Nov/Dec Cycle for Baby #2 attempt?

[alexis]

Quick update. Had US and bloodwork today. They can never find my left ovary when I first start stimming; does that happen to anybody else? Looks like 4 follicles on right side though...keep 'em coming!

Any other updates from today?

Happy Bunny; congratulations on your BFP! That's wonderful news and keeps all of us going. Let us know how your beta goes!

What do all of you think about bringing your child in for an occasional appointment? I try to be so sensitive to the patients at my clinic and not bring my son (I thought it was torture when I saw people bring their kids before I had my son), but it's also really hard not to have your husband with you at any appointments because of child care...I'm torn, but I think I will have to bring my son for a monitoring appt. on Friday.

Talk to you soon gals!

[CT_Michele]

Hi ladies!

Happy Bunny- congrats! That is awesome!

Alexis- They have trouble seeing my left ovary but it's b/c of scar tissue from my c-sec. Last time there were over 10 eggs in there that they couldn't get to. It sucked big time! Oh and about bringing Ella to appts. I avoid it at all costs. Mostly b/c she is at a horribly difficult age and would not cooperate, but also because I feel bad for others in the waiting room. I only brought ella when she was tiny, once or twice, so the dr's and staff could meet her.

I went for bw this morning and I ovulated. So I start 10 units of lupron tonight and cross my fingers that it supresses me. I can't take birth control to supress due to high blood pressure. During my FET it took lupron 3 months to do it's job, but last fresh cycle it worked right away. DH goes tomorrow for his pre-op tese physical. Hopefully he will be all clear for that. I will go back to the clinic with my period and then I think I start meds on or around dec 1!

I wish I felt better for my first day of lupron. I definitely have a head cold and lupron will probably amplify my current headache. Oh, and I made a med boo-boo! My big box came thursday when I wasn't home. I forgot to bring it in. So my husband brought it in on friday morning and then I didn't realize until sunday that there was follistim in there that needed to be refrigerated! When I opened the cold pack, the ice packs were melted and it wasn't cold. RE's office said it is fine though, I hope they are right.

[dogzrule]

Just posting my stalker status (hi Michele!)

[alexis]

Michele- so exciting to be starting your Lupron! I always have such a fresh sense of hope when I start the meds; do you? I hope your husbands pre-op physical goes well. Thanks also about your feedback in terms of bringing your daughter. I try to avoid it with my son, and sometimes my husband will come and just keep my son outside to play with him (our clinic is 1 hour and 15 minutes away, so on weekends or non workdays, it's super nice to have some company!). I do become a little torn though; I'd love for my husband to be there with me on occasion!

I hate when there are mistakes with the mail order meds! One time, I didn't plan far enough in advance for my Progesterone and I went through paying for expedited shipping to another location and the Meds got there weeks after my cycle was over. In a way, it as ok that my home tests were negative that time; I would have been freaking out about the Progesterone if they had been positive! I'm not sure about follistim, but I do know that it's ok for my Gonal F to be room temperature (I think for 28 days after it's been opened).

Do you guys ever have insomnia on the meds? I did terribly with the IVF cycle we got pregnant with my son (and all through pregnancy), and suddenly I'm having it again. I wonder if it's the Lupron this time?

Have a great day ladies!!

[Happy Bunny]

My beta is in... 227!

Alexis: I had insomnia from the steroid prescribed after ER and some likely due to anxiety

[SueQiwi]

HappyBunny--congrats on your official positive beta!! Those numbers are fantastic. You are getting things kicked off for this thread--so nice to have a success already.

Alexis--I always feel like a real heal bringing my girl to the waiting room at the clinic. (But I refuse to be wanded without my husband present! I also need him there for support in case we get any horrible news.) I know those ladies sitting there are all hurting deep down and don't want to see a baby--especially while waiting there! I always want to put a little sign on her that says "I am an IVF miracle--please don't give up!" But nobody really talks or even has eye contact in that waiting room. There is a statue of a gigantic marble sperm in our waiting room--chuckle. Overall an odd place to be.

[SueQiwi]

Hi again~

Alexis--good luck with starting the meds. They always make me feel whack--insomnia, grumpy, ill and more! But hopefully you are on the road to success now.

Michelle--good luck with starting too. And your poor DH--I hope there are tons of sperm and the tese is not too painful/stressful. And sheesh--I hope they can keep tabs on your left ovary this round. 10 eggs not able to be reached!!!! yikes--what a nightmare--you must have been so frustrated.

