[sharonb]

Hello.

I thought I'd start a second thread on this since the last one is pretty long already and most of the ladies are in their 2ww.

I just got the go ahead to start with a new RE (same clinic) on our 5th cycle. Needless to say, I'm really scared as this is our 5th time. Our last time was our only bfp but it ended in a chemical. Our issue seems to be slow growing eggs and possibly a mild immune issue which is controversial amongst REs...and my RE doesn't treat it. Since we can't cycle out of state, we're going to try again here for now.

Our protocol is bit different than last time, since its a new RE (ours decided to move back to England!)...the partner of our last RE.

The plan is to do a short lupron agonist/antagonist cycle with saizen.

Days 1-4 will be: am: gonal f 225, am/pm: 5u lupron, pm: 1/2 vile saizen, pm: .5mg dexamethasone, baby aspirin

I'm really hoping this works. We're adding in the saizen and the icsi this time...both of which insurance won't pay for so its out of pocket! We also will look to adding in menopur and ganirelix as the cycle progresses.

for a miracle this time...and to keep my sanity as well. I'm a basket case... Please let #5 be our miracle baby!

[sarita30]

I just started stim on the 5th, so we're pretty close together! I'm off work until after my pregnancy test, so I'll be around here!

[driskydoit]

I started my IVF cycle on 2/5 with menopur, gonal F. I just went to my RE today and he said I have 13 follicles, and that it's "decent" but he'd like to see more. He upped my gonal F. Now I'm wondering where I should be at this stage (day 5) of meds.

I have had a cup of coffee per day and am cutting that out starting today. Any insight on where I should be at this stage?

Also, I am debating on what to tell my boss (who's new) on the day of my ER. Sick? Having a "procedure''? What are you doing?

Best of luck to everyone.

[sharonb]

Driskydoit. I would just tell them that you're having a medical procedure done. I don't see why you need to be more specific unless you feel that they think you're taking too much time of recently.


As for me...I've been questioning my RE so much that I think I've annoyed him...but oh well. I did email him back a nice note in a response stroking his ego a bit so hopefully all will be well. I'd hate to think that he'd be less of an good RE because of it...right?

[sarita30]

driskydoit: we started stim the same day! I'm getting kind of curious how I'm doing at this point as well. After b/w, I call a 1-800 # to get my med changes and when to come back in for b/w. I never actually talk to a "live" person. My ER is Tues 2/16. I have b/w again tomorrow. If they don't tell me when my ER definitely is, or some sort of info, I'm going to call in and ask someone how I'm doing. I guess I'm doing ok. They didn't change my dosages yesterday...

As for the coffee...I'm a BIG coffee drinker, or was. When we had our big pre-IVF meeting with our RE back in Nov, she told me then to cut out ALL caffiene and alcohol at that time. I tried, I really did. I cut back to one cup o' Joe a day, and had one pop every other day or so. Alcohol once every other week. Then, when I started the BCP for IVf she told me, again, "you really need to quit consuming caffiene and alcohol before you start the IVF shots." So, I cut out all alcohol, switched to a cup o' decaf Joe every day, and a pop every other day. Once I started the shots, I switched to caffiene-free pop every other day, and a cup o' decaf Joe every other day or so. So, I'm doing better. I guess to make a short story long, if you're able to quit cold turkey, do it. It's better to do everything you possibly can to help things along instead of looking back and wondering "what if?"

As for your boss...I told mine up front the second I found out IVF was our next step. She has not been very supportive of me during this process, and actually drug her feet on giving me mandatory time off (I work at a hospital as a nurse, and nurses have to be able to life more than 40 lbs to work.) But, I felt better that I kept her in the loop every step of the way. If you think your situation will be worse by telling your boss the truth, I'd say just call in sick. If you find out later that your boss would have been ok with it, perhaps tell him/her your situation. If you can get through your work day and they're none-the-wiser, maybe keep it to yourself?

I enjoyed answering your questions As a nurse, I'm used to giving my patients advice all the time. I can't say my advice is the sure thing, but it's my honest opinion. We're going through this thing together! I'll be around if you need me!

