Just joined today!

[Jenny1231]

Hi Melissa and everyone!
I just found this site today and I must say, I'm getting a little overwhelmed . I am scheduled for my FET in September and will start my first Lupron injection on 8/17. This is my first IVF cycle. It seems like you are all pros. Is there anyone that is going through this for the first time. I'm scared.

I was diagnosed with Stage IV endo this year and had my surgery in March. My doctor thinks we have a good chance with IVF because he says I'm still young (31) but there is no telling how much damage the endo did to my organs. As you all understand, this has already been a very hard year for my husband and I. My hormones are a mess (I cry all the time) and I haven't even started the medications yet!! What can I expect? Does anyone have some advice? Just looking for support and this seems like a great group.

[Dena]

Hi Jenny! Welcome! This is a great group of ladies, and, speaking from past experience, having a support system through all this is invaluable.

I am scheduled for an FET in September, too - in fact, it looks like we will only be a couple of days apart. I think I will be starting lupron on 8/15. I am not new to this (we had 3 IVFs to produce dd), but I can totally understand your feelings of fear and being overwhelmed - it is not something that ever completely goes away. :

For me, I can say that gentle exercise (yoga or walking are my preferences) and acupuncture helped me tremendously in dealing with my emotions over the last cycles. The hormones do tend to make you very emotional, but the acupuncture can help with that too. (And, for what it is worth, though it wasn't funny at the time, I do now have some hilarious "war" stories from my cycles.)

Best wishes to you for a smooth, easy cycle with a BFP at the end!

[Jenny1231]

Thanks Dena!

It was great to hear from you and to know you're going through a cycle at the same time. (I'll probably annoy you with tons of questions) I'm glad to hear acupunture really helps. I was looking into that yesterday. I was quite stressed yesterday when I recieved the list of meds that I had to get approved. I had no idea!! I thought it would be a few shots of Lupron and it was over. I can't believe all the stuff I'm learning about from these threads.

So, I'm afraid now after reading about the headaches and the hormones that dh is going to want to . Since my surgery for the endo, my cycles and hormones have been off and I'm . Also, I'm a teacher and I will be going back to work in September. I'm afraid I will lose it with the kids on the first day. I love to exercise which would help but I have been having terrible pain, cramping and bleeding from the endo. I'm going to take your suggestion and increase my yoga exercise!

One more question. I noticed a discussion on day 3 embie transfer. What is the difference what day it is tranferred?

[Dena]

Yeah, my dh just told me the other day that I was a total nut job when we were going through cycles. I don't know whether to be upset or relieved that he stuck it out!

As for unloading in public, that only happened to me once, and it was a time when I was unjustly provoked (and provoked and provoked), and I think I may have lost it regardless of the hormones. The only part I blame on the horomones was the crying... other than that, though I was able to hold it together pretty easily in public. Again, I think the acupuncture played a big role in me staying calm.

You asked about day three vs. day five transfer. Day five transfer occurs when the embroys are grown to blastocysts. As I understand it, the decision regarding whether or not to do this varies clinic by clinic, and is largely dependent on the number of embryos you have, and their quality, on day three. I had seven on day three of my last IVF, and our clinic believed (and I agreed) that it was best to transfer three then and freeze the remainder, rather than take the chance of losing most or all of them with a blastocycst culture, as they have not perfected this yet. The one advantage with blast transfers is that they can transfer fewer, reducing the chances of multiple births. I hope that helps answer your quesiton. I know it is all confusing, even when you have been through it already. :

[Tinkerbell1177]

Hi all,

Welcome aboard Jenny. I read your psot on my thread. I have to say the key to IVF is remaining positive and trying to keep stress free. I have been trying to conceive for several months. IVF #1 was a chemical pregnancy. I was so upset and just couldn't make any sense of it, but now I have and I am in full gear with nothing, but positive vibes. I would seriously look into stress management or some kind of relaxtion such as yoga, acupuncture or any other recommended treatment during IVF.


As for 3dt versus 5dt. I am enclosing a great link. It makes complete sense and has made me look and think different about the whole process. http://www.sharedjourney.com/articles/3vs5.html

[Jenny1231]

Wow! You guys are awesome.
Thanks for all the great info. I guess my doctor didn't go into those details because I'm not quite at that point yet.


I've been inspired...I'm going to start my yoga right now.

[Alisa]

Jenny,

I just read your post and wanted to welcome you and send you great vibes for you first cycle.

I went through my first cycle while I was teaching (I am now a SAHM for the time being, well, except one day a week at the business we own). I have to say that I felt the effects of the meds. a lot less when I was working than this last time when I was not working. In some ways, it seemed a little easier because I was so preoccupied with lesson plans, working with the kids, conferences, (oh, you know). This last time, I don't think I handled it all nearly as well.

I'm glad you found the board because there are a lot of great people to answer all the questions your doctor will forget to inform. you about .

[beansavi]

Welcome!

[Jenny1231]

Thanks everyone!