[1dayatatime]

Hi everyone!
What a good idea to have our own cycle month thread! I am scheduled for mid August also but have heard nothing yet about what the protocol is. In fact I just left a message with them asking them to give me an indication. Do we have a consult first with the Dr.? When do I stat BCP? My period is due Friday-ish.

Because of my age we are also considering donor egg. (I have posted in that section and am getting some good ideas and support)
Basically, financially we only have one shot at IVF so I have to make a choice between our genetic child (a one in three chance) or a child that has half our genes (a 65% chance) It's a hard decision because nothing is known about what may be going wrong - I respond REALLY well, lining is always great and FSH is 4.7 - we just don't know how the eggs will perform until they see them in action. We have an appointment with the donor egg sector on Thursday to get more info.

[amax]

Hi there,
I've read that a lot of you who are waiting for are going to start taking BCPs when it finally arrives. My RE has me either using barrier contraception or abstinence, but no BCP. Has anyone heard of BCPs making a difference in creating more or better follicles?

__________________
Me: 37
DH: 34
Diagnosis: Unexplained Infertility
Married in 2005, TTC since 2006

4 IUIs with no drugs:
2 IUIs with Clomid:
4 IUIs with OI (Gonal F & HCG trigger shot), all except for:
IUI with OI #2 - Sept 2008 but m/c in Nov 2008 (so happy to at least know I could get pregnant!!!)
IVF#1 - May 2009 but 2 frozen embies
IVF#2 - Waiting for so that I can begin cycle

[Gypsy]

Originally Posted by 1dayatatime

Hi everyone!
What a good idea to have our own cycle month thread! I am scheduled for mid August also but have heard nothing yet about what the protocol is. In fact I just left a message with them asking them to give me an indication. Do we have a consult first with the Dr.? When do I stat BCP? My period is due Friday-ish.

Because of my age we are also considering donor egg. (I have posted in that section and am getting some good ideas and support)
Basically, financially we only have one shot at IVF so I have to make a choice between our genetic child (a one in three chance) or a child that has half our genes (a 65% chance) It's a hard decision because nothing is known about what may be going wrong - I respond REALLY well, lining is always great and FSH is 4.7 - we just don't know how the eggs will perform until they see them in action. We have an appointment with the donor egg sector on Thursday to get more info.

Wow, that's a though decision you have to make!
If I were you I would try with my own eggs (but it's just me, I would have a hard time dealing with the fact that the baby is my husband's but not mine biologically, I know I should have not).
I know you only have one shot but you never know, lot of women have children after 40. If it didn't work, you could still have the chance to try it with a donor egg later after you save up some money again. If it's donor egg you don't have to hurry you would use a young one's. My doctor offers help to people with no insurance, you can participate in a study and you don't have to pay for the in-vitro. Ask around maybe you find a solution for the money issue.
That is my though, I hope I didn't hurt your feelings with my honesty.
Good luck to you!
Gyspy

[ms610]

TTCAngel--Do you know why some RE's use Prometrium and some Endometrin?? Is one better than the other?? If there isn't a difference is outcome, I am seriously thinking I will ask for the Endometrin. A pill inserted with my fingers......oh my gosh.....can they make this process a little more frustrating!!

Amax-- I have heard different stories on BCP's. I had one RE tell me it just keeps your cycle in order and then I had another tell me it helps you produce more follicles. I think you will be fine.

1dayatatime---hope you find the answers you are looking for on Thursday. What a huge decision.....my prayers are with you.

I read in one of my books that you should give up artifical sweetners as well when doing IVF. Improves egg quality. I have given up caffiene as well. After my m/c, I started having difficulty sleeping, so giving up caffiene just made sense. I didn't drink that much anyway, but I do miss my diet coke everyday. Guess I will trade out diet coke for grape juice........

