Long Term TTC & Assisted Conception - July 2007 #2

Hi everyone

I have been so busy these last few days that it seems to take me forever to catch up on everything going on in here and my memory is shocking at the moment, thanks to the synarel!! So, plse forgive me if I forget anyone!

Lou - congrats on your dozen snowbubs - that is just fantastic news! Keep resting and I hope you are better soon.
TL - congrats on your 4 embies - well done!
Ellie - it sounds like you are going to being doing a flare cycle as well? I hope your AF arrives soon.
Blayz - good luck with your increased dose... I knew when my increase was working when my twinges when to symptoms that were more like pre-AF - bloating and cramps - apparently that is a good sign according to my FS!
Holly - glad to hear that you enjoyed your family visit - no dramas about the CD, I am sure it won't take long to get here! Also glad that you are feeling very positive - maybe you will catch O this month naturally? :crossfingers:
Nic - it sounds like you will be spending quite a bit of time in Brisbane - maybe you could make into a bit of a holiday to try to take some of the pressure off? I agree with Ellie - the closer to the clinic the better for you.
Diva - what a beautiful part of the world to be living in! That must be good for keeping your stress levels down! Bummer about all of the travel and extra $$$ for your cycle though. Hopefully you won't have to do too many now that you are on track! Good luck hun.
Hippymum - good luck with the move - we will keep you space warm while you are away ;)
Jo - how are you going?
Rols - thanks for asking. I started the synarel on Thursday and the Gonal-F injections last night. I have not missed the synarel at all, particularly the constant headaches that i get with it! Oh well, at least I shouldn't be on it very long this time on the flare cycle. I have my first scan booked for the 20th July to see how my ovaries are responding. We are so hoping that they will be responding much better than last time :pray:. What protocol is your DW on? She is so lucky that she doesn't have the spray!

Now, to those out there who have done a flare, can you tell me why I have got both a trigger shot (Ovidrel) and 3 ampules of Pregnyl? According to my MIVF book it should be one or the other? I still have the Crinone gel from the first cycle - is the Pregnyl instead of the Crinone? Oh - more stuff to learn!!

Anyway, to everyone, happy sniffing, jabbing, scanning and testing. And here's hoping that we have lots more good news in this thread! Take care all!

Cherylxxx

Hi Everyone :D

Chez - Just wanted to answer your question... The last 2 cycles I did I had both the Ovidrel & the 3 shots of pregnyl.
The 3 shots of pregnyl (if you have to have it after EPU) is to help make the length of your Luteal Phase longer... and give the embies a chance to implant before the uterine wall falls away too early (AF) - and you have to take the whole vial!!!
If you have to have it during the cycle (along with the Gonal F), its to help with follies - and you only have a small amount of the vial!
You still have to take the crinone as well (ew!).

If you're extra lucky like me ;), you get to have it both times - During the cycle and after EPU!!!
My last 2 cycles went like this (If it helps!)...
Synarel... Gonal F and Pregnyl ... Ovidrel.. EPU..Crinone..3 extra shots of pregnyl 2 days apart while still taking crinone....Then BT or AF!!!
Hopefully you don't have to have it all like me!!!!!!

Thats a lot of rambling, but it may help somewhere!!! :rolleyes:

Love Holly
xxx :D

Oh thanks, Cheryl good to know as those little twinges are becoming stronger that is for sure!! feels good though to know that something is happening.

Dipping my toe in the water very cautiously!

We're not new to LT TTC - Zander was 26 months & we're up to 18 months this time. BUT we're starting our first ever IVF / ICSI cycle in 10 days. So I thought I might hang out here & chat with you guysif you don't mind?

Oh Sarah - Hi - ive been watching all your posts and im glad that you are finilly underway - GL hun and i sending you all my best wishes for your successsful journey

Welcome
xx

Thanks Lou :D

Hi Sarah – things are going to start happening really soon! Hope you are not sick to death of drinking water! GL!
Chez – sorry I didn’t realize you were going to do a flare cycle – it all happens so quickly! Can’t believe you could be UTD by the end of the month almost! If I need another then my next will be a flare too, but with no synarel! Nasty stuff. Sounds like Holly knows all about the meds – gosh Holly, you were putting your body through all manner of lovely things!
Blayz – oooh, getting close now! You are a big chicken though – you can do your own injections you know!!!
Sushee – have a great holiday…very jealous!

