The Over 40 Crowd

[CarolineP]

Randa

Like you, my consultant was brutely honest with us at the start of our IVF treatment, given us a less than 6% success rate and declining each cycle. That figure was simple based on my age and no % rate was given based on my passed gyne problems (fibroids). We were never given an option to freeze as the egg yield and fertilization rate were so low (2 fertilised embryos each fresh cycle).

At my 12 weeks scan my consultant was truely amazed at our success and has kept a keen eye on me throughout the preganancy due to history of high blood pressure, previous gyne problems and my age.

However, everything so far is normal although I am not naive enough to realise that we are not out of the woods yet - until baby is safely here I will always have a worry about complications (DH has no such concerns and thinks I'm paranoid)!

IVF is always hard on relationships and DHs have their own way of handling information differently from the girls. However, I am nearly 44 and pregnant so I would encourage you and DH to continue with rapid speed and get those follies fertilised and transferred asap and use the frozen if required in the future.

Good luck to you and DH for now and the future decisions you make.

CarolineP

[Katie12563]

Hello Over 40,
Just want to say a big hello to everyone. I am so happy to see that everyone actively in a cycle or going into a cycle soon.

I have been feeling really obsessed with everything and I have been working long hours at work to keep my mind of things. I have been arriving at home just in time to give myself an injection then off to bed. I often think of you guys... I still have 15 days to go...cycle postponed for 3 days while I had a MRI (firoids). Cycle was approved to contine so new transfer date is oOct. 10. Please add me to the list.

I also I hope we'll all be pregnant by Christmas or the New Year. Wouldn't that be fabulous!!!
Love to all my Over 40 Crowd!!!!!!!

[DebraP]

....and then there were 10! Wow Katie, great to hear from you, good news the fibroids didn't delay things. There's lots of missing info from the list. As prev. it's 'open' so anything that needs changing by anyone, go ahead and paste into your next message.

Randa - started stims 17th, EC + freeze c.28th Sept.
Debra - stims started 20th Sept. EC/ET w/c 3rd Oct.
Jane - stims started 20th Sept. transfer date ?????
Katie - donor/FET 10th Oct.
Sharon - start stims (HRT) Friday, 23rd Sept FET w/c 10th Oct???
Paula - started bcp....? Oct cycle
Kat - started bcp 18th Sept. Fresh/donor cycle end Oct
Nuala - fresh cycle, late Oct.
BigJ - aiming for fresh/donor cycle in November.
Caroline - basking in the sun... November FET cycle planned

Am feeling fine. Suddenly very aware of my ovaries (like you do); I'm conscious of them constantly, I can only assume this means the Puregon is doing its thing and they're responding. Oh how I wish for an earlier scan than 29th.

Hope everyone had/is having a good weekend.
hugs
Debra.

[meandmine]

Hi ladies,
Mum's birthday today (74) and just come back from a family lunch out. Very nice and relaxed.

Lots of postings over the weekend - with Nuala and Katie joining us again. Hi ladies.

Debra, I am feeling so much better already, having only started stims (HRT) on Friday. Even DH has remarked and I do really feel more 'up'. My body was definately feeling the strain of lack of oestrogen - isn't it incredible how it changes the way we think and feel! Glad you're getting those little twinges aroung the ovaries - good sign, I would say. Debra, we certainly seem to be cycling almost identically this time. I will join you in saying that I too feel more positive, if only from re-introducing those hormones back into my body. Onwards and Upwards

Hi Randa, it's such a shame we all live so far apart and can only communicate through this messageboard. Sounds like you need some TLC right now and some time to absorb the news you have been given by the clinic. But I think you and all us ladies should take note of Caroline's post to see that what you wish for can come true. There will always be exceptions to the rule (and there certainly are more of us ladies in our 40's having success stories than there have ever been). So chin up and fingers crossed for your scan on Monday - it would be good if DH could go with you and then he may be persuaded to go for a fresh transfer this time if he were to discuss the situation with the experts. But this is such a personal decision that must be made jointly between the two of you. Will be thinking of you this week.

Hi to everyone else this Sunday - enjoy the rest of the day.

