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

[amanda1979]

I had to pop in & say CONGRATS to leora. I am so excited for you.

[Sunshine1576]

Margi and JenMink, you two have me giggling over here. Yep dh is out running his lapse around the block to get "his men" ready. I loved the blinkies and I'm sure to make the best effort possible in making something happen. Dh said he sure prefers it this way, then driving 2.5 hours to the clinic and spending "the night before" in a hotel...lol

AFM: Not that I already shared too much information but on the downtime I got the tree up and decorated tonight. Boxes are scattered all over the living room and poor Vegas lost half of her apartment (the garage) now with all of my decorations pulled out of the attic, lol. Also I texted my neighbor to offer to help her unpack tomorrow and she said she would love the company and we're also going to pull Belles out of school a little early so she can get her room set up. They are now living 3.4 miles away from me, so after tomorrow I think it will settle in that I haven't completely lost them. I promise to post more sometime tomorrow, this is the board that never sleeps.

[blueeyedreamer]

OMG I have so much to tell you.

Ninde- I have MS. I can totally relate. My mom and a cousin have it too. It's really hard to live with the constant worry about what will set off the symptoms. Heat, fatigue, a cold, everything. I have tons of info that I found really helpful. Pm me if you need/want me to share.

Leora- awesome news! I knew it would work.

Jenmink- good luck!

AFM- dh mom did have a stroke. She will be in the hospital for another week and then on to a rehab facility. She has right hemiparesis but is regaining some function in her arm and leg. Her swallow is affected so she is on a special diet. I'm a speech therapist so I was able to help answer a lot of questions.

The worst part you won't believe. Dh and his bro decided it would be too much for her and dad to handle to tell them about the mc. They made us fake it. Do you have any idea how hard that was. She rubbed my f-ing belly. We kept all our responses vague. I gave him a limit of one to two weeks and this will stop. Not doing it any longer than is necessary to get her thru the shock of the stroke. It's not fair to us or them.

I need to go to bed. I will catch up more tomorrow.

[leorira11]

Thanks to everyone for rooting for us! Of course, I know better than anyone that a BFP doesn't mean I'll actually have a 'take home' baby in July/August, but it's definitely a good start (and waaaay better than a BFN!).



Tess- I'm also a little shocked that this worked. We never had a FET work before - and this frostie was one of the worst quality we've ever transferred (granted, we have been lucky enough to always have fantastic embryos. Out of A-D, this embryo was a B+, all the others we've ever transferred have been A/A-). My beta was slightly less than yours on the same day - so hopefully yours will bounce up too!

Patricia - Kudos for you for sticking with your husband through his awful disease. I actually know an AWFUL story about a woman who was diagnosed with MS in her early 60s - her husband and all of children (all adults) left her. She is totally alone now. How awful is that? Is the MS the reason you need to do IVF?

Bodie - I'd be touched that you cried, but knowing how my emotions are when pregnant - I'm not that impressed! Last summer, with the baby that I miscarried, I would cry and cry everytime Katy Perry's "California Gurlz" came on the radio! Congrats for reaching 10 weeks and stopping the icky suppositories!

Neffi - Usually, my doctors had me on the estrace (well - I took estrofem which is a slightly different formula, but same idea - oral estrogen tablets) for about 2.5 weeks before starting the progesterone. My FETs were always around cycle day 25. This time, I really pushed to do it faster. Not because I thought it would work better, but because I was ddyyyiiinnnggg to know if the embryo would defrost - and I was anxious to start my new fresh cycle after the FET failed. I took the estrogen starting on CD1 and started the progesterone on CD14, had the 5day transfer on CD19 -- so just about a 'normal 28 day' cycle. I'm not sure if it made any difference.

Barbara - July 31 is a pretty awesome birthday! (Although, I really hope mine is NOT born on my birthday - that's MY day!) Do you know who else has a July 31st birthday?

Laura - congrats on triggering! Wooohooo! So exciting to be done with the injections, no? TMI warning - my doctors never said anything about not having sex - and we do it all the time, even during the 2ww and in between the ER and ET. They told us to use protection, because if they miss an egg or two, and transfer a few embryos, I'm at risk for higher order multiples. We laughed at that, since the whole reason we do IVF is severe male factor! We were also told to be careful about infection after the ER, but if I was feeling up to it, then it was fine.... I've gotten pregnant 4 times without ever abstaining from sex!)

Christy - I wish you were joining me in the BFP celebration -- It's always hard when you get good news, but you want everyone to have good news too. I really really really hope you're next! 3.5 miles isn't so bad for Belle to be moving away, but I'm sure that's tough. Have fun decorating your house! That's one thing I serious am jealous about! I love Xmas decorations!

