Feb/Mar 08 Cycle Buddies

[RunnerKate]

So sorry Mrs. G. I hope AF comes soon and the awful waiting is like.....

Why am I awake at 1 am? Grrrrr.

Just watched Dirty Dancing and am reminiscing about being 14 and listening to "she's like the wind" every day. I wish we could stay young forever and not have these worries that "grown-ups" have.

It was another awful night of shots. I HATE MENEPUR! It is so hard to push in! Conversely, I have decided the Lupron and Follistum Pen are the best shots ever.

[kbat]

MRs. G--sooo sorry to hear about your BFN I know it's so disappointing. Hope AF comes soon for you.

Welcome to the new people!!!

I went to the post office yesterday, and now I know that my insurance has approved me--not surprising and not surprising that I didn't necessarily need that test for them to approve me. Now I am hoping that my nurse isn't a jerk and will make me wait until March anyway to start my cycle. I went to get my meds last night--just in case I get AF over the week-end. I am really trying to convince them to let me just do it in Feb b/c I want to avoid the whole if my hsuband gets a new job and starts in March and the insurance is differnt then we'll probably have to wait until that gets sorted out scenario. We don't know what kind of insurance they provide, which state it's out of, if the plan is better or worse or the same as we have now, etc. Even if it's the same, I am sure the number, group, etc will change because it's a different employer, and I don't know what the logistics are of the insurance doing anything internally to make it go smoothly--those kind of issues. Plus, I am sure my dh wouldn't work at a new job for a few days then ask for time off right in the beginning to do this. Then if I have to wait, it would probably have to be May or June b/c I work at Division of tax and it's hard to take time off at the end of March into April b/c it's so busy. So, just hoping that it would be an issue to do it in Feb. I don't think my re would have a problem w/ it, but seems like you have to go through the nurse to get to the RE. And she can be a major pain. Hoping it's not an issue and in some ways hoping that AF doesn't come until Monday just so I don't necessarily have to go through the on-call nurse--although they are much nicer than mine.

Heading up to Boston for the day to visit my mother and brother. Looks like snow later on, but hoping it's not coming as I don't like the snow.

[JustJenis]

Totally freaking out!

Tonight is my first night of shots... and WOW was I freaking out. I've given people shots before.. Many many times.. But there is something out sticking myself that totally freaked me out. I did the Gonal F Pen.. Finally was able to stick myself in the tummy..but WOW.. LOL. Later on tonight I have to do the Menopur.

Am I the only one that freaked out the first time?

Jenis

[kimbers312]

Jenis- So sorry about the shots. I will be right there with you next week. I was freaked out by the package that was delivered and it only contained the shots. At least tomorrow will be easier and the day after that evn easier. It's all worth it to get the BFP!!!

So sorry Mrs. G

Kbat- praying that they let you start this cycle. Hope you enjoyed your family visit.

Baby Dust to all!!!

[RunnerKate]

Just Jenis--

I was ABSOLUTELY FREAKED out about the shots. I have done them for 3 nights now and I am definitely more comfortable with them. The first night we stopped in the middle of the Menepur and Follistem Pen to re-watch the video about how to do it. Which meds are you doing? It will be fine...I can say from experience.

Went to the DR today for my Day 4 review. Looks like I have 6 follies on the left and 3/4 on the right. So, they might up my meds. I'm waiting for the phone call.

My wonderful husband hid a present for me in my medicine box last night with a necklace with a stone that is supposed to "protect women and keep poisen away." He is so sweet.

[JustJenis]

Kate - Thank you !! I was hoping that I wasn't the only one. Last night was the hardest. It was my first night and I had to do both of them. This morning I did the Gonal F pen.. and that was easier. Tonight I'll do the Menopur. Those are the only ones I"m on right now. I go in Tuesday for b/w & u/s. Then I'm sure everything will change. Wondering how long I'll be on the GonalF though.. They only sent me 3 pens.. which is only 9 days. Who knows.. i"m just along for the ride LOL!

No side effects yet.. you?

*HUGS*
Jenis

[kbat]

I know for the gonal-f, my insurance only lets the pharmacy send out a certain amount at a time--since I am on the 900 pen, they allow 4 at a time. When I get low and it looks like I will need more, I have to call the pharmacy by a certain time so they can get them ready before the UPS guy comes at 5:30. However, I am lucky because they are only about 20 minutes from me so if I don't know until the last minute I can go pick them by 6:00 p.m.

Once you get the shots, it's not so bad At least it's toward a good cause!!!

[cathann]

irish ~ You can bump me over to the stimmers...I started Follistim and Menopur this morning.

Jenis & RunnerKate ~ are you gals using pens for your Follistim and/or Gonal?? I have vials of Follistim that I have to mix with my Menopur in the mornings. Sounds like the pens are easier....oh well. I have to take 2 shots of Lupron (a breeze!) every day and then 2 shots of Follistim (1 mixed with Menopur) each day (stings a little).

kbat ~ congrats on your insurance coverage! I'm sure your docs and nurses will get everything done in time.

Could this be my overactive imagination?? I could swear that several hours after my first stim shot I felt a weird sort of tingling going on....am I halucinating??!? I hope you all have a great Sunday afternoon!

