February Has My Heart - February Cycle Buddies Wanted

[vicky77]

Hey ladies, happy Monday!!!!!!!!..........how was your weekend???

Ajdecker, regarding your question about weight, I only put on weigh after starting the progesterone shots, before that nothing, but with the progesterone I put on about 9 pounds in about 4 weeks I guess (also probably the fact that I was preggie)..., but after the m/c went on a diet and lost all the 9 pounds in 1 week, so it is all fluid retention most probably, don't worry...

Jen, congrats on AF!!!, glad the jig worked!! .....I need one now, since I want my AF to come ASAP!!!.........

Anna, I am also a big time diet coke addict, on my last cycle I cut it out to caffeine free diet coke only on weekends and special occasions (like dining out), but it all depends on how addicted you are , about vitamins, I only take the prenatal vits that are pretty complete...

Beachbaby, glad your appt went well, you are getting closer!!!

Julia, good luck on your second part of the CPA exam!!

Carolyn congrats on AF!!!!!, one less worry I guess

Wisconsingal, I haven't done acu, so I am afraid I cannot give you much info, but good luck with your cycle!!!!!!

As per me, luckily the bleeding is almost gone, tomorrow I will recheck HCG levels (which I hope are close to zero...), AF is supposed to come next week, but with all the bleeding I had last week I wonder if that would be the begining of a new cycle and have to wait another month??.........please please don't!!!!!.....tired of waiting .........

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYBODY!!

[ajdecker]

Thanks all for your replies about the weight gain. I appreciate it. I'm just waiting for AF to arrive. I have been lately questioning yet again if I want to go through with this. I keep thinking that maybe I should call my RE and tell him I want to do IUI w/Injectables instead. But he only gave us a chance of 16-18% success with that. Maybe I am just being a wimp.

Baby dust to all of you!

[vicky77]

Julie, I understand the being afraid, mainly when you are getting so close, but think that you have already done some IUI's already, and they are not for free, they are costly too, and if you keep adding, it is more money that you could be using for IVF that gives you much more chances than IUI. At least that is what I thought when I decided to go for IVF after 2 failed IUI's............
We are all here for you if you have fears, let us know how we can help you!!!!.....most of us have experience already....

[annag]

Good evening ladies!

WISCONSINGAL-According to Zita West, she does acupuncture twice weekly when stimulation begins and then after egg transfer. She says research suggests that acu on a weekly basis may help to build up the lining of the uterus, develop follicles and, after the transfer of the embryos, encourage implantation and the mainatenance of pregnancy. She suggests going to someone who specializes in infertility. My RE says at least 3 sessions is good enough-once during stims, then right before transfer and then after. I haven't called the acupuncturist just yet for my sessions but I'll let you know her suggestions.

Vicky, I hope everything goes well with your blood work tomorrow. I, too, am in the waiting game. Af should be here in the beg of Feb then I start bcp's.

Julia, I know what you mean with the rainy weather. My part of Ohio is always gray, damp and cold and it has been raining for the last 4-5 days. It just dampens my whole mood. Anyway, Good luck with your exam in Feb.

As for me, I have been using this waiting period to start eating healthy and drinking more water than caffeinated beverages. I also just learned today that my friend who concieved triplets through injectables/IUI had her babies today at 31 weeks and everybody is healthy. I know everyone is different but she has given me hope that having multiples is such a blessing and not a complication. I know it is high risk but she proved to me that it still can be done. Dh and I almost balked when my RE suggested transfering 3 embryos if we get blessed with multiple embryos but now I am much more hopeful.

I know this is jumping the gun too early but given a choice in transferring between 2 or 3 embryos(if blessed with that many), what would you guys choose?

Thanks...Just wanted to hear some feedback.

Anna

[pep23]

Hi ladies, I hope you are all doing well!! I haven't checked in for a few days as we had a long weekend and DH and I were busy entertaining out of town guests and cheering on the Indianapolis Colts!!! One game away from the Super Bowl!!

Anyway, I thought I'd give an update. I had my follow up 3D ultrasound yesterday (my RE couldn't tell from my HSG if I may have a polyp) and it was good news. I'm all clear! Apparently my uterus has a dip so on a one dimensional ultrasound it just looks black and she thought it may be a mass. But apparently it's just shaped a little different than most. The doctor assured me this was completely fine and that it should not affect my ability to hold a pregnancy.

