Winter 2010-2011 Cycle Board

[hotgreentea]

Do I alternate hips when injecting PIO? When will I feel the pain and bruising? We warmed up the oil a bit before injection. I have heard horror stories about PIO!

[jkulab]

Thank you everyone for all your words of encouragement. I need all the prayers and baby dust i can get. my beta will be 2/16/11. good luck to everyone and have a wonderful night.

[margi26]

Amanda79: Hope you heard from the nurse and got some relief...yeast infections can be so irksome. (And, nothing here is TMI!!)

Lee: Welcome! Feel free to ask any questions. We are an open and helpful group. Regarding acupuncture...I would go once a week while actively stimming and then the day of transfer/day of IUI. I find it to be very relaxing. Research suggests it can help improve rates, but regardless, it makes me feel more relaxed and better so that must help!!

Carol: Good luck on Monday. Hoping that shy ovary is “full of surprises”...but if not, will pray for some good baby dancing with results And yes, as Leora said, I did look into IVF abroad--it is way cheaper. Let me know if you want me to PM you some of my info. Whether DE or your own. And, you can do a two-fer...IVF and a great vacation location!

Jieb: Try to think positively. Lots of women come on and share stories of “lower” quality embies that make it into babies. You can never know for sure. And you had blasts so that is a step better already. Sending you lots of baby dust my friend. Hang in there. You are PUPO!!!!

Hope: Very glad to hear you are feeling better. Keep up the PMA PUPO-momma and let those embies snuggle in tight to momma....maybe that was some implantation cramping you felt? Let’s hope!!!

Sunshine12: Best of luck tomorrow with ER!!! Sending you lots and lots of baby dust.

Sherry: Take care of yourself. Maybe you are overdoing things with working? If you are worried about OHSS please keep good track of your weight and call RE if you gain 2 or more lbs in one day. Also, drink gatorade and salty foods....can’t do any harm, and if you are getting OHSS might help. It might just be from your over-worked ovaries. Mine are always sore, even the cycles I didn’t get OHSS. Take care of yourself--and call RE and check in so they can evaluate your symptoms. Regarding PIO--it isn’t the same for everyone. I hated it and was miserably in pain, but others don’t have such a difficult time with it. Hoping you are the latter!!! Warm up the oil as you are doing and massage the area after the injection.

Meinemo: Where have you been hiding, my friend! Wishing you the very best in your 2ww...how many did you transfer? How are you feeling?

Lauren: So you aren’t going to POAS after all eh? Alright..alright...but you have to keep up the PMA!! I just read your post tonight...or are you?! I understand the ambivalence. Sending you tons of BABY DUST.

Tiger: Keep up the PMA!! Too early...sorry if I was being so pushy about the POASing...give it some time...your BFP is coming!

Tammy: My LH was 3.5. How cool that we had similar #s. I hope to be following in your footsteps soon! Glad that Zach is feeling better. Hope you had a good night tonight and get some rest as tomorrow you will be PUPO!! Hoping and praying that all 4 of your embies do well for transfer. This is so IT for you!!!!

Qita: Keep up the PMA....you cannot interpret symptoms during the 2ww..some have none and get BFP others have “symptoms” but they can be from meds or from AF on her way...very difficult. Hang in there!! Let us know if you get something exciting on POAS, but remember that some women get negative on HPT and still get a positive beta. Wishing you lots of luck!!!

Kynlee: First shot tomorrow...yippeee!!! Mine starts the 9th...not too far behind ya!


SD: You trigger tonight?! Fabulous. Good luck with ER tomorrow...I know you are mostly posting on that other thread, but please keep us updated with #s, fertilization reports, etc. Looking at a 4 day transfer? Best of luck to you!!!! (And love your ticker, too btw).

Leora: Ganirelix tomorrow, eh? You are moving right along! So exciting. Can’t wait to hear your SnS report tomorrow. I am sure everything will be looking great! And in terms of keeping yourself busy--is there another production you can be a part of? Good luck with the job searching.

Lyd10: That sounds quite uncomfortable...so sorry. Did the nurse know what she was doing for heaven sakes?! Does the discomfort subside soon after she is finished? I hear you about the success with frozen, but I will still be hoping and praying for a BFP with your fresh embies.

Lou: Hope you are still “aglow” and feeling good. Enjoy this weekend!! I will say prayers tomorrow night for a great beta rise on Monday for you.

Kerri: Good luck with ER Monday. Hope you have several mature eggs in there.

