Summer IVF Thread - Let the Sun shine through all of usl!!! - Page 38

[BellyBean]

Kewpie, LOVE your new picture!!!!  You look fabulous!

Renavoo, hope the nausea starts to ease a little, but so excited you are getting started again!!!

Deborah, welcome!  you found a great group of ladies for support!

Graf, keep us posted.  How scary, I am sure it's fine!

April, yay for starting again tomorrow!!!

Aura, I am very hopeful for this cycle of yours!! 

Well, 5.5dp5dFET and still BFN on dollar store tests.  I am pretty much ready to throw in the towel, but DH (although he does NO research on anything IVF) claims there is still time.  The only thing that gives me a sliver of hope is that the median hcg level on betabase for singletons at 11dpo is 24, so maybe I am part of the 50% that are under 24.  I also know that blood levels are higher than urine levels, but I have searched the internet and can't find any rule of thumb on how long it takes for a particular level in blood to reach that level in urine.  I know, driving myself crazy...but what else should you do during the 2ww!

[deborahbgkelly]

BlueEyzz- How are you taking DHEA over the counter? There is DHA, but I had to order DHEA from the compounding pharmacy. Yes, of course I am taking thyroid meds. My previous ones weren't absorbing so I had to switch to brand and up the dose. I will be getting retested  next week.

Renavoo- Nice to see a familiar person.

Everyone- Thanks for all the support and good luck with everything throughout the journey.

[rcr]

Belly - I agree with DH, there is still time. Didn't Blue get a BFN at like 12 dp5dt, and then her beta was a BFP?  plus, dollar store tests are just glorified internet cheepies.

Deborah welcome.

Kewpie - Love the new pic. I saw it on FB and thought to myself that you look like the happiest mama in the world! I am putting a bet on two boys. Anybody else want to make a guess? I can't wait to find out!

Hi to everybody else. I am keeping up, but I have to run to work now.

April - I am so happy that you get to do another cycle. Your RE sounds wonderful.

AFM - still waiting for AF. The RE said that I have to give it 6 weeks because I had a D&C to remove the polyp, so AF could be late. It is so annoying. I have all my drugs ready to go, and we keep the dog thyroid pills in the bottom fridge drawer along with my follistim, and every day I go into the drawer and see the follistim and get more annoyed that AF is not here. DH and I were thinking of going camping for labor day weekend, but I couldn't commit because  I have no idea when we will be doing shots/IUI. Gah!

[BellyBean]

rcr, bummer AF isn't here yet!!!!!  I absolutely HATE how much IF treatments effect what I can schedule or do in my "real life", that is probably one of the most annoying aspects for me.  I am not sure if you already needed to book your camping space, but maybe AF will show and you can still go, or perhaps you have other "local" back up plans.

Kewpie, I still have my money on 2 girls!  Your first scan is the same day as my beta and I think I am more excited for your scan!

[blueyezz4]

Belly - I still have my fingers crossed for you!!!

rcr - hoping that AF shows up soon so you know where and when this is all going to start!!  I hate trying to plan life around IF... it really puts a damper on your personal schedule.

Deborah - I just went to CVS and bought it off the shelf.  I'm looking at the bottle right now... it is DHEA Nature's Bounty brand and is 25mg.  I think my RE wanted me to take 50mg, but i found the 25mg and figured I'd start a little lower b/c meds scare me some!  Figured it would be better than nothing.

Kewpie - my initial feeling was 2 girl, but I'm hoping i'm wrong and you get one of each.

[ItsMeSri]

Today morning is not good for me. You all know, I did 3dt with 2 embryos and 3 are developing in the lab. This morning they said, all 3 of them are not good, so they are not freezing them. Now I am worrying about those transferred 2 embryos are good or not. I had 2 Miscarriages in past. I did 4 IUIs before this fresh IVFs.

My mood is not at all good now.

[aprilmom]

Belly - I am still praying this is your month!!

ItsMe - I know that the embryo's prefer to be in your womb vs. the labe - so maybe they are enjoing where they are and happily growing!!  I pray that this is your month and you don't have too many worries (I know how hard that must be after multiple m/c)

AFM -Start BCP tonight and they are putting me on DHA to improve my egg quality.  They changed my protocol some - I will not be takin Lupron at the same time as BCP and when I start them I will be doing it in the morning and evening (12 hours appart).  I am guessing the doseage of my meds will be higher too but not sure yet.  I start stims 9/11

[ItsMeSri]

Thanks Aprilmom, your message give me some hope and relief to me. I am just taking bed rest. My mother-in-law taking care of eveything now. They are just waiting for good news.

