Sept 2008 - stimming buddies :)

[PriyaC]

Hey Everyone:

Had my first IVF cycle in July which was BFN.
Am going to start my 2nd IVF cycle on 30th Aug. Am on Antagonist Protocol - so no Lupron for me.
For this cycle I have started Acupuncture - was very relaxing.

Went to a licensed "herb doctor" and she recommended one mixture for me. I called up my RE to tell him I will be doing that for atleast 2 weeks . Got call from him immediately asking me not to do that since they don't know how it will affect me during IVF cycle esp during ER (anesthesia).I want to take them if they can help me increase my chances of getting BFP but I am all confused now - fun fun

Hopefully by tomorrow I will be able to make up my mind

Any one has any experience with the herbs?

Am also following the regime of Royal Jelly this time.

Hopefully Sept will be our time.

Take Care
Priya

[karenvancouverisland]

hi priya, i'm scheduled for my 3rd ivf/icsi in sept. i got pregnant after the 2nd cycle but m/c at 12 weeks. it was awful especially because i'm a 'low responder' and have poor odds of getting bfp. but hey, i did it once, so why not again?

i'm very mixed about all this, i find it so hard to stay positive sometimes and just feel sad that life is passing me by.. i just turned 36 and i'm scared. i don't do acupuncture or herbs, i just try to take good care of myself in other ways (exercise, fun, gardening, massage therapy, eating right, ect). i think it's a great idea, but with my work schedule and the difficulty seeing an AP in my small city; it's more stress than benefit to me. i think that anything you can do that has you feel more positive, grounded and hopeful- is great to do.

so do you have frosties from your last cycle? i have none. haven't responded well enough. i'll probably start cycle 3 later sept, but i'm in the flare protocal as a low responder, meaning that i don't down reg- straight to stims on day 3 after AF starts ( is that what antagonist protocal means too?- i never did lupron)

i'm glad you started this thread. i've been a part of the aug/sept group too, and it's a great support. initially i was to stim late august, but it took a longer time than expected for me to get AF after my MC..so things are bumped back. i love having people living the same experience to talk to about this. it's a very hard challenge to face in life and i was finding i just can't cope without some support.

if you want more input about herbs...there's some ladies on the other thread that have alot of data..maybe post there and see what you get back.
all the best and looking forward to knowing you better, karen

[kez01]

Hi Priya,

Dont know if you remember I had acupuncture as support with my last IVF cycle, my acupuncturist did not recommend the herbs through the treatment but said that it is good in preparing your body for treatment, dealing with problems that you may have with your cycle. For me I have endometriosis and very clotty periods which have already improved with just having acupuncture. If i were you I would continue with the acupuncture and seek more advise regarding the herbs.

Good luck and keep us informed.
Kerry x

[NY4thtry]

hi ladies

i just had my 4th failed ivf and likely will be stimming again in sept.. i am 40 so no time to wast.. whast is the ryal jely protocol?

Thanks

[onemorebaby]

Hey Ya'll! I will be joining you too... after my failed IVF, I will be doing my FET in September. I have 4 frozen...

[PriyaC]

Hey Karen:
So Sorry to hear about the MC - I cannot even imagine how diff it must have been for you.
Yes - I know its very hard to stay positive the whole time. I think what you are doing is great - take it easy - I try not to think too much about it (but its not possible )
We did not have any to freeze since only one of the eggs fertilized for me.

Acupuncture before and after ET helps - the studies have shown that. Talk to you clinic I am sure they will give you a list of accup. places. If you can try to get it after the transfer (if its near by). But I think the main thing to do is to be relaxed - which you are already doing.
For me if someone tells me "I did this and got BFP", I want to go ahead and do it .
We both are on the same protocol - which is great !!!!
I had stopped going to gym in mid-June - am just being lazy now a days and relax - watch lots of TV - hehehe
I will look into the thread for herbs - thanks !

This web-site is amazing Karen. The ladies on the thread I was on were very supportive during my last IVF cycle. We all were always there for each other. Most of the ladies on the thread did get BFPs and are in their first trimester now - I remember them everyday.

