IVF over 40 Buddy Group........Membership Drive

[njsurga]

Hi ladies..I got my baseline FSH and it was 6.6. What does that mean in retrospect with my three lonely follies? I'm kinda confused. I didn't get back my E2 yet, seemed like my nurse was in a hurry when I called so I just asked for the FSH. Any experienced IVF'ers have any input here?

Kat: So sad to hear about BFN. Sue is right...take your cry it out time then get back up girl!! You can do it! I know in my life, the painful times just made me stronger, and it will you too!! HUGs!!!

Santa:Thanx for letting us know your ok...we all were thinking of you!!

Bonnie: A big CONGRATS to you!!!

[bonnie]

fyi, i dont know if you remember i posted about my hpt's...a friend gave us a whole box of 25--so part of the reason i kept testing every day was because i didnt pay for the things!

well, yesterday I got my 116 beta--so i decided to try another this morning--and it was STILL negative! how hilarious is that!

so instead of giving away this "anti-gift" as i was planning--i will toss them in the garbage--and my friend will never be the wiser. I'm sure there was a purpose in it--it's just kind of funny.

anyone want a baby skunk? they're really cute!
bonnie

[bonnie]

fyi, i dont know if you remember i posted about my hpt's...a friend gave us a whole box of 25--so part of the reason i kept testing every day was because i didnt pay for the things!

well, yesterday I got my 116 beta--so i decided to try another this morning--and it was STILL negative! how hilarious is that!

so instead of giving away this "anti-gift" as i was planning--i will toss them in the garbage--and my friend will never be the wiser. I'm sure there was a purpose in it--it's just kind of funny.

anyone want a baby skunk? they're really cute!
bonnie

[teachertam]

Kat: I'm so sorry to hear about your neg. result. Don't give up as it usually
takes us older gals more than once to be successful.

Santa: Sorry to hear about your neg. result too.

Bonnie: Congrats on your BFP!! You must live in the country to have skunks as neighbors. We have deer that live in the woods behind our house. I counted 12 white tails the other day. My 2 labs love chasing them. Of course we have a fenced in backyard so the deer know that they are safe.

Suzanne: Congrats on your two healthy heartbeats! That is great.

Sharon: Your FSH is LOW! That is good. I believe that they have to check the E2 also to make sure that the FSH is not artificially low.

SueQiwi: Good news on your super beta. No more Progesterone shots, yeah! My RE made me stay on them until I progressed into the 2nd trimester.

Hello to Kelly and anyone else that I have missed.

Regards,
Tammy

[Sisi1]

So my follies were "found" again, all still in there, just small yet.

A question for the experts I know the Ganirelix is supposed to stop you from ovulationg but does it also slow down the development of the follies?

Still awaiting blood work results.....

[njsurga]

My E2 was 81 at baseline testing...a little high right?? What does this mean in terms of my fertility since my fsh is 6? Oh, and whatever TSH is she said it was good. I feel like it's gonna take the alignment of all the planets the moon & stars to get me pregnant!!!!

Sharon

[Sisi1]

It would appear that my E2 levels have not improved at all since start taking the ganirelix?

Right now my Dr. is thinking of cancelling my cycle again if there is not a major improvement over the next 2 days! Please pray with me for my follies to grow up a storm.

I can't face another cancelled cycle right now....

[njsurga]

Sis:I'm prayin for ya darlin...I'm thinkin thats where I'm headed! Please keep us posted. Good Luck!

Sharon

[Liam'sMommy]

Sorry guys i have had one of those weeks.

I am sorry Kat. But do not be too discouraged. IVF is a numbers game for everybody but more so for us older gals. We just don't have many normal eggs left. Usually it takes some effort to find one. I hope 3rd time is a charm.

Santa, again i a sorry. I know you are devastated. Like i told Kat, it is a numbers game. I hope 3rd time is a charm for you too.

Renee, how is the packing and staging going? What a nightmare.

NJ, this has a good overview of fertility labs http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/hormonelevels.htm Like Tammy said, your E2 is high so it is probably suppressing your FSH. That would be more in alignment with your AFC. Also, i think it was TSH not SSH. I just read your post, why do you think you are going to be canceled?

