May/June Cycle Buddies

[Jul1e]

Feeling much better today, still a bit grumpy but hey. Thanks for all your nice words, I know it's just the hormones playing with me. Thanks for your concern Sophie, I will be aware of what you've said about depression during pregnancy or after since I'm obviously affected by the hormone changes. I'm definitely not depressed though and there's no history in the family nor do I have any of the other symptoms you've mentioned. Thanks for the choc, kleenex and hugs. Got lots of them from DH last night too which helped

Will post later as I'm off for a massage now, mmm.

Jules x

[PMApsy]

Good morning ladies!

How are you doing? I'm doing great! I went to the clinic this morning and had bw done. They'll call me later today to tell me when I have to come back for my first u/s. Either Thursday or Friday; it depends on my hormone levels. I'm really, really looking forward to knowing what difference Repronex makes! Other than that, tummy still tender, but it seems like moving a lot with the planting yesterday made it better! I don't feel the big lumps of Repronex anymore.

TansRN: LOL I think Jovigal forgot one important criteria on that list... "you post pictures of your HPTs on the internet"!!! Poor sweetie; I saw your blog and it really seems like a tough two weeks for you. Just two nights now... you're almost there! How long has it been since your last HCG shot? I'm really looking forward to hear you get 100% reliable news! *hugs* and you're totally sweet; thanks for thinking about me darling!

Jovigal: it's great to have news! LOL glad to see you haven't dumped us already! Just kidding! How was your day after you got the news? Did you tell anybody or are you waiting to be past a certain milestone?

mommytobe: looks like this might be okay after all! GOOD! Keep us posted!

Daly: sorry to hear that your little pup had to go through major surgery, the poor thing. I really hope it will be worth it, for him. About the list; don't mention it. It's also there for things like that and I'm super glad that our positive and comforting vibes got to you. We planted many kinds of perennials; I also made four flowerboxes and mixed cascading petunias with herbs such as chives, lavender, basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, mint... in many differerent types and colors sometimes, when I could find them. Your fountain sounds like a wonderful idea; it's just hard, sometimes, to find one that's not too kitsch. I'd love to have one in my garden, too. Thank you so much for your nice comment about my energy; I do try to be cheering any way I can; it's the purpose of this board after all... give when you can, take when you need it... And about your final comment.... I did not like being called a "super-achiever"; I generally don't like being labelled, especially the way it was done. I know that your intention is to help, and I appreciate your care very much. I heard your suggestion to be careful and pamper myself, and I will keep it in mind. However, please also keep in mind that the fact I may post about my activities more than the others does not necessarily mean that I'm a super-achiever. I take "me" time every day, I play the couch potato like everybody else. Being active and doing a lot of things is not what defines a super-achiever; it's all about the mood in which its done. Whenever I start feeling stressed or under pressure when I do my activities, I automatically slow down, take a break or stop and postpone to a later time. As long as I'm enjoying myself, I don't see why I should worry. Again, I appreciate your trying to help, but I just could not leave that false impression unadressed. No hard feelings.

arizonakiwi: hello sweetie! I was thinking about you in the car as I was coming back from the clinic! SEVEN EGGIES! That's wonderful sweetie! YAY! Take a good, long rest today my darling, you've deserved every second of it! The pain is temporary, don't worry. A hot water bottle helps (don't use it after transfer though). I can't wait to hear about your fert rate! This is so exciting!

gbnut: my back is okay, don't worry. I'm 6' tall, so I often get mild back pain when I work in certain positions for too long. Sorry about the pain in your side... might just be progesterone that's causing you some bloating...

