IVF Part 2: Egg Retrieval

Alisha says: My egg retrieval surgery was scheduled for Tuesday, January 20^th in the afternoon so in order to pass some time we went for a little walk at Magnusun Park. I had checked traffic and had planned out the time that we needed to leave but as we got in the car to go it wouldn’t start. I got super anxious and couldn’t believe that this was the time that the car battery decided to die. Dave as usual stayed very calm and decided to put the car in neutral and back it out of the driveway so that we could access the other car. Thankfully we have two. The problem with parking on our street is that it is only two hour parking and so I was sure that we were going to get a ticket while we were away. Dave wrote a note about the battery being dead and that we would move it ASAP, left it on the windshield and we hoped for the best.

 

After arriving at the clinic I was taken back and changed into the glamorous gown complete with a hair net and then Doctor Johnson came and talked to us, then the anesthesiologist and finally Jo. Jo is such a great nurse, she really knows her stuff. When it was time she took me into the room where after laying down I got my IV put in. At the time it was just the anesthesiologist and the medical assistant in the room. I asked a few questions then the anesthesiologist said she was going to give me a some medication and I would start to feel like I had had a few drinks, I laughed and said that I didn’t know what that was like because I don’t drink. I vaguely remember a few more people coming in and me trying to lift up my leg, but that’s the end of it. The next thing I know someone was talking to me and it was like I was trying to wake up from a really deep sleep. I felt a little groggy and fought my way to consciousness. The anesthesiologist said that I did great. Then Jo came and checked on me and put an extra blanket on me. By this time Dave was brought back and sat with me while I recovered for a little bit. Dr. Johnson told Dave that they were still counting the eggs but that they were already over 30 and they would let us know the next day how many had fertilized.  I felt really crampy and tired but happy that it was over. After a while I got dressed and Dave helped me out to the car.

Recovery was so much worse that I had anticipated. I had read countless things online that ranged from people going being just fine to much worse but figured I would be fine in a day or so but I was wrong. The first 24 hours were the worst.  My whole abdomen ached and I felt really bloated. It was hard to stand up straight so I sat in the recliner while Dave took great care of me. Whenever I had to get up to use the restroom I almost passed out, a feeling that continued every time I stood up for about two days. The first night sleeping was awful, I could only stay in one position and it hurt to even breathe and the second night I threw up a couple of times.  Over the next few days I slowly improved. We had been invited by Chris and Sarah to go stay the weekend in a cabin by Mt. Baker and do some skiing. I thought about canceling but Dave convinced me that I could just hang out in the cabin and that it would be good to get out so on Friday afternoon they picked us up. My big improvement came the first night at the cabin when I was able to sleep for short periods of time on my stomach. Lucky for me the weather was really rainy on Saturday so they were unable to go skiing and instead we went for a short hike which was a good test for me and I felt mostly good and then relaxed most of the day. By Sunday morning I decided I was feeling good enough to try skiing with everyone and I am so glad that I did, we had a great time and it took my mind off of everything for a little bit.

Backing up a little bit, so the day after the egg retrieval the embryologist called to let us know that they retrieved 37 eggs (that is partly why my recovery was so bad, lots of eggs are good but also means more trauma during surgery.  Average egg retrieval numbers are 8-15), of my 37 eggs 27 were mature enough to try to fertilize. Of the 27, 18 fertilized and that they would continue to monitor their development until day 5/6 when only the ones that had developed into healthy blastocysts would be frozen. Monday afternoon I got the call that I had been waiting for and was very surprised when I was told that we had 14 great looking embryos in the freezer. It is a relief to know that we have a good number to work with as we continue our journey to having a family.