Hugs
Sharon x

[randa2006]

I can't imagine going through this without you all!
Thank God you are here. Your words mean a great deal.

Scan is at 8 a.m. and dh is definately going with me.
Depending on what we discover, we could cancel or go forward. I want to harvest no matter how small the quantity, but not sure I can convince everyone else to go that route. And I still hold out a tiny bit of hope that he will change his mind and agree to transfer, too.

I'll post as soon as I can.

[JaneR]

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all doing OK, there are lots of us now.

Randa, I hope the scan goes well today, I have my fingers crossed for you. Glad to hear DH is going with you he really needs to be there when they tell you things like they have. Caroline is an inspiration to us alll she has shown us that it can be done. i wanted more than one child but now I would be over themoon just to have one.

Debra,

glad to hear things are progressing well, like you I am feeling bloated and I can really feel both my ovaries probably more so than either time before, so fingers crossed the scan tomorrow shows a few follies and all a good size.

Paula, just read your AF has arrived fingers crossed for a nice low FSH.

Everyone else hope you are all OK better go and get on with some work.

Randa - started stims 17th, EC + freeze c.28th Sept.
Debra - stims started 20th Sept. EC/ET w/c 3rd Oct.
Jane - stims started 20th Sept. Scan 27/9 transfer date ?????
Katie - donor/FET 10th Oct.
Sharon - start stims (HRT) Friday, 23rd Sept FET w/c 10th Oct???
Paula - started bcp....? Oct cycle
Kat - started bcp 18th Sept. Fresh/donor cycle end Oct
Nuala - fresh cycle, late Oct.
BigJ - aiming for fresh/donor cycle in November.
Caroline - basking in the sun... November FET cycle planned

Love,

Jane

[meandmine]

Jane - good luck for your scan tomorrow. Everything crossed for you and that they will find some good sized follies growing nicely. Keep us all posted.

Paula, good luck with your FSH levels this time - fingers crossed and here's hoping for good news.

Randa, thinking of you today - how did it go at the clinic for you both. Hope it was good news.

Debra, not long 'til Thursday. It will soon come around. How are you feeling.

Hi to everyone else this evening.

Sharon x

[randa2006]

Hi to All,
Good news! Prayers answered! We have enough follies of the right size to go forward with EC!!! We are so relieved.
Had still only one on the right ovary that was maturing well, and 4 of a nice ripe size on the left. All others were less measurable, but we were told even they can end up producing eggs by EC time. In any case, we are happy to have 5!
HCG shot tonight. DH requested the nurse to draw a bullseye on my hip as before. He's nervous about hitting the right spot with that very long needle. I teased and said that he just needed an X to mark the spot since there is sooooo much more room back there than where he's used to injecting me.
EC will be Wed @ 8 a.m.!
After cancelling the last round in June, we are both so happy this one is going through!
Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes!

Debra, not much longer for your day-10 scan, huh? Sounds like you are feeling all the right symptoms for a good folly show!

Jane, good luck with your scan tomorrow! Folly Fairy has officially been summoned to visit you! Please let us know what you find out.

Hope everyone else is taking their meds and keeping on track. October is set to be an exciting month for our group.

[DebraP]

Randa, could you hear me cheering just now? I guess it's about 0100 your time but even so...it was LOUD! Great news, you must both be delighted to have confirmation EC will go ahead. I hope DH gets the shot right tonight I love the idea of having a bullseye drawn on you

Jane, let us know how the scan goes, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Paula, I must check other threads to see when your FSH test is, today? yesterday? good luck.

Sharon, feeling OK? bloating? tenderness? better moods though now yes?

I'm mightily sore in the abdomen right now. Lots of bruises too, not usual for me at all. I still get very excited before shot time and like to think of adding to the stock of happy, helpful meds rushing around my system. Crazy huh?

Good luck ladies,
Debra.

[DebraP]

Cr*p Paula, just seen your post on the Sept. thread. I'm so sorry your FSH came back too high for tmt. Take a long moment to yourselves and to decide what next. We'll be here for support.

hugs
Debra.

[JaneR]

Hi Ladies,

Great news Randa I'm so pleased for you.

