anyone going for retrieval around july 22 or close???

[emfossum]

My accupunturist is giving me a break since I won't be submitting this through insurance. It is $65 per session and she uses electrobes on the needles for additional stimulation. My PCLs were 4.77 and 3.5, and they are lookiing for around 2. She said this shouldn't be a problem. I have to go twice a week and I feel wonderful afterward. I don't know how pre and post transfer and retrieval works with accupunture yet. Can any of you share what might be different?

I should start stims (Menopur and Gonal F) on the 26th. I used Menopur with one IUI and really struggled. My DH shot it into my thigh and it burned terribly. Do any of you have suggestions for location or technique to minimize pain?

mk- the doc also put my husband on multi vitamin, but also gave him sript for doxycycline for 10 days. I also may have to do my own injections because my DH is out of town most of the week. Any suggestions?

rbjean- my accupunturist says the oatmeal and eggs are great pregnancy foods.

Which method of progesterone did you ladies select? The injection, permetrium, or the applicator?

Thanks for being there! We are all on such an amazing journey. Talk with you all soon.

Elizabeth

[jenniferdp]

I am having my 4th IVF done at CRMI in New York, and I'm guessing that my transfer may be around July 22nd. I just finished a month of birth control pills and I go in tomorow for my sonogram and blood test...

[venus25]

Wow - there are so many of us on the same schedule!! This is great - a lot less lonely having you ladies with me.

Baby - my protocal was essentially the same but my dosage got bumped up. I was taking 150 of Gonal-F in the am and pm. My E2 was low so my doc increased it to 225. My E2 levels quickly responded and shot up (which was great). So this time, I started with 225 in the am and pm. I'm hoping that shortens the time until ER but I'm not sure it will. Other than that change, I'm doing exactly what I did last time. I can't do the minidose protocol b/c of the high FSH reading.

Emfossum - In regards to the AP, I have been going once a week for the last 7 weeks. I have spoken wih the acupuncturist and she told me we will stay on this schedule until ER. We then must get in 3 sessions between ER and ET so people will be poking a lot at me that week. Eeks! I think after ET, we'll go back to once a week. My insurance covers 10 sessions so I'll run out before we're done with this. However, I'm happy insurance kicks in for the 10 sessions. Mine are $100 a session - OUCH! But what are you going to do. I figure at the very least, if things don't work out, I can say I did absolutely everything in my power to maximize our chances of success. However, I'm hoping it just works!!!

In regards to where to inject Gonal F, I do it into my stomach (about 2 inches from my belly button). I rotate the shots around so it's not in the same spot as last time. Most times I don't feel any pain. Once in a while it will burn though. Make sure that you keep the needle in, shoot the medicine, and then count to 5 before pulling it out. Usually, if I press the area after pulling the needle out I feel the burn or if I forget to count to 5. But in general it doesn't bother me too much. Hang in there girl, it will be well worth it. I've also heard of people icing the area to reduce pain - that might help. In terms of progesterone, I will be getting the progesterone in oil so my hubby gets to be part of the experience. I don't like that shot at all but it's not that bad either. Once you do a few, you quickly become a pro and it becomes part of the routine.

[babyloves]

Hi all,
Venus...you and I are actively stimming together..cool. Anyone else doing stims now? I go in for BW/US tomm after 3 days of stims...don't know how i'll react to meds...ahh all so new. I think they'll give me a new calender on what next. I'm getting better at the shots. I feel like the meds are working, felt like this on clomid too. DH likes to do the PM shots - I actually have less pain as i close my eyes and don't realize when he's going to do it.

hey...do any of you that get AP covered by insurance, have carefirst blue cross (USA) i'm being lazy by asking you and not calling my insurance first.

jenniferdp..welcome! Where is CRMI - cornell? i lived in NYC for a few years, so just curious.

emfossum...the progesterone is chosen by the clinic i think. For my IUI, they put me on suppositories which were kinda messy. For IVF, i think most women are giving PIO (injections into the butt). I'm on menopur and gonal-F too. Menopur - i inject into the belly, but it does sting for me too...it might just be the med. What r u on for later for ovulation suppression - i'm on ganirelix.

