Jan/Feb 08 Cycle Buddies

[waitingforMia]

I know the Dec/Jan thread is thriving, but I didn't see Jan/Feb posted, so I thought I would start one.

I am waiting for AF, which should arrive Dec 15ish, and then I can start OCP. This will be my 2nd IVF; although it feels like my first one. Dh and I have unexplained IF and have been TTC for 8 years now. Feb will be our 10 year anniversary and I am hoping we get some great news the week of our anniversary!

We go on Wednesday so DH can get an updated SA and we can also get some blood testing. I will schedule the IVF class and then just wait for AF.

I am very excited and hope there are others that will be going through this at the same time as me.

Welcome All!

MP

[cornybaby]

waitingformia..YAY! Thank you for starting this thread. I was actually going to start one tonight! I too am about to start my 2nd attempt. My first ended in a BFN on 11/22. I have an appointment this afternoon to discuss my new protocol and hopefully will be back in the game in a few short weeks. If all goes as planned, I am hoping for AF to arrive around Christmas and start BCP then. My story in a nutshell...I'm 34, DH 38, TTC 1.5 years. I have severe endo. No known problems for DH. My first cycle I was a poor responder and I'm hoping today to hear how my RE will change up the protocol to get a better response out of me. By my calculation (and if AF arrives on time), I'm looking at a stim start of mid-January with ER sometime in the beginning of Feb. Looking forward to taking this journey with you! And congratulations on 10 years!!! December 24th is my 1 year anniversary.

cornybaby

[lolajones]

Hey there, can I join too??

I'll be starting my 5th (man, can't believe its number 5!) on the 23rd December - thats when I start down regulation.
Its only my 2nd fresh cycle, 1st was 2 years ago so feel like a novice again.
My history - ttc 4 1/2 years, tubal problems, 1st ivf oct 05 - bfp but ectopic, salpingectomy, 1st fet april 06 - bfn, another salpingectomy (I am now tubally bald...) 2nd fet nov 06 - bfn, 3rd fet april 07 - bfp but sadly no heart beat at 9 weeks.
So after some time away, I'm back for more!

2008 will be a good year, I can feel it! GOOD LUCK TO US!!!!

love, Lola
xx

[waitingforMia]

Hi Lola and corny baby!

Lola: Wow 5! I hope this 5 turns out to be your lucky number
Cornybaby: Congrats on one year

Are ya'll doing anything diet wise to prepare? I started my prenatal and folic acid pills, and I cut out caffiene and started eating healthier food! It helps me to feel like I am doing something while I wait for AF.

MP

[cornybaby]

Welcome Lola. Wow - 5! I sure hope this is the one that does the trick for you.

Well, I met with the RE tonight. Although he's going to be increasing my doses, I am a little skeptical that he is aggressive enough. I was hoping to do a flare cycle, but he doesn't think I need it. He did mention some estrogen therapy to start because I tend to have a thin lining. I don't know if that means when BCP starts or sooner? The nurse is supposed to be calling me tomorrow to give me more info. In the meantime, he seems confident for a January cycle, with ER/ET at the end of January. I guess that will be the case if AF comes on time. As for the diet, I gave up caffiene and my wine throughout the cycle, and I got a BFN, so part of me feels like I shouldn't bother since it didn't help. I am trying to continue to stay away from the caffiene, but I will still have an occasional glass of wine when I feel like it, at least up until I start BCP. I also did acupuncture last time. That obviously didn't help either. It was VERY expensive and to be honest, I didn't find it relaxing at all. More stressful than anything. I feel like if I am going to be spending $100 a week trying to do something relaxing, I'll go get a massage instead of paying to be poked with a bunch of needles. An hour at the spa is more my kind of relaxation. We'll see though. I have to talk to DH about it. Oh - and I'll probably go back to the prenatals until I start my folic acid. Ok, well, sorry being so long-winded. DH is working tonight so I don't have anyone to talk to except the cat.


Anyway, let's hope this is our lucky time. What a great thing it would be to bring in the new year with a whole bunch of BFPs!

[Tracy S]

Good morning all! This is so funny - I was thinking of starting this thread today too! ha! I start injections on Jan 6th, and the waiting is hard. I just want to get started! (This is my first IVF, so I'll be looking for a lot of answers and advice along the way!) I am surprisingly optimistic, but trying not to get to carried away....you know.......

Hey, the holidays are coming, we have great friends to support us here, and we are ready to embark on new adventures! Good luck to everyone!

