Feb/Mar 08 Cycle Buddies

[cathann]

How are you all doing today? Are we all feeling fine??? I hope so!

I thought your discussions about ICSI were interesting. Our doc didn't even give us a choice...we have to go right to ICSI. I'm trying not to stress about it, but I sure hope they can find some good ones to work with. Every time I think I have it sort of figured out, more comes along!

Hang in there girls! It's already the middle of January. ALL of our BFPs will be here before we know it!

Catherine

[JustJenis]

Catherine - You worded it perfectly. I thought that I had everything set in my head.. Thought that I understood what was happening but I'm realizing that things change by the day!!! Whatever it takes is the attitude my DH and I have. We knew it would be tough so we're in this for the long haul! Just REALLY glad now that we have great insurance. After what they told us about him.. I was glad that we didn't have to worry about how we would do a second or third or however many rounds it will take.

By the way... I sure wish someone had warned me about that saline sonogram thingie! That was HORRIBLE! I've been very uncomfy all day Motrin.. BAH! That didn't touch it.

Back to take a nap

*HUGS*
Jenis

[jenjen220]

Hey girls.... looks like we're getting a good litlle group going here! I have a question for everyone. We have done all our previous cycles at one clinic and decide this time to try a new one this time. Our new clinic had me do a pre-screen water ultrasound, where they filled my uterus with water then looked at it. My other clinic never did this or even mentioned it. So I'm wondering what other clinics do? My new Dr. made it sound like it was very benificial and gives them a better view of things to make sure there's nothing that could effect implantation. So I'm just wondring!!

[cathann]

How is everyone doing today?? Are we all good??

I have found your discussions about ICSI very interesting. Our doc told us we had to go right to ICSI. I'm trying not to stress about it. I sure hope they can find a good one to work with!

Hang in there ladies! March will be here before we know it & we'll be celebrating some BFPs!!!

Catherine

[RunnerKate]

Hi, I am trying to reply to the Feb/Mar cycle group, but can't seem to get it to work.

I have so many questions....

What is a chemical pregnancy and why does it happen?

Why would they cancel a cycle?

Does IVF w/ ICSI EVER work for someone with low morphology (my hubby's issue)?

kate

[cathann]

JenJen - I think the test you are describing is the same test that JustJenis had. My clinic calls it a sonar insuflation sudy. They "inflate" the uterus with saline and then do an ultrasound to look for cysts and check the uterine lining, etc. (and YES it is uncomfortable!). I felt crampy for about 2 -3 days after - thank goodness for Aleve!

I say the more tests they can do to see what's happening the better. You can never have too much information. In my mind it just increases your chances of being successful!

On a different note, AF arrived this morning! I should be doing my baseline bloodword and ultrasound on Monday. I feel like we are officially on our way now!

Hope you all have a great day!
Catherine

[jenjen220]

Cathann- sounds like that's the same thing...thanks
I guess I was just wondering if that was the norm. I totally agree that whatever they can to to get a better idea of what is going on is helpful. That's why I wonder why my old clinic didn't do it. Anyway there's nothing we can do about it now.

[JustJenis]

Good Morning Ladies!!

JenJen - Sounds like the same thing I had yesterday. My RE said that it's a normal thing at our clinic. Every woman has it done. Better chance of implantation. They told me to take 2 motrin BEFORE i went and let me warn you my dear.. That didn't touch it. I consider myself to have a high pain tolerance. I've had 3 open surgeries in my abdomen and wowzers this was hard. I took 800mg Motrin every 4 hours and it's better this morning but still there. But not "pain" just crampy.

Cathann- YAAAHHH For AF! Bet you never thought you'd be glad to see her huh?? LOL Amazing the little things these days that make us excited huh?

How's everyone else doing?

*HUGS*
Jenis

[itsgottawork]

