Long Term Assisted Conception Dec 2007

[briggsy's girl]

thanks so much for asking after me Megan and Shannon - am faring ok on the pill - hate it, and the effects it's having on me - so i'm trying my darndest to just get through each day. thankfully i only have a few more days to go on it, then the waait for AF and start on the HRT - not sure of the side effects of the HRT just yet (doing the ostrich thing and burying my head in the sand) but i'm guessing they can't be much worse than what the pill is doing to me! looks like AF should be over by valentines Day and our wedding anniversary just after, so i'm hoping my libido recovers in time! it's very depressing when your head and your heart want something, but your body won't play the game!

[Hollybolly]

Hi Everyone

Lou - Thanks so much for everything lovely you wrote
We had such a good time - so nice to spend time talking with someone who just gets it - and you're right, its like we've been friends forever!

So, for me with Dr S - He was pretty horrified to hear a few things, in regards to what happened with my c/s with Luke, and more so the amount of laps I have had.
As I was telling him things, he was making notes... even that in itself was comforting as all of my previous Dr's and FS have just seemed to shrug things over..

Both DH & I have a million BT to do - he wants me to have the NK test later in my cycle, and DH has to do another sperm sample that he said he wants to really check over.
He had plently to say & offer, and a few different plans for my next IVF cycle (depending on results) - but also assured me that I'm still young and that although he would have expected a result from my last 2 cycles (2 excellent quality blasts put back each time).. he did say that the most important thing was to stay positive and confident, and I guess ultimately, although I've done 4 stim cycles, I had no chance with the first one as there was no transfer (lack of response to the stims from my body) - 2nd cycle was almost the same, so we've only managed to get the drugs right the last 2 cycles... 2 cycles really isn't that many, so we'll see.

He said obviously he thinks the problem is the past uterine infection from my c/s, but after DH giving up smoking, and 18 months of natural therapies, and a brand new FS, plan & clinic, who's to say how different he next cycle will be?

For now, we'll just do all of the tests and see if there's any other barriers that we didn't know about first!

Feeling very positive about everything, though, so thats good - he was just amazed that Lou & I were there together to support each other, how we came to know about him, and that we had only met the night before in the carpark of the airport!!!

He said that he thought it was truly just amazing that we had found each other & become friends and that she was staying with me!!!

He also asked me to spell out the web address for BB and how to get here to see how we all chat, etc..... Might have to make sure we're all lovely with our comments!!! - Not that we aren't, we're all Dr S fans in here!!!

Shannon - So excited to hear you're doing the FET soon, I have fingers crossed & everything else crossed for you xxx

BG, Megan & BW - Hope things are ok for all of you xxx

Hi to everyone else..... haven't seen Slyder around for a while, hope you & DW are doing ok xxx

[Chez67]

Hi everyone

Holly & PP - I am so glad that you have found friendship with each other and that your appointments with Dr S seem to have placed some renewed hope in your lives. The more people working on this infert puzzle the better I say!

BG - Thank goodness you only have a few more days of the pill to go... hang in there hun - we are all here to support you!

Megan - Bon Jovi concert in Christchurch - wow that sounds amazing! I hope your body starts cooperating and you get your FET b/ts started while you are on leave. Wouldn't it be nice for things to happen when convenient for YOU, just once!

Shannon - Good luck with your FET - maybe having newborns around will be just what you need to encourage your own along! I have my fingers crossed for you!

Ann - thanks for popping in. I agree with BW and PP, the strength to stop IVF is beyond me at the moment. I was out with DF this morning and while he was away ordering coffee, I saw the sweetest little girl sitting at the next table and I just about burst into tears when she gave me a big smile. I had to quickly go back to reading my newspaper to try to cover up my tears. You are so brave to have moved forward. I only hope that I have your strength, if or when it comes that time for us. And a holiday Thailand sounds great - we are hoping to go there later in the year so would love to hear all about it when you get back!