Cathann

[RunnerKate]

JustJenis and Kathann,
How do you mix Menepur with Follistem (am I spelling that right?)? I do Menepur, Follistem, and Lupron in the evening. The only side effects I have noticed are horrible head aches and I felt some tummy issues, but that might be un-related as I have tummy issues often (nauseau). I noticed that the head aches get worse when I exercise...they were terrible yesterday during a run and I wasn't even pushing it!

Just heard back from the Dr. Apparently my follies aren't progressing fast enough and looks like I might have to stim for 14+ days, which stinks b/c it means I will have to take time off work b/c it looks like the ER might happen on 2/20. They bumped up my Follistem up to 125 instead of 75 IUI to see if that helps.

The shots definitely get better. So, hang in there ladies!

[RunnerKate]

Meant to say 125 IU NOT 125 IUI!

[JustJenis]

Cathann & Kate..

I only take Gonal F in the morning.. 225 iui with a pen. Then in the evening I take 150 iui Menopur. Which is not a pen, I have to mix it with a solution.

I was never on Lupron or Follistem... So far these are much easier than last night. I'm over the thought of stabbing myself now LOL! Now I"m just ready for the follies to grow big and strong! I'm getting more and more excited.

How's everyone's weekend?
*HUGS*
Jenis

[IrishHope]

Wow looks like you girls are busy! Glad to hear the shots are going well so far...I have some hesitation about "day one" of Gonal F pen which I'll do twice a day...still no AF...I'm freaking out...cycle day 31 is today...figures things are going so slowly I am ready to scream...I thought for sure it would come this wknd and I'd start "stimming"...ughhh

kbat - awesome about your insurance/letter!!

Runnerkate - hang in there... you are well on your way and there are follies growing!!!

cathann - lucky stimmer you!! awesome...I am jealous haha - why do I look forward to 3 shots a day? LOL

JustJenis - congrats on moving ahead!...I have 4 Gonal F pens and have to do 150ius /2x a day so it's enough for 12 days...hoping I dont hve to stim longer than that since now I feel "behind" since no AF

Mrs. G - sorry about that damn BFN...chin up!!!

[RunnerKate]

IrishHope--You KNOW I feel your pain. I think mine FINALLY eeked out a little on CD31. When you go in on CD33 they will figure everything out. She will come....remember, they're suppressing your system and they might realize they are supressing it too much and that's why she hasn't come.

[kbat]

I know what you mean about AF. I should have been today (I am usually 27-29 days). I am a little apprehensive once it comes b/c I think my nurse will give me a hard time about trying to start now and not March. But I will try to explain that it needs to get done before my dh gets new job/insurance which could be in March. But since obviously I don't need to do day 3 since insurance approved me (no surprise by the way--had Day 3 on Sept 28 and 6 months later is March 28. Think nurse just wanted to get some $), and I have my meds and my obgyn's office sent the updated records and it's been a little over 9 weeks since I took the methotroxite for the etopic (some literature they gave me said to wait 8 weeks while the nurse said we had to wait at least 6 weeks), I don't see what the problem would be. I know I am stressing about nothing, but dealing w/ this nurse is stressful.

[itsgottawork]

Hello Ladies!
I hope everyone had a nice weekend. I have good news. Hubby's test results all look good. I can finally say he is getting better without following up with a but... Thanks to everyone for your support and good wishes. I am thrilled that he is better now. Tomorrow he will be ready to freeze his first sample. Is anyone else having DH freeze sperm for the ER day? We hope to use the same day sample, this is just an extra precaution. We didn't do it last time so I was wondering if anyone is doing it?
I am excited to say I am 3 shots into Lupron today. Yahoo. Just doing the shots makes me feel like I am doing something and I start to get very excited. I can't wait for the next couple of weeks to go by quickly.

kbat - Congratulations on the insurance. That is great news. I hope you continue to have good luck when you talk with the nurse about getting in on the February cycle. If she gives you a hard time, is there anyone else you can talk with? I do hope all goes well for you. You've gone through so much and don't deserve delays because someone isn't up on understanding the paperwork.

IrishHope - Good luck getting AF. I hope she gets here soon!!!

JustJenis - I also freaked out about the first shot. I was nervous about it for weeks. I even asked a nurse what would happen if I couldn't do it. She looked at me like I was crazy and said I'd get through it. At that point I figured maybe it wasn't as bad as I expected. I still woke up extra early the first morning because I knew that one was going to take me a long time. And, you'd think after 1 cycle, I wouldn't get nervous this time around. But, I was a bit nervous on Saturday morning too. It wasn't bad, but I think it is definitely something to overcome emotionally.

RunnerKate - Sorry to hear about the length of times on stims. It will be worth it to get great follies though!
And, I LOVE Dirty Dancing! We saw it on the big screen this past May. They had one night only to celebrate 20 years. I can't believe it has been that long since it came out. It was great though. All the theaters were sold out and it was just packed with mostly women our age who could practically say all the words along with the actors.

Mrs. G - I am sorry to hear about your BFN. I hope AF hurries up for you and that you can do your FET as scheduled. Keep us posted on that! Good Luck!!!

Good Luck to all your stimming ladies too!!! ER's should be here soon!