April/May Buddies??

[CarolynB]

Hi Lucy - 5 is good. They will no doubt be good quality. Have my fingers & toes crossed that you get a really good number that fertilise. Now just rest and recover so that you are ready for some to come home very soon. Hope that boyfriend is going a good job of looking after you.

Vessi - Think that you may mean follies? You still have time to grow some more and often they are hiding around the back so cannot be seen on the u/s. Try to get lots of rest. Drink loads of water. Zita West's book also suggests a hot water bottle on the tummy to help grow the follies. Try to stay +ve although I know that it is hard sometimes. Think 8 is the lining of the womb in mm. Think that it needs to be 8 for it to be a good thickness for them to implant so that sounds good.

Natalie - Having a Dr that really understands what you are going through is great. 3 weeks off is fab. Now you can really take it easy. Let us know how your scan goes tomorrow

Lucybucy - sorry - tmt - shorthand for treatment! I had quite a lot of follies and I simply could not have physically gone back to work the day after EC or the couple of days straight after ET as my tummy was so sore. I had a busy day at work yesterday and I certainly did not feel as good. So today I have taken it really very easy. If you do have to work then see what you can do to manage the amount you do. Not sure if that is possible for you. Sure that (like Natalie) you can get your gp to sign you off if your boss is being tricky. Glad that you are ticking along and not getting stressed out - it will really help your body if you can stay relaxed although it is quite hard

Dania - so sorry to read about your EC. Sounds very painful. But 19 eggs collected is great & 11 that made it is absolutely fantastic. Hope that ET goes well. Take it really easy and we will look forward to hearing your news in a few days time

Heather - so sorry that you are having a rough time. I am sure that people will help you & in time you will be able to do favours for them too. I think that it is good for you to continue at least the original lower dose will still be in your system so the new increased drugs will have a base to build from. I guess it is the obvious question but is there anyway that your dh could alter his training? Is that out the question. We are here for you ..................even if we cannot go pick you mom up for you!!! Don't think about whether you have to go through this again - think that this is going to work for you & your dh this time. Thinking of you. We are here if you need to rant or be sad.

Love to everyone else.
Carolyn xxx

[Dawnie71]

Hi all, just wondering if I could join in on this thread for May test date?
I should be starting my stims tomorrow and it's looking like retrieval and transfer for the wek of 5/15.
This is my 1st attempt at IVF, due to hyrosalpinx tubes I had them removed this past March. Prior to that, my husband and I had been TTC for about 2 years.
I have been reading posts on and off here for a while, but other than that am fairly new to these boards.

[LucyBucy]

Hi everyone!

Dania, your op sounds horrendous but I'm so glad it was a happy outcome for you - 11 embryos! Wa hey!!

Heather - its a shame about your oestrogen levels and well done for having the courage to continue. I have a few tips for you, although whether they work or not I don't know as it's my first go - keep your tummy as warm as possible; try acupuncture as it will help the blood flow to your abdomen; eat and drink plenty of protein - more than you usually would in a normal diet (I've been told to drink 1 litre of milk (not soya) a day, on top of the 2 litres of water to prevent OHSS); rest and sleep as much as you can and don't do any exercise as your body needs all its strength for developing the follies. They're all the tips I have - I hope they help. If you need to chat you know we're all here for you.

Luby - 5 eggs are good - it's all about the quality. I hope they become 5 lovely embies :

Vess - 4 eggs are fine, I am sure they will grow into 4 beautiful embryos.

Hi Dawn - welcome to the board, you'll find its much easier to stay sane with all these ladies to look after you

xxx

[CYOT]

HELLO EVERYONE---------------TODAY I WENT FOR EC--------I WAS SO NERVOUS-----------THE DRUGS THEY GAVE ME KNOCKED ME COMPLETLY OUT------THANK GOODNESS----------THEY MANAGED TO GET 9 EGGS------I AM SO EXCITED BECAUSE THE NURSE ON TUESDAY DIDN'T EXPECT FOR THEM TO GET SO MANY---------THEY WILL CALL TOMORROW AND UPDATE US ON THEIR PROGRESS-------I AM TENDER AND CRAMPY IN MY TUMMY BUT I'M SURE THIS IS TO BE EXPECTED-----SUNDAY WE WILL DO OUR ET AND I CAN'T WAIT

