Donor Conception General Chatter #8

Good luck Lissie and Lulu!!! I can hear a big supportive TWW cheer squad getting warmed up...

:hello: everyone.

I am still around about just have not felt like talking TTC lately.

BUT we are now talking about doing another cycle in late October. I even rang the clinic today to let them know :lol:. Em said the other day that she "wants to get on with it!" Can't stop this sister of mine :D she is amazing.

Tarkine will talk to you about the birthing centre to get more info as my BF is interested and I told her to book in ASAP.

xx

Dusty - your BF should ring the birth centre ASAP and book in. I 'left' it until I was 7 weeks and was put on a waiting list! If she doesn't get in, then I recommend that she does the antenatal at the hospital as it will make it soo much easier for them to transfer her records when she does get in!

C'mon October!! :hug:

Thanks Tarkine

Good Luck Lizzie!!!!

Thanks gals for advice - will definitely order a couple more vials.

Vx

Hi Everyone

Haven't been around for couple weeks... been a little busy! Well we went to FS today and we have now offically started our IVF journey! I started the Synarel today.. I will take this until AF comes early next week. Then I will start taking the Gonal F injections along with Synarel on day 3 of AF for around 10 or so days. Egg pick up will be between 9-12th Sept and then transfer the week after! I am glad our holidays in September fit in with everything so I wont need to change them... yay!! Luckily I only have 13 more work days before holidays so should be able to stick it out! I was getting a little worried about having to take the hormones whilst still at work but it will only be for a few days. :D

A question for everyone.... I was just wondering how long it was from when you found out DH did not have sperm to when you started IVF/DI? For us we found out in February this year and have just started our IVF journey. I was just wondering if anyone had any comments like 'You are moving very fast'. I am probably just over thinking things... like I normally do!

I am going to try start accupuncture this week... DH is going to do it too. Will be nice to do it together!!!

Anyway enough about me!! How is everyone else doing?

Tarkine - how is the pregnancy going? I see your 14 weeks now! Have you started telling many people?

Blizz - you dont have too far to go! Do you know what your having? How exciting!!

I hope everyone else is doing great....

:hug: to everyone x

Hi Joy,

Woohoo on starting the journey. We 'officially' suspected DH had no sperm in August last year and started IVF in April - although unofficially it has been forever (because of the drugs he was on).


We pretty much told everyone quite early on with our pregnancy - I think it was about 6 weeks!! We told the MIL and SIL (who guessed) first, and then gradually told others as the scans and the BTs came back. Although we told them with the caveat that we were still on progesterone support (which continued until I was 10is weeks).

Due to my reaction to the drugs I told work early on that I was going through IVF - the team manager didn't have a problem, my supervisor didn't have a problem, but the guy who was acting manager DID have a problem with my going on training, with impending maternity leave, and he retracted it after he got bounced on by HR (he claimed he didn't know it was discrimination - yes he has lived under a rock for the last 30 years!!).

Sorry rambling on now.. I spent some time last night worshipping the porcelian god!! That will teach me for bragging about not having morning sickness.

buggar about the M/S Tarkine, I have been in that position many times before, with my PG with DD it ws brushing my teeth that did it (it has happened a couple of times this PG but no where near as bad)
actually (sorry if TMI) I was throwing up the other morning after hitting the wrong spot with the tooth brush and Paige was pulling me away from the toilet bowl saying "no mumma, no mumma" I pushed her way one to many times me thinks cause she grabbed out the brand new just put in toilet flush freshner and piffed it nicely in to the middle of my recent deposit.
Needless to say i did not retrieve it and pushed the button thinking "please don't block, please don't block!!!!!"
say the OB today, all is well all is good, I am officially huge!!!!! Angus is quite content and happy and growing huge (starting to get really scared if Paige was 9lbs 5ozs) but he is currently sitting in breech position but I am only 29 weeks so still plenty of time for him to turn (I hope) Paige had started to engage by this stage.
Gargy congrats again on becoming an aunty, it will give you time to practice for being a mummy which I am convinced will happen soon for you, we are nearly in September.
How goes the infections???? hope you are feeling heaps better?????

