The night before our embryo transfer was NOT fun. Every now and then, my stomach decides to clench up and spasm, to the point where I can’t eat anything and even the slightest movement is incredibly painful, and it lasts for days. Well, wouldn’tcha know, that’s precisely what happened on Sunday night. I didn’t get any sleep, I was paranoid it was OHSS rearing its ugly head, and I was afraid to take any meds in case they interacted with this Dostinex drug I was taking or screwed with my uterus. At 3 a.m., I said to myself, “I’m phoning the clinic as soon as they open and cancelling this transfer.” Seriously — I wasn’t even sure I could swallow a litre of water for the full-bladder ultrasound, let alone provide a calm, relaxed environment for a blastocyst.
Then, at 7:15 a.m., I decided I’d at least try to force down some water and go to the clinic, if only so they could tell me it was, indeed, OHSS, and reschedule a date for an FET. But when I arrived, everything just kind of ticked along merrily and the ultrasound showed my abdomen was fine and my bladder was full and, well, I couldn’t say no to that perfect little blastocyst waiting patiently in its test tube for me. On the down side, my clinic doesn’t give photos to take home and doesn’t really do that 4AA 5AB whatever grading system, so I have no idea what it looks like, but I trust that it’s just dandy and sticky (hubby asked our doctor how the embryologist chose which one to insert and he said, “Oh, we just pick the one with the happy face on it!” Har har). On the up side, we at least could watch the screen as it went into my uterus — a little spark, as my husband described it. Aww.
Then we got some news that made me thrilled enough to momentarily forget the searing pain in my stomach — we ended up with 15 blastocysts! With one inside me now, that’s 14 left as backup. My doc said this is “unheard of” and that, in all his years at a fertility clinic, he’s never seen anyone produce this many blastocysts, so the over-achiever in me was very satisfied that at least we did something right.
Now, I’m on bedrest for three days. Focusing on keeping my uterus very still while also finding a way to convince my bowels to continue moving, which just doesn’t seem to be happening of late. Why can’t my innards all work together toward a common goal?!
My mom actually dropped by yesterday to hang out in bed with me, which made the afternoon go faster. She’s a bit like a nonna in her compulsion to bring shitloads of food and flowers whenever she comes over, but because my mom’s also a doctor, she tends to walk in the door with arm-fulls of drug samples, too, if I’m even remotely ill. Needless to say, I was greeted at 11 a.m. by a torrent of random soft foods (including 24 eggs, multiple tubs of yogurt and a packet of sour keys — for you Americans, sour keys are this), a six-pack of yellow Gatorade, a bouquet of white roses, trashy magazines and fist-fulls of over-the-counter gas relief pills, many of which expired in 2001.
Hubby has also been very good about being my runner, bringing me tea and eating lunch with me in bed (we’re both self-employed). My doctor kept joking that I should refer to my husband as “slave” during this three-day period, but Imma be honest, that’s a little weird.
OK, I’m starting to ramble here. So let me sum up:
I’ve got a lot of support happening right now from both friends and family and loved ones, which is awesome and gives me the warm-fuzzies (or maybe that’s the sour keys and expired drugs talking). But on the other hand, I thought I’d be more excited right now. I don’t feel pregnant (or even PUPO), I don’t have high hopes, my stomach hurts, I have a headache, and trying to conduct actual work from bed really sucks. I’m incredibly grateful to be done, forever, with stimming myself and to have so many blastocysts on ice, but frankly, there really isn’t anything to get excited about until you see those two lines. Hmph.
Yeah, Science! 
Holy crap! 13 blastocysts is RIDICULOUS!!!! Way to go, girl!
That little guy is going to get all nestled in good in there, don’t you worry.
I don’t know if you’re into meditation, but I’ve got an amazing CD especially for IVF that has caused 5 women to get pregnant. Seriously. Just the CD alone. Anyway, if you’re interested, let me know. I can send it your way.
In case you don’t mind sharing, could you send it to me at notmanyeggs@gmail.com? We’re less than a month away from our first IVF. I love my other meditation CD’s but don’t have anything specifically for IVF. That would be great!
15! I know, it’s kind of insane. And yes, would totally be interested in that CD… will message you for deets shortly. :) Thanks!
SO happy for you!! Sending lots of positive vibes your way that your embie is super sticky!
WOW! 13! That is crazy! And I’m thrilled for you :))))
Is the 3 day bedrest after transfer standard at your clinic or is this something you decided to do?
