Jan/Feb 08 Cycle Buddies

[weezie]

rio- I'm doing the Gonal and Menopur (225 each) but I'm doing them all in the tummy. This isn't the first time I read about the Menopur in the butt. I need to ask my nurse about that. I really thought the only butt shots were the trigger and PIO. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I'll add it to the list of questions for tomorrow.

[hopin4ababy]

Rio" Have you been feeling like this since you began stimming? 8 Follies is great! I believe each follie can have more than one egg! Its great to hear your upbeat now!

[hopin4ababy]

Weezie:My RE advised for all my stim, or SQ shots to be in the belly, but I too have heard some other women say they take their Menopur in the butt. I have never iced before any of my shots in my belly, but I definitely ice very well for the POI! The trigger shot for me last cycle wasn't painful, but I have a different trigger shot this time because my clinic stopped using Ovidrel in their offices.

[riogirl71]

My nurse said wherever you can pinch an inch so they didn't care if it was on the tummy or butt, I like the butt better

hopin - any specific reason they don't use Ovidrell? That's what I am using. I haven't been feeling well as far as food goes since I started stimming. I feel so bloated and crampy yuck. I lost 8 lbs so far on my forced diet, but I am able to have my beloved nuts... can't even look at chocolate or sweets unless it is fruit. If only this would last I am more upbeat than I was on Tuesday when I found out about 8 (might be 7 cause one was already over 20mm and mature), I am not as optimistic as when I started so I am more careful now about getting too excited. I am just really anxious as we all are. If it wasn't for all of you, I would still be a mess! Did you confirm your trigger shot?

[weezie]

hopin4baby- thanks for the input. I was starting to doubt my notes. Let me ask you something...You mentioned the trigger. Did you do it yourself? Was it bad? DH has been giving me all my shots (because I'm a wuss) and he is really nervous about the trigger and the PIO. I'm desperately wanting to do these shots myself, but the only time I tried giving myself the lupron, the needle bounced off my belly and only pierced the skin. LOL! I have no idea how hard to jab it in me. Clearly, it wasn't enough the one time I tried.
We don't ice either. And I'm going to try the PIO without ice the first time. I've been told it's no worse than a cortisone shot in the butt. And for me the cortisone is what burns. I'm guessing I can take the actual needle. But then again, I'm no where near that yet, so talk is big. I will probably be like when it gets time. LOL

[KatieG]

Rio--DH is quiet--Doesnt know how to take all the hormones. I try alot to reassure him all this craznyness is worth it. At first he felt terribile about being the problem but we knew and talked about it being an issue before we got married. Our big shocker was we werent even able to do IUI b/c of the counts. He is more worried about me right now b/c up until now ive been excited and surprisingly calm. I know everything will turn out fine. Its just all catching up with me. Im very thankful for all of you. Its good to have people that understand.

[Sage]

Hi Everyone,

Even though this is my first IVF, this is my 6th injectables cycle!! I have always done Lupron in my stomach alternating sides. I just pinch some skin and push through (actually not as bad as it seems). The Gonal F pen is even easier, but I was instructed to wait a few seconds before pulling the needle out, as the follistim goes in slowly. I have never iced, but don't have much trouble ordinarily (a few painful bruises, but not many). The trigger shot, is unfortunately worse...bigger needle and more meds than I am used to. I just have to not look while I am pushing in the plunger. Good luck to everyone!!

I have heard about the pineapple, I will definitely try that out. I have also read about drinking Gatorade and Ensure after retreival to try to minimize OHSS. I think that I will be a candidate for this, so I am attempting to avoid it:) On my last cycles with injectables my ovaries overly respond, and my estrodial levels rise very quickly. I am hoping that I can get a lot of good follicles, but not stim to fast. Fingers crossed

As far as telling people...I learned early on (when we didn't get pregnant after 3 mos like everyone else that I know I have found that while I am not at all embarrassed about our situation, I don't always want to talk about it. Also, by sharing you inevitably get a series of questions. It is amazing what some people say!

[hopin4ababy]

Rio: My clinic used Ovidrell until recently, but then they noticed they were not getting as many mature eggs at retrievals so they switched back to Novarell. They did mention that they did not see any change in pregnancy rates, just a decrease in the number of mature eggs. I used Ovidrell last time and had 12 eggs but only 8 were mature, and only 4 of those fertilized.


Weezie: I was able to do the trigger myself, it was an SQ shot, so the same as stim meds basically. But I don't do the PIO shots myself. DH does them for me, but I have read about lots of women giving them to themselves, laying down on their side. So much respect and admiration for those ladies! I dont' know if I can.

