February Has My Heart - February Cycle Buddies Wanted

[Charity]

Welcome Nicki...I can see you're not new to the site, so you know how wonderful the women here are and what a great support system they can be. I understand how scared (but excited) you must be feeling. Just know any questions or concerns can all be posted here, and you're sure to get answers and be comforted. Take care and we look forward to having you along for the ride...

[ajdecker]

Hello girls! I thought I would join in for this group. We've had our consult with the endo. and as soon as AF comes this month which is probably this week, they told me to call. I guess they are going to be doing some blood work and then I'm going to have a Clomid Challenge Test. Then a hystersonogram (not sure if I spelled that right or not.) Then if all looks good, it looks like I'll be starting with the pill some time in Jan. I don't know how long after that we'll have implantation, but I'm figuring Feb?
Anyone else have these tests I'll be having?
So good to be with others out here that are going through the same thing. I stand arm in arm with you girls and will offer any support I can.

May we all be blessed with BFP's in 2007!!

Julie

1 cycle of Clomid and natural-2004
1 cycle of Clomid + IUI-failed-2004

[Charity]

[nimble]

Welcome Julie and Nicki - my welcome is not as glam as charity's but the heart and warm feelings are there!!

Nicki - we will be here for you to smooth away those scary feelings when the time comes, but as Souris says it is an exciting time and really not too scary - honest!!

Julie - I haven't had any similiar tests - although have had clomid - what is the clomid challenge test - sounds interesting?

Charity - thanks for worrying, but just getting snowed under with xmas bits and bobs and work, spending weekends away visiting and finally I managed to get my tree up tonight - no decorations yet but atleast it is up!! The deccies will have to wait for another night.

Your little one sounds like he will be a little handful but a nice one at that - when are you able to bring him home?

What a lovely present you have done for your niece - it is so thoughtful and personal - she will be so pleased. Can't believe though that they have cut her benefits - it all seems wrong.

Souris - how are you ? Are things getting any easier for you??

There was an article in one of papers at the weekend about natural IVF - has any one heard of it or done it? apparently they use a doppler to monitor blood flow into follies and when there is a healthy supply they will retrieve the egg - there are no drugs involved (which is a good thing) - the success rates are similiar to that of stimulated IVF and apparently some older women have more success rate than the conventional methods so I am going to look into it. I think there are more places in the states that do it than the UK. Would love to hear from anyone who has done this.

Right I'm off to bed, have an early start in the morning - happy evening all

hugs
Nimble xx

[Charity]

Julie (ajdecker)...I have had the HSG test, but not the clomid challenge. I know it's pretty common, but I had been overstimulating from clomid that I had used for probaby about 8 cycles (was down to 25 mgs and still got a cyst), so they determined I didn't need to go through the challenge. I see you're from Illinois...Where? My clinic is in Illinois. It would be nice to meet someone going to the same place to compare experiences and offer support. I love your attitude and how you're jumping right in and offering a helping hand. Just know that there are many helping hands here for you, too. You've come to the right place. Welcome again...

Nims...I know Sarah (mom20) on the dec/jan board is going to start a natural cycle in March...She's from the UK, too...If you follow this link and look for her, you'll find her post about getting the news she gets another IVF cycle, and it's going to be a natural cycle. http://www.ivf-infertility.com/phpBB2/v ... ht=#146232 She's a real sweetie, so I know she'll be happy to tell you what she can on the subject.

Got some good news today. I'm supposed to get my next cycle plan tomorrow...The doctor wants some day-3 blood work, so I'll go in tomorrow afternoon for that. I almost wonder if they're planning on starting me a little earlier than I thought...We'll see...Regardless, I'm confident I'll still be in February. It will be interesting to see if they have any news on how the business office did with discussing my situation with the board to see if they're able to provide a discount due to my initial outcome. I've got my fingies crossed.

Well...I better get my butt off to do some dishes. They unfortunately don't wash themselves. Take care ladies, and have a great evening. Talk to you soon...

[REACH-AEJ]

Hi Julie,

I had the Chlomid Challenge, among many other genetic and chromosonal tests, when we did ICSI and had no fertilization. I hope you get positive results from your tests...Good Luck and welcome to hopefully a February Cycle...!

Nims - The Chlomid Challenge is when you take Chlomid (day 5-9 of a cycle) and then they test your FSH levels (on day 3 and then day 10) to determine your ovarian reserve. My doctor told me they typically do this on women over 38, however they do it on other unexplained fertility cases. I've read some information that says these tests are unreliable, but who really knows!

