Hi again,
Sorry it has taken me afew days to get back on to report what's happening. I've been quite tired with everything which is understandable.
Well, where do I start? Yes, we went for egg collection last Monday morning (2nd). I felt nervous but used my acupuncture needles in my ears and some Reiki to keep me calm. We attended the ACS Suite this time as opposed to the clinic area where we had been attending previously.
I went to theatre late morning. They tried to put a needle in my L arm which quickly became sore and swollen whenthey started to infuse the sedation drugs. To let you understand, my veins are not very good and the needle they had put in was running into the tissues of my arm. Not at all their fault, these things can happen - I remember it well from my days of working in Haematology where veins were used so much, they became scarce and difficult to access.
They recannulated in my R hand and infused the drugs, no probs this time. I began to feel really chilled out and almost asleep but I was aware of many things going on, but I wasn't too bothered by anything. In fact, I recall talking alot of nonsense and was unable to be quiet, a bit like I am if I'm drunk!!!! I felt some pain at afew times but was short-lived. Before I knew it, the procedure was over and I rested in Recovery. As I became more alert, my stomach was really sore so the nurse gave me a strong painkiller - Dihydrocodeine and an IV antisickness called Ondansetron.
DH came through to be with me, I was given tea and sandwiches which I really enjoyed then I got dressed - I was desperate to get home.
Before we left, we were taken in to a small consulting room by the nurse who had looked after me alot during my stay - Joanne, she was lovely - they are all really lovely people there and are fantastic at their jobs. She told us that they had yielded 8 eggs from me and gave us instructions to follow for when I was at home. They also gave me a leaflet with information written on it - good idea since I wasn't quite back from my sedation yet!
She told us to phone at a given time the next day to see if fertilisation had taken place, then said if we were successful with this, we'd be back on Wednesday for Embryo Transfer.
We got home and I was starving! I ate some sandwiches and then fell asleep for a while. Then my Mum came and was crying - she's been really worried about us and desperate for our treatment to work.
I was pretty sore that night and was taking Cocodamol. I was drinking alot of fluids as I had been, the hospital advised me to keep this up.
Tuesday morning, I phoned to the lab as I was instructed. The embryologist I spoke to was lovely.......... We had 3 normal embryos! From the 8 eggs, 6 were suitable and were injected with sperm. Again we were reminding to return the next day for transfer.
We had mixed feelings on Tuesday. We had planned for transfer of 2 embryos and knew they wouldn't freeze 1 on it's own. We didn't know whether just to use 1, but said it would be dependant on how much sperm there was left.
Wednesday afternoon, we attended the unit again. We were quite nervous, DH was coming in to theatre with me this time.
I got in to a gown and hat, DH wore a long green theatre gown, hat and plastic over shoe covers - we joked that they were like action man body bags, like in Alan Partridge!!!!!
We walked in to theatre, I sat at the window and told the embryologist my name and date of birth. The Dr then spoke with the embryologist and spoke to us. She had 2 embryos ready for transfer, a Grade 1 and a Grade 2 (Grade 1 is the highest of Grades 1-4). We were informed that only one straw of our sperm had been used and we had 3 remaining. She said that from the 1 straw, that there were quite afew motile sperm which was also good news.
I lay on the the theatre table and a speculum was inserted like a smear test. I HATE this, I felt myself twitching down below and worried I would spit the embryos back out! DH held my hand as the Dr inserted a long thin catheter in through my cervix and placed the embryos then the procedure was complete. I explained that I was still really sore from Monday and that morning had had severe lower abdominal pain. The Dr examined me and said to keep an eye on it, if no better/worse, to let them know but I was to continue drinking alot of fluids. I got a sample of urine sent off to the lab to check for infection.
I got dressed and a nurse came in to talk to us. She explained that I needed to use Progesterone pessaries vaginally twice daily/12 hourly for 12 days. We were given an appointment for clinic for our outcome blood test for Tuesday 17th June. We left and came home thereafter.
I have rested pretty much since Wednesday afternoon, I'm still even slightly sore today, but each day it improves. As it is, we now only have 9 days to wait to find out what the outcome is. The pessaries have given me alot of wind too!!!!
It's been a variable few days so far. I have at times been convinced that my period was going to start but seemingly this is normal. I have had slight nausea but could be side effect from the pessaries. I'm also really tired, but then alot has happened within the last week and I'm still taking it all in.
On top of this, my work have been quite unreasonable with me. After saying I could take holidays, I've been told I now can't have what I need and now have to work all next weekend and Monday evening until 1am when we have to be at clinic before 9am! The lack of sleep aside, I'm going to be thinking of nothing else but what will happen the next day. I think it's cruel and had any of them experienced what we have just been going thorugh, I'm sure they would have a different outlook. It's high time that what we all go through is recognised for what it is and we are cut a bit of slack. Enough about this now!
I'm trying to remain positive and keep telling myself that I am pregnant now. DH goes back to wrok tomorrow so the time will go in a bit slower now I think, but we will wait and see. I keep praying and asking for our dreams to come true, nearly every hour of the day so far. I only hope someone is listening.......................
Love,
L,xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
