Retrieval 03/13/2009:Friday morning rolls around and I haven't had anything to eat for several upon several hours. Not too hungry, more anxious. We finally get to the doctor's office and poor Bradley is told to wait in the waiting room until the procedure is over. I am told to change into a hospital-type gown, complete with the shower cap and booties. Unfortunately, the underestimated my own big booty and the gown barely wrapped around me providing little modesty. The nurse, IVF Nazi, reminded me that I would need to remove my "mormon undergarments too." Well, durh! How do I expect them to get to the follicles! Through my belly button? I assured the nurse that with my two laparoscopy surgeries, I am very capable of understanding the need to "completely undress".
I am led into a small room with a little operating table. Though, it's really not an operation per se, it still felt like one. I am instructed to lie down on the table and I am tucked in with covers and told to rest until the doctor and anesthesiologist arrive. What seems like eternity, about 15 minutes later the anesthesiologist comes in. Very nice looking lady with an accent that is difficult to place. She starts asking me important questions about other surgeries and explains the type of sedation I will be given. She then prepares my right hand for the IV and pokes. I tell her, "That was a little uncomfortable." "Oh really?" she replies, "That's the same needle I use for infants." Okay, now I am really not starting to like this lady. It's as if the like-factor went from zero to negative 50 within a few seconds. I didn't say it hurt or cried out in pain, it was just uncomfortable. There are no tears forming at the corner of my eyes, I thought I was doing my best just trying to be communicative. She starts with the tranquilizer and my eyes get heavy and swirly. It's a grand feeling.
The nurse then places my legs in the cushioned stirrups and pushed them far away. Like far. Like, so far I tell the nurse, "I should have worked on my flexibility this morning if I knew it was going to be like this." No response. What is with these people? Get some life into this room!
Soon after, I am put to sleep and, luckily, I don't remember a thing. I wake up from surgery already covered with blankets and with my upper body at a 45 degree angle. Brad is there next to me. I ask him how many eggs they retrieved and he says he doesn't know. Soon after, Dr. G walks in and informs me 17 eggs were retrieved. Jackpot! Awesome news.
Brad takes me home and cares for me the rest of the day. I was told I had to sleep at a 45 degree angle. How do you measure that? So, I was sleeping with 6 pillows propped up triangle style so that the pressure could be relieved on my abdomen.
The pain wasn't too severe, however, I would have twinges of ache every once and awhile. I tried the Tylenol-Codeine that was prescribed for me but it really didn't make me that sleepy. Even, Monday following the procedure I was still aching. But, I had to remember, to poke me 17 times in an attempt to retrieve eggs is going to make any woman sore.