Hi Charity - I hope you get to move forward sooner than later...! Please let us know what they say tomorrow at your appointment!

[Charity]

I sure will, AEJ...I meant to say hello to you on my last post, too...I'm sorry I missed you... How are you doing? It's not been very long since your disappointing news, yet you seem in such good spirits. I hope the pain is beginning to dull and you're able to move ahead. I hate this numbers game...

My dh shared with me that a couple we know, and happened to shared about 18 months ago that we were trying, is expecting their first baby. We shared our good news of ttc, before we knew we were going to have such an ongoing issue. Anyway, they decided to start trying about 4 months ago. The husband is constantly away from home with his job, and yet, they're already pregnant. How f***ing lovely!! I hate unexplained infertility! Not sure why, but this is really bugging me! My dh, who hasn't been bugged much by the whole thing, is a bit perturbed, too. I hate how bitter I've become through this whole situation. I feel so small...Here's an example of what this has turned me into. My comment to my husband was a very sarcastic "great", and then I proceeded to say, "Well, at least she's due in the height of the summer heat."...How pathetic I've become...I don't think I used to be like this..? Was I? I don't think I was...Makes me wonder if this is the "real me". They say you find out what you're really made of when you're put through some of the tougher situations in life. Is this the "real me"? I don't like her...Unfortunately, or maybe not, that's about all the introspection I can muster up at this hour. Been a long day, and with af visiting, it only makes me more tired, so better get my depressing dreary ass to bed.

Sorry for bringing you ladies down...Here I got some good news today on some progress for my next cycle, and I started out trying to make sure you (AEJ) were feeling better, and then I lay that "grumpy gus" attitude out there. I'm a lot of help! Sorry... I'll be out of this funk by morning...Thanks for letting me vent... Later Gators...

[Jen1d]

Hi girls

Well the party is over and what a night. When all the team get together we always have a blast and this year was no exception. Its now 2 days later and i'm still recovering. I don't really drink very much so to go out on a nightout and drink until you drop is not adviseable Anyway a great time was had by all and i have the photos as proof to blackmail anyone later in the year

Welcome to Julie and Nicki.
Nicki - I have spoken to you before on the site, will be good to have a chat and find out more about your situation.

Charity - Don't be so hard on yourself i feel completely the same and it could have been me who wrote your note. Our friends were the same, they knew we wanted kids are were trying and they never wanted any yet but then they went and got pregnant "by accident" and now have a girl who is nearly 1. We see them quite a bit but its hard because i just see them having everything we wanted---before them. I feel p***ed off at people i see pregnant in the town and especially really young kids who are obvioulsy about 16, no jobs, claiming money etc---how do they all seem to get preggers SO easily???
So anyway don't feel bad about it, if we're all honest i bet 99% of the girls on this site feel the same as us. Chin up girl, you are made of strong stuff so don't apologise for your vent, thats what we are here for

I called the hosp yesterday and they offered me to start treatment now if i wanted, which surprised me as its only been a short time since my last cycle. However i said no and will wait for my af in Jan, which will be round about the middle of the month then we will try again This time i have a whole new protocol and i will take hrt tablets then wait on ovulation and this is meant to boost my egg supply. If this doesn't get me more eggs then i think we will be near the end of me supplying the eggs for our treatment. Don't really want to think about that one, just hoping it works this time.

Ok, am away to pop into work for an hours meeting then organise for tomorrow. We have another work day out with the kids in Glasgow to see a Panto then go for tea---usually always another great day.

See you soon

Love Jen x

[WISCONSINGAL]

HI EVERYONE!

CHARITY: YOU GO GIRL.....VENT ALL YOU WANT! THIS IS THE PLACE TO DO IT, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL FEELING THE SAME WAY. RIGHT NOW I FEEL THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE I CAN VENT OR TALK ABOUT MY SITUATION. I TRIED TO BRING UP THE CONVERSATION OF GETTING PREGO.....AND "STILL TRYING" TO A GROUP OF FRIENDS THE OTHER NIGHT AND 3 OR 4 OF THEM JUST BUSTED OUT LAUGHING AND WERE ALL SAYING THAT WHO THE HECK IN THEIR 40'S WOULD WANT TO START A FAMILY NOW, MY GOD YOU'D BE 60 WHEN YOU KID GRADUATES, YOU HAVE YOUR "FREEDOM" NOW AND COULD NOT HANDLE BEING TIED DOWN BLA BLA BLA.....MAN, TALK ABOUT FEELING OLD AND RUNNING OUT TIME.