CAROLYN----I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOUR TAKING IT EASY----I KNOW THE WAIT IS KILLING YOU----HANG IN THERE

VESS------GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR TREATMENT---MY FOLLIES WERE SLOW TO GROW AND THEY HAD TO PLAY WITH MY MEDS

LUCY----CONGRATULATIONS ON FIVE EGGS---------I'M SURE THEY WILL BE ALL GREAT QUALITY WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT----WHEN IS YOUR TRANSFER

HEATHER----MY FIRST BLOODTEST AFTER STIMMS MY ESTROGEN WAS ALSO VERY LOW----I HAD TO UP MY DOSE AND STAY ON THE CYCLE LONGER THAN EXPECTED BUT IT DID FINALLY RISE AND THE FOLLIES FINALLY GREW----I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL BECAUSE I WAS VERY UPSET ALSO-----IT WILL WORK OUT FOR YOU---GOOD LUCK

DANIA-----OH MY GOODNESS----I CAN'T BELEIVE HOW MANY EGGS YOU GOT----THAT IS WONDERFULL-----I WAS BLOATED BUT I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE HOW YOU WERE FEELING----GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR TRANSFER AND I WON'T BE FAR BEHIND

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYBODY ELSE-----PMA TO EVERYONE

[tiffichels]

Thank you all for such encouraging words. I can't tell you what it means to be able to chat with people that know what I'm going through, then again, I'm sure you all know that. No, DH has extended his time to leave by 5 days already and that was the limit but I will survive. We're all strong, right? It makes me feel better to know that I'm not the only one that this has happened to and that those of you that had to extend have had better outcomes because of the extension. Tomorrow morning is my next scan so I will let ya'll know what the doctor says.

I have a headache that will not quit. I've rubbed lavander oil on my temples and taken a bubble bath (actually filled the tub twice I was in there so long). I think I'm going to have to break down and take one Tylenol. I can barely keep my eyes open. I would try to lay down but DH will be home soon and I have Beef Stew on the Stove for the next hour and a half then have to go to the drug store for more syringes. Ohhhh the life. LOL.

Thanks again girls. Goin' ta fish out the ole heatin' pad right now.

[CarolynB]

Good Morning Ladies

It is the weekend - well almost!

Hi Dawn - to the team. Of course you can join in. This place has been a godsend for me. My dh does not like to talk about these things too much & we have told very few people and even they struugle to know what it is really like. The girls on here have been so supportive and helpful with answers - especially if your clinic does not tell you everything or you forget to ask them things. So feel free to ask away.

Cyot - good news on your EC. You must be really pleased to get 9 eggs. I felt very tender and sore in my tummy for a few days. Just make sure that you drink loads of water and start drinking/eating the pineapples to get it all nice and cozy and sticky for Sunday!!!

Heather - your last post sounded a bit brighter. I was very headachy on both the stimmies and the burselin but it disappeared as soon as I stopped injecting. I had to take headcache pills on some days. Try to keep up the PMA if you can. Sure that the follies will get growing for you.

As for me, no signs of AF as yet. Some days I feel like it has worked and other days, I just feel so normal that I think that it cannot possibly have worked. No bliming clue. So this should make you laugh. Sneak into bathroom this morning thinking that I will do the dreaded pee stick as shot was now 11 days ago. Knowing that dh would go mad with me. I am sneaking around. Reach for the package which is hidden in a carrier bag so he cannot find. It is a bloody ovualtion kit not a pregnancy test. Serves me right. I know that you need to test early in the morning to have any chance of picking up early signals so that is my chance for today blown. Tomorrow he'll be around so thinking that if he goes to golf on Sunday then I might get a test and do then. At that point, I would be 11 days post collection & 9 post transfer. I know that it is still early but not sure that I can hang on any longer. It is my dh and my 1st wedding anniversary tomorrow. The year has flown by & I am so lucky to have him. Just hope that i can give him the best present possible!

