Long Term TTC & Assisted Conception - June 2007 #3

[Lenny]

i used to think it would be so easy - but i think i've grown up a hell of a lot in the last 30 months...

I know what you mean about growing up and not in a mature/immature sense. And i bet me and DH now more about conception and how the whole thing works than all of our friends with kids put together!! Probably more than i ever really wanted/needed to know!!
I don't mind though, i can be proud of who i am now and how we've handled the whole thing (for the most part!!)

Wonder why it is that we all want more than 2. I thought it was trendy to only want two.

Well, we swapped PHI and after a 12 month wait they will pay for IVF including the drugs so if we manage to get three kids it will have paid for itself. Wish we had joined up earlier, but you live and learn.

[Ellie]

Gosh we're a postive bunch tonight...I love it...I've always thought I'd have twins...my mum tells me that I've told anyone that would listen that I'm going to have twins since I was really little...maybe I jinxed myself???? But I'm with Rols...healthy is the number one thing...happy number two and worry about the rest when we get there!

Jo - Yep, going to FS on the 4th July...will ask for autoimmune testing...have also registered to have a phone consult with Dr Gavin Sacks at IVF Australia / Sydney...he was recommended by girls in another post - specialises in reproductive immunology...so I'm a determined little bunny on this one...I am convinced there's something going on with my uterus as my ectopic just kept on going but when they land in the right spot...ends before 7 weeks...I'll also get test results back on the 4th from D&C tests...interesting...but can't do another mc...emotionally...I'm wrecked!

So...work is sorted...well..in that I'm getting moved...I still need to organise to do a handover and get all my personal gear out of my desk so still strssing about that...hopefully will be all finalised this week...boss is attempting to turn it all around on me which is also stressing me....I've lost about 2kg through all this!!!!

I really don't know what I'd do without you guys...you're a wonderful bunch xxx

[briggsy's girl]

Jo and BG, I've wanted three for many years too. Obviously that was pre crap sperm. At the moment, if we just get one, I will be stoked. Boy or girl? Don't care.

my dreams always show me having girls, but how often do our dreams come true? i just want to be able to hold a baby of my own and to be able to share the love that DH and i have with a tiny little bundle. and i agree - i'll be happy with one - but i have every intention of going through all of this with the mindset that once we've succeeded once, we'll go again - i don't want to have a child grow up thinking that it was so hard for us to conceive them that we wouldn't try again (having said that, we are still relatively early in our AC journey - things might change if it takes us a long time to conceive!)

and boy or girl - i don't care. DH would love a little boy because he's the last in his family that can pass on the family name. i love shopping for little girls (but i think this comes from having 4 neices and only 1 nephew) - but ultimately, i don't care - once we hold our baby, whether it's got dangly bits isn't going to bother me at all - the lovei have in my heart will be there no matter what gender!

Jo,i have to check with our PHI soon re the AC costs - this IUI cycle wasn't too bad but if we can get something more back we will - the PHI we're with at the moment is covering 3 full stim IVF cycles - but i'm not sure if they'll count the IUI as a full stim cycle - if they do, we won't claim cos it's so much more expensive for the IVF....

and yeah, i agree - we tend to learn so much more about our inner workings that we ever really want to know. things that would normally be nothing when you have no problems conceiving, become big deals (like feeling your ovaries wake up!) - i really wish none of us had to go through the education we've been through - but i think it's opened my eyes so much more as to how precious the gift of life is - and i know DH and I will love and appreciate the blessing that is our baby so much more than some of our friends that have had baby's easily and don't realise what a magnificent gift they've been given

[ray]

hi ladies,
can someone please tell me what fet means?
Has anybody ever had acupunture (sorry can't spell it)
and big congratulation to everyone that is pregnant i'm so happy for you

ray

[butterfly_warrior]

Ray, FET is frozen embryo transfer. You do get used to the terminology pretty quickly! Keep asking if there's anything you don't know.

