April/May Buddies??

jackoa21 · Post by **jackoa21** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:07 pm

Happy Sunday ladies..
Carolyn your trip sounds lovely...
Hope not long for you now

Updating again -

Wendy - Test Date - 30th May BFP!!!!
LauraLou - Test Date - 31st May BFP!!!!
Carolyn - BFN Review App - 31st May
LucyBucy - Test Date - 1st June BFP!!!!!!
Jess - Start Stimmies - 2nd June
Em - Start Clomid 5th June
Hope4l - Test Date - 6th June
Sarah - Test Date - 6th June?
Sofia - Test Date - 6th June?
Jackoa-Test Date - 11th of June?
Em - IUI - 16th June?
Carolyn - Lap - 26th June
Em - Test date 2nd July?
_________________

CarolynB · Post by **CarolynB** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 4:11 pm

Em

Insensitive - Not at all. I was just being practical and ensuring that you knew that the picture was better for you than the general odds!

It really does get a lot more tricky with age. Sure that you know, that you are born with the eggs and they just age as we do. So the shells become harder. That means that they are tougher to fertilise and harder to hatch as well as potentially being lower quality as well. Plus the reserves of eggs are lower too.

I am just pleased/relieved that I generated 13 eggs at age 39 with the lowest dose of stimmies. They would be able to go 3 times higher with the stimmies in future if they needed to. My consultant said that was really good & is the biggest concern with the older/more mature ladies that they just will not produce many eggs. Think that is why he had us do 1 cycle before doing the lap to see how I responded. He figures that may be we have a little bit more time & also have the 6 frosties as a little bit of an insurance policy. I have a friend who is not much older than me and has had 3 attempts at ivf and think that the most eggs that she ever got was 4. She has now moved onto donor eggs from her younger sister. It is something that quite a lot of the ladies on the over 40s thread consider.

So because I am an accountant, (SORRY -

!!!) I'm afraid that I felt compelled to check out the stats across our entire thread. I read the whole thread and tried to include all the ladies who have been with us even if they only posted a little. Results so far:

1 set of twins - for Prissy

9 BFPs (incl. Prissy again) - 13 BFNs (with 5 ladies still waiting to hear)

I make that a 41% success rate which is a lot better than many of our clinics achieve.

Hopefully with the ladies who are still waiting, we can do even better.

Can't help with AF coming early for you - it seems to be delayed for a lot of the ladies. Guess the good news is that it means that you can get re-started. Cannot quite believe that you are off again so soon. Guess that is the 'benefit' of iui rather than ivf. I have to wait at least 3 months to go again - even if I do a frozen cycle. My consultant said that it is so I can get all the drugs out of my system. So even if AF arrives on time, I figure that the soonest that I can go again would be August.

Anyway, the very best of luck for this cycle. This is going to be the one for you.

Love
Carolyn xxxxx

LauraLou · Post by **LauraLou** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 5:03 pm

Carolyn- I will be 38 the end of August, so about 2 yrs difference. You responded much better to the stims than I did. I took a very high dose of Follistim, 450-450-375-375-450-450-450-450-375-300, and only got 10 eggs, 6 of which were mature. I had no embryos left to freeze. If I can get a BFP, so will you!!!

We had a really nice dinner last night. I'm glad I didn't give in to fear and cancel. My breasts started hurting a lot yesterday. They've been a little sore since I started the progesterone shots, but they have gotten much more tender. DH make a playful grab at them yesterday. Poor guy won't try that again for a while!

I am also so tired. I slept 11 hrs straight last night. I see these as good signs. Surely I would be getting less symptomatic not more, if things weren't going well.

We have a bunch of test dates coming up soon. I can't wait to hear everyone's good news!

Best wishes and baby dust to all!

LucyBucy · Post by **LucyBucy** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:06 pm

Hello all, feeling good - am awash with PMA for a change! Though slightly nervous.. had my second test today, my HCG is 499!! Think this seems quite high and so am v daunted/excited by the prospect that there may be twins in there - eek!. Think I have just fried my brain reading Dania's HCG websites so think I'm going to have to step back a little until my scan. All the sites say not to rely on the figures. I'm off back to my acupuncturist on Monday evening - it's been ages since I went. I'm hoping to improve my circulation so I can get rid of these blummin heparin shots

LauraLou - you and I seem to be on the same track, my boobs are sore too and I really don't have much energy at all, but the happiness makes up for it

. You made me laugh about your DH regretting touching your boobs - I'm thinking of constructing a cage around mine for when my DH returns

Sofia - v jealous of you moving to the coast all summer, but not so jealous of your 4ww. Will you have plenty of distractions there?

