MARCH-CYCLE BUDDIES

[ldonvito]

Hi ladies,

My name is Lisa and I am single living in New York. I am set to begin my shots at the end of Feb. and will try my second attempt with IVF between March 12-17th.

My first was in Dec. and ended in a chemical pregnancy. I had surgery last Sept. to remove ovarian cysts and 3 failed IUI's last years. This time around, I'm hopeful I'll come away with some eggs to freeze, none last time, due to using ICSI this time around.

[rae76]

Hi Lisa, and welcome! Sorry to hear that the first IVF pregnancy didn't take, but hopefully ICSi will work wonders for you, both in terms of the first transfer and having some frozen embies for future attempts!

Vicky, has AF arrived yet? Despite of a horrible stomach upset yesterday (I'll save you the gory details) I've been doing the jig continuously ! Your cruise, BTW, sounds lovely - and would probably be a great relaxing start to the tmt cycle. So let's hope AF will be there today and will be over with before the trip.

Nerms, I completely understand how you feel, comparing your numbers to stuff you've read and getting worried and coming up with all kinds of unfortunate thoughts. Hey, that´s what I've been doing the last couple of days Since I held on to my worries even after the RE said it's all looking ok, I'm not the one to really give advice... but let's both try and rely on our doctors' expertise! It's hard but sometimes makes life easier. Hope you are feeling more reassured by now.

Nicky, the seaweed wrap sounds just divine! Where did you get the idea to do that? Oh, something like that would be just perfect.

Everyone else, hope you are doing fine and yuor plans are moving ahead smoothly. It's so exciting that downregging is practically around the corner for many of you!

As for me, I went to see my OB today. And yes there was a gestational sac, and probably also a yolk sac within it, in the uterus!!! Which of course means that I probably don't have to worry about the ectopic anymore (the yolk sac is the key). Sooo great!! Everything was tiny at this point but that's pretty normal, as I could be something like 5+2 wks along. OB wasn't sure if she saw a fetal pole or not, will go back next week for more info. But whatever happens, it is an intrauterine pregnancy that I though I would never have - even my first preg, although in the womb, had implanted itself on the septum and that's what caused the whole terrible chain of events. So I was afraid that my uterus just isn't good for implantation - this in itself is a great victory for me!!

Thank you again for all your support, I couldn't have gone through these panicky days without being able to unburden myself here and getting all that encouragement and support from you!!

[nicolamark]

Kia, good luck with your 4th try, lets hope its ur last try honey!!!

Nerms, I feel for ya honey, doesn't it do ur head in!!! Arghhhh!!! I dont know anything about the estradiol levels??? sorry!!! but FSH is good hun!!! mine was 7.3 last time!!!

What dose would i be given i wonder being this is my 1st IVF?? do they start high or low on 1st IVF or do they do middle dose??

anna, the seaweed wrap= £40 ($80ish) and lasted 75mins!!


Vicky, the cruise sounds great!!! wow!!! wish i was coming!!! Has AF arrived yet then??? And bet you still think about IVF whilst u are away.

LISA, hiya Welcome!!! Good luck with your IVF. Are u using a Donor??
I am using donor, we aren't alowed to freeze extra embies!! If u are using Donor would be interested in spking to ya about it!!!!

RAE, great that the pregnancy is in teh womb, thats a lot of your mind, how are u feeling???

[nicolamark]

PS Holly, has your AF arrived yet????

Vicky, hope ur Acu goes good tomorrow!!!

Shantala, how's your DH????

[nicolamark]

THIS IS OUR GROUP



AMANDA
ANNA
BIG WHITE HAPPY DOG
BRIDGET JONES
CARBEV
HOLLY
JENN
JILL
KAREN
KARINA
KARMA_K
KIA aka SHA
LUCY
MANDEEQ
NERMS
NIMBLE
NICKI
PEP23 aka STEPH
RAE
SHANTALA
VICKY

WELCOME!




IDONVITO…(LISA)….Welcome to the March buddies thread…
Good luck with your IVF


FUN STUFF…… NON-IVF RELATED STUFF THAT’S OCCURING!





