Egg collection round 2...

[Crystal_Dreams]

I just started on my second cycle of hormone therapy for oocyte vitrification (fancy term for egg freezing)!

Having mentioned my last cycle on another thread in the past, I wanted to start a new thread which is separate from all the other issues in the old one, to discuss the procedure, experiences and thoughts on this.

As this is my second round (first lot was about half a year ago), I guess I already have some knowledge on how this goes. But I AM interested to hear from others on this- or to answer questions!

So. Anyone else been through it?


Progress so far:
I have taken Progynova tablets twice a day for the last 10 days or so. Had a normal period whilst on it, and started on Gonal-F injections yesterday morning. They have me scheduled for a 10 day course right now, though of course, that will change depending on my hormone levels and ultrasounds. I needed a 13 day cycle last time.

Apparently, I’ve lost the knack for injecting myself. I have managed to bruise my abdomen badly with the two injections I’ve had so far- purple blotches galore!

Note to self: inject more horizontally next time. I think I’m going too deep with the needle...

 

[missy]

@Crystal_Dreams wishing you much success with this. I don't have any experience with this but I do know a couple of people who have successfully gone though this.
Sending you lots of good luck dust!

 

[elizabethess]

I've gone through retrieval 3x as part of a larger IVF plan (freezing each round). Good luck! My partner administered all of my shots and we watched a bunch of youtube videos for injection tips. I was on Follistim which has a pen system, but since I had multiple meds I was approved to mix them and administer all in 1 injection w/a 27 gauge .5 inch needle. I have a nice amount of fat on my abdomen, so straight in for me I liked to do it laying on my back, to avoid tense muscles. Even with good technique I got bruising on occasion.

 

[Begonia]

Haven’t been following but trying for a baby yes?
Best wishes with this procedure and all following!

 

[Crystal_Dreams]

Best of luck to you too, Begonia!

Today is day 4 of my injections. I went in for a blood test this morning. Got a call from the nurses a few hours later to tell me to start injecting Cetrotide today instead of tomorrow. I hate cetrotide... I always end up with a nasty large red rash where I inject it (apparently this is quite common) and it hurts. The rash has gone down now after a few hours, but I’ve got a new colourful bruise thanks to it. I’m a bit nervous as I didn’t start Cetrotide till day 5 last time- not sure if it’s because I’m responding more to the gonal-f this time, or whether it’s because I actually had my blood test earlier than planned (they wanted me to do it tomorrow, but I’m working the entire time the clinic is open so we decided to do it a day early).

Apparently my estrogen, progesterone and LH levels are all ‘where they should be at’... but they wanted to start me on cetrotide today anyway instead of tomorrow. I’m actually hoping my cycle will run longer than they expect this time (as it did previously), as I’m rostered on a set of night shifts during the day they’ve predicted they will be doing my egg collection. I hate calling in sick as I know it will be difficult for them to find cover for a night shift... and there is (funnily enough), a bit of stigma attached to calling in sick as a doctor. I’ve worked while feverish or unwell/in worse states than some of the sillier presentations coming into the ER before... (hello I’ve come in with a stubbed toe/insect bite/sore throat!)

Guess it’s too early to tell though, and my body will do as it will. There’s no telling my ovaries to be ready on a certain date. It will be ready when it’s ready..

 

[elizabethess]

Best of luck to you too, Begonia!
I’m a bit nervous as I didn’t start Cetrotide till day 5 last time- not sure if it’s because I’m responding more to the gonal-f this time, or whether it’s because I actually had my blood test earlier than planned (they wanted me to do it tomorrow, but I’m working the entire time the clinic is open so we decided to do it a day early).

Yeah, each of my cycles was different. The cycle I started Ganirelix early a few follicles were responding like gangbusters and my REs wanted to give some of the smaller ones a chance to catch up. I got similar retrieval numbers to other cycles, in the end.

Wishing you lots of follicles filled with good eggs

 

[Crystal_Dreams]

I’m glad to hear you responded well even though your cycle progressed differently!! I’m due for my first ultrasound on Monday... fingers crossed I have a whole bunch of follicles ready to play and growing nicely together! I got 7 to frozen (eggs only) last time, which my specialist seemed to think was ok... but I have read about people getting 15-20!! Having read all the research papers I could find, I learnt that at retrieval age 32, I need at least 15 to have an 85% chance of a live birth later... that’s why I’m in for round 2...

 

[Crystal_Dreams]

Update on progress:

My first ultrasound showed 16 growing follicles (I had a total of 14 grow last time)!! Sadly, among those, 6 are very small (6-9mm), with one lead follicle measuring 17mm and racing ahead. I'm hoping the big one will slow down and the little ones will catch up soon- I need them all ready to go! Definitely moving faster this time than last time though. I'm looking at retrieval on Friday... which falls on my first night shift. Joy. I wonder if I get it done early in the morning, whether I will be recovered enough to work that night. It's possible... but we will have to see I suppose.

