The 30-40 Group

[LisaB75]

Hello all! SML - yes it is spring-time here in Ohio and we have been blessed with unusually good weather this time. I couldn't be happier about it!

Angela - glad to hear that you got to the bottom of your breathing problem. Hopefully you will be feeling top-notch again soon. I am feeling good about IVF working for you. You have a tubal issue - correct? Honestly IVF seems to be the best solution to tubal issues like ours, my doctor didn't even want to try IUI with me - he said it would be a waste of time and IVF was the best way to go. Seems he was right! I am going to be rooting for you all the way!

Regarding Tomkitten - Tom Cruise did an interview with someone on one of those nighttime news shows and he said that Katie didn't need to be silent during the labor, but everyone around her was not allowed to talk. ???? something about respecting the mother which I guess is a good thing but, if you ask me -when I am in labor, and I am shouting, etc. it would probably just annoy me if everyone was standing around staring at me not saying a word. It would probably make me want to throw something at them "SAY SOMETHING DAMMIT!" lol....

Also, I guess she did have an epidural so it was nice of Tom to "allow" her that. Let's just hope she doesn't have Post-partum depression b/c we all know how Tom feel about that!

Ok - enough for now. Hope everyone is well and has a beautiful day!

[sml]

Hello ladies!

So, I had the EC yesterday -- felt quite a bit groggier than last time after the general anasthetic, but napped on and off for much of the afternoon, then went on a mini-walk with DH (who valiantly stayed by my side ALL day long) that really helped wake me up. He very sweetly cooked me a lovely pasta dinner (sweet, but wow was the kitchen a bit of a mess this morning....) and we watched several episodes of ALIAS (am addicted) that evening.

They collected 7 eggs (was a bit nervous as last time they got 12) but they called today to say that 5 had fertilized. (Same number as last time!). They'll monitor them through tomorrow and ET will either be on Saturday morning, or they will wait for blastocycts and do the transfer on Monday. Fingers (and toes) crossed!!!! Plan to take it very easy today and tomorrow, and of course post- ET.

Angela -- so glad to hear from you and glad that they have figured out the root of your breathing problems. It sounds like your body is dealing with a lot right now and perhaps DH has the right idea by suggesting giving your body a rest before the next IUI or IVF? I'm a big advocate of letting one's body heal before embarking on these assisted conception cycles -- they alone take so much out of you that you want to be able to start with your immune system at its peak. Have you ever heard of Flourodix (sp?) -- you can get it at a health food or organic grocery store. It is a liquid supplement -- quite tasty -- that is good for boosting iron levels, and was recommended to me a while back b/c I got tired a lot. Then of course there's the old standby of eating lots of leafy greens like spinach!

As well as giving one's body a break, I also believe in giving one's mind a rest from thinking about all this stuff, so if it means taking some time away from the boards, no apologies! We are all thinking of you and wishing you lots of luck in the next cycle, whatever you decide to do!

Lisa, LOL re Tomkitten. The whole silence thing is so bizarre -- and I agree, I'd hate to be surrounded by all these silent people staring at me while giving birth. How eerie! Anyway, as Hello magazine put it (yes, I did indulge at the hospital on a celebrity glossie), now the whole world awaits the birth of Brangelina's baby. They are in Namibia, and there was a whole spread of them posing for lots of family photos, playing with Maddox and Zahra in the sand.

MLG -- how was the scan my dear? We are all routing for you. Sending lots of PMA your way.

Hope all of you are well!

[LisaB75]

Hi everyone - just a quick one today.

sml - great news on the EC! 5 out of 7 fertilizing sounds good to me! Yes I too anxiously (using that term lightly) await the birth of Brangelina's baby. Have you heard that Ms. Britney Spears is preggo? So the rumors WERE true - as it turns out. So she and K-Fed are multiplying - AGAIN!! What is the world coming to? She can't even take care of the one she has now.....

