The Over 40 Crowd

[Alison]

Kat - just wanted to belatedly add my congratulations. Wishing you a relaxed and incident free next 8 months!

Love

Alison x

[hlloyd]

Caroline, so sorry to read about your loss. Sending best wishes to you and your family to get you through this difficult time. Take care of each other.

Heather

[hlloyd]

Randa........we are waiting!! Hurry up and test already!

[randa2006]

Jen,
You are more than welcome anytime (we'll have to call you kiddo, as 38 is such a youngster to us).
Yes, we discuss high fsh levels and low follie counts here often, definately over-40 issues.
The only experience I have to offer you is that my fsh is also a little high at 15 and I have had 3 cycles where one was cancelled due to only two follicles progressing and the smaller ones either stayed small or shrunk during the two-three days leading up to EC. No fun.
However, the next round (3 months later) was a normal round and we got 5 eggs, all fertilized and 4 made it to freezing stage.
My doc explained that as we get older our eggs have bunched up in varying sizes of "batches" and it's just the luck of the draw as to which "batch" is in line to come down next (He also said they line up 5 months ahead!). So repitition is the only way to weed out the small batches and get to the sizeable ones. Hope that makes sense.
Best of luck to you. Keep us informed.

Heather, I posted yesterday (you might have missed it) that AF came. I'm totally cool with it. Never really felt in my "gut" that I was pregnant anyway.

Funny thing hit me though, when there was the possibility... I was afraid... because it meant we would be pregnant with an embryo we didn't "pick"! Can you believe it? I've gotten so used to all the control we have with IVF that a natural pregnancy scares me. It's just that, I have no time to waste and if it's a low-grade egg and it takes several weeks to miscarry, then I'm that much older when we do the IVF. Sounds very cold I know. I think I'm losing my mind sometimes.

Wasn't I preaching to you all about not worrying about things we can't control. I'll shut up now.

Happy Saturday, Girls!

[Jeni Babes]

Thanks for replying randa,

Your experience does help. Knowing that every 5 months the eggs bunch up in batches really helps me understand the process. Knowing repitition is the only way to weed out the small batches and get to the sizeable ones does make sense.
I am with the NHS and they go by their own agenda ( i understand this as they try to cover as many people as poss. and fit everyone into the same box=Cheaper for them). Hopefully if i don't have 3 or more follies than i will be allowed another try in 3 months time. If not i will need to go private. Cross that bridge later.

thanks again for that important info. has anyone else been on this SHORT or FLARE cetrotide cycle ?

I'll check back in Monday afternoon and let you kow how the update.

I understand what you mean about choosing your embie. it's about being comfortable with what you know is best for you....and you want to give it your BEST shot in the shortest time possible. Iknow the feeling.

Hi to everyone else!

Love
jen
xxx

[Kat]

Hi all

Jen - I had the cetrotide cycle a number of times and I got 4 eggs on my best cycle from 4 follies, not all a v good size but we had a very good % fertilisation so they can't have been that bad.
The cetrotide injection comes up like a huge insect bite on your belly - v attractive!

Alison my old buddy if you're still reading this - thanks for your message, hope you're doing OK

Randa - totally understand about wanting to be in control.

Hi to everyone else & hope you're all doing OK. I am holding out 'til my scan on 28th before I let myself get excited but sometimes I allow myself a little daydream... if that makes any sense

Lots of love
Kat xx

[taylorjools]

hi ladies..

Randa - know what you mean about control, and also about losing time, my m/c was in June and only now are we cycling again..Bet you can't wait til Jan. Tell you what though, I have been so wrapped up in the process of eliminating all possible controllable risks that I had also "forgotten" that the reall meaning of this is to get on with it as statistically that's the only way to succeed...here's to the next go then!

Kat- so happy for you dear. Try and enjoy being pg. I know I had my m/c at 7.5 weeks, but now that there is distance from the pain of that, I can tell you they were the happiest 7.5 weeks of my life so far. I am sure you will be fine, look on th e"other side" at how many of our girls have made it. Big hugs and cuddles, and take it easy...

