April/May Cycle Buddies 2008

[SDtrying]

hey fertile turtles,

I've been really unproductive today (no pun intended, really). I've sat around all day and obsessed about how many of my follie will grow big enough, how many will have eggs, how many will fertilize, ect ect

So how are all the wonderful pregnant people out there?

Thanks for the well wishes on my follie report!

Jes- How's the pregnancy going? (Isn't it fun to hear someone ask you that!)

Yellow- I'm getting really nervous about ER. You are going tuesday, right? If you are feeling up to it will you post something about what I can expect? I'll be thinking of you and can't wait to hear how many growing embies you have.

JHarris- when i saw you over on the other thread, i figured i join in too, since we already have so many finishing up here. I can't believe all our success this month- let's hope the may/june thread can continue the trend!

DrJen- i can't wait for your Beta results! are you gonna test early?

turtle- interesting info on the estrogen, i haven't been asking them my levels, but i think i'll start

chelly- You are too strong my dear, i can't believe you are waiting to PAOS, good for you!! can't wait til friday!

Heek- CONGRATS! Big hugs!

Ruby- what a tough situation. i wish you guys all the best in staying close and strong throughout the decision making process. I can tell from your post how much you love you DH, I'm sure he appreciates your sensitivity. I'm glad you have us here as an outlet since you (understandably) don't want to give all the details around town.

Sameera- I'm glad your feeling preggers! I guess one good thing about going through all this is that us IVFers don't usually complain about pregnancy symptoms!!! I can just imagine your little bean snuggling in for the long haul.

tohavefun- glad you seem to be staying grounded during your 2ww. You need to teach me some of those skills! May 12th will be just around the corner.

courtney- i'm not sure if I already gave you the celebratory- YEAH!! but if i didn't there it is!!!! Congrats!

Amber- good luck with stims, when do estimate you'll start? I'm sorry, I can't remember, but is this your first cycle or have you done others?

I know I missed a bunch of you, but I'm sending baby dust to everyone!

[jharris12]

Good morning all! It's already been busy here since my last post!

Courtney: Thanks for the info. I went this AM for more BW, so I will know this afternoon if the increase in meds helped my E2 go up.

Ruby: Sp how was Iron Man & your time of distraction? I also have had a killer headache w/Lupron that just wouldn't go away. It's a little better now after starting stims, but not much. Could be caffeine withdrawal too, though! I started Follistim (Gonal-f) at 150IU, but I had to increase mine after 3 days. They said my estrogen level wasn't as high as they wanted it. And the nurse explained this morning that they suggest the Follistim in the arm or thigh for better absorption. There is less fat there than the belly usually. I don't have that problem, but that is just their way if doing it!

heekinje: Congrats on a wonderful beta ANd US in just 10 days! That's great!

sameera: Thank you. I will know today around 3pm if the increase in meds helped increase my estrogen or not. So when is your US?

Yellow: It's hard not to be obsessed when there is no clear target number, yet I had to increase my meds b/c my estrogen was lower than they want it! Even the nurse told me today there is no set number, except they want it to be around 1500 to 4000 by ER. Yeah, like that really helped.

SD: I had seen another of our girls on the other thread, so I figured why not?! I am in b/t both. But this has been such a successful group, there's no way I would leave this positve energy! Or this wonderful group of women (and men!).

So I have taken my stims for 4 days, and I think I'm doing okay with them, other than now I have to increase my Gonal-f. My estrogen isn't as high as they want it. Went this morning to have more BW to see if the increase last night helped. Other than a headache, and bruises, I'm doing okay! How are the rest of you holding up?

[Amberb28]

Hi Everyone... Hw are you all doing....

Thanks to everyone for your wishes and encouragement....I will be starting my stims starting last week of May...I will not be on Lupron this time.. I will be onl 150 units of Repronex and Follistim.. my RE has also addedone steriod tablet this time so as to help me absorb the medicines.. I just pray pray that it works this time and everything becomes well...Iam praying really hard....

