FEB / MARCH 2011 Cycle Buddies!! can't wait!

[to_have_fun08]

Hey Karen -- where are you? What's new? haven't seen you post in awhile.

Happy New Year to All!!

[karenvancouverisland]

hi everybody! and thanks for askiing about me chris/to have fun... lol. i've sort of been 'cheating' on this board with another one... on the other forum there's a thread for women at my specific clinic and since i just switched clinics, i was looking for experiences with the new RE i'm changing to... and then i just got hooked..

also, i 've been trying to spend less time overall foruming.. although i find it so helpful, i get obsessed with it and my life can easily get out of balance.. i have been watching here and there.. RIO- i'm sorry you lost one of your twins and i'm so glad the other is growing well... chris- remind me- when are you cycling again? and to SD, blair, and all the other familiar names on here, i hope everyone's well...

i'm on DHEA and hanging out while most of the women in my periphery are getting pregnant. ugh. but i have to say that my gratitude for my son grows everyday and i believe the gift of having some much IF pain is that i'm such a grateful momma now. that being said, i'm still desperate for a second... so march is hopefully it.

i had an antral follie count with my new RE, i was sooo nervous there would be no follies.. so there were 8. my number back in '07 or '08 was 9.. so i was relieved (although i know that's not a great number).. but 2 of the follies were overly large, so we're rechecking this in february, and if this pattern repeats- i'll be doing some suppression before i cycle. so i was impressed with my new RE and so glad he wanted to check

happy new year to everyone!

[jenj]

Hi Ladies-

I am new to this forum, came by looking for a few answers about side effects to meds and so forth and began reading this thread. I have begun IVF round #1 and my caledar has an estimated embryo tranfer date of 2/13/11. Like all of you, very excited and nerve wracked at the same time.

My reason for IVF is due to an inability of my husband to have childern following a stem cell transplant and cheomotherapy. (He had Lymphoma). So we will be using a sperm donor. That in and of itself was an interesting experience! I would love to hear from anyone in that situation...if you have thought about the disclosure to your future child, if you chose an open donor, etc.

I wish you all the best of luck and will love reading your updates.

Jen
Me- 40, DH-44
No children
IVF #1 Feb-11

[blairwh58]

Hello All- I finally have some time for personals now that things have calmed down some.

jenj- Welcome. If you ever need answers about side effects...bring them on. Have you alreday started all the meds? If not Im guessing sooner than later since your tentative date is feb 13.

karenvan- Glad you found some people going to the same RE...its always nice to compare notes. And it sounds like the new RE is being proactive which is also a good thing.

rubine- Welcome to you too! Since you did at least get a chemical I think its a good sign for the next go round. Good luck at the appt Thursday and keep us posted.

SD- I know what you mean about feeling wiped out. Hopefully RE will give you something to jump start things so you can move onto the next step.

blissful- I agree that some meditations are nice, but the overly emotional ones just make things worse. Did you get the results of the Celiac test yet? Hoping for good news.

cwehrs/hopeisallihave- Even though i loved ice cream before...and even made DH get some while it was snowing outside, now I have even more reason to support the addiction.

AFM- Anxiously awaiting my appt- only 1 more week!!! Other than that nothing exciting...got a UTI over New Years. Hopefully after next weeks appointment I can get a calendar and dive into things, but thats being optimistic.

[jenj]

Thanks!

I have learned so much more from reading the posts of all of you ladies than I have from listening to the RE and nurses at my clinic. They talk and I just zone out for some reason.

I have not started the "big meds" yet. I have just been on birth control for a few months now. I received my package with all of my meds and OH MY! I think that is what already got me thinking about side effects before I even started the meds.
The RE has me starting on Femara tablets on 1-30. This is followed by Follistim, Menopur, Novarel. This is of course prior to embryo transfer. My calendar has me taking Prometrium, Progesterone and Estrace after transfer.

I have to admit the whole process is a little intimidating. I have a lot of respect for those of you who continue to go thru this process. I sure hope the best for all of us.

Me- 40, DH- 44
No children
IVF #1: Feb 2011

[to_have_fun08]

jenj - IVF can be very overwhelming. My advice is to take it one step at a time and remember that we have no control over what happens. I freaked the first time I got my big box of meds. Had to go online and research all of them to see what they were supposed to do. Also, I have learned that while taking all the hormone shots, to watch my mouth. Seems I have found myself wanting to start fights with my DH when I am on the drugs. We hardly ever fight. the hormones drive me crazy. good luck.

Karen - I am cycling at the end of Feb. ER should be the last week of Feb and transfer should be the first week of march. Glad to see that you found a site with others that go to your Dr. My clinic also has an IVF board and it is nice to talk to people that are doing the same protocols and going through ER and ET at the exact same time.

