Eggies Collected!

Well hello! Yesterday was a big day! In short - 11 eggs collected - 5 mature & fertilised using ICSI.

Sorry if this account is very detailed but I didn't want to leave any details out in case any of it is of interest to others about to undergo the procedure.

We arrived at the clinic about 7.35am, tired & hungry, & went to reception. We had more forms to fill in *yawn* & forgot DP would also have to complete admission forms as he was on "standby" for another testicular biopsy. After all that, DP drove home to drop the car off & walk back as neither of us would be allowed to drive home if we both had surgeries. I waited about 2mins when a nurse collected me & took me downstairs to the day surgery ward.

The ward is quite small & luckily I'd been there before to pick up DP after his first biopsy so it felt familiar. I was told to go to the toilet first, then taken into a cubicle to undress, put on the sexy backless hospital gown, & thankfully a warm fluffy towelling robe over the top! Oh, & don't forget the fetching blue shower cap! I sat down where the lovely nurse placed a warm blanket over me. She then wheeled over a heater with a big ducting tube coming out of it & popped the tube under my blanket to keep me even warmer! I had to keep my left arm under there too as this is the hand they'll put the cannular (tube for medicine) in later, and if your hand's warm the veins will pop up to make it easier to put in.

I then answered a bunch of questions & confirmed things I'd already written on my admission form, given a pile of old magazines to keep me amused, and left to my own devices for about 10 minutes. Then the anaesthetist came & asked me MORE questions. I expressed my concern over feeling sick & dizzy after previous operations.. but he assured me this was a much less invasive surgery with lighter anaesthetic used so he was quite confident I'd be fine. He said he'd take note of that anyway. I started to feel a bit better.

After this the anesthetist's assistant came &, you guessed it, asked me MORE questions again! Then my FS popped in to see if I had any question FOR HIM! I couldn't think of anything (my mind was blank) so he said "just make it work, huh?" I nodded enthusiastically so he said OK & ducked out again. Next minute he ducked back in to double check what was happening with the sperm? I was a bit disconcerted by this question & thought HE must know surely? But I figured he has so many patients I cut him some slack. I told him DP was on standby just in case his frozen spermies don't thaw well.

I waited some more (no idea how long as I didn't have a watch with me) before I was led along the corridor to the theatre. I was pretty bloomin' nervous by this stage! I'd had a few surgeries before in my life but I don't think it makes the lead-up any easier.

I walked in, took my robe off & hopped up to lay on the table. The anaesthetist took my left hand to put the cannular in & my FS asked me to say my name & date of birth "as a diversionary tactic only". Haha. Funny. Next minute the anesthetist put an oxygen mask over my nose & mouth and.... I was out to it! Don't remember a thing!

I was lying there on the table still when I started coming to. I noticed another lady on a table to my left, talking to the nurse in a groggy voice. She was asking how many eggs she had. Oh my god! That's right! I quickly pulled my hand out from under the blanket to see what number was taped to my palm - 11. I was just happy at this stage that it wasn't 0! I heard the nurse say to the other lady that she had 8. This made me happier. Sorry, just being honest.

The nurse noticed I was awake & asked how I was. I felt fantastic! No pain! So after a short time she got me to hop off the table & walk slowly to a cubicle. I was a bit unsteady on my feet but she supported me. I sat on a recliner chair with a blanket over me & snacked on some sweet biscuits, cheese & crackers, water and a cup of tea. It was bliss. I was marvelling at how great I felt, a little slow & groggy, but no pain!

The lovely nurse kept checking on me so I asked if she knew about DP's op yet? She double checked with admissions upstairs & said they were still waiting to find out. I was worried about poor DP sitting up there for ages, bored stiff! And I was sitting down here, bored stiff too! I was tempted to ask if he could come & wait with me, seeing as he would have to come down to the same place to get ready for op anyway. But I didn't.

Ages later the ward doorbell rang & DP came in! He said he was told upstairs that he didn't need another biopsy, they were going to use his frozen sperm. It was fantastic news! Not only because I didn't want him to go through another surgery, but it was going to cost us another $1008 plus Drs fees!! Say no more.

So DP walked back home, picked up the car, came back & took me home. I laid on the couch for the rest of the day, bored stiff, but trying to relax. As the day went on I started getting pain. I guess the anaesthetic was wearing off dammit. The longer I laid down the harder it was to get back up. When I walked I was doubled over like a hunchback. It wasn't terrible, but it was like really bad cramps. I was also a little constipated but I'm not sure if I couldn't go just because it hurt to push (sorry if TMI!). I've also got sore sensitive nipples (again TMI) but they've been this way for a few days, before EPU, so I'm guessing it's just the drugs.

Late afternoon one of the scientists called me to tell me the news. I had 11 eggs collected, of which 6 were immature & useless. The remaining 5 were mature & therefore injected with a sperm each. She said someone would ring me again tomorrow (today) and let me know their progress.

So, here I am today, still a little sore but not as bad as yesterday. I've had some success in the bathroom so things are "moving" along well ;-) I'm trying to stay occupied by watching numerous baby programs on Discovery Home & Health, and surfing baby/conception forums on the net. God help me, I'm obsessed!!

Fingers crossed those embies have been developing well overnight. I'm trying not to think about them 'cos it makes me extremely anxious. Not much I can do for them now, except drink my pineapple juice & rest up!

I'll check back later with the news.