Summer cycle group

[DandMe]

I find it overwhelming to remember everything when doing a post. I just get lost with the nicknames and what's happening, although I know what's going on when I read the posts! Yikes. I always feel guilty! LOL

The stats page looks great - Moorebaby - well done!

Tiger, love the stats on your back to back IUI's. I hope you get a wonderful end to your adventure. You seem very positive and upbeat - awesome to be around that.

Chili: Good news on your follies; I did acupuncture a few times with my fresh cycle in January, but don't feel I really did everything to the extent I needed to. The local guy gave me one session but I refused to go back when he put the needles in the tips of my fingers. Ouch, ouch, ouch.

turtle: Yes, it sounds like the drugs are working - I am so hopeful for you this cycle. Poor DH... okay.. maybe there is something worse than ER... Hope he's feeling better soon, and you are feeling crappy because of a nice fat bfp.
Good luck with your sns.

Renee: I was so nervous about the shots.. I found taking a nice hot bath before made the shots a lot easier to take, and also getting a nice pinch of fatty tissue is always a good idea. Best thing is to just do it smoothly and don't hesitate. I'll bet I've done 80 shots since I started the IUI's last year and the ivf and fet this year. They can sting if you hit a blood vessel or have a dull needle.. but nine times out of ten I never even felt it.

Feels odd to be on the knocked up side with only maggie to keep me company - I'm not used to being on this side... I think we need company soon! I got my last beta today - a lovely 300!!! My doubling picked up from 60 hours to 45 so I am happy happy happy.

[DandMe]

I find it overwhelming to remember everything when doing a post. I just get lost with the nicknames and what's happening, although I know what's going on when I read the posts! Yikes. I always feel guilty! LOL

The stats page looks great - Moorebaby - well done!

Tiger, love the stats on your back to back IUI's. I hope you get a wonderful end to your adventure. You seem very positive and upbeat - awesome to be around that.

Chili: Good news on your follies; I did acupuncture a few times with my fresh cycle in January, but don't feel I really did everything to the extent I needed to. The local guy gave me one session but I refused to go back when he put the needles in the tips of my fingers. Ouch, ouch, ouch.

turtle: Yes, it sounds like the drugs are working - I am so hopeful for you this cycle. Poor DH... okay.. maybe there is something worse than ER... Hope he's feeling better soon, and you are feeling crappy because of a nice fat bfp.
Good luck with your sns.

Renee: I was so nervous about the shots.. I found taking a nice hot bath before made the shots a lot easier to take, and also getting a nice pinch of fatty tissue is always a good idea. Best thing is to just do it smoothly and don't hesitate. I'll bet I've done 80 shots since I started the IUI's last year and the ivf and fet this year. They can sting if you hit a blood vessel or have a dull needle.. but nine times out of ten I never even felt it.

Feels odd to be on the knocked up side with only maggie to keep me company - I'm not used to being on this side... I think we need company soon! I got my last beta today - a lovely 300!!! My doubling picked up from 60 hours to 45 so I am happy happy happy.

[sunshine and stars]

Hi-- Jumping in here to find some support for the 2ww. First ivf attempt this month, transferred 3 embryos, and all went well (according to the doctor, lab, etc) But I am 40 and implantation has been an issue. Also, it's difficult because we had 6 iui's and had one pregnancy that ended in miscarriage.

My husband and I are trying to stay positive. So hard to be hopeful and also realistic--
How do you create the list at the end of a post? Sorry to be such a newbie to this...

[claud662]

I wanted to pop in and say a huge congrats to Sonya for your numbers doubling! I was also a slow riser in the begining so I know that anticipation/nervousness all too well!

Franny-good luck this morning at your sns and sending your follies growing dust!! Love u!!

I will be checking all day for your update!

Lou-how u doing hon? Only a few more weeks till u start stimming!!!

[TammyS]

Oh my gosh...do I hear ya, Sonya. I get so overwhelmed with responding to sooo many girls and posts. lol I really need to try to log on every few hours to keep up. lol I always have sooo much to say and not enough time to write. I dont type very well...and need at least an hour or more to write each post. lol I read, just dont always have time to respond. So sorry in advance ...cause this is gonna be long.

