Long Term TTC & Assisted Conception - Feb 2008 #2

[~BecD~]

Paula - That's fantastic news about hubbies swimmers - good luck with iui!

Sandi - Sorry to hear your result hon, BFNs are really hard (((HUGS)))

TL - Thats crap about the job! My work has gone to sh*t as well lately, am working back until 7pm tonight just so Im not that far behind. Grrrr at crappy employers! Have fun on your romantic weekend away - sounds perfect

Bel - Good luck with the new cycle. Hopefully you feel a little better soon, I find that HRT knocks me around too. I will keep everything crossed for you.

salt princess - I was just thinking, is your FS at FSWA Mike Aitken? For some reason I thought he might be... He will be doing my EPU but I haven't met him before. What's he like?

[Bee83]

Hi Girls
I was wondering if anyone could offer me some advice. I'm 25 and have PCOS apparently but no raised hormone levels, without drugs i only cycle maybe once a year. My fiancee is 31 and has poor sperm function < 3 million of which 65% are deformed and we have been trying to get pregnant for nearly 2 years. When i went to Pivet they pretty much gave us no choice but full IVF. My fiancee has got someone pregnant so i dont know if i should see just a fertility specialist first to maybe see if clomid helps. Would love people to talk to about these things as no one i know really understands.

Thanks
Bee83

[tiggerlinda]

Bee - I would suggest a 2nd opinon if you are no comfortable but it sounds like they are offering you the option that would be most effective this must be a difficult time

[MsPink]

Morning Ladies...

Are we all happy it's Friday..???? I sooo am..

Sandi - I am so sorry about your BFN...Believe me when I say most of us here know how you feel...

Linda - I can't believe your work situation. One minute they are promoting you and telling you that you're a star and the next minute this?? I think you will be better off out of there asap...I know you'll fall on your clever feet pretty quick smart..Goodluck with it.

Bee - I second Linda and say go for a 2nd opinion so your are satisfied. Ask as many questions as you need to. Make a list before you go - because if you're anything like me...you forget half of them when you are in there..Goodluck.

Paula - I am sure the DH is a happy little vegemite. These men make me laugh...how their little swimmers perform is always sooooo important to them.

Kyles - hope you're coping ok in the TWW. I am usually fine for the first week but by day 8 start climbing the walls..I hope you stay more relaxed then i do..

Saph - OMG I was just reading the last batch of posts and didnt realise you were on Puregon for 23 days!!!! YUK!!! you poor thing. I think I have it bad when I am usually on for around 14 days... everything goes well for you and you trigger today...Goodluck sweet..

Bel - my little saviour....fingers crossed the headaches are worth it all!!!!

Me - nothing exciting...just killing time over the next 3 weeks while I have all these tests.

Have a great weekend chick-a-dees...

[Janie71]

Hi Bee, I too have PCOS with no raised Male hormones. I tried Clomid for 3 cycles and it did not even make me ovulate. I am now on OI which involves taking Puregon (injectable FSH) at the beginning of my cycle, Purgeon 5000iu as the LH surge to make me ovulate and then some booster shots of Puregon 1500iu after ovulation. Good news is that it has been making me ovulate regularly. Bad news is that as of yet I have not fallen pregnant (although will know tomorrow if this cycle has worked or not).

My FS is certainly of the opinion for us that we should give this a try before moving to IVF. However, I would think that the Doc's would know your full medical situation and would advise you based on that. There may be something that is different in your situation to mine. But, it is always valuable to ask for a second opinion if you are unsure.

[*Paula*]

Bee - Definately get another opinion. When it doesnt feel right, you should follow your gut instinct. I have been to two FS now and both had different opinons. Good luck with your journey and i hope it all works out for you soon.

Lulu - Yes men are very funny when it comes to their little men. My DH must have been so happy to hear that all was good with them that he didnt even think to ask anymore questions... Silly duffer!

Janie - Good luck with your results tomorrow.

Well DH and i had a good chat last night about the results and what the next few weeks involves for us and we are very excited! We know that there is always the posibility that it may not work first time but to be honest we arent even thinking about that. We are feeling so positive that it will happen and soon that we feel like doing a little dance with excitement Hopefully all the positive vibes bring positive things our way.

Well i too am extremely glad its FRIDAY Bring on the weekend!

[lilmisshavachat]

I'm so sorry Sandi.. Good luck with your next cycle.. I'll have everything crossed for you...