Alright, will write more tomm

[kim14]

Baby - i go to a place in vienna for accup. Let me know if you want more info at some point. Mine is not covered by insurance but some insurances do pay for it.

I havent been through an ivf cycle with accup yet to answer the question about er and et. I am hoping that this makes a difference! I know that i will see accup right before er and before/after et.

My experience with the meds last time was that most are tolerable - 10 lupron, 225 gonal, 150 repronex (burns/welts), progesterone (bloating) but everyone seems different.

Anyone have their meds lowered from previous cycle? My lurpon went from 20 to 10 and now i stop it when i start the stims. I was supposed to get af today to start stims by fri - shes MIA.... Still waiting. I was right on the date last cycle but who knows! I wont freak out for a couple more days.

So are there any bad foods to eat?? I eat oatmeal daily so im good with that suggestion. We heard sunflower seeds, eggs, turkey... anything else? Hey if it works, ill try it!

Take care ladies

[emfossum]

Hi Baby- They plan to start me on 20 units Lupron twice a day. Since I am new to this drug I have no idea what to expect. I begin Lupron on 7/24. How can we be certain that we don't ovulate before we begin the meds? Do the BCPs act as a suppressant?

Venus- Thanks for the injection advice. I shot menopur into my thighs for IUI #5 and hurt pretty bad. I think I may try the belly this time. I go in Monday for a Lupron consult.

I think the most difficult part for me is that I need to minimize any exercise. This has really played havoc on my stress levels because running, or training is usually how I reduce stress. Have any of you tried a retreat geared around IVF patients?

Elizabeth

[kim14]

the lurpon will suppress you -no worries!

[kim14]

So im still waiting for AF...Worst part im afraid i many have to cancel my cycle. I wnet to a local clinic since my regular doc is far away and packed the thurs before 4th of july for a strep test. Took amoxicllan sat - wed then they called and said my test was neg so i stopped meds. Then today - thurs - they called and said it was pos fo r some thing but couldnt say what. They wanted to put be on bacrim since they said amoxicillan wouldnt work and then my fertily doc said no class c drugs. Now they are putting me on 1800 amoxillan a day - 875 - 3 times a day! I really wanted to get this cleared up a before er and now its a disaster. By the time i got to see another doc with another culture it will be er. Right now i have a call in to the clinic doc rather than the nurse. do i take these meds that are too high and they told me earlier today wouldnt treat it. What a disaster

[emfossum]

Hi Kim - So sorry to hear about all this stuff. I know you aren't feeling well and all this waiting for answers sure doesn't help. I am not sure what happens when a cycle is cancelled other than the obvious of more waiting. Just know that you have people out here thinking of you hoping for the best, and hang in there. I did want to share something about being sick during pregnancy. I am in the Psychology field, and have read a few studies that link some disorders to illness during pregnancy. I am not stating this to scare anyone because becoming sick is just a natural progression and we can only do what we can right? Eat right, and take care of ourselves. If whatever they determined that is making you ill is pretty severe then canceling the cycle may be the safest route. I am sure your doctor will be able to ease your mind more about what is best for a successful cycle. Since your are still waiting for AF then maybe you still have time. I am truly wishing you the very best.

I called to find out about my suppressant and found out that the BCP actually supresses me up until I begin Lupron. I was kind of thrown off by the dates.

[RBJean]

Hi everyone,
I finished my 1st 2 days of microlupron and start stims tomorrow morning (that's the nice thing about the microlupron protocol - it goes FAST!). I guess my baseline came back OK. I asked what my FSH level was out of curiousity and it was 10. The nurse said they like it to be 10 or under - so I guess mine is right on the margin of being not-so-good. That kind of worries me as I've never had any egg or fertility issues and I'm only 30. Maybe turning 30 since my last cycle did me in!

