Gr8 Rerieval

As I lay here dosy, in my breezy, sunlight hotel room, I can't help but be flabbergasted at the difference between my two retrieval experiences, here and Calgary.

This morning, I was greeted by a kind nurse, Liz, who lead me from the two story, ultra-modern waiting room where Stef sat eating an apple, to the surgical area. She gave me a container to put all my belongings in, which in turn had all I would need for the procedure. My booties and a WARM gown and blanket. She then ushered me to my own, private pre-op room, where she helped me settle into my bed. Upon laying down, she proceeded to prep me for my IV which included light hearted chit chat and a hot towel wrapped around the arm in which the IV went. She used lidocane to numb my hand and made sure it didn't hurt. After being all hooked up and nowhere to go, Stef was brought in to keep me company and to meet the OR nurse, the anesthesiologist and Dr.G, who did the retrieval itself. When everyone was gone, I let him clip on the finger heart rate monitor. His heart rate was HALF that of mine. I guess that gives away who went running after pizza and ice cream the other day.

He called out loving cheers as the bed was wheeled into the OR. The last thing I remember was the lights on the OR ceiling and saying "am I already on something?" as I was sure the promised preliminary sedative to the anesthetic was kicking in. Not a second later, I swam up to the break of consciousness when the anathesiologist was making sure I'm awake. The next hour was spent in bliss, as a blanket, kept warm by hot air being blown into it, kept me cozy as nurses kept checking on me. Stef was at my bed side telling me how wonderful I looked. Maybe.....the fluids in the IV took 10 years off my face. As bliss melted to a groggy high, I was slowly assisted off the bed and onto a chair. I was shocked not to be bleeding. Liz kept shooting the IV with pain meds as the cramping started to hit. A sweet embryologist, Anne, came out to let us know that they got out 8 eggs!! And that all looks good on Stef's end. We will be notified of the progress of the little ones every morning. After some paper work, pop and crackers that Stef enjoyed, I was caringly wheeled outside. I got home and slept for 3 hours. We are now on the bed and looking for where to go eat because I can actually walk. If I wasn't a bit stoned, I would not know anything had happened to me.

In Calgary, the prep area was not private, the nurses were bitchy, the IV took 5 tries with no numbing, I was pumped with only a sedative that made me drift off while they set up the OR but was rudely woken by the doctor who told me not to jump when she stabs the needle through the viginl wall. I didn't jump, but I felt it - both times...along with everything else. The first embryologist was annoyed and the another one was rude. I bled profusely and was in pain for days and could not sit properly for three weeks. Same procedure.....but like butchers over there. There is no place like this clinic. I could not be happier or more impressed. We paid more, but I never knew that humanity costs money.