Cycling In 2012 Board (formerly Fall/Winter 2011-2012)

[leorira11]

Maria - Happy birthday! In general, I *LOVE* birthdays, but sadly this year was a downer for me (the weekend immediately after our boys died). Hopefully 37 will be great for you and 25 will be great for me!

Christy - ugh. I was so sad to hear of your BFN. I'm so sorry hon. Hopefully this will be our last cycle together - since we will be getting our BFPs and our take-home rainbow babies.

Tamera - I've been taking folic acid daily since we started TTC more than 3 years ago. <sigh> Yes, it is a good idea to take if you plan on becoming pregnant in general, so definitely during an IVF cycle! I usually only start prenatals (which are more expensive and have some negative side effects like constipation) if I get a BFP.

AFM - well... we didn't get our 'miracle baby' -- AF showed up. I know that it was totally irrational to think I could possibly get pregnant (our issue is severe SEVERE male factor, and I know I didn't have sex with anyone but my husband in the past few weeks!) -- but I always hoped.

I have my 6 week post-partum check up next week. I'm sure everything will be fine.

RE appt in 2 weeks from today! Hopefully we'll start something (at least some paperwork).

I'm a little unsure of what to do now that AF is here. I guess I should start a pack of BCP. I don't get my period regularly, so BCP is the best way to know when I can get my next AF.... hmm....

[WeHaveHope]

Leorira11-happy to see you posting. The board is definantley starting to get busy. With regards to BCP my understadibg is that you need to go in to be seen by no later than cycle day 2 or 3. This happened to me with my first FET. I got a BFN and then got my AF. I didn't know any better so by the time I called my RE it was cycle day 5 and he said it was already to late to put me on BCP and take over that cycle for FET. So I had to play the waiting game and wait snothe month for AF to visit to be placed on BCP and start the FET cycle. In the process we ended waisting an entire month which for us is an eternity. I recall him putting me on 10 days of Privera to bring on that next AF since I have PCOS and dint ever get AF without medication. I know your situation is different bu give them a call anyways and ask. It never hurts to ask and be informed. Sending you much love.

[WeHaveHope]

UPDATED 08-23-11 @ 11:34am EST. Please let me know if I have missed anyone or if I'm missing any updates. Sending you lots of xoxoxo.









Fvrogers-FET 10/2011


Becca-Fall/2011
Tamera-11/2011
Leorira-Fall/2011
Kiminsh-Fall/2011
Fruit-Fall/2011
Alwaysangel-Fall/2011
Sunshine1576-Fall/2011
Cheri76-Fall/2011


Akdelp-Waiting for AF for Fall IVF


Blueeyedreamer-on BCP for cycle 10/2011
Kerpupples-on BCP for cycle Fall/2011
Toniaa-on BCP for cycle in Fall/2011
WeHaveHope-on BCP for FET 10/2011 waiting for Hcg to drop to zero



K8ielovett-Started on Lupron on 8-24-11

[Sunshine1576]

Hi Everyone,
I will be bouncing around on both boards, still wanting to cheer some former cycle buddies on too! All I know we better be getting our BFPs soon too or someone will be getting hurt, enough with this nonsense.

Leorira, It's really good to hear from you, I've been keeping up with you and praying that this Fall we do fall pregnant with our rainbow baby, if not this Fall definately by Christmas, that would be the best present. Our course we might have much to be thankful for on Thanksgiving too. I am keeping the spirit alive with so much faith for so many of us on here!

AFM: I vented so much today with one of the girls I work closely with. We agree on so much when it comes to the way things are ran at the store...She asked me if I was going to take the sales lead position (the same position she has too, basically a PT supervisor) but I told her I really don't think I want the extra stress that I'm already feeling. My top priority is getting pg. So I came home, ate lots of chocolate and now have a pizza in the oven...Currently on day3 of my cycle but can hardly wait to get the bloodwork back to see if my thyroid levels require additional monitoring. Will find out more on Friday. Also waiting to hear back from State Farm on when I can get my car repaired (from the uhaul hitting me last week). I do have a quick question for you ladies.... I've been on TwinLab Pre-Natal Care (delivers 22 nutrients) for over a year but I'm wanting to change vitamins maybe something with DHEA? Any recommendations or do you have a favorite one? One-A-Day I thought was too strong...

[leorira11]

Maria - I'm not at all trying to do a FET this month or anytime really soon - since I'm only 5 weeks post-C-section. But I'm wondering if I should take BCP so that I know when I will get my next period (after which we will HOPEFULLY be doing the FET, assuming my doctors don't think it's too soon to get pregnant again. Some doctors have said I have to wait 6months to a year after a C-section, but I'm hoping my IVF doctor understands why we want to try again so soon). I could just do nothing and take 10 days of progesterone when I want to get my next period.... but I would sooooo much rather take one little birth control pill each day than the messy icky vaginal suppositories for 10 days!

but it's seems like AF hasn't really shown up. I had really bad cramping this morning (so bad that I took some pain killers) and some really light (water-y like) spotting (TMI! sorry!). I thought that was AF starting to come, but since then the spotting has stopped and no more bleeding or cramping. Weird. I know that the first post-partum AF is always wonky, but I just want to know what's going on!

