March/April 2010 Cycle Group

[winnie71]

Hi All,

Maybe someone can help me here...I am going through a natural cyle, but taking IVF meds. I give you a quick run down of my story. I've been ttc for 9 yrs..I have high fsh and my cervix was closed slightly. Anyway two years ago in May I got preggors....naturally..well almost I had taken IVF meds the month before but couldn't do the transfer because I didn't produce enough eggs. Well low and behold the 3 I did make were enough because it worked. Unfortunately at 25 weeks..I loss the baby...I had taken a plane trip out of state and judging by my blood work after the delivery...I believe I developed a blood clot and loss the baby. Anyway now I'm back at it again...I'm taking the IVF meds (follistim), but my question to everyone is has anyone just taken this med alone and if so what is your dosage. My previous Dr. passed away a year ago and his office is closed and I can't get a hold of my medical records..so sad about it! But I know I was taking menopur and bravelle I just can't remember the dosage...I honestly think I was on 300 per day...and now I'm on 150. If anyone can help me with this...I'd so appreciate it. I don't fully trust this new Dr. and he isn't listening to me so that is making me even more upset.

Thanks

Hi ivebeenpatient, I am so sorry for your loss 2 years ago.
I am on my 2nd cycle of just Follistim. I am only on 112.5/day. My 1st cycle was a BFN, w/ 6 eggs retrieved, all fertilized, one good 8 cell transferred, and none making it to freezing. I am currently hosting 10 follies, to be retrieved this Sunday (hopefully). I know it's a low dose, but I have bleeding issues and other stuff in my hx that makes my RE cautious. He seemed pretty happy w/ how the 1st cycle went, as he didn't change anything. On both cycles, I started Cetrotide on day 5.
Wishing you much luck, stick around, everyone here is very helpful and supportive!

[ivebeenpatient]

Thanks Winnie for replying.....I've posted her for days and no one has been willing to answer. I love the hosting term...lol! I wish you the best of luck and may Easter Sunday bring you loads of babyluck and babydust

[claud662]

Ivebeenpatient-when I did a medicated iui with just follistim I was on a low dose of 75 and then with my two fresh cycles my dose was 125 but I repond very well to follistim so I'm on the lower end of the spectrum!

Franny-good luck tomorrow with your SnS and hopefully those 6 follies keep growing!

[Supergenius]

Holy cow is there a lot going on?! I've been trying to keep up with my little phone, but I never seem to have time to write anything. For some reason, I am tired alot these days.

Well, I have had two beta tests since I last posted (21dpo - 934 & 24dpo - 2333) so I am now scheduled for my first OB ultrasound (am not sure how it differs from the normal u/s you get to check the follies). I go in on Monday 4/5 and if all goes well I have two more spaced 10 days apart each ...then they release me. It seems like forever away, but just being able to talk about it like it's real is amazing.

Claudia - congrats on seeing your little sac! your betas look great - when do you go for your next u/s?

Franny - omg, your follies sound great! i've had to go in multiple days in a row for SnS as well (once you start getting close to the trigger point). so you are close, my friend! enjoy your night out with DH, because once those lil embies make their way back to you...you'll be very tired too.

hopeforbabies - yes, it's definitely too early to test. i poas at 8dp6dt & got my positive, btw. sorry to hear you didn't get any frosties, but as the other ladies have said that shouldn't have any bearing on what's going on in your uterus.

kim - i am so sorry to hear about your BFN. (((((hugs to you)))). i feel so grateful to have my insurance cover almost everything for IVF.

rayofsunshine/sara - holy moly - twins!!! and two great heartbeats!! congrats - now you will have to update your ticker.

drboots - woohoo for being PUPO! how are you holding up?

emmax - great number of embies, girl! you should have some nice ones for saturday. do you know how many you are putting back? and i agree with the other ladies: you need to do something (stool softener) about the constipation. when you get pregnant it will only get worse!

latrell - woohoo for being PUPO! yes, cramping is total normal. sometimes those cramps are good (uterus stretching to make way for the embies).

helene - your ticker is very cute. can't wait to hear about your u/s on the 7th! oh, and good luck with your house search. i love looking at real estate.

