August IVF Cyclers - Page 3

[LisaG]

Hey Shawna - kudos to your doc for staying on top of your thyroid like that. That's awesome! Thyroid issues are one of my soapboxes because so many docs blow them off and they can play such an important role in fertility and carrying to term Between 1-2 is a good pregnancy range for TSH, but so many docs see that 5 is the top end of "normal" and don't treat unless it's above 5. I'm sure the synthroid will help your TSH come down a little bit.

I'm feeling a little bit dizzy. Started noticing it yesterday. Nothing major, just off and on. Also started noticing head pressure yesterday, slight headache today. We're getting rain today, so maybe it's weather related although the weather doesn't usually bother me, so I think it's more lupron related. That and a bit unsettled. But, nothing I can't and won't live with. And really pretty minor compared to what others have been through Feeling a little excited/nervous for my baseline appointment tomorrow. Crossing my fingers there aren't any cysts and all looks like it's supposed to :

[KJRSMR]

Lisa,

My fingers are crossed for tomorrow. Keep us posted.

[LisaG]

Well ladies, the first u/s hurdle as been successfully crossed : No cysts, all is quiet on the ovarian front. Will hear later this afternoon about my blood work, but I'm pretty hopeful it will be fine.

[Seedlings]

Originally Posted by LisaG

Well ladies, the first u/s hurdle as been successfully crossed : No cysts, all is quiet on the ovarian front. Will hear later this afternoon about my blood work, but I'm pretty hopeful it will be fine.

Congrats, that is wonderful news!!!

afm, i started Lupron Monday. I don't want to jinx myself but so far no breasticles . I am in funk thou, my dear beloved aunt passed away suddenly on Monday . She was a pioneer a true spirit, an original all natural, living off the grid purist. She was only 59. I am sad.

[KJRSMR]

Lisa- That is great news.. :

Seedlings-. I am so sorry for your loss.

I am actually ok today. My head feels pretty good. Still a little noticable ache.
Well ladies we are well on our way... Going by so fast

[LisaG]

Seedlings, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your aunt She sounds like a wonderful person.

Glad your head is feeling better Shawna!

[Seedlings]

Thanks for the kind words. I am wondering if the lupron is contributing to my blues? I am only on 10 units so I am going to guess probably not.

I am pretty sure I'll stop bcp's tomorrow. Then stims should start some time next week (maybe). I need to call the re's office to get my timeline.

Anyone trying to schedule stuff aroung their ivf? I know er and et should be the week of the fifteenth but its the when that has me up in the air. Then there is the rest and relaxing that I need to do. So I don't have a hostile womb (anybody watch Ugly Bety?) Just trying to keep everything together like an ice cream cake in summer!

[LisaG]

Seedlings - I think it's pretty understandable to feel blue regardless of the lupron.

Yes, scheduling does get a bit tricky with everything somewhat up in the air with all the variables. I'm driving out to Denver Tuesday to finish up being monitored and hang out for ER and ET. DH will fly out once we have a better sense of timing for ER. Then we hang out and wait for ET and drive on home. I'm guestimating I'll be gone 2 1/2 weeks. We'll see.

[Seedlings]

Originally Posted by LisaG

Seedlings - I think it's pretty understandable to feel blue regardless of the lupron.

Yes, scheduling does get a bit tricky with everything somewhat up in the air with all the variables. I'm driving out to Denver Tuesday to finish up being monitored and hang out for ER and ET. DH will fly out once we have a better sense of timing for ER. Then we hang out and wait for ET and drive on home. I'm guestimating I'll be gone 2 1/2 weeks. We'll see.

Wow, I had no idea you were cycling out of state. That is just awesome . How are feeling about the cycle and your re's plan? Lisa so exciting! I hope everything goes smoothly. Colorado is kinda close to Vegas. It would be to cool to hook up with crazyrunningmamma!!!

[LisaG]

Yeah, my acupuncturist has had a handful of clients work with CCRM and she was really impressed with their results. They've got an excellent track record. Plus, I've heard some not so great things about our local clinic. So I figured if we're going the IVF route, I'd rather go straight to the top vs. wonder "what if" if we had a failed local cycle.

I really like my Denver doc. In hindsight, I wish we'd consulted with him awhile ago. He did a fabulous job with my lap/hyst last December renovating my uterus from my previous reconstruction 5 years ago. None of my local docs caught that there was more that needed to be done. Could've saved us a lot of heartache. But, here we are now and I'm grateful. I feel like I'm in really good hands and I feel like I can relax knowing that they know what they're doing. So yes, I'm excited and cautiously optimistic

[OrganicSister]

Seedlings: So sorry to hear about your aunt. I'm sure it's a challenge to juggle all this at once. Hang in there!

