FEB / MARCH 2011 Cycle Buddies!! can't wait!

[becca5m]

Hello everyone, I am new to this thread. Babydust to all.

5 day transfer done on March 4. Our first beta set for Monday but I am dying to POAS. I've been so incredibly tired this week. I just want to be able to tell DH in a special way, rather than him finding out from the RE, as they will have to call him with the results, since I can't take calls at work. Today I bought a test, but I'm going try and hold out for the weekend.

[BlissfulCS]

Blair- your AF dance this time is in my living room. I am singing "Let The Good Times Flow" to the tune of "Let the Good Times Roll" by the Cars and doing The Lawnmower. Bring it ON!!!

Do you know who the Cars are or are you too young??? Lol...

I love that you wear your Kentucky shirt to the "Big Dance". I have lucky clothes too...

[blairwh58]

Bliss- I love it!! Even though I'm young, DH likes to quiz me on music artists so yes I know the song and group- I started singing it once I read your post. As for my lucky clothes...I may have to switch things up this time and pick a new lucky shirt. But its going to be a BFP no matter what (I'm trying really hard to stay positive the entire cycle). Your beta is getting sooooo close!! I cannot wait for next wk.

[totsie]

Blair-thanx that made me feel better. I was thinking of POAS the morning of beta just to prepare myself but I'm not sure..

[BlissfulCS]

Blair-Oh yeah... The fave clothes change up every cycle... But I plan them out in advance and they always have some sort of meaning.

Welcome Becca. I was starting to feel lonely on the 2ww after FUN went and got herself knocked up. Great to have you and Totsie to go nuts with over the next 4 days!

Crissylove- thinking of you and can't wait to hear how it went.

Good Night Ladies!

[totsie]

y isn't this allowing me to post !

[WeHaveHope]

Thank you so much to everyone who came to my rescue. I have been driving myself crazy trying to figure out the timeframe for my FET cycle. I haven't wanted to call my RE to ask because I have felt that I would be a bother. I had to talk to him so much during the weeks following my ER due to OHSS that I did not want to bother him again. From what I have read, it looks as though we are looking at FET for the 1st week of April. Maybe, a January baby! Oh, I know I should not think that way. I don't want to be disappointed. One day at a time. Wishing everyone lots of Baby Dust!

[crissylove]

Went for U/S today as you all know. Dr. spent several minutes doing physical examination bcuz of OHSS. I almost jumped off the table bcuz the pain was so excrutiating. Next, he began the sonogram by looking at my female anatomy and immediately noticed something odd-looking right beside my ovary. By this time I'm already sobbing because the silence is eerily deafening. After several mins of agonizing probing he tells me that I have an ectopic pregnancy. I fight to hold back uncontrollable tears but it's impossible. At this point I'm telling myself everything from "I can't believe this is happening" to trying to hold it together with "If this is what God wants"...still I can't fight back the tears.
Now, he begins to examine my uterus bcuz he wants to know what happened with the other two embryos. He sees something in my uterus that resembles a sac but he can't be sure because I have so much fluid in my pelvic region, and the sac doesn't have a heartbeat. I get a glimmer of hope at this point, but I began screaming if this is a pregnancy in my uterus what do we have to do to hang on to IT? He says to me that he's fairly certain what we're dealing with is an ectopic so we may have to do surgery and hope that the other one (if there is another one) doesn't miscarry. He tells me that he's sending me over to the hospital to confirm his observation and informs me not to eat or drink in the event of surgery.
Once he leaves the room I lose it. All my hopes and dreams dashed. All the "milestones", eating right, healthy living, myomectomies...all for nothing!! I immediately say to my husband "I knew this was too good to be true", and I'm thinking in my head how close I was to having what I wanted.
As I'm being wheeled through the hospital corridor I'm passed by a pregnant lady and a newborn in an incubator being taken away from the O.R. where it was birthed. I lose it again.
Once on the table in ultrasound the tech does her anatomy thing too. She measures my ovaries, uterus etc. Then she starts to compare the area of concern on my docs photos to what she's seeing. Unlike most u/s techs who are hesitant to inform you of anything and leave it up to the radiologist to interpret, this one is very forthcoming. She's explaining everything she's doing bit by bit. She goes on to my uterus and notices the pregnancy there and ask if I was told about the "yolk". I said no. She says "hmm". Once she completed snapping all the images I ask her what she thinks about the sack in my uterus she says that I'm in that window where if they see the yolk is a pretty good sign that it's a precursor to the heartbeat and with IVF it's difficult to know exactly when implantation occurred and so forth. She tells me "hang in there and don't worry". So I feel okay at this point pushing to see what more she thought about my ectopic. She tells me (and I can't believe she was so free with info/opinions) that the chances of me having an ectopic on an ovary was 1:64,000. She said that she was pretty sure this was a corpus luteum cyst. My eyes light up!! I'm filled with a sense of renewed hope.
She has me empty my bladder and she precedes to do another more thorough exam. This time (under the direction of the Radiologist) she adds more color and some method that shows the blood flow and she says that she doesn't think it's ectopic. Afterward, she does my uterus again and says she sees the beginning of what she can confirm is a pregnancy. Once she's done she brought in the Radiologist (that never happens!) and the radiologist concurs that with "cautious optimism" she doesn't think it's an ectopic, and not only does the yolk sac look good and viable, that there may be another one there, however time will tell.
UNFREAKINBELIEVALBLE!!!!
Can IVF ever be drama free? Holy crap!! I know this is long but I had to take you guys on this emotional day with me. So long story long, I have to follow with a repeat u/s in one wk. OH! and btw I'll be draining the OHSS fluid tmrw. Ladies, if you're thinking the panicking and worry that something will go wrong ends with the BFP, and that ur all safe and sound think again! When I bring home that live baby maybe then. Geesh!!
So I ask you keep us in your thoughts that this will all turn out to the good. Thanks so much for listening.

