NOV/DEC 2009 -- Cycle Group

[me2009]

Wow girls! I am trying to get through all the messages and trying to keep everything straight! Sorry for being away for so long

As always, thanks to Katie99 for keeping all this info together in one cohesive and up-to-date fashion!

Claud662 - Oh my!!! That is wonderful news on your ER! Bunches of embie growth dust to you! I agree with Jenice, make sure to distract yourself. I always look at a magazine or computer. In the beginning I would call my Mom. Talking on the phone helps. Also, Standing on the floor, I bend over the bed with my pants down - it seems to be the right height for him to concentrate and aim. I am a major type A personality so I go through all the steps before he does it (I can't believe he puts up with me, how annoying!). I also checked YouTube for other recommendations - One position I saw was laying on your side on the bed, top leg bent to expose the buttock area. I preferred the first. I just told DH tonight - it's not getting any better and I think it's time for a heating pad. I am praying for you for a great fertilization report.

Ashley - Great #, thinking of you and hope that all the testing goes well.

Amysbabies - so fortunate to be able to jump right back on to the wagon! Will they be changing anything this cycle? Are you on enough progesterone? I am praying for you and hoping for a positive result this cycle.

Me2009, Teachermom - Major multiples!!! Hoping for the best news for you!

Dodo - how are you?

Lulu - Which hpt did you use?

Turtle - Will you POAS in 2 weeks? I hope you had a good time over the last couple days!

HJW, 2010, Olim - did not realize all of you girls are from the UK! I am in Chicago and our weather seems very similar! Blah! I want to move to Hawaii! So cool that your NHS provides infertility coverage. Haha, my DH just asked me if he should submit a tranfer for a job that is available with his company in the UK! I just said NO - thanks for the heads up on the weather! LOL

TC4474 - 6 is great and I am sending you positive follie growth thoughts!

For all those I did not mention, great big loads of follie growth dust, smooth ER's and blessed ET's!

AFM - I have been a bad, bad, bad girl. It all started with a trip to the Dollar Tree. There they were, a shelf full of lonely HPT's - for only a dollar each! I could not refuse. I grabbed 6 and was on my way to check out. Yup - I started testing on 3dp3dt. Well, on 8dp3dt... I ran out, so I decided it was time for the big guns. I went to CVS and purchased a First Response Early Response 2 pack. Took it as soon as I got home and there was a faint line. I decided not to get excited and I would wait till 10dp3dt to test. I got through most of the day today, until right before dinner. That was when I snuck into the bathroom (without dh noticing) and took the 2nd one. Yes. It was much darker and instantaneous. I let DH know that a ourlastnameeeey was on it's way. He cautioned me not to get tooo excited, but this has never happened with our previous cycles and I could just jump out of my skin right now. Our beta is scheduled for Tuesday at 9am CST. I don't know why I took the last appointment. I think I will call tomorrow to reschedule for the first at 6:30am. I hope it is still available.

Have a great night. Grow follies, Grow embies, Grow babies, Grow!!!

i started testing on i think day 3dpt3dt too.. i didnt get a faint line until like day 7. I used the fast responce HPT the pink ones. and i also used a blue no name brand. the pink ones work better... and if you got ANY faint line, your PREGO!! Get used to it!

congrats! Those little test don't usually lie! Faint line is still a postive test!

[sarah_ruth79]

hey girls! hope your weekends were lovely.

dodo- don't lose hope, honey! hang in there. treat yourself to something sweet...

katie99- thank you so much for updating the board, wow! it looks like quite a task.

skylar- yay it does seem like we are on the same schedule. still not sure if i will be triggering tonight or tomorrow...i guess it could even be weds, you never know. but either way it will be great to have someone on the same track and compare notes. did you have an u/s this am? let me know how it went.

hjw- i hope with the holidays time starts to move a little quicker for you.

tc- things will definitely start to pick up! esp. with that dosage change! keep us updated on the progress.

claud- that's and amazing amount of eggs! i can't wait to hear the fert report! so sorry those shots have been bad. i am doing sups instead, that's what my clinic gives us. is that an option?

albany- I can't wait to hear your BFP!

AFM- I went for u/s and bw this am. it was strange, the tech this morning was much more rushed than the woman on saturday, which probably explains some of her readings. she measured 3 on the right side and 2 on the left but said there were an additional 9 or so that were big, and 8 more small ones. Seems weird that she wouldnt measure them. anyway, to me it seems like i need another day of stims. maybe they will call and tell me to come back tomorrow. we will see. also, she told me my lining was triple and 6, whereas the other lady two days ago said triple and 8. seems strange that it would go down...we will see. waiting for my call! (so hard to do work in the meantime)

[ashleyncsu77]

Hi ladies - I'm working from home today (still not feeling 100% from ER) and having trouble focusing.

