I realize now that my posting definitely dropped off there right before my egg retrieval. I will do my best to "summarize" what happened and bring you up to speed on our current situation. PS... I'm not pregnant yet.
So the egg retrieval happened on Friday October 10th. My estradiol levels skyrocketed in the days leading up to it, so I took a few injections of cabergoline, which is supposed to delay ovulation so that they eggs have more time to grow. I triggered with Lupron and diluted HCG, and went in in the morning to have my eggs retrieved!
I was nervous for the retrieval, but my Mr. D. went with me and helped me stay calm. I got an IV and they prepped me for the procedure. All went smoothly, except that I had 23 eggs, and the process took a long time so I ended up needing a lot of Demerol to keep me sedated. I ended up having a allergic reaction to it, and spent about 3 hours throwing up in the doctors office. When I finally got to go home, Mr. D. tucked me into bed and then headed back to the office to give his sample.
We had a call from Dr. C, the embryologist a few hours later that Matt's sperm were not fertilizing all of the eggs, and he would need to return the following day to give another sample. We took it easy for the rest of the weekend, I was mildly sore and tender and pretty tired from being so sick. By Sunday we knew something was wrong. I was having severe abdominal pains, and bloating. I couldn't sit, lay down or really move at all without pain and my belly was starting to look like a pregnant woman. I took Monday off of work and went to see Dr. M. I was diagnosed with Ovarian Hyper stimulation Syndrome, and the decision was made to freeze the two embryos that were still growing so that I could recover. I spent that whole week in intense pain, I couldn't sleep and had to take narcotics to control the cramping. I was so swollen that even Mr. D's sweats didn't fit over my belly.
The severe bloating lasted a week, I returned to work the following Monday, but over the course of the next three months I experienced fluid collecting in my lungs, tests for blood clots, cancer and other things to try to figure out why the fluid in my abdominal cavity would not go away. The delay of the transfer went from one month to two, three, and now four. It was eventually decided that I just had severe OHSS and it was extremely slow to resolve.
We finally got to approval to move forward about a month ago, and I was to continue the birth control they put me on after the OHSS, and then on the 12th day of pills begin Lupron injections in my stomach. I continued with the injections through my period, which brings us up to date! I went in to see Dr M on Wednesday and all things were a go!
I applied three Vivelle-Dot estrogen patches on Wednesday night and by Thursday at noon I had a killer headache. That continued despite pain killers all day on Thursday and Friday. I went to the acupuncturist last night and it seemed to help but the headaches are back today. Gianna, my acupuncturist says that lots of water will help, and that when I start progesterone suppositories next week that should help balance it out. My whole body is thrown out of whack by all of this estrogen, headache, body aches, vomiting, upset stomach. I can't wait for this part to be over! On top of that, the Lupron injections are starting to be really painful and today is the day I have to switch to three new estrogen patches.
Overall, the last 4 months has been a crazy ride of pain, emotions and frustration. I am excited for the light at the end of the tunnel. In a few short weeks, our two embryo babies will be transferred and this crazy IVF ride will be over for now. We are crossing fingers, toes and everything else that this story has a happy ending. Only time will tell!
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