Egg Transfer day and everything afterwards!

Hello!

I know it's been awhile - but when we were in Cancun, we moved to a new hotel we had little to no wi-fi connection - I had a post partially finished  - but then lost it so no updates, but now I am sitting back in my home in Canada and I have been attempting to make this update for over a week now...

Transfer day (December 10, 2012) went wonderfully - MANY tears were shed that day - all happy tears- I didn't get much sleep the night before because I think I was more excited and maybe a little anxious.

My mom joined us this day at the clinic,  as she had arrived in Cancun on Saturday night with my brother, his wife and her family, and we thought we would ask her to join us on this special day for us.

We got a cab from our hotel in Playa Del Carmen and ventured into Cancun, we were a little early, because we were not too sure how long the drive would take or how the traffic would be, we were earlier than we expected though, our cab driver had a brick attached to his foot - haha.

We arrived at the clinic and figured we would just hang out in the waiting room, again hugs and kisses all around, and the girls even welcomed my mother like this! Daniela came and got us and brought us to our waiting room, it was nice and definitely more private than waiting in the general area.
I had decided along with Dr. Gaytan and IPF, to do an acupuncture session prior to the transfer (it was also included in our package), so the acupuncturist came and got me and it was laser acupuncture rather than the traditional needle acupuncture - and I can tell you that the 20 min laser session had me more relaxed than any of the five months worth of traditional acupuncture I had done at home in Edmonton.

I went back into my room and got changed, Dr. Gaytan came in to speak to us and show us the picture of the embroyos being transferred. He was very happy - we were told we had 19 embroyos that they froze that morning (day 5), he was beyond ecstatic how everything had progressed, and felt we would have success. He reviewed my "don't list" for the week and checked if we had any last minute questions. Everything at this point was straight forward for us - and it just became a waiting game.

I had changed and the girls came to "wheel" me away to the OR. Again my DH or mother could not be in there with me - but they had video streamed everything into the room they waited for me in, so it was still like they were a part of it.
I got into OR - got ready and waited for Dr. G
He came into the OR - asked how I was doing and I was ok still and he explained what would happen, I was awake for the egg transfer - so I was able to watch everything on the monitor by my bed (which was so nice - I had a split screen of what the embryologist was doing and of my uterus)
Dr. G swabbed me with hormone (HCG I believe) to help with the implantation - we had to wait four minutes after this before we could do the transfer of the two embryos (which reached blastocyst stage) He had asked me if I had named them - and I laughed and said no - he gave them names but for the life of me I don't remember what they are! We had some quick chit chat - he asked me how my experience at the clinic was and if I was happy or not - I told him words can not express at how happy we were with our decision to proceed with IVF again at his clinic - I told him, that the way everyone had treated us was beyond gold, and then our time was up! I watched as the embryologist "sucked" my two embryos into the catheter - and watched the nurse carry it into the OR - then saw him insert it in me (via monitor) and "push" them out - and there we go that quick and we were done!! I also watched as the embryologist checked to ensure both embryo's came out of the catheter, that's it - it was all done - my 19 day journey at the clinic was done. I was overcome with emotion - Dr. Gaytan came up to me - held my hand, wished us all the best, and said - good things will happen and oh I cried - I thanked him for everything and again told him what an amazing experience for us - and thanked him for being so caring and having such a wonderful staff.
That was it - I was wheeled back into my "recovery" room and relaxed for about 10 minutes - and got to visit the bathroom (had to have a full bladder for the transfer)

We finished up at the clinic, said our goodbyes - got our first ten days of suppository medication to help with possible implantation (hello again progesterone train - aggghh) and off we went - I had another 6 days left in Mexico - total time to relax - I am so glad I had this time and not have to rush to the airport to catch a plane back home.
We had a surprise from the clinic - they had emailed us the next day to say that we had a total of 24 embryos frozen - ummm??? Where did the five come from?? Well we had either misunderstood - or just assumed that we only had 21 left (19 frozen, 2 transferred) but they still had 5 under observation and ended up freezing them - so that's great- we have 24 more to transfer (as they all survive the thawing) so hopefully another 12 chances to expand our family!!!