[Cheri76]

Hi all!! I hope that you have room for one more! I have tried IVF a couple of times with no success, but absoutely confident that this is the one. I hope to get to know all of you and will take some time to read back on all of the posts to hear your stories.

In the meantime, please help me decide what to do. I am turning 35 next month and I know that time is always ticking. However, I have been advised to lose some more weight for a better chance of success. (About 180 lbs/5'4) My husband just got new insurance that covers our treatments up to $20k so I am absolutely raring to go!!! It starts on Sept 1 and I will have to redo all the tests because it has been over a year so I know that will slow me down some anyway. Do I go ahead and start right after that and hope for the best? Or wait until the beginning of the year and really concentrate on getting my body in the best shape possible? I am currently on an extremely low carb diet with moderate exercise and losing at about 2-3 lbs a week. I know what a toll that ivf meds can take on your physical and mental state so I don't want to try if my body is not ready. Also, we are getting close to the holidays and schedules can get hectic. However, I'm also scared that the insurance will change, I'm getting older, etc. My heart says go for it, my head says wait. What would you do????

[WeHaveHope]

Leoira-I completely understand. I think, definantely talk to your RE. If your like me you may want to take the BCO. One it allows your RE to essentially take control of your ovaries, so when you are ready to start you can and you won't have to wait. I forgot, are you doing a fresh cycle or an FET? I thought you were doing an FET. Also, the Prover is a pill that my RE orders for me to take one pill daily for 10 to 12 days and sfter I am finished taking the entire course I get AF within a Fay or two. This may also be an option but for FET my RE still had me take BCP after I got AF withing the first 3 days.

Cheri76-welcome!! I am on my cellphone so I will write more later. Welcome again. I el officially add you to the Fall Roll Call later today. You will be ableto see your name added to the group.

[WeHaveHope]

Dear friends,

So, I am trying to plan for my next FET and I guess I feel like I am obsessing a bit but want to feel like I am a bit more in control then I have been in the past. I spoke to my RE today via telephone to diiscuss what things we could possibly do different this time around. We discussed vaginal progesterone vs progesterone IM injections. He states that extensive studies show that there is no difference in the sucess reate beween vaginal progesterone (Crinone) or PIO (progesterone in oil injections). He said that he feels comfertable doing either one and whatever makes me feel more comfertable. We discussed the possibility of doing the PIO until the Beta and if the Beta was positive we could then do the PIO until such time that we see a heartbeat and then switch to vaginal suppositories. We talked about doing PIO the entire 10 weeks and we also discussed doint the PIO until the positve Beta but the sweitching to vaginal after that. Then of course we discussed just increasing the vaginal suppositories to three per day instead of the two I used last time.

Other things we discussed wer the quality of the embryos we have left. We currently have 6 embryos left. The plan is two transfer two with each FET until such time we bring home a baby or two or have nothing left to transfer at which time our journey will definantely be over. When we froze our embabies in Februrary we initialy retrieved 28 follicles, 25 eggs were retrieved, 19 eggs were determined to be mature, and 18 fertilized. I was absolutely amazed at that time. Out of the 18 fertilized eggs, they lab determined that 10 were of high quality enough to freeze. After my conversation with the embryologist today I found out that some of my embryos were actualy frozen at 5 days and some were frozen at 6 days. I had no idea and only found this out today. Here is what we froze in February, 2011

3AB, 3AB, 3BB, 3BB, 2BC, 3BC, 4AB, 2BB, 3BB, 3BC. The embryos were frozen in two's in the order in which I listed them. I should note that the method that my lab uses to rate blast is the higher the number the better so 1 to 6 with 4 or 5 being realistically the best because most embryos don't make it to a grade of 6. The letter A being the best in the other two categories so A to C. According to the embryologist they started with the 5 day embryos because their statistics show that they have slightly better success rates with day 5 embryos as aposed to day 6 embryos. I also did not know this until today. After I spoke to my RE I also found out that the lab has had slightly higher success rates with grade 2 and grade 3 embryos as apposed to higher grade embryos. Also did not know this until today. So, I just found out this informtion; In May we thawed 2 embryos which initialy were 3AB and 3AB which after the thawing process turned into 3CC and 3CC. I got a BFN with that transfer. In July we transfered what was initialy a 3BB and a 3BB and after the thawing process was still a 3BB and 3BB. This transfer ended up in an early positive with a HPT and an initial Beta of 275 and four days later a Beta of 1,513 to only have a miscarriage at 4 weeks/5 days.