MLG - I am excited to hear about your scan too so don't hold out on us! Share the good news!

[LisaB75]

MLG - just saw on another thread that you saw your beanie today!!

THAT IS WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC NEWS!!!! WHEW HOOO!!!!!

[sml]

MLG -- Ditto to what Lisa said. SOOOOOOO elated and thrilled for your news!!!!

Lisa -- Do you mean, Ms. Brittney "oops we did it again" Spears?!!! (Couldn't resist). Hope she doesn't try driving around with them BOTH in her lap, baby-seat less.....

Have a fabulous day everyone -- MLG's happy news has certainly put a smile on my face this morning.


Sending lots of PMA and good vibes to all!

xx

[LisaB75]

Just popping in real quick to say HAPPY WEEKEND!! to everybody.

I will be offline until Monday - but will look forward to logging back in to get lots of good news and, of course, more juicy celebrity gossip.

Oh - and I am taking donations to go toward buying a car seat for Ms. Spears bun in the oven, since she obviously can't manage it with her millions!! Maybe I should invest in a crash helmet too? Just a thought..


Ok - BYE EVERYONE!

[angelamw]

Hi

Just poping in to let you know that we are back on the infertility bandwagon again. AF is due on Sunday so are going to have another shot at IUI starting next week. Also got to have blood tests etc next week ready to try IVF the following month. So I will be poping in and out of here a bit over the next few days.

I hope that you have all got lots of things planed for the weekend. We are working all weekend but then hoping to go to our caravan for Sunday or Monday.

Take care
Angela

[lynne]

Hi all,
Okay it's official I am the least knowledgeable person in the world. I didn't even know Britney Spears had a child never mind another on the way. And apart from knowing she was a Disney kid I know bog all about her. I only ever see magazines in the clinic waiting room and someone keeps buying the Cheshire Life so I just sit and get depressed abot all the beautiful houses!!!!
Please, someone GET ME SOME STREET CRED!

SML good luck for tomorrow. I'll keep everything crossed.
Angela, it looks like we'll be cycling around the same time. I start my meds this Friday. I can't wait on the one hand, but the thought of all those injections makes me very sad.

Hope you all have a good weekend.

[elly]

hello all my name is ELLY. i'm 34 dh 37 been trying for 13 years as want sib for natural daughter now 14 yrs found out now got blocked tubes before unexplained given drugs but never worked, dh fine actually better than fine . now on first cycle of IVF egg collection on 8/5/06 anyone know average of eggs collected would love to hear so far i'm ok but a bit dizzy on jabs. really pissed off wth work been told they will not pay me to have time off for treatment anyone else experianced this or got advice would love to hear from you. anyone in same boat would love to hear too [/b]

[elly]

hi my name is elly and i'm in your group too as 34! on my first IVF cycle at present EC on 8/5/06 a bit worried about this keep thinking will get cancelled or have no eggs i wish everyone out there the very best of luck with their procedures

other thing thats getting me down at mo is my boss really not supportive and now says will not pay me for ivf med appontments as says elective just like plastic surgery if you ever heard anything so cold . this is causing me stress wish i had never been honest with them in the first place and lied said it was for something else or something i dont know really pissed off about this and cant seemto get advice about where i stand, anyone know anything or got some advice really want to hear form you.

again all the best wishes in the world to everyone out there who wants a baby! good luck
______________________
me 34 dh 37
tubal
ttp 13yrs
first ivf now EC 8/5/06[/url]

[angelamw]

Hello everyone

Elly - Welcome to this thread. I am sure you will find loads of help here. Sorry to hear about the problems with work. I am not sure what the legalities are but I am sure someone on here will know. I haven't told work but am lucky as I work with DH and he is able to cover for me. Also I manage to get most of my appointments before we open in the mornings. I hope that you find a way round this.

Lynne - It is nice to know that someone else is cycling around the same time as me. AF should start tommorow - being 28 days but usually only ever go 26 or 27 so I am starting to think it is a little bit late.

