March/April cycle buddies??

[CT_Michele]

Silken- welcome to the boards! I think you have found yourself a good home on this thread with some really nice supportive ladies. I am sorry to hear about your miscarriages and the male factor. I am dealing with severe male factor as well, DH is about to have his second TESE done, will yours do the same?

Carolyn- I had to look up what "stones" means. It is the second or third time I have heard it and know it was related to weight. I guess 1 stone is equal to about 14 pounds? That is a pretty amazing amount of weight to lose in between cycles. I can understand you not wanting to tell everyone about the ivf, less pressure is a good thing during cycles. I really hope ED works for you. Let us know how it goes with the acupuncture and reflexology.

It is pretty crazy how the snow can stop everything. I am from Connecticut, so I am used to the snow. We are expecting more tomorrow, I just hope it is enough for my tutoring to be cancelled!

lee- Your sister just sounds amazing, so nice of her to donate. It sounds like you like to keep yourself pretty busy, with all of those jobs! Almost everyone I know knows about our ivf too. I am not very good at hiding things or fudging the truth. I find it helps me to be open about it, and my family is truly interested in knowing what we are going through.

So a little about me- I am 27, dh is 32, and he told me from the time we met that he was pretty sure he could not have kids. I wasn;t concerned then, I was young and not worried about kids. But then after 6 years without preventing pregnancy and no "accidents" I knew something was up. We were referred to a fertility clinic and after sperm analysis were told our only hope was tese, then ivf w/icsi.

We were extremely lucky to be successful our first try. They got 2 vials of sperm from tese and only used one. During my first cycle, I think they counted 11 follies, only got 8 viable eggs to fertilize and on day 3 we had 4 perfect embies to choose from. We transferred 2 and one took. Sadly, we did not have enough money to freeze the other 2 since it was out of pocket. We have seeked financing this time so we can freeze since this will be the last fresh cycle insurance will pay for.

I have 2 brothers both younger than me, but not by much. We are very close, best friends. One just got married, the other is getting married this summer, so I hope they will be trying for kids soon. I am very close with my mom, talk to her almost everyday, and she is just loving being a grandma even though she thought she was too young to be one.

My beautiful daughter was born on 8/26/08 by planned c-sec since she was in a breech position. We call her our little christmas miracle since we got our very first faint line on a hpt on christmas eve 2007. We really hope we get to see that line again soon.

I want to share some pictures with you guys, but I will completely understand if you don;t want to see them. I know how hard it is when people are trying to conceive and are then exposed to pregnancies, showers, and baby pics. So believe me when i say I will not be offended if you choose not to check out the picture website. For others, many people on these boards have loved to see the pics as they say it gives them hope and inspiration to know of other ivf successes. So if you would like to see some pics of me, my dh, my beautiful baby ella and my family, please feel free to go to ellamichele.shutterfly.com (type it just like that, no www in the front) I keep this site pretty up to date for long distance friends and relatives.

ok, i have rambled enough, have a good night, and I will check on you all tomorrow!

[sprouthaus]

OMG!!!!! I just spent 40 mins typing a post to all of you beautiful ladies and it was just lost. I'm exhausted, so I'll try to replicate my thoughts tomorrow.

[CT_Michele]

sprout- I am so sorry you lost your post. I have learned the hard way too many times on here, that after I write a long post, I always highlight, right click, copy, just in case it disappears, I can just paste it and not have to try and duplicate it.

I hope you are able to remember everything!

[CT_Michele]

Oh, I forgot, I have a question for all of my british friends! I know a couple of you are from the uk so maybe you can answer a question for me. By the way, I saw your snow on our local news!

So my husband recently found out that he could download shows on in the uk and watch them on our playstation 3, so he really wanted to watch one of your shows and picked celebrity big brother since I am a big reality tv junkie and there were a couple people I knew on the show, so he knew he could talk me into watching it pretty easily. I think it is the one that is airing over there now or just finished, but don;t tell me what happens if you watched because I am a few episodes behind. Anyway, while watching it, I can't get over how much they swear and that it is not censored! I guess it is on your channel 4. They swear all the time, even the "F" word and it is never censored. But when they do the live shows, the lady will warn them they are now on channel four live and please don't swear. I don;t get it. What are your censorship laws? When you watch the episodes, is it the same way, not censored when it is not live? Or is it uncensored because he is downloading it that way? I am just curious why it is so different from the u.s.

Thanks for helping out my curiosity, I tried to google it, but obviously no one cares to know this answer but me!

[wishfull27]

Hi CT - well to answer your question - usually show is on after 9pm when pretty much anything goes - but when do live eviction shows usually on before watershed of 9pm so have to warn them!!

I love reality TV and anything trashy like that - it is such chillout telly !!

Hope everyone else ok today ???

catch you later - MIL here for few days and DH away with work so need to be sociable !!!!