[Sage]

Hi again!

Well I tried to start The Fertility Diet last Friday, after perusing it for a few days ( thought anything is worth a shot).

It is interesting...a lot of it is what we all already know:
BMI at ideal I think they said 21-25?? I will check (books at home)
Exercising
Lots of a VARIETY of fruits and veggies think rainbow of colors
Lots of unsaturated fats from beans, legumes, rather than meats
Whole milk, yes whole milk...twice a day for essential nutrients that are attached to the fat

There are recipes in the back of the book, along with a sample week. I found that some of the serving sizes were actually quite large. I tried probably 4-5 of the recipes, but didn't love them...

I am trying to keep in mind some of the basics of the diet. Adding some whole milk products to my diet, and more beans, variety of fruits and veggies. I am already at an okay BMI and I exercise, but I am a very routine eater (not a lot of variety) so I am working on that.

If any of you hear anything more about it I would love to hear from you. I asked my RE and he didn't know anything about it.

[riogirl71]

KatieG - we were shocked too that we could not even do IUI and had to go straight to IVF with ICSI. Have you guys ever discussed using Donor sperm? We discussed it in the very beginning when we found out we couldn't do IUI but then when RE seemed confident we could do IVF with ICSI we dropped the subject. We purchased two cycles and will go through with them but then we might consider donor again. I agree with you that everything is hitting me like a ton of bricks now. I was happily naive thinking fairy tales untill my right ovary decided to go lazy but I haven't given up hope!

hopin - thanks for the info!

Sage - good luck with your follies!

[loopie]

ARRRRRRRGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ok- so now i'm mad. I've been on the meds for 4 days(tonight is 5) and I'm not doing as well as they had expected I have been so upbeat- but my estradiol level is well below what they'd wan to see at this point - 63 - and they usually have in the 200's - so, they'll up my dose to 325/follistim, keep menepur at 75, and it looks like we'll be pushing things back a bit - don't know just how far..... I don't even really know what this means -

what is this number even referencing? am I not producing eggs? not enough eggs? or are they just slow starters????

crap - I'm not down, just a little sad and miffed right about now -

on the bright side, I still only have the 2 shots to take in stead of 3 - as the eggies are small( or whatever), no need to start the gannerilix to keep from ovulating
glad you girls are here

loopie

[KatieG]

Rio--We have not discussed that. We prob will look into adoption in a few years if this doesnt work. I told him from the begining I dont want to live the next 10-15 years 100 focused on having a baby. I will try and accept it If its not meant to be---- then I will move on. Finanically speaking I dont think we would do another IVF. Not atleast until this one was paid for. DH is wonderful thus far and I am worried that if the IVF doesnt work then he will feel at fault. So im trying to make sure with my crazyness I reassure him. It will all work out. I just need to stay focused. This next hour is going to drag. They usually call me at 3ish. So im trying to stay busy and let the time fly by. This process will make us women stronger in the end. Ive already learned so much about myself and my strenght and breaking point.

[hopin4ababy]

Hi Sage:

I am not trying any particualar diet, but I did kick up my fruit intake to 3 pieces a day, each a different color; and also started drinking a glass of grapefruit juice in the morning, and a large glass of whole milk at night! I don't know if any of it will work, but I figure, its all worth a shot! I am also going to try to do the pineapple thing, core and all!! I have been eating a lot of broccoli, raw and steamed as I have heard green veggies are the best and have nutrients we need.

If you find anything else in your diet I would love to hear about it! I am willing to do just about anything!!

[hopin4ababy]

OH Loopie, I can completely understand what you mean by feeling miffed! I felt that way last cycle when they told me to stop meds because my estrogen was too high and then because of that it began to fall, which is bad for egg development, and I was so upset because I had done everything they told me to do, and was positive and it still wasn't want "they wanted to see". But in the end, it worked out, and I was able to go through my retrieval and transfer. I feel for you! And good for you for finding the silver lining!! Its just a delay, not a dead end!! Keep thinking good things!

[weezie]

Loopie- I am so inspired by your positive attitude. And I agree with what Hopin' said, "it's just a delay, not a dead end". I believe that your positive attitude will pay off in the end.

Hopin- what fruits are you eating? I'm struggling finding anything remotely fresh and appealing. Guess I will have to travel to Whole Foods and see what they have there. I just hate going in that place. Currently, all I seem to eat are berries. And tons of spinach. I eat spinach at every meal. Hell, I just went to McDonalds, got a cheeseburger and drove home and put 2 hands full of fresh spinach on it. I guess when loopie mentioned mcdonald's this morning it sparked something in me.