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[nancy1]

Hi ladies,

it is indeed difficult to hear about pregnancies that have taken place naturally, some that were even unwanted.
Our journey is indeed a very long and demanding one.

First, having the tests done. THen the stimulation, waiting to see how many eggs we generate, then how many fertilize, then how many turn into good quality blastocysts, then pregnancy test, then ultrasound to check for heartbeat, then pasing through the critical 1st trimester, then the tests to check for fetal abnormality............ I think we are all amazing for going through all this and still functioning through our daily lives...

I was very fortunate that my first IVF was successful and I gave birth to a wonderful baby boy last November.
Being 40, I knew I didn't have much time if we wanted to try for a second one, so here I am.
Hearing that my odds are less than 25% isn't easy but I will not be a cry baby. Indeed, while I know most of you are trying for the first one, it would be so selfish.

During my first IVF, as I said, I had OHSS and had a very hard time breathing and functioning all together. Right the night before my first ultrasound, I had MAJOR bleeding and thought it was all over. I even thought I saw an embryo out but it could have just been a blood clot. The next day I went to my RE and while he confirmed that I had a miscarriage, he also told me that there still was a heartbeat. I had lost one of the twins. Some days I still think about the miscarriage, and it's hard, but I also hang on to the positives. When I saw the bleeding, I had just gone to the restroom and had no symptoms whatsoever. Needless to say, for the next several months, everytime I went to the restroom, I would really be apprehensive of what I would be seeing. Down the line, for 2 or 3 times, I had some spotting and feared that history was repeating itself, but fortunately, they were just that, spotting.

Then came the time to decide whether we should do an amnio or not. Again, an agonizing decision since my cousin/ best friend lost her 20 week baby due to the amnio.

After much soul searching, hubby and I decided not to since there were no markers for any abnormalities. But at almost 40, you all know what the odds are....

When the baby was born, I forgot it all, the shots, the stress, the long long waits for each stage.
Why am I sharing all this?
1st, for my own sanity, to vent, to share it with others who are going through a similar journey
2nd, to give you all hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
I pray that everyone on this board are successful with their attempts with all my heart.

Good luck to everyone, and try to stay as calm as possible (I can't believe I'm saying that since I'm a wreck myself) but it's really important, my RE said to keep the stress level down for success.

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend.

Nancy

[Emma839]

I think it may be over for me I started menstruation signs this morning. I thought I won't have menstruation until I stop taking progesterone. Why did this happen? Is this a BFN sign?

[lt81]

Emma stay calm. I think its common to have similar symptoms to what you get normally when you are pre-menstrual - sore boobs and cramps etc. Just keep up with the progesterone, get some rest and stay positive

Thanks for sharing Nancy.

[Emma839]

thank you il81. You are right, I should stay calm. I called the fertility centre this morning. The nurse told me to keep the appointment for the pregnancy test and keep on taking progestrone. It is necessary to confirm the pregnancy is negative.
In spite the situation seems not optimistic, I am curious about what happened. I read elsewhere in this forum that it is rare to have mestruation during taking progestrone; it is not the first time I am in a rare case. It's probably just my luck

[deidraj]

Emma, keep positive until you know for sure. I did start cramping and bleeding while on Progesterone the first time. For me, it was because the results were negative, but I just want you to know that it's not unheard of to have symptoms while on Progesterone. Cramping & spotting can be a sign of pregnancy. It's hard not to freak out, but try to stay positive.

My embryo transfer is today! In less than 3 hours I will be PUPO! Trying not to get too excited. I went overboard the first time & started picking out names and nursery bedding. I think it made it that much harder when the results came back negative. Hoping that these babies stick!

[deidraj]

Transfer went amazing! Dr. said it was an easy transfer and that helps with pregnancy rates. We had the 3 embryos, but one had only gained 1 more cell since yesterday and was fragmented. The Dr. said that there wasn't much chance of it turning into anything so we decided not to transfer it (I was worried if my body had to get rid of it, it could effect the other 2). The other 2 embryos were at 6 cells & 9 cells. The nurse said they were beautiful embryos and looked better than the first time, which is good. I watched on the u/s as the catheter went in & the liquid that turned into a bright spot came out. Again, I was attached. Those are my babies in there. Of course I cried!

My husband is being great about it. We had to swing by Wal-Mart after the Dr.'s office & he made me stay in the car laying down. He bought pancake mix & bacon to make breakfast for tomorrow, Sprite (because I quit caffiene once I started the shots & have been wanting pop) and my favorite purchase-a big box of Brownie mix! I'm enjoying taking it easy and for now, I'm doing great with the 2ww. I know it will get worse, but for now, I'm taking it a little bit at a time. Stick, babies, stick!

[txcplforivf]

Hey girls! Took me a minute to read through all of this and catch up.

Emma - I hope you are feeling ok and that you havent gotten anymore AF symptoms! Beta is Wednesday and I am praying for you girl!!!! Think good thoughts! Our bodies react to how our brains control them! GOOOODDD THOUGHTS!!!!!

IT81 - your beta is on Wednesday also? Good luck to you!!!!!

Margi - good luck on your IUI. Do you have a tentative date yet? what injections are you doing?

