IVF with PGD # 9

Hi ladies!!

I hope you have all had a really nice holiday break and everyone is feeling happy, healthy and rested. Welcome to LionsandBears and Alison! Sorry for you to have to be here but it's nice to have you all the same... :)

joespratt - Just wanted to quickly tell you a sample of DD's DNA was requested during Feasibility studies, so yes to your question. Thankfully (or not, depending on how you look at it), DD was already in hospital and had the blood drawn while under GA. They took about 4 months(ish) to come back with a reliable test (using my, my DH's and my DD's DNA samples).

AFM - I have a few days left of the pill, then will wait for AF and call clinic to see if the timing will work out for me to start my cycle (fingers crossed!). Have to run now but just wanted to say a quick hi and tell you I've been thinking of you all. :grouphug:

Hello lovely ladies!!

Just thought I'd pop in to see how you are all going & to wish you all a happy new year!

Sunbeam, Minnie, JBear, Jess, others I have missed, I've caught up on your news and wishing you all the best. Sunbeam best of luck in your testing!

All the new ladies, looks like it is going to be a busy year for the PGD scientists! Wishing you quick success & healthy pregnancies.

AFM, I am 22 weeks now, we have a little boy on board, and everything is going great. I'll be finishing work in mid April which I am very excited about, and I'm hoping these next few months go quickly, I just can't wait to meet my little bubby!!

Jess I saw you are having a boy too - I think PGD babies are more commonly boys, just something I have noticed around the place, but I'm going to do some more research on that now!!

Best wishes, love, and a wonderful 2013 to all. xx

hi ladies - how is everyone? its getting quite busy in here now... i have been reading but not posting much atm... laying low until my next hurdle - the 12 week scan. feeling fine though and been taking it easy over the christmas/new year period. hope you all managed to squeeze in some relaxation over the festive season.

minnie, , sunbeam, babymama - how are you going, where are you up to in your cycles?!

elle - you are nearly ready to go, not long now. looking fwd to hearing how you go. xx

allison - best of luck for your upcoming cycle.

lions & bears - not sure i can help you with your questions, like a couple of the ladies in here i am not doing pgd for a known genetic problem. after 5 stims & 10 transfers with no success, we wanted to know what was going on with our embryos (they had always looked great), and out of 7 biopsied only 2 were normal. i was told that this drop off rate was what you would expect to see from any batch of eggs. i had success with one of those embryos, and froze the other. i wish you all the very best with it all.

jbear, jessir & brightfuture - good to hear things are going well for you all, keep us updated. : )

hi everyone,

bf: wow you are racing along now, im pleased everything is going well for you :)

andie: i understand the laying low, i hope all is fine at the next scan and you can relax a bit :)

sunbeam: you are next up with your pgd date, not long to go ! fingers crossed for you

elle: are you on the nasal spray now ?

alison: how are you feeling about it all now, hopefully the time goes quick and you will be starting your cycle

hi to everyone else

afm: im off to the clinic tomorrow to check my levels are all low and ready to start gonal f monday, things seemed to be taking ages to happen but it all is going quickly now !

minnie - hope today went well. xx

Thanks Andie yep all good today so starting Gonal f Monday & adding in luveris Wednesday so back to 3 injections a day then !

Good news Minnie hope this is the cycle for you xx

good news, minnie. : )

Yay Good stuff Minnie!

Well the countdown is on. I start on progesterone tomorrow. On Tuesday my day 1 embies will be thawed and then taken to Brisbane on wednesday. On thurs my day 3s will be thawed and all that look good will be biopsied. I will be updated along the way but I still won't find out till Saturday when we go to the clinic for the transfer whether there are any good ones. I had a huge stress and a few tears over it all last week and created a huge knot between my shoulders (which my friend has done her best to remove but it still really hurts!) All I can do now is hope :pray: :crossfingers::crossfingers:

I hope everyone else's cycles are going to plan. :grouphug:

Hi Minnie - how exciting, good luck this cycle I have everything x'd for you xx

Hi Sunbeam - good luck for you too, here's hoping you have it in the bag! It's easy to carry tension in the shoulders, I do the same and am suffering at the moment myself, heat packs are really good for it.

AFM - I am ovulating and it seems like such a waste as we're doing nothing with it this cycle. I have my Day 16-20 Nurses appointment next week to get all my drugs and learn all about them, also have to make an appointment to speak to the scientist so I guess once next AF comes it's all systems go after that. Luckily I have short cycles without luteal progesterone support so I shouldn't have to wait too long. Just getting anxious to get going now!!!!

sunbeam - any news on how your embryos are going? i hated having to wait until i turned up for transfer to find out if any were suitable... surely you'd think they could give you a phone call to put you out of your misery?! the only plus side was i was expecting the worst, so was pleasantly surprised when i actually had one to transfer. i hope your shoulders are relaxing a bit now. xx

allison - not long to go, you will be jabbing yourself in no time. :)

minnie - hope your coping ok with your 3 jabs a day... cant be much fun. xx

Hi girls
The update is that 10 of my 13 day 1s made it to day two and have been sent to Brisbane. I will find out tomorrow how many will be biopsyed.

