Summer cycle group

[moorebaby]

ryann- you are on an antagonist protocol. i'm on it as well, except i take generic hcg instead of pregnyl, which is just a brand name.

i found on this online:
The more common type of IVF is performed using fertility medications. There are three common IVF treatment protocols. The supression protocol, the flare protocol and the antagonist protocol. Both the supression and the flare protocol utilize a medication called Lupron. Lupron is an injectable medication which acts upon the pituitary gland to change the levels of hormones produced by the pituitary gland. When a fertility specialist first administers Lupron, the inital effect is to increase the pituitary hormones. This is called the flare effect. The increase in pituitary hormones can be used to drive the production of eggs in the ovary in the flare protocol. After prolonged admiministration of Lupron, the pituitary hormones are decreased or supressed. Fertility specialists use this protocol to decrease the chances of an unexpected ovulation while in the middle of the IVF process. On average, a woman needs about two weeks of daily Lupron injections before the pituitary gland becomes supressed and the fertility specialist can then start her on the next stage of medication.

The final type of protocol is known as the antagonist protocol. In this treatment, a medication other than Lupron is used to supress the pituitary gland and prevent ovulation. This newer type of medication is called a GNRH antagonist. There are two brands of this medication: Ganarelix and Cetrotide. These medications do not have a flare effect. In fact, the supression of the pituitary gland is almost immediate. This is a big advantage since the IVF specialist can start the medication after the ovaries have been stimulated instead of a two week pre-treatment period as is seen with the Lupron. This makes the antagonist IVF protocol much shorter than the Lupron protocol.

[dys24]

Ester- I'm going for my b/w tomorrow to!!! What time you going? I'm going for around 8am I will have my daughter with me so if you see me say hi

[rypell1985]

Ester...thank you very much for the protocal info!!! And don't worry...I don't plan on leaving the thread!!!

[Tiger04]

Annashope- I am so very sorry for your loss. I am super glad that you have a plan and can focus on good things in your future! September will be a great month for you!

Dys-enjoy your needle free day! Get lots of rest tonight… looks like lots of wonderful eggs! How exciting!

Missmer- welcome!

Lauren1171- awesome news! What a great sign. Are you going to transfer two?

Katie-how are you doing? I love when you crash!

Dlk- oh no! I hope you are okay..ugh rash and itchy is no fun. Please update us asap on your appointment this morning!

Rypell- we’ve missed you! Oh man, it got really close, I wanted to try on a few …but I didn’t! How awesome! You’ll have a blast helping her! We would never kick you out! I am getting on my dancing shoes and starting to dance!

Lauren319- enjoy your needle free day as well! Monday is going to be a busy day around here. 7 is going to be great! PMA

Cakes- yeah you are pupo! How exciting! 3 to freeze is amazing! Wishing you lots of implanting dust!

Moorebaby- yeah for growing lots of follies! Looks like you are an egg machine, so you’ll have lots to work with on this cycle too! That’s really exciting! Thanks for sharing the information on the types of process. Seems like the antagonist is the way to go. Lupron sucks. Wonder why they still use lupron then?

Franny- we miss you! but, win lots of money hope you are having a great time!

Teresa - where are you? I miss you!

AFM: Dress shopping was an absolute blast. I didn’t try any on…almost did  We did find her dress though…I picked it…tee hee. She looks so stunning. When I got home, DH said you would have so much fun with it, why don’t you do it part-time. I would love to do it if I could only work like 1 Saturday a month..maybe a Thursday or something. I’m not sure that they would want someone so part-time! I don’t think that’s how it works. But, I could have sat there all day! I can’t believe it hasn’t even been a week yet…this is taking forever! I have a work trip Monday and Tuesday, so that will make next week go really quickly. I think I am going to POAS on Sunday. I just don’t know anymore. This time feels exactly like last time, so I’m feeling down about it. Then I try to be positive thinking, but you just don’t know, maybe you’ll never “feel” anything this early. Ugh, I just don’t know.

