Aussies and Kiwis!

[DianeC]

Hi All

Just found this site and thought that I would contribute to the site as well as get some frustrations out.

I am 42 and have just completed my 6th IVF cycle. We managed to complete the first three cycles with my own eggs - to no avail. We decided to go to America and try a Donor Egg program. It gives you so much hope when you know that the main reason for your infertility is age, so you eliminate that problem by choosing a donor who has a much better chance of providing good quality embyro's for transfer.

What a merry go round it has been! Our first attempt was terrible. I was sick and bleeding non stop and the embyro's turned out not to be good quality. After the first transfer, in which we were not too hopeful, there were no embryo's to freeze.

Our second attempt with another donor turned out so much better. We ended up with two blastocysts transfered and six to freeze. The first attempt with fresh embryo's was unsuccessful. I can tell you that was a bitter pill to handle. Everything seemed to go so right.....

This last try took place in the beginning of July with three frozen embryo's of reasonable quality. This time we had success - finally. However this was short lived. We have just been informed that the HCG levels are decreasing and this pregnancy is over.

I would be interested to hear from anyone who has had multiple attempts and who still has the courage and energy to continue. We are so tired and dissappointed but still unable to give up.

Cheers Di

[josiemack]

Hi Di, and welcome to the board - it is lovely to have someone new from 'our' neck of the woods. You poor thing, you sound like you really have been on a merry-go-round - I can't speak from experience of having a number of attempts, but I know there are certainly a couple on this board who are at attempt 2 or 3 and there are a number on the general board who have had multiple attempts, and a number of them have had a positive outcome after all the years of trying.

I am so sorry for your most recent positive and then loss, it must be devestating and frustrating to have come so close. The positive is that you know that it can work and heopefully each attempt allows the doctors to have a better understanding of what will be the most effective treatment. It sounds as though you may still have some frozen embies from your donor? If so, all the very best.

Tiger, Miss Molly, wow, its all strating happen now, BCP, sniffing, baseline scans - even the language is productive, makes it sound like things are happening - fingers crossed for you both.

Heather - how is the waiting going? You sound like you are taking it all in your stride, hopefully the time will fly with the new job sounding like it is providing a distraction, without being too stressful. I don't know how you had the strength to work in child protection - my friend used to manage a women's refuge, and I know how much that took out of her.

Well, saw the obst. yesterday, my fears were irrational, as DP had quietly tried to hint at (with little success, I might add!!) - she said that we shouldn't be able to notice anything for another couple of weeks (we are 10w2d today). She had a scan maching in her office, so we were able to have another peek - like Deanne, this was also an external one - rough measurement was 2.5 cm - so tiny, but amazing when it was .82 cm only 4 weeks ago. We have an official scan in 2 weeks to do a nuchal fold test, plus did a massive blood test yesterday for all sorts of things, including antibodies to chickenpox, syphilus, iron levels, down's syndrome hormones, and the one for people living with cats. Results come back after the scan, as they run the nuchal fold and the downs' one together to predict a probablility rating. Then after that, back to the obst. 2 weeks later.

I have always had hypermobile joints (double jointed, loose and stretchy - good for yoga!!) - but this is a bit problematic, because with the pregnancy hormones, my ankles roll really easily. I have tripped over twice in the last two days, both times rolling my right ankle and coming down heavily on my left knee - the first time skinning it, the second time blood everywhere. I am thinkg about seeing a phsyio that specialises in pregnancy (if there is such a thing), so see if a brace on my ankle would help. Any suggestions gratefully received.

Hope you are all having a great weekend - we have a nice quiet one planned, DP cleaned out the pantry and the 'plastics' cupboard this morning. We are moving to a new house in December and have vowed not to take any clutter with us - so the de-clutter project is underway!!

Take care
Jo

[BelB]

Hi all,

Di, welcome to the board, this can be an incredibly supportive forum with lots of women who are familiar with the merry go round that is fertility treatment. Sounds like you've well and truly beeen through the ringer with the whole thing. I am in my early (ish!) thirties, but know that there have been lots of women on this site over 40 who have gone onto have their babies. On the pregnant after treatment thread I know that there was a pregnant over 40 thread, might be worth posting there to get some idea of the experiences of some others. I wish you all the very best with your fertility journey, please post as often as you'd like, I always find that it's good to have the odd rant at times when going through a cycle. I had a similar expereince with getting pregnant then having it all end. It is such a cruel thing to go through, after everything we have behind us, to lose a baby is such a hiddeous experience. I really needed to take the time to grieve, I had counselling etc to get myself through. I also found this site incredibly useful, I had lots of women who had been through the exact same thing let me know that they had got through it...and often with a beautiful baby at the other end. My daughter Annie is now eight and a half months and just such a little miracle. You will always appreciate your little person from the moment you hold him or her in your arms (if not before). I wish you all the very best.

MissMolly and Tiger, my time has flown!!!, glad that things are progressing, am keen to hear of your ongoing success, do continue to keep us informed.

Jo, glad that bub is growing, 2.5cm is HUGE growth isn't it!! (no wonder you get tired!!!)

