Summer IVF Thread - Let the Sun shine through all of usl!!! - Page 34

[BellyBean]

Renavoo, I can't believe they are "booked" for FET's and you can't get in!  It's not like you could know any earlier if you needed an FET since you just did IVF!  Ugh that makes me mad!  I have had to practice my patience a lot lately since we have had so many delays and BFN's.  I can't believe it's already been 6 months since our first FET...time just keeps on ticking away.

rcr, I think it's awesome that you are able to cook so much ahead.  I bet that makes it a lot easier when DH is away, it sounds like you have a lot going on.  My DH helps out a lot around the house, it would be so hard to do it without the daily help.  I have been asking DH if we could get a fridge/freezer in the garage so I could cook ahead and store more meats/drinks (that we could buy cheaper in bulk).  I am definitely going to check out the other threads for ideas! 

April, I hope your precious embie takes off today! 

Blue, has your RE said how much of a discount you'll get?  Mine just raised his prices, and didn't say anything until I had to pay and I asked why it was more than the last ones.  When do you start your next cycle?

Gelly, how did it goe this morning?

AFM, 26 hours till transfer!!!!!  Yippee!  I really hope nothing goes wrong last minute.  I don't care if they have to thaw all my embies I want 2 good ones going back in there!  Please Please Please let this be it!  I can't decide when I'll start POAS...I would normally say 12dpo, but I work that day, and I don't know if I can take that on a work day...then again, I'd be busy there so maybe that would be better than being at home...hmmmmm.

[missme]

Hi All!

Just dropping in to say "hi!" - I've been stalking you all this summer, and I'm so happy for those of you who had good luck this summer. Blue, I'm really sorry that this wasn't your time, but I'm thrilled to hear your puppy is doing well...and Belly - My fingers are so crossed for your transfer tomorrow! And hello to all new members - I hope you find the support and love of these wonderful women as special and helpful as I did.

I am doing super well. Dreading going back to school, but at least it's only till November! Every day still feels like a miracle for me, but I feel calm and happy and secure that I'll be holding a healthy little girl in my arms in a few months. I think of the struggle often, and I pray, pray, pray that we all get to meet our dream babies soon.

xoxo and love to you all!

[graf214]

April: I am hoping hard for your little embie to stick. Remember that my embies were only 4 cell at 3 days. My RE says that morphology isn't a great indicator of success and sometimes they do better inside.

Blue: It is so hard to get mentally ready for these. It has been 5 years for me and each month has been trying. Just try to stay strong and keep the goal in mind.

Belly: Best wishes for tomorrow.

Renavoo: I am praying hard for your test tomorrow. I think that your plan b in going for IUI until you are ready for a FET is great. At least you will feel like your moving. Really I hope you don't have to go to plan b though.

Kewpie80: 2 weeks from being half done? I am so happy for you. This must be exciting. Hope you are feeling better though.

AFM: Just got the call from the nurse. She said my second beta is right on target. I went from 36 on friday to 108 today! I am so excited and nervous at the same time. We have been going through this for five years. Next MOnday I will go for my final beta before an ultrasound. Hopefully all goes well. THinking of you all

[gellybeangrl]

April~ I am sorry to hear that you embryo is responding slowly. I'm praying that it will catch up in the coming days.

Belly~ Good luck with your transfer tomorrow...I'll be sitting on the couch here sayin a prayer for you...what time do you go in?

Renavoo~ Good luck on your Beta tomorrow!!! That is strange that they don't have any open appointments for FET.

Question: Was anyone told not to lay on their stomach after the transfer? I though that I read that somewhere, but when I asked the RE she didn't think it would matter. I'm just curious because I am a stomach sleeper.

AFM~ My transfer went very, well today. All 5 of the emryo's lived...and were grade A (which for their grading system was the best). We transfered 2 and we froze 3. I am now home resting on the couch. DW stopped by Olive Garden and picked up dinner. While on these meds I haven't been too hungry, but who can turn down Olive Garden.   Oh and my beta is scheduled for September 2nd.  So, I'm gon S

So I'm going to take it easy these next two days...I don't have to be back at work until Thursday...but I may go back on Wednesday..I'm not sure yet.

