2013 IVF Cyclers Join Us HERE!

[Sunshine1576]

Okay I know I've been on here for a while, but hey the more we go through the more we want to help others, and I'm all about giving support anyway possible. I hope some former buddies will join me here and chime in too, but I wanted to especially open this forum to our newcomers. No it's not easy going through the very first IVF and not knowing completely what to expect. My wish is for IVF to work on the very first time for you, however reality is it may take more then one try before we bring home our rainbow baby. This is why we have to keep the faith that all things are possible to those who continue to believe. Throughout it all we cry for understanding but we become stronger...through Him we gain more patience...and someday when you're holding those little one(s) you will look back and just know it was all worth it...This is my prayer for you!

[LauraN]

Hey girlie. I was wondering if you were going to start a new one for those doing cycles in 2013 So, I've tried to keep up, and I remember that you are going to do an FET here real soon......do you have the dates and the protocol yet? I'm going to go through my first FET here real soon too. For me, I'm waiting to get my period....which geez, should have been a couple of days ago, but you know how it is, when you want it to come it doesn't and when you don't want it, it comes full force! Once I start, then I start on BCP on day 3. From there, I know I start lupron on day 17 and then am lost from there. I believe my transfer would be sometime at the beginning of March or something like that. I know I'm going to have to do estrogen patches, estrogen pills(I need all of the estrogen boosting that I can get!), then I start the PIO a couple of days before the transfer and do progesterone suppositories as well. I've been doing acupuncture for the past 4 months to prep for this while we saved money for it since we tapped ourselves out with the last 4 IVF rounds.

I will try to post more often, I've been a total stalker but do have a hard time keeping up sometimes. Plus, I've been suffering from such cruddy depression, but it's under control now. My doc put me on Zoloft, he says it's safe during pregnancy and has less side effects than Prozac which is the other one that is ok during pregnancy. I'm hoping that I can wean off the meds at some point.

I know a bunch of people are on the facebook group.....what is the group and how do I get invited on it? And to make sure, it's totally hidden, right?

Talk to you soon and baby dust to us
Laura

[Sunshine1576]

Laura I'm so excited to see you here! Ha only this chick would start a new thread, but I know the Oct-Dec one was still running yet being January didn't make it seem right. Soooo I decided to create one for the entire year to cover everything, I've done a summer board, fall board and now a 4 season board. lol Your upcoming FET cycle sounds very simular to mine, it really does. Seems like we've waited forever to cycle again doesn't it? My protocal: I started bcp on day1,as we know bcp is mostly used to schedule the procedure making it more accomodating to the RE's calender. Thankful this time AF was on time for once...AF came on 1/16 so I'll take the pill everyday through and including 1/29. Begin Lupron on 1/25 at 15 units every AM and at my baseline u/s on Feb 8th will decrease Lupron to 10 units through 2/17. I start the lupron patches once I get instructions after baseline on 2/8. Progesterone shots will begin somewhere around 2/21, Medrol tentatively on 2/22 as well as antibiotics (2 per day for 4 days). Valium is used the day of ET, scheduled tentatively 2/25. Wow this is our first FET so exciting isn't it?!

Yes send me a friend request on fb and I'll add you to the group. 18 former cyclers we know are chatting with each other and I have a friend looking out for me to make sure none of my post are showing up on my home page. It's hard to know for sure but I haven't had any problems for the last 3 months that I've been on IVF Gals. If you are interested in trying it though c.h.r.i.s.t.y. g.a.t.t.i.s (without the dots of course). Definately be checking both forums and I'm very excited you are joining me here in this upcoming cycle!!! I'll be doing the AF dance for you so we can get this party started!

[WhimsyDae]

Hi Ladies!
Looks like we are all getting ready for our cycles. This will be my first cycle. My husband and I had some pre-lab work done a few weeks ago and now we are just waiting for AF to make her appearance, so I can do Day 3 labs. I am excited for the cycle to start, yet trying to keep my stress level down. For the first time today, I felt frustrated at the process we have to go through while it seems like everyone else in our lives are getting pregnant so easily. I started to feel the "pressure" I have often heard other people talking about. And anxious. Generally I am pretty good about this stuff and try to keep a positive perspective on things, today just got the best of me. My good friend called to tell me she was pregnant..again. She has a 6 month old, so we are all surprised and shocked. I am happy for her, just left me wishing it was that easy for me. Ok, enough of that kind of talk. lol
I look forward to reading about all the good news we will get to see on this board!!
Have a WHIMSICAL Day!!

[Sdtryingagain]

Hey ladies, I just wanted to pop in a sprinkle some baby dust around!!! Looking forward to stalking and watching the BFPs roll in!!!

[Sunshine1576]

WhimsyDae- Welcome! I'm glad you found us here and I look forward to following your journey. I know that feeling when you hear about friends you know getting pg at the drop of a hat, it's bittersweet and unfair and we try to understand why but it's very hard at times. We only know it's got to happen at the right timing... But I will tell you this journey will make you a stronger person and in the end you have a gratitude toward your future children far greater and even more deserving. Some days are going to be easier then others, but you have us here and will never feel alone. Anytime you need to vent this is a great place to come to. I am very excited about your upcoming IVF cycle. Now if AF would just show herself, I cannot wait to here about your upcoming doctor appointment.

