April/May Buddies??

[CarolynB]

Hi Dania

What a lovely way to announce your news to your Mum and your dh's family. I can't believe that you were able to keep quiet for even a few days. I think that if I ever get that far then I will be desperate to shout it from the rooftops. I am sure that they were over the moon especially after what happened with your first round of tmt and everything else.

I can't believe that England lost! I was gutted along with the rest of the country. Newspapers have acres of coverage today. Bottom line, we did not play well enough to go through.

Bleeding seems to be stopping now which is a relief, especially as AF must be only about 10 days away. Not sure whether the lap will have messed that up or not?

How are you feeling? Any signs as yet? When do you get a scan - do you have to wait a while as it happened naturally or can you get a scan sooner rather than later? How exciting for you..........sounds like you are looking after yourself really well with all the helthy eating which is great.

Well my consultants appoinment is Wednesday so not too far away now. Hopefully they take the stitches out then which will be good as the are tugging a bit.

Then it will be decision time..........!!!!!!!??????????????? Keep thinking that if we go the ivf route, this will be my third AF coming up since my first round so could go again may be in the next few weeks. Then I think that maybe the unblocking of the tubes will give me a better chance as we can try every month. Just want to know which route will give us a baby.

Anyhow, hope that you are having a terrific weekend. Boling hot over here.

Take good care of you & the little angel.
Love Carolyn xxxxx

[DaniaBB]

Carolyn,
I know I can't believe England is out- but Beckham was injured!! I didn't see the game but saw the highlights.
Ya, I know it was hard to keep it a secret from my mom especially but we really wanted to tell everyone all together in person. I'm doing fine- just a bit tired and boobs are swollen- I think the chinese tea is helping because the week b4 I knew I has nausea (eggs and sweet smells) now its gone. We have to wait longer to get a checkup- it will be July 18. I hope we get a U/S to see our little one in there.

Luckily your bleeding is starting to stop- You'll need sone extra iron this month or you might start to feel tired. The stitches must be itchy in the heat?
It is an important decision to make btwn IVF or the op. What's your instinct telling you? Would you feel more confident having the tubes unblocked so you could try on your own or you would rather do IVF again? How about the frozen embies? Have you asked your acupunturist's opinion-can he help unblock the tubes by sending more blood with the needles or a heat pad?

I know I'm asking you a lot of questions- I'm analytical and I like to brain storm!!! In my opinion, I think- if you're willing to wait you should unblock the tubes- increases your chances b4/after IVF and then even acu can help------if not- then I think FET would be quicker and less hard on your body.And the bonus is you could start realllllly soon- how exciting!
I hope this helps somewhat.

Here in Montreal its quite humid, windy with some rain. Poor Veronika who is moving today in this inconsistent weather.

Veronika--Hope you have a nice icy beer to pay off for your hard moving day!!!

Have a good weekend!!!
Hugs,
Dania

[veronika]

Hello!

thank you, Dania, for the aku-address! I will look at everything tomorrow and quickly go for a first appointment. I am very eager to start.

Carolyn, my tuoballychallenged friend
it is a bugger that they couldn't do the two operations in one for you! I do not understand what they were thinking. I still believe it's a really good idea to do this operation and just try good old natural conceiving for a while. And even if one goes back to IVF after some months it will not have done any harm, at least we will know what exactly is wrong and how bad it is! And the body will have had a little break from IVF medication. So - let's go through this together - it will make things so much more bearable!

Right now I am just tired tired, we've finished the moving, finally. So I'll be back to more posting starting tomorrow. We really have to keep this thread alive! Have a good monday everybody, hugs,

Veronika

[Xrayem]

Hi guys,

Carolyn - I hope you come to a decision. Starting a cycle in the next few weeks is exciting though isn't it?

Dania- When is your US?

Veronika - When do you start again? How long are you having off?

We have decided to have this month of and do one final IUI in August. In the meantime we are going to book in for our counselling session to get all the facts for IVF (costing, timing, etc) so that if this IUI fails we can start IVF the next month in September. I'm not overly keen on the IUI, but DH is and so this is my concession.

So hopefully we'lll be cycling together again soon.

