IVF Frozen #4 Day 14

Lining: 8.2 mm. Woohoo! I'm all ready! ET scheduled on 04 May.

IVF Frozen #4 Day 11

Lining: 7.3 mm. I was totally not expecting this, that my lining didn't meet the minimum 8 mm. I have to continue with 6 mg of progynova until my next scan appointment on Friday.

Oh, anyway, I was scanned by my favourite sonographer today and I finally took a peek at her name tag. Her name is Karen. I didn't see her at all during my Fresh #2 cycle and thought that she could have left KKIVF. Thankfully, she's still there. Somehow, I trust her measurements more than the other sonographers. Please let me meet her again in Room 5 on Friday.

IVF Fresh #2 Day 19

I was discharged from the hospital this morning, after spending 3 nights there. The diagnosis: moderate OHSS.


Day 1

Once I'm in the ward, a senior staff nurse came to ask me a standard set of questions. Even before she leaves my room, a junior doctor came in and started asking me similar questions. Seriously, I think the nurse had more EQ than the doctor, who looked at me strangely with her eyes wide open; her whole facial expression was just so wrong. I was so glad when she finally left the room. The nurse took my weight and measured my girth. Then, she started the IV drip (saline solution) on my right hand; couldn't have it done on my left hand because I already had an IV on the left on Saturday for ER. The drip's flow rate is regulated by a machine, so if I need to use the toilet, I had to call the nurse to unplug the machine.



The nurse instructed me to record all my intake (what and how much I ate and drank) and output (my pee volume). How do I measure how much my pee was? The nurse came back in with a basin thing to put over the toilet bowl, so basically, I pee into this basin thing, then the nurse will pour my pee into a measuring jug. Sigh, unpleasant.

When I was given the lunch menu, I stared at it for quite long and didn't know what to order because I had no appetite, even though I haven't eaten anything since last night. In the end, I ordered chicken porridge. The taste wasn't too bad. It came with apple juice and slices of orange. My parents came to visit with lunch too, but I couldn't even finish the hospital porridge. Such a pity that my home-cooked food went to feed the dustbin.



Once the doctor's prescription was ready, the nurses gave me the pills: 2 kinds of painkillers, 2 tabs each + 2 tabs to relieve gastric pain and + some liquid to soften the stools (since I was having constipation). After taking the medicine, I was feeling quite okay, except for the bloated tummy. Since I still had the needle in my right hand and I am a right-hander, I couldn't really do much things. (No mood to do even play games on my handphone too.) And I had to figure out how to take photos using my left hand.

Shortly after lunch, I was given the menu again to choose my dinner and all the 3 meals for tomorrow. The picture below is my Day 1 dinner - mushroom soup, chicken chop with mashed potato, mango pudding and red date tea. I drank half the soup, ate half a scoop of mashed potato, finished the mango pudding and the rather diluted red date tea; didn't touch the chicken chop and the vegetables at all.



DH kept me company till the evening. He went home for a shower and came back with his working clothes in his bag for the next day. At fixed times, even in the middle of the night, the nurses would come in with the equipment to record my blood pressure and oxygen level. So, DH and I couldn't get quality sleep.


Day 2

Early morning, another junior doctor (different one from Day 1) came into my room and check on how I'm doing. DH woke up too. After she's done with me, DH got prepared to go to work. After he went off, the junior doctor came in with the senior doctor. Don't know why they cannot come in together. I was surprised when the senior doctor said that she met me before at the 24-hour O&G. Actually, she didn't recognize me, she recognized her own handwriting on the notes inside my file. Argh... she had to remind me of the unpleasant miscarriage experience.

So many people came in and out of my room and I couldn't sleep, so I waited for breakfast to be served. I was happy to have bagel with cream cheese. I stared at the Meiji yogurt and wish so much that I could enjoy it, but I think my bloated stomach is not going to be too happy if I stuff it in, so I kept it in the fridge. (Yes, there is a fridge in my room!) I drank the milo and drifted into sleep.