Joy I think we were a little over 6mths from diagnosis till entering the IVF program with DS it took DH a little while to come to terms with things but a super supportive FS helped his head to clear and we have never looked back.
It takes as long as you feel comfortable with and time is irrellevant if you both feel able to move to the next step so don't mind what anyone else tells you.
well better go and pack lunches had early start this morning so a little tired will try to get to bed by half nine at the latest
love to you all ( sorry that I haven't covered everyone)
Allie. B xxxxxxx

Hi Ladies

Well I am feeling ok so far with the Synarel. I have been getting a few hot flushes, feeling a little nauseous and have been a little irrational - no more than normal PMS symptoms though! So far so good! I am just taking 1 day at a time and trying not to get too far ahead of myself, sometimes I find myself day dreaming and thinking 'what if this doesn't work, am I ever going to be a Mother etc. But we will have a family so am going to be positive about this whole situation!!
I cannot wait until our holidays.. only 11 more work days!! It's not too bad working though cos it does keep my mind off things... even though I have been a little vague the last couple of days and have been forgetting what I have been doing! Oh well!
Tarkine - how are you feeling? I hope the morning sickness doesn't last too long! I cant believe the acting manager was discriminating against you because your pregnant! Some people have no idea about things do they... least HR sorted him out!!
Have you are your DH decided if you are going to tell people about DS? DH & I have thought about it and we are not going to tell our friends just yet but maybe once we are well and truly pregnant we will... I think they will be shocked but they will still be happy for us (I hope anyway!)
Well I hope everyone else is travelling ok.....
Take Care
;)

Hi Girls,

Joy - yep just take it one day at a time, vague is just a side affect of the drugs - i call it hormone brain - i even forgot my home phone number the other day and had to look it up in my diary - so yeah i am pretty vague too.

Tarkine - sorry about your M/S but you know i can't wait to experience it! lol i will most likely eat my words if that comes true. Hope it doesn't last too long for you.

Blizz - 29weeks wooohoo - not long now - my SIS just had twin and twin one was in breech for a long time then all of a sudden turned and she had two beautiful little bubs ala natural.

Venus,Dusty, Gargy thanks for the well wishes and hope you are all well.

Well had the transfer on Tuesday and all went well, at time of transfer we had a hatching blastie so blood test is next Friday 29th August, being pretty calm about it all this time - not going to read to much into anything anymore - just hoping and :pray: for a BFP.
Anyways have a great day girls.

yay Lissie:dance:, I am keeping everything crossed for you, I am rubbing my tummy and flicking the vibes to you my sweets;), grow strong little embie you are in the best place you can possibly be and mummy and daddy want you soooo much so snuggle in and grow strong....good luck honey, keep us posted

:cheer: cheering you on Lissie. :cheer:

cheering Lulu and Joy on too!

:hello: Venus, Allie, Gargy

Great to see you unexpectedly yesterday Tarkine. You are looking really good! Such a nice surprise :)

Time for some more BFPs in here - what do you reckon ;)
xx

Yes, agreed Dusty time for some more BFPs in here.

Yeah for starting your IVF journey Joy. I'm sure your time TTC will be short and sweet. Just take one day at a time and before you know it - it will be transfer day.

Best wishes to you Lissie! Bring on that BFP on Tuesday!

Blitz, wow 29 weeks - thats fantastic. Into the home stretch, well kindof. C'mon bub engage!

Hi Tarkine and Gargy.

As for me - DH and I told our families this week that we were expecting and everyone was over the moon - some were in shock - we have been together for 15 years so many had given up asking when we were going to 'start'. The day after we made the announcement, I got really sick - I have never felt this bad before in my life - nausea and dizziness like I was on a ship. Its lasted for 2 days and has only started getting better. If it keeps up at this rate I am going to have to tell work about the pregnancy sooner than I wanted to - have to give them a plausible explanation as to why I have been MIA. Feel kinda bad because a number of people have left our work team and basically I am the main body (other than my supervisor) - but on the other hand, I have slaved away for the co. for 4 and a bit years - I figure its time for me to be a little selfish.
Our first scan is next Weds - kinda stressing about it - I hope this has not been a dreamx.
Lots of love
V

Hi Everyone

Lissie - Good Luck! Sending you lots of baby dust! :goodluck2: My DH has been calling me hormone head - in a nice way of course! It is very true though - I have been feeling very average the last couple of days, nauseous, very short tempered, teary! Overall I think I am coping ok.. cant wait for it to be over though!