My2LnT: Awwwwwww this is really exciting! *jumps up and down* LOOKING GOOD!

hrobinson: please hunny, it's NOT pathetic at all! It's normal to be exciting with every milestone; it feels like things are moving at last! You should take your shots at the same time every day. Morning or evening does not matter. You can do like me and do the Lupron shots in the morning, and later when you do the stimming, you do your shots in the evening. The important thing is to do the same kinds of shots all at the same time (downregging shots at the same time and stimming at the same time). For example, I was told to do my Puregon and Repronex shots at the same time, but it didn't matter if I did them with Lupron in the morning or "alone" during the evening. Hope this helps! This time, I chose to do all my shots in the morning during my stimming. THe u/s are always in the morning and doing the shots in the morning gave me a 16 hours advance...

marsxp: aw, hunny! that war sounds painful! Why don't you tell me a little bit about your reasons for not POAS?

tpiper55: WELCOME! Thanks for sharing your story with us sweetie. I know some people here covering the rear guard will be glad to have company, especially with those BFPs that start arriving!

Okay! Time to update that list!

Sophie

[PMApsy]

Our proud moms-to-be
Jovigal BFP! Congratulations! (Beta = 87.9 10dp3dt)
Nimble Positive HPT; everything points to a natural pregnancy! Congratulations!

Going through the 2ww

TansRN 2 perfect embies transferred on May 11th, beta May 24th (13dp5dt). Last HPTs showing a positive result!
My2LnT 4 perfect little fighters transferred on May 12th, beta May 24th (12dp3dt). Last HPT showed a faint second line!
marsxp 2 perfect embies transferred on May 14th, beta May 26th? (12dp3dt?).
gbnut 2 perfect thawed embies transferred on May 19th, beta March 29th (10dp5dt); three frosties still sleeping!

Embryo transfer

jenn, ET planned for May 22nd!
mandeeq, waiting for FET in a natural cycle; lining scan on the 18th; looking good! Transfer should be on May 23rd!
arizonakiwi, (can't believe how good it feels to put your name here), ET planned for May 25th!

Egg retrieval
arizonakiwi EC on May 22nd, FINALLY! You made it sweetie! 7 beautiful eggies retrieved! Cheer those little fighters!
Jenn EC on May 19th! 6 follies retrieved! Perfect score so far: 6 beautiful embies! Divide and conquer little embies!

Ovarian stimulation

PMApsy started stimming May 18th, blood test shows super quick response; first u/s May 23rd; might trigger in the evening!
Jul1e started stimming May 18th, blood test May 22nd
mommytobe started stimming May 20th, first u/s May?th

Ovarian vacation
souris.... started downregging April 28th
Literatriz.... started Lupron May 15th
hrobinson.... starts Lupron May 22nd
annag.... starts Lupron May 24th, FET cycle
daly.... short IVF cycle, started Lupron on May 18th

Birth control pill
annag.... FET medicated cycle, 9 frosties
lwalker25.... Fresh cycle(?)

Waiting for AF
ltaylor.... FET cycle
Jen779.... FET cycle started May 16th or 17th?
Literatriz.... fresh cycle, donor embies, started Lupron on May 15th
Shantala.... fresh ICSI cycle AF due June 3rd
tpiper55.... first IVF cycle, WELCOME!


In our thoughts and prayers
CarolynB, good luck for your postponed cycle in July 2006! And good luck in Dubai!
daly, our thoughts turn to your four-legged little boy who is very sick. Sending you many hugs through this difficult time.

[Jovigal]

Hey gals. Still in shock here .... and staying CAUTIOUSLY optomistic because of the m/c last IVF. I told dh it's sad that you can't be truly happy because of the fears. I told him that I probably wouldn't feel totally happy until I hold a healthly baby in my arms. Don't get me wrong, I am estatic inside but my gut says to keep low key about it till I make it to 12 weeks.

Sophie - Yes, I've told a few people, my close friends and my close family. I guess I feel like I need that support system available in case something does go bad. I think everyone is happy for me (except for a couple of friends at work....I think they were hoping that I would come back to work full time if I had gotten a BFN----TOO BAD!!!) Seriously though, they were happy. BTW, I hope your u/s goes great at the end of the week and they finds lots of activity.

OK, yes, I agree, I think we need to add TansRN's symptom to the list about posting the pee sticks on the internet! HA! that was a good one.

daly - sorry about your doggie being sick, NO FUN!

