Long Term TTC & Assisted Conception - June 2007 #3

[Chez67]

Hi everyone

Well no good news from me unfortunately. Had my 2nd scan with FS this morning - no activity on my ovaries at all and the uterus lining is still at 2.2mm (what it was after my AF and before injections!!!). WTF?? I have been getting twinges around my ovaries, and last night and this morning had that 'full' feeling and was certain that my follies were growing nicely... so now the FS has upped my Gonal-F to 450/day for another 4 days and then another scan on Thursday morning. Now this is all starting to look messy with my DF's travel plans for work which puts him away for 4 days next week and the week after! I am so disappointed and worried and upset and... I don't even know how I am feeling... must be the drugs making me emotional

Anyway, sorry to be the downer on all the positive vibes going on in here at the mo' but thought I would let you all know what is happening. Am off for a walk to try to clear my head and think of something else!

Cheryl xx

[Ellie]

Oh Chez...don't apologise hun...I'm so sorry you've hit a hurdle...by increasing the dose it could all look a whole lot different in a few days. The meds will be messing with you emotionally but hang in there...in your first cycle your FS is learning alot about how your body responds to everything...as much as it sucks this is all information that is getting you one step closer to your little one...hang on sweetie! Don't be scared to phone your nurse and tell her how you're feeling and ask any questions. You are paying big money for their service, better to ask than spend time worrying...peace of mind doesn't have a price on it!!!! Keep us posted

[sonya1]

its frustrating het chez. i had my doages upped as well coz of lack of response. good luck

oh well rang concept this morning as AF was due last monday and still hasnt arrived. going for BT in the morning to see how my levels are and check im not pregnant (how funny, i know im not!)

good luck everyone wherever your at...

[Hollybolly]

HI Everyone!!

Chez - So sorry to read your post today
Like Ellie said, the first cycle is such a learning tool for your FS.. not that thats any comfort for you sweetie!!!
On my first cycle, I was on 150 of gonal F - the lower dose, as they didn't think I'd have any trouble responding because I already had a child... no response & we didn't even get to transfer as we had no embies... 2nd cycle they upped it a little, and only a slightly better result... it wasn't until the 3rd cycle that they put it up to 400 that we got a decent result.
Unfortunately the first cycle is just terrible feeling like you're an experiment... have faith, though, that not all is lost as they'll figure it out, I promise xxx
I aslo had issues with my lining - they say that women with endo have extra trouble with the lining during AC... can't remember if you've had endo or not???
This is the main reason that I began the acupuncture - to help the thickening of the lining.. and it worked miracles!!!
I know it seems like I'm forever pushing the nat therapies here, but they have just been sooo good to me!!! (Jo, I see you smiling everytime you read a post about me going on about my nat therapies!!! Lol )
But seriously though Chez, it may be worth trying... do you do any acupuncture currently??

Lou - Just wanted to say thanks for the chat this morning... always good to talk in real person!!!

Jo - How are you going with everything... when do you start again for cycle no 2???

Good luck to you guys waiting on results so you know where to start for the next cycle...

Me - Taking herbs here and drinking Antonias tonics.. DH said last night that he thinks the tonic is getting easier to drink... maybe hes just getting used to the vodka mix??.... hhhmmmmm!!!!!
Is definately shaking me up, though... and has given me a good "clean out" for which I'm feeling better, so thats good!!!

Hi to everyone I've missed... How are you Megan & Mel if you're still lurking out there???!!!!

Talk Soon,
Love Holly
xxx

[Lenny]

Cheryl – that’s a bummer about your result – but I can only really reiterate what Ellie said -

it could all look a whole lot different in a few days, in your first cycle your FS is learning alot about how your body responds to everything, all information that is getting you one step closer to your little one and don't be scared to phone your nurse and tell her how you're feeling and ask any questions. You are paying big money for their service.

Looks like loads of ladies get upped the first time around – you are in good company.

Sonya – damn that AF. I hope you can get started soon.

Holly – Good to hear you guys are getting used to Antonia’s plan. You got me worried now about how you started at 150 and ended up at 400. Now I know I promised not to compare myself to anyone … BUT I started at 112.5. Fingers crossed that this time around (at 187.5) is going to do the trick. I didn’t know about the endo and lining thing. I have changed PHI so we are going to be able to start looking into acupuncture and TCM soon.

Can anyone tell me roughly how much they pay for acupuncture? I am not sure how much it costs and I am trying to make ends meet seeing as we are into our second cycle this year.

Fingers crossed I get the go ahead on Friday

[slyder]

Cheryl, what all the girls have said is my understanding too. I can imagine how disheartening it must be initially, but if there is room to increase your dosage by a couple of levels, and given that they have had similar issues it sounds like your hiccup can be ironed out too.

[briggsy's girl]

Cheryl - i can so sympathise with how you're feeling hun. i had no response to the meds at first, even though i felt all the little twinges around my ovaries. i was so heart broken, and felt terrible about the whole thing. it took a lot of soul searching (and some very smart people both IRL and on BB) for me to see the bigger picture - i now look at every step in this journey (and unfortunately there are a lot of them!) as a small science experiment - every injection, every change of dosage, change of protocol - is another experiment - and every small bit of information we gain is one more piece of the puzzle getting us closer to achieving our dream. i know it's hard to look at it that way, but thought i'd share - it's the way i've helped myself deal with the emotional side of things and i think it is what has kept me somewhat sane. i set myself a challenge a few months back - to see the silver lining in every dark cloud (no matter how hard it is to find) - your FS is taking small steps to help you to get a response without overstimulating you and as painful as it is to go slowly and not seeinstant results, long term you WILL achieve what you set out to achieve. it's ok - and so very normal - to feel angry/hurt at the moment - and yes - the meds mess with your emotions too!sending you the biggest of hugs hun.

