NOV/DEC 2009 -- Cycle Group

[julia_78]

Katie - thanks so much for keeping the tracker updated, it's killing me to have to wait over a month to be able to give you any updates on my status (nothing interesting to report - BCP, prenatal vit & checking compulsively this site 10x a day...)

Lou - you're half way there, stay away from those sticks!!!! it's going to drive you (even more) crazy

10Bear - Sorry to hear about your single embie... remember it only takes one!!! what did your RE say about DH's flu?

AFM - I am in Europe for work for 10 days - good trip so far, i thought it would help take my mind off of this cycle but i still find myself obsessing about my snow babies and checking the board throughout the day to check on you all (it's going to be a loonnnng wait til 12/21 for FET...)

grow follies grow to all of you on stims!!

[olim78]

mommieof2 - welcome on board - am totally with you on the 'whole world and his dog' being pregnant - I'm sure my next door neighbours cat is preggers too!

[claud662]

Katie-Thanks for updating the board!! It was so helpful to see where everyone was in their cycle!!! If you are paying that much money, then we should be able to decide for ourselves how much we want to get!!! That seems unfair that she is making you get more than you think you need!!!

10bear-I'm sorry about hearing you only had one embie after getting such good grades. Did you hear anything about doing ICSI? Please let us know how your transfer goes

Lou-I hear you about the disappointing - on the tests...I CAN'T wait until the day I see that line (never have!!) PMA to you and your DH and try and take the rest of the week and weekend to relax!!!

Sarah-I like to do my own injections as well because I hate the anticipation of having someone else do it!! Because of my disaster with last cycle's HCG trigger shot, they gave me an already mixed syringe that I can administer myself in the stomach instead of the butt!!!

tabbdm-it seems as though you ovulated on your own (because your progesterone level should have been 0 otherwise) and that is why you can't do the transfer....not that I'm a doctor or anything, but we will be thinking of your frosties and wishing you good luck!

Riley baby-When people as me (and everyone has been lately especially with BOTH of my sister in laws just announcing they were preggers) that "when it happens it happens"....that way they don't ask follow up questions and I avoid saying anything, but I may have to try your approach next time!!! Also because of getting so bloated from the stims last cycle, EVERYONE at work was making pregnancy remarks to me since I'm younger than everyone by at least 20 years and it looked like I was growing a baby I was so bloated

to-have-fun-I know your hesitant about fully posting on this thread, but it sounds like your cycle is going so well!!! Thanks for the advice about the Lupron....that was exactly what my DR emailed me back!! They thought it would help my cycle my making this tweak so hopefully they are right!

turtle-sorry you had to deal with incompetent pharmacy/nurses! that sounds frustrating and I hope it all got sorted out!! I actually just got my "baby in a box" today and everything is in the fridge ready to go!!!

olim-I am actually hoping that I stim a couple extra days to help my lining thicken!! I stimmed for 9 days last time and my lining was just barely over 6 and the ideal lining is 8...so if I could get an extra day or so this cycle, that would be great!!


AFM...I started BCP last night
and now I am excited because I have a good friend's wedding this Saturday and I can DRINK!!!! That is the one perk about being on BCP and not worrying about harming the eggs!!! I am totally obsessed with this board and look to hear all your updates!

[sarah_ruth79]

to have fun and olim- thanks for the assurances, i am a super (control) freak. that's part of what is scaring me about all this is how little control i have...but i think i will try all the shots myself. my clinic actually said even the trigger shot they are doing with the short needle, no more IM shots...is that weird? The Gonal F comes with a pen but I don't think the Lupron does.

10 bear I am so sorry, it really does only take one. Hope the ICSI might help. We have to do it (we are doing PGD) and we have been excited to hear about how it can help. Good luck!!

katie thanks for updating! looks like a lot of work!