Dee

[plc1805]

WOW! got loads to catch-up on..... sorry been a bit busy last couple of days.... you know there is no way I'd be able to cover everything and everyone but know that for each of you out there I have the warmest regard and I only ever equally wish you the best of everything to arrive at your most desired end - a bubba in your arms!!
TL - hope your arm is better () and that your work situation improves - sorry was it the old or new job that were the unappreciative turds? I think it's your old one - just as well you're moving on! I wanted to let you know that the Spirit Babies book arrived the other day and will start reading it shortly - gives me something to do while I am in this horrible holding pattern.
Paula - welcome welcome - I know I am going to be hopelessly confused in this thread cos I am a Paula too and as our name is not so common the only time I usually see it is when it relates to me. Oh well! It will draw me straight away to your posts so that I can follow your journey
saph - GL hun - mechanical or romantic - as long as there is love between you and a common wish for a bub - doesn't matter how you get there
bel, kyles, salt P -
sandi - so so sorry hun re AF - here's to better luck next time - it's just got to happen!!!
bee - hi hun - can't help u directly but wishing you all the best
minnie lulu - ye olde waiting game - sigh!! I know it's a drag but at least you've got some proactive things being done in the meantime. You have a good weekend too!!
becD, janie71, las, BB, pookie, scooby, Peta and anyone else I am sure to have missed (sorry!!) - hi and hugs!

me - in a nut shell - I am just waiting!!! GRR the waiting! Eastern medicine-wise - Waiting for my acupuncturist to say my kidney energy channels are unblocked so that we can TTC. Western medicine-wise - waiting for my ob appt (post lap surgery) in mid April to get the go-ahead to start TTC (after he initially told me just to wait til AF arrived!) - I seriously don't know if he is being over-cautious or if this is standard procedure. So I'm waiting.... I know I'm not in the league of where most of you ladies are at with IVF, various treatments etc etc (who knows may be there sometime soon?) but I so understand the frustration from a time perspective and forever having to do the WAITING! WAITING!
Take care of yourselves ladies - and enjoy your Friday and weekend!

[saph204]

Well hi;

So excited got the call to trigger today. Knew i would as the follicle was at 19mm. Think DH is more excited then me. So now i join all those in the dreaded TWW but i am over the moon at not having to go to the clinic for scans ( lets hope ever again) It took me two hours to get to the clinic today the traffic was so bad with the storms, only just made it in time for the cut off time.

Bee - if you are not comfortable with the FS suggested course of treatment then get a second opinion. See in my case both my husband and i are against IVF and will not be going down that avenue if suggested. So if our FS had not suggested less invasive course of action we would not have begun treatment. Clomid often doesn't work for PCOS, i had one cycle then straight to puregon. It may be more your DH problem that has caused them to suggest IVF. What you need to do is ask questions so you are fully informed.

Sandi - sorry about the results keep you chin up.

Minnie - well i ended up with 25 days of puregon i look like i have some hideous disease that causes you to turn yellow with red spots.

Tigger - hope the interview went well. I dont know why i bother with cleaning it only takes five minutes for it to be a mess again.

Well hoping everyone has a great weekend.

[sandiandandrew]

Thanks to you all for your reassuring words... I will never give up!
I'm looking forward to the next time.
Good luck everyone
I will be checking in to see how you all are going hope there are some BFP's SOON!

[Bee83]

Hi Girls,
Thanks for the advice everyone, the first doctor said OI but changed to ICSI once they got DH's results. I guess the hard thing for me is i work in the IVF and ultrasound field in fact i may have even scanned some people here from Perth, i see everything about IVF the ups, downs and sometimes too much knowledge is a bad thing. We will probably try IVF when we get back from our honeymoon at the end of April...i'm just so nervous.

As for all those girls trying i send you my love and best wishes. If anyone has any technical questions i would be happy to answer them to the best of my ability.

Bee

[numa]

Hi fellow LTTTCers

This is my first post on here, although I have been reading for a long time! I'm not sure exactly how it works but I thought this thread seemed relevant and I finally feel the need to "talk" to others who may understand.

My husband and I have been TTC since July 2006, and miraculously got pregnant on the third go. However I miscarried at 6 weeks, I guess they call that a chemical pregnancy.

Since then we have tried faithfully with naturopaths, good diet, supplements and doing all the tests including sperm and lap/hyst/dye studies - all normal. Then chlomid - nothing. After a year we decided it was time to move on to IVF (I never thought that would be me!). We were meant to start in January 2008 but my father sadly passed away on Dec 30th...I was devastated. We then started in February, and 2 weeks later my grandmother (mothers side) passed away. More sadness, but we continued with our stim cycle.

Things seemed to be going well and last Wednesday they collected 19 eggs. By the next day however we found out the news that only 1 had fertilized - 10 were immature, and the other 9 "failed to bind". Our transfer date was brought forward and we were getting ready to go in on Friday when we got a call - our 1 embryo was not suitable to transfer.

