August Frozen Transfer

[Jerseyjane]

Hi ladies,

I hope you don't mind if I join you as well. I will be doing a frozen embroyo transfer on August 19th. I am not new to IVF but I am new to this board. This will be my second frozen embroyo attempt but this time around I am doing accupuncture. I figure it can't hurt. I was wondering how do you input your IVF history at the bottom of your post?

[Jerseyjane]

Nevermind, I obviously figured it out. Does anyone else's fertility clinic only freeze their embroyos in pairs? Mine does and I think it stinks because I had 6 frozen embies, they only freeze the best embroyos on day 6 and for my last FET they defrosted 4, all 4 survived and transfered 3 and disgarded 1. Now I only have 2 left and am praying that they both survive the thaw.

[kizmet]

JerseyJane - Welcome! I don't know about freezing embies in pairs. My clinic doesn't do it.

Blair - I feel your pain on the BCP. Drives me mental! I stopped on Sunday and started the progynova tabs this morning - nicely timed with the arrival of AF...great, I'm going to have an awesome day today. I'm assuming AF has arrived due to stopping the BCP and that the oestrogen tabs will stop it??? As there was no mention of AF in the literature they sent me, I'm just assuming that it was expected anyway since that's what happens when you stop taking the BCP normally - but having never actually taken it for BC reasons and my AF being so hideously unpredictable anyway, I'm not sure if it should have arrived the day I stopped taking it or if three days later is normal? AND if the progynova will stop it without having shed all the endometrium....think I had better ring my clinic!

[blairwh58]

JerseyJane - Welcome!! I dont know about the freezing in pairs either. My clinic has never mentioned anything about the number of frozen embryos. We froze 6 with the fresh cycle, and I am hoping that when we thaw 2, that they both make it. I dont know what the average rate of suvival is...just makes me nervous. I question whether that means we should thaw 3 in case 1 doesnt make it. I really need this cycle to work...both mental health and because we are already running out of money. Anyway, I am very glad you joined. It sounds like you and kywildcat will only be a day apart on the transfer...and ill be a couple days behind on the 24th. Best of luck and keep us updated on things.

Kizmet- My NP actually told me that once I stop the BCP I may or may not have a period. She said that even if I do it should be pretty light. I would guess thats why AF arrived though. But if you are still questioning things, its probably best just to check with the clinic and get all the answers.

AFM- Is it sad that I told my husband I was actually excited that I get to start doing the shots tomorrow, and that it could potentially be shots for the next 13 weeks if all goes well. I guess at least with the shots I feel like I am making progress, and moving in the right direction. Hoping that we all end up with babies in May!

[Jerseyjane]

Thanks for the welcome girls. I know it wasn't directed towards me but I know your feeling about being excited for shots. Frozen transfers are not as involved as fresh, you almost feel like you should be doing more. My clinic does not do bcp's. I began lupron on day 22 of my cycle and once AF arrived I began estrace on the friday after. My clinic does all FET's on thursdays.

[blairwh58]

Jersey- I'm glad I'm not the only one excited about sticking myself with a needle. This is my first frozen cycle so I'm not used to not having all the md appointments. As much as I hated the ultrasound and bloodwork every other day, it was nice being in constant contact. When they told me at my appt last week that these were the directions and they would see me Aug 20 to check my lining I was in shock. We are going to get pregnant after only 1 appt...crazy but hopefully it works. I wish I could do my transfer that thurs or fri but NP said my lining wouldn't be ready by then. The only thing that stinks about the tuesday trasnfer is that I had to request to work from home wed-fri following it since I'm on bedrest.
This is actually the first time they have used bcp to downregulate, and when we did the fresh ivf we went straight in after a failed iui only using the lupron. Just hoping august is our lucky month.

[kywildcat]

Jerseyjane, Our clinic (Blair and I go to the same clinic) freezes whatever is good to freeze. I unfortunately have only one frozen so we are praying that that one will make it through thaw on 8/20. I'm on Lupron injections already and I agree with Blair that they told me I may only have a VERY light period due to the BCP and Lupron and to count as my AF. Can't wait to get closer to mid-August.

[Melo_P]

Hi Ladies
Would you mind if I joined also - think I am a little late on the July thread.

I'm in the middle of my fourth IVF cycle - hoping for another blessing. Taken a good year off - and kind of forgot how lonely it is to try and go through this all on your own.

I wish you all buckets of luck. I have good faith in the FET cycles - the two times I had implantation were from FET's - I think the body appreciates not been thrown around quite so much!

Blair - at the clinic here in welly - they give around a 70-80% thaw success rate (i.e. less than 50% fragmentation). When I had my last FET I had the same dilemma - the embryologist agreed to thaw the two to start and indicated they could then thaw the third following that - if one of the first two failed - as apparently it doesn't take too long to thaw and they get them ready quite early.

Add signatures by going to the UCP - type that in the search field and it tells you how to find it.

Kia kaha kia maia tatou! (Have strength and courage!)

