IVF Round 2: The Cycle in Full.

At the time of my IVF cycle, as it happened, it wasn’t really much to write about – things were very similar to the time before – so it wasn’t really a “brand new” experience.

I was on exactly the same short antagonistic protocol with the same dosage of drugs. I knew what to expect with the injections and the scans. The only different was on the baseline scan that I had done in October showed more follicles then I had previously and that’s a good thing. I thought maybe the additional supplements I had where doing what they should.

I had my first scan on day 9, and it was a nurse that who scanned me and she found lots of lovely beautiful follicles growing well. I did get told off because apparently being a private patient I should have had a consultant scan me I told her as far as I was concerned it didnt matter who scanned me – I just booked it on the phone!

I had to go back for a Scan on Day 11, which i didn’t do on the first cycle – but this time it was done by the female consultant. She actually scanned me in a Scanning Chair! Now this was a new thing because I have never been scanned in a scanning chair – ever (not even through all my endometriosis stuff either!)

She said she preferred scanning in a chair as it raised up and was better for her back / neck – and the woman is higher and looks down on the person scanning. She said its really good for women who have had issues relating to scanning, or sexual abuse, as it makes them feel empowered, more in control and like they’re not being looed down upon.

I had 23 follicles over my ovaries, some smaller than others and I had to do my trigger injection that evening. All those beautiful follices surely I was bound to get lots more eggs! I was so excited! I was also the only person to be having egg collection done on the Saturday!

I’ll be honest – I was uncomfortable. I was really bloated and had really bad back ache, but I had two ovaries full of follicles, so it was to be expected.

The Egg Collection came and i took a taxi from the hotel to the clinic, the nurse told me I could have a drink without thinking – and I said “can I?” and she said of course – without thinking – I wasn’t meant to! So they needed to make sure I’d be ok! I was a bit cross!

I got changed, into my sexy gown, and the consultant that scanned me was the one doig my Egg Collection. She was also the one who had done my first Embryo Transfer.

There was a little confusion, because on the system it said I had 33 follicles so they were talking to me about a potential freeze all due to OHSS, and I questioned that there were 23 follicles at my last scan. The consultant confirmed they were aiming to drain 16 follicles and nothing else was mentioned about OHSS. And the anaesthetist was running late!

Anyway, I went in for my egg collection, was sedated and I can’t really remember much. They claim its concious sedation. I remember at one point looking at the ceiling completely dazed out – and also looking over to the nurse. I remember hearing “egg” and also “flush” and “more flush please”. I remember thinking, flush – what is this flush she’s talking about? I can’t remember that from the first round.

When I came around, I complained I was in pain low down. I was in the same pain before egg collection almost like a UTI. The nurse said did I want anymore pain relief but they could only give me paracetamol due to my allergies. And said that cos I’d had flush thats why. She promised me a warm towel (no hot water bottles available) but didn’t bring it!

I spoke to the consultant who said my eggs were quite sticky and they didn’t want to come out and thats why she had to use flush. She said that she’s never had to use “that much” flush on people in the past – and I joked with her that my friends had asked to make sure these next eggs had “sticky bottoms” so they stuck around.

And then came the disappointment that they only collected 10 eggs.

Now you may think ten is an amazing number and it is but it was only one more than the time before, so I had all those extra follicles that should have contained an egg that either didn’t or was too stubborn to let it go.

I had my sandwich, which was not what I had ordered! But she brought me some biscuits to make up for it too! And I had plenty to drink as I brought my water bottle in with me rather than them giving me a TINY cup. I had my wee’s and all they want me to do before I was discharged to my mum.

Back in to the hotel, hot water bottle and cuddled up in pain and I fell asleep for another few hours. The joys of sedation!

It was really weird to stay in a Premier Inn and have a takeaway but that’s all we could do this time. Watching Strictly and I’m a Celebrity!

The next morning I got the phone call from the clinic to tell me that out of my 10 eggs 7 were mature and four had fertilised. All those extra follicles for the same amount of bloody eggs are you kidding me!!! Yes I should be happy that I had eggs that fertilised but it actually really was gutting!

Next up came waiting for the 5-day update for a transfer. I swear to God that that 5 day wait is worse than the two week wait…and those 5 days seem so LONG.

Not only that but I was in increasing pain to the point I phoned the clinic up and told them that I was worried about the amount of pain I was in. But because I wasn’t sick, and was passing urine they told me to keep drinking, painkillers and a hot water bottle, but they weren’t worried.

It must have took me a good 4 days to start feeling better but even when I went in for my embryo transfer I wasn’t 100% but I was about 90%.

On the morning of my embryo transfer I get a phone call to tell me that all four of my embryos are at the same stage there’s not a leader of the pack or anything. She told me that they’ll leave them until later on and review them just before transfer but it was up to the consultant they may decide to put two back. I was more than happy with this.

The embryologist called me whilst I was waiting to go in to tell me that they decided to do just one, and I got one leading the pack. But they would leave the others to day 6 and see if they caught up to freeze but this one was going in today.

The embryo transfer was so much better in the first so much easier. I’m not sure if it’s because the consultant that did it doesn’t use the stirrups or it’s because they know no that I have a long vagina and cervix that sits to left…

I joked with the doctor and embryologist that couldnt they just put two back. Sneak an extra one in – I wouldn’t tell anyone!

Despite being on additional supplements for egg quality and having been on them for 120 Days unfortunately it had made no difference to my eggs.

The little embryo that went back was a 2BB, the embryo that went back in the first time with a 3BB which is actually better quality. I will do another blog post about embryo grading!

However, I know plenty of people who’ve had to 2bbs & 2cc’s go back and still had a baby. It’s better to be inside you than it is to be anywhere else.

Overall I felt a lot better in myself during the second two week wait. Apart from the fact that I was over emotional and I had a horrendous sweet tooth.

However come test date it was a stark clear negative. not even a hint of a line not even for the ones that can squint for the world nothing.

I spoke to the clinic who were advised again because I wasn’t bleeding I had to wait 3 days and retest. I asked to go in for bloods to confirm – I was told no.

So I continued my meds as told, but I phoned up and booked for my follow-up consultation before I should have done. I was so certain that it was a complete negative then what does it matter if I waited a couple of days or not to book my consultation.

And when I re-tested in 3 days it was still negative.

The the period or the withdrawal bleed as their class it was so light was really weird but I also had the luxury to know that I only had to wait 10 days from my follow up with my Consultant and I could then take Christmas & New Year to really think about my next steps.