So I'm on my way!! I started taking Prometrium to bring on AF Friday night. She can't get here fast enough!! And then I guess once it starts I will begin my round of BCP. For those of you who have had to use BCP in a cycle before when do you usually start taking them? Right when AF starts?

DH and I also got all of our blood work back and it was A-OK! So that was another relief. Now we are in the process of waiting to hear if we got accepted to the shared risk program. Unfortunately we have no infertility coverage with our insurance and will be paying for this all out of our own pockets. The shared risk program is definitely more up front but I just don't think I can handle the pressure of plopping down $10k+ for one cycle when my odds of success are 50/50. I'd like to go into this paying for more cycles up front and then if we have to do a few the financial aspect won't overwhelm me. It's so unfair that it's not covered. As if us IVF girls don't have enough to worry about!!!!

Wisconsingal - Good luck at ER this weekend!!!

Nerms- So glad that your open session went well. I know those can be overwhelming. Keep us posted as you move forward!

Hugs to all of you! Have a great day!
Steph

[CarolynB]

Steph - WOW. You are on your way. Great nes on the bloods and also on the scan. Two less things to worry about. Weekend with your dh sounded like fun. They even show the superbowl over this side of the water so we do get the final. Dh usually stays up to watch and I fall asleep Cannot help with AF and BCP as not done a protocol with BCP. Sure that one of the ladies will know the answer for you. It is exciting that you can start very soon

WISCONSINGAL - my acu was very similar to what Anna has said. My guy told me that it was really the twice on ET day that makes the big difference but going prior to that can help primarily with your lining. I would try to get your acu place to see you on day of ET if they will. I have had the ones in my ears - that is so relaxing but as you say a bit far out man!!! The very best of luck for ER later this week. Let's hope that you get a great crop of embryos

Anna - In this country, the consultants are really only allowed to put back 3 embryos when we are 40. So first go I had 2 back. Second attempt I was just over 40. We begged to have 3 back. I just figured that it was 1 more chance for it to work for us. They outlined the risks and then allowed us to do it. We will have 3 back this time. I guess everyone has to make their own decisions. At my age, my eggs will not be very good and now that we have had multiple attempts, it seems like an easy decision for us. You are younger than me so your eggs will be better quality so you need to factor this in. I guess dh and I know that we would be thrilled whatever the outcome - 1 - 2 or 3. You'll know what to do. Your instinct will tell you. Sounds like you are getting yourself into great shape. I am trying to drink lots of water too - gets boring!

Julie - You are not being a wimp at all. It is scary, especially when you don't know exactly what is ahead of you. But as Vicky says you have been brave to get this far. When I feel scared, I just say to myself that I cannot have a baby unless I climb the hill. When I think like that then I just have to get on with it! Ask away if we can help at all

Vicky - how funny is it when we congratulate each other on AF!!! But it is a step closer. Glad that things for you seem to be calming down with your system. Hope HCG is now zero so you can move onwards.

Jen - cannot believe the stress that the yp cause you. Madness! One less worry for us though - Lola is back on the radar! It was lovely to hear from her. As you said, she was just taking some time out. Her follow up is today with Mr Lavery so we'll have to look out for her news. Could she be a Feb cycle buddy?

Hugs to the rest of you. Hope that you are not doing too badly with the waiting game. It's a month for me until I'll be on stimmies. It is my dh's birthday this weekend. Then the following weekend, we have my parents to stay. So figuring that this will help the time to pass a little faster for me.

Love to you all.
Carolyn xxx

[nerms]

Hi Girls...hope you're all doing ok! Steph I'm really pleased to hear your results went well-it like getting exam resluts all over again!!!!

We went for consultation yesterday and it was really good-the doc was really positive and felt we had a very good chance-i really really hope so! The night before the appt i was feeling so anxious, but was positvely relieved once we had consultation! Her positiveness was really quite infectious!

So AF is due on 1st Feb and then we should be able to start...counting down the days! I so know that feeling Carolyn of wishing days away-plan to keep very busy so time flies!! Will pm you later carolyn to get details of acu.

One quick question: when you downreg-the period that you get-is that because of your natural cycle or is that because of you downreggin?...just wandered because I know my cylce can be a bit irregular-mostly due to stress, and i'm sure i'll be waiting for it and that's usually when she doesn't show her face!

