New IVF'er Feeling Lost In Big Cycle Group - anyone else?

[Molly05]

Sonya-Good! It is a weird feeling, but it is good to know it's normal! This morning was kind of a blur...but I know that on my right side I had a few at 14, at least one at 15 and a few at 13. On my left side, they were bigger...a few at 15, 16, and one at 17, and I think a few at 13. I don't know the exact number of follicles though. The doctor seemed to think it was good progress and I will hopefully trigger tomorrow.

[DandMe]

Man I literally took my notebook with me and made them give me the numbers before I put my panties back on! LOL I had to know EVERYTHING. Sounds like you have a lot of awesome follicles to work with - I'll be thinking about you!

AFM.... Our last beta at 21dpo came back at 955 - yay! It's slowing a bit but still within very normal range (not even low). I'm feeling hopeful...

[Molly05]

Sonya...okay, so I went back to the doctor this morning and followed your lead-I typed the follicle size into my phone as he said them!! Here they are: Right: 22, 17, 12, 15, 21, 11, 16, 14, 11, 19, 19 Left: 23, 24, 22, 17, 11, 11, 24, 20, 16, 16, 11
I have NO idea what any of these numbers mean...but I am scheduled for my ER tomorrow morning!

[sruppe]

Molly,
I really didn't have any side effects from the medicine either beside a little moodiness and a few times I could feel my ovaries......I was thankful for that because I know so many women have a rough time! I am glad you didn't have much trouble!

Good luck with the egg retrival! Those are good #'s. If I am remembering correctly they like to see the number at 21 or so for a mature egg....you will be suprised though because even though some of them are not quite there on the last blood work they are right there with the snap of your fingers! Can't wait to hear from you after ET!

Sonya, I am soooo happy for you!

I wanted to post this and get everyone's opinion on a question I had........I know that everyone's situation is unique in its own way but I was just curious....
We met another couple that was on the same schedule as we were when doing our cycle and with us we had 7eggs and 2 that were grade 1 & grade 3 on our 3 day transfer and the other couple had 10 eggs, 7 fertalized so they went out to the 5 day transfer and at the transfer day only had 2 (not sure of quality)....is that reasonable that in those short days that all but two of those eggs made it? that just seemed low to me and made me question the lab at our RE.......

[DandMe]

Molly those are fantastic numbers! Those are the sizes of the follicles on each ovary. It seems most of them will produce a mature egg if you are lucky. Youc an see a photo of a follicle releasing an egg at the bottom of my blog if you want to see waht the doc is gonna stick a needle into! LOL

With that many being retrieved, be prepared to be very sore. You will most likely want to take a couple days of doing NOTHING. Wear lose clothing and take pain killers if you need to. I'm sure your doc will tell you this but you are at some risk for OHSS, so stock up on salty drinks and food. Good luck on your ER - are you nervous?

[DandMe]

Sruppe.... getting embryos to five days is tricky, it's why a lot of clinics will do a three day transfer if there aren't very many to choose from. A lot are lost between day three and five. A day five embie has a much higher implantation rate, but there is question as to how many good day three embies are lost by not being in mom's body, where they are suppoesed to be.

I started out with 18 fertilized eggs, got 15 of them to day three, and had 8 at day four... and then by day five we had three worth transferring. 2 Grade 4AB and 1 Grade 3BB. We choose the highest two and elected to hope that the other embies would grow to freezing stage. By day six, our Grade 3BB had jumped to a Grade 6BB - yay! and we had three other Grade 4BB embies as well. So from 22 eggs, we ended up transferring two and freezing four. I hope that helps!

AFM, I'm getting a few more symptoms but I am still pretty shaken and scared of the next test results (on friday).. Gah! i thought after the BFP things would be fun!

[Molly05]

I am nervous about the ER, but also excited to have things moving along. OHSS doesn't sound good and I read it may delay the transfer and that embryos might have to be frozen and transferred at another time...is this right? Will it most likely occur after the retrieval?

[Molly05]

Okay...I had my ER this morning and everything went well! They retrieved 17 eggs and I felt great afterward...I am kind of waiting for the discomfort to begin. When I woke up after the procedure I had some mild cramping but after some Tylenol, I feel great! I am sure it will worsen as the day goes on, but I am hopeful it won't! Just have to wait for that phone call now to tell me about the transfer...

[sruppe]

YAH! That is great news Molly! I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed. I wish the best for you!

