Giuliana & Bill

Are you watching their show? Well, you gotta CHECK IT OUT because they go to the same IVF center that I do! We see different doctors and unfortunately I've never run into them when they are there, but I suspect they go when the office is closed. I admire them so much for speaking about their struggles of infertility, and while it is heart wrenching to watch, it makes me feel not so alone in my struggle.

Egg Retrieval #2

Well, sometime in the next couple of days I'll be having the second egg retrieval. Things are moving along, I'm responding to the medication protocol, and I'm now going in EVERY morning for blood work and ultrasound. I'll keep doing this schedule until they deem me ready. I'm giving myself 3 injections every evening, and in turn my stomach is bruised and swollen. I could also inject the medication in my thighs, but then I can't wear a swimsuit! LOL
Anyway, I'm not fun to be around these days as I have a constant headache and I'm extremely tired. It's hard for me to articulate what I'm feeling right now with my hormones so completely out of control at this point. I will say that I feel like I'm bit by bit moving forward with my life. I'm not sure how all this will turn out, but I'm just trying to take things one day at a time.

Consult

Yesterday, I had my follow-up consult with Dr. F to discuss the results of the egg retrieval and the news was not good. I have a low egg reserve. The average egg retrieval (with stimulation) is 11, so my numbers are "abnormal" -- definitely not a word you want to hear from a fertility specialist. According to Dr. F they had me on a pretty aggressive medication protocol, so the numbers were very disappointing. Plus, the two embryos that did make it were frozen on day 3 which is not as ideal as day 5, but Dr. F was concerned that they would not make it any longer in the lab. These two embryos only have a 30% chance of pregnancy. If I don't have enough eggs, then I can't do surrogacy. I can't catch a break. The odds are stacked against me, but as my bff pointed out to me today, at least I now know what I'm up against. Dr. F recommended moving forward with a second egg retrieval and then re-evaluate after.

Embies Frozen

7 eggs retrieved, but only 2 eggs fertilized and were frozen. These are very disappointing numbers. I'm gonna do another cycle but with a different medication protocol. I'm not sure when that will be though, I've gotta figure out this moving thing first. You see, it would be ten times easier to just stay in town and do another egg retrieval instead of moving out of state right away. It's just putting my moving plans off a few months, and it means I have to move twice, which I have done before. Ugh, seriously, why can't anything be easy?

Retrieval Time

I took the Ovidrel shot tonight (to make me ovulate), so I'm officially 37 hours away from egg retrieval. I am so glad to stop all the shots and get off the crazy hormone train, they are not foolin' around, these drugs are potent! Oh, and I wanted to say that I definitely have a new respect for my diabetic friends who have to inject themselves with medicine everyday.