[silken]

You're all so very lovely! Thanks everyone.
Well, since we're all in a confessional mode, I have a longstanding interest in Gimli, Manitoba, where there is a crazy icelandic colony with many great filmmakers and writers. They actually have an icelandic film fest in the late summer (I haven't been to it but do want to go).
My family's reproductive history makes me despair sometimes. My sister has poor health, and doesn't look after herself, and conceived twice, no problem, and carried to term no problem. But the clincher is my father, who was diabetic, on the edge of cardiac and kidney failure, made a baby with a younger woman when he was in his 60s!!
How HE gets to have a kid easily and I don't causes me much consternation.
My meeting with the RE was a bit depressing. We'll meet in late Feb to decide whether the cycle is a go or not. There are many things working against us including a very low antral follicle count and higher FSH than he'd like to see.
I've got more personals but need to run to work again. More later.
Silken

[Sisi1]

Welcome silken

I feel compelled to go on about Iceland a bit since we have some interested parties. As you may have heard Icelanders had some pretty rough times with the recent financial meltdown. The government has just fallen and the new government is now lead by the first gay women prime minister!
The good part (for all others) is that their currency the krona has
just fallen soo much that it is almost affordable to go to now. To compare for fun it would cost you about $6000 to do an IVF cycle there now!

It is a neat little country, nightlife is very active and shopping is good there now as well. The weather is a bit of a downer, aways windy ad always overcast but warmer then what most of you would expect, winter about -5, summer about +15 C.

It is very photogenic because of the bright light and if you are into hiking mountains Iceland may be for you. Because it is so very northerly it is very dark in the winter, 4-5 hours of daylight and in the summer the nights are so bright they hold gold tournaments during the night!

Feel free to ask me any questions you may have about it.

Can't belief how many women here have lots in common with me
. I have worked with most disabilities by now; ceribral palsy, autism, Anglemans syndrome, Rett's syndrome, Down's syndrom, Pika, Fragile X syndrome, spinal syndroms and many have overlying mental illness as well.
Does make for interesting work though!

Got all my blood work done today, now I have to attack those concent forms they make you sign, what a crazy thing to have to sign your name 25 times for each cycle, sigh!

Very nice to read all your personal stories.....keep em coming!

Have a great night!

[sprouthaus]

Hi gang - I'm going to give this another try and hopefully I won't lose everything tonight!

isi - Guess what!?? I've been to Iceland too! My story is a bit odd, on a flight home from the UK, the old man sitting next to me went into cardiac arrest. Long story short, we had to stop in Iceland to get him off the plane. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed off the plane because the airport had no customs - but I count it in my list of countries I've been too. Also, I love hearing about your prime minister. Any woman in office is my hero and having a gay sister myself, I am kind of partial to your PM!

Silken - Welcome to the board. I'm sorry to hear you had a depressing meeting with your RE. I don't know much about antral follicles, but don't despair too much regarding your FSH - do you know what yours was at? Is this your first cycle? And I'm sorry to read about your miscarriages. I can't imagine the horrible pain they must leave with you.

Michele - It is wonderful that your DH is willing to go through with that horrible sounding procedure. I'm sure most men would chicken out!!! You are both so young that I"m sure you will have success with IVF. And, now that you have financing to freeze - may you have many many frosties!!!! Oh, and you DD - is BEAUTIFUL!

Sara - I am also sorry to read about your miscarriages. Please accept my sympathy. You are another one of earth's angels with the work you do. How proud your family must be of you. And supportive! I think it is wonderful that your sis is donating eggs to you. It is something I have started to toss around - as my clinic did mention it was time for us to consider donor eggs.

Wishfull - I am anxious to hear how your appt goes tomorrow! I love my TCM dr. and wish that I could get pregnant with just herbs, acupuncture, etc, but alas - DH has low count on top of my poor eggs. I've caught tons of pics of the snow on my friends facebook page - I can't believe how much you got!!!

kimbob - I can't imagine my life without my nieces and nephews. I really feel for you and your DH with none in your future. I guess that really puts the pressure on you and DH - BUT 3rd time will be the charm and you'll start the next generation in no time!

AFM - I have a niece (2yr) and nephew (3 mo) who are about 45-60 mins away depending on Chicago traffic. I also have a 22 mo niece out in California who seems to be an early genius. I ADORE all of them and wish I could spend more time with them. Our best friends live 2 blocks away and have a 2yr and 3yr old boys. We see them all the time and also consider them our nephews. We are really blessed to have all of these amazing little ones around us in our lives.

And before I forget - thanks to everyone for your wonderful thoughts - but don't spend energy in sorrow for me. I have had a very blessed life despite losing two people who were so close to me. It was wonderful to know them for the short time they were here - and I'm lucky for that.

After our 2nd BFN, when my RE mentioned it might be time to consider DE, I was stricken with such grief - it was no different from when my mother or sister passed away. That gave me quite a shock to mourn like that for something I never even had! But, the good news is that I know that grief passes if you work on it - and if #3 doesn't work, I guess that's where I'll start.

But enough of that - 3rd time better be a charm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not sure that is everything I wrote last night....but it's all I have in my right now. I had a suckers day at work and just want to have a glass of wine....but I also don't want to have a glass of wine as I know one shouldn't drink too much when preparing to cycle.

