The Over 40 Crowd

[Hopeful2BPregnant]

Wisconsingal - I'm so happy for you. Wow. 7 ferts! Keep us posted. I'm praying for you and will say a BIG one on Friday.

Hey everyone.......I'm always so glad to read the posts. I get so excited and keeps me up beat.

My dr said if I go the 13 days on the meds (like last time) there will be no problems doing DH surgical retrival and my retrieval at the same time. I am so excited. Praying everyday that there is a greater plan for me. Whatever happens I am so ready. I appreciate everyone helping me through be somewhat whinney. I'm getting a little anci waiting!

Kat -- I feel you girl.......I got out my Tae Bo tape and after about 10 minutes I thought I would have to call an ambulance. But I'm still trying to loose a few pounds anyway.

Jen - I did all the checks just right prior to all this IVF stuff. I think that if you want to get a "jump start" I think you should. Maybe it will help you feel good about the short term future. My hubby was always giving me the big "sighs" everytime I had something done. I just think he was going though something a little different from me, so Adam is probably the same way. Focusing on the wedding gives him a mental break from drs. Tell him your thoughts on the matter and that will give you both input to make the decision.

Back to the studies................love to all.....................

Julia

[Kat]

Hi all

Wisconsingal - well done on your fertilisation - for our age that is an excellent result. Fingers crossed for ET.

Sonia - how's the 2ww going?

Well, as for me, I think I am in shock! I emailed the clinic yesterday to say AF was here and then I got a call asking me to come in today. The donor is planning to go on a trip after she has donated so they wanted to know if we are Ok to start now!
So I am now the proud owner of two little pots of buserelin and enough needles to build the proverbial haystack! Was scanned today and next scan 9th Feb, and all being well, ET beginning March! Sorry about all the exclamation marks! Getting a bit overexcited. Actually I don't feel prepared at all as I had told myself it would be end March/April and DH hasn't done his blood tests yet but now he has to get organised. I said I'd write everything down for him ie 'ring this number & make appt and say this' just so he knows exactly what he needs to do and doesn't stress!

Hope everyone else is doing fine too - not long now 'til we meet some of your little ones!

Lots of love
Kat xx

[WISCONSINGAL]

KAT HOW COOL!!! NEWS LIKE THAT SURE LIFTS A PERSON'S MOOD!!!

MY DH JUST CALLED.......HIS BOSS ISN'T LETTING HIM TAKE OFF TOMORROW........I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE CLINIC AS IT'S MY 1ST ET. HE'S TAKEN OFF MORE TIME THAN HE WAS ALLOTED THE LAST 3 MONTHS AND SINCE WE CAN'T TELL ANYONE WHAT WE'RE DOING........IT'S NOT LIKE HE CAN SAY "MY WIFE IS HAVING HER ET TODAY...." THIS SUCKS.......I WAS TOLD I HAVE TO STAY THERE 2 HOURS, NOW IT MIGHT BE BY MYSELF.

[jen babes]

Winconsingal...You must be low that Dh can't be with you on ET...can you take a friend to sit with you afterwards????? I slept for an hour after ET and then got driven home by my friend the 2nd time as DH couln't get off work. I rested in bed for 2 days and as it was the weekend DH looked after me. Hope someone can be there with you x x

!!!!!!!!!!!!! KAT !!!!!!!!!!!! I am so Excited and happy for you and DH.... Good luck with everything Honey

Julia- I have spoken to adam and after a ( bit ) heated discussion of views and hearing each others point of view he got my point and we emailed ISDIA. So now have 9 pages of paper work to get filled in...Am seeing my GP ( now 300 miles away as we moved last September and i don't want to change her!!) a week on Monday to talk it all through with her. Glad to be getting a head start.


A big hi to everyone else and all the blooming ladies ...

is Bev okay???

love jen
xxx

[Kat]

Hi Wisconsingal -sorry to see your DH can't be there for ET but I'll tell you about the ETs I have had so you have some idea of what to expect.
Each time I have had to have a full bladder but if they didn't tell you this you can always drink a lot of water when you get there. I think it's so everything is clear for them to see on the ultrasound. I then went in a room similar to when I had scans. This room was right next to the embryology lab so they called in the embryologist with the embryos in a catheter and the doctor inserted them whilst watching on the ultrasound to see them come out of the end of the catheter. I watched on screen and they gave me a picture of the ultrasound afterwards. Don't know if you have had a trial run with a cathether but it felt a bit like a smear test I suppose, a little twinge of pain and then finished. I then rested a few minutes and then was told it was OK to leave. They did say I could stay longer but it was my choice so I always left so I could go & relax at home (or in the hotel when we were in Spain). If you are going on your own I would get a cab and don't drive yourself, that way you can really relax straight after.
Hope that helped a bit, best of luck and I am sure it will go fine and you can tell DH how easy it was!
Lots of love
Kat xx
PS I did my first injection just now! I'm on my way!

