AUG/SEPT BUDDIES!

[stefanie]

Hi.

I actually called the doc, because maybe it was 83....883 seems pretty high - and I only had 2 embies, so I want to double check that before saying 883 is the number.

DHEA is a hormone produced in the body until we are about 30 that for some reason, has shown good results in older women in helping them respond to stims, and improve IVF.

Google the Center for Human Reproduction in NYC. They are one of the clinics at the forefront of this study. I was a poor responder. Didn't produce extra on LARGE amounts of stims. With DHEA I actually got 5 follicles and 3 eggs. I was taking 75mg of DHEA from the drugstore one months before I met with CHR and then I have been on 25mg three times a day for a while. I also had wheatgrass every day - either a 2 oz juice shot or 5 pills and took L-Argenine.

side effects of DHEA: acne, facial hair (not me but eyebrows grew faster) and sometimes thinning hair. (don't know, I have thin hair to begin with)

Look it up. There is some buzz about egg quality etc. Obviously, I'm not a doctor, but it's something I found and sought out for myself when others gave up on me.
s

[JDC]

Val AWESOME fert report! I'm so happy for you and have got all my fingers crossed for you. Can't wait to see your BFP on board!

to_have_fun, turtles, and everyone else in the 2ww - hope your are keeping up the PMA and surviving the wait!

I still check in on this thread to see how everyone is doing. I'm hoping the best for everyone. This is such a crazy journey and I couldn't have gotten through it without you all! Thank you.

Jill

[MzTia]

Stefanie CONGRATS . That is so fantastic. I am so happy for you and DH. So glad you were able to find a way to try again this time.

[Kas101]

stefanie A massive congrats to you !!!! 883 is an amazing number and i agree with to have fun - sounds like more than one !!!!!

And thanks for reminding us not to give up on this HARD HARD road

[to_have_fun08]

JDC - Thanks for check up on us. It is so good to hear from a graduate. Keeps our hopes up that this does work.

Stefanie - I am surprised more clinics aren't doing DHEA. I am going to have to check into it some more. I just turned 36 and definatly my eggs aren't getting any younger.

Tidbits for when you are in the 2ww --

When you go grocery shopping and you are not supposed to lift more the 10 1bs. Yes it is great that you decided to put the groceries in more bags so they aren't as heavy, but when taking them in the house it is not good to try and take all the little bags in the house at once.

if you are a Red neck like me and have a Jeep Wrangler with a 6 inch lift and 35 inch tires (You get the picture really tall), the only way to get out of the Jeep is to hop out or slide out. Keep in mind you are sliding out on your ass. Also, keep in mind all those little PIO shots that does wonder for your behind. Well of course I tried to slide out everytime to today and can you say OOOUUUCH!!!!! yes I did that numerous times today and said ouch every time. Usually I drive the Jetta because the Jetta get 45s MPG vs Jeep 15 MPG. This was the first day I took the Jeep out since ER. I was proud of myself by the last time I got out of the Jeep this afternoon i finally remembered to hop out. Pain is a great teacher.

Chris

[turtlesonastump]

Stephanie - Congrats!!! I am so happy for you. Rest up while you can.

Chris - Thanks for the tidbits. My DH has a truck that we left in after ET. Luckily my butt wasn't that sore yet. I usually drive a mini-van and that is just the right height for me. Of course, I reached to get something in the back and sat on the seat belt right on the sore spot I haven't attempted grocery shopping yet. Need to go soon though because we are running out of food. I know what you mean about dropping classes. I have dropped a lot of classes because of IVF. I was too stressed. Hopefully this one will go smoothly. It is an online course so I have to learn it myself by reading the book. I hope I can concentrate. Haven't done so well today

JDC- thanks for checking up on us. Hope you are feeling good and not to tired.

MzTia - Good job on the antral follies. Hope your stimming goes smoothly. I was also on the microdose lupron flare protocol. Worked for me. [/b]

[valerie68]

Good evening girls!!

