If infertility has taught me anything, its that there is no such thing as pure excitement.
It seems to me that there are four options:
1. An initial bout of excitement that last a few days/hours followed by worry
2. An initial bout of excitement and then immediate worry
3. Just plain worry
4. Numbness or disappointment
The problem is this: we know too much. We know the possibilities. We know the statistics. We know what COULD happen. We’ve either had it happen to us or seen it happen to others. Or Googled it (BAD!). Or imagined it. (What IF I fall out of the bed, break my hip and they can’t transfer the embryos?) Or made it up in our sleep. (What IF a monster in my closet eats my embryos and there are none left?!)
What? It could happen. Maybe if I had said UFO instead of monster that last one would have been more believable.
But I digress.
Besides the injection issue (which was totally MY error), this IVF experience has gone pretty smoothly. But I find myself metaphorically looking over my shoulder, waiting for the other shoe to drop. For the call that tells me none of my 28 eggs fertilized or some such catastrophe. Or that I have some unknown egg quality issue and they would initially fertilize and then stop growing. (I told you I had catastrophe brain). I spent two days frought with worry and finally had to tell myself that this is ridiculous. Yes, it could happen, but it probably won’t. And if it does, I have NO CONTROL over it.
The OCD part of my brain hates this with every fiber of its being.
We have a 5 day transfer scheduled for 11 am Monday. I even obsessively emailed the nurse today to make sure nothing changed (i.e. did any disaster happen overnight, but I worded it much more casually) and we were still on for Monday. (she said yes we are still on for Monday and all still looks good). I am making it my mission to ENJOY this weekend. (So I’m gonna be practicing a bit of avoidance by keeping busy – is that so wrong?)
My eggs didn’t all die, either. Of the 28 eggs (I didn’t ask how many were mature) we got 21 embryos!! I was smiling from ear to ear when I heard that message. (until I jumped to option number 1). I do want to add that I am incredibly happy and grateful to have such a good outcome so far…I just can’t help but be a worry wart.
Also, on a related but slightly different topic – progesterone suppositories? Gross.
September 7, 2012 at 5:55 pm
21?!?!? Holy moley! What an incredible number! Try to stick with #1. I know it is impossible not to worry but try to do it the least amount possible. I’m hoping for you girl!
September 7, 2012 at 5:57 pm
Agreed. Then I start to feel bad about worrying because I have had such good numbers when other people are struggling much more. It’s such a vicious circle!
September 7, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Progesterone suppositories? Whatever it takes! 🙂
September 7, 2012 at 5:57 pm
Agreed!
September 7, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Yay for 21- that’s awesome!!
Yes, progesterone is nasty.
Good luck keeping busy this weekend!
September 7, 2012 at 6:29 pm
Im telling you PIO is the way to go, and it costs like 1/4th of the suppositories.
Also embryos is wonderful but what matters is how many keep growing. I hope all 21 of them do. I really really do.
September 7, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Luckily, progesterone is one thing my insurance does cover.
And yes I agree it’s growth that matters. Thank you for the good wishes. I really appreciate it 🙂
September 7, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Good God, that’s a freaking great number! Hoping the weekend passes quickly and you have a smooth, problem-free transfer. Yay — so happy for you!
September 7, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Thank you. I’m gonna be thinking grow embryos grow all weekend 🙂
September 7, 2012 at 8:24 pm
21?!?! That’s AWESOME! Yay!
But I get it. I think everyone ever affected by infertility always has that fear of the other shoe dropping. We were introduced to the struggles, so to deal with the struggles we inform ourselves and become our own advocates. But that knowledge can wreck havoc on us when we finally move forward. It’s a catch 22. And honestly, considering what we all go through, I think this worry is normal. It sucks, but its also to be expected. I hope the worry levels can drop a bit for you, but if not, take comfort in the fact that we get it and were thinking of you and sending good vibes! ❤
September 7, 2012 at 9:55 pm
21!! Yay! Your options are so dead on. Emotions suck. I am really praying for you that this all goes well and results in your take-home baby so that you only have one option for emotion—JOY 🙂
I’ll be thinking of you Monday!
September 7, 2012 at 11:01 pm
Wow! Your eggs are superstars! I hope those beautiful embryos just keep on growin’, and best of luck on Monday!!
September 7, 2012 at 11:31 pm
Wow you have incredible numbers! But I have a good feeling about your cycle. Sending you good thoughts!
September 8, 2012 at 2:01 am
21!!!!! That’s fantastic :))) I’m keeping you in my thoughts throughout this weekend. If you need a distraction or feel like skyping or something to pass time, let me know.
-M.
September 8, 2012 at 1:16 pm
21 is absolutely awesome! Hope you’ll get great blasts to transfer! Grow, embies, grow! Keeping my fingers crossed and sending you good thought!
September 8, 2012 at 3:33 pm
great fert report!!!
September 10, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Hope it went swimmingly today! Also– put the suppositories in your rectum. Sounds gross, yes, but it gets the progesterone into the same blood and same uterus, and the naturally-closed ring of muscle keeps all the ooze inside you. And off your underwear.
September 10, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Oh good call on that one! I’ll take that over the constant leakage