[LYD10]

Oh my god Crissy - what a story!!!!!! i am keeping my fingers crossed that next week's U/S will bring you nothing but joy!!!! wow - talk about IVF drama. well -all is well that ends well, as they say. and i am just keeping my fingers crossed you'll have a great u/s next week!

i had my beta on the same day as yours - so we are beta buddies i have my first u/s next friday as well. and i am just praying i see a healthy fetal pole and a heartbeat!

yep - ivf is a roller coaster!!!

[cindylou]

Was just checking in quickly before turning out the light (i'm so tired today and already in bed!) but I had to respond to crissy's post...

Crissylove - OH MY GOSH, Wow! Girl, you have been through the ringer and back again today. I hate that you've had the panic and the fear...but I am so relieved to hear that all is well and there is one (possibly two) little ones in there growing happily! I cannot imagine all you have been through in this one single day - it's too much - but I am thinking of you and hoping that each day from here on out are smooth and easy. You deserve it!

Today I went in to the doc office for labs. While I was there, I asked my nurse about my earlier E2 level post-BCP, on 3/3...she said it was 20, which seemed impossibly low to me but she said was what they wanted in able to better control my cycle, or something to that effect.
Once the results from today's b/w were in, she called and left message for me to keep on the same regimen of Lupron 20units (2x day) and Follistem 450 units (1x day) and to come in on Sunday for an U/S and more b/w.
I called her back and left message that I would really like to know the actual E2 number.
She called me back (another message) and said that it was 82...(!)...her words were that it was "somewhat low" but to stay on track and we'll talk on Sunday.
I sensed that she was hesitant to give me the numbers, since I had to ask for them, but I feel now she didn't want me to worry. But an 82 is more than a little low, right?! I started Lupron on 3/4 and have been on Follistem since 3/6...after this many days, shouldn't I have much higher E2 levels to reflect healthy growing follicles?? At what point do they cancel a cycle due to inadequate response? I'm disappointed...and Sunday feels like a long time away.
Would love to hear any advice or clarification on E2 levels.

Cindy

[Pumpkin11]

Hi Ladies! I finally made it to my destination. Its 230 am now in puerto rico but I can't go to sleep without writing. What an eventful few hours since my last post.

MamaBoo - lots of luck to you tomorrow. Positive thoughts and surround yourself with nothing but pleasant things. Good things are coming!

Totsie - welcome! Both times that I've been pregnant I had the mild often cramping. The cramps were a bit different as I felt pains coming from the uterus. Remember that with IVF your not exactly sure when implantation occurs and some people even have spotting. Stay positive and know that its normal and a sign/symptom of pregnancy.

Bliss - those AP's have great knowledge about the different pulses. I used to go to one that I swore had a 6th sense! They have a thorough and holistic approach that is amazing. You too have many sign/symptoms. Are you feeling or seeing any changes in your breats? By the way I love the pregnancy mind comment. LOL

Blair - I totally agree, I'm a worrier and if for some reason my nurse friend can't make it, automatically my mind will see it as a negative thing. Negativity is not an option! I guess I'm just used to the small office I came from where they were like family and very supportive. My new RE has the success rates and specializes in PCOS therefore, I'm going to put my faith in God, myself, DH and the Dr and together we'll make this happen! Final Answer )

Becca - a warm welcome to you. Stay positive! We're here for you so please keep us informed.

