May/June Cycle Buddies

[jen779]

Literatriz...Thanks for the info on the pineapple juice! As far as the Starbucks go, I would give it up! I read somewhere that it is acceptable to consume no more than 300mg of caffiene per day. I am not sure what is in a Starbucks coffee, but what I do know that it has been proven that caffiene decreases fertility. Just my opinion. Good luck with your decision!

[PMApsy]

Good morning sweet ladies!

How are you guys doing? I'm still struggling with my bad cold, but I think I might see the light at the end of the tunnel soon. Let's just hope it won't be a train!

Ah, I read you guys talking about acupuncture... *sigh* I won't be able to go there before I come back from Egypt! Ah, I guess it's better anyway, money-wise....

My2LnT: I read your pm and made the change. Thanks for letting me know; you can also notify me those things by making a comment in your posts and putting it in bold or something like that and it works fine as well. It's funny how the protocols differ on the small and bigger things; Procrea always makes us start Lupron the day right after the last BCP!

Carolyn: awww you're so sweet! Thanks for your kind words! Actually, yesterday was completely crazy patients-wise. I was ultra-convinced that I started at 4:30pm... and in fact, I had a client at 2:30pm and another at 3:30. The 2:30 client showed up at the wrong office and waited an hour in the corridor in front of a locked door (he's depressive and has memory/concentration problems and it was only his second apt, so...), the 3:30 did show up at the right office, waited 30 minutes for me and then left (I called him and apologized big time). I had a couple scheduled in another office for noon next Tuesday... they showed up yesterday and waited for me (but it was their mistake this time). And my 6pm client cancelled at the last minute because she had an emergency and could not come. Can you believe that? Must have been the planets' alignments or something!

jen: hehehe glad it could help! What did you like about my grapefruit comment? POAS means Peeing On A Stick (so taking an HPT). Don't worry, I could not figure that one by myself either. Another one that I love, invented by sassy, is PUPO. Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise. It's alway a good pick-me-up during the 2ww, lol!

Literatriz: Hehe, glad you like the dancing emoticons! I love them too! Hehhee I'm not really looking at the AF countdown, because with my first cycle, she came 10 days late, the beoch! So I don't want to jinx it. However, *starts whispering*, I think I ovulated last Wednesday... so that means I might welcome AF in a week...

You asked how much the meds cost for a cycle. It depends on how much meds you need, basically. Puregon is 1$CAN per unit. I was prescibed 200 units a day, so it means 200$ a day during stimming (knowing that it might be upped depending on how I respond). Repronex is super expensive, too, and I had to buy almost the same amount. So basically, for 21 days of Marvelon (BCP), 1 Ativan, 1 HCG trigger shot, 100 progesterone pessaries, 2000 units of Puregon, 1500 units of Repronex and about 250 units of Lupron, I paid about 3000$CAN (but in fact I only paid 300$, thanks to our insurances).

I love the way you bring us back to our instinct, for indeed it's one good thing to listen to. However, I do understand some ladies who want to help nature a little bit, even if it does not do miracles. My instincts never told me to drink cranberry juice during a urinary tract infection... and yet this is what doctors recommend in addition to taking antibiotics of course. So indeed, one should listen to one's body, you're 100% right, but one should also do some minimal research and find useful info as well. About coffee, my acupuncturist told me that the studies are a bit less clear than with alcohol. Alcohol can make your fertility rate drop by 50%, whereas it does not seem to have the same impact in men. Taking a highly caffeinated coffee just before ejaculation/intercourse can help men with their sperm motility. As for the impact of caffeine on fertility in women, I have no idea. However, given that you will have to decrease your caffeine intake during pregnancy, why not do it now? Don't give it up completely, but do decrease it... and ask yourself why you need that much boost to get through your day... I strongly believed I needed that kind of boost in the morning because I was not a morning person. Turns out I had to change my lifestyle a little bit and I'm doing just fine now (haven't had caffeine in any form in the last two years and I intend to keep it that way...)

Okay, I have to prepare a presentation for 10am today, so have fun ladies and have a lovely day!

Sophie xxox

[TansRN]

Hey Gang
Well I got my meds and I start the Lupron tomorrow. I was looking through everything and trying to process all of it and when to call and all of that jazz!!! I do need to get some 25g needles though for the progesterone. They sent 22...time to go to wal mart for that. Not much else going on here. Been having a little spotting and I am a little concerned about that. Any little twitch I am like is my cycle going to get canceled! LOL I am just being paranoid. I am so hoping that this works. I really am. For all of us so that we can start a pg board together. That would be nice. I think it is about time and we deserve it....

Hey the emoticons look great thank you so much for keeping up with those!!!

Will do some personals later...wanted to touch base!!!!

[jenn]

Hey Girls!

