Winter IVF - Page 15

[MOMTOALEXIS]

5terre- Sending all the positive vibes I have your way.

Payton-Great news, here's wishing you a peaceful 2ww and lots of sticky vibes.

Getting ready to go to the Sher institute for our second opinion, I'll let everyone know how it goes when we get back.

[quelindo]

I had another ultrasound this morning. The doctor said we'd probably get four or so eggs -- he said it was a reasonable number, but not a fabulous number. I'm already on a big dose of medication and I guess it's just because I'm that much older (I was 33 last time and I'm 39 now). I was a little disappointed to hear this, but it only takes one, and if one works, then we won't be left with a ton of frozen embryos to worry about. I'm staying positive.

I asked when he thought the egg retrieval would be, and he said next week Thursday or Friday. I have another ultrasound on Sunday, and then probably one on Tuesday.

[poetgirl]

Originally Posted by MOMTOALEXIS

Getting ready to go to the Sher institute for our second opinion, I'll let everyone know how it goes when we get back.

How did it go, Mom to A???

5Terre, I'm so sorry this cycle has not been going well. How are you doing?

Wtng, Are you hanging in there?

GL New Mama. You have a v. good attitude. Good vibes to your growing follies.

[MOMTOALEXIS]

NewMama- Praying for you that those eggies are nice and strong and ready to greet some happy swimmers. Keep up that great attitude.

We will be trying our 3rd IVF attempt with the Sher institute in Manhattan. The new Re was very nice and said he will be totally changing the protocol around. I liked that he didn't try and bash my other Re, he just said " I would do things different". I asked if it could be such a drastic change in egg quality in only one yr and he said anything is possible but he feels its unlikely. We'll see it's hard to believe anyone at this point, I've heard so much bs over the years. My last Re promised so many times he would have me preggo and here we still are. New Re put us on PYCNOGENOL 50MG for dh and I, suppose to be an antiinflammatory and he said he's had good results with it. We will be on a much longer suppresion and he said we will be triggering with Lupron instead of HCG. Anyone heard of this? I can't find any info on that. He said this will help make lots of eggies and prevent OHSS which is our biggest problem. So we will be ready around April sometime. This will be our last try so hoping for a real miracle in the meantime.

Hope everyone is doing well wherever they are in their cycle.

[ratgrl]

Mom to A, that sounds like very positive news. I'm glad you're buoyed by the visit. I hope this is it for you.

New Mama, I agree with the others and like the way you're looking at it... it only takes one.

Paytonsmommy, hope your upcoming beta is the news you've been waiting for!

I started my Follistim tonight, so we're now officially gettin' on with this show. Scared and excited all at once. Had a little droplet of Follistim leak out, but I think it might have been what was in the needle body from priming it before I injected. I was surprised that the injection "button" on the top of the pen is just the same clicking as setting the dosage. Had a moment of confusion there.

[quelindo]

I'm just doing some research to make myself feel better, including looking over what we did re: IVF the last time. Last time we ONLY used Follistim to stimulate the follicles to grow. This time we're using both Follistim and Menopur. I found this about Menopur on an infertility discussion board:

The reports I've read on the internet indicate that women are seeing better egg quality with the Menopur, although fewer eggs. Since we all know it takes just one good embryo to make a baby, I personally care only about egg quality and prefer not to have too many eggs. This last round of IVF I asked my doc to include Menopur in my protocol with Gonal-F [similar to Follistim]. Previously, I used only Gonal-F. This time my egg quality was better and we produced much better quality embryos. It should be noted that I am 41 and my last IVF was 3 years ago.

I have another ultrasound tomorrow. On Friday the doctor told us to add in Ganirelix, which I just read (on another message board) is supposed to slow down the lead follicles to allow others to catch up.

[quelindo]

The results of this morning's ultrasound (day 11 of my cycle) were more promising. The doctor said my uterine lining was "glorious," lol.

On the right ovary I had follicles that were 18mm, 18mm, 17mm, 15mm, 15mm and 11mm; on the left I had follicles that were 17mm, 13 mm and 13mm (plus others on both sides too small to bother measuring).

The doctor said he thought I'd have 5 to 7 eggs and that retrieval would be Wednesday, Thursday at the latest. He's not my actual doctor, though -- I'm going in for another ultrasound tomorrow morning so we'll see what my doctor has to say.

[KellyTTC#1]

New Mama: a glorious lining sounds great! grow eggs grow!! Keep us posted after you talk to your doctor tomorrow!

ratgl: I had some stim leak out too (a drop or two)... I hope it wasn't too much because it's too darn expensive. I get a little freaked out with the pen too!

momtoalexis: your new RE sounds good. I truly hope the new protocol does the trick.

5terre: how are you doing?

paytonsmom: good vibes your way!!

daisymae: congrats on the nice uterus!!

wahine: how did things go with your RE appointment?

I'm done 3 days of stims so far and go back for monitoring on Tuesday morning to see how things are progressing. I feel some action/discomfort in my ovaries so I hope things are growing.

I feel like I'm on an emotional rollercoaster... I was so scared and nervous and now I've moved to feeling content and positive... I hope it stays that way.

[Tear78]

Originally Posted by KellyTTC#1

I've moved to feeling content and positive... I hope it stays that way.

I'm pulling out all stops for you!!!

[laura-belle]

Paytonsmommy: *thinking sticky thoughts for you*

New Mama: Sounds good! Hopefully tomorrow's looks as good.

MOMTOALEXIS: I'm glad to hear you'll be trying something different this time. *hoping all goes well*

KellyTTC#1: Looks like we're cycling about together. Hope your ultrasound Tuesday looks good!

AFM: I gave up most recreational computer use for Lent, so I'm a bit scarce online for the next few weeks. Fortunately this thread isn't too busy . I had a baseline ultrasound on Thursday and started stims on Friday. I have an ultrasound appt for next Tuesday when we'll get our first idea of how well this is going. I am not enjoying the three shots an evening routine, but I'm feeling pretty optimistic about the whole thing right now. For now we're still on track for retrieval on about March 9. *hoping*

[5terre]

laura Hope all goes well!!

kelly Glad you are feeling positive.

newmama Great news!! I used Repronex again this time (same as Menopur); I used it for my second cycle and the quality of my eggs was better that time that the third cycle so we did it again this time. I also used Ganarelix that time and this time, hoping for one good egg!! Some reports say that too much LH is bad for quality (Menopur/Repronex are half LH, half FSH if you didn't know), but for some people it does improve the quality.

ratgrl Hope your cycle goes well.

Momtoa So glad that your appt went well and that you have some renewed hope.

Poet Wow, you are moving right along!! Your ticker is pretty my my IVF ticker, I can't believe I've been doing this for so long now.

Good news - I didn't get canceled, even with an undetectable estradiol level after 4 days of stimming, I have 7 follicles, ER is tomorrow morning at 8:30!! I hope to get 5 embryos again. Please hope that one makes it and is genetically normal. I've been extremely crampy and in a lot of pain this time (and go figure it is the ovary that I only have 2 follicles on!), yesterday I was a total wreck, exhausted and sick to my stomach. I'm a lot better today, I find that once I stop the stims I feel good again. I have a renewed sense of hope, that's all I can do is hope that we have something to transfer, anything for a 'chance' at pregnancy will make me happy.

[quelindo]

Originally Posted by 5terre

Good news - I didn't get canceled, even with an undetectable estradiol level after 4 days of stimming, I have 7 follicles, ER is tomorrow morning at 8:30!! I hope to get 5 embryos again. Please hope that one makes it and is genetically normal. I've been extremely crampy and in a lot of pain this time (and go figure it is the ovary that I only have 2 follicles on!), yesterday I was a total wreck, exhausted and sick to my stomach. I'm a lot better today, I find that once I stop the stims I feel good again. I have a renewed sense of hope, that's all I can do is hope that we have something to transfer, anything for a 'chance' at pregnancy will make me happy.

I am SO hoping for you! I will be close behind you...praying for a miracle for both of us.

[MOMTOALEXIS]

5terre- Great news, praying hard for you hun.

NewMama- Sound good for you. Hoping they get some good eggies.

Good Luck to all those stimming. There's a couple of you now. I've updated everyone on the front page.

[KellyTTC#1]

5terre: my thoughts are with you!! Good vibes sent your way!! Hope everything goes well tomorrow.

[quelindo]

Hey, does anyone know if there are guidelines for how long a man should abstain from sexual activity before giving a semen sample for IVF? Our clinic has not said anything about it this time, but my DH remembers them saying something the last time. We'll most likely have our ER on Thursday and he last, uh, you know, on Friday. The ONLY thing I can find on the internet (mostly because I'm not sure how to search) says to refrain for at least two days but not more than five days before donation.

[quelindo]

5terre, I've been thinking about you. I hope you're back to report good news from your ER soon.

My ER is scheduled for Thursday morning -- it looks like I have six good-sized follicles with three more smaller ones.

[Paytonsmommy]

New Mama - Praying for a happy harvest for you on Thursday! Our RE always had us have intercourse 2 days before semen collection...out with the old and in with the new while still having time to replenish his supply.

5terre - expecting good news from your ER!

Alexis - One of my friends just had a little boy from Dr. Sher through his Vegas clinic...she said nothing but wonderful things!

Okay...I can't wait any longer... I have NEVER done this before, but I POAS this morning (my beta is tomorrow) and it turned POSITIVE immediately!!!!! There's still always that hesitation (I HATE THAT!) as we've been here before and then miscarried, but I'm having faith that the blood thinners are taking care of that! Please pray for a strong beta tomorrow as positive tests, but low betas that don't double have been my main story!

[KellyTTC#1]

Paytonmommy: a big congrats Fingers cross for a strong beta tomorrow...

newmama: paperwork from my RE says no intercourse the 2 days before.

5terre: I hope your retrieval went well

laura-belle: looks like we'll on around the same schedule... fingers crossed for everything to go as planned.

rtgl: how are you doing?

I went in this morning for the my first day of monitoring after 5 days of stims... they said I was progressing as expected for 5 days, 4 follicles at 12 mm, 1 at 10 mm and, and about 3 smaller ones but they said they don't really count them until they are 10 mm--I'm starting a chant to myself--grow follies grow... grow follies grow...
I go back again on Thursday morning.

[5terre]

Paytons Congrats, that is very promising!!!

newmama Good luck Thursday, I hope you get as many as possible.

Kelly Glad things are going well.

ER went as expected, got 7, hoping for 5 embryos tomorrow. Usually I am really happy about this number (verses ZERO from IVF#1...) but today I feel blue. With DH's genetic issue and my number of eggs, the odds are not great that we will have anything to transfer. But I am still hopeful, we will see what tomorrow brings, who knows, we could even have 7 embryos, right?

[quelindo]

Paytonsmommy, that is fantastic! I am crossing fingers and toes that everything goes well for you. Congratulations!

Kelly...GROW FOLLIES GROW!

5terre, seven is good! My doctor thinks they'll get about six, so it had better be good, lol. My fingers are crossed for you, too.