Ok better rush-just saw the time...off to step aerobics!!!

nerms
xx

[nerms]

Hi Girls...hope you're all doing ok! Steph I'm really pleased to hear your results went well-it like getting exam resluts all over again!!!!

We went for consultation yesterday and it was really good-the doc was really positive and felt we had a very good chance-i really really hope so! The night before the appt i was feeling so anxious, but was positvely relieved once we had consultation! Her positiveness was really quite infectious!

So AF is due on 1st Feb and then we should be able to start...counting down the days! I so know that feeling Carolyn of wishing days away-plan to keep very busy so time flies!! Will pm you later carolyn to get details of acu.

One quick question: when you downreg-the period that you get-is that because of your natural cycle or is that because of you downreggin?...just wandered because I know my cylce can be a bit irregular-mostly due to stress, and i'm sure i'll be waiting for it and that's usually when she doesn't show her face!

Ok better rush-just saw the time...off to step aerobics!!!

nerms
xx

[vicky77]

Hello ladies!!

Anna....... how fantastic about your friend, glad everything went ok....About your question whether to transfer 2-3, it is a tough one. I have been giving it some thought as well, I will ask my RE's some statistics before taking a decision. The main thing would be how much transferring 3 increases your chances of a BFP vs transferring 2. Because I know that the risk of m/c is higher with triplets, than with twins or singleton. So I guess finding out wether it really increases your chances and if it is worth to take the risk is important......the other thing is for you to think wether you would be willing to go for a reduction if your RE suggests it...........it is something to really think about....

Steph...... congrats!, one step ahead!!!!, that is great news that your HSG and your DH's bw was ok!! . I am also on the shared risk program, and let me tell you it was a great relief having it after we had our m/c, I cannot imagine having to pay for multiple cycles out of pocket, I mean I am paying a lot now anyways, but much less than if I would have had to pay for them separately....

Carolyn........you made me laugh!!, yes it is weird to be happy and actually congratulate somebody about AF , but we are all crazy ladies, we become happy for the weirdest things, like getting the ok to inject ourselves 8000000 medications!!!! , but this makes the treament more easy going, being all together.........Hope your DH's BD goes well this weekend!!!

Nerms.....glad your appt went so well, it is important to have such a great RE, that gives you all the PMA!!. As per your question, I believe AF comes due to stopping the BCP's (are they putting you on BCP's??), so I don't think it depends on your cycle anymore at that point.........hope it helps...

As per me, I had my bw done today, fortunately the HCG is still coming down, came down from 1500 last thrusday to 250 today, I have to repeat it next week, when I am almost sure it will be zero by then.........hope so!!!. I would also like AF to come, but not before it goes down to zero, otherwise they won't start anything, they want to see the zero first.......so I hope my body knows that!!!! . As you can see I am getting so impatient!!!, I hate waiting.......

Hope everybody is doing great!!

[nerms]

Hi Vicky...glad to hear your hcg is coming down...the waiting game is a hard one! Tell me-why do they need your hcg down to zero? (sorry if it's a silly question! ) They are going to start me on a nasal spray: Buserelin (Suprefact®/Suprecur®) or Nafarelin (Synarel®)...do you think that does the same thing?

[vicky77]

Nerms, there are no silly questions in this forum, we are all learning together through this process.
Apparently they need the HCG to be zero to make sure there are no more POC's (product of conception) in my uterus, since that might affect my next cycle.........
Buserelin and Nafarelin, I believe are the analogs to the Lupron that we use, so in that case I am not so sure if that by itself manages your cycle, since, at least here, we don't stop the Lupron (Buserelin in your case) when AF comes...........maybe ask your RE, since I don't seem to be giving you the advise you need in this case.......sorry...

[Jen1d]

Hi girls

As always i am in a mad rush

Well we are heading off to England tomorrow as my nephew got engaged and there is a huge party on Friday. Plus my SiL rang last night and my FinL was taken into hospital again last night so its just as well we were heading down. He doesn't seem to be getting any respite from all these infections and don't know how much more the body can take??????

Ok am on yet another sleepover and my keychild is being a little s**t. Got abuse from the minute we went in yesterday to the second we left and had to deal with the social worker who is a complete idiot Better take my bullet proof vest tonight, think there is going to be drama

Carolyn - Yep the Loops is back and just had some time out as i though. It's amazing that none of us have ever met but we get to know each other so well and get fond of each other. Think we should all have a Fertility Chicks Giant Knees Up in 2008 with all our babies----i'm opting to meet in the hottest place

Vicky - Hope things are moving for you? Any AF? Sorry don't know how to send those cool jigs you sent but everything is crossed for you.