Thank you for all of your encouraging words. It is easier to be negative, you are right. I am really working on being positive. Now I am just waiting to start. I will get my meds next week probably. I will put off ordering them as long as I can!

Tanya- if they sent the wrong needles can you call them and tell them to send the right ones?

Gotta go!
Great job on the list Sophie!
Jenn

[CarolynB]

Hi ladies

Found the courage to call my new clinic today. Just told myself off for putting it off and spoke to a lovely girl and it was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting. Thought that the consultant would have to call me back but she could talk me through it all over the phone and she was so helpful and nice.

I can go for the immunology blood testing at any stage of my cycle. They take 15/17 vials of blood and then they go to Chicago to see whether I reject the embies. Natural Killer Cells etc etc. This is exciting for me as have had none of this testing done and so hope that it will give me some clues!? Might even be brave and get it done tomorrow???? May be not!

Then I need to get bloods done D1/D2. Reckon that AF should be here on Sunday so this can all start next week. Scan around D10/D13. Then OPKs until I get two blue lines. Then bloods 5 days later to see whether I ovulated and on which day. They do this so they can work with the natural cycle as much as possible. This is much the same as I had at my old clinic before I did my first ever cycle so does not seem to daunting at this stage.

Asked about the timing of the hysteroscopy. Lady said that if I was on the long protocol (which they indicated that I would be - did on cycle 1 which was my best response - 13 collected) then they would do after down regging and that if I was short/flare that I would do before starting stimmies. Again this is soemthing new for me so hoping that these additional tweaks will make a difference for me???

Sorry this is about me so some personals.

Jackie - so sorry that you got the news today. Hugs. I hope that you are taking good care of yourself. When you are recovered then we are her for you to start looking forward

Sophie - what a shocker of a day at work. The whole solar system must have been lined up against you Hope that your cold is finally leaving you. You have been ill for almost a week now so must be near the end of it by now

Jenn - understand the putting off but feel better now that I called the clinic and sure that you will feel better when the meds arrive as you will be moving forward

Shantala - hello - is she out there? Hun we miss you

Tanya - good luck for starting the meds tomorrow. Go girl

Literatriz - I am with you. Certainly hope/options for us more 'mature' ones. I just wish I knew whether my eggs or someone elses would work better. If they told me which would work now then I'd just jump for it. We are looking at a donor but will need to go outside the UK as major shortage of donors in this country. Likely Spain. I have found my meds have varied quite a lot depending on protocol and shopping around. Think that cycle 1 they cost about £1,000. Last go without all the down regging and shopping around, I managed to get for £600. I am afraid that I am in the cut back coffee camp. I love coffee and like Sophie was drinking it quite a lot to wake me up in the morning or keep me going working late. I had real headaches when I came off it but think that it has done my overall health good. I used to sleep well, now I sleep fantastically. I have allowed myself a coffee after each BFN but other than that have cut it out for almost a year. You can do it!!!

Jen - I love my acu too. I keep telling myself that I will keep going regardless of what happens as so sure that it really chills me out. I had a lap under anathetic as well. Thanks for reassuring me that this will be less onerous. Great encouragement

Hugs to everyone else. Only two work days until the weekend. Meant to be another sunny one in the UK.

Love to you all.
Carolyn
xxxxxxxxxxx

[nimble]

Guys, thank you so much for the warm welcoming words. I can't wait to be cycle buddies with you all

I'm going to have spend an evening in catching up and getting to know you from the last 9 pages!! So apologies there are no personals at the mo.

The positive news from me is that spoke to the clinic yesterday and no reason why I can't start next month - need to wait until May's AF and then off we go. The way I see it, one book closes and another opens

Catch up soon
Jackie x

[jenn]

Good to hear from you Nimble! How are you doing? I'm sorry about your recent BFN. You are brave to jump back in!

Carolyn- is that 15 vials of blood you say?? WOW! You are very brave! Good Luck! The sooner you get it done, the sooner it will be over, and you could get some valuable information from it.

Gotta go, dinner is burning...as usual!

[souris]

Hello guys,

Nimble my friend, so sorry to find you here in those circumstances... but happy to have you!!!

Guys, very sorry but I have soooooo much to do before I go back home for my treatment that I dont have time to be a good board buddy!!

We foud an appartment, which is great news and we love it. But now I need to sort out all the paperworks, TV Telephone electric etc... AND because we were in a furnished place, we need to go shoppping for EVERYTHING! All the furnitures, plates and stuff for the kitchen, curtains etc... (ok that is going to be fun but it takes so much time!)

