September/October Cycling Friends!

[dtao]

OK so I finally worked up the courage to do the hCG last night. I sent my hubby out to buy some of the numbing cream some people recommended, but he went to 3 pharms and couldn't find it so came back with orajel lol. Didn't work a bit. So there we were at 10:27, and he's saying. "C'mon you gotta do it in the next 3 mins!" Hahaha. As it turns out, it didn't hurt. The most horrifying part is the length of that needle, but I guess I have a lot of fat back there. Still don't know about taking the PIO every day, but we all have to do what we have to do.

I started on some steroid meds yesterday too, so my body doesn't reject the embryos when they're implanted-- makes me so hungry! Good thing is, I have not felt worse after the hCG, at least not yet. Hopefully I can get to Friday and finally get some relief on these ovaries that have worked overtime afer probably never producing any eggs.

Today I go to pay for my IVF. I'll have to check my credit limit first before putting it all on my AmEx, and then after that I don't know.

Well, good luck to everyone on their cycles! I realize that I am ahead of most of you, since I probably started posting on the wrong thread, but with me a lot of luck! I really don't know how I'll be able to do all this again.

prayin-- I think what you're talking about is an HSG, hysterosalpingogram, which is when dye is put in your uterus to check if your tubes are open... or it's the u/s with saline, which I've also had before.

mjay-- My thoughts are with you today!

[cheryl010120]

Good luck DTAO! Prayers for your success, and I'm sure you'll be the first of many, many positives in our group.

I just had my first sono today (started stimming 2 days ago). All looked good. I had 10 follies, and of them about half were size 10. So funny because my DH and I prayed last night for at least 10, and sure enough that's what we got. My first response after hearing was dang! I should have prayed for 15! ha!

Anyone else on follistim getting headaches, or is it just me? And the pimples have started popping up too. Fun times.

And Neffi, I completely agree on the gatorade for ER. I have had OHSS twice and Gatorade helped tremendously.

Happy Thursday all!

[Lady_J]

Good morning Ladies.... I see that alot of you r moving well along. Now we have 3 ladies stimming.... how exciting. I havent been on too much cuz my computer at home has a virus still and when I use it here at work, I have ti limit my use. SO let me try to catch up on some personals...

michele... How is it going? I am glad to hear that your levels are decreasing. Hopefully at your next check up, you will be at the level they need you to be. So are you ready for the Elas party? I bet u r superbusy. I have to start planning my DD bday. Hers is on Sept. 22, and she will be turning 11 yrs. so I may skip out on the party and just take her to Midieval Times or something. Enjoy your daughters day!!!!

wolffie.. Glad you were able to tell your boss and she was very understanding. How did your US go today? As for breaking out... arent they just so gross. I remember breaking out when I started POI... or was it Estrogen?? Either way, I always tend to get it right in the middle of my forhead, never fails!!!

dtao... Sorry u had to cancel your trip. So now when u go Labor Day Weekend, u may be Preggers How wonderful is that. So u r keeping the IVF from your mother? It sucks... cuz sometimes u tell the people that u feel would be understanding and then u realize that they dont. First cycle I told my mom, my MIL , 1 of my cousins, and 2 of my close friends. It is not so hard for me to tell the=m cuz they already assume by now that something is wrong since my DD is 10 and we have no more kids, and they know I love kids. So by the end of my first cycle, all my SIL and BIL and their wives knews, and from my friend/;co-worker, a few more people at work knew. I told her that I aprreciate her telling everyone at work for me. I told her next time I will just have to limit what I tell her from now on. We hardly speak anymore. Anyway the point is.. the only person I should have told was my mother. She is the only one that is truly truly supportive... even offered to hole my embryos in her belly if it didnt workn for me no more. My mom is 53 but has the body of a 35 yr old. So now when my MIL asks, how is it going, I say, nothing. It may be good to talk to your mother about it, she may give u that extra support u seek. Good Luck with ER tomorrow. Hope u get lots of lovely eggs.

