The Over 40 Crowd

[sunseeker]

Sonia
So sorry, no words can really help, just know that we are all here for you and understand what you are going through.
Lol Ali x

[Catharine]

Sonia-so sorry to learn of your news. Know that we are here to support you.

Catharine

[summerbaby]

Dear Sonia,
So very sorry to read your news. I sadly know how you feel. Life really isn't fair sometimes and it is so hard to get used to that. Sending you a great big hug and letting you know that we are always here for you. Wishing you really only the best and hope you can feel better soon. xx Amy

[children]

Hi everyone,

This is a long update from me since we decided to try for the second baby sooner rather than later as we age. I followed a protocol exactly as last time when we got Eloise. Our new clinic was happy to use the protocol that was working before. I have been much more relaxed compared to last time and kind of confident also during the whole process.

Anyway, I started BCP at the end of March to suppress the follicles growing, after 18 days into it, I started Lupron, 20U daily for 15 days which overlapped with BCP for 5 days. 5 days prior to the last day of Lupron to make sure that my ovaries were quiet, I started E2 patches, which I used 0.1 mg at the beginning for 4 days (1 change in between) and then 0.3 mg for another 4 days (one changes in between) and then 0.4 mg for the rest of the journey(change every third day) - the E2 was also 5 days overlapping with the Lupron. My response to these drugs was a little different than the previous few times since I got heavy period at Day 8 of into Lupron whereas I never had any AF not even spotting before. Anyway, I was not worried since it is normal both ways. This protocol worked quite well, at day15 of E2, I got 8.1 mm lining and then the RE boosted E2 to 2mg pill but used vaginally which brought the E2 to over 2000 and lining to 9.8 mm at day 20 of stimulation. Finally, I started progesterone injection at day 21 of stimulation which was 4 days prior to ET. On May 16, which was the 24th day of stimulation by estrogen, the RE put back 5 embryos (2X8 cells, 2X7 cells, and 1x5 cells, all grade B) into my belly. I was very happy to learn that they brought all 5 embryos to live after transportation from SA to Nashville! They also did "assisted hatching" this time to help the implantation.

I am now on 2ww and needless to say that I have done many HPTs with 12 h intervals as I always did on each of my previous cycles. Started from day 6 post ET, I could already see the double lines by squinting the stick for long long time with a lot of imagination. But every time after that, I saw double lines with increasing intensity. I am quite confident that I am now pregnant - will update once we hear from our clinic tomorrow.

If you read my earlier posts about trying for second one before, you may remember that I said in one of them that we were not afraid of having another negative but more afraid of having twins. As a result, I had stopped BCP after two days into last cycle – I chickened out. This time, we are in the same kind of situation. However, by looking at the intensity of the second lines, I guess we are not having twins, will update you all, of course, once we know for sure.

Lastly, it is obvious that we are very afraid of jinx so we won’t announce this news to the world except our over 40 friends inside the computer – I am quite confident that you won’t tell anyone I know, right? I understand that we have a lot of failed cycles lately, I hope this news will boost a little bit of our confidence and encourage the ones who are planning or on the next cycle.

Take care and good luck, everyone!

Yasmina

[teachertam]

Yasmina,

CONGRATS!! How many embies did you thaw? If I read your post correctly, all five of your embies made it through the thaw process.
DH and I have talked about trying a frozen cycle, but I only have 4 frozen eggs. There is only a 70% thaw survival rate, so that would at best give me 3 eggs to fertilize. If all 3 fertilized, we could hope for 1 or 2 to make it to transfer. When I contacted my Embryologist, he was not very positive about trying this cycle. He advised us to do another fresh cycle or to use donor eggs. We do not want to do any more fresh cycles, and thought to try using our frozen eggs. He said that the chance of us being successful with our frozen eggs is only 5%

Hello to everyone else.

Regards,
Tammy

[children]

Hi Tammy,

Thanks.

I had 5 embryos left from the first fresh cycle and they thawed all 5. Luckily, all 5 survived, which was the best compared to my previous frozen cycles - I had 83% (5/6) and 75% (6/eight) the last two cycles. My new clinic used the same thawing protocol as my old one's.

I asked my RE whether I should go for a fresh cycle this time so that I would still have frozen ones to fall back on. He suggested that we went for a frozen cycle if we would only want one more child. He said anyway, it would be only two months delay if you would need another fresh cycle. I made him promise me to accept me as their patient had this time failed because I was over the age cut-off limit of this clinic, although my husband was very sure that this would be our last shot.

