Long Term Assisted Conception ~ March 2006

[Blue Sky]

Hi Kar - Glad you found us! Am sure you will receive lots of support and advice in here – we’re a supportive advising bunch! Good luck with your cycle. Which clinic are you with? I actually don’t think I’ve heard of one in ACT before. Again, welcome!

Keen – Am hoping that AF arrives quick smart and doesn’t dilly dally!! (Or if she is late that maybe you did catch the egg??!!?)

Hey Suzi – How are you going? Hoping you’re enjoying your shopping trips Dubai stuff (sorry, had to get in on the action!).

Shez – good luck with your cycle too. Hope your appt goes well on Monday.

Marg – Have a great time at the C’wealth games! I went to work today and it felt a bit weird knowing that there were people competing down the road!! I have to for a BT on Sunday and my clinic is right near the Marathon track! Look out for a chick in the crowd with a bandage on her arm!. I might pop into the MCG next week to have a bit of a look-see.

Janee – I agree with what Chele & Keen have said. I am a big advocate for reading up and getting all the info but to be honest, I’m yet to hear of an IVF child born with a disability. But does it really matter if the child has a disability? Would you love the child any less? As Keen said, I’m sure we’d all prefer to do it the natural way (who would WANT to do IVF if they really didn’t have to?) but this is our reality. Yes, there are risks involved – you have to be comfortable within yourself with those risks. Nothing is guaranteed. You put your faith in a bunch of specialists & scientists and pray for the best. Will get off my :soapbox: Happy pondering!

Chele – Congratulations on your whopper – have my fingers crossed that this is the one!! So your beta will be on the 30th? Hope the TWW treats you kindly! :bluestick: inkstick:

Leis – Loving your sexy chick! Glad you got to let your hair down on the bike! Sounds like great fun!

Vicki – Hope you're doing well and that you get the blood sugar back in order.

Tam – Glad to hear your appointment went well. Good luck with your flare cycle! Hoping that they are able to give you answers.

Bee, Bec, Ann, Nola – hope you’re all doing well!

As for me, as I mentioned before I’m off for a BT this weekend to check my P4 levels and if they’re ok I’ll have a transfer next week! Feels like its been a bloody long time coming! I’m back at uni now and not posting as much – but rest assured I’m still poking around checking up on you!!

Take care,
H

[Visitor9]

Hi girls,
I was also told by my doctor that the reason the stats on IVF bubs were alittle higher was because the cliental were specialised not the mainstream so the odds on older, reversals and PGD tested embies were enough to have conflicting stats that are not a true indication.
Just my bit lol although I do see alot of IVF kids with turns in the eyes. I'm sure it has nothing to do with it just an observation. And the halk eye I am watching my daughters eyes can pleasly announce NO turn
Bec
* Fingers crossed Chele, I [-o< this one is a sticka

[*Tam*]

Good evening

Chele, woohoo for your, hoping it's a sticker, lol

Janee, I second/third/fourth/what ever number we're up to about going onto IVF. For me I just thought it was a process of elimination to find what's wrong. Take your time, but hoping it's all good for you either way.

Keen, I agree, where's the witch when you want her. Actually I'm hoping she visits me late (or actually on time as I'm usually 5 week cycle naturally) otherwise it puts me at an Easter pickup which would mean dodging PHols which doesn't help with the PGD being done over east.

Heather, it does seem it's taking a while, is the stim FET working better for your body? LOL at the Dubai, I had to read it twice, doh!

Take care all

[janee]

Hi all, just popping in to say hello.
Hope I didn't offend anyone with the IVF stats comments...I have to be honest though, and say that regardless, there will always be an element of uncertainty, whether it be a natural conception or otherwise. And being a worrier, it's just in my nature to worry. Anyway, enough said on that topic. And as I said, I didn't mean to offend anyone with my comments.
I've been taking the herbal remedies for almost a week now, and feeling pretty good. Hope you all have a fab weekend \/
Take care
xx

[sushee]

Janee,

as far as IVF stats go, I do understand your misgivings. I had them too when I first started out. But the simple fact is that women who have to undergo IVF have fertility problems, and it is believed that it's not the IVF procedure per se that increases the chance of genetic defects, but the kinds of problems these women bring to the table in the first place that make them high risk for children with genetic problems.

