An egg needs a safe place to land

Right after my womb surgery the anesthesiologist asked how I was feeling.

I felt like vomiting. A strong belt of iodine whacked me in the nose. I swallowed hard, then lied.

“Fine.”

“You’re 43? You sure don’t look your age.”

I was groggy so I wasn’t sure if that was a standard anesthesiologist one-liner or what. On any other day I would have just taken the compliment without question.

Today I didn’t feel any sense of pride. Just irony. Yeah, I thought, maybe I don’t look so old on the outside. On the inside my eggs had expired, so I can’t get pregnant. That’s why I need donated eggs from a younger woman.

I was here getting medically prepared for those eggs, prone, at the University of Washington Medical Center with three slits in my abdomen which my doctors had opened to perform a laproscopic myomectomy.

A fibroid tumor in my uterus had been taking up valuable real estate needed by the donated eggs.

A few weeks earlier Peter and I had agreed to evict the tumor after doctors at the UW’s Fertility and Endocrine Center explored the inside of my uterus with a small camera.

The medical literature calls it a telescope.

Well, whether a camera or telescope, it was hard for me to imagine how that feat was physically possible. But the doctors reassured me that the thing was quite small. And they told me that other patients who had undergone the procedure described the pain as no more than bad cramping.

When the training doctor showed up and asked if he could take a swing at it, I agreed, no problem.

I think of myself as having a high pain threshold. That made me tell the doctor I was fine, even as tears rolled down my face and I felt like passing out.

The device seemed to keep getting caught, the doctor said, sounding a bit frustrated. I heard the nurse say something about a lot of blood. The more the doctor persisted, the more I wondered if he was in fact trying to insert a real camera inside me.

Then one Dr. Paul Lin took over. In seconds the camera was inside, pictures appeared on the monitor and I sighed.

That grabby tumor was taking up more than a third of my uterine lining. Not good.

Lin explained that transferring fertilized eggs is not a precise science. The docs can’t pinpoint exactly where the eggs might land.

It was best to have the fibroid removed, he said, because there was a chance the eggs could land on it.

And tumors cannot grow babies.

The surgery came with risks, though. Extensive bleeding, for instance, could require removing my uterus entirely — meaning, of course, that I could never reproduce. Or the surgery could leave scar tissue, which could again impair or prevent egg implantation.

I listened as he explained. I felt a bit woozy.

Do you have any questions, he asked. Would I have to be unconscious during the operation? Yes. I wanted to ask why was this happening to me? But I didn’t see the point. I shook my head. No, I didn’t have any other questions. I was exhausted.

I gave Peter the rundown at home later that night. We agreed that even with the risks, surgery was the only way to go.

The operation went fine. No excessive bleeding. No scar tissue. No tumor. No more obstacles.

I could finally start becoming pregnant.

Nothing happened fast.

The first step was getting my menstrual cycle regulated. That meant another twist in this whole thing: I was put on birth control pills.

And just to make sure, Lupron was also prescribed. Lupron is a drug that interferes with the menstrual cycle and suppresses ovulation.

The docs didn’t want me producing any of my own old eggs. Which was really fine with me. Periods? Who needs ‘em, anyway?

Peter and I were back to playing doctor.

Every night Peter would take a small needle — a 1/2 milliliter syringe with a 28 gauge needle, the kind diabetics use to give themselves insulin — and inject Lupron into my thigh. We got one of those red plastic containers, the kind hospitals use to store sharp medical waste.

Those shots. The pills. The bathroom sharps container filling up with discarded needles — last night’s, tonight’s, tomorrow night’s …

For the first time all year I believed we were really getting somewhere.

At least I felt that for a little while.

In October, we called the clinic and asked for Leigh Bell, our donor egg coordinator.

We told her something happened. We’d have to postpone everything for at least two months. We told her why.

“Well, no one has ever done that before,” she said.

Next part: Baby on hold, again

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Wade Erickson, maintenance with the Edmonds School District, passes by a school closure sign as he clears snow from the sidewalk in front of Edmonds-Woodway High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
UPDATED: Schools close across Snohomish County on Thursday

Snohomish County lowlands remain under cold weather and winter weather advisories.

Modern DNA tech comes through again for Everett police in 1989 murder case

Recent advances in forensic genealogy led to the suspect’s arrest in Clark County, Nevada.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.