18 Eggs!

I'm lounging around recovering from today's egg retrieval. In order to appreciate the outcome you have to compare it to my last IVF cycle. Last time I used the long Lupron protocol to prevent overstimulating. I guess I got my money's worth out of the Lupron because I was over suppressed. My egg retrieval for IVF #1 resulted in only 7 eggs. I was crushed and shocked after expecting to produce 3 times that amount.

This cycle Dr. D changed my protocol. He wanted me to produce 15-20 this cycle. I didn't use any Lupron and increased my Follistim to 225. It seemed that things were going better initially and then the follicles on my left ovary started lagging. My left ovary has always under preformed. It was totally covered in endo and now it just can't keep up. At my pre-op appointment yesterday Dr. D told me that the most we should hope for is 12 eggs. I tried not to show it but I was totally disappointed.

J and I have been praying for a high egg count. I came out of surgery and was so happy to hear my doctor say "18". I thought I was still asleep so I had to ask him to repeat it. Needless to say, I was relieved. Eighteen eggs means that we have a chance at 18 embryos! Now we are back to praying, this time for a great fertilization report.

Today is the ILs 39th wedding anniversary. I think it just might be a luck day.

The Opener

This seems like an odd time to start a blog. My husband and I have been married and battling infertility for a grand total of 20 months. I have already endured 8 months of trying naturally, a laperoscopy, an HSG, 2 hysteroscopies, 2 rounds of clomid, 2 IUIs with follistim, and 1 failed IVF. There is far too much history and too many tears to recap it all at this point.

I've decided to start this blog because of a sudden, and unusual, wave of optimism. I am exactly in the middle of IVF #2. Today was my egg retrieval. It occurred to me after surgery that my eggs were being fertilized at that moment and the life of our baby might be beginning today. With that in mind it seems like a shame not to record the excitement.

This will be, as most blogs are, a safe place for me to express emotions about infertility and also record the events that seem to be forgotten so quickly. I'm praying with all my heart that this blog will quickly turn into a pregnancy journal. Unfortunately the realist in me says that it will most likely become a catalogue of disappointments. Time will tell.