Retrieval Time!

June 23, 2012

Whoa, what a day.  Where to begin? 

After a very restless sleep, amounting to possibly only two hours of rest, Chrissy and I awoke to an alarm for the first time since we've been in Barbados.  We were to report to Barbados Fertility Centre at 7:30am to prep for the egg retrieval at 8am.  Tired and thirsty, since my last gulp of water was at 11:45pm the night before, (just making it in before my midnight cut off time), we were let into the clinic by nurse Anna, already donning scrubs.

Since it was Saturday, the friendly ladies at the front desk were not present to greet us. Anna said we could follow her to the recovery room to get prepped right away.  She showed us to a gurney covered in linen at the far end of the room, against a wall.  Atop the gurney was a blue gown, cap and booties for me to change into.  She pulled the curtain to give us privacy and I changed into the, oh so flattering attire. 

Emma, the nurse who administered my Intralipid treatment a few days ago came moments later to take my blood pressure and go over post-op directions.  As she came to page two, detailing the next day's protocol, I started to feel nauseous and woozy.  Having a hard time focusing on the paper work while sitting up on the gurney, I asked if I could lie down...

The next thing I remember was a shaking image of Emma's face before me, my hand in hers, as she called out my name and urged me to take deep breathes.  I could feel my body convulsing, my eyes locked on Emma, but I couldn't get my body to stop shaking.  Though it must have just been a moment, the shaking felt like it went on forever. 

As I gained full consciousness, I was able to focus on Emma's words.  I focused on my breathing, while trying to understand what had just happened.  For a moment I thought the procedure was over and I was coming out of my sedated state.  Wow, so quick, I thought to myself!  Then as my eyes focused even more, I became aware of Chrissy by my side as she was when we were going over the post-op directions.  It wasn't over.  In fact, we hadn't even got started yet!  Good grief!

What exactly happened, I have no idea.  Whatever it was, it happened again after the procedure, back at the apartment, several hours after the procedure.  Sitting at the kitchen table, again, trying to read the post op directions, I started to feel light headed and dizzy again.  Just as I was thinking I need to go lie down again, I see Chrissy out of the corner of my eye, bent over, looking me in the face, her hand on my back and arm.  I'm shaking again.  And I can't stop.  I hear Chrissy calling, "Tan" in a sense of urgency and I realize it's happening again.  In my head I'm panicking because I don't have control and can't stop the shaking.  When will it end?  And then, just as it ceased this morning, the shaking finally stopped, my vision became clear and I was in a state of wonderment and shock - what the heck happened? 

Did I faint?  Seize?  Go into shock?  Don't know.  The nurse explained that one of the medications I was taking in pill form often makes women nauseas and dizzy.  She gave me an alternative method of taking future doses - hope that works out because I'm not looking forward to having another moment like that.  And, I'm sure Chrissy isn't either.  I'm sure it gave her a bit more than a scare to see me in such a state (two times) and to see my eyes have an expression, as she describes, as "not there."

Well, back to the recovery room.  After I had my breathing under control, my vision back, and was lying comfortably, the nurses had a brief meeting before my procedure was scheduled.  Chrissy and I were left behind the curtain for a bit, awe struck at what had just happened.  Overwhelming emotions took over and tears dripped down the sides of my face, gracing my ears.  Thankfully, Chrissy was there to hold my hand, caress my cap covered head and speak to me gently.  I appreciated the moment and was grateful for the time to release, as I didn't want to head into the "theatre," as they call the surgery room, with tears streaming from my eyes.

Luckily, I had the crying and my breathing under control by the time Dr. Skinner came to listen to my breathing.  Anna returned next and asked me to rise from the gurney and empty my bladder before the procedure.  I made it ok to the bathroom and when I exited Chrissy was there waiting to give me one more hug before I went into the theatre. 

Once in the theater, a reclining blue, cushioned chair, draped in a protective cover sat next to a sonogram machine, very much like the ones used for my sonos on previous days.  The only difference however, was the stirrups.  Instead of stirrups to rest my feet in, there were wider stirrups that I placed my calves in, which elevated my legs.  After settling in, Anna wrapped and velcroed my left arm with a plastic arm band to monitor my heart rate, while Dr. Skinner inserted my IV on the right arm.  I was introduced to the embryologist, who asked my name and birth.  Dr. Skinner announced that I would have a bitter taste in my mouth just as she started the anesthesia, and sure enough, instantaneously, I did.  The last thing I remember was staring at a light...

And then awaking again to Emma's voice, behind the curtain, on the gurney, in the recovery room again.  This time it was really over.  Other than feeling as if I had come out of a really deep sleep (which I had), I felt fine.  Emma gave me a cup of water - the first sip of liquid in over 8 hours.  My vitals were taken and Chrissy entered, yay!  I rested a bit more and slowly got dressed.  A taxi arrived to pick us up at the back door of the recovery room to take us the short distance around the block.

The whole procedure took about 15-20 minutes, though the time it took me to recover was just over an hour.  The embryologist was able to extract four eggs.  I was of course hoping for several more, but am happy that they were able to successfully take four.  I will find out tomorrow morning how many eggs they were able to harvest.  I'm praying for all four.  And am dreading to hear none at all.  I can't possibly imagine the devastation I may feel should I hear that news.  Ugh, ok can't think about that.  Must keep positive and hopeful and grateful for a successful procedure.

The remainder of my day was spent sleeping, resting and shuffling back and forth to the bathroom.  I've got a bit of abdominal cramping on my left side, very much like menstrual cramps and my head feels a bit heavy, like I'm recovering from flu like symptoms.  As the day goes on, I feel more alert and less zombie like.  Chrissy has been taking great care of me, assisting with my meds, fixing me treats to eat and making sure I'm hydrated.  We're awaiting Reen, who should be arriving any moment now.  Hoping to feel 100% normal tomorrow, receive good news from the embryologist and return to the beach and Yemaya.          

More news soon...