Praying... Doing the AF dance for you, and for me as well. Still no signs. It never fails, when u r expecting it, it takes a little break. ANd i dont know about u but when it does that I always say to my self, what if by some miracle, I ended up pregnant, so at the same time u hope it doesnt come bcuz u may be PG, but if u r not then u want the darn witch to show her ugle face...Aaarrrrgh!!! Boy am I PMS'ing. Sorry. Well, I guess we are going to have to wear the white panties tonight. As for your Mom... so sorry about her stroke. I will say a prayer for her and for you hun.

mjay... as for the injections. Lupron and stims are usually in the stomach or front thigh. POI, Estrogen and Trigger HCG go in the butts outer muscular area since they are longer. I do them all myself by choice and cuz my DH schedule. but they are not bad at all. Out of all the shots iv taken, I think the Heparin shot is the worse. I have to do that on mystomach twice a day, about 2 inches around my bellybutton area... the needle doesnt hurt, the fluid burns as it goes in and next thing u know, your whole stomach area is black and blue. As for the clearance... How rude. That would have been nice to tell u like a week ago, not the night of Trigger. Sorry u have to go thru that. I hope things get resolved and nothing interferes. Good Luck with ER tomorrow. Hope u get lots of lovely eggs as well.

AFM... Still no AF. I forgot who said this, but I to seem to be taking it somewhat more easier than the last few. I guess I just dont want to get too excited. Since I am doing an FET, and I only have 1 frosty, I am hoping that my baby survives the thaw. But I am trying not to think too much about it. I really wanted to wait and do a fresh cycle instead, but my RE said to do the FET and then we try the next fresh. I honestly beleive he does it for the $$. But I figured, I will do the FET, if it dont work then I will be changing clinics for next cycle anyway. If I do fresh cycle now, I will do at new clinic ne way, so they will charge me to transfer frozen embie and then a new charge to re-store in new clinc. Do I make sense? SO if FET doesnt work, then I will start New Fresh Cycle at New Fresh Clinic. Well ladies, i must get back to work. I will check in later.

[shelbyrn0214]

Dtao - GL!!! That part of the ER that hurt me the most was paying for it!!! You're gonna do great!!!! And you are totally on the right thread!

Prayin - I'm so sorry to hear about your mom . Are her deficits after the stroke pretty bad? At least she can be there with you and you will know she is doing ok instead of worrying when she is alone. Sorry about AF being late. GL with your sono on Monday. 'Prayin' for a pretty uterus!

Mjay - I sure do hope things turn out ok for you and you don't have to stress all day. GL!

Cheryl - You are so right. Gatorade is the best! DH made me some after my last ER and I didn't have a single problem.

[wolffie]

Hi all! I feel like I have been MIA. I can't log into this thread on my home computer for some reason. I can from work but I can't write a lot. I feel like I miss you all!

dtao - my dh and I told lots of people during our first IVF cycle. We decided not to tell anyone this time around. (well, other than my boss b/c of my tardiness to work and one close frined of mine who lives out of state). The retrieval isn't too bad afterwards. I had some mild cramping but that's about it. The butt injections with the PIO are a bit painful IMO. I thought the stomach injections were easy. My dh did my butt injections and I found it helped to lay flat on my stomach, he iced my tushie, and after the injection he really massaged the area hard and that helped a lot. so tomorrow is your big day! (well, one of many big days to come). i can't wait to hear how many eggs you get and how many little embies you have growing. You'll be the first to get this thread started in the right direction! how many embies are you planing on trnasferring?

mjay - what's the status with the allergist? I agree with everything shelby said. be a little pushy. it will all work out. praying for you!

praying - sorry to ehar about your mom. I'll be doing the AF dance for you!

Shelby - I am a middle school social worker. How are you doing? How the lupron treating you?

cheryl - 10 follies! YAY, grow follies GROW! i also have headaches and pimples but i'm not stimming. I think mine are lupron related. yuck!

lady j - have you been unhappy with your clinic? why are you thinking of moving on?

AFM, I went in for b/w and u/s today on the actaul day i was scheduled). i just heard from the nurse and everything is looking good so far. so now i just continue with my schedul and go in for a lining check on sept. 1 and transfer on the 12th if all goes well! other than that not much new going on. just trying to get through my first week back at work. i can't tell you how much it sucks to not be able to log in at home. i dont' know what the issue could be.

[statsgoddess]

Hey ladies - just a quick hi before I get out of here for the weekend. I promise you that I will catch up on personals once I am done with all this traveling! We are flying to Washington, then going to Idaho, and then over to Montana to go to Glacier National Park. I'm really looking forward to it. I will try to check in while I am gone, but I'm not sure how limited my internet access will be. The good news is next weekend I start the lupron and I can really get going finally! I'm feeling good about this cycle, or at least relaxed, although I think it might be because I know what to expect this time. I'm hoping this will be the lucky try for us

Good luck to all of you reaching ER/ET in the coming week! I hope we are going to start seeing those BFPs really soon!!!

