Anyone else stimming for Egg Retrieval early November?

[nicaliw]

Hi ladies

The clock is ticking and I'm finally stimming for my first cycle of IVF with ICSI. I am very excited but very worried about stuff like OHSS and BFN. I'd love to hear from all of you on a similar schedule so we can share our experiences.

I'm taking gonal f 225 with 2 luveris and 5 units of lupron daily. So far my ovaries feel a little achey and I'm wiped out. I have an ultrasound this am to see how things are going.

My ER is planned for Nov 7th with a probable 5 day blast transfer if everything goes well.

Anyone interested in getting ready for the 2 week wait together

[nicaliw]

Hi all, well I had my ultrasound and bloodwork this am and all is looking good. I have been stimming for 3 days and have about 18 follicles (10 on one side and 8 on the other) that are all about the same size. I think this is good but they weren't excited like I was. Ha ha. Anyone know if this is a good number to start with?

[2ndtimer]

Hi,
It sounds like you are off to a great start! Best of luck to you, I think I'm about a week behind your schedule depending on when AF arrives.
2ndtimer

[nicaliw]

H 2ndtimer,

When is your egg retrieval scheduled for? Is this your second ivf? Are you also doing ICSI?

Sorry if too many questions, I just love reading other people's situations.

[Anie]

hi nicali

I'm going for ICSI as well. I had 1st IVF in Jul/Aug but no eggs were fertilised.

I'm on Gonal-F 300 and my EC should be on wednesday the 7th.

Hope all goes well with you

Anie

[buddy]

Hi Anie, Nicaliw, and 2ndTimer
I am on my second time and my retrieval is on the 9th. I'm on 225 GONAL-F, 10 UNITS LUPRON, 15 UNITS LOW DOSE HCG, ANTIBIATICS, AND METFORMIN. I started my stims Mon 29.
They will be doing ICSI and Assisted Hatching. I don't know why they are doing the assisted hatching because my eggs fertilized just fine last cycle and my husband is fine he has two kids. I have unknown infertility. I really hope this one sticks because I am being assigned in Germany in January.

[2ndtimer]

Hi Nicali,
I don't mind questions! This will be my 3rd attempt at IVF with ISCI. We started out with diagnosis of male factor, nothing wrong with me. It's been kind of a mystery why it hasn't worked yet. I've now been tested for everything under the sun multiple times, & so far I'm OK. I'm 39 & DH is 39.
Both of my previous fresh IVF cycles, I started off a little slow responding to the stims which made the MD increase my dose a lot, then I responded very well making about 20 eggs each time. We've had good luck with the ISCI too. It's just that I haven't gotten a BFP yet.
Last time for my FET cycle I tried accupunture which I really recommend. I got a couple of (+) on HPT's but then a (-) on the blood test. MD is thinking it has been a problem with implantation, maybe because I was on such high doses of follistim for a while it caused my uterus to be more irritable.
I just got my meds today. I've been on BCP's for 14 days. As soon as AF arrives(should be very soon) I go in for baseline U/S & labs & start follistim/microdose lupron/microdose ovidrel for 10 days. I'm also on baby aspirin & steriods now to continue thru the cycle. Then the ET. Then we are planning on a 5 day blastocyte transfer this time. MD said he doesn't usually plan on a 5 day transfer for someone my age, but so far I haven't had a problem producing eggs so I should have some still developing by day 5.
Sorry for such a long reply. I'm just getting excited about this cycle.

Hi Anie, sorry to hear about the last ivf not working. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you this time. We've had good luck with the ISCI so hopefully it will greatly improve the fert rate.
2ndtimer

[dream_baby]

This is my fist time using a message board. Hope it is ok for me to jump in. It looks like we are all going to have a busy week.
I started Gonal-F on Friday and have an estimated ER 11/7 as well. This is my 2nd try for IVF. The dr's were thrilled after ER my 1st time (25 eggs 18 looked great and mature). The next day the dr was surprised to have to call and say 0 fertilization. It was devastating. They didn't do ICSI last time because all DH tests looked great. This time we will do ICSI. They said there is every reason to hope ICSI will change the outcome this time and get us to transfer and the big 2ww.

Enough about the negative 1st round - working hard to stay excited and optimistic this week.

[2ndtimer]

Welcome Dream Baby,
It sounds like ICSI will also help you a great deal too! So are any of you ladies getting uncomfortable & bloated yet with the stimming? It just means more eggs!
Happy Halloween to everyone!
2ndtimer

[dream_baby]

The only thing I can say about feeling sore and bloated is that it makes you feel like it is working!
(BTW my RE suggests everyone tke at least one tablespoon of malanta or maalox twice a day when stimming and LOTS of fruits and veggies to help keep comfortable)

Who would have guessed we would look at shots and feeling uncomfortable as a sign of good things to come!

[kellym]

Hi!
Well as you can see from my profile I am just starting 8th round and hopefully my last!!!

2ndtimer, it looks like we are on the same schedule again.

I am on day 5 (day 2 of stims). I have no idea when my ER will be it'll be sometime in the next 10-12 days.

Looking forward to sharing this journey with you guys!

[nicaliw]

Hey everyone! So I was feleing pretty smug that I was getting away with feeling few to no symptoms but that changed today. My belly is really bloated and tender, I'm totally tired all the time and to top things off I have the most painful hemorroids. I have no idea if thats just a coincidence or a side effect, I haven't seen anyone else complaining of this

2ndtimer, I'm curious about your hpt's that were positive, how many days post transfer were you? I know I'm not going to be able to resist doing an hpt but I know the dangers.

Dreambaby and Anie, we're on the same schedule!!! Very cool. By the way, Anie, I live in Denver but I'm actually a Brit! I grew up close to Brum, moved here in 96. Either of you had ultrasounds yet to check on your follicles?

[2ndtimer]

Hi KellyM! I can't believe here we are again. Again, I'm so sorry about the last time not working for you. I think probably everyone on the boards are pulling for you. What type of protocal are you on now?
Nicali, last time I had a FET, so no HCG shot in my system to interfere with the HPT. I tested on day 10 -got a faint (+), on day 12 -got an even fainter (+) and on day 14 right before the blood test & got a (-). I'm very hesitant to even try to do a HPT on a fresh IVF cycle because you have the HCG in your system that can give you a false positive. Hopefully, I will be able to stay away from them this time.
2ndtimer

[dream_baby]

I am off to the RE now for u/s and E2 - they keep reducing my GonalF due to high E2 and I don't feel as bloated as a couple days ago so I have no idea what to expect. Wish me luck!

I never made it to transfer last time so didn't know about the false positives from HCG -thanks for the info I would have probably tried a HPT expecting a false negative for testing too early!

[nicaliw]

Just had another US, now have 8-12 follicles on the right and 10-15 on the left. Woo-hoo, looks good. I'm a bit nervous about them getting bigger, already feel like my ovaries are going to explode. Oh well, it'll be worth it in the end.