Aussies and Kiwis!

[Tiger]

Hi again,

Suzanne, thanks for your kind words. I looooove your nurse btw, she sounds like an angel in disguise or something. It really helps when they support us the way they do. Like you said, you must surround yourself with much love and support. No negative vibes allowed .

Bel, as promised!! hope you like it. You can now tell Annie that her little sis has a ticker of her own. You are very good with spreading good vibes all around, yay.

Annette, welcome back . You sure did have lots to deal with while you were MIA. I hope you can now look forward to very sucessful IVF tmt.

Cheers, Tiger

[suzannes]

Hi All,

Welcome back Annette - good luck with your cycle!

Just a very quick post to say hi, and let you all know that our scan went OK this morning.

I still have a 4cm cyst on the right side, but the dr covering while our dr is away seems to think that it is adjacent to rather than on my ovary, so we started our Gonal F today HOORAY!!

We have another scan on Monday, and if the cyst grows at all, we will have to abandon the cycle and I'll need a lap, but for now, it's business as usual!

Thinking happy thoughts! PMA to us all.

[BelB]

Hi guys,

Ahhh Tiger, you're a sweety my friend. It's such a cute ticker too!!. Thank you so much for acknowledging our little girl this way. By the way, we think we've settled on Eleanor Kate (Elle for short, or maybe Ellie) for our bubs name. Eleanor is John's mums name and Kate was the name we were going to christen our first baby who we lost (miscarriage on first IVF cycle), so overall we're quite pleased with our choices. We have changed our minds on the name thing a few million times by now though, so who knows what the final decision will be!!!

Annette, welcome back. The chinese herbs and accupuncture certainly have helped lots of women on this site that I've read about. I had my positive after both naturopathy and accupuncture and really do strongly believe that this helped..Maybe a natural positive for you before the cycle starts??, now that would be great news!!

Suzanne, great news re. starting your cycle. Sounds positive to me. You're well on your way to that baby now!!


OK guys, time for the old nanna nap again, has been a big couple of days. PMA to all!!

Belinda

[suzannes]

Hi All,

BelB - that is just a lovely, lovely, lovely name! Eleanor is on our short list for names too.

Stimming is good so far. I'm just hoping now that our scan Monday goes ok, and that we can then focus on ER!

Have a great day everyone!

[mel30]

Hi

I'm new to this and am not sure if doing it right but wanted to post to other aussie/kiwis, so hopefully got it right!

Was diagnosed with male factor in April and I have polycystic ovaries to complicate matters! Have just had first cycle go through to transfer (first was cancelled due to risk of hyperstimulation) Got only 3 eggs at pick up, only 2 any good, 1 fertilised and had 5 day transfer of blastocyst.

9 days after transfer and I'm pretty sure unsuccessful (have a lot of bleeding but nurse said to contine with crinone and do test on monday).

Feeling very down and disheartened about it all and would love any advise or experience anyone can offer!

Melanie

[suzannes]

Hi Melanie and Welcome,

Sorry to 'meet' you under such sad circumstances.

My situation is almost identical to yours. DH and I have male factor and I have PCOS also.

Unfortunately our first cycle was cancelled because I had cysts, and we have only just started this cycle, so I don't have any great inspiration for you except to say you're welcome to come here for support anytime that you feel the need.

There are quite a few of us here from Queensland and Brisbane. I'm having my treatment at Wesley Monash.

Keep your chin up, and take care of yourself. I'm sending you PMA and a big hug. Hopefully, by some miracle you'll get a BFP when you test.

Hi to everyone else too, hope everyone is doing well.

Cheers
Suzanne

[Xrayem]

Hi Mel,

I'm also a brissy girl. I'm with Dr Lingard at QFG. We have unexplained infertility (VERY frustrating!) and have just had 2 failed IUI's. We are having this month off and then having one last try (IUI) before we start IVF. We are having our counselling session next week and I just got the costing pack from QFG in the mail today.....all very daunting.

Everyone here is wonderful! Its really nice to speak to other Aussies, some of the UK and US terminology confuses me!

I hope your test went well for you today, you didn't sound too positive but I'm thinking of you anyway.

Cheers everyone else,
Em

PS: Mother in Law on plane back to NZ! I'm off to have a stiff drink!

[mel30]

Hi again

Thankyou both for the welcome-much appreciated as I have never done this before and was a bit shy about it (juvenille I know).

Unfortunately had a negative this morning so will now wait 3 weeks and start again, would be much easier if they had managed to retrieve more eggs first time around!

I am also at Wesley Monash, the nurse was lovely when I called this morning and has helped me try to be a bit more positive-I have a counselling session and review appt with Dr on Wednesday to decide what/if changes to be made.

I agree about the US/UK terminology, when I first started looking at websites it had me completely confused!

