IVF: Week 3
Hey!
There’s still a person in here!
With all the shots, the judicious
schedule, the trips across town to the doctor every day for the blood draws and
the oh-so-fun ultrasounds, the bruises on my arms, gut, and butt, I’ve begun to
feel like some sort of egg producing robot!
Every time I move I’m reminded of my love
hate relationship with this process. I love the opportunity to go through this,
but I look and feel like I got into a very odd fight. The creases in my arms
are bruised from all the blood draws, my gut burns and looks like a pin
cushion, my ovaries are so full I could make an omelet, and my small-green-clover
tattoo on my rumpus, is now speckled with purple and yellow bruises. But, there
is a silver lining. . .
There are two types of Invetro; long cycle
and short cycle. I was scheduled to do the long cycle IVF. This just means I
would take more meds and for a longer period of time. God has again shown me
favor! My body has responded so well to the hormones that my eggs are ready to
be harvested much earlier than originally anticipated. This means I get to stop
all the shots, stop all the blood draws, stop all the ultrasounds, and get this
party started! Well, sort of. . .
I really just get to take a break from
needles and ultrasounds, but even when I start back up it will only be 1 daily shot
and some blood and ultrasounds. Today is my first day without any shots. My
butt feels like it has a golf ball stuck in it from the HUGE shot I had to do
last night, but at least I get a break.
In case you’re unfamiliar with how the
female reproductive system works, the ovaries typically trade off, producing
one egg per cycle. I currently have 14 full sized eggs and a handful of smaller
ones. Needless to say, I’m a bit uncomfortable. My ovaries feel like they are
going to BURST from all the eggs, my abdomen is swollen and tender, and sitting
upright is splendid. My ovaries have never worked this hard in my life!
I still haven’t had any major hormonal outbursts,
and I actually feel pretty good considering all the crap my body and soul have
been through. I did have a “loud discussion” with my husband yesterday, but I
truthfully didn’t feel a surge of emotions like I had before. He was being an
ass and I decided it was my place to tell him . . . hmm . . . maybe there were
some hormones involved in that discussion, but I think it was mostly me. Knowing myself like I do, I’m quite surprised
that I didn’t become an emotional wreck. It’s funny when we realize how strong
we really are in times of hardship. The Lord has truly blessed me with His
strength and presence. My family is not the easiest to live with and I am not
the most laid back person. Yet, God has given me perspective and patience. Of
course there were times when my patience was tested and I failed, but no one
was injured, damned to hell, and my back yard is body free, so I count this a
success!
But now is the final test; tomorrow my
eggs will be harvested and next Thursday the fertilized embryos will be
implanted into my uterus. The egg harvesting is supposedly very painful. They
have to sedate me, which is a problem because I have a terrible reaction to
narcotics. So, that will be a challenge. The embryo transfer is less painful,
but very delicate. The first 3 days are crucial. This will be the hardest part
for my family. This is when they will have to step up to the plate. No stress
for Mommy, no attitude, no arguments . . . just calm and love. I know they can
do it.
I will savor today; the one day in the past 3 weeks with no needles, no doctors, and no one shouting into my girly parts “Hello . . . is anyone home?”
I will savor today because tomorrow is the
beginning of the end.
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