[waitingforMia]

Welcome Tracy! I think you and I might be close together with this cycle. I am not sure when I start my injections yet though.

cornybaby: Who said anything about giving up wine? Are you crazy? I am not sure if it will help, but I do find that it is helping me focus my energy on something.

I went to RE this morning for bw and Dh was there for another SA. The RE said to wait until AF comes, then call and we will schedule an appointment on CD3 for the FSH (?) test and IVF class and to freeze Dh's boys (my Re does this as a precaution). AF is scheduled to be here 12/15. So that gives us another week to find alternative means of financing this thing!
Good Luck girls!

MP

[cornybaby]

Welcome Tracy! I saw you on another thread too...glad you made it over here. I was doing the math, and if AF arrives on time, that means I should start lupron on 1/14. We'll see. Hopefully worst case scenario, lupron start will be the 21st. AF tends to show up pretty regularly at day 28, but I hear after a failed cycle it can come a little late.

Well Tracy, I certainly don't consider myself an expert, but I did learn a lot from my first cycle. I found the women on this board to be a wealth of knowledge. I don't know how I would have made it through the first cycle without them. So ask away! We are all here to help eachother. I must say, I am much less stressed about this cycle, as I now know what to expect. Hopefully the lack of so much stress will make a difference. As for your b/w on CD3, they are measuring your FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) level. My doc prefers to see it under 10, but you'll find women on this board with levels of 12, 14, I've even seen some 20s! I just found out yesterday that mine was a 7. Don't stress about it, I think it is just one of the factors they use to determine your protocol, and the amounts of meds you will be taking.

[Tracy S]

Hi cornybaby! It sounds like we will be close on our timing! I just ordered my first 2 weeks of injections, and it makes everything so....REAL all of a sudden! I know I don't need them for a few weeks, but with my finances, I have to get them in bits and pieces.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday!!!!

[cornybaby]

It's probably good you are ordering in bits and pieces. It can be quite overwhelming when you get that giant box. I think mine had like 300 syringes in or something. It's a bit overwhelming. I got it a couple of weeks before my start and opened it right away. All I did was check to make sure I got everything that was ordered, then I put it in the closet and didn't think about it again until my lupron start date. Looking at all those needles and not knowing what to with them kinda freaked me out at first. But, it's also nice to get them because you know you are 1 step closer to getting started.

[waitingforMia]

Girls,
So what cd will I start my meds? How long do I have to be on OCP? I think he said 3 weeks - is that right? then I won't start injections until 1/7-14 also, right?

I can't remember a thing from my 1st IVF - this time I am taking much better notes, so I don't forget this stuff!

MP

[cornybaby]

MP - It may vary slightly, but my calendar is a full 7 weeks from start of BCP to transfer. My doc has be on BCP for approx 21 days, and in my first cycle, I started BCP on CD3 (same day as FSH test). Also, my clinic always does the lupron start on Monday. Has your doc given you a sample calendar?

[ammu]

Girls, can I also join you?

I am to start my 3rd fresh cycle in January (can't believe I am on my 3rd cycle, I thought I would get lucky within 2 cycles )

No issues with me or DH (well, I have my left tube partially blocked). We don't know if there are any blood/egg/sperm chromosome abnormality issues with us yet, so we are doing FISH on sperm, PGD on embryo and blood karyotype this time ($$$$$ ). On top of this, I am doing accupuncture. Whatever it takes to get pregnant for once.

I don't have my schedule yet, I am expecting to start sometime first week of January if AF arrives on time. I think my Doc is doing a short lupron protocol this time (3 days I think). I didn't respond well to meds past two time, only 6-8 eggs and only 3 fertilized with ICSI and made it to day 3.

Hope we all get lucky this time around and end up with a precious New Year gift.

Good luck and love to all...

ammu.

[Tracy S]

Of course you can join us! It sounds like we will be close on cycles too. I start injections on 1/6. This is my first IVF, and I'm a little nervous. With my finances being what they are, this is a one-time shot for me. I am very happy to have found this site and all of you!! I think it will be much better going through this with the support group here.

Have a great day!!!!!
Tracy

[waitingforMia]

Welcome Ammu! Those tests you mentioned sound interesting. I hate unexplained IF - I wish I had some answer!

Cornybaby: Thanks for the info I guess I can expect to start injections 1/8! I will have an appt on CD3 and I will get the calendar and all the info. Come on AF - let's get this over with!

Baby Dust to ALL!

MP