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes! I have my first accupuncture session tomorrow so am looking forward to that.

Thanks Venus I do hope it's a short & sweet journey to our BFP!

Chat Soon
:grouphug:

:hello: everyone.

Sending loads of sticky vibes your way lissie.

It was wonderful seeing you the other day Dusty and thanks for the info :)

Joy - yep that's part of the syneral - I watched PS I love you and cried the entire way through the movie (even in the non sad parts!).. At least DH stopped asking me "are you crying?"

We told everyone from the outset about DS - and I pretty much told people that if they had any issues then that was their issue that they had to deal with (but in a nicer way).. but then DH's family was kinda expecting us to need to use DS due to DH's medical history and they are all really happy for us.

SIL announced on wednesday that she was pregnant and is due two weeks after me - my MIL rang and sounded over the moon - although SIL is in Adelaide and MIL was joking about not being able to buy cheap flights!! :lol: I told her it was a conspiricy and that we were going to have our babies either on the same day or within days of each other, just so she wouldn't know what she was doing! I'm happy the cat is out of the bag because I've been sitting on the knowledge since SIL was 4 weeks! - Although it was a little salt in the wound, as SIL had bubs #2 on their first attempt naturally.

Blizz.. ohh not long now.

I'm not sure if m/s was kicking in or if I have the tummy bug that is going around, but I'm finding it really hard to eat at the moment.

Hi Everyone

Well had my first accupuncture session yesterday and I feel amazing today! I cant believe how good I feel after just 1 session! I have no hormone head today - which is great! I was also given some chinese herbs - some tablets and some powder which I have to mix with boiling water and drink it like a tea - it tastes gross! I am sure I will get used to it though! I really hope this feeling lasts!

Tarkine - I watched PS I love you when I wasn't taking any hormones and cried all the way through.... it's a sad but nice movie!
When you told your friends how did they react about DS? DH & I are still talking about when we are going to tell them. We have different views on it... I kinda want to tell them so then it's out in the open. DH doesnt want to say anything just yet. I think he would be happy to wait until we tell our child of their origins. I just dont want our friends to feel like we have deceived (?) them if we decide not to tell them for a while. I dont think they would.. I am sure they would understand why we didn't say anything! I think they would be more shocked than anything else. They dont even know we are going through IVF at the moment! I think we are going to tell them we went though IVF when we are pregnant.. just not about the DS part of it. We have quite a close group of friends (there's about 12 of us) but there is one of gf's who has such a big mouth! She just blabs other people's news to everyone! and something like DS I know she just would not be able to keep to herself! It's a little sad really!
I think we will chat about it again once we're pregnant and see how we both feel about things then.

Thanks for letting me vent ladies... hope you all had a great weekend :)

:)

Joy - please please check with your clinic regarding the herbs. Most clinics don't like herbs being taken during cycle as some do have adverse affects. Just give your clinic a buzz in the morning maybe before taking more. Please don't be to worried as you are still early in the cycle.

So many pg ladies in here now....hope you're all feeling great..:bellygrowing:

Hi Minnemouse

Thanks for the advice! I checked with the clinic but no one was available and I didnt really want to talk about it when someone called me back at work! I called the accupuncturist again and she said it is to help the cycle not hinder but I will check with the nurses when I go back in the next couple of days.
Looks like AF will be arriving tomorrow (had cramps & spotting today) so will have to go to FS on Wednesday and prob start injections on Thursday!
I am still feeling pretty good after accupuncture... yay!!

:hug: to all

:hello:

I feel like I haven't talked to anyone in here in SUCH a long time - sorry about that!

One thing not helping is that the Department has banned Belly Belly as being a 'personal' site - so I can't get in during the day. (Suppose I will have to do work now!!!) :p

I am a bit worried abut going through cycle without having on-line support during the day - but I will have to work my way around it...

On a positive note I am feeling heaps better! I've gone back to the natropath and I've added fish oil to the other vitamins rattling around in my body.

I've also updated my blog.

I'll leave the personals until later, if you don't mind - DH is having a whinge about dinner so I must dash!

