The Over 40 Crowd

[chriss]

HI Kim,
Thanks for the response. I just started the stims last night. So I guess the EC and ET will be pretty soon. I go back in to the doctor's office Monday, Wednesday and then Friday, Saturday & Sunday. I guess I'll know more on Monday. It's my first IVF. I did 6 IUI's. Two of them were natural and four of them were on Clomid (Oral). I have no idea how I will react to the stim shots. I am trying to relax as best as I can but it's not easy. I did find a cyle buddy who just had her transfer a day or two ago. She's been great to talk to. I've really enjoyed this site. It's great support from people who understand. Can you tell me more about ED? Thanks.
-chriss

[taylorjools]

Hi Ladies
do forgive me for not posting sooner, we are having a rocky ride. FET went very well, we had 3 out of 4 embies survive the thaw, and I had 3 6.celled grade 1 embies transferred on 12/07 so ISIDA did it again!, BFP, confirmed as a singleton by vaginal scan at 5.1 weeks with fab beta hCG doubling and all that. However this Friday night I had a bleed, which stopped very quickly, but it worried me so we went to the clinic for U/S. The scan showed well developed gestational sac, but so far no yolk sac, pole or embryo. This was yesterday so 6 weeks 2 days. Beta had also increased well since previous week so no dropping or stagnating, but the fear is blighted ovum. I have however just found a fantastic site called "misdiagnosed miscarriage .com" and there are stories there of women who's babies were only identified at 8-10 weeks, so we are not giving up hope yet. we are however exhausted and scared, and already debating whether we will try afresh cycle in the winter if this miscarries, which will mean new donor and the whole stress that goes with that.

I think of you girls all the time, and keep hugging Joshi who is now one, the reason we sould all never give up.
Love Jools

[Kat]

Hi all, welcome to Chriss, this is the best place to meet people who really understand.

Jools - sorry to see your news, it's horrid to have your hopes dashed again. It seems to happen to so many people but you don't hear about blighted ovum outside of the world of ivf. I suppose a lot of people who have it don't realise they were ever pg. You seem quite calm, I expect having Joshua around will help you enormously.

Jen - maybe Dr O will do your ET - he did mine and never has "I am now going to flush out your vagina" sounded so sexy!

Hi to everyone else, I know I don't come on here as often as I used to but I do think of you all.

Kat xx

[children]

Hi all,

Congratulations jools, let's live with BFP upto 10 weeks and see. If beta keeps increase nicely, we have a hope.

Finally, I am back from France. This was the first plane trip with Eloise.
I have been to France many time before, but this was the only time that I spent my entire 14 days in one place - only day trips to rock climbing, fishing, and horse riding, and visiting friends.

A bit advice to anyone travel abroad with infants: PACK EVERYTHING, including diapers! It was hard for me to find Huggies, which is the only brand that I trust and use. I had to go with Pamper but they are made differently in France - they are not as soft. I also had hard time to find baby food for Eloise because I prefer single-ingredient ones, which I found none. I had to try vanilla-flavored rice cereal, baby cereal of 5 grains, fruits of banana, pineapple, and apricot combo, Eloise did not like
any of these. Eventually, breastfeeding had been a major task of mine and my milk made her poop 5 times a day! Considering she used to poop only once in three days from 2 to 5 month of her age, that was scary. She had diarrhea with green and bubbly poops. After coming back and with an easier access to internet, I found out that her pooped frequently was due to 1) (mainly) an imbalance of foremilk/hind milk - sounds familiar, Tammy? - and 2) (partly) a possible growth spurt.

The worst of all was that Eloise could not be with anyone else but me. She'd cried hysterically up to the point of throwing up everything in her stomach! One night after we put her to bed and went out with friends to a bar, only after one beer, we received phone call from grandparents and hurried back since she woke up unexpectedly. She had not stopped crying for more than an hour and vomited crazily amount of milk! I cried also once arrived home seeing her tearing face.

Another bad news was that we lost our spot at the original daycare which was 1 mile from work. Luckily we found another which is 4 miles from where we live and she will start tomorrow.