We were lucky enought to speak with the embryologist who explained everything - our 1 fertilised egg was not developing normally. Despite the shock and sadness, I'm glad we were saved a pointless 2ww.

It seems our other 9 eggs and sperm didn't like each other, or couldn't communicate. It seems strange that sometimes science cannot give a more technical answer! Although the embryologist gave us a great deal of information and encouraged our questions, I still find myself wondering why our eggs and sperm don't seem to get on?? We were a case of unexplained infertility, I guess now we have found our explanation. And our "cure" (hopefully) - ICSI.

I'd love to here any comments or feedback about our situation. Its hard not to wonder if we are not "meant" to have babies and is ICSI forcing the fact. It doesn't mean I won't do it - I'm not ready to give up yet - I just have to comes to terms with our new situation.

Thanks for reading....

xo

Me 36
Husband 33

[MsPink]

Numa - welcome!! You have been going thru a really hard time you poor thing. My deepest sympathies on your Dad and Grandmother, I am sure you are heartbroken. That in itself is so hard to go thru without doing IVF as well...
I am so sorry about your failed IVF cycle - it is so hard to deal with after going thru all the needles, stress etc. My first cycle also failed. Am also sure after being told you had 19 eggs - an amazing number by the way, that none were successful, you just didnt know what to think.
I also have ICSI because as you get older your eggs get harder and makes it much more difficult for the sperm to enter on its own. With ICSI - that actually put the little swimmer into the egg so he doesnt have to break thru the wall - so to speak.
I am sure it will help you when you are ready to go for the next round.
Stay positive and dont give up...

[Acacia]

Hi numa,

Welcome to BB I'm sure you'll find everyone here very supportive and full of advice and help. They're lovely!

I'm very sorry to hear of the loss of your father and your grandmother. What difficult things to go through without the additional anxiety and stress of IVF - I'm sure you are very strong person to be continuing to move forward and look to the future and what has to happen next in amongst the personal bereavement you're going through.

I'm sorry that your first cycle hasn't gone well Although I haven't been in your position my first IVF cycle wasn't hugely successful either - I had 9 eggs collected but only 2 fertilised, and the one embryo I had transfered was a BFN. We were using ICSI. I can tell you that my FS said she had learnt a lot from this first cycle, as it sounds like your FS has from yours. It seems quite cruel but the first IVF cycle is always a guessing game, and really like a trial of how your body will respond and how your eggs and embryos will fare. And then your FS will take things away from the cycle and find a better way next time.

In my second ICSI cycle I had 10 eggs collected, and 6 of them fertilised, and the one embryo I had transfered stuck for a while - I had an early chemical pregnancy - which has given us hope that we will one day achieve a successful pregnancy The problem in our first cycle was my eggs were mostly undermature, as were yours. We weren't expecting to do ICSI our first time either, however after DH gave his sample on the day, they changed and decided to do ICSI. The difference between the two cycles was that on the second cycle, my eggs were allowed to mature more during stimulation and we ended up with 6 embryos better in quality than our first two in the first cycle.

I'm telling you this to let you know that with a combination of the maturity of your eggs being better (which I'm sure your FS will be able to work on, via your stimulation meds and protocol) and ICSI, there is so much hope of you having lovely, healthy (and multiple!) embryos - ICSI makes a huge difference when there are issues with the surface of your eggs and the sperm communicating and interacting properly - the whole of that problem will be bypassed with ICSI.

It is also important to let you know that it's not uncommon to have some embryos that don't develop normally - there will always be a percentage that don't develop normally right from the start - this is just nature, and perhaps it was just unlucky that your embryo that did fertilise ok didn't go on well. Please don't beat yourself up thinking that your eggs and sperm "don't get on". With only one embryo to judge it by, you simply can't know yet about how well your eggs and sperm and thus embryos will and can get on, especially when ICSI hasn't been tried yet

I have lots and lots of hope for you, and you are never to think that you are not meant to have children. Who decides who is meant to have children and not? It's a rhetorical question and thus a rhetorical thought. You have just as much right to desire to conceive and have children in your life as a couple who can conceive naturally, and you are right - it's a matter of coming to grips with the terms of how that happens. But the fact of it happening is not something ever to question. A child that is conceived of love is conceived of love, full stop.

Please believe in yourself, numa. It is such a difficult thing to go through and to come to terms with, but you have the desire and the ability to look forward and hope, as you have said at the end of your post. And there is so much hope, despite this outcome now. So you use those things inside you to help you move forward to the next step. We all believe in you here - you'll see

Lots of luck to you, and hugs,

Miss C

[kyles68]

Hi Ladies

Firstly, thank you for all your kind words and good luck - I know have 9 sleeps before my BT - whoo hoo.

