April/May Buddies??

[CarolynB]

LauraLou

Just going to have a go at answering your questions.

'Sod it' - it is like - 'what the hell' - 'it is what it is' - I am going to go for it anyway

Mr - Yes they are medically qualified but here a Mr is more senior that just a straight Dr - so they will usually be for us specialists in gynecology (spelling - wrong - sorry)

Zita West - She is the UK goddess of infertility. As visited by film stars like Kate Winslett. She is very expensive. Based on Harley Street. We all read her books - you can get via Amazon. Plus we take her vitamins.....

Sure your family were thrilled for you. If I get that far - sure that I would not be able to hold back on telling some people.

Hope the answers make sense.
-------------------------------------------------------------

Thinking of all our ladies on the 2ww. Not sure that there is much advice that I can offer. Dh and I watched a lot of episodes of the West Wing on dvd which we both love. It did pass the time. Try to stay positive and as calm as you possibly can. Asked my consultant yesterday if there was anything at all that I possibly could do to help in 2ww next time. He said that they will either stick or not and that his advice was to carry on as normal. He said that most ladies don't have a clue that they are pregnant this early and so just carry on. He said that they used to recommend bed rest but no longer bother. He was in the - it will be what it is going to be camp. Thinking of you all. Positive vibes all around..........

Lots of baby dust to everyone. Nearly the weekend.
Love
Carolyn xxx

[jackoa21]

Lucy that is so great.. JOB well done.. You had a 5 day blast trasfer right?
June is starting off to a good start..

Carolyn I have said this before but I will say it again you are amazing. You are so supportive and helpful of everyone...

UGGG I think the 2ww will be the death of me....
stick little embie stick..
baby dust to all

[LucyBucy]

A link to the article about single embryo transfer in today's news:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5029650.stm

[veronika]

Hello to everybody on the April/May thread!

I am Veronika, from Montreal, and I have been following you throughout my first IVF cycle, which has unfortunately ended in a BFN today.

I am incredibly sad, but I had done a few HPT's, so - at least - I was a bit prepared. Of course, there is always some hope left until they tell you the bad news in the face...

What keeps me together right now is the planning of my next cycle, unfortunately we didn't have any frosties, but well, we'll just do it again.

I wanted to ask the Londoners: can you tell me which one is the Zita West book you are all talking about (is it: the guide to getting pregnant)? I want to order it as quickly as possible. It just feels so much better to DO something, gives me a little feeling of control in this "game of nature".

Finally: Congratulations to all the BFPs!! LucyBucy and LauraLou, although you don't know about me, I was very excited and happy for you (date-wise we were cycle buddies)...

And to all the BFNs: let's just keep up the hope and continue our journey.

All the best, Veronika

[CarolynB]

Lucy

Huge congratulations. We must have been posting at the same time. I looked for your news but it was not there when I wrote my last note. Very strange.

Anyway - well done, enjoy being pregnant, I can imagine that you want to shout it from the roof tops. So sweet of your dh to start crying at the airport. Try to relax and enjoy. You have got over the big hurdle so no reason not to enjoy now.

Thanks for the article. It was thoughtful of you to think of me. My dh had found it on the BBC web site and we had just read it. Quite interesting. I am more in the mind to ask my consultant to put back 3 rather than relying on just one. It is a huge amount of money & emotional upheaval along with all the drugs that you need to take to actively decide to just put one embie to go back........not sure that I could be that brave.

Anyway - all the very best to you & dh for the next 8 1/2 months.

Love Carolyn xxxx

-----------------------------

Dear Veronika

So very sad to read your news. Sending you big hugs. I really do know how you feel. It is very hard at the beginning to make sense of it all but it will ease over the coming days/weeks. Take some time to really look after yourself & your dh.

The book that I bought was Zita West's Guide to Getting Pregnant: The Complete Programme from the Renowned Fertility Expert. You can get it on Amazon for about £10.

I had a BFN some three weeks ago. I have thrown myself into doing what I can as a way of preparing myself better for next time. It has helped me deal with things to feel that I doing something although still feels raw especially when people talk about babies. Suddenly feels like everyone talks of nothing else. I guess we just get tuned into it??? So what have I done. 3 sessions of Acupuncture so far - going weekly at the moment but will drop to every other week after next AF. Absolutely no alcohol at all - not even a drop for my 40th birthday. No caffenine. No chocolate. No red meat. All fish & chicken plus organic veggies for me & dh. Loads of fruit & veg and nuts/seeds. Have cut right back on the dairy too and going with the Soya milk instead. Let's spur each other on. Not sure if this will help or not but at least it feels like I am doing what I can. Oh yes and on the subject of Zita West - I also went to her website and bought her pre-pregnancy Vitamins - VitaFem. About £70 for 3 months worth!