DH and I are going to spend a bit of time together next week when he is home, and I am tired of other people and other things always coming up – I see hardly any of him as it is!
So we are going away for two nights – yay. Pity the weather is going to be a bit rubbish. Anyway, the upshot is I have to have my BT on Friday instead of Thursday – I can’t believe I am making myself wait an extra 24 hours – what a sucker for punishment! I have promised not to take a POAS away with me – so we can enjoy ourselves, blissfully unaware! If we get a :bfp: we can always go away again in a few weeks to celebrate again!
Jo

Hey Everyone!

Sarah - So glad you've come for a visit here with us!!! (Hopefully you won't even get unpacked before you have to go again ;) )
All the very best for your first cycle - you must be so excited to get started!!! Good Luck, and I hope this one is the one xxx

Jo - Yay on your time away!!! You're a better woman than me - I would at least have to take the damn stick with me!!!
Enjoy your time with DH xxx

Lou - Glad you're feeling better xxx

Hi to everyone else - Hope everyone is doing great!!!

Love Holly
xxx :D

Jo, that sounds like a lovely idea :) I've go not idea how you can put your BT back a day, I'd be going mental for that whole day LOL And thank you for the welcome...

Thanks Holly, also for the welcome :) I'm very excited!

hi girls and Rols of course!

i have crawled out of bed after being there for 3 and 1/2 days! i have NEVER been so sick in my life. even dr said there was nothing i could do but panadaol and lotsa fluids. lordy! i wouldnt wish it upon my worst enemy!!! but im alive and have crawled back from the other side of hell...

well done Lou on your dozen!!!

congrats TL on 3 kids in the freezer!!

Hi Sarah - loooove your kids clothing.......

Rols - you are so hilarious and such a good lift for us girls in here!

Hi Holly, good to hear from you again

to everyone else good luck at whatever stage your at....

hi all

Sarah - welcome, and yay on finally taking the plunge to join us over here!

Jo - hope you have a great time away hun - it's difficult to put the test back, but it's so going to be worth it to get some away time with DH and some distractions from the dreaded TWW!

Chez - best of luck with the flare cycle hun! have my fingers crossed for a great result for you

well, looks like i might be back to harrass you all more over the next couple of weeks! i've been a little quiet in this thread lately cos i've been back in a holding pattern but had a BT yesterday, and should find out tomorrow if we can start our next cycle - yay!!! i guess that means that by the end of the month we might be in the dreaded TWW again! i've hated being inactive- we want to be parents so much that i just feel this need to be pro-active - and it looks like that might start again tomorrow.

Oh no Sonya, glad to hear you're starting to feel better though.

And hi to my water coach ;) Glad to see you're back on track & hoping you geta great result this time.

Lou, 12 blasties :o You're going to have your hands full girl! lol What a result, you must be over the moon.

Welcome Sarah, :) you have finally taken the plunge into the AC thread ;) All the best with your upcoming cycle. Well done on your water intake, I think I need to take a leaf out of your book (or find myself a water coach ;))

BG, I know what you mean about needing to be proactive. I had a couple of months off AC, and although I needed to do it for my own sanity I was still frustrated that we were doing nothing. We could quite possibly be sharing a TWW.

A week on synarel and feeling ok. Have had slight headaches the last two days, but so far not too bad. Had a couple of problems this week remembering to take my dose :wall: Appt with my (fill in) nurse on Wednesday to pick up the rest of my drugs and to have a BT. According to the dates I was giving, I should be starting my FSH injections on Sunday night. DH can't wait to start injecting me again :rolleyes:

Megan - i'll happily take on the water coach thing! grab yourself two 750ml pump bottles of water - challenge is to have them both finished by the time i get home from work (half three) - that's the starting point

after a few days, when you're used to that, add a third each day and you've met your target - easy!!!

HI Guys

Just thought i would pop in and say hi...
I have been stalking and reading but haven't posted because i need to try and stay strong and not go another IVF/ICSI cycle until October.. And this TTC thing can very easily become addictive and obessive!

Good Luck to you all and i hope none of you are left my the time i am back in the game and that you are all hanging out on the pregnancy threads with BW!

