Anybody IVF progesterone ring study in Texas?

[IndieBlue]

Karen Welcome Yes I'm at GRS in Atlanta. So what time do you have to be there on Sunday? I have to be there at 8:30 for my stim ultrasound. They just told me to order more....the pharmacy (Freedom) said that since they are out of Menopur they are substituting Repronex and they'd have to get approval from the doctor first before refilling my Menopur with a substitute med. I went a different route and got some online, praying I won't need 12 more though....maybe I'll only have to stim for 10 days instead of 12

Well, it's nice to see someone else at GRS. Which doctor do you see? I see Dr. K, but Sunday they said the other female doctor is there...her name slips my mind. Did they also tell you to park on the top of the parking deck on the weekends? They told us that during our shot class.

Well, good luck tomorrow....we'll be headed out pretty early since it's a 2 hour drive but I'm eager to see what my u/s shows after 3 days of stims.

[karen266]

Indie,
My appt is at 8:40 in the morning so I will be there when you are. I have a 1 1/2 hour drive. We are in Rome, GA. So I know how you feel. I am so tired of the drive.
I have gotten all my meds offline too. I ordered some menopur and it was suppossed to be here today, but has not shown up yet. So I am not sure what I am going to do. Now it won't get here til Tues b/c of the holiday. I am hoping that I will get to trigger on Monday. But I think you still give yourself the meds that day, too?
I hope I remember to park on the top deck tomorrow. I see Dr. P, but he left for China for 2 weeks yesterday so I don't know who I will be seeing. They just told me another doc is filling in for him.
I am on day 9 of stims today, so hopefully not too much longer.

[IndieBlue]

Cool I'll be wearing a brown shirt tomorrow, jeans (and my dorky crocs shoes LOL).....It's such a long drive that I wear whatever is comfortable. I'd ask the doctors tomorrow about more Menopur. They should have some samples or donated meds they can give you...or that is what the other ladies tell me most clinics do, I've never asked though. Tell them that you ordered some more and it's just not arrived yet due to the Holiday and surely they could share or help you out until the other arrives? Maybe you won't have much more needed though...since you've already stimmed 9 days. How are your ultrasounds going?

Wow, I had no idea that Dr. P left....that's a long time. Did you hear that they are closing the lab in June for a few weeks? Another patient that is starting Lupron/BCP's soon said that they told her she'd have to 'hang out' on Lupron for a few extra weeks until July when the lab opened back up to do stims/ER and ET. I would have been soooo irritated, although I realize that they have to shut down the lab for a while, waiting an extra month for ER would be hard.

Most of the time I only see the techs anyway, this last baseline ultrasound I didn't even see my Dr.....just the lab techs and then Susie did my ultrasound. Oh by the way, are you on GonalF too? Did they increase that at all during this cycle? I'm on 225 of GonalF a day, 2 vials of Menopur and then 5 units of Lupron. The Menopur doubled after my baseline blood work....and I'm soooo afraid that the GonalF will go up too and I'll have to beg, borrow and steal to afford more GonalF. I really really hope it doesn't though, it's the most expensive med

Oh well, I'm sure we'll run in to each other in the morning...but if we don't good luck Hoping your done with stims and can move on to ER!

[Soderbee]

Hi ladies! Sorry to butt-in, been reading posts and learning lots! I am in the study as well, just start my AF last night (of course during the holidays!) it came early. I put a call in to the coordinator here in FL because I need to get my labs drawn for FSH/E2 Monday. Do you guys know the effects of taking Ibuprofen with being at this stage of the game? I have cramps that the Tylenol ES is just not cutting. I know it has something to do with the hormones, but I am not sure. Since I haven't started on the Lupron or Stims yet, I am hoping that won't make a difference and I can pop some and be a happy camper. Thanks, Regina

[IndieBlue]

Regina Not really sure, but when I used to go in before Lupron I would tell the nurse/coordinator that I took an Aleve for Menstrual cramps and she never said a thing...just transferred the information to my chart and kept going. I've since stopped taking them because I read online from the other gals in the study that you're not supposed to so I don't. I have AF right now....but I've been on stims for 3 days, I'm dealing with the cramps and trying to stay non medicated. It's hard though, I just keep thinking....this will be my last AF for 9 months so I can handle it LOL

[IndieBlue]

Where is everyone? Well, nothing new with me. Had my first U/S since starting stims and there were some small follicles but nothing major. I go back Tuesday....so we'll see then

Hope you all come back soon

[angram]

Hi IndieBlue - Sorry to leave ya alone today Glad to hear the stimming is going wel, the time seems to pass so much quicker when doing shots and having U/S's, don't ya think. I start Lupron tomorow morning and I'm so ready. Also found out that the Luveris shots are not IM, I just saw the large needle used to mix the powder and water, but then I'll use a 1/2" needle for injection...great news

Hi Regina- My RE says to take Tylenol only, no Ibuprophen for some reason. I also think it's against the study rules to take it, but I'm just not sure why. I feel your pain, my cramps are so bad during AF that I cannot sleep, back starts killing me, major leg cramping and all. A heating pad sometimes helps, but Tylenol may be your only friend at the moment Good luck!