[auraleigh]

belly, i am so excited you made it!  it is definitely a staple in this house.  i could eat it for lunch and dinner and never get bored, it's just so comforting.  i actually went crazy tonight and made a soup with cauliflower, mushrooms, summer squash and carrots.  pureed the heck out of it, and it's SO filling and has practically no calories.  which is a giant benefit because these stupid birth control pills make me swell up like the stay puft marshmallow man.  also, GOOD LUCK!!!! the transfer should be smooth sailing, wishing you an easy day!

april, what do you mean when you say you let the PIO "sit out" for 20 minutes?  also, i didn't realize donor eggs were so expensive! that's insane.  is it $20k for a certain amount of them? a vial's worth?  also, i'm crossing my fingers that this embryo is a late bloomer and you won't even need the donor eggs.

blue, waiting til october doesn't sound like a bad idea.  i literally had three days off and then jumped right back in, and part of me feels like my body could have used a break.  my brain however, wants to start stims asap.  luckily labor day weekend is not too far away.

renavoo- seriously, wouldn't it be nice just to see what a freakin positive stick test looks like?! i know other people have said it, but i'm tempted to test right after my trigger just so i can see what it "should" look like.  i haven't decided if i'm going to POAS for this next time.  all those negative tests REALLY messed with my head and got me way depressed, which made that second week feel way longer than it had to.  but i'm also totally obsessive and can't control my urges, so i will probably be back at the store soon. 

rcr- freezing meals is the *best*.  i've got tupperware full of veggie chili, three different kinds of soup, stew, etc.  i'm exhausted by the time i get home from work and my husband (though he'd never say it out loud) really appreciates a hot meal after commuting from the city.  my last cycle there were a few cereal-for-dinner nights and i could tell it made him sad.  what do you think are your favorites?  i'm always looking for ideas. 

gelly,- congrats on the great transfer! having eggs to freeze must be nice.  at least you know you're guaranteed another shot if you need it.

afm-  bloated, having crazy vivid dreams, and starting back up on the acupuncture after a week off.  i missed it so much.  i wish she'd let me lay there for two hours, not just one. 

[blueyezz4]

Aura - Oct. is not too bad, it's just an adjustment b/c I just some-what accepted the fact that the last fresh IVF we just did was going to be our last shot.  We had figured that we would do that fresh one and God forbid it didn't work then we would at least have one more FET to try.  The whole thing just kinda threw me for a loop since we had such bad results. I guess the fact that it is also another expense again after just draining our savings so that is a little hard to swallow too, but it will be all worth it if we can finally get a BFP.   Glad you get to start acupuncture again... I love it too and find it very relaxing.

Gelly - I've never heard anything about not laying on your stomach.  I know when you are actually pregnant they tell you not to lay on your stomach after a certain point... could that be what you read maybe?  Glad to hear your ET went so well!!  Awesome that you have ones to freeze too that are such good quality.  Mmmmmm... enjoy that Olive Garden.  Keep us posted.

Graf - congrats on the 2nd beta!!! Yay!!!!!  Thanks for your encouragement.

Missme - so good to see your name again!  I'm glad to hear things are going well and I'm so excited for you to have that special little babe!!!!  Be sure to keep us updated! 

Belly - I'll start Lupron like Sept 27th-ish or so depending on when my next AF shows up.  Good luck with the ET!  Fingers crossed so hard for you right now!!!!  Keep us posted on how it goes.

[renavoo]

Belly, GOOD LUCK today! I hope everything goes well and in less than 2 weeks time, you get your BFP!!!

Gelly, yah for a good transfer! Fingers crossed that everything goes well and that you're going to get your BFP soon too! You and Belly are kind of in the same time frame! (Belly, Gelly- hehe rhymes!)

Aura, what is your schedule like? What regimen are you going to be on? And I know you were looking into donor eggs (20K?!?) so how is that going? How the heck is it so expensive to get donor eggs?!

Blue, yah to starting it all over again. haha Come on, BFP better be with you this time!!

Graf, YAH for a great betal!! Congrats!!

