Feb/Mar 08 Cycle Buddies

RunnerKate · Post by **RunnerKate** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:25 pm

I am also interested in responses about massage during IVF...I have been trying to justify weekly massages to hubby, but he isn't buying it. I have been doing bi-weekly for the past 1.5 month b/c I have so many knots from being stressed out.

I got my first little bruise from doing my Lupron shot last night. I wonder why. I don't think I did anything differently. Anyone else have bruising?

Any other runners on the forum? Can I tell you how SICK to DEATH I am about hearing about Paula Radcliffe running 70+ thru her pregnancy? Runners World just had an article on her and I wanted to scream. They only tell part of the story...I want to hear about whether she had to use fertility drugs to get pregnant. I probably have a good 30-40 lbs on her and my RE is telling me I need to "gain weight" and run 20 miles per week or less. If SHE can get pregnant, why can't I???

http://www.thefinalsprint.com/2007/02/p ... the-track/

CD 27. No AF. Come on lady, I want to get this thing started!

cornybaby · Post by **cornybaby** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:13 pm

Hi ladies! Sounds like everyone is moving right along. I just thought I'd add my 2 cents to this wonderful board. I haven't been posting much, so I can't remember if I told you all that I started lupron on 1/28, just took my last BCP, so AF should be here this weekend...

but anyway...

IrishHope - as for stimming, it really just depends on your RE but most I've seen go from 8-12 days. I am scheduled to stim from the 7th-16th or so, with a probable retrieval of 2/18,19 or 20. So that's what...10 days or so? Because of my poor response last time I stimmed for 15 days total. When you get close they take it 1 day at a time.

Indie - I decided to go the massage route this time, instead of acupuncture. I didn't find acupuncture relaxing at all. But, actually, since I started listening to this IVF meditation CD that I got, I stopped the massages, because holy cow...the cd puts me right to sleep! I feel SO relaxed when I listen to it. It's a 20 minute track, and I swear I have never heard more than the first 5 minutes of it because I always fall right to sleep.

Here's the link if anyone is interested...

http://www.anjionline.com/SupportandCon ... FCycle.php

I still might try to squeeze in 1 more massage before I start my stim drugs, just because it feels so darn good.

Runner Kate - you are my hero! I wish I liked to run. Sadly, the only time you'll see me running is when someone's chasing me.

Anyway - good luck to you all! Time is just flying by, and I have to travel for the next 2 weeks for work...so as soon as I get back...ER will be here! Yay!!!

hugs and babydust to you all!!!

kbat · Post by **kbat** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:51 pm

Lots of stuff going on today....

As far as the amount of time to stimulate, I think it depends on the person. The 1st cycle I took the stim. meds for about 11 days. For cycles 2-4 it was more like 14 days. For cycle 5 I was amazed that it was only 9 or 10 days (no lupron, bcp, etc--just started w/ clomid for 5 days at night, 300 IUI gonal-f twice a day and only 2 days of ganerlix at night in addition to the gonal-f and I was ready to go.--think the acupuncture helped.) . The first cycle I started out on Lupron and was actually on that for a while before taking Follistom. I believe I started at about 150 and eventually I was up to 300 IUI twice a day of that.) Since then I've always pretty much done the 300 IUI of follistom and/or gonal-f w/ each cycle. Each time my protocal was a little different (ie either lupron, or lupron microdose or ganerelix and reponix. I wouldn't be surprised if on your first cycle they change the dosage because they are trying to figure out what the correct dosages are. (I have endo and last time we checked my left tube only was blocked and it was removed in Nov. 2006)

As far as the acupuncture, I do find that extremely relaxing and it's supposed to help w/ getting your body in tune and may help w/ IVF--I personally think I got better quality eggs this past cycle--best one I've had--only time I got "pregnant". There's some research out there that seems to suggest it helps. But I guess it's a personal preferance. I think yoga and/or massage is supposed to be good as well. I heard yoga is helpful, but I have tried it.

itsgottawork--hope you dh is feeling better. I am sure that having pnemonia isn't fun. Wishing that he's feeling better soon.

cyclone · Post by **cyclone** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:46 pm

Hi Ladies,

Well AF finally showed up today (CD 33). I assume it is late because of the meds from FET in December because it is usally right on time. I just called my doctor's office today to find out if I can still go thru with this cycle this month because my doctor is going out of town in March. Of course my retreival/transfer days fall right when he will be gone. My nurse told me it was up to us whether we continue or wait another month. There is another doc in the office who will be able to do the ret/transfer for us but we have never met him before. I think I will probably go ahead and continue with this cycle because it shoudl fall right around spring break and since i work in a school it is a convienent time to have to miss work.

I thought it would be hard getting excited for this cycle to begin because of how bummed i was when both the fresh and frozen cycles didn't work but I feel like this new year will be lucky for all of us. Fingers crossed!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend. I am looking forward to the Super Bowl, it should be a close game.

kbat · Post by **kbat** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:58 pm

cyclone---
I think it's a good idea to continue. At my clinic there are many doctors, and my doctor is in charge of my case, but as far as the e/r & e/t, whatever doctor is on for that procedure that day is the one who does it. It's never been my doctors--always others. They all seem nice and it always goes smoothly. whoever is doing it that day, does come over and introduces him/her self to me and goes over stuff also. It should be fine.

GOOD LUCK!!!

kimbers312 · Post by **kimbers312** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:59 am

Hi

I hope I can join this cycle as well. DH and I have been TTC for a year and a half. After numerous tests, we found out that his sperm have morf issues and they don't have a long life span. We bypassed insemination and went to IVF. I had my day 3 FSH test and then started the bcp. I received all of the meds yesterday and had to call the RE because I wasn't sure what went where- slightly overwhelmed. We have a class FEb 12, which is the day I am supposed to start my first shots.

