My IVF : Stage 1 - Ovarian Stimulation & Monitoring

24 September 2010

As usual, we were the first patient of the day ;P. Like to have the early morning appointment so that i'm able to get back to my office before 12pm so that no need to that a full day leave (My office have this rule that if we go for a specialist appointment, we must be at office before 12pm else we have to apply for a full day leave).
The first thing we did when we see Dr Prasant was to tell him that i was having fever, flu and cough. Then i show him all the medications prescribed to me. After checking all the medications.. he said "Yes you can take all these". He then added that cough and flu are not a problem for IVF treatment, but high fever may have some effects on the treatment. So he said i need keep the temperature low. Oh. ok..
After that, he did the transviganal scan, there were about 8 follicles detected. I'm on track, he said. So i can now start my ovarian stimulation injections starting today until 29 Sept ~ 

    1. Menonys 

         - dosage 150 iu 

         - a Gonadotrophin  

    2. Folliova 

         - dosage 150 iu 

         - a follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)

Both Menonys and Folliova must be mixed into one syringe. Since the preparation and mixing of these 2 items requires more time, the nurse suggested that the injection to be taken at night so that we have ample time for it. We must also do the injection more or less about the same time every night. The nurse demonstrated the mixing steps to us and did the first injection on my tummy. The injection area is about the same as the Orgalutran injection. This time, the injection is a bit painful ;(. She give a very useful tip to reduce the pain when doing the injection - just rub ice cube onto the injection area for 5 minutes so that the area will become numb.  She also write the list of injections, dosage and the date for the injections on a form so that we wont forget to take the injections.
Still need to take Orgalutran injections on the morning of 29 and 30 September 2010.


Useful tip: Rub ice cube 5 minutes onto the injections area to reduce the pain when doing the injection..

In the Menonys box, there will be 2 tiny glass bottles - one is the solution in liquid form,
another one is the Gonadotrophin  ingredient in powder form.

Same as for Foliova, there will be 2 tiny glass bottles - one is the solution in
liquid form, another one is the FSH  ingredient in powder form.

25 September 2010

At 8.30 pm, we started the mixing process of Menonys and Folliova. Since it was our first time, it took us like more than 15 minutes to do the preparation. While waiting my husband do the mixing, i rub the injection area with ice cube. We successfully did the injection and yes the ice really do the trick.. no pain. :)




26 September 2010
Same as night before, we started the mixing process at 8.30pm. Somehow, when husband tried to break the tiny glass bottle containing the Menonys, the top part of the bottle broke into small pieces and some of the broken glasses got into the Menonys powder. We were so panic at that time. Worry that if we use that Menonys... the tiny piece of broken glasses would go into the syringe and can go into my flesh if we do the injection. So we made  S.O.S call to the nurse explaining what happened. She asked us to use another Menonys and come to the clinic tomorrow morning to get the replacement of the Menonys.
But our panic was not over yet... we still need to do the injection that night. The clock was ticking fast. It's already 9.00pm.. we were already late for our injection. We S.O.S  the nurse again, asked again the correct way to break the bottle, then my husband.. very carefully this time, break the bottle.. yeahh.. he did it!! Phewww..
He quickly did the mixing, and done.. we managed to do the injection that night but slightly delayed then the night before.


27 September 2010
We reached the clinic at 9.30am, but the nurse was having a precedure that morning (we forgot to ask her what time she's available). So, need to wait another 1 hour at the clinic.
At 10.30pm, she finally finished the procedure. We gave her the broken Menonys bottle. She the gave us the new one (oohh luckily we were not charged for the damaged Menonys). She then suggested us to go to any clinic to get help to do the mixing and injection. I guess that's safer. We dont want to take the risk breaking another bottle.
For today's injection, we asked her to just do the mixing of the injection. Once the Menonys and Folliova is mixed, it must be used within 24 hours. That's why we cannot have the premixed of all the injection for 5 days, explained the nurse. Ohh.. ok.


28 September 2010
We went to this clinic, whose doctor is not only a general practitioner but also a gynae. He told us that quite a number of patient also came to his clinic the make the same injection.. Yessss.. we've chosen the right clinic.So.. from now on, we will do our Menonys and Folliova injection at this clinic.
Note: The mixing part of the medications really tensed me. It's not about the pain. But it's about the "not to break the bottle" part.. ;). If we break another bottle, i think we need to pay extra for the replacement.. and as you know, the medication is not cheap!


30 September 2010
Have another appointment today. Oh ya.. my fever and flu has gone, Alhamdullillah. Still have mild cough. Hopefully able to get rid of the cough as well before my Egg Retrieval day.
Reached the clinic at 9.45 am. The doctor straight away did the scan. The progress of my follicles were seems to be on tracked. There were like 6 to 10 medium follicles.. the rest were a bit small.. So the doctor said that he will reduce the Menonys and Folliova dosage to 75 iu. So need to continue this medications for another 2 nights. Still need to take the Orgalutran injection until 2 October 2010.


2 October 2010
Another appointment to monitor the ovary. This time, about 8 follicles has reached sufficient size for the egg retrieval. Quite a few follicles were still at medium size. The doctor told us, "Ok everything looks ok. The egg retrieval can be done this Monday". Yess... no more injection. But ... i started to feel butterfly in my stomach... Oooh. 
The doctor then briefly explained the egg retrieval preparation and what medications to be taken prior to the procedure. Then we went to another room, the nurse explained one by one what to be done as part of the preparation for the egg retrieval as well for the embryo transfer : 
1. To take Ovidrel 250 ug injection on Saturday at 9pm sharp.(is used to help the follicle mature and trigger the release of mature egg from ovary. Basically it initiate ovulation 34-36 hours after it is taken. That's why my egg retrieval is scheduled on Monday at 9am)
2. To start antibiotics Zinnat starting Sunday 
3. No food or water (fast) from midnight on Sunday 
4. To be at 8am at the KLSport Medical Center Registration & Administration counter on Monday (the egg retrieval day)
5. No make-up, deodorant, any face or body powder, contact lens, jewelery for the egg retrieval procedure. 


First stage accomplished. Next... Stage 2 - Egg Retrieval ;)

Yessza... jams