As for me still ttc naturally and trying to lose a couple of kilos in the next 10 weeks. Im enjoying the new job and it is a lot less stressful so my plan is working..and hopefully we will get our BFP in Oct...

Good Luck

Thanks BG :) I'll start tomorrow. I think it will be easier for me at work since I am always at my desk. Oh, and as I just realised the time I don't think I am going to get 2 bottles down in 30 seconds! ;)
I'll report back tomorrow how I went!

no probs Megan!

surprisingly, i find it easier to hit my quota of water on days when i'm at home. as much as it's better for you to drink room temperature water (which i drink at work) i love drinking cold cold water - and we have a water cooler thingy at home - so i just grab a bottle of water, sit down to catch up on BB, and by the time i'm finished catching up on posts, i'm a bottle or two down LOL! the chat thing is brilliant too - always drink a bottle while i'm chatting on there! weird!

happy to be water coach to anyone who needs helpd/motivation/kick in the pants to get drinking!

Hi everyone

Sarah - welcome to AC - I hope your stay is short

BG- sounds like you are about to start again soon... what sort of cycle will you be doing this time?

Hi Jo - enjoy your break - I think you are amazing at being able to delay your b/t by a whole 24 hrs. Have you had any pg symptoms?

Wow Holly - that is a whole lot of drugs to be taking!! I don't have a treatment plan from my clinic yet so I think I will have to phone the nurse tomorrow and ask them to post one out to me - at the moment my brain seems to have turned to emotional custard and I have difficulty remembering stuff... I remember now what is was like last cycle - feeling down and depressed and cranky and teary... AAAHHHHHH!! I hate feeling this way!

Anyway, have just finished a hot choc and a piece of dark chocolate but it hasn't made me feel any better :( I know I should go and do some exercise but I am feeling so down and depressed at the moment - bloody drugs!! So I think I might just curl up with DF and watch a movie and hide from the world!

Take care all and talk you to you tomorrow,
Cherylxxx

hi chez - feeling emotional is so part and parcel of the whole AC game - it sucks big time!!! i was sooooo flat for some of it, especially the first couple of times when i had failed cycles. now i just take everything as yet another side effect of the meds, and i try not to let it affect the rest of my life - sure i'm not as sociable, but that's a small price to pay. (it's taken a lot of soul searching and fixating on being able to find the silver lining to every dark cloud to get to that midset, but it's working for me for the moment!)

cycle wise, i'm completely different to the norm! my body responds "too well" to the synarel and won't be woken from up again by the puregon, so basically my cycle is a BT yesterday, if all ok in that one, i start puregon tomorrow, an u/s around day 6-8. if all going ok at that stage with one or two dominant follies, i have to then start having "antagonist" shots every 24 hours to stop O too early, along with continuing the puregon. second u/s to see that things are ok, trigger shot then IUI next day - last time it was all of 11 days from start til i entered the TWW. i don't think i could survive the drawn out 40+ days of a full down reg IVF cycle. from what i gather, if we move to IVF, we'll basically have the same protocol, with a few more days of puregon to mature more of the smaller follies rather than just a couple of dominant ones. will be interesting to see what happens if we have to go to IVF

BG my last IVF cycle was only 9 days - thats 9 days of injections them EPU no pill no spray, but if you do need to move onto IVF then Mac may have you do a full down reg for your first cycle?? but i dont know??

i think after seeing how my body reacts to the synarel he's reluctant to go down that path again - i was on the 200IU they gave you for 10 days last cycle and got 3 dominant and 21 smaller follies - so i'm guessing my body is one of those stubborn ones - don't know if he'd try a higher dose for a better and still quick response, or drag it out more.... i think because i've basically had to do the same as an IVF patient (minus epu) for the IUI, he's already had the fun of experimenting with me!

kinda hoping it's ont of those things i don't have to find out though.... :)

Ooh BG, hope you get the go ahead tomorrow for a new cycle :)

Nic

Welcome Kellie & Sarah

Congrats Lou - that is wonderful news...im so happy for you :clap:

Jo - glad to hear you will finally have some alone time with DH - doesn't sound like you get the chance to do that often so hope you have a great time

To everyone else...hi & hope you are all okay.

