We went for embryo transfer at the clinic today. Our appointment was for 11.30 but we didn't get through to the ward until about 12.15 and into theatre until 12.45. The receptionist clearly told everyone that arrived that they were running late. Only 6 beds on the ward and 14 couples to get through. So we chilled in the waiting area until we were called through. One couple arrived at 12 and despite being asked to wait the husband decided to barge onto the ward, which meant that one of the nurses had to deposit him back in the waiting room and re-iterate to the rest of us that knew the score to please wait in the waiting room and not go onto the ward until we were called through. What an idiot. Why do some people think they can just barge they way through the system. Sit down, shut the heck up and wait your turn.
One woman was also getting very stressed because her appointment time was 11.00 and it was taking longer than the 20 minute delay she was told. I know it is a stressful time but people didn't seem to help themselves getting worked up. To me, I'm fine with them running behind schedule because it means they are taking their time and doing it all properly rather than rushing through everyone.
The embryologist came to speak to us to say that of the three embryos, we had two that had divided to the 2 cell stage that were grade 2 embryos (grade 1 being the best, 6 being the worst) and 1 3 cell grade 3+ embryo. Their advice was to transfer two embryos, the grade 3+ (even though it was a slightly lower grade it was more advanced being a 3 cell) and one of the others. They will then grow the last one on in the lab until Monday and if it makes it to blastocyst stage on Monday they will freeze it for use later.
The procedure was straightforward, an abdominal scan to check the size of the uterus and thickness of the lining and then with feet in stirrups they swing your legs up in the air. The procedure from there on is very similar to a smear test. They clean the cervix and then insert a soft catheter through the cervix. Once they do that successfully they do it again, but this time the catheter contains the two embryos in a growing solution and squirt the liquid onto the thickest part of the lining. Then a lie down for 20 minutes to rest and we were done. Simples.
We are booked to go back to test for pregancy on 29th at 10am.
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Is 3 a magic number?
The embryologist called this morning to give us an update. Of the 5 eggs collected yesterday, sadly 2 didn't survive the ICSI process (where they are injected with a sperm). But 3 have and are looking good. We are booked in for embryo transfer tomorrow at 11.30am.
I was hoping all 5 would survive but at least we have 3. With 3, I think I am leaning towards having 2 put back rather than 1, but we will have to discuss that tomorrow with the consultant and embryologist. If all 3 are grade A and capable of freezing I might be persuaded to go for 1 but if we would have none to freeze I would rather take my chances with twins.
I was hoping all 5 would survive but at least we have 3. With 3, I think I am leaning towards having 2 put back rather than 1, but we will have to discuss that tomorrow with the consultant and embryologist. If all 3 are grade A and capable of freezing I might be persuaded to go for 1 but if we would have none to freeze I would rather take my chances with twins.
Monday, 13 September 2010
I knew I loved to sing, but really???
It was egg collection day today and we got 5 eggs!! Much better than the 3 the nurse was predicting. Hopfully by now they are tucked up in their incubators fertilising, ready for the embryologist to call in the morning to tell us how many of the 5 were mature and how many have fertilised.
For the procedure, they give you a heavy sedation which totally knocks you out, similar to general anaesthetic. As I was coming back around on the ward, they were playing the radio. The first thing I heard as I was coming around was Gary and Robbie's "Shame" single. So I had a bit of a sing along. According to Mr Taylor it was a LOUD sing along that he could only make out every fifth word to and was continually telling me to be quiet (there are 8 beds in the ward, each with curtains drawn around, but I'm sure the girls appreciated my talents!). Then to follow up Robbie and Gary was Bonnie Tyler's "Turn around" - come on, one of the best karaoke tunes ever, so I had a bit of a sing to that too (again much to Mr Taylors amusement/annoyance) which included some power ballad fist pull moves. I vaguely remember doing this, but thought I was just singing quietly to myself. Apparently, the whole ward could hear and saddly I am told, it was not my best rendition. The nurse had a tough time bringing me around (lots of shaking and shouting at me) and no doubt she quickly regretted it!
The surgeon Mr Keay was lovely. He has a lovely lilting Scottish accent and is a very kind and gentle man. I had explained to him that nurses generally have issues finding my cervix (it's shy) so he said he would give me a dummy run of embryo transfer while I was under. After I came around, he seemed really pleased that we got 5 eggs and assured me the dummy run all went smoothly.