[katie99]

Hi girls -

No problem, I need the tracker too, if you all go on a typing fest, i'd be totally lost! OK big surprise the nurse didnt bother to call me back today, big surprise for her, i'm not letting this go!

Olim -You're entitled to your own lab values, sometimes they dont think that we understand them so dont give them to us. Ask for them. It took me a few cycles to have them "offer" to tell me ( cause I just kept asking)

Chris -thanks! We missed you around here, but totally understand you trying to stand back a bit. Hope your stress levels not too high. I'm so happy to hear your follies are having a party this time! BTW - I wanted to say thanks for your ovidrel advice. I brought it up to my RE & he said that he was planning on having me take 2 this time anyway. Thanks for that info on ovidrel vs. empty follicles.

Riley -It must be so hard to deal w/ your sister. if it was me, I wouldnt want to go to the hospital either!

Franny -WOW - I cant believe your pharmacy & clinic put you through all that! Girl, you win the patience award hands down! That makes my med order sound normal. I always look forward to your posts, you have a way of putting things that just cracks me up! Very glad we get to cycle together again!

Sarah Ruth -Welcome! no, doing your own shots isnt a bad idea at all - I do all of mine, DH will sometimes give my PIO, but it hurts less when I do it!

Lou -honey, you know its way too early for that! But the good news is you know that the trigger shot is out of your system. The 2ww is the toughest part of the entire process. Sending you loads of PMA & patience dust! You're almost there- you can do this!

10bear -Ask your RE his/her thoughts on 1 fert. Crossed fingers & prayers for your embie to keep growing! dont get down about it, read through these boards - there have been lots of successful pregnancys that started with 1 embie!

Babyhopes -Which meds do you start tom? Good luck!

Supergenius -Yay for stims! Only us crazy ivf women are happy to stick themselves with needles

Mommieof2 - Welcome! did you mean you start lupron on Nov 12?

Julia -Too funny! the waiting is pretty awful though, isnt it? Enjoy Europe - will you get some tourist time to yourself?

Claud -Its true! the bloating stinks! I watch the progression in my RE 's waiting room - in the beginning of the cycle they all dress nice then as they move along soon the only things that fit are sweats or yoga pants
the nurses in my clinic love to point out when you show up in sweats! Apparently they make bets on it. Whoo hoo drinks at a wedding! have a great time! hopefully they'll be the last drinks for say 9 months or so!

I feel like I wrote a book! hugs & PMA to everyone- xoxo

[teacher2bmom]

I havent posted for a while... Things are slow before BCP but AF finally came!! Here we go...

My doctor called and left a message today and asked if i had gained any weight since my first IVF. I have put on about 5 pounds maybe... not sure because my pants fit fine. She says it's because it will change the meds
(I guess she means BCP b/c that's all i'm taking) Is that a normal question? Do all ERs ask that? It makes me nervous because I haven't been eating extremely well. I mean I make sure to get veggies and fruit and take a multivitamin, but I also eat way too many carbs I'm sure.

What kind of diets, regiments,etc do you all follow? Does it seem to make a difference in egg quality and quantity?

[turtle0619]

teacher2bmom my RE always asks me about my weight because it makes a difference in the lupron/stims dosage. i always had trouble losing weight, and had my thyroid checked years ago, but my normal dr. said it was in normal range and did nothing. once i started this fertility path my thyroid was re checked and they said it was on the very high side of normal and that with TTC they wanted it really low (well on the low said of normal) once i started taking the thyroid meds the weight just seems to fall off...its amazing and fantastic. my RE said she wanted my BMI to be lower so in may i started going to the gym everyday and went on my "make a baby" diet, and ive lost 50lbs since then my RE said i am perfect now and my BMI is great!! i cant believe ive lost so much weight so quickly and i'm doing it to be able to get fat again...baby fat!! haha
so anyway weight is very important in all aspects of IVF.
we ALL eat too many carbs my dear! my diet is "nothing white" no white bread/rice and things like that. i only drink water and no calorie drinks like crystal light type drinks. i dont eat red meat at all so i only eat grilled chicken without the skin, and lean ground turkey. tons of fruit and veggies, i also switched to whole wheat pasta's with omega 3's. the hardest thing for me was giving up PIZZA!! i love cheese!! haha
i also go to the gym everyday and i run atleast 4 miles, and do strength training.
i'm very proud of myself for what i accomplished and so is my RE. whatever i can do to make this a success and sooooo worth not having a slice of pizza....(i chant that ALOT) haha