Tammy, I am sorry that you have to wake up frequently again. I am in the same situation here after the trip to France. I don't know whether solid food helped since I only had fed Eloise occasionally with tiny amount of solid food (1~2 oz/feeding maxi, once/day only) after her 4 month of age. I believe that formula (2 oz/night before bedtime) helped Eloise slept through the nights at the beginning (7~8 weeks of age). After a while (3 month or so), I stopped using it and then I had to feed her once in the early morning, like 4~5 am. At the moment, she can not sleep through the nights, waking up every hour the first night we were back from Europe, not because of hungry, I blame the jet-lag! Now she slowly adjusts her schedule back and it gets better each day.

Many apologies for all these winings to the ones who are currently cycling. Speaking of which, my AF just returned yesterday. Will see my new RE soon about the best time of trying for the second. Good luck every one!

Yasmina

[teachertam]

Hello Ladies:

Sorry that I have not posted for awhile.

Welcome Chriss!! As Kim mentioned, I was waiting to go through a frozen IVF cycle and became pregnant naturally. It was a true miracle. My baby, Andew is 5.5 months old now and a true joy!!

Big J: Congrats on your BFP!! I hope your beta keeps increasing!!

Good luck to all of you ladies who are cycling and preparing to cycle.

We just got back from a little 4 day vacation in the mountains. We went with my family, so it was nice to have extra hands to help with Andrew. He loved all of the attention. I have posted a picture of DH, Andrew and I.

Yasmina: I'm feeding Andrew oatmeal cereal mixed with bananas. I have just started him on sweet potatoes and he seems to love it. He is waking up every 3-4 hours. He went to bed at 9:15, up at 12:30, 3:30, 6:30 and up for the day at 7:15. I can't wait until he goes back to a schedule where he only gets up once during the night, instead of 2-3 times!! I'm planning to keep breast feeding as long as I can. He will be 6 months old on 8/28. I would love to be able to keep nursing him until he is 12 months old, but we shall see about that.

Hello to everyone else.



Regards,
Tammy

[babyblue]

Chriss, wow looks like you will be on that 2ww pretty soon. We also did 6 IUIs - all natural. My first IVF cycle with stims wasn't that bad. I think I stressed more about what meds when and schedule. DH would say "that's good" and I would be like no, it has to be just so and so. By the second round of IVF, he had the process down - I mix all the shots and he gives them. This will be our first try at ED so we are a bit scared. Not sure what to expect. I did get some more details from my Dr. Friday. I start BC pills after Sept AF which should be 9/4. Then I start Lupron shots on 9/16 and then the delestrogen and progestrone on 10/1.

Jools, hang in there. You will be in my prayers for a good report. Sometimes we just need time and things turn out great.

Yasmina, sorry to hear that your trip to France was not more laid back. Eloise just was used to her mommy being there. Hope she gets back into her old schedule quickly. Glad to hear that you are going for a second try. Keep us posted on what your schedule might be.

Hello to anyone else I didn't mention.

Have a wonderful day,
Kim

[babyblue]

Tammy, we must have posted at the same time. You are looking fabulous! So is the rest of the family, but for someone that is up at least three times a night - you look great. Looks like the Smokey Mtns. I love that place. DH lived in Knoxville, TN for 13 yrs so going back to the mtns is not his wish. DS and I would love to go there. I love the hiking (easy trails). Sounds like you had a great time and got some help too. Andrew is growing up so fast. Just seems like yesterday when you were posting about the pending birth. Agree with you about breastfeeding as long as you can. I think it great for mommy and baby. You guys take care and I hope Andrew starts sleeping a little longer for mommy's sake.

Have a great day,
Kim

[teachertam]

Kim,

Thanks for the compliments! Yes, it is the Smokey Mountains. We had to pick a place that was within a short car ride from our house. Andrew is growing like a weed!! Next summer he will be over a year old, so the vacation should be easier. No more pumping, and breast feeding!! I had to pump enough breast milk for bottles during the day. It was difficult to get him to breast feed in public, since he does not want to miss anything.