Kim: I'll be hoping AF arrives for you! My clinic doesn't require AF to arrive between stopping BCF and starting stims. If they are happy your lining is thin and your E2 levels are low, you're "a-go". That's good b/c I stopped BCP last Sunday and AF just arrived today (and I start stims tomorrow) - so you're not the only one who's late. Also, my RE has changed my meds for each cycle. My 1st one was cancelled (I was oversuppressed). The 2nd cycle I was switched to microlupron protocol - which worked great. This cycle they lowered my follistim from 75 in the am/300 in the pm to 75/225. Probably becausse my E2 levels last cycle got pretty high and they are worried about OHSS. Hopefully I still stim OK with the lowered dose.

Sounds like it's just a lot of shots for everyone the next few weeks. Can't wait to start hearing the follicle reports!

[Krysta]

I received something with all my medications that is supposed to help ease the pain that goes along with getting the shots. This might help those that are feeling nervous or if the injections hurt. The cream is Lidocaine and you apply the cream to the injection site one hour before the injection and you cover it with a Tegaderm Patch. Then an hour later, you take the patch off, wipe off the cream and do the injection. I start my injections next week so I don't know if this really works or not, but you might ask your dr about it if you are interested. I didn't ask for this, it just came with all of my other medications.

[babyloves]

kim: do you have a throat infection? If amoxicillin is "resistant" or does not work against that bacteria, giving you a higher dose doesn't help. Bactrim is probably okay if you are PUPO yet, but i don't know enuf about that. I would find out what it is you have. It's annoying if you have to cycle your cycle for this. I've been worried about getting a cold or something that could interfere too.

RBjean: how high were ur E2 levels, just out of curiosity? I wouldn't worry about the FSH too much. I had an 11 one month, but then 8 about 2 mos ago...it is common reason to do IVF.

I'm not sure how well i'm stimming. My E2 was 426, but only one ovary was active with follies - about 3 of them and today was day #3. I hope the other will wake up soon, but i might have to rely on one ovary??...anyone have any similar issues last time? I have to go in again on sat, then pretty much every day!! I feel like my clinic monitors more than others?

okay, have a good night!

[kim14]

Hey baby

The problem is that i went to a bad local clinic because it was over the 4th. they dont seem to know what they are doing. The nurse couldnt tell me what i had but not strep. Ive been on amox all week. Then they said it wouldnt work for this and now they are giving me a mega dose. I have put a call into the doctor there so hopefully that will clear it up. I jsut want to take the right meds for the right bacteria before ER. Unfortunatley im dealing with this clinic and not a real practice. I agree with u SG has us go in all the time during stims! I did get af today but need to deal with this other issue first. My guess is ill go in to annandale in the am for evaluation/bloodwork.

[venus25]

Kim, I'm so sorry you are not feeling well and have all this vagueness going on with your diagnosis. I hope this gets worked out soon and your cycle does not have to be canceled. Keep us updated.

Babyloves - no worries on one ovary responding. I had that happen with my last IVF. For most of the monitoring, only one ovary had any real action going on. It was my right one which I found amusing b/c my right ovary is smaller than my left. Anyhow, all of a sudden my left ovary decided to join the party and cranked up some great follicles. So hang in there. It can change so fast while on these stim meds.

I go in tomorrow for my first b/w and u/s since beginning the stim meds. I'm quite curious how the follicles are growing. I think my right ovary is leading the way again b/c I can feel it already. I'm just hoping for good results. In terms of monitoring, my doctor has me come in after 5 days of meds and then I go in every couple of days. Then when I get really close to ER, I go in every day. The pace changes as your follies grow.

[kim14]

Hey guys

Looks like im still in the game - got some 5 day antibiotics for strep phneumonia so I should be well way before ER. The issue was the meds i need cant be taken when you actually are pregnant. Thanks for the good wishes. I go in tommorow for blood work/sonogram and start stims tommorow.

As far as follies, my were slow to get of the gate and then took off like crazy last time! So hang in there and remember you only need 1 good egg. Have you guys thought about how many you will transfer. At day 5 blasts my clinc prefers 1 and 2 is the max so we did 2.