Lisa - Hope you have had a good weekend.

sml - Hope e/t went well and you now have your feet up resting.

Jan - when do you go for your first scan?

Take care everyone
Angela

[LisaB75]

Hi everyone! Hope your weekends treated you well.

Lynne - you are so lucky to not be up-to-date on Britney Spears life! It seems like she is constantly on TV and in the tabloids here in the states. I am so sick of her, Brangelina, and TomKat !! We need some new faces.

Angela - glad to hear you are back at it. Way to keep going! Are you still on the list for IVF too?

sml - how are you feeling dear? Read any good dirt, gossip while you are laying around letting the embies burrow in? Do share...

Elly - welcome! As far as egg counts, etc, it is hard to say. Every woman is different. Just follow what your doctors say - it will all turn out for the best! Where I live in the states - we get no time off for treatment. We can use any vacation time we have built up and that is about it.

I had a scare over the weekend - slight spotting on Sat. night. Doctor got me in for an emergency ultrasound Sunday morning and I saw my embie and the little heartbeat! Made me feel lots better - but still worried. Guess I better get used to this worrying!

Work is beckoning - must go. Have a great day/evening everyone!

[sml]

Hello ladies,

ET was on Saturday and DH has had me off-line and in bed or on the couch since then! Had a hilarious experience with the entire process. We arrived at the clinic, huge bottle of water in hand that I had been trying to chug in the taxi, and one of the nurses sees me and says, "is your bladder full?" I said, "Um, I think so" and she said "Come with me RIGHT NOW. This lady isn't ready yet," referring to another couple in the waiting room. She whisked me down the hall, screamed out my name to the embryologist and doctor, and in about, oh, nine minutes, they had me in and out of the stirrups, embies transferred! I barely had time to get my knickers off!The doctor was so funny -- she then had to rush out to the theatre as she was about to perform a series of EC's.

I had scheduled an acupuncture appointment for the same day at the hospital (Zita West recommends this highly if at all possible, for one session between EC/ET and one direclty post ET) but had about an hour and half to wait, so I took a slow walk outside for a few blocks with DH to a nearby cafe, had some toast and steamed milk, and then went back to the clinic for accu. The therapist was pregnant and we joked about her giving me good prgenancy vibes. Fingers crossed!

Have been trying to be very good about bed rest -- reading, watching movies, playing cards with DH, barking orders on where to find things in the kitchen, etc. He has been wonderfully patient, for the most part. He is a wonderful cook, so I feel very lucky to have had such gourmet meals but he is not the best at cleaning up after himself in the kitchen (ladies, I took one glance and it made my heart sink to see all the dishes and pots piled up in there!). He's back at work today, but not until he very sweetly brought me eggs and toast in bed!

Elly, WELCOME!!! Good luck to you as you begin this journey. The work situation sounds horrific. I have heard lots of awful stories and also lots of amazing ones at how different people's work situations deal with infertility issues. It really varies, and sadly, there may not be legally anything that can be done, but your boss makes me furious. As all of us know all too well, this is certainly not an elective like plastic surgery! Infertility is a disease, as many medical experts will testify. This is a great place to get support and to hear the experiences of other women dealing with many of the same issues. Wishing you all the best.

Angela -- How fantastic that you will be starting your next cycle. Am keeping fingers crossed for you. Doing an AF jig for you!

Lynne -- I am so impressed that you can stay clear of all the celebrity garbage out there! I actually took a pile of my trashy mags to the waiting room at the clinic just to give all the other ladies something to read and to get them out of my house. I guess we can think of it as "recycling" of sorts, right?

Lisa -- OH WOW! The heartbeat -- how amazing!!!! I'm so excited for you. Yes, I can only imagine how difficult it must to be to keep from worrying but stay positive and as calm as you can (I'm one to talk, trying to ignore every twinge I may feel below my belly button!).

Jan -- How are you doing? Any updates?