Paula I'm so sorry I hope it comes down next time.

Debra glad to hear all going well.

Well had my scan today and I have 6 follies 2 large two smaller and 2 smaller still they want me to go for EC on Friday but............. I'm not sure, DH is goign with me tomorrow for another scan and we can decide then whether to go ahead or not. The hospital think we should go ahead as we still have a good chance but..................

I'm sure there will be more to post tomorrow.

Love,

Jane

[DebraP]

Jane, why wouldn't you go ahead or am I missing something? by Friday you're likely to have 3+ viable follicles to harvest from. Do you think this too low a number?

Good luck with your scan tomorrow.
hugs
Debra.

[erjumper]

Hi everyone! It's been awhile. I needed some time to grieve the loss of our 3rd pregnancy. Still awaiting the results of the genetic testing but since I was using metformin, lovenox and baby asa they all feel it's due to chromosome abnormalities due to my age. DH and I have decided our only real hope is in the hands of a caring couple who would donate some young embryos for us. I just read Katie's post and i'm thrilled to see another donor recipient.
Katie, How did you find your donor embies and how difficult was the whole process? If you wouldn't mind could you tell me all about it. We're just starting the process and it seems so complicated and overwhelming.
Best of luck to you and everyone starting and in the midst of cycles.
Thanks....Lisa

[randa2006]

Hello Friends,

(sorry for the long post)

Dearest Paula, I'm just sick about your fsh level reading. I posted a lengthy note to you on the Septembies. Please take good care of yourself right now and let us know how you decide to go forward. Sending you a big hug! X You might start a separate thread asking if any other women have succeeded with a higher fsh level and what their stories were? I want to say that I have seen some defy the odds there, but I can't remember who they were. If there is anyone else who's done it - then it can be done and why not you too? Please forgive if I'm being too pushy. I just hate to see an fsh of only 22 be the final deciding factor for you.

Katie12563, thanks for the uplifting post the other day. I like the idea of "being pregnant by Christmas or New Years."

Sharon, how are you today?

Debra, I understand the soreness completely and the bruising. Glad it's over for me this round. I also get it (as sick as it sounds) that you get excited about the injections in a happy, welcoming way. I did too. Afterall, we're making babies with these drugs. DH and I said little prayers this round too (didn't during the cancelled round, hmmm?). Can't wait for your scan. You sound VERY "follicly populated" already.

Jane, you should go for it!!!!!!! 6 follies at our age is the same as 26 for the younger ladies (my opinion). I told my dh that my reasoning for not ever canceling again, even if it meant only getting 1 or 2 eggs is that we are in a different ballpark than 90% of the women who are going through IVF - the "cancelation rules" just don't apply to us. Think about it. Our babies are naturally going to cost more and our eggs per round are going to cost more per egg because we are dealing with a lower volume to begin with. EVERY EGG in our over-40 group is a GOLDEN EGG and should not be wasted. The normal rules of cancelation just don't work for us. At least that's how I see it. We have to play every card that's dealt us to the very end to offset our lower success rates.

Lisa, I hope you find some answers on your donor embies and soon. 3 m/c is heartbreaking. I try to picture myself going through one, because I know the odds are high that I will (75%), but I'm sure there is no way to brace yourself for that kind of loss. And you've had 3. Best of luck with donor embies. In the end, and I'm sure any mother would agree, 99.9% of the joy of parenting has nothing to do with the biology of the dna flowing through your child's veins.

HCG shot last night was on the painful side. Hip still sore today. DH did a wonderful job. And yes, he did go with me to the scan yesterday, but of course it was good news so didn't get to see him handle the ugly stuff yet. Excited for EC tomorrow morning. I'll post as soon as I can afterward. And yes, we are still freezing all - he wouldn't budge again.

Oh, wondering what other clinics are advising regarding the sperm issue. We were told to abstain 5-2 days prior, and that the better of the two was slightly older specimen vs. fresher - so we went with the 5 days. What advice have you all been given?

[DebraP]

Randa, we're told to abstain for 3 days beforehand.

I wish you all the luck in the world tomorrow.

hugs
Debra.