Regards,
Tammy

[summerbaby]

Hello and welcome Chriss!

Hope all is going well for you during your treatment! I wish you all the best!

Been a few weeks since my last post - just needed to get away and live life with DH for a bit -- felt simply great. We've been travelling around Switzerland, Germany and Italy, where we finally found the sun! Hooray!!

BigJ - Been thinking of you and am sending you lots of positive thoughts, hope, patience and confidence. I do hope everything works out for the best for you and your family.

Sonia - How are things going with your pre-transfer cycle? My husband and I also do the spreadsheet plan to keep everything in order, so I don't forget anything! As far as the meds for Prolactin, I still take them to keep the value stable. But, I've only been tested just before each tmt. If you are still interested in the about the pharmacy in France, please send me a PM and I'll give you all the contact info. Where do you go for your acupuncture treatment and how often? - and finally, my gyno recommended that we go to Austria. Since we have to pay ourselves, they offer more treatment options than in Germany.

Jen - happy to hear your appt. in Barcelona went so well! sounds like others have also had success there, too? Is that right? Wishing you all the best.

Catharine - Hope you are doing well. I imagine you must be on or starting the 2WW very soon. Best of luck and happy anniversary!

Kim - sounds like really positive news about your ED. Looking forward to hearing how everything progresses.

Kat - glad you are feeling better. Taking a break from all the appts, planning, thinking, and worrying can be a great thing for the mind, body and soul.

Yasmina - sorry to read about your less than restful trip to France. I think it must have been quite an experience to travel with such a young one. Kudos for taking the trip in the first place! Hope you all are doing well. Wishing you all the best for #2!

Tammy - DH and I would love to visit the Smokey Mountains. Happy to hear you had a nice family vacation. Thanks for the picture!

And I can't say enough, all of you who have become mothers are really inspirational.

Hi to Gaile, Anna, Bev and anyone else I missed, hope you are all doing well!


Must be that DHEA, been in a great mood... Could also be from vacation....doesn't matter, I'm relaxed and happy.

Take care!
Amy

[chriss]

Hello everyone,
Thanks for you warm welcome and thanks for your responses. I went to the doctor's office today for the first sono since I started the stims. I started them on Thursday and I went in today (Monday). I know that it is early, but I feel a bit discouraged. There were two follicles that were 10 (What's the unit of measurement?) and 2 or 3 smaller ones. Do the smaller ones have time to mature? I will continue with my meds until ER. I think the retreival day will be in a week. So, could there be more than two mature follicles by that time? I feel kinda depressed. I'm not really sure where I stand. Are my doctor's just being positive so that I don't worry? Or did I have a poor response? UGH!!! I appreciate any input. Thanks. Chriss

[Catharine]

Hi all-

Seems like many are have lovely adventurs at the moment.

Yes I'm in the 2ww. This cycle has been completely different from the last. The stims caused alot of blotting, to the point I was convinced I'd hyperstimed. Still have a blotted abdomen but the RE seemed unconcerned. My concern is that during the course of the day I gain nearly 10lbs water weight. Then overnight my weight gradually returns back to baseline, mainly from me having to wake every 30min to use the restroom. Sadly, we harvested only 20 mature eggs, of which only 8 fertilized, and then 4 survived to devolpe into the poorest quality of embryos on the scale. Much different scenario from last time. They transferred all 4 although with skepticism due to the very poor quality
No worries, head up, PMA in tact. It is what it is and we work with what we have. cross fingers.

Wishing everyone all the best.

Catharine

[children]

Hi Chriss,

Welcome. Feeling depressed might be one of the side effects of suppressing drugs that you used before stimulation. Be patient and see how many of others will develop with time. Your RE will adjust the stimulation strength according to your response, that is why you are closely monitored by checking blood E2 levels and ultrosound imagine. If you RE did not seem to concern about it, you should also try to relax and let your ovaries do what they are supposed to do. I know, it is easy to say for me now.

Catharine,

My RE and embryologist once told me that the ugliest embryos make completely normal and beautiful babies. You just never know. Let's keep our fingers crossed! Hope your 2ww flies by.

