The Over 40 Crowd

[Catharine]

Greetings Ladies!

Welcome NY4thtry. You've joined a great group. Here you will not feel alone on your journey. So many lovely ladies with many kind words of compassion and/or encouragement.

Margi26-how's it going? sending you lots of PMA with baby dust.

Rhonda-how are you? been thinking of you and your family.

A big shout out to everyone else.

AFM-well in the 2ww. I hope it takes this go around. I had only one mature egg, I guess that is the difference between clomid and Femera. Clomid I get 5 mature follies, Femera 1. And to really add to the sucker punch I didn't have a thick lining a gain age is catching up faster than I want to admit. Ontop of that I've been walking around on a broken foot seriously how does that happen, caught up in the move and the tmt cycle. I'm so over being a human guinea pig. If only my desire to have one more child was not so strong. On a positive not, seeing how my consulting gig has slowed down in step with the economy, I've taken a P/T position with the local university tutoring some students. This allows for me to stay connected to my field of expertise and build contacts.

Wishing all you ladies all the best.

Cheers!
Catharine

[margi26]

Catharine: Aw...your poor foot! Glad to hear about the P/T job with the university...nothing like teaching to keep you young!

I am trying to keep up the PMA, but these next days are gonna be tough. My beta isn't until Thursday and I'm not sure I can stay sane until then. I POAS'd this morning to make sure the trigger shot was out of my system (and it was) so I will be doing some more over the next week. Hopefully it won't backfire on me.

I am leaving town on Friday to see my aging grandmothers and to attend my 25th high school reunion. Where on earth does the time go!? I am SO hoping that I will be getting on that plane with good news.

So, Catharine, when do you get your beta? Do you POAS? or do you resist?

[mrscutter]

hi, I wanted to ask you guys if you read this somewhere. I did read about taking the robitussin to thin the mucus during ovulation but what about drinkng milk??? my DH drinks about 4 protein shakes a day which is alot of milk. can the milk make his semen too thick??? i thought i read that but cannot remember where.

Thanks

[teachertam]

Hello Ladies:

Welcome NY4thtry.

Catharine: Sorry to hear about only one mature egg with your Femara cycle. Of course, you only need one good egg to
get pregnant. When will you be testing?

Margi26: How are you doing? Any news?

Rhonda: Yes, the drug in Robitussin that thins your mucous is guaifenesin. I know that when you
have a cold, you should limit the milk consumption since it does thicken the mucous. I'm not
an expert, but I think I would tell your DH to make his shakes with something other than milk.

AFM, I have been very preoccupied lately. My sister, who is 1 year older than me, was recently
diagnosed with breast cancer. It has been very stressful for our family .

I do think that we should either get our adoption referral the beginning of January or February.
It is a little stressful, as I wonder how the family dynamics will change and how she will fit in
with our family.

Take care all,
Tammy

[margi26]

Catharine: How are things with you? Any word? When is your beta? Do you POAS?

Tammy: So very sorry to hear about your sister. That indeed must be very stressful. Has she begun treatment?
It is exciting that the adoption information will be coming soon however. I have two adopted siblings and love them equally to my "blood" siblings. I am so happy and excited for you that that is moving along. I am sure she will fit in well--after a period of adjustment. Do you have a child identified? How old is she?

AFM: BFN. After feeling miserable for myself all weekend, I am trying to get right back in the saddle as we can afford one or two more tries. AF arrived today so I have a call in to my RE. Hoping we can start right away with this cycle if all looks clear.

[mrscutter]

tammy so sorry to hear about your sister. I am a mammographer and it breaks my heart each week when i come across that. I pray she will beat this. So excited for the adoption. keep us posted.

marg26 so sorry about your bfn.

[becca5m]

Hello to all. New here. Sorry I don't know all the abbreviations yet. Did our first IVF cycle August 2009 and but only had one embryo make it to day 3. Figuring at my age we are probably going to have to go the donor route, but in process right now of trying one last attempt with my eggs. On 300 Gonal F twice a day and have one more day of Luveris. I joined this site last year, but didn't post. I have had 3 surgeries to fix lining of my uterus, but have been given all clear by my dr after HSG, so fingers are crossed that this time the stars are aligned in our favor.

Ultrasound this Wednesday to see if the injections are effective. Of course, as you are all probably already aware, my age is a huge factor in low ovarian reserve. But I have faith, and that is what we are clinging to right now. And if this cycle doesn't work, my dr. already has us matched with a donor, so we will begin that process next.

