The Over 40 Crowd

[becca5m]

Hope everyone is doing well.

AFM: Hormone levels bottomed out. Retrieval cancelled.

[margi26]

becca: So sorry, hon. That stinks big time. (((HUGS))) Hang onto your loving DH-your true love. What are next steps?

Tammy: Hope that chemo is going well for your sister. My prayers continue for her...it seems extra difficult around the holdays when family gets sick. So very sorry.

NY: Has AF raised her evil head? Moving forward? I'll do the AF dance for ya if needed.

AFM: Had my IUI today. As I posted a few days ago, several potential follies, a good E2 level (my nurse told me it is twice what it was last cycle), and today, great sperm count (33 million) and 98% motility (GO DH!! ) I went to acupuncture so now the dreaded 2ww begin...hoping for sanity and for the time to fly...but I know me. It will be Crazytown very soon.

[Catharine]

Greetings Ladies!

I hope this finds all in good spirits as the season's festivities are nearly afoot.

Tammy-I was saddened to read of your sisters diagnosis. My heart goes out to her, you and your families. Sending ya'll PMA as she battles the beast. Prayers to all. On another note, looking forward to hearing about your trip to China [2011] and all the wonders you will experience as you add to your family.

Becca-Welcome. So sorry to hear the cancellation. Ditto's on Margi's words, 'hang onto that DH for comfort'. You will find this is a great group of women, a source of support and comfort along your journey on this roller coaster ride.

Margi26-babydust, babydust, babydust along with loads of PMA.

NY4thtry-How are you? Thanks for your empathy.

Hi to everyone else lurking around.

AFM-We're taking a break from the process till the new year. Then we will revisit the topic. The RE has sugested donor egg. Although I'm all for it, DH now says funds are lacking. I believe him, just am saddened over the news. If only I had a 'real' job to contribute to the 'fund'. I have started taking Vitex to assist in reseting my hypothalamus aka lowering my FSH levels. I've increased my intake of celery, apples, pineapple, red beans. I'm seriously considering going to organic/free range meat. Not that we eat a lot of meat, but eating meat without all the artificially elevated hormones and antibiotics is believed to aid in preserving fertility. Basically, I'm trying to get the body at an optimum for my age to increase our chances of conceiving naturally. Additionally using stix to predict ovulation. Of course there is the DH variable of very low slow and poor morph sperm I just can not win.

Take Care All.
Catharine

[margi26]

Catharine: Glad to hear from you...I certainly understand the financial issues..Wishing you good luck as you work to get your body in "optimal" shape and wishing you wonderful holidays. Perhaps a natural miracle will happen for you with your ovulation stix and some baby dust. And thank you so much for the PMA and baby dust...I am trying to hold onto my sanity.

AFM: Certainly going to be going nuts this 2ww...I can feel it already. Why is it so hard to relax and wait? 11 more days until beta...seems an eternity...not sure what our plans will be if BFN...we can afford one more IUI...Tammy--your inspiration story with your conception helps me hold on more than you can know. Thank you ladies for your support during this time. I really don't know what I would do without this forum.

[mrscutter]

Catharine,
what is Vitex?? is it a natural supplement or prescrition???
Hi to everyone else. Thinking of you all during your journey. Especially thinking of you Tammy and your sister.
AFM, just turned 43 two weeks ago and my hopes of having another baby naturally have faded. My always regular 28 day AF have turned into two cycles ago it was 26 days last month it was 35 days this month it was 25 days. looks like my body is heading to menopause i guess. i hate that!!! I get so sick at the thought of going down that road especially since DH is 9 years younger than I and also that I could only give him one child (which by the way he adores so much).

Also I have noticed that my hair has been falling out alot lately. Took me 4 months to get a period after having bella and she is 14 months old now and hair is not back to normal. Oh boy I sound a mess dont I. I wish so much that you all would have your dreams come true and I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. Im going to remind my self of all the things I DO have to be thankful for. Much baby dust to you all.