I have a question regarding how many embryos to transfer back. As most of you know, we are freezing all of our embryos due to PGD testing and will be doing FET in January. Originally, my DH and I were pretty adamant that we would not transfer more than 2 embies for fear of having 3 or more babies at once. But now I am doubting that and wondering if we should transfer more. My DH thinks I'm crazy but I'm also trying to be realistic. It's looking like we could end up with several "good" embies (more than two) so it has made me start thinking.

I know you all can't make our decision for us but just looking for thoughts from those of you that have gone through this. If we are doing FET should we transfer more than we would if we were doing a fresh transfer?

Ashley

[amysbabies]

Hi ladies - I'm working from home today (still not feeling 100% from ER) and having trouble focusing.

I have a question regarding how many embryos to transfer back. As most of you know, we are freezing all of our embryos due to PGD testing and will be doing FET in January. Originally, my DH and I were pretty adamant that we would not transfer more than 2 embies for fear of having 3 or more babies at once. But now I am doubting that and wondering if we should transfer more. My DH thinks I'm crazy but I'm also trying to be realistic. It's looking like we could end up with several "good" embies (more than two) so it has made me start thinking.

I know you all can't make our decision for us but just looking for thoughts from those of you that have gone through this. If we are doing FET should we transfer more than we would if we were doing a fresh transfer?

Ashley

I think it depends on your history of IVF... for example... I've had 3 IVF's with 2 embie transfers and they all ended in m/c or chemical so for my 4th one if I end up with 3 embies I would like to transfer all 3 if my RE allows it.

If you have a history of healthy pregnancies and BFP's I would do 2 max...but if you're like me then I would consider 3.

I hope you feel back to your normal self soon ~

[albany07]

Ashley - I think 2 is a great #, especially if you have frozen blasts. These have had pgd and they will be the cream of the crop. If you are in check as in no problems with uterus, tubes (can create a poor environment in uterus if you have hydrosalpinges) and general health - I think there should be no problem with implantation. You should not worry. There will be a very slim chance of triplets (unless some studies say assisted hatching can cause division) if you transfer 2. But with what you are doing with your FET cream of the crop blasts, if you transfer 3 - there is probably a good chance all 3 will implant. This is my very unprofessional opinion. Why are you having doubts? Have you talked to your DR? I am sure your ivf center is pretty well versed if they are doing PGD - not all do.

[katie99]

Hi everyone -

I hope that you all had a great weekend. DH was home all weekend for a change, and kept me hopping. I feel like I couldnt get near the computer all weekend. I'm so glad that its monday and that I can keep checking in with you girls! Wow, we have have 4 betas in the next 2 days! I sure hope to have add a lot of smiley faces

Olim- hope that you're out celebrating!

Dodo -How are you holding up? just 2 more days!

Cheeky -you are so close now! PMA! PMA! PMA! PMA! - xoxo

Lulu -It aint over til the beta, hon. Crossed for you today!

Amy -Glad to hear that you're jumping right back in! when do you have your follow up appt?

Franny -And how was your weekend?

Hazel -Did you send your rain over here? now I've got it too!
You make me wish I had a fireplace, cuddling in front out it sounds pretty good right about now!

Nanine -I'm dying here! When do you go for u/s?

Claudia -Girl, you're an egg making machine! cant wait for the fert report! rest up!

TC4474 -Glad that your cycle is back on track now!

Erin -I was cancelled twice, I understand how hard it is to deal with.
If you go to the General forum - 3rd from the top - is a list of abbreviations - a lifesaver when you're new!

Albany -WHOO HOO! for 2 lines!!!! tomorrow its official!

Sarah -triple stripe is what you want! my Re says its even more important than how thick the lining measures! Usually they only measure fillies over 10mm - unless you nag them!

AFM -Baseline tomorrow! Finally! And now I'm excited so i wont even complain that its a 2 hr drive each way to RE!

hugs & prayers to us all! - xoxo

[syanna]

Hello ladies! Hope you all had a great holiday weekend!

So it's been 3 days of 225 Gonal F. Today I'm continuing that plus 1cc of Repronex (i hate this one!). I have my bw/us on Thursday, so hopefully they're big, plumply and matured so I can trigger! The nurse said my estrogen level is 156..??? I have no clue what that means. I guess I'm not used to being provided with any info except meds instructions. Is that a low #??

