Miracles
Last night I could barely sleep… I was hyped up on adrenaline. I opened my laptop for a couple hours, just to try to distract myself until I got somewhat sleepy. So I managed a few hours of sleep… and then slept in so that I didn’t have enough time to wash my hair. Oh well, that’s what hair nets are for in surgery, right?
We arrived right at 8pm, I got changed into the surgical gown and into bed. Then they started the incessant questions and paperwork. I feel bad for them, really – that is a lot of paperwork! And they have to arrange it all in a particular way so the doctors can just walk in, check through it, and walk off.
I mentioned working full-time and the nurse asked me what I do. I, without thinking, answered truthfully: part-time as a bank teller, part time as the assistant manager of a animal rescue organization. BAD IDEA, NATALIE. I do this every time, and every time Den and I want to kick my ass, because this always triggers a 20-minute discussion about cats – one that I don’t particularly feel like having while waiting for surgery. And why is it that the conversations always involve their cat who ran away, got eaten, hit by a car, they want to get rid of, etc etc. It inevitably leaves me biting my tongue. After the nurse left my little cubicle Den hissed at me, “I was trying to get your attention to say NOOOO don’t say it, but you said it anyways!” I am stupid. Next time, duct tape my mouth shut please.
The two nurses were talking a lot over the equipment for starting IV… something about the needles and tape and such. I was starting to shoot Den some panicked looks, like, this is not boding well. A little bit later they got to starting my IV. She looked at the vein in my left hand, tapping it and humming and hawing. A little novocaine, the needle went in… and that was IT. It was my best IV start yet!! I barely felt a thing, it started right away, and I had no problems the rest of the day. It was fantastic!!
A woman came by and introduced herself as being from research. She said that she knows my history of having a lot of immature eggs, and would I be willing to join a study? The study is about IVM – in vitro maturation, a technique which currently does not have a very good success rate (and thus is not covered by my insurance, in case you were wondering why we haven’t gone that route). They want to study immature eggs to figure out why they don’t have good success in the lab, to hopefully make it a viable solution for people like me. So Den and I said, “Yes, sir!” and gleefully signed the consents. Like Den said to me privately, it’s kind of neat to be on the leading edge of stuff… trying experimental things and helping pave the way for future women like me. Maybe in 10 years they will have some actual protocols for addressing this issue so they aren’t just shooting in the dark.
When the doctor arrived and got changed it was time to get into the OR. I left Den with my blackberry so he could peruse the news while bored and waiting, and I waddled off with the back of my gown clutched shut, IV bag held by the anesthesiologist. Same as always… lay down, arms on the wings, legs in the big stirrups. No stinging in the IV hand this time, just that things started to go a little blurry… and then a lot blurry… and then I was out.
When I woke up Den told me they got 25 eggs out of me. That was more than I was hoping for – I was aiming for about 20. I just worry because my very first cycle we had 24 retrieved, my successful cycle we had 13 retrieved. But 25 is a good number still. I twittered from my blackberry and then we were on our way.
Before we left I asked if the nurse could check on how many eggs were mature and let me know today. Since, you know, waiting is freaking torture.
We stopped for breakfast on the way home (I was still feeling a tad bit tipsy from the anesthesia, but not too bad). Tasted awesome. Ohhhh food after surgery is fantastic.
Den had to go to work, so he just dropped me off at home and left for his meetings. I went straight to bed! Whether from the anesthesia or my lack of sleep last night, or some combo of the two, I was exhausted! I carefully put my phone (making sure the ringer was ON) on the pillow beside me and fell asleep, expecting to be woken up by a call.
Instead I was woken up by the sound of a dog puking (maybe after this she’ll stop eating the plastic plant containers in the basement? Probably not). And no phone call. I looked at the clock, 3pm. Should I call them? They probably forgot. But then I thought, what if they haven’t called me because they can’t find any good ones and they’re desperately trying to find some before calling me? My mind can imagine a lot of bad news without much help. I called and left a message… could they please find out from the lab how it’s looking?
A few minutes later my phone rang. I answered it. It was one of the nurses. “I just called down to the lab. They’re still looking at some of the immature ones to see if they will be able to ICSI them later, (my heart starts pounding)… There were 5 eggs able to be ICSI’d right away, and then a little after that they were able to ICSI 2 more.”
All I could say was, “Holy crap!”
WE HAVE 7 MATURE EGGS AND THEY MAY HAVE SOME MORE LATER!!!!!