This is going to be short & sweet cause I am feeling pretty crappy today & just want to veg out on the lounge in front of the heater. AF came today, first time in close to a year that she has come without being drug induced. And she has come back with a vengeance!

Going to see FS tomorrow & hopefully we get the go ahead to start IUI...not sure how quickly we will be able to get started but I am hoping I get start the injections asap.

Will keep you posted

Take care xoxo

WOW Lou how lucky are you! only 9 days. Gee mine is like 6 or 7 week. Weird how every clinic does things different

Hi BG -thanks for the info about how your cycle went. I am not sure what is making me so much more emotional early on this cycle - maybe the higher dose of Gonal-F right from the start (I am on 450 now but started at 300 last time) or maybe it is the apprehension of how my body will react this time around since I had such a crappy result last time. Apart from feeling emotional and irrational, I have slightly tender BBs but am not feeling any niggles or twinges in my ovaries at all!! I really hope the synarel is not shutting everything down like it did with you... I was lying in bed at about 3am this morning feeling like absolute cr@p and wondering how many more cycles I could put myself through and then Ithought about why we were doing it and told myself to stop being so selfish... but I just can't help but worry about how things will turn out this time... and we have lots of things coming up at work over the next couple of weeks that could really do with me being here, not having to take more sick leave! And my mum who lives in Nth Qld has to have surgery in about 4 weeks and she is by herself and I feel like I should go up there for a couple of weeks to look after her but then I worry about how that will affect the IVF... so many things to worry about and I am a Cancer and therefore a natural, born worrier from way back! But I am trying to keep everything in perspective and take one day at a time which is so unlike me - I am a control freak and need to know what is happening when and I need to feel completely organised for it. I think that is enough rambling for now.... Will make an extra special effort to try to see the silver lining in things today :)
take care all
cherylxxx

Cheryl - i'm a control freak from way back too, so i completely understand that feeling of anxiety when something is so completely out of your control! it's completely natuaral to feel apprehensive hun. not only are you facing IVF, your facing the hurdle of overcoming a bad outcome last time which makes it even more frightening. when you add to that everything you have going on in your life at the moment, you're bound to feel very nervous. every little twinge (or lack of) is likely to be analysed and compared to your last cycle and will sometimes come up wanting (been there hun and it sucks!)

one thing to remind yourself through all of this - IVF is an experimentation game - every time they try a new dosage or new protocol, the FS is trying to find the perfect "fit" for you. for some people, first go is the treat. unfortunately, for some of us, it takes a bit more jiggling. you're sure to be closely monitored through all of this, and there are still a lot of different protocols they can try. from a physical perspective, it's an annoyance we can deal with, from an emotional perspective, this is a really tough journey. please don't feel that there is anything wrong with letting the emotional side of things get to you. this is your DREAM that you're fighting for - and there is a hell of a lot of emotion tied up in taking the steps to achieve that dream. make use of every avenue available to you to help in coping emotionally - your DP, the girls (and guys) here on BB, the counsellors through the IVF clinic.... and don't ever feel like being emotional through this is wrong - i'd be worried if you didn't end up emotional hun!

take care Cheryl

Hi Everyone

My sweetheart started on Lucrin last week. I now have the pleasure of injecting her everyday, i wanted to be as much a part of the IVF process as possible, even if it means causing her a little pain everday. She is doing great, I am however struggling. I feel so helpless, we have been trying with a Donor for over 2 years and now begin the IVF journey. I just pray I can be the supportive partner that she will need. Can anyone tell me anything about the side effects she may feel from Lucrin and Puregon?? Also, am I right in saying that she is on Lucrin and then Puregon after her period. Or does she stop the Lucrin before she goes onto the Puregon. Our FS did explain but it was all very overwhelming. If anyone can explain the process a little for me that would be so great. Good luck to everyone, i have such admiration for you all.

