IVF Anyone Part 2 [Archive] - Page 3

AusMarchBride

01-03-2006, 08:38 PM

Capecod Nice to hear you have a good strong third beta, congrats.

Jad Thought you might be amused to know that I just signed up for a study that will mean getting a weekly PIO shot (or placebo.)

Well I'm chuckling ;) You must be nuts, you haven't had enough needles :D No, really, good for you for getting involved in the study, medical research is so important.

Had my ultrasound today which confirmed that placenta is up and out of the way, so that's good. The not-so-good news is that baby is measuring on the low side of normal, so I now have to be monitored very closely and my OB is says I'll be delivering early. I knew this pregnancy was going too well and that there'd have to be a spanner thrown in the works. Anyway, important thing is they've recognised there is an issue and will keep a very close eye on the bub. Apart from size, all is ok with bub so that helps reassure me a little. So I know I'll be delivering in the next month, OB won't let me go past approx 38 weeks.

amychris03

01-04-2006, 09:59 AM

Ann
Sorry to hear that there is an issue with babys size. Im glad they are
keeping a close eye on you!!:) Wow- delivering in the next month,
that's craziness!! Take care!

Jad
you ARE crazy girlfriend!!! No way I'm sticking another needle
in my bum until we try for #2! I guess I might do it if I were in your
shoes though and it was to prevent preterm labor ;)

Capecod
Glad those betas are rising nicely! When's your first ultrasound?

---
Not much new here with me... Had my glucose test and havent
heard back from it since last thursday so Im assuming that means
that I passed. Going to call them later today- because I can't
live by the "no news is good news" rule- I need evidence!

mrselle

01-04-2006, 01:51 PM

I started spotting Sunday night, but it had tapered off by the next morning and by Monday night I wasn't spotting anymore, but I still called my clinic and they fit me in for an ultrasound Tuesday morning. We were able to see two gestational sacks and two yolk sacks, so I guess that means its twins. Its still too early to see anything else, but my RE said that everything looks really good. I go back on the 17th for the official ultrasound. This morning I started having a dull ache in my lower abdomen and while I was in the shower I started bleeding bright red. I called my manager to let him know that I would not be at work today. He didn't sound to happy, but thats another story for another day. I called the clinic and left a message at the nurses station. After two hours I still hadn't heard back from them which is odd because they usually call back within the hour. I called again and I guess I sounded a bit frustrated because my call was returned within ten minutes. The nurse said my doctor is not concerned about the bleeding or cramping because I was just there yesterday and everything looked fine. Then I got the speech about how cramping is normal especially with twins because I'm growing a bit faster. The bleeding could be from the probe when I had the ultrasound yesterday. I understand where my doctor is coming from, but I've been down this road before. When I had my miscarriage a year and a half ago everything looked fine one day and by that evening I was bleeding red and cramping, a few days later I lost the baby. I'm trying to remain hopeful, but its hard. I've never been pregnant with twins before so maybe my body is just stretching and making room for the babies. I don't know.

Ann I'm not ready to update my stats just yet. I'll check back in as I learn more information.

Suzlywoozly

01-04-2006, 02:01 PM

Wow, mrselle- Congratulations on twins! I am sorry you are having such a rough time right now with the spotting and bleeding. I am sure that there is nothing I can say to make you feel better or to take the fear away. I'm thinking positive thoughts for you and the little ones. Hang in there!!!

Applebee

01-04-2006, 03:16 PM

Congratulations Capecod and Mrselle!!!!!!!!!

Astro

01-04-2006, 03:35 PM

mrselle Good luck. I hope the cramping diminishes and the bleeding tapers off. It is not abnormal to bleed, but it is dang frightening. I'll be thinking of you.

AusMarchBride

01-04-2006, 05:07 PM

mrselle I'm so sorry to hear about your bleeding. It's so frightening when something doesn't go exactly as you expect. And you know what, hassle your doctor as much as you need to, it's your body, your babies (congrats on the twins) and it's your right. I figure the medical staff can put up with a few extra phone calls from an anxious mum-to-be and if they don't like it, they should be in another job.

I also think there's extra stress when you become pregnant after infertility, and given that you had a miscarriage last year, even more stress. And it doesn't matter whether the doctors think your fears are realistic or not, they're what you're feeling and that makes them valid. I think reassurance is one of the most important functions that doctors (whether REs or any type) is reassurance, so don't be backward about getting some more for yourself.

Hang in there and there are many fingers crossed for you.

amychris I did the same thing as you regarding the glucose test :D I rang to get the results and the receptionist said 'we would have called you if there is a prob". I know, but I need yes/no answers, not to sit here and think that maybe they forgot to call me :rolleyes: Good luck with yur results, I'm sure it's all fine.

Regarding me, I'm doing ok, just being a little obsessive over making sure the baby is still moving about as normal. (OB said to watch out if the movements lessen and to go straight to ER if they do.) So if 5 mins passes and bub hasn't moved, it gets a poke in the bottom :rolleyes: Poor thing, it'll probably be born saying "for gawd's sake someone make that woman stop poking me!!"

ladybug777

01-04-2006, 06:13 PM

It's been ages since I've checked in.

Congrats to Capecod & Mrselle!!!! Yeah for all the BFP's around here. I hope this is the beginning of a trend!

Started my Lupron about a week ago. Susposed to start stims on friday. I'm starting to get a little nervous about the ER and ET.

Question: How many days did you ladies stim for?

AusMarchBride

01-04-2006, 06:49 PM

Hi ladybug, nice to see you. Congrats on starting your cycle. Don't worry too much about ER and ET, you'll be fine.

To answer your question, I stimmed for 10 days my first cycle, and 12 days my second. It all depends on how the bloods and ultrasounds show you are progressing. They'll monitor you pretty closely. Good luck and keep us updated.

CapeCod04

01-05-2006, 05:41 AM

mrselle I'm sorry to hear about your bleeding. That must be so frightening. I hope all turns out well.

ladybug I've stimmed for 11, 13 and 9 days in each of my cycles. The 11 & 9 day cycles produced the most eggs. Go figure. I'm also on the older side ;) so what they needed for me is likely not indicative of what someone in their 20s or 30s would need.

As for me - my first u/s is on Monday. I think that will make it seem a little more real.

mrselle

01-05-2006, 08:17 AM

ladybug, I stimmed for 9 days for my fresh cycle. Got 24 eggs.

~~~

As for me, I rested mosted of the day yesterday and by last night the cramping had stopped and the bleeding had turned to spotting. So far today, still just spotting. Morning sickness has kicked into another gear. I'm nauseous as soon as I wake up in the morning and it pretty much last all day. My boobs hurt and my booty hurts from the PIO shots, but as long as my babies are ok I'll get through it

tigerest

01-05-2006, 12:16 PM

Hello Ladies.

Mrselle - I am glad to read that the bleeding has stopped. Keep resting up! Hoping for the best for you!!! :)

I am freaking a little bit! I know that it must be second nature to the Dr's, but I feel lost. All I know so far is that I am supposed to call on CD1. I assume they will tell me what I need to do then. I guess this is probably what happens when you jump right into IVF. My CD1 should be here by Monday! In the meantime I am waiting to hear from my insurance and wondering what drugs I will be taking on what days, and am not looking forward to all these shots.

amychris03

01-05-2006, 12:20 PM

mrselle
Glad things are going ok for now! Hang in there and take it
easy!

tigerest
Could you call your drs office and ask them what your protocol
will be? I mean, you are going to have to get your prescriptions
filled soon right?

mrselle

01-05-2006, 01:55 PM

Tigerest, don't worry. I felt the same way when we first started IVF. I met with a nurse to learn how to do the injections, signed some papers, was told the pharmacy would call me to confirm my order and was sent off into the sunset. I think I was just afraid of the unknown. Once you start stimming you won't feel so alone. I know its easier said than done, but try not to freak out too much over the shots. They are not bad and you do get use to them. The first one is always the hardest, but it does get easier. Will you be meeting with a nurse to learn how to do the injections or have you done that already?

tigerest

01-06-2006, 12:35 PM

Thanks amy and Mrselle!

I got some more info. I call on CD 1 and schedule my baseline U/S! Then I go in and will be given my prescriptions, have my U/S, and I assume learn how to give shots! :( I am making DH do them, cuz I just can't imagine stabbing myself with a needle. I have to fight to keep myself from passing out everytime I get blood taken. Imagine me trying to give myself a shot, and passing out in the middle. I am such a wimp! Dh has to go in for another SA next week, because its been more than a year, but he is ok with it, just said to let him know when. So I think (I'm guessing) that I will be having my retrieval/transfer the last week of January!!! :eek:

I am so nervous, but excited too. SO I guess its good that their is a little excitement in there. More like butterflies though. Its hard for me to believe it could work because everything else we have tried so far has failed. I think I am going to schedule a massage soon! And maybe take a bath, while I can! ;)

angelgirl8

01-06-2006, 03:11 PM

tigerest...it's definitely hard to feel at all hopeful when nothing else has worked. but this is a different, more aggressive thing. and it sounds like you're ready to go!

as for the shots...for my injectibles cycle and first IVF, dh did all the shots. i, too, am a needle wimp. but he got home late one day so i just did my first lupron shot on my 2nd IVF and it was so not a big deal. i was terrified and it took me a full 5 minutes of me standing in the kitchen with the needle about an inch from my skin trying to get my brain to agree to allow my hand to give me a shot. but eventually i did it. but you never have to do it on your own...let dh do it and you won't feel much. the needles are really small. and the PIO you don't even have to see!

ladybug777

01-06-2006, 05:02 PM

Tigerest: If it makes you feel any better, I still have to syke myself up to do my shots everynight. And this my third (2 IUI's previously) cycle giving myself shots. Try asking if your RE's office has an injection class that you guys can attend. As for you DH, I gave mine an orange to practice on and that seemed to help. Also wanted to tell you that I felt a bit out of sort at the beginning of my cycle too. I've gotten the feeling that they just try to give you info as it comes up, since there's so much.

Thanks for all the replies about stimming. I guess my concern is this: I'm on a dose of Follistim 225mg. I have three 600mg vials. So that means that I have enough for 8 days of stim. I'm worried that I don't have enough, but this is what the RE ordered for me. Of course it would be easy to order more, but it's completely out of pocket and about $500/vial. I guess I can wait until we get closer, but I hate rushing around at the last minute. Any advice?

mrselle

01-06-2006, 06:54 PM

ladybug, keep in mind that your RE may adjust your dosage to less than 225mg if you are responding well. More than likely you will have enough to last. Wow, $500 a vial? I think I have one extra vial from my cycle in August. The expiration date is 07/2006. If you need it its yours...free of charge.

CapeCod04

01-07-2006, 08:03 AM

tigerest I was always one of those who couldn't look when getting vaccines, etc. I did all of my own stims shots. Sometimes I would have to look at the needle for a while, then just grit my teeth and do it. And those were the easy ones. You just get used to it after a while. Heck - I did mine in a tent while camping. It just becomes routine. I even do about half of my PIO shots now. My husband works a wacky schedule (FDNY) so he can't do them all the time. I still get a little squeamish at the thought of doing them, but it's for my baby - so I load up and do it. It really won't be that bad - just take a deep breath and remember why you are doing this. Good luck to you! :)

ladybug777

01-07-2006, 08:42 AM

Mrselle: Thanks for the response. Wow, what a generous offer. I have an u/s on monday 1/10 at which time I should have an idea of how I'm respsonding. If it's okay, I'll let you know then if I can use the extra medication. I really appreciate the offer.

Last night was my first night of stims (Follistim). I think that coupled w/ the Lupron just about did me in! :D About an hour after the injection, I had a horrible headache, but that was expected, as I usually get them w/ stims. But the night sweats were totally unexpected. I know some people get them w/ the Lupron, but I hadn't yet. I hope this isn't going to be a regular thing.

tigerest

01-07-2006, 11:14 AM

Thank you so much ladies. After reading all your posts I started to feel like I was being a big wimp. I mean if you all can do it, so can I! Thanks for all the great advice. I think maybe kind of going through it in my head ahead of time will help me get used to the idea too.

Of course, once the worrying about one thing stops another thing starts. :p Last night I laid in bed worrying about the ER. I hate IV's and anesthesia always makes me sick. But like everything else, I am sure I'll manage. You have no idea how glad I am that I joined this thread! :)

angelgirl8

01-07-2006, 11:19 AM

ah tigerest...this i can answer! first, you are not a wimp...this stuff freaks everyone out! you just get used to it after a bit (sadly).

IV and anesthesia. i am terrified of IVs and i always always get sick from anesthesia. you don't know how many doctors/nurses/anesthesiologists in the room i told that anesthesia makes me sick. and they all reassured me that it was a lighter, faster-acting anesthesia. and i didn't believe them. and they were right. as long as i got up slowly after the recovery time and took it easy i was totally fine. it was my biggest fear about the ER.

as for the IV. it's not in very long. all i can suggest is NOT watching and just knowing that it'll be over soon. you can tell your fears to whomever is doing the IV and they might even wait to put it in until right before the ER so you're lying down already and then they can put the anesthesia in right away. you'll barely know about it!

CapeCod04

01-07-2006, 12:05 PM

tigerest If the anesthesia does make you feel nauseous, let the nurse know. They can give you something for that. Be open with your caregivers about your concerns, they can give you the best advice and care if you do that.

tigerest

01-07-2006, 04:09 PM

Did they let your DH's in there with you? I hope so. When I had my surgeries I had to argue and argue to let my DH in for the IV. This is such an issue for me I even asked my RE if I could do it without anesthesia. He said I could and that they could use a local instead, but I am not sure if I am willing to do that either. Maybe I can take a valium the day of ER.

Applebee

01-07-2006, 04:13 PM

I have a question about the shots... where do you get them at? In your leg, arm, stomach, butt...? I'll have DH do mine when the time comes, but doing it myself isn't a big deal. I grew up watching my grandfather give himself an insulin shot every morning so needles aren't anything to me. Guess that's a good thing now.

Suzlywoozly

01-07-2006, 05:09 PM

CapeCod04

01-08-2006, 07:09 AM

tigerest DH was with me until they took me into the procedure room. He then went to give his sperm sample. When I came out of the anesthesia, he was there. I would guess that most clinics do it in a similar way.

applebee I did the stims and the lupron in my stomach. I was told "wherever you can pinch an inch." I think you can do it in the inner thigh too. The stomach just seemed easiest to me. The PIO shots are intermuscular, so they say the best place is the butt because of the size of the muscle and it's proximity to the surface. I know you can do that one in the thigh muscle too - but that idea freaks me out! I can do it myself on the right hand side of my butt - so when DH is not there - that's where it goes.

I go for my first u/s tomorrow. I'm only expecting to see a sac. I'm nervous and excited.

AusMarchBride

01-08-2006, 04:32 PM

Capecod Good luck for your ultrasound tomorrow, I hope it goes beautifully. How many weeks and days are you?

applebee To echo everyone else, my shots were in my stomach. I didn't do progesterone via shots so I'm no help there.

tigerest Hang in there, you'll be fine. We've all had these fears, and honestly, with doing the shots yourself, the first one is the worst and then it's really ok. The hardest part for me was trying to get my brain to overcome the fear of putting a needle into myself. That took about 5 mins of standing there witht the needle poised at my stomach. Then I just did it, and couldn't believe how easy it was. You'll be fine, really.

With the anaesthetic, it normally is a lightish sedation rather than a full blown anaesthetic, so that would be likely to make any side effects much less. I think the suggestions from angelgirl and capecod are good. If you're uncomfortable/worried about something, tell your doctor/nurse that's looking after you. You won't be the first person that it's happened to and they will want you to be as relaxed as possible. Good luck and hang in there.

ladybug I'm sorry about the headache you got from the stims, I got a few of those and they were not nice. I hope your body has got used to them and you haven't had any more headaches. Good luck with your u/s tomorrow, let us know how you're going.

I'm going in tomorrow to see my OB and she'll send me for some foetal monitoring after the appointment. So hopefully that will show that he/she is doing fine and will stay in for a few more weeks. I'd be much happier with that, because I'm only 34w3d and I would like bub to cook for a bit longer :)

Lola9404

01-09-2006, 07:35 AM

Good morning everyone! I just wanted to check in and say hello and to give you the update (not that there is much to tell).

We had our Re appt last week to follow up on the failed IVF cycle and to talk about the FET cycle that we are preparing for. Our Re basically said that there was no good reason that the fresh cycle failed and that he has every hope that the FET cycle will work :rolleyes: .

He's pressuring us to only put back one of our two blasts that we have frozen. He keeps telling us that because of my age (28) and the fact that I don't have any infertility problems that i have an extremely good chance to conceive with only one blast transferred. He also keeps telling us that he would really prefer us to have a single pregnancy and not twins. I personally think that it's crap - there is NO reason that I could not carry a twin pregnancy and also no reason to think that if we put back two that both will take - it clearly didn't work with our fresh cycle. :(

I'm a bit frustrated and also frustrated that we are still waiting for my period to start before we can do anything about the FET cycle. So here we wait.

All I know is that we are putting back both blasts. It's not like we're asking to put back 4. What do you think about this?

I hope everyone is doing well and CapeCod I can't wait to hear about your u/s.

CapeCod04

01-09-2006, 10:40 AM

Well - we saw a sac. The RE says that is all that we can expect to see at this point. We could also see what looked like the beginning of the yolk sac. I go back on Friday and we should see the yolk sac and the heartbeat. I'm nervous as all get out. To me - that's a huge hurdle.

ladybug777

01-09-2006, 10:45 AM

I go in for my first u/s since starting stims tomorrow. On my last u/s, there were a total of about 13 anter-follicles. Even though that's a good number, I'd really like to have lots more when I go in tomorrow. My hope- to be one of those ladies that has like 20-30 follies at ER time, without hyperstimulating. Fat chance, huh!

Question about the ET: What exactly happens at the ET? I keep thinking it will be exactly like the IUI's were. Speculum, catheter, feet up in stirrups, etc. Should I expect any different? I think I'm more nervous about this than I am about the ER. Lying on the stupid table, "trying" to relax is a joke. And I keep thinking that I should be relaxed and not stressed when they're putting my embies back. Any suggestions?

One last thing: I just bought a guided imagery/meditation cd specifically for IVF. Anyone have any experience w/ anything like that? Did it help?

Lola: I think that I'd feel the same way as you about putting back both blasts. Maybe your RE is being more conservative, as from what I understand, blasts have a better chance of surviving/higher implantation rate, right? Even so, I don't think putting back two is asking a lot. I'm sure we're all in the same boat, when I say that we'd rather have twins than nothing at all.

AusMarchBride: Hey, I remember you from WC (I was Scorpiobride over there). Anyhow, the headaches have decreased quite a bit, which is nice. I seem to get them at night, and usually right after my shot.

Capecod: Good luck at your u/s today.

mrselle

01-09-2006, 10:52 AM

Lola, Sorry you're so frustrated with your RE. He sounds like he is being really conservative. Just continue to do what is best for you and your DH. If its two you want then your RE should definitely honor that.

CapeCod, can't wait to hear from you.

ladybug, for my ET I talked with the nurse and RE about how many embryos we would be putting back. They gave DH and I a few minutes to discuss things and then we had to sign a consent form. From there it was pretty easy. Just as you said, speculum, catheter, feet in stirrups, etc. But you will need to have a full bladder, but you can empty it as soon as they are done. I think the whole thing took about 10 minutes

~~~

I called me RE this morning...again. Because I am paranoid. I was spotting and passing what looked to be little pieces of tissue or fibers or something (sorry if thats tmi). Anyway they brought me in and I got to see my little guys again. One is measuring at 6w4d and the other is measuring at 6w3d. They both have nice heartbeats and everything looks to be fine. My RE thinks the tissue or fibers is a reaction from the progesterone. Other than that, we're just chugging along.

amychris03

01-09-2006, 11:37 AM

Ann
Hope all goes well at your appointment!