Jackoa21 - I found the 2 ww really does get much harder (and slower) towards the end - I felt the same as you and would just burst into tears all the time. I'm afraid there isn't anything you can do but ride it out, and just try to keep your eyes on the goal - a big fat POSITIVE!

Carolyn - ARGC is v v expensive, at the end of the 2ww we had spent approx £6500! I was going for blood tests twice a day for about a week towards the end of the stimmies (because I was in danger of OHSS) and at £30 a go you can imagine how it all racks up. The costs are continuing to rise even now - I've spent a further £350 since getting my BFP on more Heparin and blood tests so god knows how much more is coming. Yes, the clinic is incredibly busy and they have a ridiculous cheese counter type system instead of actual timed appointments so there can be a lot of waiting around. I don't know anything about unlicensed drugs - I would have thought that would be illegal??! Although it is costly and you have to make loads of visits, I think it is worth every penny. The attention to detail is incredible - the owner, Dr Taranissi, oversees EVERY SINGLE patient's records; you're tested everyday to check your responses to drugs, everyone is really friendly too. Have I sold it to you yet?

I am so jealous of your holiday, I am desparate for one. Am trying to convince DH to take me away (once my 12 weeks are up) instead of buying a new telly for the world cup

Hope4l - I didn't have any spotting either, you kind of expect it don't you? Hope you're feeling ok.

Em - can't help you on your 21 day AF I'm afraid.. glad you had a fab party - ooh and how lovely to have fresh coffee at ur finger tips. How great/ironic will it be when you get a BFP next time and feel nauseous at the smell

Dania - my feet/hands are always cold too so I was wondering if this was why I was put on baby aspirin and heparin? Glad you're getting all organised for your next review - sounds like a really good idea to me. It's a pity these sorts of questions aren't online somewhere, it might help newcomers to understand what they're about to get into - well, it would have helped me anyway

41% success rate is fab! Now lets push on through to 100!!!!

Good luck to Hope, Sarah & Jackoa21 this week - BFP! BFP! BFP!

veronika · Post by **veronika** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:38 pm

Hello dear fellow IVF ladies!

I just found an interesting article about the low dose aspirin, which you can find here: http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/articleren ... id=1175854

And also the web page of some infertility specialist in Illinois, with quite a few opinions about accupuncture, low-dose aspirin, possible reasons for implantation failure etc. I found this site quite informative, so here is that one as well: http://www.ivf1.com/ivf-implantation-failure/

I feel myself like I am frying my brain with all this info - sorry if it's doing the same to you. I guess it's because I work in research, and this is all I learned to do

Carolyn: I am glad that you went to see your friend and yould did it without being too sad. Sometime this seems like the hardest part of infertility to me: not to be upset and feel life is unjust at the sight of other people's happiness. I hope you and DH get a good rest on your holiday!!

Sofia: despite the 4WW - enjoy your time at the coast. I so crave to get out of the city and feel that ocean breeze!!

Jackoa and Hope: hang in there! Tons of baby dust to you!

Dania: when I read that you are a Montrealer as well yesterday, I felt so much less alone! The service at the OVO clinic seems to be quite good to me, although, of course, I don't have any comparison. The nurses and doctors are very friendly. What I didn't like too much was the fact that once a decision was made with the doctor (the transfer of two embryos on day 3) the "system" wasn't flexible enough to change. (I had one nice blasto on day 5. As they didn't want to freeze only one I wanted to have it transferred as well, but they wouldn't do it, which upset me ALOT)

Em: I don't know about AF on day 21. But isn't is good to get to start again so soon?

Baby dust to all of you,

Veronika

CarolynB · Post by **CarolynB** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:47 pm

Laura - thank you for the words of encouragement and making me feel not too old!

Good on you for carrying on with the dinner - it is important to do things for your dh too as I feel it is easy for them to feel excluded from what we are up to. Sounds like you truely have all the symptoms

Lucy - thank you for all the info about ARGC. Guess on the drugs I was meaning that I hear that they use viagra for example to boost some ladies womb lining. It is wrong to say unlicensced. Just designed for a different purpose orginally would be a better way to put it. I knew the cost was v high but thanks for sharing - at least that gives me an idea of what we would be looking at. I understand that Taranissi overseas everyones treatment himself and is a bit of a legend. My acupuncture cutie was v v positive about their success rates. The reason that I am so interested is of course the success rates and the use of 5 day blasts. Hammersmith are much keener on 2 day and multiple attempts as a methodology. Just not sure how many times I will be able to endure the tmt for no end result or going through the nightmare of BFNs. I am not moving yet but you have certainly given me plenty of food for thought. Thank you again

Veronika - looked at both articles. V interesting. Had seen first one already. That was the one that made me ask Hammersmith about blasts but they are not that keen. I am v keen on all this research so please keep it coming.