Gargy, you could always carry around a notebook during the day to write your concerns down. :hug:

I find fish oil helps me with my joints - don't get so many stiff joint events :)

:hello: everyone

I tried so hard to dodge my snotty nosed charges and ....'encourage their independence by blowing their own noses'........the little monkeys still managed to get me!!!!!!
spent most of last night with the major sneezes and nose blowing...this morning blocked solid!!!!
hoping to avoid passing it to Paige as I don't want her sinuses causing her trouble on the plane (I was really hoping mine would be ok too)
Oh well, lots of fluids and only two days of the week to go then I should be able to get clear I hope.
the two weeks of feeling great were nice while they lasted.
How are you going Gargy?.....please tell me you are feeling better finally, need to be fighting fit for September.....ohhhhh I am soooooooo excited!!!!!!will keep everything crossed for you .
We had a contract on DH's Mum's house but it has unfortunatley fallen through well it has given us a chance to restock (and change agents) I was really hoping it would be all settled by September so I would have a little piece of mind heading in to maternity leave but it isn't to be quite yet, so keep your fingers crossed for us.
I am soooooooo looking forward to our week in Melbourne and then I only have a week and three days left till i am officially on leave
it is going soooooooooo quickly this time around
love you all, sorry no personals but I am aiming for an early night with less nose blowing
Allie.B xxxxxxx

Hi Everyone

Just giving you an update... Had blood test today and everything is good to go ahead with the injections... so I start them tomorrow! Yay! I will then go back next Wednesday for blood test & ultrasound. DH is going to do the injections for me... I am such a scaredy cat!!
I feel very average today.. back to hormone head!!

How is everyone else doing? Hope to hear from you all soon.....

:grouphug:

Hi New here hope you don't mind me butting in but I have just found out soaking 3 basil leaves in water overnight then drinking water in morning helps with the hormonal stuff.
I am just starting yet anothe rroad of IVF and am having second ultrasound on sunday so hopefully ready to go middle of next week.

Welcome Neenie :)

Joy - I got my DH to inject me - trouble is his hands shake and I found it more painful than giving myself injections!! Good luck with the injections sweetie.

:hello: everyone.. How are you all travelling?

:welcome: Neenie! Thanks for the basil leaves tip... might just give that a go to see if it works!

Tarkine - DH has been great with the needles. I really hate needles and dont think I could do it myself! He makes sure I'm comfortable then he gets needle the ready and says 'ok here we go' and I'm like 'no no not yet... just wait a minute'.. he's like 'ok I'm going to do it' so I close my eyes feel a tiny pinch and then it's all over!! (I am a bit melodramtic!) So today is day 3 of Gonal F already!! It's going really fast.
Accupuncture has helped my sooo much! I am so much more calm and relaxed... DH says I'm a new woman! I feel like it too... I feel amazing! I am taking chinese herbs too.. FS said it's our choice if we want to take them. The accupuncturist said they are perfectly safe and she has given these herbs to lots of other women undergoing IVF and they have had perfect pregnancies and babies!

How is everyone else going? It's been a little quiet on here lately!!

:hug: to all :)

Joy - I'm glad that everything is going well. I used to be a needle scardy-cat, until I started IVF - at the end I would watch them put the needles in!! Although I still hate it when they say "i'm just going in now" - because I jump (still!).
Totally off topic...
Went out and bought my first lot of maternity clothes today - a nice top and black pants - have got an 80th birthday party next weekend , so I wanted to wear something nice.
The only other thing that's happening is we are finally getting a kitchen!! Our 1950s house has a 1950s kitchen (ie a cupboard with a sink, a green laminate bench and a stove top). It won't be big but it will be new, have a dishdraw dishwasher, an underbench oven, rangehood, stove top and almost all draws (I'm in love with the kitchen!!). No doubt I'll be spending a bit of time starring at the kitchen as it gets installed over the next week (yeah I know I'm crazy)... anyway enough off topic for me.

Got my fingers crossed for everyone.

