Justin has to leave a sample of his fine swimmers tomorrow morning during morning clinic at 7am in the doctors office. The embryologist will prep the sperm to fertilize the eggs once they have been retrieved!
I will check in at 9:30 am for a scheduled egg retrieval at 10:30 am. Keys points for tomorrow morning, no food or water after midnight tonight. I can not use any scented lotions, hair products, makeup or perfume the day of retrieval. Odors can be toxic to embryos so they are not allowed in the operating room. I need to wear loose clothing to the procedure since I will likely experience cramping and discomfort after the procedure.
Once I check in, I will be taken back to an exam room to change into a gown and have an IV started. I will meet with the anesthesiologist to discuss the retrieval, medications used and take a brief medical history. Once in the OR, the embryologist will come in to confirm my ID and I will be asked to view a monitor on the wall where my petri dish with my name will appear. This is where my eggs will be placed and fertilized after the retrieval. Once I identify my dish I will take a nice 20-30 minute nap and the procedure will begin!
Once I am asleep the doctor will place a speculum in place to clean the vaginal area with saline. Then a vaginal ultrasound probe will be used to identify the ovaries. They will use an aspiration needle, which is attached to the probe, and it will be used to penetrate the vaginal wall and enter the ovaries to remove the egg and follicular fluid from each of the follicles. The doctor will first aspirate one ovary, then move onto the next. The length of the process depends on how may follicles are in each ovary. Once all the follicles have been aspirated, the vaginal area is cleaned, the speculum is removed and the procedure is complete.
From the OR I will go to the recovery area. Abdominal cramping is normal and to be expected. As soon as I wake up they would like me to eat a small snack and take pain medication. Justin will be able to join me for recovery once I am awake and ready for a visitor. Once I am ready to leave and have the pain under control Justin will bring me back to mom and dad's house to finish recovering. I will likely be pretty tired and should be resting for the remainder of the day. We should expect abdominal cramping and bloating or up to a week after my retrieval. It will take a couple weeks for my ovaries to return to normal size from stimulation.
Tomorrow night I will start taking Medrol (oral) and Progesterone (IM hip injection). Medrol is used because the steroid hormone transiently suppresses the immune function between the time of retrieval and the transfer of the embryos. It is taken to enhance implantation of the embryo. The progesterone oil based injection is a natural hormone normally produced by the corpus luteum (a follicle that has ruptured and released the egg). In IVF, it is administered as an injection after egg retrieval. It helps to stabilize the endometrium and is essential for implantation of the embryo. If I get a positive pregnancy test I will have to take the progesterone injection for 46 days post retrieval!
Lots of information I know, this is why my head is spinning!! Hoping for a great day tomorrow and some good quality eggs =)
Once I am asleep the doctor will place a speculum in place to clean the vaginal area with saline. Then a vaginal ultrasound probe will be used to identify the ovaries. They will use an aspiration needle, which is attached to the probe, and it will be used to penetrate the vaginal wall and enter the ovaries to remove the egg and follicular fluid from each of the follicles. The doctor will first aspirate one ovary, then move onto the next. The length of the process depends on how may follicles are in each ovary. Once all the follicles have been aspirated, the vaginal area is cleaned, the speculum is removed and the procedure is complete.
From the OR I will go to the recovery area. Abdominal cramping is normal and to be expected. As soon as I wake up they would like me to eat a small snack and take pain medication. Justin will be able to join me for recovery once I am awake and ready for a visitor. Once I am ready to leave and have the pain under control Justin will bring me back to mom and dad's house to finish recovering. I will likely be pretty tired and should be resting for the remainder of the day. We should expect abdominal cramping and bloating or up to a week after my retrieval. It will take a couple weeks for my ovaries to return to normal size from stimulation.
Tomorrow night I will start taking Medrol (oral) and Progesterone (IM hip injection). Medrol is used because the steroid hormone transiently suppresses the immune function between the time of retrieval and the transfer of the embryos. It is taken to enhance implantation of the embryo. The progesterone oil based injection is a natural hormone normally produced by the corpus luteum (a follicle that has ruptured and released the egg). In IVF, it is administered as an injection after egg retrieval. It helps to stabilize the endometrium and is essential for implantation of the embryo. If I get a positive pregnancy test I will have to take the progesterone injection for 46 days post retrieval!
Lots of information I know, this is why my head is spinning!! Hoping for a great day tomorrow and some good quality eggs =)
We are thinking of you, praying all goes well! Hoping you aren't in pain. You know, the headaches start after they're born.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck, in my prayers.