Back story, DH and I just married on Jan 1, 2010. Have known each other since we were teenagers, but were just friends. He joined the Military (never married and no kids) and I married and began having children. I was devastated to find out my (now ex) husband was having an affair. We divorced. DH was home on leave and asked me out. Had a crush on me since age 17. I had no idea. Anyway, I just remember how much he made me laugh. I hadn't laughed in a very long time. I am deeply in love and want nothing more than to give this wonderful man a child. I pray that I am able to do just that.

[Catharine]

Hi all-
Greetings and well wishes to everyone.

Just a quick note. Another BFN and time to regroup

Take care all.
Catharine

[margi26]

Catharine: So sorry! (((((HUGS))))) Really nothing "right" to say. I just understand and am wishing only the best for you.

becca: Nice to meet you and welcome. I have only been active on the site since this summer. I am sorry for all that you have been through and I am wishing you the very BEST luck this cycle. Let us know how the u/s goes on Wednesday....I am happy to explain any abbreviations needed, but there is also a General thread that helps explain the abbreviations. Can I ask if you are using any acupuncture? yoga? other things to help "boost" your cycle? I hadn't been when I was doing my 3 IVF cycles, but am trying acupuncture now with my IUI.

AFM: Went in today for my check. A big cyst. darn! Waiting to hear if my E2 level is low enough to move forward this month or if I'll need wait.

[teachertam]

Hello Ladies:

Catharine: Sorry to hear your news.

Margi26: Sorry to hear about your BFN, but good to hear that you are right back on the horse.

We do not have a child identified yet. In China, they pick a child for you and then send you the photos and paperwork on that child. If you accept the referral, then you travel to China 2 months later to complete the adoption. I think we will get our referral packet either early January or early February. Our child should be a girl between the age of 4 - 14 months old.

Margi26 & Rhonda: Thank you for your kind words about my sister. She starts chemo this coming Monday. Her case is more difficult, due to her lung problems. She has had lung problems for years (she is not a smoker). Due to the lung problems she is having chemo first before the surgery. Thanks for your prays Rhonda. We can use all the prayers we can get now.

Take care all,
Tammy

[becca5m]

Feeling anxious. Today's ultrasound showed 5 follies. One is maturing nicely. 3 more looking ok, but not as up-to-speed as the first one. A 5th follie really to small to count in the mix. Dr. decided to do 2 more days of Gonal F and added Cetrotide also. I'm glad we made another attempt with my eggs, but feeling quite down that we don't have more follies to measure. I know we only need one, but this is a numbers game, in a way. I spent most of the day crying.

Trying to stay positive, but this is so hard.

[margi26]

Oh, Becca: So sorry that you are feeling down...2 more days of stimming can give time for some to catch up, plus once you trigger they continue to grow 1-2mm per day before retrieval. I am sending you positive energy! And as you said, it just takes one, but at our age--we want to see as many as possible to increase our odds. I totally hear you.

AFM: I am stimming away! They said because my E2 levels were good, I could move forward regardless of the cyst. I will go in Monday for SnS and see when to trigger! Hoping my follies are growing!!

Baby Dust!!

[margi26]

Becca: How are you doing? Are you scheduled for retrieval?

Catharine: How are you feeling? What is your plan?

AFM: SnS today was a bit disappointing with only 2 mature follies (+one large empty cyst) on my Left Side. There are about 6 in the 10-15 size, so I am hoping one or two of them "surge" ahead before ovulation. My E2 level is 1165, which I am embarrassed to say, I don't know how to interpret that. I guess I will have to go "googling" today after work. She said my lining was fine, so one more evening of stimming, trigger tomorrow night and then IUI on Thursday. I have acupuncture arranged for Wed and then Thursday after IUI.

[becca5m]

The positive energy you sent is working!! Ultrasound today shows great growth in 3 of the follies. 2 more are still too small for retrieveal. He says my hormone levels are fantastic and wants to take advantage of that to try and get the other 2 where we need them. So 2 more days of stimming. I was very pleased after today's appointment. Feeling quite hopeful right now.

marge, sounds like just where I was a few days ago. Stay positive!! Sending you good thoughts!

[NY4thtry]

Becca. Glad to hear you are feeling better .. positive energy is really important in this BREATHE!!

Marge same for you..

Catherine.. believe me i know where you are!!

AFM waiting for AF and then should start stims day 2 if Thanksgiving doesnt screw me up... Surrogaet is in a holding pattern and we will hopefully do a fresh transfer.