Feb/Mar 08 Cycle Buddies

[JustJenis]

Thanks so much guys!! I really appreciate all the help understanding this. Just wish I knew what the scale is. Ya know? On day 6 this is the range we want! But nope.. that would be way to easy. So I'm just going to keep shooting up and talking the little follies into growing!

Here's what I don't understand...

Day 3 - 7 follies.. 8mm (1st day of stims)
Day 6 - 10 follies .. 10mm (1st scan ON stims)
Day 9 - 13 follies ... 10 mm

if more keep popping up.. isn't SOMETHING growing?

LOL this is so confusing! I need IVF for dummies

[kbat]

this clinic doesn't give me a target date or anything, but they do give me a printed schedule. If I go back that, it says possible retreival date is day 14, which for me would be the 24. However, after 5 previous ones, I have come to see that I can't necessarily go by that. I am a poor responder--never get more than about 3 mature follicles. The first 4 ivf's it stimulated for about 11-14 days total. The 5th one I stim for about 9 or 10 days. So, I think the earliest I will go will be the 20, but don't think it'll go that fast. I am hoping that the latest it would go is the 25 (26 is if-y w/ dh schedule). It would be nice if it went over the week-end. My biggest worry is more how the embryos develop and or fertilize, Out of 5 cycles, I've only had 3 transfers.....

[IrishHope]

RunnerKate/JustJenis - Grow Follies grow!! I know it is so hard but really take it day to day b/c so much can happen over night...is anyone else just annoyed at Nurses in general during this process? Wait for your doctor to make the decisions...they REALLY know what is going on.

kbat - good luck! We may be retrieving around the same time.

Jill_n_Mark - good to see you pop back in! Good luck this cycle!

aims327...keep us posted! You'll be our first BFP on this thread!! very excited for you...

cornybaby - good luck w/ the E/R!! keep us updated...

seems like things are moving along.

I am on day 4 of stimming and am up to 3 shots per day...and honestly for anyone with "shot anxiety" it really really is not that bad - at least teh Lupron and Gonal F pen...cross my heart! oh do I count Tuesday as day one if I only started Gonal F at night? I only get bloodwork Sunday - ultrasound sometime after that so I'm hoping there are follies growing on track...my Doc seemed to think my retrieval will be somewhere between 2/23 and 2/25...hoping for the weekend so I'm not the "gossip" of work

Valentine's Day in our house DH got a cute bag that when I opened it music played "Wild Thing" - given the fact Saturday I was Cybil I think he meant it in a negative but playful way...he put in a big bag of almonds, my favorite candy (Dots) and a big box of Swiffers! I am obsessed w/ swiffering! very thoughtful and sweet...

[itsgottawork]

Hi Everyone!
All I have to say about this week is TGIF! I am so glad it is almost over and I have Monday off. Yahoo!
I am now waiting for AF to get here. I am hoping she is here by Sunday at the latest. If I don't get her by Monday, I have to call the office and postpone my Tuesday appt for bw and u/s. I am so anxious to start stims!!!

Courtney - The shots really aren't that bad. No matter what we say, it is hard to believe until you see for yourself. The stomach and thighs have worked for me. As for working out, just after Christmas I started working out about 2 hours a day to get rid of the weight I gained during my first cycle/failure/holidays. I have now lost all of that in time for this cycle. I am going to drop down to a more moderate routine once I start stimming. I hope to get in swimming and shorter/less intense workouts at that time. I wasn't that uncomfortable with the last cycle until the ER so I don't think I'll have a problem but my dr says it is normal to feel uncomfortable and to discontinue any exercises that cause discomfort.

Cornybaby - Congrats on your follies and good luck with your trigger! Monday will be here before you know it! Good Luck!

Indie - When do you think you will start stims? I think we are on a similar schedule.

Jenis - I am sorry to hear that the nurse said that to you. I agree with the others that you should just go by what your doctors say. Too many times recently I have seen nurses or random others add their two cents without the proper understanding of what is going on. I think the nurses don't realize what an impact their words have on us. I wish you the best of luck and hope you get good news on Saturday!

LB - That accupuncture experience sounds scary! I am impressed that you felt it was so relaxing! I think I am going to try to check out the Secret too. I keep hearing so many good things about it!

