IVF 8: Egg retrieval

We woke up at an absurd hour to get in at the time they told us: 6:00 AM. We waited nearly an hour in the waiting room before they took me back. I'd like to think that there was a reason for asking us to get there so early, like maybe they can't set up the OR until the patient arrives or something.

Because we arrived so early they wanted my husband to produce at the lab instead of at home. That was one of a few differences in the the new clinic vs the old clinic. The other difference was that we were the only retrieval scheduled for the day. They don't batch their patients like the last clinic so it's based on people's natural cycles - when you're ready, you're ready.

At my scheduled time they wheeled my bed toward the OR. At the doorway they had me walk over to the bed and started setting me up. They put on an oxygen mask and I was out within three breaths. I came out of anesthesia back in the prep room about 40 min later (they let me wear my watch). The pain was not that bad and I wondered how much pain killers they gave me.

Shortly after the nurse came in to tell me how many eggs they got and I realized why I'm not as bloated. They got 13 eggs. In the past they've gotten nearly 30. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. I couldn't stop sobbing. So much so that they went to get the doctor to come explain things to me. I wasn't confused, just so sad. I felt like there's so much attrition to our numbers that starting out with thirteen was basically telling me our cycle is doomed.

They tried to make me feel better telling me that I was on a low dosage to get quality over quantity, and that the embryologist had already looked at the eggs and determined that they were "great," whatever that means. I tried to reel in the tears -- at least when I cry at home no one bothers me. I didn't want them to waste time trying to make me feel better, nothing they said was going to help. It wasn't just the disappointment of the fewer number of eggs; it was the whole summer and everything we've gone through, plus all the hormones just making me feel like a complete mess.

I managed to hold back my tears to get recovery instructions, get dressed, and be discharged. When we got home I spent some energy alternating between crying fits and yelling at my husband. After eating something I passed out for like 4 hours and woke up a different person. I'm a lot calmer. Logic seems to make sense again. I know a lot of people would be thrilled with thirteen eggs; I shouldn't let our past failures bring me down before anything even happens. At this point it's too soon to know and it really can go either way.

Other than my parents no one has checked in. I've mentioned that we're in the middle of a cycle to friends and other family members, and a lot knew that today is surgery day. Nearly everyone I know is traveling or at the beach or on vacation, getting a few last minutes of summer before school starts. It feels like everyone is kinda sick of hearing about ivf that maybe it's easier to ignore and forget about it.

Pain is at a 3 out of ten. So far I haven't taken any meds - I have ibuprofen and some of the good prescription stuff but just don't feel like I need it yet. I have eaten a ton of junk food though. No regrets.