AFM, DH and I had a good talk. We're going to ask to speak with the doctor, once we get the BFN on the beta. I think that the best thing would be that we schedule for the October FET but I'm hoping that the doctor will allow me to either substitute oral estrogen or maybe use it vaginally as Belly did...otherwise, he prefers both estrogen and progesterone IM shots and I can't do those myself while I travel. So I'm going to ask for the rationale as to why I couldn't do both suppositories, as Belly did or if I could just supplement for oral/suppository while I'm traveling (4-5 days). I hope that he is good about it. Also, I hope that they have weekend appointments for the FET!! The problem with being far away is that I need to take time off and i don't have that much time off anymore, since I wasted so much of it for the initial cycle- they really told me to go to DC way too early!!! Anyway, whatever, hopefully, this all works out. DH and I are considering canceling the treatments at this place if it doesn't work out with the FET- The travel is just too much and it may just be better to pay out of pocket at our local fertility center. sigh. More waiting...story of our lives, right ladies?

[blueyezz4]

Renavoo - thinking of you today!!!!!  I think your plan sounds good about doing the oral or vaginal estrogen.  I didn't even know they had injectable estrogen.

Belly - Good luck with the ET!!!  Keep us posted.  Are you doing a day or two of bedrest?

[rcr]

Belly - thinking of you today.

Rana - good luck on the beta!

Gelly - congrats on the transfer. Hope the next 2 weeks flies by for you.

Aura - we freeze chili and soup a lot, since they are easy to freeze and when we make them we do it in the crock pot so it makes a lot of food. We just cooked a few weeks ago, and tried this recipe for red lentil and red pepper lasagna, it was yummy: http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=35446.msg438700#msg438700

We also tried "steak" and stout pie to freeze, which was also good: http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=26598.0. Plus we usually freeze some kind of enchalattas (sp?) - we have tried squash and kale enchalittas, which were yummy, and spinach and sweet potato. We are vegetarians though.

Hi Missme! Good to see you!

April - So, there are differnet methods of egg and embryo donation at my clinic. The reason that egg donation costs so much is that you are basically paying for somebody else to go through IVF, plus a fee for them, but you put the fertilized embryo back into you instead of the donor (obviously). So the costs are the IVF process for the donor up until retrieval, and transfer (plus associated meds) for you, plus (at my clinic) a $5,000 fee for the donor. They don't just have eggs sitting in a tube waiting for people in need - you need to pay for IVF for somebody to get the eggs. Another option is embryo donation, which are just leftover embryos from people who have done IVF and don't need the embryos, like if you got 10 embryos and only wanted 3 kids, you could donate the leftovers to somebody in need. At my clinic I had to fill out the form to do that ahead of time (not that I had any leftovers obviously), and on my form I said that I wanted a certain amount of time (like 10 years) and then they could donate them if I didn't tell them otherwise. Another option is embryo adoption. There are some companies (one that my clinic told me about is called snowflake), that you bascially go through a regular adoption process like you would a live child. Somebody who has leftover embryos can send their embryos to snowflake and they will adopt them out. It requires a homestudy, letters of reference, credit check, and all the other stuff that you would have to do when you adopt a child. The "parents" of the embryo can also specify if they want an "open adoption" where the adoptive parents must allow contact with the child and the biological parents. 

For us, I got on the embryo donation wait list about 6 months ago at our clinic (it is a few years long), just in case. Our insurance pays a big part of egg donation though, so I think we would go that route (plus at least we could use DHs sperm). I think all it doesn't pay is the $5,000 fee to the donor, plus some co-pays. My RE said that she has a pool of about 25 donors to choose from. I requested info about embryo adoption from snowflake but decided that it just didn't fit for us. I am not sure sure about contact with the embryo's biological parents, the agency is christian and we are not, plus I am worried that we wouldn't pass a homestudy (we don't vax, we have a tiny house, a bunch of animals....)

April - are you keeping your PIO shots in the fridge (what does "sitting out" mean)?

gelly - nope, I have never heard of anything about laying on your stomach either.

AFM - feeling a little crampy. I hope AF is coming, because I am sick of waiting.

