Embryo Transfer

On Day 3 post Embryo Retrieval, we received an update from OFC. This was either going to be good news or bad news - a lot can happen to the fertilized eggs in just a few days, so we were anxious to know how they were doing.

We were told that they were doing well, and that we could plan to do an embryo transfer on Day 5 which was Thursday September 28th. This is the ideal scenario because it gives the embryos a chance to turn into blastocysts (typically by day 5) and be better assessed by the embryologist.

Jake and I both took the Thursday off work. We were scheduled to have a consult with the IVF doctor-on-call at 9:30 and our transfer was tentatively scheduled for 10:30. Because we still weren't sure if there was fluid remaining in my uterus, the transfer was only tentative.

OFC was running behind schedule that day. There had been a big storm in Ottawa the day before, so many patients were late or running behind because of road and traffic issues due to the storm. So that meant everything was pushed back that day. We got called in around 10:15. Jake changed into scrubs and I changed into that awesome hospital gown again.

We finally met with the IVF doctor and we were given all the info about how our embryos were doing. We had a total of 4 viable embryos plus an additional 2 non-viable embryos. Each embryo was evaluated by an embryologist and graded.

Of the 4 viable embryos, we had 2 excellent quality (the highest quality), 1 good quality, and 1 fair quality. The other 2 non-viable embryos would be destroyed.

Based on our discussion with the doctor, we agreed that if we still had fluid in my uterus, we would transfer the 1 fair embryo. Embryos rated as "fair" can't be frozen, so rather than let it go to waste, we could try and transfer the fair embryo and see how we would do - but likely it wouldn't work due to the fluid.

On the other hand, if there was no fluid in my uterus, the doctor advised us that we should transfer our highest quality embryo!

Shortly after that discussion, we were pulled into the operating room where an ultrasound tech did an ultrasound to confirm if there was any fluid left in my uterus. Fortunately, there was none, which meant that we could transfer the highest quality embryo!

It was a very cool process! Before transferring the embryo, the embryologist showed us a picture of the embryo (now known as a "blastocyst"). We were able to watch it be transferred into my uterus via a catheter and thanks to ultrasound technology.

They pulled everything out of me and the embryologist confirmed that there was no embryo left in the catheter (meaning it was now in my uterus left to do its thing)!

So now we cross our fingers and toes, and wait and see what happens to our little em-baby!

We also decided to freeze the other remaining embryos that were of high-enough quality to freeze. The 1 remaining fair-rated embryo had to be destroyed since it would not survive the freezing and de-thawing process, but the 2 other embryos (1 excellent quality and 1 good quality) would be frozen. There were still no guarantees that they will be successfully frozen, but OFC will call us tomorrow (Friday) to let us know if the freezing process for those 2 remaining embryos was a success. We really hope that they can be successfully frozen, because those would be our future options for Frozen Embryo Transfers if this embryo transfer doesn't work, if we miscarry, or if we want to try for more kids in the future.

So wish us luck!

Regardless of the result, we most likely will not be posting any further updates or news on here, but hopefully these blog posts helped you understand the process and everything we were doing to try and have a baby. AND if we're ever lucky enough to have a child from this IVF cycle, we will likely use these records if they are ever being a little-shit-teenager to remind them how much they were wanted and why they should be good lol!

Thanks for your support everyone! Now we wait and let science and possibly a little bit of magic do their things!

Egg Retrieval

On Saturday September 23rd we had our scheduled Egg Retrieval (ER).

As luck and the wonderful timing of life would have it, Jake had his final customs exam for work scheduled at the same time, so unfortunately he wasn't able to come with me. He got up super early to do his thing at OFC, and then rushed off to his exam which started at 9 AM.

My mom and dad drove back from the cottage to take me to the ER. I was going to have conscious sedation so technically I would be legally impaired for 24 hours, which means I needed someone to drive me (thanks dad). I also wanted to have someone with me throughout the procedure and in the ER (thanks mom).

We showed up at OFC at 8:15 AM and my mom and I were brought into a separate area of the clinic that I had never seen before. My mom changed into scrubs and I changed into a lovely hospital gown. After that, we were given a locker where we could safely keep our things, and I was directed to a chair (a hospital-type Lazy-Boy chair). A nurse set me up with an IV in my hand and started giving me fluids and a medication that was supposed to help me relax and forget things (yeah... I don't think it worked...).

At exactly 9:15 AM, I had the ER. I walked into the ER with my IV cart in hand, and my mom not far behind. They gave me 3 doses of fentanyl through the IV to "help" with the pain (this was the conscious sedation)... but I really don't think the meds worked because it hurt like a F@#$ing B*&$%! My mom was able to sit beside me throughout the process.

Our results were much better than expected! Based on the last ultrasound we had, it looked like I would only have about 5-8 follicles (and not all of those would have eggs), but it turned out that those follicles grew like crazy in the last 3 days and I had around 15 follicles. They were able to retrieve 12 eggs. OUCH! But that was good news!

The whole procedure lasted about 15-20 minutes and definitely wasn't a walk in the part, but we were very happy with the result! Here we are showing how many eggs were retrieved = 12!

After the procedure, I had to rest at OFC for an hour. They gave me some more fluids and offered me some food. I had to make sure I could pee before I could leave lol. Finally that happened and we left that morning.

I felt decent when leaving OFC and for the majority of the afternoon after the ER; however, that evening was HELL ON EARTH! I have never experienced such awful pain. Jake ended up calling the doctor-on-call at OFC during the night to see what I could do to help the pain. Luckily, they allowed me to take a Percocet (which I had left over from our miscarriage) and that made me feel so much better and I was finally able to sleep!

