[JustOneMore]

Ladies,

Welcome to all the new gals here....all are . It is so nice to have support of ladies who have gone through it before. This is a lovely little group.

After 2 packs and 2 days of BCP, Lupron, dexamethosone and cetratide, I have finally moved on to stims!! Tonight was my first gonalf shoot...300 units. I am scheduled for a monitoring checkin on Monday but boy am I glad to have finally moved into the stimming stage. Yay!! Grow follies, grow!!

[jp1981]

To all the new members! I recognize a few of the names from the May/June IVF board.

Cagirl-I know how you feel, I try to stay positive but a part of me is so nervous of more failed cycles to come. I am excited to start but dreading the 2WW and what if I have bad news again.

AFM: So I started acupuncture yesterday, it was interesting, I liked it except for the getting pricked part, I though that the needles would be much thinner. I feel no different but I am sure it takes time. I really liked my acupuncturist. It was a 1hr visit and she charges a minimum of $20 and a maximum of $40 so you pay what you want and its always a one hr visit. I will be going 2x a week.
I have a wedding on August 1st and will be on the GonalF and not sure what to do. A friend from work is getting married and since my friends DH cant make it we were thinking of going together as my DH wouldn’t know anyone. My first dilemma is she doesn’t know that I am doing IVF and cant drink at the wedding. A friend suggested I order sprint and cranberry juice which I think is a good one. My next dilemma is what to do about the shot if DH is not there to give it to me. There is no way that I could do it myself. Does anyone know if you take the GonalF around the same time each night how many hour leeway do you have. I suppose I can start taking it at like 10pm that way DH can give it to me at like midnight??? Just what I needed I have 3 weeks to stress over it!!!

[jp1981]

Waiting on
jdw - Jody IVF #3


BCP or Estrogen
jp1981-Yas (27) IVF #2 7/5
Bella16(Shawna) Age: 34 IVF #2
cagirl2003 - jenn (28) IVF#2 lupron starts 7/13
3rdtimesthecharm (33): 6/14 IVF #3
dpop - Deb (34) IVF #2

Lupron
Southhampton-Samantha(37)IVF #6 7/3
Jpanu-Yas (27) 7/19
3rdtimesthecharm: 7/23


Stims (start date) Grow follies grow!
JustOneMore - Deb (41) IVF #2 7/9
2LinesIn09-- Eileen (32) IVF #2 7/19 (estimate)
3rdtimesthecharm: 7/24

ER
3rdtimesthecharm: 8/5 (estimate)

ET/FET
3rdtimesthecharm: 8/8 (estimate)


Waiting for BETA (PUPO)


Pregnant


Needs a Hug

[2LinesIn09]

Originally Posted by jp1981

To all the new members! I recognize a few of the names from the May/June IVF board.

Cagirl-I know how you feel, I try to stay positive but a part of me is so nervous of more failed cycles to come. I am excited to start but dreading the 2WW and what if I have bad news again.

AFM: So I started acupuncture yesterday, it was interesting, I liked it except for the getting pricked part, I though that the needles would be much thinner. I feel no different but I am sure it takes time. I really liked my acupuncturist. It was a 1hr visit and she charges a minimum of $20 and a maximum of $40 so you pay what you want and its always a one hr visit. I will be going 2x a week.
I have a wedding on August 1st and will be on the GonalF and not sure what to do. A friend from work is getting married and since my friends DH cant make it we were thinking of going together as my DH wouldn’t know anyone. My first dilemma is she doesn’t know that I am doing IVF and cant drink at the wedding. A friend suggested I order sprint and cranberry juice which I think is a good one. My next dilemma is what to do about the shot if DH is not there to give it to me. There is no way that I could do it myself. Does anyone know if you take the GonalF around the same time each night how many hour leeway do you have. I suppose I can start taking it at like 10pm that way DH can give it to me at like midnight??? Just what I needed I have 3 weeks to stress over it!!!

My DH went on a business trip last cycle and I gave myself shots for 2 days. Not fun, but it is doable in a pinch. Good luck!