Request you all to please extend paryers for me to God... I hope he would listen to r prayers....I am both excited and nervous......

I am so happy for soo many BFPs in this group....I might be joining the thread of May/June since this thread might almost close in another few days as most of us would be done with their cycles.....

Please stay in touch.. this group is the greatest and a great support

[Yellow]

Michele, I'm sorry to hear about your bleeding. Has it stopped? It doesn't mean the embryos didn't take -- could be lots of things. Keep us posted.

jharris, 1500 to 4000? Yeah, that helps a lot. Let us know when you get your results today? Did you only have bw today, no u/s?

SDtrying, I'll post as soon as I can. This is my 3rd ER. It's no fun, but it's not that bad -- it's all the bloating afterwards that I'm not looking forward to! Do you know if your clinic uses general anesthesia? They do at my clinic, so I don't remember the procedure at all. I remember getting the IV and going into the room. Then I remember waking up sitting in a chair feeling quesy and a little loopy while the nurses explained to us how many eggs they retrieved. I was still unsteady on my feet by the time we headed home so I had to lean on DH. I felt better quickly after we got home and I ate a normal dinner. I'll post tomorrow, too, because in case I forgot some stuff.

I'm so bloated. I can't button my pants. I'm getting excited!

[SDtrying]

good luck tomorrow Yellow! Thanks for the good info. Yes my clinic does general anesthesia so it shouldn't be too bad for me either.

JHarris- Yes, we do have the exact opposite problem right now! I'm on pins and needles for a phone call about my BW today. my last E3 was 3400, they said if I go up above 4000 today my cycle will be canceled.

I'll post later, i really hope I can trigger tonight and don't have to cancel. fingers crossed!

[DrJen]

Hi everyone! I had 2 blasts transferred yesterday morning and have been resting since. So, I'm now in that dreaded 2ww and appreciate all the thoughts and prayers. This is such a lucky thread! I'm feeling all of your sticky thoughts!

Yellow-good luck with everything--Let us know how it goes when you feel up to it.

SDtrying-to me the ER is easier than the ET since I'm asleep for the ER! I took valium this time for the ET, but didn't feel truly relaxed until after we got in the car to go home. Anyway, it's all worth it if we get pregnant!

jharris-you are moving right along! Keep us updated.

Michele-I've heard of women having bleeding during the 2ww and going on to have a healthy pregnancy. It might make you feel better to contact your nurse.

Amberb-glad you're moving forward. My prayers are definitely with you. I won't be leaving this thread anytime soon, so please feel free to stay and keep me company.

Ruby-My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your husband. It is a very difficut and personal decision to make. One of my best friends just delivered her second baby via IVF and had an egg donor for both children. It was a difficult decision, but she and her husband could not be happier. She has told almost no one of this decision. She now has 2 beautiful, healthy babies that are 100% her's and her DH's.

heekinje-Hi fellow boxer mom! Congrats!!! Wow, what a great beta. I am so happy for you. Have you told your boxer babies they will have a little brother or sister or both?! I know how boxers love children.

Sameera-enjoy all the eating! Hopefully I'll be joining you soon.

Chris-Glad to hear you're hanging in there! I know the 2ww is a killer.

Courtney-Congrats! I'm so happy for you too!!

Turtle, shep and Jeanie-How are you doing?

rlk-Thanks for crashing again and thinking of me!!! How are you doing with your pregnancy? What a wonderful ques!!!

Lets keep these BFP's going! Jenny

[chelly180]

Hi yall-
Thank you for all you words of encouragement! I still have some cramps every now and then, but hopefully the worse has passed. I had a little brown spotting this morning but no more bright red. I didn't call the nurse, I already called saturday and they said bleeding doesn't indicate BFN or BFP...so I guess I'll just keep waiting.