Tarkine, :cheer:yay on the new kitchen hon, hope you have fun, it is nice to finally get things done, I feel like we have been on the renno roundabout forever....because we have really LOL!!!!
have been madly doing washing and house tidying and clothes sorting in preperation for Tuesday, Paige has been wanting to pack...Teddy....and 'mima'(jemima), and frogie... and dolly.....and Sheppy....and this toy....and that toy!!!!a shame she is only allowed 20kgs LOL
well I am seriously considering heading to bed as princess polly legs has been averaging a 6am start for the last 4 mornings and I am feeling a bit fatigued.....if I didn't already know from past experience that 8pm to bed will see me wide awake and bright as a button at 3am...I would risk it so I'll hold out till 9 if I can.
Will get DH to take a pic of my huge belly when I am dressed up in Melbourne (been in daggy comfort mode for the last few months...part of the reason I think DH wants to head away....so Ill have to dress up a bit:rolleyes:.
I brought a new top and some maternity jeans to wear on the plane
well I think I might go and lie down a while Angus has got his foot somewhere very uncomfortable at the moment and I am really too tired to type straight tonight:asleep:
night all, if I don't talk to you before then talk to you in a week
Allie.B xxxxxx

just a quick note to say bon voyage,we fly out tomorrow at 10am, will talk to you all in a week (get home Monday arvo)...........WATCH OUT MELBOURNE HERE WE COME!!!!!!!

enjoy melbourne blizz!!

Hey Blizz - have a great time in Melbourne!

Not much to report here - had someone at work urging me to pursue a higher position until I gently reminded them that cycle is about to start soon...:doh:

Hi Everyone

Gargy - when do you think you will be starting your cycle? Are you excited? I am half way through the cycle. I am on day 6 of injections... go back tomorrow for blood test and ultrasound. Hopefully the drugs are doing what they are supposed to! I feel like they are! Have been feeling very tired and little run down last couple of days. I only have 2 more days of work till we are on holidays... cant wait!!! :dance:

Tarkine - Yay maternity clothes!! How exciting!! Your new kitchen sounds great! Do you mind if I ask what dosage you were on when taking Gonal F? I am on 75 they were going to put me on 112.5 but after taking Synarel for the 10 days & looking at how my body was reacting they decided to put me on the lower dose. They said it would be better to start me on the lower dose and then if they need to increase it they will. Oh well will find out tomorrow I guess!

Blizz - have a great time in Melbourne!!

:hug:

Joy - I was on 150 - and my FS said that he was going to start me on a low dose (which I suppose he figured was a low dose - all up to their perceptions etc). They don't want to hyperstimulate you, so less is more (so to speak) - gradually increase your dose as/if needed. I'm sure the other girls who have been there done that advise.

Although for me, I ended up with low E2 levels, which meant there was only 5 eggs collected, and after a fraught week of negativity by the embryologist, all 4 ended up at blastie. When they were harvesting, all I could hear was the fertility specialist (not mine, just the one on the roster) talking casually about my E2 levels being low and how there wasn't much hope of there being any/many eggs - the poor anethesiologist was frantically trying to sedate me before I heard too much more of this conversation and my blood pressure when through the roof - I didn't pay too much attention, I was repeating my mantra and just relaxing (as I tend to run like a cat being herded at the thought of anything medical) counting down the time until I could get the heck out of there!!

Must be cranky pregnant woman talking - the kitchen was pretty much installed in one day - just waiting for the plasterer (who, as they get paid by the mtr, decided he would rather do a big project than a small one) - and we just have to choose the tiles for the wall and floor, and get a painter in to repaint, the kitchen and two bedrooms (unless I do it).

Gargy - yah!! on starting IVF - definitely don't need any more hassles :hug:

Hi Tarkine - Well they increased my dose today to 112.5... ultrasound went well. He said everything is going well and there seems to be lots of follicles. They just need to get bigger in size! I am happy with the way things are going... I can feel my ovaries being very active!!

Accupuncture has made such a big difference for me. I think it has made this whole IVF process a bit easier and is certainly helping me relax and take one day at a time. I have been feeling really tired the last couple of days and just been feeling a little 'low'. Thank goodness only 1 more day of work for 3 1/2 weeks! We are really looking forward to having a break!

Tarkine that's great that your kitchen has been installed already! Will be even better once the plasterer and painter have done their part! Yay!

Well another ultrasound for me on Friday morning so will let you all know how that goes!