[TammyS]

Ok girls, dont laugh too hard (lol)...but I did something really stupid and need some advice from Lou or anyone who might know.

I came home from retrieval on Friday and put an ice pack directly on my tummy and fell asleep for 2 hours. Woke up with a severe burn. Red/purple, leather like skin, with huge blisters forming a short time later. It's about 5" long and 4" wide. You know the ice packs that they send with the meds, lol? The blisters are almost gone now...but apparantly the skin was itchy in my sleep and I now have some scratch marks which I know can cause infection now.

I put some aloe vera sunburn stuff on it Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and also just covered it in sterile gauze pads now, due to the scratches. I do have neosporin somewhere just have to look or will this not be a good thing...especially since transfer is tomorrow....dont want to waste my time looking if it is not a good idea. I read that Silvadene is the magic stuff to use, but dont think it is pregnancy approved either...from what I read it could be very bad. I started the tetracycline last night for transfer...this should be exactly what I need to keep me from getting an infection, right? It seems to be getting better each day...just itchy now...so leave it alone? Take the antibiotics, neosporin, and keep it covered? Anything else?

ETA: (edited to add)...I just found this info online about neosporin:
Teratogenic Effects
Pregnancy Category C. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B sulfate, or bacitracin, It is also not known whether Neosporin Ophthalmic Ointment can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity.

Back in a bit for personals.

Ok...you can laugh now.

[TammyS]

Quick Fertilization Report #2 Update is in!

All 6 are still growing and dividing...but as to be expected some are doing better than others.

Today they should be between 2-4 cells.
2 are 4 cells
1 is a 2 cell
1 is a 3 cell (however uneven (they like even numbered cells) and a small bit of fragmentation).
1 is 2-4 cells and very fragmentated (wont likely make it).
1 is 3-4 cells and also very fragmentated (also wont likely make it).

So we have 3 terrific looking ones...and 1 maybe one. Depending on how things change or dont change tomorrow ...we will put back the 3 good ones...maybe even the 4th one that is lagging since it wont really change our odds of multiples at all. We really dont want any to freeze since we only want 1 more baby (2-3 if multiples)....and we dont want that horrible awful feeling that we have dealt with in the past of knowing that our babies are frozen in time. Stupid, but it is how we ended up feeling about it.

I go into tomorrow at 2:15 for a 2:30 transfer! I will do acupuncture just before and also right after the transfer.

I am very very happy with this report! Yayy!!!

[klinger13]

Tammy & Lauren1171 - great fert reports!! Good luck with your ET tomorrow! (And Tammy - that ice pack burn does NOT sound pleasant...ouch!!)

Lauren319 - Good luck with your ER tomorrow!

Ryann - welcome back from vacation! I'd be happy to do an AF dance for you!

Cakes - congrats on your ET going well. Enjoy being PUPO!!

dys & Ester - hope your follies are growing nicely!

[miyaya]

hey girls. Sorry but no time for personals today. I am on borrowed time as my ds is about ready to wake. Just wanted to update....AF came in full force yesterday. So its a BFN for me. We will move forward with a consult however, I am pretty certain we have decided to adopt. I wish you all the best. I hope to see some great results as this thread comes to a close. Good luck and watch out, I just might crash your threads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dlk]

Ester: Thanks for the protocol info. I never knew what I was taking. It thought it was weird everyone else seemed to be on Lupron with there BCP and a long time. I just listen to the doctors. Mine must have been the flare. I was on BCP only for a few weeks, nothing for 6 days (with an SnS during that time), then only low dose lupron twice a day for 2 days, then adding Bravelle/Menopur to the lupron. That one seemed to work wel for me.

Tammy: Yeah for the awesome fert report. OUCH on the burn. I think you should keep it moist with the aloe vera or vaseline or aquaphor (a water based version of vaseline). I would think that the antibiotic should keep any infection away.

