Long-term TTC & Assisted Conception April - May 2010

[Lisa B]

Hi ladies,

Just a quick one from me this morning. I had my nurse appointment yesterday where she explained the medication and the cycle (down reg) and she told me the doctor wants me on 225IU of Gonal. As you can see from my signature this is my first IVF and I've previously had low doses of clomid and puregon to assist with ovulation. Is 225IU normal for the first IVF? I'm sure a friend of my mine had under 200 for her first IVF. I haven't as yet checked it out with my FS. I'm interested to hear from your experience.

[dreamrise659]

Hi Lisa,

I am doing my first IVF cycle now (had embryo transfer yesterday so now on the 2ww).
Anyway I was on 225 gonal-F.

I had 12 eggs collected on Monday but only 3 of those fertilized and only 1 was developing properly by the time I had my embryo transfer on Wednesday. They have told me they are going to let the other 2 grow for a few more days and see how they look then but I may end up with no frozen embies (so really have to hope this one takes as I don't want to go through the whole thing again).

I think the dosage of Gonal-F depends on your age and how your body has responded to other hormones in the past. I was also on clomid in the past and only ever ended up with one egg per cycle and obviously seeing the results of my cycle now I think if I had been on less than 225 I may well have ended up with no embryos. By the way I am 36.

What other drugs are you on? I was on synarel nasal spray and am now on cristone vaginal gel (progesterone support).

Best wishes
Lori

Started donor search Dec 06, Started donor insemination Jan 09, Started IVF Feb 10.

[KitKat72]

OK, I've gotten a bit behind so I'm afraid I'm going to miss a lot of things I should say in my persies, but here goes:

Murraycod, holy cow that's a lot of follies, and a lot of big ones. How annoying that your EPU had to be pushed back a day -- I can't believe Repromed isn't equipped to do EPUs on any day when that's most suitable for their customers -- who are, by the way, paying a LOT of money for the privilege. Anyway, good luck for your EPU today! I suspect you're in the recovery room by now, so I hope you are not too uncomfortable when you get home and likely read this. Put your feet up and take it easy!

Good luck to all you doing FETs today (there seemed to be a bunch of you if I remember correctly -- but I can't get back into the earlier part of this thread w/o losing this message so apologies if I've got my dates wrong).

Leabie, hope your TWW is still going well and not driving you too crazy.

Dreamrise, welcome to the TWW. I hope it goes quickly for you! I'm sorry to hear you got so few embies from so many eggs. I feel your pain b/c I got only 2 embies from 6 eggs (using ICSI, no less). Just to give you some hope, originally I had 1 fast-growing embie and 1 slow-growing one, but that second one made it to blast and they were able to freeze it, so you never know about your 2 slowpokes!

LisaB, I think the dosage depends on your age. I'm 38 and my FS had originally decided to start me on 225 of Puregon. When I asked around, I was told that that was on the low side for someone my age. I got my anti-Mullerian hormone test results right before I was going to start the injections, however, and learned that I had lower-than-average fertility, so my FS bumped up my starting dose to 275 to be safe. At my scans I had 7-8 follies, which the FS deemed adequate, so the doc decided not to bump up my dose even higher, and I ended up with 6 eggs, which led to 2 good embies.

Juniper - I'm so happy to hear those jerks didn't get your engagement ring.

Welcome to the new girls I've missed, and hi to everyone else I didn't mention personally today.

AFM, I went in for my BT this morning. Lucky me, after getting there 5 minutes after the lab opened and still having to wait my turn behind the nana brigade who beat me in getting there, I was lucky enough to get a trainee who butchered my left arm mercilessly without getting enough blood. Finally, the "real" tech took over and quickly drew the required blood from my right arm. So now I have two sore, bruised arms! I *knew* I have bad veins, and it was pretty clear to me the girl was just learning, so I wish I had spoken up and asked for the "real" guy to do it all along. I also wish I had followed my own advice and drank a load of water before going in since I know that helps. Now just trying to keep myself occupied until getting the results this afternoon. In the meantime, I've been very naughty and POASed (sorry - I know that's ungrammatical) again both yesterday and early this morning. I got 2 more BFPs. What are the chances of this being a chemical pregnancy when I've had BFPs 3 days in a row?!?

Good luck everyone,
Kitkat72

[JustOneMore]

Opps sorry, double posting

[glenny_c]

KitKat- Sounds good babe!
I have everything crossed for you!!!!

[JustOneMore]

Hi ladies,

I had my progesterone checked on day 7 after ovulation and it was 49, I had the test redone yesterday and now my progesterone is only 15. (I have to specifically ask them if I can do the test otherwise they wouldn't test me).