In fact, when you look at the percentage of genetic problems of IVF children in relation to the kinds of fertiltiy problems the women have, IVF women actually have a slighter smaller chance of having a baby with medical needs than the general population. This in part has been helped by PGD and embryo screening, and of course, natural selection, same as in natural conceptions.

As a mum of 3 naturally conceived children, I have to admit, I actually have less worries about this child having medical issues than I did with my first three. This little'un was monitored and cared for and tested and checked from day dot, and that is so very reassuring. Plus, I've had a far easier pregnancy with this one at 35 than I did will my first three when I was in my early 20s!

Edited to add: Also I don't know if it's so much that everyone was taking offence, as the fact that this thread is usually populated by many women who have had many, many goes at IVF/Assisted Conception, as compared to the Long Term Trying to Conceive thread, where many of us started our IVF journeys. A lot of them, I guess, have not only had to make peace with IVF/AC possibly being their only hope of conceiving, but have also had to face the harsh reality that this, their only hope, often doesn't work first time, nor the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th, for that matter.

I was very much an IVF 'veteran' so to speak, with 7 failed previous cycles, but there are many who do far more than that. I think I got past the part where I worried about IVF causing birth defects around the 2nd cycle, and instead began to worry about ever being able to fall pg ever again! I think a lot of the women here are also at that point (if you girls don't mind me speaking for you!)

So please don't see it as anyone taking offence, janee. I'm sure everyone here at some stage early on has felt that confusion and uncertainty about IVF. That's only natural for you as a potential mum. I reckon, read up as much as you can about IVF and make a good informed decision about what the cost to you will be emotionally, psychologically and financially. We've all been there and will be here to help if you need us.

love
sushee

[Kar]

Hi Everyone
Thanks heaps for your warm welcomes. It is much appreciated.

Shez - it looks like we are pretty close timing wise. I started stimming this morning. They've got me on a lower dose this time so hopefully I wont over stim. It must have been really hard to have a cycle cancelled. Was having OHSS as scary as it sounds? Sorry about your m/c. Better luck this time.

Angel Baby's mum - congrats on the niner. Sending you sticky vibes :bluestick:

Janee - I never dreamed I'd ever be on IVF or ICSI but here I am. But this is the only chance I have left as my dr told me that at 39 and with a DH with poor morph we have about a 3% chance of things happening normally and the older I get the lower that chance gets. My clinic says that there is evidence from the Brussels group that the number of abnormalities for ICSI is no higher than for the normal population but in Australia any ICSI babies do have to be monitored just in case.

More generally they say this: "Some recent publications have indicated there is an increased risk of abnormalities in children conceived using ART, others have not been able to confirm these increases. It would appear that the technique such as IVF is not responsible, and the increased risk, if it exists, lies with the causes of infertility." Which is pretty much what Sushee and BecG said.

KeenAs - Glad to hear someone else has had a similar experience with lots of follies. They treated me as a bit out of the ordinary at my clinic and I haven't come across many others with around 40 folls. But maybe coz I'm an old girl. I could barely sit down!

BlueSky - There are at least two clinics here in the ACT. Sydney IVF and the Canberra Fertility Centre. I'm with CFS which has been going since 1986. They are a great bunch.

Tam - how does a flare cycle work?

Have a lovely weekend everyone. It's a long one in Canberra - and we have the festival on - I love the hot air balloons.

[janee]

Hi all....thanks for all the advice...I think perhaps I better go to the Long Term Trying to Conceive thread..as I don't wish to upset anyone by being a "first timer" in the wrong thread. Thankyou for all your support...and good luck to all you wonderful women!
Cheers
xx

[Keen]

Janee - you go wherever you feel the most comfortable and know that you can always come to us "long-termers" any advice, to ask any questions or just for support. You most probably will find many others in a similar situation as yourself in the Long Term TTC & Assisted Conception thread and at times can be more helpful. Plus at times we, well at least I know I can, get a little jaded about all this IVF and stuff, so best not let our lack of success effect your optimism and hope, k.

