Embryo transfer

Another milestone hit.

Wow……today is Monday and I did the embryo transfer (ET) on Saturday. Still feeling overwhelmed…….2 little embryos in me?!?!?!? I hope they are multiplying well. So many things beyond my control. I can only hope for the best outcome.

ET day was a breeze. Why? Cos I chose to be sedated. I just want to sleep and not know what is happening. Wise choice for me!

Same thing happened as the egg retrieval day.
I needed to fast from 11.30pm the night before. No food nor water.
I arrived at the clinic around 7.30am, but only got to the counter at 8am. After signing some documents, I was guided to the changing room. This time, I was told not to empty my bladder (I only emptied the first morning pee). You see, normal ET is done when the patient is awake. So, the lady still has to abstain from food, but she has to drink up to fill her bladder. During the "awake" procedure, the doctor is guided via abdominal scan so that he can judge where to place the embryos. Since I cannot drink as I will be sedated, I was told the nurses will attach a tube and fill me up. How they attach? I seriously don't care. As long as they do it while I am asleep and give me pain killers. Heehee, that was what I told the anesthetist. She told me nicely it should not hurt! Oooh…she is soooo nice. Dr Lim. I think we are fated! She's only there this week on Thursday and Saturday and yet, both days I got her. She really cheers me up cos she is ready to talk to anyone and the last thing I need is silence or a stern medical worker.

Oh, I was ready and changed by 8.30am. I was wondering why the recovery room's nurse is so free but she did not prepare me for the IV. Later, I realized that Dr Lim gave instructions not to do for me yet. She wanted me on the bed before the nurses do for me. Super sweet!!!! She knows I fractured my leg and for the egg retrieval day, I took a while to hobble cos the IV was on my left hand which made it quite impossible for me to use the crutches. And because I was just sedated on Thursday, this time, they did the IV on the right side of my left wrist. How considerate!!! I was contemplating to ask if I could do on my right hand cos my left hand was still hurting a little.

Once on the bed, I was a little disappointed cos I did not see Dr Tan, so I asked Dr Lim if Dr Tan is here today. She replied "Yes, he is already here."I was super duper happy! I never thought I would still get him since he is on reservist. So I laid down and the nurses started getting me ready by getting me to spread my legs and covering up with some sheets. I felt soooo conscious….and a little uncomfortable cos the sheets that were covering me was constantly touching my little flower. hahahha

Then Dr Tan came in and I said good morning to my favorite doctor (of the moment)! He is lovely as usual. He told me I had 5 fertilized embryos!!! I was really happy. I was a little down when I had only 6, but to hear that 5 of them got fertilized, it was like I have been nominated for some award. He had a cheerful voice when he first spoke to me, but I did not want to get my hopes up….anyway, wow 5!!!!! He did not give me any other information and I figured the embryologists would give me more info. I should not bother him with it! I got to view my 2 little embryos via this small screen near the ceiling. Wow…….H did not get to view cos I chose sedation. Otherwise, hubbies will get to view the embryos as well as the embryo transfer. I showed him the photo though!

Ok, this comes the funny part. He sat down in front of me. Yes, facing my little flower. Oooh…..and I panicked….cos Dr Lim only just injected the sedation into me. I was not even out yet. I sort of jerked and told him I am not asleep yet. He SOOOO nicely told me, "dun worry, I will not do anything yet". I tell you…where to find this kind of nice doctor???

The next thing I knew was I woke up about 9.15am. I guess the procedures as about 15-20 mins? Cos I chatted quite long with Dr Lim plus the viewing of the embryos. As soon as I woke up, I drifted back to sleep again. By 10.30am, I was pretty much awake and Nurse Saw gave me a cup of milo. Chatted with her a while. Hope I am not too noisy. Once I was quite awake, she got the embryologist to speak to me.

I had 5 eggs that got fertilized. The best 2 which was grade 4 have been transferred into me. The remaining 3 - 2 of them are grade 4 and 1 of them grade 3. But depending on how they develop, not all 3 might be frozen. So although I have got 3 embryos, I might have 3 or lesser embryos transferred. I was a little sad and I asked her….if grade 1 is the best, mine is not so good huh. Then she perked and almost in a small shout, told me that grade 5 is the best! WOW!!! and I had 4 grade 4!??!??! WOW…..was really happy that day. First, I got Dr Tan for both the procedures, Sweet Dr Lim, 5 fertilized eggs even though Dr Tan only managed to retrieve 6, and now the grading! I hope my luck goes on…...

Anyway, by 11am, I was ready to be picked up by hubby. So happy, no pain, no giddiness. And you know what Dr Lim did!??!?! She asked the nurse to get ready a wheelchair for me!??!?! How sweet is that!!!!! Gosh…….anyway, it came in handy cos I felt giddy soon. This time, I stayed longer at the clinic. Cos hubby had to go to the pharmacy to collect medicine. I was to be injected with 0.2ml of Pregnyl and the nurse had to show me how to do it. Hhehehe, was happy I got the briefing from Nurse Wendy. The other nurse is very long winded and hmmm….she would rank last among all the nurses. Not very nice lady. Curly short hair. Nurse Wendy is very nice! :) She taught H to mix the medication and I told her I want to do the injection at home. How to ice myself there? Plus I need H to do slow mode for me….oooh….the nurses there are so swift with the injections. I was injected by this malay preggy nurse. Gosh….it hurt so bad that I wanted to tear.

Oooh, I also made payment for the insurance. So glad I can pay $291.04! It's the cost for transferring 2 embryos. If only 1 embryo, it would have been relatively cheaper - $68.48. I was thinking, why dun the insurance company just round up…..4 cents, 48 cents? Then H told me it's due to GST. Wow!!! H is sooo smart!!!

That should be the end of my story for ET day…..a breeze and I am glad that I have hit another milestone. I feel like I have been nominated for an award…..everyone wants to win but there can be only 1 winner. So it's either you win, or you lose. H told me not to think so much…..just take one day at a time. Next milestone…... 3 Dec. I have 15 more days to go!