Home from Retrieval

I just got back from retrieval. Everything went very well. We had 17 eggs retrieved. We are not going to ICSI all of them though. John and I have chosen to limit the number of eggs they attempt to fertilize. The plan is to attempt to freeze the rest of the eggs using a new quick freeze procedure. At this point the procedure is still experimental, so there is no guarantee of success. The reason they are experimenting with this new procedure is because there has not been much success with egg freezing in the past. They want to be able to freeze eggs to help cancer patients and those with religious/moral objections to freezing embryos.

Now we wait for fertilization to occur. I should hear the report tomorrow.

Thank you for your prayers. I have been greatly encouraged by the comments and emails I have received.

I am off to rest now.

Ready!!!

That was the report from my doctor today. One of the nurses called while we were on our way home from Mobile and said I was ready for retrieval. I was so surprised I forgot to ask her what my estrogen level was. Oh well, I guess it's high enough. The nurse saw about 7 mature follicles on the US today. However, she thought my doctor would push me one more day to let a few more of them mature, but apparently he thinks I'm ready. Retrieval is scheduled for 7:30am Tuesday. They want us in Mobile by 6:00am. So J and I are going to head over tomorrow evening and get a hotel. Otherwise we'd be waking up at 2:45am. I think I will be much more relaxed if we are already in Mobile Tuesday morning. I have to take one more shot tonight at 9:00pm to trigger ovulation and then I'm done with shots until the night of the retrieval when I will start intramuscular progesterone in oil. Everyone says this is by far the worst of all the shots.

I am definitely nervous (but also excited) about retrieval. I have never had surgery or been under anesthesia. I think it is the control freak in me that dislikes the idea of being under anesthesia. However, I have been learning to be less of a control freak through all of this. You just can't be, too much is not in your control. I'm thinking that there is a surefire way to "cure" a control freak - put them through IVF. Please pray that I not be anxious or fearful about the retrieval and that I be reminded continually of God's presence with me. I will post more prayer requests tomorrow.