Hugs Em

[jackoa21]

Em
It sounds like you have a good plan.. I am doing better and trying to set up our plans for moving forward.. I wish I could just be positive and feel like it will be "ok" my doc seems pleased even with the one fighting embie that we got a good result but I just am not sure.. I am hoping the accupuncture would help with the #'s and qualites of embies (even though the one little fighter was strong with 8 cells) have any of you ever considered egg donors? I asked my doc and she seemed to say for now she did not see a reason.. They could change the prootocal a bit and just wait and see? I just have so many thoughts running around in this crazy head of mine...I guess for now I just have to "wait and see" oh yeah by the way this is nearly impossible for someone like me (plan plan plan)

love and hugs

[CarolynB]

Jackie - I know saying that the 1 made it through is not always helpful but if the doctor is saying that then you must take as a good sign. My acu cutie certainly told me that he had helped ladies get a better response by lowering their fsh levels. I am sure that can only help. Sure that they can also try different drugs/protocols next time around to improve your response rate. They will have learnt such a lot from your first cycle. I heard some clinics tend to go for a more generic protocol first time around so they can judge your response versus others and then they can make more adaptions next time around. You got a step closer to your dream that some of us so sure that it will go further next time for you

I love nothing better than a good plan but I am trying not to let it stress me too much. Do you have any sense yet of when you might cycle again?

Em - I hope that you are feeling a little brighter and that you & your dh have had sometime toegther after his mum left your house. I am really struggling to make a decision which is so unlike me. I am just afraid that I'll make the wrong decision and waste too much time. I am just so aware that now that I am 4-0 that I am a much older lady so all th odds are way less good for me. Playing on my mind a lot right now. Guess when we go to see him, I just pray that the right answer will become clear for me. I feel excited and nervous all at the same time. It is good that you have made a plan that you & dh are cool with. Maybe it will be third time lucky for you with the IUI - fingers crossed. Then it is like you have the ivf as a contingency plan. Think that it is good to give your body a months break

Veronika - Hope that the move went ok. Sure that you are shattered. But it must be nice to be in the new place? Great that you are going to get going with the 'magic Dania' acu person. I have found it very calming. I could not go for 2 weeks after my lap and find that I am actually missing seeing him - may be that is cause he is SO CUTE I must be way more tubally challenged than you if I require 2 ops to fix me up He told me that if it was a 'quick fix' then he might be able to do as part of the lap. But now he is talking about open surgery which I guess he hoped to avoid!!!??? I hear what you are saying about trying naturally. I am only worried because of my age! My dh was against the op at the start. More that he is worried about me than anything else - but now we have it provisionally booked the op, I think that he just figures that he'll go with it as he thinks that I made my mind up already You are right - we'll be in it together. Sorry I forget - what date are you getting the 'all-in-one' op done?

Dania - July 18th - how exciting_ less than 3 weeks to go already. Glad that you are feeling pretty good right now. Sure as you say that acu is probably helping your body. You are dead right that the stiches are bliming itchy in the heat but I am hoping that a nurse will take them out for me on Wednesday when we are back at the hospital. It is just annoying and all the bleeding has stopped now which is great. I am on pre-pregnancy vitamins and they have a good supply of iron so I'll be sure to take them 3 times a day. Thank you for all your comments - i really appreciate you taking the time to put down some thoughts. I am analytical too - nothing wrong with that at all. Not seen acu since lap as he told me that I needed 2 week lay off. He felt that he might have been able to help with a simple blochage but sense mine is worse as consultant could not free in lap. Due to see him again next Tuesday so will certainly ask him if they do open the tubes whether the acu would be anygood at trying to keep them open for me???

I am some where in my imagination figuring that Em, Veronika, Jackie and I will stay on this thread - cycle together again - all get BFPs - with Dania cheering us on. It is a nice thought which is keeping me going!!! Laura - I am hoping that you are going to stay with us too???

I am going to be mad busy over the next few weeks preparing our hald year numbers which I think will take my mind somewhat off this ivf lark. It is only for 5 weeks and then I am on sabbatical. YIPPEEEE!!!

dh wants me to go to bed so is sending his regards to each of you.

Good Night to you terrific ladies
Love
Carolyn xxxxxx

[veronika]

Dear May/June ladies ,

Em,
I am sure it is good to go for one more IVI try. This way, should it really be necessary to go for IVF after that you know you have given IVI a fair chance to work. I can understand really well though, that you would rather move on and start IVF. It just feels like having more control to do IVF. But still, you won't loose much time, and if your DH would like to give it another try - who knows, I hope this one will be yours!!!
I have decided to do the endo operation before going for another IVF. I would have never thought I could say this: but I would rather do another IVF first. After years of trying to get pregnant naturally I just fear the situation; the monthly hoping and waiting and of course the disappointment. But this is probably not the right way to program my thoughts!

Dania,
I hope you are enjoying your incredible miracle

Carolyn,
I can so well understand your hesitation about the operation. I have it too, and out of similar reasons, just fearing the time it takes to go back to trying to conceive naturally (and, to be honest, the whole roller-coaster of trying to conceive naturally). But can you not set yourself a time in which it either has to work, or else, you will go back to IVF (and then force your doctor to transfer more than two embryos )?
As for my operation - I always assumed that he yould do the "checking" and "unblocking" in one session; but, as you said, I guess this will depend on how it actually looks in those tubes. I think if he would have to do another (open) operation, I wouldn't do it and move straight on to the next IVF.

