Spring IVF Thread: Bring on the BFPs! - Page 23

[Vegan Princess]

Deportivo: That is one area where I failed miserably - getting DH to make lifestyle changes!! He uses chewing tobacco (though he hides it from me - I know he does it on his commute home) and he enjoys his beer. My stupid RE told him he didn't think giving up drinking would make a difference - so I stopped pushing the issue. But I still think my RE has to be wrong. And acu can definitely help men. Also, my acupuncturist said she had herbs that could help him - but I never bought them. Getting him to take his vitamins was a major victory. LOL. 

[teresaresa]

Thanks for the welcome, ladies!

VeganPrincess: I'm not sure if my doc used something to open the cervix - I mean I know he put in a speculum, but aside from that, I'm not sure.

AuraLeigh: Are you in NY?? Your Dr's name is familiar from the ResolveNYC boards. I'm in Westchester, so I'm not really involved with that group. I'm glad to know that someone else had a tough time with the saline ultrasound! I think it was partially psychosomatic, b/c my doctor was totally perplexed by my reaction. He asked if I had the same problem with the HSG, and I said no. He said it's weird because the HSG is more invasive. For the SH, the first catheter was uncomfortable, but bearable going in... it just wouldn't stay in. (cue anxiety level increase) The second catheter was a bit more uncomfortable going in, but still bearable.... again, wouldn't stay in. (anxiety level really increases). The third try was with a balloon catheter. Felt terrible going in.... he got it to stay, but by then it was just feeling really terrible, I started cramping, sweating, feeling nausea, and I got the very clear sensation I get right before I pass out. Fortunately, I didn't pass out (yay for disgusting smelling salts!!), but I came close :(  I found out from my midwife on Monday that I have super strong vaginal muscles, and that I may have some issues when unpleasant things are going up my who-ha that I involuntarily clench. So, I'm wondering if my anxiety level was so high by try #3 that there was no way anything was going up there! My acupuncturist did a grounding treatment on me last night - not sure if that will cary to Monday. I may try to see my Reiki master over the weekend to help relax me pre-Monday. I definitely feel sooooo much better today!

Is anyone else on their first IVF cycle?

[Kewpie80]

deportivo - I'm glad you're getting a second opinion.  Your first RE sounds nuts.  My husband has VERY low counts and low motility and morphology and we've got our twins and 2 more embryos on ice.  Unless there is more to the story that we don't knwo about and he hasn't told you, I don't see why IVF wouldn't work for you.  You may just have to do ICSI like others have said.  We've done ICSI twice with both cycles and it was $1200 each time in adiition to the rest of the costs.  We had 100% fertilization rate.  Very glad you're getting a 2nd opinion!!

[rcr]

Blue - I am waiting for AF to start. Today is CD 29. I tested today, which was stupid because I have been cramping and I know AF is on her way. It was a FRER, so it was such a waste of a expensive test. After AF starts, I will be on BCP from CD 3 until the first week of June (June 6, I think), but I start lupron and gannirelix a week or so before that. It is a crazy protocol, I have never done anything like it. Why did not icing help with PIO shots - did it hurt less afterward? I have always iced - mostly because it is such a long imposing needle. I have had pains during lupron - it was when I had a cyst, and it was on the same side as the cyst. Hope you don't have one.

Silver - your trip sounds so fun! I would totally want to go to that, and maybe eve postpone a month to do it.

Deport - some REs are really picky about freezing and some are not. So even though some freeze a lot, the quality is variable. It all depends on how you respond, and what your RE does. MY DH has had amazing results with supplements. He is on l-argigine, male fertilaid, C, D, E, coq10, l-carnitine, and flax oil. His sperm have improved drastically, to the point where they are almost normal now. Glad that you decided to go to another RE. second opinions are always good.

Teresa - nice to see you over here, uh, I guess, but sorry you have to be here. Sorry for bailing on the weight loss thread. I don't know how you are managing to do both. I can't concentrate on anything more than IVF right now. We are cycleing at about the same time. I am going to start BCP hopefully in a few days, if AF ever shows up.Sorry about the u/s. Is it always hard to get through your cervix. I have never had any problems at all. I think every feels anxious and nervous - totally normal.