From what I have been reading about Progesterone anything lower than 20 is not good and lower than 30 when pregnant is not good. The nurse said do you want me to talk to Dr about this to see if she wants you to go on pessaries. I Said YES. I am really angry and upset right now and have no one to talk too. I now feel that I have left it to late to start the pessaries

Sorry guys to put this on you, its just that I am not handling my Progesterone results.
I'm going off to have a big cry now.

[juniper76]

Justina, hi and welcome! I find I normally O about a week late in the cycle after a stim cycle. It's pretty common, so don't let it bother you. I know it's frustrating when you're waiting to do you're FET, but you'll get there.

Lisa B, I did 225iu of puregon for my first IVF after doing 75/100iu for my IUIs. Some women do start at around 150iu if their FS thinks they will respond strongly (especially women like PCOS patients who are a high risk of OHSS).

Kitkat, the b/ts are what will tell you whether a chem pg is likely. I was still getting progressively darker hpts with my chem pg, but the hcg numbers from my b/ts were only rising slowly.

JustOneMore, I hope it's not too late. A lot of women only start progesterone supps after getting a low result in a test and it works out fine.

Afm, 4 of our eggs were mature and all 4 fertilised with ICSI. I'm booked for a 2dt tomorrow. I don't know if I should have pushed for a 5dt? At this stage I'm too stressed and tired to argue. Plus, if it doesn't work I can blame the FS for recommending a 2dt, right?

[sunshine 11]

Just One More - I can't give you any advice other than ring up and demand pessaries making sure as you have said that it's not too late to make it worthwhile. I am NOT an expert in progesterone numbers so don't want to say anything other than to give you support and I'm here if you want to PM me. I am really sorry that you have to go through this stress - sometimes it feels like we should be paid to manage our cycles!

KitKat - goodluck - sounds good! xxx

Lisa B - sorry don't know levels of gonal as I was on puregon which I understand you get smaller units that gonal so maybe that's the difference? As others have said it entirely would depend on responsiveness to drugs (I use 100IU puregon and get between 10-14 follicles so someone like me who is also responsive to Clomid (2-3 follicles) wouldn't take anymore than about 125-150IU of Puregon)

Dreamrise - my cousin only had one embie from her 4 follicles and she is now her beautiful daughter, so I hope you also have a nice BFP coming soon!

Juniper - great news! I think you made the right decision

HI to all the other ladies - goodluck with the 2WW and EPU's/transfers happening!

AFM - I just had breakky with my girlfriend who on the same day next week I am having my BT she is going to a meeting at her workplace of 17 years where she is finding out whether she will or won't be made redundant. It reminded me that there are plenty of things that are worse than having to go through a BFN, maybe putting this into perspective. Don't get me wrong, a child is worth so much more than any job, but there are other things in life people are going through which is just as stressful to them.

[Lisa B]

Hi ladies,

I did type a long post but lost it as BB timed out (I got pre-occupied at work). I'll try again.

Justina - welcome. sorry I don't have anything as yet to share about FETs. I hope you O really soon.

JOM - I would be really frustrated and anxious too if I was in your shoes. I hope it all works out. I can't believe they haven't already assessed your progesterone levels. i had mine done as part of my fertility work up.

Dreamrise - I hope you've got a lovely sticky embie there. I think I'll have the same medication as you as I'm also on the down reg, but I"m only up to the BCP part as yet.

Kitkat - all sounding really good for you. My fingers will be crossed!!

Juniper - yay for 4/4 fertilisation. Hopefully this will be the lucky one for you, afterall surely your engagement ring turning up will bring you luck.


Thanks everyone for sharing your Gonal experiences. My FS just phoned and assured me it was all normal. I guess it's just a fear of the unknown. I'm sure by the time, and if I am lucky enought to fall pregnant through IVF I will be an old hand at it. Also, I can't believe the price rise since last year. I've got this year and last year's price lists and the jump is enormous!

[KitKat72]

OMG. Just got my results: Beta 260!!!

I am so very thankful, and am thankful to all of you fabulous, knowledgeable, supportive ladies who have made this cycle understandable and bearable rather than mysterious and tormenting.

I have one more BT in a week's time then a scan in 2 weeks, so will still be poking in here till all is a bit more certain. But hopefully this gives some hope to people that yes, this process DOES work on occasion! (I can't believe I was a newbie only a month ago.) And I'm hoping that this will start a new wave of BFPs.