:D

Hi Everyone

Just thought I would give you all an update. Things are not going as well as I had hoped! I have lots of follicles but they are not growing as fast as they should. I have 2 at 1.4mm, 4 at 1.2mm and quite a few at 1mm. They need to be at 1.8mm before they will give me the trigger. We were told this morning there is a chance they might just cancel this cycle.
Thay have increased my dose of gonal f again... have to take 225ml tonight and tomorrow then back on Wednesday for ultrasound and blood test. I am hoping the increased dose will kick start the follicles and they get to the right size by Wednesday :pray: I have been feeling so tired and nauseas the last couple days.
We are on holidays now so thats good... So nice not having to get up and go to work! Well lets hope my body starts having a better reaction to the hormones!! Will let you know how I go....

How is everyone else going? Hope to hear from you soon.....
;)

Oh Joy,

:hug: I am so sorry that they told you this news.

I have everything crossed for you that they suddenly start growing.

As for me - well I'm all over the place really. Rational one minute, in tears the next.

AF has also raised her ugly head.

Only two more days until we see the FS.

Joy - hang in there sweetie - it ain't over until the fat lady sings!! My folicles were all over the place with size.
Gargy - yah on the FS - yucko on AF visiting.

Just got back from adelaide - am really tired at the moment - think I've caught a lurgy (again!).. must be the worst season for lurgies and colds etc..

:hug: to everyone.

hi all, I am back!!!! had a wonderful time and have now come back for a holiday...hee,hee,hee!!!
seriously my legs are sore from so much walking, we had a great time Paige coped ok but changed in routine led to some interesting sightings of godzilla Paige around the streets and sights of Melbourne.
Mummy and Paige needed daily sleeps to survive the trip
but much fun was had by all
I will be back soon for a proper catch up just popping in for a quick how-de-doo and to let you know we made it safely home (with baby Angus safely tucked in my tummy still.)
love to all be back soon, Allie.B xxxx

Hi Ladies

Thank you so much for the support!! I am going to think positive and just take it one day at a time. Since they increased my dose of gonal f... my ovaries feel like they have gone into overdrive! Hopefully in a good way! I go back for a blood test and ultrasound tomorrow... fingers crossed for good news!! It's just hard cos the nurses tell you your doing good and then the doctor & embryologist say that your not!! The conflicting information is doing my head in!!
DH goes in for his operation to find sperm tomorrow! We thought it was going to be Friday then get a phone call this morning to say it's going to be tomorrow!

Will let you know how things go over the newt few days.....

Hope everyone else is travelling ok! :D

:hug: to all

Finally feel like I have something to report!!

DH and I went to the FS today to 'sign up for IVF' (DH cracked up laughing when I said this to the FS!)

The FS asked me about the last counselling session. He said that I hadn't handled the result of the last IUI terribly well. I must admit I wasn't expecting this question, however I answered honestly. I said that with the change of donor, I honestly thought it was going to work this time, and I was quite upset when it didn't. Then I got terribly ill with colds etc. However I felt now that I was coming back into myself. He seemed to accept this.

We then signed the paperwork. Something I was a little shocked about was explanation about any of the resulting extra embies that we may not use. I'd assumed that DH and I could make the choice to either donate to another couple or to donate to research. However, as our donor has only specifically donated to us, we cannot do either unless we have the permission of our donor.

Yep, another step that anyone using IVF as a couple without a donor does not have to think about. :rolleyes: Suppose we should be used to that by now!

However DH and I decided that we're not even going to think about this until we get to the end of the procedure and find out how many viable embies are left before we go back to our donor and make a final decision about the rest. I'm not happy about that, but I can only deal with one hurdle at a time.

We start up at the end of the month. Finally it feels like something is happening!

Tarkine - Adelaide sounds like fun - yucko on the cold though!

Blizz - yay you're back! :D Hope the holiday was fun, despite mini Godzilla!

Joy08 - hope that everything works out for you - fingers crossed!

Hi to all the lovely ladies out there!

And here's an additional ! - :lol: didn't realise I'd used it for every line!

:hello: Gargy - I had a similar response with the on-donation of donor embies - it seems like such a shame that we couldn't on-donate the embies (if we choose only to have one). Good luck with IVF - take care of yourself sweetie!!

I spoke with DH's aunty who had gone through IVF 8 times about 20 years ago with no success... She was soo very happy for us, but I could see the sadness in her eyes - it must have been so very hard for her to see her SILs popping out babies, while she was struggling to have even one. I know it took its toll on her and her relationship with her husband - just a difficult journey.