Fingers crossed for both of you!

Mel

PS what is PMA??

[suzannes]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for your good wishes, we got pretty good news yesterday.

My scan showed that my horrid cyst hasn't grown - hooray!

The scan also showed heaps and heaps of little follies @ about 7mm. Dr is concerned that I look likely to have OHSS ovaries, so he is keeping my Gonal F dose low (150), and he has started me on metformin.

Dr has said he thinks I might be in for a long slow haul this cycle - not sure what he really means by this, maybe that I will be stimming for a while?

Anyway, next appointment is Thursday - we're moving forward - HOORAY!

I understand what you say about being a bit shy Mel. I was too. I wore off pretty quickly though after the very warm welcome I got!

I'm sorry to hear about your BFN. I can only imagine how disappointed you must be. Good luck with your appointment on Wednesday - I hope you can come up with a plan for success for next time round.

PMA is Positive Mental Attitude - positive vibes, warm and fuzzies etc .

I was bamboozled by the terminology when I first arrrived here, but another board I looked at the other day (recommended by a friend) and it is completely different again. I had NO idea what was going on

You must have been glad to put your M-I-L on a plane Em! Have a drink for me too could you?

I remember the shock when we got the costings from Monash, yikes! We had (foolishly) believed the blurb in our health fund book that said we were covered for 'all tests and procedures related to infertility'. Yup, all of them, except the ones that they don't cover! $3500 out of pocket later, here we are! LOL

Bel and Bella, I hope you are both well and that your babies are growing strongly. How is Annie Bel?

Annette and Tiger, hope you are both well also.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Cheers
Suzanne

[Xrayem]

Hi Guys,

Suzanne, glad that pesky cyst hasn't grown any! Appointment next thursday? Good luck for it!

Mel, I was a little shy to start with and even felt like a fraud as I wasn't doing IVF, just IUI's but everyone is so supportive. I don't think I would have gotten through the last 2 cycles without everyone.

Well, I didn't get my stiff drink last night. DH had only just walked in the door when the neighbours called. Their 2 yr old had fallen off the bed and hit his head and was shaking, pale and vomitting. They had to take him up to RBH. So we went over and looked after their 8 month old. It was weird watching my husband sit by her crib to help her get back to sleep. I loved him so much then.

They didn't get home until after midnight and we went straight to bed. DH was up at 5am to fly out to Darwin for a week. Today is day 11 for me and him being gone means there's no chance I can get pregnant naturally this month. Its a sad thought. I always think we should try naturally, just in case.

Pma and baby dust to you all,
em

[Tiger]

Hi All,

Welcome Mel !!
sorry I am bit late to welcome you. I am so happy that you have found us here, this is an excellent site and this is a great thread. I am very sorry about your recent BFN. Hope your hubby is spoiling you rotten and treating you like a princess... I mean, you deserve it after such a rough ride. Don't be afraid to ask any questions about IVF. We all understand what it is and how it makes you feel...

Em, I know exactly what you mean about watching your DH with a little baby and feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. That is what I really want see myself, my hubby with his little baby.... . I am so sorry that your DH has gone away for now, it must be very frustrating for you, esp at such a special time of the month .

Suzanne, your doctor sounds like he knows your body well - and that can't be a bad thing . Make sure you ask him about Q you have when you see him on Thursday though; I tend to write my Q's on paper and give it to them across the desk when I see my doc. I find they usually respond to my Q's better that way, more concise and accurate, maybe because they have time to process my Q before they give me an answer? Good luck.

Bel, I am quite chuffed me-self about the ticker. Very cute - like your little Elle in your tummy. You still have few weeks to go yet before your bub's arrival but Eleanor Kate sounds grand to me.

Take care all, hope you are all wrapped up warm.

Cheers, Tiger

[BelB]

Hi there all,

Mel, welcome to our thread! There are lots of really supportive women here, so glad that you found us. There are quite a few Brisbanites here as well. I went through QFG in Brisbane (marianne Ilbury) and have Annie who is now 20 months (she is a FET baby) and am 32 weeks pregnant with Eleanor Kate (I fell pregnant naturally this time around!), so we've been through the rollercoaster and have a good appreciation of the ups and downs that you're going through. Sorry about your recent negative, damm depressing when it happens, but I'm sure you'll have better luck this time around ('specially now that you've found us!!..we've had quite a few BFP's and babies born to the women on this thread and I look forward to you joining that group very soon.

Tiger, glad that you like our name. We just told John's dad, he is really pleased (his wife, john's mum has dementia and is in a nursing home) and honoured that we've chosen to go this way. Annie is named after my mum and Eleanor will be named after john's mum, so all's fair!! How are you doing my friend?, how is London? work hubby etc?, when do you think you'll come back to Australia and get back on the rollercoaster that is IVF treatment??