Jen - good luck today! Let us know how it goes! I hope you got to sleep last night

AFM - thanks for all the love!

The u/s will be next Monday (Mondays are waaaay less crowded than Sundays at the clinic, because they are closed over the weekend, and almost everyone comes in for SnS on Sunday -- so not-time-urgent things, like u/s for pregnant women, are scheduled for mid-week). I'll be 5w3d! Too early to see a heartbeat, but they like to check that everything is in the right place and the right size. My clinic believes that an early u/s is a better indicator than repeat betas. If all looks good, I'll have another one the following week (6w3d) to check for a heartbeat - then I'll be released to my OB.

I don't currently have an OB.... I loved my first OB, but when we lost the first set of twins, I was 'upgraded' in the insurance system to "high risk" and can only see high-risk OBs, maternal-fetal-medicine specialists or perinatalogists. No regular OBs. My second pregnancy never got out of the IVF clinic, and for my third (the boys), I was with a MFM who is highly regarded. I stuck with him because of his reputation, but I hated him. His bedside manner was awful and he didn't understand that I need a ton of "hand holding". So, I'll have to find a new one. I have a recommendation for a new doctor -- but I think I'll wait to call for an appt until we see the hb, hopefully in 2 weeks!

As nervous as I am (pregnancy #4 and still childless...) - I'm trying to stay positive. Every single successful pregnancy was once at this scary stage. Even if there is a 25% chance of loss -- that means 75% chance I'll actually have my baby - so that's what I'm betting on!



David is freaking out. It's kinda cute.

I told my sister last night. We're having dinner with my inlaws tonight and we'll probably tell them then. I'm dreading calling my mom. She was really really really encouraging us to wait and heal more emotionally. Hopefully she'll just be happy for us...
You guys are the greatest. I couldn't do this without you.

[leorira11]

Nicole - OMG. That is awful. Awful about your MIL's stroke, but even worse about having to fake the pregnancy. Doesn't your husband understand how awful that must be for you? I'm so so so so sorry. I hope she gets better soon - and I hope you can clear this all up without any more heartache. lots of hugs

[Tess69]

Leora - WAHOOOO! Sooooooooooooo...............great to see your 2nd beta #. I think all the women on this board sighed a massive sigh of relief for you and David. That's brilliant. And u/s next week - so quick...that's pretty cool. Please, please, please let this be our time.

Ninde - thank you for your lovely words. Glad to hear that you and DH made up. You must be made of good, strong Irish stock!

Laura - not long now till egg collection. Exciting stuff.

Blue - OMG! You poor thing. It must have been just awful for you to fake it. Definitely a good idea to put a time limit on that.

Jen - will be thinking of you today. All the very best. I'm sure everything will be fine.

AFM - now that I've got my head around the positive result yesterday, I'm terrified about my beta level. I POAS again today (14dpo) and you can barely see a line at all, and only if you're in the right light. It was a 15 IU/ML HCG test too. Argghh! It's a long time till Thurs. I'll be so utterly gutted if this doesn't work out. I turned 42 this week. 5 years of TTC, tests, treatments, IVF cycles and rollercoasters. I'm feeling pretty worn down with it all. It's been one heck of a year. Bring on a better 2012. I'm really hoping that my beta doubles but at the same time, preparing myself for the worst. I feel almost sick thinking about it. I know I probably sound ungrateful but I'm a bit freaked out. Yesterday, I was sure it was going to get a negative and I was ready to deal with that...but beta hell. Please No! Oh well....time will tell.....

[bodie1011]

JenMink - good luck today!!!

Blue - thats so terrible. I can understand why they are asking you, but I don't think they should ask you to do that at all.

[margi26]

Jen: Prayers for you today!! All will be fine...can't wait to hear results of u/s....

Tess: I totally understand where you are coming from. I was a year older than you and in a similar boat. I have also been through the beta hell..it is the worst ....but hang in there. Be as positive as you can. I am rooting for you full strength!! And don't worry about the line and darkening...I made my self sick with the same self doubt on my successful cycle that gave me my twins. I must have peed on 4 sticks a day (at least. ) The lines can vary so much depending on time of day, concentration in your urine, so many factors. Really. My line looked lighter at times and I was freaking out before my second beta level and my level turned out off the charts! You do not sound ungrateful, this process just makes you a bit nuts. Just try to focus on: A positive is A POSITIVE. A line is A LINE. You are preggo!!! Praying for a great doubling level for you on Thursday and an "easy" 9 months ahead with a healthy pregnancy. Let this be your time.

