3dp3dt

Don't have too much to say today, so I figured I'd just take note of my symptoms/side effects for now. Lots of lower abdominal pressure. Still bloated/gassy (it's amazing how much better I feel after the tiniest burp). Constipated (thanks progesterone! 😒) and a sore backside today--since B wasn't home yesterday, I had to do my shot myself. Couldn't reach the left side to save my life, so I had to do it on the right, which was the same side as the day before. Oh, the things we do.... Can't...stop...peeing! At least 5 times between 11 pm and 6 am. There's not that much water in the world. End result will be soon worth it. Praying that I have a nice 6 day blastocyst snuggling in!

2dp3dt - transfer details LONG

It's 5:30 am on the second day after my transfer (2 days post-3-day transfer, as the title of this post indicates). Since I'm awake, I figured I would share some details. 

During retrieval they told us that they would call on Wednesday at tell us if transfer would be that day, and that they are usually after 2 pm. I decide to go in the office so I am close by and ask B is he coming to be there or just afterwards to pick me up. He says he will be there. 

I find out at 12:15 that they want me to go up at 2, and i text him immediately. He calls me back at 12:55... He still has to shower.  Why would he wait until the last minute?!?!

I go up, and tell them that I'm waiting for my husband before I change. No problem. He gets there, then I go change and they take my vitals. 140/74! I've never had that high a blood pressure in my life!  The nurse asks me if I'm anxious about the procedure. I guess so! The woman next to me makes eye contact to wish me good luck, and I do the same. 

Back into the waiting room to drink more water for the requisite full bladder, then they call me again. No, B stays here. Oops! That different from my experience at the other place. Looks like he may have rushed unnecessarily. 

Go through the big white doors to another waiting area, where there are two people waiting already. The first one goes in, then the second. I'm noticing the pattern of when they are going to call the next person. Two more people come in, and we start talking, wishing each other luck.  Now it's my turn. 

I'm instructed to walk into this room that looks like it's the same one the retrieval was in. Everyone is in high spirits. Dr. C introduces himself and tells me he will do my transfer. Dr. L re-introduces herself to me and tells me that she will do my ultrasound. She knows that it will be uncomfortable with my bladder full, but not to pee on her; "pee on Dr. C instead."  I have to laugh. 

In goes the speculum and a catheter. Dr. L shows me the tip of the catheter on the ultrasound screen. Dr. C shows me a picture of the embryo...8 cells!!!! I'm really happy now, as that's better than the last time. Excitement kicks in big time. 

The embryologist comes in with the dish, and Dr. C inserts the embryo. They check to confirm that there's nothing left in the dish or tubes, and then I'm done. The nurse wishes me luck. Shifted to a mobile bed and wheeled to recovery. I turn my head and wave to the women waiting as we pass by and get thumbs up and best wishes in return. 

They call B into recovery to sit with me. He is amazed that it's done already and questions why he had to get there early. I brush off the comments and he goes back to his game on his phone. After half hour, a nurse comes in and says I can get dressed and go ether bathroom. So glad I was sparing with the water!

Dressed and on our way. A little crampy, but manageable. 

Now the wait begins. Had dinner with a former colleague last night, who is 6 months pregnant. Wanted to say, "I'm pregnant, too!" Hoping and praying that it's the case. Will find out in 10 more days. 

Transfer day

Had my transfer today. It deserves a long post, but I'm not in the mood for it right now... Not in a bad mood, just don't feel like typing too long. Will give a comprehensive update later (probably tomorrow). 

What's luck got to do with it?

Waiting for retrieval yesterday, a doctor came in and began talking to this woman about the surgery he had done on her partner. He wanted to make sure he was ok... That sort of thing. As he left, he said, "Good luck today."

Luck. Hmmm. That started me thinking. Egg meets sperm. Sperm fertilized egg isn't that science? Or is it all really just magic? Why are some people born wealthy, and some poor? Is it the luck of the draw that people have kids they don't want, while others suffer through infertility? Who draws on my behalf? If This is the Lord's decision, why is this a cross that I must bear?

So now I've had my fertilization (fert) report: 3M retrieved, 2 fertilized, 1 normal. So I will hopefully be transferring one on Wednesday. 

These are the exact same numbers I got on the cycle that actually made it to transfer 3 years ago. 

Just a my luck. 

Trigger Happy

Sitting waiting to be seen for retrieval, so thought I'd recap the trigger. Last time I did it myself, but this time I told B that it was his job. 

Except it was one of his best friend's birthday weekends, and they were going to an after work thing, and he wasn't planning to be home at 11 when I had to trigger. I told him to go and I would do it myself. 

Mixing the HCG at 10:45, and in walks B. He came back specifically to give me the shot. Intramuscular with a 1.5" needle. He puts it in halfway. I tell him to keep going... and he pulls it out. I turn around more to ask him what he was doing, and he accidentally pricks me with the same needle right next to the spot he just pulled it from. Ugh!

Ok, third time... Halfway in again. I tell him to keep going... and he does ...very slowly. But finally it's in. 

He says he's ready to give me the progesterone shots, and the trigger was just a warm up. 

Lord help me. 😝

A little bit of knowledge...

...is a dangerous thing. Looking at my phone. I have no less than 6, count 'em: s-i-x apps tracking my cycles and fertility. all with slightly different nuances, but a little overkill nonetheless. Maybe I should I write my own... But I digress. One of the apps has an IVF cycle phase option, and tidbits of information pop up when you enter things like number of follicles, hormone levels, etc. One popped up that said mature follicles produce 200-300mg/ml of Estrogen. Naturally, I start worrying about my levels. Then I put in <4 follicles, and a stat comes up about the lack of success with that number. Super-encouraging, right? I've been meditating recently on how negative perspectives can drive negative outcomes. Maybe I should trash that app.

Quick update

I met up with some of my old colleagues last week. Got to hear that I look fabulous, and that leaving agrees with me. Felt good to have my decision validated that way. Sad that things have imploded and they all want to leave as well. As of now, I'm still stimming. I had a moment of feeling defeat when my E2 levels dropped, but it turned out that it was a byproduct of removing the Estrogen patch. I am becoming a total insomniac on my monitoring days, basically laying in the bed waiting for the alarm to go off. One nurse told me to get used to the sleepless nights. From her lips to God's ears... ;-)