Neffi--any update on your lining? I hope all is well.

I am going to see my accupuncturist and get some Chinese herbs today. I was on them during my successful cycle--so thought I'd do it again in preparation for my next cycle. Although they really make me feel funky too--everything in this fertility game seems to have horrible side effects!

[Neffi211]

Sue- thanks for asking, but no update. My lining check is Monday and hopefully everything will be good.

Happy Bunny! Great Beta!!!!!

Michele-glad to hear you ovulated....one step closer! Congrats on starting meds.

OK- DS and I are off to the grocery store. We have 2 pies, one cake and green bean casserole to make today!

Happy Thanksgiving! I am so blessed to have Jack and my wonderful DH and need to remember it everyday on this journey to have more children!

[CT_Michele]

I hope to be back soon for personals...just wanted to drop in and give a quick update...

Today was a bad day. I lost a very close friend and coworker to breast cancer. She fought a hard fight and she was absolutely the most amazing person I have ever met in my life. She loved her job (teaching) and she loved life even though her life sucked for the past 3 years. When she was first diagnosed, she decided to go through IVF and freeze embryos so when she recovered she could still have children. She beat the cancer and was a month away from being cancer free long enough to do a transfer. Then she was rediagnosed, terminal this time. She passed last night. So sad.

And then the bad news keeps coming. DH went to pre-op physical and his ekg was abnormal so they sent him to a cardiac specialist. Specialist said today that ekg shows he may have had a very mild heart attack. But specialist says he doesn't think it was the case, that ekg just shows it that way. DH is going for heart u/s on Saturday and then stress test on Monday.

I am not sure he will be cleared for surgery. No surgery means no sperm. Which means our cycle will not happen. Everything is still very up in the air, only time will tell.

In the meantime, after only 2 doses of lupron, I already have that metal taste in my mouth...has anyone else ever gotten that before? It's gross and going to ruin the taste of my Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. Ugh.

Sorry to be such a downer, wish I had a better update. I will check in again soon and hope to do some personals then. right now, I need sleep. I am so emotional drained from today. Goodnight everyone and have a happy holiday!

[Neffi211]

Michele-
I am so sorry to hear of all your bad news! I am so sorry for the loss of your friend, and right before the holidays. It will be tough for her family. As far as DH-- wow...thats awful, hopefully all the tests will come back ok. I will be thinking of you guys. Just remember that you have your little girl to hug tight and it will make things feel ok!
I have never had the metal taste in my mouth from lupron. Is that the only med you are on right now?

To everyone else-- HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I am truly thankful for my family and the opportunity to be able to even try again with IVF when there are so many that never even get the chance!

[claud662]

Michele-I'm so sorry to read your post and my heart goes out to you and your friend's family during this difficult time. I hate that she wasn't given the opportunity to celebrate your cancer free body with getting a baby and that her students lost a great teacher. I am also keeping everything crossed that your DH's tests come back normal and that everything is alright with his cardiac tests. I only got the metal taste once pregnant....but Lupron used to give me the WORST headaches

Neffi-I hope the lining is nice and thick Monday!! What is the number they are looking for? With me mine never got over a 7 so I would be happy with a 6.5-7 before a transfer!!

Sue-I did acupuncture in my last cycle and am debating if I want to do it again this time (It's $75 each time I go and now with my daughter I would have to get someone to watch her for 2 hours by the time I travel and get back!) I might just do it right before transfer...we'll see!

Happy BUnny-YAH on the positive beta and what a high number!! TWINS?!?!? I can't imagine having three so young but it also sounds like fun!!!! I can't wait to hear your progress and regarding the topic of bringing babies to the waiting room....I think I'm going to bring my little one because as much as it hurts for some women it is inspiration to others. I won't flaunt it in their face and will be sensitive to the situation but I don't think we should hide our blessings and we are also in this emotional rollar coaster with all the other women!

Alexix-hope the insomnia goes away soon. I hated the effects of Lupron which really drove me to do a Natural FET instead of a medicated one!! When do you go back to the RE?

