Last time I wrote on the blog, we had just administered the Prostap injection. Thats the one designed to stop the monthly cycle, and prepare for the next stage. Although I did forget to put something in the last blog. The hospital gave us a sharps container....a plastic bucket for all the needles. Now this receptacle has a top that pull over to shut it, when you have finished with it....after ALL the injections.
I closed it.
Idiot.
So no further 'sharps' can be put in there, and my idea of 'chucking them in the park like the druggies do' didnt seem to go down well. Luckily, it seems I am not the only doofus who has done this....and on our next appt at the clinic...they gave us another.
Which brings me to that next appt. It was about a week after the initial appt, and we had a scan to see how thick/thin the lining of the womb was....and whether we could start on the next injections the Menopur.
http://www.menopur.co.uk/
Our Dr (the really nice one we've had for the last couple of appts - who we'll now call Dr Madeinheaven) was very happy with the progress Lulu was making, and we're ready to start on the daily injections! Great stuff! A lovely nurse (who was very impressed with my Star Wars t shirt - it was one of my favorite Stormtrooper Adidas ones, she had taste) proceeded to show me and Lulu how to administer them - I would be giving Lulu the daily injections. We had to decide on a time that we could do this each day - one where we were both around of course! We went for 9pm. We are usually on the sofa watching TV at that time - im in bed by 10pm...I have to get up early, and I like my bo bo's.
So the night came, for the 1st injection....and all went well. I have to inject Lulu into her stomach, just below the belly button. The hardest part though - is getting the liquid into the syringe. First you have to get the liquid into the bottom of this phial thingy, then snap off the top (making sure you snap it in the right direction...or it will crush in you hand.
Which happened.
Twice.
Then you take the syringe with a long needle on it, and draw up the liquid. Then pierce the first powder bottle with the needle and put the liquid in....then draw it up, and repeat depending on your dosage.
Easy.
Or not, as it turns out . Nurses make this look really simple, but its actually quite a skill. Pulling the liquid up, making sure you've got it all.....and then the plunger wants to push it all back in, due to a vacuum. It takes a bit of practise, and I hasten to say a few 'stern words' between husband and wife, before it all works by clockwork. But after a few goes...all is well.
This goes on for a fair few days, we even let my bestest mate have a go at injecting my wife. They were both keen.....not sure what I should read into that. It was a good idea though, to make sure that if I wasnt around, Lulu didnt have to inject herself...she wasnt up for that.
Lulu went for a scan last week to see how everything was going, and we had 19 eggs.....some small, some big, but Dr Madeinheaven was very happy with the progress. He then decided we should have another scan at the end of the week (Saturday) and we'll be looking at the next stage.....Egg collection.
Wow.
This is going really fast now. After all this waiting.....and appts, and emotion, we are finally getting there....
Saturdays scan was good. All 19 were looking ready for collection. We now had to give lulu another drug, on Sunday night at 830pm called Pregnyl. http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100002130.html
This gets the eggs all ready and raring (I now can't get the film 'Alien' out of my head....) Anyhoo - the time was specific, as we were going for collection Tuesday (today) and we had to be at the clinic for 730am.
We have been told all about the collection day, everyone has said...its the most painful part of the procedure....And they are right.
They gave Lulu a sedative to take the night before, and one this morning.....and boy did they work. She was as high as a kite on the way in. She was having way too much fun.... not for long.
We got to the clinic and ushered into a waiting room away from the main reception - with a few other couples. This was after we had another scan with Dr Madeinheaven, and he had put the 'tap' in Lulu's arm...so she can have MORE DRUGS!
Then we were taken into the recovery room, and Lulu had to get into the robe, and the embryologist came to get me...for my part of this process.....
Yes Its CUPPY!
We havent seen each other for so long, she hasnt changed you know....still the same size, shape, etc. We reminisced for a while, ahhh the talks we had about what we would do later...maybe go for a drink, catch a show.....Oh the plans we had!
Its a plastic fucking cup.
And today it was my nemesis.
I have never had a problem 'performing'. But you add in the pressure that comes with today, and let me tell you.......it wasnt easy. Now I know, that what I was doing bares a minuscule amount of relation to what my wife was now going through....but its all I had to do. Just one sample.....and mein gott it was tough. Eventually after what seemed like ages (im sure I heard two or three doors open, shut, then the guy open the door and go out again....) I was able to 'clean the pipes' as it were. Although I should tell you, that there is a box on the envelope you put cuppy back into that says.....'did you get the whole sample'
The answer would be no.
My aim, alas, was not perfect.....and possible sperm were lost on the floor.
We are holding a memorial service for the lost men at 10am tomorrow morning, you are all invited.
This was the most unpleasant choking of the chicken ever. Not that doing it in a sterile room is ever nice, but because it was such an effort, no joy was to be had. Maybe thats right though....because in a room not far from me, they were ripping out 20 eggs from my wifes ovaries.
I say ripping, im sure its a little more complicated than that - in fact it is. Effectively what they do is send into your loved ones love canal a long probe with a needle on the end (all very small) they drain each follicle of the fluid....and suck that all up. Then, under a microscope they can see if there is an egg in it. This is a painful process, don't let anyone tell you any different.
The whole procedure take about 20 mins, which is unbelievable...and Dr Madeinheaven did the collecting for us....he wasnt supposed to, but he made sure he was rota'd on JUST for our case. He is a legend. As is my wife. She looked quite a bit worse for wear when I went in the recovery room. Pale, weepy, and in some pain.
She took a bit of time to feel better, about an hour and a half, before we could get ready to go. Not before.......I had to administer another injection!!!
This time its called Gestone http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100005218.html
And this one goes in the bum. Every day, at 9pm.....poor Lulu. It just doesn't end. We have to go back for a scan and chat on Thursday morning with Dr Madeinheaven, and hopefully we'll be back in Friday or Saturday...when they will transfer the embryo....
Because thats what they are doing now......this is the really blow your mind bit of this whole process. Right now, in a Petri dish our son/daughter is being given life. They have found 20 sperm of mine (ones that look gorgeous, and handsome just like their dad)....they've snapped off their tails....and injected them into each of Lulu's 20 wonderful eggs. Then.......nature finally takes its part. Cells start to divide, and the egg becomes fertilised.
We are looking for at least one of those 20 to go Blastocyst. http://www.hfea.gov.uk/blastocyst-transfer.html
That should be between 2-5 days after collection......
So we're expecting Friday or Saturday. We should hear tomorrow, and every day now from the embryologist how they are doing....and they will give us an idea on the exact day for transfer.
Right now though, Lulu is sleeping....she is absolutely shattered, one from the procedure, and I would imagine from emotional exhaustion.
We wait, and hope....that we can get to the next stage........
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