25th April 2020 - CD15 - IVF ICSI #1 *EGG RETRIEVAL DAY*

Today is 27th April 2020 - 2 days post egg retrieval procedure..

I was really taking my time to recuperate and currently I am on 20 days Hospitalization Leave.

Will return back to my work on the 14th May 2020..

So let me trace back on the day of the procedure.. Let's start!

25th April 2020 - 9.10am
Mountain Bear need to provide the sperm specimen for the insemination. And we only have 1 hour to reach the IVF department. We took the car and drove off, reaching at 9.40am to the department. I was the last patient to go through for the procedure.

So Mountain bear need to proceed to another area to submit  his specimen personally while I was at the registration counter, attended by a Senior Registered Nurse Jacqueline. She is just lively! So she explained to me that I am still early & I proceed to the waiting area with Mountain Bear. Before that, I was given a wrist tag with my details stated. I was also given 6 sticky labels with my name & details printed on it. I was told to have this given to my surgeon later on, at the operating bed.

1040hrs - I was called in for the procedure. My heart is pounding, I looked at Mountain Bear, and told him.. "Bye my love" and he replied the same.. I was then escort to the changing room, was given a locker 9 to keep my stuffs in & was told to create a 4 digit password for the locker. I was given an operating gown with a pink kimono & shower cap. I was told to strip down & only allow to wear my socks & shoe.. Once that was done, I was seated in a comfy armchair and had my hypocount taken. It was 6.3mmol/L. I was attended by Registered Nurse Stephanie, she is awesome! She was there when I recover post surgery as well!!

So anyway, I knew my vein is hard to obtain or to even set an IV Plug. She suggested to have the anesthetist set the plug for me. There he come, Dr "Lion" sat in front of me and with 1 poke, he managed to get my vein! I was ready for the next step! I tried to stay calm.. I was worried to be under sedation.. I was afraid that I might not be able to be awake. My imagination run amok.. But then, I started to cool myself down, prayed to Allah to make it a smooth journey...

So the time has arrive, I was escorted by another OT Nurse, I couldn't recall her name but she is super friendly! I was scared when I saw the OT table.. As I was gently guided up to the table, having my buttock at the edge of the bed, with my legs placed on the leg holder, my dignity was well taken care of. I was well covered during the procedure.. Well, I'm not sure when I was knock out.. LOL!!

So finally, my surgeon arrives, she asked for my name label and my identification for verification. Before I was given the drug, Propofol, I was given an oxygen mask & everyone is busy prepping.. I say my shahada & pray to Allah  to make it a smooth journey for me.. Then I saw Dr Lion beside me, telling me that he will be injecting the propofol into my IV plug, and I saw the OT Nurse on the other side, looking at me and telling me it will be alright..

I remembered feeling a gush of warm thick solution running through my system, I started counting & staring at the OT Nurse...


1.......2..........3........4................5.....................6....................7.....................

That's all that I could remember....

I was woken up by a familiar voice, it was Stephanie, it was 11.50am... I was pushed out from the OT at 11.42am. Oh my goodness, that was the nicest sleep ever! LOL!!! I was told that the Dr had inserted a Paracetamol suppository after the surgery ended to help with the pain. It went well, they told me.. I was still drowsy and slept for another 10 minutes.. After that, I was wide awake.. Felt alil uneasiness at my abdominal area.. Felt some discharges coming out from my vagina. they mentioned it was normal.. I was then attended by another MO who did a quick check on my abdomen.. He mentioned that my abdomen is soft, which is a good sign.. I still feel that I could not breath fully & deeply.. That's where the oxygen is my best friend for the next 20 minutes..

12.30pm - I was seated up and my vital signs are taken every 5 minutes.. It was all looking great.. I was then served with a cup of warm water & milo and biscuit. I managed to finished them with no nausea or any issue..

1.40pm - I was finally allow to leave & get changed. I do feel slight cramping and bloated. Wear my clothes, forgotten to wear my bra, open my clothes again.. The effect of the sedation drugs.. HAHAHA!! I was then escorted by Stephanie to the comfy armchair again & had my IV plug taken out. Leave them with some great feedbacks for all the care they have showed.

There, as I step out from the OT, I saw Mountain Bear.. Sitting down calmly and got up once he saw me.. We both proceed to the registration counter to know the post surgery details..

They collected 17 Eggs!!! Alhamdulilah!! So here are the list of things that I need to co-operate with..

Waiting for Blastocyst D5 on 30th April 2020. Really hope our egg quality is good that it goes to the 5th day fertilization. Insyallah! Ramadan is a sacred and special month for us Muslim. I really hope Allah grant us this special wish we waited for... So Mountain bear has help to collect the medications and here are the list. The supply is only enough till the day of the D5 Blastocyst. If it is successful, we need to purchase more. A prescription was given to us.

25th April 2020 - 2nd  May 2020
PO Cabergoline 0.25mg (Night Dose) x 8 tabs

27th April 2020 - 29th April 2020
PO Dydrogesterone 10mg (Twice daily) x 6 tabs 

27th April 2020 - 29th April 2020
PV Crinone 8% Progesterone Cream (Twice daily) x 6 tabs

After much explanation, I was told that I will be feeling extreme bloatedness and slight spotting. Currently I do not feel any pain yet.. So we left the department and head home..

I recalled feeling super super bloated!! I couldn't move well.. I had issue peeing or pooping as whenever I tried to strain, the aching is too much to bear.. So I took it nice and slow.. And also, I tried to head to the toilet as frequently as possible as to avoid large volume of urine collected in my bladder which causes the pain.. I knew my ovaries are still swollen from the surgery, I need to be more careful not to cause torsion. I was advice to drink 2L of water & protein from egg white.. They mentioned it will help me with the bloatedness.. I also took Paracetamol whenever I feel pain and it greatly help.

Today is Day 2 post surgery, I feel much better. Still feeling bloated but not as bad compared to the previous days. I also started inserting the Crinone 8% cream into my vagina, and after inserting it, I was advice to walk around for 10 to 15 minutes..

I just realized, after the surgery, carrying a small bag of potato is already heavy for me.. I used to be able to carry up to 6 kg of items.. Now, 800gm is a struggle.. Mountain Bear has advice not to carry all these heavy stuffs..

So the team did mentioned that they will give us a call, a day before the egg transfer date. I was really hoping our lil oocyte will make it till D5 Blastocyst. But if there is any issue, a D3 transfer will be made. Insyallah, Allah is the greatest planner.

Alright ladies, I will update you guys on our next entry - TRANSFER DAY.

Take care!