Annashope: So wonderful to hear from you. Sorry to hear about your morning sickness ....hang in there...crackers, tea, I’m sure you are trying it all. It will PASS...hopefully very soon for you--you are almost to the 2nd trimester. How fabulous!! Thank you for the well wishes. I am full of PMA about this plan.

AFM: Well ladies..I received my tentative calendar!! Yeah!!! Start Lupron on 2/9. Last bcp 2/12 and start stimming when AF shows on the 15th or 16th...then fly to Cali the 24th with ER around 2/28 and ET around 3/3. I am totally psyched. (I guess this would be called a "Lupron Protocol"? It is my first time with Lupron) Looking at hotwire, expedia, etc for good flights and trying to figure out hotels. I'm a bit worried about how to pick one that we can afford, but is in a decent neighborhood, etc. Needing to stay 10 days, so can't be spend too much per night, but want to be comfortable, safe and quiet so I can get good rest. Anyone have any suggestions for the LA/Beverly Hills area? I see some options....

Baby Dust to all of you strong IVF (IUI) women!!!!

[to_have_fun08]

margi- good luck to you on your up coming cycle. some clinics have deals with local hotels. maybe you could get a discount through your clinic. just a thought. We will be in the 2ww together. ER for my donor should be around the 26th of Feb, transfer 5 days later.

[mellow4]

Crashing again!

Margi~ You could stay with me We aren't far from there! I'm so excited for you, I am sooooooo hopeful for you and will be praying and keeping you in my prayers as you go through this process, and so far from home! Seriously though, if you are interested, PM me...my home is open!

[leorira11]

LYD10 - for me, I take my last stim (ie, Follistim/Menopur + Ganirelix) in the afternoon and trigger at night.

As for my nightmare of a story--- with my twins, everything was absolutely perfect, until baby girl A's water broke at 21w6d. We went to the hospital and were told that we had to terminate the pregnancy because there was no way that either baby would make it to viability and there was an enormous risk of infection for me (basically that I would either die or lose my ability to have more babies). We asked 2nd and 3rd opinions, but were told the same thing. With really heavy hearts, we induced labor and my twins were born 25 hours later - at exactly 22 weeks. No attempt was made to save them, because they were younger than 24 weeks. Since then, I've learned that pPROM (preterm premature rupture of membranes) is not the death sentence my doctors proclaimed. I was quite far along (some people pPROM at 16-18 weeks and make it to viability) and I wasn't in labor at all (no dilation, no contractions). In any case, the fact that it was fraternal twins (ie, baby boy B's water was fine) should have prompted the doctors to encourage me to continue the pregnancy as long as I could.... but that didn't happen and I can't change that now. pPROM is very very uncommon and most doctors don't like to risk the micro-preemies and the malpractice suits that go with it... no one thought that I would have this much trouble conceiving with IVF again....

The failed FETs - my doctors just say that is bad luck. My odds are about 50% --- so far 3/7 embryos transferred have been pregnancies (twins to 22wks and singleton to 8/10wks).... so I'm not doing so badly....

Because one loss was 2nd trimester and one was 1st trimester, my doctors don't think there is any relationship that could be a cause of recurrent loss. I've been tested for a million things (uterine malformations, IC, blood clotting factors, etc) and everything checks out. We've gotten 2nd and 3rd opinions, and every doctor thinks I should conceive with IVF and carry a a baby to term. Because of my twins loss, I'll be carefully monitored in my 2nd trimester, but things should be fine.

We have some SERIOUS bad luck....

Funny how you aren't holding your breath for the fresh and just want the FET --- I'm the opposite! I've NEVER gotten pregnant out of 3 FETs... but both fresh cycles have worked! I'm hoping that I don't have any to freeze, so that if this doesn't work, I can do fresh again right away!

deftonesmo - I'm sorry about the cyst - that sucks.

Kerri - congrats on triggering! I hope your ER goes really well tomorrow!

Lauren - I buy HPTs in bulk! On ebay, you can get 10miu/ml tests (really sensitive) for really cheap, so I stock up.

Sherry - I found that the PIOs don't hurt immediately... but after a few days, my bum was really sore (as in, it hurt to sit). But I never thought it was as bad as the horror stories I had heard!

Jeib - just 10 days until beta! yay!

Margi - freaking ironically, I didn't audition for the new show because I was working so much! I never saw David - so I decided to take a break from doing shows. What a freaking joke! I will email the director and ask to help out backstage, props/makeup/costumes --- I want a break from the intense rehearsal schedule, but I want to be involved. Congrats on having a schedule! Woo hooo!

Mellow - that is an amazing offer - so nice! I'm always amazed at the friendships we can make, even though we never meet!