[BellyBean]

Itsme, I am going completely insane today too!  The unknown is just so stressful.  Unfortunately we just have to wait to find out what's going on inside our bodies.  How many days past your 3 day transfer are you?

Thanks everyone for trying to make me feel better and holding out hope for me.  I think I have decided to go buy some FRERs, one for tomorrow and one for Wednesday.  I am devestated right now, but not wanting to give up hope.  I also have 1 target brand "early" test here which I am thinking about using around noon when I have suffienciently held my pee :)  I don't remember being this crazy last time, and somehow I actually held out for the beta in February.  I think it's just the added stress of so many failed cycles in a row    I just wish it was Thursday already.  Another example of my insanity, I actually have been considering writing my normal ob and asking for a beta, I am sure he would order one for me...it would actually be cheaper than the FRER's.  But I don't really want a for sure "no" and any low numbers might worry me too.  I just want to curl up for a nap and cry myself to sleep, but it really isn't an option today...

[ItsMeSri]

Hi Belly,  Retrieval was on 08/23 and 3DT was on 08/26. DPR is 3rd.

[ItsMeSri]

Sorry DPR is 5th day.

[blueyezz4]

April - are you on DHEA or DHA?  Glad to hear they are changing up your protocol!!

ItsMe - I have the same opinion.  Just b/c the ones outside of your uterus didn't make it doesn't mean the ones inside will do the same.  Most embies like it better inside the body and being outside is foreign so they have an increased chance of not making it.  Keep your hope.

Belly - Take a deep breath girl!!!!  I think you are driving yourself nutty!!!  If i were you, I wouldn't trust anything until your actual beta, so I wouldn't waste your $.  I always try to tell myself that worrying about it won't make it any better and being stressed about it is bad for that little sticky one in there that is trying to grow.  You can do this!!!!  

[renavoo]

Blue, I'm with you. I alternate between cancer and menopause... ;o) i am always worried about what intake of too many drugs will do to our system. But I hope that it will be worth it for all of us and then whatever risks come with the drugs are absolutely worth it (that and there is no definitive research that suggests any long term impact of these types of treatment. Even possible negative impacts of birth control pills seems to go down with time.)

Belly, I'm still holding out hope. I feel like 13-14 dpo is really when you should test. Or, as Blue says, don't trust anything but the beta. I know that we all want to test to do SOMETHING during the 2WW but i do think the stress of it is a big negative. I'm hoping for your BFP with your FRER and more importantly, with your beta. Just think...just a few more days!!

itsmeSri, hope all is well and that you're feeling more confident. I know that there many people truly believe that the embies have a better chance of surviving in the body! hopefully, your embies are snuggling in there right now!

April, YAH to starting and I can't wait to be with you through your steps! It's time to get your BFP!

Deborah, maybe you need a specific type of dhea? i've also seen DHEA over the counter so if your doctor gave you a prescription, perhaps it is for a dose/formulation that you can't get otc?

[deborahbgkelly]

It is DHEA, but I do think it may be a higher dosage than what's available OTC. I can't remember how much it was. I should get it sometime soon. We placed the order Thursday afternoon. I imagine it will show up today. Come to think of it, it could have been there Saturday. I should check the mail :-).

[aprilmom]

Deborah is correct it is DHEA - glad you clarified because I would have gotten the wrong thing!! 

[BellyBean]

FRER ("6 days earlier") was negative...I give up! 

Edited by BellyBean - 8/29/11 at 2:52pm

[renavoo]

no Belly!! those 6 days earlier tests aren't definite- please don't get too down yet. You know me, I'm all about being prepared and if this was me, I would definitely be less optimistic but hold on to some hope until the beta tells you what is going on. I'm so sorry you're going through this though. I know that you're tired and you're sad but it will happen. Even if now isn't the time, it WILL happen. Big hugs!!

