First IVF in August,

[wannababy1229]

Hi ladies--thanks for the bedrest suggestions! I think I may do 3 days.

I just got the call from the embryologist. Out of the 9 eggs they collected, 7 were fertilized! I'm pleased with that number. The transfer will be either Mon, Wed or Thurs.

I hope all of you ladies are doing well. This whole thing is moving pretty quickly, wouldn't you say? Take care! Smooches!

[suzhan]

Congrat's wannababy - 7 of 9 is great! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you get some very good embies out of those 7!

Sam/Lola - Thanks for the vote of confidence. I know those HPTs are evil...I wish I'd never done it. Sam - I took your advice and talked to the clinic to see if I could get the first Beta result today instead of waiting for the second Beta on Monday to get the result. Apparently, even though they drew the blood this a.m., they actually freeze it and don't even run the test. They wait for the second blood draw Monday and then run both together. So, obviously, no way to get a result today anyway. I never knew that's how it worked.

Anyone know much about the 'cramping' during the 2ww? I had some cramping right after ET (first day or 2). Then, it seems to come and go. Some days I go all day with nothing and then the next day I get them again. And, sometimes it's on one side and then on the other side. Also, sometime when I sit up in a certain way (like getting up from bed), I'll get a really sharp pain in my lower abdomen. I'm trying to remember if any of this was like my other time, but don't recall. Anyone else know and/or hear anything about this and what's 'normal'?


Also, Sam, I'd wait a bit longer before telling people. Once you get your first ultrasound/scan, you'll know more and be more confident. Let them think you've gained wait and then when you tell them in a month or so that your pregnant, they'll feel quite silly!

Champa - I always said that the end of the stims feels like you've got two huge water balloons bouncing around in your belly! So, no with all that, no wonder you're tired!

Thanks again for the support, gals! I really do appreciate it!

Good luck to us all!

- Suzhan

[Lola]

Suzhan --- I know Monday must feel like an eternity, but I think you did your HPT too early and so it does not mean anything... So like Sam said, it is not over until it is over.

Sam --- I would not tell other people yet as well. I know it must feel ugly now that everybody thinks you have put on some weight.... but that's just temporary, in one year nobody will remember and you will have a beautiful baby(ies)

Alicia - I am going to be at my mom's starting this coming Thursday, and I will probaby stay there till the end of August. Are you coming to Long Beach again to get your Beta or are you doing it locally? If yes, we could definitely meet other!!! My clinic is in LA, but I will be staying (and then laying) at Redondo Beach.
My hubby will be on vacation and he will be there with me

Wannababy - How exciting, 7 is my lucky number, so I hope it works for you. It is moving so fast, you ET is almost here!!! Wishing you a lot of little happy campers!

Champa - are you still feeling the cramps? So is your estimated ER on the 22nd - Tuesday?

Mia - I am glad the article helped and made you more positive about everything.

Well ladies, we did my 1st follistim shot yesterday ( I am still on Lupron - lower dose and follistim now) and boy it hurts!!! (- I literally looked like this) I did not even use ice or anything, and now I now what you are talking about. Lupron was a piece of cake and the follistim needle looked tiny as well, so I though it will be easy. Well now I learned Follistim is a whole different story. I will definitely use ice tonight and maybe the spot wasn't the best yesterday either, I don't know. Maybe I am a chicken, but I got dizzy after the shot and had to drink some water, I almost passed out! I have to go back and read Sam's advice on these shots.
Looks like I am the last one out of all of us here to have my ER. Please don't leave me here on this thread by myself when you are all pregnant !!! (just joking)

Love and lots of luck to you all!

Lola

[myhb]

Hi Ladies - I am new to the board and this thread. I am way behind all of you in the whole process. I just got my meds by FedEx today and if all goes well, I will start my Lupron shots on Tuesday (depending upon the results of my bloodwork). It seems like Tuesday will never come. as I was reading the thread, I noticed that many of you were on BCP before you started your Lupron shots. My doctor didn't have me use any BCP yet he is having me do Lupron shots. Is this normal?

[myhb]

Sorry about that. I didn't mean to just abruptly end like that. I was trying to go back and put some in spacing/paragraphs and I accidentally posted it by mistake.

