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

[fruit]

Crashing for Wehavehope -
Great news my friend, ur lining and ur E2 levels look great, the date (30) is still the same and looks like everything is right where it should be u'll be PUPO before u know it and ur BFP is soooooooo close

[leorira11]

Anton - we got our first rain as well over the weekend! I grew up in a place (Pittsburgh, PA) where something fell from the sky almost every day of the year (rain in the summer, snow/hail/sleet in the winter) -- now I live in a drought ridden country where not a single drop of water falls from April until October! so different for me! We have a constant water shortage, so at least during the rainy season I feel less guilty about showering and running the washing machine. How was the movie "Hanna"? We rented it, but haven't watched it yet. We watched "Your Highness" last night -- very funny and extremely stupid!

Lydia - you were born in Russia? How did you end up in the USA? (That's where you are now, right?) I'm always interested in people who move to foreign countries - since I moved halfway around the world at the age of 20! ---- I totally get how you are feeling now. The same thing happened to me last year. I got pregnant in August, miscarried in September and then had to wait FOREVER to cycle again, even though I wanted to start SOOOOO badly. I didn't get my next transfer until December. I'm so sorry. Winter doesn't technically start until Dec 23 (the winter solstice)- so maybe you'll still make it in "Fall"!

Felicia - a bunch of people have suggested Melatonin. Do you buy it a drug store? OTC at the pharmacy? Do I need a Rx? Maybe I'll look into it. The drowsy anti-histamine isn't working for me - and my sleep schedule is super wonky. -- AIDA sounds awesome! I love going to the theater - especially operas. My grandmother lives in Manhattan and has season tickets to the MET - everytime I'm in NYC, I go to a show with her. I'm an amateur opera singer myself. I perform with an amateur troupe here - we are doing Gilbert & Sullivan's HMS Pinafore this fall. I'm only in the ensemble - but it's so much fun to be on stage and sing!

akdelp - like Margi before me - I'm a huge POAS-pusher. I *always* POAS, even though my husband doens't like it. I want to know ASAP - and my betas aren't until 12dp5dt. In cycles where I've gotten pregnant, I've gotten BFPs at 7dp5dt - so that's when I try to start POAS (but I usually break down before that! -- thank goodness for <$1 cheapie test strips!)

as for bed rest The best analogy I heard (I forget who said it, but I think on this board) is that transferring an embryo into the uterus is like putting a piece of dust into a peanut butter sandwich - nothing you do is going to 'shake loose' the dust. My first IVF cycle, I didn't know anything about bed rest (my clinic doesn't say to - and I hadn't found ya'll yet!) -- I did regular activities (minus the gym, which I was told not to do while stimming either) and I got pregnant with twins. Other cycles, I've done complete bedrest and gotten BFNs. So I'm not sure ---

Tess - Hello! I know you, my friend. Big big big hugs. I know how hard it was when you lost your son last year - I really hope we both get our rainbow babies soon. Losing a child is the most difficult thing, and after IVF it's especially hard. We have only 1 frostie - so that answers how many to transfer! How many is always such a hard question - especially since I've gotten pregnant with twins twice.... if this FET doesn't work, I don't know how many we'll transfer next.

Sunshine & Stars -- I hear ya. I know that hearing I'm pregnant again will bring up all kinds of emotions. I have a friend (not IVF) in real life who lost a daughter at 39 weeks to a cord accident, had a miscarriage at 6 weeks and then lost another daughter at 22 weeks to a placental abruption. She just delivered a healthy, full-term baby boy last month. She says it's the hardest part -- because when she lost the other babies she didn't really understand what she had lost. Until you've had a child, you can't know what it means -- so now that she has a healthy, living child at home with her, she finally understands how much she's lost. I know that if/when I bring home a healthy baby, it's going to bring up so much other emotions. Congrats on your doubling beta. Even if the news that you are pregnant is hard to deal with -- it's still better than news that you aren't pregnant, right?