AFM...I have exciting news!!! We are going to do our FET on my next AF which should be at the end of the month!!! I was planning on waiting until my next AF after this one which would be around Christmas time and would have the transfer in January but just found out my lab at the clinic is closed for three weeks and it would be really close to my transfer which would have caused me so much stress and then that would put me in February/March for a transfer and I really didn't want to wait that long! This way I will have my transfer right before we go away to Aruba so my 2ww won't seem so long and I will be distracted and if it doesn't work at least I gave myself an opportunity!

I went and got all my bw done yesterday and DH is going this Saturday and then I call day 1 of my AF and don't go in until day 10!!! A Natural FET is so much easier which I like and I just hope my lining gets thick enough without taking an estrogen!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone and my little lady is turning 1 on Sunday!!!!!

[alexis]

Hi Ladies and Happy Thanksgiving!

Michelle, I am so sorry to hear about your friend passing away. Cancer is such a cruel, cruel disease and when it attacks wonderful people it is just so unfair. My heart goes out to you and her family; it sounds like she was an amazing woman. I'm also sorry to hear about your husband's EKG and need for further testing. I sure hope everything is ok with him! Please keep us posted and try to remain as positive as possible about your cycle. Hopefully your husband will be cleared and things can move forward for you guys. I'm sure it's so stressful for you and I am so sorry for that; stress is the last thing you need, right?

Claudia, that's awesome that you are going to move your FET up! That will be great for you; a 2ww in Aruba sounds wonderfully distracting!

Happy Bunny, AWESOME BETA and wonderful news! I'm really happy for you and hope our thread keeps the positives coming. I know each of us could use some good news around the holidays!

Sue, how's it going with your Chinese herbs?

Neffi, keep us posted with how your lining looks for you on Monday; hope it's nice and thick!!

Lyd10, are you still out there? How are you doing?

We didn't go visit family for Thanksgiving this year (due to the need for monitoring), but I'm actually really relieved to be at home. 2 of my 3 sisters-in-law are pregnant right now. One is due any day (and is miserable and has hated being pregnant; I am not the best listener when it comes to that when all I want is to get pregnant!), and the other one just found out that they are having their first girl and the first granddaughter on my side of the family. This is their third child and they get pregnant the first try every try. I am so hoping that by Christmas we will have good news of our own. I am super worried that if we don't, I'm going to have a really hard time during the holidays...

AFM, I go in again tomorrow. Wednesday's appt was ok, but it doesn't look like I'm producing a ton of follicles. It's amazing how an ultrasound can really set the mood for the whole day. I felt disappointed, even though there are definitely follicles growing (I want a good number of them because I think we will try transferring three this time). I think I am just so scared. The meds are making me very moody and emotional...my poor husband! Tomorrow we are bringing my son for the first time, so I hope the other ladies don't give us dirty looks. I try to be respectful of their needs, but I've also had to do all of the monitoring for the last 2 cycles all by myself; it will be nice to have my husband there for a change!

Have a great rest of your long weekend (to the Americans anyway) and talk to you all soon!

[Happy Bunny]

Alexis: About the follicles... Remember, it's quality not quantity. Our cycle this time was so much worse than last time (less eggs and they were arresting rapidly in the lab) but we are pregnant and found out today that we have two on ice! You can't really judge a cycle until you are completely done with it.

Claudia: Aruba sounds wonderful. Also, I've always believe that the calmer we are, the better chance we have for a good outcome... Going to Aruba sounds like you'll be hitting your maximum on happiness and calm which can only help your odds.

Michele: I'll be thinking of you tomorrow and hoping for good news on your husband's tests.

AFM: I found out today that we have two frosties! This comes as a HUGE shock. Our embryos weren't doing very well so we had a 3dt of 3... The rest were in a really sad state or already gone. Apparently, two embryos rose out of the ashes and turned into healthy blasts which surprised everyone. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of me because this was the last full cycle that we could afford. Just goes to show that not everything is always as it seems. I thought that this a crummy cycle and it turned out better than my previous cycle which I thought was good.

[Happy Bunny]

My second beta is in... 1147! That's 3 days in between not two as usual due to the holiday. Doubling time = 30.81.

[annashope]

Wow Barbara that is amazing beta I can't wait for the ultrasound I am definitely inspired by you and your story gives me hope that it will work for us a 2nd time too. Congratulations! how are you feeling? I have been meaning to ask you have you breast fed at all? did you have to stop for IVF? I am still breastfeeding so still no periods and I am curious how soon you can get pregnant once you stop bfeading?