[2LinesIn09]

Jami and Mouse007 WELCOME!

Mouse007-- I <3 Cake Boss!!!

Bella-- I'm doing an antagonist protocol this time around. The Lupron landed me in the ER twice last time with excrutiating headaches so my doctor changed protocols this time. 300 Follistim, 1-2 vials of Menopur and Ganirelix. And thanks for the positive 13 vibes. I need them!

jp1981-- I did acupuncture last cycle and I'm doing it again this time around. I find it very relaxing. My acupuncturist specializes in infertility, so hopefully he will help make the magic happen.

JustOneMore-- I too have been exercising at least an hour a day. Trying to get some more weight off before I start the dreaded medications. Uggghhhhh. I just lost over 40 pounds. The thought of gaining anything back makes me sick after all my hard work. Oh well. It's all for a great cause ;-).

[SouthhamptonS]

Hi Ladies - to all the new girls Sorry you have to be here but wonderful to have more strong ladies to the group!

Justonemore - How exciting to be starting stims. What a journey you have been on to get here. Grow follies Grow!

Mouse - I can't believe you had to wait 8 weeks. Glad to hear you have 2 strong embies.

Jami - This will be the perfect cycle for us all

AFM - nothing new. Just a little more bloated but all part of the fun right! Can't wait till Tuesday.

Samantha

[Bella16]

Waiting on
jdw - Jody IVF #3


BCP or Estrogen
jp1981-Yas (27) IVF #2 7/5
cagirl2003 - jenn (28) IVF#2 lupron starts 7/13
3rdtimesthecharm (33): 6/14 IVF #3
dpop - Deb (34) IVF #2

Lupron
Southhampton-Samantha(37)IVF #6 7/3
Jpanu-Yas (27) 7/19
3rdtimesthecharm: 7/23
Bella16(Shawna) Age: 34 IVF #2 7/11


Stims (start date) Grow follies grow!
JustOneMore - Deb (41) IVF #2 7/9
2LinesIn09-- Eileen (32) IVF #2 7/19 (estimate)
3rdtimesthecharm: 7/24

ER
3rdtimesthecharm: 8/5 (estimate)

ET/FET
3rdtimesthecharm: 8/8 (estimate)


Waiting for BETA (PUPO)


Pregnant


Needs a Hug

[Bella16]

Had to add me to the 'Lupron' section for tomorrow - even though it wont be Lupron, but hey, same thing - different name

Wow, this group is getting bigger n bigger - thats great - the more the merrier!!

Well, I started acupuncture again last night - and it was pretty good. I was nervous any of the needles in my legs or feet, last time, were really starting to hurt. So, he used the extra sensitive needles and rubbed the spots first - it made a huge difference - YAY - as I didnt want to quit going, but I also wasnt willing to continue going and be all stressed about about it. Now - we seem to be good to go.

jp1981 - wow, you only pay between $20 - 40? NICE!! I pay $75 (Canadian) each time - it hurts - but the success rates with adding it to an IVF cycle, are enough to make me suck it up n pay the big bucks. I'm still considering going after I find out I'm pregnant too - as it's supposed to help prevent a miscarrige -hey - at this point in time, I'll try anything We'll see tho.....after my last cycle, I went to my acu guy 4 days after my transfer, to get 'anti misscarrige' points done....

I absolutely CANNOT imagine giving myself the shots - I have a hard enough time when my DH does them - as I HATE needles - though you'd never guess that, considering I'm covered in tattoos hehehe Kudos to anyone who has ever given themselves the shots - you are my heros!!

2LinesIn09 - ahhh the exercising. Today will be my last day of 'heavy' weights as I start to go easier and easier, til it's completely gone. Next weekend will be the end of most forms of cardio - maybe some walking!? As for the weight gain... lets just consider it cushioning for our babies!!? That our babies need it!? <-- Hey, it's better than just taking drugs n getting fat for no erason - maybe we can trick our minds into thinking something else? hehehe Good luck on that one....