Lola
I don't see anything wrong with your putting back two personally.
They put two in with my for my fresh cycle and only one took,
so I don't think I'll ever let them do less than two. Both were
"perfect" so why did one work and not the other? Do what you
are comfortable with!

ladybug
ET sounds exactly like what you just described with IUI, though
I didnt do any IUI's to know for sure. I had to lay there at some
slight elevation for about 15 minutes afterward I believe, but
it was really quick and painless!

mrselle
Sorry about the continued spotting, but yay that your little guys
seem to be doing ok for now! :)

ladybug777

01-09-2006, 03:27 PM

Mrselle: Glad to hear your little guys are doing well. That's great that you got to see them again. I bet that's something you never tire of. Thanks for the recount of the ET. Do you remember why you had to have a full bladder for the ET?

AmyChris: Thanks.

CapeCod04

01-09-2006, 05:11 PM

ladybug The reason for the full bladder at the ET is to lift your bladder away from the uterus. The doctor will be using an external ultrasound to guide him in the transfer, so that enables him to get the best view of your uterus.

Sidsou

01-09-2006, 05:18 PM

Cape I'm so excited for you! Seeing the heartbeat is just incredible!

LadyBug The transfer for me was so much like my IUIs except they gave me valium to take, also I got to see the embryos go in via ultrasound - 2 little white dots in my case (that really brought home that in theory I was pregnant at that point). At my hospital they also had me back in the procedure room for it where they had done the retreival so it wasn't just in one of the exam rooms - much more sterile, DH had to wear the funny smock, hat, booties etc. I also used to get a bit of cramping after my IUIs, but I didn't have any after the IVF (the valium may have relaxed me).

Lola If you would like them to put both in, I would just talk to your doc about it. I remember my doc saying the same thing in terms of him only wanting a singleton pregnancy. In optimal circumstances a singleton pregnancy is the safest for both baby and mother - baby more likely to go full term, less stressful on the mother's body etc. But, of course, thousands of very healthy twins are born every year, so IMO I would probably want to have both transferred too.

Aussie You are getting so close now - getting nervous??

Mrselle I was the same way - getting nervous about all sorts of thing, but aren't the ultrasounds so reassuring. I wished I had one at home, so I could peak at them all the time :)

tigerest

01-09-2006, 05:45 PM

Hello!

Thanks again for the reassurance everyone. Good question LADYBUG, I haven't even thought that far yet!! I didn't have any IUI's so I really don't know what to expect! :)

CapeCod - YAY! That is so great that you get another U/S on Friday!!! Wishing you a strong heartbeat!!!

AusMarchBride - Thanks for all your helpful advice! :) This is exciting to come into this board and get to have a baby born in here soon!
Lola - I understand your frustration. It ia a hard choice to make, but if you feel strongly about putting in both, then you should definitely do what you feel comfortable with.
Mrselle - Glad you got to see your babies again. Hope the spotting and stuff stops soon!

Ladybug - Good luck with your U/S tomorrow!!!

I hope I didn’t leave anyone out. I am terrible at keeping track of S.O's

CD1 was yesterday, so it has officially begun. I go in for my baseline U/S tomorrow. Get to meet with the doc, learn how to do shots, I think, and get my prescriptions. I am still nervous about a lot of stuff….but I am definitely getting excited! I sort of feel like I am shutting my eyes and taking a leap. :p

pixielou

01-09-2006, 05:50 PM

hi all. i hope y'all don't mind me popping in to ask a question. this is geared to those of you who are paying for ivf out of pocket.

our re recommended ivf with pgd for us due to rpl with documented chromosomal abnormalities. even though we are in massachusetts - a state that mandates ivf insurance covereage, our insurance rejected our ivf request because they do not consider rpl to be infertility. our insurance company says that we have to go 1 year without getting pregnant to be considered infertile.

so dh and i are considering paying for this ourselves. our re gave us a ballpark figure of $20k per cycle. our re also works/refers thru boston ivf.

so this is my questions - does $20k sound like a reasonable cost? is this the type of thing that i should price shop around?

part of me says i should just write the check and get on with it. but another part of me says that this is a lot of money and maybe i should investigate what i'll be getting for my money. i haven't even called doreen or colleen or whatever her name is at boston ivf to discuss pricing details.

thanks.

~pixie

AusMarchBride

01-09-2006, 06:19 PM

capecod That's great that you saw the sac, and you'll see all the other bits on Friday. Congratulations.

pixielou Not much point in me answering your question as I'm in Australia and the federal government subsidises most of the IVF treatment. We only pay around USD300 per cycle here, we're very lucky.

tigerest Thanks for all your helpful advice! This is exciting to come into this board and get to have a baby born in here soon!

Thank you and aren't you sweet to say that.

You said it's a bit like shutting your eyes and taking a leap. It is a bit like that, but there's nothing scary underneath you and it's not a big leap. Good luck for tomorrow.

Sidsou Am I getting nervous??? OMG yes :eek: But I'm trying not to think about the actual birth part, in my head I go from being in the hospital to having the baby in my arms, none of that scary birth stuff ;)

amychris Hope all goes well at your appointment! Thank you. I'm heading off in an hour or so, hopefully I won't be staying there and delivering. How are you getting on?

mrselle That's great news from your ultrasound, very reassuring.

ladybug I think everyone else answered your questions about ET but I can still put in my two pennies. For me, it was speculum, catheter, feet up in stirrups just as you said. But I was in a chair rather than lying on a bed/table, and it was not in the same room as the ER was done. ER was in a full operating theatre.

Lola I know what you mean about putting two blasts back, I would want to do that too, but that may also be related to the fact that I'm 39. For my first ET, I had 2 transferred, which both failed, and then my second ET, I only had 1 egg to transfer, and it took. So transferring only one can work. There is some research around that shows that the success rate is no greater from 1 egg vs 2 egg transfers, and this is why many countries are mandating transferral of only 1 egg unless there are exceptional circumstances. So there's arguments for both sides I guess.

Hope everyone else is doing ok. Hopefully I'll be back later today and not stuck in the hospital ;)

tigerest

01-09-2006, 11:29 PM

pixie - I just so happen to have all my clinics fees right here.

Single cycle IVF package Fee $9,250.
Anesthesia $555
PGD
Conventional $3,150
Translocation $4,150

And this does not include medication.

Hope that helps some.

Hope that helps some. Try looking around, some clinics post their fees online as well. Good luck!

AusMarchBride

01-10-2006, 01:14 AM

I'm back, I know you were all worried ;)

Just a drive by from me. Saw my OB, she sent me to foetal monitoring where they did a CTG (monitored bub's heartbeat for half an hour) and then rechecked umbilical blood flow and amniotic fluid levels. All is ok. I'll have another ultrasound to check growth on Fri week and see the OB on Monday 23rd.

The OB said as long as the scans and the monitoring keep showing that bub is ok, she'll let me go to 38 weeks, but not past then. If there's a problem with any of the testing/scans, she'll deliver earlier.

So I'll have bub within the next 24 days. And that is now starting to make me nervous sidsou ;)

Maybe now is a good time to start thinking about who might like to update the thread. It's really very easy, and not time consuming. It's not like this is one of those threads that has huge numbers of members joining, and daily updates of stats etc. (Or maybe I've just been slack ;) )

I'm happy to keep doing it for now, and maybe even after bub is born, but I just have no idea how little time I'll have then. Anyway, it's not desperately urgent, if no-one volunteers I'm happy to keep doing it and see how things go.

Sidsou

01-10-2006, 08:15 AM

Pixielou That does sound a little high. I'm also in MA, but had insurance cover it, although I did glance at the bills. I don't know if you would want to "shop around" at all - depending on how set you are with your doctor/clinic. I have a doctor I would highly recommend at Mass General, if you are interested. I don't know how long it would take to get an appointment though for just a general consultation. Honestly, I don't know about a price differential since I had my IVF back in late 2003.

Aussie Will you be getting an epidural or any pain meds? I did, and honestly it was a piece of cake. Everyone has different experiences, and I certainly couldn't comment on unmedicated labor. I think after going through all the fertility treatments and such, you are just so happy to see your little one. Be sure to line up some help for you at home - friends, family etc. You always hear how little sleep you get in the first few months, but it's really true. You never quite sleep, just little naps of only 1 or 2 hours throughout the day and night. After awhile of that you do get loopy, and crave a 5 hour nap. Seriously though, I think the most challenging part was just getting pregnant, once the baby is here you are so appreciative that you can handle anything.

Tigerest Yeah for CD1. It must be so exciting to finally be starting!

ladybug777

01-10-2006, 10:35 AM

Had my u/s today. Lining is @ 10; right side- 9 follies w/ largest @ 11; left side-7 follies w/ largest @ 11.5. Next u/s is on thursday. Looks like we're down to the every other day appts now. And soon, it will be every day. I'm getting so excited about my ER. I can't believe it's a little over 1 week. I'm so excited!!! Crazy me, I'm even looking forward to being on bedrest. We'll see how long that lasts, though.

Capecod: Thanks for the clarification on the full bladder. That's got to be fun having a full bladder while they're pressing down w/ the u/s wand.;)

Sidsou: I'd like a Valium too. I'll have to ask my RE about that...

Tigerest: I already posted in your LJ, but just wanted to say again that I'm so happy that things are getting started for you.

Pixielou: $20,000 does seem like a lot. I'm in CA, where we don't have any mandated IVF coverage, so we're paying out of pocket. My RE charges $8,000 for just one IVF cycle, not including anesthesia, meds, ICSI, PGD, etc. We chose a refund plan (1 fresh and as many frozen cycles as we have embies for) and it was around $14,700. Add another $1300 for embryo storage, anesthesia. And $1500 for my meds. I'd definitly consult w/ at least one more quote just so you have some comparison. And find out exactly what your money is paying for. A lot of places have little hiden fees. BTW, how long have you been TTC? Just wondering how much longer you'd have to wait to clear that 1 year timeframe.

AusMarchBride: How exciting that you're getting so close! Hopefully your baby keeps behaving and you can keep growin him for a while longer.

amychris03

01-10-2006, 10:37 AM

tigerest
Good luck at your appointment today! Im sure it will make you
feel much better to come out with a "plan" and will also give
you a ton more questions!!

ladybug
Good luck with your u/s today!

pixielou
I think ours ended up being roughly 11,000, but we
got our follistim prescription miraculously covered,
which would have added 3,000. I also was on a
very low dose of Meds, and we did not have to
do extra procedures such as Zona Hatching or
ICSI.

Ann
Glad things are still looking good with you and you
just need to be monitored for now... 24 days or
less??? That's so exciting!!!

---
Nothing new with me really.... I have a drs appointment
Tomorrow so maybe something exciting will come of that.
I did pass the glucose test so that is good news! I was
really thinking that i'd have to take the 3 hour given
my horrible eating habits!

tigerest

01-10-2006, 01:43 PM

ladybug - I can't post in LJ while at work, but I'll check when I get home. Glad your appt went well though!

Aus - 24 days....Wow!!! :)

Amy - It was a lot of info in a short time. I am sure I will have questions soon though....but read below..... :)

Hello. I am back from my appt. I have both good and bad news. Lets start of with the awesome news, since the bad news isn't that bad yet. I have endometrios, and it has been burned of during previous laporoscopies. However, when tested I had a high level of Natural Killer Cell Activity, which meant I would need Ivig! However, as of last week my levels are down to normal levels!!!! So no need for Ivig! YAY!!!! So this means either that the endo is gone, or the months of taking fish oil helped! Or both! But this is such good news!!!

Ok the bad news, I have a large cyst on my right side. Like twice the size of my ovary. They are testing my estrogen level to see if this is a cyst on my ovary(which would mean cancelled cycle) or if it’s a cyst on my tube(wouldn’t affect cyce). I had a cyst on my right tube a year ago, and the dumb Dr that did my first lap (not the RE) drained it instead of removing it, so it might have come back. If this is the case, when I go in to have my retrieval my RE will drain it again.

So I have my scripts and my meds, and I am just waiting for them to call me about the cyst to start to take them. Cross your fingers!!! Besides that I go in next week for a follow up U/S!

amychris03

01-10-2006, 02:29 PM

ladybug
We must have cross-posted before. Glad your appointment
went well! Those sound like nice numbers:)

Tigerest
Great news about the NKC numbers being normal! Sorry
to hear about the cyst though! It sounds possible that
it could definitely be on the tube huh? So,the estrogen
levels will be different if it is on the tube vs the ovary?
Who knew?

pixielou

01-11-2006, 11:40 AM

ladies - thanks for the responses. i think i will do some price shopping around. i never even thought to look online for fees! i had to switch re's, so i've only met my current re once - i guess twice if you count the sonohistogram. and each time she has been more than an hour late. which will tee me off to no end if i'm paying out of pocket.

sidsou i'll pm you for the info.

~pixie

Suzlywoozly

01-11-2006, 01:16 PM

Pixie- my fresh cycle cost $10,862 for ICSI and AH. Medications were an additional $1800.00 and to freeze the embryos was around $900.00. Hope that helps.

Tiger- That is a bummer about the cyst:( Do they think that once you start the birth control pills that it may shrink the cyst?

The RE called this morning to give me the results of the immunology blood tests. Everything looks normal. He said that he knows that I was hoping to find something, but if they were abnormal, it would be like opening pandora's box. I know that I need to give a FET one more chance before I give up for a while.

amychris03

01-11-2006, 01:19 PM

Suzlywoozly
So will you be doing the FET with the same clinic or keeping that
other appointment?

tigerest

01-11-2006, 02:14 PM

Well my cyst turned out to be a "non-functional" cyst, meaning its probably the same one on my tube from a year ago. So we can go ahead with the cycle. My next U/S is next Tuesday!

Amy - Yes, I guess if the cyst is a functional cyst and on my ovary my estrogen levels would have been off. But my levels were fine. :) So I will just be having it drained again at ER.

Suzlywoozly

01-11-2006, 02:29 PM

Amy- I haven't decided yet. DH really wants me to give our current RE another try. I have an appt. for a consult at Stanford, but they want over $600.00 for that appt. It seems like a lot of money to spend on another consult, plus all the fees to transfer the embryos somewhere else.

Tiger- Yeah, for getting the go ahead for this cycle!! I bet you are so excited!

tigerest

01-11-2006, 04:01 PM

Suzly - Wow $600 is a lot! Ya I am pretty excited. :)

Ok, I KNEW I would come up with a question. Its kind of a personal one. What about DTD (sex) with DH during this process. Its one of the things I meant to ask my RE but forgot. To be honest, it feels so weird…to be possibly "making" a baby and sex not needed at all. Or is it even allowed? Are we supposed to use a condom? Are there times when it is ok and times when its not. Like up to ER but not after? Thanks so much!

Also, how many IRL people have you told about going through IVF? Right now the only people that know at all are my best friend, another good friend, and my mom. That's it. Oh ya, the nurse at my work knows and she is great, but I had to get my FMLA stuff through her.

CapeCod04

01-11-2006, 04:26 PM

tigerest Do the deed now while you can! When it comes closer to the retrieval - you'll get cut off. To get a good sample from the male, they'll want you to abstain something like "at least two days, not more than four" before the sample. After the retrieval, but before the transfer, I'm not quite sure. I did not feel like it - I was a little sore from the retrieval. Once they do the transfer - expect to be cut off again until your beta. Then - if it's positive, expect the abstinence to be extended. We have been told to wait until they see the heartbeat. As for who we have told? I've told some people (family members) that we were doing IVF, but not specifics as to cycle dates. Only one person I work with knows any of the specifics. DH, on the other hand, has told about half the FDNY. Okay - not half really - but his whole firehouse, which is 50+ guys, and some other close buddies in the FDNY. We all handle it differently!

la_bride_2004

01-11-2006, 07:33 PM

tigerest Ditto what Cape said- as you stim you will get cut off, and if you get a positive beta it could be a long while. I do know what you mean about it being kind of stange. As for telling people, I would urge you to be really, really cautious, because once you do you can't "untell" them. I've been unpleasantly surprised more than once by some negative opinions or out and out rude remarks from some people. It's hard to know what IVF is like unless you've gone through it, and the drugs can make you very emotional. I say the less people you tell, probably the better. I joined a real life support group so I could have good people to "tell" and get advice from.

suzly Wow, I think $600 is the highest I've heard for a consult, I thought $450 was bad. I can kind of understand not wanting to go until you've gone through the frozen. Basically, that's what I did, and it was kind of a relief to go to a new RE with a clean slate and nothing in the freezer.

la_bride_2004

01-11-2006, 07:37 PM

So I scheduled the hysteroscopy. This is to find out, once and for all, if I have a uterine septum. (My HSG was inconclusive and I've had 3 chemical pregnancies). I am really, really nervous about it for some reason. If I do have a septum, I'll have to have a lap to fix it. If I don't, then, depending on DH's SCSA scores (which we'll know in February), we may begin an IUI/Injectibles cycle in March.

Suzlywoozly

01-11-2006, 09:46 PM

suzly Wow, I think $600 is the highest I've heard for a consult, I thought $450 was bad. I can kind of understand not wanting to go until you've gone through the frozen. Basically, that's what I did, and it was kind of a relief to go to a new RE with a clean slate and nothing in the freezer.
I keep thinking... what is two more embryos to use when I still have ten great ones frozen? If I were going to go somewhere else, I would kind of like to start over with a fresh cycle. I think this way, the new RE would see what they were getting themselve into from the get go. Good luck with the hystero... I am crossing my fingers that everything looks good! Are you guys going to do IUI's from now on or is this a trial thing before you try IVF again?