Somehow, when I woke up, I felt really uncomfortable and the pain from the bloating came back. Perhaps I should not have refused to take the Panadol when the nurse came with the tablets on Day 1 night and Day 2 morning. I pressed the call button and requested for painkiller. It didn't seem to help very much, plus I feel more nauseous. A nurse gave me plastic bag in case I vomit. And I did, but only clear fluid came out. I was hoping that DH would come back quickly (he took the afternoon off from work). When he finally reached at around 1pm, I was still very miserable. Obviously, my lunch was still sitting on the table totally untouched. By the time the junior doctor finally came to check on me, the medicine had taken effect and I was feeling less miserable already. She wanted to send me for a scan, but Dr Sadhana decided otherwise, perhaps because the water retention is pretty common and the scan wouldn't be useful anyway.

My parents came to visit again. This time they brought papaya. I ate a few pieces and everything seems to be okay. No, I was wrong... my stomach didn't want the papaya and threw up again. I gave up eating; didn't even bother to unwrap my meals to take photos. I just tried to drink as much water or juice or milo as I can.

The physiotherapist came, talked to me about the compression stockings that the doctor ordered, and measured my ankle and thigh. Then, the therapy assistant came to put on the stockings for me, and at the same time, teach me how to put it one as she was doing it. Why do I need the compression stockings? Because I had been lying in bed for the entire day, except when I need to use the toilet. I was encouraged to walk around to improve my blood circulation. At night, I took my first walk around the ward. It was only a short distance and I was feeling exhausted and my muscles was achy.


Day 3

Finally, Dr Sadhana gave the green light to take me off the drip and see how I'm doing without it. I hope very much that I'll be fine, so that I can go home. I was starting to worry about the hospital bills; the admission counter collected $2k+ for 2 days' stay, which is excluding the portion that I'm paying using Medisave, and this was an estimate excluding non-standard medications and other treatments.

Like Day 2, DH went to work in the morning and came back to accompany me in the afternoon. I spent the morning dozing off. Every time someone enters my room, I would wake up for a brief moment, then I would quickly fall asleep again. I couldn't stay awake! I waited for DH to come back to accompany for my walks around the ward.

My parents bought some ginger tea from the foodcourt downstairs. Ginger tea is suppose to help improve my appetite. Seriously, I hate ginger but I got no choice if I want to eat. At this moment, only sour cream potato chips interest me, but DH wasn't glad that I am eating junk food.

On Day 3 night, he decided that he wouldn't stay overnight in the hospital since my condition is improving and he couldn't sleep properly here too.


Day 4

Although my weight hasn't dropped and my girth is still increasing, I was allowed to be discharged to rest at home. While waiting for the paper work to be done, I changed out to my own clothes and discovered that my tummy grew so big that I couldn't button up the shorts that I came in with! I look pregnant and I couldn't walk with my body straight. I have to bend forward slightly and walk very slowly.


This is the view from my bed.


This is how the room look like from the entrance.


View of the room while I'm sitting on the sofa, which is also DH's bed.


And that's the TV in front of my bed.

I took all these photos while waiting for my medications and the summary report. When the nurse confirm that I can go, I hang around in the room until DH came to fetch me. By right, the "check out" time is 11.30am, but I stayed slightly beyond that and no one came in to chase me.

Before heading home, we went to my mum's place for lunch. She cooked bird nest for me and cooked our dinner too. The first thing I did when I reached home was to shower. I haven't washed my hair for days!

IVF Fresh #2 Day 16

Although doctor plan to transfer blastocyst(s) for this cycle, I was still schedule to return to KKIVF today. I still had to fast since midnight and had to drink plain water to get my bladder ready. Don't understand why such a protocol is decide because it doesn't seem very logical for me. Anyway, due to bloating, I wasn't really hungry, so skipping breakfast wasn't really a big deal. But I couldn't really drink much water too, I could only take tiny sips.