I'm going to do some of the personals now and some later as dinner is cooking and won't be able to do it all in one shot!


Stefanie ~ HOOOORAY !!! That is just too good. Congrats and I do understand that you won't totally relax until you see a HB and know that your BABIES ( there has to be 2!) are growing well. Thanks for giving us hope especially to the ladies with few follies in our group ( I'm one of them). I know we should not give up and keep our PMA at a high level!!
You've just given me even more strength to go on and always believe!!

Turtles~ You made me cry and laugh at the same time...your little boy is too cute....how darling and sweet of him to kiss the babies. What a fun story with the teacher. Please take it easy on your trip to Disney...we don't want you to fall.

Chris~ I can't imagine sliding down from your seat....AAAHHHH the pain that it must be!! I could hardly sit on mine let alone slide on it. I'm sooo glad I'm taking suppositories this time...it's worth all the leakage!

JDC~ I miss you girl !!! Thanks for checking in on me....and don't you worry, I'm going to be joining you soon.
It looks like you're doing really well! Have you had your US yet? So happy for you!

Much Hope~ Two embies is really good. I'm crossing my fingers that they progress beautifully. Best of luck with pgd and I hope them find them in tip top shape. Keep that PMA going!

Mztia~ sounds like a great start for you! I bet that really helped the PMA. I hope you get enough but not too many follies. Better have a few good ones than a lot of so-so ones!

Kate~ So glad you had such a positive experience in Sweden! Wishing you lots of sticky baby dust and a gorgeous BFP!!

A quick update for me: As of this morning, I have:
1 8 cells grade A,
1 8 cells grade B
1 4 cells grade B

So it looks like I have 2 good ones going and I hope the third one was just a little late and had not divided yet. They will check them again tomorrow, but it looks like I'll be transferring Friday morning!!! I wish the 3rd one would be better but I'm thrilled with what I have.

I'll write some more later.

Much love,

Val

[JJJAKE]

Hey Guys,

My update is that 11 out 19 of my eggs fetilized and they will let me know if my ER will be on Fri. or Sun. The Pio shot freakin sucks WTF My booty is hurting after one shot!

Steph: WOW! congrats I am so happy for you and your dh

To have : your story was so funny Thank God my car is low.

hoping and val: good luck on your ET.

much hope: congrats on your ER and sending Baby Dust your way.

Toobee: congrat on your embies....I see multiples in your future

Amanda: Remember to have good PMA

SueQ: you are on your way to a BFP!

Kate21: so happy for you on your ET. good luck

Turtle: great your off bed rest and say hi to Mickey for me.

Missfix: I had almost the same thing happen to me. I had great sized embies Approx. 3follies and then smaller one. My RE did not want the little one's to grow and focused on the bigger ones. After a very small adjustment to my medicine I began growing the leaders and some of the little one's began catching up. (I hope this helps)

To anyone I have missed I'm so sorry there's alot of information to digest on this board. However I am always praying for all of you and sending Baby Dust to us all.

[stefanie]

Thanks for the good wishes. My shots continue.

I'm sure you know this but My tricks for the PIO are to ice your butt for ten minutes before the shots. And warm the oil in a glass of warm water or place the bottle under your armpit.

Most of you know this, but my clinic doesn't give any advice (I read that in a book), and a friend I met at the clinic said I saved her ASS (literally) by telling her those tips

[SueQiwi]

Stephanie~congratulations on your BFP! I am thrilled for you. I am also a low responder and it is very inspiring to hear about your success! Enjoy every moment of this--you deserve it.

Kate~Sweden sounds amazing! Did you get to go sight-seeing? I know you are a bit disappointed with your fert rate--but it sounds like you have 2 top-notch embies inside you right now! The procedures sound much more efficently done over there in Sweden--I've got a good feeling about your cycle.

Val~Those sound like some strong embies! I betcha number three will catch up with the others before your transfer. Will you get all three put back? I am hoping for you, Val!