[ms610]

Ladies, came across a neat IVF calendar at conceiveonline. I like it better than the one my RE gave me. Link below......

http://conceiveonline.com/pdfs/ivf-calendar.pdf

[kaydliz]

Hi Everyone!! I was hoping to join you. We did IVF in April and had a , found out that our clinic only had an implantation rate of 23% (not good at all) So now we are going to try again with another clinic. We are hoping to have ER and ET the last week of August since we have to travel to Seattle for my sister's wedding and then there wouldn't be a need for yet another trip. We have made 3 trips to Washington this year for IVF. I live in Montana and there are no clinics here that do IVF. I have been on BCP since my failed cycle so I don't have to wait for that, just a matter of coordinating with the clinic and wedding. I am excited to get started but also scared because of the negative last time, I can't believe how much that hurt! Well I will just stay cautiously optimistic and pray a lot. I was on the April thread last cycle and it really does help having cycle sisters to share the journey with! Sending to all!!

[amax]

Originally Posted by ms610

Amax-- I have heard different stories on BCP's. I had one RE tell me it just keeps your cycle in order and then I had another tell me it helps you produce more follicles. I think you will be fine.

Thanks for responding MS610, and thanks also for that online calendar. I made my own for my first ivf cycle - what a pain that was. This will make it much easier!

[WinniePoo]

My RE has me take BCP to "take control" of my cycle, so that they can dictate when things happen.

[Christeena]

ANGEL, Thanks for the info on the yoga dvd! I can't wait to hear if you really like it or not. I am taking 50 mg daily of DHEA, its an "age" thing! You will not be needing that =)


WINNIE, sending you VIBES!! lol.. where else on the planet do we celebrate and hate AF equally? haha =)


PGFLORIDA , we are really cycling close, my AF should be here tomorrow as well. I haven't heard from Kick or some of the others that began this thread. They will be back soon, i hope !!


1dayatatime , You have a FABULOUS FSH girl! I am also AMA (40) and my fsh is 6.9 which i was told was really good. It means we have LOTS of eggs in reserve. Don't give up hope on your bio baby just yet! I agree with GYPSY,, try first ,, DE can come later, a year even! I understand these decisions though, we have sperm issues and my RE is having us fertilize a couple eggs with Donor sperm to see if that was our issue last go around. We couldn't get our embryos to divide past day TWO!! RE says it is probably sperm related, chromosone issues. we will still fertize most of the eggs with my DH's sperm and pray pray pray!. BEST OF LUCK to u !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


AMAX, I don't think BCP improve your chances at ivf. It just gets a BUNCH of women syched so its easier for our clinics...


ms610 , nice calendar! THANKS!!


Kaydliz, im sorry about your bfn.. I can relate to your disappointment. I think its great that you are taking control and finding a new RE. I know it will be challenging to travel, but good luck to you !!! we are all here for you. I hear Montana is a beautiful state to live in. I have a friend in Hamilton and she just brags about those bitterroot mountains!!



IS TIME JUST DRAGGING OR WHAT?? ughhhh! lets get this show on the road!!!!!!!!

[1dayatatime]

Thank you for your thoughts ladies - I'm very glad you are giving your honest opinion. so many people(especially doctors) are unwilling or unable to give you a straightup honest opinion.
It is very tempting to try my own first but at the same time I have to be practical. We have to look at how far we are willing to go - I say 'we'...I am willing to do whatever it takes, but husband is reluctant. He would be happier laying it all to rest and concentrating on us. He is not sure (and I wonder about myself) if we would want to try to have a child at an even more advanced age...however you just don't know till you are there. I see here several ladies who are 42, 43, 44 and who are doing donor.
I agree with the logic that I should try my own first so I am leaning toward that.
Doctors office told me yesterday afternoon that I should call them when AF arrives (supposed to be Friday) and then they will do day 3 bloodwork and then BCP will begin. So I'm thinking that's a good start let's get bloodwork done and see what those numbers say and take it from there.