Jen - hang on in there, it must be tough but at least there is a chance with the NHS, fingers crossed for you. I am premature menopause, I was 37 when we started strying, dh had his Vas reversed and then we discovered I had fibroids and FSH already up 16-18. It can fluctuate month to month so you are doing the only thing you can which is to get going ASAP. DONT let anyone make you wait unless there is a VERY good reason. I say this as we were wrongly advised and did an IUI first which was STUPID (of them). They did an ovarian function test after that and found that there was little point of IVF - if (and I hope for you of course that it is a BFP) this cycle is not successful you should ask for this test, as it can predict whether your follicles will produce viable eggs - mine wouldn't so at least we didn't waste time, money and emotional trauma trying IVF with my eggs for no reason. After that it went real fast, so failed IUI with FSH 18 on the Feb 2003, re-test when we had moved to Germany August FSH >60 ie menopause, I had being going through it probably since 34/35 with no idea. Any questions about this issue please feel free to ask...I will do anything I can to help you avaoid the disappointment I went through, although I can only hold your hand and sympathise with the shock of hearing this news

Hope you don't mind me updating you - but you all know I belong to a board especailly for donor eggs and Ukraine clinics - well Joy had her c/s and gave birth to two perfect wonderful little boys yesterday (or Friday???) We think about 5-6 lbs each - now there's a miracle to egg us on. For those of you who don't know Joy had a still birth with one of her Spanish tries, and many negs, so I am sure she wont mind me blowing her trumpet to say anything can happen if you wnat it enough (and find the right clinic / protocol for you..)

As for us, on the edge of our seats here. I start meds tonight ( ) having been given the OK after baseline scan Thursday. Checking thyroid levels again tomorrow just to b sure. TESE samples left Hamburg Wednesday.......please let them arrive in Kiev intact or poor dh will be for the chop again . Can't book flights yet, just sitting watching the prices going up have however reserved appartment and booked dogs into kennels as it's a 10 day stay (YES 10 days) this time at least to be absuilutely sure my stims go just right (wary of the fibroids)and the donor doesn't get over-stimmed just to suit the airline schedules..I am impressed I must say. So EC could be any time from 23rd Nov, and ET well depends on how long we let the embies go (I am so sure we'll get some this time....). So it's as usual the waiting game....but we are really excited and positiove, Joys news helps a lot (she had 4 embies put back I think).

Looking forward to a nice long break in Kiev

Love and hugs to all

BigJ

[Jeni Babes]

thanks Big J-
With what Randa and yourself have told me there is so much I can do if this cycle doesn't go on to EC.
I WILL ask for an ovarian function test if this doesn't work. The hosp (docs)basically say i have NO hope without getting a donor...the nurses are rooting for me. ...We will see tomorrow what happens. And Kat's help here also leaves another window of choice open.
I am wishing you all the best for this cycle...you have organised everything so well. (4 dogs, flights, hotel etc.!!!) It will be good to have some time resting and exploring Kiev while your stimmimg...What's the weather like there @ the moment? Good luck and many embies for you both.

Kat- thank goodness you too felt you had had a big bite with the cetrotide...Been using it 4 nights now and i am sooooo itchy afterwards for most of the night. A bonus tho is i am not getting bad headaches like other prostap i have used before.
I was preg twice first for 10 wks and second 7.5 wks. My body mind and emotions still crave the amazing 'drugged up ' HIGH feeling........ of being preg!!! How many weeks will you be when you scan? (7-8??) Good luck, for that ..


thanks for all the feedback
Love
jen
xxx

[DebraP]

Hello there.

Jane, you asked a little while ago how I was doing, I'm OK, thanks for asking. Still a bit numb but we've started making plans which we'd stopped doing for 2 years really. I've left the board more or less, and although this will sound perverse, this thread in particular. Reading of people still trying whilst 1-3 years older than me, with new protocols etc. just creates doubt and stops me from moving on. Seven tries was enough for us.

I do pop on every now and again so will try and keep tabs on who is doing what and will always send positive vibes.

Randa and BigJ....best of luck with your forthcoming tries.

hugs
Debra.

[lara]

Hi everyone,
Been reading all your brave endeavours to get pg. Just struck by how brave everyone is and how supportive to each other.

Jen, I've taken Cetrotide every cycle (3, 2 pgs both m/c at 10 and 12 weeks) and I hate injecting it too, into what is no longer a flat stomach (after all these drugs and pgs), and then it feels like a lump of poison is in there. I always rub it with the palm of my hand afterwards to get the blood flowing and soothe it away a bit.

Sorry about the af Randa, and I understand as I'm in the same sort of state, where last month I was really late and hoped, of course, but was also terrified of another m/c, my last m/c was Aug and I haven't started another cycle yet, hope to start 21/11 or thereabouts, so of course understand you not wanting to use up valuable time on non-viable embies.

BigJ all the best with your cycle, you've been a fab help to me and I'm crossing everything for you. Sounds like PMA is in good shape.