Aims327 - Congrats on your ET!!! How many did you transfer? Did you get a picture of your embie(s)? Good luck with the 2ww!!!

Jill - Congrats on getting the schedule! A little more than a week and you'll be injecting with the rest of us! Yahoo!

IrishHope - Your DH's gift sounds perfect. Thoughtful and humorous! Very sweet!

I think the cycle is starting to effect me. I read my husband's card and got all teary! I guess the emotions are starting already. And, I haven't even started stims yet. Yikes!!!

Good luck to all. I look forward to seeing BFPs starting 2/26 and throughout the month of March!!!

[RunnerKate]

HI Ladies,

Well, the RE said he wants to move forward with this cycle and that I "have been doing to much research on-line" and I should "let the dr. do his job." His is such a cocky @-hole. Ug, I just want more info! Looks like I am going to do the ER on Sunday....I am a little scared. It would be great if it is on Sunday b/c then I won't have to take any time off work.

JustJenis, any more news?

Aims327: did the ET hurt? Did you take time off work?

I am horrible at personals. No offense, I hope.

[tinaO]

Just saw my old buddy's name come up on the screen and had to wish itsgottawork a happy and successful cycle this next go around!!!! I have been wondering how you are doing and I just want to send you all the positive vibes I can right now. You are an amazing woman and I just know this next cycle will work for you. You deserve it, you deserve it, you deserve it!!! Think positive and please keep me and MBG posted on your progress!!! We are both still over on the August Bump buddy thread and doing great! We miss you!!! Pop in over there every now and then and let us know how you are doing!!! Thankfully, she & I are both doing awesome.

Ok, this next one is going to bring you your baby, so just remember that every step of the way. Best of luck, girl!!!

Tina

[itsgottawork]

tinaO - Thanks so much for the words of encouragement!!! You are such a sweetheart and it means a lot!

RunnerKate - I am so sorry to hear your DR has such an attitude. As someone who works in IT, it infuriates me when DRs say we do too much research online. I know you can't believe everything you read on the internet but this is a tool patients are going to use to be more informed and they should embrace that, not try to shut it down!
I hope your DR has a better attitude on Sunday and if not, I hope you can tune him out and try to relax. ER day is a big day and I wish you all the best. When are you taking your trigger shot? Good luck with that too!

[indie_rad]

Kate - Sorry about your dr.. thats very inconsiderate of him. All this is tough enough without the bad attitude from them! I think they should encourage research and answer all our questions patiently. I did a lot of web research before starting the cycle and confronted my RE with loads of questions specially about a whole suite of antibody testing that I had read about many places and thats also done at the other clinic I spoke with.. Thankfully he was nice about answering all my questions. Goodluck with your ER this sunday.. keep us posted on how it went. Praying for a lot of embies..

itsgottawork - sending AF vibes your way Hope she comes on time! I start my stims today.. woohoo!!! My ER is tentatively set for 02/26. I am excited and scared a bit at the prospect of 3-shots.

The use of moxa in acupuncture as LB described isn't very uncommon and not scary at all!! I used to do it post implantation even during my IUI cycles. I don't know if it did any good, but I found it relaxing. I am willing to try anything for a baby at this point

Have a great weekend everyone!

[cathann]

Hi girls! Hope you all had fabulous Valentines!

Kate ~ If I don't get on this weekend....GOOD LUCK with ER on Sunday. I have heard from friends that it really isn't bad at all. I'm with you though...I sort of dread it myself.

itsgottawork ~ lots of AF vibes to you!!!

jill_n_mark ~ welcome back! So glad you have your "plan". I felt so much better just having that silly calendar...guess I felt more in control of things. Best of luck this cycle!!

irish ~ how are we doing with the shots? I take 4 per day and they are not bad at all. ER for you is coming soon!! Good luck with your b/w u/s this weekend!

jenis ~ hang in there girl. Grow follies!!! Keep us posted.

I have another stim check appt tomorrow. I have one side stimming better than the other. I hope the slow poke side has caught up somewhat....I have a low antral count and need all the follies I can get. I don't want to waste the overachievers waiting on the slow pokes! I need some good follie vibes!

Have a great weekend all!
Cathann

[IrishHope]

Cathann...seems one side has more follies or grows faster for alot of people...reading posts I am trying to prepare myself that one side will be better than the other... good luck at your checkup!

the shots are not bad at all - I think I'm getting a little bloated - not 100% sure...seems early so I'll keep an eye on things this wknd...

very much looking forward to a 3 day weekend!! wooo hoooo!!