Blair - Good Luck at your appointment. UTI no fun at all. Whenever I feel one coming on I start loading up on cranberry juice. always seems to work for me.

SD - What's going on with you? Did AF ever arrive?

AFM - Just waiting for FEb. I have my calender and meds, everything is a go as long as I get AF by Jan 27th. I am usually pretty regular so fingers crossed that she comes on time. I talked to my nurse coordinator last week. it was weird cus she was talking about the donor and all the stuff the donor has done and will do. it was just crazy thinking about all of this and usually I am the one doing all this stuff. This time I get to sit back and have the easy part.

[krisnjer]

hello ladies

guess I am back in the swing of things. I start Lupron on the 6th. Getting happy about being stuck with needles again!!

[BlissfulCS]

Hello ladies!

Rubine and Jenj- welcome to the group! Jenj- the first time around is exciting and a little scary. I too get emotional on the meds... the absolute toughest thing about them is that you will feel pregnant, no matter what. It makes the 2ww (2 week wait) super crazy because you question every cramp, every little bit of naseau, breast tenderness and so on. Of course... I'm confident that when the time comes you will be pregnant Just a quick warning to you both though, these ladies will turn you into a crazy person who pees on sticks all day long if you aren't careful. They converted me on the last day before I went in to get my blood work last time. Lol.

Jenj- I am always overwhelmed with hope and joy for all the cancer survivors we meet here. We all have a difficult challenge physically and emotionally, but there is just something so special and inspiring about your journey.

Krisnjer- so funny we get excited about this...but we do! I am so jealous of everyone getting into the swing of things. I have 2 more periods before I get started. So anxious! Congrats on starting Lupron Thursday.

Rio/Blair- thanks for the advice on meditation. I actually found some specifically for IVF after doing a little online research in addition to a fertility yoga video. I am a total sucker for this stuff. It's funny because my family is telling me I am becoming "hippified" with the diets, acupuncture, meditation, etc. I am the polar opposite of a hippy (a banker)! I do need the stress relief though. It is worth every penny for that aspect alone.

SD- welcome back!

Karenvan- I too sometimes find I need a break from the boards. Fertility is always on our minds and we all need freedom from thinking about it sometimes.

AFM- celiac test was negative. Good news...Now I will just live vicariously through all of you until the end of Feb.

[riogirl71]

BlissfulCS - great news on the negative test!!!!!

[blairwh58]

SDtrying- Yeaaa for AF!!! Its so sad that we all get so excited some months and then dont ever want to see her again. When will you start all your meds this go round?

blissful-Congrats on the negative Celiacs test. I have actually never done meditation...just not for me, but acupunture was great last IVF. I tried massge all the other cycles but felt like as soon as I got off the table I was stressed/tense again. With the acupunture I actually felt calmer and less anxious about everything. I will def keep acupunture in the protocol even though it is pretty expensive. DH also insists I do it again since we got pregnant with it last time...no baby but a pregnancy none the less.

krisjner- Woo hoo for needles!!! You get to start tomorrow! Im sooo jealous. When is your estimated transfer date?

to have fun- Well luckily DH is an MD and got his friend to give me some Bactrim for the UTI so I could start the meds asap. No matter what I do I guess I am prone to them and get one a couple times a year. As much as I try cranberry juice- after a few sips i start gagging. I have cranberry pills from last UTI but forgot that I had them so oh well.

jenj- Even though the package of meds seems overwhelming at first- you will be a pro with all of them in no time. I can say from experience- you do turn into a very different person on meds though. I was off and on them all of 2010 and it feels so different without them. I had drastic changes in mood, I was tired, and drops in libido. The folistim is relatively easy and doesnt start causing discomfort until the follicles start to get big. By the end you will feel so sore that its wierd to walk (just feel swollen and uncomfortable). I didnt take Menopur, but after the transfers I always did Progesterone in oil, estrogen tabs, and with the last cycle i also added Delestrogen shots and Lovenox. Even though the meds get out of control just remember it will all be worth it in the end. To keep track I made a calendar with meds/shots and then highlighted them off as I went- helps you feel like your making progress. Good luck.

AFM- I had my "what went wrong"/post- D & C appt yesterday with the RE. He basically said that he thought I wouldnt have to do IVF and that we would have gotten pregnant last spring after the laparoscopy with ovulation induction....I laughed and said yea well onto IVF #4. He said that he, NP, and Embryologist all talked and dont think they should change my protocol up much since they were "successful", but they may alter a few things. I explained that even though we loved the clinic we would be switching to a new one because of insurance coverage. It was a little sad leaving them since I have been seeing them so often for the past year. Ironically when they gave me a copy of my medical records, our very first consult was 1/4/10...and yday was 1/4/11- so i left them 1 year to the day. Cannot wait for my appt on Monday- its going to be a long 1 1/2 drive!