DrJen- so the buns are in the oven?! well, you and your embies are in my prayers!

sdtrying- hopefully you will trigger tonight...that means you will have ER on Wed right?! That is so exciting! Hopefully your E2 will behave!

yellow- thank you for the kind words. the bleeding was weird...sat it was light pinkish, then sunday there it was like 1 bright red squirt (sorry TMI) but that was all. i know red blood isn't a good sign, but I figure at this point there is little the RE can do...it is in God's hands and I will just have to wait for my beta on Friday.

amber- is the steroid to help response to the stims? hopefully you will get atleast a handful of follies going. Good luck!

jharris- one time for my lupron I ended up with this horrible bruise on my tummy...it looks like someone punched me! I had to increase my meds after 3 days, and I had to stim an extra day to give my follicles a little more time, but I ended up with 17 eggs at ER so it was worth it!

ruby- sorry to hear you have been going through some difficult emotional decisions. I would reassure DH that he will be the daddy no matter what the genetics are...that baby is 100% his from day 1. I know for guys its a pride thing, but it wont matter who the sperm came from when that baby calls him 'dada' for the 1st time!!! Good luck with your decision!

jim- watch out...you might start packing on the pounds too! congrats on the BFP, when is yalls 1st scan?

God Bless you all!
-Michele

[turtlesonastump]

Hey Everyone,

Jim – Oh, no. I am not nurse material. I did fine with my husband after our accident. I gave him IV antibiotics for 2 years. Changed tons of bandages, even had to squeeze a ½ cup of puss out of his leg twice a day for a month or so. But I love him. I don’t think I am up to doing that for anyone else. My problem isn’t the needles, but actually sticking myself. I have no problem at all with other people giving me shots, just giving them to myself. I was good this morning though. I was running late and had to get them done quickly. How is your wife feeling?

Courtney – Congrats on the positive. Wishing you a great beta number. :D

Heekinje – GREAT beta number. Congrats!! :D

Sameera– thanks for the info on the headaches. I am pretty prone to headaches anyway. These just are a little worse.

Drjen - Yeah on the transfer. Sending you lots of sticky dust for you embies. Good luck!!

chelly180-Sorry to hear about your spotting. Try to just relax and pray for the best. Good luck!

Well, I have been on stims for 4 days now. I go in tomorrow for u/s and b/w. Starting to feel my ovaries some. I am pretty sensitive to them in the past year or so. Also, have been pretty moody. I find myself snapping at my husband for no reason. Luckily I warned before that I could get moody so he understands

[valerie68]

Hello everybody,

Here's some more good news for our thread ! I have a BFP !!
I'm on cloud nine right now and still can't believe that it worked on our first try ! Being over 39 did not increase our chances at all but all this positive thinking does work ! It will be switched on for the next 8 1/2 months ! And to think that I only had two eggs from 3 follicles and both made it to blast and now at least one implanted...I feel more than fortunate !!!

My beta is 30 which might be a little low but perhaps the implantation happened later, am I wrong to think that? We'll wait for the next beta on wed.

To all the girls still stimming out there, take one step at a time and never get discouraged !
And to all the girls already pregnant, let's make sure we keep it that way.

I'm going to go enjoy this wonderful news with my very supportive DH and I'll post a little later.

Sticky dust to all of us !

Valerie

[jharris12]

I finally got the message from my RE. My E2 level only went up to 127 today after increasing my meds last night. So now I have to increase my meds again tonight to from 300IUs to 400IUs and I go back again tomorrow for more BW and finally an US. Hopefully my E2 will kick in gear and start rising. Anyone else have a problem getting their E2 levels up? I was feeling so good about the cycle since I got to start stims 2 days earlier than I expected, now it's like I'm back where I started. AAAGGGHHH This IVF thing is so stressful! And it doesn't help that I am an emotional wreck because of these meds!

OK, enough about my craziness. VALERIE!! Congrats to you!! Nothing like more good news! I love this group!

Turtles: Good luck on your US & BW tomorrow! Let us know how it goes!

chelly: Thanks for the encouraging words. I can use all of them I can get at the moment!

DrJen: Congrats on your ET. We will all be praying for you!!

SD: How did it go today? Do you get to trigger tonight?

