Cumulus Co-culture

I consulted Dr Google to read more about cumulus co culture, what the heck it is and why its so great.  I figured you might be curious as well. (Source)

During retrieval, ovarian cells called cumulus cells come out with the follicles & eggs.  These cells secrete a chemical  that's important for cell growth, adhesion, and regularity.  Its found all around our bodies, including in the ute.  Kind of like naturally occuring HGH.  It makes sense that having this chemical floating around would improve embryo growth & development.  Post retrieval, they wash said cumulus cells and set them up in a petri dish to do their thing.  1 day later (today for us), they add normally fertilized eggs (now technically embryos) to the dish and Voila! Magic happens.  Improved cell growth and IVF success, just what we've been dreaming of.

P.s. I just got the magic phone call I've been waiting all day for....
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*DRUM ROLL* .....
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Six fertilized embryos and 2 more that are "having reactions" and looking like they are gettin 'er done.  YAHOOOOOO!!!! 

Next update coming in T+2 days.  Yes, I'm cheezin'!!!!

RETRIEVAL !!~!

Today was a great day.  I was the only egg retrieval and could tell I got everyone's A game this morning.  My nurse was fab and they even played Bob Marley in the OR for me :). I woke up from anesthesia to fabulous news!!!!   They retrieved TWELVE eggz!!~!~!! 6 are mature and 3 are intermediate and may mature by tomorrow.  Poor J got TESE done so they will ICSI the mature guys. The embryologist also decided to do a cumulus culture with them. I guess they let the eggs & embies chill in a dish with my body's "cumulus" cells and it helps them be all big n bad and grow real nice.  Tomorrow the embryologist will tell us the report about how many fertilized, etc. Hoping, wishing, praying for some nice beautiful embryos!!!  We are home now recouping by the pool. We're both limping but in good spirits :)

Stim day 12... the MONEY SHOT!!!

The time has come.....  we triggered last night!  :)  :/  :). I'm suuuuuper nervous!!

Sunday morning showed 5 ripe & plump follies with 4 other serious contenders.  The trigger was more complicated than previous past ones... we knocked out HGH, then HCG, then a follistim boost.  Bam!Bam!Bam!  I don't remember the prior triggers being so.... uncomfortable.  *Cue fears about PIO injections.*

Retrieval is scheduled for tomorrow at 730.  Gotta be there bright n early by 630!  Poor J is getting his nut shot while I'm high on versed.  We are SO gonna be a hot mess tomorrow.  Haha. 

We have a date tomorrow night for a champagne toast in the hot tub.  YES, I said the "H" word!  Agh!  We've decided after this cycle, however it works out, we deserve and need a break.  No easier way to do that than kill all the spermiez a la hot tub time.

Think of us tomorrow and send up happy big fatty egg vibes & hope for lots of healthy lil fertilized embryos!

Stim day 10

I feel so fat & uncomfortable. I can still button my pants but dont want to. Haha. Yesterday we saw some sights around Sun Diego and spent a bunch of time in the car.... unfortunately for me, i had to drive cuz the backseat was too bumpy and jostled my guts too much. I felt like my poor eggs got scrambled! Today is going to be a low-key day at the market & Balboa park. I already can't wait to get home and sit by the pool. Ha.

I rustled J out of bed on his day off to come with me yesterday. He was good luck!! 2 follies came back out of hiding and we found ANOTHER!!! Wowie I'm so excited. 5 are above 13mm and 4 are right behind. The lead was at 17mm so I started ganirelix. Up to my max of 3 injections per day. Phrew!

I go back tomorrow morning to learn if retrieval will be Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm def o.k. with them delaying it from Monday-- i'd rather give the follies more time to catch up than make them hurry. Slow & steady wins the race?!??!

I'm pimping out.... right now I'll take all the prayers, good thoughts and well wishes I can get! ;). Thanks bunches :)

Here's 10 days worth of needles, ouch!

IVF #3, stim day 5

Monday I went in for my day 5 appt.  I met one of Dr Rockstar's colleague REs.  She was super!  I'll meet his third colleague tomorrow.  Dr R is out of the country for 2 weeks and so the dude I'm meeting tomorrow will most likely be doing my retrieval.  (If youre wnde 

So, Monday.  We found an extra follicle!!  8 lil guys are growing.  The largest measured in at 6mm.  Lining was 4.1 though I dint think that matters.... Estradiol was 187.  "Perfect." They said.  :)

Next appointment: Thursday April 4.  Woot!!

And they're off!

Thursday morning I went in for my suppression check. Everything came out a.o.k. Just like Goldilocks, nothing awesome, nothing bad, right where I expected. Ute lining is at 3 something and I've got 7 lil follies waiting for action!! J calls them The Potentials. Haha.

I ripped off my last damn androdem patch Thursday night and stuck myself for the first of many pokes. Good news (cuz there always has to be a bright side in this shit) is after 2 days I have no bruises!! I looked like a frkn pin cushion last time. U saw the pic, it was ridic!

Right now I'm doing 2 vials menopur, clomid, & steroid. I'm feeling pretty well. I have noticed my fuse is A LOT shorter than usual. And by a lot, I'm talking like I-never-bitch-at-anyone-about-anything to omgwtfdidudo! I've been keeping up with yoga & acupuncture and also started guided meditation. This has helped my mood tremendously! Since I've been feeling so good & zen I am able to notice my craziness and keep it in check... hopefully, for the sakes of everyone around me and for J's sanity, I can keep that up for the next 11 days. :)

As for the androderm.... the cream smelled Yuck and I was petrified for anyone to touch my arms. Ya know, cross contamination to another person could be detrimental to their health! The patches didn't smell but man did they irritate the shit out of my skin. I am at the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to skin sensitivity. Yet I can still clearly see outlines of where 3 of the 5 patches were stuck to my leg... not to mention I couldn't move At All or the damn things would pull cuz they're so big. Ugh! Glad I'm d.u.n. with those suckers!!

Next appointment: Monday. This'll be our first follie check on stims. We are hoping & praying that 3rd time is the charm! Think positive thoughts for some healthy growing follies and all at the same size! YeahYeah!

posted from Bloggeroid

*taps*

Big day today.... I decided it was time to retire my BBT thermometer.  I maybe almost shed a tear as this means our TTC adventures have hit a turning point.  A point where the future holds no more daily temps.

Of course I don't need to temp while cycling.  And I am going to LURVE <3 sleeping in on Saturdays without a 5am alarm.  I get the feeling that efforts to conceive naturally are futile.  Thus why I decided it was time!

It was an open casket ceremony  ;)