The drive was uneventful and because we left so early, we had a bit of a wait. (the only way to get there is a very unpredictable freeway that has a habit of bottlenecking when you least need it to!). Once they called my name, they were again, super sweet and gentle. I again went to the changing room to strip down, gown up, get my little footies on and hair cover. Then I went to my cubicle with my nice warmed hospital blanket.
can I just say again, I want one of those blanket warmers!
So they spent about a half hour taking some more medical history, taking vitals and then setting up the iv line for the anesthesia. AS usual, they couldn't find a vein, my right arm which was always so easy is completely scared (the veins, not the outside skin) and the left is so hard. She tried my left hand, it bled all over and then burned whenever they ran fluid so out that came. Then they tried my right hand - nope! Right arm again? nope, just too scarred. Finally on the fourth try, they got my left arm. In their defense, I really am a hard stick. So was my mom, so was my grandma (I'll have to ask my sister if she is as well!)
Then it was hurry up and wait. While I was initially very nervous, I calmed quickly. AFter all, they were putting me out for the hard part, right? I mean, how bad could it be?
In the mean time....TMI report - the usual protocol is for the Dad to provide the sample for fertilization AT the surgical center. But because we lived within an hour, DH was allowed to do this at home. I pushed for this because for obvious reasons, that part of it makes Dh really uncomfortable. Thank goodness I did, because they didn't realize he had brought it, and started to show him to the room. It was awful! Very clinical, a pad on the chair and a tv on the wall. Um, ewe. He said another Dad to be was walking "the walk of shame" either into or out of the room. Wheh....so glad I was able to push for him to do at home!
When it was my time, they walked me into the OR and I took my seat on the deluxe stirrup table - yay me- I described for the hysteroscopy. The only difference this time was they strapped my legs to the stirrups, I'm guessing so I couldn't fall off the table since I would be out.
At the point, the anesthesiologist told me she was starting and I would start to feel woozy or dizzy. Somewhere right in between was what I felt. I remember wondering what I should do. I was very sleep from not sleeping the night before, or was that the meds? I didn't want to fall asleep on them if they had more questions. Then the anesthesiologist said she was going to give me the next medicine and shortly thereafter I was out. I don't even remember Dr. G coming in.
What I do remember is them calling my name and telling it was time to wake up. I woke up pretty easily and was just a but unsteady on my feet. They walked me to my chair and had me just slowly recover. Thank goodness Rob was allowed to come back and sit with me. I felt very emotional and was crying but that was more because I just needed my husband, and we were having a tough time at the moment (not for a public forum, sorry!) I did feel sore and bloated, but not in a really bad way. I felt like I could bear it pretty easily.
They told me almost immediately that they were able to retrieve 22 eggs! Wow! That is just fantastic, from what I understand, for a woman my age. I was over the moon happy!
Rob had a lot of questions though, but my Dr. G is such a great man, so kind. He said, he had to do the next patient, but to just give him a few minutes and he would talk with him. It was a retrieval for someone else, so he had to go but when he came back in about 15 minutes, he pulled a chair over and gave Rob his undivided attention. He didn't leave til all Rob's questions were answered. I'm telling you, if you're in Phila area, go see Dr. Gocial, RMA of Philadelphia.
After that, Rob seemed more at peace with the responses and it was time to go home. He helped me get dressed - I was tender for sure, but OK. Then they had Rob pull the car around to a side entrance that was easier for me to get to, and they walked me to the car. After that, it was 24 hours of strict bed rest - bathroom breaks only.
I was definitely achey, and really tired, so I spent most of the day sleeping. I started the antibiotic and anti-rejection medicines that day - the end of cd 26.
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