Sdtrying- Thank you, your support means so much!

[LauraN]

WhimsyDae- welcome! How exciting that you are starting the cycle. It's funny, because before we started this IVF stuff, I was a very even keel person for the most part......the cool thing about going through the IVF stuff, is that it gives you a little permission to be a little bat shit crazy and you have an excuse Talking about people getting prego at the drop of a hat when you are trying so hard....totally get that! I've been on both sides of this story, so it's weird for me. I have 2 kids(I guess they are legally adults, but they still act like 2 yr olds sometimes) that I had when I was 19 and 22, then had my tubes tied because I got prego with both of them while on Birth Control. I swear I got pregnant just walking near a guy So, fast forward a million years and the doctors recommended IVF since my tubes were tied and my husband has a low sperm count and they thought that I would have no problems getting prego the first time with IVF since I have never had an issue in the past getting prego and carrying babies to term........so, here I am, doing my first Frozen Embryo Transfer using donor eggs(apparently I have really old eggs.....they didn't say it like that, but I know that is what it means) and my hubby's sperm. The fresh cycle with the donor eggs didn't take. I started acupuncture 4 months ago in hopes of it helping. I have no clue if it will help, but I have totally fallen in love with acupuncture! This journey has been such an eye opening experience and I have so much more appreciation for those that struggle with infertility, losing babies, etc. I've always felt bad for people with any types of problems, but now that I have been through this journey, I get it. Sorry for all of the rambling...... as for where I am in the process...I'm waiting for AF to show up too! I think I need to go out in white pants and not take any pads or tampons.....maybe then I will start This is a great place to vent, because we know that one day you can feel on top of the world and then the next feel like crap...shoot, that can all be within a 10 minute window of time. It's all perfect, everything that you feel, just let yourself feel it. I can't wait to see all of the BFP's on here and celebrate with everyone!

Sunshine-so I'm still super scared to post on FB, but I'm sure I will eventually stop being scared...hehehehe. I don't post much on FB anyways, even just normal daily stuff. I'm what I call a FB stalker I love to read what is going on everyday in everyone's life....... How are you feeling about starting the Lupron? The first 2 cycles when I used Lupron it gave me horrible headaches, but then these last 2 cycles, it didn't at all......or at least not the big yucky ones. I think you are going to be on Lupron much longer than me, and a higher dosage, but I'm not sure. I think I will be on 10 whatever the units are and only shoot myself for 10 days with it. I'm assuming I will start the estrogen patches at some point while I'm shooting myself....not sure. I can tell you though, it's the estrogen patches that make me bat shit crazy!!!!! I turn into Bridezilla without the wedding part....hehehehehehe.......gotta love my DH,when I go too far over the edge, he's like, "So, is today when you replaced your ***** patches?"........ he's the sweetest man and just goes with the flow. Hey, have you heard anything on Lauren? Wasn't she the one that was having some potential issues?

Gotta get back to work......I was asked to sing at one of my best friend's grandfathers rosary tonight. He wanted music sung when he died, but not at the actual funeral (she said he was super old school catholic and didn't believe music should be during a mass), so they asked me to sing at the rosary. I'm a little nervous, but honored at the same time. I believe I will be singing Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art and It is well with my soul (not sure if that is the name of the song or not). I've been singing these songs since I popped out of my mom, so hopefully I can do them justice. She just asked me late yesterday to do it so very little prep time. Well, chat with you gals later. Have a fantastic day!

Laura

[LauraN]

Sdtryingagain- thank you so much for the support, we LOVE it. We will take all of the baby dust sprinkling you can dish out

[rypell1985]

I've been waiting for a new thread! Ill be here to stalk and cheer!

[Sunshine1576]

Thanks Rypel!

Laura- I bet you sang lovely at the rosary last night, I'm sure it meant so much to your best friend too. I haven't heard from Lauren hopefully at some point she will check in with us here. I "see" alot of our former buddies over on IVF Gals, it's good we now have 105 members there, somehow I manage to get lost over there and post whatever hehe it's a mixed lifestage crowd. I'm close to handful it's good we still have their support over here too. This morning marked my first lupron injection completely forgot to draw back on the needle and drew blood, rusty I guess, yes me not the needle! But I did ice down the injection site and that helped. Will be on lupron for 3 weeks, crazy huh? I hear you are on it for 10 days I'm quite envious of that...we know who will be the bridezilla without the cake around here! Already feel lightheaded, don't do very well with giving myself my own injections AT ALL! But dh said he could but was running late this morning and his hands get all shakey and we know that's not comforting for sure. As for getting AF to come my advice would be to run over to Victoria Secret buy the most expensive pair of panties for dh and wham AF is sure to come! I'm nuts at times I know, that part is contagious you know! Acupuncture sounds relaxing, I did consider trying it but I'm not sure how safe it would be down here in Redneck Rivera. I live in Panama City and we have a ton of Spring Breakers headed our way as soon as the snowbirds are gone. Huge tourist area I'm sure some of you have heard of the Emerald Coast. Shame on me for not taking advantage of the beach more often, when I was a child my parents would take us to Gulf Shores every year for vacation and I LOVED being on the beach, now I have the coast 500 feet from my job and I never go. You would think it would make getting any work done but someone has to pay the IVF bills around here. I need a reminder where you ladies are from and what you do for fun because it cannot be all about IVF and work here I won't allow it. Hormones are talking now, I better go before I get too fussy! You ladies don't forget what I said about Victoria Secret!