I go back Wed morning for my 2nd beta. I'm hoping my Prog levels are good enough so that I can go to the pill form. I'm leaving for my Vegas trip on Friday and I CANNOT do these injections myself. I went back in my diary on my 1st IVF and RE let me switch to pills at 14dpt. (fingers crossed)

[mommytobe]

Hi Everyone,


YEEEA!!!! I was just cleared for continued treatment from the clinic. My advocate from my DH job (medical department) sent them a letter stating our new plan which covers IVF.

Now I can breath. so tomorow is my b/w day 3 on follistim. Now I feel much better. Thanks to all of you for your kind words of encouragement.


BABY DUST TO ALL

[daly]

Steph - That's great news! What a great way to start the day! I'm supposed to POAS today or tomorrow because there is a theoretical 10% of being pregnant naturally and tomorrow is day 5 of Lupron...haven't had the courage to yet. Hope you get tons of pampering!

hrobinson - Wow, that is quite a schedule! I was told to do Lupron nightly within the same hour. They must want you under really tight control. Good luck with all those pokes!

marxp - Very curious to see who wins the battle! Pee or blood!! Sending you tons of babydust!

tpiper55 - Welcome!! I am doing acupuncture too. There are tons of women who get pregnant at 39. There used to be an over 40 group that you could find in a search of the site for inspiring words from women in their 40's who went through IVF. BTW, tubes don't matter with IVF. Egg comes straight out of the ovary to be fertilized and then placed back in uterus. I have a friend who lost both tubes at 35 and has twins now after IVF. I lost one of my tubes too. Hope you like the acupuncture. Sending you AF vibes to get her going!

mommytobe - I hope your insurance has straightened themselves out! Sorry for this added stress.

Jules - get some massage for me too!!! HOpe it is absolutley wonderful

Sophie - I'm so sorry to cause you any upset for using the term super achiever. (in LA it is used quite broadly and complimentary and usually a given for any professional in the medical field) I only meant it as a compliment in that you seem to do so many things so well - cooking, gardening, dance, therapy, our beautiful list. I greatly enjoy hearing all the great things you do. It was in no way meant to insult or rudely label. I am very sorry if it was written that way. I have friends who look out for me as I tend to do too much and just wanted to show thougthfulness that you get pampered too. Sounds like you have everything quite under control and didn't mean to suggest anything otherwise to you. We are all going through so much and the last thing I would want to do is add to that stress. Very sorry.

Tanya - Good luck getting those hours changed permanently. My mom worked the nursing night shift while we were in school for the same reasons you noted.

Jovigal - Hoping to see great huge hcg and progesterone numbers! I definately couldnt' do that progesterone shot alone either! But for Bon Jovi....hmm....maybe I could be coaxed

Well, I'm back to the dog hospital to get my little guy to eat. I've called into work and luckily don't have anything pressing today. Hard to sleep lately and hoping to get him home soon. thank you all again for you wonderful kind words. They are so appreciated.
xoxo

[daly]

oops...double post!

[hrobinson]

Okay, I admit, I am a horrible posting buddy. I tried forever to keep up with everyone, but it only depressed me to see so many of you "getting on in your treatment", that I just felt left behind. However, now it's my turn, so I am going to try really hard...no promises, to keep up with everyone and everything.
I started going back and reading all the posts, but decided to just make a vow to keep up starting today. Therefore, my personals will be short.

Jovigal- Congratulations on the BFP. It is the best feeling in the world. Enjoy every moment of the next 8 months. I think IVF patients enjoy their pregnancies more than those that can get pregnant naturally.
I must say I loved your Qualifications for POAS addiction. It made me want to go out and buy some. I was good with my first IVF, but now I am just not so sure.

Marsxp- Where are you doing your injections? (or where did you do them?) I wasn't given a choice...just told to do them in my thigh's. At least I can alternate the thigh. I had read somewhere how people thought they put weight on where they did the inections....well, I have really small breasts (tmi ) so I was wanting to do injections there. WAs told no such luck

Steph- It is almost time to get the "official" results. I am sure you are anxious!!! will you tell people immediately or wait?