Sonya: Congrats on another terrific beta! I knew you had nothing to worry about! When is your ultrasound? I am soo excited for you!!!

Moorebaby: Thank for starting the list...that really helps. I am on bc pills as well till July 20th. I go for my baseline ultrasound and bloodwork on the 23rd and start some shots on the 23rd and some on the 24th. Approx retrieval date is Aug 6th and transfer the 9th...if I end up stimming for 12 days like I did 2.5 yrs ago. I know they are upping my dosage this time...but not sure to what. I am on the microdose lupron flare protocol again. Thanks for the vote of confidence...I am sure I dont give myself enough credit. lol

Karin: I'm so sorry...I meant to respond sooner to your question. I have only done 2 fresh IVF cycles and both were microdose lupron flare protocols. We got 12 eggs the first time and this cycle remains to be seen. Now, my IUI's were different protocols with a different RE...we switched docs for IVF, due to insurance issues...and am sooo glad we did...cause I am pretty sure my old RE doesnt do the microdose protocol. I contribute our success to this. I've never heard of the growth hormone...so no help there. Thanks for the compliment about Zach...that pic is 10 months old...I really should put a new one up. lol Hoping and praying that this is your time!! It only takes 1 and yours is GOLDEN! lol I laughed and loved that line when you wrote it. It reminds me of Jack and the Beanstalk. lol When is your beta? Are you POAS?

Fitz and Moorebaby: My DH is a supervisor of custodians at our local highschool. He works with special ed kids all the time as his student helpers. He just loves working with them. He has even gotten 1 of them to talk after years of never saying a word. Bill gets to retire in 3 yrs (not sure that he actually will though) and he has been told he should and he wants to...become a special ed aide after retirement.

Lou: So exciting...that AF finally came and that we are really close in our dates. I hope the menopur makes a difference for you. Come on July 24th!

Amanda, Sunshine, and anyone else I missed: Hi and Welcome!!!

Amanda: I'm sorry you are so worried about your follies...I hope that others have caught up....there is never alot on the first ultrasound...so praying that it is just early. Keep us posted. When is your next SnS?

Sunshine:Go to user control panel at the top of this page, click on profile and then click on edit signature. This should get you going...feel free to ask more if you need to. Congrats on being PUPO! This will work for you, I just know it!

Tiger: Yayy! Congrats on being PUPO!!! I was sooo excited to read that you had IUI 2x's this week and that everything went sooo well. This WILL work for you!!! Zach is doing very well...thanks for asking. When is your beta? Are you POAS?

Katie, Angela, Claudia, and all: You are always welcome to stop in and check up on us. We love to see you girls. Thanks for all your well wishes and prayers!

Miyaya: Beautiful babies have come out of fragmented embryos...Zach is one of them. We did ICSI...I definitely suggest it. I am sitting here drinking a coffee...ugh...so hard to give up...I am weaning though. We took Zach camping a few weeks ago to Yogi Bear's Jellystone Campground...it was a blast. He did remarkably well...sorry your trip didnt go so good...next time will be better, I'm sure.

Chili: How's the acupuncture going? I have only ever done it right before and after retrieval and transfer and I did get pregnant both times. I am a firm believer in it. I dont have alot of money to spend on it...so doing just 3-4 sessions...worked for me. You are moving right along very nicely....keep up the great work! Did you call and get your numbers yet? Keep us posted with everything and good luck at yur SnS tomorrow! You are soo brave doing the shots in your leg...I hear they hurt alot more than the tummy.