I took it pretty easy for the week - I couldn't swim - so I had tons of lay by the beach and pool time - which was nice - got to really relax, and having the week in Mexico - definitely helped out with our two week waiting (2ww) time - which was actually only 9 days - because of the 5 day transfer (which I was surprised to hear!)

We got back home to Canada on December 16 - and only three days to kill before we were able to take a home pregnancy test (hpt) - we had agreed to not take one and that we were just going to wait for the results from the doctor. Well easier said than done, December 19 came quickly and we couldn't resist. I got up and got my stick - and was prepared for both answers - I put the test upside down and waited three minutes, I made DH look at it- I didn't want to - seemed to be the longest ten seconds of my life!! He went " Well.......it definitely looks like..........YOUR PREGNANT!!!"

OMG OMG OMG - I said really??!!?? I couldn't believe it - after so many negatives, after all these years, we finally had a positive - we shared a few tears and were ecstatic and went about our day, that was it....
We only told DH's sister that day - everyone else I sort of "put off" until we went for our beta test and got our results on the Thursday. It's not that I wanted to make it this big secret - but it is very surreal for me at this point...We had told our families, and some close friends but its not on facebook - and well I just made my announcement here - I am not ashamed of my BFP (Big Fat Positive) I am cautiously optimistic.

I have taken two more hpt since then and they all have both been positive. I have also had three beta tests done - the first test on Dec 19 was 118 - and our second on December 22 was 357. We just had the third one today and so I will probably get those results tomorrow if not Friday. I am still trying to wrap my head with the beta levels, but I am not letting them stress me out - all I know really is I need it to at least double, and well I seem to be right on track for that!!
I am going for an early ultrasound January 11, 2013 - and I am thinking that is when it will hit me and be "real." I could have gone January 04 or 07 but I wanted to go to a u/s facility close to my home and my DH wants to be (and I want him) there also - so Jan 11 @ 9:10 a.m. we go - it will be here before we know it.

Our unofficial due date is August 28, 2013 - and really that will come so so quick - I mean look how quickly 2012 has gone by!

I haven't really had any major symptoms (except for SUPER SORE breasts lol TMI I know, I know) - waves of nausea that seem to have subsided, and I am more tired than usual. I have a very healthy appetite - I eat a good balanced meal and still seem to be hungry!! And milk - I use to barely go through  half a litre of milk in a week- well lets just say I am buying the four litre jugs now!!

Other than that - life is smooth sailing - we have been so busy with Christmas and getting settled back home - we can't wait for a day here soon that we can completely relax - not have to leave the house, or go to a dinner or run some errands, we want to hide from the world for a day - hopefully it happens before we both return to work on Jan 07!!!

Thanks for reading up to this point about our Journey - I will hopefully continue to update this throughout our pregnancy!!

Post retrieval update

Well it's three days post retrieval and things are going well!!
We had a total relax day which included a massage on Tuesday to prepare for Wednesday and the hardest part on Wednesday was the fasting lol - my retrieval was scheduled for 11 am and I had to be on a complete fast for 8 hours, I was soooo thirsty hahah but I survived!

We got to the clinic and again hugs and kisses all around!!! Growing up in a polish home I don't find this awkward at all because this is how we greet also, except we do a kiss on each cheek whereas here its only one cheek.

They wasted no time getting me into my private room - which had a bed, a recliner rocker for DH, TV with satellite and a private bathroom. I got changed into my gown, and the nurse came into the room to get my IV started, they refer to her as magic hands and it's totally appropriate - I didn't even feel the needle and took her one try. With my previous IVF it took two nurses and four attempts to get my IV in - my poor hands were bruised for weeks! I have the tiniest one this time, and its not even a bruise, its more tender than anything.