[WeHaveHope]

Dear friends,
Thank you all for you continued prayers. Please, I ask that you all continue to keep us, especially my DS in your prayers. With the coming holidays and DS 13th birthday coming up in January, the next couple of months will be very difficult. I am asking for prayers of strength and prayers of peace. We desperately need these prayers. Thank you in advance for your prayers.

I will try my best to begin updating the Roll Call today. It is going to be almost impossible to go back and read two weeks worth of posts. I ask that once I post the mist recent Roll Call that you all send me a quick update so that I can update it as I receive the updates.

AFM-I am very sad and need lots of prayers myself but prefer that everyone concentrate and praying for my DS. He needs the prayers so much more.

I begin Lupron injections today and we will be doing our next FET on December 30th.

Sending you all my love and keeping each and everyone of you in my prayers.

Love,

Maria

[Ninde]

Afternoon ladies

Christy: Oh I laughed when I read your posts about your dh running laps and you needing cranberry juice. Hilarious! And I'll bet you are tired today!

LauraN: Thats fantastic news about the triggering and now the ER. You sound over the moon.

Leorira: Interesting points in that study. Gosh, I must have been really unlucky though because my beta 14dpt was 515 and I still miscarried. And yes we are doing IVF because of the MS, Ken's sperm count is low, mobility and motility are also really bad. Having said that, even if they were great we would probably still have to do it as he has zero interest in sex - and I do mean absolutely zero. One of the main areas his MS hits (apart from fatigue and memory) is errectile functioning and it has been that way since prior to his diagnosis 10 years ago. Having said that there are plenty of other things we could be doing but he has zero interest in that too. So I was also a little resentful about starting the IVF because he has always wanted a child and yet refuses point blank to have sex which left us only the ivf option so it felt quite hypocritical for me for quite a while. The fantastic irony about this is that I'm also trained in psychosexual therapy and have worked very successfully with several couples around getting their sex lives back on track! And I apologise if thats tmi!

Neffi: How are you?

JenMink: Sending you so many good U/S vibes today - really looking forward to hearing.

Blue: thank you for your kind offer and I will pm you if thats ok. To be honest I think I have most information - its the motivation to get Ken to do anything thats the problem but you never know - maybe your stuff has the answer And I hope I didn't offend you when I spoke about his MS and that its tough. On a different note - oh my God - how did you cope with having the keep the pretence going - that must have been horrific. I'm so sorry. You are one hell of a strong woman.

Tess: Oh I'm sending you so many doubling vibes. When is your next beta?

Maria: I think we can manage prayers for both your DS and You. And you do need the support and strength when you are trying to keep him going.

Afm: Went to the gym at 6.45am and am feeling way to virtuous! Back to work - catch you all later

Ninde

[Julia73]

Ninde- I admire you for your dedication in your situation with dh. I thought I was going thru it with the whole no sex after er until after 2ww thing. Anyway...i think you're a trooper.

Jenmink- so so so excited on your hb's! Oh man. that is music to the ear! Praying for u!

Maria- praying for you and ds as well. And excited about u cycling again too. At least I think I read that right...

Blessed- oh my gosh. So happy for u! You're in my thoughts too and prayers!

I'm missing a ton of people. I'm sorry. I'm still not with it. I'm taking a TON of supplements and hoping against hope that they work. I don't feel optimistic at all. Idk why. The RE said they've had pregnancies with people with our conditions and she didn't sound horribly negative, dh said that was just bc if where I was in my head and I think he's right. Who knows.
Sh and I are hopefully buying a house at auction this friday so that will keep me busy until february when we cycle again. I hope we get it. Hope everyone had a great thanksgivng!

[Julia73]

Oh my gosh!! Leora- I meant to talk to you first! I'm am idiot. I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited about your bfp. You go girl! I'm praying for u and trusting that you are taking it easy, don't do any taebo or p90x or anything crazy!

[Sunshine1576]

Nicole (Blue), wow you have been through so much here lately. I'm so sorry about your MIL, it must be a hard for the entire family. I will pray that she recovers with no trauma. I know the medical team at the hospital and you with the speech pathology will be able to make quite the difference, most importantly continue to be strong for the family. At the same time it must be hard for you and dh both not to tell her, no it's not fair either way! I will be pulling for your next pregnancy and that you can find the strength to get through the holidays without strangling anyone. Maybe I'm kidding about the strangling part but if it put a smile on your face it was all worth it. I put the "D" in dysfunctional sometimes!

