....we got the final green light from our doctor that retrieval is scheduled for Wednesday morning! At this point I stop all my other medication and I take a hCG trigger shot tonight at 9:15. (side lesson on hCG: The hCG trigger shot is a dose of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin, which normally is produced by the body after implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterine lining. This medication is delivered by injection and is timed in conjunction with the maturity of the ovarian follicles containing eggs. When the hCG shot is delivered, those follicles release their eggs and a woman may become pregnant. The hCG trigger shot is used in fertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization) It has to be timed with the retrieval appointment....so retrieval is Wednesday at 9:15...We have to be there at 8:15 that morning. They will start my IV and give me the happy juice to help me relax. :)
My estrogen level was 3,665....and any time it's over 3,000 at this point you are at a higher risk for hyper stimulating (OHSS)....so I have to start a Rx tonight and take it for 8 days to help prevent OHSS from happening. (this happened with IVF cycle 1). A side lesson in OHSS: Normally, a woman produces one egg per month. Some women undergoing fertility treatments are given medicines to help normalize egg development or increase egg production. However, if the drugs stimulate the ovaries too much, the ovaries can suddenly become very swollen and fluid can leak into the belly and chest area. This is called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). OHSS occurs only after the eggs are released from the ovary (ovulation).You may be more likely to get OHSS if your doctor gives you an injection of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to help trigger ovulation. You may have an even greater risk of this syndrome if you receive more than one dose of hCG after ovulation and if you become pregnant during this cycle. OHSS rarely, if ever, occurs in women who only take fertility medicines by mouth.OHSS affects up to 10% of women who go through in vitro fertilization. In most cases the condition is mild, but some women get a severe and dangerous form of OHSS.
Most common (mild) side effects from this? Abdominal bloating, Mild pain in the abdomen,Weight gain...hmm....no wonder my pants are tight today....should have worn elastic. :)
So, there you have it....a medical lesson you probably didn't expect to get today!
Keep those prayers comin'!!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hi my name is Liz and I think you came to a Resolve meeting and knew my friend Samantha. Also I think I saw you at the doctors office this morning as I was leaving. I just wanted you to know that prayers are coming! I am on an IUI cycle, I have not graduated to IVF just yet. Not too sure that I am up for it. They can't give me a reason why we haven't conceived. We are also working on adoption which we are very excited about. It is my happy place. I don't update my blog very much, but I wanted to leave a message.
ReplyDeletePrayers
-Liz
Hey! My husband and I have been with ART since July and we are considering starting IVF soon (after my 2nd "clean out" surgery..yuck!) Thank you soooo much for all the info you posted today! I'm learning a lot from your blog! :)
ReplyDeleteLove you and praying non-stop for you! Thanks for the medical lesson...You are the strongest peron I know. Hang on, GOD has it all planned for you. Can't wait to hear how everything goes. Thanks for being so brave and sharing your story with all of us, i agree with the above post- i am learing a lot from you!
ReplyDeleteStay strong!!!
Amy
Amy Strong