OHSS - What does that even mean?

Well there is a lot to catch you up on!

Last time I wrote, Heidi and I were going in on Sunday for our appointments. It’s really neat to be able to experience this journey together and to learn more about each other every time we hang out! Heidi had her ultrasound first and everything looks great – she is staying on her current meds until we are ready to go. She sure is a trooper! I had my ultrasound next and there were a whole lot of follicles still – the doctor counted 26 this time on my left ovary. The follicles were measuring between 0.8 and 0.9. In order for the egg retrieval process to begin, the doctor needs to be able to measure at least 3 follicles that are 1.8. Then you are given a trigger shot and 36 hours later, your eggs are removed.

At the end of the appointment, he searched for my right ovary since we couldn’t find it and guess what…

PEEK-A-BOO

We found you! I kind of felt like I was in ‘Where’s Waldo’ book haha! My right ovary is fairly inactive and only had 6 follicles. I was just happy to get answers and know that I do in fact still have two ovaries… I was starting to wonder what happened to it. Blood work came back later that day and my estrogen went up again from 2,435 to 5,414 so they lowered my Gonal F dosage from 225 to 175 for the next two days.

Tuesday morning I returned to the Fertility Clinic for bloodwork and ultrasound again. I went in extremely excited from my last appointment and left with some unknowns and a few tears. My ultrasound showed that I had 30+ eggs on my left ovary and 6 on my right ovary, and are measuring at about 1.25 – 1.3. My estrogen skyrocketed up to 14,588 so my Gonal F dosage was dropped again to 100 on Tuesday and 75 today (originally I started at 225).

I bit of history - I was put on the Flare Protocol, which is a pretty intense IVF method. The reason I was put on such an aggressive protocol was because of my results back in Summer. After I got so sick, my body shut down and my ovaries were extremely inactive, had very few follicles, and were looking like they were aging really fast. WELL, like the fighter I am, my body has recovered like crazy and I’m responding ‘too good’ and too effectively for this specific treatment, and therefore have way too many eggs… to the point that it can actually be quite dangerous.

(Sorry if I say the word ‘too’ a lot – just seems like a theme these days)

I’m at high risk for severe OHSS – Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome. The ‘Coles Notes’ of this is that I am overstimulated and have way too many follicles. In a normal cycle, after ovulation, the ovary forms a small cyst called the corpus luteum. This is the area that is left after the egg has been release, and this part of the ovary leaks fluid (usually half a cup) into the abdomen. In my case with having so many eggs (if they allow me to get the trigger shot to start ovulation) I am at high risk of OHSS, which is caused by all the corpus luteum areas swelling up and releasing lots of fluid. There are several degrees of OHSS:

-Mild: bloating and cramping

-Moderate: pain and swelling in abdomen, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, weight gain, and feeling unwell

-Severe: dehydration because of the fluid collecting in the abdomen, which is coming from your blood circulation, which is then not able to do its job normally in carrying oxygen and nourishment to your body’s organs (this is called shock). Various organs in the body, particularly the kidneys, may stop working properly. Blood clots are also a major concern, along with difficulty breathing.

I am being monitored quite closely right now, as they don’t want me to get really sick. I have an appointment tomorrow morning, in which we will be making a decision as to whether we proceed or need to stop. So far I haven’t felt any side effects from the drugs, which is amazing! I have just had some cramping and abdominal discomfort the last two days, which is expected with so many follicles growing.

I would love if you could all keep me in your prayers today as I go and get some answers tomorrow. God has brought us this far already so I know he will continue to walk by our side.

These are my boat load of eggs in my one ovary - it's a bit crazy to see.