Aura - glad your visit went so well, and that he was willing to save you some money. Dr. Fisch also said the same thing about 5-day transfers to me, but also added, "its your embryo, you can do whatever you want with it". which I thought was cool, because my old RE never acted like I had a choice in the matter. I am also doing estrogin priming, and I have never done it before. Did he say that it is to improve quality?

I am a little behind, so I am going to go back to the last page and reply more.

[rcr]

Hope - regarding PIO. DH lives out of town for work during the week, so I am alone with DS all week, and have nobody to give them to me. I have always given them to myself. First, close the drapes if you are near a window . I first draw a circle on my butt for where I want to do the shot, then I sit on the couch without pants on, and lean my butt against the arm of the couch (lovely!), and  twist around to give the shot. Drawing the circle lets you get it in the right spot, when you are twisting yourself around it is hard to know if it is in the right spot or not.

AFM - I got ducks. I also got meds. Lots of exciting stuff. The ducks were saved from a stupid person who got them for easter and kept them in a bathtub. My friend who saved them had nothing to do with them, so I took them and was going to keep them in the chicken coop (we have 6 hens), but I am a little worried that they have a tough time getting along at first, so I made a temporary home out of some old fence, and lock them in a dog cage at night (we have preditors here). Last night they stayed in the bathtub because I didn't bring them home until late. They are both girls. They have droppy wings, and eat a lot. I think that they are a little underfed. I am going out to get them a pool later this afternoon, and I am going to give them a few days to get used to their new home before introducing them to the chickens. I also got my meds yesterday, exceopt a few things with short expiration dates.

[auraleigh]

rcr, i love the ducks!! so jealous.  we have a pond nearby and the other day i had to stop traffic for a boy and girl duck to walk across the street, side by side.  it was very romantic, and totally put a smile on my face.  does your ds love them? they're so cute! 

estrogen priming is for egg quality.  the thought is that (at least for me) my androgens are too high and are causing a bad environment for my eggs to grow in.  so by putting me on lupron and adding in the estrogen, it makes a more hospitable environment.  you can never change the quality of the eggs themselves, but you can change the environment they grow and mature in.  so although your "environment" may not be androgen heavy, maybe you just need the estrogen boost to make it a happier place.  i'm glad we're doing it together!  we decided to stick with our donor sperm, even though dr t seemed to question if we wanted to try dh again.  i think at this point we have already come to terms with using a donor, and at least then we know we have at least half of the equation working the way it should.  is sher putting you on hgh? i was surprised dr t suggested it, but he said he has found it to be a help in egg quality.  also, is sher doing cgh? 

teresa, i lived in the city for about ten years, but now my dh and i live in central jersey, near princeton.  what clinic are you using? is it in westchester?  i've had a long year of 3 failed iuis and 2 failed ivfs, i gave up on our local clinic and have moved on to SIRM.  it's only an hour away but it does mean more time off of work.  totally worth it, i guess.

afm, af came today.  i called SIRM to let them know and i'm going in on friday for my initial 12 vials of blood and baseline ultrasound.  their office does things so differently, it's going to be an adjustment.  at my last clinic, i could just show up at 6:30am, wait in line for them to open at 7, and then it's first come, first served.  this office requires me to call in on day 1.  then they put me on a waiting list, and the next day they call between 4 and 5 to tell me what time my appointment will be.  i can request it be early, since i'm taking the bus in from nj, but bloodwork starts at 8 and first appointments for ultrasounds are at 9am.  if everything works out, i can take the 11:30 bus back to nj, hop in my car, and be at work by 1:30.  not ideal, but i can work with it.  the other scenario is if i can schedule a 2pm ultrasound (last one is 2:30), then i can work til noon, drive in to the city, and hang out until 5 when DH gets out of work and we can drive home together.  hopefully i can find a way to do a bunch of the bw and us here in nj though, which will save both on commuting costs and time.  i had to have a sit down with my boss today to update him, since i'll be out friday morning, and he was so amazingly warm and understanding.  there are days when my job makes me insane, but my bosses are truly the best when it has come to my struggles over the past year.  it's the one perk of working for a family owned business, i suppose. 