Wehavehope - I know how you feel but, that is your REs job. He and his staff are committed to us. They know this is an emotional rollercoaster so if we have questions we need them addressed. I before would worry about asking questions but now if I'm concerned about it, I'm asking. This is so stressful to me that additional uncertainties would make me worry and I don't want to add stresses that can be avoided. So I say you ask and since you had the OHSS even more so, you have a rapport with the dr, he knows you already. Ask, ask, ask!

Crissy - OMG!!!!!!!!! I got teary eyed as I read......WOW! What a day you've had with a great ending! Don't lose hope, I'd put my faith in the hospital U/S. I am in the medical field and I'll tell you this, the U/S techs in a hospital have tons of experience more so than the dr's office. Remember they see all types of patients and lots of them. They know what they're looking it. Had the tech seen something negative she wouldnt have said b/c she doesn't want to get caught in a he said she said or a sticky situation. Therefore, you're pregnant! I'm sure you'll see your peanuts heart beating next week. Stay positive and take it easy.

Cindylou - some nurses don't like to give #'s because they don't like for us to research and ask questions. Howevern now that you know I'd ask the dr and see what he says. I've had cycles where they are slow and then from one day to the next a HUGE bump up. Hang in there and stay positive.

Ladies, I know Crissy asked for us to keep her in our thoughts but I will not only keep her but all of you in my thoughts and prayers. I am so glad I joined this group earlier this week. You all really make this process easier (if such exists). It feels great to share feelings with others that can relate and support.

Thanks again ladies!

Nite nite!

[indigofire]

Hi all,

Does anyone know the timeframe for FET after your AF ends? Still a bit confused about the process. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Hope. My protocol is quite simple. Waited for AF. Went in on day 2 for bw and us. Started Estrace 2mg x2/3X per day. (6pills a day). I'll go back in on day 12 to see how my lining is responding. Once my lining is thick enough I start PIO. Do that for 5 days because I have 5 day blasts on ice. Then transfer 5 days after starting PIO. Seems pretty easy. No BCPs. Seems pretty simple compared to some protocols I've seen. But I like simple. Keeping fingers crossed.

[Pumpkin11]

SD - Good morning! I am a nurse but I am no longer in patient care, I am a medical device rep. I sell peripheral vascular products. (Peripherlam meaning everything but the heart.)

[blairwh58]

Crissy- I tried staying up late enough to see what happened with the US, but turns out I missed a very worrisome yet happy story. I know you are scared and nervous and every possible emotion, but the fact that they saw 1 maybe even 2 yolk sacs is such great news!!! I have a very good feeling about it and think you will be seeing the heartbeat(s) next week. Try to stay positive and know we are all thinking of you. Sorry you had to go through so much to get here but it will all be worth it when you have your little one(s).

pumpkin- Thats what Im doing- Just staying as positive as possible. I may even change my ticker to pregnant as soon as I know the Transfer date. Even though it would be depressing to have to change it...thats not going to happen this time. 4th times a charm!

cindylou- Im sure that if they were worried about your numbers they would have changed up the protocol. I wouldnt let that get to you since they said everything is still on. Random question- do you require extra stims? I saw that you are on 450 and thought that was more than I have taken...i think I even started out with 75IU of follistim at one point. This time its going to be a lot higher at 225IU, but I wasnt sure how high the dosing went. How are your follicles looking so far?

[BlissfulCS]

Crissylove- what a harrowing story! I am so glad that it worked out okay, but am terribly sorry you had to go through that. It is a great reminder that we have to keep the faith...and we MUST question our doctors. So happy that things are back to "normal" for you and that you are PREGNANT girl. Enjoy.

We- I couldn't agree with Pumpkin more! You and/or your insurer are paying a lot of cold hard cash for this, and the Doctor and his staff are there in service to you. You call them and bother them anytime you want lady, you are their customer and you pay their bills. Plus, if they are worth a darn they want you to be calm and confident. Everyone involved wants you to be successful, and that begins with you understanding the process and feeling good. Call and ask! Mine also gives me a printed sample cycle which he also publishes on his website. See if they have a calendar for you.

Pumpkin- My breasts have been swollen since I started the progesterone. It's funny, when I am not cycling I always think to myself when I see women talking about symptoms and trying to read "tea leaves" to determine whether I they are pregnant that I am NOT GOING TO DO THAT. I KNOW that the drugs that I am taking are the same things that the body makes during pregnancy that cause those symptoms.

Off to work until like 10 tonight...grrr.

Thinking about you all, and those in Japan/Hawaii that need our thoughts and prayers as well.

Bliss