I thanked her profusely, hung up the phone, and burst into tears. 7. SEVEN. That’s 28%!!! Every one of my previous cycles has had an 8% maturity rate. This more than TRIPLED the number of mature eggs I normally have!! Oh my GOD.
I am still crying. I can’t wait until Den gets home so I can give him the news. I already called Kel to tell her. This is just unbelievable. I really really never expected that this was even POSSIBLE from my body.
Tomorrow I find out how many of them fertilized… I don’t expect it will be all of them, but it looks like we will have some good frostie candidates this time!!! WOW!!!
I have goosebumps all over – I am on the verge of crying with you. Good god Nat, it’s about time someone in that freaking universe cut you guys some slack and came through for you guys.
I am ECSTATIC for you guys, and so is Arno – I just told him and he started to smile all over. Crossing my fingers for the fertilization report …. man, this is a great ending of my day here.
*big big hugs for you both*
OK, now I feel bad for emailing you about our cat, LOL. At least I’m not looking to get rid of him??
And OMG! I had just read about IVM not too long ago, that is so awesome you were asked to be part of a study. With your awesome results, will you still be able to?
I’m still practically jumping out of my skin about your results!
Hai, Congrats with your 7 (!!) mature eggs, well done! Was this your first time using Menopur? I’m having the same issues with my eggs, although around 50% is mature in my case, and from those only 20% fertilized with ICSI (just 10% of the total eggs). In my last ICSI I used menopure and from the 7 eggs 5 were mature and I had 3 embryo’s. Nathalie, I really hope it will be your magic tric as well.
Love from the Netherlands, Zeefje
OMFG, SEVEN!!!!!
I am SO excited for you!!! I’m crossing everything that can be crossed for these beans!
<3
I also have goosebumps.
I’m very much a lurker on your blog but just had to comment on this wonderful news.
It is VERY exciting. hehe, but you know that.
S X
Zeefje – In my previous cycle I had used 1 vial of menopur along with the FSH stims medication. This was my first cycle stimming off ONLY menopur – no pure FSH meds added in. But my problem is solely egg maturity… my fertilization rate thus far has been pretty good.
Oh, and Kel – Yeah, they just want my immature eggs, although I wish they had asked me last time! I had a BUNCH of them! LOL And don’t worry about the cat email…. I don’t mind people asking for help! It’s the “oh, I had this problem, I didn’t ask anyone for help, and we just dumped the cat out in the country” stories that drive me BATTY.
Congrats!! I hope this is the first of many successes this cycle!
oh Hurrah!
That is so, so so fantastic.
That is wonderful news! So very happy for you.
This is great news! What a great cycle!
I’m sooooo happy for you- that is absolutely WONDERFUL! Congrats!
YAY! So excited, I will be monitoring you for news on the fert report!
That is awesome news hun, we are keeping our fingers crossed for you and Den. *hugs*
ahhhhh!!!!! That is great news! I’m so happy i stopped to check my favorites. Yup-your in my favorites. =) I love reading your blog. And more importantly I am LOVING the good news tonight.
What great news…so happy for you, Nat!
That’s great news. Congrats!! I will continue to cross my fingers for you !
Add me to the goosebumps list! SO much hope headed your way.
WAHOO!!!!!!! Sending lots of positive thoughts and fertilizing vibes your way Natalie! :)
CONGRATS! That’s awesome!
And cool about the IVM. I’m very interested in that.
Wow, that’s great news. I’m sure more eggs will become mature… :) *keeps fingers crossed*
I’m such a dolt. I didn’t read the title of your post so as I’m going through your post I’m reading faster and faster and faster, anxious to find out how many were mature!!!
I’m SO FREAKING EXCITED for you Nat!!! Awesome awesomeness!!! WOOHOO!!!
OMG THAT IS BEYOND AWESOME!!!
I’m so so so so so happy and excited for you guys!
I hope we’ll soon hear that Devin will have a healthy sibling!
That’s just wonderful news! I can’t believe how well this cycle went. I’ll pray for much better news soon.
Hi Natalie I am a lurker but I wanted to say “yay” and congratulations. You have me on the edge of my seat and even though I don’t know you, my fingers are crossed in giddiness!
Hi, I am also a lurker, but I follow your blog very closely and have been hoping for this news for you! 6 embryos! That’s amazing! Best of luck to you, and I can’t wait to hear about a bfp!
I thought I commented here last night, but it is not here?! Trying again…
WAHOO!!! That is wonderful news Natalie! Sending lots of postivie thoughts your way. :)
Okay, now both comments are here… Go figure?! Anyway I see from your twittering that you have 6 embryos!!! That is so awesome! :)