Hoping to hear good news from Lucy, Vess & Cyot on their fert reports and also for Natalie & Heather on their scans today. Thinking of Dania and hoping that her ET has gone well and that she is resting & being well looked after.

In the meantime, everyone have a great weekend.

Carolyn xxxx

[Xrayem]

Hi all,

No personals today 'cos I'm low, except to say well done Missprissy! Welcome Dawn and I'm so terribly sorry TLKmoser.

Feel like a big fat blurrghh. Its only 1 week into my 2ww and I feel miserable. I have bought a POTS test which I plan to do tomorrow morning. I have to know something. I'll even settle for a BFN at the moment.

I have to go out for cofee and cake with all the girls in the neighbourhood tonight. They all have families and I know that I will be the topic of conversation again. I wish I could cancel, but I'm designated driver.

Have been incredibly naughty and had a glass of wine tonight. I'm normally a glass a night girl, and this past week, I haven't touched a drop. But tonight I really needed it. Please don't judge me. This is just harder than I thought it would be.

Hugs to all, Em

[luby]

Hi Girls

Once again sorry no personals. Just wanted to let you all know that 3 of my 5 eggs fertilized. I have to go back in the morning at 11am for my babies putting back where they belong. I hope the 3rd embryo is good enough to freeze (doubt they will, they'll just pick the best two, transfer them and let the other perish, which I'll feel sad for, cos you've heard of the not so strong ones making it haven't you.)

Anyway my test date will be 18th May..........!

Take Care everyone

CYOT- Good luck with the transfer, I am a two day transfer girl..

[vessi]

Luby,- it's good that you have 3 eggs fertilized. i hope they all keep growing.

I feel also low today. I had my second scan. After 6 days of 450 Gonal + 150 Menopur I managed to make only 6 follicles:(
the 4 on the R side are still there but only 3 grew. i even shrunk (well, maybe it's the same size, 10 last time 9 now, it can be human error).
So, R- 12,13,15,9
R-9,9
I go back on Sunday. i don't know they don't encrease the dose.
I hope the 3 catch up. My clinic does not do ER for less than 6 follicles.
I somehow know it's not gonna work. But I keep trying... maybe 1 is going to be a fighter and will stick.

Hugs to all

vess

[tiffichels]

Hey All. Vess, looks like we're in a little bit of the same boat. Had to restart stimmies and went for second scan today. There were 6 follies total the other day, now only 5. Doctor said my dominant follicals are taking over. I'm just praying the extra 5 days on the stimmies will make a couple more at least. Largest one was 10 (mm ?) in size. Is that a good size for a day three (since restart) scan? I have no clue. They will email me the results of the levels for today in a bit. 16 on friday, 32 on wednesday so I pray they have increased by quite a bit by now.

I know this is bad but DH and I have actually been talking about what our lives would be like growing old without children. It breaks my heart but this is the very first time in my life I've actually even considered visualizing that. More money, cool cars, even matching harleys...haha.

I guess we're mentally preparing ourselves for what we didn't think we would ever have to. I know we should have PMA right now and I am trying my best to talk to my eggies and keep my belly warm and do everything I'm supposed to but you still have that thought lingering in the back of your mind after a disappointment like this.....what will I do if this doesn't work. Maybe it's a self preservation response.

Anyway, next scan is Monday, hopefully my email this afternoon will show higher levels from this morning.

Hope everyone is having a great day.

[CarolynB]

Ladies, Ladies, Ladies

Looks like there is some glum faces right now.

Come on girls - we are strong - we can do this.

Heather - 10mm after just 3 days is really good. I had lots that were only 10mm after 9 day of stimmies. Better to have a few good size rather than lots of little ones. There are lots of options that can be tried before you have to think about a life without children. You have got time on your side right now as you are younger than many of us. Some one on here said that if it does happen the first time that is really fortunate but they are really trying to see how you respond to the meds and get your treatment right. We all respond so differently. The follies can grow in spurts so you never know the ones that you have now will hopefully have grown by Monday and there may even be more. Sometimes they cannot see ones around the back until EC day as they just do not show up on the scans. Sending you a folly fairy.