JustOneMore - Congrats to starting stims - sooo excited for you - and yes, even a lil jealous - as I have about another week-ish before I can...

mouse007 - You too are now officially my hero as well - 8 weeks!? Congrats on not being locked up in a rubber room after waiting that long!!

Anyways ladies - Happy Friday to all - YAY - it's finally Friday!! Off to work.......... BOO!! <-- I keep trying to win the lottery, but so far, it's a no go.... LOL

[cagirl2003]

the weight gain is one of the hardest things for me...just cause it spirals me into depression when i don't feel good about myself.

i can't give myself the shots either. but thankfully by dh hasn't ever even let me think of doing that.

here's my update:

Waiting on
jdw - Jody IVF #3


BCP or Estrogen
jp1981-Yas (27) IVF #2 7/5
cagirl2003 - jenn (28) IVF#2 lupron starts 7/13
3rdtimesthecharm (33): 6/14 IVF #3
dpop - Deb (34) IVF #2

Lupron
Southhampton-Samantha(37)IVF #6 7/3
Jpanu-Yas (27) 7/19
3rdtimesthecharm: 7/23
Bella16(Shawna) Age: 34 IVF #2 7/11
Cagirl2003 (Jenn) Age: 28, IVF #2 7/13


Stims (start date) Grow follies grow!
JustOneMore - Deb (41) IVF #2 7/9
2LinesIn09-- Eileen (32) IVF #2 7/19 (estimate)
3rdtimesthecharm: 7/24
Cagirl2003 (Jenn) Age: 28, IVF #2 7/23


ER
3rdtimesthecharm: 8/5 (estimate)

ET/FET
3rdtimesthecharm: 8/8 (estimate)


Waiting for BETA (PUPO)


Pregnant


Needs a Hug

[mouse007]

Originally Posted by JustOneMore

Mouse007, did you do CGH? We need to do genetics testing and were considering CGH but I was concerned about how many eggs don't make the freeze/thaw process so we are thinking PGD instead. Can you share the decision making process?

JustOneMore- Looking back, I am so glad my RE suggested the PGD for us. Even though this was my first cycle, my RE said since my fsh was so high (18.3) that he had to treat me as if I was a woman in my 40's doing IVF..even though I'm only 30. Hope I didn't offend anyone...sorry if I did. Anyway, he diagnosed me with DOR. He explained the high risk for miscarriage using my own eggs because I would most likely have very few genetically "normal" ones in there. He also put me on the antagonist cycle...so it was more aggressive and much faster than a lupron cycle. We decided even before we did the cycle to do the PGD testing because of how long it has taken us to get to this point...3 years to diagnose and finally do IVF. Both my dh and I have major factors against us. We're infertility misfits...I joke. I was just so worried about miscarriage and doing all this for nothing. We decided to do the PGD. My dh and I were extremely lucky though....my RE is very involved in research and does a lot of speaking and presenting current research to other doctors in NJ that he offered us a free opportunity to be in a research study for PGD. He thought our situation was so unique that he wanted to use me as a case study. He said I just don't fit the norm of a woman in her early 30's who would have such a high fsh. Before we began our cycle, we made the decision to "freeze all" if we could grow our embryos out till day 5. I believe...but am not positive that you have to grow them out that long so they can get better stronger cells to test. When all 4 of my embryos reached the "blast stage" on day 5 they were frozen and tested. And here we are. So now we have 2 to work with. I would DEFINITELY suggest doing the pgd if you can financially afford it. It is extremely expensive though $5,000 at my RE's office. But it is very worth it if you have had multiple miscarriages before or have DOR. If they find normal embryos from the testing you know your chances of miscarriage with those particular embryos is extremely low...almost zero. The test will help to rule out any abnormalities such as downs, turners, etc. If for whatever reason this cycle doesn't work, we would most likely do it again even if we have to pay for it. I feel it's worth it. They also did lots of bloodwork on dh and I to compare out own DNA to the DNA of the embryos. It's so crazy what doctors can do these days. What is cgh???

