Post Op: the Fortune Cookie

Children's laughter, so beautiful to hear, soon will be a chance to have them very near. 

Funny enough that was my fortune cookie yesterday after the retreival. The recovery so far is not so bad, just sleep and heat and Extra Strength Tylenol every 4 hours.

Yesterday I arrived at the doctors office an hour before the procedure so they could check my vitals and talk to my anesthesiologist.  I was under for the actual procedure but breathing on my own.   The last thing I remember was being hitched up on a table and my doctor talking to me while the anesthesiologist gave me a cocktail through an IV.  

When I woke up I was super groggy and laying in an exam room.  A nurse gave me Tylenol and apple juice and asked if I could stand.  I was a bit wobbly and just wanted to sleep.  I see why you need a ride home and someone to stay with you 8 hours post.  The procedure lasted less than an hour, and I was at the office two hours or so, but surgery is still surgery. 

Four hours later I woke up in my own bed much less disoriented.  My doctor had emailed me and said everything went stellar.  I also actually had an appetite - always a good sign.  We ordered Chinese food for dinner, hence the ironic fortune cookie.  Kids in my future?  Guess my frozen egg baby insurance policy was a good idea after all.

Egg Retreival

Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby.

Ain't nothing like the real thing. ~ Marvin Gaye

Today is the day.   Finally.  I'm slightly nervous but moreso ready for this to be over.  The trigger shot took me under. (Pro-tip: numb the area with an ice pack first) The shot itself stung more than the other medications and I've been drowsy for the past 36 hours.  Where before I felt bloating, with the trigger I feel pressure.  Not painful, but not comfortable.

Simple instructions - comfortable clothes, no eating or drinking starting at midnight last night, no chewing gum or smoking, and no perfumes.  The procedure should last 2-3 hours, and someone needs to give you a ride home and be with you 8 hours after.

I'll report back after!  Six weeks of my life in slo-mo.  All for my little egg babies.  Solidifies my decision that I'm not quite yet ready for the real thing.

Injection Demo

It's been seven days of shots so far.  It's amazing how easily it becomes routine.  It's still not pleasant, but not horrible either.  I'm lucky - I've been sticking pretty closely to a plant-based, whole grain, no alcohol diet and haven't experienced any weight gain.  I've also been bullish on sleep.  One of the major side effects of the medication is insomnia, and while falling asleep has been easy, staying asleep is difficult some nights.  For me drinking herbal tea and reading a book/magazine, rather than grabbing my iPhone helps.

Since the doctor's appointments have remained the same (ultrasound and blood test every 3-4 days), there's not much new to report.  Instead I filmed the injection routine that I do every evening.  It takes about 10 minutes total - 5 vials, 2 medications, 1 shot.