It took me a few days to figure out how to approach this blog regarding Thursday’s appointment with the Fertility Clinic. I’ve been thinking about whether I should be keeping this blog light and fun, or if it should be more informative. I’m going to try to stick to a combination of both. This post might be kinda gross actually, so I’m apologizing now.
I had my appointment on an really chilly morning, I woke up way to early. 4:30am is just too damn early in the morning to function. I rode out to my appointment with the FM (film maker). I was drained and sleepy so I was not my usual chatty self. It was really nice that he was keeping my entertained. He told me about some of the unusual stories in his life. I think he should have a little documentary written about his adventures. We arrived a little early, and we were called right into the exam room. I had my usual appointment at first, blood pressure, then blood drawn. Then I was told to assume the position, the FM ran out, I got nakie from the waist down, hopped up on the exam table and did my best to cover myself with the paper drape (ugh, they are so flimsy). Then the fun begins, my cyst had continued to grow, it was nearly 36mm when they took at peep at it with the ultrasound. It was decided immediately that it needed to be drained. This is a quick, minimally invasive procedure. But it’s super uncomfortable. I am not quite sure what hurts more, that needle for the “aspiration” or having my IUD inserted. As an aside, that was the most uncomfortable procedure I’ve had to date, once that is taken out, it’s not going back in.
A tray was brought in with all the supplies, and the “rock star” doctor came in for the procedure. My favorite nurse stayed to assist him. He chatted it up with the FM while he was working under the hood, so to speak. I was “cleaned” with some huge cotton swabs, to protect against infection. Believe it or not, the vagina is a warm, dark moist place, exactly the condition that funky stuff enjoys hanging out in. Just because the vagina has some “good” bacteria, doesn’t mean that it should be introduced inside the body. After the cleaning, I get numbed a little, I’d hate to know how much it would hurt had I not been numb. Then the doc dims the lights, turns on some relaxing music, then gets into it. He used a very long needle/syringe that is guided by the vaginal ultrasound. He maneuvers my bits by looking at the screen. When he is ready to pierce the cervix he has me cough, this allows the needle to pierce the cervix, or vaginal wall, then the cyst on the ovary. They drained at least 25ml of yellow fluid, about half a “urine sample type” cup. The FM got some lovely shots of that, can’t wait to see those. I wanted to take some photos, but I was too “drained” after the procedure to remember I had my camera with me. Normal benign cyst fluid is usually yellow, green or gray and does not need to be analyzed in a laboratory. I think the clinic takes a peek at it anyway. My favorite nurse told me that the fluid is basically pee (urine), it’s full of protein that collected in the cyst. GROSS. Oh well, its gone now.
The procedure was quick, pain free for the most part and the FM got a chance to chat with the doctor. He’s going to try to get some shots of the labs and rooms where the samples are stored. But they have some work to do, to stay in compliance with HIPAA, this clinic is amazing, totally above board and they go above and beyond when it comes to privacy and the safety of its clients & donors.
After the procedure I was cleared to start the next part of the process, the second shot. I am not taking the Lupron (less) and Gonal-F to stimulate the ovaries. This is what gets my baby maker started. Now I’ve got two shots at night, ouch. I have bruises on my tummy, I could try using my thigh from now on.
Sorry this post took SO long, it’s been a fun (long week). I will update later on with the not so exciting details of today’s visit. But I have a picture of the ultrasound machine. Oh boy.
MellFire 