May/June Cycle Buddies

[hrobinson]

The list is absolutely wonderful. You are so creative. Wish I could do that sort of stuff.
Seeing all our names in the "right" places makes it more real. Wow, it will all be here before we know it.

[PMApsy]

A quick note before I go to bed and dream of dragons (we just finished watching Eragon; not the best movie I've seen but sooooo cute!)

Jenn, Tanya and hrobinson, thank you so much for the feedback on the list! I put it in my pocket and I'll do my best to keep it updated!

Tanya: putting these things on is very easy, finding them is a real hassle though! I found them all on one site that people use a lot here. It's a site that displays hundreds of smileys, but instead of downloading them, you just click on them and the right html text to cut/paste appears at the bottom. So all you have to do is click on the smiley you want, then cut and paste the html link in your post.

Off to bed! Take care lovely ladies!

Sophie

[CarolynB]

Dear Sophie

You are a total star. The list is awesome.

Just in some small way to replay the compliment. I thought that I would find one and should send it to you in return:



You have me down right. I will do a Fresh Cycle next at the new clinic. I have no dates yet as they first do a 'monitored' cycle to see how I operate naturally. They will do this off my April AF so guess that they very earliest that I could start would be on May AF. But they like to wait until your levels are good before they will start you so could mean that I am June-July. So I shall be bringing up the rear.

It will be great to start seeing the names move up through the different stages.

Enjoy the weekend everyone.
Love
Carolyn
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[Literatriz]

Hi Carolynb, PMApsy, Sophie and all,
I felt SO welcomed in this thread that it made me feel that there is life to enjoy between now and the transfer day (probably between 17 and 20 of June). The dream with a baby girl is a way for the brain to start holding on to the promise of life - I wish all neurohormones will get the message and do the right harmony when the time if right !

Tonight my 7 months old dog jumped up and curled to sleep right near me in our bed. It is being a while since she did that...anyways, she moved and moved to get settled while I was half asleep. The sensation of her movements were extremely similar to that of a baby moving in my womb. I did not send her away...it was a silly way of entretaining the dream of a child but it made me smile the whole morning.

I read we should not drink coffee! I am down to three/four mugs a day...Any divergent opinions? Can I still enjoy my expressos without feeling guilty?

Be well, Literatriz

[TansRN]

Literatriz
It is so exciting to think about our dream baby! I have been entertaining those thoughts since we decided to do it and the cool thing is that thoughts are quiet and dont bother anyone so I can think about it as many times a day as I want to!!!! It is so great! Your day will be here before you know it! I don't think that we should be drinking expressos. It is the caffeine that we are not suppose to have or at least a lot of. That is the whole deal and they sometimes have more than coffee! Just a little for you MAMA!!!

Things are going well for me today! I am so excited that tomorrow is APRIL already! Yippie! we are getting closer....

Sophie
Thanks for the info. I still have no clue but thats ok you girls can keep the board looking good!

[jen779]

Hey Ladies! It has been a while since I posted anything...so sorry! It has been kinda crazy! I am also not getting an email when a new post is made...what is going on?

PMApsy...great job on the list...however my info has changed yet again.
My FET cycle is now probably May 16 or 17th...as of now.
A crazy thing happened...well maybe not so crazy. I started my period again. I miscarried on 3/16 and I started again yesterday 3/30. I think it is because my RE had me test progesterone in sesame oil b/c of my allergic reaction to the ethyl oleate last time. I did an injection of only 25mg on Monday and I started on Friday...so that means my cycle will be pushed back.
I could have done my FET in April, but my husband and I are already planning to go on a cruise 4/20-4/27. So that put a damper on that! That's okay...everything happens for a reason, right?

Tanya...I mailed the PIO today, so you should be receiving it soon. Don't worry about the shipping. It only cost a few dollars! I am just glad I could help!
Hope everyone else is doing well!

[jen779]

Oh...also...I also started acupuncture yesterday! I heard that is does help with IVF and helps to relax you. My acupuncturist said that I was responding well to the treatment..especially the needles on the stomach. Crazy...she also told me she has had clients who have gotten pregnant without IVF...NATURALLY!!! That would be awesome..but not getting my hopes up!

[PMApsy]

Ovarian vacation
hrobinson.... starts Lupron May 22nd

Birth control pill
hrobinson.... Fresh cycle

Waiting for AF
TansRN.... Fresh ICSI cycle
Jul1e.... Fresh cycle
PMApsy.... Fresh cycle

Eagerly waiting for cycle to begin

Shantala.... Fresh ICSI cycle
Jen779.... FET cycle starts May 16th or 17th
Jenn Fresh cycle (flare protocol) starts in June
CarolynB....Fresh cycle starts in May or June
Literatriz....??