[Lady_J]

Wolffie.... Not unhappy. Just confused I guess. First cycle, I responded well with meds. I had about 8 follies on left ovary and about 10 on right. Day of ER he only retreived 4 eggs. According to him, "all the follies were only fluid". Out of the 4 eggs only 2 fertilized, 2 were transferred but I got a BFN. On my 2nd fresh cycle.... responded well to meds. I had about 8 on left and about 8 on right. Day of ER, he only retreived 5 from left ovary and he couldnt retreive any from the right cuz according to him "my right ovary was high up and something was in the way and he didnt want to risk puncturing my intestine and yadi yadi ya.... out of the 5 only 3 fertilized. Day of ET, i asked if he can please put all 3 in cuz of history length and plus I didnt want to just freeze 1 embie. He said no, they can only do 2 by law and they dont want to risk multiples. I said I am fine with mulitples... yadi yadi ya. So he tranferred 2 blasts already hatched. And the one he froze was an 8-10 cell blast, something like that.... I got a BFN. ( So when I went to my consultation afterwards asked him, what now? I asked of he can check my blood for and kind of infections or anti-whatever that may be causing my body to reject eggs... he said "if egg was to reject sperm then they would not fertilize at all they did ICSI". I also asked if they can do that were they check tube... cuz if something is pushing my right ovary up and keeping egg from reaching tube then maybe that is why I am not getting pregnant naturally... he said no, it should cuz ovary is connected with tube and yadi yadi ya... so basically I want another opinion. I hope I made sense. I would appreciate anyones input on my opinion and thinking. Thanks.

[Karling]

Good Afternoon all you Mommies to be!
Sorry I haven't posted in a long time, life gets in the way. I love reading everything though, it is pretty special to be sharing the most intimate, important times in all of your lives. I first want to say THANK YOU. Thank you for accepting me. Thank you for understanding me. Thank you for supporting me. I was bawling reading all the messages from you ladies. It means the world to me to have positive people and I have found the site to be on! We have not gotten the "official" go from the PGD clinic yet so I am FREAKING out. I really don't want to skip this cycle. We need an Ok from them before we start injectables. I called today and they told me it should be only another week - so that is great news. Since I will be on BCPs for a couple weeks first it should be fine. So now I am just awaiting the lovely AF. OK so here is my question for all of you - hOW DO YOU STAY STRESS FREE? The doctors told us the key is staying as stress free as possible. They did some tests on 19 year olds during finals in college vs a relaxing time and said that the quality of the egg and sperm were WAY better when they were relaxed - no question about it. So what do you all do to stay relaxed during one of the most stressful times of your life?

Ok here is my first stab at personals - I swear I will get better since I plan on becoming a more obsessed poster.

Mjay - can't belive your kids are giving you the shots. Yeah for them. Just don't make them mad first =) I hate needles though so I think I would rather anyone do it then I do it myself. I am wondering how DH will be with this. I have a girlfriend that is all interested in needles and such I may have her help. Still freaked out. Not sure if it better to think about it a bunch or put it out of my mind until it is time.

Prayin - This usually helps me get AF going - wear white pants, plan a romantic night, plan to go swimming, or buy brand new expensive underwear. Good luck. =)

Dtao - can't wait to hear how it goes tomorrow. I am hoping that it goes well and will be thinking of you. I want all the details. What are your plans afterwards? Do you have a good book?

Cheryl - 10 follies - YEAH! Grow Grow little ones!

Stats - have a great trip - it sounds like a blast. I really need a vacation but I think as far as we will go is 2 hours away to a zoo and kids museum in a couple weeks. lucky girl - tell us all about it so I can live vicariously through you.

LadyJ - Just reading about your experiance at your clinic frusterated me - can't imagine how you would feel. Doesn't sound right to me. I really hope the FET works but if not I definitly think a new clinic would be good.

OK I know there is a bunch of people I am missing I am sorry!

What is OHSS? Why Gatorade? When do I need to start worrying about this? =) I have a horrible time remembering to take things at the same time every day. Anyone have any good ideas as to how to remember to take my BCPs when the time comes? Are you guys taking baby asprin as well. I am suppose to start one each day when i get my period. OK that was my 17 questions of the day. Hope all is well.