We actually scheduled our IVF around a trip. lol Our doctor was very nice about it, thankfully. This is a very important trip for our family - it's an unschooling conference and we've had it booked since the spring and had hoped we'd have done the IVF and be pregnant by now, but we just couldn't pass it up. We're really looking forward to it, although I still need to figure out how to travel with meds on the plane. Any ide on that one? I plan to call them tomorrow.

Hey! Crazyrunningmama is from Vegas?? Me too!

LisaG good luck with all the traveling and yay! for the good u/s. I had my ultrasound this afternoon and everything was good here too. Although my uterus was hiding behind my left ovary for some reason but she didn't seemed worried about it (I'm assuming it's just hiding from my wacky mood swings - kinda like DH and DS are ).

Speaking of which, since stopping the bcp I seem to be getting worse not better. I'm not tired anymore (still downing the green smoothies though) but I'm moodier, hotter, moodier. lol And I'm feeling so wrapped up in all the nuts and bolts that I don't feel like I can connect with this little spirit waiting for us. It's strange to be ttc without sex and without any thought of a baby!! LOL

Anyway, I start the follistim and luveris tomorrow and my doc said I'll be feeling better with those than I am now. I managed to get a massage yesterday and I'm looking for an acupuncturist now. I really need to reconnect I think and being all Luproned up seems to be making that difficult.

[Seedlings]

Lisa ~ I'll be praying for you and dh. CCRM is one of the best if not the best.

Organicsister ~I am not sure where crazyrunningmama is from but she is planning a trip to Vegas. I love Vegas. I should say I luv the Vegas strip it is just wild and fun. I can completely relate to the tiredness. I am exhausted too. Did the massage help? A massage and accupuncture sound perfect for preparing for the journey ahead.

[LisaG]

Thank you Seedlings!

OrganicSister - On one of my other lists, where a lot of us will be flying with med (although now I'm driving) it seems that TSA is pretty sympathetic. I had a letter from my doc to carry with my just in case, but from what I've heard from others no one had to show it. Although I hate to wonder if someone wasn't white if that would be more likely to raise questions. The ones I know carried their meds in an insulated soft sided cooler kind of set up and maybe took the meds out of it when going through xray?

I've traveled with progesterone in oil vials before and syringes and never had any questions asked. But they were all over my circular yarn cutting pendant with the recessed razor blade. If they think I can take a plane down with that, we're in real trouble.

I hope you have fun at your unschooling conference! And hope your foray into the land of stims goes well today I'm right behind you tomorrow. A massage and acupuncture sounds great. I actually have both of those lined up for today - I feel so decadent!

My massage therapist is great - she dealt with IF several years ago. They tried for 10 years and did just about everything that was available then (while working as a nurse in labor and deliver - can you imagine?!?). They ended up adopting and then, the ultimate irony, she did manage to get pregnant about a year after adopting without interventions. She's been such a great support through all of this. It means a lot to know someone in real life who's been there done that and come out the other side. I feel so fortunate to have so many great people cheering us on. One of the things I do when I'm feeling stressed or uncertain is start listing all the people I know who are cheering us on and sending their support. It's a great comfort.

[OrganicSister]

LisaG: How funny! My MT had been dealing with IF for years too and is finalizing her adoption of a little girl next Wednesdy! It def was nice to have someone who understands and is supportive. I've had a few ppl who look down on the whole process. My name's not the OrganicSister for nothing. The crowd I run with is all natural, organic, health-nuts. No meds ever, no junk food, no plastics, no hospitals (barring an emergency of course), no circ or vaccines, all home-borthing, extended bfing, etc and they are all very into personal healing (mind over matter kinda thing). Most are very supportive and are excited we are finally doing this, but a few (the ones who claim to be the most understanding haha) are very judgmental about it. It's aggravating but I've learned it's their issue not mine.

Enjoy your decandence!

Seedlings: The massage helped my sore back. I think I'm going to get another one right before the ER and ET. I'm more looking forward to acupuncture. I always walk out of there on cloud nine.

So Lisa starts her stims now...when does everyone else start? And how long does your doc think you'll need them? My doc is estimating an ER by the 10th. Less than two weeks away! Ack!

[OrganicSister]

One more Q: Of those of you starting stims now, what are you taking? I'm doing Follistim 150 (with the pen) and Luveris 75 along with 3 units of Lupron.

[KJRSMR]

I am so jealous. I started on 20 units of Lupron and still have 10 units and then 5 units till the 5th of September. My baseline is 9/5 and stims on the 6th. It seems like my cycle protocol is a bit different from all of yours.

Sounds like we have all been having the same lupron side effects..
Lisa- good luck with traveling. Will you have a computer??? I will be thinking about you.

Organicsister- I think that you may be able to bring a soft cooler on board the plane for meds. Can you check in the needles and syringes? i know that a local pharmacy will carry the small syringes behind the counter for diabetic patients.