Sisi, i am so glad they found your follies. It does seem like you are stimming slow but i don't think it is the ganirelix. Some people are just like that. Okay, i just read your update. I am so sorry the follies are not growing. What is going on? What dose stims are you on? I will pray for you too.

Bonnie, i am so glad you are having fun being the stinky family. That is too funny. So i am guessing that it was the skunks and bad batch of HPTs that did the trick for you. I am going to see about renting a skunk family and i will just put water on my sticks and pretend they are faulty. I think that should do the trick.

Suzanne, i am glad the squirts are doing excellent. I bet your butt is thankful that the PIO shots are over with.

Lynn, have you ever gotten to the bottom of the amnio issue?

Kris, any peak yet?

Tammy, were are you on your current cycle? Are you in your 2WW yet?

Sue, congrats on beta number 3. I can't wait for the US.

Missy, congrats on the HB. That is awesome news.

Has anybody heard from Biddy, Jeannie T, hopeful4babay, Babygurlsolages?

AFM, i actually had 10 follies at baseline US. I can't believe it. That is over twice the amount that i had last cycle.


SUCCESS STORIES

Rinnie 43, bfp after ivf #3 switched to iui. EDC ?

Elida 41, DE ivf #1 11/08, triplet girls. EDC ?

Helen 39, ivf#3 11/08, twins. EDC ?

Lynn 42, ivf #4 11/08, singleton, amnio 2/26, EDC Aug. 18,2009, We are all praying for you.

Rhonda 40, natural BFP 12/08 after failed ivf in Nov. US 01/16 shows singleton. EDC ?

Natashamom 46, DE ivf #1, beta 189, first US 2/18.

Suzanne 41, ivf #1 2/09, first US 2/16 pregnant with twins. US #2 2/24 saw 2 HB, US # 3 again saw 2 strong HB. EDC?

Missy 41, ivf #1, ET 2/18 2 embies, beta1:high 600s at 17 dpo/er, beta2:1695, beta3:26000, US 3/11 HB 119 YIPPEE!!!! EDC 10/30/09.

SueQiwi 39, ivf #3, ER 2/18 2 day 3 embryos, 3/1 beta:1 151, 3/3 beta:2 675, beta:3 12,188. US 3/27.

Bonnie 45, 3/2 ET 2 DE blasts plus 6 made it to freeze. 3/12 beta1:119. Congrats!!!!


Cycling

Santa 42, ivf # 2 transferred 3 embies 2/23, + HPT, 3/6 beta1: negative, Chemical pregnancy, regrouping, Hoping 3rd time is a charm.

Cougarkat 41, second attempt at ivf #1 2/28 transferred 3 blasts and froze 3 blasts, beta1: negative, regrouping, Hoping 3rd time is a charm.

Babygurlsolages, 41, ET 3/4.

Biddy 42, IVF #3, ET 3/6 2 embies, officially PUPO and in the 2WOH. Hoping 3rd time is a charm for you!!!

Sisi1 41, AF 3/6, baseline US 8/9 10 follies, started stims, not growing may be cancelled again. Praying your follies kick it into high gear!!

NY4thtry 40, IVF #7 banking/CGH cycle in progress, ER 3/15 or 3/16, Thinking of you and praying for a great outcome.

Me 42, ivf #2 banking cycle, US 3/13 10 follies, started ganirelix then stims 3/16.

njurga 44, IVF#1, US 3/11 3 follies, started stims?

Hil, Second try for IVF # 2, starting estrogen 3/15 and stims in April.

Kris 41, ivf # 3, starting estrogen in March and stims in April.

Jeannie T 42, DE Czech Republic, cycling ?


STILL TTC BUT WITHOUT IVF

Tammy 44, 12/08 IVF#3 BFN, currently TTC naturally, after this cycle will start tring with femara.

Renee 41, trying naturally when she hooks up with husband in April. Then will do IUI this summer when DH is back from the mainland.


LIMBO LAND

hopeful4baby 40, regrouping for ivf #4.

