[2LinesIn09]

Originally Posted by daisy2006

Hi ladies! I was wondering if I could join your group? We are probably going to do our next cycle in August. I am very nervous for many reasons. I just switched doctors and they are using a differant protocol that my last dr. I am worried that it won't work.

Also, they are not having me take bcp, we are just relying on my regular cycle. Are there pros and cons to this? Is anyone doing a cycle and skipping the bcp?

I'm cycling without BCPs too. Last IVF cycle I had to stop them on day 5 because the headaches were so excrutiating. The Dr decided to go wthout them this round thank God.

[2LinesIn09]

Yesterday I had my IVF calendar review. It's funny how we have been discussing this for so long, but it took one yellow piece of paper with perfect penmanship and a whole lot of dates to suddenly make it all real. So here is the lowdown on my *estimated* cycle. I hope you're ready for some head spinning info, because mine hasn't stopped yet. Assuming that AF shows her ugly face on time on the 18th or 19th, I will have my baseline ultrasound and estradiol levels checked on Day 2 of my cycle (19th or 20th). Provided that the u/s goes well, I will start the gonadatropins (300 Follistim and 1 vial of Menopur) the next night (20th or 21st). Then, around the 25th, I will go in for my first monitoring u/s and estradiol check (and pre-op and CBC). Apparently that is the last day I am allowed to exercise and travel. *sigh*. So much for my daily gym routine. Then I will be seen every 1 to 3 days for the remainder of the cycle for monitoring. On the 26th, I will start the antagonist medication (Ganirelix 250 mcg) and I will increase my vials of Menopur to 2. Provided that I stim in the estimated 10-11 day range, that would put my Egg Retrieval somewhere around July 29th or 30th. YIKES! I swear they had mentioned August Retrieval to me before. Of course, nothing ever goes "normally" in my life, so this date could be pushed out another 4 days if I stim for 14 days, pushing it into August. They seem to think that the 13 days I stimmed last time was just a fluke, but we'll see. If I do only stim for 10 days though, that would put my Embryo Transfer on August 1st, one day before our one year anniversary (or possibly even on our anniversary)! Hopefully this year, we will get a nice belated Anniversary BFP! Then I start progesterone shots the next day (luckily I am a PIO injection veteran, so those don't scare me.). I'll have my post retrieval visit on August 8th. And if this all goes as planned (here is the best date yet), my first beta will be on August 13th. 13 never was my lucky number, but maybe, just maybe this could change all that.

[TracyB]

Hello ladies! It seems like this thread has been going for a bit but I just learned that my last IUI didn't work and now I am officially a member of the August IVF club! I look forward to getting to know all of you and see us all have some BFP's in the end!! I'm so excited and nervous for all of this. But ready or not...here I go. Here are my dates so far and I also will update my signature as well.

7/8/09- CD1- Blood testing
7/13/09- CD6- Mock ET
7/28/09- CD21 Begin Lupron
8/25/09- Egg Retrieval
8/27/09- Embryo Transfer

There are other dates of course in there for the other injections but I think I have the important ones in there. Good luck everyone! I am hard and that we have lots and lots of next month.

[Linz25]

I am so glad I found all of you. Have any of you ever gone through a sonohysteroscopy (saline) before? My re said that I will have this procedure to see if there is anything in my uterus that would interfere with implanation. I want to know what to expect.

I have decided that I am going to have a very positive attitude on this whole thing. I am going to find inspirational qoutes and verses to read everyday so that I will stay positive.

Af should be here next week. How many of you are on BCP before you start meds? I have not been on BCPs in 5 years. I am not looking foward to it.

[Newbie]

For those of you who have experience with Lupron - when did your side effects appear - if you had side effects? I've only taken 3 shots so far - and I feel fine. But I was wondering - maybe it just takes some time to get into my system? Or maybe I'm just one of the lucky ones?
Also, will the Lupron keep from showing up this month? (I started Lupron on day 21 - this is day 24 for me. would normally be here around day 29ish.) I just assumed it would since I was told the medicine would put me in a "menopausal state" - but I figured I ask!

to all....

[kate94]

Originally Posted by GreenMommaToBE

I started my period today! Start lupron on July 27th, estimated egg retrival is Aug 19th and transfer is aug 24th...Im excited and nervous

What all are you doing/taking to get ready?

You will all be in my prayers the next few months

hey congrats starting bcp's! i thought i saw AF last nite but today not so much! im so anxious to call the ivf nurse and get this goin! since this is my 2nd ivf i feel a lil bit more prepared.

[Alyson_Sunshine]

Hello zozo20, I would like to be added to this August board. I just got my calander Monday and am excited to get started. Thanks

[MrsJB]

Originally Posted by Linz25

I am so glad I found all of you. Have any of you ever gone through a sonohysteroscopy (saline) before? My re said that I will have this procedure to see if there is anything in my uterus that would interfere with implanation. I want to know what to expect.

I have decided that I am going to have a very positive attitude on this whole thing. I am going to find inspirational qoutes and verses to read everyday so that I will stay positive.

Af should be here next week. How many of you are on BCP before you start meds? I have not been on BCPs in 5 years. I am not looking foward to it.