Good luck to everyone.

-myhb

[hopeful-in-LV]

Hey there! I had an u/s and b/t again today. I still have 13 follicles in production . The nurse says everything is looking good.

wannababy, Congrats on 7 fertilized eggies! Go on girl!

Lola, wow you and Alicia both did your IVF in LA. You both went a long way to do IVF . I won't complain about my 35 minute drive to my clinic anymore. I once looked up REs in LA, there are a BUNCH of them. I think there's like 5 clinics here. Doesn't that follistim sting?! Did you pinch the skin as you stuck in the needle? It helps alot. Definately use the ice next time, get your skin nice and numb. I have little bruises all over my thighs from the follistim shots. I look like a junkie or something . I would love to meet you too Are you somewhere near San Bernadino?

Hi Myhb, welcome to the group. My RE had me on BCP to suppress my menstrual cycle. My cycle started when I stopped BCP and thats when I started stimms. Basically it stopped me from losing anymore eggs and helps keep all the women doing IVF at my clinic on the same or close schedule. Helps keep the clinic's schedule organized.

[samandaw1]

suzhan

I have heard cramping is a good sign, unless it gets out of control. What you described is very normal and your embryos are likely to be implanting and holding on. I am still cramping and my re said everything is fine. I am still thinking of you daily and hoping you get your BFP.

Girls----once we all get our BFP we will all have to celebrate! I am refusing to go over the the pregnant after IVF until you are all able to join me!!!

Lots of love

Sam

[myhb]

Hi hopeful-in-LV -

Thanks for the response. My doctor has me starting Lupron on day 21 of this cycle (depending if my progersterone levels are high enough). After about 8 to 10 days, I should get a Lupron period which is when I will start the hcg shots.

If my progesterone levels aren't high enough on day 21, they'll have me wait a week and retest me then. I hope that my levels will be high enough on day 21 because I really don't want to wait another week. However considering how long we've been trying to get pregnant, I guess one more week won't make a difference other than the fact that I am really impatient and just want to get started.

-myhb

[Lola]

Hello Ladies! Here is an update:

Sam (Denver, Colorado) Aug 13 BFP!!
Alicia (Yuma, Arizona) Aug 17 ET - bed rest now, 1st Beta 8/29
Champa Aug 12 Stims (ER around the 22nd)
Wannababy ( New Jersey) Aug 18 ER
Lola (California) Aug 18 Stims
Mia (Las Vegas, NE) Aug 12 Stims
Suzhan (California) Aug 11 ET - after bed rest now, 1st Beta 8/19, 2nd Beta 8/21
Myhb Aug 22 Starting Lupron


Myhb - welcome to this thread! I was on BCP first for 14 days, started on the 3rd day of my period, then on Lupron for almost 20 days (I was supposed to be on it only for 2 weeks, but my estrogen levels were still high and I had be on it for one more week), and then I started my stimulation shots. It depends on the clinic, my clinic is doing a long protocol.
Good luck with everything and let us know about your appointment on Tuesday!

Mia - 13 follies sounds great! Congratulations! So when is your ER? I live in San Bernardino County, so the drive is not too bad, only an hour. Thanks for the advice with follistim, I used ICE yesterday and did not feel a thing. My appointment is on Tuesday, do you think they will tell me how many there is already? When did they tell you?

Have a nice Sunday gals!!!
Lola

[wannababy1229]

Hi Ladies--How are you all today?

Welcome Myhb--Are you nervous about your shots? Did you freak when you opened your FedEx package? I know I did!

Sam-I'm glad to hear that you won't leave us! I would wait as well! Keep people guessing! Who have you told?

Hopeful- 13 is awesome! Wow

Lola and Shapooh--that would be cool if you met in person. I feel out of the loop being on the east coast!

Champa-you are not too far from me in your cycle. We should be getting our BFP's wihtin a few days of each other.

Suzhan- are the cramps that you are feelling feel familiar or is it a new "type" of cramp?

I took my first progesterone shot last night! I iced b4 and didn't feel anything until this morning when I woke up. OUCH! I don't know if I should use heat or ice to help with the pain. I'm trying both and can't figure out which one is better. And to think I will have to do this for at least for the next 2 weeks! If I am lucky enough to have to continue I will gladly suck it up for my bunchkin(s)!