Anyway, what I meant to say is that I am temped to agree with your RE. If money is not an issue (BTW, my this frozen cycle has been almost as expensive as my last fresh cycle and it has not ended yet, we still have many times of monitoring costs to pay, if pg), I would suggest that you directly go for a fresh cycle. Since you just got pg naturally, your new eggs quality should be at the hi end of the statistics. You could ask whether your RE can thaw your frozen eggs right before your egg retrieval and then fertilize them together with your new ones. I guess this should not cost too much more, financially, physically, and emotionally, than bringing your frozen eggs to live to be successfully fertilized and then having them, if any, transferred.

I can imagine it must be a tough decision for both of you and your husband. I kept asking myself whether I would regret if I discarded those 5 embryos. The answer was always yes. So, I scheduled this cycle and started BCP on the way to China w/o my husband's knowing. And then I intentionally let him find it out during our vacation. He, as I predicted, has been becoming supportive and happier along the process.

OK, it's 1 am and I better get some sleep now. Hope this post helps a little, Whatever you decide to do next, I trust that will be the most sensible step for your family and I will be always here to support!

Yasmina

[teachertam]

Yasmina,

Thanks for your input. I really do not want to do another fresh cycle. I contacted my Embryologist regarding the cost of a frozen cycle. The hospital cost is $1250 vs $4500 for a fresh cycle. Of course that does not include my RE charges, medication costs and charges for scans and blood tests.

How was your trip to China?

Right now I'm focusing on trying to wean Andrew. He has gone 2.5 days without nursing thus far. He likes to nurse before his nap and before bed.
The last two nights I've had DH put him to bed.

Hello to everyone else.

Regards,
Tammy

[children]

Hi everyone,

Here is my hCG levels:

At 11 days post ET, 101
At 13 days post ET, 284.

Will be checked again at 15 days post ET and will update then.

Hi Tammy,

Thanks for asking, China trip went great and everyone spoiled Eloise to death and we brought tons of beautiful cloths for her. Eloise enjoyed playing with Monkeys - check our my hometown by typing guilin in google search, you will see where I grew up! We also went guiyang to visit my relatives. Guiyang is very close to Shichuan where just had the devastating earthquake lately. Sad.

I have not really completely weaned Eloise yet but she slowly is weaning herself- she does not look for breasts actively anymore, but if I offer, she still likes to have them.

I had never understood how my clinics charge us and you made me look and I was wrong about the cost. My fresh cycle cost around $12000 but this frozen one only cost about $5000 so far. I had an impression about this cycle was expensive because they keep charge me each time when I go to see them.

Anyway, if you decide not to go for another fresh cycle, you will still have the frozen eggs to work on once you are ready. The good thing about frozen cycle is that the preparation period is less painful than fresh one and it does not cost so much either - now I know. I am also kind of optimistically thinking that you may get lucky to have another natural pg, one never knows.

Take care,

Yasmina

[Catharine]

Hello everyone
This will hopefully be a small post.

Yasmina-Congratulations your childhood home is beautiful, I googled as you suggested. The images are simply put, amazing.

Tammy-good luck with your decision.

My updates. I've been out of work nearly 3 weeks and it's been great to be out of the stressful environment. Saturday we head to the Antigua in the West Indies for a week of R&R on the beach. Quick note at sixteen weeks with belly expanding, I'm having difficulties finding a bathing suit, one more shopping day to remedy that. We told DHs family our news, lots of jaws hit the floor. Sadly my family jsut used is as another excuse to ostrisize me from the family unit. No worries it's not the first and will not be the last.

Wishing everyone well.

Catharine

[teachertam]

Hello All:

Yasmina: Your hometown is beautiful. The earthquake in China was very tragic.

You are an inspiration to us all. Getting pregnant with frozen embies over 40 is truly inspiring. I am still working on DH. Last night he said that he is just so tired all of the time, as Andrew really is a demanding child. He wants a lot of one-on-one interaction.

Catharine: It is good to hear from you and that you are doing well. Wow, Antiqua should be great. I'm really ready for a holiday, but we are just beginning some house renovations. That is too bad about your family. They will miss out on the joy that your bundle of joy brings.

