with a different (older) machine and even the measure of the lining (incidentally the best I ever had!) was less than 2 days ago so I am thinking there may be a couple more follicles in the "right zone", but we all know this means nothing till you have actually eggs and then embryos. So I don't want to have my hopes up too much as the disappointment the last time was massive. If I don't hear anything this afternoon from the clinic, I'll trigger with the full dose on saturday night and I'll be the first one in the morning going through the procedure.

In Oliver's world things are well, he had his first cold which had him up at night (and us too!) even more than usual, being quite uncomfortable and slightly feverish. But yesterday he was already much better and last night...oh yes, last night we NEVER had to get up! I'm looking 10 years younger this morning!! And it's just as well...we had the official opening of our new research facilities and the Prime Minister was on the premises...big big deal as you can imagine, in difficult economic times you have to really show that your job and research are worth the investment.

Finally we had another full on alarm with the sensor monitor. It happened one the afternoon, Oliver was actually awake and all smiley when Mike run up to check on him. Mike had heard him cooing seconds earlier so we are now absolutely certain the thing it's false alarming on us. I think Carlito may have started playing with the cable that connect the under-mattress sensor pad to the unit...I have to say I'm so so relieved!!!

Update number 2

Academic teaching term will start on monday and we are having orientation week at the moment and it's just hell. So I've not been able to read or comment! So sorry, I'll try my best during the weekend.

I had my second scan this morning, everything is on track, 10 follicles on the left and 7 good sizes on the right. A couple of smallies which won't count. Mike went in for his SA yesterday and he had nothing to report on the "Sample room" of the new facility, apparently it's the same as the old one, no new "interesting" material to look at. The results weren't great, 7 million/mL, low motility. Bleah. The Fav Doctor had a look for me at his precious number and actually in 2009 he only had 5.4 million/mL so it's not as bad this time. And she pointed out they only need a few for ICSI so they have plenty to work with.

In other news, Oliver had a terrible night last night, we had very little sleep, he seemed inconsolable between 1.30 am and 3am. Normally it's enough to give him his soother and the night-teddy but we actually had to pick him up and rock him till he stopped sobbing. My little baby...I think he suffers from separation anxiety now that I'm in work all day...and I'm a bit tender in the belly so I don't pick him up as much in the evening either...let's hope he'll settle soon. Love to all.

Cycle update

Day 6 of stim and this morning I had my scan with the Fav Doctor.

All looks super, I have 8 follicles on each side all above 10mm (but one which is small). Retrieval most likely to be on monday! She said after a pregnancy it's very common to have great response. Nice to know!

In other news yesterday I went to the local pool with Oliver again and it was a success like the first time! He absolutely loves it.

We had one other incident with the sensor monitor, a couple of nights ago. I had just been in checking on him and actually I heard him making a noise from my bed when the monitor went "Bip"! So I went back in knowing though it was definitely a false alarm. And it was. Oliver was on his side at the edge of the bed asleep. It never went to the full on beeping though, but somehow it reassured me greatly it may have been a glitch!

I'm back in work full time and I'm trying to come in very early so that I can go home mid afternoon, so far so good!

Ready to trigger

My dears, I didn't have a second today to update the blog. Did you notice the new look? I thought I needed a change so after various attempts at changing things I'm happy with the result!

Anyway, I had my final scan today, I think they counted over 14 follicles above 14mm and 4 around 10mm. Lining looks good at 10.4 mm which I think it's the best I ever got. Now, they took blood also for E2 with the agreement that if I didn't hear anything I would have triggered with 10000 Units of Pregnyl, otherwise they would phone me.

And sure enough...

E2 is quite high, around 10000 (thankfully I lowered the Puregon!) so I'm to trigger with only 5000 U of Pregnyl this evening at 9.30.
ER is on wednesday at 9.00. I better be the first one!! And hopefully the moron won't be there to take pics of us!! They hope in this way I won't hyperstimulate as I'm borderline for OHSS with these values and number of follicles.

So strange how I responded much more to a lower dose this time around. Ah well, we just take it one day at a time and see how it goes.

