And then there were three...
We have two eight-cell and one ten-cell.
I will get a call tomorrow (Friday) afternoon with a final update. If we still have three, we will transfer one in on Saturday morning. If we have two or one, we will freeze both to be transferred in next month. Debbie said that their latest stats show a 67% success rate for a frozen embryo transfer, which is higher than the fresh transfer rate, hence why we would want to go the frozen path. It would give my body a month to chill out prior to transfer (my hormone levels would get back to normal too).
If I'm being honest, I still want there to be three tomorrow so we can transfer Sat and freeze the remaining two. I don't know if that's how it will go though. In the end, we want a baby however that happens.
For now, I'll keep praying and eating Oreos.
Showing posts with label egg retrieval. Show all posts
Showing posts with label egg retrieval. Show all posts
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Day 1 Post-Retrieval
Just got a call from the embryology lab:
We had 8 eggs retrieved yesterday, 7 of which were mature.
Of the 7, 4 were successfully fertilized.
So, we have 4 in the game right now.
I asked again about the frozen vs. fresh transfer situation. If we have 2 or more embryos on Thursday (3 days post retrieval) we would go ahead and do a fresh transfer this Saturday and freeze the remaining. If we have less than 2 remaining on Thursday, we would freeze the 1 or 2 and go for a frozen transfer next month.
We had 8 eggs retrieved yesterday, 7 of which were mature.
Of the 7, 4 were successfully fertilized.
So, we have 4 in the game right now.
I asked again about the frozen vs. fresh transfer situation. If we have 2 or more embryos on Thursday (3 days post retrieval) we would go ahead and do a fresh transfer this Saturday and freeze the remaining. If we have less than 2 remaining on Thursday, we would freeze the 1 or 2 and go for a frozen transfer next month.
One day post retrieval
Just wanted to write a quick update about the egg retrieval yesterday:
Dr. Sasson was able to get 8 eggs. We will know many fertilized today and then each day that goes by, we will be called with an update about how they are progressing.
We are shooting for either a Day 5 transfer (Saturday 10/10), or if we have a high quality embryo at that point, we will freeze it to be transferred in next month. This was a bit surprising to me, as I had heard that fresh transfers usually have a higher success rate than frozen transfers. Apparently, Dr. Sasson tells me, the statistics have changed in recent years. Frozen transfers at Shady Grove now have equal to or greater chances for success than fresh transfers, especially for women whom have had high dosages of stims in their most recent cycle (me!)
Right now though, I am just praying that many eggs have fertilized and that we will have something remaining by week's end. I hope some of my sanity remains by that point too!
Thanks for your positive thoughts and prayers. There is nothing better than waking up on egg retrieval day to texts from praying friends; thank you for lifting this cycle up to the Lord.
Dr. Sasson was able to get 8 eggs. We will know many fertilized today and then each day that goes by, we will be called with an update about how they are progressing.
We are shooting for either a Day 5 transfer (Saturday 10/10), or if we have a high quality embryo at that point, we will freeze it to be transferred in next month. This was a bit surprising to me, as I had heard that fresh transfers usually have a higher success rate than frozen transfers. Apparently, Dr. Sasson tells me, the statistics have changed in recent years. Frozen transfers at Shady Grove now have equal to or greater chances for success than fresh transfers, especially for women whom have had high dosages of stims in their most recent cycle (me!)
Right now though, I am just praying that many eggs have fertilized and that we will have something remaining by week's end. I hope some of my sanity remains by that point too!
Thanks for your positive thoughts and prayers. There is nothing better than waking up on egg retrieval day to texts from praying friends; thank you for lifting this cycle up to the Lord.
Twas the Night Before Retrieval...
It's the night before retrieval and I am eager to have this next procedure completed. I wouldn't say I'm nervous; I am just eager to know how many eggs Dr. Sasson can get from my slow-to-respond ovaries.
Chris and I spent the past few days in Philaldelphia. We had morning monitoring appointments each day, and we just didn't feel like driving back and forth 6 hours round trip multiple days in a row. Gabe stayed with my in-laws, and Chris and I got to have a few date nights; it was heavenly. The weather didn't really cooperate, so instead, we enjoyed just relaxing at the hotel, watching movies, taking NAPS( Oh naps, how I have missed you!). It was just what we needed to reconnect and gear up for tomorrow's retrieval.
Dr. Sasson said that I had 16 eggs, but he thinks only 8 of them will be the correct size to fertilize. It's still a bit of a guessing game at this point, so we shall see.
Chris and I spent the past few days in Philaldelphia. We had morning monitoring appointments each day, and we just didn't feel like driving back and forth 6 hours round trip multiple days in a row. Gabe stayed with my in-laws, and Chris and I got to have a few date nights; it was heavenly. The weather didn't really cooperate, so instead, we enjoyed just relaxing at the hotel, watching movies, taking NAPS( Oh naps, how I have missed you!). It was just what we needed to reconnect and gear up for tomorrow's retrieval.