Poor DH had an operation yesterday. He fell in the stairs about a month ago and cracked his thumb a little bit, but the hospital messed it up and after removing his cast realised that they put the cast over a disloquated thumb... so they had to cut it open, put it back in place and hold it with some wires... and now he has a MASSIVE cast for 5 weeks. he cant button his shirt, it is a hassle for shower and in 2 weeks he will be alone as I will fly to france... poor Dh...

ok i better run ladies
sorry for no personnals
xxx
souris

[TansRN]

Good Morning Ladies!!!

Souris-So happy that you found an apartment! That is so great! I know it is work trying to go out and find everything but to me it is fun work-If I have the money! LOL OH NO on your hubbys thumb! That is terrible!! I can't believe that happened! OMG!!!


Jackie
WooHOOO on starting next m onth! That is really exciting news! I bet that you are just thrilled about that....

Carolyn-Glad that the call to the clinic went well! It is so good to get back in the game and move forward isnt it? Hope your having nice weather there!

Jenn
They probably will but it will be easier if I just go to Wal mart and get them. Then I wont have to be home to get the box. It really does work out better. Good idea though.


Well I am going to start the Lupron. Still spotting slightly though. Have any one you started the Lupron and been spotting a little. I hope that this isnt going to interfere with anything. I know people go through fertility treatments all the time with jacked up cycles but I am hoping that it works this time. You all know the feeling!

[CarolynB]

Jenn - sorry I got that wrong - 17 vials. How mad is that! They need lots ot titrate and then run all the different assays. That is what I read anyway........

Tanya - just great news that you are starting. I don;t know about Lupron but have seen plenty of other ladies start the drugs while they are spotting. Try to relax and go with it. At least you are on your way which is great

Souris - we understand. Does not mean that you are a bad cycle buddy - just means that you have a lot on right now. What a shame about dh's thumb. Let's hope that they have got it right now. Glad that you have found a nice appartment - at least that is one less thing to worry about

Hello to everyone else. Hope that you are having a good day where ever you are - almost the weekend.

So it is a really sunny day and I have a client lunch meeting but morning was free to work from home so figured best go and get the (major) bloods done when nobody will miss me! Tough juggling work and appointments as we all know. So they took 17 vials - guy was really gentle and amazing to see it all coming out (only took 5 minutes - sorry if tmi ). It goes to Chicago this evening by over night delivery - let's hope that they don't lose it! Results come back in 3 weeks time. I am hoping that it will show something that has not been uncovered yet as might at least give the new consultant more info. I hope so as it cost nearly £800!!!!! New clinic was lovely if a little chaotic. I had been warned so was well prepared to wait for long time to be seen - out in under an hour so not too bad at all. Only three more lots of bloods, 1 scan and a hysteroscopy before I can (hopefully) start at the new clinic!!!

Enjoy your days where ever you are.

Love to you all.
Carolyn
xxxxxxx

[jenn]

Way to go Carolyn! All that blood gone and you are still standing! I hope the results are good. Three weeks is a long time when you are waiting for something so important. I can't imagine turning the 2ww into a 3ww!!

Souris- have fun shopping!! All new stuff huh? You aren't being a bad cycle buddy! We understand you have a lot going on. Sounds like everything is falling into place though!

Tanya- You must be getting excited! Already starting Lupron! And then stimms in 7 days? You will be our first one huh?

Gotta go clean, company coming this weekend starting today. We are going to see Wicked. I'm so excited!!

[nimble]

phew!! well that took over 90mins to read from page 1 - but please don't test me on any of it - my head is spinning!!

Wow sophie - you are one walking medical journal - the things you know - know where to come with my questions The info on caffine for men is interesting - shall get DH to drink several large cups next time

I've given virtually everything up - first to go was diet coke due to the sweetners it contained, not really a coffee drinker so that was easy too and have now switched to de-caf tea - had a couple of drinks this week but nothing heavy and have decided to try and stay tee-total until next cycle - easier said than done though however your facts about reducing fertility to 50% makes it a little easier!

Carolyn - just noticed that you are going to ARGC - i've just got their info pack today through the post - out of interest how long did you wait to get yr appt through? We are thinking of it as a back up with #3 go doesn't work.

AND how much blood did you give them did they leave you any???

Tanya - hey 7 days to go - how exciting.

Jen/Jenn - whoops sorry I've already got you both confused - better go back and read the posts again !!

Shall catch up some more tomorrow

Jackie x

[TansRN]

Hey guys
Thanks for the info...The shot went well. It took me a few minutes of mental preparation to actually stick it in but it went well. Stung for a little bit but worked out. nonetheless. I am sooo tired today. This night business is good but I am just so tired about all the time now. Oh well. I love what I do.

Carolyn
so happy that you have a good day and that you got your bood work done. It is exciting to think that you will know some results in a few weeks. I want some nice weather....29 degrees here again. What up with that? I am getting ripped off on nice weather?