[PMApsy]

Hello ladies!

Well, a quick post for me today because there's a lot going on right now! We had our taxes done this morning and we both end up having to pay a fair amount of money. We'll have some important discussions about our finances and there will be a couple of changes here and there... great thing though, because hearing my income said out loud made my DH (and me!!) realize the big difference between our salaries (which is a shame when you think about it, because we're both Ph.D.s).

And there's also the fact that we're entertaining 9 people tomorrow for brunch. Plus two dogs, making 11 humans, three dogs and a cat in total! That will be great though; I haven't seen most of these folks since October, can you imagine? So right now we're basically turning the house upside down, cleaning everything, buying and preparing stuff... my DH put in his head to make 40 crepes and 20 pancakes tomorrow! Hehehe we're lucky to get up early every morning! He's gonna need it tomorrow!

Shantala: where are you sweetie? I haven't heard from you in a while and I'm starting to worry. Are you okay? What about your husband?

Carolyn: hehehe thanks for the partying smiley! I'm fine with you bringing up the rear, though I can understand the disappointment it would represent, especially seeing some of us begin before you. *hugs* But I'll tell you what becleo, an adorable woman here told me. When you kid is 18 years old, you won't look at him/her telling yourself, "Mmmmh, s/he could be 18 and two months..." That helped me when she said that. Either way, we're with you and we'll monitor you too!

Literatriz: I'm so glad that you feel welcome here, it's exactly what those threads are meant to be! That story with your pup was a-do-ra-ble! sure was a great feeling! Thanks for sharing your estimated transfer dates, but I'd really like to know more about your cycle. Is it a fresh cycle? I guess you're planning to begin it with your next AF, so in April? And about coffee, well... alcohol was scientifically proven to decrease women's fertility by 50%; my acupuncturist confirmed it and he's a serious and reliable person. So one should really stop drinking alcohol BEFORE stimming and not after! As for espressos, they actually have less caffeine than coffee, even if the stronger taste suggests they have more. Bravo for decreasing your coffee intake, it's good for your health. No coffee could be better, but I don't think it's dangerous for your pregnancy per se. Why don't you ask your clinic?

Jen: change made, as you can see! Sorry to hear about AF... the evil beoch... must pour salt on the wounds, I guess, having to relive your miscarriage in a way... aw, I'm so sorry! *hugs* It's wicked that you should speak of a cruise; my DH and I will leave on a cruise in Egypt on the 21st! Where are you going? And yes, acupuncture has been documented to make a difference in all kind of conditions and treatments, including IVF. I strongly encourage you to take it; sure helped me relax and helped with pain, too.

Okay... gotta attack that bathroom and make it shine! My office is next! Beware!

Sophie

[jenn]

Jen- which accupuncture clinic are you going to? How did you find it? Is it expensive? I mentioned it to DH a few months ago and he laughed at me. He just doesn't get things like that. Men!
I know he wouldn't stop me from going, but he would make comments about it!

[jen779]

Sophie...My husband and I are going on an Eastern Carribean cruise on Regent Cruise Line. Our ports are Grand Turks, Princess Cays, St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico. We are soooo excited. It is a much needed 7 day vacation! How long are you going to be gone for?

Jenn...The Acupuncturist that I am seeing was recommended by my RE. She is in Clear Lake...southest side of Houston. I really liked her ALOT! The first session was only $30 and the follow-up sessions are $50 each. She recommended 10 weeks, at one time per week. She is also going to come to my transfer and do a session before and after the transfer. At this point if someone told me to eat a banana peel and that would make me pregnant...I would do it! So if this helps...I'll try it! You should ask your RE if there is anyone in your area that she can recommend.

Okay...here is a question. If you are doing a FET cycle, is it okay to drink alcohol and have caffiene?

Also, since I started my period 12 days early...I didn't ovulate, right? So what happened to the eggs/follicles? When I went in for my hysterosonogram on Monday, my RE said that I have follicles in both of my ovaries and it looked like I was going to ovulate from my left ovary this month. So, what happens to those follicles/eggs? Any ideas?

[PMApsy]

Jenn: here are two things for your DH for laughing at you about acupuncture.

