I Thought That Was Supposed to be the Easy Part September 21, 2004
I had my transfer this afternoon. I’ve read in many books and heard from people on message boards and from bloggers that the embryo transfer is a piece of cake. It’s supposed to be easy, painless, and fast. I guess my body didn’t get that memo. Mine was a nightmare.
We got to my RE’s office early, and they took us back right away. After the getting through the requisite paperwork stuff and getting into my fancy getup of gown, hat, and booties, they brought us into the transfer room. Things went from uncomfortable to down right unbearable pretty quickly. Apparently I have a 90 degree turn in my cervix. Plus, I have scar tissue right before the turn. My RE kept trying different catheters with no success. She then had to use a cervical clamp to try to straighten things out a bit. By that point I was in so much pain that I was crying. To put the pain in perspective, I had a very painful HSG, but this was at least 10 times worse than that.
My RE decided not to continue under those circumstance, so they brought me back to the recovery room and gave me a IM shot of Demerol. I then had to wait 45 minutes for the Demerol to take effect. I was a space cadet once the Demerol and Valium were both working.
They brought me back into the transfer room and tried again. It wasn’t quite as bad as the first time, but they were still trying all kinds of different catheters and using that damn cervical clamp. This continued for quite some time. Finally at one point my RE said that we might have to freeze all of our embryos and schedule me for surgery to remove the scar tissue. As soon as she said that, the words NO, NO, NO flew out of my mouth. I so didn’t want that to happen. By that point, she had been trying to get that catheter up through my cervix for over an hour. Finally, just before everyone gave up, that catheter managed to squeeze by the scar tissue and up through the curve. My 2 blasts were finally transferred. My RE said my transfer was by far the most difficult she had ever experienced.
The good news is that we have 6 more blasts that will be frozen. Our embryo report from today was as follows (grade 5 being best):
4 expanded blasts grade 5
1 blast grade 5
2 blasts grade 4
1 blast grade 3
4 8 celled embryos
The 8 celled ones have most likely stopped growing, so they won’t be cryopreserved. We transferred 2 of the grade 5 expanded blasts and froze the other 6 blastocysts. It such a relief to have some frozen in case this one doesn’t work.
I was super paranoid after the transfer. I don’t know if it was the drugs or the stress of it all. I kept worrying that the embryos didn’t really make it inside my uterus because of all of the switching of catheters. I don’t remember how many times the catheter containing the embryos was inserted, but I was so worried that they fell out at the wrong time.
So, I guess I’m officially in the two week wait, and I am so relieved. Enough of this crap. I’m done. I sure as hell hope this works. I really don’t know if I could do it all again.
- Posted in : IVF Part 1: IVF #1
- Author : amanda
Comments»
OHHHHH Amanda!
I am so very sorry. That sounds like a nightmare.
I hope you are recovering well.
Congratulations on your beautiful blastocysts!!!
Very, very good news.
oh dear - I am so sorry that your transfer had to be so stressful. I totally understand what you are
saying about wondering if your embies were in the correct catheter, what with all the swapping around. I am sure they were though, generally these guys know what they are doing! Try to relax - it is sort of out of your hands now. I know it is going to be a long two weeks but I think you have the right attitude - at least you have some GREAT blasts for freezing “just in case.” But good luck! BEST of luck!
Oh sweetie…
From a fellow 90 degree cervix having IF sister…I feel your pain. Same thing happened to me during my IUI…clamp and all.
Wishing you Valium and a speedy recovery!
So sorry to hear that the transfer was painful. I’ve got something like a 45 degree angled cervix and my IUIs have been slightly uncomfortable. I can only imagine how bad it was for you and say that I’m sorry you had to deal with that.
On the good side, though, nothing worth having ever comes easily–or so they say (apparently that doesn’t apply to folks who ‘find’ themselves unexpectedly pg)–so if your troubles yesterday were any indication, this may be one lucky cycle indeed.
Crossing my fingers and everything crossable for you. Be good to yourself during the 2WW.
I just got around to reading this post and I’m so sorry that the transfer was such a pain. When I had my HSG, it hurt like a bitch so I can just imagine how much worse this was for you. But I am glad that it is over now and you are officially in your “2WW”. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for you. I just know we’ll hear positive news real soon!
Hi you guys. It has taken me 2 and a half years to get enough courage to write in a blog. I have been trying to conceive naturally and with Clomid but it hs been unsuccessful. I had my first retrieval last Sunday from IVF and had a transfer on wed. The doctor could only retrieve 3 eggs and unfortunately only one fertilized. He told it was a grade one and a picture perfect embryo which gives me some hope. I am keeping my fingers crossed as I dont think we can afford to do this again. I am terrified. I have cramps today on day six which I am a little scared about because I always get cramps before my period. Plus when I woke up this morning I stretched a little and I got a sharp pain in my uterus. I am so emotional today, I am wondering did I mess up by stretching? I took three days off from work to rest and to try and be careful. This is so hard. i have to wait until the19th for my P test which is another 9 days.
Ann
i think everything is going to be ok, i only had 5 fertelized eggs and one one of them is grade 1, so i am also scared i have my transfer tomorrow.
wish you lots and lots of luck, everything is going to be good, u will see.
just stay positive!
Hi everyone;
This is my first time ever joining in on a site like this. I am 41 years old have been trying to conceive for 15 years, bad endometriosis. I have had 4 failed IVf cycles one with my own eggs one with donor eggs and my husbands sperm and 2 with donated embryos when I got my negative test friday I was so upset I have a retroflexed antiverted uterus do you think this is why it fails or is it because they are donated frozen embryos. I wish the rest of you all lots of luck I send baby dust sprinkles to you all. Have a nice day your friend Dianne :)
I had my ET last March 19 and the doctor says I will have mu Hcg test on 26 w/c is 7 days after transfer. I think this is too early. Based on the internet, it should be 14 days after the transfer. Since the transfer, I have mild to moderate lower abdominal pain. What was thecause of the pain. Any comment about early HCG test?
I had my ET last March 19 and the doctor says I will have mu Hcg test on 26 w/c is 7 days after transfer. I think this is too early. Based on the internet, it should be 14 days after the transfer. Since the transfer, I have mild to moderate lower abdominal pain. What was the caused of the pain. Any comment about early HCG test?
I tried to research why I had so much pain during my ET and came accross your post, which I can certainly relate to. I’m so sorry you had to go through so much intense pain. I had my ET last month and hurt like hell. I was very relaxed about the procedure knowing it would be painless. Not only was it uncomfortable and hurt like hell, I was an emotional wreck brought to tears. It took several attempts to pass the catheter through my cervix, at this point I was dizzy and nauseous from the pain. 30 long minutes felt like several hours. The nurses although very supportive and apologetic couldn’t explain the cause and were frankly surprised I went through such suffering. I plan to try a frozen ET next month and will certainly be requesting Valium. Its hard enough going through the whole IVF/ICSI procedure, without having to go through so much trauma during ET. I wish you and the rest of you the best of luck and hope nobody else ever has to be put through this.