Tiger - we haven't heard from you... I'm guessing the POAS isn't going so well.... I hope you are just way too early...

AFM - SnS this morning - my clinic's policy is to only measure the lead follicle until they are bigger - so I have a 10mm follie on each side, plus tons of smaller ones. I'm waiting for the phone call with my e2 level and my doses --- the nurses says that usually people start the Ganirelix when the lead follicle is about a 12....I'm not sure if that's what I did last time.... I don't have written down exactly what happened the last 2 times (because I was trying not to obsess), but I stimmed slower (ie, 10mm follie only at day 7 of stims or so and today is day 6) hmmmm..... I'll just try to relax and trust my doctors.

In general - how much do they want the follies to grow every day? You trigger when they are about 18-20, right?

Also - as I was leaving the hospital - I ran into my former boss (who was fired in Sept)! Of all people! I really really love her - she was there because she was picking up her mom who was being discharged after surgery. Since I had nowhere else to be today (no job!) I hung out with them for a while, which was nice. She thinks I'll definitely find a job and she'll be a reference for me!


So many exciting things today ----

Kynlee - first injections! yay!
Tammy - ET! Good luck!
Sunshine 12 and SDtrying#2 - ER today! Good luck!



THE LIST:




-swaters2815 (Stephanie) - starting mid-January
-kbillsy – IUI 12.4, Beta BFN - saving up money to do it again!
-jmbella (Jenn) - waiting to start late-Jan/early-Feb
-Sunshine1576 - PLAN: Lap surgery, 2 rounds of IUI and then IVF in June (if not already pregnant!)
-deftonesmo - cyst - ugh - u/s to see if it's gone 2.9
-anton - end of Feb



-Krisnjer - AF is here! on OCP, Suppression check on 1.19, ER/ET early Feb
-JustSoLost - on OCP - starting in Jan, approx ER/ET in early Feb, starting Lurpon 1.24, approx ER 2.14
-andsahsa - starting stims mid Feb, approx ET 3.3
-margi26 – started BCP 2.2 - approx ER 3.1



- andrea3821 - COME ON, AF!
-nwquiz - waiting for next AF for IUI



-NancyB - FET delayed to April
-Katie1231 - FET 2.15
-luv2bamom (Subha) - FET on 1.25



-Kynlee - AF started 1.18 - start Lupron Feb 6th - approx ER March 15



-CjofNC (Carol) – IUI - started AF 1.25
-LYD10 -starting Lupron on 1.15 and stims on 1.29
-leorira11 (Leora, aka listmistress!) - started stims 2.1
-wannabeamum (Samantha) - started stimming 1.31



-hotgreentea (Sherry) - start stims 1.23 - ER 2.3 - ET
-TammyS – start stims on 1.22, ER 2.3 - ET 2.6
-Sunshine 12 - start stims 1.27 - ER 2.6
-SDtrying#2 - started stims 1.27, ER 2.6 and ET 2.11 - beta 2.22
-Kerri_789 - started stims 1.26 - ER 2.7



-lauren1171 - IUI 1.27, beta 2.9 (WTF on 2.2)
-Tiger04 - IUI on 1.25/26 beta - POAS starts 2.4!
-amanda1979 - ER on 1.27 - ET 1.30 - beta 2.11
-qita71 - 5dt on 1.27
-HopeIsAllIHave (Ashley) - ER 1.28 - ET 2.3 - beta 2.11
-Kimber Baby - ER 1.28 , ET 2.3 - beta
-jkulab – start stims 1.21, ER 1.30 - ET on 2.5 , beta 2.16




-anacris (Nov) – FET 11.29, Beta 12.11 = 444, u/s on 12.28 - one happy, healthy baby!
-rypell1985 (Ryann) – start Lupron 10.11, lining check 11.29, FET 12.3, Beta 12.15 = 275, beta #2 = 824 - u/s = twins!
-annashope – natural IUI 12.2, Beta = 247, Beta#2 = 725 - one happy, healthy baby!
-kildean23 – FET 12.14, beta 12.27 = 565!, 2nd beta = 1315!, u/s on 1.6 - 2 sacs! next u/s 1.31
-taxcplforivf (Ginger) – start stims 12.4, ER 12.15, ET 12.20, beta 12.29 = 68!, beta #2 - 1466!, u/s 1.17
-BakersBaby (Kelly) – start stims 12/3, ER 1.13, ET 12.16, beta 12.30 = 365!, beta #2 1.7 = 3300, u/s one happy, healthy baby! OB visit on 2.2
- Karian - SURPRISE SPONTANEOUS BFP! beta = 101!, beta #2 - 566, u/s 1.18 - one happy, healthy baby!
-krcaja (Kristin) - ER 1.11, ET 1.16, beta 1.28 = 364! next beta 1.31 = 1565! u/s 2.15
- lou71 (Lou) - started stims 1.11, ER on 1.21, ET 1.24, beta 2.4 = 290! next beta 2.7


