The Over 40 Crowd

[DianeC]

Hi Tammy

Looks like we will be cycling together. I start shots on the 28th Feb. I agree, those shots really are a pain in more ways than one. I really have to remind myself that it may be all worth while in the end . We live in Australia but travel to America (CA) for our treatment. A real hassle when you have to find a place at the airport so you can inject!

The holes in the pants is a good idea. I really stress that my DH will not place the needle exactly where it needs to be. We will try that tactic and see how it goes.

Good luck to everyone esle - I am keeping my fingers crossed for those on their 2ww.

Cheers Di

[DebraP]

I've added myself and tried to put it into vague tmt/chronological order. If I've got anything wrong, pl. forgive me then just update/correct and repaste.


Home & Dry:
BigJ (Jules) - BFP 9/12/05. Nuchal scan looked good.

2ww:
Randa - Test 17th Feb
Debra - Test 21st Feb

On meds/about to start:
Anna - Waiting for AF to start short protocol
Diane - start meds 28th Feb.
Kat - Going to Spain 2nd March for testicular biopsy for new DE tmt
Lara - Starting fresh cycle in Feb
Tammy- SIS 9th Feb, IVF 2 March

Preparing:
Amfy - FET March/April
Bev- waiting for egg donor, considering abroad
Gail - planning March IVF
Jane- visit to Spain 24th Jan to decide next step
Jen - Taking time out then, next IVF in May...
Robyn - 2nd IVF cycle in March

Recent cyclers:
Lisa - BFP Feb but sadly lost at 5 weeks after DE
Caroline - natural FET cancelled Feb, failed thaw.

[BevT]

Hi everyone, such a lot of us now!! It's great that there are so many of us "older gals" to support one another.

Haven't had much time to post the last few days, but have managed to keep up with everyone's news by dropping in and reading through.

Caroline, glad you had the strength to come back to us and let us know that you and DH are coping as best you can. Thinking about you both.

Hi Diane, haven't met before. Wow, you have a long "commute" for tmt. I thought my 45min drive was bad enough! Good luck with your tmt in March.

Tammy, glad your SIS test went well and that you are bracing yourself for the rollercoaster in March. Incidentally, do you hang your "panties" out on the line when you wash them? Your neighbours would raise an eyebrow or two. I've heard of peephole bras but not peephole panties.........!

Hi Debra and Sandra - nice to meet you. Sounds like you both have a bit of experience behind you. Good luck to both of you with your 2 ww.

Hey Jen, yuo always have such a lot of PMA to share about with everybody. I look forward to your posts. Keep them coming. I went to a Kinesiologist for a while - not quite sure what I thought. She tested my muscle by putting mild pressure on my raised forearm. I couldn't tell if I was intentionally allowing her to push my arm or if it was actually working! I know that some do the testing in other ways, how does your therapist work?

Randa, you seem like you're coping with 2ww with great gusto. Well done girl, and we look forward to hearing your BFP news.

Lara, looks like nature has intervened and made you come to a decision on the "hurry up"! Good luck with your stimming. Incidentally, what do you think of The Lister?

Back soon gilrs,

LOL Bev xxx

[BevT]

Back again - had to post the first half of my message as my pc has been overheating and shutting down. It's happened a couple of times when I'm in the middle of a long e-mail and I've lost the whole darn lot!!!!

I will resume:

Caroline, What you said about making your decisions at the time on the information we have and the feellings we have at the time, is so true. However, don't you think that women of our age group were "encouraged" to put off having a family for the sake of our careers. I know I was. Twenty years or so ago, I was applying for a new position and was asked at interview about whether I was going to have a family. I felt pressured to say no, as it was obvious at that time that women wanting maternity leave, time off for sick children etc etc were not wanted. All this equality in the workplace thing meant if you wanted the position, you couldn't have kids (implied anyway). Also, at the time, there was no information forthcoming from doctors, the media etc etc that when you get to 36 your fertility dropped off the edge of a cliff! Quite the opposite, all the hype about women having children in their 40's made me think I had loads of time to have career first, family later, much later. Now of course, you can't open a paper without something written about women like me that have "left it too late". I do feel a little bit bitter about it - but as you say, we make our decisions and can't turn the clock back! Lots of love to you and DH in any case.