Why not stick around. Then we can encourage each other & ensure that we hit the jackpot next time.

Love Carolyn xxxx

[vessi]

LucyBucy
Congratulations!!!! Yyeeaahhh!!!!!

Veronica
Sorry to hear yur news. Sometomes it takes several times. I am sure you have heard all this before but if you need support, we are here.

Baby dust to all!

Vess

[Sofia]

Carolyn - have you researched the Soya milk thing? I read that on NO ACCOUNT was anything soya to pass my lips - it contains a natural form of estrogen and can screw with your hormone levels. Or have you read something else?

[CarolynB]

Sofia

Yes -I was told totally the opposite - cut out all the milk and use Soya instead. Thanks for the words of warning. I am going to call & re-check tomorrow. May be I took down wrongly as was not all there at time.

Will let you/everyone know what I find out.

Hope that you & your 'family' are doing well.

Many thanks
Carolyn xxxx

[LauraLou]

LucyBucy- CONGRATULATIONS!!! I am so, so happy for you. I know what you mean about not being able to relax and enjoy yourself. I am so nervous something will happen. I have another beta tomorrow and I am praying everything still looks good.

Veronika- I am so sorry about your BFN. I'm glad you decided to post.

Thank you Lucy and Carolyn for your answers to my questions. I am shocked that your specialized infertility doctors go by Mr instead of Dr. I think my reproductive endochronologist (sp?) would pass out if I called him Mr. B-- instead of Dr. B--!

Got to run as I have to work tonight.

Again, Lucy congrats!

[veronika]

Caroline,

Thank you for the Zita West info.

I will definetely stick around now! And it would be great to cycle together next time (in a way I have been with you girls throughout the whole month of may, but it is different to "talk" ).

I also feel like everybody around me has a baby, wants a baby, talks about babies, but I have felt this way since I noticed something wasn't quite going right in our TTC efforts. What is worst about this is that I cannot help being a bit jealous whenever I see a mommy with this glowing look on her face. It seems so out of reach for me to ever be able to feel this.

Dietwise I am very eager to change! I have been a good girl throughout the whole ivf cycle, meaning no coffeine, alcohol, chocolate and smoking. But I feel there is much to improve. I am not a very regular eater, often I only feel hungry in the evening and then I eat way too much. I am sure Zita would disapprove of this! Yes, let's spur each other on!
By the way, does anyone know why dairy products are considered bad?

--
What scares me most about this BFN I got today is that I just don't know what went wrong. We had put back one grade A 8-cell and one 6-cell embryo on day three, but I guess the little ones just didn't want to implant. It gives me such a feeling of helplessness that, from the moment of the transfer, there is just nothing left for me to do and control. What makes them stay or leave?

Ok, enough of rambling.

best wishes and baby dust to all, Veronika

[LauraLou]

Oops, double post!

[DaniaBB]

Hi everyone,

Laura Congrats! That’s so exciting!You must be so happy.Enjoy and take care of yourself!

Vessi you must be excited to find out if its twins!

Jackoa- I know its really hard to be on the 2ww- loved one do try their best but it doesn’t take away the fact that you’re thinking about it all day long. Staying busy is the best remedy- like reading or writing- even when a thought comes to mind just let it pass keeping it positive and go back to what you were doing.

Sofia- The 2ww is really not easy. Your DH sounds sweet. If you can try to stay away from the pee sticks…

Carolyn- I’m really happy to have you to share this with as well. You bet- no sotnes unturned next time around!!! We can motivate & lean on each other. I booked an acupuncture treament with an Asian clinic with a specialty in IVF who knows my Dr.I spoke with the Acupuncturist herself and she explained that in the month of May 9 of her patients being treated for fertility got pregnant- various cases- IUI, IVF, and natural as well. I feel more optimistic and like you helping myself gives me strength.

Sarah- Its not easy but you only have acouple of days to go. If you felt your nan’s presence in your dream- I have read that it means she is watching over you. PMA!!!


Lucybucy- Congrats!! You must be really excited! I was really touched when I read abpout how your DH got the news.. Enjoy being your pregnancy.

Hope4l-How are you doing?