JDW- I would definitely ask your RE about what he/she thinks about the PGD. It will definitely give you a piece of mind in the end...especially since you had 2 miscarriages. Let me know what your RE said.

justone- I LOVE the Sookie Stackhouse series. I am in the middle of the first one "Dead Until Dark." I wish I had known about them before True Blood came out on HBO. I love the show but I know everything that's happening in the book because of the show. They're still awesome books though. By the way..what are intralipid infusions??

2Lines- I had exactly the same protocol/injections as you do now when I did antagonist. And...since I have just started the Lupron..well 9 days ago, I am having excruciating headaches. I have taken so many Advil/Tylenol and they're not helping. I went to bed with a headache I had the entire day yesterday thinking it would be gone when I woke up. Of course my head is still killing me. Should I call my nurse and tell her? I don't want to mess up my cycle. Is 20 units of lupron alot? I go in for bloodwork/us tomorrow. If everything is a-ok my nurse said she will decrease me to 5 units. God I hope so!!

SouthHampton- Where are u in your cycle? It's great to hear from you again. I know this is going to be our cycle!!

Bella- I know what you mean about the exercising. I used to be very into the gym. I would go 4 times a week up until I started my cycle. My RE said no exercising during my stims and after my retrieval. I started back up a few weeks ago, but only go like 2 times a week. I miss my cardio...and so does my behind because it's getting bigger as a result. As far as the shots go, I do them all myself. My dh scares me with a needle. Especially the pio shots. He always has sort of a wicked grin on his face...almost like he enjoys it. I don't mind giving them to myself at all. I guess I'm a control freak...or maybe I don't trust him. One or the other. What made u decide to do the accupuncture? I am thinking about asking my RE about it as well. Some women do it right before their transfer.

I hope everyone has a great day. I am trying to be tough with these freaken headaches. Maybe I'll go lay down and take a nappie.

[mouse007]

JustOneMore- After looking through research online...I think we did do the cgh and not the pgd. I feel dumb for not realizing this. I think the cgh is a fairly new technique that's why I was confused between the difference. The pgd is usually done on day 3 of the cycle and is not as accurate as the cgh. It makes sense to me now.

[jdw]

Hi ladies. Well, I suspected that we would have to wait until we were able to start another cycle and I was right. My RE confirmed during my appointment today that the soonest she would let me start would be in September. It could be even longer depending on if we have to do any testing, etc. before another cycle. We are waiting for lab results from my D&C before my RE will make suggestions for next time. If the baby comes back normal, that could mean that I may have developed some type of problem since having my DS that is preventing me from carrying to term now. If there was a genetic issue then that will point to m/c due to egg quality issues. Anyway to make sure that we have the test results available, I don't go back for another appointment until August 21st. I don't know anymore today than I did when I had my m/c. Mouse, now I really feel for you waiting all those weeks for your test results. At least I know when I'm going to see my doctor next and don't have to keep calling. I really wanted to cycle with you all and start at least before the end of August, but I guess it's not meant to be. At this point, I feel like we've waited so long a few more months isn't going to make a difference.

[SouthhamptonS]

JDW- I am so sorry you have to wait till September . I hope you get some answers from your testing so that your RE can make the best choices to get you . Best of luck.


Mouse - I have been on Lupron one week and have my baseline us and blood work on Tuesday. So I will know when I start stims in a few days. I will most likely have ET last week in July toward the end. When will you transfer?

Is anyone taking or have taken Royal Jelly?

Samantha

[mouse007]

JDW- I'm so sorry to hear you have to wait till the end of August. I know how awful the waiting can be. Throughout my long wait I tried to look at the weeks as "me time." I thought of it as my last weeks I had to myself before baby comes, or being pregnant I mean. I tried to think of lots of things I could do that I really loved. For me, it was gardening and working outside enjoying the weather and going to the gym. I did everything I could to keep as far away from baby stuff as I could. Time does pass by, but it goes much slower if you are still surrounded by baby thoughts. Definitely look into the testing, especially if you find you have an egg quality problem. What is your fsh? That's how they determined that I have DOR. The past 2 months I had to stay away from posting because it made me so depressed and feeling left out. It will be a tough wait for you jdw...but when the wait is over and you have gone through all the testing, you will feel more confident and ready for your cycle because you will know what the underlying problem.