Tameka - welcome back! i'm glad you are feeling better. and you are so right about taking things one day at a time. i think i would have gone out of my mind if i thought too far ahead. congrats to your stepson! he can come work at NASA when he's all graduated...very good place for an optical engineer.

winnie - 10 follies is great! those little ones will catch up when you trigger (just ask Franny - she told me the same thing & it worked).

sas/stephanie - congrats on your BFP! i'm sure you'll have a great beta tomorrow if you tested + so much earlier than your beta test.

Angela - woohoo for 10 eggies! can't wait to hear your fertilization report tomorrow!

franca - you have a cocktail of extra hormones coursing through you, so i think it's totally normal. since my BFP, i've been having some very raunchy dreams (like i was a teenager again).

ivebeenpatient - i'm sorry i don't know anything about your protocol, but i do know it's important to trust your doctor (otherwise it can be a huge waste of time). if your doctor isn't listening, is there a nurse there you can talk with?

hope i've got everyone who's had updates. there's so many of you it's hard to keep track! but i think it's a good thing, because i really believe my BFP is in part due to all of your support.

xoxo,
Libby

[angelaezra]

Hi All,

Maybe someone can help me here...I am going through a natural cyle, but taking IVF meds. I give you a quick run down of my story. I've been ttc for 9 yrs..I have high fsh and my cervix was closed slightly. Anyway two years ago in May I got preggors....naturally..well almost I had taken IVF meds the month before but couldn't do the transfer because I didn't produce enough eggs. Well low and behold the 3 I did make were enough because it worked. Unfortunately at 25 weeks..I loss the baby...I had taken a plane trip out of state and judging by my blood work after the delivery...I believe I developed a blood clot and loss the baby. Anyway now I'm back at it again...I'm taking the IVF meds (follistim), but my question to everyone is has anyone just taken this med alone and if so what is your dosage. My previous Dr. passed away a year ago and his office is closed and I can't get a hold of my medical records..so sad about it! But I know I was taking menopur and bravelle I just can't remember the dosage...I honestly think I was on 300 per day...and now I'm on 150. If anyone can help me with this...I'd so appreciate it. I don't fully trust this new Dr. and he isn't listening to me so that is making me even more upset.

Thanks

Ivebeenpatient - I am so very sorry to hear about your loss! As you can see by my signature, I went through something very similar. Yes, I was on Follistim for my first fresh IVF and this current cycle. During my first cycle, I was on 225 for the entire cycle and this cycle, I started out at 300 for 5 days and then I wasn’t responding well so my RE increased my dose to 375. So don’t worry, your new RE is just trying to get use to you and how your body will react to the Follistim and he or she can adjust it according to your u/s and estradiol levels. Sometimes, it is better to be safe than sorry to prevent over stimulating your ovaries. I know by being on this website that there are several ladies on all different dosages. Trust me, I understand how you feel! I panicked when I didn’t respond as well as I did the first time for this cycle. But, it all worked out so far … I just went through ER this morning!

But, welcome to our little family … hopefully, you will stay and chat w/ us.

Angela

[heekinje]

Hey ladies I'm dropping in for a PMA boost. I hadn't heard from the RE at all about the status of my 13 embies that they were going to let go till day 5 then freeze. Well the nurse called back and none of them made it. So now I am freaking out that if they couldn't make it two more days will the two they transfered fair any better? The nurse said that we still have enough insurance benefits left for almost another whole fresh cycle but my DH sounded hesitant in trying again if this doesn't work out. Sorry to bring everyone down but I am really disappointed that nothing made it to freeze. Also for you BFP girls if you POAS what was the earliest that you got a BFP? I am very tempted to POAS on Sun (I really want to tomorrow) but my beta isn't until Wed. Suggestions?

Hi, Hope -

I hope my situation makes you feel a little better.....i've been through 2 IVF cycles, both BFPs. I have a 17 month old DD and am a little over 6wk pregnant from my latest cycle. I have never had any make it to freeze. I did 3dt for both cycles - both times with 2 8 cell embryos. Mine just never seem to make it. The goal of this entire process is to have 1 embryo that makes it and comes out a healthy baby in the end. The goal is not to get pregnant and have frozen embryos - it's just a nice bonus when it happens. Keep your head up and your spirits high - everything will work out!