Okay, I know it was just a few. I promise to do better.

Wish me luck on my injection tonight. I just need to be tough

[PMApsy]

Thought I'd be nosy before I start something else...

mommytobe: WOOHOO on getting everything confirmed! I'm so happy for you! It must be quite a big weight off your shoulders! So tell me... follitism sounds like a stimming meds, so should I change your position on the list? You're on day 3 of stimming today, meaning that you started Sunday, right?

Jovigal: I totally get you on the cautious joy. Completely. Right now, our plan is to wait until the first trimester ends before we tell anybody (other than my boss, who'll have to know right away because I work in a hospital). I've worked in the gyn-obstetrics department for a year during my internship and I've treated quite a few women who had had miscarriages in the past, very recent or not. All of them told me that, had they known, they would have waited before spreading the news. However, a close colleague of mine made me reconsider that a little bit after she had a miscarriage. She was going through a VERY iffy pregnancy at the time (75% of her gestational bag was detached...) and she told me, "You know, your friends and family aren't only there for the bad news... they're there for the good news, too." That made me realize that, should I decide to wait that much, I might miscarry and either decide that I won't tell anybody, which would be real hard and probably considered very weird by the people around me, or have to give the news in the "Hey, we've been trying IVF by the way, and I was finally pregnant but I've just lost the baby..." Ouch.

I'm really torn. I know that my father and his wife, though they always mean good, are usually not the best source for emotional support. Hehehe they're both doctors, and specialists, and Tanya will agree with me I'm sure (huge wink!) that doctors, the more they specialize, the more they think themselves Gods. So self-righteous! My belgian grandmother has severe GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) and she goes into Apocalypse Now mode every time someone sneezes, so telling her early would NOT be a good idea; it would only make her anxious. She's actually grateful when I only tell her AFTER my convalescence if I go through surgery or medical treatment. I'd really like to tell my sisters, but then their parents, my father and his wife, will be understandably angry if they know before them... I think the only safe person in my family would be my other grandma. She will keep her mouth sealed shut if I ask her to (and I wouldn't mind her telling my grandpa; he's a sweetheart and extremely discreet)... and she's personally been through 5 miscarriages. She would surely understand if it happened to me (remember my logic about choosing people who would actually give good support at the beginning of this post). I think telling her, my close friend in NYC, and another friend here would be enough for me to have people getting excited with me through the first months, but not too much in case I have to give bad news. Sorry I started to meditate on the topic with you all of a sudden! lol! Hope you don't mind!

*feels a bit nervous* I just hope I'll have news to tell one day...

Jul1e: so glad you're feeling better today! And so glad also that you took my last post the right way (e.g., me just telling you what to keep an eye on and NOT me diagnosing you on the net! ). I hope you enjoyed your nice massage, you lucky girl! All I'll get today is needles! Shots in the morning, then blood work... then acupuncture! LOL!

daly: You're very sweet and I'm sorry that we had such a misunderstanding. Let's blame it on cultural differences, lol! When I see my clients as super-achievers, it's usually because I detect perfectionnist traits or anxiety issues. Hence my reaction to the label. Here, you'd use the term "high-achiever" instead of super-achiever. The same way "super-mom" has a negative ring, for you immediately think of somebody who's doing too much and is mentally and physically exhausted; in sum, someone who has a problematic lifestyle. Aaaaaanyway, thank you so much for your post, but there is no need to apologize that much, really sweetie, I'm not angry! *hugs* and I'm real happy to hear that you have friends around you who care and show it! It's very precious!

Take care ladies!

Sophie

[hrobinson]

Daly- Only having to do the Lupron once a day. I was just asking if anyones clinics specified a better time to do it. I think last time I did it in the afternoon...but can't remember. Then I remember a post somewhere saying you were supposed to do it between the hours of 8 - 12. I am just confused and worried. I want all my i's dotted and t's crossed so I too can celebrate a BFP!!!

[PMApsy]

OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!