Dr. Sasson said that I had 16 eggs, but he thinks only 8 of them will be the correct size to fertilize. It's still a bit of a guessing game at this point, so we shall see.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Oh, the monitoring...
It has been one week since I started stims. I am lagging behind a bit in terms of my estrogen (880)and follicle counts (maybe 15 if we're lucky), but it's not a totally hopeless situation. It seems my ovaries are working, but just slowly. We actually had to order more meds because I ran out! It is such a bizarre experience to stare at a cartridge of medication, knowing that just one dose = $500.
On Sunday, we traveled down to the Towson office because Harrisburg was closed and Chesterbrook was crazy due to the Pope's visit. The Towson office was FILLED with women waiting to be monitored (as in, like 50 women).
It did feel like an assembly line of sorts. I think that if I had to experience that in my first cycle, I would have been really discouraged and felt super isolated. It was just such a cold experience. Women lined the waiting room with just hopeless looks on their faces. I tried to send warm glances to anyone who would actually make eye contact with me. I think that my multiple IVF cycles to date coupled with pure desensitization makes me less prone to feeling like I'm actually part of the reproductive cattle herding taking place a SGF.
That being said, I still feel though. I still feel for others who are on their journeys to motherhood without a sweet toddler at home to greet them after the cattle herding.
I was riding the elevator down after my appointment on Sunday with a woman who looked to be around 30. She was beautiful and was wearing the best of everything. I saw her get into her new Mercedes, sobbing.
I walked up to her and asked if she needed to talk. She replied, "This is so hard. It just sucks."
Ditto.
I stood and talked to her for a while and tried to help her gain a grip before leaving.
Infertility touches EVERYONE, regardless of what you have financially. It is emotional. It is hard.
I am again ever so thankful for my husband, my son, my God. I keep reminding myself of God's sovereignty. It helps me to think about it, but it also scares me a little, to be honest.
As far as my meds to date:
I am taking the highest dose of Follistim (450) allowable each day, along with 125 of Menapur.
Tonight, I will take 450 Follistim, 225 of Menapur, and Ganirelix to prevent premature ovulation. This combo will last for the next four days, I think. It's looking like I would trigger on Saturday night, with egg retrieval on Monday, 10/5?
On Sunday, we traveled down to the Towson office because Harrisburg was closed and Chesterbrook was crazy due to the Pope's visit. The Towson office was FILLED with women waiting to be monitored (as in, like 50 women).
It did feel like an assembly line of sorts. I think that if I had to experience that in my first cycle, I would have been really discouraged and felt super isolated. It was just such a cold experience. Women lined the waiting room with just hopeless looks on their faces. I tried to send warm glances to anyone who would actually make eye contact with me. I think that my multiple IVF cycles to date coupled with pure desensitization makes me less prone to feeling like I'm actually part of the reproductive cattle herding taking place a SGF.
That being said, I still feel though. I still feel for others who are on their journeys to motherhood without a sweet toddler at home to greet them after the cattle herding.
I was riding the elevator down after my appointment on Sunday with a woman who looked to be around 30. She was beautiful and was wearing the best of everything. I saw her get into her new Mercedes, sobbing.
I walked up to her and asked if she needed to talk. She replied, "This is so hard. It just sucks."
Ditto.
I stood and talked to her for a while and tried to help her gain a grip before leaving.
Infertility touches EVERYONE, regardless of what you have financially. It is emotional. It is hard.
I am again ever so thankful for my husband, my son, my God. I keep reminding myself of God's sovereignty. It helps me to think about it, but it also scares me a little, to be honest.
As far as my meds to date:
I am taking the highest dose of Follistim (450) allowable each day, along with 125 of Menapur.
Tonight, I will take 450 Follistim, 225 of Menapur, and Ganirelix to prevent premature ovulation. This combo will last for the next four days, I think. It's looking like I would trigger on Saturday night, with egg retrieval on Monday, 10/5?
Friday, April 17, 2015
ROUND TWO: Day 2, after retrieval
Do you know what's weird and insanely hard to put into words? The feeling I have when I hear the phone ring and it's Shady Grove on the caller ID, calling us to update us on how many potential Knipe human lives are still living in their lab. As stated yesterday, we have three mature, fertilized eggs. Today, we have two four-cell embryos, and one two-cell embryo; still at 3 total.
I remember being nervous last time, wondering if IVF would work, but I don't remember being this nervous about this specific phase of the cycle. We had such good number last time so we knew we had good odds to get to transfer day with at least something to transfer. Now, Chris and I are on pins and needles just wondering if there is going to be anything to transfer on Monday.