I did that test about a year ago- at least I think it is the same one. They pretty much just shoot you up with water and have you rock your hips while they take a look around. They had about 5 people in the room to watch and it was a bit messy. But not as painful as when they checked the tubes.

[daisy2006]

Linz5---- I just had my saline ultrasound a couple of wks ago. It's really not bad at all. The put the speculum in like a normal gyn visit and insert a small catheter through the cervix, into the uterus, blow a little balloon up inside so it stays in and the they fill your uterus w/ saline. The speculum is removed and they do a vaginal ultra sound. It really isn't any worse than a regular vaginal ultrasound. Just a bit more uncomfortable and you get a little crampy. Nothing at all to be nervous about, relax

Newbie-----I didn't have any side effects that I can remember from the Lupron. I kept hearing all of these horrible stories and was waiting for the "unleashing of the beast", with hot flashes and mood swings. I think I got a little irritable and that's it. I hope it goes the same for me next time around.

[Christin2084]

Had my sono today, went great no pain yay!

got my protocol. Im taking Bravelle this time 225 units and one vial of menopur 75 units from day 1. I actually like this because you have to mix them all and they can go in one shot instead of doing multiple shots. I also dont have to do the PIO shot I hate those things. I had to do them myself last time because dh was to freaked out by the long needle. So this time im takind endometrium which is taken vaginally.

My problem is I always respond super early with lots of follies but low number of eggs are retrieved. we think the majority are just still imature so this time eventhough my follie measurements will say I need to trigger we are going to push on and let me go an extra day or two and see if that helps. less than a month before I start stims yay!

[MPisready]

Originally Posted by chrissie5202006

Hey ladies,

I just wanted to stop in and give an update that my cycle has been postponed until September I have been included in a clinical trial and will be receiving the whole cycle for free and I guess the lab for U.C. Irvine (conducting the study) will be closed in August. We could still move forward but would have to pay for everything ourselves. Makes more sense to wait one more month. So I will still do my hsg on friday and stay on this dreaded bcp for 1 more month. I havent been on bcp since I was 17 and let me tell you I am going crazy!! Headaches, Cramps, Nausea you name it I have it. Ive even lost my appetite which might be a good thing So of course I am frustrated and impatient but am blessed to be recieving another chance at IVF. Ive been so busy working overtime as a waitress to save money and have been stopping in but havent had a chance to "chime in" LOL.. I hope I can still post here and will be cheering you all on !! I might start a September thread even though its a little early. Positive thoughts and hoping everyone gets there 2010 april or may baby.. or babies!!
Chrissie

I'm sure that is super frustrating, but to be ble to do it for FREE is an amazing opportunity. I'll be sending your way! Keep us posted!

[kate94]

Originally Posted by Newbie

For those of you who have experience with Lupron - when did your side effects appear - if you had side effects? I've only taken 3 shots so far - and I feel fine. But I was wondering - maybe it just takes some time to get into my system? Or maybe I'm just one of the lucky ones?
Also, will the Lupron keep from showing up this month? (I started Lupron on day 21 - this is day 24 for me. would normally be here around day 29ish.) I just assumed it would since I was told the medicine would put me in a "menopausal state" - but I figured I ask!

to all....

i had lots of headaches (mild ones) and a few mood swings when i was on lupron. also yes you will and shld def still get AF!!

[WinniePoo]

My Lupron side effect is kinda strange. Apparently in my body Lupron and BCP don't play very well together. For the 5 days that I am taking them both at the same time I have almost incapacitating migraine headaches. Once I stop taking the BCP all of my side effects go away and except for the obvious bloating and occassional very mild mood swing from the stims I have no side effects for the rest of my cycle. I take that back...once I start prometrium inserts I get the sore boob pee all the time blues, but it doesn't bother me at all. The only real thing I deal with is the headache from BCP. I start Lupron on SUNDAY!!! Then it will all feel real again. I can't believe it's been about 11 months since we last tried IVF!

Oh and I got a call from the pharmacy today. Meds are being delivered tomorrow...about $4500 worth of meds for $282 GO INSURANCE!!!!

[Linz25]

Christin2084-what is a PIO shot? So have you started ? If you have already mentioned this sorry. I am trying to keep up.

WinniePoo-are you fixing to start you meds? Do you start taking meds right after bcp?

Mrsjb & Daisy-Thanks for the info.

Tracy B-If all goes well, we should doing our ET at the same time. That is exciting.

MrsJB-I think that I am going to do accupunture too. I have to find out if my insurance covers any of it first.

I called my doc today to tell them that we have decided to do an IVF cycle. The nurse is suppose to call later to discuss everything about it. Very exciting.

[MrsJB]

Linz25-
My husband is in the military and our insurance won't cover the acupuncture at all. However- they are covering a LOT of the IVF costs and all meds.

I have seen total variations in what the acupuncture costs. Mine is generally $85 a session but you can buy a package to lower the cost of each session. They only want me in once a week until we get closer to the transfer.

I know friends who have paid about $40 a session. There are also several clinics that want to see you more than once a week from the start.

They tried to sell me on a few different things there but I only bought into the herbs they mix for me. They are terrible! I mix them with water in a shot glass and shoot them to get them down! HAHA!

Also I believe you can claim infertility treatment and acupuncture on your taxes- so save all of your receipts!