NOW—Jill—On holiday in Florida!!! (returns mid Feb)
NOW-- Karma-k -- New Job offer!!!
11 Feb—Nicki—going out with God son, to the Zoo!!
11 Feb—Vicky on Cruise (for 1 week)
13 Feb—Karina—Birthday.
14 Feb—Valentines day.
24 Feb—Karma K -- B’day
24 Mar—Nicki and DH wedd.Anni (6yrs)
02 Oct—Nicki B’day!!!



WAITING FOR AF…..




NOW--Vicky - AF due
NOW – Holly—AF due
14 feb--Nicki-AF due
04 Mar – Holly – AF due



APOINTMENTS, BLOOD TESTS AND SCANS





08 Feb—Vicky -- Acupuncture
09 Feb--Nicki- Blood test for egg share
11 Feb—Anna—Saline Sonogram
12 Feb—Karma-K -- HSG
13 Feb—Nerms—Receiving IVF schedule
16 Feb-- Nicki - IVF appt for cycle plan
19 Feb—Jill--Saline Sonogram
21 Feb—Karma-k – injection class
27 feb—Amanda- Trial transfer
28 feb—Karen – appt about IVF…


DOWN REGGING, STIMS, DRUGS and BCP’s




NOW – shantala—Down regging
NOW—Steph—BCP’s
16 Feb –Bridget Jones—Down regging
17 Feb—Steph--Lupron
20 Feb—Shantala—down reg test
21 Feb—Anna—Down regging
22 Feb—Shantala—Stimms
24 Feb—Kia—Down regging
16 Feb—Amanda—Lupron
Feb—Anna-- BCP’s
Feb—Vicky—BCP’s
1 Mar—Big happy Dog-starting IVF… (5th Time lucky)
1 Mar-- Nerms- Stimming
2 Mar-- Shantala- down regging
2 Mar—Steph--Stimms
4 Mar—Jill- Stimms
6 Mar-- Nicki- Down regging (TBC)
MAR—Jenn—starting IVF
9 Mar—Amanda—Stimms
APRIL—Karina- Starting IVF in April now…..



EGG COLLECTION/ RETRIEVAL


5 Mar (ish) – Shantala—EC
12 Mar —Steph--EC
18 mar —Amanda—EC
26 Mar —Nimble—EC
26 Mar —Kia – EC
27 Mar (ish) -- Nicki- EC (TBC)




EMBRYO TRANSFER



8 Mar (ish) —Shantala—ET
Mid- end Mar—Vicky—ET
15 Mar—Steph--ET
21 Mar—Amanda—ET
29 Mar—Nimble—ET
30 Mar-- Nicki – ET (TBC)


FET



End Feb—Vicky-- FET
March—Mandeeq-- FET
March- Bridget Jones-- FET
End Mar—Carbev—FET
End Mar—Karen—FET




TEST DATES



Shantala 20 March (ish)
Nicki- 11 April (TBC)


CONGRATULATIONS!!!! BFP!!!




30th Jan= RAE!!!! Natural BFP…… Congratulations Babe!!!

PREGNANT MARCH CYCLERS- DUE DATES





RAE- October 07

[nicolamark]

By the way............Just thought i'd let you know work isn't getting better, I cant understand it??? why has everything gone tits up????

I am not letting it affect this IVF..........

[nimble]

going to start saying that if spelling crap then its becuase my hands are so so cold and i can't type - can't believe this weather - now they are forecasting snow tomorrow, i'm so depressed this time 2 wwks ago i was on a beach...

Anna - saw from your profile that you've been on clomid and my accu recently told me that this can evalate your FSH levels - can't remember the details (sorry your probably cursing me now) but something to do with the additional hormones of clomid...not that I'm encouraging you to look any further on the net mind you (alhtough bet you will !!) ...my levels were at 9.5 and I'm hoping that the accu is helping to bring them down (I also had clomid).

Rae - really pleased for you - hope that your stress levels have gone down now - are you back for another scan next week?

Lisa - welcome to the thread - i'm also doing icsi so nice to have a icsi partner.