[auraleigh]

blue- i actually realized that from the last ivf i took off almost TWO YEARS of my fertility.  meaning that i am now going to hit menopause two years earlier than i would have.  and since we're doing a second cycle, it's probably going to be more like four years.  when i figured that out i had a slight panic attack.  but if i have babies before then, i figure it's all worth it. 

renavoo- glad my tmi could help!! i figure if we can't talk about these things here, then where can we discuss them? bcp stink.  i was never on them (avoided them when i was younger and didn't need them with my husband.  retrograde ejaculation has its perks!).  now that i am on them, i get the same nausea, and bloating.  oh the bloating.  what other side effects do you get? what pill are you on?  i'm on apri.  plus, i hope you love your new gyn.  are they in the city?  i had a great one who was near nyu hospital that i had to leave when we moved out of the city.

welcome deborah! you've found a good place, i've been here for about two months and these ladies made my first ivf cycle so much easier.  i really appreciate the sharing of info, the shoulders to cry on, and the ability to laugh at the predicament we are in.  welcome!

afm, today i sat down with my mom and showed her the sperm donor we chose.  she approved.  then i finally made the call to xytex and ordered my two vials.  the donor had 24 available vials so i feel safe that we can wait until i get a bfp to see if we want to buy more to store for a sibling.  i made the woman on the phone repeat the donor number a few times to me, to make sure we were going to get the right sperm.  could you imagine! my mom was teasing me that we will wind up with the wrong sperm.  not funny.  what was funny was that they tried to upsell us!  for an extra $35 they will pick the two vials with the MOST motile sperm.  as if the rest is not as motile?  the woman explained that for that fee they will actually review the sperm test results and hand pick the two best vials.  after spending $1000, what's another $35?  so i went for it.  might as well give ourselves the best chance.  it feels a little crazy that we just bought sperm, but hey, after this infertility adventure nothing surprises me.  i know you said i was amazing renavoo, but really i am selfish.  i just want to be pregnant SO BAD that i am willing to go to great lengths.  we could consider adoption and give a child a happy home, but i want to feel a baby kicking.  i want to breast feed. 

[renavoo]

Hey Aura, why are you taking 2 years off your fertility? I thought that the data suggests that IVF does not push you closer to menopause? huh, must do some research now!! not that it matters anyway because I would have to do it anyway but hey, I want to at least know!

I'm on orthocyclen, which is a monophasic pill. Ugh, every night, I have nausea. The worst is the fact that i took it for so long before and never felt these side effects. Well, maybe i did when I first started and I just don't remember! But I do remember losing weight after i got off the pill so that was a good memory. I also remember the pill screwing with my sex drive (I've felt MUCH better since I've been off the pill) so I was definitely not looking forward to having to be back on the pill again. sigh.

Yah for getting your sperm donor!! i would have paid the $35 dollars too. That seems like nothing when you consider how much you've spent already-I'm still bitter that infertility isn't covered by most insurance plans (or our companies who help us purchase the insurance anyway!) and I definitely don't think you're selfish. I think this is what we all want...to have our baby growing inside us and have that connection. It's so important. One day, DH and i may adopt, even if we have our own children. I think adoption is wonderful. But I think most women want to experience the miracle of childbirth. Everyone on this site understands anyway!

So i'm all stressed out because DH has an interview on Friday, which I'm happy about. However, we're working under his insurance so if he gets a new job and their insurance doesn't cover anything, we're back to paying massive amounts out of pocket. sigh. Also, there is that month in between where he won't have any insurance at all. luckily, I think that if he gets the job, we'll be preparing for the FET so I don't need to go get ultrasounds or bloodwork very often...since I am so far away from my clinic, the costs of that still fall to me!

I really do hope he gets the job though...he gets stressed out in his job and he really would feel better with a new job. but all I can think about is what it would mean for his schedule and how much more difficult it would be to do IVF! It's another push towards quitting my clinic if the FET is unsuccessful and moving to a NYC clinic!! Then he doesn't have to worry about the travel!

[rcr]

All this talk about DHEA is making me want to take it. I actually bought a bottle a few months ago but got scared after reading how it can mess you up too. For those taking it, did you have a test done to check your DHEA levels before starting to take it. Hmm, I think I will ask my RE.

Aura - yay for getting sperm. I am shocked at how much it costs, although I guess that is the cost for freezing and cleaning it. I think most guys would do it for free!

Renavoo - the only reason DH is not looking for a new job is because it covers fertility.

Belly - I am sorry you are getting BFNs. I hope this is just setting you up for a big exciting BFP surprise. On the other hand, I know that I like to be disappointed a little more day by day rather than all at once. I am so sorry that you are going through this. You really need to get a BFP. Well, we all do, I suppose.

AFM- I think that AF may be here! Yippee!! Blood this morning. I am waiting to see more for confirmation before calling the RE to report CD1. It has been since May since we tried, so I am excited to get the show on the road.