The Over 40 Crowd

[summerbaby]

Hi Catharine,
I don't know what the name of the protocol I was on, but this is how it went last time, everything began on the first day of AF w/Decapeptyl shot, then I was injecting Puregon & Menopur + taking oral supplements. After the first U/S, I injected Orgalutran for 4 days till the trigger shot...The protocol seemed to work well (in terms of a good # of eggs retrieved) with minimal side effects. I felt pretty much like myself and not too terribly bloated.

Are you taking 25mg DHEA? My doctor mentioned that one of the pleasant side effects of DHEA is a cheerful mood -- So, perhaps that is contributing as well. Glad that you are also feeling good as a result of giving up alcohol and caffeine! What are you drinking instead?

Good luck with the rest of your treatment. Got my fingers crossed for you! When is your retrieval and transfer scheduled for? Despite your lack of time for yourself these days, try to stay relaxed and think positive! Hope your workload lessens soon.

Hello to everyone!

xx Amy

[Sonix]

Hi everyone,

Sorry for not being around just recently (again). I have been reading but do wish I had more time to post. I can’t post from work and we’re often out and about at the weekends so it’s usually late evenings when I get to post.

Welcome to JIV. Have you started your stimming yesterday? Hope all is progressing well for you and wishing you lots of luck. Do call in again and let us know how you are getting on.

Hello Kim, any news from your ED coordinator and when you get to start your next cycle? If all goes to plan for us the transfer date could be any time from mid September so maybe we’ll be cycling together. I’m still on a few meds to get my hormones sorted out and am trying to relax (thanks for reminding me). Once AF arrives I’ll have a full schedule of scans, tests and then various meds, which includes daily jabs, and constant reporting to the clinic. Dh and I have got it all written up on a spreadsheet which we can update as we go along. Makes me feel we’ve got it all a bit more under control and stops me worrying that I’ll forget something.

Hi Amy, my specialist talked about starting me on DHEA but then decided it would all take too long and tried something else. I’m a (very) low responder but we decided that as long as our consultant stays hopeful and has a positive feeling, we must keep the faith too. It does sound like your doc is putting a lot of thought into how to proceed which is good news. May I ask why you are going to Austria instead of a German clinic nearer home?

I’ve heard about France being cheaper for meds but up to now have been buying locally. Some of the meds have different names abroad. For example I was told that the equivalent to Menogon abroad is not as pure and hs been known to cause allergic reactions. The meds I’ll be needing soon are available in France so if you can recommend a pharmacy which delivers by post, it would be great if you could send me the details.
I’ve been on Dostinex for the last 2 weeks (1/2 tabl / week) for my Prolactin level but my consultant only prescribed 2 tablets and didn’t mention about having myself tested again. Do you have any idea how long the level remains stable once coming off meds?

Gaile – hope all is progressing well for you. Wishing you lots of luck for your upcoming cycle.

Caroline – good for you doing the acu sessions and giving up caffeine and alcohol. Going without caffeine is no problem for me but I do enjoy a glass of wine with my dinner. I’ve been wondering whether I should go back to my acupuncturist. She’s keen on giving me the full Chinese medicine treatment. I was on the herbal teas for a couple of months this spring but they gave me diarrhoea so I had to stop. Couldn’t cope with that whilst on treatment. So if she’s back from maternity leave I think I’ll try and get her to concentrate on the acupuncture. It should be of help to prepare my uterus at least.

Hi Jen. Getting excited for you with your appointment in Barcelona so close. Looking forward to hear some good news very soon. Hope you get some time for relaxing in Barcelona too. Many thanks to you for taking care of our list. I’ll try updating the colourful version next time too.

As for me, the good news is that the Doc has given us the go-ahead for my August cycle which will be the pre-transfer cycle. Now I just hope AF shows next week, which is when I finish the Estrogen. I think that’s what’s supposed to happen. Then I’ll be making appointments for tests, scans and organising my meds….. and off we go.

Hi to Anna, Tammy (hope Andrew is now back to more civilised sleeping hours), Bev and Yasmina (good luck with planning your new cycle) and a special big hi to everyone else I’ve missed on the personals!

Take care
Sonia
xxx

[Catharine]

Just a quick post.

Amy-I take 50mg DHEA daily, I'd forgotten the cheerful side effect.

Sonia-I know what you been with the chinese herbs. Fortunately, the chinese doc only perscribes the herbs leading up to the IVF protocol. Once meds are begun then I stop taking the herbs to avoid interactions btween the herbs and meds.

Wishing all the best luck. Keeping a PMA [DHEA must be helping with this].
Just found out that if all goes as planned ET occurs on our wedding anniversary. how cool is that. I couldn't think of a better present.

