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

[Gina1976]

Globetrotter- Welcome! Glad the process has started for you! I can't really give advice for either question since I don't work and I haven't started IVF yet, but everyone else on here can! The only thing I can suggest is maybe being a little late for your meetings OR maybe talk to the clinic about letting you come in earlier or later. I have a fear about these injections myself but everyone is different. I know needles from tattoos don't bother me, but one that goes in my arm will (thinking back to childhood), however drawing blood doesn't bother me and neither did any trigger shot I got. So I don't know how these will bother me lol. I know many use ice packs to help numb it and you can order a cream. Good luck! I hope it goes well and painless for you.

[fvrogers]

Globetrotter - Congrats on your upcoming cycle! I am no longer really a part of this board but I constantly lurk and could not help putting my 2 cents in!!

With my first cycle, I did not tell my boss what was going on and decided to just take 10 vacation days off for monitoring and egg retrieval to keep from having to deal with missing time from work. Well, my first cycle failed and I did not have anything left to freeze so I was back to square one. With my second cycle about 8 months later I sat down with my boss and told her everything so she was able to work around my doctors appointments and have other people fill in for me when I had to make my early morning appointments. I had 2 co-workers I confided in and the were able to fill in for me whenever I had to make an appointment or had a procedure. Unfortunately that cycle failed as well. However I did have 4 embryos make it to freeze. With my frozen cycle my boss was still in the loop and it made it easy for me to schedule my transfer and such. My suggestion is to be open with whoever is above you. It make it easier for them to work with you and I think we underestimate how important that support at work is. I am generally a private person and really did not want anyone at work knowing but I think that just made my first cycle so much more stressful and I wish I had just been open with my boss. In the end you have to decide what is most important and for me it it was starting a family - so I had to just be honest with my boss and co-workers in order to get their support.

As for the injections, that was no big deal for me. I am a nurse and in my mind that was the easiest part of IVF. We had to pay for everything out of pocket so after juggling bills, schedules and failed cycles the shots were no big deal. With my first cycle I did use ice with the Progesterone injections because those are pretty big shots but my my second cycle and frozen transfer I did it without the ice since I just wanted to get the shots over with. Once you get past the first shot and you see how easy it is, the tons that follow are no big deal.

Hope that helps!! Best of luck to you.

Felicia

[Globetrotter]

Thanks for the tips! I've told one person at work (not my boss) because it doesn't really matter. I am in consulting and my management doesn't care when or what I am doing as long as I get it done. I am accountable to clients - my boss knows very little about my day to day job. There will be people to do the job while I am out but not to provide the consultancy that clients expect from me. But such is life!

Time off is a great idea. I think I might do that during the second week when there are more appointments (?), the egg retrieval and transfer. That might just be easier.

Other question - Have you told anyone? Except for one of my colleague (above), I haven't.

[Gina1976]

Globetrotter- My parents know we want to do IVF and VERY few friends I went to school or were close to at some point know. I am so THANKFUL to places like this to share, learn and get/give support! Even though I haven't met a single person here I consider everyone here a friend....and more real than anyone.

We are living in Germany right now so no support from anyone close by, so I let my parents know about it because they know we've been trying all of these years. As far as other family members go.....my sister and her husband and my niece. Kinda wish I didn't tell my Niece and just hope it doesn't bite me in the rear! When it comes down to it and we finally get to try it, I won't let anyone but my parents, sister/brother in law and DH's parents/sister know.

[fvrogers]

I was the opposite of Gina, I did not tell anyone in my family until I was pregnant (and in my second trimester). I have a huge family and I could not decide who tell and who not to tell and I was kinda glad I had not told anyone when it did not work the first or second time. Other than my boss and 2 co-workers I told my two closest friends from childhood. You will need support because IVF is more stressful than anyone admits but be sure that who ever you tell will give you support and not add to your stress

[Ninde]

Hi ladies, just going back over the last few pages because I know I didnt reply to some of your questions

Christy: my retrieval is scheduled for week of march 26th. How are you doing?