Hi Gailbunny, good luck with your tmt, and glad that you've joined us here.

Sorry if I've missed anyone as I've been unable to post for a while, I can't seem to get to the previous page. So lots of love to all our over 40's and of course to Jen as well - our own little "spring chicken".

LOL Bev xxx

[BevT]

Hey SAndra,

So sorry, just noticed that you are only 36!! Didn't mean to include you with us older gals like that. I'll remember in future that you are even more of a spring chick than Jen!!!!

LOL Bev xxx

[lara]

Hi all,

Tammy, glad you're going again - lots of us seem to be going for it, mus be Spring in the air. It's rather a beautiful day in sunny London! I like the way you're hedging, going for another ivf with the adoption backup.

I just met my neighbours struggling down the road in a grey fug of exhaustion - with their newborn baby Alex, who looked mighty pissed off. I peeked under his hat and saw to my surprise a big mop of sandy hair on his tiny scaly head. He looked a bit like a lizard dressed in doll's clothing! I told them it takes 3 years to get over the first year of lost sleep after having a baby... I think she was grateful to hear she's not the only one. The dad said he felt like he'd been run over (he actually looked like he'd been run over!). You gotta laugh!

Well that menopur is something else, I gotta tell you! I've lost the plot. I tossed my mobile across the road, threw a packet of cashew nuts at poor DP and the dinner also went all over the floor. I lay in bed feeling like I needed a month at the Priory! Move over, Kate Moss, here I come! Lara's gone Lala...
Has anyone ever been on it? It's FSH plus LH, my lovely Aussie nurse told me. I'm on 450. I think 13 days on this and I'll be single...

Thanks for your feedback, Randa, Jeni, Bev, Debra - welcome to the golden oldies, Debra.

I asked my nurse if she ever got 44-year-olds getting pg with own eggs - oh yes!!! she cried. So there you go.

Someone asked about Lister - it's fab. I've seen a few celebs in there and they've got the money to pick and choose - so that's a commendation of sorts, I suppose. The thing is, the nurses are extremely empathetic and the sonographers and doctors are very good. When I was thinking of trying GIFT with Prof Craft the director of the Lister supported me and offered to refer me if I wanted it. People come from all over the world for treatment there. The one thing I would say is - do your research - know what you want and make sure you ask for what you want - they're so busy you have to just make sure - for example, people usually start short cycle on day 3, but I start day 1 or 2 because I have short AF - so I have to tell them that and make sure they start me on the right day if I don't want to make a special appointment to see the doctor every time I cycle.

Good news about SIS test, Tammy.

Have a good day everyone,

Lara x

[Sand]

No worries Bev ...I like this thread so I hope you don't mind me sticking around

Sandra x

[teachertam]

Happy Friday!!

Lara: Yourpost made me laugh I was on Menopur with the last IVF. I did 450 gonal-f in the morning and 450 menopur at night. Then another cetrocide shot at night (the last 3 days). I felt like a pin cushion. I believe that Menopur is supposed to help with the embryo quality.

Bev: I agree with you regarding the career. I did not even get married until I was 40! Mr. Right did not come along and I refused to settle. I'm very glad that I waited for my DH, as he is wonderful.

Debra/Randa/Sandra: Good luck on the 2ww.

Diane: It is nice to know that we will be cycling at the same time. Maybe Gail and Robyn will be cycling with us also. AF should visit around Feb. 28 and then the rollercoaster will begin the first few days of March. My last IVF cycle took 8.5 days of drugs, then 1.5 days until collection, then 5 days until transfer.

We are bound to have some more pregnant ladies on our site soon, to keep Jules company. Hopefully, all of us will be lucky this Spring.

Has anyone considered "embryo adoption"? My Dr. mentioned it to me yesterday. It is about 1/3 of the cost of a regular IVF cycle. You apply and the genetic couple reviews your biography, photos, etc. and if they select you, then you can review their info. It is similar to egg donation, except there is no genetic link to your DH. On the positive side, it is way cheaper than egg donation, since couples are just trying to find homes for their embryos that they no longer need. I may look into it more, if IVF #2 is a bust. I'm remaining positive now though. If anyone is interested, I can send you the website that my Dr. gave me.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!!!!!!
Tammy

[gailbunny]

Just popped in to say hello

I have been splitting my sides at some of the postings.