Upon reaching KKIVF, we pressed queue number 2 and 3, as instructed. Queue number 2 for the ET procedure and queue number 3 for blood test. The reception called first and we went, before the nurse could finish her briefing, I was called for blood test. Again, I don't really get why they have such an arrangement. Anyway, DH stayed at the reception to finish the briefing, while I went to Room 1 for a nurse to draw my blood. Then, we waited about half hour for the blood test result and for Dr Sadhana to call us. The wait seems really long because I was really feeling very uncomfortable. DH sort of regret not sending me to 24-hours O&G last night.

Finally, a nurse called us into the ET room to meet our doctor. In my mind, I was prepared to have ET postponed because I obviously cannot handle the symptoms. As DH predicted, Dr Sadhana wants me admitted and put on drip. My blood test result was bad and she said that my blood was thick. Before sending me to the ward, she told us we had 6 good embryos (2 days old at this point).

Doctor advised that I'll be warded for 4 to 5 days, but during admission, the counter staff collected the fees based on 2-day stay. Of course, I hope the shorter the better. I hope this hospital bill wouldn't burn a big hole in our pocket. DH decided that he wants to stay with me overnight, so he opted for the 1-bedder. The next option is the 4-bedder and he wouldn't be allowed to sleep overnight. The cost difference is quite significant, but I couldn't think properly, so I just left DH to make the decision.

IVF Fresh #2 Day 14

ER Day! Everything happened just like Fresh #1. I'm the first to go for the procedure today. Somehow, the IV cannulation was really painful this time round, so painful that tears rolled out of my eyes and I cannot control it. Very quickly, I was in the procedure room and very quickly, I was in the recovery area. Last time, the nurse woke me up and asked me to shift myself to the bed. This time, I don't remember having to do it, but she still woke me up to make sure I'm okay. After which, I didn't really fall asleep anymore. Suddenly, it came across my mind that I didn't take the locker key with me! I'm so forgetful! So I told the nurse and she went with a colleague to get it for me. The nurses came regular intervals to take down my blood pressure (and probably oxygen level too). Seeing that I'm mostly awake, one of them offered me milo and biscuit. Like before, a doctor came to do her rounds, checked that I'm okay and I am released. Then, a nurse accompanied me to the changing room. I only felt the slight pain when I got off the bed. I could pee but the volume wasn't a lot, not like the last time. I was informed that 30 eggs were retrieved (compared to 24 eggs in Fresh #1). I was suppose to produce lesser eggs because I'm on a lower dosage of medication. Perhaps, TCM had made a difference. Now, I can only keep my fingers crossed that I wouldn't get OHSS and the pain would subside quickly. I was still planning to go for A-Lin's concert tonight, but by 5pm, the pain hasn't go away when I walk. No choice, I have to stay home.

IVF Fresh #2 Day 12

Yesterday was Stim Day 9. Today, second scan to see how my follicles are growing. I hope very much that this will be the last scan for this cycle. If based on my timeline in Fresh #1, I should be getting the trigger shot tonight.

I decided to write on my queue number that I prefer to be scanned in Room 5. But today is an unlucky day for me, my preferred sonographer is not in her usual room. I feel like taking a u-turn out when I saw who's in Room 5. Of course I didn't because I don't want to wait anymore. Why I don't like the sonographer? Because she's not as gentle as the other one.

Anyway, here's my scan result...
Lining: 8.9
Right ovary: 18, 16, 15.5, 15, 14.5, 14.5, 14.5, 14, 13, 13, 12.5, 12, 11.5
Left ovary: 18, 15.5, 13.5, 13.5, 13, 12.5, 12, 12, 12, 12, 11.5

Hmm... seems like I have just as many follicles as Fresh #1. And I am right, I am getting my trigger shot today and doctor didn't try to postpone my ET. KKIVF changes their protocol, instead of Pregnyl that they used to prescribe, I was given Ovidrel, which I can do self-injection at night. Perhaps, they are trying to free up manpower at 24-hours O&G; Pregnyl need to be administered by the nurse, which means that patients need to make another trip to KKH.



