11 day Luteal phase... IVF #2

So apparently my luteal phase is pretty weak without meds, or at least it was this cycle.  I was shocked that I started my period yesterday!  I'm not sure if it is because I stopped taking the progesterone after we decided not to do the transfer or what? But let me say.... it is BAD.

Dr. R. mentioned that a lot of times it is best to wait to transfer if someone has been hyper stimulated and many people have better outcomes on the FET.  Our lining gets overstimulated too which is not great for implantation apparently.  The down side, however, is a horrific period. I feel horrid.

What's Next

The good news is I only have to wait for one more period before we do the FET! Yay!  One down one to go!  The bad new is I bet I'm going to be super late, thank you PCOS!  I plan to get back on my natural supplements ASAP to help this cycle along! I am also feeling like a little cleanse would be good to help get some of these hormones out of my system... maybe after the holidays! ;-)

I am looking forward to spending this CHRISTmas time with my family, and then we are headed to Cabo Mexico for New Years!  I hope everyone has a blessed Holiday Season!  Merry Christmas!

Drum Roll... IVF #2

I know I know, I lagged on posting!  But don't fret...

Monday night I tossed and turned all night.  I had nightmares about our Embryo's!  This was a totally different experience than last time.  I wasn't getting daily updates from the Embryologist to let me know how they were doing.  They just let the embryo's be.

OH THE TORTURE!

Tuesday morning, I was on pins and needles waiting.  And waiting. And waiting. And waiting.  I mean I wasn't really sure if we were going to transfer or freeze or even if we had any left!

FINALLY! The phone rings.

It was Dr. R.  We have "TWO BEAUTIFUL BLASTS!" What joy... and relief!  He let me know that they are the top quality and there were three others they were "watching" giving them another day to see if they will make it to blast.  He also said, since we had such beautiful embryo's, he felt we were safe to wait and let my body heal and recover... if we had just "okay" ones he would have transferred. Honestly, I'm relieved!  I was MISERABLE.

It is always hard waiting, but I really need to be here for my kids who are here now.  They need me now.  I could not afford ending up in the hospital... or something worse happening to me!  OHSS is serious.

WONDERFUL OHSS

Days two, three, and four post ER were the worst in my recovery.  I was beginning to have trouble breathing and even had to sleep with two pillow so I stayed propped up!  I couldn't lay on my side to sleep without having sharp stabbing chest pains.  Lets just say sleep hasn't been the best.  When walking, I would have sharp shooting pains in my belly, not in my ovaries or pelvic area, but my stomach.

I called Chris and let him know the good news!  It was perfect.  We only fertilized seven because we didn't want too many, just enough.  I couldn't stop praising God the rest of the day...and I still am of course!

The Next Day

I get another call!  This time it is our Embryologist who Rescue ICSI'd our last batch and made Rocco and Maximus... Christine S.!  She is so sweet!  Sbe couldn't wait to hear about my boys and then let me know about our other embryos. We ended up with three more to freeze.  Three six day blasts.  At first I didn't know what to think.  Should I be happy? Upset? Worried?  We cannot have five more kids.

Again, we ICSI'd seven eggs out of 36, because we were told only 1/2 would fertilize and then we would likely end up with two blasts... now five! 

"Lord, we said, just enough!" My plan was two and I guess His was five!  This was his plan not ours.  I have no idea how the thaws or transfers are going to go... if they will all make it... or make a baby!  

These embryo's are in His hands.  I know His plans are greater than ours, and I have faith that we will have just enough.

Today

Seven days post ER, I finally feel the OHSS disappearing.  Even yesterday I was in pain and needed a lot of rest.  Today I easily played with my children on the floor.  Today was a good day.

Picture taken two days before Egg Retrieval. My IVF miracles.

Three days post egg retrieval... IVF #2

Well, it really started to hit me yesterday. My stomach was in so much pain. It hurt to walk, just like I remembered last time. It isn't that I feel cramps at all, but my stomach feels bloated! It feels like gas pains, but is likely just water. Although I'm already down five pounds since egg retrieval! I was also SUPER constipated so I had the hubs go and get me some Milk of Magnesia and wow, do I feel better today! That stuff really works. Pain meds and anesthesia really does a number on your system.

The day after ER I was feeling so good that I kind of talked my dr into doing the transfer on Tuesday! However, he is having me text him a report of how I'm doing each morning. I am honestly a little scared to do the transfer now after reading some horror stories about OHSS on google. Ugh! I'm not sure what to do, and I'm praying for some clarity!

I did get a report on my eggs 1 day post ER... Seven out of seven eggs fertilized and we have 28 unfertilized eggs in the freezer! Wow! I guess I did harvest a good batch!

I won't get another update until Monday or Tuesday, likely. I guess they just let them do their thing since we are planning on a five day transfer. No news is good news for us!

I'm a little nervous about all seven fertilizing, but it is definitely better than last time where ZERO fertilized! Prior to doing this, I was told that when ICSI is preformed, about 50%-70% will fertilize. I'm a little shocked with 100%. I'm praying for just one or two to make it. We want just enough.

I will hopefully have more updates soon!

No IVF Is Alike... IVF #2

Sorry I've been MIA. My computer crashed a few days ago and I had to drop it off at the Mac store. The same part keeps going bad on it, but it's under warranty so I keep getting if fixed. Very frustrating.  I'm typing this on my IPad ;)

I have so much to catch up on, but I'm going to keep this post quick... I had my egg retrieval TODAY!  I got pushed back a day bc my follicles needed an extra day of growth. I have good new and bad news...

The good news... They retrieved 36 eggs from me today! I honestly don't remember being so uncomfortable as the last few days prior to ER. My stomach was so full and bloated, my kidneys even ached when I had to pee, which was quite often. I would have to grip the bathroom counter to help with the pain.

More good news, ER did not hurt as much! I feel quite well and I have two little blessings that wanted to cuddle with mommy in bed :) I'm feeling very thankful and blessed!

The bad news... I over stimulated :( they don't want your estrogen over 4000 and mine was about 4,300. I'm so bummed!  It isn't safe for me to get pregnant so we  are planning to freeze what we get and do a FET  after I recover. Boo! I'm bummed but trying to look at the bright side. I don't want to get sick and end in the hospital when I have two littles to care for.

Our plan now, praying for some really good news in he morning since we ICSI'd SEVEN eggs this time immediately. Freezing any other mature eggs right away too! I can't wait to get the call in the morning. PRAYING!

Thank you for checking in Amanda! I'm alive!