[J&C]

turtle, claud & katie - I just wanted to pop on by and say that I'm saying prayers for you all this round (and everyone on this board). I'm lurking for ya!!

Sticky baby dust to all!!

[10bear]

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for all your positive spirit and support. Actually the clinic called me back this afternnon and told me that we can't do ICSI at this point since we have to do it on the date of ER. Well, probably they just don't want to because my package doesn't cover that and I have to pay extra. They simply told me for next round, we should order ICSI upfront since that leads higher fertilization results. I was kind of mad because the clinic did all the analysis upfront before my cycle starts and RE told us ICSI is not needed.

So now, we kind of stuck unless miracle happened that some other eggs get fertilized, so that we can have a better chance. Or at least the one and only one last 3 days to Friday for the scheduled 3 day transfer.

I did ask the lab regarding my husbands sperm quality, nurse said it seems fine. So we are truely doesn't know what happened.

Teacher2bmom
I did gain 3 lbs during the whole process as of now. But after ER, I already loss 2 lbs. I believe it is the fuild and eggs getting suck out.
Well, after the ER, nurse did ask me to weight myself every day, she told me to call in if I see weight increase by 2 lbs in one day, which means my overy is still working and it shouldn't be.

Katie 99

Can you just told the clinic that they should not ordered that much meds for you?, it is hard-earn money and they shouldn't waste it.

Lou

Please be patient, I understand the 2ww is very hard, but you are already half way, hang in there. I will keep praying for you, you should get +ve results ok, don't worry to much.


Sarah_Ruth79

Don't let the shots worry you. It is my first IVF cycle and I was so worry about the shots during the training. But everything went well. Just remember to put some ice on the area before and after the shots except the progesterone IM shots becuase that one is oild base. Also find an clean area in your house and layout all the shots, start from the smallest needle and so on. Take time to well prepare them first so that you have more confidence and wonder if you doing it right or wrong during you put needle in your tummy. I did all my shots myself and the very last HCG one is done by my DH. For the HCG, I found that the more you relax the less musclel contraction, so less pain will resulted. Because during the trial run of the shots (actually my clinic make each of us practice the IM shots before the whole cycle starts) my butt was sore next day, but not on the actual trigger date since I kind of relax more. For the very first 2 shots, I had my DH review all the dosage with me so that I can be sure I did not put in the wrong meds or dosage. Those are just my 2 cents. Hope it helps

Good luck to each of you and God bless you all.

[Mommieof2]

Katie99- yes nov 12th sorry about that. I'm so excited to get this process started already I seems like I've been waiting forever.

How about everyone else? how are u handling this long wait? my brain is going 100 miles an hour with thoughts and worries I'm officially obsessed with ivf boards and on a constant search for success stories. Anyone else doing this too?

[turtle0619]

j&c thanks sweetie! these holidays are going to go zipping by so fast it will be jan. before you know it, and i cant wait to be there to cheer you on!!!

[me2009]

10 bear: that stinks about ICSI.. they need to make that an option, that's crazy.. sounds fishy. You need to DEMAND that they do it for you. I just dont want you to have to PAY or (your insurance have to pay) AGAIN... when they could have dont it CORRECT the first time!! I hope it all works out!!

