Gee, you already have a little bit of a belly! (OH.SS)

Over the last few days I've noticed that I have been gaining a lot of weight in my abdomen. I found this a little strange since I've been really nauseated and haven't been eating all that much. I've just been trying to drink a lot of fluids, and take my vitamins, etc. Well, yesterday by the time I got home from work I looked like I was about 5 months pregnant. I knew something was wrong. My husband while we were making dinner mentioned, "I don't want to say anything stupid, but you look like you already have a little bit of a belly. That's so cool. I love it!" I quickly realized that I wasn't imagining things, I was retaining a lot of fluid, and despite my husband's loving approval of a pregnant belly that he has waited so long to see - something was definitely not right. So I went up to weigh myself and I was up 12-15lbs since the weekend, and I have not been eating as much as normal! Uh-oh!

Long story short, I actually have not been feeling bad otherwise, other than "the bloat." After my transfer, I had all that problem with bleeding, but not excessive bloating too badly. In other words, the two weeks following my transfer passed without a wink of OH.SS. I went to work this morning, and when my RE's office opened I stopped in. My favorite nurse took one look and said, yup you have late onset OH.SS that starts once you're pregnant and is exacerbated by pregnancy due to the surge of hormones. I had lab work drawn, CBC, lytes, coags, and LFTs. I then had a breakfast date with the dildo cam aka transvaginal ultrasound, and an external ultrasound. I then go to see my doctor's partner for a quick exam. I have some mild to moderate OH.SS. I have fluid in my abdomen, around my ovaries, and my ovaries are about three times as big as they should be. Good thing is that the fluid hasn't traveled up to my liver, lungs or heart. Yay! Although I definitely would be having more significant symptoms if it had traveled in those delicate regions. I have been having some leg cramps, and some pain in my abdomen. Yet I had chalked it up to the little bit of cramping that they said was normal in early pregnancy after IVF. I guess the cramping was dehydration since all the fluid I was drinking was going in my abdomen, and the pain was not pregnancy cramps, but rather late onset OH.SS. I did not realize that OH.SS could rear it's ugly head three weeks after transfer, when no symptoms were present two weeks post transfer.

I got some fluid at the office, and was told to go home from work and take it easy for the weekend - "somewhat modified bedrest" according to them, whatever that means. I have to go back tomorrow for repeat labs and a third beta. Then Monday I have another date with the dildo cam and his friend the external ultrasound, as well as my follow up IVF appointment with my RE. If things are improving I might be allowed to go back to work later in the week for some shorter shifts, but they said I "would have to wait and see." Augh...I hate not being able to go to work, I am a weirdo that actually likes my job. The good part of the day was that during my experience with the dildo cam I got to see a single yolk sac with a dot inside with some shadowing around the entire sac, perhaps a second one? Now at least I know that something is in there! Part of my worrying has subsided. I was getting worried (what else is new) that I would go in monday and they would see a sac with nothing in it, now I know something is there! My favorite nurse seemed pretty excited about it, so I got excited too!

So I guess I get another quite evening at home. I sure am glad we signed up for Ne.tflix last month. I'm sure getting my use out of them. My doggie is delighted that I came home early from work. Right now we're settled on the couch snuggling with my favorite pillow and La.nds E.nd blanket. My husband will be home a little early from work, as usual he's been great about everything!

If you get a chance stop by my friend Pauline's blog. She is a free lance writer who writes for several magazines, newspapers, and online resource sites. She has a very good link from her blog entry from yesterday to an article she wrote about how to evaluate online resource sites when researching health info for you and your family - which advice to take away from internet sites and which ones to pass up on. She too has had her struggles with infertility in the past. So go over, say hi, leave a comment if you wish, or just check out a couple of interesting articles she has written recently for Baby Goo.roo.