-Krys – started estrogen 11.11, FET 11.30, Beta 12.14- BFN
-Cshell717 (Mishell) – start stims 11.22, ER 12.3 w/ ET 12.6, beta 12.20 -BFN
-x0Heather0x – FET, b/w 12.3, u/s 12.10, FET 12.16, beta 12.28 - BFN
-Riya - beta on 1.7 BFN
-Jamiep03 - ET 12.27, beta 1.9 = 21.8, chemical
-kariberri517 - 3dt on 12.10, beta on 12.27 = 392, 12.29 = 472, 12.30 = 576...
-Sweetpea614 (Kat) - ER 1.14, ET 1.16, beta 1.28 BFN
-lynniecat - started stims 1.4 - ER 1.16 - no eggs at ER
-Penny100 (Darlene) - ET 1.17, beta 1.31 BFN
-Trusting (Amanda) - started stims 1.10, ER 1/24 - beta 2.4 BFN

[anton]

hey ladies!
just a quicky for Lou and I do personals later!

LOU-CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Iam so so so HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!! i was thinking of you girl and I was hoping for BFP for you!! i just found the time to take a pick on the board just for you So you made it!!!! you are pregnant!!!! Bravo girl!! you realy deserve it!!! with all this love sending towards you on this board it couldn't be but positive!!!!! you will be an ispiration for 1 embie transfers! hope your numbers are great and on Monday!! how about twins!!! i wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy!!! love and kisses from Cyprus!! xxxxxxx

anton

[leorira11]

I got my call back from the clinic -- no ganirelix yet. Oh well. They upped me to 3 vials of Menopur and I go back on Tuesday.

[hotgreentea]

Bless your heart, Leora. I am so sorry you have to take so much Menopur. (hugs) That stuff made me cringe every time because of the burn.


ETA:
*We have 14 embryos still holding on. Yay!*

[jkulab]

hi ladies - i got a call from the embryologist and said that they cannot freeze the remaining four blasts b/c they were not of high quality for freezing. i hope that doesn't mean the ones that were transfered yesterday are not going to take. plus, if this doesn't work, then i'll have to do another cycle with all the injections again.

[LYD10]

Oh my goodness, Leora. what a story! i am so sorry! i hope it wasnt too difficult to write it all down again. i didnt mean to make you relive it so sorry for what happened! as you probably know better than anyone now - twin pregnancy can be like that - they are more dangerous than singletons. but what can we, IVF girls, do? we have to take our chances... no real way around it.
With my first IVF i was definitely more prepared to take on more risk. i didnt think twice about transferring 3. on the other hand, i thought lets just get pregnant with twins and get it over with. but after going through pregnancy once, i realize how many things can go wrong and i am much more conservative now. since i am 39 i am not in a position to transfer just one - my odds are way too low for that - but i think i'll just go two at a time until it works.
well, it certianly sounds like there is nothing wrong with your uterus or your eggs or her hubbies sperm. it is just a ridiculous run of bad luck. urghh - not fair. but i am with SD - its gotta end very very soon! you've paid your dues to lady luck at this point. the coin is going to land your way this cycle

looks like your follies are progressing nicely. they say they are supposed to grow 2mm per day - but that's later when they get going. in teh beginning it depends - mine didnt do anything for 5-6 days and then take off.
i think this cycle is going to work for you! you have lots of follies growing and its just a matter of one embryo sticking!

[Kerri_789]

SD,
I like your thought: bad luck will not come forever. The more one tries, the more good luck one will get. I will keep my chin up and go ahead!
Kerri

[gi]

Just popping in!

LOU OMG i have been waiting all weekend to get to jasons work laptop (we dont have a computer at home) to check your news and girl i am just sooooooo thrilled this has made my weekend!!!!!!! I just knew you had a little fighter in there, best of luck with 2nd beta tomorrow jason better not be late home from work cause i will be dying to know!!! 2011 is gonna be your and dhs year xxxx

Tammy all my fingers and toes are crossed for you too xx

gi xx

[lou71]

jkulab -- Just because your embies didn't make it to freeze does NOT mean that the ones that were transfered weren't any good. Each embie is different and you only need one good one. You've now got THREE chances for that! Anything is possible. And you were right about February!

karian -- Thank you so much! I hope you are enjoying your pregnancy.