Day 8 scan and a bonus intralipid! UPDATE

Yesterday it kind of came to my mind that this cycle there was no mention of the intralipid infusion. I decided to call the clinic because according to my schedule if it's going to happen it should be on day 8! And sure enough...I was told that yes I had to have it done, millions apologies for the oversight and please come in early so that I can get out in time for my first lecture.

The great thing is that now the intralipid it's done at the clinic. You may remember my ordeal with the intralipid at the prvious cycle, so I definitely was not looking forward to it.

This morning I went in prepared with patches everywhere with the anesthetic gel, but first things first.

The scan was very good, confirmed 14 follicles, 8 on the left and 6 on the right between 17 and 10, we hope that the smallest ones will pick up. My E2 on day 6 was very good, in fact better than the last time at 2,560 and my lining is now at 8.5 mm which is also a little better than the last time. I am pleased with the fact that this time, on the same dose of Puregon (150U per day) I'm actually doing better number-wise. Again, as of today things should go ahead as scheduled with ER next wednesday.

I was then brought down to the theatre for the intralipid. My Favourite Doctor came down to put the cannula in. I warned her that I'm not a great veins holder, but she took a look at my harm, she asked the nurse for a smaller needle (they do exist!!) and I felt absolutely nothing. She was in within seconds, took the blood for the E2 check and there I was with the drip going.

What a dream. Honestly. I am so grateful i can do it there, a part from the fact that it's two minutes from home, they actually know what they are doing!

I have to go ahead with the injections as I've done so far, same dose. I have already stopped the aspirin and hopefully I'll trigger on Monday!! Woohooo! I'm very happy.

On a sad note, I overheard one of the doctors talking to one of the embryologists saying something like "The patient from yesterday, the one who only had two eggs and none fertilised, must be called by a doctor not the lab..." Gosh...whoever she is...I am thinking of her.

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Update:

Ullallahh I got a call from the Favourite Doctor, I have to reduce the Puregon from 150U to 100U as my E2 is increasing steadily and has reached 5000! She said it's perfectly safe but they don't want me to hyperstymulate. She said she can practically confirmed that ER will be on wednesday. On monday they will recheck E2, but I should be on the safe side of the upper limit. Let's hope so, as I don't want to trigger with decapeptyl!!

Day six scan

Wow, I'm already on day six! I've been so busy with work that I didn't post much at all in the last couple of days, but I'll catch up today for sure.

I love you my friends, thanks for stopping by, your support is worth gold at this stage.

So this morning I went in for my second scan. Things look good I'm told. I've about 6-7 follicles per ovary varying in size from 14mm to 8mm. They are checking my E2 also, but if I don't hear anything I'll be staying on my current Puregon dose of 150uL and I have started the antagonist today too. So whatever I have done with that injection on day 2 didn't matter too much! Thank you for reassuring me nonetheless! Next appointment is for Friday, the nurse said I am on schedule and ER should be on the 3rd of February. Lining also look good at 7.2 mm and already trilaminar! Go lining go!

Also I reminded her about the possibility of doing the transfer with a smaller volume (I have read that ectopic pregnancies with IVF could correlate with the volume of medium used to transfer the embryos). Well, I got a call from the chief embryologist, lovely Scottish guy, always very helpful and understanding. He said he was going to make sure no more than the minimum volume was going to be used for my transfer. Let's get there first!

Overall I feel well, a bit tired, but that's normal, I'm really working hard these days. I'm going to yoga again this evening and I can't wait! Meditation should start soon too!!

And then there were 6!

Thank you thank you thank you for your supportive messages. Everyone of them is like a warm hug.

So the embryologyst rang. It wasn't the moron thank God...but the top guy, he's Scottish and really really nice. After confirming my date of birth he said immediately that it was good news and that I could breathe! And I did.