1-*slap* bad, baaaaaaaaaad DH for laughing at you!
2- Food for thought:

I'm a clinician-researcher, and I prefer to check info proprely before I believe what I read on the net or hear from friends. Before I gave acupuncture a try and invested money in it, I wanted to make sure it would be useful, especially that my DH was not convinced either.

I've checked studies on Medline (database for medical studies). I found two controlled studies (e.g., with a comparison group that did not use acupuncture... even a placebo in one study, which is even better!) and the pregnancy rates were higher in the acupuncture group!

For your/DH's information, the first study used acupuncture during the luteal phase specifically for an IVF-ICSI... so during the 2ww. Their sample was big (n = 225 patients). Their success rates were 33.6% for the acupuncture group compared to 15.6% for the placebo.

The second study mentioned acupuncture usually once a week during the whole IVF-only cycle and immediately before and after the transfer. They did not specify if acupuncture was given during the 2ww. Their sample was small (22 patients) but their age average was relatively high, too (36.5 years old) and the success rate of the acupuncture group was 57.7% compared to 42.3% for the control group. It's quite astonishing for that age group.

The sacro-sanct NIH officially recognized acupuncture's efficacy in 1997 (not for everything obviously, but for quite a few uses, including pregnancy and labor/delivery). So it's not only something serious, but something empirically proven.

My acupuncturist charges 65$CAN per visit and he specializes in pregnancy/infertility treatments. He is on call in several hospitals and even collaborated for several years with Procrea clinic, where I get my IVF treatments. For my first IVF, he recommended about 5 treatments, so about one per week. He first prepared my body to the more tricky parts of the IVF protocol, and then he respectively helped with my stimming pain, stimming per se, right before ER (mostly to help me stay very zen)and then I went right after my ET and he concentrated on the blood flow to my uterus. It didn't give me a BFP but it was worth every penny and I'll go back ASAP after I come back from Europe.

Jen: Hehehehe your vacation sounds fab! Have fun sweetie! We'll be gone from April 21st till the 28th, but we'll be away from home from April 19th to May 1st (we'll spend a night in Paris before the cruise and we'll spend the rest of the trip in my DH's family... he's French!)

Hugs and kissies,

Sophie

[arizonakiwi]

Can I join your May/June thread !!!
I'm ready to start my 2nd IVF attempt - just waiting on AF then I'll start BCP's again. Unfortunately my last cycle was cancelled just before egg collection because my estergon levels went up to double what they had to be to allow for me to trigger. They plan on lowering my stimm dosage this time and hopefully we will be able to get there this time. I have an appointment with the Doctor at the clinic tomorrow to go through everything and a scan to check everything is ok after last time.
I am looking forward to starting again but find my self being a lot more apprehensive than the first time because I'm concerned the same thing may happen again.

Sohpie and Shantala - It is good to see some familiar faces - I hope you both enjoy your cruises next month. Egypt is a neat place to visit - so much history and so different from everyday life in western society.

Sophie - Sunday brunch sounds fun - mmmm crepes and pancakes...... My parents have been up this weekend and we had French toast with maple syrup for breakfast this morning I mixed a little cream and cinnamon in with the egg mixture - very yummy, rich and indulgent....perfect for a Sunday morning treat.

Well I'm going to catch up with all the post here. I look forward to getting to know you all over the next few months as we start our big adventure. Enjoy your Sunday mornings or Saturday nights (depending where in the world you are)

Angela

[TansRN]

Jen
Thank you so much for mailing that PIO. I really appreciate it. That was so nice of you. That really sucks that you had to have yet a second AF in the wrong place! It is bad enough once a month...So how did the new progesterone work out for you? Any reactions?

Sophie
I am a nurse and I use Medline, Cochrane library and CINAHL for my research and I have a tid bit of interesting info. I looked up embryo transfers and bed rest and there is no good evidence to suggest using it! I was wondering why some clinics use bed rest and others do not. It was very interesting. There were no significant statistical data in the bed rest vs. the no bed rest group as far as pregnancies and live births go. I was quite intruiged by this. I do a lot of evidenced based research and I am wondering if this is just what has always been done or what??? Anyhow just some food for thought. By the way crepes sound so good!!!

Angela
Welcome welcome!!! Feel free to join right in. I know what you are saying about feeling the same way that you did the first time. I am worried as well and I didn't think that I would be but I guess it is in the back on my mind. I am just trying to overcome that feeling with positive two red lines on the stick kind of joy!!! If ya know what I mean! Good Luck at your appointment-I hope that it goes well and you will be able to get through the stimulation process without any hangups.

