Hatchlings

So last week on Tuesday, November 12th, I had my egg transfer.  Joseph and I lovingly and laughingly refer to them as hatchlings. 

Joseph goes with me to all appointments unless it is just a shot (a 30 second process that doesn't hurt) then he doesn't need to be there for that so I let him sleep.

We arrive at 10am on Tuesday.  I get my daily shot in my bum and then we are waiting to see the doctor.  He tells us that there were a total of 8 eggs and out of those 2 were acceptable and viable.  Of those 2, only one made it to day 3. 

That being said, only one hatchling will be transferred.  Only one.

on my way home from the doctor

OHSS

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

This is a valid and serious concern due to Joseph and I doing IVF.  It happens from taking all of the hormones. 

I am concerned this may happen to me, but I am walking as much as possible and monitoring my pee and weight.  I have gained weight during this treatment but not a lot so I am also monitoring that.  The doctor monitors my ovaries and has not noticed anything abnormal so far.   We will see after ten days from surgery and about ten days after Nov. 15th of these shots.  Basically, I will worry about this until the end of December.  Hopefully it is nothing to worry about.

Surgery

Surgery.

Nothing to eat or drink when I wake up.  We need to be at the doctors by 8am. 

Brian and Tiffany went with us for support. 

bright and early

We arrive at the doctors and are the first ones there.  We all chill out and see what's what.  Pretty soon I am called back and Tiffany comes with me.

Woah

The last few days have been a blur of activity.

Thursday, Jospeh and I went to the doctor and I was examined again and given a long list of instructions for the next few days.  I was given another shot of hormones in my belly by the nurse and given 2 injections that needed to be taken at the same time at 8pm that night.

I also took the rest of the day and went to Seoul to visit Chien and eneded up back on a bus to Daejeon about 7:20p which meant I would need to give myself these shots on a bus.  A moving bus.  In the dark.  I deserve a medal.  At about 7:50p I got out the plastic bag of ice water holding the shots and began to get myself ready.  There was no way I could give them to myself at the same time so I just resolved to do them as quickly as possible back to back.

Doctor Visit 11-5-2013

Went to the doctor this morning.

Pretty tired.

J and I woke up about 6am and had coffee then headed out about 7:40 to catch the bus.  We arrived at the doctor about 8:30 and waited about 30 minutes for our appointment.

The doctor asked me again if I was having any problems or pain or any side effects of the medication (No) then asked me to go around the bend and change for my exam.

He found 4 follicles on the right and 2 on the left.  Research I have looked at says anywhere from 8-15 follicles is good.  Any more and I am in danger of over stimulation.  I don't want that, and in reality, we only need one that works. 

Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013

Little Points of Wisdom.  That is what I am calling my injection sites.  Pretty soon I will be able to call them constellations.

On Saturday, J and I went to Maria for our appointment.  We didn't wait too long and for a Saturday, that is great.  The key is to get there when they open or before (8am or 8:30).
Maria opens at 8:30am but their doors are open about 8am.  There is something satisfying about being first for the day.

Selfies

Self Injections.


Here is a video of me giving myself an injection of folliotropin. 

We need to keep the medicine refrigerated and if I will not be home during one of the times I need to get a shot, I take a bag of ice and water with me and inside another baggie is the box that holds my injection.