[LuckyInLove]

Hi ladies. I just went to my RE this morning for baseline, should be starting stims tomorrow. I will be on menopur and bravelle. This our 1st IVF and financially our only IVF for a long time.

We will be doing ICSI and Assisted Hatching...we had no option but ICSI cuz of my hubbys sperm, and we were given a state grant to help us with the cost and with the grant comes assisted hatching.

for all of us!

[MrsSull]

Hi Ladies ~ This is my first (and hopefully onlu) IVF. I have been on Lurpon for 9 days and go on Sunday for my baseline U/S to see if I am ready to start stims. I am nervous though, as AF hasn't showed up and I don't want my cycle to be pushed back anymore... doesn anyone know anything about that?

Drisky ~ I am supposed to travel for work the first week of March which will most likely be the week after ET. I am going to tell my boss that I am having a gynological procedure. It's really not anyone's business to get any more into it than that IMO.

Lucky ~ I replied to your other thread too... It is so nice to be able to relate to what others are going through. I too am doing the assisted hatching.

Sarita ~ I am having a really hard time cutting the coffee out as well... I drink about 1/2 a cup a day... but after reading your post, I am going to cut it out completely. (Ugh... Lupron headaches and caffeine withdrawals... this should be fun!)

Sharon ~ Thanks for starting this thread.... FX for you. Once I start my stims, I will be on 225 of gonal and 5 Lupron as well. Right now I am on 10 of Lupron only....

Wish me luck for my u/s on Sunday....

[LuckyInLove]

MrsSull - i wouldnt worry too much about your period. Mine was about 4 - 5 days late on lupron, and i asked the girls here what the protocol is regarding that (i didnt want to get pushed back either). It will come when it's ready, and the general standard is if you are on 14 days of lupron shots.

I got my protocol last night and my entire medicine collection was delivered. After i put everything on the table my husband had to go outside to avoid fainting. Ha! So i will be doing Bravelle and Menopur- starting off w/ just bravelle, 3 vials (that stars tonight). I was wondering, they only delivered 10 vials of bravelle and 5 menopur, how is that enough if i will already use 6 bravelle b4 my ultrasound on Sunday?

[sharonb]

I just wanted to check in with everyone and say good luck. I'm trying to be optimistic but I keep finding new issues to question. I guess this will always be the case as much of what is done for ivf is guess work.

I go in tomorrow morning for bloodwork and see where I'm at. This protocol is different from my last and I hope that's a good thing as we were under the impression that it was to stay very much the same. See...there I go again...questioning everything! How will I ever relax???!!!

[caibensam]

Hi, I'm fairly new here - I've been following the other February group for about a week but didn't post much as there wasn't much going on for me. I hope it's ok if I join, it seems most of the people in the other group are towards the end of their cycle.

This is my first IVF cycle and I had baseline bloodwork and u/s yesterday. Everything looked good, so I started my stims this morning. It really wasn't bad, it was just getting myself to actually stick the needle in. I'm a nurse so I do this every day... to other people, but it's a whole new ball game doing it to myself!
I will be doing 250 of Follistim twice a day and 10U of low dose HCG twice a day and then will add Ganirelix when they tell me. I guess this is a relatively high dose for my age. I had laparoscopy in January and my ovaries appeared much older than they should have, secondary to the endometriosis, so they are worried I may not respond like a 20-something should to stims.

My RE said a cup of coffee a day shouldn't hurt, but I decided to cut out coffee and alcohol together. I find myself wanting to do every little thing that could increase my chances but I know I'm just going to end up driving myself crazy.

As for my boss, she knows what is going on which is good because I can be flexible with my schedule, but I don't want everyone else on the floor knowing, which is hard when you work with a bunch of females!!

Anyway, I have been for all the ladies on these forums! It's so nice to have people to talk to who actually know what you are going through.

Anyone been told to take baby aspirin as well??

[caibensam]

Originally Posted by sharonb

I just wanted to check in with everyone and say good luck. I'm trying to be optimistic but I keep finding new issues to question. I guess this will always be the case as much of what is done for ivf is guess work.