Okay, so here's the obligatory celeb gossip. Let's see. Saw yet another photo of Angelina, looking glam and preggers, surrounded by adoring Namibian children. So bizarre. Apparently, I think New York Magazine called this the "most anticipated birth since Jesus." Offensive on so many levels....

Brooke Shields seems to have very quickly lost her baby weight only 2 weeks after giving birth. Apparently she sent roses to TomKat in honor of Suri's birth, to let bygones be bygones, and word has it they are discussing play dates.

That's it for now. Have a wonderful day everyone!

[lynne]

Hi All,
Angela, Lisa and SML thanks for your kind support of my woeful lack of street cred. I was asked not so long ago if I knew any pop songs. I replied "Not if they were popular after 1940!"
SML, bril news about your ET, now rest, rest, rest. Sounds like they were having one of 'those days' at your clinic. I couldn't get into my room this morning (which is in an ante building) as the whole place was locked up. Apparently one of the security was off sick. Amazing how the world grinds to a hault when one little cog goes wrong.
Angela, I start downregging on Friday. Where are you up to? I'm getting more and more wound up about it as I'm really frightened of needles. I'll be okay once I've got the first one over with though.

Elly, I'm self employed so get no benefits at all. It's quite tough. My ICSI bill is £700 more than last time because the drug prices have increased. I nearly cried when ithe bill came through. It's bad enough having the stress of all this without worrying about money as well. My DH earns a pittance and is truly rubbish with money anyway so the buck stops with me I'm afraid. I tried talking to hime about taking time off when the baby is born (if it works this time) and his response was "we'll just have to get someone to mind it". I could have killed him!

Lisa, fantastic about your little emby. It must be amazing to see the heart beat. I hope the rest of the pregnancy goes smoothly.

Greetings to anyone I've missed out.

[LisaB75]

Greetings beautiful ladies!! Well - the cat was officially let out of the bag today - meaning my dh and I announced to almost everyone that we are expecting. We said we would tell after the first ultra sound. I gotta tell ya - I am overwhelmed with how wonderful people can be. I work at a business with about 40 people - mostly men and A LOT of family members. They were all so sweet and supportive it brought me to tears. They all seemed to know I had been trying unsuccessfully for 5 years - kind of hard to keep anything secret around here. Anyway - have not had any more spotting since that last incident so I am feeling pretty good

sml -soooo glad to hear transfer went smoothly and you are lazing around being waited on. When I had my ET - I was surprised at how quickly it went - and how they rushed me around. I didn't need the full bladder - they didn't even do an ultrasound that day - just put my feet up, injected embies, and off I went! They did tell me to lay for 15 mins and a nurse would be in. Well a nurse never showed so we just left. I think the whole place was out to lunch or something! It all turned out for the best so no harm done. How nice that your dh is a good cook! My dh can grill (hamburgers, steaks, etc) but that is about it. And cleaning the kitchen? Forgettaboutit!!

Hi Lynne - I know what you are saying about paying for treatment. I have insurance - but they do not cover IVF. As sml said - infertility IS a disease and it is ridiculous that it is not treated as such. The cost has been great to me and dh - we had to get a 2nd mortgage on our house to make it happen - but it will all be very worthwhile. And maybe your dh will change his opinion about hiring someone to mind your baby when he actually sees and holds that baby for the first time. I just don't think men feel the way we do until the baby is actually here. It all seemed to hit home for my dh when he saw the heartbeat. He has been acting very differently (for the better).
Hang in there and good luck with the shots. Remember that each shot gets you closer to your goal!!

So who, exactly, is saying that Brangelina's baby is as anticipated as the birth of Christ?? Are you kidding? That just stuns me that someone could say that.

Wish I had some dirt to offer - I am 2 issues behind on my people. I just got my '50 Most Beautiful People' issue and guess who is on the cover - Angelina!!! GAG!!

Ok - enough for now. Happy day to everyone.