NY4thtry: Am so sorry about your BFN. You are very brave to do back to back IVF cycles girl. Royal Jelly is honey given to queen bee when she is laying eggs - its said to be good for you during and before IVF:
Here is a link on this discussion:
Royal jelly/ Fresh pollen
http://forums.fertilitycommunity.com/vi ... jelly.html

Kerry: Hi Girl ! Nice to hear from you. How are you doing? I was reading your FET thread yesterday - lots of positives things listed there by the Ghost - am excited for you
So you RE did not have any appointments before mid-sept? The same was with my RE as well but I told them if he does not see me in Aug, am changing me RE cause I wanted to get started on the next cycle ASAP. Did see him a week back.
Yes - I remember you had acupuncture with the last cycle. Acupuncture did help me relax a lot. I too have very heavy periods with lots of clots - so am hoping it will help.

This time for my cycle , RE is going to use ICSI since he thinks there might be something wrong with the eggs - since only one fertilized - he is not sure yet - how funny is that. Am hoping that will give us more embryos this time.

Have a nice day everyone. Talk to you soon
Priya

[PriyaC]

Welcome onemorebaby - all the best with the FET - when do you start taking progesterone - am not sure but you have to take this before they but the embabies on right.

[kez01]

Hey Priya,

So nice to hear from your cheery self. I'm doing ok, We just went away for a few days to wales. I had my 2 week summer hols after my IVF, time needed to recover. I start back at work on monday for 7 nights, not looking forward to it though.

I think you will be lucky this time. We had ICSI due to poor motility and the fertilisation rate is better, so I'm sure you'll get plenty this time. I really wish you luck.

I have received my appointment for sept 12th and its with a different consultant which is confusing, I dont know if I'm pleased or not, he may have different methods, or when I ask him questions he may not know the answers because he didn't treat me, in which case I know I am going to be very cross.

My FET thread was very helpful, I'll be armed with lots of questions. I am also going to see my AP again and see what she advises, someone on one of the other threads used the herbs for 2 months prior so i may just do that and AP twice a month.

I am thinking of you and wish you luck with this cycle. I too think about the others from the thread, I hope they are all doing well. Lets hope we will soon be joining them.

Take care
Kerry x

[PriyaC]

Hey Guys - how are you?
Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Kerry - Good you could take some time off work - 7 days a week girl - must be stressful - am not sure if I could do that.
Am sure experience with the new RE will be good - its good to be prepared - u r right.
Thanks for the wishes.
I am not taking herbs. Hopefully this cycle will be a success and I will not have to take them anymore. Have started taking wheat grass powder since I cannot get fresh wheat grass juice - with water it takes like grass juice (not that I have ever tasted it). I have started smelling like Grass tough - natural perfume I say . Today Tried to take it with little cranberry juice and it was much more bearable.

Have a good Monday everyone.
Priya

[karenvancouverisland]

hi priya, kerry, onemore baby, ny4thtry

well i've had a lovely weekend and enjoying the positive frame of mind i've been in the last week . i smile especially cause it hasn't always been this way over the last couple months., so i'm enjoying it while i can. i'm not draped in fear, anxiety or sadness about the idea of not having children lately- somehow i feel mre hopeful than usual.

onemorebaby- good luck with your FET..have you been pregnant before?

and NY4thtry- good for you for persevering a 4th cycle..i'm going into my 3rd, and i'm 36yrs and feeling it lately

kerry- good luck with the new RE..it's hard for me to trust that everything will work out for the best when i'm thrown a loop or change..there's just too much on the line. so what's your history? have you been PG before /how many cycles have you tried?

priya- good luck with that wheat grass i'm sure it's a nice perfume LOL.
wishing all a great day/night, karen

[kez01]

Hi everyone,

well my first night shift after 6 weeks off and I'm pretty exhausted, just 6 more nights to go, I have also started my Lipotrim diet which is total food replacement so I have an awful headache. Still looking forward to my appointment but september 12th still seems so far away. It is hard when I work with the doctors who are treating me.

Karen, I changed clinics after my first IVF and FET failed. I had 20 follicles the first time round with only 4 eggs, all fertilised at grade 1 but none stuck. With my last cycle, I got 12 eggs and 6 fertilised, 2 were put back in and they froze 2 at the pronuclei stage, day 1 basically. I seem to have poor implantation, just cant manage to get pg. I read one of your threads and I'm sorry to hear of your mc at 12 weeks that must have been really hard. Its good to hear your thinking positve for your next go. I wish you luck with that.