I had an appointment with the Doc yesterday and I am cyst-free and ready to go! He said he saw a bunch of antral follicles and that my uterous looked healthy. So I keep taking BCPs until Sept 21 when I start the big drugs. I feel really excited this time! Last time I burst into tears when they gave me the box full of drugs and syringes. Well yesterday I was so excited to get my hands on my drug package and get it safely home to my fridge!

[stefanie]

SuQUI
EXCITEMENT is good! It's key. I was so excited I did my own shots this time. and really relaxed. Knowing the drill is a gift.

High FSH... do you take wheatgrass? I've had friends w/ spectacular results lowering it. Also, if you aren't doing coffee, a fresh shot of wheatgrass gives you a burst of great energy. I did mostly pills and about 2 shots a week from jamba juice.

[valerie68]

Second half of the personals coming up!

Msfixit~ I had a similar situation but with far fewer follies. Well, with me they could not up my meds as I already was at the highest dose. I'm sure your RE will play with your meds. My Re told me that since I had one leader that they would keep stimming me so that the other 4 could catch up even if that meant losing the one leader. It worked and the leader was still in there after all! Try not to stress to much and go with the flow...it will work out in the end. You'll be in my thoughts!

SueQiwi~ All looks good for you and as a low responder sister, I wish you to have a very productive cycle. Each one is different and you could do much better than the previous one!
I had the same reaction to the first box of meds...totally freaked me out...I even started crying. I thought I was going to use the mixing needles for the injections! Second box came and I was very excited to see them.

Toobee~ Take your time to recenter yourself and find your happy place. You know I'm thinking about you and your little beans!
I look forward to seeing your posts again!

babycrazy~ How are you doing? Did you have another beta? I hope it went way up. Fingers and toes crossed for you.

stefanie~ I tried the ice on the cheek and warming the oil prior to injection but it did not help me one bit! I think that some of us are very allergic to them. I tried also to massage it for 5 min or more, put a hot water bottle on after the injection.

To all our PUPO girls....lots of sticky baby dust!

Val

[SueQiwi]

JJake~11 embies is incredible! You are sure to have some winners in the bunch.

MsFixit~I betcha your follies will behave and you get tons of eggs.

Stephanie~I have not been taking wheatgrass--I will have to look into gettting some! I have been taking herbs prescribed by my naturopath though. They are supposed to lower my FSH and make my eggs stronger and more plentiful.

I am not sure when to stop taking the herbs? I'd like to take them as long as possible--but I do not want them to interfere with the IVF drugs! For those of you taking herbs--when did you quit taking them?

[stefanie]

I quit the month before IVF cycle (when I got AF) and would be going in for day 2-3 bloodwork. Both my TCM/AP doc and my RE refused to do both at the same time. The reason is that herbs can affect hormones and it can mess up what the docs are trying to monitor/control.

Try the wheatgrass. It may not work in one month but my friend went from 63 to 23 in about 6 weeks, and her doc let her proceed w/ that. For a few months I bought the jamba juice shot every day (that can add up, but at the time it was replacing an old starbucks habit. ) I bought the powder (ew) which is better than the pills, but in a pinch I think the pills are fine. I got them at whole foods. My FSH was in a good range, but did go down, and it had been slowly creeping up over the last 2 years... Anyway, I know about 5 women who did wheatgrass and lowered their FSH. And unlike other things, it can't hurt as it is a dark green full of nutrients.

stef

[baby_crazy]

Hi ladies. Hope everyone's well.

My journey ends here. My beta didnt double, AF arrived yesterday. I was really upset, even took a day off work, cried a lot, had some wine. I feel a little bit better but still very much hurt.

I wish everyone the best, I hope I'm the last BFN on this thread. I dont wish anyone to experience the sadness and frustration I have.

DH and I decided not to pursue infertility treatments anymore and just go on with our lives. I just have to somehow convince myself, that we will not have children but I just dont know how.

Thank you everyone for your support. It's been a pleasure. Take care of yourselves and your little ones.