I'm sorry to hear about the BFN
Congrats to the BFP

Gotta get back to work, will be back later!

[claud662]

syanna-you want your E2 levels to start going up 100-200 per follicle you are growing, so if you aren't going in again until Thursday it should be much higher. My place has be going in every morning from day 6 to the day I trigger so hopefully Thursday they will give you more information!!

Katie-YAH to starting baseline tomorrow!! GL

Sarah-tripple line is great!! My lining is always on the thin side but I did have a tripple line and got a little over 7 so you are looking great!! Hopefully you will trigger in the next couple of days!!

albany-thanks for the tips on PIO shots!!! I am definitely going to use a heating pad tonight instead of ice and hope that helps! My butt is killing this morning and there is a bruise YAHHH for a faint line-that is soooo exciting!

me2009-again thanks for the helpful hints and I am making DH massage more than he did last night!!! We were laughing because my dog was on the bed also and he wanted to get a message also!!!

ashley-sorry that you are still in pain from ER. I understand your panic since you want it to work but it seems as though they are going to get the best of the best from your eggs and that putting in 2 would still give you a fabulous chance of a baby!!! Try not to overanalyze and stress

AFM-I'm not as crampy/sore as I thought I would be this morning from ER so I took my dog for a short walk and am hoping that as the day goes on I am able to walk around without any discomfort!! I am awaiting the fert report and will let you all know as soon as I hear!!

[kerribell]

Hello all. I've been out of town for Thanksgiving. I had to catch up on 8 pages of reading. It took 3 different sit downs at the computer, but I caught up.
Congrats to all you girls that got BFPs and to all you little egg factories that are mass producing.
To those of you with BFNs, my heart goes out to you. I know it is never easy to deal with.
To the rest of you still growing or getting ready to grow, I hope they get big and plump.
AFM, I test Friday, but still plan on POAS Wed morning.

[hjw]

Hey ladies, hope everyone's doing OK today. I've had a very strange day. First, I started bleeding this morning - given that I started my down-regulation drugs on day 2 of my cycle, my body shouldn't have had any opportunity to produce any lining after AF, and I was told by the clinic that I wouldn't get a withdrawal bleed. I couldn't get through to the clinic nurses straight away and I was panicking a bit thinking that maybe the bleeding meant that I wasn't properly down-regulated (bearing in mind I'm due to start stimming this week!) - Aaaaarrrgggh! But when I finally got through, they told me that actually it's fairly common and I shouldn't worry - wish they'd told me that three weeks ago! Then, later on this afternoon, I get a call from someone else at the clinic with instructions for my stims and I start my Gonal-F TOMORROW! Woo hoo, I'm so excited - it's finally here, one more sleep until stims!! My first scan will be on day 7 of stims next Monday afternoon.

katie99 - can't wait to hear how you get on at your baseline tomorrow. So it looks like we won't be precisely on the same schedule any more, unless your stims get bumped forward by a couple of days too (I'm kind of crossing my fingers that that might happen!). I'm not envious of your 2 hour drive each way - I thought my clinic was bad at 1 hour! And sorry about that rain, we had some dry weather today so I may well have sent it your way without realising... *guilty face*

tc4474 - how did your u/s and b/w go today?

sarah_ruth - so naughty about the tech rushing through your u/s, I think sometimes they forget how important each and every scan is for us. So did you get the phone call yet and are you triggering tonight?

teachermom - yay, u/s tomorrow. Can't wait to hear how many little beans you've got in there!

claud662 - 25 eggs is awesome, well done you! Glad to hear that you've not been too sore. So did you get your fert report yet?? Sorry to hear about the POI freakout. I'm lucky that in the UK we get given the vaginal gel stuff (Crinone) but I've read various people on other threads say that heating the injection site before and after helps to disperse the PIO and make it less sore, as does massage.

me2009 - so, did you get another super strong number at your second beta today? Can't wait to hear...

Albany07 - I didn't mean to put you off relocating to the UK by moaning about the rain! It doesn't rain all the time in this country, sometimes we get snow instead, hahaha!! Thankfully today has been much drier than the weekend. OMG, how exciting about your HPTs. Did you manage to change your beta to the early time tomorrow?