MT

hi mummy2 and welcome!

i haven't done the lucrin/puregon combo before, but my understanding is that the lucrin continues every day until the trigger shot for IVF. good luck with it all for you and your partner

well, i'm still in limbo today - had BT to start the puregon injections on Saturday - and clinic still didn't have the results today!! thankfully i have minimal hormone fluctuation naturally, so results will still be the same - but i have to wait now until tomorrow to find out if we can start again.....

oh well, such is life

Hi M2, I was wondering where you guys were up to. I have always continued the Synarel (or Lucrin) up until trigger shot - so you end up doing it at the same time as the Puregon (or Gonal-F). Double the fun !
I found that i got really bad headaches (really bad) while on the Synarel. It shut my hormones down...and they go down a bit far! But once the jabs start, the hormones liven up a bit and i felt fine. Pretty much you name it, and it can be a side effect! There is a list as long as my arm. Some have more trouble than others. I really can't complain - i never had too much trouble. There is a great article on the articles page about IVF which explains the 'standard' IVF procedures. (But everyone seems to do something slightly different!) Nice to hear you are getting invloved - I make DH do my trigger shot - he hates it but he has so far done a good job! We do the 50c in the freezer trick.

Hey BG - arrgh, i was waiting for your results. We needed some good news.

Chez - Hope all is going well - keep us posted :crossfingers:
Jo

Jo, i was in a very mixed frame of mind about whether i wanted to kick start today after hearing from BW - it just didn't feel right - and as much as i want to get going again, i'm feeling for her today and wouldn't be ableto happily start again (if that makes sense)

i will ring the clinic at lunch time tomorrow and if they don't have results, i'll get the nurse to follow up - i don't get how somenthing labelled "please fax ASAP" can not be there from collection on Saturday to this afternoon.... oh well, these things are sent to try us!

I understand your mixed feelings - but you know what she would want for you :redface:
I hope you get the big green light tomorrow.

yeah, i know that she'd want me to go with it (the same as i would for anyone else) - but i didn't have that feeling of frustration that the results were in - almost a sense of relief

tomorrow is another day - and we'll keep supporting each other (and everyone else of course) through the next steps

Hi all, i havent been around much lately, i leave for my overseas trip tomorrw so i wish everyone the very best and i look forward to hearing good news when i get back!!!
me- i ovulated so hoping for a natural miracle however hubbies next SA and our ivf app is coming up soon!!
Good luck Rols and wife, i hope it all goes smoothly cant wait to hear xoxoxo

hope you have a great holiday Sparkles!

Hi M2, welcome aboard. I too will soon be injecting DW, so that will be interesting!

Sparkles, thanks heaps. Have a great time on your trip. We're very jealous!

Hi to everyone else.

I have now just read BW's news on the other thread. I just hate not being able to say something useful. I'm just upset and %*#&$*^ angry.

Sparkles, hope you have a fantastic holiday! :)

Jo, I'm getting quite a few headaches with the Synarel too! They can turn into migraines really quickly as well.

Ok, a couple of questions from me, when our nurse went over the drug list, she said we will be on Pregnyl and the trigger will be Ovidrel, but everything I read says that Pregnyl is used as a trigger shot?? Does this sound right? She also said that we will be still on the Synarel until trigger time. Just one of those silly little questions I have that's all :)

And yet another question :redface: * TMI warning* I had my lap with the dye and D&C on a Friday,(22nd) obviously I had some spotting, which continued on for about a week, until the following Saturday when it stopped. Then re-started spotting the following day.
Meanwhile I saw the FS for our post op appointment, and started the Synarel on the 27th
AF arrived on Sunday 8th, and I'm still spotting now! I'm confused. I don't know if the Synarel is playing havoc with me or what! Any ideas?

Nic

I guess I'm back... if you can excuse a lame joke in the circumstances, I just missed you all too much! Can I blame the GA?

BG, I understand... but I'm also looking forward to cheering you on while I'm on the side lines for a bit.

Thank you for your kind thoughts everyone. I'm taking the week off work to give myself some space, but I know I'll come through, and I know I'll be ok.

BW

Thinking of you Bw...been there myself three times and that empty screen never gets any easier.

Hugs Babe

i am so sorry BW ( HUGS)

Can't help with the spotting nic - but it must be getting a bit annoying! I found the only thing that caused constant spotting for me was the pill, but you aren't on that. Hope it stops soon - it's such a pain.

I never thought i'd see you back here BW. I wish there was something i could say. Hugs to you and Mr BW.

Hope you have a good holiday sparkles! Very jealous!

Hope it's a green light for you today BG.
Jo