Tomorrow I get my call regarding my transfer date. Which is better: day 3 or day 5? I'm clueless when it comes to that.

I hope everyone is well and staying positive! Smooches!

[Shapooh]

Welcome Myhb!

Wannababy - How are your embies doing? The progesterone shots are a piece of cake now. I don't use heat or ice, right after the injection massage the spot where the injection was given for about 2-3 minutes. My DH was more than happy to offer this service and it turned out to fix the problem. No soreness the next day at all!

Lola - Thanks for the update, our chart is growing. It will be nice to see all the BFP's on there soon! I will find out tomorrow what office I have to take my beta at. That would be so awesome if its in Long Beach, I will take you to lunch. Then you can take me when we have our babies!!!

Sam - I hope and pray everyday that we will all get to join you in the next message board. Wouldn't that be something! If that happens, we all have to plan to get together after our miracles are born!

Mia - I'm so glad your lucky 13 is going strong! It would be so cool if we could all meet!

Suzhan - Wishing you lots of baby dust!!!!!!!!

Love Alicia

[myhb]

Hi Ladies -

Wannababy - I knew my FedEx package would be arriving on Saturday so I didn't want to leave the house until it arrived. I kept busy by doing normal weekend things and everytime I heard a car drive by, I would run to the window to check to see if it was the FexEx truck. It was so pathetic! When the package finally did arrive, I immediately opened it up and did an inventory. Once we did that, it started to sink in that we were finally going to be able to start the process that will hopefully get us pregnant. I didn't so much freak but I think I did get a little overwhelmed when I saw how much 'stuff' was in the box.

I am not so nervous about the Lupron shots because those needles seem smaller and the Lupron doesn't take as long to administer. I think what I will be nervous about are the progesterone shots because a) the needles are much larger and it takes longer to administer and b) I won't be able to do it myself. I am not going to stress about it until I absolutely have to.

Did you give yourself the progesterone shot or did your husband do it for you? Also, when you mentioned the pain, was it at the site where the shot was administered (like a bruise) or is it a completely different type of pain?

Lola - Thanks for adding me to the list. As soon as I know anything on Tuesday, I'll be sure to let you all know. I never thought I'd be excited about a bloodtest .

-myhb

[hopeful-in-LV]

I am sooooo ready to burst. I really think my follicles are ripe for the picking . I feel like I have major premenstrual bloating and swelling. My nipples are extremely sore too. Tomorrow at 8am I have an u/s & b/t. I'm positive they will tell me i'm ready for ER on wed 8/23.

Lola, If they do an u/s they should be able to tell you how many follicles you have. I had to ask them how many. Everytime I have an u/s all they really are doing is counting and measuring the size of each maturing follicle. At my last u/s, my follicles measured between 11.5 and 15.5 mm. Up from 8 to 12 mm two days before. so I think they're just about ready I'm hoping monday will be my last day of stimms.

[wannababy1229]

Hopeful--My entire nipple area is sore too, but didn't feel that way until I took the trigger shot. Let us know what the doctor says. It totally bothered me that they were rambling off numbers and not telling me what it meant. Eventually I asked questions.

Myhb-DH does the progesterone shot for me. I'm trying different techniques for after the shot to see what will alleviate the pain. My shot from Saturday night is still sore, but last night's shot (so far) isn't nearly as painful (thanks, Shapooh--DH massaged it for about 5 minutes afterwards!)

Today I should be receiving a call to tell me when to come in for the transfer. I can't believe how real this all seems!

I'm still a bit crampy from my retrieval on Friday afternoon--is this normal?

Take care!

[Champa]

Wow!! Congratulations wannababy1229. That’s a pretty good number!!! How many follicles did u have?

Lola- I am no longer feeling cramps. I felt cramping on 2 days. Now a days I just feel slight headache on and off and of course I get tired quickly:) I’ve increased my diet to give me more energy

After today's UltraSound my dates have changed. My ER will be on 25th. Lola, when u get a chance please update the chart with my new date.

Suzan - All the best for ur Beta...

Champa