Next I met Carlos the embryologist - nice guy, cracked a few jokes, definitely made me comfortable in the OR as DH could not be in there with me (in Canada he sat next to me the whole retrieval) here they video streamed the whole procedure into our room and he watched on the TV which was nice that he could still be "involved" in the whole process!!!

Well next came the drugs - first the good pain killer and then Carlos asked me if I felt like I was on a wine high or if it feels like tequila - I said wine - and he gave me more drugs lol, then I felt the tequila - hahaha. Dr. Gaytan came in quickly to tell me everything will be fine and that is the last thing that I remember.

Woke up in recovery, remember a little bit - but I guess I was awake when they wheeled me in - and transferred beds, the nurses and DH helped me move -but I don't remember any of this, I also do not remember telling DH to take pictures, and yet telling him to raise the camera to ensure he got the whole room - hahaha - DH told me at dinner on Wednesday night - I did not believe him, because I didn't remember that at all - well there are pictures to prove it!

I think we were in there for about an hour - finished my juice and kept it down, so we were free to go - another difference from in Canada - I walked myself out of the clinic - my DH in August had to hold me up to get to the car - I was so out of it then, I couldn't even walk to the pharmacy in Edmonton to get my prescription - and it was only a partial sedation back then  - and I was in pain with my first IVF  - here I was still a little tender - but it was manageable - we had a follicle count before we left the clinic - and we had 54 follicles retrieved! They were still sorting them when we had left so we did not find out till Thursday how many were mature.

Got back to the hotel and I headed straight for the buffet - I was STARVING - yet again another difference with my IVF in Canada - there I went straight to bed and barely ate for three days - here I have totally gone about my days like normal and my appetite is quite "healthy" lol.

I haven't really experienced any "pain" I have taken a few tylenol to help, as the recommended Advil was doing nothing for the tenderness, I still walk a little slow - but my tender tummy is definitely improving drastically each day - I actually walked a "normal" pace with my DH on Friday night.
We have been taking it easy - just lounging on the beach and enjoying the sun - we have had some of the nicest days we have ever experienced in Cancun the last three or four days, so its been great for the tan - lol.

I didn't sleep much Wednesday or Thursday - anxiety of updates from the clinic I guess you could say was the cause. As you know we did not have good results in Edmonton, so waiting to hear what was happening here brought me slight anxiety, I was checking my email Thursday morning what felt like every two minutes, lets say my phone was at about 50% battery life by the time I got the email at 2 p.m.
We were lounging on the beach, and as soon as I read it - tears, and tears, of JOY - from the 54 follicles retrieved, we had 48 mature eggs, and from that 44 had fertilized!!!!!! AMAZING - I was beyond over the moon!!! To hear such success after we had nothing fertilize in Edmonton - brought very intense joy for DH and I. We had a great afternoon, and in the evening at dinner I celebrated with the smallest glass of wine (I vowed off ALL alcohol since started our injections, not that I ever drank much to begin with)

Then Friday - again checking the email constantly - DH couldn't take it either so he emailed the clinic looking for an update lol - and they got back to us - we had 40 embryos still!! Amazing - again we were beyond the moon - but we had something that had stumped us - We had ICSI counts, and IVF counts. We could not figure out what this meant - we were under the impression all follicles were given ICSI......So after pondering all afternoon - I was just happy we still have 40 embryos, but DH couldn't take the unknown and "confusion" of the email and he finally called the nurse.
Well the phone call lead to us learning that the embryologist made the decision not to perform ICSI on all the follicles because we had some very strong eggs - so he did traditional IVF and ICSI - we are still waiting to hear how many of each - because currently we have 11 embryos that ICSI was performed on and 29 that IVF was performed on.

Now because we have success, I am not overly upset that the clinic did this, but as I have been thinking about it - part of me is - because they knew we had total fertilization failure with traditional IVF in Edmonton, what if it happened again??? Obviously they used WAY more eggs for traditional IVF than for ICSI.
But what can be done at this point? No point getting upset, we have strong embroyo's and we need two more days and then hopefully we have enough to perform our transfer which is still scheduled for Monday - this is sosososososo exciting to think about.

