I've been holding my breath all day, expecting the clinic to call and say they changed their mind and I can't cycle after all. The last time I started stims was, after all, in September, and I've made numerous attempts to get to that point again. To be a few hours away from pumping my belly full of Bravelle is very, very unreal.
Based on a somewhat-inconclusive response to those September stims, I'll be starting on 300IUs of Bravelle. I also take 30IUs of lowdose hCG (the poorman's Menopur) at the same time. But no Lupron! When my follicles are big enough or my e2 is high enough (my money's on the e2, by the way), I start Ganirelix.
Unreal, but pleasegod let it be!
I did call my clinic today. In part to tell them that my period started yesterday, a few hours after the cyst aspiration. (And, I did not say, is making a total bitch of itself ever since, what with excessive volumn and insane cramping. Well, fuck you too, old endometrium!!) And partly just to have them say, "No really, you can start stims tonight, that was not a mistake, see you Tuesday." But mainly...
I had general anesthesia once, when I got my wisdom teeth out. It was an absolute nightmare. I vomited the whole rest of the day and well into the night (so much so that I never even swallowed a pain pill, which didn't help much). I also felt out of sorts for days. I hate to seem all princess-y, but I really do react weirdly to many medications. Not just Lupron, and we all know those stories. Benadryl and its ilk, for example, make my heart race and make me awake and jittery for about 18 hours. I had laughing gas once at the dentist--for a cavity I turned out not to have, by the way--and before they even had me on the 'actual' dose, just the 'relax' dose, I fully passed out, and did not recover enough to drive home for about 4 hours. And my first antimalarial, mefloquine...well, it made me batshit insane, and gave me horrifying nightmares. And it took my years to find a birth control pill I could stand. Etc, etc. I avoid over-the-counters. I pretty much take only my prescribed (and I went through a bunch of those too, mainly due to nausea) pre-natal vitamin and whatever hormones I'm trying in any given month. So I just sort of thought I'd almost die from the anesthesia, but it would be worth it to have a shot at a baby.
But this Versed concoction I was on for the aspiration--WOW! I loved it! I went woozy when they said I would and was conscious enough to walk to the next room to lay down, remember the conversation I had on the phone with my husband, and send my mom (who drove me) back to her own home after she dropped me off. I even watched TV and read instead of just sleeping. I am in total awe. So I want it for my egg retrieval.
And they said no. I don't understand why. They said they don't recommend it because there is more pain due to more pokes. What pain? I don't remember any pain! They've told me they'll have the anaesthesiologist call me. Since he gets my $275, I'm sure he'll do his best to assure me that anesthesia is the best thing. But I'm dissatisfied and intend on bringing it up on Tuesday, and probably on every appointment until egg retrieval, or I get my way.
Do any of you know of a good reason why I can't just have light sedation???
3 comments:
Unless I am crazy, I remember some bloggers talking about NO sedation which is the practice in some countries, New Zealand, maybe? That seems crazy to me but if tens of thousands (probably more) of women have to deal with that I don't see why light anesethia would be a problem. Come to think of it, for my ER, I remember being told that if they tried REALLY hard to wake me they could, it was like twilight anesthesia or something. Good luck and yay for stimming!
I don't understand what you cannot have conscious sedation (Versed and Fentanyl). I am an ICU nurse and you would not believe the kind of procedures we can do with light sedation. Gurlee sounded like that is what she had too... (twilight anesthesia) Under general anesthesia lots of people get sick. Some violently ill, and I am one of them. I would ask for dexamethasone and several anti-emetics. Scopolomine patches work for some people too. Make them send you home with Zofran. Still - you should be able to request conscious sedation. I don't see why not. Good luck girl.
This is an interesting discussion. I just had my initial consult for IVf and am almost positive that they list 'conscious sedation' for the egg retrieval. I will definitely be adding this to my list of follow up questions.
I think that you should be able to take them research and information about clinics that use other sedation options and convince them to work with you. Good luck!
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