Hey Priya is the grass from you AP, I havent been back to see mine yet, I wont this week with working but may go see her next week. I have been on the royal jelly and I did an ovulation test and it showed up at the weekend, thats good for me as a rarely ovulate. Anthonys sperm motility not that good but it would be nice if one of the little devils made it hey. Hope your doing well, Keep us posted.

Take care all
Kerry x

[Marynaz]

Dear All,
Just want to wish you all baby dust for this cycle. I hpe you all get BFP this time. I will see my RE tomorrow to discuss future plan. I am thinking to start again in October. I still feel tired and down from last BFN
I will go to a short vacation next week it may help me and DH.

[PriyaC]

Hey Everyone:

Karen - love your +ve attitude - I think its rubbing onto me - thanks for that. When do you start with the stims in Sept?

Mary - All the best with the appointment... keep us posted. I know what you mean - with all the hormones and stress etc - it gets a lot for one body and the effects can be seen. I was always feeling tired till last week - and blamed it all on the BCPs and medications
Have you planned where you guys would be going for vacation?

Kerry - Hope you are feeling better today and not that exausted - what is the Liptrim diet? Is it because of the FET that you will be doing? Am glad the night shift will be over soon. So you work in the hospital.
Looks like Royal jelly is working for you - keeping my fing crossed for you - hopefully RJ affected the mobility as well - u never know
I decided not to take the herbs since the RE told me not to .Read abt the grass on some of the web-sites.

The acupuncture has been helping me as well - did not get any back pain/head aches last week. Today had a session and was very relaxing. My RE Also ordered the medications for me yesterday and will be delivered tomorrow. Am so tempted to leave the BCP from tomorrow - Did call up the nurse to ask but she said do it on Saturday if I cannot wait till Sunday Am as excited as last time to start the cycle - not thinking too much abt the result this time - will take it one day at a time.

Take Care Everyone:
Priya

[lynniecat]

I am starting my third round as soon as my cycle starts, hopefully any day now! I am also doing a no lupron protocol and no BCPs either.

I am ALSO starting acupuncture. As for herbs, I was told not to take them, even by two of the acupuncture specialists. I personally will not take herbs, as I think they are in fact drugs, but drugs that have not been studied in combination with the stim drugs. I mean, I am worried about taking any medicine that might affect the stim drugs. As a case in point: I have a vitamin D deficiency and have had to take 50,000 units of D a week to push my levels up. The FDA recommends 400 units a day, but that does not bring my levels up.

Anywho, I stopped the mega doses for my first round and went to 1000 mg a day and got 5 mature eggs and 3 grade one embies.

Second round I thought, what the heck and kept up my 50,000 units taking my weekly dose on the first day of stims. My round was horrible and my E2 did not go up for 4 days. I am wondering if it was the D, but I have no idea. The doctors think no, but I read D can affect estrogen. Thus no D for me this round. Its kind of crazy, but I don't want to take any medicines, herbal or not that can change my hormone balance unless my doctor things I need them.....that is just my opinion!

Good luck, I hope we are both lucky this round!

[karenvancouverisland]

hi ladies..

priya, i find your excitement contagious thanks.

and mary- i want to tell you about an old friend of mine i reconnected with through this struggle, i contacted her as i knew she'd struggled with fertility and now had a baby. after "9 years, 8 iui's, and 4 IVF's" they have a 1 yr old boy. i'm not saying that everyone's is cut out for that kind of battle, but there is HOPE. the best thing she ever said to me was "don't give up on what you want". i understand the down feeling you have.. sometimes it just stinks and i'm very angry, jealous, bitter, or just downright SAD. i hope your vacation gives you some strength and rejuvenation for whatever direction you want to go in.

to kerry, lynniecat, onemorebaby, and NY4thtry, i hope this evening finds you well.

i won't start my stims til late september likely. i need to have a hysteroscopy first, to ensure no damage from my MC. it's unlikely that there is any, but my RE thought he'd ensure this before anymore financial or emotional costs. i had a hysteroscopy booked for yesterday, but cancelled it in hopes maybe i could get BFP naturally (am i nuts?? or just hopeful?). hysteroscopy's destroy a pregnancy. so it will be rebooked as i'm not counting on getting PG, just hoping.
baby dust and hugs, karen