[rcr]

Aura. What is hgh and cgh?

[auraleigh]

hgh is human growth hormone, and cgh is the genetic testing that SIRM does. 

http://haveababy.com/fertility-innovations/the-evolution-of-cgh-egg-and-embryo-testing-at-sirmreprocure/

Dr T said that Dr Sher is very into it.  however his wording was something along the lines of "it's good because it shows you what you have, but it doesn't change what you have".  so if there is an issue with sperm or egg, it will definitely let you know.  but that doesn't necessarily make you pregnant.  it also starts at $3500, so....   he told us he didn't think we needed it, but i was curious if dr sher had mentioned it or not.

[MOMTOALEXIS]

Aura- So happy you loved him

[auraleigh]

stephanie,  i had no idea really what to expect!  he was really calm, thoughtful, and intelligent, and even recommended a supplement to help dh with his diabetes.  he also seemed to really consider what he should do for me, as opposed to just saying "okay, here is the general protocol".  i told him that he came highly recommended and he blushed and said he was glad to hear it!

[blueyezz4]

Renavoo - good to see your name pop up over here.  DH has an iPad and he got one of those separate keyboards that has like the blue tooth abilities and he loves it for his iPad and typing.  Just an FYI.

Hope - how are you doing?? Your beta will be here before you know it.  Are you surviving???

Deport - Just like vegan said, it all kinda depends on how your fresh IVF cycle goes.  Most of the time as long as things go well you will have something to hopefully freeze and I have heard that they can stay frozen forever basically.  About the sperm count....all that advice that Vegan gave you (she has good advice :o) is great and I had my DH take a supplement called Fertilaid maybe that was what the RE ment to say instead of Fertile one.  Don't know anything about that one.   I think acupuncture like you said is a good option, dec alcohol/smoking, dec. caffeine intake, stay away from chemicals,  improve diet w/ fruits and veggies, exercise, boxers, no hot baths etc.  Sorry some of that might be a repeat of what  others said.  I had a hard time getting DH to take his vitamins too like pulling teeth at times and he would never go for acupuncture b/c of the expense and the time as well.  Good luck and keep us posted.

Teresa - Welcome!!!!  Sorry to hear that your saline test went so bad.  I sure hope that Monday will be better.  What CD are you on right now?  I wonder if it was too early and maybe monday your cervix will be more open.  Fingers crossed for you.  Keep us posted.

Aura - So sorry to hear about your benefits but I'm really glad that your appt went so well and that you really like the new Dr.  I know momtoalexis loved him.  That schedule though would totally mess me up.  I always try to get to my early u/s & bw appts as early as possible b/c i used to go into work at 7am so i would be in big trouble w/ that kind of schedule.  Glad your boss is so good and they are on your side.  That is great.  Take one stress out of the picture.  Yes, I normally do feel when I am ovulating and lately it is worse it seems.  You'd think I'd be able to catch an egg since i can feel them release but nope.  Who knows.  The pain seems to be gone now and we will see what they say on Friday morning at my u/s.

Kewpie -  love the profile pic.  Too cute.

rcr - I actually switched to the heating pad instead of ice.  I almost think that the ice makes the muscle tense up some b/c of the cold and i found that it really wasn't that bad at all.  I used the heating pad afterwards too.  Does Dr. S only allow you to PIO or can you use other methods instead?  Your new ducks are sooooooooo cute.  I love the turq strip on their wings.  Do you think that you will keep them forever or no?  I be DS loves them to death.  How fun.  So what is up with the short exp dates on some of your meds???  Is that going to be a big problem?

Hi to everyone else!!!!!  Just looking back on this and the last page.

AFM - not much going on here.  Still on the Lupron/estrace and u/s & intralipids scheduled for Friday (7:30am & 12:30).  Tomorrow night we are having MIL/FIL/BIL over for dinner to celebrate Mother's day w/ my MIL.  We are going to go see my Mom this weekend and won't be here, so I figured we'd celebrate early.  I'm so not into entertaining.  I'm too much of a perfectionist I think and want the dinner to be just right. 