I'VE ALSO DECIDED TO START ACUPUNCTURE.....1ST SESSION IS THIS SATURDAY......AND FOR SOME REASON I'M NOT EVEN SCARED, I THINK WITH ALL THE SHOTS I'VE GIVEN MYSELF THESE PAST 11 YEARS, WHAT'S A FEW MORE NEEDLE POKES???

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE ON THIS PAGE STARTING A FLARE PROTOCAL IN JANUARY?

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT CHRISTMAS IF I DON'T GET A CHANCE TO CHAT TILL NEXT WEEK!

[nimble]

Hey charity, don't be hard on yourself - your post made me smile because I thought - god that sounds just like me!! Here's my dilema and I'm feeling like the ***** from hell at the mo but just can't help it....

At work, a friend of mine who worked in the same dept but a slightly different team to me got married last year. Then a managers job came up in the team I worked in and we both applied and I helped her with interview questions etc. During this time, a number of colleagues remarked that she was putting on weight and she brushed it off as post wedding weight and even told me about one girl actually asking her if she was pg and she told me that she was really offended and I backed her up about the other girl being really out of order and rude.

Well to cut a long story short, she got the job over me and then a few weeks later announced she was over 4/5mnths pg and it wasn't planned and that she didn't say anything because of the job thing... but what got me was the fact that she lied especially when I stood up for her with this other girl. So not only did she get the job, she also got pg and then left on mat leave!!

So now a yr has gone by and she is due back to work and for some reason I feel really resentful that she is coming back.

So you see Charity, it gets us all in the end and I just can't help it !!! My DH doesn't understand (he also works in the same area so knows her), I know my boss won't understand although I do think that she has sense my green eyed monster vibes so unfortunately you girls just have to grin and bear me - sorry!!!

Well thats me done .....

Wisconsingal - accu is great, I have had 3 sessions so far and you don't feel a thing - you may get a dull ache sometimes but thats were you have an energy block, the needles don't hurt at all.

As for your friends, sorry but I think thats really hurtful especially as you have to have IVF to get your dream... your def not old !! As an older mom, you have lots of wisdom, experience and you are in a better place in life to bring up a child. so what if your 60 when they are graduating, my god have you what Priscilla Priesley looks like now and shes 61 - I think she looks fantastic.... 60 is def the new 40!!

Jen - sounds like you had a great party, I know what you mean about drinking - I can't not handle it either anymore. Great that you can start again soon and I'm sure you have plenty of those eggies left .

AEJ - thanks for the info - I did have clomid once but just took it for 3mnths but then my Dr was confused as to why the hospital put me on it when I was ovulating ok!! Why try and mend something thats not broken were her words!!

Well I guess I have probably taken nearly a page up and you guys will be asleep by now.....

Hugs

Nims x

[REACH-AEJ]

Hi Charity...you can vent anytime! You are only saying what we all feel at one time or another. How can you not feel that way ~ this seems to control our lives. I told my DH that sometimes just thinking about another year of this is exhausting - and I find myself getting irritated when I am receiving the beautiful Christmas cards of all of my friends children. I reluctantly sent out Christmas Cards, but was almost embarrassed that I had to send out generic cards again this year...it can turn anyone into a scrooge!

Wiggal - I did acupuncture on my last IVF and I really believe in it. I asked my doctor about it recently and he said that he has been skeptical, but there IS something to it - and the older you are the more it seems to benefit. So, I am definitely incorporating it into my next cycles - can't hurt!
And, I'm sorry about your friends ~ people just don't understand how little comments like that can hurt so much. I have lots of friends in their 40's who have had children..some on purpose and some not. No matter, they are wonderful mothers and wouldn't trade it for the world. It's times like this I know what people mean when they say you become anit-social during IVF ...it's because people can be so ignorant!

Nims - what a story. That's tough and definitely would p** me off!
I think we will appreciate it so much more when it happens for us..!

Later ~ XXX ~

[Charity]

You all are so great!! Thank you for making me feel less like a green-eyed monster...I don't mind being envious, but it's when I start feeling jealous that I begin to really dislike myself. Everyone is dealing with their own challenges in life, and who the heck am I to judge them...Even though I know my dh and I will be totally better parents than them... Kidding!! I told my dh that we'll just have to outdo them with twins!! And of course with our more beautiful, intelligent, mentally stable and successful children... I'm awful!! Your situations all sound worse than mine, so I'll shut-up...