Hey to everyone else. You are all in my prayers.

[Rubylee]

Hello Ladies and Gents!
Thanks for all your thoughts and comments. I printed out a bunch of information from the cryobank on all the tests they do on the donors and the donor profiles that would work for us. We looked over them a bit last night and he was reading them this morning. He didn't say much; we joked a little about one of the essays so at least the situation feels a little lighter than over the weekend. One day at a time, right?

Shep - After my last U/S my RE said to get ready for a lot of eggs. In fact, it has worked out that I may donate some to another patient at my clinic. There is a couple on their 4th cycle who have had 3 MC. This is their last shot before they go the surrogate route. After an U/S a couple weeks ago when my RE said I was going to have a lot extra I was curious and asked about donating them. Two days later they called with an in house patient that needed them. They got her cycle up to speed and we are finalizing everything with lawyers. This is not something I had ever thought about doing. And if I wasn't already going through this I don't think I would ever donate but it just seemed right. Part of what made my decision was seeing what all these women went through on this board. And hey, if I can get some good karma toward my cycle I won't turn it down.

Chelly - Sorry for the bleeding scare. Sounds like it is backing off and I hope it continues that way. I am anxious for the 9th!

SDTrying - I'm obsessed too. All I want to do is research and sit around thinking about my eggs and babies and all that stuff. I guess it is all a part of processing this heavy stuff.

JHarris - Iron Man was pretty good actually. It was a total escape and fullly entertaining. Robert Downey was great, I have always been pulling for him. DH and I had a great time together. Went to Pinkberry and had a walk afterwards, just what we needed. Aside from the headaches I seem to have an insatiable hunger as well. I can't tell if it is the hormones or that I am just using it as an excuse to eat everything in site.

Drjen - Thank you for telling me about your friend. I do think that he will be connected to our child the second he holds him/her. We just need to get him to that point. I should know after 11 years with him that he always needs more time to adjust. But, don't they all.

Valerie - Congrats! Another one bitten by the April/May good luck bug. I am so happy for you.

Phew, that was a long one. Take care and hope all is well.

[sameera]

Valerie - Yay, Congratulations - so happy for you! do you have another beta scheduled?

Sameera

[valerie68]

Thanks for your well wishes !!
Sameera :My next beta is on Wed am. I'm slightly worried that it's at 30 right now, but I hope it's just because I'm a couple days behind...just like I was with the stimms. Can somebody tell me if I could be right?
Congrats on your BFP and I hope it all keeps going well. Let me know how your U/S went.

JHarris: try not to worry about your numbers. Mine were low and they increased the meds once. I used Bravelle 225IU and menopur 75 IU twice a day. I was crushed when they told me I first only had 2 follicles but then I also thought that I only needed one to get pregnant. Ended up with 3 and 2 eggs.
So don't get discouraged, it will probably work out ok. Best of luck to you!

Valerie

[JesJes]

April / May Cycle Buddies 2008



ER / ET Dates




Yellow...........................5/5
SDtrying........................5/7
love bug.........................5/9
wantamiraclebaby...........5/13
turtlesonastump..............5/13
Jharris12.......................5/15
Smattison......................5/16
daisy_99_00_411...........5/17
Rubylee.........................5/20
Shep181........................5/20
Hopeful312...................






Test Date / Results

doddo72..........................
MJWilliams........................
stephaniej........................
Sameera...........................
Jennie h...........................5/2
Jeanie..............................5/1?
JesJes...............................
Heekinje............................
Dri-Jim..............................
Chelly180..........................5/4
Valerie68...........................
Courtney...........................5/7
DrJen................................5/16
Amber28
SDtrying
love bug
wnatamiraclebaby
turtlesonastump
Yellow
Jharris12
Smattison
daisy_99_00_411
Rubylee
Hopeful312
Shep181
to_have_fun08

[sameera]

Valerie - don't worry about your beta i am sure it will double. just enjoy being pregnant! Everything will work out.

Hows everyone else doing?

Sameera