1st IUI Procedure Cont.

Our drive up there was fairly calm and quiet. Not only was it 5 am in the morning, but I was cramping real bad and was just overall nervous. We were about an hour out and Bud was wanting to make me laugh as he says,

"Welp, things are about to get weird in about an hour!"

He was referring to his collection he was going to have to do when we got there. The day of your procedure, you have to make two appointments. The first for the husband to collect in the lab and then an hour and a half later, is when they do the actual procedure. I feel so bad that Bud has to do this again, and this is the situation we are even in right now, but he was being a champ about it. We both just laughed after he said that! I mean it is awkward for the male spouse no matter what.....but it has to be done for the procedure!

Once the male provides the sample, the lab inspects it and takes out any bad sperm. It still amazes me that technology today can actually do this. But this why the procedure has to take place so long after the collection so they can do this before the procedure. They want to eliminate injecting any bad sperm and decreasing your chances the sperm mating with the eggs.

After his collection, we grabbed a quick bite to eat for breakfast to kill some time before my appointment. I could barely eat thought. My stomach was in knots! I was so ready to get this over with. Time was going by sooo slow.

When we got back to the office, we had to first pick up the sample at the lab, which was right down the hall from where their actual medical office was. They bring the sample out in small cup, which is in a brown "lunch" looking bag. Once they verify Bud's information, they give us a sheet that tells us the sperm count, the mobility percentage, and how many were taken out. Bud was carrying the bag as we walked out the door to head down to the office. As we are walking down the hallway, Bud looks at me, hands me the bag and says,

"I got this for you!" haha

He was doing pretty good at making me laugh throughout the day, I can say that. He knew I was a nervous wreck, so I appreciated him doing that.

After we got signed in, we sat in the waiting area looking outside, as they had a huge wall of just windows which had a great view. It was not too long before we were called back. We were taken to small room where we were told to leave the sample on the counter. Also on the counter laid a catheter and shot. My nerves were getting worse by the minute!

After the nurse walked out, Bud grabbed my hand and said everything was going to be okay! He said, "It's going to work since it is my birthday!" Gosh how badly I wanted to believe him, but I was still filled with so much doubt...hope, but also doubt!

Once the doctor came in, he pretty much got right into it. He removed the sample from the bag and briefly went over the notes on the sheet they gave us. He said everything looked good! He began drawing up the sperm with the shot and into the catheter. I began to lay back on the table, with my legs in position on the stirrups. Bud was sitting in the chair beside the table. He moved his chair closer to me and grabbed my hand tight. I won't go into too much graphic detail, but the doctor began the procedure and talked his way through it. It was not nearly as painful as that damn x-ray, but it was very uncomfortable.

When the procedure was finished, they had me lay there for about 10 minutes. The doctor said if I do not get my period in two weeks, to take an at home pregnancy test. If I did start, then we would try this process again. Ugh, the thought of going through all of these steps again medications again was dreadful. But we had to stay positive and hope for the best.

Now, for the two week wait...aaahhhh!!!!!