Jan/Feb 08 Cycle Buddies

[hopin4ababy]

Rio: Don't stress! It can work for you! I haven't heard of that happening, but it might be normal for some people. Can you call your RE and ask? Or are you going in for b/w and u/s tomorrow? Try not to worry about it too much! Crossing my fingers over here!!

<<<<<Hugs>>>>>>

[waitingforMia]

Rio: I am not sure if that is supposed to happen. Just call your RE. I wouldn't worry about it though. AF is better than no AF! Weren't you on BCP for awhile, I am sure that has an effect.

Stay positive!!
MP

[cornybaby]

21bat - on my last cycle I had to do the PIO shot as well as a suppository. From my experience, I much prefer the shot. The suppository is very messy, luckily I only did one at bedtime. For the shot, I always iced myself for about 3 minutes, and then I couldn't even feel the needle going in. There was some very mild soreness at the injection site as well. I had to do them myself a lot of the time because when DH goes to work, he's gone for several days at a time. When I did them myself, I did them lying down on my left side and reached around to the right to put the needle in my right cheek, but when DH did it for me, I would stand and lean on the kitchen counter. I do recommend alternating left/right cheek to ease the soreness. It's just my opinion, but if I had my choice I would go with the shot, just for the sake that it's only once a day and not messy at all. And this is coming from someone who, before IVF, was absolutely horrified of needles.

Oh - I bled too sometimes with the tummy shots. I also had some bruising. I always thought when I bled/bruised, that maybe I was just jamming the needle in a little too hard.

[riogirl71]

I called my RE but he is in surgery all morning and supposed to call me back, so I thought I would check here meanwhile. I checked again and it is lighter but RED The nurse said that my estradiol on Monday was 10-20 and then on Thursday it was 160 or so (I can't remember exactly) so she said I am responding but she will check with the RE cause they want a smooth lining. GO AWAY AF

Thank you for your encouragement - you girls are the best!

My boss, who went through IVF with his wife, said that his RE said to warm up the PIO oil before injecting (placing vial in warm water, not hot) and that it would thin out and not hurt so much, I need to ask my RE about it but might be worth doing!

[KatieG]

Hey girls!! Much better day so far not cramping so far--- I went to doc this morning and my follies are measuring 10-12 so progressing right along. And I am past the half way point of my 10 days. I will have ER thursday or friday of next week. I'm going to buy some pineapple this weekend and start eating it. Im cleared to paint as well so that will be good. Mia im on Follistim and Repromex. Well I hope you all have a great weekend.

[KatieG]

One more thing im going to ask about the iceing down. Ive never done that. So far the shots arn't to bad. And I didnt have Lurpon from home I had Lupron Depot (one time at ER's office)--- I'm scard for the PIO so I will be asking before I start that one!!! OK lunch time. Not sure what to eat now the my deli meat is on the outs..

[hopin4ababy]

Katie: So good to hear you are not cramping nowand that your follies are growing! Hope you have a great weekend!

Rio: I sure hope nothing is wrong and he will call to let you know soon! Also great tip about the PIO! I never thought of that but sounds like it would work great! Tell us what your RE says!!

Corny: Shots and suppositories? You are a trooper!!

Baby wishes for all!!

[waitingforMia]

Corny: You go girl given IM shots to yourself. I am sure I could do it if I had to, but I'd rather not!

Rio: ugh! So sorry you have this extra worry!! Go away AF!! I have heard from a lot of sources that it is best to either roll the ample around in your hands for a minute to warm it. Or put it in warm water. I will definitely be doing that!

Kaite: Glad the cramping is down! And good job growing those follies Iam confused about the pineapple. I keep reading online that it is an old wive's tale. Have any doctors confirmed this? And how much do you eat/drink?? When should you start? ANyone know?? And as far as the lunch meat from what I've read it is ok to eat it before you are pregnant. SO unless someone knows differently I will be eating up until ER.

MP

[waitingforMia]

Ok I was looking up the whole pineapple thing and this seems to be the consensus:
pineapple pregnancies
I mentioned the pineapple reccommendation on my last blog entry and have piqued a few interests, so I thought I would provide a wee bit more information and clarification. Here's what they gave me at the needle-pushing place. Using Pineapple to Assist Implantation: Pineapple contains bromelain. Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme that breaks up proteins that inhibit embryo implantation. Consuming a whole pineapple (focusing on the core as it has the highest concentration of Bromelain) during a fertility cycle can be beneficial.

For IVF cycle: consume equal amounts over five days, beginning on the day of your embryo transfer.