Teacher2bmom: good luck, 5lbs doesnt sound like that much!! Eat healthy!! & Enjoy!

turtle: thanks for your kind words!
katie99: you go and rant girl! i had over 6500K in out of pocket med.. so i do feel the pain on drugs & cost! yeah
im only on day 3 of stim. so its hard to figure out if its AF or the stim??? I think its AF cause im only on day 3 of stim??

olim78: good luck on your u/s on friday. i have an u/s on friday too..

to have fun08: thanks for checking in, good luck on your follies

riley baby: day 3 tonight. the injections are going good. still hard to figure out if its AF cramps or Stim cramps... sorry to hear about your sister woe's

sarah ruth79: its ok, we all know its hard to keep up with all of us on this thread. there is alot going on!
We thought about doing the pgd, but its an extra 7k and plus our RE isnt sure how many follies im gonna get since they think im gonna be a hard to stim. plus you do have to go to day 5 and my RE says that good emb can come from on day 3 and they "need" the mom to grow, hence they do better in us than to make it from day 5... so it all depends on how many eggs you have to work with...


Lou71: still thinking of you 2ww


ok good night all

[cheekyone]

hey everyone

Turtle you bet friday 13 is a lucky day but i won't know more until us this saturday whether it will be on that day. Definately great advise on the losing weight. I think that is so great losing so much weight great stuff gurl you are so ready now

Katie my friend we have been on the same threads together since july/aug this is it mate we are going for baby gold this time round. Gosh how frustrating with your meds

10bear i am so routing for the 1 embie you have to grow grow grow it will make it to friday transfer fingers and toes crossed

Olim lots of grow follie dust to you and friday 13 is a great day for ER

to have fun I find it a little stressful sometimes to keep up with the boards as we'll but it sounds like your stimming we'll this time grow follies grow grow grow. OH i love your quote thats exactly how my heart feels

Riley i'm right there with ya on not wanting to go to the hospital for sis

AFM u/s saturday so i am really hoping for some good size follies I feel so tired and over all this my brain is telling me it's time to pack it all in and my heart is saying the oposite. So my heart wins i will keep trudging on

Keep up the faith everyone our BFP are on the way xmas time and special things happen at xmas

[turtle0619]

omg!! i just got a call from the right pharmacy and they got the pre approval from my insurance and i set up delivery of my baby in a box for monday!! woooohoooo!! i guess all my craziness paid off haha. i also think its very strange that last cycle i was so nervous to get my baby in a box, and this time i cant wait! i cant wait to shoot myself up again hahaha i feel like a nut! small victories make me so happy these days.

[LuLu668]

turtle0619: Congratulations on receiving your baby in a box, sorry to hear what you had to go thru to get them. If that ever happen again, have the right pharmacy call the wrong one to transfer, the law states that a pharmacy can not refuse transfers from another pharmacy under patient's consent. I agree with Katie99, Only us crazy ivf women are happy to stick themselves with needles . You two just crack me up!

10bear: One embie is all you need, I have my fingers and toes crossed for you. Actually my RE insist on only transfer one because the risk of multiple birth. I am saying prayers for you and your embies, miracle will happen!

Lou: WOW, half way thru 2ww, almost there.

Katie 99: Thanks for the hard work to keep up the tracker, I will be lost without it. Katie, can't you just have the pharmacy fill the amt vials you want, and put the rest on hold. I always have the nurse order meds with extra refills in case I need more. It's more pain try to get them send in a new script later when you need it.

I went in for U/S & Blood work yesterday morning. Nurse called back saying I only have one 12.5mm and one 10mm from the left, and none from the right, estrogen at 145. RE wants me to increase Bravelle to 300units for Wed & Thur night, then recheck on Fri. I started stim on Sat night, 4 nights injection only 2 follicles. Does this sound normal? I was so stressed out last night, I couldn't bring myself to post. I feel much better this morning after reading everyone's story. Some made me laugh and some made me sad. I wish everyone the best of luck and we will help each other thru the ups & downs in this crazy world of IVF! Tons of baby dust to everyone