The next 2 days after the ER were also very painful. I had to take Tylenol every 4-6 hours, but it didn't seem to do much for the pain. My stomach was very tender and swollen! It was difficult to walk around - even getting in and out of bed sucked.

Luckily, by Tuesday, I was feeling almost 100% and back to my normal self!

Hopefully I never have to have an ER again in my life, but if I do, I will be more mentally prepared for the awfulness of the procedure and recovery!

Now let me back up in time again. So the day after the ER (Sunday September 24th), we were called by OFC and told that of the 12 eggs we had, 7 were successfully fertilized using ICSI. That was good news for us as well! From there, we needed to wait until Wednesday September 27th which was day 3 following the ER. We would be told how many fertilized eggs survived and if they were going to do a day 3 or 5 transfer.

Also as life would have it (good ole' life), there was one other potential snag in the process. Due to all the hormones in my body from the injections, the doctor found fluid in my uterus during the ER. This was fine during the ER, but it could potentially impact the transfer if the fluid was still there. If the fluid was still there on the day of the transfer (day 3 or day 5), they most likely wouldn't proceed with a transfer because there would be no chance of the embryo implanting - it would just float around in there.

So that brings us to day 3 after the ER - and I'll do a separate post about all that jazz!

Injections!

Tonight is my last night for injections! YAY!

I've pricked myself, typically with 3 needles a day, for 8 days now. So I am happy to say that the "stimming" stage of IVF is over!

This is what happens when you are rushing to give yourself an injection in the morning... you end up pricking yourself in the wrong place! That might look like a small drop of blood... but when you aren't expecting it and inject that needle deep into your finger, yowzers!

Also, this is what it looks like when you're trying to maintain a social life, but you have to keep up with your injections at the same time! Injections in a parking lot... not sketchy at all... ;-)

Yesterday we went into OFC for our first ultrasound to check-in and see how I was responding to the injections. It turned out that I was responding quicker than average - most people need around 10 days of stimming, whereas I was only at 7 days at that time. I figured I was responding to the meds because I have been feeling very tired and my ovaries feel like a million pounds! They found 2 follicles that were over 17 mm, 3 that were between 15-17 mm, and another 3 that were between 10-15 mm = 8 potential follicles total. Some people on the high end of the spectrum of IVF will have 15-20 follicles, and some on the low end will have around 1-2... so they said I was somewhere in the average in terms of our response quantity. They scheduled our egg retrieval for Saturday (EEK), expecting that the follicles will continue to grow until then.

Of course, as life would have it, our egg retrieval is scheduled at the exact same time as Jake's final customs exam for work. He can't reschedule his exam, and we can't reschedule the egg retrieval. So I've asked my mom to take me and come with me to the egg retrieval while Jake does his exam.

Soon after the egg retrieval we will know how many eggs they were able to retrieve (if any - there are no guarantees). If we have eggs, they will do ICSI and inject 1 sperm into each egg. We will get a call about 24 hours later (on Sunday I hope) to tell us how many eggs were fertilized. And from there, we monitor them.

Here's hoping that Saturday goes well - Im hoping for a few good eggs that can get fertilized by Sunday!!! If that all works out, hopefully we will transfer a healthy embryo next week!

It's a go!

Yesterday I went back into OFC for another ultrasound and blood work. At the ultrasound, they checked and measured the cyst on my right ovary. It had shrunk from about 4 cm to 2 cm. It was still big enough that they were considering it a cyst, but not big enough that they were too worried. They said that they would continue monitoring it throughout IVF... but... we still had to wait for the results from the blood work to confirm that we were officially a GO! It turned out that they had a problem with their blood lab that day, so they needed to send the blood out to another clinic. They promised to call me the next day to confirm if we were to go ahead with IVF or not.

Today they called and confirmed that we can officially start IVF! My progesterone and estrogen levels were normal, which confirmed that the cyst shouldn't interact with the IVF protocol.

So I went to OFC to pick up the injectable medications.

This is what 10 days of injectable meds looks like (ignore our dusty kitchen table):

Looks like we will be clearing out a shelf in the fridge for these bad boys. I start taking Gonal-F (275) and Luveris (250) tomorrow (Thursday September 14th 2017) between 4-7 PM at the same time each day. I will take these for +/- 10 days. On September 18th, I will also start taking Cetrotide (250) every morning at the same time, before 11 AM, to prevent ovulation from occurring before the egg retrieval. They want to ensure that the follicles do not release any eggs before the planned egg retrieval.

Now we just wait until tomorrow to start poking myself!

Things are back up in the air!

Well in the last 24 hours, I've been to OFC 3 times! Ugh!

Yesterday (Tuesday September 5th, 2017), I went to OFC to have my blood work drawn and an ultrasound. Unfortunately, it turns out that I currently have a cyst on my right ovary...

Today (Wednesday September 6th, 2017) I went back into OFC to meet with our fertility doctor, Dr. Vause. She told us that if the cyst doesn't go away on its own within the next week, our IVF cycle will have to be delayed. They do not want to proceed with IVF until my ovaries are clear of cysts because cysts can mess with my body's hormones and interact with the hormones that I would inject myself with.

I also had to go back into OFC for the 3rd time in 24 hours for our IVF "scheduling appointment." For this appointment, I met with a nurse who walked me through what would happen on each day of our IVF schedule; however, because of the cyst, the schedule is still up in the air.

So this means that I am still waiting for my next period to show up (+/- the next 7-10 days). Once I have my period, I will go back into OFC on day 2 of that cycle to have my blood work checked again and also have a repeat ultrasound. IF my progesterone is too high, and/or IF the cyst still exists, our IVF cycle will be delayed.

So now we wait, for results from the day 2 tests... Stay tuned!