Before leaving KKH, the nurse gave me a shot of the balance 150iu of  Puregon remaining in my pen. (Nurse say use up all my medication, don't waste.)

ER scheduled on Saturday!

IVF Fresh #2 Day 10

Back at KKIVF for my first scan (not counting baseline scan).

Lining: 8.7
Right ovary: 13.5, 13, 13, 11.5, 10.5, 10.5, 10.5, 9, 8.5, 8, 7.5, 7, 7
Left ovary: 10.5, 9.5, 9, 8.5, 8, 7, 7

The sizes are pretty much the same as Fresh #1, except less follicles on the left side this time.

Side track... I was scanned in Room 5 today. Yippee! But, my favourite sonographer is not there! Sigh! Perhaps, she's no longer working in KKIVF anymore.

IVF Fresh #2 Day 03

Here we go again... CD03, baseline scan, stim day 1. As recommended by Dr Sadhana during our review in September last year, my dosage of puregon is reduced to 250iu. (I was on 300iu in my 1st cycle.) She doesn't want me to product too many eggs, so that I can proceed with fresh ET without the risk of OHSS.

Since AF reported on Sunday, I could only call KKIVF yesterday and I was told to arrive at 10am today. It seems like they've changed their protocol. In December 2015, I was instructed to turn up between 8am and 10am. Today, being my 5th cycle (after 1 fresh and 3 thaw cycles), I was going back to a really familiar place. Like the past, I wrote my IC number on the queue number ticket and dropped it into the box outside Room 5. My queue number was 1051 and 1031 was just called into Room 5. But it wasn't long before a nurse came by, picked up my queue ticket and called me (and another couple) to the quiet side of KKIVF. Oh damn! It means that I wouldn't be scanned by my favourite sonographer! I was contemplating if I should request to be scanned by my preferred sonographer. In the end, I decided to tolerate this one time and not inconvenient anyone just for today. Ever since this new sonographer joined KKIVF, I wish very hard that I will be called into Room 5 where my usual favourite sonographer is. Usually, a nurse will call some ladies to the quieter side of KKIVF to be scanned in another room by this less experienced sonographer. So far, I had been lucky, until today, sigh.

There were already a few couples waiting in that area, but they were not waiting to be scanned. I wondered why. I was the last one to be scanned by the new sonographer today. Then, I was instructed to remain in this waiting area, with the rest of the other patients. After almost 1 hour, the nurse finally called us into the room. So, now they don't call us to the reception to hand us our prescriptions anymore. They used to do that on the day of the baseline scan, since we don't see any doctor on this day. Anyway, Nurse Sara explained that we had to wait quite awhile because they have to get my doctor to endorse the prescription first. Thankfully, they could get hold of Dr Sadhana faster than the doctor(s) of the other patients waiting together with me, so I sort of jumped the queue. Cannot imagine how long more I had to wait since I was the last to be scanned.

Like the usual, after the briefing by the nurse and signing all the forms, we made our way to the pharmacy. Then, came back, press queue number 3 and waited again. I wanted to skip this last part, so during the briefing by Nurse Sara, I mentioned that I am okay to do the injection myself. Just to make sure that I still remember everything, she did a revision with me. But DH insisted that my first self-injection should be supervised by a nurse. Therefore, today's visit to KKIVF ended at 1pm!

Unusual Lawsuit

First in the world to be sued by her own embryos!

Criteria for PGS Trial (& Stupid Comments on Facebook)

See what stupid comments some people wrote! So fuming angry to read those idiots writing like as if they are so wise! They are so ridiculously ignorant and still dare to judge people going for IVF! You morons better beware, even if it's not infertility that comes after you, karma will surely come around and give you a tight slap in the face!