Vicky - praying for AF to arrive and doing the jiggy dance around the study (also helps keeping me warm lol)

shantala - sorry to hear about your DH, really hope that he gets well soon. We are all here for you xx

Steph sounds like you been having a fab time time - i used to be a cheerleader for a american footie team over here, although we were no way ever in the same leagues as your cheerleaders over there, and despite that still have no idea on that game - confuses the hell out of me !!

Nicki - i'm green with envy - i so love those body wraps - did you full asleep ? but boy isn't it cold when they first put the seaweed on you before you get wrapped up like a little cocoon! I had one on holiday and my body never felt so smoooth - although it felt like she took a few layers of skin off, but not enough from the hip though!

Sha - hey we are a few days out with our cycles but EC on the same day.

Nerms - i know nothing about estradiol (acutally haven't heard of it) however easier said than done, try and not to worry, when they told you the figs did they say that they were put you on a lower dose? Sometimes reading can do more harm but then we are all guilty of doing the surfing thing and making 2+2 = 5 eh - if you need to put yr mind at rest, speak to the clinic again otherwise you will really stress yourself out and thats no good for our mommy to be is it. If only IVF was such a doddle but its not and that why you have us all here for you to rant and rave. (BTW my nickname came from a riddle which my mates called me when I was about 18 and it stuck since....still to this day i have no idea why !!)

BTW nicki whats up with work - (sorry have i missed something) ??? hey also forgot to mention that i saw your piccie on photobucket - assumed it was you (had the same name)

As for me, got my plan yesterday and now I dead excited - nervous a little too because of last time and whether the odds will be in my court to get BFP twice in a row, but trying to keep lots pma.
So I start downregging on 25/2, then scan on 12th and then start menopur, more scans booked for 21/23/25 Mar and finally EC 26th and ET 28th with a test date of 11th Apr (same as you nicki) - ho0pefully this time they wont need to move them - last time my follies were not behaving and didn't grow quicker enough.

right i have to go now as my hands are about to fall off - heating is on full blast and my hands and feet are like ice blocks...

happy evening all
nimble xx

[pep23]

Well my day started out with some non-IVF related stress which I actually welcomed for a change…haha!! How twisted is that?!? Well anyway, DH and I awoke at about 4AM to a loud thud in the basement…Rushed down expecting to see someone attempting to climb through the window and instead found our water filter spraying water all over the laundry room like Niagara Falls. We had to shut the water off and spend the next hour soaking up the mess. And then after the chaos calmed down I realized I desperately had to pee…but we had no working water so was forced to pop a squat out in the snow!! I haven't had to do that since I the time I had too many beers at a Jimmy Buffet concert and wandered out in a field. LOL….Anyway, not the greatest start to my day but has given me a giggle!! And more importantly gave me something else to think about for a little bit today besides the countdown to my FIRST ivf shots!!!!

Rae- Congratulations on your doctors appt today. That sounds so promising! I'm so very happy for you!!

Vicky- Try to keep your chin up sweetie and hopefully AF will show up at the right time. I totally understand that you are bummed at that witch for potentially pushing your schedule back but hopefully it all works out the way you'd like it to. At least you have a nice vacation coming up!!! That sounds fabulous. Especially since we just got six inches of snow here in Indiana yesterday….BRRRR!!

Nerms- I have not started the "real" meds now as I'm only on week 2 of my BCP. I start Lupron next Saturday (yikes!!) and the I will start Stimms on March 2nd with my ER approximately 10 days later. Some days March 12th sounds so far away but then I also find myself staring at my calendar occasionally and I realize it's really just around the corner!! Me and DH were talking last night that in 2 months from now we MAY be on our way to being parents…PMA, PMA, PMA!!!! Oh, and about your estradiol levels, don't fret. Mine was 95ish and my ER didn’t' seem to think it was an issue!!

Lisa- Welcome!! It sounds like our schedules are really similar because I will be having retrieval and transfer the week of March 12th as well!! I am looking forward to sharing the 2ww with you. We can keep each other sane…or at least try to!! LOL

Nicky- That seaweed wrap sounded delicious!! Way to go on giving yourself some well deserved pampering!!! I think with everything all of us IVF girls go through it is a good idea to take some time off to relax and reward ourselves for being the strong women we are!!! But I'm sorry to hear that work is still crappy. Definitely don't let it affect IVF or the way you are feeling in general. If people at the office can't understand your priorities need to be shifted right now than that's them just being STUPID!!!!! And I love the expression "tits up" by the way…I'm totally stealing it for future use. LOL

Well speaking of work I better get back to it…Have a wonderful night girls!!!