I read on another post about 2WW- does anyone know what this is???

kbat · Post by **kbat** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 2:08 am

Kimbers312--I believe it's 2 week wait--from e/t to pregnancy test. I think that there's a thread that goes over the abbreviations on the General Forum.

Welcome and good luck your cycle!!!

jen8675309 · Post by **jen8675309** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 2:39 am

Hi Girls!

I would like to join this thread too, hope that's ok!!

I have made a couple of posts before, but never joined a "month group"! I am also new to IVF/ICSI. I am 31 and DH is 36 (male factor- low count, poor morph) and just started a pill pack today. I am participating in a Follistim AQ study trial and am very excited to get most of my IVF paid for as my insurance covers nothing!

The way it looks now, I should start stimming by Feb 25 or 26 with ER sometime around March 7-10? If all goes well

, I am planning on a 3 day transfer of 2 embies. (Can you tell I am a planner!?!?)

Thanks for letting me join this thread and good luck girls!

Sticky baby dust to all!

kbat · Post by **kbat** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:08 pm

Jen8675309---

Welcome and good luck!!

that's great that you are partcipating in that study!!! Surely every little bit helps as far as cost!!!! I wouldn't have tried so many times if I hadn't been covered due to the expense otherwise.

Wishing you lots of luck!

kbat · Post by **kbat** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:17 pm

More of an fyi thing---not sure of abbreviations if you're new? Check out the sticky on general forum-- On page 3 (pretty sure it's 3) about half way down there's a huge list of abbreviations that you will see. UP to that point abbreviations only here and there in that post.

Jill_n_Mark · Post by **Jill_n_Mark** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:45 pm

Good Morning everyone!
Welome to the newbies!! We'd love to have you with us thru this journey

My hysteroscopy and mock xfer went good yesterday. RE said no changes and everything looked good. Now we just await our nurse visit to go over our tentative dates and meds. If I go by my last calendar, I should start my BCP on 2/11. I know some of you were asking how we know dates and such??? Well for me, my RE is only one in town and has about 10-15 IVF patients per cycle, so he controls it so everyone is doing ER and ET same week. I guess this is b/c he has a embryologist from up-north come down to assist with grading/ICSI/AH. If this cycle goes like the last, I will be having ER/ET week of St. Patty's so I am definitely hoping for some Luck. Maybe I need to find me a genuine 4-leaf clover and keep it with me

Jen8675309 - That is wonderful that you will be getting most of your meds free.

Sounds like you and me are ging to be close in dates.

Kimbers312 - I know it can be overwhelming. When I had my first IVF, I received this huge box with all the meds and about 50 different needles. Luckily, when you go to your class, the nurse should go over the gauges and meds. (There are different sized gauge needles and do not me alarmed with the big one for PIO (prog in oil) as it is not as bad as it looks). My mom is a nurse so she gives my shots everyday. She wants so bad to be a grandmother but says she hates having to do this to me. I usually bruise from the sub-q (tummy) shots but the PIO doesn't leave a mark (atleast not for me) and if you massage the area after removing the needle, it helps dissolve the med and no lumps occur.

IrishHope - As everyone has said, stimming does depend on each person and how they respond. I have PCOS and only have my cycles about every 9/10 weeks. Yeah, can you imagine how many times I've wondered if I could be pregnant

Anyways, I respond very well to Gonal-F/Repronex regimen. I had 21 eggs last time with 15 fertilizing but only 3 making it to 5 day and they were not great quality. Needless to say--BFN

I started off with 300 units of Gonal-F for 3 days, then decreased to 225 for 3 days and finally 150 Gonal-F and 75 Repronex for 2 days...so I only stimmed 8 days. This time my RE is going to lower the dosages and stim longer in effort to get better quality eggs and hopefully I will have a lot more embabies make it to day 5 blast!!

I hope I have not taken up too much of you all's time and hope you have a great weekend.

***Sticky Baby Dust***
Jill

kimbers312 · Post by **kimbers312** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 3:17 pm

I was just wondering how you all are handling telling people about what you are doing. I am a teacher surrounded by many fertile females. I am asked constantly when we are going to get pregnant and of course am given tons of suggestions- charting etc. I just don't want to share with everyone simply because I don't even know everything that is going on my ownself.

Are any of you being given nonsense advice by others??? Also how do you explain what is happening?? My husband shared with his one sister and her response was oh you are going to do the petri dish thing. That response seemed so disconnected- any suggestions

kbat · Post by **kbat** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 4:18 pm

That's a tough one..... I don't really like to tell co-worker or people I am not really too close to about what I am doing. I figure it's not everyone's business. There are people out there I am sure who don't even want kids for whatever reasons, and I don't hear people asking them why they don't have kids. Also about telling people, it's hard to know who to tell--I don't want them to be blabbing it to others I don't know, like, etc.

I find that people are very insensitive. I have one friend that I wish I hadn't mentioned anything to. She's kind of nosy and has an opinion on just about everything--and of course her way is always the right way.

Sorry that's not much help

kbat · Post by **kbat** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 4:18 pm

That's a tough one..... I don't really like to tell co-worker or people I am not really too close to about what I am doing. I figure it's not everyone's business. There are people out there I am sure who don't even want kids for whatever reasons, and I don't hear people asking them why they don't have kids. Also about telling people, it's hard to know who to tell--I don't want them to be blabbing it to others I don't know, like, etc.

I find that people are very insensitive. I have one friend that I wish I hadn't mentioned anything to. She's kind of nosy and has an opinion on just about everything--and of course her way is always the right way.

Sorry that's not much help...

kbat · Post by **kbat** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 4:19 pm

opps sorry for the double post...

Feb/Mar 08 Cycle Buddies

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