Okay, the clinic just called! I'll tell you right away that the hormone levels are not calculated the same way in the US and in Canada. I've read it somewhere on an IVF website. But to give you an idea, during my first IVF, I had a slow response and I had to keep stimming for 13 days. At my stimming blood work, my hormone level was only about 200 if I remember well.

Today, the test showed that my hormone level is 2000!!!!!

They are calling me for an ultrasound TOMORROW! I'm in shock! I don't know if I should be happy or worried, to be honest. Things are happening so fast that my head is turning! I asked them if it was considered super-high or just high. She told me it was not dramatic, but that they systematically ask people to come for u/s the following day if their hormones are 1500 or above. She told me that another woman tested 1400 today and they told her to come on Thursday only. So it's probably not dramatic.

But for me, given my first IVF, it's totally dramatic! She told me I could trigger TOMORROW night, can you imagine? I can't believe it! EC on Friday? surreal! I can't believe that my follicles might be ready already! In 6 days (tomorrow) only, really???

Anyway... all will depend on the size of the follicles they see tomorrow (tomorrow!).

I called my DH... he was not in his office... I really need to speak to someone. Maybe it's time to call my grandma...

Maybe it's time to take a deeeeeep breath! LOL!

Sophie

[gbnut]

Sophie if your levels are high but your follies are not mayure enough yet you might hav eto coast for a few days. i did on my 2nd cycle i coasted for 4 days to allow my follies to mature. all the best with your scan.

Susan x

[PMApsy]

gbnut: what's coasting exactly?

To be honest, I really can't believe that they'll trigger me tomorrow. The nurse at the clinic said, during my first cycle, that in 11 years she had only seen one patient trigger after the first u/s. My bet is that I'm real close to triggering but not "there enough" so I have to trigger tomorrow. Maybe more Thursday or Friday after a second scan. But again, only the scan will tell. Some ladies on the flare protocol trigger quite fast after they start stimming, don't they? One thing that reassures me is that Repronex's main impact, as the pharmacist explained, is on egg maturation. It was used to boost the stimming response in general in my case, but I'm ready to believe that it had an impact on my egg maturation, too (100% were mature last time... so I guess I don't have problems in that area).

I talked to my DH and he's like me. We don't know how to take that news. We just have to wait and see. Be sure that I'll be one of the firsts to show up at the clinic!

Take care,

Sophie

[mandeeq]

Hi ladies

Quick post the clinic called me this afternoon, they told me so far embories look good and they told me to go back tomorrow morning at (11.30 am) for my transfer. I asked the cells but they told me they gone look until tomorrow.

They will explain to me the grade or how many cell for tomorrow. I am so exciting because ET I was waiting for long time and I want to put my babies were they belongs.

Wish me luck ladies

[jen779]

Hello Everyone!!!
I know that I have been gone for a while...but I needed an IVF BREAK!!! Let me start my saying...
CONGRATS Jovigal and Nimble!!! I am so excited for y'all!...and Tanya, looks like a BFP for you too! It must have been for the progesterone I sent you...hehehe. It was lucky!

Everyone has been really busy on here...as always! It took me a few days to catch up with everyone!

Jenn and Mandeeq...Good luck on your transfers! Sending good vibes!

Arizonakiwi...you are getting close! How exciting for you!

Sophie, Mommytobe and Jul1e...how are the stimms going?

Sophie...I cannot believe your numbers already! That is insane...but very exciting!

Welcome Tpiper55!

Well, I finally started AF and saw the RE on Monday! I started my estrogen pills and patches. So this is my regimen for the next week. I have another US and labs on Wednesday. They will check my lining and hopefully start my progesterone. My FET will be anywhere from June 1-4...depending on my lining and levels. With an FET everything happens so quickly! My RE also posted her statistics for 2006 and her success rate for FET cycles increased by 20% from 2005. THAT IS HUGE!!! It made me feel alot better! She decided to have more natural cycles...no Lupron or BCP. She attributes her increased rates on that!

I am so excited that this thread has had such a GREAT start! Hoping a praying for BFPs for everyone else!

Missed everyone!!