I've spent most of the day snoozing on the sofa and am feeling a bit tender and bloated now.
For the procedure, they give you a heavy sedation which totally knocks you out, similar to general anaesthetic. As I was coming back around on the ward, they were playing the radio. The first thing I heard as I was coming around was Gary and Robbie's "Shame" single. So I had a bit of a sing along. According to Mr Taylor it was a LOUD sing along that he could only make out every fifth word to and was continually telling me to be quiet (there are 8 beds in the ward, each with curtains drawn around, but I'm sure the girls appreciated my talents!). Then to follow up Robbie and Gary was Bonnie Tyler's "Turn around" - come on, one of the best karaoke tunes ever, so I had a bit of a sing to that too (again much to Mr Taylors amusement/annoyance) which included some power ballad fist pull moves. I vaguely remember doing this, but thought I was just singing quietly to myself. Apparently, the whole ward could hear and saddly I am told, it was not my best rendition. The nurse had a tough time bringing me around (lots of shaking and shouting at me) and no doubt she quickly regretted it!
The surgeon Mr Keay was lovely. He has a lovely lilting Scottish accent and is a very kind and gentle man. I had explained to him that nurses generally have issues finding my cervix (it's shy) so he said he would give me a dummy run of embryo transfer while I was under. After I came around, he seemed really pleased that we got 5 eggs and assured me the dummy run all went smoothly.
I've spent most of the day snoozing on the sofa and am feeling a bit tender and bloated now.
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Day 14
We now have 3 mature follicles and 2 interim and 2 small. The clinic gave us the option of cancelling our cycle and starting all over again in 2 months time on a higher dose of Menopur to see if we could get more mature follicles. However, they did say they always expected a low response due to my low AM levels. So we decided to go ahead. I am booked in for egg collection on Monday at 8am and Chris is booked in to give his sample. They have said not to count on getting more than 3 mature follicles by Monday but I think the 2 interims will have caught up over the weekend.
My HCg shot is at 11pm on Saturday and then drug free on Sunday :-)
My HCg shot is at 11pm on Saturday and then drug free on Sunday :-)
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Day 12
We had another scan and they can now see 7 follicles!
1 is mature (that means it is over 16mm), 4 are interim size and 2 are small. They now think they might be able to get 5 follicles. They are keeping me on the drugs longer to give as many as possible a chance to mature. We are back on Friday (day 14) for another scan.
1 is mature (that means it is over 16mm), 4 are interim size and 2 are small. They now think they might be able to get 5 follicles. They are keeping me on the drugs longer to give as many as possible a chance to mature. We are back on Friday (day 14) for another scan.
Monday, 6 September 2010
I thought I would update you all on the progress so far:
Day 1/2
Sunday 29th August 2010 - day 1 of my cycle. Which means I had to go for a scan on the Monday to check everything was okay to get started. The Monday was a bank holiday in England so I was worried the clinic might not be open or be able to fit me in. I left a message on the nurses helpline voicemail and they called me at 8.30am on Monday to say come in for a scan. So we went for a scan, everything was looking good (they are checking that the uterus lining is coming away properly, that there are no follicles from the previous cycle kicking around and that the ovaries are cyst free. All was good, so then the nurse went through how to inject the menopur and supervised Chris giving his first injection.
I have to confess that the injections are nowhere near as bad as I expected. I am a self-confessed woos when it comes to needles, but you hardly feel it. The needle only goes in 8mm, so not a big deal. We are using an autoject pen (similar to what a diabetic uses for insulin but much bigger as there is much more fluid going in). So just press against the upper thigh and push the button. A few seconds later you see a yellow marker appear in a window to let you know the deed is done. Gently remove and blot with cotton wool if there is a spot of blood.
So the Menopur injections are every night at 10pm (the time we thought would work best for us).
Day 6
We were back at the clinic for a scan to see how many follicles are growing and what size they are. We were disappointed to discover that there are only 3 follicles growing (normal numbers are closer to 15 sometimes up to 30). The biggest was measuring 11mm. Because of my low AMH levels, we knew there wouldn't be as many as a normal patient. Some clinics don't continue with the treatment if you have less than 4/5 follicles as they think statistically you have a much lesser chance of it working on so few follicles. Thankfully, Coventry understand this is as good as it is going to get for me, so we are carrying on regardless!