Well tonight my familia arrives in Cancun, this is the week that our previously planned family trip is happening, so it will be so nice to have my parents, and brother and his wife and her whole family here.  We also move hotels today, we are heading off the hotel zone and going to the Mayan Riviera, so we will have a bit of a trek to the clinic on Monday, but that is ok - it is only for one trip!

Well today I get another update from the clinic and confirmation time of our ET - so today is another milestone for us!

Everything is still beyond amazing for us and we have nothing but good things to say about the clinic here - again this is the best decision we have made in our infertility journey and I say it will bring nothing but good results for us.

Well I probably won't update till after ET so till next time!

xo

Fifth appointment

Well we had another appointment at the clinic yesterday and wow we're they busy!!! About thirty mins behind, at one point it was standing room only in the waiting area, and wow EVERY single staff person apologized and thanked us for being so patient.

Ran into Dr. G in the hallway and he greeted me with a hug and a kiss on the cheek - frick I LOVE this clinic, this is how everyone is!!!! it just makes you feel so welcomed, remembered and comfortable. He knew he was behind and apologized and said he would see me in a bit.

Next we were up! (finally!!) lol

Got changed, hopped (not literally, I'm waaayyyy too tender) onto my chair and in came in Dr. G - well I'm a follicle factory - he figures we have at least thirty- all ranging from 14.0-20.8mm - not quite large enough - so the delay comes. Our retrieval is now bumped to Wednesday, and the plan is to do a five day transfer so that will be on Dec 10, I was kind of expecting this because of the low dose that we have been on. We are ok with this because it's nice that Dr. G was really cautious of not over simulating us, a welcomed changed from our last cycle. He also changed our medication - no more menopur - just the 150IUI of Gonal-f and now we also have added Orgalutron to the mix - so the Gonal-f in the evenings and I take the Orgalutron at noon each day (this medication prevents from the follicles being released) so back for another follow-up on Monday and hopefully our follicles are all of size that we need them to be.

I am hoping they are (our follicles growing that is) - walking and getting up and sitting/laying down is getting pretty painful. My walk has slowed down - DH is a pretty quick walker so I'm definitely slowing him down lol.

We golfed today - I did ok - but I think it's my last time on the course at least until the retrieval is done, so beach days are ahead of me till Wednesday, which we are ok with - maximize our relaxation time before our "big" days coming ahead of us!!!

Until next time! Xo

Second appointment

Well we had appointment #2 today! It was just to check my estridol levels and I am guessing everything is going well as my dosage has not changed.

Back to the clinic Monday for my first ultrasound - hopefully we have some good growing going on!!!

We met a couple at the clinic today from Philadelphia - they are nearing the end of their journey they have their Egg retrieval(ER) on Monday, we wished them much luck, they were sweet, they also had nothing but good things to say about FCC.

Day 3 of stims and I am feeling good - i just need to remember to drink lots of water and start on the Gatorade train to try to prevent OHSS.

Finally Mr. Sunshine made a good appearance today, we hung out at the sister hotel of our resort as my cousin and her bf and some of their friends are also down here so it was nice to spend the afternoon with them!

Had a little cry at dinner my poor DH but I couldn't hold them back!!!! It was nothing bad, we were just discussing how happy we are with our decision and how right everything feels and talked about how great everyone is here and the tears just came - not a full on bawl just happy tears I guess - darn hormones lol!!!!

Well we have tomorrow to ourselves so we are off to golf in the morning, hopefully beach time in the afternoon and then we are off to a steak/lobster house tomorrow night that Dr. Gaytan recommended with my cousin and her entourage of people that are also here so it should be a good day!!!!

Till next time xo

My view from my beach chair before my appointment

Yes I get to listen and view this for two hours before my appointment today