Christy (and Rosie) - my first IVF, we did antagonist (Ganirelix, aka Orgalutran) with Puregon (FSH - aka Follistim) as the FSH. For the second and third fresh cycles, I did antagonist with Menopur (combination LH and FSH). I'm PCO (although without cystic ovaries -- who knew that you could have "Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome" WITHOUT the f*cking cystic ovaries???) and I got a little too close to OHSS on my first cycle. That's why I was switched to Menopur (if I recall my doctor correctly). Maybe we should as GHOST his opinion....

for all the 'history buffs' -- people in this part of the world laugh at your history. In the USA, something 300 years old is considered history -- here, people have planters in their yards that are older than that! I live in the "new" part of Jerusalem (only a few centuries old), but the 'old city' is thousands of years old "History" here means ancient Roman empire at least

blessed - starting injections is always exciting - even if it's still a long time to go. No one likes the needles, but they aren't so bad.

Rosie - I responded to you - and I'd love to meet up in real life -- for those who don't know, it turns out that Rosie lives right near me! How cool! (ShariShu is also in Israel, but about a 30min drive away - we've met 'in real life' once)

Becca - I'm using my own eggs (I'm 25) and we have one frostie. I was told that with our one frozen morula - we have a 30% chance of viable pregnancy.

Tiffy - congrats on being PUPO! Thanks for letting me know that you follow my story. I feel like I have a lot of cheerleaders all over the world -- there will be a big worldwide celebration when I finally get my baby, right?

Jen - not on BCP, but on Provera/Primolat/progesterone (as well as when pregnant -- I suffer from SEVERE sickness while pregnant). Feel better soon! How much longer on the BCP?

Kamina - HSG at the doctor's office? HSG is an X-ray - so it has to be done in an X-ray clinic. I don't have to go to a hospital, but my regular IVF clinic doesn't have an X-ray machine - so I have to go to a main regular clinic. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! How old are you now?

Maria - it sucks when things get messed up - but I'm glad you could still work it out. Can I ask why you care which doctor does the transfer? At my clinic, they don't even tell me which doctor it will be -- all of them are good at transfers and I get whoever is 'on duty'.

Neffi - sounds like you are right on track with me! I should have my transfer at the end of October. Any plans for Halloween costumes?

AFM - feeling a bit better today. Mood seems to go up and down like crazy!

I've worked out a few things in terms of dates -- I'll take my last BCP on Saturday, go for the 2nd biopsy on Sunday, hopefully get AF on next Wed/Thurs and start my estrogen.

I also think that I'll try to plan a fresh cycle ASAP after the FET (which I'm assuming will be BFN....) Usually, the paperwork is what takes the most time, and I end up on BCP for 2 weeks while things get sorted with the insurance. I've made friends with a receptionist at the insurance end of things - and for the FET, the approval took a SINGLE DAY! From a BFN until the beginning of a fresh cycle would have to be a week (get AF 3-4 days after stopping progesterone and start stims on CD3) -- so maybe I could rush the paperwork through and start stims on the AF after the BFN. We'll see --- I spoke to D and he is okay with back-to-back cycles.

I can't believe it's almost OCTOBER!

[WeHaveHope]

Leora-how are you feeling. I always keep you in my thoughts. I hope your spirits are up. I think you have a good plan with the natural cycle but don't think that you'll get a BFN with this FET. Be positive. I have a really good feeling about this cycle for you.

To answer your question, I don't really care which one of the RE's does the FET. I've had a positive experience with all of them. The thing is that after the MC, DH and I discussed making a few changes this time. One of the things we wanted was we really wanted our RE to do the transfer. No particular reason it's just he is the one that I always see for all of my regular visits. I've developed a repor with him and a real sense of trust. He is amazing. We also talked about wanting to have the FET on a Friday this time because the prior transfers had always been done on a Wednesday. The first time I went back to work the following day and the second transfer I went back to work that same Friday. So this time we wanted Friday so that I could rest the entire weekend plus Monday. DH and i had discussed all of this but had never discussed it with my RE or anyone at the office. So when I got the call to schedule my FET I was so surprised and happy that they were scheduling me on a Friday and with my RE. I guess is sort of saw it as a sign from up above that this time everything would be just perfect. This news just threw me off especially since I had been so stressed this time about which embryos we were going to transfer. And I had gotten confirmation of that last week when I spoke to my RE. So I thought everything was set. I hate changes in plans so much. You would think that I would be used to this by now but truthfully I'm not. I know that I just need to trust that God has made this change because it is the change that we need in order to have a successful pregnancy and finally bring home our baby/s. DH took the news alot better than I did. I guess I'm ok now. Now use being upset. There isn't anything I can do anyways. We will go with our original date of 9-30 and transfer the 5 day frosties, one 3BB and one 3BC. Like I said, last cycle I did get pregnant after transferring 2 5day frosties and those were both 3BB's. I pray that this time my babies stick around for 9 months. Starting PIO tonight, I am so nervous. I'm a nise for God sake!!! I can't believe I'm so nervous about this. Oh well, I'll let you know how it goes.