Timed intercourse cycle: consume equal amounts over five days, beginning on the day after ovulation.

Note: Be careful not to start consuming pineapple too early in the cycle. Beginning to consume pineapple BEFORE the reccommended days above can actually affect your vaginal and cervical mucus PH, making it more acidic.

So my canned pineapple I bought won't work I need fresh pineapple (even the core!!) and don't start too early... got that girls, whew! TTC is tough!!

Happy Eating!!
MP

[cornybaby]

Mia - thanks for the info on the pineapple. I think I already mentioned this, but someone I was cycling with last time told me she ate tons of pineapple and she's pregnant with twins. Here's my feeling on all of the "wives tales"...

If you believe that what you are doing works, then it does! It's mind over matter here girls, and a positive mental attitude is SO important. When I got my BFN last time, I at least found peace knowing that I did everything I could possibly to do try and have a positive result. My BFN certainly was not the result of what I did or ate during my 2ww. It just wasn't my time. And had I known about the pineapple, I would have done that too! So, regardless of whether there is scientific evidence that pineapple works, or meditation works, or acupuncture works...if you believe it does, then that's all you need!

I guess I have to learn to love pineapple! If those folks on Fear Factor can eat that crazy stuff, then surely I can stomach a little fruit that I don't like.

[beth]

Hi Girls!

Oh my gosh, I have been off line for a while, this group is really cookin'!
I have about 10 pages to go back and read.
(I hope I haven't been forgotten...)

rio ~ funny you asked about AF. I went in for a baseline today and asked the same question...although my AF is usually about 7 days, this is day 7 and it's not lightening up! They told me is was nothing to worry about, it'll stop. Have you started Lupron yet? I thought maybe the Lupron was extending it...but no. In your case, I would still let the RE know.

21bat ~ bleeding with the lupron shots...that happens to me sometimes, not everytime. you can try stretching the skin tight before the shot...but I think I have just knicked a vein the times I bleed, and the asprin thins the blood a little, so a little more blood. fun!

PINEAPPLE!! YES YES YES! I am a believer! I munched the fresh (not canned) pineapple EVERYDAY during treatment and even after my BFP. I didn't care if it was an old wives tale, anything to help! I also heard that you should eat a teaspoon of peanut butter everyday, but I didn't do that.

I saw you guys have been discussing what to do about the shots, so they will hurt less...When I went thru IVF the first time, I read yes, it's ok to ice, no it's not ok to ice, yes, it's ok to warm, no, it's not ok to warm...to much different info...I just took the shot as is and gritted my teeth. The progesterone shots were the hardest....HUge long needles, but I didn't want to take the chance on messing anthing up!

ok, I have so many pages to go back and read...

beth

[beth]

sassy where are you?

you can be my FET buddy! My transfer date is February 8th.

beth

[TammyS]

This posted twice. How come there isnt a delete button?

[TammyS]

Beth: Hi, You are so right. Wow! You are all posting faster than I can keep up! LOL

Rio: My nurse asked me today if I started AF...I said no...she said I may or may not get it between now and next week during stimming. It sounded like during stimming is okay. But, I am anxious to hear what the doc tells you.

21Bat: I get a little bleeding with each shot...especially since I am taking baby aspirin. It is normal. No worries.

Cornybaby: I agree, totally. You have to have positive mental attitude and part of that is feeling like you are doing everything possible to make it work. I have been eating fresh and canned pineapple all week. I will switch to fresh, now, though...after reading fresh is better.

KatieG: Glad everything is progressing well and the cramping is subsiding. With my IUI's, I had minor cramping, it made me feel like it was working.

Today, I had my baseline and bloodwork. Everything is great and my estrogen was a 13 (anyone know what that means?)....so the nurse told me to start the Lupron tonight and the Follistim/Lupron tomorrow morning and tomorrow night. I dont go back for another u/s and b/w till Tuesday. That seems like a long time to me. So I already took my first Lupron shot...no problems...didnt hurt either. Yayy! Lets get this show on the road!!!

[21bat]

Just did my third Lupron shot today...i was so nit-picky today...first i saw some fuzz on the needle, so i decided i needed to use a clean one. Then my DH said he saw some air bubble in the syringe, so we got more medicine in the syringe and pushed out the air bubble with the medicine. Does this make sense? I am worried about wasting the solution (and the syringe)? Is there just enough for what I need, or is there extra for these instances? What if I am a little short of the medicine my last injection? Do you think that's a problem?? Should I call my nurse tomorrow?
...a little panicked...