Veronika- Sorry to hear your sad news. Try to take care of yourself as you deal with your grief. Its not easy but it helps to talk about it with others and we truly understand what you are going through.Its very difficult I know-I’m still quite sensitive, its been two weeks for me since I got my bfn after my 1st IVF cycle.Actually today is the 1st day that I haven’t shed a tear. So recovery takes time. We are here if you need to talk. Welcome to our board.

That's a good question about how they stick I have no idea either and I intend to ask my clinic when I go in 2 weeks. I'll let you know what they say. Does anyone know why this is so? And why dairy is so bad? I think I have heard that Soya does have some estrogen properties but how much does it affect our hormone level. My Asian friend drank 1 liter a day throughout her pregnancy and she had a 10lb baby boy.

hugs to all!

Dania

[CarolynB]

Dear All

Especially for the UK girls. Thought that you might be interested in this piece in The Times today if you have not seen already which my dh found on number of embryos to transfer and recent stats if you have not seen already.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 95,00.html

Re-checked on milk vs. soya. Was told that either rice milk or soya are preferred. Seem to be because of the fat content in dairy?? No bread either - oh dear

Dania - sounds like your acupuncturist has the magic touch. My cutie has not treated any lady for more than 3 cycles without everyone getting a +ve. Hope that I do not have to do it 3 more times but at least that gave me hope. One lady got pregnant on attempt 15 with him. OMG. How are you on exercise? I am really poor but trying to walk more rather than getting tube or bus - should I be doing more? Guess answer will be YES

Veronika - you are one of us already! I eat too late and have been a no breakfast girl - so am trying to change all of that. A little and often is the matra as it keeps your blood/sugar more constant rather than shooting up & down

Dania & Veronika - I of course asked about why some stick & one some do not at the review appointment. My consultant said that it is the least well understood part of the process. It depends on womb lining, quality of embryo & luck - good or bad. He said based on number of eggs that I produced and age that my chance was 25%. But no worse with frozen than the 'best' 2 that I had transfered. He said basically sometimes it just works and other times not. Interested to see/hear if you find out anymore

Laura - hope that your beta is rising nicely when you go in tomorrow

Vessi - hope that your scan goes well - think that it is on Monday - you'll have to let us know if it is 1 or 2!!!!!!!

Have a nice weekend everyone.
Carolyn xx

[jackoa21]

that is one thing I should try to do more of (drink milk)
yesterday was my 32 bday and I did have a couple sips of red wine.. I am kickin my self now thinking did I ruin my chances.. I know drinking is not good but do you laides think I ruined everything.. DH said he thought it was fine but now I am second guessing myself.. call it the 2ww worries..

Laura and lucy how are you ladies doing?
Laura your next beta is tomorrow right

[DaniaBB]

Veronika-I know what you mean its quite difficult-as we are struggling with so much meds and painful procedures- it seems like there are babies or talk about them everywhere. After TTC for more than a year your fears of your dream not being fulfilled make you even sadder. For us as well - we transfered 2x grade A 8 cells on a three day transfer and we just don't understand what happened- can't wait to speak with the DR. What clinic are you being treated at?

Carolyn-Your acup. sounds good. OMG- the lady with 15 attempts is incredibly courageous. I am happy to know soya and rice milk are good. I've bought both in the past. IT depends on the brand some are better.I eat silk tofu desserts which are quite good.I prefer them to the soy milk.Dairy is really not good? even if its low fat? too bad I love yogourt.
As for excercise: Dr.Alice Domar says in her book that there is controversy concerning exercise and female fertility.She recommends doing gentle exercise that keeps your heart beats below 110 beats per minute- taking strolls not power walks, no running, no aerobics. She says gentle yoga is OK. I'm not much of an exerciser but I do take walks after supper with my dh regularly(except during treament when I was exhausted from the stimmies)and we go for an occasionnal bike ride.

Domar says to verify your body weight to use this formula:
-multiply your weight in pounds by 703 (sorry its not metric)
-divide that amount by your height in inches squared.
EX:140 x 703=98420
98420/4225(65inches squared)=23.3 BMI
Best btwn 20 to 25 BMI
if btwn 17-20 or 25-27 you may be slightly less likely to conceive. She says to be careful of trendy diets they could have adverse effects. Healthy eating is best to achieve a good BMI.
Good news about acupuncture- Domar says- a study showed that 42% of IVF patients who received acu conceived, compared with 26% who did not.That sounds great, doesn't it?!
Have you read about taking a baby aspirin being good to increase the blood flow to the uterus?

We need to keep our hopes up girls-it will be our turn to realize our dreams.
Hugs & Have a good weekend!
Dania