Having the conversation with my boss was not as bad as I thought it would be.
It was fairly straightforward actually and he was ok with approving my holiday for one of the days.
And his only request was that I give the business as much notice as possible. And he apologised that his saying no to my original request had forced my hand in having to tell him that I was going through IVF.
But in the end it is a good place to be.
The aspiration visit was good.
The journey to Oxford was a little stressful though as there was traffic on the motorway all the time.
But in the end the journey took just over a couple of hours which was not bad.
As usual the UK weather was not great – it practically rained all the time. I was both apprehensive and excited at the same time. I was excited that it would mean being able to get to the next step in the process without anymore delay. But I was also apprehensive wondering what if it does not work and I do not achieve baseline?
We got to Oxford and went through to reception. The site is called the Institute of Reproductive Sciences (IRS). It made me smile to think that Her Majesty Revenue Service were thinking of my womb!
But it is a clean and not too sterile looking place. Reception checked us in – I think it was for two reasons:
- to let the centre know we were there and
- for thefire register
After being checked in, we were shown to a waiting area away from reception. We were the second couple in the waiting room. we waited about half an hour – and joined in the intervening time by two more couples.
The first couple were called after about 10 minutes of us sitting down.
It is interesting to note here that there is a marked difference between between the Cambridge IVF centre and the Oxford one. The Cambridge centre has the one reception area while the Oxford centre has a private area. But perhaps I am being disingenuous to the Cambridge – they are after all a new purpose built IVF centre and perhaps only welcome those undergoing IVF to the site unlike the Oxford site which is a research centre as well, as I understand it. There is also a sign in the Oxford waiting room advising no photography inline with the HFEA (Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority) guidelines.
The Oxford centre’s waiting room has a large window which looks into part of the laboratory. Looking back and now knowing where the theatre is, I think it adjoins the theatre which will enable easy and quick transfer of the collected follicles. It is nice to know that there are persons working the background to help us get our bodies to do the things that others find so easy and to whom it comes so naturally. It felt a little like “Scrubs” the American sitcom, what with the green scrubs and the clogs (crocs?).
We were called about half an hour after we sat down.
They called out our names!
I know, I know, I know! It is only names being called, right?
Wrong! You have no idea how much that meant to me. It was nice to have them call us both.
When I have been with him to other appointments, they have only called my name and not his. It has always felt like the process does not recognize his part the process or refuses to. It is almost as if the process says he is irrelevant until his junk is required. So it was nice when his name was called too. He is after all a very vital part of the process and part of the reason why we feel secure enough to try to offer a child a home.
This process is difficult for him too. Looking on and not being able to do anything to help is frustrating. People often forget that the partner goes through quite a lot of emotional stress but does not get the same support as the woman. Thank you Honey.
Once called, we were shown into the recovery area and areas pointed out to us – the toilet, the theater the fire exit and the room we were to have during the stay.
The nurse asked that I confirm my name and date of birth and my allergy so she could confirm my identity. I was told to change into my hospital gown (it was funny with MDH doing my gown up for me).
The doctor came through and took me through the procedure she would be performing. She explained that the procedure was a five minute one and was shorter than it would take to insert the cannula in my arm for the sedation. The potential risks (including puncture of my bladder) were explained. The procedure was to use a transvaginal probe (the same probe used to harvest eggs) but this time with a needle on the end to puncture the cyst/follicle and drain it. This would cause the cyst to drain, the lining of the uterus to be shed and the vital bleed (again) to be had. The bleed would cause the uterus to shrink to the thickness required and oestrogen levels to drop, hopefully to levels below the required 200.
I walked into the theater and laid on the theater bed. The theater was like any other theater as far as I could see. But the interesting thing is there were padded stirrups (boots like) which go over the whole foot as one lays down. I think it is both to keep you comfortable and sure, and also to make sure you do not kick anyone in the face – I think 🙂 It was comfortable though.
The cannula being inserted was a little painful but the anesthetist was nice [and cute 🙂 ] – so that made up for the pain somewhat. We got to talking about me – a little and before I knew it I was being roused by the anesthetist and being told procedure was a success.
Coming out of the sedation haze must have been funny for anyone watching me – I think I must have sounded really really drunk. I had some water and was asked if I wanted tea, hot chocolate or coffee and then wheeled to my room. I had a chat with MDH and the nurse. And then tried sitting up for a little while. But all I wanted to do was lay down and sleep.
Mine – was the pain a BITCH!
Though I had initially declined pain killers I actually considered in the first ten minutes of being wheeled into my room. But the pain passed after about twenty minutes after the procedure. And I was really nauseous for a while, retching for about ten minutes but bringing nothing up. So off I went again – sleeping for a little while longer. The nurse the sedation causes nausea.
I came out of it, drank or rather was made to drink my hot chocolate and water and wolf down a few biscuits After which I felt much better.
I then did the mandatory walk and visit to the bathroom. Yep – all plumbing was working well – with no bleed in urine meaning no punctured bladder.
Was told all was fine, had cannula removed, got dressed and left with with MDH.
But not before MDH and I were checked out of the site by good old reception 🙂
Thanks for reading.
xx