Me, well I just don't know what is going on with my body. I have had the weirdest feelings over the last 10 days or so.... the sorests bbs ever and going from nausea to hunger to tiredness at different times of the day, sometimes all in one day (like yesterday) to just being tired and feeling blah - like today! I did a HPT this morning but it was BFN - to be expected I guess since I am only CD21 but I just couldn't help myself.... I have never felt like this before!

I saw my FS again on Friday morning - she is hoping to get approval to practice in NSW so that she can do EPUs, transfers etc at NGF in Sydney - in the mean time David will do them. I asked about whether it was worth having a lap done, and this time she agreed it might be a good idea (when I saw her last time she didn't think it was necessary). So I am off for a lap and hycosy (is that right? - more new abbreviations!) in 2 weeks time. At least we can do that locally and the hospital I am going to has the facility to do some good photos apparently to show me afterwards. My FS said that after 2 failed cycles, a lap is pretty standard just to make sure there isn't something there that has been missed. I know that lots of ladies have had these procedures done, but is there anything that I should know beforehand? Apparently it will be a 6 week delay between the lap and doing a flare - is that only if there is endo to burn off (I don't have any symptoms) or standard for all laps regardless?

To everyone else, I hope all is going well with you and that you are finding your own inner strengths to continue to move forward in this journey!
Cheryl xx

[butterfly_warrior]

Doing ok here... coming to grips with our decision to not transfer this cycle. I'm finding that I probably could have coped psychologically, but physically I'm sure my body needs a rest. I'm also glad that I'm going with a letrozole cycle for the break this time - I know it makes things a bit longer than if I went with the pill, but at least I know there's no chance of me spotting continuously for two weeks - and when you add that to the two early miscarriages, stim cycle and OHSS... Well, I'm feeling like it's really no surprise at all that our last transfer didn't take too well!

to Dr S if you happen to read this! Unlike other FSs, I've never seen a bad thing said about him here, so I'm sure he'd be happy with what he sees. Last time I spoke about forums with an FS I got the "don't believe everything you read" lecture, along with the declaration that all the women on said forums are dreadfully unhappy, and I'd be better off removing myself from the negativity. He's obviously not seen BB! Sure, everyone has down days, but there's never an air of negativity here. Everyone seems happy and supportive and that's what gets us all through with a shred of sanity left.

Holly, I'm actually more surprised tht previous specialists you have seen haven't taken notes - all my specialists have, whether they be an FS, rheumy, neurologist, whatever. I'm glad that you have a plan to follow - life always seems much better with a plan.

Now that I think about it, I'm feeling a bit like a freak, knowing I'm going to disregard Dr S's prednisone instructions with the next transfer and go back to what we did before. But I'm sure BG will be the first to point out that I've never been normal! Some times you've just got to go with what feels right.

Chez, you know I've been seeing David for a year - he's done one EPU, three transfers and a D&C for me - and he's made me feel quite at ease with all procedures. We end up talking at transfer as theough we are both completely oblivious to the rather undignified position and the state of exposure of my bits... Can't help with the lap questions, I'm afraid. I'm actually quite terrified that David will start talking about sending me for one - it's really something I'd rather not do!

Hating the heat and humidity at the moment - I'm getting the worst letrozole hot flushes ever! Ovaries are sore and niggly at only day 10. I figure I'm either going to ovulate earlier again, or I'm in for a few eggs again this time! I'm hoping it's the earlier side of things - I'm not sure I could put up with this for a week!

BW

[Chez67]

Hi BW

I think it is great that I know someone who is going to the same clinic and sees the same FS (at least for a while). It is comforting in a way that someone I trust has had such good experiences and that they can talk to them... it is so important and really helps keep my stress levels in check.

You are sounding so well and very confident which is just great. Good on you for taking control of your meds - you are the only one who knows how your body really reacts! Here's hoping that this one is it for you
Chezxx