Wow, what a very busy few days it's been. We received news from Karen at the clinic to administer our HCG Trigger shot at 10:30 PM on the dot Sunday April 1 (yeah no April fools). I knew it would burn and sting but MAN did that sucker burn.
My stomach after the HCG trigger shot, the redness spread across my whole lower stomach
I don't know if you can tell from the above picture but the burning sensation of the medicine spreading and going in was accompanied by red streaks that stretched across my lower stomach. In total the burning lasted about 15 minutes and then I was fine. Again, not saying this to scare anyone going through IVF but the first time we had an HCG Trigger shot we were not expecting this reaction and called our doctor's emergency line worried that I was having some sort of allergic reaction.
The next day was the first time in 23 days that we didn't have any injections!! I celebrated by going to see my massage therapist Mrs. Carla McGuire and taking the day off. Mrs Carla concentrated on getting me relaxed and at peace with myself. We also discussed relaxation techniques for my needle phobia and how to handle the Retrieval Procedure the next morning.
The Egg Retrieval Procedure:
We were asked to arrive to the clinic at 8:30 AM (yes they do the procedure in clinic so you don't have to go to a hospital..very nice!). I had a piece of dry toast and my antibiotic to start the day & then put on my most comfortable yoga pants and headed out the door.
We arrived on time and were whisked back to the lab for Chris to "do his business". They then escorted me back to the "gurney room" and had be change into a lovely cap, gown, and booties. Francis (the most incredible of nurses) gave me a huge hug and started her pre-op questions.
"What did you have for breakfast?
"When did you take your HCG shot?"
"Are you allergic to any medications?"
All of this while lying on my pink gurney in my really nice outfit having my blood pressure taken. When it came time for the IV Karen came back to administer it. Chris had completed his business and was quite proud of himself and had joined my side.
Our "Room with a view" notice my stylish booties and pink blanket
Karen took my right arm and started the IV as quickly as possible. I was calm, well....as calm as I will ever be, and it wasn't as bad as I remembered. I had no idea that some blood had come out and onto the blanket until it was time for me to get up, go to the restroom, and then walk to the OR room. Seeing that by accident made me falter a bit but they quickly changed my sheet and had me walk to the back room.
Once in the procedure room Dr Steinkamph gave me my "good drugs" and I drifted in and out of awareness. Chris held my hand the entire time and any time my eyes fluttered open he was there just smiling down at me stroking my hand, telling me everything was ok.
I did feel some pinching and uncomfortable moments during the procedure and it turns out they were spacing out my drugs this time around. He gave me one big hit to start with and then two more as the procedure progressed.
When I finally came to I was back in our room with a view with Chris smiling down at me. He told me they retrieved 28 eggs!!!! 28!!! That's twice as much as our first IVF procedure.
Francis then came over to check on me and I was feeling pretty loopy but good.
My Post op snack
They then offered Chris and I some Post Op snacks which I chowed down on. Chris still teases me because the first time we did this procedure back in January they left the snack basket on my gurney and I proceeded to tear through several packages of mini Ritz cheese crackers before they took it away.
Yes I'm drugged in this picture but THANK YOU for helping make this possible!!!
Francis then asked my pain level from 1 to 10 which I said was at about a 3. I was cramping and achy at that point but nothing too bad. Another 10 minutes or so pass of me sleeping when they ask me to get off the gurney and try to empty my bladder. This didn't go to well as I immediately got nauseous mid way and had to have them put me back in bed.
We eventually got to the restroom, they removed my IV and wheeled me out of the clinic. That night I had horrible cramps and painful gas but nothing too awful. The next morning however I woke up nauseous and stayed nauseous until Chris finally called Dr. Steinkamph and they called me in a prescription of a Phenergen knock off. Five minutes after I took the medicine I felt better.
No more nausea but my face started to get hot and turn beet red. It looked like a wind burn or sun burn all over my face and was hot. I had some trouble sleeping due to the gas and cramping but woke up feeling better over all. My face however is STILL beet red today and we are waiting for the doctor's office to open and let us know. We did chat with my sister and looked up side effects and apparently this is a common one.
Chris is making me breakfast in bed while we wait to call the doctor and we are SO excited we get to go back to the clinic tomorrow at 9:00 AM for our Embryo Implantation!!! Chris keeps saying "we are going to pick up our 8 babies.." He is so adorable.
We will find our tomorrow how many total fertilized, be advised on the best embryo's to implant and if we can freeze the remainder. We are so EXCITED!!! Thank you all for your constant prayers and support!!
Let you know tomorrow how it all goes!
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