Hi Folks!
I have never heard of that saline ultrasound and I think I am better off. It sounds scary and I hope you feel better soon, JenJen and JustJenis!
I had my dr appointment today to review my last cycle and prepare for this one. I can try to answer a couple of RunnerKate's questions. A chemical pregancy is a pregnancy which results in a very early miscarriage. My doctor today said they call it a chemical pregnancy because it doesn't make it to the first ultrasound and the only knowledge of the pregnancy is through the blood test - testing HCG - the chemical. I read somewhere that a lot of women may experience this without even realizing it, particularly the first time they are pregnant. It isn't recognized a lot of time because women who aren't monitoring might not even notice and just think that AF is a little late or a little heavier than normal. In my case though, I used an HPT (or 4) before I had my beta test so I knew for a week that I was positive before I had my beta and learned it probably wasn't going to take.
As for IVF with ICSI working for low morphology, I have to assume it will definitely work. My DH has that and a low count as well. I can't remember all the details of our male factor issues. I am not sure any of the numbers were good. But, our RE has great hope that IVF with ICSI will work for us and I definitely believe him!
We implanted 2 embryos last time and when he went through the results today, he said that the way they measure them, one of the embryos was actually perfect. Not quite sure why it didn't take but at least we have hope that we can create some good embryos with this assistance!
Cathann - congrats on the AF. I always feel strange congratulating anyone for getting it on this site but I am in the same boat. I am supposed to get mine today and I can't wait! I have definitely been experiencing enough PMS symptoms that I suspect my DH can't wait until I get it too. My protocol doesn't require BCPs though so I still won't do anything for another 3 weeks after she gets here. The official beginning of the first waiting period in this cycle. Yahoo.
Lisa, Mrs. G, Jill, how are you all doing?
I hope everyone is doing well! I get so excited when I see the doctor and writing on this site!
Good luck to everyone!

[cathann]

Itsgottawork - yeah, it's really strange to be excited about AF. I hope she comes for you today too!!

Jenis - did you have your test done at the hospital or your clinic? I have had both the hsg (to check to see if the tubes are open or blocked) and also the sis (to check the uterine lining). Both are uncomfortable for sure, but I definitely had more cramping with the sis!

No pain, no gain I guess.

Cathann

[RunnerKate]

itsgottawork, thanks for telling me what chemical pregnancy means and that there is a chance w/ IVF w/ ICSI. I wish that there were statistics of the success of IVF w/ ICSI for all the different problems that people have (maybe there is, but I haven't found it)!

Kate

[LB]

Hi everyone! I have not had the sis either and it sounds like I should be glad I didn't! I did the "dye test" which is where they found my blocked tubes and that was super painful. They did some procedure to check my uterus, etc. for cysts but it was a very short, quick thing in the RE's office and it didn't hurt.

Kate - I don't know any statistics, but I have to believe IVF with ICSI is much more effective for male factor issues or else they wouldn't do it. This way they can isolate the good sperm and inject them right in, so the chances are higher than if they let them try to fertilize naturally. Ours worked last time, even with the one egg, so I am hopeful that if we can get the eggs this time that we will get good embryos!

Have a great weekend - we have off on Monday and I am totally looking forward to it!

[cathann]

LB - funny. The second test you mentioned is the same as the SIS (I think). I had it done twice. The first time it didn't hurt at all & no cramps after. The second time it didn't hurt during the procedure, but I had cramps for 2 days after. Weird, huh?

Have a great weekend and great day off on Monday! I have to work

Catherine

[JustJenis]

I can not believe my lazy butt forgot to check this folder of ours!! What on earth have I been doing all day? Yup! I'm blonde.. I admit it. LOL

The morphology is against us as well. They said that everything else with DH is looking fine just that without the ICSI his little guys would be knocking on the door forever and noone would hear them. LOL ok.. so that's my interuptation of it all. BUT They did explain to us that ICSI is them doing the work for the sperm. That movement and shape (morphology) don't really come into play. The quality of the sperm however does. So they take the star players and toss them on over to my beautiful eggs. (i'm so optimistic today lol) I actually think it takes some of the stress off the whole guessing game. But that's just me

As for the test yesterday.. I had that done in the clinic. It was ultrasound guided and yeah.. well I didn't like it.. y'all know that already LOL!

Hope everyone has a good weekend!! Am I the only one that counts down the days till I start meds ???? It seems like I feel lost when I don't have to get blood work or tests or scans. What's a girl to do if she's not at the IVF clinic????

*HUGS*
Jenis

[Jill_n_Mark]

Hey everyone! I got my consult appt--next Friday, 1/25-- and our IVF is scheduled for week of 3/17. My RE is the only one in town and has approx 10-15 couples each IVF cycle, so he manipulates everyone to be on same schedule. My 1st IVF, I had 21 eggs retrieved and 15 embryos. We decided to do the 5-day blast transfer which was a great call because after day 3, all our embabies stopped growing. On the day of our ET, we only had 3 that had survived so we did AH and transferred all and got a BFN When we went in for our post-consult, our RE stated for someone my age, this should not have happened. He thinks I have poor egg quality and suggest we try once more with ICSI and AH to give every egg a chance. We plan to stay positive and pray this works

Hope everyone is doing well and keeping up those PMA!!!