[hope4light]

deport - I'm glad that you're feeling a little better about it, and that you decided to get a second opinion.  The chances of having extras just depends on your cycle.  My first cycle I got a BFN and we had none to freeze.  This one we got a BFP and 10 to freeze.  I mean, a HUGE difference.  So you just can never tell.  I know people who have gotten their BFP's and had none to freeze, and vice versa. 

teresa - I'm sorry that you've had to make the dive over to us!  I think it is very normal to feel all of these emotions, and it's OK too. 

aura - I'm sorry that you're out of benefits!!  Good luck at the biopsy, hopefully it won't hurt.  Interesting on the day 5 transfer thought.  I think on the one hand that makes sense to me, but on the other hand - the best place is always back inside, you know?  So does he split out the charge retrieval versus transfer to help with the cost?  But you're right, the 2ww is so horrible after IVF, so maybe it will save you some sanity.  That's awesome what he'll do with the shared risk program!!!  Yeah for AF so that things can get moving!  Wow, it sounds like your boss really is great!  That's going to be crazy days to get in the monitoring.

rcr - I love how fast everything seems to be moving for you!  Wow, that's amazing.  If DH were still gone 3 weeks a month I don't know what I'd do about the PIO.  I guess you just figure it out, right?  Sounds like it's probably funny looking :-)  I have to figure out what I'm going to do about my shot tonight, but I wont' be at home, I'll be out at a Mystery Dinner with my mom.  I just don't know that I want her stabbing me, you know?    The ducks are SO cute!!!

blue - I'm good.  Starting to feel a little better, I know longer feel like my sides are going to bust out and I lost a couple of pounds, so I don't look quite as pregnant.  But of course that makes me nervous for today's beta.  I already gave blood, they'll call me after 1, so hopefully the numbers are great and doubling as they are supposed to! 

AFM - second Beta today, but I won't hear the results until this afternoon.  Just keeping my fingers crossed that all is good.  OHSS is still there, but not nearly as bad so that's good (at least I hope it's good!!!). 

[deportivo4]

That just seems like such a gamble. The only way I could afford to do it again. Would be if we had some left to freeze!!! I think we could only afford to do it once if we had nothing to freeze. Thats just horrible. I wish I lived somewhere were the cost was covered. If I got a BFN and non to freeze I would be so devastated! I am going to another clinic in Toronto and see what the chanced are that I would have and see what they can do for us!

EHHH I am so scared!!!

Such a roller coaster ride!

[hope4light]

Good Luck deport - let us know how the other clinic goes!  Do you have an appt set up yet?

AFM - second beta just came back at 5105, which puts me at about a 42 hour doubling time.  The husband still thinks twins, I have no idea.  First ultrasound next Thursday!!

[auraleigh]

hope, amazing beta!!!! i am so excited for you.  whether it's one or two in there, they will be loved and happy.  you and your dh are very lucky!

deportivo, i agree with the other ladies, you can't count on eggs to freeze.  in two ivf cycles i made over 40 fertilized embryos, and never had a single one frozen.  but it only takes one to make a baby, so don't worry about that step until you're there.  one day at a time! many ladies on this board get lucky the first time.

blue, your plans sound like fun! what will you make?  i always get nervous about perfection, but i LOVE parties and entertaining.  i make spreadsheets.  it's a sickness.  heheh

afm, i am headed into the city tomorrow morning for blood work and ultrasound.  luckily i got the first appointment for ultrasound, so i'll see them at 9am, and they'll do my blood after.  I am curious if this is the 12 vials i've heard they make everyone give.  i'll bring a bottle of water with me on the bus, just in case! after i will meet with the financial coordinator to talk dollars, which we have not done yet.  i'm going into it blind as to how much things will actually cost, but there's no turning back now.  dr t also suggested i take curcumin as a supplement in addition to the pycnogenol, inositol, and cinnamon i already take, so i went out and bought some today.  i am surging with antioxidants! af came yesterday, and for some reason i had the WORST cramps last night.  i haven't had cramps like that since i was a teenager.  seriously, 20 years since i've felt that sick.  sweats, nausea, couldn't sleep or lay in any position for longer than a few minutes.  i was up all night, and even taking aleve didn't make a difference.  i'm going to ask tomorrow if they see anything weird in the ultrasound because it was just so unusual for me.  my period is also much heavier than usual.  *sigh*, it's always something!