[arizonakiwi]

TransRN
Has your semester finished yet – isn’t it great to have a break and get away from the books for a while.. Is the snow still around? It would be so magical having a white easter (or Christmas) !!! We had a warm sunny Easter – down at the beach it was busier than Christmas (summer holidays). Loved your web page, what cute photos! I’m glad the shot went well – The first one is the hardest, it does get easier.

My2lnt
I’m sorry you have been through so much to get here I hope this time we will all be celebrating our BFP

Nimble (Jackie)
I am sorry your last cycle didn’t work. I’m glad you are able to start with May’s AF and it makes it a little easier on the bank account getting NHS funding.

Souris
I can understand your apprehension and excitement about starting again– I feel the same way – it is great to get going but I am scared stiff of it all.
Congratulations on finding an apartment – you will have fun shopping for everything. I hope DH is doing ok – you will have to get him a few T-shirts to wear while you are away so he doesn’t have to button up anything!!

Sophie
Congratulations on getting your meds. Is it this weekend or next you are heading off on your honeymoon adventure? I hope you are feeling better and your flu has passed. I am sure some time away together is just what the doctor ordered.

Carolyn
I am glad your new clinic made you feel welcome and was helpful, wow 17 Vials of blood and $800 (sorry I don’t have a pound key on my laptop) !!! ouch

Literatriz
How are you going cutting back on the coffee? Our clinic recommends cutting back to decaf or eliminating caffeine totally if you can. I loved a couple of coffees every morning and one in the afternoon for a perk up. It is tough for a few days but you can do it !!!!! I hadn’t had any caffeine since the beginning of December – I was doing pretty well until last week – for some reason this week I am really craving a good cup of coffee.


As for me, I’m sorry I haven’t been a good web buddy this week. I am having a bit of a hard time getting my head into a positive space for this cycle. I start down regging 19th April. Last time I had 20 units per day and this time they have doubled my dose to 40 units. When I start my stimms they are only going to give me 100units of puregon and if I make it EC and ET will be the week of the 14th May.

I know the importance of a PMA and feeling good, positive and in control of all this is but I can’t get there at present and it is frustrating me. I don’t think I realised until this week how raw the feelings from last time are so any hints on how to get into the right frame of mind for this round would be great. I am so scared everything is going to go wrong again and I won’t even get to egg collection. Sorry about the rant……

On the upside when the clinic called with my dates etc I was writing them in my dairy and the picture in my diary for the week of the 14th May (EC and ET week) is the Eiffel Tower!! I’m trying to see it as a really good omen because getting there together was one of our dreams and having a baby together is another……

Well guys I promise to try and be a better web buddy from now on. I hope you all have a good Friday. Our lovely summer has turned to a cool autumn Friday. We have put the fire on and it is nice and cosy.

Lots of love to you all.
Angela

[shantala]

hey everyone!!!!!!!!!

so, so sorry ive been MIA for SOOOO long!! i just needed a MIB ("mental IVF break" ) so i havent been able to post much. i've been reading all your posts though so i've still been lurking.

carolyn - thanks for missing me hunny!! ive been reading your posts and well done you for going for it!! all those vials....ouch!! but well done. i was thinking about you yesterday as i was in hammersmith yesterday and wondered how far away you were or if you were possibly walking past me!! lol....but then i wasnt sure if you actually live near your clinic anyway or whether you just went there for your tmt. anyway, glad things are moving for you!!

sophie - hey hun, thanks for thinking of me!!! how are you?? oohhh, not long now till you're going....i know its this month but cant remember when...oh, actually, you might have already gone!? thanks for doing the list....of course i'll take over when you need me to!!

nimble - hey hun, sorry to see you over here but its great to be cycling with you again (if you know what i mean)....so sorry about messing you around with that app but i just cant take the p***...you know what its like with new jobs...how you keeping up??

welcome and hi to everyone else!!! its great now that we have quite a big group starting up. i really hope this time is for us!! there;s so many of you i recognise which is such a shame but great at the same time...arizona, my2, tans, souris, jenn, jen....etc etc so hi to all of you!!!! and hi to the ones i dont know but i'm sure will get to know!!

sorry if ive missed anyone.....as for me, i start a new job on monday as a team leader so very excited but also very nervous. leading my own team!! eek.....but it will be good to have something new to focus on...

i've also decided to change clinics as ive been talking to other women about their tmts and tmts by their clinic and have found that actually maybe my clinic isnt as good as they make out to be. so anyway, we're looking to go to london now. i've got an app booked for the end of may for one of them and am going to a couple of other ones for open eves. so we shall see. i am a little worried about how i'm going to juggle this with my new job as there is no way i can tell my new boss but hey, i'll cross that bridge when it comes to it!!

apart from that, no news from me....trying to natural way for the time being!!

hope everyone else is ok!!

xxxxx