Franny: How's the headaches? The heat here has been just awful too...but staying cool by swimming and staying in the AC. lol Looking forward to your update today after your appt...keep us posted! Grow Follies Grow!!! I wish we had community acupuncture around here...that is an awesome deal. Sorry your DH had to have a colonoscopy...mine had one a few years back and was sooo funny and loopy afterwards. lol I actually sent my DH a FB message to the basement the other day to bring something up...cause I didnt feel like yelling or getting up. lol Hope he is feeling great today...he'll be taking care of you very soon! lol

Teresa: As I was saying to Chili...I went 3-4 times only...both times and got pregnant both times. I believe it really made a difference...my acupuncturist who specializes in infertility believes that the most important time ...if you can only go 2x's...is the morning of the transfer immediately before and straight there after the transfer on the same day.

Rebecca: Yayy for finally getting started! I know what you mean about feeling silly getting excited to start bc pills...when you are trying to concieve. lol I know you cant wait till tomorrow! Yayy! Have a great time at the cabin...and relax!!

Ashley: Glad to hear that you're seeing a psychologist... it can really help. This whole IVF thing is sooo hard. Yay for getting started with stimming soon. I know the 17th cant get here soon enough.

Lauren: I pay $150 for acupuncture...before and after transfer too...I've heard similar stories as you...and think there must be something to it. Glad that you, Lou, and I will be close in our cycle...makes it feel not sooo lonely, ya know?

Renee': Yayy for getting started. The shots really arent too bad...you get used to them fast. Sad, isnt it? How did your first injection go last night? My DH did mine...as he wanted to feel like he was doing something and be part of everything....after getting GD with insulin during my pregnancy with Zach...I got used to thousands of shots...so I am a bit biased on how easy it is. lol This cycle..I will be doing all my shots except PIO since Bill will be working overtime all summer. I hope I never have to give myself the PIO shot. lol

Amaut: Butting in for a moment....I also did a FET. FET is wayyyyy easier on you and your body and pocket book if you are paying out of pocket. My protocol was so simple too...we did transfer 19 days after starting the protocol...no bc pills, shots, or anything. We did FET in April and got pregnant. We did miscarry, but figure that we were just the 1 in 4 who statistically will miscarry sometime during their reproductive years regardless of infertility. Since you have 2 frozen embryos...why not give them a chance at life? This is what I would do. Good Luck in your decision! Keep us posted.

Whew! I knew this was going to be long. lol Hope everyone whom I missed is doing well...Good Luck to everyone!

[sunshine and stars]

Thanks, TammyS, great directions-- I understand now.

Just wondering, with all the seriousness of IVF (the agony of waiting, medication protocol, finances...) if anyone has any funny stories to share.

Because my loving husband is so much older than I am, we've had some funny happenings... starting with the medical "group" education that we received from the staff and surgeons... The diversity in the room was amazing, but I think my husband was the oldest. He's been a great sport about this.

Another brief story-- At the IVF retrieval, I was so relaxed on the valium they give, that I forgot to remove my panties under my hospital gown. When the surgeon saw it, she said something to the effect of "we're good, but not THAT good!"

Anyway, we laughed and laughter is a precious commodity and blessing at any point!
Any other funny stories out there????

[TammyS]

OMG, Sunshine...that is hysterical!

[moorebaby]

-klinger13 (Amanda)
-moorebaby (Ester)- August
-amaut- Fresh or FET w/ 2 frosties???



-Lauren1171 (Until 7.16) (Starting injections on 7.21)
-rebeccajm (As of Saturday, 7.10)
-lou71 (An antagonist protocol starting 7.24 w/ Follistim 450 units & Ganirelix. ER/ET should fall the week of 8.2.)
-hopeforbabies (Teresa)- Baby-in-a-box on its way….WOOHOO!!!
-TammyS (Until 7.20. Baseline u/s & b/w on 7.23 & start some shots on 7.23 & some on 7.24. Approximate ER is 8.6 & ET is 8.9.)



-miyaya- on Lupron since 7.2 (Supression check on 7.13- hopefully will start stims)
-JustLikeHannah (Renee’)- Lupron as of 7.8 (Will start Gonal-F injections on 7.17. ER scheduled for 7.29 w/ 3dt on 8.1 or 5dt on 8/3.)
-mcfarland2213 (Ashley)- Lupron as of 7.17



-amanda1979
-turtle0619 (Franny)
-chilipepperrose46





-karin1 (IUI on 7.6)… BETA on 7.20
-Tiger04 (IUI on 7.7 & 7.8)… BETA on 7.20
-sunshine and stars… BETA on ???