[wishfull27]

Hi Guys
Hope your all ok - sorry no time for personals with MIL here but thought would just update on my trip to complimentary clinic and wondered if anyone else heard of this liver/kidney blood flow ??

Been for my consultation this afternoon at this new comlimentary therapy clinic - am going to have taylor made program to hep assist conception - well anything is worth a try and wants a few more hundred pounds in the IVF scale of things

Having accupuncure - apparently in chinese medicine the liver and kidney blood (????) is what helps and supports the womb and the supporting of embies to stick - so she tells me anyway- both my liver and kidney blood and pulse was virtually non existent and my tummy was cold to touch although rest of me was warm so that also hinders conception .. lost cause really - so having some accupuncture, some more counselling some reflexology and a session with the ostepath to amke sure my pelivis is all in place - already know got a tilted womb - but heyho like I say I think anything is worth a try and clinic is like 5 mins drive from home .. so had first lot of accupuncture this pm and all I want to do now is go to bed feel drained - DH is like sooo sceptical and yes dear if you think it will work off you go - £$£$£$- more money!!!

so will keep you posted on how I get on!!

Take care eveyone

Catch you soon xx

[Sisi1]

Well Carolyn for what it is worth I am doing the exact same thing, same diagnoses, same reaction from hubby .

But I have been sooo pleased with the results I don't care any more if it helps with conception or not (well, ok I DO care but you know...) because I have had such massive positive side effects (besides my AP tell me there has been a huge improvement in my kidney pulse ) and I know it is true because I am going to the washroom ALL THE TIME now and I look like I had a face lift! (honestly the bags around my eyes have dissapered) my skin looks all tighter, my hairdresser noticed right away and said what are you doing differently? I have a huge amount of new hairs growing in and this is after a year of prenatal vitamins so it is not the vitamins. Finally my AP said that hairgrowth is reflective of the condition of the kidneys, so girls do you all have great hair?

Anyhow just so glad to share this because I have now totally become a beliver and I must say it took about 6 weeks to get these resaults.

So we shall just have to see if we both get preggers this time around!

[sprouthaus]

Sisi and Wishfull - I am a believer too! I love my TCM Dr. and think I will probably continue AP even after the whole fertility business is over. I feel great since I've been seeing her and have also noticed changes in my skin, hair, etc. Once AF comes (yes, she still isn't here ), we will also incorporate herbs into my routine. I'll continue these until I start stimming.

She is also the one that got me started on infertility yoga and guided meditation/relaxation. It really helped me stay sane through my last cycle. She has also introduced me to an infertility masseuse who I've seen twice now. Once during stims (she did some abdominal techniques to boost the quality of my eggs) and once after my last BFN for a detox massage. That reminds me - I should set up another appt! I love massages - but feel just as relaxed after an AP session.

Yes, it isn't cheap. But I am so blessed and fortunate to be able to afford this treatment. I really think it has made a difference. And it really means just a few less shoes for me in order to afford it

[CT_Michele]

Sprout- Thanks so much for your kind words, I am glad you enjoyed the pics.

Well, I thought my sonohystogram would be uneventful today, but I was wrong. He said he thinks I have a polyp, which he can confirm at the hysterocopy tomorrow. He said if it is a polyp, it will probably have to be surgically removed. Do any of you know anything about polyps? What else could it be? Do you think removal would delay my cycle? I am supposed to start stimming in just over 2 weeks and do not want to get pushed back.

[kimbob]

Hi All,
Only have 9 mins left on the timer for dinner so this will be short:

Michele, I don't actually know anthing about polyps but I do know that I had one when I went for my hyst. last week. My heart stopped when I saw it! I thought they would have do do a surgery in a week or two and then I would have to recover and then start down reging after that. But it turns out that the RE just removed it during the hyst. I didn't even feel it. I'm sure yours will be just the same. I would advise asking how many days of bleeding/spotting you should expect thought - I still have some small traces of spotting after a week. Don't worry yourself about it. I'm sure your RE will take care of it all tomorrow!

Silken - welcome to our group!

Carolyn, Sisi, and Spouthaus: I am planning to do AP, too. I go for my consultation appointment on 02/12. I won't get in the six weeks that they recommend, but I am hoping that four weeks will still give me some benenfit. When I told DH how much it would cost, he said "Oh, great" But he changed his tune and said, "well, it's only $. Do whatever yo uthink will help". I really think that at very least it will help me feel less stressed.

Timer went - catch up with y'all later,

Kim

[Sara30]

Hi

Just a quickie to say Hi, just about to venture out as we have tonnnnnnns of snow yaheyyyy don't mind when there is loads!!! Girly off school and has been making snow angels in the garden!!! Going to get our new little man we are having for respite every thursday now he is 19 months, and so gorgeous I could eat him!!! He has a few health issues and disabilities so only having him for day care but reallllly looking forward to it. Sis popping over with my nephew later so we can build snowmen and have snowball fights. Check back in later and do personals, and read properly all the last posts

See you soon

Lee xxx

[Sara30]

PS sorry when I talk about girly she is our 15yr old foster child who lives with us!!! xxx