Also, I'm not sure when to tell you to POAS because I don't know where you are in your 2ww. How many days past retrieval are you? You can start testing whenever you want but to be completely safe and have no question about the ovidrel trigger being in your system and to have a better shot at seeing a nice pink line, I would wait until 14 days past retrieval. Of course, I did not do that. I started testing at 6dp3dt (9 days past retrieval) - soooooooooooooo early. I got the faintest line that evening and it continued to get darker. I had my beta 14dp3dt and it was 299. I completely thought it was going to be higher because I got a positive so early. A lot of people on here would tell you to wait until your beta because in their experience, they took an HPT and it was negative only to have a positive blood beta draw. So, ultimately it's up to you and you have to do what's right for you! Good luck!!

xoxo
Heeks

[lycase]

turtle - yes landlord is a pain but I would sell too if I could get $900,000 for my house It's so funny that you are also hoping to see my u/s soon I love that you wait with us and are exited for us you are so nice. And yes yesterday morning I felt a sensation in my boobs but it's gone now

Yes I agree with your RE you want your follies around 19... so grow follies grow... oh you are also doing acupt way to go girl... DH birthday way to go that is going to be fun.

winnie - so did you trigger now? I can't wait to see the result

hopeforbabies - sorry about your embies all dying how many did you have again? don't worry about no frosties though your 2 will make it girl. They chose the best ones and it's going to work. So if you beta is wednesday I think it is safe to poas Sunday... Maybe Easter Sunday will bring you luck Eggs turning into babies...

emmax - they will put them back don't you worry about that.

ivebeenpatient - welcome and I am so sorry you lost your beany... what a terrible ordeal... hugs... No sure about meds but make sure you take baby asperin this time around. Actually you remind me to take some myself cause of my age I think I will do that too. I hope it works for you this time around. Hang in there you did it once you can do it again girl.

supergenius - can't wait to see the results of your u/s how many do you think you have in there? Yes it's fun to look at houses... thanks I really like my new ticker too it's discrete a bit you know. Congrats again for your BFP

AFM - lots of masses to go to everyday until Easter... Anyone else here Catholic celebrating Easter? What I hate is my dh doesn't care about Church and Mass so I go alone or with the kids and he gives me crap because there is just too many masses at Easter... Like it's not me that makes those rules goodness. And too it should not bother him like normally I take all hte kids and so he gets to sleep in or rest or I make sure my baby is sleeping when I leave and when I return... Like yesterday the Priest asked us to come back for a holy hour from 11pm to 12am... Like I was happy to go cause I could and dh says wow it seams that there are more and more masses each year... OH well!!!

Have a good Easter everyone.

Helene

[winnie71]

Just had my SnS, still 10 follies ranging from 25x19 to 10x12, plus a few under 10. RE Fellow still could not say for sure the ER would be Sunday, would not rule out Monday so won't know till they get the E2 and call me this afternoon. Problem is, I only have 1 more night of Cetrotide, so if I'm not triggering tonight, I'm gonna have to pay $$$ for Saturday med delivery

[Supergenius]

Just had my SnS, still 10 follies ranging from 25x19 to 10x12, plus a few under 10. RE Fellow still could not say for sure the ER would be Sunday, would not rule out Monday so won't know till they get the E2 and call me this afternoon. Problem is, I only have 1 more night of Cetrotide, so if I'm not triggering tonight, I'm gonna have to pay $$$ for Saturday med delivery

How many are in the 25x19 range? My RE has me trigger when there are at least 4 follies >18 & E2 looks good...sounds to me like you could trigger tonight if your E2 is okay. Fingers crossed!!!

[angelaezra]

Just had my SnS, still 10 follies ranging from 25x19 to 10x12, plus a few under 10. RE Fellow still could not say for sure the ER would be Sunday, would not rule out Monday so won't know till they get the E2 and call me this afternoon. Problem is, I only have 1 more night of Cetrotide, so if I'm not triggering tonight, I'm gonna have to pay $$$ for Saturday med delivery

Winnie - I agree w/ Supergenius, it depends how many are between 19-25mm? Also, remember, it is predicted that the follicles are supposed to grow 1mm every day. So if you have some follies that are around 16 or 17mm they can make it also. But, if you do have to order some more meds, make sure yu order it before 6pm tonight for a next day delivery. Well, that is at least what I was told by my mail-in pharmacy. Please let us know what your estradiol level is when your RE calls you.