I started an additional drug today - Cetrotide, which is a drug that acts as a block on the pituitary gland to stop a rise in my Lieutenising Hormone (sp?) which is the hormone that lets your ovaries know its time to ovulate. They don't want you to ovulate until the follicles are the right size and of course, they want to collect the follicles in one go, rather than trying to track them down in your fallopian tubes! This one is a bit scarier, its a bigger needle, no autoject pen and goes in your stomach underneath the belly button. Worryingly, the nurse just handled the needle to Chris and said "here you go - you kno what you're doing" Err, hang on a minute, this is a bit different to using the pen! I quickly informed her we had been using the autoject pen so far, so she then showed Chris what to do! That one has to be done when I wake up each morning and stings - ouchie!
Day 10
The Cetrotide has made me feel ill all weekend with nausea and a splitting headache :-(
Back for another scan to see how we're going. Some good news. They can now see 4 good size follicles with a 5th smaller follicle (but it is unlikely to be mature when its time for collection). The biggest is measuring 14mm. My endometrium (uterus lining) is starting to thicken and looking "nice and cosy" (the nurses words, not mine!).
We are due back on Wednesday for another scan to see how things are progressing. All being well, I will be due to take my HCg shot with egg collection on Friday.
Fingers crossed - grow follies grow!
Day 1/2
Sunday 29th August 2010 - day 1 of my cycle. Which means I had to go for a scan on the Monday to check everything was okay to get started. The Monday was a bank holiday in England so I was worried the clinic might not be open or be able to fit me in. I left a message on the nurses helpline voicemail and they called me at 8.30am on Monday to say come in for a scan. So we went for a scan, everything was looking good (they are checking that the uterus lining is coming away properly, that there are no follicles from the previous cycle kicking around and that the ovaries are cyst free. All was good, so then the nurse went through how to inject the menopur and supervised Chris giving his first injection.
I have to confess that the injections are nowhere near as bad as I expected. I am a self-confessed woos when it comes to needles, but you hardly feel it. The needle only goes in 8mm, so not a big deal. We are using an autoject pen (similar to what a diabetic uses for insulin but much bigger as there is much more fluid going in). So just press against the upper thigh and push the button. A few seconds later you see a yellow marker appear in a window to let you know the deed is done. Gently remove and blot with cotton wool if there is a spot of blood.
So the Menopur injections are every night at 10pm (the time we thought would work best for us).
Day 6
We were back at the clinic for a scan to see how many follicles are growing and what size they are. We were disappointed to discover that there are only 3 follicles growing (normal numbers are closer to 15 sometimes up to 30). The biggest was measuring 11mm. Because of my low AMH levels, we knew there wouldn't be as many as a normal patient. Some clinics don't continue with the treatment if you have less than 4/5 follicles as they think statistically you have a much lesser chance of it working on so few follicles. Thankfully, Coventry understand this is as good as it is going to get for me, so we are carrying on regardless!
I started an additional drug today - Cetrotide, which is a drug that acts as a block on the pituitary gland to stop a rise in my Lieutenising Hormone (sp?) which is the hormone that lets your ovaries know its time to ovulate. They don't want you to ovulate until the follicles are the right size and of course, they want to collect the follicles in one go, rather than trying to track them down in your fallopian tubes! This one is a bit scarier, its a bigger needle, no autoject pen and goes in your stomach underneath the belly button. Worryingly, the nurse just handled the needle to Chris and said "here you go - you kno what you're doing" Err, hang on a minute, this is a bit different to using the pen! I quickly informed her we had been using the autoject pen so far, so she then showed Chris what to do! That one has to be done when I wake up each morning and stings - ouchie!
Day 10
The Cetrotide has made me feel ill all weekend with nausea and a splitting headache :-(
Back for another scan to see how we're going. Some good news. They can now see 4 good size follicles with a 5th smaller follicle (but it is unlikely to be mature when its time for collection). The biggest is measuring 14mm. My endometrium (uterus lining) is starting to thicken and looking "nice and cosy" (the nurses words, not mine!).
We are due back on Wednesday for another scan to see how things are progressing. All being well, I will be due to take my HCg shot with egg collection on Friday.
Fingers crossed - grow follies grow!
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