IVF #1 CD 17 "Consti"

I couldn't bring myself to put the entire word in my title....but I'm sure you've figured out that consti stands for "constipation." It has hit me....like a ton of bricks. I had heard over and over that right after egg retrieval, constipation is inevitable. So, I was prepared....right before retrieval my DH picked me up some colace....which was recommended from my RE's office. I started taking it the day of retrieval (monday,) and was actually pretty regular for the first 2 days (pat on back.) However, I got a MEAN case of "big D" on Thursday and Thursday night....as you can read from my Friday post...it was horrifying. Well, listen to this...I haven't gone since! OMG! I haven't worried about it too much because I was so freaked out by the "big D" that I was just so glad that I didn't have that again! However, starting last night I realized that I haven't gone since then! I popped another colace last night, hoping it would do the trick. Nope! I got some stomach cramps in the middle of the night, so I decided to pop another one thinking the cramps were because I haven't gone yet. Nothing. I even drank some coffee this morning (which I hate!) Nothing. I drank a glass of Metamucil. Nothing. Finally, I sent DH to the store on his lunch break today (he is working from home due to the weather) to buy me some laxatives. I took 2 at noon today. Nothing.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad if my abdomen wasn't already so swollen from the fluid. I honestly look a few months pregnant! With this 8 extra pounds of fluid I am carrying around....I am SO uncomfortable! I haven't eaten a "real" meal in over a week. I can't eat any carbs because they immediately make me feel EXTRA bloated. Most fruits and veggies are giving me heartburn and nausea. My RE recommended lots of protein to help get the fluid in the right place (my blood stream, not in my 3rd space, where it is not supposed to be!) so I've been eating cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs, protein drinks, turkey and cheese, peanut butter, etc. Could all this protein be giving me consti? I ate a salad this morning and it made me immediately nauseous!

At least I got a decent night sleep last night...I think I slept for 3 solid hours, instead of a half hour at a time and then waking myself up gasping for air....heart racing. It is possible that the fluid is slowly (very slowly) moving from my chest to my abdomen, so at least that is a bit of good news....I am peeing a lot which my RE said is a good thing, it means I am eliminating some of the trapped fluid.

OHSS is such a weird thing. Something that you'd never understand unless you've been there. It is AWFUL and doesn't get better very quickly. I do feel like I am on the other side and that it isn't getting worse, but better?....very very slowly! I went on FMLA at work. I am thankful I've been working at the same department for nearly 5 years, so at least they know I am a good employee and not trying to milk the system or something. I had hoped to go back to work by Wednesday, but I don't know. Just walking up the stairs makes me feel winded...the only way I can explain it is that it feels like someone with emphysema (I'm assuming.) I cough a lot, but nothing happens, I can't catch my breath if I walk around too much, my chest hurts, my back and butt hurts from staying in the same position (the only position where I can get some good air flow to my lungs without gasping!) I am supposed to go back to the clinic tomorrow for more testing and checking, but the weather is SO bad, and the far away clinic (the only one that does this testing) is an hour away, and my DH can't take me because he has to work and has already missed HOURS of work taking me to all the appointments, so I'd have to drive myself. I just don't think it's going to happen. I'll probably have to reschedule for later in the week. I don't think I'll get back to work this week, which makes me sad. 2 week off of work....?....hard to believe OHSS could bring someone down for this long.

Thanks for listening....don't know what I'd do without this outlet....

Anyone hear about the low in Denver tonight. MINUS 20!!! Wow wow wow!