How was everyone's weekend, good so far I hope.

[beccatx]

Hi everyone...

Angram...so glad you got the lupron shots figured out...I forgot about the mixing part with the big needle (always afraid I wouldn't switch tops, but how could I forget???), but I knew it wasn't IM for me either...the only Im is the trigger right? I seriously didn't even know my husband had given it to me...I was still waiting for the "stick" and he was done. It was very sore the next day though!

Indie- that's great you are really on your way...did they count how many follicles they saw or is it too early? Did you meet the other girl who joined recently and had an appointement around yours? Is your husband "getting on board" a little more now? Fortunately my clinic is just about 3 miles from my work and 5-6 from my home- it really stinks you have to go so far esp. with gas prices. I feel for you! Did you find out about menopure? How do they already think you need more?

Stress....are you ok?

I was on "bed rest" yesterday b/c I started bleeding quite a bit after my husband and I had sex yesterday a.m. It really scared me. It was not spotting, but pretty moderate bleeding at first. It stopped about 2 pm and now it's gone except brown spotting just a smidge. No more sex for us! From everything I've read it's from a very sensitive cervix at this time and there's increased blood flow all in your nether regions...I may have nicked a blood vessel or just really irritated in there (this was regular low-key sex just fyi ). It's not the first time we've had sex, so I was really surprised and scared when it happened. I called the office and talked to the nurse- I hope I don't get kicked out for sex LOL I have read sex doesn't cause miscarriages, but now I'm freaked out!

We're going to a little BBQ for memorial day...I wish I could wear a swim suit and get just a little sun...I feel so fat and hideous...thanks for letting me whine!

rebecca

[IndieBlue]

Becca WOW, I would have been scared too. I think you're right though....it's just sensitive down there right now and that is probably what did it. I'm glad you're feeling better now, although it is crud feeling fat isn't it I tried to put my wedding rings back on last night and freaked out because they were so tight. I've had them for 15 years....and never had to take them off, so I'm sad that I may have to have them resized if I don't lose this puffiness.

As far as the first u/s, they did measure and count them. She said they were small but counted and measured them anyway. She said I had 2-3 on one side and 4-5 on the other. I didn't ask sizes, but they were very small compared to my 16mm cyst....atleast 1/2 the size if not a bit smaller.

The drive is crud....not looking forward to tomorrow's rush hour. But I'm looking forward to getting a better report Tuesday will be day 6 for stims...so maybe they've picked up a bit. I'm not really sure what the deal with the Menopur was, I guess they based it on bloodwork? I had 6-7 antral (sp?) follicles that day at the baseline, so again...not sure why the increase before I even started, unless it was based on that bloodwork.

The doctor said I could come in on Wednesday when I was at my appointment yesterday and then when the nurse called she told me Tuesday. I asked if I couldn't make it Wednesday and she said that after the Dr saw my bloodwork she changed it to Tuesday? Who knows...just hoping nothing in that blood work is getting close to getting me kicked out of the study....although they'd still do my cycle for the money paid, so that is a relief.

Angram Glad you're moving forward And you got the Luveris figured out. I was counting my meds the other night and figured out I can get 3 shots out of 1 vial of GonalF!!! It's a 450iu vial and I take 225 a night...she said they overfilled it for some reason, but gosh...that's a lot of overfill LOL I'm glad, maybe I won't need more of it, since it's 350 a vial!!!!

[baylorbear33]

Hello all... Glad to hear everyone is progressing...

Indie - I sympathize with your drive. We have now made 16 trips to Austin from Waco (90 miles each way) for our IVF treatment, and anticipate that we have 3 - 4 more. Regarding your bloodwork, it sounds like your E2 was high if they wanted you to come in earlier than expected. My E2 climbed like crazy the last few days of my stims, and it got to the point where I was in the RE's office everyday. My E2 topped out at over 4500.

Stress - I hope all is well with you, we haven't heard from you in a few days. I hope your beta on Saturday was a big, fat number.

As for me, I'm just waiting to have my next beta done. It is scheduled for Wednesday of this week. I haven't had a beta since Wednesday of last week, so I a little anxious. I'm hoping that the doctor was very comfortable with my first two betas, and that's why they wanted to wait a week for the next one. My 6.5 week U/S is schedule for 6/5/08, so I'm looking forward to that to make sure everything is progressing and to determine how many babies there are My beta's seem to indicate only one, but I suppose anything is possible.

