Summer cycle group

[turtle0619]

karin and chris there is also a great option of embryo adoption!! trust me...me and DH have had the donor egg talk with our RE since jan.! DH doesnt like the idea because he has the thought of "if its not both of ours it shouldnt be either of ours"....DNA that is! of course the baby would ALWAYS be OURS! ive talked to the donor nurse at my clinic as well as a few different donor comapnies, and the price blew my mind!! it is soooo expensive to go the donor route unless you know the person...most donors get on average $6000...plus the agency fees, meds for the donor, legal fees, plus IVF costs for you and the donor! i figured it would cost about $20,000+ if your insurance wont cover it! crazy!!
then i started looking into donor embryos (aka embryo adoption)
its soooo much more affordable, and there are a few ways to go about finding the perfect embies! i wont go into crazy details about what i found out, but i think its a great alternative option for people like us! PM me and i can explain what i found out about the process!

[Lauren1171]

Lou - I was wondering how some of you get an ultrasound before starting stims. I have not heard of antral follicles. I wonder why I never get checked before stimming?

AFM - I just got Bon Jovi tix for Saturday night! I am going to gave to pack the meds on ice and do my injection in the parking lot! And I was not planning on having any alcohol this cycle to see how that went...but I guess one night won't hurt!

[lou71]

Lauren1171 -- I don't know why you don't get an u/s before stims other than RE philosophy & clinic variation. Did you check out the link I posted? One philosophy is AFC is the best predictor for ER success. Only antral follicles can become stimulated and most likely not all of them will. It's an indicator of ovarian reserve to be used in conjunction with FSH & AMH. My FSH was around 8 last time it was checked and my AMH was 0.8. These alone don't tell RE much but combined with AFC, let's them know how fertile you are. For me, I had around 15 antrals my first IVF, but only had 6 eggs retrieved. Maybe not more because of my age? I dunno. This time I've got 20 so I am VERY hopeful for a couple more than this. It's not a guarantee though... just a prediction.

Oh, and Bon Jovi should be amazing. DH is taking me next Fri night & I will have to do the same thing with my stims! Two years ago a gf and I went to see them & had 2nd row. I took some AMAZING video from that show that I've got up on you tube. If you want the link, let me know. Jon forgot some lyrics & there was some hilarious improv between Ritchie & the fiddle player during "who says u can't go home" and my video made the top 10 viewed on youtube for a few days because many sites around the world posted links to it. Have a GREAT time!

[DandMe]

Thanks for the kind thoughts... I wish I had the time to do personals and not just read everything.... it's just too mind boggling to keep up with it all. I'm not sure how to feel about tomorrow. I'm still excited about everything, despite the fact that we've never had good news beyond getting great test results and lots of eggs and bfps... I test every other day just to maintain my sanity, even though I know my tests will be positive and I may not have a viable embryo. Hell, there may not BE an embryo.... (blighted ovum in March). However, I do feel much more pregnant - I'm exhausted, peeing all the time and have off again on again nausea, sore boobs and aching lower back. I hold onto those signs like prayer.

Wish me well? U/S is at 3:15 tomorrow.. it's 9p.m. here now.

[JustLikeHannah]

Hi Everyone! Two days away from here feels like two weeks! I have to catch up : )

Fitzjr - I'm soooo glad I'm not the only one having to turn down the fun stuff. I know it's all worth it, but girls just want to have fun )

Franny - Thank you so much. My first SnS went well, but my estradiol (sp?) was pretty high at 612, so my RE cut back on my gonal f dosage and I had to go back in two days (today). I'm still trying to understand the follicle count numbers and stuff, but I believe he only called off about 15 follies. We shall see. My next appt is Sat, I will think to ask more questions.

Lou - I believe I won't have to take the POI, because I have the progesterone inserts. Is anyone else doing this?

Karin - I'm not sure if my stomach is over poked, but it just seems sore in every new place I am trying to poke. Just another week and a half... I can do this! WE can do this!

Rebecca - Hi! The lupron shots were no biggie, the gonal f ones are testing my confidence : ( Have you started yet? All will be well and the reward is great!

Tammy - YAY about your meds!!

AFM, Just stimming away and trying to understand all of this stuff. My RE says I'm doing awesome, so I guess everything is awesome thus far. He did say that since we're having to slow things down with my estradiol (sp?) being high, my retrieval may be pushed until next Fri versus Thurs. But all is well. I appreciate all of you ladies. Have a great Friday!

Renee'

[nbfun]

Nancy - It's nearly impossible to try remember where everyone is at most of the time but I know you and I were still in the "consult" phase of things when we joined the thread and our latest appointments were just a couple days apart so you kinda stuck in my mind. I'm glad your husband's appointment went well and hopefully Monday's results will come back great so you can move on to the next steps. We've switched gears some, going to try IUI with injectables before moving on to IVF, so just waiting for my meds to be delivered tomorrow and then just waiting on AF to come so we can get it all started.