[Sunshine1576]

Hmmmm I was feeling some Lupron side-effects so reading on I found out Lupron's importance to the human life...
Lupron is a synthetic hormone created to regulate certain processes in the body. It causes the natural hormone production in the body to drop off, decreasing estrogen in women and testosterone in men. It is used to lessen the symptoms of prostate cancer in men. In women, Lupron is used to prevent endometriosis, which is an overgrowth of the uterine lining outside the uterus. Lupron is injected under the skin each month or every three to six months. Different types of Lupron are used on men than on women.

[WhimsyDae]

Good evening Ladies!
@Sunshine: Thanks for the warm welcome and the advice. Usually when I want (or don't want AF to come) I take a pregnancy test...it never fails! LOL, the second, I swear...I POAS, she shows herself. Drives me crazy! As for my location, I live in MN. It has been extremely cold this past week, but it is suppose to warm up to 30 tomorrow and believe it or not, I am excited about that! As for work, I don't do anything special really. I do personal finance part time, I teach sewing/quilting classes at Jo-Ann's part time, I have my own sewing business and I am starting to volunteer more. That makes me the happiest, volunteering. I hope your injections get a little bit better quick! I am not overly excited about that part of the whole process myself. Whatever it takes, right?
@Laura: I love the honesty! I can't wait to go bat shit crazy and then say, it's the hormones!! Thanks for sharing it with me. How neat it is that your best friend asked you to sing at her grandfather's rosary, I am sure you did a wonderful job!! I wish I could sing, although I do use my voice to torture my dogs...they don't even pay attention to me anymore. So it doesn't really count, I guess.
AFM: Nothing new to report. I am working on a quilt for a silent auction in a few weeks. I got a flu shot yesterday, first one ever. I don't like needles enough to get the vaccinations, but I didn't want to risk this first cycle on the off chance that I actually do get the flu. I have never had the flu and my luck, I would get it this year. Still waiting for AF to show...I am expecting her this weekend or early next week.
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and have a WHIMSICAL Day!
Jenn

[Sunshine1576]

Ugh my day was so rough I don't even think I can see straight, maybe a little effort needed to type this post. Last night the former pg coworker came with her new baby, several of us (including me had not seen the baby) and they asked me if I wanted to hold her. I said no I probably shouldn't not with the chemicals all over me from cleaning the stockroom area. I did chat with her for a bit and of course couldn't keep my eyes off the baby the whole time I was standing there. It got overbearing and so I would use customers as my distraction but it wasn't enough and each time I would walk back out of the stockroon she would still be there talking with my coworker. She stayed for over an hour chatting about the baby and showed us her baby pictures one with her eyes open since this little girl sleeps pretty much 24/7 totally opposite from her mother who is nothing but loud and desires total attention. Okay I'll be nice or at least try to, but it feels like a slap in the face from someone who didn't even want to be a mother in the first place. Today marks day2 of lupron and I gave dh a fair warning lupron this strong can knock me into depression, it shuts down my system in a menapause related way. Today I tried to be chipper at work but it took alot of effort toward the end of my shift bc nobody wanted to make phone calls over the weekend. I really cannot blame them yet delegated some of the paperwork before I left. It's what my store manager left us to work on while she was away and I feel it's now going to be a workload on Monday since there are over 190 calls to make, she comes back on Tuesday but I hate procrastinating ugh why am I writing about this here? I'm overwhelmed and need to find a way to breathe. It seems while she is away we get a crapload of work to do and it takes away from my normal fun experience with the employees and customers...There doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day. Anyway sorry to vent about things that are beyond my control...I'll be back chatting more on Tuesday and certainly reading along the way.

[Sunshine1576]

This thread remains quiet tonight in memory of Lauren's angel.

[LauraN]

Good Morning all!

Sunshine- oh no on Lauren.....what happened? Did I miss a posting somewhere? On your Lupron shots.....how are they going? Are you still being all crazy with them? Sometimes I love having something my craziness on! It's like being old, you can say what you want and kinda do what you want and people just accept it.....ha!

So, finally got AF yesterday! So I emailed my IVF nurse this morning asking for my calendar. I'll let you know what it looks like once I get it.

Gotta get back to work, I have way too much work to do and not enough time to get it done. Talk to you girls later. Baby dust to us all!