CJ -- I pray you and DH are able to make a decision that you both feel good about. I really feel that good things will happen for you. I'm sorry the road is so tough.

hopeisallihave -- I'm so glad you are feeling better! I agree with your decision not to poas. I did it at 8dpo because I was pretty sure I felt implantation around 5-6 dpo (which I did) but the test was negative. I'm attaching my hpt photos... look at the one I did at 14dpo when my beta was 290. It's so light! HPT's just mess with your head. If I would have had a blood test at 8 dpo it would have been positive. Try to enjoy being PUPO.

sunshine12-- Thinking of you today at ER!!! Best of luck for some beautiful eggies.

SD -- You are in my thoughts as well! Update us when you can.

hotgreentea -- Oh you poor dear. I'm so sorry you're in so much discomfort. I hope you are better today. I do alternate hips for the PIO. I ice the skin for about a minute and that helps the initial pain. After a while, I just use the one that's less bruised...lol. They don't feel good but they aren't horrible either.

Leora -- I'm praying very hard for you. My RE is Jewish and we are Christian, so we have a joke that he'll pray his way and we'll pray ours and double our chances for success. I'm definitely doing this for you too. Lucky 6. I'm not taking no for an answer for you!!! Thanks for doing such an awesome job on the list. How fortunate for you to run into your old boss! Definitely a good reference for you to have. As for finding another job... if you aren't showing, don't tell them you are pregnant when you interview!

Tiger -- I'm thinking of you and praying for your BFP. When is your beta? Don't let the sticks drive you crazy.

Lauren -- 3 more days until your beta. I'm thinking of you and praying for that BFP! AF symptoms could be a very good sign!

LYD -- The day before trigger is the last day of stims in most cases. My RE has had me give myself a half dose of Follistim in the afternoon on the day of trigger a couple of times though. YES!!! Do acupuncture!!! I did it from a professional who specializes in treating fertility IVF patients on BOTH my BFP cycles. I had what I call "placebo acupuncture" from someone with little experience or no acupuncture on my BFN cycles. I really think it helps a lot personally.

kerri789-- Thank you! I will definitely keep the board updated. I'm nervous since I've had a loss. I like your outlook on focusing on having a couple of quality embies over larger numbers of them.

annashope -- Thanks for crashing! I appreciate it. I hope your morning sickness subsides soon.

Lee -- I've learned A LOT about acupuncture and TCM. You want to find an acupuncturist who has a degree in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) AND also has experience in treating fertility issues. If possible, go once per week for an hour long session a month before you start IVF. Then go TWICE during stims, as close to before AND after ET as you can, and then 2-3 days later to help with implantation. After that, go once per week throughout the first trimester to prevent miscarriage. I also read the book by Randine Lewis called "The Infertility Cure". It's really interesting. I followed the diet for my "kidney yang deficiency" that my acupuncturist diagnosed me with and took herbs the month before IVF. Good luck to you!

Margi -- I'm soooo excited about your cycle. I've got such good vibes for you. I really think you made a great choice and that you are going to have some beautiful embies to transfer. What an awesome offer from Mellow for you to have a place to stay too! Lot's of love to you. I did take HPT's Fri, Sat, and today. They are attached to this post below. They're getting darker!!!

Chris -- Looking forward to a March BFP for you!!! I'm so excited for your donor cycle. Please keep us posted. This is your time!

Anton -- Thank you so much for the love from Cyprus!!! I only have a 2% chance of twins so we doubt that, but I guess anything is possible. Looking forward to your BFP next month. You've been though a lot too by looking at your signature. It's gotta be your time for a happy ending too.

Gi -- Thanks for crashing. We were really surprised to get the call. I immediately started crying. Yes, this little embie IS a fighter. I can't wait to tell him/her the story someday. I will definitely update the board tomorrow on my beta. The good news it, my HPT's are getting darker. See photo below.

AFM -- I'm having some AF type cramping which I think is pretty normal. Still gagging when brushing my teeth too. I actually welcome every symptom I have. I took HPT's on 14, 15, & 16 dpo. They are definitely getting darker so that's a good sign I think. See photo below. Notice how light the BFP is at 14dpo when my beta was 290!!!! I don't trust those sticks!!!! Second beta is tomorrow, I will update as soon as I get the call.

[lou71]

Tammy -- Waiting for an update!!!! Did you transfer 4 beauties? I'm sending you tons of positive energy today.