XO
Steph

[rae76]

Nicky, thank you (and everyone else!) so much - I'm feeling much better now. Mentally, that is. Physically not so hot as had a really scary and violent stomach upset yesterday so still cannot really eat anything except crackers and a little rice to keep my blood sugar up and to get my prenatal vitamin down. Of actual preg symptoms, not many yet - breast tenderness and swelling, and nausea if I don't nibble on something every two hours.

So sorry to hear that work keeps on being just terrible and stressful. Keeping my fingers crossed that soon enough you'll be taking a well-earned leave....

Steph, wow - that's one hectic morning! I'm glad you seem to have taken it in stride - it is such great thinking to say that at least it took yor mind off your countdown

Nimble, congrats on getting your plan! You must be excited - that makes the whole thing so much more concrete. Lots of PMA!!

And yes, I'll go back next Tuesday for another u/s to see if we can see the embryo (which we should if all's well). Exciting, nervewrecking, exhilarating and scary, at all the same time. And very unreal.

Shantala, is DH feeling any better? I hope so. Many warm thoughts to you both.

[vicky77]

Hello ladies!!

Rae, I know how nervewrecking all this must be for you right now. But I guess the fact that you are having morning sickness (the stomach upset I mean) should be a good sign.....Also, congrats on your scan today!!!, it seems as if everything is going the right direction, Good luck on Tuesday with your scan!!, keep us posted!!

Steph, wow what a morning!!!!...but the peeing in the snow was the best part ......

Nimble, sound like you are freezing up there!!!!, Congrats on getting your schedule!!!, that is a big step!!, and of course you can get BFP twice in a roll, if you became pregnant before I guess you have more chances of getting pregnant now, meaning your body is prepared for it......PMA PMA PMA!!!

Nicky, aawwww, can't believe you are still feeling bad at work, you should start taking work less personal, and look at it as what it is, just work, focus on yourself right now, you need it!!

Welcome Idonvito!!!, I hope this is the time for you!!!

As per me, not too many good news unfortunately . I had my HCG today, which by the way finally went back to zero (I have to admit I was a little dissapointed, you always have that little hope that it might miraculously rise and have a natural BFP....oh well...). I asked the nurse what would happen if AF decides to appear while I am on the cruise, and she said that in that case I will have to wait another month to start my cycle.....can you imagine that!!!!!!!!!! , I die if I have to wait one more month due to this evil AF!!!!!!. Someone told me that red wine might help bring AF, so I guess I will get drunk tonight .....So, those are my news for now, hoping AF arrives either this week, or otherwise, at the end of my cruise so I have time to be here for the CD 2-3 bw and scan..........wish me luck, I really need it right now!!

[rae76]

Vicky, I wish it had been morning sickness (how funny that one would ever be OK with nausea...) but definitely wasn't - it was a mild food poisoning or something like that and really ripped my innards... Even my OB saw that my tummy was all funny-looking in the u/s picture. But I'll spare you the disgusting details of that ordeal Luckily it seems to be over now.

Hope that red wine will do the trick and AF will be there by morning. It may also help because it relaxes you and sometimes AF stays aways when we're nervously expecting her to come .... I know what you're saying about not wanting to wait yet another month - in the large scale of things is might not be big but right now that's huge. So I'll keep my fingers crossed and keep on doing the jig

[nimble]

Vicky, isn't it just mad, that you spend half your time not wanting AF to arrive praying that a small miracle has happened and now we are all jigging around to get her to arrive....not susprised she is confused and never arrives on time

Only a suggestion, but have you thought about seeing an accu to see if they can help to tease her out before you go on yr cruise. I saw one and my accu then arrived a few days later so truely believed it helped me.