[mjay]

hey ladies! i feel much better today. thanks for everyone's advice and support. i did need to get medical clearance from my allergist even though i have mild asthma. i was able to get an appt with him and he gave me clearance with no hassle. he even made sure the fax was sent immediately. i called the clinic and they got the fax, so we're good to go! i'm so nervous. DH was much more supportive last night but he's still really struggling with his own emotions. i can tell. anyone know why i'm not nearly as sore in the morning, but as the day wears on, i feel like my ovaries get bigger?

dtao- good luck on the retrieval tomorrow. i'll be thinking of you b4 they put me to sleep!

[dtao]

Thanks everyone for all the good wishes! And my cc didn't get rejected this morning, yay-- that'll be a good $120 rebate. DH made sure I was using the card lol.

mjay-- My ovaries feel bigger at night too. I thought it was because I was doing the injections at 6pm, but it could also be that during the day we have other distractions? Are you doing your retrieval tomorrow as well? Good Lucky Luck to both of us!

karling-- On stress... I think it helps that I didn't work this summer. Although maybe having too much time to think about it has been stressful as well. I don't know. I try not to get my hopes up too high. There have been a lot of times that I've blown up at my DH though.

Good point about the book! I don't know yet how long they will keep me there after the procedure, so I'll make sure I bring something to read. DH is taking tomorrow and Monday off from work so he'll be around too.

We haven't really discussed how many embryos to transfer. I guess this is what I mean by not getting my hopes up. We'll figure it out when we're sure we have fertilized embryos. Doctor says to take it one step at a time, which is really great advice.

ladyj-- I really love my doctor now, but I've had experience with a bad clinic before, so I know how you feel. Although I did not even give them a chance after the initial consultation. Staff were rude, and often didn't pick up their phone or return phone calls. I never knew how much they were charging for stuff, etc.

wolffie-- My plan is not to say anything until we are pregnant for several weeks. If it's bad news, it's hard enough dealing with our own disappointment, much less worry about others'. It is tough though, not being able to talk to anyone about it. The only person who knows anything is my brother, and I told him because he wouldn't stress out about it. A couple of my coworkers know that I was looking into getting pregnant, but that is all.

Funny enough, being anesthetized for the ER tomorrow isn't freaking me out. It's the injections with the HUGE needles that I was shown this morning. I did not anticipate that the poking would go on for weeks after all the ones in the stomach I already took! And my estrogen ones are even bigger than the hCG ones. Sigh...[/b]

[J&C]

Thanks everyone for the Gatorade suggestion. I'll definitely take it after the ER. My "baby in a box" arrived today, so I'll be getting everything organized.

statsgoddess - We LOVE Glacier National Park. To date, it's our favorite vacation spot. And what a great time to go on the forefront of fall. It's so beautiful.....have a great time.

Karling - I don't think you can ever be totally stress free, but I would confide almost daily in 1 close friend who was eager to follow me through, cry when you need to (and I cried a lot last time), and I got a massage early on (before you start to feel semi-bloated). I love a good massage. For remembering to take pills, I bought a pill box from Target/Walmart that has an AM/PM slot for the week. I put it right beside my bed and then leave the slot open for the next pill. So when I take my Thursday PM pills tonight, I will open the lid for the Friday AM pills, so I'll remember to take them in the morning. That is what has worked for me anyway.

mjay - I'm so glad everything worked out. It's such a hassle when things like that happen.

PMA to all!!

[shelbyrn0214]

First and foremost, I want to wish the best to our lovely ladies who are having their ER tomorrow. May you be blessed with many mature and fertile eggies!

Stats - Have a great trip!

J&C - 'Baby in a box' - I still can't stop laughing at that one

Wolffie - Lupron injections are going fine. Kids are becoming pros!

Mjay - So happy things worked out!

Prayin - Still doing the AF dance for ya!

Lady J - Sorry you are having issues with your clinic. Hope that this FET will be it anyway. You're gonna get PREGO!

AFM - I occasionally have sharp, stabbing pains in my lower abdominal region. They come and go very quickly and only happen a couple times a day. I guess that's my ovaries getting adjusted to the Lupron.
The site appears to be fixed!!! I can use my mouse!!!!!
Well, going to chill out for the evening and watch a movie with DH, the kiddies, and the kitties. Good night.