-maggieluv- Beta: 6.30-228
-DandMe (Sonya)- Betas: 7.1-30/ 7.3-65/ 7.5- 146/ 7.7-300

[moorebaby]

sunshine and stars- welcome! yes, when my dh & i went to the injections/meds class, he was definitely the "clown"...as he is anywhere & everywhere! that's hysterical about your panties! apparently, after the er on my 1st cycle, after they wheeled me into the "recovery" room & i was coming off being kncoked out, i was crying & saying how much i loved the staff there, lol! you're so right...we get so caught up in the physical, emotional, & financial aspect that we forget to laugh. i noticed you wrote that they gave you valium for your er....do they not knock you out? i know for me & a lot of other girls, we get knocked out for the er & get valium for the et. so when is your beta, so i can put it on the list?

tammy- special ed aides are amazing! i give them so much respect & am so thankful for them...it really takes a special person to do that job. it is not easy, that's for sure!

sonya- yay for great doubling betas! yes, you do need company for the preggo side...well, we have karin1, Tiger04, & sunshine and stars who will all be getting ther bfp's soon & joining you!

chili- did you call your nurse today? you've started ganirelix? that means you're getting to close to er/et..woohoo!!!

franny- how did your sns go today? grow follies grow! thinking of you!

sending lots of sticky baby dust all around ladies!!!

[karin1]

Sunshine- You were asking about funny stories and moments. I've had 6 IUI's. My husband always ask my RE what his sperm count is. It's so funny. My RE says 40 million....so it's an A+. I think once it was like 80 million or something like that. My RE said it was just about the highest he's seen in a while. The first couple of times the RE and nurse would laugh...now he walks in the room and quotes the number and gives him his grade. My DH's chest puffs, he smiles and his head seems to swell. Like he's superman or something...so proud of the sperm that he has produced. We always make jokes that just because there's alot of them doesn't mean that they know where they're going...probably swimming in circles. There's so many of them fighting for the egg that they get tired and peter out.

My first IVF...my best friend text me and says....Cost of IVF $10,000...IVF meds $5000...The price of getting pregnant by a little asian man while your husband watches....PRICELESS!

I know that we've all had our dark days. You have to try and find the humor in it somehow. I think that if we didn't joke about it sometimes that I would break down and cry. Laughter is the best medicine. It seems to help me be more optimistic and hopeful too.

I just want to say CONGRATS to Sonya and Maggiluv on being PREGGO! I am so happy for you both! I am saying prayers that you have healthy pregnancies. Hopefully all of us will be joining you soon! Get lots of rest and take care of yourselves.

[klinger13]

I'm so early in the IVF process, that by the time I really get things going I'll probably end up being in the Fall cycle group, but I hope you don't mind staying with you all for now...I feel like I'm learning TONS about the IVF process from your posts and it's such an encouraging and supportive thread!

I went to the RE today for my baseline u/s and the rest of my b/w, then we'll meet with him again on the 7/19 to discuss all of the results and come up with "the plan". My question for you all - do you remember what your antral follie count was when you started the IVF process? Mine today was 9, which they seemed happy about since I only have one ovary left. So I'd be interested to hear what some of yours were if you remember. Thanks in advance and I hope everyone has a nice weekend!

[lou71]

Sunshine -- Thanks for your funny story! So sorry for your m/c... I had one recently as well. This is our time this time around! Good luck with your cycle and don't go crazy in the 2ww!

Karin & Tiger -- Feeling any implantation cramps yet? I had them quite strong (so different than the AF type) when I got my BFP on DPO's 8, 9, & 10. Keep us posted!

Lauren -- I'm pretty sure Cetrocide is like Ganirelix. So we are both on antagonist protocols that are very similar. Let's hope it's the magic combo we need!

Chili -- Yay for growing follies!!! The Ganirelix will slow the big ones down a bit to keep you from ovulating.