Ashley - for what it's worth, DH and I have erred on the low side when deciding how many to transfer. We only transferred one strong embryo for our first cycle, because the clinic said things looked good given my age and medical history. We decided to take the risk because we'd prefer not to have multiples. That was a BFN, but I still think it was the right decision for us at the time. Our FET, we would have transferred both frosties if they had survived the thaw, but they didn't. This time, it totally depends on what quality the embryos are, but (assuming there are some really strong ones in there), we would do 2 if we have a three day transfer and maybe even do 1 again if we have a five day transfer. Blasts at day 5 have sufficiently better chance that we would feel a bit nervous about multiples I think. But ultimately, you have to weigh up how you personally feel about having twins/triplets against the risk of it not working. Some people actively want twins, I'm just not one of those people. P.S. I've read theories that FET's actually have better success than fresh transfers, because our bodies have been through so much less and are therefore more receptive to the embryos, so I wouldn't transfer more embryos for a FET than you would do for a fresh. Hope this helps - just my opinion!

Catch up with you all again soon,
Hazel

[2010]

hi ladies
albany07 - you are tempting me to poas! congrats on the faint line.
kerribell - i think we are on the same schedule, my test date is this friday too... i now want to poas too... but RE said not to POAS untill the 7th... ahhhh... i wanna do it but at the same time worried it will be false something... i keep thinking about my symptoms, what do you girls have? my post ER pains are gone and now i think my AF is coming, i have mild headache... yesterday i felt pulling sensation behind my navel... sometimes i think im imagining all this - hahaha

[ashleyncsu77]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

I know that I shouldn't let this get the best of me but as you all know there are times where mentally we freak out. This is my first IVF experience and because of the added time for PGD and FET, I guess I just have more time to think about things and I end up making a big deal out of nothing. I am very grateful to be healthy and have no reproductive issues so I am hopeful we will be lucky with two embies if they are available for transfer.

I did get a call today from my clinic that 13 of the 18 embies were in the "sweet spot" (number of cells) yesterday at day 3. The nurse said not to discount the other five yet because they may catch up. They are going to biopsy (remove a cell) from all the ones that look good tomorrow (day 5) and then check again on day 6 for any that might have caught up in that extra day. So as of the end of Wenesday we will know how many will be PGD tested (we are hoping for around 10). Unfortunately, because we are freezing all of our embies, the genetics lab is going to "take their time" b/c they don't have to turn them around in a day which could mean a couple of weeks. I can understand that they want to be thorough but it's just more waiting.

I just keep telling myself I can get through all of this. You all have been a huge support. I would have had no idea what to expect or had people to honestly vent to if it weren't for you ladies. I'm so glad I found all of you here!

Ashley

[marion1974]

Hi ladies- i am just joining the group.
I had my transfer on 11/23 and an waiting to take a HPT for a few more days.
This is my second IVF, the first one resulted in a baby girl 3 years ago. I hope this one is just a successful.
We transferred 2 grade A embryos.

Have any of you done a Home preg test after only a week and gotten a positive result? Waiting until the 8th is going to kill me!

[claud662]

Hey Ladies-

Sorry I don't have time for personals since I'm literally running out the door but I just wanted to let you know that I just got the call and 19 fertilized!!!! I'm still in shock because I didn't want to get my hopes up so this definitely makes up for a sore butt all day!!!

They did ICSI to 13 eggs and 10 fertilized and they did normal IVF to 12 eggs and 9 fertilized!! Right now I'm scheduled for a Wednesday transfer but they will call that morning if they want me to do a 5 day instead!!

very excited!!!! one more step closer....

[sarah_ruth79]

ashley- my heart goes out to you. i am doing pgd also, but mine is for the CF gene, so its a little more time compressed. the odds are with you though because you have so many strong embies! i won't be able to wait to see if the embies that aren't great on day 3 catch up because they do the CF testing in 20 hours total between day 3 and do a day 5 transfer. so that may even give you a better shot! i will be thinking of you. don't apologize for fretting over this stuff with us, that's what this board is for and all of us understand analyzing the littlest thing!

katie- good luck with your baseline!! thanks for the encouragement, really its so nice to be able to share with all of you.

claud- so glad you are feeling better! how long were you in bed/couch?

hazel- that's so annoying that they didn't let you know what to expect. sometimes when i speak to my nurse-coodinator i say, what can i expect that i shouldn't call you about and what shoudl i look for that means that i should call you. yay for starting your stims! its all going to fly by now...right? you calling the tech naughty made me lol, she is a bad girl, she was also 20 minutes late this am so all of these women were waiting when she decided to stroll in!

afm- just got the call and, as expected, i will be stimming one more day...at least. they said that my lining was 8, not 6. well, that's not what the naughty tech told me to write down! anyway, they said everything looks perfect, lots of follies, over 20, but they need more time. so i go in again tomorrow. its exhausting! hopefully tomorrow will be the call to trigger...we will see! i guess if the ER was friday at least i would have the whole weekend to recoup.