[blessed143]

JenMink-I am on the same bcps. I was on them because I was having very heavy cycles and my OB put me on them a few months ago. The first month I was on it, I was sick throwing up for the first week. Do you take them at night or morning? I take mine at night and it helped. I woke up a little yuckie for a while but it did not last long.

kamina-happy birthday! I bruise everytime they take blood. I think I just naturally bruise easily.... Looks like someone was way too rough with me... HOw exciting that your ET is coming up soon!! I hope that all goes well and that your embies fertilize well! I remember when they put me under- It was the best car ride home I ever had and the longest nap I have ever taken!! I loved it... Dont remember one bit but I guess that is the point.... I cant wait to hear and update!

anton- hehe thanks... yeah I need to do that, but I have such an old laptop-hoping DH gets me a new one for christmas!!! I am praying that I get a BFP!!!! I cant wait... I am counting down the days! SOunds like you have had such a wonderful day!!! I am jealous!

Wehavehope- How exciting to know that everything is ready to go!! I bet your getting excited! I am looking forward to the day I have my FET scheduled!! I will be thinking of you! It will be here before you know it!! Sorry for the sudden change in plans but I know that everything will work out and it will be great!

Neffi- We are not that far from the schedule... I stop my bcp on the 1st of october! They told me that my FET would be the 26-28 or the 1-3 of nov... So I guess we will see.... I think that the time goes so slowly when you want something to come or you are so excited about it.... I actually look forward to the lupron injections because that mean another day has come Good luck and look to hear updates from you!

leorira- mood swings are no fun but hey.... we are all having them I think! Doing the AF dance for you!!!! HOpefuly FET Will work for you this time! I am pulling for you!

Sorry if I forgot anyone!

AFM- DH had a weekend off so that was great. I love having him around. I am headed back to church! I am so excited an just keep praying for a bfp!!! I cant wait until I can know when the FET is... Then its the 2ww... .SO i guess the whole thing is just a waiting game! I am so excited and looking forward to seeing more bfps on the board!

[WeHaveHope]

Blessed143-thank you for your kind words and wll wishes. I am my emotions currently fluctuate between excitement, anxiousness, and fear. When I start to feel anxious or afraid, I pray for peace and it helps. I am glad you were able to spend time with DH this weekend. I'm also happy that you were able to go to church. I was not able to make it today because I had to drive an hour to the clinic to have my b/w and u/s done and then the nurse took a very long time with the whole issue with the calendar being a day off. But I am grateful that mu FET will happen as planned on the 30th. I just pray not that the two embies that will be transferred are sting and continue to develop so we can bing our baby/s home next summer.

[WeHaveHope]

Crashing for Wehavehope -
Great news my friend, ur lining and ur E2 levels look great, the date (30) is still the same and looks like everything is right where it should be u'll be PUPO before u know it and ur BFP is soooooooo close

Fruit-as always, thank you for being such a good friend. I really appreciate you always checking up on me. I'm getting a little nervous. I will need to pray alot tonight. I need to be calm and peaceful for Friday. How are you doing? I really hope your well. And hope you had a relaxing weekend.

[WeHaveHope]

Neffi & Anton-thank you for your support and uplifting spirit. I am so appreciative for friends like you guys and everyone else on these boards. You guys have been and continue to be such a strong support for me. I don't think I could ever repay what's been givento me on these boards. That you for watching out for me an picking me up when I'm down.