Tiger- We were told not to DTD the month prior the IVF cycle until we get the BFN. During the cycle, the last thing I wanted to think about was sex:o

About telling people... Amygrrl and Scooter knew (that's kind of an obvious one), most of DH's family and my family, and most of our close friends. I think it was a total mistake to tell so many people what we were doing. The people that I thought would be the most supportive turned out to be a bunch of insensitive a-holes! When we start up again, we are not going to tell anyone what we are doing. Getting the BFN's are hard enough without everyone giving their advice about why it didn't work or what we should do next (ie... "just adopt and you'll get pregnant", "just relax and it will happen" or my favorite... "this is God's way of telling you that you weren't meant to have children").

tigerest

01-11-2006, 10:49 PM

Capecod - LOL about DTD while I can. Thanks for the heads up! ;)

la_bride - Thanks for your reply. I worry too about people being judgemental about IVF. But then there are the ones you think IVF is no big deal, and that bothers me too. Good luck with the hysterscopy. When is it?

Suzly - UGh, that last comment is terrible. :( I can't believe people said those things to you.

Thanks for your replies....I haven't told many people, but was thinking maybe I should. I have been feeling I should not be ashamed and just tell people, so people can be more understanding of our situation. But I think you are right in that people don't understand unless they have been through it.

AusMarchBride

01-11-2006, 11:38 PM

Suzly This will sound weird but I'm sorry that your immunology test results were normal. I know you were hoping that they would show a problem, cause it's easier to deal with a known problem than the unknown one. (I'm going to sound like Donald Rumsfeld in a minute, "There are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns...... ")

And $600 for a consult?? Wow, that's pretty steep. Whatever decision you make about doing a final FET or not will be the right one. I'm a firm believer that everyone makes the decision that is right for them at the time, whether it be about buying a house, changing jobs, or IVF stuff.

As for this or my favorite... "this is God's way of telling you that you weren't meant to have children"). words absolutely fail me :mad: How could anybody be so freaking insensitive. I'm just gobsmacked. You are a saint for not actually (I'm assuming ;) ) beating that person to death.

coreen I hope you get good news from your hysteroscopy, but from what you said they can fix a uterine septum with a lap so that's also good. I'm cheering for you to be doing an IUI/injectables cycle in March.

tigerest About doing the deed, if you feel like it now, go for it. As capecod and coreen said, you'll get cut off when closer to retrieval. Also, my RE said no nookies between retrieval and transfer as I had eggs that were inacessible and unable to be retrieved, therefore if I had unprotected sex I ran the risk of falling pregnant that way as well as through the IVF and ending up with multiples. I'd ring your RE and check, or ask at the next visit. I guarantee you won't be the first person to ask ;)

About telling people, different people have different experiences I guess. I told my brother and his wife, probably 8 of my closest friends, DHs parents and siblings. All of them were fantastically supportive, maybe I was just lucky. (Or maybe they are too scared of me to say something bad ;) ) It became necessary for DH to tell his family as he works in a family business and so needed to take time off for ER and ET to help me out. But whatever you decide about telling people, there is nothing to be ashamed about. I guess it's more of the conservative religious groups that have an issue with it, and those groups are not common here and I don't know anybody like that. There's nothing wrong with doing IVF and if someone thinks there is, that's their problem.

Good news about IVIG and your cyst, so it's full steam ahead for you :D

amychris Great news about the GTT, well done. Hope your appt went well.

ladybug Those are some nice numbers, congrats. I know what you mean about getting excited for ER, it's what you've been waiting and working towards and it's nice when you get to that part. I never had bedrest though, just the instruction to take it easy for the afternoon after retrieval but I imagine the novelty of bedrest would wear off very quickly.

sidsou Will you be getting an epidural or any pain meds OMG yes, there is no way I'm doing it without. Thanks for the sleep advice, I know you're right but I think until you go through it it's hard to actually grasp how tired I'll be.

The one thing I'm finding difficult about the "after I come home" part is the help side of things. My mum died 3 years ago, I have no sisters and my closest female friends live interstate where I used to live. I do have female friends here, but they're not the sort who would come into the house and say to me "right, go to bed, I'll look after the baby for a couple of hours". Hopefully DHs 2 sisters (who have late teenage/early 20's aged children) might help me out also. I'm also very very bad at admitting to people that I'm not coping and need help, but I need to get past that and I've given DH instructions that he is to order me about(which he never ever does) if he feels I'm floundering. But with all things, I find if I know that there might be an issue, and put steps in place to work around it, the problem doesn't arise in the first place.

Anyway, enough complaining from me. Thanks for all your good thoughts. I now have a maximum of 22 days left before delivery :eek:

Hope everyone else is doing well, and sending special vibes to angelgirl who was going to hospital a couple of days ago to deliver her twins. Haven't heard any news, but I hope all is well.

Suzlywoozly

01-12-2006, 02:38 PM

Ann- Actually two people made this comment to me... My Grandma and a close friend who I considered (notice I said considered) a family member. Can you believe those comments came one right after another through phone calls. I was so pissed and about to explode, but Amygrrl came to my rescue by calling me at that exact moment.

I'm sorry you are having such a hard time dealing with all of this stuff. I hope DH's sisters come through and are able to help you out. I can get on a plane and come help you out!! I really need a vacation right now ;)

AusMarchBride

01-12-2006, 03:33 PM

Suzly Well you're a better woman than me for not killing both of them. Absolutely unbelievable.

Thanks for your support too, I'll be fine was just having a little pity party for myself. But I'm ok today, probably the evil hormones got me yesterday :rolleyes: But feel free to hop on a plane, weather's great, around 80 and looking to get up to the 100 mark next week :D

ladybug777

01-13-2006, 12:49 PM

Tigerest: To go back to your question about dtd. I've always been told that after ET, complete abstinence during the 2WW.

As for telling people, my mom and my two best friends are really the only people we've told. I have a friend or two at work (who've gone through IF) who know we're doing IVF, but not specific dates or anything. Sometimes I wish we'd told more people, but we're getting tons of support from those that do know.

Suzly: Sorry that you didn't get any answers from your testing.

Just wanted to update. Everything is going well w/ this cycle. Looks like ER might be moved up to mon or tues, instead of thurs. Those follies are kickin butt!

tigerest

01-13-2006, 06:10 PM

Aus - I do hope your DH's sisters will offer you help!

ladybug - Glad your follies look great! That is sort of my reason for thinking about telling more people, was for the support, but then again it could cause more grief too. Who knows.

My morning started out bad, I woke up with a terrible headache and very nauseous, but I have found after eating a nice sized lunch, that keeping my stomach full helps a ton! I feel so much better now!

I am a bit frustrated. I find it weird that these drugs come in the mail, and I have had a heck of a time with my insurance company. I need these by Tuesday morning, and as of right now I have no idea whats covered and if they are being sent to me? They were supposed to call me back by 5 to let me know if I should expect them tomorrow. No one called. And I called them at 4:45 and they already closed!!! So I dont know what to do now! What happens if I dont get my drugs in time? :( And Monday is a holiday....so they just screwed me!

Also, did you guys get all these consent forms to fill out? Going through them I feel like I need a lawyer to explain them all to me. Jeesh! Reading some of them I am supposed to sign that I will not hold the Dr or clinic liable for pretty much anything. :/

CapeCod04

01-14-2006, 07:38 AM

tigerest Getting the drugs through the mail is a little weird. I had mine delivered to work because they needed refrigeration. Of course - then you have to figure out how to fit them in the office fridge and disguise them (at least I did) so no one sees what they are! What a pain! As for the consent forms - yeah, there are a ton. Initial here, sign there, get it witnessed. And we had to do new ones each time. I wanted to ask why one set wasn't good enough!

ladybug777

01-14-2006, 11:53 AM

Tigerest: Yeah, the whole meds through the med thing is a little weird. And yep, there were a mountain of consent forms that we had to sign. While we were signing, our nurse told us some of the crazy horror stories that prompted a lot of the consent forms.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

kemorr

01-15-2006, 09:33 AM

Question re protocol...

I am anxiously awaiting my IVF meeting on Tuesday (only 2 more wake-ups!) when I will FINALLY learn when I stop BCPs and start the shots. I can't wait to get off these BCPs!

So, I have a question for all you knowledgable ladies. How long will I have to stay on the BCPs after starting the lupron? And then, how long after stopping the BCPs will I start the stims? I know I'll find this out on Tuesday, but I am sick of waiting!

Goodluck for your ER Ladybug!

Suzlywoozly

01-15-2006, 10:37 AM

Kemorr- I stated Lupron on a Thursday and stopped my last b/c pill on Sunday... so three days. From the time I started the Lupron to starting the stims was nine days. So to answer your question... 12 days from taking the last b/c pill to starting the stims. I hope that made sense. If not, let me know... I am still trying to wake up ;)

kemorr

01-15-2006, 01:56 PM

Suzly - so you were taking only Lupron (no BCPs and no stims) for 6 days? What CD did you start stims? How long did it take for AF to show after stopping BCPs? (Sorry if that's TMI).

Edited to add - Has anyone had cramps while on BCPs? I've been really crampy (almost as crampy as I am during AF) both yesterday and today. I am still taking the active pills. I have had breakthrough bleeding the whole time but it has been heavier today and yesterday. Definitely not full flow, but bright red and more than just on the TP. Any ideas?

Suzlywoozly

01-15-2006, 02:06 PM

Yes and no... I write it out for you like my protocol was because I think it is less confusing.

I started b/c pills on CD2 (August 5th). On August 25th, I started the Lupron and continued on the pills. I stopped the pills on the next Sunday, which was August 28th. I had a very light AF that only lasted 2-3 days that started two days after I stopped the pill. I'm not sure I ever really counted CD's from that point on... I guess you could say I started the stims on CD 4 (September 3rd).
Yes, there was a period of time that I was only doing the Lupron injections (6 days) between stopping the pill and starting the stims.

Does that make sense?

kemorr

01-15-2006, 03:03 PM

Suzly - Yep, that makes sense. Thanks for the info!

ladybug777

01-15-2006, 07:11 PM

Kemorr: I was on bcp for a month, started my Lupron the 3rd week of my bcp (so I overlapped bcp and Lupron for 1 week). Started my stims a little over a week after I'd started the Lupron, and have stayed on the Lupron, while stimming. My last dose of Lupron is tonight, with my trigger shot. Once I started stims, my Lupron dose was lowered. I was kind of crampy w/ the bcp's also. I felt like AF was coming for about 2 weeks.

Update: Had my u/s and bloodwork today. Will trigger tonight @ midnight, ER will be tuesday @ 11am and ET on friday. My estrogen levels were on the high side ( 5,028) so we're only triggering w/ 5000 units, instead of the standard 10,000. I'm so excited!!!!

AusMarchBride

01-15-2006, 10:44 PM

Just a drive-by to post an update from angelgirl's LJ

my babies

fastest post ever. more information than you ever needed to know from a very harrowing experience to follow.

suffice it to say: my babies are here. i am home from the hospital with one of them and the other is in the NICU doing okay. we are floored by these babies. i never thought i'd feel this way. amazing.

will have more words after sleep.

NOW: i never got to do this, so anyone want to play "guess the sexes"?!

Congrats to angelgirl and Dave, I'm thrilled for you.

I guessed 2 boys but I'm hopeless at this stuff ;)

AusMarchBride

01-16-2006, 02:29 AM

ladybug Congrats on triggering, hope it all goes well and ER is a breeze on Tuesday.

kemorr I've not had cramps while on the BC pills, but then I don't think I even got AF after the BC was stopped. I'd definitely mention that, but more importantly the breakthrough bleeding to your docs, just to make sure they're aware. I know my info was that I could get AF after the active pills were finished, but I can't remember a mention of bleeding while still on the active pills.

tigerest Ohhhh the consent forms, I couldn't believe all the paperwork. Although unlike capecod, we only had to do them once, not for every cycle. But the questions:, what would we do with frozen embies if I died and DH survived and remarried, or DH died and I survived and remarried or both of us died. Incredibly detailed, but I suppose they have to cover their arses :rolleyes:

Hope everyone is doing ok. I've got a maximum of 18 days left :eek:

CapeCod04

01-16-2006, 06:52 AM

ladybug Congrats on the trigger! Good luck tomorrow with the retrieval!

Sidsou

01-16-2006, 07:39 AM

Congrats AngelGirl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aussie I'm getting so excited for you too!!

Kemorr You know, you sound just like I was during my IVF. I had a bit of cramping with the BCP and AF started super heavy the last couple of days while taking the BCP which I thought was strange. The nurse said everyone seems to have a little different reaction the meds, and that mine was very normal too. I would definitely mention it all to the doc/nurse, but it doesn't sound unusual at all.

Ladybug Fingers crossed for you!!!!!

Tigerest Yep, a bunch of consent forms too...

tigerest

01-16-2006, 04:44 PM

AusMarchbride - When I first read your post…I thought you meant it was out of your LJ and thought you were talking about you and I was so shocked!!! LOL. But then I reread it. Thanks for the update on Angelgirl. Glad she is doing well.

LadyBug - That is so exciting! Hope it goes really well!!!

About the consent forms....I guess I was a bit suprised about all the questions Aus' mentioned....about what to do with embryos ect. NEver really thought about it. I had to tell DH...FYI...if we ever divorce I get the eggs. ;) Anyway, all part of the process I guess.

So I did end up receiving my drugs on Saturday. It really surprised me. :p The box was way bigger than I expected, and I now have about 50 needles!!!! I sure hope I wont be using all those needles. :p

My next U/S is tomorrow. And my ER as of right now will either be next sat or Sunday. I am hoping it stays one of those days because then my husband and I wont need to take a day off of work. I also set up an acupuncture appt for this week too.

Hope everyone is doing well!

AusMarchBride

01-16-2006, 08:22 PM

tigerest AusMarchbride - When I first read your post…I thought you meant it was out of your LJ and thought you were talking about you and I was so shocked!!! LOL. But then I reread it. Thanks for the update on Angelgirl. Glad she is doing well

Good grief, if I went into labour now and delivered twins I think they'd have to sedate me for a month so I could get used to the idea :D

ladybug777

01-17-2006, 05:38 AM

Congrats Angelgirl!

ER is today @ 11am. I'm so excited to FINALLY be here at this point! Wish me luck!

About those consents: We also had to sign them and tell what we wanted done in about a million different senarios. When it came down to the one about what to do w/ the embryos if we got divorced, our nurse told us that a few years ago, a couple divorced, had frozen embies and the wife decided to do a FET, got pg, and then sued her ex-husband for child support. Needless to say, he sued the RE that did the FET. Can you imagine?

Lola9404

01-17-2006, 07:15 AM

good morning ladies, just dropping in to say hello. There have been a lot of posts since I was last here, I have to go back and check them all.

So not much to update here, I am still not able to start my FET cycle because I still don't have my period after nearly 40 days. I am frustrated beyond belief and my Re just keeps saying "well it could be up to 4 weeks late, we'll just have to wait until you get it". :mad: :mad:

Needless to say I am extremely frustrated and starting to think we'll never get there.

Suzlywoozly

01-17-2006, 11:35 AM

Ladybug- Lots of good luck today!!! :D

mrselle

01-17-2006, 11:47 AM

ladybug, hope all goes well today.