I am sorry for posting unpleasantly last time. In fact, we enjoyed a lot of time off and having Eloise all the time with us. I was probably just stressed out by catching up the work and looking for daycare for Eloise - we had to take her to work with us in the last week! Eloise started her first day at daycare without eating anything. After arriving home, she drank like mad litte fish and then slept all the way from 8 pm to 6 am - I fed her few times in the middle of the night but she was too tired to open her eyes. I am very sad about sending her to daycare so early - that is why I am posting instead of working! I miss her so much but I have to hold myself not to pick her up before 4 pm, poor me!

Here are us three!



Yasmina

[chriss]

Thanks Yasmina,
That's a beautiful picture. -chriss

[Catharine]

Yasmina-
I giggled at your reply, Thank you. I'm very hopeful.

Currently, I'm so bloated and very uncomfortable. By days end I feel like that children's toy of the seventies, Weebles wabble but they don't fall down.

Wishing all positive thoughts.

Enjoy all the pictures, especially the family ones

I hope to contribute in the future.

Cheers!
Catharine

[jen babes]

Ahhhhhhhhhhh had done a MEGA post to you all and then computer crashed and i have lost it!!!!!!!!! ( and my post ...ha ha!!!!!) anyway a quicker summary....

Chriss..warm welcome to ya honey...Please try not to worry about follies as it's how many good quality eggs that count. So wait and see what EC brings. i did not to have ANY follies at 1st cycle ( respomnded very badly with agonising headacjhes to the down reg) and my consultant changed my cycle to a short/cetrotide one. That's where they stim and down reg at the same time. I got 5 follies 3 of which had eggs and 2 fertised inot grade 'A' embies. Unforturtunatly a BFN for us. I hope by EC all your follies have grown and you have loads of good eggies to collect x x x

Yasmina- ah sweetie it must be soooooooo difficult to leave Eloise in day care, but times work is a must sometimes. I do feel for you. It sounds like she had a good time during the day care as she ended up sleeping all through the night. Sending you big hugs and lots of love. I did love the pic of the 3 of you it wa a cracker. x x

catharine- congratulations with your 4 embies on board x x. I do hope all the bloating goes down soon as it can be so uncomfortable. x xMuch love to you on your 2ww. x x

Amy- sounds like you had a wondeful time trvelling around Europe...fun in the sun x x You sound totally relaxed and chilled out ready for whatever the next tmt throws at you x x Wondeful to hear you so upbeat x x

kat- Ohhhh i did watch the dvd that IM gave us and Dr O is giving ET on it. ** "Ohh er misses" said in frankie howard voice** Hope he doesn't give me ET i'll be so distracted with seeing his eyes above the sheet legs akimbo etc doesn't bear thinking about....Hope it's our doc Monica. x x
How are you hun? Are you worring about Sept tmt? How is DH? love to ya x x

sonia- How are yu? I see that you dd a pre transfer cycle? is that like a practise run

Kim hi ya to you o this side. how are you doing today?

Tammy had a laugh (lots of Love ) at little nosy Andrew not wanting to breat feed in public incase he misses anything Great you had a BUSY but fab time . I m sure next year will be more relaxed for you x x

Big J sorry to hear your worries Jules...I do hope that with beta doubling that it's not a blighted ovum. it must be such a stressful time for you hope it 's all good news soon and sac is there at next scan x x let us know

Anna- thanks for all your support on the other thread...love the pics of matthew x x

Much love to bev and wills, gail and everyone else i have missed...

need to try and find that update list eh!!!!

I am doing okay. The mid month bleeds have stopped with my fab GP prescribing progesterone pills and i take them from day 12- 26 of cycle. I am on day 18 so hope after this AF comes on time and i can tart bc pills which means start tmt.wooo-hooo. I am still waiting on result from womb biopsy that they did in barcelona ( another 2ww). hope all is ok.
Moods have been more stable with the pills and i am less caus ehormones balanced. Starting acu agin m
next week. willbe weekly for next 3 moths to help de-dtress and balance me.

love to ya all

jen
xxx