[Kat]

Jen - we must have been posting at the exact same time! I know what it's like to want to keep your GP when you move but 300 miles away is a bit excessive !!!
I managed to keep registered at my old one for about 6 years after I moved out of home until I got found out and that's only because the nurse knew my parents and realised I couldn't possibly be living there anymore!
Did you get the GP survey through the post? I wanted them to ask me loads more questions as I have plenty to say about my GP surgery mainly because I think they are rubbish.

Good news about ISIDA - must be nice to feel like you are that little bit closer to starting tmt.

Kat xx

[erjumper]

Kat,
That's soooo awesome you get to start early! I'm so excited for you. Best of luck.
Wisconsingal,
Sorry your DH can't be with you but it really is a piece of cake. AS Kat said, a bit of a cramp and a tiny twinge of sharp pain (like with a pap) and then done. I had to have a full bladder all 6 times as well, it allows for better visualization of the uterus with an external US device. I had to lie with my head down and legs up for 2 hours and then home to rest. Back to work the next day. Be sure to let us know how it goes. I'll be thinking of you.

Sorry no time to address everyone but as always hugs and well wishes!!!!

Lisa

Oh! By the way, just found out that my SIL who is happening her 2nd baby in as many years is having another BOY......she wanted a girl.....am I a total B#### for being happy it's a boy?

[jen babes]

Hi

everyone just a quicky as i am packing the motorhome for our weekend away skiing ...

Kat- I didn't get any GP survey through the post? Is it an England and Wales thing??? I lived in a big city ( glasgow) and now in a small village 40 miles from Inverness. So choice of GP's aint too good! My Gp helped me a lot when i was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. So it's not only the ivf stuff but also the trial meds i am on for MS. Also i am changing my name to Adam's soon so don't want to get notes lost...I will change GP sometime later in the year when i know where i am with tmt etc.. But Your right 300 miles is mad!

Lisa- ( erjumper) NO it's okay that you can think what you want...I would be doing it too. Ain't human nature of envy normal???

Sonia- How are you sweetie???

LOve to ya ll Catch ya Monday

love
jen
xxx

[sunseeker]

Hello everyone
It's been a very long time since I have joined in the discussion - we took a bit of time out and are now jumping back in again!
We saw our consultant yesterday and based on my results last time, 5 eggs collected but only 1 fertilised, and the fact that I am now 40. He said my chances of becoming pregnant on my own range between 10, 15 and 20% (don't know why he said all three but he did) but if we were to use an egg donar it would rise to 70%. I queried this with him because it seems to be a lot higher that I have heard anyone else quote but he said it again. You don't think he is just saying it to make us go ahead do you - I don't know how to check his figures out.
We would have it done here in Mallorca and there is about a 3-6 month waiting list once you have filled in the forms and had the blood tests.
Kat - good luck with your injections! Are you having treatment in Barcelona again? do you mind me asking what % success rate you have been quoted? I don't really know what it would involve for me I know you say you have just started your injections - is it much the same as if you were going for normal IVF (ie, the same drugs?).
Hope everyone else is doing well, this site sure is a godsend when you are going through all this isn't it!
Ali

[Catharine]

Hi All-
Finding these message boards has brought me some serenity as my DH and I embark upon this journey. I am nearing that 'majical' age 43 and Feb is our first IVF cycle after one failed IUI, Nov2006. As it turns out DH as a 'severe' male factor. Perhaps the silver-lining is that despite my age my body appears to be acting like a young thirty year-old...Isn't todays forties, yesterdays thirties...I have a few questions and any advice would be welcome...both DH and I are having accupuncture on a 10dy schedule, will be nearly 3months at ER...in addition we are taking chinese herbs to balance our energy...I so feel very relaxed after the treatment....furthermore I'm about to start a series of body massages to help release the stress I hold inside. The series is a specific protocol for IVF....I've cut all my vices....including my manic morning fitness sessions at the gym...

So the questions I have is what are your opinions on the accupuncture? the herbs? and massages? And can you think of anything else that maybe helpful?

Thanks in advance

Catharine
____________
Me 42 DH 42
ttc >5y
IUI Nov 06 BFN

[Kat]

Hi all

Jen - maybe the GP survey was and England & Wales thing like you say, not sure. Hope you get some good snow before you get there, I don't like skiing when it's icy or it's actually snowing and I can't see where I'm going but on a beautiful day in the mountains I love it!