[JenMink55]

Hi Girls, I have been MIA due to the holidays.. all I can say is THANK GOD they are over

Went to new RE today and I love HIM! Looks like we aren't going to do the Flare Protocol as the other RE wanted to do, so glad I got a 2nd opinion! We are going to do Genetic Testing on this batch of eggs so we know that we are transferring embies that will produce a healthy pregnancy. The RE says the rate of pregnancy for eggs that have gone through Genetic Testing is about 82% right now SUPER happy about those stats as this is probably our last chance since this is all out of pocket. Although the Genetic Testing is expensive I think it's worth it.

Due to start BC on Feb 5/6th and ET around 2nd week of March. Things are rolling!!!!! YIPPEE!

Will be back later for personals, on my way out the door for a little retail therapy!

SD-- Yeah for AF!


Love Jen xoxo

[REBECCA.ANNE]

Hi I am waiting for my next period to come along which should happen at the end of this month. I will then start IVF on the antagonist cycle. It will be my 6th cycle of IVF. I have gone into IVF very positive in the beginning mainly because I already have 3 kids that i had in my 20's but I decided to get my tubes tied. I met a man in my late 30's and we have decided to go through IVF. My fertility specialist has told me because I am 38 years old that I would have between 10-50% chance of success of getting my tubes reversed. But he said because of my age I would be on the lower scale. I go Westmead Fertilty Centre where I get a lot back from medicare as it is a non profit organisation.

This is a bit about me with IVF.
I started in November 2009
1st cycle - IVF - I had 8 eggs - only 3 good enough and two put and didn't take and one frozen.
2nd cycle - IVF - I had 9 eggs - none fertilised.Put frozen one in there and it took till 10 1/2 weeks when I miscarried.
3rd cycle - IVF ISCI - I had 2 eggs and only 1 fertilised and took till I miscarried at 5 weeks just finding out.
4th cycle - IVF ISCI - I had 2 eggs and put two in and had an ectopic miscarriage at 7 weeks.
5th cycle - IVF ISCI - I had 9 eggs and only 3 fertilised and had two put in and didn't take.

I have tried accupunture, I have taken vitamins, I have changed my diet, I have taken time of work, I have relaxed. I have done everything.

The fertility specialist has recommended that both me and my partner go on vitamin tablets, that my partner give up smoking and drinking or cut back if he can.

I just hope IVF cycle no 6 weeks.

[blairwh58]

Rebecca- Welcome to the group. Sounds like you are a seasoned veteran with IVF though. Hopefully this time around will be the one for you and DH. On a positive note I had a friend who went through a similar experience, had done 5 IVFs, with a chemical preg, and 2 miscarriages....then she ended up pregnant on the 6th time and had her first baby in October. What vitamins did the MD recommend? I know my DH saw a urologist for male factor infertility and after his bilateral varicocelectomy he recommended Coast Reproductive (i think)...which were $300 for a month, but the MD said he could take 2 a day instead of 6 making it last 3 months.

SDtrying- Woooo hooo. Just having bloodwork and an US means you are so much closer to getting preggo! A tenative retrieval date of Feb 7 means you will be expecting in late October!!! I cant wait to hear how the appt goes tomorrow. I am also very jealous of your Hawaiian vacation. Have you ever been?? I went once a few years ago and it was beyond beautiful, but it also happened to be the only time Hawaii has gotten that much rain and was flooded. So no swimming while we were there because the sewage had flooded into the ocean.

jenmink- Glad you survived the holidays and are back on here. Im so glad you like your new RE and hes changing things up. How much do they charge for the genetic testing? I have considered trying to do that this time around just because we have had 3 IVFs with 1 chem and 1 miscarriage...so it makes me think something is going on. And with an 82% rate thats worth it! Glad you get to start the BCP 1 month from today so you can get things rolling. Let the countdown begin!!

AFM- still nothing exciting. Trying to pass the time away until Monday. Seeing all the dates of everyone who is getting the IVF schedules makes me even more anxious/nervous. Just hoping for some good news monday. Question for everyone- If anyone has had a D & C, how long did it take afterwards to get your period again?

[penny100]

Hi Karen,

Good luck on #2! What is DHEA?

My husband our new to IVF & I just started injections yesterday. Curious were you succesful on your first try with IVF or did you have to go through several cycles?

Thanks for any advice you might have.

Darlene

[penny100]

Good luck with everything! Is this your first try? Hawaii sounds so great right now! I live in Chicago & it's freezing!

I just started my injections yesterday. This is my first time. I am wondering if you have to go through a few times before success?

Darlene