I go in tomorrow morning for bloodwork and see where I'm at. This protocol is different from my last and I hope that's a good thing as we were under the impression that it was to stay very much the same. See...there I go again...questioning everything! How will I ever relax???!!!

after just posting i saw in your signature you are taking baby aspirin. what is the reasoning behind it?

[sharonb]

Originally Posted by caibensam

after just posting i saw in your signature you are taking baby aspirin. what is the reasoning behind it?

Cailin. The baby aspirin is anecdotal...but it is supposed to increase blood flow and circulation to the uterus and ovaries. Many REs say its alright to take it but can't say if it really helps at all.

May I ask you about the hcg? What is it exactly? It is the same that you will take to trigger before the retrieval?

And...of course...welcome to the group!!

[caibensam]

sharon b: thanks for the info . the low dose hcg is a supplement to the follisitm. i believe they said it is to help the follicles mature. in women who are not pregnant i guess it acts similar to LH which would normally be doing that. it is the same thing i will trigger with but this is a much smaller concentration and i only take 10U subQ at a time.

[sarita30]

Well, I've already had a busy morning! Yesterday, after lunch until I went to bed, I was having sharp pains on my left side. I called the IVF nurse and she talked to the RE. I wasn't scheduled for an u/s today, but they decided they would do one to be on the safe side. So, the Dr. did an exam, then the u/s, then my b/w. Everything is "fine." My Estradiol level came back at 387 (Wed it was 92) which the nurse said is "progressing nicely." They want me to bring my pre-op paperwork and consent forms with me to my b/w and u/s Sun "just in case!" My ER is supposed to be Tues, so... yeah!

In other news, my DH cleaned the house today. That was a sight to see. I always feel guilty when he cleans 'cause I feel like I have failed. But, he knows I'm not supposed to be doing much, so I'll let him clean as long as he's willing to.

MrsSull: Good luck trying to quit consuming caffiene. It's all for the best, of course. Also, good luck on Sunday! Hopefully I'm right behind you! And, yes! I had Lupron headaches, as well. I'm still having headaches from the meds. At least I'm at home during all this so I don't have to worry about trying to think during all this.

Caibensam: I experienced the whole poking myself thing when I started my shots back in January. I give shots several times a day (especially when all 3 or 4 of my patients are diabetic!) and think nothing of it. The first day I had to give myself my Leupron, it took about 10 minutes. I stared at my leg, practiced the dart action, then went for it. I didn't do it hard enough and just pricked myself! So, I had to shoot myself again! Yeah. Now, I added IMs to the regimen as of Monday. My friend has been doing them, but she lives out of town, so I'm on my own this weekend. My DH said he'll do them. I'll let him try...once. It should be ok. As for not wanting the other nurses to know, I'm right there with you. I had to have exploratory lap last Sept and I tried to keep it between my boss and I. Well, everyone (being curious nurses) wanted to know why. I started with an abbreviated explanantion, and they wanted more. So, I gave in. That went ok. Well, now with IVF, they wanted to know why I was taking 3 weeks off FMLA. So, I told them "I'm doing IVF." Suddenly, no one wants to talk to me, and I'm feeling very alienated at work. Yeah. I hope when I come back to work pregnant, I'm "normal" again. BTW, are you taking the time off, or are you working? They wouldn't let me work, so I had to take it off. But, I'm liking it sofar.

[MrsSull]

Sarita~ Well, today is day 1 of cutting out coffee... I'm sitting here having a cup of green tea. UGH... I want my JAVA! I'm going to do it... once I am preggo I will do it anyway, so this is just good Karma. And my head is killing me already anyway.

caibensam~ I agree, it is great to have others that can relate and can help with issues or questions.

Lucky ~ Getting 'the box' is definitely a bit overwhelming. I swear when I looked up at my DH when I took everything out of the box, his jaw was on the ground. He said "Really? you have to take all of that? Are you sure you are OK with all of this?" So sweet....

Sharon ~ How did you make out with your U/S and B/W?

AFM ~ Well, I woke up to cramps this morning... AF showed. Phew! (last time I will say that...lol) I go for my U/S and bloodwork in the morning and hopefully start the stims tomorrow night... we're getting there!