Take care all
Catharine

[babyblue]

Good afternoon ladies.

I have not had a chance to read any posts for a while, and I really missed them.

Sonia, I heard from the ED coordinator last week that the donor had a successful cycle with 12 eggs - 9 fert and 4 transferred. IVF coordinator called today and said donor was ready to start another cycle but had to wait a month. We will start Delestrogen shots in mid/late Sept and the EC would be Oct 19 or 20 with the ET on Oct 24 or 25. The donor's last cycle produced a positive pregnancy and they did say that there was a SEVERE male factor involved. The positive news has made my day, week, etc. Looks like you will be about a month ahead of me on your cycle.

Tammy, poor thing. Nothing worse than getting a good sleep cycle in place and then get it all upset again. It is soooo hard on mommies. Good luck, I hope you get the solids and feeding worked out.

Amy, hope the DHEA does the trick. Hey, "cheerful" amid all this hormone rampage is good. My DH would love that.

Catharine, good for you on the caffeine. I've got to start the weening process - The first week is the killer. I've not heard of the French protocol.

Gaile, wow, sounds like a long cycle. 7/21 to 9/10 seems a bit longer than ususal. What type of protocol do they have you on? Keep us posted on your progress.

Jen, waiting to hear all about your 1st appointment. Hope everything goes great.

Kat, I hope you are feeling much better. Being down (really down) can take its toll on you physically as well as mentally. I will be praying for sunshine in your life (whether it be in the sky or in your heart).

Much happiness to all of you. Hope things work fine for those I didn't mention.

Kim

[jen babes]

Hi all just a quicky as i have 10 days of holiday washing to catch up on....will do perrsonals soon...

on Im barcelona appointment...all went well..
Lady doc spoke good english...went through all the tmt cycle bc pills to be taken at next AF, ( due 27th aug) until in sync with donor then E2 patches until ET. Donor is chosen by eye hair height and weight comapancies. And we have 2 donors , 1 as a back up in case anything goes wrong. I also had a womb biopsy which was very painful and done at the same time at fake et transfer. The biposy is to check cells on womb lining are not abnormal due to infection as she thinks this may be one of the reasons for past ectopics. Very through these gynos more so than anyone i have sen here in UK. The results will take about 4wks. full DE tmt should take 8-10wks if everything A okay.

I also had a scan wher we saw a growing follie so i am still ovulating and deffo not i menopause yet!!! that helped take a load off my mind. Doc thinks womb lining looked fine in depth for time of month, even though i have only bleed a bit this month. a 2 day flow came on the 29th July, so AF back on track but still very light.

anyway guys i am still catching up and will personal post more over the next few days.

love to you all
xxxx

[jen babes]

oops double post

[Kat]

Jen - did you meet the dishy Dr Olivares ?

Glad to see it all went well, they are lovely at IM. And they are the only people who have ever got me pg

Hi to everyone else too and glad to see things are progressing for some of you
I shouldn't be on here at all as I should be working but will be back when I can

DH is back and we had some sun yesterday so my mood is on the up. Also not thinking about ivf helps

Speak soon
Kat xx

[jen babes]

Kat
good to hear that ou are ina better place...it's pissing it down here today and so miss yesterdays sun...it's like autumn is here already.
No i never saw the hunky doc, does he look like George Clooney? My Doc is Monica and am glad 'she's a lady" doc.

babyblue- looks like we may be on tmt the same time. Im don't give out time lines just let us know when to to tak patches etc. get more info on donor nearer ET, probably cause they use 2 donors ( 1 is a back up) and don't want to give out wrong info on donor.

catharine wow ET on weddin anni...what a beautiful PMA symbol x x

sonia - about the meds do you know where to get good but cheap progesterone pesseries 200mg???? Don't know any of the meds you are taking but good luck with the cycle. can you confirm where are you in tmt?

Much love to all other ladies and babies. gotta dash and get back to work now.

love jen
xxx

[jen babes]

***************************
Successful Mummies Given Birth:
***************************
Bev-baby William ( Wills) born 23rd January 07 DE
Birth weight 5lb 12 oz's - 21wks old 15lbs 2 oz

Tammy- baby Andrew born 28th Feb 07 natural preg.
Birth weight 8 lb 7 oz - 4 months old 16 lb 14 oz, 26 1/4" long

Yasmina -baby Eloise born Feb. 20, 2007.
Birth weight 7 lbs 11ozs.