WIGal...What a bunch of insensitive twits...Or as the UK gals would say...Cheeky Cows! Since when did motherhood have an expiration? What's wrong with some people...I know they're your friends, and they probably didn't mean anything by it, but I wonder if people think at all before they open their mouths? I have a coworker who went through IVF and got pg at 41, and has a beautiful son who's now 6 and he makes their family complete. She's my inspiration that it can happen...You should ask them what they plan on doing with their "freedom" at "their age". Go shuffle boarding? That'll teach 'em how to put age into perspective. Obviosly they're not too old to enjoy life, so why would they place the age label on you?? As far as I'm concerned, if you got one egg still kicking, you're good to go kiddo!

Jen...Glad you had a super-duper time at the chrimbo party! Nice to let your hair down and just laugh, to rehash the "remember when's", and make some new memories to be the "remember when's" at your next get together. My brother is supposed to have a new year's eve party, and sounds like there should be some fun times. I hope he gets his butt in gear with the invitations, though. He made an open invitation, with the "I'll be in touch" blah blah blah, anyway, I'm holding him to it...So, he was going to make some calls, but not sure if he has yet or not...Regardless, we'll find something to do with ourselves. Not nearly as fun as your time, but maybe we'll cause a little havoc...

Nims...If I had to deal with that situation at work, I think I'd probably go batty...You know what, I know someone a lot like that, and she's now three toddlers deep and still in her middle mgmt job. Look at it this way, while she may have gotten this one, this is likely where she'll stay, and you can make leaps and bounds above her in both your career and personal life.

Well...Went to the clinic and found out my approximate dates. They are going to start me a lot earlier than I thought...I am going on the bcp tomorrow, then on the 2nd of Jan, I'll take my last pill. On the 5th I'll go in for my baseline and b/w. Then, I start stimming on approx. the 6th. Then, there are scans every two days from about the 9th through the 17th...They're kind of vague on when the actual ec will be, but it will probably be around the 19th or 22nd...Then, the longest day of my life will begin...They'll do a 3dt (assuming there's anything to transfer), and then a 13 day wait until 1st beta, which would be approximately the 7th of February...They're all very vague/approximate dates, so we'll see as we get closer, but still surprised they're starting me so early...I almost was hoping for a few more weeks...Work is nuts right now, and will only be worse with the year end, auditors, statutories, and our annual financial reporting...Oh well...I can only do what I can do, and they'll just have to do what they can without me. That's all there is to it...My immediate supervisor has been great through all this, but I don't want to push my luck and don't want to be ungrateful and burden her with more than she can handle, either. We'll work it out...Technically, I'm still in February though...Right? My test date (if I have one) will be February...I don't care if I am technically a January, I'm still a February and there's nothing you can say to make me anything but a February... Better get going...You gals have a great night...Love you all, and thanks again for making me feel so much better about being such a beeeeoooooch...

[REACH-AEJ]

Charity - Very exciting to be getting this underway so soon!
I have a quesiton ~ how do they know it will be a 3dt? Doesn't your clinic
watch the development of the embryos and hope for day 5 blasts? My clinic only transfers on day 3 if the embies quit developing....they don't know which day to transfer until the last minute.

Just curious ~ so many different thoughts on all of this!

Sweet Dreams!

[Charity]

AEJ...Yeah...I'm pretty excited. A little worried about telling my boss tomorrow, but hope she's okay with it...

My clinic hasn't had a lot of success with blast thaws, so they only recommend doing 3dt so they can freeze the others at that stage of development...They admit it's a weakness and there is an art to it that they just haven't mastered as some other clinics have. They're working on their ability to thaw 5 day blasts with better stats...In the meantime, they highly encourage their patients to go with all 3-day transfers and freezes...

[NickiMark]

Oh no, i a not new t the board, been posting here yonks!!! I have been ttc since dec 01, found this site back in 2003, when i started investigations to why, had 5 iuis and an old hat at that, really thought last iui would work as i was so chilled out about it, but hey ho!!
Anyway, new to ivf...... just found out i have to wait 2 and a half yrs for nhs funding, so we will fund it ourselves, will call clinic today to ge the ball rolling they have already said that we can start when ever i am ready. Af is next due 13th jan but think i will wait for feb AF to make sure all that xmas alcohol is out of the system, which would mean down reg for feb an then EC ET for March, yes indeed we could have a Xmas babe!!

I have lots of Q's, and mainly i am scared of the drugs, the thought of EC and ET doesntb worry me but the injections arghhh!!!! I dont like needles, and neither does DH how will we over come that???

I have spoke to some you before, but great so get to know some new peeps!!

Love to all, and merry xmas xx x Love Nicki x x