Lola, I'm sorry you're so frustrated. Isn't it funny how when we don't want AF to show she shows up bright and early, but when we do want her to show up she's late?

~~~
I had an appointment today and we found out that we lost Baby B. Baby B stopped growing at 6w6d according to the measurements. Baby B was measuring 6w3d at my last ultrasound. DH and I are sad, but focusing on Baby A who is doing wonderful. Baby A is measuring beautifully and has a great heartbeat of 154bpm.

Ann, could you update my stats please?:)

Me: 30
DH: 35
TTC: February 2003
5/2004 - Pregnant!!!
6/2004 - Miscarriage at 7w5d
DX - Unexplained
IVF# 1 - Aug. 2005. Transfer cancelled due to OHSS.
FET# 1 - Dec. 2005. PREGNANT
EDD 09/01/2006

amychris03

01-17-2006, 12:28 PM

Congrats Angelgirl!!!:) Need details please!

Good Luck Ladybug!!

Lola
You may have said this before and I missed it, but can't they just
put you on provera to help with getting the period? That's how
my RE had to do it a couple of times but that was when I was
doing injectables so I dont know if it is different with a FET.

Tigerest
hope your ultrasound went well today!

Mrselle
So sorry to hear about Baby B:( . I'm glad that baby A seems
to be doing wonderfully though!

tigerest

01-17-2006, 02:36 PM

Aus - I know that's what I was thinking….lol.

Ladybug - I hope your ER went really well! :) Wow, that is a crazy story about that lady wanting child support.

Lola - I am sorry. That must be frustrating. Sending you AF vibes!!!!

Mrselle - Oh I am sorry to hear about baby B. :( Wishing you a smooth pregnancy here on out!!!!

Amy - Thanks.

Hi ladies! Back from my appt! It went really well. I really do love my Dr…I say this everytime, but he always answers all our questions and always makes me feel relaxed about all this. Things are going well. I have 6 follies measuring about 13, 8, and the other 4 are 11. I start my centritide shots tonight and go in for another U/S on Thursday, and should be triggereing somewhere around there…thurs or fri, with the retrieval this weekend. This will be my first shot tonight, and I am having DH do it. I am still nervous about it. But I am sure after the first time it will be a piece of cake. Plus my Dr said to call if we have any problems. :)

AusMarchBride

01-17-2006, 03:07 PM

mrselleAnn, could you update my stats please?

You betcha :D Give me a few mins to assume my alter-ego. (It takes a bit of time to put on the superman costume in a phone box at 36 weeks ;) )

Ohhhh, I just read your later post about Baby B, I'm so so sorry. I know in one of the loss threads a while back, someone (for the life of me I can't remember who it was) posted about being in a similar situation, saying it was hard to be excited and grieving at the same time. Sending lots of hugs and good thoughts your way and I'm very happy that Baby A is thriving.

tigerest Glad your appt went well. It's a huge support to have an RE who you can relate to, and who has a good "bedside manner". Sounds like good numbers on your follies, well done. Your shot will really be fine, as you said, first one is the worst and then after you've done that you wonder why you were so worried :)

Lola I'm sorry the witch hasn't arrived for you. Her timing sucks. I'll get onto that AF dance and see if that helps.

ladybug Hope ER went beautifully and you got some good eggs.

IVFIVF

01-17-2006, 03:14 PM

mrselle Your stats are updated :)

jon's girl

01-17-2006, 06:00 PM

hi everyone!

I feel as thought I have been away for so long... I haven't written in one month.

We went away on vacation for the holidays, and started the BCP just a week before we left.

Then we came home to start our 2nd cycle. (This time we are doing the lupron microflare protocol, doing 4 shots a day.)

As soon as we started the cycle, a close relative of mine passed away and we went away to stay with the family for almost one week... my RE was nice enough to delay my monitoring by one day.

We have been doing the stims and monitoring for 10 days now, and tomorrow is the HCG shot and monitoring again. (for the past 4 days we have been going every day - urg!)

I am sooooo bloated and feeling sooo yucky.

I really hope this cycle is different from the last cycle.

Some one who went through IVF told me to take baby aspirin.... any one here have any opinions on that?

How are all of you doing?

Can't wait to read everyone's entrys... it looks like a lot of congratulations are in order!

Suzlywoozly

01-17-2006, 06:12 PM

jon's girl- Sorry to hear about your relative :( That's great things are back on track for this cycle. About the baby asprin... I would talk to your RE before you start taking it. I wouldn't take anything without checking with him first since you don't want to screw anything up.

mrselle- I am so sorry to hear about baby b.

kemorr

01-17-2006, 06:20 PM

ladybug hope the ER went fine and goodluck for the fertilization report.

jon's girl I was on baby aspirin for a lot of my IUI cycles. Initially they started it when I was on Clomid, before HCG, to thicken my lining. Then, I went to injectibles and lining was no longer an issue but I took it after ovulation (2 cycles) and for the whole cycle (2 cycles) for possible immune issues (positive ANA). For IVF, they don't want me taking it until after ER, as they are worried about possible bleeding during ER if on aspirin. So, I will be on it post ER for possible immune issues (it is a mild anti-inflammatory). Aspirin helps lining, helps implantation and also helps prevent miscarriages by preventing clotting in the endometrium. (Theoretically, anyhow - hasn't helped me yet!)

So, I had my IVF consult today. I am very excited to get started. My drugs are being shipped to me overnight and should arrive tomorrow am. I am to start Lupron Thursday am and take my last BCP Thursday pm. I will be on Lupron for "about 1 week" after AF shows before starting the stims. This apparently is due to my endo. It is an attempt to quiet my endo before starting stims. For stims I will be starting out on 300 IU of Gonal-F daily. (This scares me a little bit as my last IUI cycle I took 112.5 units and had mild OHSS, my E2 level was 3,200 at 7 DPO!) I'm sure it will be fine. They expect me to stim for 9-12 days. After ER I will be on Doxycycline x 5 days, Medrol (a corticosteroid) x 4 days and PIO as well as Crinone vaginally 2 x daily. This seems like a lot of drugs!

I'm excited to get started. I really hope this works!! The IVF co-ordinator we met with was super nice. She seemed really "personally invested" in getting me pregnant and said something along the lines of "we work really hard for those birth announcements, so if I don't get one I'll hunt you down!" She had a really positive attitude, which was great.

AusMarchBride

01-17-2006, 06:51 PM

jonsgirl Nice to see you again, good luck for your trigger shot tomorrow. I'm sorry to hear about the passing of your relative

Just to reiterate/add to what kemorr said with regard to aspirin. I understand that this is sometimes prescribed for people with clotting/immune issues, but please please please don't decide to take it unless your doctor says so. Being on aspirin could create some major problems (especially during ER) if your docs are not aware of it. I've also read that there is at the moment no proven benefit if you don't have the immune issues, and the research has not yet definitively proven that it helps prevent the problems that kemorr mentioned. (Don't get me wrong, I'd absolutely take it if my doc believed it might help, proven research or not but don't self-prescribe.)

kemorr Glad your appointment went well, and it's great that you got on well with your IVF co-ordinator. The support of the RE and his/her staff is really important, and if you like them it's an added bonus.

jon's girl

01-18-2006, 09:13 AM

Thanks guys for all your sympathy wishes....

As for Baby Aspirin: I took it for 4 days, but then stopped, so I am not going to take it now until after the ER....

Hope you guys are all well. Today at the consultation, they saw 18 eggs and the uterin lining was nice and thick ... tomorrow is the ER.

Kemorr - i'm happy you liked your consultation. good luck!

Suzly - thanks for the advice.... I'm not going to take it tonight, and didn't take it yesterday... I think I am off of that idea.

Ausbride (Ann) - how are you feeling at 36 weeks? sooo exciting!

ladybug777

01-18-2006, 12:58 PM

Copied from my Lj...
The ER yesterday went very well. Without further ado....

My RE called last night to tell us that out of the 17 follicles:
12 were mature
1 was borderline
3 immature
1 bad quality

This morning, he called to say that:
9 fertlized!

ET is on friday and the plan for now is to transfer 3 embies.

MrsElle: I'm so sorry to hear that you lost baby B. I can't imagine how hard it must be for you right now. It sounds like you and your DH are taking good care of each other. Wishing you the best of luck though.

Tigerest: This weekend will be here before you know it. So excited for your ER! You will do fine w/ your trigger. Remember to ice the area for about 10 minutes before the shot. It'll be a peice of cake.

AusMarchBride: Love the talk about your alter-ego. ;)

Jon'sGirl: So sorry to hear about your relative that passed away. I hope you and your family are doing well. Sounds like you're progressing well w/ your cycle. As for the baby aspirin, my RE is having me take it after ET. Kemorr's explanation is right on. If it helps any, the bloating and icky feeling did go away after the ER. Good luck today. Hope you get lots of mature eggs!

Kemorr: Glad to hear your consult went so well. Can't wait to hear about your progress! Isn't it great when the people at your RE's office are so nice!

tigerest

01-18-2006, 01:55 PM

ladybug!! - YAY! I am so glad ou posted here because I can't post in LJ from my work...its blocked. :( Those are some great results!! Wow! How do you feel today? Are you sore? So happy that everything seems to be going great for you!!

kemorr - Congrats for starting your cycle!!! Glad you like your coordinator too, its great when they really seem to care! Good luck!

Jon's Girl - GOod luck at your ER!!!

AusBride - Thanks.

Just like you all said, the shot was not as big of a deal as I made it. I of course was soooo worried before. And I was paranoid about the bubbles and about puncturing a blood vessel or something. I had Dh do it though and shut my eyes, and I really didn't feel it at all. Not until after he was all done, it started to sting a bit, but that was it. Sigh...baby steps.... ;)

AusMarchBride

01-18-2006, 06:32 PM

tigerest Now you can join the chorus when the next person posts about doing their first shot. "Really, its not that bad etc" :D Everybody is nervous beforehand and then really ok after, but until you've done it it's hard to believe. Well done.

ladybug Great ER and great fert results, congratulations :D Now rest up and get ready for ET, and the "seems like it'll never end" 2 week wait.

jonsgirl Great egg numbers and great lining, fantastic. ER will go beautifully. Keeping my fingers crossed for great fert results too.

mrselle Thinking of you and hoping you're doing ok and Baby is growing nicely.

capecod Wondering how you're going. Have you had your ultrasound yet? Nappy brain here, cannot remember.

I'm doing pretty well for 36 weeks tomorrow. Still can't believe that in 2 weeks I'll have a real live baby, at the moment it still seems like some abstract concept.

I'm still quite comfortable, sleeping ok (had 2 bad nights last week but I think that was DH snoring not baby :rolleyes: ) and able to get around fine, no swelling so that's all good. Although this next week or so is going to be awfully hot here, around 100F every day with at least one day 106+ and I am SOOOO not looking forward to that. Off for another growth scan tomorrow so hopefully all ok at that, then the OB will see me on Monday and I guess pick a date for induction/c-section. Holy crap :eek:

AusMarchBride

01-18-2006, 06:47 PM

A quick update on angelgirl. She, Dave and the babies are all at home and doing beautifully :D

She wants to post all the details including names, sex etc so I'll not post any of that.

la_bride_2004

01-18-2006, 10:58 PM

big congratulations to Angelgirl, I am dying to know the sexes!!

Ann oh my gosh, pick a date?!? I don't know if I am ready for that! ;) Just kidding, I am guessing by now you probably want the darned thing out. :D

ladybug Congrats on the fert results- sending good vibes for the ET!

tigerest congrats for making it through the first shot!! I found hydrocortisone cream to be helpful for the stinging.

jon's girl Hope the ER went well, sounds like you have a nice crop of follies.

kemorr Sounds like your clinic is treating you well, and you are really moving forward!

me Hey, I have an actual update! I had the hysteroscopy yesterday to check out, once and for all, if I have a uterine septum. I don't! I have a "beautiful" uterus, it is however arcuate shaped and a bit smaller, but not enough to cause problems. I was really dreading this procedure, but they decided to put me under so it wasn't that bad! I am sore today but I have drugs. Now we just have to have good SCSA scores in Feb., then I think we can try IUI w/injectibles since DH's counts are now normal post-surgery.

Suzlywoozly

01-18-2006, 11:24 PM

me Hey, I have an actual update! I had the hysteroscopy yesterday to check out, once and for all, if I have a uterine septum. I don't! I have a "beautiful" uterus, it is however arcuate shaped and a bit smaller, but not enough to cause problems. I was really dreading this procedure, but they decided to put me under so it wasn't that bad! I am sore today but I have drugs. Now we just have to have good SCSA scores in Feb., then I think we can try IUI w/injectibles since DH's counts are now normal post-surgery.

Congratulations on having a beautiful uterus!!!;) No really, glad to hear the hysteroscopy went well.

AusMarchBride

01-19-2006, 12:04 AM

Ahhhh Coreen, I just KNOW if I met you my first words would be "You have a beautiful uterus" ;) In all seriousness, that's fantastic news. You need to go find that old RE/doc and slap the you-know-what out of them. I'll be happy to assist. Here's hoping DH's SCSA results are brilliant and then before you know it, you'll have a BFP.

Ann oh my gosh, pick a date?!? I don't know if I am ready for that! Just kidding, I am guessing by now you probably want the darned thing out

You're not ready, you oughta be inside my head, I am SO not ready mentally. But you know, I don't think I will be until I actually have the bub, and I think that's common too. But I'd actually be happy to stay pregnant a while longer, I feel good, am still sleeping, not swollen, so all-in-all pretty ok. The only thing I'm not happy about is the stinking hot weather here and that may change my mind :rolleyes:

ladybug777

01-19-2006, 06:02 AM

I'm getting so excited!!! ET is friday @ 12:45. I can't wait to hear how all of our embies did and to see pictures of the ones we're transfering back. Is it weird that I'm now worried about our embryos? I feel like a parent worried about their child. Are they okay? Are they warm enough? ;)

Tigerest: A little sore the day after and even less today. Just some general soreness in my abdominal area. Like AusmarchBride said, I can't wait until the next newbie joins and you join in about what a breeze the shots are. :)

Now rest up and get ready for ET, and the "seems like it'll never end" 2 week wait.

Ausmarchbride: Isn't that the truth! My beta is scheduled for the 30th, so that knocks two days of the 2WW, but still! During your 2WW, were you able to hold off, or did you POAS? Glad to hear that you're doing so well @ 36 weeks. Sounds like you're still pretty comfortable, and getting that all important sleep! I may have missed it, but do you know if you're having a boy/girl?

La_bride: So happy to hear that everything went well. Yeah for having a "beautiful uterus". Must be a huge relief! Hope your DH's results come back just a good and you can move on to the IUI's.

tigerest

01-19-2006, 11:49 AM

La-Bride - that’s great about your uterus! Now why can't they put you under for HSG's? That would be so much better!!!

Ausbride - I think that is great that you are comfy with baby inside still. :) I am sure you are ready, just doesn’t feel that way. ;)

Ladybug - Wow Friday huh! That is exciting…I am jealous! Can't wait to get to that point too! :)

I am not doing terribly bad, but not as good as I was a day ago. After my shot last night I started to get very bloated and a little weepy. Today I woke up with AF type cramps, still bloated, and just overall PMS feeling. I was also spotting, so the whole drive to my appt I was freaking out! (I thought I was going to be calm throughout this.) But I had to keep myself from crying. I don't know why really, just a lot to handle right now I guess. I get to my appt and RE said its all normal. Seriously, I only have 6 eggs….I can't imagine having more.

The good news is that my 6 eggs are growing just fine, and my cyst is not changing. MY eggs are now 18, 15, 14 x3, and 12. Bad news is not ready for ER. So I got another script for more centritide to hold me over. Have a follow up U/S on sat, and which point I think we will be triggering. ER…to probably be mon or tues now. I am a bit bummed because I was happy to have ER on the weekend and now DH and I both have to take time off, and 2 I just want to get it over with already.

But this gives my eggs and lining time to grow. My lining was only 7.2. And he wants it to be at least 8.

So it wasn’t a bad appt, I am just a little emotional right now. But I have a big presentation today too. And then I have acupunture tonight, so I should be more relaxed by the end of the day.

Suzlywoozly

01-19-2006, 01:54 PM

Oh Tiger, I am sorry you are feeling so crappy! I know that everyday that gets closer to the ER, you start to feel worse. The two days before the ER is was absolutely miserable and was ready to rip my uterus and ovaries out ;)

How many days have you been on the stims? It sounds like your ovaries are responding nicely and the eggs are getting big. Hang in there... you are in the home stretch.

ladybug777

01-19-2006, 03:10 PM

Tigerest: Oh, sweety. With all that you're going through and all the hormones, you're entitled to a few weepy, emotional days. Try not to be so hard on yourself. It can definitly be frustrating waiting for ER, especially the last few days when you're waiting for your eggs to be just the right size and your lining just the right thickness. Those days seem to just creep by, don't they. Hope your presentation went well today.

tigerest

01-19-2006, 03:59 PM

Thanks suzly and ladybug! :) I am feeling a lot better. My friend suggested taking a walk, so I took a walk just before lunch, and then I had chicken noodle soup for lunch. Those both helped a lot. And now I just finished my presentation, which I think I did well on. So hopefully, no more stress for the next few days. :)

I seriously don't know what I would have done without this thread and people who are going through with this. I didn't want to join because for one I didn't want this to be our last shot, and 2 I was kind of intimidated by all you pros. But you girls have been awesome! Thanks a bunch!

CapeCod04

01-19-2006, 05:38 PM

If I miss anyone - I apologize now.

ladybug - great retrieval and fertilization report! Good luck tomorrow!

tigerest - glad the shot went well - the weepiness is normal - your hormones are working overtime!

ausmarch - I don't know if I ever posted about my u/s! The first one was fine - just a sac, beginning of the yolk sac as expected. Last Friday, we saw the heartbeat! That was great. At first the RE measured me a few days behind, then he moved the wand to a different angle and got a better view and measured me right on target. I go Monday for another u/s. Hopefully I'll be weaning off the PIO soon.

labrid great news about your uterus - must be a bit of a relief

AusMarchBride

01-20-2006, 05:06 AM

Son of a b****, just lost a huge post.

Capecod Glad all went well with your ultrasounds, they're soooo nice and reassuring to have/see

tigerest Glad to hear you're doing better and I'm sure it was the chicken noodle soup that did the trick. As suzly said, it's so normal to be weepy, these drugs really do mess about with your system. Hang in there and you'll have had ER and ET before you know it.

I'm also glad that you found this thread so helpful, big cheers to Suzly for setting it up here on CC. I know I found it a big help just to know that the wacky emotions I was feeling were the same as everyone elses, it's always nice to know you're not alone.

ladybug You'll be having ET while I'm sleeping, hope it goes wonderfully and then you'll be in the 2 year, I mean 2 week wait ;)

During your 2WW, were you able to hold off, or did you POAS No, because I was scared of getting a false positive (from leftover HCG from the trigger shot or alien possession or something else completely bizarre lol) and then having to deal with that. I'm also one of those who wants a definite yes/no answer and would rather be pleasantly surprised than hideously disappointed. But I know a lot of women prefer to test themselves just so that if it's not positive, they have a fair idea before the official results. I guess I'm just a coward at heart :rolleyes:

To answer your other question, DH was adamant about not finding out the sex, even though I wanted to know. So I exerted superhuman willpower getting my CVS results and didn't ask. So it'll be a surprise.