Gratefully,
Kitkat72

PS. Juniper -- sounds awesome w/4 embies. That is great news. FX and sticky vibes for tomorrow! And thanks for the info re: chem pregs.

[juniper76]

I can't believe the price rise since last year. I've got this year and last year's price lists and the jump is enormous!

Yep, we have Mr Rudd to thank for that... If this IVF doesn't work and we can't afford another I'll never forgive them...

[Mildez]

Congratulations Kitkat I am so happy for you. Sending loads of sticky vibes and wishing you a H&H pregnancy.
Be back later. Getting use to the new BB.

[sunshine 11]

Congrats again Kit Kat - woo hoo!!!

Bring on some more BFP's in here!!!

[JBM]

kittykat: woohoo for your BFP. i am so glad for you.

i am so far behind with whats happening. sorry if i missed anything important.

i have just been so so busy with work and life and work and new house stuff, not long til we start the ball rolling.

still on a break. prob look at next month for our 2nd full stim cycle. not long to go.

my SIL has just done another FET. she doesn't know we're doing ivf. it is my sis tha has been filing me n on sis in law. i am just not that close with her and she lives other end of state anyway.

waiting, waiting. not long to go for me.

hope i can catch up with everyone soon.

.

[kimbe]

KitKat - YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So happy for you. That's is so great. Hope it is a h&H pregnancy!!

Juniper - 4 is great. We only got 2/6 fertilized. Our 2 dayer is now 2yr old DD, and the slow one which went to blast (6 day) was a FET today! 4 is a good number!

Lairdoz - you are totally right, so many stressors in everyone's life, at least we're some of the lucky ones able to even go through IVF/ICSI/FET as so many just can't access it or afford it!

JustoneMore - the tears are fine and happen often in here hey! Hopefully the FS can help to explain things clearly for you and let you know what is happening in your body.

Justina - Hello, welcome, so many people to share and talk with in hear, all with so much experience and insight and thoughtful support GL with it all

To everone else - hope the day went well and the rest of the week even better

AFM - Blasty thawed well, transfer was not the 'papsmear like' experience i was expecting like my ICSI cycle. Instead it was a very painful 15 minute internal whilst the Dr negotiated her way through 'lots of internal scarring' (Her words not mine!) and the cervix to find the uterus. Though after that, all done. Oh, and to help recover, DH and I went for a big winter warmers clothes shop and bought up bag loads lol. And i thought i wasn't an impulsive or emotional shopper. Now, counting down!

[terry]

Hi ladies

Murraycod what a great result for you and I know how you feel having your unexplained diagnosed at least now you know why it hasn't been happening. I hope you continue to feel good and good luck for your transfer on Monday. Looking forward to chatting with you in the TWW thread

Juniper I'm glad that some luck is finally coming your way you deserve it and hey finding your ring may be the turning point of good coming your way

Justina just try to relax one of my nurses told me that when you become anxious you can cause your ovualtion to be late don't worry your body will tell you when its ready

JOM i cant beleive that after all you have been through you still have hurdles in front of you hope that you have sorted out your medications and are back on track

Kimbe sorry your transfer didn't go well. Hope your shopping trip raised your spirits

AFM i had my FET yesterday morning and I've been resting up ever since. Must say it was the best one I have had was really relaxed and there was no fragmentation. Had acupunture in the afternoon been taking my asprin and chinese herbs as well as a glass of pineapple juice and some brazil nuts. Today I had a facial and came home to a cooked lunch courtesy of DH. I'll keep checking on you girls in here but for the time being I've moved across to the TWW hope you all join me soon

[juniper76]

Sorry for the quick one tonight. We had our transfer today. 2 of the embies hadn't divided, so that left us with 2: a 2-cell and a 4-cell. The scientist said the 2-cell was a grade 2 (3 is best) and the 4-cell was a grade 2-. Our FS said he thought we had a 50% chance with those 2 embies, but to be honest he sounded disappointed so I'm not feeling hopeful right now.

[sunshine 11]

Just a quick one as I am going out -

Juniper - you know I am going to say what so many will - there are so many success stories with embies that haven't been the highest grading, so give your embies the chance you know they deserve to have you as someone to call Mum. I know it's hard - I hope tomorrow you have hope - I have never been told I have a 50% chance so it can't be all that bad!!
xx
Murraycod - well done!! woo hoo!!

Kimbe - Hope you are feeling better after a not so great ET - heres to a quick 2ww for both of us!
Terry/Babytruj/JOM - hope you are surviving the 2ww.


Hi to everyone and have a great weekend whatever you are up to! Hoping for more BFP's in here very soon! xx