Have a great wknd ladies...stay positive!! BFP...BFP...BFP...BFP!!!!!!

[aims327]

RunnerKate - The ET didn't hurt at all. They had me take valium 30 minutes before which relaxed me. My doctor did a test transfer with an empty catheter and then the real thing. I did have some pain with the ER. I was taking darvocet that day. I was really swollen though from stimming. My E2 got over 2000. I took a week off work. I didn't want anything stressful during ER and ET.

itsgottawork - I transferred 2 embies (both 8 cells). They gave me a picture of them plus an u/s pic of where they transferred them too.

[LB]

Happy Friday ladies! So glad for this three day weekend - I was sick over the last one so I am hoping I can stay healthy and enjoy it!

Kate - so glad they decided to move forward (even if your RE is a jerk)! Best of luck on your ER - I had some cramping that day, but I didn't have to take any paid meds. I used a heating pad for a bit, and was actually up and about that same day. I went back to work the following day.

itsgottawork - I am happy it wasn't just me that put on the weight between the failed first attempt/sadness/holidays. However, unlike you I never got motivated to take it off, so I started this cycle very unhappy with my weight, only to bloat more with the stims! So impressive you did it! But I am not worrying about it now since I am hoping to put on lots of baby weight soon anyway!

cathann - grow follies!! I hope everything works out.

jenis - fingers crossed for you tomorrow!

indie - glad to hear someone else used the moxa method. I read about it on the internet and it seemed common. It also had a very soothing smell to it.

As for me, go in tomorrow for yet another check. I should have ER some time next week. My stomach is starting to look like a war zone. I feel for those of you doing multiple shots a day, I do 2 and I am running out of room!

I think we should try to do a schedule like they do on the other threads to keep track of everyone's progress (ER/ET/2ww). That way people can just cut and paste it to update so it stays current. I hate to say that and then pass the buck, but I am not so computer savvy or I would happily give it a try. Actually, I can give it a try (my new PMA)!!! This weekend I will try to figure out where everyone is and see what I can do.

Have a great weekend!

[courtney]

Hi ladies! Thanks for all the shot advice! I start stimming on the 28th. Is it just me are does each day seem like 48 hours...time creeps by during IVF!!!!

justjenis- I love your comment about IVF for Dummies. I think we could all write the book at this point!

irish-thanks for the advice on shots, i am trying not too worry to much about them. i think DH is more nervous than myself. Afterall, I give our dog allergy shots...he has never volunteered!!!

itsgottawork-thanks for the advice on exercise. I think I will just take it one day at a time. Funny story though...i have been working out with a personal trainer since August. We have one on one sessions. My trainer mentioned a couple of weeks ago there was another lady she wanted to join us. At first I didnt want to, but eventually agreed. We had our first session on Wednesday together...she is starting IVF in April!!! The trainer knew both of our IVF stories and thought we should be together. I think we talked and compared stories more than exercised!!!

runnerkate-sorry about your RE. if we got the info we needed from docs and nurses we wouldnt have to do so much research online!!

LAdies, have a wonderful, long weekend. I will be passing 'grow follies grow' thoughts your way!!!

Courtney

[JustJenis]

Morning all!

Just wanted to take a second to update all of you. Went in for my ultrasound. Here's what I have

1 @ 15mm
2 @ 11mm
13 @ 10mm

I go back in on Monday and hopefully more will catch up. Thanks for your prayers they seem to have worked.. Keep it up ladies.. Need the love and support y'all have given me.

*HUGS* You're the best. I have to run to the dentist but I'll be back later and write more

Jenis

[cornybaby]

Congrats Jenis! It sounds like you are progressing just as you should be.

Runnerkate - good luck with ER tomorrow. Don't stress...it really is easy. Especially if they put you under like my clinic does. It's a nice little nap.

As for me, I went in again this morning for an u/s. I have 6 follies measuring 17-21mm. ER is Monday morning at 7:45 and I trigger tonight! I just know this time it's going to work! The entire experience has been so much easier and SO much less stressful. I'll be PUPO in just a couple of days...YAY! Have a great weekend everyone!

hugs and babydust...