Had another growth ultrasound today, baby is still small but all other signs (fluid levels, baby activity, bloodflow, heartbeat etc) are still ok. I see the OB on Monday arvo, and my gut feeling is that she will organise to induce/c-section me after that :eek: So I'll know more on Monday.

ladybug777

01-20-2006, 07:55 AM

AusMarchBride: "The 2 year wait" seems pretty accurate to me. I haven't decided whether or not to POAS or not. I think I'm one of those that would give anything to avoid that disappointing phone call just shattering my hopes, but then again, there's such a good chance of getting a false postiive. I'll probably just wait it out. Good luck monday!

Capecod: Glad to hear that your u/s went so well. Yeah for seeing a heartbeat! That's awesome.

Tigerest: I have to agree w/ you in that this thread has been great. Definitly woudln't have been able to get this far without all these wonderful ladies. Hope you're feeling better.

amychris03

01-20-2006, 07:57 AM

ladybug
Good luck today at the transfer!!!

tigerest
Glad you are feeling better after your walk! I answered you over
in LJ (which I know you can't read right now) so I just wanted
to say hang in there. It's totally natural to be emotional right
now, given the meds and the whole process! You are almost
there! I know it's a bummer to take off work, but this way
those follies and the lining get maximum growth time!:) It
sounds like you are responding great!

tigerest

01-20-2006, 10:50 AM

Morning ladies (or night for some of us ;) )!

Capecod - Thanks!

AusBride - Wow Monday huh!!!! EEK! I am so excited for you!!! So any gut feelings about baby's sex? I am going to guess boy. (But I am usually wrong!) ;)

ladybug - Its almost time! :) I hope you are doing well and you are nice and relaxed. And those embies will be all cozy inside your uterus soon!!! UGh the 2WW, I am sure it will be hard!!! But hopefully it will be your last 2ww!!!!

amy - Thanks. You are so sweet to post in both places! Truthfuly, I am not THAT upset about missing work. ;) Its just a bit of a hassle.

I am doing great today. Seems like I have a bad day every couple days or so. Truthfully, I dont feel anything today. Which of course makes thoughts like, "Oh no maybe I O'ed and thats why I dont feel anything anymore" run through my head. ;) But I am sure everything is fine. Today is a good day because for one its friday! And 2 my best friend is awesome, she is picking up my drugs for me (because they are about 40 mins from my work) and then she is bringing them to me and meeting me for lunch! So thats one less thing I have to worry about, and a nice break in my day!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! I'll post more tomorrow after my U/S. Hopefully with news of triggering! :)

angelgirl8

01-20-2006, 12:26 PM

xposted:

i have about 30 seconds to come in and update this thread and a few others!

my twins are here! they were born at 11:08 and 11:09am on january 10, 2006.

i was put in for an emergency c-section on the 9th after developing cholestasis and after it was discovered that both babies weren't growing well.

my baby A is a girl (as i suspected) and weighed 4lbs, 14oz at birth.

my baby B is a boy (as i suspected) and weighed 4lbs, 2oz at birth. he was in the NICU for 7 days but is home now with us, at a huge 3lbs, 15oz.

DH isn't comfortable with me posting the babies' names right now, so i'm going to have to leave that out!

we're all home and doing very well...some growth problems still, but we're working on that. there were also some complications at birth (with me) but all seems to be on the way to being resolved right now.

we get no sleep and have to pretty much force the babies to eat, but i know they'll grow!

all in all, i'm just about the happiest woman on earth. i know this isn't even close to what i wanted to write, but my brain is pretty much non-operational right now!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6df01b3127cce96a8ee0ec47100000016108AZNXDhqzbtO

Astro

01-20-2006, 01:30 PM

angelgirl Congratulations! I'm very happy for you and your family.

tigerest

01-20-2006, 02:31 PM

angelgirl8 - They are adorable!!! Congrats!!! Wishing you a speedy recovery!

kemorr

01-20-2006, 03:34 PM

Hi all,

Well, I love the IVF co-ordinator I met with and think that she's great, but my RE's office in general? Not so great. I had a pap smear done on 12/30 and was told that I would be called with the result by 1/7. When I hadn't heard from them by 1/13, I called, left a message with the receptionist to have them call me with the result. No call back. 1/16 I tried again, same thing, no call back! Finally on 1/17 I had to go in there for my IVF meeting and asked about my result and they said "oh, it's negative" as if it didn't matter that they hadn't called. Very annoying!

Anyway, the reason why I am telling you this is because today I have a question re AF and I need to know if I need to make an appointment for blood and US for Monday. I tried to call the IVF co-ordinator who is great, but she is off on Fridays. So, I call my REs office and ask for one of the nurses to call me back. Of course, NO CALL BACK and now their phones are switched to answering service until Monday 9 am (which irritates me that their phones are only available 9 am until 4 pm)! So, I guess no appointment on Monday, because they are too damn useless to call me back.

So, I'll ask you ladies instead. For the last 3.5 weeks that I've been on BCPs, I had breakthrough bleeding. I started Estrace and it decreased to just mild spotting for about 2 weeks. Then, for the last week it has been quite heavy and I've been having mild cramps. However, today and yesterday, it has been almost (but not quite) full flow and I've had pretty strong cramps. I took my last BCP and my last estrace yesterday evening and have taken 2 doses of lupron. I am supposed to call with first day of AF to schedule baseline. My questions are (1) does this count as AF, even though my last pill was only last night and (2) if it doesn't count as AF, how do I tell when AF starts, given that she is essentially already here?

Sorry for the vent, I'm trying to stay calm, I just wish the REs office would make this already stressful process easier, not harder!

tigerest

01-20-2006, 04:42 PM

kemorr - UGH! I am so sorry! That does suck that they can't be a little more supportive during such a stressful time! I can't really answer all your questions. But can you leave a message? And tell them that you HAVE started AF and you need to know what to do next. Like when will your baseline U/S be and to please call you back ASAP. I hope that you can at least leave messages. :( How frustrating. Also, I think its pretty normal to spot/bleed on Lupron and BCP. So that does make ithard to tell when AF starts I am sure. I would just say it has started and let them determine if its not really AF. Good luck!!! I hope they call you back soon!

tigerest

01-20-2006, 09:41 PM

HELP!

Tonights shot was a disaster! :(

Instead of having to give myself a small centritide shot each night, my RE gave me a mega dose, that is supposed to last me 3 nights.

Well while mixing it, somehow a ton of bubbles form, that wont go away. So DH draws it up into the syringe trying not to get the air in.

He sticks the needle and then notices there are 2 huge bubbles in there. So he takes it back out. :( We try and try to get the bubbles out, ya know you are supposed to push out the air until the fluid comes out. Well just fluid kept coming out. So we took the needle off and were able to get some air out. So we put the needle back on, and decide we can just inject the stuff up to the air bubble. So we do that.

We wasted alot. :( And it hurt like hell....

I will see my RE in the morning. But do you think it will be ok? Who knows if we got air in there or not. And I didnt even get the whole dose.

kemorr

01-21-2006, 07:43 AM

Tigerest - Thanks for the hugs about the RE office. They did finally call me back at about 6 pm (which is a little wierd given they close at 5 pm, but I guess the nurse was working late!). The nurse wasn't ALL that helpful, she just told me to call the IVF co-ordinator on Monday, but she did at least tell me not to worry and that a day here or there wasn't going to matter at all. So I felt better after talking with her.

DON'T WORRY about injecting air into yourself! It's actually really safe to inject air SQ or IM, mostly the concern is about injecting air into a vein, and even then you can inject fairly large amounts before it becomes dangerous. The reason why they're concerned about air is that if there are bubbles in the syringe, you're not actually drawing up the exact dose, as the bubbles take up space in the syringe.

I would call you RE and tell him that you think you only received X% of the dose and should you take a little more, or is this OK?

A hint for the future - when you mix the drugs, don't shake them to mix the powder with the water. This makes them frothy and then it is hard to draw up without air. Just roll the vial gently around in your palms until all the powder is dissolved. If the medicine does get frothy, just leave it to sit for 10-30 minutes, eventually the froth will go away and it will be much easier to draw up without bubbles. Third hint - if you do draw up and get bubbles, leave the syringe in the vial (with the vial upside down, on top of the syringe), draw back MORE medicine than you need, flick the c*rap out of the syringe until all the bubbles rise to to the top of the syringe and then inject the bubbles and the excess medicine back into the vial. This way, you don't waste any medicine. You can draw out and inject back into the vial (without removing the needle) as many times as is necessary to get the right dose without air.

Goodluck!

(PS - I'm a vet, so I mix and administer drugs on a daily basis. So at least the injection part of this process is easy for me!)

Well, as for me I've had my first lupron side effects. Went to bed with a headache last night and woke up with it this morning. Hopefully the Tylenol I finally took this morning works! Also, the injection site itches for about 5 minutes after the injection (which I read is normal), but today I have a little red rash around the site. Hopefully I'm not allergic to this stuff!!

CapeCod04

01-21-2006, 07:52 AM

angelgirl What beautiful babies! Congratulations!

kemorr The headaches were one of the most annoying parts for me. Thankfully they pass as you adjust to the meds.

tigerest Sorry you had that bad experience. Sounds like you got some good advice on drawing up the meds.

I had a dream last night about my next ultrasound. We got a very clear picture of the baby and he looked like a little monkey inside a clear plastic bubble. Too weird!

tigerest

01-21-2006, 01:32 PM

:(

Not as good as I had hoped.

If you remember I had a cyst on my right ovary. Well those follicles are not developing anymore. RE says that the cyst is most likely keeping those follicles from growing. (He will be draining the cyst during ER.)

The follicles on my left are growing, but really slowly. So still no trigger. :(

UGh. I go in again on monday for another U/S. He says worst case I will have only 3 follies to retrieve, but we could get 4.

I am a bit bummed. WE are still doing well, but just a little disappointed. But I knew it was coming, things were going too prefectly, so I can deal with this, I just hope everything else works out ok. So this puts me at a possible retrieval on Thurs.

kemorr - Wow, thanks so much!!! That was a perfectly clear explanation. I had DH read too, so we know what to do next time! I was so worried about doing it on time I didn't think about letting it sit for a while. RE would have saw me on Tuesday, but since we lost a bit of the centritide he wants to see me monday.

capecod - At least I get a break from the shots for a few days.

AusMarchBride

01-21-2006, 09:21 PM

tigerest You got some great advice from kemorr on shots.

I'm sorry to hear about the follicle/cyst issue, but maybe I can reassure you a little. My left ovary is always inacessible for ER, so whatever grows there I dont bother counting. Obviously that reduces overall retrieval numbers. My first cycle they got 6 eggs (all from righty), 3 fert, implanted 2, froze 1 and BFN. Second cycle, higher stim drugs to get me to produce more eggs, i woke up after ER to be told they only got 2 eggs. I cried, a lot. Both fertilised, one stopped growing, we decided to thaw the frozen one but that didn't survive the thawing. So only one egg was transferred. I had basically written off the cycle and was looking towards the next one. And that one egg was pretty good because I'm now at 36 weeks.

Hang in there, and seriously, there are loads of babies around from small numbers of eggs. I know it's harder to remain optimistic, but it really does only take one.

capecod Funny dream. Wait till you're further along and you start dreaming about giving birth to aliens via your abdomen, charming stuff ;)

kemorr I'm sorry, I have no advice to give you about your shot problem, but it sounds like you have a resolution already. I didn't have any breakthrough bleeding so wouldn't have been any help in answering. I'm sure it'll be fine.

angelgirl GORGEOUS, that's all I need to say :D

Tigerest asked about my gut feelings on my bub's sex. I have ABSOLUTELY no idea ;) If I say boy it'll be a girl, and vice versa. So I won't even try to guess.

It's a disgusting 110F here today, and I am OVER summer now lol

tigerest

01-21-2006, 11:24 PM

Ausmarchbride - I was not aware of your story! Thanks so much for telling me. Gave me chills. :) That is what I keep telling myself! But it sure does help to hear stories!

I am feeling much better....nothing like spending the day shopping, watching movies, and ice cream with your best friend to cheer you up!

la_bride_2004

01-22-2006, 01:49 AM

tigerest just wanted to send hugs- cysts suck!

kemorr ugh, frustrating on the late call back!!

angel wow, a boy and a girl! So thrilled for you :) Congratulations.

ladybug

You asked about POAS during the 2WW. I've got a worst case scenario for you. I did this after my first IVF, and it was positive. Yes, I was pregnant, but my beta was too low, and I miscarried. (Also known as a chemical pregnancy.) I was completely crushed. So you think I'd refrain and spare myself the heartache after a FET cycle- nope, I had to POAS again. Again it was positive. This time I was a nervous wreck. Yup, pregnant again, but beta was too low, again. I have had one chemical pregnancy since (no ART involved), and by now, when I POAS I have no expectation that 2 lines = baby. But if we do treatments again, I can promise I am not putting myself through it again and will wait for the beta.

I always thought IVF would work or not work, and I never knew about "beta hell." Just wanted you to be informed- I kind of wish I had known about chemical pregnancies in advance, instead of the ole "a line is a line" theory.

jon's girl

01-23-2006, 10:36 AM

hi everyone! i haven't written in a few days... been uncomfortable, and busy, not only with IVF, but so many other things going on right now.

We had our ER last week on thursday - 25 eggs!! i can't believe it - last cycle we had 16, so clearly the lupron microflare was a better protocol.
21 of them were mature, and 13 fertilized after icsi.

Then, on sunday we had our transfer.

We had a 3 day transfer and my girlfriend made me feel sooo terrible about it because the morning of my 3 day transfer, she told me that 5 day transfers are so much better, and our 3 day didn't work last time and her 3 day transfer didn't work.... but her 2 5 days did both work. She said the STATS and percentages are so much better with 5 day transfers than with 3 day transfers. (i had never heard this).
She got me soooo anxious with all she has against a 3 day transfer and i know she is just wanting this cycle to work for me so she is just nervous for us and she didn't mean to hurt me, but now I am still a nervous about the transfer ...

Needless to say, i went in on Sunday a bit nervous... but my husband and my RE calmed me down, saying that this was not the case, that a 3 day transfer is best for us, and we have a very good chance of it working and they typically do 3 day transfers and not 5 unless you have 6 8 cell embryos on day 3.. then they will wait until day 5 to do the transfer, but we had only 5 8 cell embryos, not 6.... so we got day 3 cycle. and he said if we see such good embryos, we want to put them back in their best environment, that is where they have the highest chance of success....

last cycle, they put in 2 8 cell embryos with no fragmentation and it didn't work,

but this time, the RE said he is putting in 3 8 cell embryos with no fragmentation and 2 of them are compressing already, so this is very good news. he said this makes 2 of the embryos better than last cycle's embryos. (not really sure what compressed means, but i guess it means formation of the embryo into a fetus)

i asked him if there was anything i could do to make sure this cycle works, and other than the basics: limited activity, no aerobic exercise, etc.... there is not much i can do....

but he think this cycle was a very good cycle. i hope so, but after being told that during my last cycle, i am so doubtful, and nervous..

any advice?

been thinking of all of you.....

ANGEL congratulations! woo hoo!! and from RMA NY too... how thrilling! sooo happy for you!

ANN- am so jealous of your weather... i know you are sick of it, but it is sooo yicky here !!

CAPECOD - how are you feeling ??

KEMORR - the headaches are bad, but they ended up going away towards the end, as my body adapted, i hope this happens for you too.

Astro

01-23-2006, 11:12 AM

jon's girl Good luck in your 2ww. A few of us did the pineapple thing last spring. Eat 1-2 servings of pineapple a day (some people say eat the core, some don't). Supposedly it may help with implantation. :) It worked for a few of us.

kemorr

01-23-2006, 06:40 PM

Jon's girl - Good luck for the 2ww. I'm sorry your girlfriend made you feel so bad about your 3d transfer. Early in this process, I was kind of feeling like you. I also read along on IVFconnections, and some of the women over there are very adamant that of my 2 choices in labs, I chose the "wrong" one and that stims should be started as soon after ending BCPs as possible and not 2 weeks after, as mine will be. I was all worried and thinking the worst for a while and then I stopped myself and thought "who do I trust most? The women on a chat board or my RE?" And I decided that although it seems natural instinct to believe other women over my RE, that probably my RE knows ME best and knows more about this stuff than patients and that his advice is the best advice. Sometimes I think it is easier to listen to our "support network" than our doctors, but in the long run, I do believe that Drs. probably usually know best and make the decisions that are best for OUR particular situations. Thus, I'm sure your RE has the knowledge and skills to decide that a day 3 is better for you in this instance than a day 5.

As for me, AF showed up properly on Sunday, so I am going in tomorrow for my baseline and I assume I will find out tomorrow afternoon when I start stims. I really, really, really hope that I don't have any cysts. I have a history of cysts but here's hoping that after 1 month of BCPs and all this lupron that my ovaries are nice, quiet and small. Fingers crossed please!

tigerest

01-23-2006, 07:30 PM

Quick drive by post for HCG shot help....

They didnt give me very good instructions so if anyone could help I would really appreciate it!

How do I know where in my butt to put it? Does it matter?

Does the needle go in all the way? In at an angle?

How do you usually do it? Should I lay down on my stomach for DH to put it in?

And is it ok to warm the stuff up a bit before?

Suzlywoozly

01-23-2006, 07:36 PM

Tiger- I did my HCG in my stomach, so I can't answer that question. I would do the injection just like every other one. You don't want to do it at an angle. Needle should go in just like the lupron or stim shots. If yours is refrigerated, you should let it get to room temperature before using it. HTH.

tigerest

01-23-2006, 10:00 PM

Thanks suzly!

I was such a basketcase. Well after last times traumatic experience combined with the fact that my nurse wasnt in today to teach me, and DH was there to learn, I was sooo nervous. Ended up not having the right needle, luckily DH thought to call pharmacies until we found it. All that and it didnt hurt at all.

So as you can tell my follies were ready for trigger tonight. So I am scheduled for ER on 8:30 Wednesday.

So does that mean ET will be on sat? I havent found that out yet. I will be meeting with my nurse tomorrow for the rest of my instructions.

WE have been waiting all week for this and now ER and ET are going to fall on times when my DH has important things planned. :( Well he is ditching the one on day of ER and I think my best friend will be taking me to my ET.

I'll be back tomorrow for S.O's...sorry it was a long night for me.

Suzlywoozly

01-23-2006, 10:41 PM

Good luck tomorrow Tiger! Everything is going to go great! :D If you are doing a 3 day transfer, then the ET will be on Saturday or on Monday if it's a 5 day transfer.

la_bride_2004

01-23-2006, 11:54 PM

jon's girl Good luck during the 2ww!

tigerest Sending good follie vibes for retrieval.

kemorr Sending quiet cyst-free suppressed ovary vibes to you!

AusMarchBride