M

[Jerseyjane]

Blair, wow only one visit I would actually prefer that. My clinic has FET's come in for bloodwork/ultrasound every Thursday. I actually just got back from the office. My lining is already at 11 after one week of estrace and the dr. told me that is where they want it for the FET. I haven't started progesterone yet. They recently changed the protocol from using crinone to the dreaded progesterone in oil, great right? I would have had my transfer done on August 12th but I am going on vacation to the outerbanks of North Carolina with my husband's family from Aug. 7th - 14th so we had to delay the date of transfer to August 19th.
Welcome Melo! By the way, where is everyone from? Obviously I am from NJ.

[blairwh58]

Melo- Welcome. When are you expecting to have your August transfer? It makes me feel a little better knowing that if they thaw 2 and only 1 survives that they can still thaw another one..70-80% isnt a bad success rate though.

jerseyjane- Yea after my baselines they are only checking August 20, and I guess if things arent where we want them to be I have to keep trying. I have actually only done Progesterone in Oil so im not sure how the suppositories would even be. When they first prescribed the Progesterone back in February I opted for the PIO just because I heard the others were messy. And since my DH is on call at the hospital a lot, I have actually gotten to where I can do my own PIO injection. Very scary at first...but it got easier. We love the Outerbanks...which island will you all be on? We have had family vacations there quite a few times.

My DH and I live on the outskirts of Louisville, KY in Crestwood.

[Jerseyjane]

Blair - First I can tell you from experience that the suppositories are gross. Even with a pad on, it is still a mess. We are going to Nags Head, North Carolina. DH's family rented one of those mansions on the beach. It has 12 bedrooms and each bedroom has its own bathroom (thank god I hate to share). I haven't told them that I am going through another cycle because if it doesn't work or god forbid I have another miscarriage, then I don't have to explain. It should be fun hiding my medicine while I'm on vacation. My clinic has always told me to refridgerate the Lupron once open so I'll have to stash it somewhere. Does anyone else keep their Lupron in the refridgerator?

[blairwh58]

Nags Head should be great. We have never stayed in a 12 bedroom but we did get up to 8. It will be nice to get away from things...even if you have to do the Lupron while you are there. I don't keep mine in the refridgerator, and when the pharmacy ships they dont keep it cold either. I think you would be safe just keeping it in your room. And as for the hiding- I def know what you mean. Our family doesnt know we have done anything fertility wise. They know Justin had a surgery last August...but didnt know the specifics. Then when I had surgery in March we told people that I had a cyst that wouldnt go away so I needed surgery on it. Luckily I have a history of cysts so it made perfect sense. But since February we actually have a "medical" area designated on our dresser in the bedroom. I basically have a basket full of supplies (syringes, patches, pills, etc) as well as the Biohazard container. Since no one knows what we are going through I have to make sure people stay clear of our bedroom, and that no one catches on when we have to be home by 9 oclock every night for injections. Keeping all of this underwraps is very hard to do, but the stress of everyone knowing and always asking how we were doing I just thought would be worse.

[Jerseyjane]

Blair - I certainly can relate. With my first cycle everyone knew because I developed severe OHSS and put on about 63 lbs. in 3 wks. I went from looking normal one day to a freak show and of course I had to say something. Luckily my doctor has learned how I overstimulate so he puts on minimal dosages of medicine. With my last fresh cycle I put on about 5lbs. so I didn't have to explain the pregnancy or loss to anyone.

[Melo_P]

Thanks for the welcome ladies.

I can definately relate to wanting to keep this on the down low - think its because have been through the wringer enough times I just don't want to have the conversation anymore! It is such a relief just to be able to have a group of people you understand that you know can relate (i.e us guys). This time around my mom and one person at work knows - and I regret telling them both. Every lunchtime I get the whole whispered "sooooo . . . howz is it going" wide eyed thing from said friend, and I know she is just being caring and helpful - but really don't want to do the whole "IVF kid on show drama" daily. Sorry its friday - I'm grumpy!!

Expecting collection and transer week of the 9th. Gulp. Just loving that dentist chair with leg straps and that giant needle attached to a vacuum!!! With the FET you lucky girls don't have the dreaded collection this time around. Sorry TMI.

Jersey Jane - nice you have the holiday planned - that should make the time go faster!

I'm from England living in New Zealand for the last 12 years, but head over to the states quite a bit for work, haven't ever been out of the cities - but Jersey Jane - I have visted Saddlebrook NJ a few times!

When is everybody's transfer date? JerseyJane your on the 19th right?

[Jerseyjane]

Melo - Yes my transfer is on the 19th, or so far at least. My doctor told me to come in on the 15th so he can do bloodwork/ultrasound and then I guess if all goes well. I'll start the progesterone in oil and have the transfer that Thursday. My clinic does all transfers of frozen embroyos on Thursdays. At yesterday's appt. my lining was already 11.2 and my clinic likes it to be at 11 so that is already ready. I just hope nothing changes with it in the next 2 1/2 wks. that would delay the transfer date. I am a teacher and I go back to school on Sept.1st so as you can see the timing is perfect as of right now.