Akdelp: im a psychotherapist. In the last few months I've taken on working with two groups as well as my own clients and teaching - hence the 12 hour days. When are your next tests?

Maria: how are you feeling?

Julia: im good thanks. How is the cadillac? What happens now with your cycle?

Leora: so will you be doing transfer beginning of april?

Hopethisworks: really lovely to hear from you. How did you get on with your re?

Knylene: I had a day 2 transfer as that's all my clinic did (now doing 3 and 5 day) and I got pregnant. Unfortunately I miscarried at 9 weeks but the ivf was a success. Good luck with your transfer

Nicole: how are you?

Ker: I started the nasal spray which is the equivalent of lupron on thurs. Have to take it 4 times a day. I think it tends to build up before the headaches start. I remember getting them last time even with loads of water!I wish your dh lots of positive vibes with the drinking

Globetrotter: welcome and good luck. I worked in organizational psychology consulting for 9 years so I know that world and its tough to make appointments that dont affect clients so maybe time off is the best solution for you? Re yournquestion about injections, I didnt have pio injections as we use pessaries but the other injections were fine. I feel we told too many people last time and this time im just telling a few.

Gina: how is your ds?

Afm: day 3 of nasal spray and counting did a tremendous workout, trainer really pushed me and in one of the setshe had me doing 6 sets of leg presses at 80kgs/175 pounds, we were both impressed although I was a bit more breathless! So does anyone know if its still ok to do weights (but not too heavy) while stimming?

Ninde

[Sunshine1576]

Ninde- Thanks so much for updating us on your cycle. I hope work will be calming down for you soon, don't know about working out while stimming might have to ask RE.

Globetrotter- Welcome! As for sharing with others about IVF, my middle brother knows, my mother, probably her sister, lol dh's parents (they know we've been trying ever since our m/c) definately my favorite hair stylist, and my two next door neighbors (esp since the meds come FedEx and my two labrador retrievers scare all the mail carriers!) lol but I don't think it even bothers me anymore. All we want is this miracle and nothing else matters. As for work, they know too b/c when I interviewed that was the one thing I asked my boss about if she could be flexible with my appointments...My last job was at a bank and my boss saw my appointments "as a personal option". Anyway I had to quickly decide, really needed part-time since I wanted to pursue a different avenue with the IVF Refund Attain Program and the participating clinic is a four hr round trip, so driving there and back would take up half the day. For me, felt like we had to acccomodate everything the best we could, but in the end know what matters most. Great questions and we are here for you every step of the way!

[kynlee]

Globetrotter- Welcome to the board, this is a great start to your journey there are so many great people here to help you with the whole Journey we are all here for eachother... I also have to go around my work hours since I am the only full timer in my department and the other girl that is part time isnt that flexible since she cant work afternoons... My Boss is a hard ass and would never really understand and she has a big mouth so I cant tell her... So basically so that I dont get stressed out I make the earliest appts possible usually 7am I am in and out when it comes to BW and U/S I also get 1st appt which is 715 and I am out with in 15 as long as there is no full house, knock on wood that has only happened once to me So I have never been late for work just a few minutes early... As for Needles when I got my baby in a box I totally got nervous but said its to late already paid for it got to give it a shot, and so I did... After the first shot I seen how easy it was and didnt really hurt I never iced just pinched the skin and stuck it... I have not done progesterone shots I use Crinone alot of people dont like cause they say its messy but I have never had a issue with it so I think it is preference... As for who I have told, my first cycle it was just me and my DH, then I talked him into letting me tell a Friend so I told my Best friend that I trust my life with.. Now that I been here for about two years I have told my Co worker and My niece ( she is my age) but someone I totally trust and my DH was ok with that... If I could tell everyone I would I am not embarrased but DH is more private so I respect his wish and am fine with it.. I have enough people for support that I dont need to tell anyone else... I have also made some really great friends from here and chat via cell and facebook so its nice having friends that understand what we are going through cause my best friend and niece are great support but dont understand the emotion and struggle part... Best of Luck on this Journey you have found some Great people here to help you through it all

[leorira11]

wow, this board is moving!