Leora, Maybe I was being optimistic earlier and my chances maybe only 5% (for trying naturally) but I can still live through your moment! We know the road you've traveled and there is no turning back this is going to be happening for you!

JenMink, I cannot wait to hear about your ultrasound today. Truly exciting, If I'm remembering right you transferred two?

AFM: Tree is complete! I am on my way into town to pick up more Levothyroxine at CVS, post office and dh's work to drop off something and then helping the neighbors later this afternoon. On the side, I'm trying to figure out what's going on with this crazy opk, I tested for ovulation again today to see if the line changed and I got two lines again... I might have to ask Ghost later on, but I'm quite tired of bding...lol

[Gina1976]

Blue- That is so much to ask of you!! I can understand why but the longer it goes on the worse it will be for you all. Glad you put a time line on that. Hope your Dh's mom is doing better.

Maria- I continue to pray for your DS. I know the next couple of months will be the hardest for him. I also pray for you. You are his strength right now and need the comfort and prayers also.


AFM- My body is so confusing!!! I get AF 1-2 times a year if I'm lucky. Well this year I've gotten it around 5-6 times. A couple was just light pink a couple to a few days and that's it. A couple months ago I got a bundle of OPK strips. Took those until I thought was a + on the opk. Well with the timing and everything I thought I got implantation bleeding. So took preg test and all neg. So that's out. Been there done that! lol. So AF skipped a couple of months until now. Well I think it's here. It's just light for now, so it will either stay this way or get heavier in about a week or just stop all together. Used to when AF came, she made an appearance and you knew she was here! lol. Now I get the light stuff so it's hard to even tell. Last time when I just got the pink stuff my body was going through the AF cramps etc..

I just don't understand why I don't Ovulate!! I mean I know why.....PCOS and lack of being regular but still! I know getting AF doesn't mean you Ovulate but ughh it's frustrating! It def isn't lack in the sex department. We cover that at least 5-6 times a week.

Just my rant for the month!

[LauraN]

Gina- so I have to tell you that I giggled reading your post. My AF or whatever it was, was like that up until last year, very frustrating.......for many years, I would only have AF 1-2 times per year, and with those, sometimes they were bam, horrible, then other times barely there. My tubes are tied and I even POAS a few times to verify if I was pregnant or not. Don't you just love our bodies sometimes? But, I can tell you, since I've been doing the IVF treatments, my AF has been weirder. So a year ago, I started getting regular AF, normal, normal, lasted 4-5 days, bad on day 2, then slowed down, then bam, gone. But the past few times, total spotting in between my AF- I think it was the BCP's, my body does not like them at all! Oh well, the things we do! Now, on the sex part...don't be making all of us jealous, or maybe I should rephrase that, don't be making me all jealous with the 5-6 times per week......I'm like a teenage boy and would LOVE 5-6 times per week...... that's why the thought of not getting ANY for up to 6 weeks makes me want to throw up all over myself!

Leora- so last cycle, I was told the same thing, no sex at a minimum for the first 2 weeks, then, when I went in for the beta, they said none until the ultrasound....you would have thought they told me to cut off my own arm with a finger nail file....not fun! Anywho, needless to say, I was a BAD girl and we had sex after week 1 and then again after the beta, so week 2, then, the beta never doubled properly, so my DH will make sure we don't do anything this time.....so my goal is to make sure I get in enough this week....I may be walking funny going in for the transfer on Friday...HA!!!

Ninde- I don't even know what to say.....as you can tell from some of my posts, I think I need a 12 step program for sex addicts.... so I can't even imagine. I turn into a growchy, crazy person if I don't get it at least 1 time per week. And, to top that off, I know it's tough emotionally when you are dealing with someone you love that doesn't seem to have any motivation to make things better for themselves, regardless of the situation. Just know that we are all here for support.

Blue- wow is all I can say. I totally understand why he asked you to do that, but I know it must be very hard for you to do! I am very glad you put a deadline on it. I will continue to keep your MIL in my prayers..... My MIL had an anurism (I know I totally messed up on that spelling) and stroke about 4 1/2-5 years ago. It was a very freaky time, but she recovered from it. With the marvels of modern medicine, it's amazing what people can recover from now-a-days that wasn't even a possibility 20 years ago.

I know I'm missing lots of people, again, I will try to get back up to date, but I think my brain has fallen out of my head......

AFM- one more Lupron shot tonight, then ER in the morning, then I get to start the PIO's and estrogen patches (that's what really makes me a crazy, looney freak!) on Wednesday. It will be nice having 1 day of no shots..... I will post tomorrow with how the ER went. Have a fantastic day/evening ladies!