Sorry it has taken me so long. Let me know where i messed up.

[njsurga]

Kelly: I think that just based on the statistics for women my age and I had three very lonely follicles on day 3 testing...I was so dissappointed. No stims yet, They monitor a full cycle before they do anything..tick...tick...tick!!! Now I found my estrogen is high which is common with women my age. To me it spells...low ovarian reserve! But yes, I still have a glimmer of hope.

Sharon

[teachertam]

Kelly: This is cycle day 26 for me. I'm guessing AF or "the hag" as Sharon refers to her will come tomorrow. I have had some spotting since
last Sunday and some cramping as well. No spotting today, just some crampy pains.

Tammy[/b]

[Sisi1]

I have tried to read up but not finding much useful information at this point.
I normally stimulate quite well for my age and I was off to a good start that is why I think it was the ganirelix that has blocked my E2 levels from growing (I am on 450 iu of gonal F).

I am thinking I am having some sort of hypersensitivity reaction to the ganirelix. My nurse insist I continue to take it (god forbit I actually get to talk to the DR) but I KNOW I am just not one of those women who tend to ovulate too early. In my best former stimulation cycles with IUI I has no ganirelix and my LH was 0.8!!! at the day of trigger! I have all my stimm sheets so I know I am right about this one!

Anyway I have been drinking LOADS of water (ok not like dangerous amounts) and peeing like a crazy women to assist my body to excreate some of this ganirelix before I continue stimming and come hell or high water I am not taking it tomorrow (not a big risk as my cycle stands to get cancelled and my LH is 1 today).

I could really use an expert opinion right about now if anyone has access to weekend experts??????? Ghost where are you in my hour of need?

All advise well received.....

[njsurga]

Tammy:I had the same thing go on this month, I thought that was all I was getting this month and I totally messed up my baseline testing. I took it too early. But now I'm on track. We never know what were gonna get month to month at this stage...LOL! Good luck!

[Liam'sMommy]

Sisi, here are a couple of things i have found.
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve ... 8204029826 and

http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve ... 8204029826 On this one, go down to the part titled "The Use of GnRH Antagonists During Ovarian Stimulation"

NJ, follie count can be dramatically different from month to month. Last cycle my count was 4 this time it is 10. So don't count yourself out yet.

Tammy, are you sure you haven't been having implantation bleeding and cramping?

Kelly

[babyluv]

Sisi1, are you also using Menopur? Ganirelix can TOTALLY slow your follies and lower e2 levels if not balanced out with the proper meds. I did 4 natural IVF cycles (the first three were cancelled) and Ganirelix was to blame the first go round. The RE (not my regular one) gave me Ganirelix for two days before combining it Menopur the third day. Completely stopped my follie from growing and my e2 dropped down to 20 on the day I should have triggered. Everything was moving great until then.

The next two were cancelled because they didn't expect me to go from 10mm to 18mm in two days and they missed their chance...early ovulation both times. That third time the RE actually WATCHED my follie collapse (had just ovulated) on the u/s. She said she had never seen it live before and I was a superstar of sorts in the office for awhile after that. I couldn't help but laugh that it was a sign, so the next day we sent in the application to adopt #2 and 5 1/2 months later had our beautiful daughter.

The fourth cycle actually made it to ER (but since it was natural and only 1 egg, no fertilization even with ICSI). I also used Ganirelix for both traditional cycles.

My point is, I HAD to take it with Menopur or else it would screw everything up. This past cycle the RE said to take it with just the Follistim and I asked about Menopur. The answer: "The RE doesn't think you need it, but you can take the Menopur if you want."

Um, what? So I did.

My e2 still dropped, but I think it was more due to having a wicked stomach virus, dropping 5 pounds in 36 hours and keeping NOTHING in my body. They upped my meds and I made it to ER with 20 eggs, but there was a time I was scared I would be cancelled.

Ok, hope that helps. I really hope you aren't cancelled. It could be that you just need another med to help it along. Have you ever used Ganirelix before? As I ovulate early it was good for me, but even my nurse said not to worry if my e2 wasn't sky high as it does make e2 lower.

Good luck.