IVF first timers - Welcome!

[mominwaiting]

ENEKAY Still crossing everything for you anxiously waiting for you to come back!!
HOLLIE My Dr upped my dose I guess I am not responding right, but great that you are!! How is the accu going, does it seem to help I have thought about doing it too.
SYLVA How are you hon, waiting for an update!!
As for me, I had a huge scare that is still not completely over!, My numbers looked so badly on Sat that we thought we were going to have to cancel, but I went in on Mon and I had one follie on left that went from 9.7 to 15.7 and there were about 6 or 7 follies on the right 4 of them at least at 11mm so we are going to proceed, I have to stay of follistim for a few extra days my numbers are still low 292 on day 9, but Dr said my uterine lining looks great, he hopes to do ER this weekend or maybe Mon, not for sure I have to go back 2morrow and retest again to see if follies are doing any better, Dr thinks we might be able to get at least 8 follies.
My biggest fear is that I will be dropped by share risk because of poor response to med, that would be the worst, cause if I don't get preg on this try then I will be lost. I hate this cause I have been so calm through everything knowing that I had 5 more chances, now I am so nervous, but trying to keep PMA the best that I can.
HOPES AND PRAYERS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!!

[EneKay]

Hello Everyone! Sorry that I've been away for days, but my computer crashed! Late Friday afternoon we got the call. We finally got our BFP!!!! My hCG was 880. I went again today for my second blood work and am waiting for the results now. I'm having a lot of pain in my belly but I'm being told by friends that it's common and I'm trying to stay positive and not worry (which is very difficult for me).

Hollie: I live in Birmingham and my clinic is in California. So, I'm really glad you've got relatives to stay with. A hotel room for 2 weeks gets really old and like you said...expensive! We chose the San Diego Fertility Clinic because of their extremely high success rates.

Mominwaiting: You are in my prayers for lots of follies! Keep us posted.

SilvaCharm: Thanks for asking your doc about the heating pad. It really helps with the 2cc's of prog in the hips everyday. I can hardly let my pants touch the injection sites.

Thank you guys for the well wishes and support! It really means a lot! My prayers are with you all!

Ellen

[ag817]

Hi Ladies

I just ran by this thread and think this is a great ideal to have for first timers.

A little about me I'm 41, started my stims on 12/18, had my transfer last Saturday (3 embies 2 #8's and 1 #6) and now I'm just waiting for the 16th for the "good" news Keeping my mind in a positive frame

Congrats Enekay!! what kind of pain are you having? Have you asked your Dr. about it? I don't know if it's my imagination but my stomach feels heavier? Does anyone else have this feeling?

Well ladies I've been on this computer for awhile I'm going to give my eyes a break ... have a great evening.

See ya tomorrow .. anita

[SilvaCharm]

EneKay: Congrats on the BFP! Doc told me as well that it is normal to have a little pain or cramping at this stage. Yep, those prog shots suck. I don't have a problem with clothing touching the site, though. It's a deep pain with me. Like deep in the muscle hurts, but my hippie is actually feeling quite well today...ahhhh.

Mom: I'm really relieved you did not have to cancel your cycle. It sounds like they're going through with ER. What is share risk? Do they not think the eggs are mature? Help me to understand what could cause you to have to have the cycle cancled or what would cause the drs to want to cancel. As for me, I've had 3 HCG tests so far, I'm up to a level of 328. I have a 4th test tomorrow morning. They still haven't scheduled an ultrasound, so I'm just hoping the beta # continues to double and we can get to the 1st ultrasound.

I hope everyone is feeling well and keeping up the PMA!

SC

[Hollie]

Hello ladies!

EneKay- Yeah!!!!!!!!! Congrats on your BFP!! Do the prog. shots ache as bad as the HCG shot?? I just took that a couple days ago and couldn't lay on that side for 2 days. Shot didn't hurt at all, just the muscle was sooo sore.

Momi- Gald to hear you're cont. with the cycle. I had my last one cancelled and it was hard. This one is much better though. Sounds like you might get some eggies though. My numbers were also low but we went ahead w/ER. I also looked into the shared risk, but DH chose not to do it. Didn't know they could drop you though. Accup. was good, very relaxing. I do it again right before and right after ET on sat.

As for me, I had ER this morning. Got 9 eggs, a couple more than expected. Will find out tomorrow how many fertilized. It all was very quick and I feel fine. Didn't even take the pain killers they gave me, just some tylenol. A little tired still though. Hoping for a 3 day transfer on Sat. and then we'll be able to go home.
It's been nice not to have to be in a hotel room all week, they can get real small pretty fast, but I'm ready to go home already.

Thinking of you all.