South- It looks like we'll be transferring the same week!! You're my new buddy. I don't have a specific date yet. I'll know more tomorrow. I have taken royal jelly during my last cycle. It helps improve the number of eggs you produce. You should look into taking DHEA. My RE suggested taking it to improve the quality of my eggs. There are several research studies that show it has been proven to help with eqq quality issues if taken in the months before your cycle. I have been taking it for 2 months now, so if this cycle doesn't work out for whatever reason, it will help with my next cycle.

[Bella16]

cagirl2003 - I TOTALLY understand the weight gain having such an effect on you!! I'm a Personal Trainer and to gain weight, doesnt look very good to my clients walking in!! I try to hide it the best I can, but it doesnt work, I'm sure. Who would want to hire a Personal Trainer, who is out of shape and chubby? <-- Not I! It depresses me and then I feel awful about myself. I try to remind myself it'll all be worth it - but thats hard sometimes. Not only have we NOT gotten pregnant yet - but we HAVE gotten fatter!? WTF is the fairness in that? Grrr... Woooo, that was a good vent LOL
Sooo close to starting the Lupron for you - YAY!!! Are you as excited as I am? <-- Though I'll be way more excited once I start stims - though, terrified/anxious too!!

I just borrowed a book called 'Change your thoughts, change your life' by Dr Wayne W Dyer <-- Hey - I'll try anything. *I'm positive it's gonna work - I'm positive it's gonna work!!* hehehe

mouse007 - Sorry to hear that you're so young, yet have the fsh of a 40 year old - I dont think anyone will take offence to that - it sucks whether your 30 or 40! I'd love to do PGD, but we can hardly afford what we're doing, let alone adding that expense. We pay ALL out of pocket and this will be our last go at a fresh cycle - we just can't do it again - so it HAS to work, right?

My DH and I are totally addicted to Greys Anatomy - we borrowed the first season from the library when we went through our last cycle.... and now we cant get enough.
PS - you are now my hero - no doubt. My husband gets a wee evil grin too (just cuz he feels bad and is uncomfortable - thats just the way ghe is hehe)- but no way in hell could I give them to myself!! OMG, I cant even watch him doing them LOL
As for what made me do the acupuncture - its gone through many trials n such and it's been proven to help up the success of IVF - so I'm all over it. A lot of women say how they lobve it and it totally relaxes them as well... I started last night and will continue once per week until just after my transfer - including the day of the transfer. It cant hurt - it can only help!
Hey - naps are prescribed to me - so I officailly prescribe them to each n every one of you as well - have them and have them often!

Intralipid Infusions - I kinda described them a page or 2 back. Its something my Dr is willing to try - where as most Drs, will make you wait until you have 'several' IVF failures or a couple/few miscarriges. I'm pretty excited he's will to try it after just one IVF failure - he said it definately can't hurt and could be very well what we need - that could explain out Unexplaied IF!? Who knows... They're expensive and they take 2 - 3 hours of being hooked up to an IV to do - but hey - if it helps, sign me up!

jdw - OMG honey - I'm so sorry you have to wait even longer That just sucks.

SouthhamptonS - I am I am. hehehe I started taking a supplement, something with the word Green in the title (sorry, I'm at work right now hehe) All Greens or something!? It has many good things in it like Royal Jelly, Bee Pollen, Wheat Grass, etc. I also decided to get a seperate dose of Royal Jelly and am also taking an addition Royal Jelly capsule as well. <-- Its supposed to help egg quality, so I'm all over trying it - it can't hurt <-- LOL , are you guys seeing a trend with me? How many times have I said 'It cant hurt'? hehehe Funny, but true - and I have heard great things about it.