He said out of the 9 eggs 7 were mature, 2 were too small probably coming from the smaller follicles (damn delay!!) but that out of the 7 that got inoculated 6 fertilised nicely and they are looking very good at the moment. I had tons of questions of course, like what a bout this delay? Did he think he could have been better? He said that he didn't think so, it's not that easy to retrieve eggs, it's done basically in the dark with a huge needle and the doctor hopes to fish out the egg with the follicular fluid but that can also not happen. Anyway he said 9 eggs out of 13 follicles is a normal results and that it's so much more important that this cycle i didn't overstimulate and that I feel well. He thinks also that no matter what the previous cycle was, these eggs are bound to be better quality (there was not as much competition as he put it!). So he's cautiously optimistic. They will have a look at the embryos over the weekend, but that the major obstacle will be between day 3 and day 4 (sunday to monday). They will give me a progress report on monday afternoon and schedule then my transfer. Also, he said they look at the embryos between 3 and 4 pm so not to dread a call in the morning because it ain't happening! It better not be!

Well I feel much better today mood-wise, and I'll stay calm and positive over the weekend. The ICLW week couldn't come a better time!

9 eggs collected

Thank you all so much for the messages of good wishes...I brought them all with me this morning!

I wore my planned outfit (a very comfy track suit my sister gave to me as a present).

I got to the clinic by 8.30 as indicated. I took my two pills of painkillers also at 8.30 am as indicated. At 9.15 am I was still in the waiting room....waiting. Should I not have the procedure done at 9.30 am (35.5 hours after trigger)?? WTF is going on?? They make your head explode by telling you constantly how important it is that you get your trigger done EXACTLY at the time they tell you, NOT half an hour before, NOT half an hour after. Of course I went to reception and asked what was going on, they said they call theatre to find out. Anyway, a few minutes later the nurse came up brought me and Mike down to the recovery room next to theatre, and in two seconds I was wearing the gown. But I could har the doctor talking to another lady, going through all the signed consent forms and explaining her the procedure. So she went in when I thought I should have been in.

Needless to say I freaked out. Mike was fantastic, he called the nurse, told her I was very worried about this delay and that we knew timing is paramount in EC so how come we are late? She was lovely too, of course she said it's not that the follicles start popping on the second and that 36 hours after trigger is perfect timing and she went into theatre to ask the doctor just in case. But at this pace I'll be getting my eggs out well after 36 hours (which in my mind was the absolute latest that should happen). The one in theatre before me was there for maybe 20 minutes, so I thought we are still on time!

At 9.55 the doctor came to us and we went (very quickly) through the consent forms etc. He said to go to the loo and that he'll be waiting for me in the theatre. I went, nearly no pee at all, out in a flash. And then this moron from the lab came out to us saying he had to confirm our identity and take the pics. Ok, moron, hurry up though! He was as slow as a dead snail, I was looking at his watch, 10.05 am. Took the pics with some kind of device and then said to us he had to do it again as the device wasn't sending the pics to the lab. WTF WTF WTF, tried again, still not working (10.10 am), he went to the lab to take a second device, still not working. I was almost in tears. Mike said "can we not do this later?" and he said "yes of course" (moron!! we've been there one and half hour where the hell were you?). I could hear the docor asking the nurse what was the delay about... I went in for the procedure possibly at 10.20.

I suppose it went well, I don't remember anything and I have no pain at all even now. Like I had absolutely nothing done. And then I slept and slept and slept. When I was waking up a bit, the nurse came talking to me and said it went very well, they got 9 eggs. I thought "great, they got eggs!" But since then I'm obsessing over numbers, over the quality of the eggs if the retrival was in fact done bit late (had the best popped already?), and of course over the phone call we have to wait for tomorrow between 4 and 7 pm to find out how many were good eggs and how many fertilised.

ICLW week is here again!

I couldn't wait for this week to come around again! I feel so fortunate that this share of virtual hugs comes when I most need it.