Welcome, Globetrotter - My clinic unfortunately does not schedule appts for SnS, they are open from 7:30-9 and people just show up. I start work at 8am, so I try to get there around 7am to make sure I'm first on line. The blood test and u/s take about 15 min, if there is no waiting. I've told work (small office of 5 people) and everyone is super supportive.

As for needles - I thought that would be the WORST, but you get used to it and it's pretty easy. I still ice (when I can) before injecting which makes it pretty painless. When I'm injecting away from home (ugh... in the car - the worst place to be stuck needing injections!), I can't ice and it's still not so bad. Remember that the sharper the needle, the less pain! Good luck - and welcome!

Julia - sounds like a great gift from DH! I drive a mini-van -- we bought a car when we started TTC and thought we'd be having kids right away. It's kinda depressing driving around in an empty mini van, so I keep thinking about trading in, but I love my mini van! I've always had better luck with fresh transfers, so no advice on freezing all.

Hope this works M - welcome back! I totally understand needing a break after your loss, but welcome back! We missed you! What did your RE say?

Felicia - thanks! I really hope my miracle rainbow baby comes soon. I'm getting so tired of waiting....

Kynlee - I'm so sorry that you lost your dog. That's so hard. I never understood how attached people were to their pets, until we adopted a puppy 3.5 years ago -- DH really wanted a dog and I relented. Now, that dog is our "furbaby". He's sick (seizures, they think it's epilepsy, but the drugs aren't working so well, so we are still waiting to see if it's epilepsy (which is treatable) or something worse). Getting a new dog after losing a dog isn't 'replacing' him, but adopting someone new for your family to love. Training a new dog is hard, but think of all the puppy snuggles!

I hope your transfer goes great! I've had 3dt work (and some that didn't work) - so it could go either way.

Maria - I love the 'sticker' you added to the roll call of "Infertility does not make me weak, it makes me stronger". Thanks for that. Congrats on hitting 12 weeks!

Gina - hurray on finishing DH's paperwork!

Nicole (blue eyed) - oh no! I'm so so so sorry hon. What's next? Have you spoken to your doctor?

Kerri (akdelp) - Seems to me like they are waiting a long time to give you an u/s considering you are bleeding. My clinic does really early u/s (5w3d and 6w3d) but I know other clinics wait until they will definitely see something -- but with bleeding, I would ask for an earlier one. Have you had more bleeding? I like the ticker -- that's great PMA!

Lydia - you got your ticker to work! Congrats on the second trimester! I also love that the antagonist ones are really fast - I'm PCO also, so the antagonist is best for reducing the risk of OHSS.

Ilene (bodie) - 24 weeks! Congrats!

Amy (kerpupples) - I was told with the Effexor that the babies would have to be in the NICU after birth (even if born full term, or close to term) for monitoring. Oddly enough, when they were born preemie, the neonatalogist wasn't so concerned about the anti-depressant withdrawal and told me to express breast milk (even though I was taking the drugs) because the breast milk was more important than the possible anti-depressant traces! Weird. Ask your OB (or psychiatrist) for someone who is a specialist in pregnancy and psychiatric drugs.

Patricia - so exciting to be on the drugs, even though they make you crazy, no? For me, hopefully a transfer at the very end of March or very beginning of April! I was told that light working out was okay during stims, but not too vigurous -- the risk is "ovarian torsion" because your ovaries get so big and heavy.

Christy - you'll be driving 4 hours round trip for every SnS? There isn't a place closer you can do them?

AFM - Well - the snow didn't last long at all!

We had a chill weekend, just hanging out with friends and watching movies (the 2011 remake of The Three Muskateers -- it was okay - not great).

David started talking again about how he wants to wait to cycle, because he thinks all the planning is stressing me out. I think I'm relatively chill. We'll talk more about it. I find the waiting to be MORE stressful than cycling, so hopefully I can get him to see that....