Ali - hi, I know I've seen you post before but not sure of it was on this thread so welcome! I was given a less than 5% chance with my own eggs but the clinic in Barcelona said 60% with the donor eggs. And I did get pregnant, albeit only for a short while. This clinic is in the UK - they haven't given me a % but maybe they don't give it to you here or maybe they don't do it 'til ET.
Re comparing to using my own eggs, I am being suppressed at the moment with the injections and I will then have progynova which is oestrogen, and then cyclogest pessaries just before ET. I don't have to be stimulated though as I don't need to produce any eggs myself, they just use the drugs to get my cycle in line with the donor and to prepare me for ET as though it was going to be my own eggs being used.

Welcome to Catharine too - I have acupuncture and I firmly believe it helped prepare me to get pg last time round. I don't know anything about the herbs though. As for other things to do, I think if you eat healthily and are sensible about cutting down on the vices then you have as good a chance as anyone.

Hi to all the other ladies here too, hope everything is OK with everyone else

Lots of love
Kat xx

[Sonix]

Hi,

I’ve had problems submitting my post for a couple of days and, wow, there have been quite a lot of posts. If it works now, here we go with a longer one:

WisconsinGal: Sorry to hear you’ve had to go for your first ET without DH. Do hope all went really well. Sending you lots of positive vibes. At least you’ve now got the weekend together with DH to relax. At my clinic they offer acupuncture before and after ET. On my first ET it was also my first time with acupuncture so I was a bit nervous but last week I found it really great. DH was sitting next to me and got totally spaced out by the relaxing atmosphere.
How is your DH getting into the routine with the jabs? I’m glad to be able to do all the shots myself because they all go in my tummy, which is actually still a bit sore at the moment. DH helps me do the mixing, pinches a flabby bit of skin for me and suffers with me when I hover with the needle, trying to pluck up the courage to make the plunge.

Lisa: great to see you posting again. I can confirm too that you’re thoughts on SIL are perfectly normal. Don’t people just take this whole baby making business a little too much for granted?! Anyway, glad to hear that you’re in good spirits and things are picking up for you and DH. Have fun making plans and keep us posted.

Kat – Congratulations! You’re ready to go and we’re all getting excited for you and DH. Take good care of yourself over the next weeks.

Jen: Lucky you, going off sking again. No chance of that for me this weekend. And the snow is sooo good. Good for you getting things sorted and getting the preliminary work done. After the wedding and the party I'm sure 2007 is going to be a wonderful year for you to remember!

LuAnne: Sorry to hear you got messed around a bit at the clinic but the news you’re getting after tests is all very positive. That’s really good news. Wishing you lots of luck for your final decision about the choice of clinic.

Hi to Wanda and Julia: Lots of luck to you on your upcoming cycles.

Welcome back, Ali. I’m very wary of all these % figures but you’re in the right place for support and advice.

A big welcome to Catherine too. I have had acupuncture at ET and found it really helped me. The lady recommended an acupuncturist in my home town and it sounds like they use herbs too. I’m definitely going to make an appointment after my 2ww, whether I get pregnant or not. Eating healthily and especially warm meals are good too.

Jen, thanks for asking after me. It’s all ups and downs on my 2ww. I’ve been plagued with some negative thoughts but I’m still hoping to defy the odds against us. The worst thing has been not getting enough time off work. ET was on day 2 after transfer, which didn’t leave me much time to prepare myself, and fell on a Wednesday. I took Monday off at short notice for EC and called in sick on Wednesday for ET but couldn’t think of a way of staying at home for 2 more days. That has stressed me out a bit and one lunchtime I even ended up going home to do a bit of Yoga to sort myself out. I was so glad when the weekend finally arrived.

I’m really starting to get nervous with my test date approaching. It’s 31st January but we don’t get the results until the next day. Supposedly the main reason is because the doc likes to have the results and decide what to suggest if it’s a negative. We have the option of posting a blood sample to the clinic but that would take one day longer and can you imagine it getting lost in the post!?!

Here’s a question of all of you: I took the last of 3 shots of HCG last Tuesday, although it was just a small dose of 1500u. Do you think that could effect a HPT? Er… not that I’m thinking of using those evil pee sticks, but well, just interested…

To be honest, physically I don’t feel any different to any other cycle I’ve ever had, apart from the odd twinge down there where things should be happening. My boobs are a bit sore. But don’t get excited, ladies, I’ve read that it’s a major side effect of the meds I’m on. Today I’m beginning to feel some pains…oh help…5 more days of waiting to go! Keep everything crossed for me!

Must be off .. or I’ll be in trouble for being on the computer too long.

Hugs to Anna, Bev, Yasmina and Tammy - can’t wait for the good news on the new arrivals! - and anyone else I’ve forgotten.

Take care all
Love
Sonia

[LuAnne41]

WOW! This board is really getting exciting!