I had a truly depressing email from a clinic in London whom I had written to asking advice and whether they could help me, and they wrote back giving me data on women my age (43) that plunged me into gloom, and which I won't repeat because it's not helpful to us lot trying to keep up PMA and focussing on the (many) success stories rather than negative-sounding statistics, which don't always mean a lot anyway because every case is different.

I'm a dithering jibbering wreck now trying to decide whether to increase my chances of getting pg (but same chance of m/c) or do same cycle as before but decrease chance of m/c (by screening). I lie awake at night with it going round and round and because of age feel under pressure from the clock ticking, as Randa described so well.

Sending positive vibes to all,
Lara x

[randa2006]

BigJ - can you believe it's finally here? You've worked so hard to get to the starting line of this round. YES! I feel sure you are going to get a nice big batch of embies also. Plenty to transfer and plenty to save (if needed). You sound good. I like that.

Debra - so good to hear from you. As much as I miss you, I understand why this thread in particular is a magnet you don't need right now. It would be nice to hear from time to time all about your plans and new life after IVF. Please don't be a complete stranger. Thanks for all the support you've given to me over the past 10 months. You made a difference in my life and I know many others feel the same way. I know some wonderful things are in store for you and your beautiful family.

Lara - thanks for the support. What is the down side of screening? Seems like it is the way you should go this round, unless there is a negative I don't know about.

Hi Kat!
Hi everone else!

[randa2006]

Hello Everyone. Any updates?

Kat - Fresh/donor cycle, hpt +ve!, blood test Tues 8th Nov
Nuala - fresh cycle, late Oct.
BigJ - TESE/donor egg cycle in Kiev, EC set for 23-24 Nov
Caroline - November FET postponed
Amfy - EC 9 Nov, ET 11 Nov
Anna - waiting for AF and cyst drain (14th/16th Nov)
JackieT - start downregging 2/11 for FET
Heather - FET November sometime
Randa - Natural BDing until Jan, then first full IVF cycle
Lara - choosing tmt (IVF vs GIFT)

[amfy]

Kat - Fresh/donor cycle, hpt +ve!, blood test Tues 8th Nov
Nuala - fresh cycle, late Oct.
BigJ - TESE/donor egg cycle in Kiev, EC set for 23-24 Nov
Caroline - November FET postponed
Amfy - 2ww - test 25th November
Anna - waiting for AF and cyst drain (14th/16th Nov)
JackieT - start downregging 2/11 for FET
Heather - FET November sometime
Randa - Natural BDing until Jan, then first full IVF cycle
Lara - choosing tmt (IVF vs GIFT)

Yes me!!

Not enjoying this 2ww atall and I'm only a couple of days in! My tummy constantly feels on the slide and I'm bored like i never knew bored could be! I tried to get DP to take me out somewhere yesterday, just for lunch or something but he said I was being impatient and had to learn to relax. The problem is that I've done telly watching and reading etc so much now and I've got nothing left to distract me from concentrating on every ache and pain. I'm really trying to just be grateful for getting this far but I'm just living with a constant sense of anxiety.

[lara]

Hi,

Randa, yes you're right about IVF+screening not actually having a downside, it's just that Prof Craft has DOUBLED LIVE BIRTH RATES in 42-46 year olds using GIFT. That's why I'm in a dilemma. Oh God...


Amfy good luck with 2ww sounds like you're taking a lot of rest to help things bed in - I've never done that, I've just rushed around as usual, for better or for worse I don't know - but taking it easy has got to help, it only makes sense. Get a whole load of classic films out, ones you always feel embarrassed you've never seen, and grind your way through them? Might take your mind off things. Go and get a reflexology treatment? Buy some photo albums and organise all your photos?
Okay, so I don't know how to do the 2ww either! Good luck, though.

BigJ, good luck!!!

Lara xxx

[amfy]

Thanks for the thoughts Lara. I'm going to "pop in" to work tomorrow and go back full time on Wednesday so my empty time is nearly over. I'm sure that when i am back at work i will wish i was back on the sofa!

Lara, have you ever done a decision grid? It works on the basis that it isn't possible to do a simple for and against list because some factors weigh heavier than others. So you give each factor a weight between 1-5 depending on how important it is to the overall decision. You then tick which factors each option meets and add it up using the weighting. I don't know if it'll work for this but heres an example for buying a car



colour blue - 1

fuel economy - 5

5 door - 4

cd player - 2

So car 1 is blue with a cd player and 5 door = 7

car 2 is red with good fuel economy and 5 door = 9

so, although car 2 has less of the factors you are looking for, it has the more important factors, so you buy car 2.

This is probably no use atall when deciding between different courses of fertility treatment, but you never know so I thought I'd throw it in!