Andie- they would normally call before you go in for transfer and Let you know if you have any but I opted not to be called and they can Tell me when I get there, the thought of waiting for a phone call was too scary for me

Eeek! Good luck Sunbeam!!! I've got fingers and toes crossed for you. Hi guys, sorry its been a while. I have just been sitting on my hands waiting to hear about the genetic test results for the last 3 weeks. They are now over due and its driving me (and therefore DH) up the wall!!

I had a really hard conversation with a woman a few days ago about what we are doing with the PGD to screen for hubby's gene. She really grilled me about how heartless I am to be throwing away babies just because I want some designer baby. It really made me realise that I know its gotta be done, but I'm kinda not 100% ok with the idea. But she just wouldn't let up on me. I am wondering if anyone else has had an experience like this and have you come up with a response to shut down a painful discussion like that.

sunbeam - sounds like your little stash are doing well so far. it's good your clinic give you that option of a phone call or not, mine was just turn up on the day & find out then. Not sure which is more scary?! fingers crossed for biopsy day. xx

babymama - I can honestly say I have never come across such a person in my Ivf/pgd travels... I tend to get more of the sympathetic looks & the 'it will happen' comments. Also not helpful, but not as hurtful as that lady you spoke with. Sounds horrid. I hope you get your results very soon.

Sunbeam - good luck that's so exciting!!

Babymama - My gosh it never ceases to amaze me the things people say, how effing rude and inappropriate! They are not designer babies for a start, we wouldn't be doing this if we didn't have to, urgh makes me furious to hear such things. If anyone says that to me they're going to cop a mouthful!

Girls does it always take weeks to get your PGD results in? I'm o'ing at the moment so just waiting to start my first retrieval cycle once AF comes again (I have short cycles so shouldn't be far away) but then I have to have a month off and then another retrieval before the PGD is done. I am therefore assuming it's going to be April/May before any transfer happens, providing there's good eggs of course! Also, what kind of things should I be expecting with the drugs, are the injections painful? The nurse told me they're not as bad as the heparin ones I used to have. I think I'm dreading the drugs more!!!

Andy: Yeah I know the sympathy look, which I don't mind so much now :)

Alison: Thanks for the solidarity, I'm glad I'm not crazy for thinking it was horrible thing to say. My PGD results are taking weeks because we are doing PCR testing (for a specific gene) and CGH testing (for chromosome abnormalities). It is the CGH test that takes ages (I have been told between 3 and 6 weeks) and therefore your eggs have to be frozen in the mean time. If you are doing PCR alone it can be done in a day and so they can put you a fresh egg back in. I personally had no prob with the painless puregon needles and the orgalutran needles (which I was given so I didnt O to early) were only a bit of a sting. I was a bit cranky after egg retrieval, so maybe the trigger (in my case synarel) does that. All in all, the meds are the easy part... its the waiting that kills :)

Oh thanks Babymama that's really positive to hear.......could do without extra hormone issues the progesterone was bad enough lol. Oh well I'll be having mine tested for chromosome abnormalities its the reason I'm doing it as I've had 5 miscarriages and because I've got low AMH they are assuming they're to do with egg quality. My first 2 were chemicals and as I also have a luteal defect who knows if it was that or not, but my 1st late tri mc was chromosomal and then I had another late tri mc but chromosomes were normal, i had a SC bleed instead grrr.....but i've had another chemical since so who bloomin knows! I'm doing a retrieval, freeze, month's break then another retrieval and then they'll send them all for testing in one hit. If I'm lucky I might get a transfer in by mid year lolol!

Hey all!
Minnie, how's the jabbing going?

Babymamma, that lady was way out of line! People generally don't really understand & that's why we chose not to talk to many ppl about it after getting stupid responses like that one.

Alison, the waiting is the worst. It took about 6 weeks for our tests to be created. As for the injections, I hate needles & at first DH had to do the jabbing but it wasn't so bad so I started doing it myself.

Sunbeam I hope u get a good number of good emby's to put back. Will be checking in on u! xo

hi girls,

babymama: that is awful you had to listen to that, there is a huge difference between pgd & "designer" babies. If you have to deal with this women again i'd be telling her she clearly doesn't know what she is talking about and you don't wish to discuss it with her. :hug: you were made to feel about this already difficult journey

andie & bear : im going well, i'll update below. How are you girls ? Andie when is your next scan ? and Jbear how is your little man coming along ?

sunbeam: i have everything crossed for you that those embies are going well and you get lots to test :hug: not long now !

alison: its hard not trying when you know you are ovulating but its good you have ivf all set up and you are on your way soon

afm: all seems to be going well, did i tell you all that when i had my 1st injection my DH says only about 60 to go, why would you say that to someone :wall: i have my first blood test tomorrow so hopefully that shows things are going along as they should (they told me they wanted to do a scan tomorrow too but i said no)

hi to everyone else :hug:

Hi girls
Quick update. 3 of the 10 are good for biopsy and 3 of the 4 frozen ones. So 6 being biopsied all up. To say that I am terrified would be an understatement. I won't know more till saturday morning.