A brief introduction for the new comers.
We are currently undergoing ICSI, this is our second fresh cycle, the first one was almost a year ago and we had an ectopic pregnancy which required surgery and the loss of my left tube (and half my heart went with it too). We had a lot of frozen embryos which allowed us to FET cycles, the first one didn't work while the second one resulted in a chemical pregancy.
So here we are again, I'm doing a short protocol this time with antagonists and it worked like a treat so far, at my final scan yesterday I had 5 good follicles on the left and 8 good ones on the right plus a few smaller ones. My E2 levels were very good too, so I had my final dose of Pure.gon last night, the last Orgalu.tran this morning and the next step is triggering tonight and EC on thursday morning!! We will be going to blast so it'll be a very long weekend waiting (or not!) for a phonecall from the clinic if things don't go well. I will stock up in eny virtual hugs I can get!

Final scan, checked!

Day 11 scan was today and it also went well! Follicles are basically ready to be retrieved!! I have 6 nice follicles on the right (3x20mm-3x16 mm, plus 2 more around 14mm) and 5 good ones on the left (3x18 mm, 1x17mm, 1x16 mm, plus 2 small around 12mm). So I got the goahead for ER on thursday!! My E2 levels on friday were at 2020 so nice and easy, they are giving me a call this afternoon after they get today's E2 to decide if I'll be doing Pure.gon tonight or not. So the plan now is to have the last Orgal.utran tomorrow morning, the last Clex.ane tonight, possibly Pure.gon tonight and trigger with 10,000 units of Pregn.yl TADAAAAHH tomorrow night at 10pm European time! ER will be at 9.30 am on thusday morning.

I am excited...and I have to be calm!! Booking in with my reiki/acu/massage girl for wed night just for the little extra help!

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Update

the clinic called, E2 up nicely to 5642! so only 100U Pure.gon tonight and I'm good to go!! Thanks for your support girls, hopefully this will work for us!

Second scan: cheked!

Day 8 scan this morning and things are looking good! My lining is up to 8.3 mm with nice triple pattern, follicles on the right side are up a bit (8/9) measuring nicely between 13.3 mm and 11 mm. No newbie on the left, still 7 growing nicely (4 around 13 mm and 4 abit smaller). Dr. L (my absolute favourite!) was very pleased and once again, unless the blood comes back with some suprise this afternoon I have to stay on my medications as planned. Monday is the day of the final scan and EC still on track for the following wednesday or thursday at the latest.
I checked again with Dr. L to make sure that I'll be triggering with pregnyl and not decapeptyl and she confermed that there's nothing that is indicating possible change of plan. Delighted with it.

Feeling very well, of course I have some twinges in the belly, but overall I am better than the last time. I'm going to my acu/reiki/holistic massage appointment today and really looking forward to it. Then, in the afternoon I'm getting this intralipid infusion for good measure!

My little sister is going to NY for 6 weeks leaving tomorrow, lucky chick! Seriously considering the possibility of a long weekend over there too!! But can't plan anything now of course.
I'll try and update this evening with news on the infusion!

Go follies go!!

Day 6 scan today and although I was quite nervous (too many?? to few??) it was just right. I have 6 follicles on the right side and 6/7 on the left. They are all nice sizes between 10mm and 7mm. So I am responding well, like the last time but a bit more controlled. Last time on the same day I had a few more follies and a little bit bigger, I was on a higher dose of Pur.egon too.
Good news on the lining front too. Already trilaminar pattern and increased to 5.3mm. The nurse was very happy and so was I!

She took my blood for E2 check but she doesn't expect any surprise and I have been given the green light to start my Orgalu.tran tomorrow (unless of course blood says otherwise). I'll be back on friday (Day 8).

I had a very nice chat with this nurse, I was quite puzzled by the fact that the doctor had suggested intralipid infusion just as a precaution given my ANA borderline and the nurse last week said I didn't need it. Well, it turns out I will get the infusion and it has to happen this friday!! Just as well I asked for clarifications.

I am also happy to report that my enthusiasm is back on track, all going according to plan I'm only a week away from EC!

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Update

the clinic called!! Would you believe it, I lost three years when I saw the caller ID on the screen....they never call if things are going well (and I complained about it after my failed FET the last time). Well, it was just to say my E2 level were great (1269 so very safe and just go on as planned) and that yes the doctor confirmed I should have the intralipid infusion done on friday!