I've had acupuncture - have been going for around 12 months now. I had a session on the evening of my transfer... and I'm pretty damn certain that's what helped it stick! I'll be continuing to go through pregnancy as well. (There, BG! I'm starting to be able to say it!)

BW

[briggsy's girl]

woo hoo BW - but can you say it out loud yet??

LOL

[Loula]

Good morning my lovelies.

Wow what DM's we were all having last night.

BW - ive always believed that it is the sprites of your baby that visits you in your dreams, so im hoping for three very beautiful pink bundles for you.

Unlike most of you i always knew i was going to AC with TTC (sepically after GP told me at 13 years!) and i did think it would happen straight away but hey each day makes me stronger and i have to keep remembering how lucky i really am, i have a DH who loves me VERY much and is with me through it all. (most parts)

Jo - do you mind me asking what PHI are you with and what drugs you get back - its always helpful if you can get a little more back hey! hoping your feeling a little better at the mo and remember im always an email away, i am getting round to replying

Holly - im so sorry hun ive been hibernating at the mo, some of the reasons you will understand but am ready for a good chat again xxi'll try and catch you tonight

Rols - GL with the scan - sorry i havent really been around please refresh me whats the scan for? epu? trigger? SORRY.

Ellie - i think you have powered through a lot lately and im glad that things have eased a little for you. i sometimes see a bit of a mirror image between us with TTC. As with you the only pg that ive had that has progressed past 6 weeks was ectopic and they believe that i was over 2mths !, i hope you get some answers with DR sacks, i have heard wonderful things too. also that your results on the 4th can help to bring some closure for you and DH.

BW - glad that you have started to say that you are pg, well done hun i wil be following you. Can i ask did you have accupunture agter the TF too, or just before?

Hey Ray - it really doesnt take long to pick it all up and just ask if you need a hand, we dont bite. hehe

Ok girls off you work, but ill be back later to see if anyone else has some suprises.xx

[Loula]

Oh BG - i thought i was the first, like usual someone beats me to it .hehehehe

[butterfly_warrior]

Lou, I only really had acupuncture after the transfer. I had my regular appointment on the Thursday, transfer on Monday with another session following, then I didn't have another session until the Thursday of the following week the day after my first blood test!

Not sure on the saying it aloud thing... but DH and I did manage to have a conversation about the Caterpillar last night. I was looking at Up the Duff and the ruler down the side of the page that shows you how big your baby is at that point... He's wondering when we'll start seeing changes in my body, and seems massively obsessed with my nipples at this stage - he's getting great amusement from the fact that they are now virtually always erect and very, very sensitive! And the obs discussion... I never expected to be the woman who conceived on her first transfer. Truth be told, I was expecting to still be here trying at this time next year...

I'm simply praying really hard that you'll all get to join me soon.

BW

[slyder]

Hi Lou. DW has already had the scan (making sure all her bits are in the right spot etc). We get all our results tomorrow incl. my 3rd SA. As for DW, they said everything was where it should be and that they could see follicles and stuff. But we'll get the full picture tomorrow.

BW, can't speak for everyone else, and I know I haven't been in this caper long, but I am just stoked for you. I think it's awesome you made it first go and it gives me a lot of hope for us.

[happymel]

BW- just wondered if you'd be able to answer a couple questions, and to all the other girls on here who have had FET's...
What were your bloods like, your estrogen, prog levels and LH?? Also did you have an u/s to check on the lining of your endometrium, and did that show any follicles?? Is it normal to have more than one follicle.... I feel really stupid...Went in for bloods today and knew they had to do an u/s at some stage and think today might be the last bloods before ovulation. When the did u/s, there was massive follicle ? cyst... 26mm. And then two other follicles on other side. Im not sure what this means... The nurse just said to concentrate on my bloods which are good, and the endo lining which is 8mm which is good too...
Just wondered how things were for you BW???
Mel

[butterfly_warrior]

It was a natural FET for me, mel. They did blood tests (E2, P4, LH), but I never asked what they were. They never did an ultrasound either... I take it you are doing a medicated cycle? I'm afraid I don't know a great deal about them. I do know that it was necessary to ovulate - and my temperature chart shows that it occurred on the right day.

sorry I can't help much!

