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

[Ninde]

Akdelp: oh im so sorry. That's awful after all of this wait. Im so sorry

Julia: prayers starting for you. Have you had this issue before?

Ninde

[Globetrotter]

I am so sorry Ackdelp

Question.... What does "starting Stims" mean?

Question 2.... I have a friend who is going through ER as we speak. She only had 4 follicles. What I don't understand is why they didn't try to change her meds during the cycle? They must have noticed that there were few follicles within a few days? Don't they do ultra-sounds often, so they can adjust the meds if necessary to get a better response?

[kynlee]

Globetrotter- I know I hate that too so uncomfortable knowing you have A/F and then still do examine... My Nurse said they use to it for me not to worry... As for your friend and only 4 follies wonder why they couldnt change it to a IUI then since there was only 4, not sure about why they didnt adjust her meds, I always over stim and end up with tons... But it only takes one good one so maybe all 4 of her's will make it ill be praying...

Gina- How is your son feeling?

Julia- Ill be praying, I am gald they didnt cancel you... You may get some more you said it is only 5 days so far right? I stimmed for 11 days this cycle and they shot up from no where...

Adkelp- So sorry ( huge hugs sent your way) This journey is the hardest thing anyone could go through...

AFM- one more day but starting to feel mild cramps and I noticed some of the progesterone had some blood on it when I went pee sorry if too much tmi just nervous a/f maybe coming... Trying to stay positive maybe its old blood...

[LauraN]

Akdelp- I am so sorry!

Globetrotter- so I know it's totally disgusting that they do the internal exams while you are bleeding. They are so used to it, but it still grosses me out!

Starting Stimms means that you start the follistim or gonal f, or whatever stimulation med you are on. So, for my cycle, I will be starting Lupron first, then the next day, will be start stimming, which means I will start my follistim.

On your friend, without knowing her history and all of that, 4 follicles may be excellent for her....I know with my first cycle, I didn't produce that many follicles. So for the second cycle, we changed up the meds and everything and we had a much better result. I am sure they did adjust her meds while she was stimming. Some women end up with a lot of eggs each cycle, like 20+, then there are others that only get a few.

You had a question on how I organize things? So when my meds come in, I get a small box that I put in my kitchen, since that is where I prep everything. I put the needles, syringes and meds that don't have to be refrigerated in the little box, in the order that I will take them out. I have a routine with my shots. For example: I wake up at 6, go into the kitchen, put on my numbing "patch" that I create with the numbing cream. Then, I got out to the frig, prep my lupron and follistim, then let it sit on the counter while my numbing cream is doing its job and so that the meds aren't cold going in. Then, when my time for my patch is up, I go back in, get the shots and alcohol swabs, etc and go in my bedroom, lay down and then my husband gives me my shots (like I said in my email to you, I totally can't give myself the shots). I do the same routine in the evening, the only difference is the meds that i prep. That is all I mean by organizing. In my little box, I have the syringes on the right side, the needles, the qcaps, etc. Then, once I move from being done with the stimmulation medications, I change up my box and put my progesterone and estrogen patches in the box with the needles I need for the progestrone. That's all, nothing major. It just works for me to have a routine and have everything in it's place for this.

[blueeyedreamer]

Adkelp- I'm so, so sorry. Did you have an empty uterus or empty sac?

[Julia73]

Akdelp, I am so sorry. You're in my prayers.

Ninde- no, never had this happen.

[Gina1976]

Akdelp- I am truly sorry, many hugs and prayers.


Kynlee- I hope you don't see anymore blood! Tomorrow is the big day!!

Thank you for asking about him. He isn't doing so well. He had major ear pain tonight for about 3 hrs. Nothing we did or tried helped. We thought about the ER but it would be the same old thing, plus with the meds we had given him more wouldn't be good. So tomorrow we are demanding to see the Ears, Nose and Throat Specialist. I don't care if we have to sit in the waiting room all day in case someone is a no show which I'm sure happens often. His tooth was bothering him some, so we are putting our foot down on them also. They want to have the teeth cleaned before she'll do the job, which is on Monday but we are telling them to fix the tooth the same day. He can't keep going with pain off and on like this. He's actually been okay until today. Luckily it got better an hr before his bedtime for school nights so he should get plenty of rest. He does an hr of testing (Terra Nova) if feeling good enough then we are leaving for the Doctors. These pains have to stop. Not taking no for an answer tomorrow! Sorry for the rant it just breaks my heart to see him cry and in so much pain.