[DandMe]

Yay for 17! Molly!! Well done, Kiddo!!

Here's my x-post about today....

Will try and do personals later - yay for all the good news!

Okay... got ticked and demanded my RE order an ultrasound (I am 700 miles from the clinic) from the local lab... and they agreed "just to ease my mind". I went in to get the ultrasound and was surprised that the woman would NOT do a transvaginal ultrasound.

She was annoyed and dismissive about my concerns and said "You'll have more questions than answers when you leave here." She said she would not do a vaginal ultrasound because "there was no reason to 'distrube' anything".

I'm thinking... what are you going to do, come charging across the room with the thing, using wild stabbing motions? I put suppositories up my vjj three times a day - I don't think your ultrasound wand is going to really do any damage!

She said she would not see anything, certainly not a yolk sac or a heartbeat. From what I know these early ultrasounds are always done vaginally b/c they are so much more powerful and closer to the baby.

She was insultingly quick, but the gestational sac was there, very obvious and I think it measured about 12mm. I think I am actually 5w6d pregnant. She found it, clicked it, measured it from three different angles and said okay, clean the gunk off yourself and you're free to go. I felt stupid.

I do feel better about seeing the gestational sac, though! And I feel okay about waiting until the 9th for my 7.5 week ultrasound. I had one last beta done and find out the results tomorrow.

[sruppe]

Sonya- WOW how rude! I would remember one thing, more than likely she has no clue what it is like to go through what all of us are going through! I would definitely make a complaint about her with the office manager! I am so glad you got to see the sac and everything looks good! I am keeping you in my prayers! I have really enjoyed your support and your blog!

[DandMe]

Thanks sruppe! So how are things going today??

I'm honestly considering a complaint. I mean it's just common knowledge that the abdominal ultrasound is not nearly as powerful, and further away from the uterus than vaginal.

[sruppe]

Sonya,
I think we have decided to wait out this year and save money and try again next year. We rely on using our healthcare FSA account for most of the cost so that way at the end of the year even if no pregnancy results we have no debt from IVF since we don't have insurance that covers that part, they do cover the medicine mostly..... I am going to stay on DHEA which has been proven to help the quality of eggs for this whole year. We haven't went back to talk to the RE yet however, he did discuss with me over the phone that they can stim me harder the next time which should result in more eggs I think the highest my E2 got was 1478 which I thought was low...and there was also another procedure they can do to help pinpoint the better sperm prior to doing ICSI and both of those should yeild better results...I guess one question I have for them is WHY didn't they do that the first time?! I can understand being careful with the medicine to prevent OHSS but why didn't they do the other process with the sperm when they knew what quality it was to begin with?! We will definitely go back sometime this year and discuss with them those things and more question as we prepare to do it again the first of next year. We are also debating on going to another RE. I hate to push it off but we really have no choice becuase I am already racking up a huge debt with student loans to complete my degree and we really can't take on anymore! It is all very frustrating especially knowing that my ovarian reserve is low and I am closing in on 35, which is not going to help our issue too!

I would definitely make a complaint with that office about your experience! and then never go back for sure! Just hang in there because your regular appointment is coming up! Have you got your updated beta?

----------------------------------------------------
Me-32 low ovarian reserve
DH-30 sperm issues: motility, morphology, etc..
1st IVF- Feb 10 - BFN

[Molly05]

Sruppe, hindsight can be incredibly frustrating, but maybe this break will be good for you. Stressing about bills can't be helpful so maybe it is best to have the break.

Sonya, I am speechless about the nurse's insensitivity and lack of empathy. It sounds like she is in the wrong occupation. I hope your local doctor pushes for the earlier ultrasound!

I spoke to my nurse this morning and of the 17 eggs retrieved, 13 fertilized. I am happy with that number and now we just wait until Sunday when they will tell us whether we will do a 3 or 5 day transfer. I will be sure to stay busy until then!

[DandMe]

Molly; I am so happy for you and your new eggies! Please make sure to post regular daily growth reports!

I had a good beta - not skyrocketing, but still good and 'normal' by all charts and doctor's comments! LOL

Oh and to set it all off.. the u/s tech cancelled my original ultrasound!!! She said I 'used my early requesition' so didn't get another one. GRRRRRRRBIOTCH!

I had to book my 7 week u/s in an adjoining town! LOL Ah well, at least I got it. It's on March ninth.