BW - you have nothing to feel guilty for hun! no matter whether you got a positive on your first or your 10th transfer, you have still had to go to hell and back to get your BFP - and i doubt anyone would be hurt or upset by that - yes, i'm sure there are more than just me that feels envious - but not that you've gotten your BFP first go - it's that you've succeeded - and hun, getting news of BFP's in this thread is just more inspiration for us all to keep on going when we're feeling down. please don't feel guilty for your success - you deserve to be happy. i'll second what Jo said - you were one of the first people to talk to me in the clomid/metformin thread when i joined in December, and you've helped to inspire me and to keep me going when the struggle has felt too much! you're a gem hun - and you truly deserve to celebrate what you've achieved - not to feel guilty

ATT - the fourth isn't too far away hun - you'll be on your way very soon!

to everyone else, a huge hello! seems to have been so many messages since this morning that i'm struggling with personals - will BBL to try to catch up again!

[Lenny]

Jeepers BG - you are nearly up to 2000 posts! It's a good thing they are cheaper than SMSs.
Don't you go neglecting that gorgeous haven of a garden that you have.

[sushee]

Cheryl,

if you think this might mess with your husband's travel plans, don't be shy about calling your FS and telling him. It is always good to have a back-up plan in case he's away when you're finally good to go (and note I say 'when' not 'if'). It may be worth asking for the option to have his sperm frozen if needed. That way you can put your mind at ease, de-stress and leave your body to play catch-up now.

[sparkles-ttc]

hi all
Rols- Best of luck to you and your wife tomorrow-thinking of you
onto the topic you were talking about i would love twins, my nana didnt even know we were ttc and she had a dream we had twins a boy and a girl, wouldnt that be nice but i too just want a healthy bub!!
just wanted to share my news...i ovulated on my own this month yay and on day 14 the earliest yet, i hadnt ovulated for 7 months coming off the pill then went on clomid and ovulated 3 out of four times now this is my first month not on clomid ( could still be in my system ) i was so happy - all my results from lap cam eback clear so i must have had sleepy ovaries from the pill, anyway at least i am ovulatinf properly etc so if we atrt ivf its only hubby to worry about, he starts accupuncture today and he is on heaps of vitamins and herbs to hopefully boost his sperm, morphology and motility, he gets tested again in two month, and go from there to dsee if we need icsi, but it has also worked out that i will hopefully ovulate befroe i go overseas ( on four weeks without hubby) so we wont miss a month and i am gone for three weeks so i shouls be due to ovulate just as i get back again so hopefully we wont miss any time trying naturally ( you never know miracles happen)
Just wanted to share my positive news, things are looking up
Also i have been going to accupuncture for aroubd 6 months and it is great!!

best of luck to everyone xoxoxo
take care

[slyder]

Well done Sparkles, that's great news. Sunds like things are on track.

Tell me more about this acupuncture thng. I gather from this and other threads that Kotare isn't a fan of natural therapies and stuff, and nor am I but I must admit to being a bit curious about acupuncture. I reckon I'd nearly give it a go if I had my arm twisted. Do you actually feel different physically in any way when you've had treatment? I guess it depends on what you are having it for and where.

[briggsy's girl]

i'm a bit like you Rols - a little hesitant to experiment with natural therapies, but am also seriously considering investigating the benefits for my own circumstances...

[Chez67]

Hi everyone

Thank you so much for kind words and thoughts. It has really helped me this afternoon. I just felt that I needed someone to talk to when I got home from the scan and my only friend who knows about the IVF can't take calls during the day while she is at work, so it is nice to know that my BB buddies are about and I can my thoughts and feelings with you all. Thanks for being there.

I am trying to look forward and being positive that the increased dose will work, although my FS doubts that there will be enough growth my Thursday to consider an EPU on the Saturday, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that it might work for Monday before my DF flies out that night. We have discussed freezing DF's sperm for the transfer if necessary, however, we are not keen on that idea as he has issues in that area. Our FS knows about DFs travel plans and she seems positive that it will not cause a problem for us. Does anyone know - if the sperm was frozen and they couldn't find one good enough to use for ICSI will they freeze the eggs anyway? I know it sounds like a silly question, but we have only ever read about and discussed freezing fertilised eggs.

Re the accupuncture - I don't have endo (or any other problem that has been diagnosed) and hadn't heard about using accupuncture for those TTC until I joined this forum. I didn't have any problems with the thickness of my uterus when FS did a scan just before natural ovulation (I think it was about 9mm from memory) - does this mean that all should be well on the stim cycle as well or could the drugs be interfering with my body's normal process? Lots of questions I know, but I am learning as I go!

Again, thanks for all of your support. You have all helped me greatly!

Take care all and chat soon.

Cheryl xx

[sushee]

Cheryl, ATM they don't freeze eggs, I'm afraid. But remember, you only need one good sperm per egg for ICSI, so frozen sperm or not, you would be hard pressed not to get at least a result in that area.

And I have to admit I'm not a big fan of nat therapies either. If it could be done, I've probably done it in my time, inclduing acupuncture, naturopathy etc.. But the one thing I think did help was chiro, well, for me anyway. In fact after I started, another girl also went to her chiro at the same time and we both got a good result within 2 days of each other. Don't know how much it was linked, but it was probably the only thing I would stand by.

ETA time for a new thread, everyone!