Sonya -- Great beta rise! Congrats!!! Hope to join you guys on the other side in about a month so you have some company

Claudia -- Hi!!!!! I'm really nervous this cycle... ugh... I need to calm down, I know that. I think it's because if it's a BFN, then going further will financially be difficult. I'm just going to pray and pray that if I must get a BFN, then I really hope there are some frozens so I can at least have another ET. But yes, I stim in 2 more weeks. Thanks for your continued support.

Tammy -- Me too... I hope the menopur is my magic! Looking forward to our cycles together and BFP's for both of us. Anything is possible, and I know that. We need some good news after our m/c's last time.

Franny -- How did your SnS go today? I've been crossing everything for you this week to get great results this time around. XOXO

klinger -- Hi! Welcome... and please hang with us here. You will learn a lot and meet some great ladies for support. You asked about antral counts. Mine have always been between 17-20. But that's in TWO ovaries. So yes, 9 in one is good! I just have trouble growing follies in the same size range. 4 or 5 take off and then there's 9 or 10 lagging too far behind. Frustrating!!! Good luck to you.

Everyone -- Have a great weekend. I know I didn't get to everybody, but you are all in my thoughts.

AFM -- I don't know why I cannot calm my nerves. I don't even stim for another two weeks and I'm having sleepless nights thinking about this cycle. Ugh! I even freaked out after I got to work thinking that maybe I missed my BCP this AM... so I called my husband who was still at home and made him check to make sure the "Friday" pill was missing from the pack. We also had to repeat all of our infectious disease labs today. The labs expire after a year and we had them done last year on August 5th. My ER/ET will be the week of 8/2 so because it *might* fall after the 5th, we have to do it. So pissed... cuz I'm sure my insurance will deny it again like they did last year. It was $1,300 . We also re-signed all of our consents and had them notarized. Now I just have to get my meds ordered and wait for "baby in a box" to come. Also, a friend of mine who is a Chiropractor just got licensed as an acupuncturist in April and is going to do my acupuncture for free! I'm going to go to her twice a week starting next week. She's even coming with us to ET and will stick me immediately after!!! I think I will go for 2 sessions around ET with the fertility acupuncturist I used last time though too. Because I really liked him and I did get pregnant... hehe... so I don't want to mess with a good thing. I'll call him next week sometime and let him know what I think my dates will be. He charges $85.

[annpage]

Wow I like this group everyone likes to write long messages. Right up my alley..lol I'm new to this group. Hi Everyone!!

I love the funny stories. My DH was pretty proud that he doesn't have any problems below. I am the one with the low ovarian reserve. I agree that laughing is the best medicine!!

Lou: I just think you have a lot riding on this one & plus you may be ready to get started. I believe the accupuncturers will help you. Just keep the faith!

AFM: I'm in the 2ww I don't feel any symptoms except from the meds. I''m still on Methylprednisole & Doxyycycline which are strong & making my tummy have issues. I do take them with food but at times still disturb me. Tonight will be my last night yah. Hate taking meds! The POI is what's giving me hot flashes from time to time. It's a little nerve racking but it will be all worth it if I'm pregnant. Does anyone have issues with POI?
I have my Beta on 7/17. How many times do you have Beta tests?

[wewannababy]

I am new to this. Thank you for welcoming me. I took my last bcp this morning and July is my second IVF experience. I was a low (no) responder to the stims last month, so my OB who is also a Fertility Specialist is changing me to Follistim pen from Bravelle.

[moorebaby]

wewannababy- welcome! are you starting follistin injections tonight? sorry to hear about your response (or lack of) to bravelle. hopefully, follistim will do the trick!

annpage- welcome! i'll add your beta on the 17th on the list. most re's do at least 2 betas with a day inbetween. some will do 3...i think it all depends on your history & the #s themselves. the important thing is that they're increasing in a good way...doubling or more of the # is preferred (i guess), but even a 70% increase is still considered normal. when did you do your et? was it a 3dt or a 5dt? how many embies are snuggling in their mama right now?