Our new appartment is lovely. We stil didn't quite finish renovations, but at least the move is made and my office is already what it is supposed to be. What is good about this whole moving business is that it completely absorbes my thoughts. It is only now that I realize HOW MUCH I have been thinking about IVF and wanting to become pregnant each and every day.

Oh well, who ever said it would be easy??!!

I am sending you all my love, Veronika

[jackoa21]

Hello my buddies

Carolyn I love your imagination and I am going to start having the same thougths... We will all be getting the BFP's this next round and our buddies will be cheering us on.

I am thinking that I could cycle again in September (maybe middle) I wish it was sooner but I probably need time to heal (mentally and physically) I am sure you are right and I should listen to the doc I just like to have a plan so even though she feels ok with the One and saying we can change I will just keep the donor thing in the back of my mind..

Laura how are you doing? We miss you

Caryolyn Yeah for the five weeks to go by quickly so you can rest up....

love and hugs
jackie

[CarolynB]

Dear Ladies

Just thought that I would drop in to see how you are all doing before I leave work. However, it is gone 8pm and I have already done the best part of 12 hours so please excuse me not doing full personals as pretty knackered plus have consultants appointment first thing tomorrow. dh is coming with me which is nice.

Jackie - I have one friend who is a little older than me who is using a donor egg cycle right now. We can PM about it if you like. But she is almost 43 and has done several (3 or 4 ivf plus 6iui) cycles already. I am sure that they would want to give ivf with your own eggs another go before they talked about donor. It is something that I have thought about although not discussed with dh. I am not sure whether I could handle or whether we would go to adoption instead??? More v tough decisions for all of us. I am not sure how long I have to wait to try if we go ahead with the op - but may be BFPs for you & me in September!!!!!???? Let's focus on getting ourselves in really good shape between then & now - keep up the water, acu etc etc

Veronika - Glad that you are pleased with the new appartment. We do have the same questions in our heads. I think that your idea of giving ourselves x amount of time to try naturally before going back to ivf woul make sense. Just keep thinking of the odds of ivf versus natural like you. I will post tomorrow anything that I get from the consultant that might help you. I have a long list of questions I am sure that he is looking forward to my visit already Keeping busy does at least stop us all thinking about ivf 24X7

Em - hoping that you are taking good care of yourself and starting to feel a little better each day

Dania - hope you & the angel are well

Well I am leaving the office now. I know that you will be wishing me a good session tomorrow first thing. Think that we get to look at photos of my tubes - sounds gross - my dh will probably pass out

Good Night all.
Love Carolyn xxxxx

[jackoa21]

Carolyn
best of luck tomorrow.. Make sure DH is propped up against a wall so he can not fall over
I think you are right (about just getting us as healty as possible) I am a little jelous although my acc guys seems really nice I would in NO WAY call him a cutie (like yours) I am looking forward to my first session on Thursday. I have loads of questions like exactly what the plan is etc....

Veronika you sound like you are trying to get a plan together for your next step.. i think we should rename our group (instead of the April May buddies) we should call ourselves the "planners" we are all very analytical ( I may not be able to spell but I can think a lot about it)

So for now ladies I am just waiting and going through the motions.. I start acc on Thursday (once a week) and just waiting till we can go again..

love and hugs
Jackie

[DaniaBB]

Carolyn-- I'll be thinking of you during your appointment tomorrow- I wish you all the best in your decision- I'm certain your gut instinct will give you the right answer.

Veronika- Sounds like your new place is great that your all set up and comfortable. Home sweet home!! I agree I think the op is a good options since it allows you to try on your own as well as doing IVF if/when you choose to do so.

Jackie-You'll see that acu can be great- at first the needle are impressive but if you can relax you'll drift away and maybe even fall asleep during the time alone. I got a meditaion book and I visualize my uterus during the 1/2 hr-- sounds a bit Granola but it helps meet relax. WEll enjoy your 1st session and let us know how it is.

Laura- How are you doing & feeling?


I'm doing fine thanks for asking- just tired. I have to get off the computer it is raining and there is lightning...
Sending hugs & baby dust to everyone!!!!
DAnia

[LauraLou]

I just got some really incredible news. I called the insurance company on Monday to find out how much fertility coverage we have left. The insurance has a $15,000 lifetime limit and our cycle cost about $11,000 total. Imagine my surprise when she tells me I have over $10,000 in coverage left! I kept saying, you must be mistaken, that can't be right.

