Looking for a good clinic in Sacramento area, please help!!!

[k-rose]

Denise, good luck with your first ultrasound. Hopefully everything is growing well.

Alicia, that's great about the ultrasound. Can't wait to hear further updates.

Amy, well, had my ultrasound yesterday after being on the viagra suppositories for a week, and no change. I had a feeling there wouldn't be. So, we are going to go ahead with it next Thursday the 18th!!! I just started the progesterone shots this am. Man, out of the whole IVF process, those shot's are the worst part of it to me. The shot itself does not hurt, but later on my muscle aches. I only started off with 1/2 cc today (have done 1cc in the past), and I can still feel it. In 2 days, I have to do 2cc for 2 days. I am not looking forward to that. I am even doing the massage and heating pad afterwards. Oh well, the stuff we put up with. I was surpised on how soon I get to test. I guess because they are blasts and farther along. I have done 3 day transfers in the past.

Kelly

Kelly

[cookholmes]

Kelly, Thank you! I was reading your post and had to reread it... what do the viagra suppositories do? I have not heard of it being used for IVF before.

[k-rose]

Denise,

Yes, I was a little surprised when he brought it up. I guess it is supposed to increase the bloodflow to the uterus, possibly helping with your lining. Dr Murray said that some guy did a study on it and said it worked so well, but they have not had much success with it, less than 10% of it helping with the lining and didn't do anything for me. It was worth a shot, although it cost me $181 for a week supply.

Kelly

[Enrico's Mommy]

Kelly: Sorry the Viagra didn't work out, but hopefully you'll still be in good shape for the 18th...keeping my fingers crossed for you:)

Denise: Can't wait to hear how those follicles are looking; I hope they're doing what they do best...growing!

Amy: Hopefully all is well with you!

Alicia

[amy]

Kelly ~ Viagra - never heard of using that before. Although when you explain it, it does have some logic to it. Do you know how many you will transfer on the 18th? Did you say they would be blasts?? What day blasts? I am curious as there are so many opinions out there about 4 or 5 dayers. I can't wait to hear how your transfer goes. I will be keeping everything crossed for you. We need another success story to push me to try again!

Alicia - How are you feeling? When will Dr Z release you to your OB? Are you still taking the progesterone shots? I feel for you girls on those. I really don't miss that. My muscles would ache so bad the next day that I had to be careful where I injected. I had to just assume that part of my body wouldn't be able to be used for awhile so make sure it wasn't anything necessary.

Denise~ You are stuck right in the boring part of the whole process. Waiting for that first scan is so tedious. Still having your first scan on the 18th? It is so much easier than waiting after the transfer though. I loved the ease of those follistim shots too. That little pen is impressive. I hope you are growing a small team in there. Let us know how they are progressing!

Other than that not much going on here. I am still trying to think of a way to convince my husband it is worth the debt. Kind of thinking I will hit him hard around spring time so I could have it scheduled during summer vacation. I wish I had more exciting things to report!

all the best,
a

[cookholmes]

Amy, I am still set for the 18th and time is really flying. I have been so busy I have not really had anytime to think of the process. I love the Follistim pen, but OMG, my DH pushes on it so hard (you know, showing his man strength), that it makes me cringe when he does it, but it is all about the bonding, right? LOL

On Tuesday DH will be giving his back up and we have the egg class later that day, so I am sure thigs will start to hit me then.

[k-rose]

Amy,
we only have 2 frozen blasts so we will thaw both. Actually, I'm not sure if they are 4 or 5 dayer's. What have you heard about the difference betweent he two???

Kelly

[cookholmes]

We have 24 follicles and on Saturday we have another look to see if we will be ready to trigger on Monday... fingers crossed! But I will not be upset if we have to wait until Tuesday, I have a JLS meeting on Monday night.

[Enrico's Mommy]

Denise: Congrats! Sounds like you're really to go. Hopefully, the ER will treat you well. Let us know how things progress.

Amy: I've been released and am looking for an ob/gyn. It feels strange not having any appts. in my near future; I'm dying for an u/s!

Alicia

[cookholmes]

Enrico's Mommy, thanks! We are dong the ER on Monday, on Saturday, Dr. Z counted 39 follicles, 5 under 5mm. I cannot wait to walk normally again!

[k-rose]

Denise,
That's great about the eggs. Do you know what your estrogen level is? Just with having 25 eggs, my estrogen was pretty high and they were worried about OHSS. I had a LOT of bloating after egg retrieval, but it eventually went away.

Alicia,
That's great you were released. Hope everything continues to go well.

I had my transfer done on Thursday. Both embryo's survived, so was pretty happy about that. They did assisted hatching on them both (for some reason I didn't think they did that on blasts, but he said they only do it on frozen blasts). Today's the first day I have been up for any length of time. I feel a little out of it, probably for laying for so long. I test on Wednesday and Friday. I'm trying to stay optomisitic but it's so hard after so many let downs. I think if my husband has a say, this will be our last, but we vowed to not talk about it until after the results!!!

Kelly

[cookholmes]

K-rose, they did not test my estrogen levels. I actually have been loosing weight since beginning the process and I guess it is a good thing, so even though I am really bloated, my waist is smaller than it usually is. The closest thing to symptoms that I am experiencing is that I am really thirsty, but I am going to the bathroom as much as I am drinking and I do not recall my urine being any more clear (TMI, sorry) and I have been a little nauseated since my husband gave me the trigger shot on Saturday, but sadly that nausea is the norm for me as well. I will ask tomorrow after the retrieval if they are going to check my estrogen levels, but at this point they seem confident that I am ok and do not need it. Did you have any symptoms that led them to test you? Congrats on having the transfer on Thursday! I hope the “little ones” snuggle in well! Please keep me updated

[k-rose]

Denise,
Both places that I have been always test everyone's estrogen level while they were monitoring the eggs. If your estrogen level get's too high, you can be at risk for OHSS (hyperstimulation of your ovaries) and it can be very dangerous. The more eggs you have, usually the higher your estrogen level is. I'm very surprised they have not tested yours with so many eggs. But, I guess every place is different. I know of some people who's estrogen level is too high so they retrieve the eggs and then freeze them and do a frozen cycle so that they are less likely too get the OHSS.

Kelly

[cookholmes]

K-rose, I asked them about testing my estrogen, and they felt it was not needed. From all signs I was/ am ok. We did the ER today and I feel as good as expected. I actually am feeling a lot less bloated. They got 21 eggs fertlized via ICSI, so tomorrow we will know how many look good after the 2pn. Today when I went in for the ER, I had to tell them that I expected to be "juiced" like Violet from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, lol.

How is every thing with you?

[k-rose]

Denise,
That's great 21 fertilized. Do they usually do a 3 day or 5 day transfer there?

I'm fine. No symptoms at all which bums me out. I layed there for 3 days looking for some implantation cramping/twinge, but nothing. At least I only have 4 more days to go!!! I hate the wait!!!

Kelly