A Baker's Dozen

Today was the day! It was nerve wracking thinking of all the unknowns. I went in knowing I had at least 6 big enough follicles on Wednesday. The most anxiety inducing was the unknown about the fact that I wasn't being put under. If you didn't read the previous posts: most clinics do not do IVF for high BMI patients because of the anesthesia risk. Luckily, my new clinic agreed that because I am otherwise healthy and have no comorbidies (just an inability to lose my PCOS/Nexplanon ballooning weight) that they would proceed with IVF just without putting me under for egg retrieval.

Once they took me back, they gave me 2 valium and Tylenol to begin the relaxing and prep for the egg retrieval. Between it being so early and the valium, I really could have fallen asleep. Once they took me back I got a shot in my butt of Tordol for the pain. I then was all set up in the stirrups and the Dr. who was super kind shot my cervix twice with a local anesthetic which was the most painful part honestly.

Then began the procedure. It honestly was just pressure and feeling the poking around in there as the doctor broke through the follicles. I got to watch the ultrasound of it one one screen and it was like he was popping a bunch of water balloons, piercing them and sucking out the fluid. There was a 2nd screen where I could see the count numbers as they found eggs and a 3rd screen where I could see the embryologists microscope view as she found eggs. My husband got to watch from the hallway and watch the embryologist the whole time which was cool for him and for me to see pictures and videos later.

It was super fascinating and because I was awake, I got to here them yell EGG! every time they found one and got to cheer every time. When it was over I also got to thank everyone involved because I was awake. When the doctor had finished I was at 9 eggs, which was a solid number. They cleaned me up and unstrapped my legs and I sat up and the screen now said 13! They had retrieved 13 eggs in total!!!

I went back to the waiting area and got a snack of juice and goldfish while I settled down after the procedure. Honestly though, it was an adrenaline rush, I was amped after. We got to leave right away because I wasn't put under.

I had some period like cramping on the way home but after taking a nap I was feeling much better. Now I have cramps with coughs/sneezes/full bladders that use those muscles but otherwise northing worse than light period cramps now. I would say it went pretty smoothly. Now we just wait for our calls on Days 1(how many fertilized), 3 (how many have survived) and 5 (how many will be frozen) for the status of our embryos. Here's hoping at least a few make it through!