AFM: So I actually saw my original RE today. I haven't seen him since about March (except when he popped into the recovery room after my ER). They are on call 2 weeks at a time and the on call person does all the IVF cycles. I suppose that makes sense so they can follow you the whole cycle. Yesrterday, the RE told me to take Bendaryl. I took it before my shot this am and that seemed to keep the rash away. He drew a progesterone and will call me with the results. If they are good which he suspects will be the case, he gave me some progesterone suppositories to use. If my progesterone is low, he will keep me on PIO and will change the oil type ( I have it in sesame oil now). I am now to go in on Wednesday, because he wants to repeat the Progesterone. He said that the suppositories mainly act locally and don't get much in the blood stream, but my body should be making some on its own and he would expect a moderate amount on the test. If not I get to go back to the PIO. He did do an U/S. One baby ( I have really wanted twins, but know they are much more high risk). I am 5w4d by dates and the CRL and sac both measured at 5w3d, so close enough for me. No HB but he said before he started he would be suprised if he saw one. He thinks we will see one on Wednesday. So I officially changed to an OB visit and while checking out I was excited that insurance might actually pay something. Not! My insurance doesn't recognize the clinic as OB providers so I got to spend $380 today and it will be the same on Wednesday. I did call the high risk OB a few weeks back and because of my thyroid issues he set up the first appointment for 8w insyead of 10w, so that is 2 weeks from tomorrow. I am ready to dump my RE and go somewhere where my crappy insurance will actually pay something!

[fitzjr11]

Hello all- going for day 5 transfer on tues, re called yest said all 16 are doing very well and not sure how they gonna pick- we are only transferring 1 since we did 2 last time and had a bit of disaster. Had busy weekend and was on feet all day- sides get sore after a while, plan on doing nothing tonight-tues afternoon with the hopes of feeling better
good luck to all those transferring next week cant wait till we can all post BFP
For those who got BPN sorry

[kbillsy]

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! There is so much going on right now with the group!!!

Lou - how did ET go today?

Lauren 1171- 11 embies is great news - good luck with transfer tomorrow!

Lauren 319- yay for 7 eggs and retrieval tomorrow! Lots of rest and relaxation today - let us know how it goes!!

Cakes - congrats on your ET and frosties! We both have 2 embies inside and will be doing our betas the same day - just have to make it through the next week of wondering about bfp...

Tammy - glad to hear ER went well, except that ice pack issue - i hope you are feeling better. Sounds like your fertilization report is looking great so far! Good luck with ET tomorrow!

Dys - Lots of follies - that is awesome! good luck with your ER tomorrow

Miyaya - so sorry to hear that AF showed up It's so difficult and frustrating - hope you are doing ok. Good luck with adoption if that is the route you go.

Ester - hope you are feeling better - hopefully that means lots of follies are growing

Ryan - welcome back - sounds like you had a good vacation. best wishes as you get ready to start your cycle!

Fitz - wow - can't believe all 16 are good so far - that is such great news for you!! Sounds like you need to get some rest before transfer! what kind of protocol were you on?

Time to go make some dinner - looking foward to lots of updates tomorrow!!

[lou71]

Tiger -- How are you doing in the 2ww? Sounds like you had a great time dress shopping. I haven't done anything like that in years, but I remember how much fun it was.

Cakes -- Congrats for being PUPO!

Ester -- How are stims going? You will be PUPO soon as well.

Tammy -- Oh no! That ice burn sounds horrible. The best thing for you to do is keep it clean. You can put neosporin on it, that is fine in pregnancy but I would steer clear of the silver sulfadiazine (silvadene). Keeping it covered under clean gauze is a good idea. Your fert report sounds terrific!

miyaya -- I'm so sorry for your BFN. Are you still going for your beta tomorrow? And please do stick around... we'd love to hear from you as you move forward on your adoption journey. Crashing is highly encouraged

dlk -- Great news from your u/s. Everything is measuring right on and you will see a heart beat very soon. So excited for you! I sure hope to keep up the trend on BFP's after 5dt!