We are still at three. Maria called from the lab and said she would hope to see 6-8 cell embryos tomorrow. She will call to update us tomorrow afternoon.
I remember being nervous last time, wondering if IVF would work, but I don't remember being this nervous about this specific phase of the cycle. We had such good number last time so we knew we had good odds to get to transfer day with at least something to transfer. Now, Chris and I are on pins and needles just wondering if there is going to be anything to transfer on Monday.
We are still at three. Maria called from the lab and said she would hope to see 6-8 cell embryos tomorrow. She will call to update us tomorrow afternoon.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
ROUND TWO: Day after Egg Retrieval
Yesterday was the egg retrieval; they were unfortunately only able to get four eggs, three of which were mature and able to be fertilized.
Now it is just a waiting game to see how they each grow and mature on to the blastocyst stage. Embryo transfer is set for Monday at 12:30, if we have anything to transfer. I am trying to cling to some hope here. Last time, we had 13 eggs retrieved and 8 fertilized and then we ended up implanting 2 with none left to store. I just hope that we can get at least one quality blastocyst to make it into a full fledged embryo-then-baby!
Daniella and Debbie were my nurses yesterday and they were wonderful. Sensitive. Supportive and funny.
Marie, the embryologist we had Round 1 is who will be keeping us updated each day regarding the grade and stage of the blasts; she is super sweet and it was good to see her yesterday.
Dr. Sasson was at another office yesterday so he was not there for the retrieval. Dr. K did it and she was wonderful.
Even though there were a few unplanned or last minute changes in our day yesterday, I am happy to report that I'm almost pain free today and am still just trying to remain hopeful that five days from now we will have something positive to report.
Chris, on the other hand, is a mess. I think he is worked up because we didn't really get the numbers that we had last time. We also only have one more cycle after this one that is paid for; we did not do Shared Risk this time, we did the 2 Cycle Program. Even thinking about having to do this again is not worth my time at this point, but Chris is just hyper fixated on it.
I'm hoping house projects and yard work will get us through to Monday. Distraction! Distraction! Distraction!
Now it is just a waiting game to see how they each grow and mature on to the blastocyst stage. Embryo transfer is set for Monday at 12:30, if we have anything to transfer. I am trying to cling to some hope here. Last time, we had 13 eggs retrieved and 8 fertilized and then we ended up implanting 2 with none left to store. I just hope that we can get at least one quality blastocyst to make it into a full fledged embryo-then-baby!
Daniella and Debbie were my nurses yesterday and they were wonderful. Sensitive. Supportive and funny.
Marie, the embryologist we had Round 1 is who will be keeping us updated each day regarding the grade and stage of the blasts; she is super sweet and it was good to see her yesterday.
Dr. Sasson was at another office yesterday so he was not there for the retrieval. Dr. K did it and she was wonderful.
Even though there were a few unplanned or last minute changes in our day yesterday, I am happy to report that I'm almost pain free today and am still just trying to remain hopeful that five days from now we will have something positive to report.
Chris, on the other hand, is a mess. I think he is worked up because we didn't really get the numbers that we had last time. We also only have one more cycle after this one that is paid for; we did not do Shared Risk this time, we did the 2 Cycle Program. Even thinking about having to do this again is not worth my time at this point, but Chris is just hyper fixated on it.
I'm hoping house projects and yard work will get us through to Monday. Distraction! Distraction! Distraction!
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
ROUND TWO: Pre-Retrieval
Last night, Chris got to give me a shot in the bum which acted as a trigger for ovulation. Egg retrieval is set for tomorrow morning at 7:45 AM. We are planning to head to Philly tonight and get a hotel, as the timing of tomorrow's appointment is critical. We wouldn't want a flat tire or traffic to impact our ability to get there on time!
This morning I did not (THANKFULLY) have to go to Shady Grove for monitoring (my first morning not in a car in four days!) Apparently with an HCG Novarelle shot, there does not need to be any bloodwork done the following day. This trigger was different from the Lupron dual trigger I had before. I asked about the change in protocol and the nurse told me it was because of my estrogen levels. She wasn't concerned and just said things are "a little different" this time around.
As I write, I am so in awe of just how DIFFERENT everything has been this time around. I can't really explain it. Things with Chris and I are good though; we are a team. Last night's bum-shot was entertaining to say the least:)
I am so intrigued to know how many eggs they will be able to retrieve tomorrow. At yesterday's appointment, it appeared that there were around 7. This is less than last time, but hey, we only need one good one.
Each day after tomorrow, Shady Grove will call us and let us know how the embryos are doing; how many, their grade, shape etc. I haven't really allowed myself to think about this process not working. I've honestly been so busy between work and Gabe and monitoring to let the thought sit very long in my head. I hope that the next five days until transfer are quick ones.
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