[fvrogers]

Blessed143 - You are moving along nicely!! I tolerate the BCP without any problems. What kicks my butt is the Progesterone, no matter what form. Cramps, nausea and constipation - ugh! I do not envy you and your long drives . My first IVF center was about 3 hours away one way and that drive was more stressful than anything else. I am glad that your doc is worth the drive! You will get through the Lupron without any trouble and ready for your transfer before you know it!

Akdelp - Did you decide if you will POAS?? I stopped taking HPTs with my first cycle. It was too painful. I became a POAS monster and it just got out of hand. For my own sanity I just wait for my beta .

Becca5m - Donor or not, those are good numbers!!! Means more possibilities. Try to stay positive, your transfer will be here before you know it. Think of it as time for everything to get ready for a healthy pregnancy. 40% success sounds pretty good. It is also relative to how many FET they perform and the demographics of those patients. Try not to get too caught up in the numbers. Just focus on staying positive and knowing that you will get your BFP this time around!!

Tuffy4u - I am sooo happy to see that you are PUPO !! I am rooting for you. I know that we will get our BFPPs this time around. Did any make it to freeze?

Sunshine1576 - I hope that you are feeling better! Hopefully you had a better day today!

JenMink55 - So sorry that you are having a hard time with the BCPs. I usually tolerate those OK. My problem is with the Progesterone. I usually have nausea and indigestion with that. I drink Ginger tea and Ginger Ale to get through it. That often helps, but it is just temporary. I am always afraid to do anymore because it is usually after transfer that I have those symptoms.

Kamina - Egg retrieval tomorrow girl!!!! How exciting. I will pray for good results for you. Going under is not bad, you take a nice nap and wake up to hear how many eggs they got. Then you go home and sleep it off. My only suggestion with the retrieval is Chinese food and Gatorade. I was miserable after my last retrieval when they got 26 eggs. Someone suggested I try some Chinese food and Gatorade and it made such a difference. Almost no cramping after that! You have no idea how crazy I was driving. God had to have carried me home from the transfer, between the full bladder and the Valium it is only his grace that got me home safely !

Anton - I am feeling OK. A little cramping and nausea that I am chalking up to the Progesterone. Enjoy your movie tonight! I heard the Good Wife is good. Will have to try to catch that one. I am so excited about Aida! I have not seen this one before, neither has DH (which is amazing) - he has usually seen them all. I am blessed to have a DH who loves both the opera and the symphony. I wonder if the magnesium you got was similar to Milk of Magnesia that we have here? I am always so afraid to take anything but I may give it a shot if things get too bad. So far my prunes are working - but it is still early in the game!

WeHaveHope - I am so excited for you! Your FET is right around the corner. Those are awesome numbers!! Sounds like you are ready for your little ones to snuggle in. Don't feel bad about being nervous with the shots. I am also always so nervous when I give myself the PIO. I have this dramatic routine of Ice and warming the vial in my armpit!! You would think being a nurse helps, but it doesn't. Hopefully Friday will be a great day for us both! You are always in my prayers.

Neffi - I am glad that your transfer date has worked out for you. It is almost October, so November will be here before you know it! I had a friend from High School named Neffie and everytime you post I think of her. She was an awesome person - died unexpectedly a few years ago. She was very special.

Leorira11 - You can find Melatonin OTC at the pharmacy, no prescription needed. Hopefully you find something to help you sleep - it may help with the ups and downs you are noticing in your mood. But I am glad you are feeling more positive today. That is so cool that you are an opera singer !!! I can only imagine how much fun that is. I have to tell my DH about you, he just loves the Opera. I can only imagine how funny our history seems here in the US. My dear husband says the same thing. He is not American and is from Africa and feels that the US has no "real" history. But what can we do, it is all we have - eh? One of these days I will make it over to your neck of the woods and see real history. Right now I am too broke from IVF to do any major traveling so I have to make do with what we have here in the US. I am also holding out hope that you will get a BFP with your FET - you just never know. Don't give up on it yet!