[mominwaiting]

Hollie Wow 9 follies that is pretty good, i will be thinking of you and praying for fert!!!
Silva Shared Risk is a program that you can pay a set sum for six cycles, 3 fresh and 3 frozen, you pay about the cost of 2 1/2 cycles, and get a 70% refund if you do not have a take home baby. the RE was thinking we were going to have to cancel because my E2 levels were so low and the follies that I had on Sat were still really small, but my numbers have come up. also if no eggs are retrieved or if they don't fert then cycle can be cancelled.
EnekayCONGRATULATIONS HON!!! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!
Welcome AG this is a great board these ladies are really nice and easy to talk to, Good Luck with everything!!
As for me I went back to RE today and my level has went from 292 to 453 which isn't great but it is still climbing I have to go back 2morrow and test again we are trying to get follies as big as possible so as long as level is rising I am going to stay on meds a few more days. I had one follie on Left at 19MM WOO HOO!! there were 5 on Right 16,15,11,11,8 so maybe looking at ER on Sat or Sun.
Praying and Thinking Of You All!!![/b]

[mominwaiting]

Just an update for me, I went back to RE yesterday and things are still looking better, I had a 21&12 on L and 16,15,14,11,11 on Right side my E2 was only 586 so the Re told me to trigger last night, ONCE AGAIN NOT BAD AT ALL DIDNT HARDLY EVEN FEEL IT. I am scheduled for ER Sat at 8:15 am, so I am little nervous now. I am looking forward to 2 days of NO SHOTS!!!! Then the most dreaded Progesterone starts .
I have to admit though that I think the 2WW is going to be like a mini vacay for me, I have been driving 2/12 hours one way every day for the last 3 days and was every other day before that for over a week, just for about 15 worth of tests, granted it will all be worth it when I get BFP, but as for right now I am looking forward to a break fromm driving back and forth. My DH and I have our own trucking company, so that keeps us busy to boot ready for a little breather.
Just another quick question, RN said that I could have sex after ER? I know there are so many myths and stories, i was wandering what you all had heard or was told on this. RN said no nookie after ET but was ok before.
ANYWAY HERE'S LOTS OF THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR ALL!!!!!!!!

[ag817]

Hi Ladies!

Mominwaiting -- Good luck w/ the ER on Saturday. WOW that is a lot of driving you were doing I guess it will be a vaca for ya ~` enjoy Are you doing the progestrone shots or the suppositories? I'm doing the supps. they are a little icky but oh well somethings you just have to deal with.

LOL about the lack of nookie .. I was told the same thing. I'm counting down for the 16th LOL

[mominwaiting]

I am doing the shots I think my RE is really into S&M everything they use is painful in some way lol.
I went today to get HCG checked and they just called and my level is 218 which is above great they said just wanted to see above 60, so I am a go for 2morrow at 8:15AM, HOLY MOLY THAT IS LESS THAN 24 HOURS AWAY
PLEASE EVERYONE CROSS WHATEVER YOU CAN AND SEND OUT BIG PRAYERS UP FOR ME, I KNOW ALL OF US HERE HAVE HAD OUR STRUGGLES, BUT THIS COULD PUT AN END TO A 10 YR ONE FOR ME, I KNOW IT DOES MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHETHER IT IS 10 OR 1 BUT I AM JUST READY FOR IT TO BE OVER!!!!
ANYWAY HOPES AND PRAYERS FOR EVERYONE!!!!!

[PMApsy]

Hello lovely ladies!

Sorry about not posting more on this thread, but I figured that those who were cycling at the same time I did would read/post news on the Jan thread.

So, updates!

mominwaiting: Oh, what a long wait you had to go through! You know I empathize sweetie, I had to wait over average too for my EC, and I'm happy that it's less than 24 hours away! And believe me, it's great that it's happening on the weekend; you'll be happy to have the rest. About sex, though, I don't see why you couldn't have any after egg retrieval. The thing is, your tummy tends to hurt afterwards! In my case, I had quite severe pain that radiated in all my lower back. Hot water bottles and extra strength Tylenol made it barely tolerable. It lasted three days in its worst form, and then kept fading for a couple more days. No matter how much I tried, I didn't feel like having sex at all. Some are luckier than me though (I think I paid for making it through the procedure itself like a breeze! ), but most of the women I've seen here report at least some soreness after EC.

I agree with you, though, the 2ww does feel like a vacation. It just seems like life is going back to normal again. At least in my case. For some it's the worst part, but for me... I just did everything that I could do, the doctors too... I totally let go and enjoy life. And it's nice to get up at normal hours and face traffic only to go to work!

ag: welcome dear! I hope you'll like it here! Yeah, the suppositories are a little icky, but if you do lie down after each dose, it tends to leak far less.