I read the other day where you posted about the "switch in gears" from IVF to IUI. Wishing you a successful IUI. Hopefully your meds will arrive soon.

Nancy

[nbfun]

Thanks for the kind thoughts... I wish I had the time to do personals and not just read everything.... it's just too mind boggling to keep up with it all. I'm not sure how to feel about tomorrow. I'm still excited about everything, despite the fact that we've never had good news beyond getting great test results and lots of eggs and bfps... I test every other day just to maintain my sanity, even though I know my tests will be positive and I may not have a viable embryo. Hell, there may not BE an embryo.... (blighted ovum in March). However, I do feel much more pregnant - I'm exhausted, peeing all the time and have off again on again nausea, sore boobs and aching lower back. I hold onto those signs like prayer.

Wish me well? U/S is at 3:15 tomorrow.. it's 9p.m. here now.

So excited for you. I'll be watching here for an update after your u/s. Thinking of and praying for you!!!

Nancy

[Lauren1171]

Renee - I have the vaginal progesterone too. My RE swears I would not like the shot in the bum, so I deal with the grossness of those things. I have never had to use them more than 4 weeks though.

Lou - I read the article and it was interesting. I will have to ask RE why I don't do that. I got 12 the 1st time and 15 the second, so maybe that's why? I would love to see your you tube video. I have seen Bon Jovi a bunch of times. They were my 1st big concert with Skid Row in 1989. I told DH that I always get up front, but probably not this time. He said how can I get up front? I said by going with one of my friends instead of him and just making our way there lol. I am surprised he said he would go. I am into 80s hair bands and country music, he likes some of my music, but used to be into old rap music lol. I was not planning on going to see Bon Jovi since we should not be blowing money. Then yesterday my friend called and said someone at her work was selling 4 tix on the floor for half price and I could not say no!

[Lauren]

Lou-Thank you for that awesome website. I just wonder why I only have 10. Thats not a good sign Im guessing but maybe this estrogen will help do something..IDK Thank you I appreciate it. Hey have fun at BON JOVI...so jealous!!

Franny-Hang in there girl the 2ww is terrible but I just know this time is your time! Did you have a count before you started if so what? And yes your explaination of waking them up and getting more I understood completly

Lauren-Congrats on starting stims..I know how much fun that can be! Best of luck to you this round.

Tammy-So happy the medication thing worked out for you! How frustrating? I remember going thru the same thing last time making a hundred phone calls to straighten people out!! Good lucj tis time girl..We will be close in cycle

AFM Just taking my estrogen 4mg a day. Hoping for more follies this time. I keep thinking I did something wrong with my meds that I didnt stim that well but I guess not. Whats with the pineapples??? Also anyone know if massages are ok to do during stims??

BEST WISHES TO ALL & yes the POAS joke...IM an ADDICT as well!
Lauren

[rlk1]

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you on this thread and others who also crashed this thread (along with me!) for all of your support---despite my sneaky ways!

I can't tell you how much it means to me. Oh, how I've missed you guys!!!

Okay, picture me with a pom-pom in each hand cheering on this thread. "Baby dust....Baby dust....GO TEAM SUMMER CYCLE GROUP!!!" That's my cheerleader chant!!

[annashope]

DandMe

You are gonna be great I have a feeling about you. Just stay positive like you told me to do last week. Your U/s and my 3rd beta are today so I will be praying for the both of us. You have more symptoms and that is great news! Honestly that is what comforts me. I have read countless stories of low/slow rising betas and perfectly normal babies. Anyways keeping my fingers crossed for you

Anna

[GoGirl]

Hello Summer Cyclers,
It has taken me several weeks to get the guts to join this group. I am new to online community chat rooms and feel a little shy right now. However,I have read how supportive you all are to one another and could really benefit from your support and guidance as I go through my first IVF Cycle.

I am 36 years old and live with my DH (though not legally married, yet). We have been TTC for almost two years and have gone through three unsuccessful IUI cycles. I started the BCP two weeks ago and yesterday received my box of medications in the mail. I was completely shocked and overwhelmed by the amount of medication I will need to take for this cycle. I guess I just wasn't prepared for all that and it just makes me a bit nervous. Well I guess more like a nervous excitement. I just want to make sure I am storing everything properly and take everything the way I am supose to (which I am sure my RE will guide me through as I go along). Anyway, it appears that this community has a nice mix of people who have been through IVF and those who are newbies like me. It will be nice to share and gain advice and support from you all.