Rhonda

[margi26]

Rhonda: So sorry you are having a difficult time right now. I hope you were able to celebrate a good Thanksgiving.

NY? How are ya doing? Have you gotten started stimming? Hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

AFM: My PMA is starting to falter as I get closer to beta and still only BFN on HPTS. I know, I know, could still get a BFP on Beta day (12/2). I guess all I can do is keep...

Babydust to all you ladies.

[NY4thtry]

Margi,

fingers are crossed for you...

Thanks for reaching out..

Well i havent started stimming because on dau 2 i had 2 "cysts" one on each ovary.. he put me on progesterone to supress them and low and behold 6 days later one went away and the other looks like a folly at 26.. so i triggered last night and we will get that one hopefully .. re says he has to drain it anyway or will screww with next cycle.. so looks like next live cycle with the surrogate is pushe to Jan.. hopefully we get and embryo from this egg.. we will see retrieval is tomorrow am..

we will have to freeze it as surrogate isnt reay .. oh well..

Hope everyone had a great thanksgiving

[Catharine]

Margi-sending lots of baby dust and PMA. I'm praying for that special BFP for you.

Greetings all. Hope this finds everyone well.

Not much news here. Just preping for the holiday season.

Wishing all well.
Catharine

[margi26]

Holiday greetings to all!

NY: How'd it go? Did you get the embie? Able to fertilize and freeze?

Catharine: Thanks for the well wishes, but one more for me. Sigh. But I was prepared for it. My POASing gave me an indication. I have enough meds for one more try...I am wanting to go more aggressively, but nurse was hesitant because they are afraid I will hyperstim like I did 2 yrs ago when I started this process. I had a very (unusual) and severe case that landed me in the hospital for many weeks. Anyway, I was doing IVF and a MUCH higher dose of meds than I am requesting to take. We shall see. She will call me tomorrow to let me know what RE says. I am crampy already so AF should be here in a couple of days. Hoping to get started again--maybe Monday? Let's hope no cysts to get in the way. I still have a chance to be pregnant in 2010.

[mrscutter]

so sorry for your bfn. hope everyone else is doing ok. wishing you happy holidays and much baby dust

[margi26]

Well ladies...here I go again! I have been stimming for 7 days on Gonal-F and Menopur. I have 3 mature follies on my left and maybe 2-3 others that may be mature size as well. (I only have a tube on Left so I don't worry about what is brewing on the Right). My lining is 13 and my E2 is 3389. I triggered today and have IUI tomorrow. I am not sure about having the IUI only 24 hours after IUI (instead of 36 hrs). Any opinion on that? Should I ask for a double IUI? I think the RE originally told me there was no real benefit to doing two. Hm.

Anyway--please send me babydust! After 6 cycles (3 IVF and now 3 IUI) I am getting tired and it is more difficult to keep up the PMA.

Best of wishes to all of you!! And happy holidays!!

[CarolineP]

Hi margi26

I got pregnant at 43 on my 4th IVF - I know exactly how you are feeling. I wish you all the luck in the world.

Keep up the PMA, you never know this might just be the one!

CarolineP

[margi26]

Thanks Caroline for the encouragment!

Well--I did it this morning--had the IUI. We are also trying to BD as much as possible to make sure there are plenty of swimmers available. The nurse said they don't do double IUIs since research doesn't support it. Hm. She also said that washed sperm live as long as regular sperm and I know that isn't the case, but I am going to remain positive and hopeful.

Off to acupuncuture and a relaxing evening. Hoping for a good 2ww with a wonderful ending!!

Hope that all is going well with you other ladies! Anyone active at the moment? NY?, Rhonda?

Catharine: How are you doing? I know you were taking a break until the New Year, but hoping that all is well with you.

[mrscutter]

marg26,
Good luck to you. I so hope you get that bfp. wouldn't that be a wonderful new years?? I found out i was pregnant on new years day two years ago. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Rhonda

afm not much going on. just hoping nature will prevail.

[children]

Hi, just a quick note to wish everyone good luck in the new coming year, will update soon once i catch up on everyone's progress.

yasmina