Lauren1171 -- Great fert report! I'll be thinking of you and Tammy tomorrow for sure on your ET day!

Franny -- I hope you're having a great vacation. Miss you!

Katie -- Thanks so much for crashing and cheering me on through this. I think of you often. And you can answer me on any thread...lol.

Ryann -- Glad to have you back and that you had a great vacation. We would never kick you out! Stick around, we'd love to have you. By the way, I also did an antagonist protocol with Follistim, Menopur, and Ganirelix. It was the "lucky combo" for me.

Lauren319 -- Woo hoo for triggering last night! Enjoy your injection free day. You will be in my thoughts. Update us when you feel up to it. Good Luck!!

fitz -- Good luck with your transfer on Tues. Will you freeze the remaining embryos?

Annashope -- I'm keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. I know how difficult this is for you. Someday you will have a happy ending. I just know it.

AFM -- I had ET today! I went for acupuncture an hour before and about two hours after for an hour each time. Thank goodness my friend did this for me. Today we had two perfect blasts to transfer. The transfer was smooth and easy and RE told me I have a 60-70% chance of success with a 40% chance of twins . That's the highest I've heard. I got pregnant last cycle and he told me 30% chance of success. I have one other embie in an early blast stage that they will freeze tomorrow and 3 others in the compacting morula stage which may progress to become blasts and be frozen as well. The 7th one that was lagging behind arrested. I think it would be great to have something to freeze to take some of the pressure off this cycle. But I feel great about my chances right now. I'm keeping that attitude.

[fitzjr11]

i did lupron, follistim started at 125 then last few days was at 100-75, and menorpur 75

[rypell1985]

What is the menapor for...and why aren't I on it?!

[Lauren319]

OMG. I don't feel well for one day and skip the boards and you guys have written novels worth! I can't believe I missed all of this.

Margi - I'm so sorry, hun. There's still a shot though, right??

Tammy - How excited are you?! DH said he'd rather do his "business" in the office because he's be scared to "spill it or something" HAHAHA. He's still been drinking his Coke/day. Bad idea?? Too late, I guess. Oh man, I'm so excited for your triplets!!!! Um, also, good job on the burn. Perhaps we could wrap the ice in a towel next time? The antibiotic is exactly what you need and dlk's suggestion of Aquaphor is a good one. It got rid of a serious burn for me once.

Fitz - seriously though, what's your secret? I'm basically on what you're on, but a little larger doses and I do not foresee 24 freaking eggs, dude.

Karin - I love that you love Bre. You have to keep us updated. I think gut feeling is a better indicator than anything. If you feel right, it's right. much love.

Amanda1979 - forgive me, but what is a shared-risk program? sounds like things are looking up, but I wanna know more!

Lou - WONDERFUL news!! This is it for you, PUPO girl! Beautiful twins!!

Missmerrilee - Welcome! I'll do a dance for you

Anna - UGH. I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say.

Dys - Yay for being my trigger buddy! Thanks for reminding me re: Gatorade. Gonna make DH get some on his way home from work. Yep, working on a Sunday.

Lauren - YAYAYAYAY!! 11! Totally a good sign!! Good luck tomorrow, my dear. I'll be thinking of you!

Chili - I'm on a bunch of herbs that I can't pronounce, but I'm hoping they work! I'm willing to try anything.

Ester - feel good to be back in the game? How was the bw?

Rypell - welcome back. nice to meet you. i'll commence dancing. would you like an interpretive dance, flamenco, or straight-up booty dance?

Cakes - congrats!!

Tiger - CHIN UP! This could be it.

AFM - blood work looked good today for tomorrow's ER. I'm so nervous! More herbs and more booty dancing!