Em, you did a great job helping out next door, they would have really appreciated it. Sounds like your hubby will be a great dad and you'll be a great mum too..all good pratice hey?? It's my birthday on Sunday and Johnie and I are going out for dinner on Friday night, was looking for a baby sitter..should have phoned you!!!

Suzanne, sounds like your cycle is progressing fantastically, quite a crop of follies there too. Tomorrow is your next appointment is that right? Good luck and make sure you let us know how you get on.

My Annie Boo is doing well, more antibiutics unfortunately as the bloody ear still isn't right. I have a referral to an ENT specialist and want to get her checked out ASAP, I so don't want her hearing / speech development to be delayed as a result of recurrent ear infections. I'll get onto booking that in tomorrow. I'm doing OK. I have the cold too (Annie is a very generous sharer!!) and was off work today. I rested in bed which seems to have done wonders. Onwards and upwards hey??

Take care all
B

[suzannes]

HI Everyone.

Short post today, I promise!

Good news. We have had our scan today, and the dr thinks I will have about 10-12 good follies to harvest. Hooray.

The metformin seems to be keeping everything under control, and our little crop of follies are all 9-11mm today. Great news huh?

The even better news now, ... our normal dr is back on Monday, just in time for our next scan.

Hope you and Annie are both feeling better soon Bel!

How are you doing Mel?

Your poor neighbours Em! They are lucky to have you so close and willing and able to help them.

I understand what you say about loving your DH even more when you get to see that tender nurturing side to him. DH and I went to see my 'friend' after she had her baby on the weekend, and seeing him cuddle their precious, perfect baby boy brought tears to my eyes. Love that guy. Love, love love him!

Have a great day everyone!

[suzannes]

Oh and Tiger, thanks heaps for the tip re writing questions down.

I used to work with our usual Dr when I was nursing, so he is excellent about answering my questions.

I think the other doc has just been a bit busy while he's been covering. If we had too much more time with him, I would definitely have tried your stagegy. The control freak in me needs answers!

Anyway, our normal doc is back from Monday, so it will be back to normal thank heavens!

[ozstock]

Well guys,
You're never going to believe it but I got a BFP yesterday! Have been taking my temperature and it stayed up when AF was due, so I decided to take a home test- with a very faint positive. Went into the clinic for a blood test and they confirmed it was positive! I guess the Chinese herbs and accupuncture worked their magic for me. I also kind of acted as my own doctor this month- taking temps, monitoring natural ovulation symptoms, also took Clomid (left over from over a year ago) and even used an extra Crinone cream i had left over from last IVF.

It's taken us 3 years to get here so it still feels surreal. Have been over the moon and dying to share the news but as it's still really early days, have only told my Mum and hubbie of course. Thought it would be great to share with you guys who've always been so encouraging and supportive.

Tiger, so sorry to hear that you've been having some pain- I hope everything clears up quickly and that you are okay.

Bella, congrats on your news about having a girl- little girls are the best- lots of great names to chose from and clothes shopping is great too! Have you decided on any names yet?

Suzanne, good luck on your cycle. I've never heard of metfomin? What does it do? I had similar issues with my cycles- my first IVF cycle i was on dosage of 200 and had so many follicles and OHSS risk that they cancelled my treatment and couldn't even take the eggs- I felt like my ovaries were going to burst. Second time around they halved my dosage to 100 and still had lots of follicles but we were able to get 10 eggs down to 2 5-day blastocysts but unfortunately BFN. They were planning on halving my dosage again on this cycle and possibly upping the dosage once the 'recruitment' phase is over- with the aim of getting less follicles of higher quality and reduce chance of OHSS. When your doc was talking about a 'long, slow haul'- it reminded me of coasting, when they monitor the number and size of follicles and sometimes stop the dosage for an extra couple of days and possibly transfer on Day 5 rather than Day 3 to keep OHSS at bay.

Em, so sorry to hear about your BFN. Must be hard to have DH away so often as well. It's also so frustrating to have diagnosis of 'unexplained infertility'- you almost want to be told it's 'something' so you can at least know why this is happening to you. Sounds like you have plans on how to proceed so I hope everything goes well for you.

Belinda- love the name Ellie- it's very cute. Not long for you til you get to hold her in your arms. Sorry to hear your little one has been having ear problems. My girlfriends' kids had so many reoccuring ear infections, they ended up getting grommits (i think that's what it's called) put in their ears and they've had no infections since.

Mel- nice to meet you and sorry to hear about your BFN. Hopefully you will have all your questions answered and find some emotional support here throughout your journey.

Sorry about the long post- I guess I'm making up for big gaps between communications.

Take care everyone,
Annette

P.S. The Lucrin shots were a breeze and had no side-effects after 1 week of shots (vs. the spray)