Seedlings- How are you holding up? I hope that you are feeling better

[LisaG]

Originally Posted by OrganicSister

LisaG: How funny! My MT had been dealing with IF for years too and is finalizing her adoption of a little girl next Wednesdy! It def was nice to have someone who understands and is supportive. I've had a few ppl who look down on the whole process. My name's not the OrganicSister for nothing. The crowd I run with is all natural, organic, health-nuts. No meds ever, no junk food, no plastics, no hospitals (barring an emergency of course), no circ or vaccines, all home-borthing, extended bfing, etc and they are all very into personal healing (mind over matter kinda thing). Most are very supportive and are excited we are finally doing this, but a few (the ones who claim to be the most understanding haha) are very judgmental about it. It's aggravating but I've learned it's their issue not mine.

Wow that's awesome about your MT! I hear you on the organic crowd. I was most worried about what my mom would think about all of this. I come from a home birthing, organic food, extended bf, no circ or vaccines, etc. family. Only see a "regular" doc if you're bleeding or dying. But my mom has been awesome. She thinks the whole thing is so fascinating. Plus, she's mellowed a bit over the years. Although she did make the comment "what if your body doesn't tolerate bcps?" And I'm like, mom, doesn't much matter whether or not it tolerates it. The pill is the least of its worries But she still reminds me to take my vitamins and eat good food.

As an MT myself, tend to run with the bodymind types. I had a fellow bodyworker in for an appointment and she said "you know, it's odd, with all the bodywork you've had done, that you haven't been able to sort this all out." She meant it well, but I think until you've been on this journey it can be hard for some who think they have it all figured out to realize there's a lot of pieces to the puzzle. Heck, before I was on this journey I had a lot of those same thoughts/judgments. Never in a million, bazillion years did I think I'd go down the IVF road. I'd just take more vitamins or eat better food or get more bodywork or therapy or chiropractic or detox more. IVF was something other people did who didn't know about alternative health sorts of things. It was too forceful, too much intervention, if a little soul wanted to take up residence it would happen without all the hooplah of IVF. It's definitely been a humbling experience. I'm glad most of your friends/community are understanding about it.

Originally Posted by OrganicSister

One more Q: Of those of you starting stims now, what are you taking? I'm doing Follistim 150 (with the pen) and Luveris 75 along with 3 units of Lupron.

I'm doing 2 vials of Menopur in the AM and Gonal F 300 (with the pen) in the PM with 5 units of Lupron and continue the dexamethasone. My estimated ER is on the 10th also. Although it depends on how I respond to the stims and how everything is developing.

Originally Posted by KJRSMR

Lisa- good luck with traveling. Will you have a computer??? I will be thinking about you.

Thanks! Oh yeah, the laptop and Verizon card will be traveling with me so I'll still be in contact

And don't worry Shawna, the 6th will be here before you know it!

[OrganicSister]

Originally Posted by LisaG

As an MT myself, tend to run with the bodymind types. I had a fellow bodyworker in for an appointment and she said "you know, it's odd, with all the bodywork you've had done, that you haven't been able to sort this all out." She meant it well, but I think until you've been on this journey it can be hard for some who think they have it all figured out to realize there's a lot of pieces to the puzzle. Heck, before I was on this journey I had a lot of those same thoughts/judgments. Never in a million, bazillion years did I think I'd go down the IVF road. I'd just take more vitamins or eat better food or get more bodywork or therapy or chiropractic or detox more. IVF was something other people did who didn't know about alternative health sorts of things. It was too forceful, too much intervention, if a little soul wanted to take up residence it would happen without all the hooplah of IVF. It's definitely been a humbling experience. I'm glad most of your friends/community are understanding about it.

I totally could have written this paragraph myself. Even the MT part! I just stopped my MT practice in Feb to do all this after working for 7 years. Glad to know someone is where I am. I still struggle with what seems like dual lifestyles but "humbling" it certainly is. It has opened my eyes to how often I judged myself and has certainly brought me to a place of deeper understanding and empathy with others. Strange where life takes ya and the lessons you learn along the way.

[LisaG]

Originally Posted by OrganicSister

Strange where life takes ya and the lessons you learn along the way.

Oh yeah, I'm with you on that one!

[crazyrunningmama]

Originally Posted by OrganicSister

.....
Hey! Crazyrunningmama is from Vegas?? Me too!
......... I managed to get a massage yesterday and I'm looking for an acupuncturist now. I really need to reconnect I think and being all Luproned up seems to be making that difficult.

HA! I am not totally stalking this thread (surprisingly!), but I see I have been mentioned. No, I am not from Vegas (funny to think of anyone being from Vegas, for visitors it's such a fantasyland town). I'm Canadian. My dh is going to Vegas for a wedding later this month and going with him was my planned consolation prize for myself if I didn't get pg when I cycled last month. So, childcare pending, I am going. and both

I had planned to do more mind/body stuff because I felt really UN-grounded, I hope you are able to do some good self care and get reconnected.

Good good luck to you all!!! :