Blue -Oct is just around the corner. I think it is good to give your body and mind a rest between treatments.

[rcr]

Gah!! why do I keep looking at facebook! I have been back at work for 2 weeks (I have summer off), so it was easy to take a break from MDC and FB while I was off (no computer at home, so I could only check it from my phone anyway). Now that I am back at work I have been looking at FB daily and everybody, of course, is either pregnant or having a baby (not talking about your, Kewpie, I love seeing your baby updates!). I guess my problem is that I need some kind of diversion at work (ya know, instead of actually working all day ). I need a new diversion (I mean besides you ladies). I just noticed a friend from college just had her third baby, so now she has lapped me twice since I had DS. Arrrgh!

[Kewpie80]

SOmetimes (not always, but usually) it helps if you massage the area right after the shot.  It helps disperse the oil faster and you end up avoiding the welt and I found it took a lot longer to get sore.  My husband would use the bottom half of his palm and use circular motions while applying a fair bit of pressure.  You might try that.  I found it helps.
 

Originally Posted by gellybeangrl 

AFM~ I'm doing fine..started PIO shot last night...it hurt...not the shot itself, but after the fact the oil dissipating through my leg. This morning the butt muscle is sore...just 12 weeks more of the shot...yuck, but if it helps me get a healthy baby it is so worth it. We have our transfer tomorrow morning at 11:00a.

[Kewpie80]

I tried to do personals for everybody, but the interwebs ate it. :( booo

So, here's the nutshell version-

gelly - Nope, they didn't say anything to me about sleeping on my stomach.  I'm a stomach sleeper too. Yay for a good transfer!!!

graf - Yay for a good second beta!!  I'm so happy for you!

missme - SO good to see you!  Nov is coming up fast!!

rcr - Thanks, I try to keep the updates to a minimum, but the closest family member to me is about 2200 miles away and I'm not a phone person, so that's usually the way I fill them in.  I figure anyone who doesn't want to know can block me.  Plus, the babies are the only thing going on in my life right now.  Everything I'm doing is for them, so nothing else to report haha!  I'm glad you enjoy hearing about them.  IVF success stories always used to give me hope.  I hope mine does for others too.

everyone else - I know I'm missing someone in this second attempt.  I'm sorry!  But know that I'm rooting for you and I'm so happy for all the positive action going on here lately.  (hugs) to those who aren't getting their happy news this time

[aprilmom]

graf214 - thanks for the good reminder, I need all those I can get right now!!  Yea for good betas!!!

auraleigh - yes, my instructions said to have it in the fridge, so I draw up the shot and then let it warm up some. I haven't done acupuncture but want to give it a try!

rcr - yeah that seems to be right on target for what I found for donor eggs... I was hoping what I found was wrong because that is a crazy amount!! I have a friend that I have 'blocked' from seeing her updates on facebook.  She has had 3 since we had DD and says very hurtful things (ie. what I wouldn't give to sit out and have a glass of whine if only I wasn't preggers) which I just find horrid. 

AFM - well the egg is still grown but still slow, it was only at 4 cells this morning so it is 2 days behind.  They have us on 'hold' for tomorrow.  If it grows more they will transfer if not then they will wait to see what is does.... UGH

[blueyezz4]

All of you out there that are talking about egg quality....  I have asked about this as well and I think it was Keria that had mentioned to me about CoQ 10 and Melatonin to help with this and I asked my RE about both of those and he said that I could take them to see if they might help w/ egg quality and also recommended DHEA so I'm starting to take all of them now and then - I'm kinda bad at remembering to take them.  I really don't like to take too many supplements, but I'm taking them every other or every 3rd day and hoping it will maybe help some.  We will see.  Just wanted to throw that info out there since there are so many talking about donor eggs.  I'd ask your RE about possibly trying these.... would be a lot cheaper than donor eggs and maybe worth a shot to try.

[Laggie]

I got the FET info in the mail last night and it sounds like they want me to do a month on birth control before starting the FET cycle. Is this normal? I wasn't expecting to do that again and I don't understand the purpose of it. Now I'm not sure whether to start the bcp in September (for an October FET). I wanted to wait until I had a complete natural menstrual cycle, but if I want to do the FET in October then I would have to start the pill as soon as I get my first period after the miscarriage. I think I might be too impatient to wait another month though. I feel like they're just messing with my hormones for no reason.