Also- I'd heard of women having pain while ovulating, but never really considered that I would -- but Saturday morning at 5am, I woke up with the WORST pain on my right side (where I know my follicle was growing). It spread to general crampiness and then went away within an hour -- I'm guessing that was ovulation! I'm on my 2 week countdown, hopefully!

[Gina1976]

Ninde- He's doing a lot better and he's been staying on top of his two medications without us having to say anything Hopefully we'll here from the Dentist this week coming up. I need to get a personal trainer! Maybe when we move back I can. I'm not sure about the weight lifting though. I'd think since you are used to it it would be okay to continue as long as it isn't too heavy, but I'm sure someone else can give you correct advice!

Leora- Yeah I thought we'd never get all the signatures done before it heads to DC! It's crazy how these buildings where just 2-3 apart but yet they mailed them back and forth. Get a messenger or something! lol. It would be great if it got sent out on Friday but Monday will probably be more likely.

I know he's worried about you, but I think I'll be the same....waiting being more stressful that the IVF cycle itself! I live to plan, so when I have to wait it makes things worse! Hopefully you can get him to see that and continue.

I've also felt that pain but I don't think it was ever ovulation. One of the times I was being monitored for an IUI I had that cramping and was thinking Ovulation too but it wasn't. There wasn't even a follicle or cyst on that side. No telling what that was. I also get that every 2-3 months too but nothing ever comes of it. It is aggravating.

[leorira11]

I hope she doesn't mind me posting here, but I thought maybe you could pray (or whatever) too -

Rosie84 (Alissa) is 19w2d pregnant with boy/girl twins after cycling with us in November -- this morning, one baby's water broke (exactly what happened to me in my first pregnancy at 22 weeks a little over 2 years ago). The doctors have given her a choice of inducing labor and ending the pregnancy, or keeping her in the hospital with the slim chance the babies could make it to viability and then the slim chance they would be alright born so early.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news. I've been crying all day with this news.

[Ninde]

Leora : that's just awful. Ill light a candle immediately, the poor woman

Ninde

[akdelp]

Ninde - My clinic said not to lift anything over a gallon of milk while stimming. Said it puts too much work/strain the ovaries and now is not the time...they pretty much have taken that stance for any time during cycling.

Leora - I am so sorry for your friend, and how painful for you. I pray for you both. I also cried when I read that... I am not bleeding anymore, just cramping. Wish 3/15 would get here already! I did ask them to move it and they won't, stating it is because they won't be able to see the fetal pole, which is an out right lie. I, like you, have had them much earlier and have even seen a heartbeat! I assume they have me going this far out because I have never made it that far....SO, with that said if I make it that far, it will be a sort of mile stone...let's just hope all is good in there. DH is so sad. He is usually the most positive person and this time, he is just not feeling it. Poor guy.

Welcome Globe...working and juggling these appointments is crazy! I only work 4 days a week (varied days during M-F off), with a very busy schedule too. I applied for FMLA and use that when I need to go to all the appointments or I try to schedule if I know I am going to be off or know I don't have a physician in...Good luck on your journey!

Maria - how are you?

[Sunshine1576]

Hi ladies wish I could even focus on personals tonight but not feeling up to speed. AF started this afternoon w/ major cramping.. today marks day1 of my last natural cycle before going on bcp. Only 9 days before our IVF class, w/ new clinic and I wish Leora monitoring could be done closer but they don't have a sattelite office in Panama City. They have so many patients that make the commute, I made the drive for my last 2 iui procedures so I'll just whine a little and get over it! Tomorrow will be a better day with dh off work for Spring Break, looking forward to having an "off day" with him.

[kynlee]

Leora- so sorry to hear but your friend I will be praying for and her babies

Afm- had transfer today they were 7 cell and we transferred 3 Dr wanted to only do two but with talking ok the 3 hoping this gives Me better odds.. I am going to stay hopeful 2 long weeks ahead of me.... sorry for the short post on my kaindl and it sucks to type. Baby dust to everyone xo