01-24-2006, 12:06 AM

tigerest Congrats on your trigger shot, hope all goes beeeyootifully for your ER. ET will be on Sat for 3day tfr as suzly said. Look after yourself and rest up after the ER.

jonsgirl I'm so sorry that your friend put all those doubts in your head, this whole process is difficult enough without someone adding to it, even though they mean well.

As kemorr put it very very well I was all worried and thinking the worst for a while and then I stopped myself and thought "who do I trust most? The women on a chat board or my RE?" And for you, this is, "who do I trust most, my friend or my RE". It has to be your RE. I think that friends (unless they are trained REs themselves) and chat boards like ivfconnections and even this thread ;) should be used for support and getting further information, but never to replace your RE. Your RE knows your particular information, how you've responded to stims, etc and he is the expert. Now that's not to say we can't ask our REs questions, which is exactly what you did and he gave you a good explanation of why he thinks 3 day tfr is best for you. So trust his judgement.

For what it's worth, my clinic is world leading in IVF, and they rarely do 5 day tfrs. I'm not sure that your friend is correct in saying that the statistics back up that 5 day transfers are far more successful.

One other thing I wanted to say, each cycle is different. My first cycle didn't work with 2 eggs trfrd at 3 days, and my second cycle with 1 egg tfrd at 3 days did work. It's normal at this point to start second guessing everything, it's all part of the stress of the 2 week wait. Hang in there and good luck.

In my news, I'm off for a c-section on Friday afternoon :eek: Baby is measuring small, good chance it will be in the NICU for a week-10 days, but we won't know until he/she is delivered. All signs are that bub is healthy, just small so that's reassuring. All other things being equal, I'll be in hospital for 6 nights (standard for c-section recovery, gotta love Australian health insurance:D ) and as we don't have a laptop, cannot update from hospital. So when I get home I'd like you ladies to be just about ready to give me some positive beta results to update!!

ladybug777

01-24-2006, 07:47 AM

ET was friday and went very well. We transfered 3-8cell grade I embryos and were able to freeze 6. Beta is on the 31st. Don't think I'll be POAS.

Jon'sgirl: Sorry that your friend pysched you out about the 3 day transfer. Here's what my RE's office said about that. Statistics do show that 5 days have a slightly higher rate of success (I'm talking only about 5% higher), however w/ a five day after 3 days, they have to transfer the embryos to a different culture medium, which means more manipulation of your embryos. With most patients, they prefer to transfer at 3 days as the embies grow best inside of us. Good luck to you in the 2WW. And great numbers BTW.

Tigerest: Good luck tomorrow. Can't wait to hear how everything goes.

AusMarchBride: I can't believe you're going to meet your baby on friday! How exciting! Can't wait for an update!!!

Question (TMI): Since about day 3 post transfer, I've noticed a pretty big increase in CM. Have any of you noticed this? Is this a side effect of the progesterone?

mrselle

01-24-2006, 09:11 AM

ladybug, glad to hear everything went well. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

AusMarch, Baby *this* Friday?:eek: I'm not ready.;) I'll be thinking of you on Friday and hoping all goes well with your c-section and that your beautiful baby is as healthy as can be.

tigerest, I just know all will go well for you during the ER tomorrow.:)

kemorr, I have my fingers crossed that there are no cyst.

tigerest

01-24-2006, 10:52 AM

Jon's girl - Sorry your friend made you worry. It think there is no better place for your embryos than in your uterus! I did some reading on this and it said that most RE's agree to that and that's why they like to put them back on day 3. But sounds like everything was great this cycle!!! Good luck and lots of sticky vibes!

Kemorr - Hope your appt goes well today and there are not cysts!!! Good luck!

Suzly - Thank you! Yes, we are doing a 3 day transfer. So I am guessing Sat too. Just haven't heard what time yet.

La_bride - Thanks!

Aus_Bride - Thank you! I will definitely try to rest of. Tonight I gotta clean up a bit since I wont be cleaning for a while! ;) OMG!!! YAY…Friday huh! HOW EXCITING!!! And how the heck do you expect us to be able to wait 6 days!!!! :p Oh well I am sure we'll manage. Wishing you a smooth delivery and that you and baby will do awesome!!!! And yes hopefully there will be a bunch of BFP's when you get back!!! :)

Ladybug - I can't wait for your Beta! Thanks for the good luck! I am a bit nervous! Oh and I am not sure but I think I have read that the progesterone affects your CM.

Mrselle - Thanks.

Well I am trying to stay as relaxed as possible, but boy is it hard. I scheduled one more acupuncture appt for tonight on my way home, so that should help me relax. I am excited that its finally here, but really nervous at the same time!!!

amychris03

01-24-2006, 11:28 AM

Jon's girl
I would just trust that your dr knows what's best. I had a day 3
transfer and I got PG so you never know! My RE doesnt even
do 5 day transfers.

kemorr
Good luck at todays appointment! I was on BCP's about a month
prior and my ovaries were nice and quiet with no cysts so hopefully
yours are too!

Ann
Friday??? YAY! That must be so exciting/scary! Well, at least
if you do have the little bub in the NICU you get to stay the
majority of that time in the hospital with him/her. I bet he
wont need too long in there, you aren't delivering that early!
Good luck! I can't wait to hear how it goes and what you have!:)

ladybug
I can't even remember to be honest, but I wouldn't be surprised
if it was the progesterone. I do remember when I was on progesterone
with my injectables cycle it was like that. Can't wait for your beta,
the 31st is so soon! I did POAS because I couldnt wait, and it was
neg. at 11dpo. So traumatic...

tigerest
Good Luck tomorrow! Im sure you will be just fine! I think the
accupuncture is a great idea! Will be thinking good thoughts
for you tomorrow!:)

tigerest

01-24-2006, 02:04 PM

UGh...POAS! I have barely thought about it. But the other day I did buy some tests. But after reading your posts I am thinking about changing my mind and maybe handing them over to my friend. (Cuz I know Dh would give in and let me test.)

Question though....how is it that you can get a false + on the HPT's but not the blood test?

la_bride_2004

01-24-2006, 02:23 PM

tigerest
Question though....how is it that you can get a false + on the HPT's but not the blood test?

It's generally not a false positive. This is a good question, and one that I didn't even know to ask. When you go to the beta, there is a quantitative level of HcG in your system- this is what the home test picks up. In my case, I did have HcG in my system, so technically each time I was pregnant, but it never doubled enough (the levels remained too low, meaning it never quite implanted successfully), so I ended up miscarrying. I always thought it would be "yes" or "no", not "sort of," and "sort of" is not a place you want to be at, especially if you get excited over (finally) seeing two lines on an HPT.

Again, I am the worst case scenario, but I wish someone had told me this could happen. Please use your own judgment. Many people do POAS during the 2ww, it's positive, and they have a baby.

la_bride_2004

01-24-2006, 02:26 PM

Ann Wow, friday?! And you get to stay a whole week in (hopefully) air conditioned comfort? Sending many positive vibes your way :)

Jon's Girl I like what Ann said- your RE is the best judge. Sorry your friend stressed you out.

tigerest

01-24-2006, 02:41 PM

la_bride - Thanks for that explanation. I think I understand that. What I am confused about is the HCG...trigger shot...how you can get a false + from the left over trigger on the HPT, but why not the blood test?

And another questions....

I got a + OPK this morning, but thats from my trigger right? Or should I call my Dr and let them know?

amychris03

01-24-2006, 03:03 PM

tigerest
YEP- My dr said throw away the OPK's because the trigger
would skew them anyways, so I wouldn't worry about it!
Well, the whole point of my POAS at 11dpo was to prove
that the trigger was gone. I figured I'd get a negative but
it still crushed me when I did... I think it depends on what
dose of HCG trigger you get, so keep that box and look at
the label and I can google it for you... I probably wouldnt
have POAS the second time at 13 dpo when I got the BFP
but Chris was leaving town and I really wanted him to be
there when I found out one way or the other! But I knew
at 13 dpo it couldn't be a false result(from the trigger)
since I had gotten the negative two days prior.

kemorr

01-24-2006, 04:46 PM

Tigerest - Good luck for your ER! When I get to the POAS point, I am having my DH call all the local pharmacies and grocery stores to tell them to lock the damn HPTs away. I have had too many traumatic experiences (early BFN, so in tears for days or postives that were either chemicals or left offer trigger shots. No POAS for me!)

Ladybug - Goodluck for the 2WW. That is the part that I am dreading, by far, the most. I am truly a basket case from about 4 DPO onward. Ugh.

Ann - Wow, Friday. How exciting. Goodluck, I'm sure you'll do great.

As for me, I had a good appointment today. I have 25 antral follicles, which they said is good and small, quiet ovaries. I have one 9 mm "left over", which they said is too small to call a cyst, more like a pimple. They said it was nothing to be concerned about. I am going to be on lupron only until Jan 30th (due to my endo, apparently) and then I start stims on Jan 31st, 300 IU Gonal-F nightly. The next 6 days are going to drag by as I am anxious to start stims and hate the waiting. I'm a little worried about being on Lupron so long, but have decided to trust that my RE knows best and that he is doing this to increase not decrease my chances!

jon's girl

01-25-2006, 06:24 AM

thank you every one for your words of advice.... it really helped me to read what you wrote since we are all knowledgeable here and we all have different clinics to compare notes from .

the 2WW hasn't been terrible yet, except for the progesterone shots, but i feel like I'm an old pro at that now.... (almost) last night while giving the injection my DH hit something in the area and there was a lot of blood... and pain, and we had to pull the needle out and do it again - that sucked. but, this morning, surprisingly, that spot doesn't hurt as much as the other side of my derrier (which hurts more when shots are given in it) .... so thank g-d.
it is funny, one side hurts more than the other....

AUS - c-section coming up Friday !! how fantastic!!!! i wish you the best of luck.

thanks for telling me your pregnancy started with a 3 day transfer after your first 3 day transfer didn't work.....

since my first 3 day transfer didn't work, I am worried... but trying to keep busy and not think about it.

i bought these fantastic scrapbooks and stickers and scissors that trim with designs and plan, when I am not working at night (my husband comes home late) to make an album of the 200something pictures we took on vacation in Israel this holiday season....

Kemorr - yes, i listen to my RE big time over my friend!!!! i agree with you.

off to work! talk soon.

ladybug777

01-25-2006, 09:56 AM

Tigerest: The whole thing w/ the hpt's and trigger shot is this...The trigger is hcg and hpt's measure hcg. So if you get a trigger shot and then use a hpt, there's a chance that there may be left over hcg from the shot in your urine, and that's how you'd get a false positive. I think they figure that by the time you have your beta, all the hcg from the trigger will be out of your system, so a positive beta would be a true positive. And as for false negatives...a beta (via blood) measures if there is ANY hcg in your system. HPT's are not that sensitive and only show a positive if you have a certain amount of hcg in your urine. Hope that helps. Hope everything went well yesterday. Can't wait for your update!!!

Jon's Girl: Funny enough, one side of my behind hurts more than the other. Wierd. Sorry to hear about your scary needle experience, but it sounds like you guys figured it out. I'm a scrapbooker too. Can't wait to one day start a baby scrapbook!

Kemorr: 25 antral follicles is a great number. You can most likely expect to have at least that many follies come ER time. YEAH!!!

Amychris: See, it's that trauma that I'm trying to avoid. In one way, I'd like to know if it's going to be neg, so I can prepare for that phone call. But then again, having to deal with it twice, I don't know. I think I've decided to just wait for my beta.

Question: Not sure how many of you have thought about this yet, but here goes...How are you going to handle getting the news about your beta? For example, on the 31st, I'm going to the lab and then to work. DH will be at work the whole day. I was thinking of just having my RE call the house and leave the results on the answering machine. I just don't think I can handle getting anything other than good news, while I'm at work. KWIM?

mrselle

01-25-2006, 11:15 AM

ladybug, fortunately I was on vacation for the holidays when DH and I received the news so I didn't have to worry about work or anything like that. Had I not been on vacation my plan was to take a test the morning of the beta that way I would be prepared for the news either way. I did take a test the morning of the beta and guess what? The stupid test didn't work right. So, when DH and I left the house that morning for the beta I still didn't know if I was or wasn't.:rolleyes:

kemorr

01-25-2006, 01:20 PM

Ladybug - I've gone around and around in my head about how I want to receive the news. Some days I decide I'll just tell the nurse to call home and leave the message on the machine. For me this avoids not only hearing it at work but also that initial moment of "it must be negative!" that goes through my brain, based on how excited (or not excited) the nurse's voice is when she says "hello, how are you?" I think I could handle the news better from a machine than from a nurse. It also takes away the constant waiting for the phone call minute by minute.

Then, other days I think that maybe I'll just have her call DH and tell him to absolutely NOT call me all day and just come home with the news - good or bad. But, then I'd be thinking all day "well, if it WAS good news, he would be so excited that he'd break the promise and call me anyway.." so, I'd spend all day thinking it was negative, because I hadn't heard from DH.

Other days I think "just suck it up, be brave and get it over and done with", ie have the nurse call me direct. This is the scariest option but also avoids the ALL DAY wait, worry and anticipation of the other 2 options.

I still haven't decided how I'm going to do it. I'm already scared s*itless and I haven't even started stims yet!! (But, I am coming off 6 failed IUI cycles, so I am unfortunately used to BFNs.) In my opinion, there is no good way. :rolleyes:

jon's girl

01-25-2006, 02:32 PM

ladybug - i too can't wait until we can make baby scrapbooks :) :)
i just bought this great kit on QVC for $37 - it is a 7000 piece set - sooo fantastic it comes with letters, stickers, papers, and a big scrapbook and a small scrapbook.... the only annoying thing is that there aren't a lot of pages in the scrapbook....

also, last cycle, I told my RE's office to call me if it was good news, and DH if it was bad news (he can handle it better), so they called him, and he called me when he had some quiet time to talk a bit ...

Work has been hectic lately, which is good b/c it keeps my mind off this 2ww.

ladybug, when do you find out?

ladybug777

01-25-2006, 04:22 PM

Mrselle: So did you go through your whole vacation without knowing? Stupid test.

Kemorr: You sound exactly like me. I've gone through the exact same senarios in my head. I even thought about having them call the house and then having DH call me if it was positive. But then I know the whole way home, I'll be obssessing over why I haven't gotten a call yet. Ahhh, does this ever get any easier? Good luck to you.

Jon's Girl: That deal from QVC sounds great. 7000 peices? Where are you going to put all that stuff. Sucks about not getting a lot of pages, but they're pretty inexpensive to replace. And you can always find great stuff on ebay. My beta is the 31st, which it tuesday. I swear, I'm stressing more over how to find out, than what the actual result is.

tigerest

01-25-2006, 04:55 PM

I went into more detail on LJ. So I will be brief.....

ER went very well as far as the procedure goes. IV went well, anesthesia went well, loved everyone who was there to help. Some mild cramping when I woke up but been fine since. I feel pretty much like a normal AF day.

BUT out of 6 follies we only got 1 egg! :(

RE said that some women have this strange phenomenon where they make empty follies. So right then and there, while I was still a little out of it, we had to decide what to do. Freeze the one to combine with next cycle. Or try to trasnfer the one. WE also decided to ICSI it since we only had one. We decided that we want to transfer it.

So assuming everything develops right, I will be transferring one lil embie on Sat.

I have the option to not go to work tomorrow. I feel like I can because I feel fine right now, but I am thinking I may want to be home when they call to tell me if the egg fertilized. Because I think I may be upset if it doesn't.

I think about the BETA call.....I think leaving a message on the home phone is a great idea. Never thought of that. But since I am the most impatient person in the world, I will probably have them call my cell phone, with my keys in my hand ready to go home if I have to.

jon's girl

01-25-2006, 06:51 PM

Lady Bug:

Yes, the scrapbook deal from QVC is great - the 7000 peices don't even take up that much space.
Where can I get pages to replace other than on ebay.

Your beta is so soon! Mine is 2 days after yours.... I'll be thinking of you.

gator97

01-25-2006, 08:14 PM

I've been lurking for the last few weeks but am ready to officially join. After a consult with the RE today, we've decided to pursue IVF. Here are my stats:

gator97
Me-30
DH-30
Married 11/04
Off BCP 12/04 (started charting 12/04)
8/05 - laparoscopy- endometriosis (stage 3-4)
1/06 - HSG-clear
1/06 - SA normal

Thanks in advance for answering all the questions I am sure to ask. For starters, my RE is recommending a mini-stim IVF for us. Has anyone done this?

la_bride_2004

01-25-2006, 08:58 PM

ladybug

Question: Not sure how many of you have thought about this yet, but here goes...How are you going to handle getting the news about your beta?

For IVF #1, I was at home (I consult so I just worked from home that day) and DH went to work. I'm so glad I was at home- it was a horrible experience. Mostly because they would not tell me the result over the phone (remember I had the positive pregnancy test) and my RE was in an airport somewhere and couldn't get cell phone reception. My blood draw was at 7:30 a.m., and I didn't get the news of my low beta until 6:30 p.m. Of course, I was a crying, hysterical mess. Then I called DH at work, and he was a crying mess. Not good.

For the frozen transfer, we were at home, and got the bad news (too low betas again) early. It was really good to be at home together to cry and figure out our next steps.

Also, the clinics I've been to will NOT leave a message on an answering machine, they have to speak to you in person. You may want to check your clinic's policy.

(Sorry if this post sounds so depressing! ).

la_bride_2004

01-25-2006, 08:59 PM

tigerest I will look you up on LJ- I am "redgemini" over there.

Glad the retrieval went smoothly, but hugs for the empty follicles. Please keep us posted as to what you decide to do.

la_bride_2004

01-25-2006, 09:01 PM

Gator97 Welcome! I think I recognize you from SAI.

I think low-stim just means a lower dose? They will monitor you carefully and adjust your dose depending on how you respond.

tigerest

01-25-2006, 10:41 PM

La_bride - Thanks. I added you.

gator - Welcome. Yay someone else to ask a lot of questions. Believe me I have asked a ton these past few weeks! We may be trying a low stim cycle. I think it is a good thing for endo.

Well I am happy to report that my first PIO went well. I was really worried....surprised. :p Anyway, the worst part was the beginning of the needle, I didn't feel the rest. And I didnt have a lump either. I heated right away too. Dh really does a good job, but I think I am a bad patient cuz I freak too easily.

AusMarchBride

01-26-2006, 04:14 AM

Just a fairly quick post from me ladies, I'm off to bed for I have an early start tomorrow.

tigerestJust wanted to say I know you're disappointed about only one egg, but remember, I'm going in tomorrow to deliver my "only one egg". It does happen and it does work. Hang in there and good luck and I'm cheering for you.

gator97 Welcome and I'll add your stats in a few minutes. Hope the ladies here can answer all your questions, ask away, they're a great bunch. I didn't do a mini-stim cycle so don't have any info on it, but I'm sure someone else will post.