BTW, i did not feel offended in anyway, and dont think any of us really did. Im pretty sure we all asked ourselves similar questions when we started down this path too.

Fingers crossed you wont have to consider things for long and your on your way to having a bubba.

[SuziQ]

Keen said...

so best not let our lack of success effect your optimism and hope, k.

Janee, I've been sitting here for a couple of days now trying to find the right words to respond to your concerns. Keen has expressed part of the reason why I was hesitating. I am always conscious of reminding the girls that I'm 'the one for whom it never worked' and hate to think that deters anyone from doing all they can to hold their own bub. It can be a bit hit and miss at first to find the right forum for you. I float around these days 'cause I don't belong anywhere any more . Mods.... any thoughts on ever creating a forum for those who finally had to hang up their boots?? Nah, only joking, I hope there won't ever be enough ladies in that boat.
So, Keen thanks for getting the words out of my mouth! How are you?
Blue, get your head out of the books and say :wave: Got your joggers all cleaned up for your big run tomorrow?
Tam - hope you're hanging in there. :-k Easter pickup...might be a good omen with eggs and stuff...
Welcome Kar, nice to have you here IYKWIM.
Leis, my ex used to have a Harley. I never rode on it because I just can't bring myself to trust cars -vs- bikes. But, there is nothing like the sound of a Harley roaring along. I used to know when he was half a dozen streets from home.
Hi Bee, Vicki, Marg, Chele, Shez, Ann, Nola and anyone else I may have missed - hope you're all doing well. Actually, I'm sorry Ann, I've only just twigged that you're the Ann who used to be in here #-o . It's nice to have you back.
BTW, I'm still looking for someone to come to the Greek Islands with me.
Take care all
Sue
156 sleeps 'til up, up and a-w-a-a-a-y!

[~WatchedByAngels~]

Janee You didn't offend me in the slightest and feel free to ask away as Keen has said we don't think too much about it after so many tries. hope we have helped you in someway and not scared you off. :hugs: to you matey

Sushee You spoke very well for all of us I reckon

[*Tam*]

Hi to everyone.
Janee, same as Sue I think Keen did well. find yourself a spot but hopefully it won't be for too long, but yeah, don't hesitate to come & chat too. We do check out the other forums too. Your success won't be missed! & can't wait to hear of it. Will also see if I run into you at Hollywood anyway.

And Sue, I hope you never disappear either! And I hope you get a travel buddy for the Greek Islands, would love to join you but would hope that I'm pg! As I said before, I want the cyber postcards.

Hope the cyclers are going well, would love to hear a success story soon.
I'm enjoying time off again, but feel it is going fast. I think I'm starting to think the worst though, but at least I'd have an answer. Have already thought if I get no normal embies, I'd try again in a couple of months in case I had a dud round...
I guess that's what makes me a verteran (barbie), thinking the worst....lol.
Kar, a flare is starting stim & syneral at CD2, ie a quick cycle.

Take care, hope you're having a good weekend.

[Visitor9]

Blue: How did the BT go, was thinking about you when navagating myself around Melb trying to avoid the marathon :fuming:
Bec

[daisy]

Hello all you wonderful ladies. I hope you all had a great weekend.

Chele- I hope you are taking it easy and I am sending you heps of baby dust.

Heather- How did the BT go? fingers crossed for you honey!

Keen- hope the witch comes visiting soon!

Janee- It is so normal to worry. I read all the stats too, but to be honest all any of us can do is follow our heart and make our own choices. You need to do what you feel comfortable with. I hope that you get your BP down soon and that not long around the corner you will get that BFP!!

Sushi- your wisdom is truly amazing.


And to all that I have missed I hope you all are having a rainbow filled day!

[Kar]

Hi everyone, Hope everyone is going well.