I guess all the labwork and doctor's visits are not counted as part of the fertility coverage, they are just treated as regular medical stuff. My doctor included the cost of the sono's in his office visit fee. Most of the drugs were paid for by my deductiable, so only a little of their cost was applied. So basically only the retrieval, transfer, embryology stuff and a few drugs were counted towards the $15,000.

In short, we have enough insurance coverage to pay for another round of IVF/ICSI and maybe a part of a third! My review appointment is this Friday and hopefully in less than a month from now, I will be starting the lupron again.

I am definitely calling the insurance company again to confirm everything they told me on Monday, but it looks good.

I worked through all these feelings of loss and had set my mind on doing IUI with donor sperm, and now it looks like we will have at least one more try before we have to resort to that. I am nervous about doing the IVF again. It was so hard physically and emotionally last time. But I know how lucky we are to have another chance.

Best wishes!

[jackoa21]

Laura
that is great news.. This whole roller coaster is hard enough it is good that the finacial part will not be an additonal burden...

So you are doing the IUI next (right) how exciting.. I will be behind you but I think we are looking at September..

tonight is the first acc appointment so we shall see how that goes..

Dania congrats again and I hope you are feeling well

love and hugs
Jackie

[CarolynB]

Laura - great news. I guess that we all programme ourselves to hear bad news that when somebody tells us something good then we hardly dare believe it. Glad that you came back to tell us. We have been missing you. That sounds like you would get another 2 cycles paid for which is awesome. Hope that your review on Friday goes well. Let us know when you have some dates and a plan so we can support you through it again

Jackie - the cutie is mine so hands off. Hope that your first acu session goes well. Mine asked so many questions as background that I felt 'safe' with him. I did not find that the needles hurt at all. I guess we just get so used to them. And the chance to lie down when you are busy normally is calming in of itself. Do let us know how you get on. I am v v v analytical but you are right - we all are

Dania - listen to your body if you are feeling tired. Make sure that you don't over do it

Ems - Hope that you are ok sweetie

So to my news. Very good appointment with my consultant. Full techine colours of my tubes, womb and other vital organs. It is amazing what they can show you just via a 20 mins op. He told us that other than some damage in both tubes right near the womb (which we could see - white on snaps) everything else was in really great shape. He even told me that my liver was in good condition. dh nearly feel off his chair at that and my mis-spent youth. Everything that I have read (and that is a lot) says chances of success are higher when blockage is near the womb end of the tubes. Asked about scar tissue created by the op - he said none as he will do it all via microsurgery on the tubes after he has opened me up - he told us that he was the only surgeon who does this sort of repairs in the UK - used to be one other!!!??? Asked about checking tubes - he will do a dye test at time so we will know that they have been opened. He said that we could start trying immediately afterwards - as soon as I felt up to it physically - will need to control dh there! He told me chances of it working are 54%. He said for those people 84% of cases happen within 8 months. So he said we could try for say 6 months and then do a cycle of ivf if we wished - no set time that we have to give it, up to us. He just says it is a way of doing both. The thing that I had not thought of was rather than having to wait 3/4 months between ivf cycles - we could be trying then naturally as well. No drugs - just plan natural. He seemed pretty sure that we should try the surgery as it gave us another option. Will talk to dh later as we both had to rush to work but sounds like the way to go. So booked in for 7th August. 4 weeks recovery time but what the hell I can just get dh running around for me. Can't get it covered on insurance at all but may be able to get work to pay me for sick leave rather than having to take out of my sabbatical - I am at least going to chance my arm and ask our HR department - why not

Veronika - hope that this info helps you in particular. Would be good to compare notes as we go through this together. Holding hands across the water - we will beat the tubal issues together

Another 12 hour shift at the office so am heading home to crash. Feel better than I am 90% there on the decision. It was the chance of trying in between ivf cycles that I had not even considered plus his attitude to the op and the recovery that pushed me from 50/50 upwards for the op.

Love to you all.
Carolyn xxxx

[jackoa21]

Carolyn
Your plan sounds really good.. I agree 100% try on your own natrually.. You here a ton of success stories (Dania) so you never know.. I will also keep my hands off your acc cutie....
So I had my first session and I have a dumb question.. I thought acc was the needles and than the electrical current thing.. Well he did the needles but no electirc thing? Is this how it works. He also said he thought the most important time was 2 weeks up to the IVF and 2 times the following week. I have heard lots of ladies say no acc during the 2ww help I am so confused...

He also said he could help to try to get me as healthy as possible for the next go.. I am not putting all my eggs in one basket with the acc thing (considering last time I only had the one egg I guess that would be dumb huh) anyway I just hope he helps me to be as healty and less stressed..

how are all are other ladies doing.. Larua I am really excited for you insurance news

love and hugs
Jackie