Jersey - IT WILL BE OK!!!!!! hang in there! Retreival is wednesday??? ill say a prayer for you! keep us posted. girl listen...about the friend pregnancy thing, my "best friend" of 17 years is pregnant with her 5th child! when i told her we were going to do IUI she sent me a text that said good luck. thats all i got from her after 17 years!!!!! I was mad! then, i didnt tell her anything about nothing cuz she never called to check on me, then about 2 months ago she called to tell me that she was miserable because: "THE BABY IS KICKING MY RIBS AND IT HURTS" girl i called her every friggin name in the book, and havent spoke to her since then!!!! She doesnt even know we are doing IVF. She is completely selfish!!!! ....i know how ya feel! IT WILL BE OKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!

Brklnmama - IM SOOO SCARED of those PIO shots!!!! eek

Deidraj - transfer today!!??!! yay! keep us posted tell us all about it. your PUPO !!!!!!

[JerseyTouchDown]

Hey ladies,

I woke up sick this morning with sinus issues so I wound up not traveling after all. Everything works out for a reason. With the hail and storms there is no way I'd of gotten back in time.

I got the call and we triggered tonight at 8 pm although technically it wound up about 8:12 hope 12 minutes won't mess anything up. I minor freaked when I saw it took that much time for prep. I iced it for a half hour and didn't feel a thing I highly recommend icing!

We have a pre op work up tomorrow and meeting with dr then have to be in for 6:30am on Wednesday for retrieval. Lead folli was at 1.9 and smallest up to 1.4 they say it's looking good so far fingers crossed.

Thinking good thoughts for you all
Emma and Dierdra stay positive! Keep us posted.

[deidraj]

Jersey- Good luck with your retrieval! Let us know how it goes.

I'm hanging in there. So far so good. I'm loving spending time with my husband (he had yesterday, we well as today off of work. He works 3rds so he doesn't go back until Wednesday night). I'm not looking forward to going back to work on Thursday. I'm a preschool teacher & it can be really stressful, so as for now, I'm enjoying relaxing & trying not to think to hard about my babies sticking.

[nancy1]

Hi again,

Emma: the bleeding you are experiencing could just be implantation bleeding. Also, bleeding episodes during IVF are not unusual. Don't want to give you false hopes, but don't just give up yet. Also, as I reported in my post, I had a lot of bleeding when I miscarried one of the twins. So that's another possibility: you might have been pregnant with multiples and maybe have lost one.

To everyone else having just had the transfer, good lo you all!
NAncy

[JerseyTouchDown]

Hi Ladies,

Met with the Dr. he said he is pleased with the response and if all goes well expects we may even have some frosties. All depends on quality of my husbands pre-chemo sperm when they defrost it tomorrow and the egg quality from those they retrieve tomorrow. He said that my Estrodial went back up on its own which is a good sign.

I'm trying not to get my hopes up but I'll stand on top of this mountain for a bit before I climb the next one. Its good to have some good vibes from the Dr vs. the its not working poor you look I got last time.

My right ovary is aching so I guess its a good thing we'll be emptying it tomorrow.

I have a question????????????? Starting the day after the procedure I'll be taking progesterone vaginal suppositories 3 times a day... and a few days after that will be taking estrace pills via mouth.Anyone have experience with these? side effects to expect?
I've thought I was going to be taking Progesterone as a daily IM shots...so I'm trying to wrap my mind around the put it up there 3 times a day thing and would like to get an understanding of what to expect. I'm glad they told me that if we get to tranfer day not to put it in that morning...

Cross fingers, toes, eyes and say prayers for good eggs for me! I know its silly but I keep thinking of the Golden Goose and Egg scene in Willy Wonka movie (the original) Here's to only good eggs on the eggdicator in the lab!
I feel like our ovaries are working overtime like the golden geese and the bad egg Veruca Salt song!!
Here's the scene I keep thinking of:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL3-pb2K ... re=related

Have a good night ladies! Baby dust to all!

[deidraj]

Jersey-Good Luck with your retrieval tomorrow. Fingers crossed that you get lots of good embryos! I'm on prometruim (the suppositories) 3x a day now, and I was the first time. Expect messiness, unfortunately. You might want to wear a panty liner while you are on them. As far as side effects, I haven't noticed any this time yet (I started them on Friday). I also don't remember side effects from the first time, but that was back in March, so it's been awhile. Since I also got my period the first time, I'm not sure if AF would have effected any symptoms. Sorry that I'm not much help. Good luck again & let us know how retrieval goes!

[Emma839]

It is BFN. I hope to hear good news from lt81.
since I am in the middle of my period, I can start taking BCP right away and start a new cycle directly. Is it really recommendable?
Another thing, Dr. said he got no clue why it did not work. How is it possible? I thought everything should have a reason!

[txcplforivf]

Emma - girl keep your head up. PM me if you want to....were all here for ya!

[deidraj]

Emma-I'm so sorry. My Dr. didn't have a reason for our first round not working. We had about a 40% chance of it not working (because we are so young) and it just didn't work out for us. I think it was stress at work but we won't ever know. After our 2nd round turned into an IUI and it failed, we were going to jump right in to another round (gave us less time to be sad). The Dr. did an ultrasound though and decided it would be best to wait a month and let my body rest. It's up to you & what your Dr. thinks is best. We are here for you no matter what.

AFM-I go back to work tomorrow. I'm trying not to think about it. My husband won't let me even talk about work. He wants me as stress free as possible. We will see how it goes. Also, what are everyone's opinions on doing HPT? I didn't do one the first round because the Dr. said that blood tests are more acurate & detect lower levels & he didn't want me to worry. From what I've been reading on here though, it seems like a lot of you ladies do POAS. I've got one test here at the house from a long time ago but is still good. I'm not sure if I want to use it or not. I just wanted opinions on how everyone else feels.