Cycling In 2012 Board (formerly Fall/Winter 2011-2012)

[WeHaveHope]

Hi friends,
Sorry I haven't posted in several days. Still trying to get over this bad cold. I'm feeling pretty run down plus work has been incredibly busy these days. My migraines ate also back in full force. I went to see a neurologist at the recomendation of my OB on Monday. The neurologist recommended an MRI without contrast. Totally safe when pregnant a's long a's contrast is not used. I'm having the MRI without contrast today. Also having my every two weeks u/s with my OB tomorrow and then my f/u anatomy scan on Monday. Hopefully they will be able yo get all of the babies heart views. Just because I haven't posted doesn't mean I am not thinking of everyone and praying for everyone. I will try an catch up a little later today and post some personals.

Ninde-my prayers ate with you today. I am seeding you all of my love and strength. My skype is on if you want to talk.

Julia-those are really great Betas. I can't wait until your u/s. Congrats.

[kerpupples]

Julia and Patricia - I'm really pulling for some good news for both of you today.

So we did get guesses yesteday, and the ultrasound tech seemed fairly confident about it. Looks like we are team pink....AND team blue! It's funny, because the girl really does look like a girl to me already. My daughter is going to be thrilled to have a brother and a sister.

[Ninde]

Hi Ladies

Ker: Thats wonderful news - boy and a girl! Fantastic. Now you just make sure you keep yourself really well!!! How do I post to Ghost?

LauraN: Thanks for your thoughts on age. I suppose I'm also thinking about finances and if we do one more this year we might be ok to do one more next year when I'll be 41. Any update on your numbers? And you transfer tomorrow?

Julia: Lol, allow yourself eat for a few days - I think thats allowed! Any update on your beta and when your next u/s will be?

Globe: Thanks for your words on age. Re the pain and swelling. I found the day after ER on both IVFs really sore (and I mean really sore!) but when I woke up the day after that (so two days after ER) I was 90% better - I'm hoping for the same for you.

Leora: We do have national healthcare but IVF is considered Elective. So we pay for everything but the drugs - hence the €5,000. We have a system with drugs here that once you spend over €132 in a month then everything else is paid for - so the total we pay for the drugs part is €132. I would imagine thats a good saving because I'm sure the drugs are very expensive. Any sign of AF?

Nicole: I'm seriously considering letting DH who has MS look at your posts! You are absolutely amazing with all you do. Itching gone?

Christy: How are you doing?

HopethisWorks: Good luck!!!!

Maria: How are you now? Thank you for your kind words over Skype

AFM: As expected - negative HPT. Phoned the hospital. Going in for beta tomorrow just to check levels. I have also asked them to test progesterone levels so nurse called me back and said that Doctor said that would be of no benefit so - no. At that point I got stroppy, actually really stroppy - which actually isn't really me - I can be assertive definately but I was so annoyed - I felt so dismissed. So I told my concern to the nurse who said if I'm actually requesting it they will do it but they may not have results for our meeting with the doctor next Tue at 3.30. I've requested it anyway. They are now saying that bleeding at 8dp2dt is not alltogether unusual and they have nothing to suggest its the progesterone. My point is if they don't monitor the level how the hell do they know that?! I do not want to go into this meeting next week and have the doctor say she feels its "just one of those things". I appreciate we can all have negatives and most of us do - but the bleeding so early feels really wrong?

So ladies, I have a huge dilemma. I've spoken wtih Maria on Skype and would greatly welcome your thoughts too. Basically my clinic will only do progesterone for the first two weeks - whereafter they say if I was pregnant (i.e. the next time Please God) then my body would naturally make the progesterone. Now, I've asked do they ever do (a) higher amount of progesterone support during 2ww and they said no and (b) would they ever consider doing a continued progesterone support post 2 ww - and again they said no - never ever. They are saying there is no proven research that says it helps. Now I know all of you ladies are on extra progesterone until 10/12 weeks - and whilst this doesn't guarantee the pregnancy (if we are lucky enough to get pregnant) to continue - it can help. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

I don't have a lot of time or money to be playing around with another cycle. We have one more cycle financially this year - possible one next year but I'm not sure and I just don't want them doing the same old same old this time - even though we got pregnant last time. I may be obsessing way too much but I would greatly appreciate any pointers any of you may have?

Many thanks - going off to scream at something - unfortunately the anger stage has hit!

Ninde

[Julia73]

Patricia- I'm sorry! Its just so unfair. I don't understand them dismissing you like that either, and that's what it seems like is going on! My clinic upped my progesterone after my first check to see the levels. Last cycle it want needed but after upping pio and adding estrace i'm not sure that they've checked the levels again. My prayers are with you. I wish I could hug you. I am so sorry.

[kerpupples]

Patricia - Click on the "In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)" link above to go to the main index for the board, then click on the New Topic button. Start the subject of your new topic with "Ghost" - he checks the board regularly and is great about answering questions. He is a researcher with a US IVF clinic, not sure which one. I'm pretty sure that based on posts that I've read from him, he'll give you an opinion regarding whether progesterone helps that conflicts with that of your current clinic. I guess the question is, what can you do about it? If you get a BFP can you ask them for extended progesterone anyway? Given what I've told you about my own history, I'm of the opinion that not everyone may need extra progesterone support, but some of us, like me, absolutely do. I'm glad you got stroppy and demanded the progesterone levels be tested.

[Julia73]

The beta was 4102, not quite double but my nurse said its fine. Ultrasound is Monday.

[annashope]

Hey Ladies I am wondering if its ok if I officially join you. I have been stalking for months...just can't stay away and have been following all of your stories. I know some of you and some I hope to get to know.