So I asked which straw were they planning on thawing for our next transfer, hopefuly in late September/early October. They embryologist thinks that they may thaw the last 5 day embabies which would be the 2BC abd 3BC. But these two are of lower quality then the 6 day embabies which are a 4AB, 2BB, 3BB, and 3BC. So she said that it would ultimately be up to my RE, me, and the lab director.

So with all this information, what do you ladies think. I am definantely greatful that they have provided all this information. I think sometimes if you are not proactive in asking sometimes they leave little details like this out. And for us right now when time is ticking these little details are definantly very important.

Lookig forward to reading all your suggestions and comments.

[WeHaveHope]

Sorry for the double post I don't not know how to erase it.

[WeHaveHope]

One of the ladies on the Summer Board asked me about embryo grading. It can be very confusing. I posted the information below on that board and thought it may help someone on this board a's well. The information below is only for grading day 5 or day 6 blastocysts. I will post the a link below for information on grading day 3 embryos. Hope you find this helpful.

Expansion grade Blastocyst development and stage status
1 Blastocoel cavity less than half the volume of the embryo

2 Blastocoel cavity more than half the volume of the embryo

3 Full blastocyst, cavity completely filling the embryo

4 Expanded blastocyst, cavity larger than the embryo, with thinning of the shell

5 Hatching out of the shell

6 Hatched out of the shell


ICM grade Inner cell mass quality
A Many cells, tightly packed

B Several cells, loosely grouped

C Very few cells


TE grade Trophectoderm quality
A Many cells, forming a cohesive layer

B Few cells, forming a loose epithelium

C Very few large cells



Below is the link for day 3 embryo grading. It was too long to post.

http://www.advancedfertility.com/embryoquality.htm

[k8ielovett]

Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. We are officially about to start the lupron... wish me luck I hate needles lol. I hope that all of us have a successful cycle with sweet little bundles of joy. Good luck everyone.

[WeHaveHope]

Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. We are officially about to start the lupron... wish me luck I hate needles lol. I hope that all of us have a successful cycle with sweet little bundles of joy. Good luck everyone.

Congrats for starting on Lupron. Your well on your way to you Fall BFP. Luprin is given subqutaniously which is right under the skin. The Luptin itself stings just a little but I promise you it's not bad at all. I was also quite nervous even though I am a nurse. I was used to injecting others but never myself. Remember we are here to support you so please reach out to is whenever you need to. Your going to do great!!!

[Tamera]

Thanks for the link "We", its interesting to read about the different things on that link and will certainly help any woman new to this understand a bit more.

Good luck k8ielovett, hopefully the needles don't bother you too much. I give my dog allergy shots every two weeks, but wonder how hard or easy it will be to give myself shots. I just think to myself that I am doing this for a baby in our lives and I think I can get through it.

[Sunshine1576]

k8ielovett,
I read once on a former board that someone bought a baby blanket and would get it out everything she did injections to remind her what this is all about. My husband would probably shoot me if I did that of course...He won't even let me look at baby things...My mom brought over a big bag of my SIL baby's clothes and dh stuck it somewhere in the attic! I think the only thing that helps me get through this is my neighbor's little girl who comes over and hangs out with me either we're baking in the kitchen, and of course making fun girly stuff in the craftroom while listening to her favorite Taylor Swift.

Anyway I promise even though at times you may feel like a pin cushion the injections will get easier. I know lupron something stung but when given slower it's bareable...Icing down the injection site will always help.

[WeHaveHope]

Hi ladies,
So I have had a bit of a tough week so far. Not horrible just my PMA is a bit in the dumps. I guess it will hopefully get a little better once I have my Beta drawn on Friday and hear that it has fallen to zero. I pray that this is the case. I guess I feel like I realy need to find the reason for the MC and make some changes so that it doesn't happen again. Those are my emotions speaking of course because reality is that I will never know why the MC happened. I still feel like I am only going to feel better about this FET if and only if some changes are made. I amseriously considering switching to PIO this time unstead of the Crinone Gel. I know mu RE says that there is no difference but I hear about so many others on this board being on PIO. How bad is it realy??? Has anyone in this board been on vaginal progesterone with no success or a MC but after switching to PIO you had a successful pregnancy? Or maybe someone that you know??? Well, I am going to see my RE in Ftiday and I will discuss with him what he recommends we should transfer. We are only goingto transfer 2 because of age and because my blasts are frozen in twos'. I want his recommendation with regards to if we should transfer the 6 day blasts which are the grade 4AB with the 2BB or if he thinks that we should transfer the 5 day blasts which are the 2BC with the 3BC. Let's see what he thinks. I trust him and whatever he recommends that is what we will transfer. I am secretly hoping he recommends the 6 days higher quality blasts just because they are higher quality. But I think that initially they were a little behind and that is why they were allowed to develope to day 6. But I have to see, I am impressed with the 4AB and remember my RE saying that this one was absolutely beautiful.

Sending you all much love, lots of PMA, tons of sticky baby dust, and lots of hope for what the future will bring.