Vess -6 after 6 days is ok. I was on the stimmies for 11 days. You have a couple that are getting to a good size. 15mm and 13mm. They probably want to keep checking & not increase the dose as that can make them too big & the eggs are too mature. They have to get it just right. If your clinic is seeing you every couple of days then you know that they are trying to go the best for you. It really is a balancing act. Sending you a follie fairy as well & wishing you a better scan for Sunday.

Lucy - glad that 3 fertilised. Hope that all 3 are doing really well for you. I was a 2 day transfer girl. Sending you baby dust for tomorrow. Make sure that you rest well when you get home & get that boyfriend running around after you!!! You'll have to add your test date to the May test thread.

Em - I feel like I have put on loads of weight as well. I am really scared that someone is going to come up to me and say something like - are you pregnant!? You have done one week already so you are already half way there. It is hard seeing friends because either they don't know & therefore say the wrong thing or else they do know & look sorry for you which none of us wants. No one on here will judge you. A glass of wine is nothing and if it helps you relax and unwind them I am sure that will be more helpful overall. Hope that you enjoyed.

WE CAN DO THIS!
Carolyn xxx

[Natalie Anne]

Hi everyone

had my scan today and that last doctor was lying! he said if i upped the Menopur from 3 vials to 4 for just 2 days i wouldn't get any more follies but the 9 i had would grow. Turns out i now have 16 follies over 10mm and some little ones too. V annoyed cos after the 23-egg disaster i only wanted to make a few this time. Last time i had 16 follies at the final scan and then 23 on EC day so hope so much it doesn't happen again.

saw a nurse today instead of a doc and she told me to continue on the Menopur. i refused and said i've got more than enough and am terrified of OHSS again and total freeze. she agreed i could stop so hopefully things will calm down a bit. feel really sick though and got diarea (sorry can't spell it) just like last time so am panicking.

have to do trigger HCG shot tomorrow. EC is Monday morning and ET will be Wednesday.

Hope everyone is doing ok today. so grateful to have you all to whinge at!!

Natalie
x

[CarolynB]

Natalie

You are not whinging at all. I am so sorry that this is proving tough for you. You were so brave to stand up to the nurse and say that you would not carry on taking the drugs. Good for you. I would just have been too much of a coward.

You know all the things to do to try to prevent the OHSS as you told me what I should do. Try to drink gallons of water to flush everything out. Try to drink some sports drinks. Hopefully you can take it really easy over the weekend and be looked after.

We are here for you & as you can see quite a few of the ladies are in a bit of a dip on the roller-coaster today.

Take good care. I'll check in tomorrow to see how you are doing.
Carolyn xx

[Natalie Anne]

thanks Carolyn - i know what i should be doing and am probably overreacting but we are all such hormonal wrecks that it seems hard to cope with anything!

been drinking plenty of water and at least i'm off the menopur now.

hope you are bearing up ok on your 2ww.

Natalie
x

[tiffichels]

Hey Again!

Natalie. Good for you. If there's no reason for you to be on the med then you shouldn't be. Sounds like you have more than enough and are on the road to a good retrieval. Some of us have had to raise our voice a little even to get to this point so continue to be sure they do the right thing for you. Sometimes I think they picture us as all the same instead of considering all of our different issues. Your body tells you what you need to know. I firmly believe that.

Well, just got my email from the doc and estradol level has gone from 16 on Friday to 34 on Wednesday and now 84 after upping the repronex. So, since I had the setback and I'm officially back at day 3 of the stimmies instead of day 8, I guess that's a decent number. Hopefully there are more in there than they can see. He did say that if there are less than 5, they won't continue so I can't lose any more and I really need to gain at least a few more.

Been kinda mood swingy today. Actually caught myself a little chipper earlier and got mad at myself, how funny is that!

Anyway, not much to do this weekend but hang out. We're having a couple over for dinner tomorrow night to discuss her helping me with the shots and transfer while the guys are away. Trying not to be stressed.

DH told me on the way home from the doc today....I have you and you have me and that's all we need if this doesn't work. I've really realized through all of this how extremely lucky I am to have him. I'm sure most of our hubbies are the same, they really would have to be to be able to commit to this with us. We certainly are some lucky women just to have them.

Have a great weekend girls!! PMA (easy said...but am trying).