Janee, you didn't offend me either. Best wishes for whatever decision you make.
SuziQ - I definitely do KWYM. Also think that maybe having a "hung boots up" forum might be a worthwhile idea or maybe even a forum for people thinking about it. On 6 March, LifeMatters (Radio National) had an interview with Annarosa Berman who has just written a book called "Sex at 6pm: a personal journey through IVF" about her failed IVF attempts. I listened to the interview but got really upset by the end (I strongly suggest anyone over 37 on IVF with any hope left DOES NOT listen to the program - coz its a real downer). I think it might be good when you have given up. So I'm not buying it yet. Hope you find someone to travel with soon.
Tam - a flare sounds quite good. A DownReg seems to take 6 weeks out of my life each time. I'm going to ask whether they do it at my clinic if I have to do this all yet again! I know what you mean about thinking the worst. I'm definitely in veteran barbie land most days at the moment.
Shez - did you have your BT yet? I'd love some company on stims.
Blue - any news on transfer day?
Angelbaby's mum - how is it going?

Update on me: On the good side - thank goodness the down reg is over and I can have some rose tint back in my glasses. On the bad side - I'm now on my fourth day of puregon and I started getting uncomfortable night before last with an achey left ovary starting yesterday. None of which is a good sign. Am scared I might be going to over stim again. Rang my clinic this morning and am waiting to hear from the Nurse Coordinator about whether to go in for an early BT. I'm already busting out of my trousers! It seems to be working faster with a lower dose! And it is SOOO hard to concentrate on doing any work!

Hi to everyone else!

[ann]

Keen, I hope that AF shows her face soon, I know what it is like waiting for her to visit, I missed our FET this month due to her not showing, little did I know that I was actually pg, and M/C about 5 weeks ago. transfer for us would have been last Thur, but thats the way it goes.

Sush, OMG, not long to go now, you lucky little bugger you. Hope everything goes smoothly.

I hope everything else is going well for everyone else.

Well as from last Sat, I am now on BCP, we are doing a full stim cycle in May, and there is no way I am missing a 3rd cycle due to AF not showing up on time.

DH has applied to have a month off work when we do our next cycle as his work is a bit funny with him having time off for OPU and transfer, and as some of you know I am such a woos with injections he will be able to do this for me again.

Sorry I haven't been around for a few months I had to have some time away to get my head around all my IVF failures.
So hopfully I'll be around more.

Luv to all

Ann

[Visitor9]

Hi all I'm day 1 no turning back now, made an appointment to see my gyn\obst to discuss possible outcomes. DH is so excited you would never guess that we had so many BFN cycles Apparently cycle 20 on IVF is suppose to be lucky according to him
Hope everyone else is good, I'll have to check in here more often now lol
H You up to anything yet???? Trigger??
Bec

[~WatchedByAngels~]

Hey there all Boy its been quiet in here. I have tonight had my 2nd pregnyl support injection so now it's wait and see what the 30th brings.

Hope you are all travelling well

[Shezabelle]

Hi everyone hope you are all well.

Chele- hope the 30th brings you a wonderful BFP the PG after LTTTC forum needs some newbies with all the exits due...

Bec G- Good to hear you're on your way all the best for this cycle

Ann - [-o< for a smoother ride for you.. yeah on DH having time off I too have to struggle to get DH time off

Kar- I had an u/s yesterday..ovaries nice and quiet, so started stimming puregon 150units. Bugger about pain already.. I hope you don't hyperstim.. I am hoping that I don't htis time as I can't have time off work and I don't want another wasted cycle.

Keen- Always the way the witch isn't there when you need her and is when you don't.... Hope she's showed for you

Daisy- Hope you are well. Sorry I've forgotten where are you up to?

Tam - Here's hoping this ones the one for you. I agree with Kar flare sounds good is it better?

SuziQ- Wow I'd love to be going on your trip!! I never did the travel thing hopefully one day!!

Hi to Blue, Bee, Marg, Leis, Nola and :wave: to those from PGALTTTC who pop in and give us hope

As I said earlier I started stim yesterday.. rough prediction for OPU 3/4/6
Love and hugs