With that much love and care you might want to extend your resting period just a little longer. One could get used to that kind of pampering… :)
It’s weird, I hadn’t heard anything about bedrest from the doctors or nurses before, but I was told to keep my tush FIRMLY in bed except to go to the bathroom, and apparently it’s pretty standard at our clinic. Seems a bit extreme, though, and most bloggers I follow don’t seem to require this…
Can’t hurt though, right? I think better over cautious than under. And 15!!! That is amazing!!!
First of all…15 blasts is amazing! Holy crap!
My RE also requires 3 days of bed rest. Day of transfer is strict, flat on your back only getting up to pee. The next 2 days are modified bed rest but I am still supposed to do nothing. I feel like that isn’t the norm anymore so I am happy to see someone else has to do it besides me. I am not convinced it’s a good thing, though. Plus, it kills my back to lay in bed all day. I was so uncomfortable.
Hope that embryo is settling in nice and snug.
Hold the phone – Americans don’t have sour keys?!?!! Cray. Hope your little embrie is sticky icky icky!!! XXXX
Three days bed rest? Wow we weren’t told to do even one day of bed rest. Just relax and do light activity with no real restrictions. Maybe that is the big difference in my two failed IVFs. Good luck and hope the embie sticks.
Wowzers!!!!! 15 frosties is the most amazing IVF outcome I’ve ever heard – huge happy congrats! And CONGRATS on being PUPO!!!!! Promise to keep us posted on the tww! :)
I’m so glad it went so well! Wow – 15 blasts to work with! Terrific!
We have “Sour Patch Kids” which look like the same thing as your sour keys. Good stuff!
Yeah, we have Sour Patch Kids, too, but sour keys are better in my opinion — they’re a bit harder (or maybe just more stale!) and the sourness is milder somehow. Hard to describe, but look out for them if you’re ever in Canada; they’re at every convenience store!
Several thoughts on this. Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. (A little Princess Bride there for ya)
a) This is awesome! Congrats on the bajillion blasts and on the transfer! I’m sure they’re settling in nicely.
b) Our clinic doesn’t give pics of the blasts? Dammit! I was really hoping for one of those.
c) They are serious about the bed rest? I had kind of convinced myself they were kidding.
d) Is it uncouth to call dibs on your inevitable leftover embryos? I don’t care. DIBS!
e) Enjoy your bed rest and being pampered. Stop working. Read a book.
f) That is all.
Haha, well we only transferred one this time, so hopefully it sticks. :) And yes, I’d be happy to throw some embryos out to other infertiles… it would be like confetti and I’d say, “Blastocysts for everyone!!” and there would be lots of cheering. And yes, I hate to break it to you, but you WILL be on bed rest and our clinic definitely does NOT take pics of the embryos, which totally blows. They just don’t have the necessary imaging equipment or whatever — LAME.
You could be the Oprah of blastocysts. “And YOU get a blastocyst! And YOU get a blastocyst! Everyone gets a blastocyst!”
Good call on the single transfer. Twins would be hard.
haha you and Armis have me laughing out loud with the “blasts for everyone!!!” comments! I am so so excited for you! 15 balsts! that is so amazing!!! really hoping that this one is the one, but at least you have an insurance plan! will you POAS or wait for the beta?
Usually I hate peeing on sticks, but I think I’ll have to because otherwise I’ll have to wait two full weeks for the blood draw. Will probably POAS on Day 9 or 10, which will mean either the best Valentine’s Day ever or the worst!
Must have been a helluva good embryo dance party! You’ll give the Duggars a run for their money, but sounds like you’re taking it one embryo at a time. Wishing you the best!
holy cow! 15!! that’s amazing. don’t feel badly about not feeling PUPO. not having high hopes makes complete sense. the brain can’t just do a 180 immediately after months and months of getting used to things not going your way. but this is huge. this is a a big one. and your brain will get on board.
until then, enjoy those trashy magazines.
and i’m with ya. the whole referring to your husband as a slave thing is a little weird. i wonder how many women this doctor has said this to (i imagine it being a bit a catchphrase) who have responded with awkward laughter and a little social discomfort!
Imma go ahead and be excited for you, even if you’re not that excited for yourself! Go, little blastie, go!
You are one lucky girl!!!! So happy for you! What a successful cycle! You are a total rock star! Very very excited for you!
First time I have read and commented on your blog. You have such a witty writing style. Love it, and I love your readers comments too. I’m laughing out loud over here!
Oh sweet Jesus I pray I could get even half that many embies to put on ice! Sounds like everything went well, and I agree with your RE… There aren’t many chances to truly make your spouse your slave, so take full advantage. You def need a bell!
That is INCREDIBLE!!! 15!?!!!!! You undoubtedly have at least one or two babies waiting for you there!