[angram]

Good morning ladies, already so much traffic on here and I just looged off at 1:30AM

beccatx - Good to hear from you and I'm so sorry to hear what happened, that would be a bit of a scare. Take good care of yourself and take it easy on the sex

IndiBlue - I'm sure your follies will be much larger at the 6 day mark, did they increase any of your meds or keep things the same? I feel for you all that have to drive so far to visit RE, so I won't complain anymore when I sit in traffic for an hour. Good luck tomorrow, let us know how things go.

baylorbear33 - Good luck on your beta on Wednesday, I hope it's crazy high I'm excited to hear how many little ones you have in there, ya never know. Are you and DH wanting more than one? DH and I would love to have twins, then we'd be done with all of this...we'll see Our good friends are pregnant (naturally, of course) with twin boys and she'd like us to have twin girls so that they can all grow up and get married

Well as for me, I took my first Lupron shot today...so very exciting Now hopefully only 18 more to go If AF arrives on time, I'll go in on 6/4 for my baseline and get this party started. No big plans for us today, all BBQ's have been on Saturday and Sunday this time around. DH and I are looking to get a new car, since my Tahoe is a gas hog, so we may go look at a couple of vehicles today. Other than that, planning to enjoy my last day off.

Hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day and I'm sure I'll chat with ya later on today.

[IndieBlue]

BaylorBear I was thinking something like that about the E2 levels, but I'm still spotting...and she said as that increase with the meds that it would stop the bleeding. This is a regular AF though....today is day 6 and it's tapering off, but still not completely quit. Oh well, maybe I'll ask tomorrow Good luck with your Beta!!! Can't wait to hear, and next week will be your U/S...YAY! I hope I don't have to make 20 trips. It's over 100 miles, I think somewhere around 113? We've been 5 times so far, but it's been spaced out since March....so again this stim week will be hard. After that the study visits are spaced out again so maybe I'll survive LOL

Angram Congrats on starting that Lupron Those shots were by far the easiest....mixing all this other stuff is still taking me 15 minutes LOL, but I check and double check as I'm drawing out the different meds and then check before I mix them together...etc and then check again before I throw the vials away that I did 2 of this one and 1 of that one...etc LOL They didn't change any of my meds, still the same....so maybe they just wanted to check me a day earlier because of my doctor's schedule or maybe she forgot that she told me Wednesday earlier in the day after seeing so many patients after me? It's okay I suppose....I just have so much on Tuesdays to do....guess I'll just reschedule everything on my 2 hour drive LOL Good luck with the vehicle shopping. I drive a 3/4 ton Suburban....so we get around 15 miles to the gallon.....YUCK! But we can't trade it in if we tried....no one wants SUV's right now because of the gas prices. Plus normally we never go anywhere....these RE trips are the only real traveling we've done in a long time....except Disney once a year, so we're okay with it....

[angram]

Hi Indie - I actually do not mind any of the shots, other than the trigger in the hip/rear. My last cycle used a trigger in the belly (small needle), but I've used the HCG triggers during all of my previous IUI's and unfortunately recall the pain the next day. I'm also a bit obsessive when it comes to mixing everything and double checking, but my DH is about 10x worse than me I think I'll mix everything this time around, he gets a little to anxious for me. Guess as long as he's giving the shot though, he can be a little crazy Yeah the gas prices are a little out of control these days and I fill up about 2x per week, which is insane! We'll see if the next vehicle is much better, but my problem is that I love big SUV's!

[stressball]

Hi all,

I am soooo sorry.....Actually I went to Dallas on Saturaday after my blood draw. My beta went to 490. Its not exactly douled but the RE is happy that it went up. So I am still in that "caustiously optimistic" limbo. I have to get another blood draw this Thurs. This is really more killing than 2ww. Its like doing the HPT after every 2 days....I had mild to mod crampings Fri. night and Sat. morning and also back ache the whole Sat. Now I am taking extra care of myself. No cooking or driving too much. I dont know if that would help but I guess thats all I can do now.

Indie: 6 days of Stim tomorrow????? OMG....time flies...did you find Soderbee that day????? you will be there for the ER before you will know....

Angram: Luron shots are easy.....you are getting there too....

Bear: Good luck on beta Wed...and sono on the 5th wow...I had mine scheduled for the 6th..but I guess I will know for sure this Thurs.

Becca: Can you have sex after your sono...my DH is drooling over me....also did you have any back aches during beta?....ask your DH to hold on...let the baby settle down first before he can go and check on him...hehehhe....just kidding....

Last but not the least....please please pray hard for me....

[beccatx]

Stress- I'm so glad the number went up so much- that sounds like a solid jump! Yes- I had back-aches a lot and the cramping too (still do sometimes).

DH and I had sex after first beta...I thought once we got the result we were in the clear and we had sex regularly until the sonogram...then I had some spotting and we didn't for like a week or so, then second sonogram and we did it Thurs, Fri, and Sun...then the bleeding. Maybe we were a little too ambitious! LOL I'm fine without doing it...I think we'll wait many, many more days or weeks. I see an ob/gyn Monday June 2nd, but I'm going to try and reschedule for later this week- I hope to get the clear on sex and exercise, but I bet my DH won't let me near the gym.

Indie- I can't belive AF is here again...it's like last week we were all begging her to come so you could start BCps and now look at ya. I hope all goes well today with drive to clinic and seeing the follicles get bigger. One of them is housing your baby!

Have a great day gals!