KAT - I am so happy that you are starting to cycle. It may seem a bit sooner than you had in mind, but I'm sure you're excited anyway. Best of luck to you.

WISCONSINGAL - Fantastic news! When will your beta be drawn? I'll be praying for a BFP!

SONIA - Any news? When is your beta? I'm praying for a BFP for you too!

SUNSEEKER - In the US, the CDC posts success rates from IVF clinics on their website, so clinics are more accountable for success rates & would have difficulty fudging about them. (The downside is that the results are 2 to 3 years old.) Do you have an organization there that monitors IVF clinics, or one to which the clinics must report?

TAMMY - My, you are really in the home stretch now! I know you & DH just can't wait. I can't wait to see the little guy's photo in color!

ANNA, BEV & YASMINA - You are all in my thoughts too. Can't wait to see pics of your little ones too.

JULIA & JEN - Good luck to each of you on your next cycles too!


HELLO TO EVERYONE ELSE TOO!


As for me...DH & I have decided on Shady Grove Fertility in Washington, D.C. It is a long drive, but we will probably just drive back & forth to all appointments for things that can't be done locally. Of course, I'll have to stay in D.C. for 1-2 days after ET. I had a baseline U/S & an HSG done locally on 1/23. I sent an email to the nurse in D.C. to ask if the reports were satisfactory. I do hope she will answer me directly without the, "you'll have to talk to the Dr. stuff"! She may not realize what that does to me! As we are hoping to enroll in the shared risk program, admission will be contingent on results from those tests, as well as other tests. Anyway, my next step is to meet w/an RE that can do monitoring locally & report to the Dr. in D.C. I have an appt. w/the RE on 2/1, but DH has oral surgery that A.M. & I may have to reschedule the RE appt. since DH will need a ride home. Also, when AF arrives again, I start an Estrogen shot on Day#2 so we can do a mock cycle, mock ET, endo biopsy, etc. Then I have a follow-up consult 3 wks. later. During this time, I also will be working w/the DE nurse coordinators re their requirements. WOW! Even if all goes off without a hitch, I'll be very lucky to be in cycle by late March or early April. I get so impatient, but DH & I do feel we would be wasting time to just go w/any clinic, rather than one w/which we are truly comfortable. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

LuANNE

[erjumper]

Sonia,
I'm thinking positive for you! About the pee sticks......here's my take on them. As for the HCG shots, my RE only had me do 1 the day before.....or actually 36 hours before ER. The HCG from the shot was always cleared yielding a negative HPT by 7 days post ER. I know alot of gals on here and other places harbor bad feelings about the pee sticks. From my perspective....it helped to let me down easy....or give me an early answer. If you get the Early Response tests (several companies have them now) they will pick up levels of 25-30 and will generally be positive (or at least for me they were) by 3 days before your expected period which is 14 days from ER. Hope that helps!!!! Good luck!!

Wisconsingal,
How did your ET go? Or did I miss your post? Did you get to see your embies? They showed us ours on a big TV before transfer. Once they were hatched which looked very cool. Thinking positive thoughts!!

Luanne,
Where do you live now that you are heading to DC for your cycle? I work in DC (at least until Feb 12th when my contract here is over) I'm at Georgetown University Hosp in the NeuroSurgical Intensive Care Unit. There aren't any RE's that go there though because they are a Catholic facility and don't perform any Reproductive Technologies or pregnancy terminations for ANY reason! One of the male nurses I work with has been going to an RE with his fiance who is going to donate eggs for her sister. I'll have to ask him who they go to. We're living in Alexandria VA for now....it's just 10 minutes away across the Key Bridge.

Gotta run...more later,

Lisa

[wandamorales]

Well ladies, I had THE phone call today!! We have a donor!!
She is my height, my eye colour & weight (or the weight I should be!) and is an altruistic donor rather than an egg sharer. Funny thing - the nurse said 'I have to tell you she is a lesbian incase you have any issues with that' As if we would turn someone down because of that. I think she sounds perfect and now I have told DH all about her too I am calling the clinic in the morning to say yes we would like to go ahead. So I will keep you posted, could be starting meds with my next period or definitely the one after that if not. How exciting!

Hope everyone else is doing OK, Sonia good to see you are now nestling your little one in there so keeping everything crossed for you - when is your exact test date?

Wisconsingal - hope you have a good crop of follies

Hi to everyone else too

Lots of love
a very excited
Kat xx

Glad to hear you have a donor have you started with your meds. I also got a phone call that my Donor is ready. I am on day 14 of Lupron and I think I may be on it for another 2 weeks. I received no side affects from the Lupron thank God I am 47 and looking forward to being pregnant again. My 1st is a son 30year old. Let me know how it goes for you. Bless you Wanda