Take care all
Belinda

[Tiger]

Hi All! (I just wrote a huge message to post - and then I lost it !!!!
Let's see if I can remeber what I'd written. I am soooooo floozy - this is all because of IVF, it's all IVF's fault!!!) .

Diane, Hi, welcome, it's wonderful to welcome a new buddy, how are you? I hope you had a lovely quite weekend with your DH. I am sorry about your news.... I hope you find this site as helpful and supportive as I do.

Jo, I hope you will find a good physio that specialises in pregnancy to help you with your knee... your babs is only tiny but I am sure he/she can feel your pain too. Take care take care!

Deanne, Did you get to hear the heartbeat of your little one? a little life inside of you beating and beating... . Does morning sickness disappear when you are in 2nd trimester???

Bel hiya, glad to hear you had a fun time up in GC with Johnie and Annie. I hope Annie-Boo is over her little virus now? I am doing fine, starting the spray next Saturday, I cannot wait . Time is passing too slow for me here, really!

Heather! Heather Heather! not long to go now. I saw your name up on the gen.forum, this is your time to shine my lady!!!

MissMolly, thank you so much for introducing Alice to me, she is wonderful, I really like her. For the initial consultation I took with me my post operation notes from last laparoscopy (for endo). Alice was brutally honest with her thoughts on my situation and she simply stated "NOT GOOD" and that there is a limit with what she can do with the acupucture in support of IVF , but I appreciated her honesty. And because she thinks I don't have much time left, I am booked in for a session with her tomorrow. I will keep you posted.

Cheers! it's time for BB5,
Tiger

[BelB]

Hi Tiger,
Boy am I glad that Rita has been evicted!!..I really liked her initially. even tipped her to be in the final four, then she became this incredibly passive aggressive chatterbox..she was driving me bonkers..Also quite pleased about Christie, thought she was quite cheap to be honest..Phew, glad I've got all of that off my chest..Glad that you've started accupuncture, as I have mentioned before (I think) I got pregnant with Miss Boo on the IVF cycle that I had accupuncture so I am a HUGE believer..Glad you're about to do the sniffing thing as well, makes it all seem so much more real!

We are doing well here in sunny Queensland. Annie is over her most recent virus and now has another runny nose. I read last night that most bubs get lots of immunity from mum in their first six months and then less in the following months. I am breastfeeding so that should help I guess, but Annie's six months coincided with the start of winter and her commencing a day of day care where she is probably sneezed on lots during the day..Our GP has said that she needs exposure to virus' etc so that she develops resistance blah blah blah..is pretty hard to deal with though!!

Hope all are well
Belinda

[Deanne]

Hi all,

Welcome to the thread Di, so glad you've joined us. I'm sorry to hear about all the difficulties you've been having and especially your recent loss. As Bel said, there are definitely some wise women on the board who should be able to tell you about similar experiences.

Tiger I'm glad you found your acupuncture session useful - sounds like your consultant is going to do all she can which is great. You asked about whether we could hear our bub's heartbeat at the last scan. I think it's still too early to actually hear it, but we saw it on the monitor (as a flashing dot!). Our next scan is in 3 weeks so maybe it will be audible by then (fingers crossed!). And yes nausea is supposed to get better by the 2nd trimester (again, fingers crossed). I've been feeling a lot better over the last couple of days though so can't complain.

We're having an early taste of spring in Sydney right now - lovely and warm. I'm sure winter will be back before too long so I'm going to enjoy the temporary break. I bought the new Harry Potter book on the weekend and am looking forward to getting stuck into it today.

Cheers everyone,
Deanne

[BelB]

Deanne,
My nausea definately settled by the second trimester (only to rear it's ugly head once during week 16)..The second trimester is lovely, you truly glow with hapiness and health..my hair was shiny, my nails strong and my skin perfect..ahhhhhh
B

[Tiger]

Hiya,

I have a Q for you all today - Vitamin Supplements - any suggestions for pre-conception phase??? I have been taking follate since May (500mg/day) but last week my friend (currently preg) told me to get started on calcium and iron too..... so I started looking into it but I am now very confused. They are confusing aren't they? different products, different brands, different mixtures - should be made more simple - for someone like me. Any info would be much appreciated .

Deanne, new Harry Potter book - have you started it yet? Last one was bit boring but I heard that this one is really good .

Bel, Yep I am happy that Rita is gone. Don't care much about the other chick, thought she was ok, just really young.

Cheers, Tiger

[josiemack]

Hi Tiger

Our clinic recommends Elevit - it has more folate than most brands and includes iron, calcium and other good stuff. It is available at chemists, but I have also found it (quite a bit cheaper) at PriceLine in Sydney, in the mall - haven't looked for it in Melbourne. I have one a night at bed time.

Jo

[hlloyd]

Gosh, you ladies have been busy!

Welcome aboard Di, I am sorry to read about your struggles. You have had a rough time. I didn't realise that obtaining donor eggs in Australia was so difficult that you are forced to go overseas. Did you bring the frosties back with you or do you have to return every time you have a FET? In answer to your question, I think only you yourself can decide when you have had enough. There are women on another board I frequent who are up to stimulated cycle no. 20!! I don't know if I would have the energy for that....but then again, never say never. I wish you well with your next treatment and really hope that this time works out for you and you never have to make that tough decision.