[TTCAngel34]

ms610 - I haven't ever heard of Endometrin. And I hope I didn't scare you off too much from Prometrium - yeah, it's a little gross inserting a pill, but it's easy enough. Maybe DH would do it for you. (I say that and then remember how sooo not s*xy it is to have leftover Prometrium up there...)

amax - As for BCPs, I'm pretty sure my RE said that it increases the chance of success for the next cycle. I don't know if that means more follicles or what, but I know I'm going to do it. My nurse said I'll be on them for three weeks.

Christeena - Um, yeah, about doing yoga last night...well, I got home from work at 9, ate dinner, and then couldn't bring myself to do it last night. But I'll go home earlier tonight and I'll definitely do it, unless I find something that I'd rather do. (Can you tell I'm not a HUGE fan of yoga?? But I'll do it. I will. Seriously. I'm going to do it.)

1dayatatime - Ugh. I don't even know what to say, except that I know it's a difficult decision if you really only have one shot. So I'll just say this:

--Angel

[Gypsy]

Originally Posted by kaydliz

Hi Everyone!! I was hoping to join you. We did IVF in April and had a , found out that our clinic only had an implantation rate of 23% (not good at all) So now we are going to try again with another clinic. We are hoping to have ER and ET the last week of August since we have to travel to Seattle for my sister's wedding and then there wouldn't be a need for yet another trip. We have made 3 trips to Washington this year for IVF. I live in Montana and there are no clinics here that do IVF. I have been on BCP since my failed cycle so I don't have to wait for that, just a matter of coordinating with the clinic and wedding. I am excited to get started but also scared because of the negative last time, I can't believe how much that hurt! Well I will just stay cautiously optimistic and pray a lot. I was on the April thread last cycle and it really does help having cycle sisters to share the journey with! Sending to all!!

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN!
HOPEFULLY WE HAVE BETTER LUCK THIS TIME!
GYPSY

[Gypsy]

I just ordered the yoga dvd too . I am so excited about it! Thanks Angel!!
How do you like it?

[Tanter602]

Originally Posted by WinniePoo

My RE has me take BCP to "take control" of my cycle, so that they can dictate when things happen.

The IVF nurse at our clinic said also that BCPs help "prime" you for the procedure, and helps produce better results. She didn't say how, though.
I'm waiting for AF too, but I still haven't gotten any word from the RE as to whether he'll do IVF with my blood sugar levels elevated. I'm waiting to get a second opinion from my ob/gyn. It should come today! for me ladies, that my ob/gyn says it's fine to start, even with a slightly elevated level.

[Tanter602]

Originally Posted by ms610

TTCAngel--Do you know why some RE's use Prometrium and some Endometrin?? Is one better than the other?? If there isn't a difference is outcome, I am seriously thinking I will ask for the Endometrin. A pill inserted with my fingers......oh my gosh.....can they make this process a little more frustrating!!

Amax-- I have heard different stories on BCP's. I had one RE tell me it just keeps your cycle in order and then I had another tell me it helps you produce more follicles. I think you will be fine.


1dayatatime---hope you find the answers you are looking for on Thursday. What a huge decision.....my prayers are with you.

I read in one of my books that you should give up artifical sweetners as well when doing IVF. Improves egg quality. I have given up caffiene as well. After my m/c, I started having difficulty sleeping, so giving up caffiene just made sense. I didn't drink that much anyway, but I do miss my diet coke everyday. Guess I will trade out diet coke for grape juice........

I'm told by the IVF nurse at our clinic that Endometrin and Prometrium are the same medicines. With Endometrin, you only have to insert three times a day, however, as opposed to four with Prometrin. Also, Endometrin comes with a handy applicator!
I haven't had to use any yet, but the nurse gave us a sample box. I checked it out and it reminds me of when I used to have recurring yeast infections in my 20s (found it that it was because of the Always brand of sanitary napkins, with that helpful -- but harmful "dry-weave.") and the docs gave me medicine I had to insert. The little pills came with an applicator, which made things so much easier. And, there was leakage with that, too, so I had to wear a pantyliner. But it wasn't that bad, to be honest.
I took oral Prometrium after my IUI in March and I hated it.