Will try and log on to my in laws computer for a chat if i can, if not will be back on Tue. Ccheque is paid for treatment bag is packed and ovulation sticks are with me to start on the 21st

Thinking of you all

Love Jen x

[CarolynB]

Just a quickie to reply to Nerms question. Glad that you had a great consultation. It helps when you have a great deal of confidence in the consultant. One less stress for you!

I used burselin for my 1st cycle. I had to wait for a natural AF. Then I started the burselin on Day 2. So I guess it was a natural AF for me. However I know some protocols get you started on Day 21.

The burselin turns off your system. Usually on it for about 14 days. Think I was on it for 18 days and then you get to start stimmies.

Asking away if you have questions as sounds like you may be on a similiar protocol to one that I have done!

Hope this helps. You are getting closer.
Love
Carolyn xxx

Hugs to everyone else. Wet, cold and miserable in London. But I lost 5 lbs since Xmas and AF beingin to go so not all is bad!

[pep23]

Hey all! Just procrastinating at work this morning so I thought I'd pop in to see how everyone was doing!! Nothing much new to report on my end. I'm on day 7 of a 12-day dose of Prometrium to get AF started and then I can begin my BCP and finally know my schedule. I feel like we have been waiting for this for so long and now that it's right around the corner I sometimes have days where I am in disbelief. Can't believe we are finally on our way!!

On another note, ran into a friend of me and DH's at the gym last night and he was heckling me about "When are you and DH going to have kids already?!?" Him and his wife have a7 month-old and just "accidentally" got prego with their second. GRRRR!! I was quite proud of myself though. I just smiled and said "We're working on it" and left it at that. Although I suspect he may have felt the daggers I was throwing at him with my eyes. Haha. Some people just don't get it do they?!?! At least when we all have our precious little ones we will never take for granted what a gift it really is. Anyway, sorry about that…just needed a quick vent. All better!!

Vicky-Thanks for the congrats! I'm right with you patiently awaiting AF!!! Quick question about the shared risk program, how does your program work? With ours we get 3 fresh cycles and 3 frozen with a 70% refund if unsuccessful. I feel pretty good about that but I'm still waiting (with everything crossed!!!) to hear if we get accepted. I agree that it will be so helpful to have the financial burden taken care of right off the bat with no surprises.

Jen-I'm sorry to hear about your FiL and I hope all turns out just fine. And I hope you have a great time at the engagement party tomorrow night! I'm on board for a 2008 trip to somewhere warm!! Us and all of our little ones!!! I actually just booked a trip for DH and I to go to Florida in late March. We should be done with everything by then, maybe still in the 2WW depending on how things fall into place…So I thought it would be a nice thing to look forward to and help relieve some of the anxiety for both of us.

Carolyn-Glad to hear AF started and your countdown is underway!! Best of luck to you! I have hope that this is going to be a GREAT year for all of us!! It's been cold and miserable in Indiana as well but we finally got snow for the first time this week. It was really pretty but now I'm already thinking towards spring and warmer weather!!

Nerms-What have you decided to do about acu? Let me know what you think because I am seriously considering it. I thought I'd wait until I start my BCP to schedule anything though. Do you have to use BCP in your cycle? If so I would think our schedules would be pretty close since I too expect AF around the 1st (Fingers crossed Prometrium does the trick by then!!)

Well I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!! DH and I are heading up to Chicago tomorrow for a wedding and then motoring back to Indianapolis to go to the Colts vs. Patriots playoff game. Should be a good one!

Love you all!
Steph

[annag]

Hi all!

Nerms and Steph, I'm with you in waiting for af to arrive 1st of Feb. I will start my bcp's then too which, I believe, will be on CD 3. Ugh!!! The waiting game!!!

As for ladies with the acu question, I made an appt with the acupuncturist for the 30th of Jan and they said to do it ASAP since my retrieval and transfer will most likely be March. Ist visit is $120 and next ones are $80....They want to do at least 5-6 sessions but not sure yet when during the cycle. Does the price seem pretty reasonable compared to others? She said insurance doesn't pay for this. I guess I'll just rack that up on my IVF bill....

Anyway, have a lovely weekend coming up ladies....Baby dust to all of us!!!
Anna