Take care all,
Tammy

[children]

Hi Catharine and Tammy,

Thanks for your nice comments on guilin and I really did not know how beautiful it was until I left it 16 years ago!

Catharine, I am sorry that the family does not always see things the same as we do. I am glad that I have you to go through this journey together, I am less nervous than last time but this only means that I don't have to quit my job just yet. I have to admit that I did not get much done in my pg with Eloise - shhhhh, don't tell my boss.

Tammy, we send Eloise to daycare which may be different from taking care of her almost full time as you are doing now with Andrew. We are not tired all the time but we certainly lost our "couple" time of going restaurants, movies, climbing, skiing or whatever we used to enjoy doing together...

Good luck on making this decision.

To all who are reading this thread, have a nice weekend.

Yasmina

[Kiwi expat]

Hi ladies

Just coming up for air after starting my new job - you know what it's like for the first few weeks - trying to make a good first impression, new people and environment and definitely no surfing the net - especially on web sites like this! It's good to have an income again - although most of it is being chanelled straight back into my doctor's pockets I'm afraid!

Sonia - just read your news - So sorry my dear. Thanks for all your support for us in the last few months and you know we're all here for you any time you fancy dropping in again...Take good care of yourself and your DH.

Yamina - What fabulous news - Congratulations! Can I ask about your protocol - you mentioned the doctor boasted your lining thickness by adding E2 vaginally. What was the name of this E2 pill or pessary? I've tried patches and pills which do not seem to be working so well in terms of thickening my lining for FET and want to suggest this to my doc for my next attempt.

Catharine - Try not to let your family's attitude get to you. (I know it's hard tho when family aren't supportive of things you do...) The most important thing is, you are having your dream baby!!!! Enjoy every step of the journey and there are plenty of people here (and in your real world too) who are really happy for you!

Not much happening here for me- Latest news is that the fibroids (or UFO's) which were seen in my scan last month have morphed yet again and have mostly disappeared after AF arrived! I'm still being monitored but it's quite bizarre as one doc said I was destined for open surgery(!) at one stage. Now my old doc has diagnosed them as 'artifacts'.? Does anyone know what an artifact is? (Actually - I do feel like an old artefact myself at this clinic as I'm sure I'm the oldest patient here and definitely the longest lingering one at that, after 4 and a half years...!!! )

Anyway big hi to Chriss, Amy, Ali, Jen, Lu Anne, Tammy and everyone else. I know when we get to our age, because of what we've already been through, it can get harder and harder to keep our heads above water. And I know we're all desparately soul searching at the moment. But I just want to say - you ladies have helped keep me sane in what is sometimes a cold and unfair world. Thank you all - Keep the faith.

Andrea

[children]

Hi all,

Here is my hCG update:

At 11dp3dt = 101
At 13dp3dt = 284
at 15pd3dt = 597

U/S on 6/16/08 and will update then.

Andrea,

The brand name of the E2 pill is "estrace" but I don't know which company made it, it's green (2 mg) or blue (1 mg). I used it orally in 2006's cycles and orally for two days and then vaginally for another 5 days this cycle - I started on weekend orally with the leftover ones from 2006 and then went to get new pills on Monday only realized that my nurse wanted me to use it vaginally. The nurse said using it vaginally helps to build up the lining better. In all of my cycles, I mainly used Vivelle-dot 0.1 mg E2 patches along the stimulation process and they worked well (always 8~10 mm at day 15th of stimulation). Hope this info helps. I actually have many of these pills left, I can mail you if you pm me your mailing address.

Have a nice week, everyone,

Yasmina

[ceriberi]

Hi randa2006
im a 43 yo grrrl from australia, have one healthy IVF baby boy
(beautiful Caiden, now 11 months), currently trying a third round after two cycles that didnt work. Hoping also to meet a few "older mommas" and "new mommas" adjusting to the whole incredible change of momdom, and the rigours of the IVF rollercoaster..

so glad I found this site, sometimes the IVF rollercoaster is a lonley place, that even the most supportive partner or family cannot relate to...

[children]

Hi ceriberi,

Welcome. Randa has retired from ivf a while ago but the site that she created has been kept alive which inspired many women who are "old" including me who luckily has already one ivf child (dear daughter who is 15 m and 12 d). I am going through my 4th frozen cycle which is apparently working and I am 4w5d pg at moment.

Keep the faith!

Yasmina