[Sunshine1576]

Adkelp,
I know it's discouraging to hear that, and I wish more then anything we had a set solution! Yes someone out there would be a millionare if they could find our true diagnosis and make this work and all of us would be running to that millionare! Yes it's a reminder that you are never alone but this fertility treatment needs more of a medical advancement if you ask me. That's all I can think about whenever I go to visit my RE for the WTF appt., bc It's so unfair to all of us who so deserve a family and we are paying our mortgage to see something happen! I want to tell them just give us our baby and nobody gets hurt! It's heartbreaking so many of us know this feeling too well, but I promise you tomorrow will bring you brand new hope. Several of us have tried IVF more then I can count on my right hand and finally receive their miracle so If it's okay I will keep pulling and praying that a door will open. I really believe there is a still a chance A way to make our miracle happen! This journey has taught us perservance and for those who don't give up- their miracle WILL happen one way or another! For now take all the time you may need, it's an emotional rollercoaster and vent to us all you want because we truly understand. If this is something you cannot go a day without thinking about, I hope you will be back to try once again, I know time can only tell. We are certainly here to lift you up and give you emotional strength and support as needed. Each of us has to decide what's best and it's a personal decision but hopefully we can chime in with the RE to give you some options for your next step to help you move forward when you're good and ready. x Christy

[Globetrotter]

Back from the injection class. First of all, I have so much admiration for anyone who has gone through this, especially multiple times. I am scared and freaked out .

I didn't try to do it myself but DH gave one injection to me (the small needle for menopaur). It actually hurt more than I thought but I think I can get used to this. What really freaked me out is the progesterone needle. I NO idea there could be 9 weeks of this. They said that with a fresh cycle, the gel is as effective so I'd like to switch to that but I am still worried it is not as good as the injection (in the back of my mind).

I have two other questions. If we have a BFP (knock on wood):

#1. They mentioned that I shouldn't travel until after the 2-week ultra-sound no confirm no ectopic pregnancy. I have a business trip to Europe planned out right about that time. Since my tubes were blocked and recently ligated to increase success of IVF, can I even have an ectopic pregnancy?

#2. Can I bring needles in a carry-on? DH is going to come to Europe with me to give me the injections...

As for my friend, she is 36 and has no known fertility issues (male factor) so I think she/"they" were expecting more than 4 follicles. They suggested converting into an IUI but the chance of success would have been too low. I thought that the monitoring was to adjust the dosage if necessary so at Day 5,6,7, etc... Or maybe they did and it didn't work. Just hoping there is a way to improve this during the cycle if possible...

[LauraN]

Globetrotter- Yes, anyone can have an ectopic pregnancy. On the shots, you can try icing the spot for a few minutes before doing the shots, that has worked for a few folks. You know me, I'm a numbing cream freak, so no even small needles for me without numbing cream! On the travel, yep, you can travel with the needles and meds, but just ask your clinic for a travel letter. I traveled one time with them, and had no problems at the airport at all.

Woo hoo on dealing with your first shot!

[Globetrotter]

LauraN (or anyone!): Can you explain how I can have an ectopic pregnancy? Ideally, my dr wanted to remove the tubes but he couldn't (blood supply to ovaries or something) so he ligated them. So my tubes are blocked and ligated, how can an embryo work its way up there?

[Happy Bunny]

Globetrotter: I believe that if there's even a tiny bit of tube, the embryo can float up there. I pretty much have stumps because I had two ruptured ectopics and I was told that I wasn't safe from another ectopic via IVF.

[Sunshine1576]

Globe- I would be more concerned about the tubes if you were trying to get pg naturally, but IVF provides the "middle-man" making the fallopian tubes un-necessary. Whether the embryo can float out of the uterus into the tube is a good question but if the Re is implanting them deep into the uterus they shouldn't be anywhere near the tubes.

HappyBunny- No offense but shouldn't you be providing a little more encouragement with IVF since you had ruptured tubes?

Kynlee- I'm praying the rest of the evening that tomorrow brings you a miracle, please text as soon as you find out.

[Happy Bunny]

Globe- I would be more concerned about the tubes if you were trying to get pg naturally, but IVF provides the "middle-man" making the fallopian tubes un-necessary. Whether the embryo can float out of the uterus into the tube is a good question but if the Re is implanting them deep into the uterus they shouldn't be anywhere near the tubes.

HappyBunny- No offense but shouldn't you be providing a little more encouragement with IVF since you had ruptured tubes?

Kynlee- I'm praying the rest of the evening that tomorrow brings you a miracle, please text as soon as you find out.

Since I have a similar infertility issue, I was responding to her request for an explanation on how it could happen as I understand it.

LauraN (or anyone!): Can you explain how I can have an ectopic pregnancy? Ideally, my dr wanted to remove the tubes but he couldn't (blood supply to ovaries or something) so he ligated them. So my tubes are blocked and ligated, how can an embryo work its way up there?

[Sunshine1576]

Globe- I've been spending some time tonight researching everything I can to find out more detailed info on your question. The conclussion I've found out is if the tubes are completely closed you stand less chance of having etopic. I understand you are unable to have surgery due to the complications of blood supply, so the tubes are blocked and ligated. Yes IVF does bypass the fallopian tubes but for the first 5 days those embryos are going to be floating around so anything is possible. Implantation (as my clinic puts it) is an act from God and it cannot be medically controlled. For some lucky couples out there IVF works on the first attempt, for others like myself with unexplained fertility it may take more then several tries. I have a SIL with blocked tubes and IVF worked for her on the first attempt as I mentioned earilier "IVF is your middleman". As for the shots they are a little bit frightening at first, but once you get into the second week of doing them I promise you they will seem much easier. Good luck!