TMI WARNING!!

LOL the first dose I gave myself, I ate breakfast sitting comfortably instead of lying down... a couple of hours later, I went to the washroom and screamed: OMG! Someone threw up in my panties!

END OF TMI WARNING!!

Seriously, you're okay with panty liners... but do wear them though!

Enekay: CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! That's amazing news! Enjoy the next 8 months sweetie! Your numbers look fab!

Hollie: good job on the eggies dear! Always nice to get more than planned, eh? So, what is the news? Still planning for an ET on Saturday? Hope your time away from home ends soon; you'll be bringing your little babies with you very soon!

Silva: hey lady! Just a little hug in passing; we chatted on the other thread plenty!

Take care ladies!

Sophie

[boomer]

I'm not yet at the IVF point - just on 2nd round of insemination - but I can tell you a little bit about giving yourself injections as i just learned how to do this myself last week !
On my first IUI attempt, I had to schlep 40 mins each day to visit my friend who is a nurse so she could give me injections . The needle that was used for the fertility drugs was pretty big, and I could not mentally get myself over the thought of sticking myself. But after my IUI failed, my doctor instructed me to begin Lupron injections, which requires a needle that is much smaller (insulin syringe). Since the needle was smaller, it was less scary and I was able to do the injection myself. Point is, if you can get a smaller needle or insulin syringe to try with first, I would recomend it. I promise this needle does not hurt at all, and best recomendation i can give you is to take a deep breath right before you do it (somehow this helps psychologically as per my friend who is a nurse, and she's right) and don't hesitate - it will not hurt if you do it quickly, and that includes pulling it out quickly once your done injecting the medicine. Let me know if you learn how to do the injections.

[mominwaiting]

Ok Ladies I had ER yesterday and we got 4 eggs but one was not mature so down to 3, Lab called this morning and all 3 fertilized!!!
They will call me on Tues and let me know how they look then ET is on Thurs at 8:15 am So wish me luck everyone!! RN said they looked fine and ferted fine with ICSI so here we go.
I was really sore and bloated yesterday, but I feel fine today, I think I may hav found a trick to help, you know those heated patches you can get for your period, well I wore one last night and have one on today and it really helps, it is like having a portable heating pad. Just an idea to relieve ER pain.
I will update you and let you know what they say on day 3.
HERES HOPES AND PRAYERS FOR ALL OF YOU!!!

[PMApsy]

mominwaiting,

Congrats sweetie on the nice fert rate! Those little fighters seemed determined to come back home, divide and conquer! Thanks for the tip for ER! I hope I'll never have to use it, but I'll definitely keep it in mind!

Take care and keep us posted!

Sophie

[mominwaiting]

ok took first progesteone shot last night, I was really surprised it did not hurt that bad, UNTIL ABOUT 3 AM THIS MORNING, now my hip feels like it has the biggest charlie horse ever. It is so uncomfortable can anyone help me not do this again, I am not sure how to this everyday for 2 weeks or maybe more. Why did it take so long to start to ache I took shot at 9 PM last night. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!
OH and another thing I have developed a cough is this normal I have heard some of the ladies say something about it, I thought it might be from the oxygen? Not sure kinda feels like bronchitits which I do not want on thursday!! Any Help?
On a lighter note I am waiting on call from lab 2morrow with Day 3 results for 3 ferts!! I will let you all know!!
KEEP STRONG LADIES I AM SENDING LOTS OF PRAYERS YOUR WAY!!!!!

[Hollie]

Hi ladies, hope you all had a good weekend.

Momi- Congrats on your ferties!! I know what you mean with the 2 days off. Was so nice not to have to go into the dr. office. Good luck with ET on Thurs. I really thought my HCG shot was way worse than the progesterone. I was sore for 2 days.


Well, I'm finally back home, a little earlier than expected though.
I had ET on Sat. I had 6 of the 9 eggs fertilize and all 6 developed good!!!! That was unexpected, but great news. We transferred 2 embies and froze the other 4. Dr. didn't expect us to have extras to freeze so we're really excited. Had a little trouble with the ET. I guess I have a tipped uterus and a high cervix, which made it a little harder to implant. But we got through it. The process is very cool to watch though. Started the prog. shots. I don't think it's nearly as bad as the HCG shot. I'm feeling a little crampy, but not as bad as my menstral cramps. Can't wait for our pg test on the 21st. Gonna take a few more days off work to relax. We got a great pic of the 22 embies that we call the twins. Kinda funny to show people.

Have a good week to you all and baby dust coming to you too.