It helps me get my head around it all if I am in better possession of all the facts. My clinic is also very unkeen to transfer 3 even given my age. I can understand why it drove you totally mad that they would not transfer the 5 day blast for you. I would have gone mental. I will do a couple more cycles where I am but if they cannot help me & dh then we will move clinics before we give up

Going to curl up on sofa with dh and watch a back episode of the West Wing!

As we head towards the world cup - let's hope for a hat trick of BFPs from Hope, Sarah & Jackoa

Have a good week everyone.

Love Carolyn xxxxxx

Xrayem · Post by **Xrayem** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:22 am

I couldn't resist Carolyn......GO THE SOCCEROOS!!!!!!!!!!! Its about the only sport the Aussies haven't conquered yet.....and wouldn't it cause an upset! I'm just thrilled that we qualified - you would have thought we had already won!

I rang the clinic today and the receptionist didn't seem suprised that AF had come early (or that interested either) and I go in for a blood test on monday 12th. I was meant to have a scan to count follies but its a public holiday and I think she was worried that we would miss ovulation. The good news is that I've bumped up my Clomid dose to 75mg so it may increase my chances.

Feeling a little aprehensive about starting again because I was so sure it had worked last time and the BFN knocked me for six. I'm not getting my hopes up, DH is not going away and we aren't telling anyone we are going again so we won't jinx ourselves.

I'm going to look into acupuncture also. As a scientist, I am not usually into alternative medicine but I'm starting to think that I need to give other things a go. Just don't expect to see me drinking unicorn wee or anything like that just yet!

Well, have a hungry dog-child to tend to. His pityful "Feed me mummy" whine is putting me off my typing!

Cheers em.

jackoa21 · Post by **jackoa21** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:03 pm

Hello laides and happy Monday
Veronika I will have to go to check out that website...

Lucy way to go those #'s are great....

Carolyn thank you for posting those #'s those odds seem better than what my doc quoted also..

I hope everyone is doing well. The progesterone shots are starting to hurt.. I am cramping and crabby and tired (but other than that things are just great)

vessi · Post by **vessi** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:34 pm

Lucy,
your HCG sounds great!!! Congratulations!! How many days past egg retreaval was it taken?

I am cautiosly optimistic but cannot help myself and say:
Double trouble is comiing!!
Yes, we saw 2 sac this morning!!!
OMG!!!!
First baby A is measuring 3.9mm and had normal heartbeat! The second sac was smaller, the little bean B was measuring 2.2mm had no HB yet. Dr thinks it will pick up. Usually at 5w5d you don't see HB. Bean A must be super baby. I bet a girl.
I am so happy but at the same time worried. I hope my little bean B picks up. I want to see his/her HB too!

Vess

jackoa21 · Post by **jackoa21** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:40 pm

Vessi

That is so amazing.. You must be over the moon right now.. I know you are still scared but everything is going well. The doc is not worried so try your best not to be worried also..You give me hope I did not realize that you were a 3 day transfer I thought (like most ladies with BFP) that you were a 5 day...that gives me hope...keep us posted.. I test on the 11th to see how my little fighter is doing.. I hope all snuggled in.
baby dust..and hugs and congratulations

veronika · Post by **veronika** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:47 pm

Vessi,
that's such wonderful news! Congratulations!

time is passing so slowly for me today. Here's to the 3-4WW between a BFN and the review appointment

I hope everybody else is keeping up the PMA better than me today.

PMAPMAPMAPMA

Veronika

jackoa21 · Post by **jackoa21** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:55 pm

I am not doing any better than you.. I feel like this is the longest 2ww of my life...
Well at least we have one another....
I will stay positive for you and you can for me... and all are other lovely laides (who are very quiet today)
HAPPY MONDAY

vessi · Post by **vessi** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:02 pm

I am staying very positive for both of you.
Yes, quiet Monday. Wait until Friday when none is working:):)
Thanks for the Congrats:)
I am not working hard either. Cannot concentrate, only thinking about bean B, then bean A, then I want bean B to catch up.
Ooohh, 7 more days to the next sonogram.

Vess

jackoa21 · Post by **jackoa21** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:56 pm

and we will be positive for you too..
Both of your little beans will grow big and strong

LauraLou · Post by **LauraLou** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:57 pm

Vessi- Congratulations!!! That is so exciting. You must be so, so thrilled!

My doctor's office called with my 3rd beta and it dropped to 68, so I've miscarried. They said to stop the progesterone and I should get my period.

Why, oh God why?

April/May Buddies??

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