Numa - I was trying to read your post to my DH and kept choking up with tears. I just wanted to say how brave and strong you are to have kept on with your stim cycle amongst all your family grief - well done. My MIL is in intensive care unit in hospital at the moment and I know how hard it is for my DH and I to concentrate on our IVF/ICSI treatment when we are stressed about her. As far as ICSI is concerned I think Miss C covered pretty much everything I wanted to say. This is my first treatment cycle and I had only 1 egg collected, fertilised and transfered and am now in the 2WW. I would definitely recommend ICSI to you for your next cycle and wish you all the best of luck

[Acacia]

Hi everyone

Kyles - you and I have the same number of sleeps until BT! I'm assuming your test in is on 17 March? We are sooooo cycle buddies until the end now!! :P I hope you're doing ok with the wait, hun.

Sandi - I'm here a bit late, but I wanted to say I'm really sorry to here about your BFN You've got tonnes of support around you here, and we will all be wishing you all the luck in the world for your next cycle!

PLC - Hang in there, hun. All we do when we're TTC is wait, hey? Maybe you can clarify once more what your ob wants you to do - check to be 100% sure that you have to wait until mid-April to start TTC. It certainly wouldn't harm to relieve your mind by really asking if it's necessary and if so, what the reason is.

Saph - Congratulations on finally getting to that blasted trigger! Very best of luck in the TWW - I'll see you over in the thread!

TL - I'm sorry you're having such a difficult time with work atm, hun. Last thing you need I know how strong and sure you are, and there's no doubt you will find the right job for you. Lots and lots of hugs to you. I'll be thinking of you on March 18 - day after my BT!

Salt - oh, sweetie. I have been thinking of you a lot since I saw your posts in the TWW thread earlier at the start of the week when I posted. I hope you are hanging in there ok. How are you doing? hugs hugs hugs!

Hi and big hugs to others here that I haven't written personals to. Hope you're all doing ok.

TWW ambling along ok here. 6 days post transfer. I'm just getting over the flu (got it a couple of days before transfer) but unfortunately DH has picked it up now I'm having rather strong reactions to the pessaries particularly in the last few days as the dose has built up in my body. I'm getting very emotionally agitated and depressed shortly after each dose, quite far removed from reality and then it's like a fog lifting and I'm fine a few hours later. The result of this occuring at the night dose means I've had quite a lot of insomnia. My FS and the clinic have been really helpful and supportive (I was on the phone with a number of people from the clinic including FS on Thursday). I've slept better in the last two nights though, so the affect hasn't been quite so bad with yesterday and today's doses I'll be ok - just hanging in there. DH has been positively amazing - he's under pressure at work and commuting 1.5 hours one way to work, plus all this crazy stuff from the progesterone, and he's a rock. I get to look after him now anyway, as he's sick

Hope everyone is having a good weekend,

Miss C

[plc1805]

Hi ladies!!
Miss C - sorry to hear ur doing it rough at the mo but what a guy u have there!!! What a blessing! Thx also for ur encouragement. And I wanted to commend u on ur lengthy encouragement to Numa - I'm sure she would have appreciated that as I would have if it were me. minnie-lulu as well gave great advice.
Numa - so sorry to hear of ur losses - I hope ur blessings will in turn be great. You know I have a friend who had 13 attempts of IVF/ICSI before she had success on her 14th attempt - there is truly truly always hope!! I wish it for u (maybe with less attempts )
Bee - hun, I wish that hope for u too so that u can arrive at that happy ending too!
saph - wishing u a speedy tww!

hello and huge huge hugs to everyone else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

as for me, I am VERY confused at the moment!! As you know I had my lap, dye, hyst, etc etc 2 weeks and 2 days ago afterwhich I got AF with normal duration of days and then expected to get my next AF in 4-6 weeks. Well - today I got AF! Does ANYONE have anything to share with me re their experiences in this area - did AF come super earlier tham expected? Or have they heard about someone in this situation? I will definitely query it with the Ob on Tuesday but not sure what my dear ol' bod is up to.

[numa]

Hi everyone

A huuuuge thankyou to minniemouse, miss c, kyles and plc for your warm and encouraging posts. I had tears of relief (or something like that!) reading them. I really feel less alone in my situation... and you have reminded me about staying positive.

Also I wanted to wish all of you on this thread the best! You seem to know each other and I guess it will take me some time. But its great to be able to talk to people going through the same thing

Thanks again