BW

[sushee]

BW I know I don't have any doubts how much you deserve this, my sweet, after all you've been through. As does anyone who needs help to conceive, whether first go or fiftieth, it's all difficult, do we really want to sweat on how difficult it was from one person to the next?

I had 8 cycles, and only ever had 1 cancelled. My cousin has had 3 cycles, 2 cancelled, and I don't know that it hasn't been harder on her actually. How would I know? I've only ever had my experiences. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for achieveing what you set out to achieve.

BG, you've gotten a great positive vibes going around here! I love that! It's so often a sad, emotional, downer of a journey and it's great that you've lifted the morale around here!

ray, there is a list of abbreviations, including IVF-related ones, here: Common Forum Jargon, Abbreviations & Acronyms

I've missed so much so will go back and have another read of everyone's posts. BBL!

[happymel]

Hi BW, no doing a natural cycle. That's ok, will see what the clinic says today. Thanks anyway. How is pregnancy feeling??? Is your DH still going to have varicocele repair??

[butterfly_warrior]

Thanks, Sushee... yes, it's been hard... it's hard for all of us... but I'm also very realistic in the emotions that someone else's success can sometimes trigger in others. In fact, the most surprising thing that I'm feeling with my success is such intense sadness that I'm leaving so many people behind... I never expected to feel this... mainly because I never really thought I'd get here...

Mel, we're really not sure about the varicocele now... it's all on the back burner for a while!

BG - to repeat what sushee said - you ROCK! You've been there to pick me up so many times... You're really amazing!

BW

[Lenny]

but I'm also very realistic in the emotions that someone else's success can sometimes trigger in others.

Hey BW,
Although i'm intensely envious - it's not in a negative way. I guess, if anything, it's strengthened my resolve and determination. You have done it - we can too. I will miss you, i think you were one of the first people to say hi to me when i first walked into this forum 7 months ago.
I do wonder how i'll feel when it happens to me. I have been trying to get preganant for so long now - i have kind of forgotten that what i really want is to have children and a family. Getting pregnant has become my goal. But i guess i'll get 9 months to sort that out in my mind once i get my BFP

Ellie - any idea when your phone consult will be?

[sushee]

Aw BW I know, hun. I too felt the same way. In fact when I left this forum (hang on, have I ever trully ever left??) my heart ached for the others who travelled the road with me who weren't coming along. But have faith that it can happen for us, just not usually at the same time. In fact, someone I love and was very close to just made the announcement of the year. She and I were in the forum together many, many moons ago, and now she's going to have twins. It all comes around, one way or the other.

ETA Jo, I can so relate with what you've said. I TTCed for a long time, and had many cycles, and all I could think of was getting pg, I didn't even think about what came after. You do tend to blinker yourself to the finish line. I think maybe it's a defence mechanism when you've been trying a long time.

[ATryingTime]

Morning everyone,

BW - Sorry I haven't been on before now to give you your much deserved congratulations, but here they are
Well done, have the happiest and healthiest pregnancy ever.

BeiBei - Congrats to you also, May the next nine months fill you with joy.

Wow, you girls are really setting a trend here, one I hope we can all follow!

Ellie – Glad to hear that things are improving on the work front and best of luck for your appointment on the 4th, hope you can get some answers.

Rols – Hope the results on Tuesday are positive and that you get the green light to go ahead with treatment.

Lou – Nice to see you

To everyone else –

As for me, not a lot happening. Had the last of our prelim tests and our counselling at Monash on Friday, I felt very sorry for DH who had to produce his sample on site.
Will have to wait now until the 4th to see my Gyno and get the results and to try and make up our minds what we want to do as far as treatment is concerned.

Hope everybody had a great weekend and is coping ok with the Mondayitis