Anna -baby Matthew born 23rd March 07 DE
Birth weight 7lb 60zs


Ladies in treatment


Ladies Awaiting Treatment

August Sonia – start of DE treatment
Jen- awaiting AF for start BC pills

September Kim - ED cycle
jen- start DE cycle
Kat-???starts DE cycle

October jen's expected ET
November

BFP's for all


To add any updates and keep all the colours...
click the quote button to post...
edit or add posting...
delete the [quote] at beginning and end of post...
then submit button to post. Good luck!!!!

[babyblue]

Jen, sounds like you had a great visit to IM. That is great. Just curious but do you get to see a photo of the potential donors? Did you and DH get to narrow the field of donor selections or did they choose the 2 donors you now have? Wow, a Dr. that looks like George Clooney. I would have trouble keeping myself focused. I have trouble with my current Dr. since he is a he. My local OB/GYN is a female and I have seen her since I was young. So male Dr. make me nervous in this area.

Kat, sounds like you are feeling better. Sun can cheer anyone up. My counselor from years ago told me that Sun (Vitamin K) directly on the face can help with the doldrums and depression.

Have a great day,
Kim

[jen babes]

BABYBLUE

no i never got to choose my donor...it's all confidential and annonymous. Under law there you have no idea who the donor is...I know that they have a list of donors ( who have gone thru rigerous checks) who have gone thru EC before. They choose 2 ( 1 as a back up) by eye and hair colour...i posted some info on genes on the Donor Egg thread on this forum..let me know what you think.

OUr meds are totally differant what is DHEA???

Our med cycle is birth cntrol pills until AF...then E2 patches then progesterone pessaries...

love jen
xxx

[AMck]

Hi Ladies

Jen , glad to see all went well at IM. Dr Monica looked after us as well. She was lovely and easy to talk to. Your plan of treatment sounds exactly the same as ours, except for the biopsy. We also saw the now legendary Dr Olivares, he did the actual transfers, he is really dishy!!!

Kat, isn't the weather ab fab? Glad you are feeling better xx

As for us, we are fine. Can't believe Matthew is almost 5 months old. I am still breastfeeding, planning to start weaning him when he is 6 months. He is a absolute delight, sleeping well, feeding well, smiling, gurgling and trying to sit/roll over etc....I count my blessings every day.
To all you ladies undergoing treatment...keep the faith, it is all worth it in the end.

Hi to Bev, Tammy, Yasmina, Sonia and all the lovely ladies on this thread
Bye for now
Anna x

[Catharine]

A early good morning to everyone.
A quick update before I had for a U/S and labs.

I seem to be progressing well. They have detected 20 follies in the right ovary alone and a bit less in the left. Tonight maybe the trigger step in the protocol. I hope so, as I feel bloated and sluggish. Last scan they mentioned that I am retaining water and have to be careful not to hyper stim. So, hopefully retrieval will be Friday and ET Monday.
In trying to stay calm I had acu yesterday and plan to go again on Thr. My acu practicianer said I look very healthy with good facial coloring. He has a very good feeling about this cycle.

For those wondering about the DHEA--Dehydroepiandrosterone, is a natural steroid prohormone produced from cholesterol by the adrenal glands, the gonads, adipose tissue, brain and in the skin (by an autocrine mechanism). DHEA is the precursor of androstenedione, which can undergo further conversion to produce the androgen testosterone and the estrogens estrone and estradiol.
The thought is that DHEA will increase ovarian response. There isn't too much scientific data to back up the claim though.

Wishing everyone all the best,
Catharine

[chriss]

Hi everyone, I just found this website yesterday and I am learning how to use it. I've never used message boards before. What have I been missing??? Well, I'm glad I am here now. I am 40 and just started my first IVF cycle. I had 6 IUS and was pregnant on the 4th. I miscarried at 8 weeks. Devastated, of course. My DH and I decided to go right to IVF after the last two failed IUI's. He has low sperm count and I have Factor V Leiden (Clotting disorder) Anyway, it's been a loooong saga and I am glad to find a place to be with people who understand what it's all aout. Thank you, thank you! I have a question... I've been taking DHA (Fish Oil Supplements) Is that what you were referring to earlier? And, does anyone know the best dosage? And please tell me that IVF can work on the 40 and over crowd. Best wishes to everyone. Chriss

[babyblue]

Welcome aboard Chriss!! This is a wonderful place to be. Tammy, who is still with us on here from time to time was undergoing tests for IVF and got pregnant naturally. Anna, Bev and Yasmina also have beautiful babies. Yes, it can work over 40, you just have to have a lot of patience. When will your EC (egg collection) and ET (egg transfer) be? Who knows you may have a cycle buddy on here.

Have a great weekend,
Kim