AFM - I am getting ready to head to church for a special service we will have this evening. As always you are all in my prayers and I just continue to pray that we get our little miracles and continue to stay positive and support one another.

[k8ielovett]

I know I have a week left before I am supposed to test but I could not help myself at all. I tested the other day and it came out negative that was basically just to see if the hcg made its way out of my system. Then today I tested twice first one because it was killing me and the second because I thought there was no way possible.. But I did get it BFP. I have no clue if I should be jumping up and down or wait until the beta... ADVICE PLEASE.....

[WeHaveHope]

I know I have a week left before I am supposed to test but I could not help myself at all. I tested the other day and it came out negative that was basically just to see if the hcg made its way out of my system. Then today I tested twice first one because it was killing me and the second because I thought there was no way possible.. But I did get it BFP. I have no clue if I should be jumping up and down or wait until the beta... ADVICE PLEASE.....

I don't really know the answer to that question since I never had an opportunity to have a fresh cycle, only FET and with those there is no Hcg. I would say that if all the tests were done with the same HPT and yesterday it was negative and today you had two positives then it's a positive HPT. Congratulations. When is your Beta? I am so excited for you. I hope that others on this board will be able to chime in on this. Congrats again, I can't wait to hear about you great Beta numbers. Are you going to POAS tomorrow? I bet it's going to get darker everyday.

[WeHaveHope]

Ok, so first PIO injection (progesterone in oil) is done. Thank God and DH, I didn't feel a thing. Some suggestions for those who may be afraid of doing the PIO injections, this is what I did. I applied Lidocaine Cream on my tush for 30 minutes. I covered it with plastic so that it would not rub off with my clothing. Then after 30 minutes I applies ice for about 10 minutes. I used one of thos freezer things that you use to keep your lunch cold. I guess I won't be using that for lunch anymore. Then I drew up the PIO in the syringe and placed it under my arm for about one minute to make it a little warm. Lastly, mu DH took off the plastic, wiped off the Lidocaine Cream, gave me the injection. I can tell you that I honestly felt absolutely nothing. I slmost forgot, DH gave me a deep tissue massage for one minute on my tush, that was the best part. And to think that I had been stressing about this injection for days. Thank you to all on this board who gave me such wonderful tips on how to best go about giving the PIO injection.

So a funny story about today. I was so worried about driving an hour to have my blood work and ultrasound today that when I left the doctor's office I realized I had been wearing my blouse inside out the entire time. I'm sure everyone noticed the tag sticking out the side of my blouse. I laughed the whole way home thinking what a dork I was for not noticing. I'll just blame it on all the hormones

[fvrogers]

I know I have a week left before I am supposed to test but I could not help myself at all. I tested the other day and it came out negative that was basically just to see if the hcg made its way out of my system. Then today I tested twice first one because it was killing me and the second because I thought there was no way possible.. But I did get it BFP. I have no clue if I should be jumping up and down or wait until the beta... ADVICE PLEASE.....

Like We, I am inclined to say CONGRATS!!! Sounds like you tested out the hcg so this may be indeed a BFP. When is your beta? So glad that it sounds like another BFP for our board!!

[fvrogers]

Found this and just wanted to share:



Felicia

[Sunshine1576]

felicia,
I love your post, I really needed it tonight. I'm having one of those moments where I don't know which direction to go next. The truth is I get so tired of reading things from my high school classmates such as "5 yrs ago God blessed me with my son, Happy birthday Dylan." I want to really believe he is a blessing from God but at the same time don't understand why it's so challenging for so many other deserving ones to have a child, just one is that really asking for much? I keep telling myself God must have a plan for us too, I keep trying to keep the faith I really do but on some days like today I just want to say let me face reality. How much more can I really take, how much longer can I personally keep on trying? It's bittersweet to hear about others you went to school with having babies, sometimes I really feel like I don't fit in with anybody from my age group, but I try to stay strong around my husband because I know there is no point of me bringing him down too. Maybe it's my hormone levels I don't know.

[LYD10]

hi Leora - i really enjoy reading your nice long posts! my whole extended family is originally from russia. we are jewish and immigrated from russia to USA 25 years ago. My family is in US but we also have a lot of relatives in Israel.