[gellybeangrl]

Kewpie~ Thanks for the info on the PIO shot...it is getting better and less long lasting pain per night.

AFM~ Just sitting on the couch...taking it easy. I am off tomorrow as well...here's hoping that the 3 days of bedrest/taking it easy will be enough. I work in an office, but it is faced paced...lots of telephones and helping people that come in the door...very stressfull work. So, hopefully I'll be able to remain calm and take it easy.

[renavoo]

Oh my freaking gosh, I can't believe the timing...there was an earthquake in the VA area so everyone went home. I tried to call Quest, where  I had my blood drawn and of course, they have "shaky lines" and therefore, are unable to get me over to the right place. What a frustrating day! But my DH is my hero...he kept trying to call and apparently, he got through and just found out it was a BFN. Sigh, of course.

By the way, Laggie, I'm facing the same issue. I have to take BCPs until my FET as well...apparently, it's to prevent us from naturally ovulating. And also, I need to take it for a few weeks because they have to schedule the FET and they don't have any openings for me until October. Its just for us to wait it out, I guess.

Sorry ladies, I'm a little bitter today. :o) I'll hopefully be back to my normally cheerful self tomorrow.

April, I did want to say that I hope your embie continues to grow!!!!

RCR, I'm SO with you about Facebook. I hate it. I've gotten to the point where I am starting to think about deleting my account. I really sign on to just see whose birthday it is, at this point.

Blue, just wanted to say thanks for your support!! I am looking forward to you starting so I can hopefully provide as much support to you!

[rcr]

Rena - I am so sorry. I know it wasn't exactly unexpected, but it still hurts. Hope you can manage to do something for yourself tonight.

Laggie - I had to take BCP for a month before my hyst/lap, and I am afraid that I am screwing up my hormones too. I am waiting for AF (now a month after the surgery), and I am afraid I did something to mess up my body with all the drugs I have been taking, because she is still not here yet.

[julieven]

Laggie - I was also prescribed BCP for the first month of the two month FET cycle. I was also told it was for suppression.

Belly - I hope your transfer went well today.

Still lurking on this thread, although I won't even be in the Fall IVF thread. Maybe the Winter IVF thread...

[auraleigh]

renavoo- BOOOOOO.  what a crap day.  go home, have a good cry, give DH some love.    i'll be thinking about you.

april- i'm so surprised it says to refrigerate!  mine has warnings on the bottle NOT to! plus the RE told me a million times not to get it cold, to put it in my bra to heat up before injecting, or to fill the needle and put it in a plastic bag and then drop that in a cup of warm water to heat up.  i used to just stick it in my pants under the heating pad where i was about to do the injection.   i would imagine that even a little cold has to make it more uncomfortable.  it's just so THICK. obviously your dr knows best, but i'd warm that sucker up before shooting. 

renavoo- i think april was the one who mentioned egg donors.  we are actually going for sperm donors, which is about $500 per vial (and we'll need 2 per try).  plus fees.  i was complaining before but obviously this is nothing in comparison to egg donation.

gelly- rest is good! get it while you can!

rcr- those enchiladas sound delicious! we're meat eaters but i used to live with a vegan roommate and i do try to go meatless a few nights a week.  thanks for the recipes!

afm- just got new round of drugs delivered (had most of the injectables from last cycle when they told me to order more and then i didn't need them!) so now i am stocked up on my antibiotics, needles, steroids, estradiol, and my one valium.  lucky me.  surprisingly i am wishing i was starting stims already.  i have no patience and these two weeks on bcp are just driving me nuts.  they make me feel so puffy! i'm already up 10 lbs from last cycle (with no baby to show for it) so i am trying to be a lot more strict with diet on this go around.  although there is nothing i can do about this water weight.  then stims, hopefully not for 12 days like last time.  and then retrieval.  and then hopefully some beautiful blasts on day 5. and then my transfer, and my bfp that i want so badly.