Angela

[winnie71]

The RE Fellow told me that 5 looked 'ready', but she could not say whether RE would want to wait for others to catch up. We shall see... awaiting THE CALL

[lycase]

The RE Fellow told me that 5 looked 'ready', but she could not say whether RE would want to wait for others to catch up. We shall see... awaiting THE CALL

Sounds great... catch up follies catch up !!!!

Helene

[Kushka]

Hi Everyone!

Sorry I've been quiet, but I've had nothing much to report. Just taking pills to make my lining nick and thick, and trying to forget about the fact I'm doing IVF. I saw my RE yesterday though, and I'm scheduled for my ET on Wednesday. This is my first FET and I can't believe how much less hassle it is. Also SO nice not to be covered in bruises from all the needles. RE said my lining was 7.5 yesterday. Apparently 9 is perfect. Do you think I can go from 7.5 to 9 by Wednesday?

I have 5 embryos in the freezer. The next thing for me to worry about now is whether or not they make the thaw. We're having 2 put back in so I wonder how many we'll have to thaw to get 2 to transfer?

I'm trying really hard to keep PMA. I go from excited (at the beginning of an IVF procedure it's the time of hope and possibility) to real feelings of depression (it's so unfair, why does this have to be so hard for us, what if it all goes wrong again..etc.). My DH is also have problems with his job so it increases the pressure on us both and makes it hard to feel lucky. Anyway, I'll stop there 'cos don't want to bring you all down.

I've arranged to have a session of accupuncture on Tuesday - day before the ET. I guess ideally I'd have started this before now, but I just didn't get around to it (my job is crazy!). Do you think it'll be worth just having the one session before the ET? I guess it can't hurt!

And one other question - do you think it's ok that I haven't given up alcohol completely? I really don't drink much anyway, but last weekend I had a few glasses of wine and a few gin and tonics. I just couldn't help myself - met my friend's new girlfriend for the first time and needed something to numb the pain (!!!). Are you all completely alcohol and caffeine free?
Sorry for all the questions, just feeling a bit jittery about everything.

I'm really happy to hear about all the BFPs on this board, and really really sorry to those of you for whom things are not working out. I try to remind myself that "the race is long, and in the end it's only with ourselves" (and our biological clocks, but anyway...!).

Happy Easter to all!
Kx

[DrBoots]

Hi Ladies, just popping on to update and hope everyone has a great weekend.

The Dr's office called and said the other 2 didn't make it to freeze. I am finding the positive (that I saved $1500 for the cryo!!!!) but my bloodwork came back perfect!

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend. I am driving up to CT tomorrow morning to visit my family for Easter.I usually get to see them once a month, but it feels like it has been FOREVER!!!!

[angelaezra]

Kushka- Yes, I think it is possible to go from 7.5 to 9 by Wednesday but they say anything above 8mm and below 15mm are great for a transfer. I went through FET last May 2009 and they only transferred 1 embryo and they only had to thaw out 1 to transfer, so I think you will be fine. I never think it is too late for acupuncture, so go for it. Yes, I have given up alcohol completely for the last 3 ½ weeks and it is killing me. With my job and social events, I am surrounded around social drinking and it is so very hard but I really, really want this to work like my first IVF. I don’t consume caffeine anyways so that was never a problem except chocolate every once in awhile but I have been conscious to reduce that also. There are so many different reports for when you should stop drinking but my RE said as soon as you start Lupron stop drinking but they also said that it was ok to have a glass of wine every once in awhile. Also, from what I have read, as soon as you start the stimming meds, alcohol should stop but you won’t have to worry about it since you aren’t stimming during this cycle. I think you are ok but if you are transferring next week you probably should stop soon. Please keep us updated on your transfer. My transfer is scheduled for Tuesday.

Angela