IVF

My personal story . . . . .

My partner (or ex husband now) found out that he had a low sperm count and abnormal sperm.  Our family doctor at the time suggested that we needed to go and get help and see a Gynaecologist who specialises in IVF.  .  After having to wait 3 months to get an appointment, we both had undertaken various test which were to take place to qualify for IVF treatment by both myself and my partner.

So the journey began . . . . we filled all the relevant paperwork and our first appointment was to visit our nurse who was to go thru all the steps from start to finish.  We were informed of all the various procedures available to us but due to my partner being classed as partially infertile, we only really had the one option available but was the most successful to undertake.  I was to take the a pill for 20 days (the contraceptive pill) and was to start using a nasal spray on day 20 of the pill for 10 days.  When both the pill and nasal spray has finished, then the injections were to be introduced.  All was going along well . . . . . until day 8!!

Well its day 8 and I needed to go in for a blood test.  It was a Saturday morning (08:00am) and I was starting to complain to my doctor that I wasn't feel very well.  A blood test was taken and said that they would call me sometime in the afternoon.  Well, I didn't stop complaining and I knew that something was wrong and my partner was starting to worry.  At 13:30pm that afternoon, I had started vomiting and called the doctor and/or the nurse which was allocated to ourselves to guide us thru the procedures.  She had stated that the blood test results had not come in as yet but were due in the next 1/2hr.  It was now 15:00pm and my head is over the toilet bowl vomiting and screaming in between - the phone rings, my partner picked up the phone looking white as a ghost and the nurse is on the other end, he was instructed to pack my bags and get to hospital asap as my hcg levels were over the limit and needed medical attention immediately.  A hospital bed had already been pre-booked and the hospital was expecting me within the hour.

Arriving at the hospital @ 17:00pm, a team of medical specialists were waiting.  A few more blood tests were taken and was told to try and get some rest.  My partner stayed with me until 21:00pm then went home . . . . . it wasn't until 22:45pm when my nightmare began

I had buzzed for a nurse @ 23:00pm stating that I was wanting to vomit.  She had made a call to my doctor and was instructed to give me some anti-vomiting tablets.  She said all should be ok and if I wanted anything else to just call.  At 23:45pm, I had buzzed her again . . . . I wasn't happy and told her that I wanted to vomit.  She made another call to my doctor and giving her instructions to give a stronger dose of tablets to stop me from vomiting - that all should be ok and if I wanted anything, to buzz her again.  It was now 00:45am and Im buzzing for the nurse and screaming for help . . . 2 nurses were in my room and I was frothing at the mouth.  They called the doctor via phone and to discuss my situation - the nurses stated that they couldn't do anything for me and then blacked out . . . . .

It was now 02:00am and was resting in bed, my head lying on the pillow and all I could hear was some soft classical music in the background.  I was slipping in & out of contiousness.  My body had felt like it had just run a marathon and was aching all over.  I was left to rest til the morning.

It was Sunday morning @ 08:00am and had a team of nurses in my room (4 actually) and my doctor had also just arrived.  I was informed that my body had gone into shock and had a mini stroke due to the IVF injections.  I was monitored for the next few days with blood tests to reduce my hcg levels and swelling of my body.  I was to be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, only to be re-admitted to another hospital for the day to go for egg pickup- this had been arranged for the following Friday.  All had gone well with no complications and was happy to go home waiting to hear of any news of how many eggs had been picked up ready to be fertilized with my partners sperm.

It was now day 3 (being Monday) and were advised that 12 eggs had been fertilised and that on Day 6, I would need to come back to hospital to have the fertilised embryos placed inside me to attempt a successful pregnancy.  Well, it was Day 6 and only 4 embryos were left- 2 had been implanted and 2 were left to freeze at a later date.

We need to wait for 14 days to arrange for another blood test . . . . we waited . . . . . and waited . . . . and waited

Today was Monday and were instructed to call at 15:00pm to find out if I was pregnant or not - well I have twin girls who are now nearly 7yo and unfortunately, it was also the end of my marriage as a result- I can say it was well worth it as I have my girls but also realise what type of person my partner really was . . . . .

Good luck to anyone who travels this path - I was one of the lucky ones