ladybug and jon'sgirl I expect to hear good betas when I get back on here in about a week :D Hope the 2ww passes as quickly and easily as possible for you both. Don't beat yourself up about preggo symptoms, they don't mean a thing, and if you're like me, try to avoid POAS as all it does is put more doubt in my mind about whether the test is right. Get a definite Yes/No from your RE.

kemorr I should be back here before your ER, but just in case, hope it all goes really well.

capecod Hope your u/s continue to go beautifully and you see no monkeys!! I think you're doing CVS, if you do a search in either the pregnancy or the parenting forums you'll find a thread on the CVS and what it's like if you're interested. I remember posting in it a few months back.

amychris mrselle and jad Hope all continues to go along well for you ladies

kat You must be nearly ready to deliver (I lurk in the twinmommas thread and see your posts in there). Hope you have an easy labour and can't wait to hear your news.

angelgirl Hope those beeyootiful twins are letting you get some sleep and doing all the right things :D

Sorry if I've forgotten anyone, brain is getting a bit overloaded and stressed. I'm actually going to be a Mum tomorrow. Our IVF journey will be complete. Thanks to you all for your posts and support before I was preggo and since. I have really loved being part of this thread and will be back to hear all the updated news in a week or so

IVFIVF

01-26-2006, 04:45 AM

Welcome again, gator97 and your stats have been added

mrselle

01-26-2006, 07:55 AM

ladybug, sorry my post wasn't clear. What I meant was that I was on vacation from work, but we weren't out of town. So, when I got the call I was sitting on the couch in our den watching tv and praying for good news.:)

tigerest, I'm sorry things didn't go as you hoped they would.

Ann, good luck tomorrow. Can't wait to hear about the birth of your beautiful, healthy baby.

gator, Welcome.:)

Jad

01-26-2006, 08:53 AM

Just popping by to say Good luck, Ann!!! Nothing better than knowing that IVF babies are finally in their moms' arms. :D :D :D

And good luck to those of you in the 2ww! I lurk around occasionally and keep my fingers crossed for you all.

Also, I thought I could weigh in on the how-to-find-out and whether to test before morning of the beta issues. My first cycle, I thought I couldn't handle the disappointment of hearing BFN from the nurse, so I tested. It was negative and it was probably one of the hardest days of my life. I cried through the entire morning -- the commute to the office, the blood draw and pretty much the rest of the day. The second cycle, I didn't test early, and the waiting was so much easier. I was anxious, but nowhere near as depressed as the first time.

Regarding how to find out, I asked the nurses to call me between 3 and 4, and my DH made sure he was at his desk so I could conference him in on the call. I figured that it was late enough in the day that if it was bad news, I could head home a little early without it being a huge deal. It worked out well for me.

amychris03

01-26-2006, 09:05 AM

Welcome Gator97!

tigerest
So glad the PIO shot went well!!! Hope that you get excellent
fert. results from that lil' guy today! I responded more in
depth over in LJ

Ann
GOOD LUCK TOMORROW! I'm so happy for you and excited to hear
how it goes!:)

Jad
Anything you wanna tell us about the sex of your babies;) I had
to go lurk in the June Mommies thread because you havent
updated over on LJ :)

ladybug777

01-26-2006, 09:45 AM

Tigerest: Wishing you all the luck on saturday. Like AusMarchBride said, she's about to give birth to her "only one". Glad your PIO shots are going well. I've been pleasantly surprised, but at this point, they don't even make me sore anymore. Hope that happens for you too.

Jon'sGirl: Not sure if you have Michael's or JoAnn Fabrics near you, but they have a ton of scrapbook supplies. Creative Memories is a catalog company (think tuperware for scrapbooking). You can find a consultant from the website or I have a friend that's a consultant. Chech out the site and let me know if you like it.

Gator: Welcome. Do you know when you'll be starting your cycle?

La_Bride: Thanks for sharing. It's great to hear how others have handled things. My clinic always asks if it's okay to leave a message, but I'll have to make sure that they'll leave beta results on the machine. Psst- can you friend me over on lj too? I'm ladybug777 over there. :D

AusMarchBride: Can you believe that this is your last day of being pg? Tomorrow you'll be a mommy! Amazing!!! I'll try not to disappoint you by bringing back anything other than a bfp. Good luck tomorrow!

Mrselle: Oh, got it! ;)

Jad: I think your post convinced me that hpt's aren't the way to go. You sound just like me and I can see me crying the whole day waiting for the call.

ladybug777

01-26-2006, 09:55 AM

x-post from my LJ, because you guys always have such good advice.

I need some advice! This weekend, we're going up to Lake Arrowhead. This is an annual trip we take every year w/ three other couples. During our trip, we always drink and spend time in the jacuzzi. Problem is- we haven't told any of them that we're doing IVF. So this whole weekend, I won't be able to drink or go in the jacuzzi (maybe just put my feet in). This group is very chatty and the type to say, "You're not drinking, are you pg?" So what do I say/do this weekend? T and I have discussed it and he figured if it comes up, we'd just say that we think we might be pg and leave it at that. The only problem I see w/ that is that if we weren't pg, then we have that whole explanation. That's the reason we haven't told any of them about doing IVF in the first place.

What to do???

mrselle

01-26-2006, 10:17 AM

ladybug, is there any way you could make yourself "virgin" drinks without anyone knowing? That way it looks like your drinking, but your really not. Know what I mean? I don't really have any advice on the jacuzzi. Your trip sound like it will be fun and a nice distraction from waiting for your beta.

amychris03

01-26-2006, 11:18 AM

ladybug777
I had a similar experience with my IL's in Vegas when we first
started TTC. Chris did try to order me virgin drinks when at all
possible, but when I would pass at wine during dinner it was
pretty obvious... They did ask about it all freakin' weekend
and harassed us for not giving them any details... Well, there
was nothing to tell at that point, I wasn't PG, I just hadn't
got AF yet so there was that possibility. Can you fake sickness?
Like you can't drink if you are on certain antibiotics... No clue
about the jacuzzi situation either...

melissafromnc

01-26-2006, 03:12 PM

I just wanted to stop by and wish Ann all the very best!! I can't believe your little one is nearly here. Thinking of you.

CapeCod04

01-26-2006, 03:38 PM

Please remove my stats from the list. We found out today that I am going to miscarry and we are not planning to try again.

Thank you all for the support, information, friendship I found here.

la_bride_2004

01-26-2006, 04:01 PM

ladybug I added yo on LJ.

I love Arrowhead! Sounds like it will be a nice trip!

I think you were smart not to tell them and avoid all of this. Keep it up!

My advice: Do the fake drinks. Bring up some seltzer with lime. Have a sip or two if you need to hold a glass in your hand, it's not going to hurt. "Forget" your swimsuit so you can't go all the way in the jacuzzi. Laugh and change the topic if anyone asks if you are pregnant. Believe me, people are less suspicious than you think. Most will drop it right away if they think you are just ill or don't feel like drinking.

la_bride_2004

01-26-2006, 04:02 PM

Best wishes Ann!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

la_bride_2004

01-26-2006, 04:37 PM

(((((CapeCod))))) I am so sorry for your loss.

jon's girl

01-26-2006, 04:55 PM

capecod - i am so sorry.

mrselle

01-26-2006, 05:42 PM

CapeCod, ((((((hugs))))). I'm so sorry.

Suzlywoozly

01-26-2006, 10:25 PM

Oh, Cape! I am so sorry :(

Ann- Loads of good luck to you tomorrow!!! I can't believe the time is finally here... Can't wait to see pictures!

tigerest

01-26-2006, 11:35 PM

Ann - I am hoping you have a smooth delivery! Can't wait to hear all about it!!!

CapeCod - I am so so sorry! {{HUGS}}

ladybug - Hope it all works out for you and you have a good trip.

A few more questions from me...

While opening up the PIO, we read the warning about using PIO while PG. I have never heard this before and know everyone takes it. Has anyone heard of there being any risks to fetuses? And I thought it was just to transfer but they told me that I would have to use it up to 9 weeks if I get a BFP.

Also, since I could be taking the PIO for a long time, how do you alternate the shot location. They are going ok, but now my "upper left quadrant" of my booty is getting sore.

Well my one little embie fertilized ok. So we are set to transfer sat. I can't wait, and hope its a really good embie.

AusMarchBride

01-27-2006, 04:41 AM

DH following orders:)

Ann had her baby at 1.46pm on the 27/1/06 by c/section and it's a baby Girl weighing 5 lbs 2 ozs(or 2.33kgs). Her name is Sarah Margot Sonja. Ann and Sarah are doing well :) . Although Sarah is smallish, she is healthy(she has no tubes etc) and in good care in the nursery:) :) .

Wishing you all BFP'S

Michael

PS not up to photo posting training yet:)

mrselle

01-27-2006, 08:18 AM

Welcome to the world Sarah!!!! Congratulations Ann and Michael!!!:)

Tigerest, I've noticed that the paperwork for my PIO and estrogen tablets say "do not take if pregnant", but I haven't heard of there being any risk to the fetus. My RE told me that the PIO is nutrients for the baby until the placenta take over. I started taking PIO shots five days before my transfer and I am still doing two shots a day and I am almost 10 weeks pregnant. I do get to cut the dosage in half starting this Sunday. I do that for one week and then I get to stop the shots completely because the placenta will have taken over. As far as alternating shot location...as I mentioned before I take two shots per day. I do one side one day and the other side the next day. I won't lie, after doing the shots for a few weeks, finding a "fresh" spot that is not bruised or that does not have knots is not easy. What DH and I did was take turns doing the shots. I would do the shots myself for a couple of weeks and he would do the shots for a couple of weeks because there are some spots he can get that I can't get to. Does that make sense? I was sore too, but believe it or not, you do get use to it. After giving myself the shot I would get a hot washcloth and massage the area really hard and I would try to move around a lot so I wouldn't get stiff. When I was sore using a heating pad and doing stretches helped a lot. I'm glad to hear your embie fertilized ok. I hope your transfer goes well tomorrow.

amychris03

01-27-2006, 08:43 AM

Capecod
((hugs)). I'm so sorry. Take care.

Congratulations Ann and Michael! Welcome to the
world little Miss Sarah!

tigerest
I believe mrselle answered your question very thoroughly. Yes,
that PIO has the scary label, I remember signing something in
my retrieval forms that said that synthesized progesterone
runs some teeny tiny risk for something (basically they had to
state the chance) because it is not as good as real progesterone.
But I've really never heard of anyone having any type of
problem with it. I was more than willing to take it until I
knew the placenta had taken over, if that meant keeping the
baby safe! It is hard to find a non-sore spot... Luckily, I was
on PIO shots every other day (and suppositories 3x a day) so
by alternating sides, my other got at least a couple days
off... It does get sore though, I wont lie! I just religiously
iced for 5 minutes before and heated afterwards (and tried to
walk around to get the soreness out) to make it feel better.
I never really got a ton of bruises, but I did have the knots
that took quite some time to go away!

kemorr

01-27-2006, 08:54 AM

Congratulations Ann and Michael and welcome Sarah!

Cape - I'm very sorry, I can't imagine what you must be going through right now.

Tiger - Congrats on the fertilization and goodluck for your ET. I'll tell you what my RE said about the labelling - synthetic progesterone (known as progestins and the stuff they use in BCPs and provera, among other things) have been shown to cause fetal defects if used in pregnancy. The same IS NOT TRUE for natural progesterones, which is what prometrium and PIO are made out of. However, the FDA regulates that ALL progesterone products, whether natural or synthetic, needs to be labelled as not for use in pregnancy. This is to cover their butts, basically.

tigerest

01-27-2006, 09:27 AM

A huge congratulations to Ann and Michael!!!! And what a good DH to come and post for us!!! :)

mrselle, amy, and kemorr - Thank you so much for those explanations and suggestions. I figured it was something like that but I just wanted to make sure. :) I am super paranoid. That really helps a lot.

If you are up to it I have yet another question. The day of ER I was doing realy well. And truthfully the whole time I had my booty planted on the couch I felt fine. After I worked for 4 hours yesterday I started getting really crampy, bloated, and spotting. I am still that way today. Is that normal. Is it normal to still be spotting? I had my ER wed and today being Friday. Can they do the transfer if I am still spotting tomorrow?

THanks again!

gator97

01-27-2006, 09:40 AM

Thanks to all for the welcome!

CapeCod- I am so sorry to read your post. I know there are no words. Just thinking of you.

tigerest- yeah for your fertilization report! Hope all goes well tomorrow.

AusMarchBride- Congratulations on your little girl! I'm sure that it is wonderful to have her in your arms

ladybug77- we are just starting on our journey. We have an informational meeting on Feb. 8 and then we schedule our big consult where we go over my specific protocol, learn to give injections, get our schedule, do cultures and bloodwork, etc. Hoping that we can schedule that quickly so we can begin at the end of February. Fingers crossed. I'm ready to get the show on the road!

We haven't told anyone (well, just a couple of our closest friends) that we are TTC. We feel like we want our families to know about the IVF, though. But what an awkward conversation to start. Next week we are going skiing with the IL's and I'm sure it will come up b/c it means no wine for me (RE said to stop with all alcohol--just related to TTC, not IVF) and no hot tub for DH. Ah well.

Astro

01-27-2006, 10:28 AM

AusMarchBride Congratulations to you and your husband. :) Welcome to the world down under little Miss Sarah. I'm glad to hear she's doing so well. I hope she gets to go home with you when you head back home.

kat

01-27-2006, 11:07 AM

Coming out of lurk-dom mode......I've been bad and haven't been around here much lately.

CONGRATULATIONS ANN (AND MICHAEL)!!! I can't wait to see pics of Sarah.....and it's so fun to remember that she was once just the little-embryo-that-could. :D

So sorry to hear your news, CapeCod. I wish I knew what else to say, but I can offer you hugs. Hopefully you and your DH can lean on each other during what is surely a really difficult time.

Good luck to anyone who's cycling or in the 2WW!!!

ladybug777

01-27-2006, 11:54 AM

Ladies, thanks for all the replies and advice. I think I'm going to "not be feeling well" but bring up the fake drinks just in case. Thanks again!

AusMarchBride: Congrats on your daughter. And what a good Dh you have!

Tigerest: The whole time from ER to ET and then for about 4 days after ET, anytime I was too active, I'd start cramping. I think it's normal considering all your poor insides have been through. Just try to take it easy.

Capecod: I'm so sorry. I hope you and your DH and taking good care of each other. We're all thinking about you.

mrselle

01-27-2006, 01:13 PM

tigerest, for my fresh cycle I developed OHSS, so my situation is a little different from yours, but I do remember the nurse telling me that cramping (or discomfort) is normal. Spotting is normal too. The day of my ER I didn't have any spotting, but I did have some very, very light bleeding. It had gone away by that evening. As long as your not bleeding heavily you should be fine.:)

la_bride_2004

01-27-2006, 08:20 PM

CONGRATULATIONS ANN!!!!!!!!

Happy Birth Day Sarah :)

amychris03

01-28-2006, 08:24 AM

Just wanted to stop by today and say GOOD LUCK to tigerest! :)
Keep us posted!

Applebee

01-28-2006, 09:44 AM

Cape, I'm so sorry. {{Hugs}}

Ann, Congratulations on your daughter Sarah!!

I have been lurking, but not posting much. Now that the testing has begun, I've decided it's time to come out of "lurk mode".

I finally had my CD3 testing and u/s yesterday (Friday). The u/s was ok, and the b/w was ok, except for my TSH. I had to go back today for a retest and will get those results Tuesday, which happens to be my HSG test day. My TSH level came in at 3.67 and they would like it to be at 3.59. If it comes back the same or higher, my RE will refer me to an Endocrinologist.

Good luck everyone!!

tigerest

01-28-2006, 03:48 PM

Just got back from my ET. I am laying in bed and trying to type. My DH had a class today, so my best friend is spoiling me. :)

Tranfer went really well, despite the pain. I found it to be quite painful, I think I just have a very sensitive cervix. Anyway the good news is that we had 1 perfect enbryo. RE said it couldnt be any better!!! I believe it was a Grade 1 8 cell embryo. HE said he gives me a 30% sucess rate! I am so happy!!! Hope this lillte guy is the one!!!

gator97

01-28-2006, 04:30 PM

Fingers crossed for you tigerest! What great news---a perfect little embie. Glad your friend is spoiling you.

Applebee

01-29-2006, 07:02 AM

Good luck Tigerest!!

jon's girl

01-30-2006, 06:48 AM

Ann - congratulations!!!!!! woohoo !!! i am soooo excited for you guys!!!!

jon's girl

01-30-2006, 07:05 AM

The 2WW is killer!!

I can't wait until Thursday ( day of the pregnancy test) ... I think this cycle has been especially hard for us because the last cycle failed.

I keep thinking... IVF didn't work for me before, so why would it work now...

but on the other hand, i keep comparing how i feel now to my last cycle, and keep saying.... well, this time i had a tiny spot of blood and last time i didn't, and this time my boobs are sore, and last time they weren't, and this time i have cramping and last time i didn't.... so maybe this time could actually work.... urg. i hate the 2WW.
I am trying to keep busy - i have been going to work and then coming home and scrapbooking our christmas vacation photos, and cooking and having people over for dinner and going to the movies ...... but man, i can't wait for Thursday... anxiousness, analyzation and doubt.... is sooo not in my personality normally.... its just that I'm so nervous and I want it sooo bad.

I also want to make it past Tuesday with out any bloody discharge, which is what happened to me last cycle - 2 days before i was supposed to find out, I had a tiny little surprise when I went to the bathroom. it wasn't major - it was really a small amount, but it was exactly what i always get before getting AF... and I knew it wasn't good, and then 1 day before the pregnancy test, I had more of it... and I sort of knew then that I'd have a BFN..... I did get a BFN and got AF the day after the pregnancy test....
so I guess, right now I feel like i want to make it through until Tuesday with nothing and then Wednesday with none of that... and then I might actually have a chance on Thursday to get a BFP....

anyway... sorry to vent here... just really anxious .... any thoughts on how i can just wake up and have it be Thursday already???? :)

TIGEREST - It sounds like it went very well. I also found it both times (this time worse than the last time) to be very painful. the pain from the ET does eventually goes away... give it a few days... and congratulations on the ET news:)

amychris03

01-30-2006, 10:26 AM

Applebee
Sorry about your TSH levels... I don't know very much about that,
but they seem so close (what they'd like it to be and what it was).
Is it likely to change that much when you retest? Good Luck!

tigerest
YAY for the good transfer! Hope you are feeling well!

jons girl
You're almost there! Thursday will be here before you know it!
I just tried to keep myself as busy as possible to make the
days/nights go by quickly but it still felt like FOREVER. And
I didn't even make it to my actual test date, I tested early.
Hang in there!

ladybug777

01-30-2006, 11:15 AM

Today I'm 10dpt and not really sure what to think. On thursday and again today, I've had my usual pre-AF type cramps which makes me think that this cycle may not have been successful. My beta is tomorrow and I'm so anxious and scared. I've managed to hold off testing early, but the waiting is starting to get to me. I think part of the problem ( and this will sound weird) is that my DH is so confident! Every time I mention how scared I am, he talks about how sure he is. Talk about pressure!

Applebee: Welcome and good luck w/ your HSG and repeat TSH. Hopefully everything turns out well.

Jon's Girl: This 2WW is horrible. Good luck this cycle and I know that thursday will be here before you know it. I keep comparing what I'm feeling this cycle to all my IUI's, since this is our first IVF. I was telling my DH that for every failed IUI, I could have sworn I was pg due to all my pg symptoms, but this time, I don't have any. Does this ever get any easier??? ;)