Steph - how funny you must have looked - did you get a chance to right your name in the snow ha ha ha

suspose should get on with work so quiet right now, think it's due to the large amount of snow we had last night so lots of meetings canx as everything has gone 'tits up' - I thought I would steal that expression too, I love it!

have a great all
nimble xx

[nerms]

OMG...i can't bellieve that Vicky...surely they can't make you wait another month!!!!!! Don't they know us IVF girls are simply not good at waiting!! I have to agree with nimble...try acu if you can....it's certainly got my af going...it arrived a day early and i have to say normally when i wait for it...it's always late! Still jigging matey! BTW thanks so much for your kind words the other day..i read you message before i went to work and it really brightened my day...your right if RE isn't worrie dthen why should I...which becomes releavent even more so....read on!

Rae-i can't tell you how happy i am for you..not for your food bug of course but your wonderful natural BFP! I hope you thoroughly enjoy your nine months..please don't leave this thread...keep posting and keep us all posted on the exciting world of morning sickness etc

Anna...how are things with you...did you get to speak to your RE regarding FSH...from all the stuff i have read it seems it should still be ok to carry on as planned...keep us posted...lots of positive vibes for you!

Nicky...sorry to hear work is still such a bummer...keep focused on yourself and don't worry about anyone else!

Nims...hey...so exciting to read about your plan...i was using it to work out my schedule...i should be downreggin around the 20th of this month, I will be getting my schedule on 14th Feb...can't wait-in the meantime i find myself constantly in my diary working out dates again and again and yet again! Tell me about cold....my room at work doesn't have any heating so i have my thermals on and drink lots and lots of tea...which i'm supposed to be cutting out cos of the caffeiene...but what does one do..it's such a british thing to do! The snow has caused chaos today....but it's kind of cool cos i left work early!

Steph...what an ordeal....fun peeing in the snow hey! Something to smile about...and yeah it's good to have something else to focus on! Not long before the Lupron....counting down the days with you!

Lisa...welcome...our dates will be close!

Well I have to tell you all that i am the biggest plonker around...after my tues night ordeal with reading about elevated estradiol levels (BTW thanks for all your support girls)...my darling dh tried his best to cheer me up but i cried myself to sleep, had a dream that someone takes eggs out of me...and none of them are good quality and that i'm trying to do the treatment myself at home! I called up the clinic the next morning and told the doctor about my concerns...when i told him my level was 98 he said that's very good...i was like...how can you say that...all the research suggests that's very bad, he asked me what units i was referring to...apparently american websites refer to the measurement in pg/ml and my result is in pmol/l, which makes a big difference..ratio of 3.6...so by this standard my estradiol is only 27..well within normal ranges..he told me off for reading too much on the net...moral of the story...don't believe everything you read on the net...i have to confess when i got home i did check out the whole pmol:pg ratio to check if what doc had told me was true(aren't i bad!! ) So all is ok after all! Sometimes i think i need something to worry about!

Ok girls..think i've babble on for long enough! BTW...was wandering what all of you do and would love to learn a bit more about you girlies!

Hope you're all well...

nerms
xx

[nimble]

Nerms you dream made me laugh - but how biazzare - please don;t try at home though !! Hey good news about the figures, you see, reading the net is def not good for your health, they should put a health warning on IVF/pregnancy related sites !! But I am relieved for you - hopefully the mad dreams should stop for a while!


Do you know, that I must have gone through my diary a thousand times calculating estimated dates, how mad are we ! Thankfully I have a plan, but still doesn't stop me going through it again and again....

I'm still at work, unfort it stopped snowing and now starting to thaw so depressed as was hoping to be sent home, wishful thinking eh! I see from your profile yr from middlesex, so we are actually not far from each other. I work at the airport so really close, so know what you mean about the chaos - a little bit of snow and the country comes to a stand still....lucky you for being sent home early.... atleast work is a wee bit warmer than my study, although managed to pursuede DH to leave heating on today so will nice and warm when get home...

Right looks like we are off home and have acu session tonight

nims xx

[nerms]

Hey nimble...good luck with your acu session....have you had one before? When you say you work at the airport...do you mean heathrow? that's not far at all...what do you do there? I work in hemel hempstead...live in harrow-thankfully M1 was pretty clear and left work early so missed all the traffic. Where are you having your treatment if you don't mind me asking...just imagine one day hopefully we'll be able to show each other our babies!!