Lara your explanation of the rollercoaster was soooooo apt.

I had my baseline scan done today so I am buckling up for a short protocol (same as last) but with 600 menopur instead of 450.

I was very pleased to read the reaction you had Lara to it. It now puts into propective why I was so wound up last time and nearly threw DP out. Cant imadgine why because he is extremely caring.

Looks like he will be fighting a losing battle with me soon as the dosage is increased. I will have to buy him some ear defenders & a suit of body armour for valentines just to show there is no hard feelings!!

If AF is to follow it usual pattern I will be looking like a pin cushion from 2nd March till ET. The scan today showed positive signs and that everything looks to be in tune so plenty of PMA.

Debra, Sandra, Randa - not too long now

Caroline hope you enjoyed your lunch and your crisp walk sounds great, nice to read that you are being positive.

Will drop in soon
Gail

[AMck]

Hi ladies, happy Friday!
Loads happening on the thread. Hello to Sharon, Debra and Di, good to meet you.

Hi to Kat, are you around sweetie? Haven't seen you post for a while. Hope new job is OK.

Tammy, glad to see the SIS went well. Hadn't thought of embryo adoption. Food for thought though.

Special hug to Caroline at this difficult time. Hope you are OK. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Lisa, thinking of you. Hope you are OK.

Gail , good luck with short protocol. I am waiting for AF to start my first one. Any advice?

Hi to Jen, thanks for your positive messages. What a star you are! The PMA radiates from you

Here's our list (thanks to Debra) Good luck to all with tmt and 2ww

Home & Dry:
BigJ (Jules) - BFP 9/12/05. Nuchal scan looked good.

2ww:
Randa - Test 17th Feb
Debra - Test 21st Feb

On meds/about to start:
Anna - Waiting for AF to start short protocol
Diane - start meds 28th Feb.
Kat - Going to Spain 2nd March for testicular biopsy for new DE tmt
Lara - Starting fresh cycle in Feb
Tammy- SIS 9th Feb, IVF 2 March

Preparing:
Amfy - FET March/April
Bev- waiting for egg donor, considering abroad
Gail - planning March IVF
Jane- visit to Spain 24th Jan to decide next step
Jen - Taking time out then, next IVF in May...
Robyn - 2nd IVF cycle in March

Recent cyclers:
Lisa - BFP Feb but sadly lost at 5 weeks after DE
Caroline - natural FET cancelled Feb, failed thaw.

Hi to all others on this thread, PMA to all
Bye for now
Anna x

[BevT]

Sandra, have added you to our list (have updated me too)!

Home & Dry:
BigJ (Jules) - BFP 9/12/05. Nuchal scan looked good.

2ww:
Sandra - Test 15th Feb
Randa - Test 17th Feb
Debra - Test 21st Feb

On meds/about to start:
Anna - Waiting for AF to start short protocol
Diane - start meds 28th Feb.
Kat - Going to Spain 2nd March for testicular biopsy for new DE tmt
Lara - Starting fresh cycle in Feb
Tammy- SIS 9th Feb, IVF 2 March

Preparing:
Amfy - FET March/April
Bev- waiting for egg donor, considering abroad - appt 16th Feb at IM
Gail - planning March IVF
Jane- visit to Spain 24th Jan to decide next step
Jen - Taking time out then, next IVF in May...
Robyn - 2nd IVF cycle in March

Recent cyclers:
Lisa - BFP Feb but sadly lost at 5 weeks after DE
Caroline - natural FET cancelled Feb, failed thaw.