Tigerest: Glad to hear that everything went well with your ET. Definitly not a walk in the park, but it's over and you have a perfect little embie floating around in there. Take care!

tigerest

01-30-2006, 12:04 PM

Applebee - Good luck with all your testing.

Johnsgirl - I totally see where you are coming from. Not much longer. Good luck!!! :)

ladybug - I totally understand the pressure. My best friend and mom are convinced that is going to work. I hope so, but I try to be cautious. I hear AF cramps are very normal too! Good luck tomorrow.

Thanks gator and amy for the well wishes.

How long did you gals stay on bed rest, and what did you do. I sort of feel like I have been cheating because I have enjoyed myself. I have been watching movies, half sitting up. Does that count? ALso, I get up to pee alot, and have to use my stomac muscles a lot to get up everytime. And then today, now that I am alone, the phone rang and I jumped up quickly not to miss it, and I pulled my uterus? Just a muscle pulling pain down there. I am so worried that I am going to mess this up. Am I moving around too much.

Another note, I have been having crazy dreams. And I know its too early for implantation, but I woke up in the middle of the night with a sharp pain in my uterus. And being half asleep I wondered if that could be implantation. But I think it is too early. RE said 3-4 days post transfer.

Now that I am alone I cant wait to get out of bedrest...so I can stop analyzing every little thing......

ladybug777

01-30-2006, 12:30 PM

Tigerest: You are so funny. I had bedrest for 4 days. I watched tv, movies, read magazines and books. For the first 2 days, I pretty much only got up to go to the bathroom (and it's impossible to not use your stomach muscles when getting up). I sat up for eating and then went back down. The third day, I sat up a little more, because my back was aching so much. Every few hours, I'd get out of bed to walk around (just around my room) to stretch my legs. The 4th day, I laid on the couch (down 1 flight of stairs) for half the day. Since my DH had to work that day, I would get up to the bathroom, the kitchen to make breakfast/lunch. One thing that helped when I was in bed, was to have everything (phone, cell phone, remotes) lying in bed next to me so I didn't have to get up. It's hard, but it'll be worth it. Oh, just wanted to say that 2 or 3 dpt, I too woke up in the middle of the night w/ sharp pain in my uterus. Funny, huh! Overall, I figure that people get pg everyday without being on bedrest.

jon's girl

01-30-2006, 01:03 PM

tigerest -
hmmm.... on bedrest: last failed IVF i really did a lot of bedrest. but it didn't help... so this time when we did another cycle, I really spoke with my RE about what to do and he told me it is actually good to walk a little bit... not a lot, but a bit... and they say that you can go to work... etc....

the IVF success rates in America, according to what my RE said, are not based on bedrest for days, but rather the 20 minutes of lying down after the transfer... and then limited (not none) activity for 2 weeks. He suggests: no high impact or low impact aerobic activity, but does not discourage the every day walking you do to get to and from work and to get to and from whatever your day's activities are....
according to what the nurse explained to me, you can use your stomach muscles .... she said you can even do the stationary bike for a bit each day... (this i won't do.)

hope this helps... ??? hang in there.... i feel for you... trust me... when is your 2 ww officially over??? mine is over thursday.

keeping my fingers crossed for us all.

Duncan1

01-30-2006, 01:35 PM

Peeking head in . . . .

Hello all, I have not been here in forever and I see lots of new faces, I hope your stays here are short! But I had to say a huge

CONGRATULATIONS ON SARAH'S ARRIVAL TO ANN and MICHAEL!!!!!

I am just so happy to know that both Ann and Angelgirl8 have their sweet babies now, and Kat will have her twins so soon. And then I think Amychris03 will be next? Wow. Hope I didn't miss anyone.

Thinking of those of you who recently had transfers and hoping for the BEST news for all of you.

I also want to tell [B]CapeCod[B] that I am so, so sad to see your post, words do not suffice.

I will be back soon to report on me and read about everyone but basically no real news, still waiting to do an FET. The fun never stops . . .

mrselle

01-30-2006, 01:36 PM

ladybug, I started experiencing mild cramping about four days before my beta. Just a thought.....;)

tigerest, you should do whatever makes you feel comfortable. The day of the transfer I rested, but the next day DH and I went out to get our Christmas tree and started putting up Christmas decorations.

jon'sgirl, just a few more days. You can make it. My fingers are crossed for you.

jon's girl

01-30-2006, 01:58 PM

thanks mrselle.... i really do hope it'll be good news to report.....
so nervous ....

amychris03

01-31-2006, 11:25 AM

tigerest
I had 24 hours bedrest, which I mostly spent on the couch watching
tv and movies and surfing the net. I would get up to use the bathroom
but that's about it... After that I just did light duty for the rest of the
time. I didn't walk the doggie for a couple days, but after that, I did on
short walks. No strenuous lifting or anything...

jan
Good to hear from you!!! Hope you are doing well! I can't believe I
am next after Kat, reading that made me realize how close
I am. I'm pretty psyched that after today, when people ask when
I am due, I can say "next month"!:)

[/B]jon's girl[/B]
2 more days!! Hang in there, you can do it!

ladybug777

01-31-2006, 02:38 PM

Really quick b/c I'm at work. Beta today was borderline. It was 5, which is the cutoff for a positive test. RE wants to increase my progesterone to 2x/day and retest in two days. He said we can be cautiously optomistic for right now. I'm sure it's not left over trigger b/c we only did half the normal amount (5,000). Today I'm 11dpt. Kinda of scared, but at the same time, cautiously excited. Hoping and praying that this little one sticks around. This is the closest I've ever been to being pg.

gator97

01-31-2006, 05:23 PM

ladybug---sending you lots of sticky vibes. I'll be thinking of you.

kemorr

01-31-2006, 06:41 PM

ladybug - Goodluck, I hope this works out for you!

Started my stims tonight! Getting this show on the road. First monitoring appointment is Friday. Hoping for good news!

mrselle

01-31-2006, 06:52 PM

ladybug, sending you tons of sticky vibes.

kemorr, hope for first monitoring appt. brings excellent new.

Applebee

01-31-2006, 09:08 PM

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome!

I had the HSG today. It went fine. I had absolutely no pain during and no pain afterward. After the doc was finished I said "So, my tubes look good" and he said "No, they look beautiful"! I was shocked. However, there were two shadows in my uterus. He thinks they could be air bubbles, but it's possible they are pylops (sp?). He said he would send the results to my doc and they would probably want to schedule a Mock Embryo Transfer soon. The doc that did my HSG is one of the founders of the fertility center I'm using - which could be a reason I had no pain!

Sure enough, when I got home I had a msg from my Dr's office. I will call them in the morning (they were closed by the time I got home) to see if they can do the Mock Embryo Transfer Friday (they want to do it CD5-10 and CD10 is Friday). I'll start BCPs on CD1, which should be around 2/23.

My TSH retest came back good (2.5).

Did anyone attend an injection class by themselves? The place I go to only has classes in the morning and DH can't make it then. I'm wondering if it's hard to do yourself and/or show your DH how to do it?

jon's girl

01-31-2006, 09:20 PM

ladybug - i too am wishing you lots of sticky vibes... i too would be a bit excited!!!!! :) :) :)

applebee - welcome! to answer your question... i personally think you can do the class alone.... just have your DH speak to a nurse the day you start the stims so that he can get a quick briefing in how to administer the shot.... Also, at my RE office, the class was given so far before we started the stims that by the time we started the stims we had forgotten what they taught us !!!

kemorr - good luck!

as for me... i am soo anxious... we have our pg test on thursday. i don't know how i am going to get through the next day and a half ... i keep hoping and praying that AF doesn't come around like it did last time we cycled... the good thing is that this time last cycle i had already started to get all my AF symptoms and she was slowly starting to come.... and this time, so far she hasn't shown.... i keep hoping that this is the lucky cycle!!! keeping my fingers crossed!!

AusMarchBride

02-01-2006, 12:38 AM

A very very quick post from me

Capecod I'm so very very sorry, there's nothing I can say. I'm sure you and your DH are taking care of each other.

Good luck to those waiting for BFPs this week. I'll be back in the next few days to update the thread and find out all the details.

AusMarchBride

02-01-2006, 12:41 AM

As I've said before, it only takes one egg ;)

Here's our beautiful little girl

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6df10b3127cce96a98939353600000016108AYtmLRk0cuM

kat

02-01-2006, 01:26 AM

Oh, what an absolutely perfect, angelic little face. How could you stop kissing her long enough to take the picture? :D

Congratulations again, Ann!!!

ladybug: keeping "sticky vibe" thoughts for you!

Applebee: my DH attended the injection class with me, but honestly I don't think it would've been at all difficult to "show" him how to do it. As it turned out, I did all the "non-PIO" shots myself (cuz we did those in the abdomen and they were sooooo easy); he only did the trigger shot and PIO shots (and when he was out of town, I did those myself). I think in our case the nurse spent about ten minutes, TOPS, going over "how to do injections" (it was probably more like two minutes) -- there really isn't that much to learn (and if you're like me, you'll forget it all anyway until the time comes to actually *do* it; that's when the diagrams they gave came in handy).

Good luck to anyone in the 2WW!!!! Keeping fingers crossed for you! (and that's about all I can cross at this point.....too huge otherwise, LOL!!!).

CapeCod04

02-01-2006, 07:41 AM

Congratulations Ann - she's beautiful!

Lola9404

02-01-2006, 08:06 AM

Ann - what a gorgeous baby girl! congratulations :) :) :)

amychris03

02-01-2006, 08:17 AM

ladybug
Sending you some sticky vibes and hopefully everything will
work out. When do you have your repeat beta, today?

Applebee
my dh didnt go to the class, there was just no way he could get
off work. I don't feel like he had to be there. In fact, I'd say
over half the class was just the girls, only a few husbands went.
It was easy to talk him through it (though I was still nervous the
first couple times. They also gave us a handout showing us
WHERE you should do the PIO shots (in the upper outer quadrant)
so I think that visual helped him.

jon's girl One more day!!!

Ann
She is sooooooo cute. Congrats again and take care!
Can't wait for the full update!:)

mrselle

02-01-2006, 08:28 AM

Ann, she is so beautiful. I'm sure those cheeks get lots and lots of kisses.:)

tigerest

02-01-2006, 11:40 AM

Ann- She is just about one of the cutest newborns I have ever seen! And she looks so sweet and peaceful!!!! :) Wow, I am so happy for you!!!

Applebee- My clinic doesnt even have injection class. They teach you right there in the office. SO if you husband can't go I am sure they can show him at the office another time.

jon's girl - Crossing fingers for you too!!! Its almost time!!! :)

I tested this morning to see if the trigger was out and it was. So now if I end up testing next week I will know that the results are real. I am bad...I just happened to have a few HPT's laying around.

tigerest

02-01-2006, 12:19 PM

UGH!!!! <Mini VENT> I just happened to tell my best friend about testing and ended up getting a big ole long lecture about how I shouldnt be testing and how its only going to stress me out more, and what if its says + and its wrong, then I will be really upset. Little does she know I wasnt stressed out until she started lecturing me....or that no matter what I chose to do I will be crushed if it doesn't work.

Maybe I shouldnt test, but I dont think I broke any moral sin or something...jeesh! Some people will never get it...no matter how much they see you go through it. I was fine and happy and now she got me all pissed off. (reasons to keep my mouth shut)

Sorry for the vent....trying to stay calm and happy......where's my music......

amychris03

02-01-2006, 12:23 PM

Tigerest
DH was mad at me when I tested to find out if the trigger was in my
system or not too... I think ultimately, it's no one's decision but your
own (and DH's) whether or not you want to test. Some people would
prefer to have that knowledge in advance of the betas (for better or
worse) and some would not. Do what stresses you out the least
and don't worry about what others think... By the way- we didnt
tell anyone we tested early for that very reason- we waited until
after the beta's to let them all know!

tigerest

02-01-2006, 01:48 PM

Thanks Amy!

We have a nurse here at my work and I went to visit her. SHe was so cute. Telling me to put my hand on my belly and visualize and talk to my embryo. She said most importantly stay relaxed.....and then she let me borrow a classical cd of hers to listen to at work. I thought it was cute. :) Listening to it now.......

Applebee

02-01-2006, 02:42 PM

Tigerest, I too believe it's up to you if you want to test. It should matter to anyone else. Keeping my fingers crossed for ya!!

Jon'sGirl, just think, this time tomorrow you should know! Fingers crossed!!!

Thanks to everyone's reply about their DH and the classes. I'm going to attend by myself. I'm sure it won't be a problem showing him, heck, I had to show him how to do the IVs for his mother.

Mock Embryo Transfer is set for Friday morning at 10:30am. Does anyone know if this is painful?

tigerest

02-01-2006, 02:55 PM

Applebee- If your DH had to do IV's for his mom, then this should be a peice of cake! :) Oh and since you did not find the HSG to be painful then the Mock trasnfer should be super easy. MY RE said it should be less painful than the HSG because the catheter is smaller for transfer. I personally found both to be painful, but I am in the minority.

jon's girl

02-01-2006, 08:40 PM

hi. tomorrow is the big day!! test at 7am and then will get the phone call mid day.... soooo anxious!!!!!

Applebee - if your uterus is in a "normalish" position, it should not be painful at all says my RE,
and it wasn't for me... it wasn't fun of course - you will feel a small cramp for less than a second, but it wasn't painful.

Tomorrow, I really hope to be able to tell you all that we had a very high beta level!! Keep us in your prayers :)

kat

02-01-2006, 09:47 PM

tigerest: phooey on what other people say. *She* might react a certain way, but that doesn't mean *you* will. I know people who tested and wish they hadn't, but there are also people who tested and are glad they did, I'm sure!

jon's girl: good luck tomorrow!

Applebee: My HSG was very slightly painful but only for a few seconds when I started cramping. They also had to play around with the catheter a bit to get it to fit (it didn't go in right the first time so they had to try again), but for the HSG that didn't hurt very much.

For the mock transfer.....I wouldn't say it "hurt" (there was no cramping, for example). but it was definitely uncomfortable as he tried to get the catheter in. The catheters they normally use for transfer are lighter and thinner than the HSG catheters -- and in my case, that was a problem (because, as it turns out, my cervix is L-shped, and so a "sturdier" catheter was needed in order to get 'round the bend, so to speak). Even so, it wasn't really painful and once he had the "right" strength catheter, all was well.
Good luck!

IVFIVF

02-02-2006, 01:07 AM

Capecod, I've removed your stats as requested.

amychris03

02-02-2006, 08:07 AM

huh... My RE does things so differently. I didnt have a "mock transfer."
Well, I did, but it was after retrieval so I was still out of it on meds and
don't remember a thing! It made me nervous at first because everyone
else's dr seems to do them, but it worked, so I guess I can't complain!

Jon's girl Thinking of you today! Good luck!

kat

02-02-2006, 11:22 AM

amychris: I was so confused about it for the longest time, because my RE doesn't CALL it a mock transfer -- he just said that he was going to take measurements in preparation for the transfer -- so for the longest time I thought my RE didn't do them, either. I'm still not sure every RE does them, but now I know that not every RE calls it a "mock transfer."

tigerest

02-02-2006, 12:34 PM

Jon's girl - Thinking of you!

My RE did not do a mock transfer or any type of measuring. Unless he did it while I was asleep during ER.

About my friend, it turns out she had an important appt that I had forgotten about to see if she would need surgery to removed a lump in her breast. She came back after the appt went well and apologized. I still dont think I am going to tell her if I decide to test. ;) (I think I might keep it a secret between DH and I. ) Can you tell I am starting to lose it? DH told me last night that I had a one track mind..... :P

Suzlywoozly

02-02-2006, 12:43 PM

jon's girl

02-02-2006, 09:03 PM

hi everyone...

today was a terrible day. we had a negative pregnancy test. we had really hoped that this time the IVF cycle worked. we really thought this cycle worked because it seemed to go so differently from last cycle.... i even had some pg symptoms.
we are going to speak with our RE more thoroughly next week. for now, the RE said today he didn't really know what happened... he is shocked and disappointed , we had great looking embryos, good results all along, etc... etc... .

we are numb.

la_bride_2004

02-02-2006, 09:25 PM

(((jon's girl)))) I am so, so sorry.

tigerest

02-02-2006, 09:26 PM

Jonsgirl - Oh I am so sorry...I seriously have been checking all day to hear from you! That sucks!!! :( I dont know what else to say....{{{HUGS}}}

mrselle

02-03-2006, 07:42 AM

jon'sgirl, I'm so, so sorry. (((((hugs)))))

angelgirl8

02-03-2006, 08:38 AM

oh jon's girl, i'm so so sorry.

amychris03

02-03-2006, 09:00 AM

jon's girl Im so sorry (((hugs))).

kat

02-03-2006, 11:17 AM

I'm so sorry, jon'sgirl. Sending big hugs your way...I wish there was something more to say or do to make you feel better. Hopefully the discussion with your RE will help a little.

Suzlywoozly: no, he didn't call it anything, really -- except perhaps "taking measurements."

ladybug777

02-03-2006, 11:33 AM

Jon's Girl: I'm so sorry. Know that we're all thinking of you and your DH. I hope your meeting w/ your RE is able to shed some light.

Regarding the mock transfer, my RE actually did all that while I was under anesthsia during my lap.

Had to rescedule my repeat beta, so I went this morning. Just waiting for that call...

tigerest

02-03-2006, 12:03 PM

ladybug - Just sitting here with fingers crossed for you! Pleeeez post here when you find out or PM me because I can't check LJ at work!

amychris03

02-03-2006, 12:24 PM

ladybug Thinking of you! The waiting is the worst!!! Why can't
it be instant results?

ladybug777

02-03-2006, 02:17 PM

My beta hasn't changed. Chemical pregnancy. This is horrible in more ways than I could even begin to describe. My DH has been wonderful, but I feel so sad/mad/angry/disappointed, etc.

mrselle

02-03-2006, 02:20 PM

ladybug, I am so sorry sweetie. Big ((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))) to you.

Duncan1

02-03-2006, 02:22 PM

Jon's girl I am so so sorry. I PM'ed you.

Ladybug777 I was so hoping to come and see good news from you, I am very sorry. This just sucks all around.

amychris03

02-03-2006, 02:28 PM

ladybug (((hugs))). I'm so sorry that things worked out this
way. You and DH take care of each other.

kat

02-03-2006, 02:52 PM

ladybug: I am so very sorry to hear your news. :( I cannot imagine the pain you must be going through now. Sending really big hugs your way....

tigerest

02-03-2006, 02:53 PM

DAMN. :( Ladybug I am so so sorry! {{HUGS}} I can't even imagine. Take care of yourself.

Just stunned and dont know what else to say. :(

Jad

02-03-2006, 03:11 PM

Sending hugs to capecod and jon's girl and ladybug. This is the kind of streak we all hate to see. Failed IVF cycles are just so much worse than any other cycle. Take care of yourselves.

ladybug - Honestly, I'm a little concerned that your doc told you to be cautiously optimistic about the beta retest. Hope is good, but seems like it was setting you up for even worse disappointment. My first cycle was a chemical pregnancy, too. First beta was at 10dp3dt and was an 8. The office told me that it was almost certainly not a viable pregnancy. In fact, they told me that they'd be more concerned if my numbers went up at that point - that it might indicate an ectopic. That said, the docs *were* optimistic that I even got that far. Said it suggested that a future cycle *would* work. So I guess, I'm saying that I think your doc is right to be cautiously optimistic in the long run even though I know the current sitch sucks beyond belief. (I just looked back at the old IVF thread and my posts post-BFN don't come anywhere near indicating how hard it was for me.)