Summer IVF - Page 3

[Julia'sMom]

Originally Posted by DaisyMae08

Hi ladies,
A couple of questions for you. Firstly, did your clinics ask you to abstain from sex after the transfer? Ours did not, and in fact on the day of the transfer told us that we could resume normal sexual activity the next day. But I've been doing some research online and I've seen that a lot of folks are being told to abstain AT LEAST for the two week wait (which we obviously haven't done because we weren't told to...).

Secondly, when would a hpt be accurate after a 3 day transfer? My transfer was last Sunday and for some reason (maybe I like to torture myself?) I decided to test today....in the middle of the day....with a digital test. BFN. Should I assume that's it then? Or might there still be a chance?

Well...since I'm lurking along cheering for all you ladies...

My clinic did ask me to abstain basically from ER until a heartbeat was detected. However, they did not do any bedrest and in fact cleared me for attending an activity right after ER that kept me on my feet for several hours. : As far as testing, I think this is way too soon. I tested 7 days after a 5-day transfer and got a bfn. The beta 3 days later was positive. There is definately still a chance. In my opinion, stay away from the pos, at least until beta day.

[poetgirl]

Originally Posted by gemasita

Hi ladies,

I'll be doing my 3rd fresh IVF this Aug/Sept. I did my second fresh cycle in April and that was a BFN. My first cycle was in Dec of '07 and I had an FET in Feb or '08. We are tubal due to my appendix bursting years ago. I am 33. I am traveling for this cycle to a clinic about 7 hours from us, in Atlanta. We'll be getting some additional testing done in July in preparation for the cycle. This could be our last try.

I'll be right with you Jamie. We're set for Aug/Sept as well.
: for our success!

[gemasita]

Poetgirl - glad you'll be my cycle buddy!

crm - yes, it's so nice to "see" and familiar "face!" But too bad we both have to be here....

[DaisyMae08]

Thanks Julia's Mom. And with a day 3, I know testing today was really early and I didn't even use fmu. I guess I will try to patiently wait until Thursday. Nice to hear that you ended up with a bfp after jumping the gun.

[crazyrunningmama]

Hope the waiting game isn't making you crazy DaisyMae. Can't wait for your BFP update post!!!

I am so stressed at work (getting organized to take time off, why is that so stressful?) and I think the bcps are really doing a number on me, moodwise. Anyone else have this? I have never noticed it before (now suppression on the other hand, hits me like a ton of bricks every time). And why do the clinics all give such very different advice? It makes me nutso trying to figure out what is "best" after ET - rest but not too much? etc.

[DaisyMae08]

Well, today I started with terrible cramping - the kind I get right before AF comes...so I'm pretty sure she's on her way. Beta is tomorrow, so I'll know for sure then, but I'm 99% sure this is going to be a bfn. Next time we'll be transferring two, rather than one. We started out conservatively and now that I'm feeling this cramping I'm regretting that decision. But I guess it could have been the same result even with two. We just would have had a better chance at least.

Crazyrunningmama, the bcps made me totally crazy. I think they were actually worse for me than the Lupron. And as far as what to do after the ET, the wide variety of advice out there makes me crazy too. I rested for the day of ET on the couch and then the day after that went back to work, but didn't really start excercising again until a week after the ET even though the doctor said I could start again right away. I just didn't feel comfortable wtih it. What I did do, that I now am second guessing, is have sex a couple of days afterwards. The doctor said it was fine, but everything I've read online says no - and no orgasm for sure. So next time I will not be doing that no matter what the clinic tells me.

[Julia'sMom]

CRM - Yeah, bcp's made me crazy, worse than the suppression and the stims. Ugh.

Daisy - Don't give up yet, I do remember crazy painful cramping before a positive beta once. Hang in there and I'll keep you in my thoughts.

[DaisyMae08]

Well, it wasn't negative...but it's not good. My level is at 14. They told me to keep taking the progesterone and then I have to go back in on Sunday for another test and either that number will skyrocket or the obvious will happen. I'm trying to be hopeful, but it's hard with the horrible cramping I've been having. I just don't think that it's a particularly good sign.

[Julia'sMom]

Originally Posted by DaisyMae08

Well, it wasn't negative...but it's not good. My level is at 14. They told me to keep taking the progesterone and then I have to go back in on Sunday for another test and either that number will skyrocket or the obvious will happen. I'm trying to be hopeful, but it's hard with the horrible cramping I've been having. I just don't think that it's a particularly good sign.

: : :

[crazyrunningmama]

Originally Posted by Julia'sMom

: : :

From me too. : : : and lots of 's Take good care and lots of deep breaths.

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

Fingers firmly, very firmly, crossed for you...

[by-the-lake]

Thinking of you DaisyMae. Fingers crossed for a 'slow starter'.:::

[Laci]

GL Daisy.
I have everything crossed for you!

[DaisyMae08]

Thank you ladies. I think it's over though. I just started bleeding about an hour ago. Does anyone know if it's safe to use tampons? Or should I be using pads?

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

Oh no. I'm so sorry - but don't give up all hope until that second beta.

I think you're better off with pads right now... could you call and ask if you can come in earlier for a follow-up?

[DaisyMae08]

You were right perdita, the nurse said pads. We already had a follow up appointment with the doctor scheduled for this afternoon. Good timing. I'll let you all know how that goes. Thank you for all of the well wishes.

[by-the-lake]

Sorry DaisyMae

[crazyrunningmama]

DaisyMae I hope you are taking care

[DaisyMae08]

The RE was actually very encouraged and said that even though it's disappointing to have the chemical, it's very common in first pregnancies (I have never conceived before). He also said the fact that we were able to conceive on our first IVF is a good indicator that we will ultimately be successful. Apparently it moves us into a higher success rate bracket now that we know I actually can conceive at all. He just thinks it was a crappy roll of the dice in terms of embryos and that there was probably something chromosomally abnormal. He does not think that there is an implantation issue.

So the plan is to keep going in for betas until I'm down to zero and then wait for my next natural period. At that point I'll start bcps and get ready for IVF #2 in August.

My 2nd beta was today and despite the fact that I've been bleeding since Friday, the hcg went up. It was 14 on Thursday and was 54 today. Hopefully it will start going down again soon so I can just get this show on the road. I can't imagine that going up to 54 is enough for anything to stick, especially since I'm bleeding pretty heavily. I just want to move on.

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

I don't blame you for wanting to move on! I didn't know that about chemical pregnancies, but it makes some sense.

That's one of the crappy things about IVF, after all that turmoil, all the drugs, etc, there can be something wrong, just luck of the draw, with the particular embryo that was transferred. In a normal cycle, you wouldn't even know... but we are unlucky enough to know that an embryo was in there, and it sucks so much to know it didn't make it (BTDT).

Glad you can move on again with relative speed - fingers crossed for August!