Belinda, I guess it is a good thing that Annie is getting sick so often now, she will be one tough kid when she is older! I hope she has managed to share some of those germs with the kids that made her sick in the first place....it seems only fair!

Tiger, sounds like all is going well with you. Not long until your scan and then it will all be go, go, go! Yay! Glad to hear the acupuncture is working out too! I checked to see if our acupunturist is registered and he is not...he is chinese though (well he has a chinese name, I haven't actually seen him) I am still undecided about whether to make an appointment or not. I might check with my clinic and see if they have had any dealings with him. With regard to the vitamins, it can be very confusing. My clinic recommends that you take a supplement called Elevit which has everything a mother and baby in the making need. It is really hard to get so if you find a pharmacy with some, buy up big! I ended up getting them from an online pharmacy and I bought three boxes of them.

Deanne, another scan, how exciting. It must be amazing to see the little blob and the flashing white light, lets you know it is all real. Put your feet up and enjoy Harry Potter, it sounds like a great way to spend a couple of days. Glad the nausea is subsiding, it can be quite crippling I think...I am a very spewy sort of person (not in a bulimic sort of way ) and I don't like to leave the house when I feel ill in the tummy....I like to be close to my own loo!

Josie, have you had any luck finding a specialist or a solution to your joint problem. It sounds dreadful and you really don't need to be having lots of falls at present (well, ever really). I would try the brace until you can get some answers. Please be careful and take care of yourself.

MissMolly, shame about the pessaries. I seem to remember you had some troubles with the crinone gel last time, so hopefully these will work out better for you.....they would want to by the sounds of it, given the expense. I am experiencing the lovely gel at present. I wish clinics here used the injectible form of progesterone, that would be absolutely delightful given the alternatives (I think I may have developed some kind of sick fascination with needles!)

I hope I haven't forgotten anyone...have I? Hello Barbara and Donna if you are still tuning in. I hope everything is well with you and yours.

Nothing much to report here. Still waiting and don't feel anything really. You are right MissMolly, much easier the second time around. I am so not thinking about it that I almost had a glass of wine the other night, and then remembered that I can't! What a goose.

Hope you all have a great week and stay happy and healthy.

Cheers
Heather

[DonDaz]

Hello Heather and ALL

Yes, I have still been 'tuning in' and checking up on you all. Glad to see all is going well.

Donna and DH are probably going to wait til next year to try again. the doctor said she could start again in September. Donna thinks she may have her wisdom teeth out first.

Thank you for still thinking of us and best wishes to you all in your various "phases"

Take care,
Barbara

[BelB]

Hi gals,
Tiger, our clinic recommended Elavit as well, it is quite dear, but does contain iron, zinc, calcium and lots of folate which is what you need. I found going to a Naturopath quite helpful to be honest, though she recommended a stack of stuff (I would have rattled if I took all of them!!) and did do some rather odd testing procedures that I found a little unscientific (bah humbug!).

We're doing OK, more snotty noses, surely I am leading up to another bout of mucous extraction very soon..you girls know how much I love it!!!

B

[hlloyd]

Thanks Belinda, I have hormones on the brain at the moment....I have fixed it up now!

Cheers
Heather

[DianeC]

Hi all,

Thank you all for the welcome. My husband and I are still waiting for things to happen, we are not too sure how long this should be, but I will contact our clinic at the end of the week for an answer. It still is an emotional roller coaster and we are feeling so flat....really want to move on.

We go to America for our Donor Eggs as it is so much easier and we think much more advanced in thier technology. We don't bring our frozen embryos back as I am paranoid that there may be a problem in transit or the techniques used here in Australia would not be compatible. We have enough to worry about.....

We think we may go back to America in November/ December this year for another try. So for the time being I will try and rest and lose some weight. The only thing I have gained in all this is weight:) Over two years of trying has seen me gain a stone in weight. I think I might address this issue and lose some before the next round. Does anyone else have this problem?

Best wishes to everyone and keep positive:)

Cheers Di

[hlloyd]

Hi ladies

Wow Dianne, no wonder you are tired....all that travelling must really take it out of you. I wish you the best of luck in Nov/Dec and I really hope everything works out for you this time.

Good to hear from you Barbara. Good idea for Donna to get her wisdom teeth out now. There would be nothing worse than having to put up with the pain when she is pregnant and can't do anything about it. Tell her to take care and I hope the procedure goes smoothly.

And as for me......well, as expected, another BFN this time. AF turned up right on time....it always amazes me how my body manages to withstand all the effects of the drugs and carry on like clockwork! I am not disappointed as I wasn't expecting anything else. We still haven't decided on a new clinic, but have had some wonderful communication with a clinic on the Sunshine Coast. They seem really positive, really flexible and will work hard to minimise the travel for us. Might be a go-er!

I hope you are all having a great week...only one more day until the weekend! I am going out to dinner tomorrow night and I am going to drink wine....yay!

Best wishes to all
Heather