Now I just have to fiqure out how to use this site (i.e. adding attachments, learning the lingo etc). I also need to review the past comments so I can start getting to know you all.

Take care and have a good day.
Gen

[dlk]

karin and chris there is also a great option of embryo adoption!! trust me...me and DH have had the donor egg talk with our RE since jan.! DH doesnt like the idea because he has the thought of "if its not both of ours it shouldnt be either of ours"....DNA that is! of course the baby would ALWAYS be OURS! ive talked to the donor nurse at my clinic as well as a few different donor comapnies, and the price blew my mind!! it is soooo expensive to go the donor route unless you know the person...most donors get on average $6000...plus the agency fees, meds for the donor, legal fees, plus IVF costs for you and the donor! i figured it would cost about $20,000+ if your insurance wont cover it! crazy!!
then i started looking into donor embryos (aka embryo adoption)
its soooo much more affordable, and there are a few ways to go about finding the perfect embies! i wont go into crazy details about what i found out, but i think its a great alternative option for people like us! PM me and i can explain what i found out about the process!

You know I have been thinking about this some. We I signed the paper work (as I am sure we all did), there was a clause about the frozen embryos and it said when I turned 50, I had to either donate or destroy the remaninder. I wasn't sure what I would do. More like I thought "I cross that bridge when I get there IF I am so lucky to get to the point." Being on this board had made that choice so easy. If I was ever fortunate to be in that position, I would be so happy to give my extra frosties to someone struggling like we are. I remember seeing lots of "eggs wanted" ads when I was in college. At that point, I couldn't imagine having someone else raise "my" child. Nothing like a change in circumstance to change your perspective.


Nancy: We just recently did a male infertility work up as well. My DH is 57 and has 2 older kids in college that he had no problems conceiving with his ex. When my GYN first started the workup, he focused on me since I never had kids. I turned out mostly ok then once we got to the RE DH got tested. Very low sperm count. We weren't expecting that. Anyway, he had the labwork done (which was basically the same as mine: FSH, LH, prolactin, testerone instead of estrogen/progesterone). Turns out he has an elevated FSH. He didn't think it was funny when I told him he was going into menopause. The fertility urologist said we could try him on meds to raise his count but it would take months to see a difference. DH had plenty sperm for ICSI and the doc doubted that even with the best outcome that would could avoid ICSI. I would guess if your husband's lab were abnormal, they might want to start him on meds to up his count.

DandMe: Good luck at the US!!!

Anna: Hoping for a great 3rd beta!

Gen: Glad you joined us!! I am a newbie too in my first IVF.

AFM: So I started feeling a little nauseous last night, but DH had felt a little sick a few days ago. Anyway this morning I decided I would POAS, mainly to see if the trigger was gone. My mind kept saying that I wanted it to be negative because it is too early to tell (10dpo) and I wanted the trigger to be gone. Still as I stared at it, I really really wanted to see 2 lines. Nope 1. Even though I know that is what it should be, I was a bit bummed. PMA. I know the trigger is gone so when I test again in a few days, I will know my BFP is real. Then I looked at it agin about an hour later. And I saw a really faint line. UGH!! Is it left over trigger? Is it a hopeful sign? Am I in crazy town? At least we know the answer to the last one. I have one more HPT and I know I should wait at least until Sunday (which I would have done if I hadn't checked it later), but I am not sure I can resist. Looks like I will be buying more HPTs this weekend.

[rebeccajm]

Sonya~ Good luck with your U/S...you are in my thoughts today.

Anna~ Hoping for a great 3rd beta for you today!

Gen~ Welcome! This is also my first IVF. I also started birth control 2 weeks ago and also just received my box of meds. It came right before I was scheduled to leave for RE so I quick opened it and put cold items in refrigerator and took off to appt. Once I got home I researched each medication just to be sure I stored everything correctly. I start lupron on Saturday then wait for AF to begin (should be end of July or beginning of August) to have baseline U/S done before starting Gonal-F. I have found this site to be extremely helpful. I feel like I am much more knowledgable when I go to appointments just by reading what everyone has to say. I also enjoy being able to talk about what I am going through with someone. This is definitely a supportive and informative place!

Renee~ Thanks for the words of encouragement. I will start lupron on Saturday. I'm sure it will be fine after I get past the first one. How nice to hear from your RE that you are doing awesome! Have a great weekend!

Everyone else...know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers wherever you are in your journey.

Rebecca

[annashope]

Thank you everyone for your support and kind wishes. I got the beta back and it went from 46 to 148!!!!!! Yay! now doubling every 56 hours instead of 72. My RE is happy with the result and our ultrasound is now scheduled for next Friday!!!! THANK YOU GOD!!!!