Feeling generally bloated and heavy right now. My nurse didn't tell me my estrogen levels this time, though I remember last time my levels were very high (into the range where one might experience ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome), so I'm a bit paranoid about it all. Kept tossing and turning last night in bed as I kept thinking in my groggy half asleep state that if I lay on one side more than the other, I might squash the ovaries or make them tort lol. Crazy what our minds come up with in while half asleep!!

 

[cokitty]

@Crystal_Dreams don't worry about the lead follicle, the cohort is the important thing. Don't worry about your sleeping patterns, you can't pop the eggs out early!
If you google the medication there are videos for nearly every med that are public. ReUniteRX-+19404000014- will let you text them the name of the medication and they will text you a link to a video.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1SPUoZTjVm2LZoBdr9MV5A/videos
(Not advocating that one, just the one I can remember the name of as their booth at the ASRM was central to one where a friend works.)
I have to admit as an embryologist it is interesting to read about how patients feel about their cycle. If you want papers I am happy to pull things from pubmed for people.

 

[Crystal_Dreams]

Thank you, cokitty!! I know it does no good to fret and worry about any of it- because honestly, there is absolutely nothing I can do to control how they grow or what happens... but those ideas somehow just stick in my mind and won't leave me alone

I'm up for my second ultrasound and blood test tomorrow- hopefully it all goes well! Tbh I'm still hoping they can push it out a bit, mainly because I can't 'take time off work' and it would really suck for everyone else if I was to call in sick. I realise that I should know better- I CANNOT work after having had a procedure till the drugs have worn off etc. as I may put other people at risk, but it bothers me that I don't know when exactly it's going to happen so that I can organise for someone to take my place till it's all about to happen!

 

[cokitty]

@Crystal_Dreams Good luck with your US and BW today.
Working after anesthesia is a big no no, but I know how you feel. The worst is when the patient is a teammate....we all want to see our own egg, embryos, and office policy is clear we aren't allowed to work on ourselves.
I have my fingers crossed that you wont be a hit until Thursday.
This is exciting stuff and it is nice for you to have an insurance policy for when you are ready.

 

[liaerfbv]

Good luck @Crystal_Dreams -- I had a retrieval last year. I was on the lowest lowest dose of meds, and had 80+ follicles, ~45 eggs retrieved, and ended up with 12 embryos (I'm 34). I had to go in for monitoring everyday since I was so high risk. Then I got super severe OHSS (obviously). It was a rough ****ing month, let me tell you. My experience was extreme, but I would plan to NOT even think about working for 1-2 days after the retrieval. I was so swollen and full of fluid I could barely move, and in omg so much pain.

Are you planning to do a fresh transfer or just freeze?

 

[Crystal_Dreams]

Omg 80+!!! That’s crazy!! You poor thing... I can’t even begin to imagine what that would’ve been like! Do you remember what your estrogen levels were? My doctor has me on decapeptyl again as a trigger as my levels are high, and I told him at the start I was worried about OHSS. I hate decapeptyl... it’s 4 injections (as if there aren’t enough already lol) and for some reason it hurts so much more than the regular meds!

I’m only freezing down eggs at this point, so it gives us some leeway to change up the trigger to minimise the risk of OHSS

As it is, I’m feeling bloated and full... but heck, I only have 17 follicles! You had 80!!! Wow... I’ve been getting intermittent sharp twinges of pain in my lower abdomen/pelvis which bothers me, but I had those last time as well... I figured it’s just my ovaries rubbing against my other organs or protesting about the follicles...

A bunch of mine have caught up which is reassuring- I had 3x 18mm yesterday, then a 17, 16, 2x 15mm, 14, a bunch at 12-13 and some smaller ones... I’m hoping the 12-13 might catch up in time by the time I go in (it’ll be around 3 days from the ultrasound) to be ready!

They told me I would be triggered today, though they haven’t confirmed what time yet. It’s stressing me out as I’m going to work in 2 hours and I’ll be in till midnight (14 hours), so it means I MUST take my meds with me to work... and I can’t miss whatever email they send which will be difficult!

 

[Austina]

Everything crossed for you @Crystal_Dreams

 

[liaerfbv]

I don't remember offhand my estrogen levels but I know they were crazy crazy crazy high. I have anovulatory PCOS so that's why I had so many follicles/eggs -- they made me sign like 8 different waivers to proceed, and they preemptively admitted me straight to the hospital after my retrieval. I knew it was going to be intense but I was very unprepared for how intense. 17 follies sounds like a lovely and manageable amount!!

Do they have you using the Lupron trigger or Novarel? I was on Lupron and it made me very nauseated FYI. I hope they give you timely info and the trigger goes well!