Lisa's ICSI Diary

Well, after the last post we were going up for embryo transfer.
When we got to the clinic we were told that 6 embryos were suitable and one was abnormal. All 6 were of good quality so we have 4 frozen - I call them my snow babies! And they put 2 grade 1 embryos back in transfer - a 9 cell and an 8 cell. That was 10 days ago.
Before and after transfer, I went for Acupuncture which was great and when we got home I slept for a while.
Since then I've been up and down - one mintue certain it's worked and the next uncertain and fearful.
I had a day about 3 days ago where I had bad lower back pain and abdo cramps and thought my period was coming. Yesterday I felt a bit like it too but improved as the day wore on. I've been having heartburn backwards and forwards too the past few days. Alot of my symptoms may be down to the progesterone pessaries I have to use twice daily so it drives you mad wondering. I've also not been sleeping too well and it is catching up with me now I think becuase I feel really tired today.
I've been using a CD by Zita West which has tracks on it for relaxation and visualisation to be used - pre, post transfer and then for the 2 week wait. I've been using it every night and feel it really beneficial.
I got a nice surprise yesterday - I had a call to book a first hypnotherapy appointment from a client and today DH and I have been looking for chairs to put in my office and organising other bits and pieces - I've been so glad of the distraction as I was feeling on the verge of going crazy, lol.
Well, only 3 more sleeps until test day and I'm hoping and praying that everything stays stable until then. I wish we didn't have to wait as long but there's nothing else for it and we are nearly there now.
I'm optimisitic but also scared.

Hi again,

Sorry it's been afew weeks since my last post on the blog but I will update you now.....

Well, we went for the Down Regulation scan and the lining of my womb was very thin and my ovaries clear, so we started on the daily injections of Gonal-F the next day - 5th March and were booked in for day 9 scan on 13th March.

We went along on Friday 13th March (!!!!!) for scan and I had 13 follicles of decent size and several smaller ones and my womb lining was 12.8mm thick - all good and better than our first attempt back in May last year.

They took my bloods and sent me away with my HCG booster just in case and a bottle of Buserelin snuff ( the down regulation injection lasts 28 days and was due to run out 14th). They said I might be ready or I might still be a day away so theatre probably Monday or Tuesday.

I backed afew horses in the Cheltenham festival to keep my mind calm whilst I waited when we got home. I was told if I didn't get a call from the clinic I was still to continue on my daily injections and go Monday 16th for a further scan.

By 3.30pm I had almost given up hope when the call came - last Gonal-F Saturday morning, snuff 3 times on the Saturday then HCG booster injection at 9pm then as usual, all the drugs stop. Theatre Monday 16th 8.30am.

We were really excited on the Saturday but I was becoming increasingly bloated and uncomfortable from Thursday onwards so we did very little on the Saturday - just got lots of nice things to eat from Marks and Spencer and watched a DVD.

I was up quite early on the Sunday morning - had Acupuncture planned for 11am which was truly great, really chilled me out.
She had advised me to have Vitamin C for afew days before Egg collection and start Arnica the day before which I did - this was to carry on until embryo transfer.

We got back from there and I made a roast dinner which kept me occupied although I chopped my hand afew times trying to carve the meat - mainly because my Mum was trying to take over and help.

I slept really well on Sunday night then up at 5.20am with the phone ringing - my Mum was up all night thinking about us.
I stayed up and tried to remember not to have a cup of tea since I was under instruction to fast from midnight.

I had a bath with unscented shower gel and washed my hair with the same - no scented anything or deodorant or make-up as these can harm eggs and embryos. DH had to do the same (he was rather upset at not being able to wear make-up though!...Only kidding - he'll be annoyed if he reads this, lol).

We got to the unit and I was 3rd on the list. I saw the anaesthetist whom I told about the pain and wareness of the last time. He gave me a strong painkiller before and after and said he could up the sedation. I was however much calmer this time.

Went into theatre at 10.50am, felt chilled and they sedated me. I was really only vaguely aware of afew minor short lived times of discomfort then they woke me up. I was sore after and they gave me a painkiller which helped.

I had a bit to eat then was able to get up, I was keen to get home. They took the venflon out of my hand and gave me my post op instructions, DH was there as I still felt woozy. All I was interested in was how many eggs they got - 10! 2 more than last time. We were to phone the next day at 10.15am to see if any had fertilised.

So we got up yesterday morning and both felt excited and a bit scared. I phoned the embryologist at 10.15am as planned.
All 10 eggs were suitable for use and 7 fertilised! We were over the moon. They are going to culture them this morning (today) so they can grade them - if they are of good enough quality, we can have some frozen for if we need them again (which I really hope we don't!). We go today (same preparationas Monday ie no perfumed anything) to have the embryos put back - they will use 2 hopefully.

So we have an appointment at 2.15pm today and I have to have a comfortably full bladder to facilitate the procedure.
I'm just away now to get ready to go as I have acupuncture at 11.30am today in preparation. I'm hoping it really chills me out - I feel excited and scared and quite sick!

So next time I come on here to report back I will hopefully be pregnant until proven otherwise! Wish me luck.

L,xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx