Winter IVF Thread - Come and join in on the Journey!!!! - Page 5

[missme]

Tear - so sorry for your loss of BabyB, and so hopeful for your still-growing Baby A. Hope you're as okay as you can be. My friend went from 3 to 1, and she's been on bedrest for a few months, but her 1 is still safe and snuggly where he/she belongs right now. So, again, hope - and stay put, Baby A, and grow, grow, grow!

[songtothemoon]

Silverbird - Good to hear from you! Yum to everything vegan (I try to be mostly vegan--lapse once in a while). First of all, congrats on the FREE IVF and ICSI!!! You are blessed to have a national health care system. As far as preparation for your cycle, a healthy diet (which it sounds like you've got covered), exercise, perhaps acupuncture and herbs. The time will fly by and you'll be cycling before you know it!

[songtothemoon]

Prettyasangel - Thank you for sharing the info about L-Arginine and melatonin. That is fascinating info about melatonin. I already take it semi-regularly to help me sleep, but at a lower dose. I will try the higher dose just for the heck of it. The issue for me is egg quality, not quantity, so I will do whatever I can!

[songtothemoon]

Tear - Big  to you! Grow, Baby A, Grow! FWIW, my cousin was pregnant with twins for her first pregnancy. One didn't make it and was reabsorbed, and she gave birth to a healthy baby boy who is now a sophomore in college! 

[rcr]

Originally Posted by songtothemoon 

Prettyasangel - Thank you for sharing the info about L-Arginine and melatonin. That is fascinating info about melatonin. I already take it semi-regularly to help me sleep, but at a lower dose. I will try the higher dose just for the heck of it. The issue for me is egg quality, not quantity, so I will do whatever I can!

I think I'll try melatonin too. I can't find any reason not to, so it seems like it can't hurt (am I right)? Thanks for the info about it, prettyasangel.

[Silverbird]

thanks songtothemoon.  I'm defintly thinking about accupture near the time but I'm a bit worried herbs.  I wouldn't want to do anything that could make my cycles wonky.

Do u guys take time off work around treatment?  If so when and how much? After transfer to help be relaxed for implimentation or before to make it easier to go for tests?

Also any good books on treatment? I find books easier than the internet.

good luck all.

[blueyezz4]

Silverbird - I actually was on a medical leave for another unrelated surgery so I didn't have to take the time off b/c I was already off, but i had been planning on taking some time off.   With our IVF I probably would have taken off from the retrieval to maybe 2 days after the transfer.  My Dr. does a 2 day transfer so it wouldn't have been too long.  I know my dr wanted me to be on bed rest the day of the transfer and then kinda limited bed rest the day after (which ment you could get up and sit at the table for a meal, but to pretty much suppose to lay low the rest of the day).

[missme]

silverbird - I will probably have to take half days before ER for testing, as I don't think I can manage it before work starts in the mornings. And I'm hoping to take a few days off after transfer. It's kinda looking like it might be around March break, which would work out nicely. For me, I gotta find the balance between taking enough time to feel relaxed and going back to work and routine so it doesn't consume me. I have plenty of sick days available, though. Do you have enough sick days?

[BellyBean]

Tear, sending lots of sticky vibes for BabyA.

SilverBird, I ended up overstimmed and had to take 3 days off after transfer.  No one IRL knows of our struggles, so I ended up using normal sick time.  I had to buy pregancy pants to go back to work cause I was so bloated. 

AFM, I got a hold of my clinic yesterday and have an appointment for next week.  Looks like I might make the Feb cycle cut off just barely!  If the FET takes it would be 2 years to the day of our fresh IVF cycle.  I also found out it would cost about twice as much as I was expecting.  I am really stressed trying to balance cost, wanting another singleton, and risking failure.  I didn't get any sleep last night.

[blueyezz4]

Originally Posted by BellyBean 

Tear, sending lots of sticky vibes for BabyA.

SilverBird, I ended up overstimmed and had to take 3 days off after transfer.  No one IRL knows of our struggles, so I ended up using normal sick time.  I had to buy pregancy pants to go back to work cause I was so bloated. 

AFM, I got a hold of my clinic yesterday and have an appointment for next week.  Looks like I might make the Feb cycle cut off just barely!  If the FET takes it would be 2 years to the day of our fresh IVF cycle.  I also found out it would cost about twice as much as I was expecting.  I am really stressed trying to balance cost, wanting another singleton, and risking failure.  I didn't get any sleep last night.

I was also surprised at how much a FET costs.  I was under the impression initially that it was under a thousand dollar, but it's not.  I think our is almost $2,000. Grrrrr!!!!!  Just have to keep telling myself that it will all be worth it!!!

[rcr]

bellybean - yay for making the Feb cutoff date!

I have been stressing out over having to take time off work since I began thinking about ivf. I have a flexible job, so sick time is not a problem (I can say I am working from home and nobody will know what I am doing). But if I don't get my work done I will be denied tenure and I will loose my job. I guess I was thinking that I would take a day or two off after the transfer and retrieval, but nothing else. Is that realistic?

Tear- how ya doing?

[songtothemoon]

Bellybean - Thinking of you and sending encouraging vibes as you weigh your decision regarding the FET, how many embryos/cost, etc. It would be exciting to have you in the Feb. IVF contingent! My RE says I will most likely have my ER Feb 4th, because he's controlling my cycle outright w/BCPs and Lupron.

Also, I have been living in yoga pants (Lululemon, Canadians!) since I began the IVF process in September. I gain weight on the hormones, get bloated after the ER (or cancelled ER), lose weight in between, then gain again. Stretchy yoga pants are my best friends! : )

[songtothemoon]

rcr - It is totally reasonable to plan for 1-2 days after ER and 2 days after ET. Speak to your RE to confirm, though. You will likely be bloated and uncomfortable after ET and it might get a bit worse before getting better. I stayed hydrated, took my pain meds and Gas-Ex. For whatever reason, the hormones and ER really affected my digestion and gave me bad cramps/gas. Anyhow, it wasn't much worse than the worst menstrual cramps I've had. Everyone's different, though. If you can work from home, you should be just fine! You can take breaks, wear comfy clothes, etc.

[blueyezz4]

Originally Posted by Silverbird 

tear  I'm so sorry about Baby B.  I'm thinking of him (her?) and praying for baby A.  Keep growing little one!

rcr thanks I'm taking all of them already when I remeber apart from the  l- arginine .  godd . 

good to know I'm on the right track.

blue sorry no clue about MTHFR .  but

but I wanted to say I hope u get some answers from it.  My fertility jounrey is so differnt from everyone else's.  when nothing bellow the waist fuctions on your dh and he's spent the last 3 years taking toixc meds and radiation you don't need a lot of guess work.  I can't imagine how nuts I'd be goingSi if I had no clue what was going on.

afm I sent my sister whos a statistion the stats on my clinic and she recons based on thier figure I'd have a 74% chance of a succesful pregancy from NHS treatment.  So pretty good odds.  I have my scan thur and another appoinmnets 28/1/11.  fingures crossed nothing in my results ruin my dreams then I can work on getting super health for Oct.

Silverbird - I'm so sorry for all that you and your DH have gone through.  Keeping you both in my thoughts for this journey you two are heading on!!!  Those stats sound great!!!  I think my clinic had told me it was like a 50-60% chance, but yours is even better!!  Awesome!!

BellyBean - Yeah, for a Feb cycle!!!!!  Keep us posted.

Tear - Thinking of you!!!

rcr - I know, I hated the thought of having to take time off.  Could you take a medical leave and that might not affect your tenure?  Just a thought... even if it was just a month.

[sweetdynasty]

Winter - Get to know  ya:

*Name: Danielle
*Age: 31

*Location: Mississippi
*TTC #: 1
*Trying Since: 2008

*Things you have done to get a BFP (IUI, IVF, FET, diet, acupuncture, stood on your head, etc): Absolutely everything. 1 fresh IVF cycles. 1st IVF I did conceive but ended in chemical . Working on First  FET cycle

*In a perfect world (ie: no infertility) how many children would you like to have? 5 or 6
*Plan for this Cycle: Eat a healthy diet, excersise 4x week and I'm taking baby aspirin.
*Testing (Are you one to POAS early or no): No early testing to stressful.

*If you have a choice how many embies are you thinking of putting back in?  Praying that my 2 unfreeze perfect so that I have 2 to put back.
*DPO or Transfer (if applicable): 02-04-11
*Link to Chart (if applicable):none

*Where did you meet your DH/DP? At a gas station

*Years you've been together? 2 years /3years  in March

*Favorite vacation spot you've ever been? I would have to say Minnesota because thats where my husband purposed on my birthday!

*Do you have any pets? Max an Italian Bull Mastiff (my huge baby) and Kimbo a mutt

*Are you a beach, country or city person? I would have to say country since I moved from WI 900 miles to MS,

*What do you like to do in your free time? I love to bake and try new recipies.

*What is your favorite kind of food? Any type of sea food

Thoughts: I am trying to stay much more relaxed and avoid Google at all cost! I am also trying to be positive and use prayer! I wish you all the best in whatever journey you are taking in life!
*Thoughts:  I am trying to be more relaxed

[Keria]

Oh I'm so sorry Tear, I'm so happy that little baby A is doing great but know that it's ok to mourn the loss of baby B

I'll catch up on reading an reply later. Sending good thoughts to all.

[Prettyasanangel]

Low Ferritin (iron) levels can cause female infertility and problems with implantation!!! 

I was on another board and the ladies were talking about their ferritin levels (iron levels). They said that if your iron/ferritin levels are below 50 then you could have implantation problems. I dont know if you ladies have had your iron levels checked out but this might be beneficial to us. They said that its the iron in your system that aids in implantation. Please research low ferritin levels and IVF and a host of info will pop up. I am currently taking SSS tonic (SSS iron tonic) but was not taking the recommended daily dosage of 3 tablespoons. I will order some more and start taking the appropriate amounts.

[rcr]

Blue - I could take FMLA leave, which would stop the tenure clock for a year, but I did that for the birth of DS, so I don't want to do it again. I am at least happy that I have a flexible job, so I don't have to worry about taking sick time.

Song -- I really was not expecting to gain weight during IVF. Is that common? Is it because of the stims? ugh, I think I finally started loosing weight from my recent m/c, just to gain it all over again. Hope I get pregnant to make it worthwhile this time.

Bellybean - hmm, my clinic lists $1,000 for FET. I wonder if that include meds.

[BellyBean]

Hello to everyone!

rcr, I agree 2 days after ER and ET is adequate, and you should have a weekend in there at somepoint too! 

blue, Our FET is estimated at around $1500 and that doesn't count this year's storage fees!  Huge grrrr!  I was expecting $750, not sure how I came up with that, but it seemed reasonable in my head.

songtothemoon, yoga pants are my life!!  Not sure why any other pants even exist

No real news for me, still just going back and forth on 1 or 2 snowbabies....

[blueyezz4]

BellyBean - I think when the billing girl went over the pricing with us initially before we even did our IVF I think she told us the cost of just the FET and not all the other charges that are in there as well.  I think that is where I got my figures all messed up.  Then  you have to add the price of meds in there too!  Our storage fees don't start until 3 months after retrieval so I'm hoping we won't have to pay ours but we will see. Not sure how it works to just pay for one month since that might be what happens for us.  Did you RE say how many he thought you guys should put back in with your FET???  I know ours said he would thaw all 3 b/c sometimes not all of them make it.  I guess that is always something to keep in mind when you are trying to make you decision on 1 or 2 as well.

Sarahcecile - Every time I write your name I always think i'm spelling it wrong.... Anyways, thinking about you and for you for tomorrows big test!!!!  How are you doing???  Are you still around? Sending you lots of positive vibes!!

rcr - I don't think I gained any extra weight with my IVF, but everyone's body is affected differently to the hormones.  I really get no symptoms from all the meds and never have.... thankfully!  Oh... and that price for a FET (at least with my drs office) doesn't include meds.

Keria - good to see you!!  Hope you are well!!! 

Prettyasanangel - interesting info on iron... thanks for sharing!!!

sweetdynasty - thanks for sharing your "winter - get to know ya"!!!  It is always fun to read them, I think.

Tear -

Songtothemoon - I agree....Yoga pants are great!!! 

AFM - I have another blood hcg draw tomorrow morning and I'm hoping it is still going down... it went from 30,000 to 16,000 to 3,000 to 667 this last time.  My fear is that if it doesn't drop down again my OBGYN is going to want me to take a 3rd round of that stupid drug that didn't work the first two times.  All it did was just make me feel like crap!  Also, I talked to my RE and he doesn't think that our new Dx. of MTHFR is what caused all of our losses... bummer b/c i was hoping it was going to be the answer to our troubles.  I think that is about it from my end.  Hope I haven't missed anyone on the first page of updates... be sure to fill me in if I have.  Thanks!!!!!!  I'm so glad to have you ladies here with me (even though I'd rather be in a DDC with you all, but you know what I mean  ).  Anyways, I feel very blessed to be a part of such a great group of ladies that are all here to support one another!!  Thanks!!!