[wolffie]

YAY, I can log on from home now!!!

Shelby - I bet those pains are just your body adjusting. I had some cramping and sharp pains when i started the lupron too and I thought for sure that I broke through and had ovulated. looks like I didn't so maybe the cramps are normal.

J&C - LOVE the baby in a box. It's overwhelming to receive that box of meds but also a rush at the same time. I almost enjoyed getting my meds so that I could get everything in order.

dtao - GOOD LUCK tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you! I am praying for beautiful little eggs for you! During my first cycle my dh and I told people about undergoing IVF. We decided to tell people that we wouldn't know the results until about a week after we actually would. we figured that way we could deal with our grief if we needed to on our own first. this time we decided not to tell and i really think that is the best way to go. try not to worry about everything that still has to happen after the ER (with meds and such). you'll be fine and everything will fall into place.

mjay - SO glad things worked out for you! BEST WISHES for tomorrow! I can't wait to hear how things went. I am sure you will have lots of beautiful little eggs waiting to be your embies! Also, during my fresh cycle I also remember feeling so bloated by the end of the day. I remember driving home from work and having to unbutton and unzip my pants to be comfortable. Don't worry, it will be over soon, BUT then you'll have a big preggo belly!

karling - HI! glad to have you hear! I don't know much about PGD. What is it that they have to figure out before they can give you the official go? Can you start the BCP in the mean time so that you'll at least be ready when you get the go ahead? Not sure about how to be stress free. I just make sure to take time for me. I try to not let things get to me anymore. I remind myself that what is most important in my life is my family. My priority now is my son and my dh. a job is a job, money is money, etc. i just let things roll off my back now. it may be cheesy, but what will happen will happen. i'll be honest, i think it's easier for me to say that now after my first IVF was successful. I did not have this attitude prior.

lady j - sorry you are not happy with your clinic. I am surprised that your clinic wouldn't let you transfer 3 after a negative cycle. I'm praying that you won't have to find another clinic after this cycle b/c you'll have your BFP!

statsgoddess - have a WONDERFUL trip(s). I'm so jealous. I have been itching to get away but just can't fit it into the schedule.

well, hope all you ladies are doing well!

[fitzjr11]

Off to re tomorrow after 6 days of stims- yes follistim giving me a headache- i am on lupron, follistim and menapur, luckily i can mix them and only do 1 shot. it does burn though!! Good luck to all

[shelbyrn0214]

Cheekyone - FET in Sept.
Karling - Waiting for AF (around 8/24)
Neffi211 - Waiting for AF. Possibly October. Stick with us!
Prayin4BFP - Waiting for AF. (late as of 8/20)
Sangria - First cycle. Still waiting
Sharishu - patience my friend - October will be here soon!!! Please hang around with us!




Katie99 - on BCP til 9/10. Stims on 9/17. ER & ET week of 9/28
Jaydentd - on BCP
J&C - on BCP 8/1. Lupron 9/8.
JenNJ - on BCP
Lady J - on BCP since 7/27. no Lupron for this FET
Miyaya - BCP on 8/20. Lupron on 9/2 & suppression check on 9/14
Rose1075 - on BCP. will start Lupron late Aug.
Statsgoddess - BCP 8/12. Abx 8/17. Lupron 8/29. Follistim 9/12. ER week of 9/21.
Stlgirl - on BCP



CT_Michele - on Lupron. E2 level coming down, but will be rechecked
Firesauce - Lupron 8/10
fitzjr11 - Stims on 8/14
Malya324 - Lupron on 8/14. b/w on 8/24. Still on track for FET 9/11
Shelby0214 - Lupron 8/16. Stims 9/5 with ER wk of 9/14 and ET wk of 9/21
Shoebox4 - Lupron 8/20. Gonal-F 9/01. ER & ET week of 9/14.
Turtle - starting BCP soon. Lupron on 8/22
Wolffie - Lupron 8/12. estimated FET 9/12



Cheryl010120 - Start stims evening of 8/17 with poss. ER 8/27, 28, or 29!



Mjay - ER 8/21.
Dtao - ER on 8/21. Clomid cycle converted to IVF. 10 eggs (possibly more). YIPEE!!!




BFPs X 25!!!! That's our goal! We can do it Ladies!!!!