Sorry for no personals I just can't think straight right now.

Crossing everything for you sunbeam xx

Good luck Sunbeam xx

That's awesome! Good luck sunbeam!

Oh my goodness, Sunbeam!! I can imagine your anxiety - I have everything crossed for you, babe! Best, best, best of the best of luck for Saturday (and between now and then, too!)... xx

Great news, minniemouse! I'm hoping this is your cycle!

Sorry I haven't popped in for a little while - I feel like I've been messed around a bit and trying to deal with other life things going on. As it stands now, I am waiting for BT results this afternoon to see if I am baseline and for the green light to start injections tomorrow. If I don't get the news I am hoping for, it seems I'll be looking at another month...

Thinking of you all and hoping everyone is doing well!:)

Good luck Sunbeam, I'd be stoked if I had 6 to test, there's gotta be at least 1 good on in there xx

Super quick update - got the phone call and injections start Saturday!! Woohoo!!

good luck for saturday Sunbeam xx

I just found out we've got just 1 little chicken who is unaffected (chromosomally or with our gene). I have dubbed him nemo (the sole survivor in our little petri dish of caviar) :) Please please stick little fella :pray: AF is due tomorrow so will start a cryo cycle then...

Good luck for tomorrow Elle, and Sunbeam, I am praying you end up with a few to spare :)

Hi Babymama, how special, 1 little one survived, that's the one, it's gotta be! How many did you start out with I forget? Good luck and sending lots of sticky sticky's your way. xx

babymama: good news on the one unaffected embryo, hope its a sticky one, bet you must be keen to get going with the cycle !

sunbeam: you know i have everything crossed for you babe, i'll be anxiously waiting for your update

elle: good luck starting the injections tomorrow


to all the pregnant mamma's to be who have popped in here to pass on their well wishes, i hope you are all going well :)

afm: my blood test today showed things are going ok, next blood test and scan monday

sunbeam - 6 to biopsy, good result! i know we always hope for 1 or two more... but thats a great little stash you have. i am crossing everything for you & will be thinking of you tomorrow. xx

elle - good news you are back on the jabs! goodluck.

babymama - congratulations on your precious nemo, not long until you get to pop him/her in. :)

alison - i think it was you that asked about side effects of drugs? i didnt find i had that much actually, just a few days of mild headaches with syranel. i found the gonal f/puregon jabs didnt hurt, although the orgalutran was a bit ouchy due to the blunt needle. you get used to it though and its over pretty quickly. i am also on clexane (get to go off it soon, thankgoodness...) & those ones are the worst. i think you said you had been on herapin before, im assuming its similar to clexane (blunt needle, feels like salt water going in to a cut when you inject?!). anyway, if you have had those - you will be fine with the needles i reckon. ;)

minnie - sounds like your cycle is tracking along nicely. :) my next scan is monday too, meet here monday & swap details?!

hi to anyone ive accidently missed.

Hi girls,

Sunbeam can't get on today (internet problems) but she wanted me to let you know that unfortunately none of the 6 embryos were genetically normal so no transfer for her :-( she said to tell you she is ok & is off getting drunk. Her DD has said he will consider using donor eggs so that's where they are at.

Big <hug> for you sunbeam

thanks for update, minnie. : (

sorry sunbeam, what crap news. thinking of you. xx

oh no, thats shattering, poor thing.
thanks for letting us know minnie ( must be the day for internet problems, we've had none all day)

Oh sunbeam massive hugs. :(

Just wanted to give Sunbeam a hug :hug:
So sorry to hear your news :(

So very sorry sunbeam :(

Oh no sunbeam I'm so sorry! :hug:

Hi Girls

Thank you all so much for all your wishes and support. It was good to be distracted yesterday being with my friend but then on the drive home the tears started and I sobbed all the way. I got home and took a Valium and had a good sleep. I feel okay today, just clinging to the hope that Donor Daddy will agree to one last try using donor eggs. We are having dinner together in the week so we can discuss it. Please please say yes :pray::crossfingers:

Babymama - I'm so glad you got little Nemo I hope beyond hope that he's your little sticky one :hug::goodluck:

Elle - So glad to hear your are back on track and the cycle is underway :dance:

Minnie - Good luck for your scan tomorrow.:goodluck: Thanks for posting for me yesterday.

Hi Alison and Andie.

Come on Saffy's bub its time to come out!