[CarolynB]

Angela - Welcome. I think that we may have overlapped a little on the Dec-Jan thread? Although I was at the beginning of that thread and then disappeared over Xmas after the -ve. Hoping that this cycle is going to go better. Now that they know what happened last time, I am sure that they will be able to make adjustments for you. Hope that your appointment on Monday goes well and you are good to get started. Imust say that I found the 2nd go less stressful as I knew what would be happening to me. I certainly was apprehensive about the end result but less scared of EC & ET as I had a better picture of what would happen to me. Hope that this helps a little??

Jen - So sorry that you have to wait. But the holiday sound fun. Can I come too? I have not done a FET cycle. But what I have read seems to indicate that alcohol and caffenine do not help our sitauations. If you want to do everything that you can to help then might make sense to have a go at cutting them out or at least cutting them out. I have tried to cut out both since my 1st negative as want to leave no stone unturned. However, if I am down (after -ves) I do allow myself a coffee or a glass of wine as a special treat. The key thing is to not stress so if having the odd drink helps you relax then go for it. On your last ?, I think that sometimes the follies are just absorbed back into you but that is only based on what I have read - I am not a dr/nurse so someone else might know better than me

Tanya - I asked my clinic/consultant all about the bed rest thing as there was so much conflicting advice. They said no evidence either way which is what you are saying too. He said to do what ever felt best for me. I did 3 days for my first cycle. But I am so twitchy that I found it stressful. I asked my acu and he says no firm evidence either way. Light walking, he felt was good to keep the circulation going. Nothing too heavy duty that might take blood away from the 'centre' of you where it needs to be.

Sophie/Jenn - I have done some research on acupuncture too. What I read seemed to indicate that it is the acu just before and after ET that really lifts success rates. The German protocol? What ever your success stat would have been before acu (based on age and number of eggs etc) then it could lift by as much as 15% with acu. I have used since my 1st -ve. I went weekly at the start to get me 'balanced'. Then every 2 weeks. Before ovulation and before AF. Now we have got my AFs pretty regular, we just do in cycle. 1 at D6 of stimmies. Before and after ET. Then not at all in 2ww. I see a specialist in ivf/infertility. I find it very good to relax as I am quite manic/driven. Plus he also has lots of info about clinics/wait lists/donors/consultants so he is also a great source of info for me. I found the guy through the internet. But I specifically told him my case and his response was both timely and knowledgable. I now find that girls travel from all over the UK to see him, he speaks at conferences and bookings are like gold dust. But this was luck rather than judegment. I pay £45 per session. 1st session was longer as he took all my history so cost £65. But these are London rates and he is on Harley Street

Sophie - 2 PhDs. Wow. Brainy family. Hope that the family brunch goes well today. I am fine with bringing up the rear. I was impatient with all the waiting at the start (especially given my age). But after the past year - 3 Fresh plus 2 ops - I can honestly say that I am cool to have a bit of 'wait' time to recharge my batteries. I know that the new clinic will be VERY intensive. Checks sometimes twice a day. So I need a bit of a breather before I launch in again. Glad that you are monitoring me too I know Becleo. That is a cool/useful comment. Puts it in perspective

Literatriz - Glad that the thread is helping already. I would not have got though the last year without it. (See below ) On the subject of coffee. I love coffee and used to drink way too much. Then I read that it might not be helpful to fertility. So I kicked it out completely. Headaches ensued. But now I very rarely drink it at all. 2 cups since last May after -ves as special treat. I do miss it but if it helps the cause then guess that we have to do it. However, I have read that stress is an even bigger factor so if kicking it out just causes more stress for you then you are better to drink coffee but try to cut back if you can. Hope that this makes a little sense??

Shantala - I miss you too. I hope that you are ok. May be you are taking a little 'ivf break'. I do hope that you are going to come back to join us soon. Big hugs sweetie

Hope that everyone else is having a good weekend. I am just chilling out after a busy week. We are off to my parents on Thursday for 3 days over Easter which will be nice. My younger sister will be there too. No ivf talk as she does not know what we are doing. That will do us good. Councelling session tomorrow at 'old' clinic. Not been before. So we will have to see whether it helps at all. Dh coming too.

I was just updating my profile and saw that I first posted a year ago. Wow. I would not have got through the last year without being able to come here and share our journeys. I am so glad that I found this site.

Love to you all.
Carolyn
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