Here is my story in a nutshell. DH and I have been ttc since 2007. In 2008 I was diagnosed with stage 1b cervical cancer and was told by 3 separate docs that I HAD to have a hysterectomy. DH and I were not willing to give up on our dream of having kids together and so we got a 4th opinion from an amazing DR at Fox Chase cancer center here and he gave me an option of preserving my uterus as long as we could prove that my cancer had not spread. So a million biopsies, MRI's CT and a 4 hour complicated surgery later (during which the doc removed 24 of my lymph nodes for biopsy) I was Praise God cancer free. Then came the next shock as we resumed ttc which was that we had male factor infertility (severe morphology issues) So after trying IUI's IVF which resulted in a m/c and a donor FET because we had no frosties and could not afford another cycle we were completely heartbroken. Like many of you we also have no medical coverage for IVF and the only time we could do it we had to refinance our house. So long story short we turned to adoption which after investing money and time and tears into also fell through. We were lower than low so I asked my OB that if he could at least do unmedicated IUI's for us while we were saving money for our next IVF I would at least feel like we were doing something. Did I mention by this point it was 2010 and 3 years had gone by. So by some miracle and grace of God in Dec 2010 on an unmedicated IUI we got our prayers answered and now have little Paul. So here I am again hoping we can give Paul a little brother or sister. What makes me rush is that both my mom and aunt went into menapause at 36 years old so with me having turned 30 plus constantly screened for relapse of cancer we feel there is no time to waste.

Now that this rant is over..lol I had my appt with the RE today and will be doing the IUI around the 25th. SNS looked good this morning so hopefully all will go well. I have no one to share this with since all of my siblings are constanly popping out little ones and cannot relate to our struggles. So I would really appreciate being able to share this journey with you wonderful strong ladies.

Leora I see that we will be cycling about the same time so I just wanted to tell you that you are always in my prayers and it broke my heart for you what happened to your precious little boys. I literally wept for hours. My prayers are with you and David and will be until you bring home your rainbow baby.

[bodie1011]

Patricia - so sorry about the BFN. Long distance hugs to you.

[blueeyedreamer]

I'm sorry, Patricia. I know it isn't much of a surprise but it still hurts no less.

[LYD10]

Ninde - i am really sorry! and i am really pissed at your clinic on your behalf. cant wait to hear what Ghost has to say.
during my 6 IVF cycles i've used both suppositories (3 times per day) and projesterone in oil injections. the fact that you were on a single application of progesterone per 24 hours just boggles my mind! In US injections are the preferred and surest way of delivering projesterone - also you can meaasur eit in blood and feel confident you are getting enough. suppositories or gel via vaginal canal also work (i got pregnant my 1st time on suppositories) but you cant measure it in blood because this kind of projesterone delivery method is only local to the uterus. so its probably as effective - assuiming you get enough suppositories during the 24 hour period - but you cant be as asured as with injections (called PIO) since you cant measure it in blood.

One more thing if i may add for your next cycle - you mentioned that your DH was on suppliments - and since you need a frozen sperm sample as a back up anyway - do it now - while the suppliments are still in his system.

Is there a national Ireland database where you can look up your clinic success rates vs. your other options in Ireland? This clinic sounds close-minded. And it takes them that long to get the progesterone results back? my clinic gets the results back within 3 hours.

I wish you much much luck for your next cycle!!!!! I am so sorry about this time not working out.

[LYD10]

have room for a returning guest?

Lauren - welcome back! wish you much luck on this cycle!!

[Gina1976]

Ninde- I am sorry to hear about the BFN- I can't comment on the progesterone since I haven't gone through this, but anything that can possibly help should be given. It never hurts!

[Happy Bunny]

Crashing for Annashope: Awesome! I'm happy to see you trying for another. Best wishes and hope to see you on the PAT board soon!

[Sunshine1576]

Ninde- I am so sorry I wish we had some answers. Yell and scream all you want, I feel the same way at times and understand it's just not fair! My heart goes out to you as well as my prayers tonight. x

Annashope- I hope to be able to cycle with you some this summer, but anything is possible as you know, and right now I'm living through you in this miracle. Welcome back!

AFM: Dh is talking about applying for a college opening in Texas (somewhere close to Houston and San Antonio) and he's also applying for a Bay Charter School this week. His moral support at the college has been incredible and we feel he will have some good spheres of influence to help him find his next job. We are planning to attend a retirement party for one of the faculty members on Saturday, I know it will be bittersweet.
About to take the mutts out for a walk....ttyl

[annashope]

Barbara thanks for crashing and I can only hope I will be able to join you and the other ladies on the other side soon

Sunshine I know you are going through a tough time right now so I pray your husband finds a wonderful job soon and that you can cycle again soon.

Ninde I have to say progesterone in my understanding is very important and I have done both injection and crinone and I have heard that since IVF suppresses your natural hormones so much you need to have adequate progesterone support. With my clinic they monitored it very carefully and adjusted it since mine always tends to be on the low side anyways. I would deff get the blood test results if I could and if they are not willing to make an adjustment is there another clinic you can go to? I was on progesterone supp 2x a day for the first 14 weeks of my pregnancy and I feel it was one of the key things I needed. I am so sorry you are going through this but I think it is totally possible that your progesterone levels were too low. Sorry if that only frustrates you more I don't mean to but I think you have every right to be upset and demand different results.

Lauren 319 welcome back sweety I remember you very well...when are you cycling?

Julia your beta sounds amazing congratulations! I can't wait to hear how your ultrasound goes....please post pictures. PS the kittens are adorable