LOL Bev xxx

[erjumper]

OMG! I was only away for a few days and so much to read! Like Caroline, I couldn't stay away. I'm so sorry for you and can honestly say I feel your pain. Everyone was soooo sure that this donor cycle was the one. All 3 of my previous miscarriages from my 4 fresh cycles were attributed to "old eggs". This time we had young chromosomally normal 6 day blasts. So it's got to be me. There's something wrong with me. I was already on heparin for APA's but it's got to be something else. Been tested for EVERYTHING though. Now that we're flat broke, we're moving on to the possibility of a foster to adopt program. We do have 3 frozen embies left from our last fresh cycle that they aren't optimistic about and we do plan to transfer them in May but I don't hold much hope for them. Traditional adoption is a financial impossibility so we are looking into fostering a baby that has been removed from it's bio mother due to past child abuse/ drug addiction or because she's incarcerated and then hopefully the courts (after an agonizingly long wait) will relinquish her parental rights and we can adopt her/him. What a truly sad thing to have to wish for to fulfil a dream. But....we move forward. And I haven't cried in over 24 hours now.
Jules-I just LOVE hearing about your scans. It's funny how I look at pregnant strangers and it turns my stomach but it's so different reading about it here. I don't know if it's because I think of you all as friends or that I know how hard we've all worked for it. At any rate, you GO GIRL! (and BTW I hope it's a GIRL. hehehe)
Debra, Randa and Sandra ALL in the 2ww. Aren't you just dying? Thinking sticky thoughts. Any early HPT'rs?
Gail- welcome.
And Lara- I've done the LH/FSH combo and ended up with E2's over 9000. I was completely nuts! DH called me Linda Blair. (the chick from the original Exorcist) I even threw up like that a few times. I promise though....it does end...and you will one day...although not soon...return to your normal self again. Until then, remind your man he still has the easy part. Grow follies grow!

Hugs and PMA's
Lisa

[teachertam]

Lisa:
I'm so glad to hear from you! You have a such a positive attitude and are an inspiration. Have you ever looked into the international adoption? There is a tax credit available. It is $10,000, which will cover a majority of the costs associated with the adoption. For China it costs around $15,000. If does take 1 year or so though. That is the downside, but if we have a biological child, it will take 9 months. Let me know if you want any additional info. Good luck on the "foster to adopt" program. A friend of mine has a friend who went that route and is very happy. She was able to adopt a baby.

Have a nice weekend.

Regards,
Tammy

[Kat]

Oh my goodness - what has been going on here? So much I can't keep up!

I thought I'd only missed a couple of days - been v busy at work & haven't managed my early morning visit here

Caroline - that must have just about finished you off after everything else you've been through - good to see you sound quite philosophical though

Gail, Diane, Sand - hello, welcome to this particular thread (I know you've been around for some time on the site)

Debra - you dark horse you ! I really hope it works out this time

Lisa - nice to have you back. I know exactly what you mean - I have an irrational hatred (or maybe that's too strong - dislike perhaps - no, actually hatred is right when I'm having a bad day) of any pregnant stranger but I want to know all the details of Jules' scans & progress. Like you say, we understand what it's taken to get there - with the strangers we assume that they got pg the first month they ever tried. Makes perfect sense to me.

DH has gone off skiing so I have a couple of days on my own (well me & the cat) before I go - I had to get up far too early for a Saturday to go to the airport and then he texted me to say the plane was delayed 4 hours. Now I have 2 mountain bikes in the spare room just incase they get too cold in the garage while he's away!

Jen, Anna, Randa, Lara, Tammy, Jules, Bev, Robyn, hi
Jane & Amfy - where are you? Did I miss anyone? hope not

Lots of love
Kat xx

[randa2006]

Hello Everyone.

Lisa - so good to see you post. I think about you every day. If I have a BFN in front of me, I hope I can handle it as well as you. I think the foster child option sounds right. I sometimes feel greedy for trying to have more children when there are so many unwanted ones in the world who need a loving home and Mother. I'm proud of you.

Thanks everyone for your well wishes. On dh's computer tonight (mine still dead), so I have to be brief.

I am 75% sure this didn't work. And I'm not even that upset. The thing is... I feel completely normal. If there were 3 "beings" inside of me trying to hang on, I'm pretty sure I'd feel something, and I just don't.

6 days to go, but I think I have my answer. Oh well, did I really expect to be first time lucky anyway?

Sandra, I have to ask you again... what are you feeling? You are 2 days ahead of me.