Wednesday May 2, 2012

  The egg retrieval is done under conscious sedation also called twilight sedation so I couldn't eat or drink anything after midnight Tuesday. I had to be there at 8:30am and just so you know some come out a little uncomfortable so bring yoga or sweatpants.  

  

  I went in and changed into a gown, which was not meant for a 5'11" individual by the way, it was like wearing a mini skirt.  Anesthesia came in and asked questions and Dr. Arici also stopped by for encouragement.  A nurse will also place a catheter in your arm so they can administer sedation and an IV drip.  Once they are ready I walked down the hall, holding my mini skirt for fear of showing my bits to anyone around, and go into a procedure room.  They got me all situated and the anesthesiologist gave me a cocktail which caused me to drift off.  I remember very little but the whole procedure only took about 20 minutes.  Next thing I know I am being wheeled back to my bay where John is waiting.  He left for his part shortly after(by the way...no break this time in between...18 million sperm...manhood still in tack).  

  They make you eat a sandwich, which was delicious, and give you Aryan, a common yogurt drink, before you can go.  I also had to pick up more meds before I left.  Burcu is there to help with that and takes you to the pharmacy in case a translator is needed.  They put you on four days of antibiotic, which I was expecting because it is common after retrieval.  They also put me on four days of a corticosteroid and progesterone which helps to support a pregnancy. The progesterone has to be taken until your first ultrasound after a positive pregnancy test so I will have to get more from my OB at home if I become pregnant.  They will also prescribed an aspirin and anti-inflammatory but I can't take them so they said Tylenol is fine if there is any pain or discomfort.  I  felt pretty good all day, just a little discomfort after a few hours of being back at the hotel and napping but not too bad.

 Now, it is a waiting game.  15 eggs were retrieved, but we don't know the status of them as far as viability and maturity.  They thawed John's sample from Monday and plan on using the best sperm from that and today's sample.  They are doing ICSI which means they inject one good quality sperm right into each of the viable and mature eggs.  In the states this always costs more, here it is standard.  We should get a call tomorrow telling us how many eggs fertilized and survived.  From there it is day by day.  They can call us at any time in the next 2-5 days and tell us that they want to do the transfer the following day.  We are praying that the eggs become fertilized and that healthy embryos result.  We will just have to wait and see.  If you have any questions please let us know below where it says comments.  

More on our journey to come...we hope