[auraleigh]

happy mother's day to the ladies that already are, and to those of us that will be!

[hope4light]

aura - How did the appointment go?  Was it the crazy 12 vials of blood?  Sorry abuot the crazy cramps, I hope that they can take a look and make sure all is good.

Happy Mothers Day to everyone - because we are all mothers, even if some of us do not yet have children!!

[rcr]

Aura - I did the 12 vials last week. I have to do the Natural killer cells draw tomorrow. How was the appointment?

Hope - awesome beta!!

Deport - yes, that is perhaps the hardest part - you spend all that money and there is no guarentee. It sucks.

Blue - I think that we will be keeping the ducks. DH is building a coop for them this weekend, but I think they can be free-range in the yard during the day with the chickens. I am excirted about them. the meds expire fast because I am doing half doses of gannirelix, so the pharmacy is splitting them up somehow, so I think that they expire within 30 days after they are opened.

going back to the last page to reply there now.
 

[rcr]

Aura - no, he didn't mention the human growth horemone. But he did mention the genetic testing, which we are not going to do (expensive, and kinda doesn't tell much.) Are you doing natural killer cells? He wanted me to do it because of my m/c that was unexplined (no chromozome problems).

[teresaresa]

Aura: I've heard amazing things about Dr. T. I know you are going to have great success with him. How did your blood draw go? I'm with Dr. Stangel in Westchester, but my IVF will be done at RMA in CT. According to their website, their success rates are a lot higher than the national average for my age (32), and Dr. Stangel thinks that my chances of success are even higher still. Fingers crossed! I absolutely LOVE the Princeton area. My husband and I sometimes stop off there to/from visiting relatives in Philly or Ewing. SIRM sounds like it's kind of annoying with the appointments thing, but again, I'm sure it's worth it to work with Dr. T. Oh, and your boss sounds incredible. I was thinking of telling my boss what's been going on, but then he told me that his wife is pregnant with her 4th, and I lost my nerve. I just told him I had a lot of medical stuff going on that required me to be out of the office for doctor's visits. He's not super touchy-feely, so he was just like, "whatever you need to do" - which works too, I guess!

Blue: When I did the SH last week, I was CD6. I redid the test today (more below) - totally different experience! How was your dinner with the in-laws?  And your visit to your mom's? I'll see both my mom and my MIL later this week - they're coming in for my graduation (Master's). Not sure what it's going to be like having both in our house for 3 nights! They haven't seen each other since the wedding 3 years ago (one lives in VT and the other in PA). Hope your dinner was perfecto!

Hope: Awesome BETA!!! YAY!!! So excited for you! Glad the OHSS seems to be going away too - I'm assuming it wasn't a severe case, right?

rcr: What's the natural killer cells test? Don't think I've had that one! Will you post more duckie photos soon? They're so cute!

AFM: Had my 2nd attempt at the saline ultrasound today. SOOO much better. He did a regular ultrasound first to try and figure out the shape of my cervical canal. Apparently, it's a funky shape. So, once he did that, the rest of the procedure was pretty easy! A tiny bit of cramping now, but other than that easy peasy. I'll have to have another catheter check (without the saline) up at the clinic (my doctor is in the NYC suburbs, but clinic will be in CT and another doctor will do the transfer) because of the unusual shape. Not looking forward to that, but I know it's for the greater good of getting those embies in there! I review protocol on Thursday, and then suppression check on Friday. Start my meds on Monday - eek! Feeling nervous, but excited... it seems the sunny weather, time painting, and a hike in the woods took away my grouchy negativity! Yay for beautiful weekends. Hope everyone else had a great one :)