Long Term TTC & Assisted Conception - September/October 2008

[Bel]

Hi all my friends...a busy day here today..

Bella- Hi and welcome. I hope you find some support from all of us here.

Babytruj- Welcome also. I would say to give the ovulating meds a go for a while. Also I have heard that if you are going to look into DH's swimmers, it is better to have done say an IVF clinic as they have different parameters as to what is considered "normal". My advice would be if you don't get results on the meds, go see an infertility specialist. That doesn't necessarily mean IVF, but it will probably give you some more options. Hope we can support you too.

Diamond- Hi there and welcome. Hope things are going well for you. IVF isn't so scary!! I find the emotions a lot scarier that the actual treatment, and all of us TTC are on an emotional journey. We'll all support you.

21- I hope your sharp pains up there have gone!!

Rach- Thanks for your thoughts. I hope AF turns up on the weekend and you can get started.

Cuddlepie- Hi again my friend. Am thinking of you.

Ruth- Will be thinking of you in the morning as we both go in for EPU. Hoping you have a relaxing day afterwards. All the best xx

Where There's Hope- How is everything going for you at the moment? I'm with you on the waiting. It is so very hard when you just want to get moving forward. Unfortunately, so many of us here have angel babies too. You are definately in the right place here and are SO welcome.

BDT- Here we go again!!! Hoping you have a great outcome for your EPU tomorrow. Will be thinking of you also in the morning. Have a relaxing weekend.

Mels- Thanks for the thoughts and I'm glad you found my friends story inspiring.

Millymoo- A big hi for you

Would Love Bubba- I just love your user name..is so cute!

Daisy- Welcome to our thread. I hope so much for you that you find a suitable donor soon. I'll be looking out for you and I hope I can be of some support to you.

Janet- I'm always thinking of you and I'm looking forward to being cycle buddies with you too.

Smithy- Where are you my ray of sunshine??? Are you cruising round on that new pushbike of yours or hooning round the streets? Sending you a big hug.

WHOA...that's long. Sorry if I missed you.

AFM- Triggered last night and my eggies are SO ready to get out. Am damn uncomfortable. Yesterday my oestrogen was spot on..2650, and all little follies around 18mm. I have a huge gut on me!!

Have to be at the hospital at 6.45am for EPU at 7.45am.

DH is going away early in the morning, so I have my amazing Mum and sister picking me up and looking after me this weekend..I'm not so good after EPU and am stressing a bit as to how I'll be this time. Am going straight to acupuncture afterwards for a little treatment to help the pain I suffer from.

Will let you all know how I go when I can get back on the computer. Thanks for all the kind wishes and thoughts. It means so much to me that you all care.

Night all

Hugs Bel and eggies!!

[barney]

oh my god look at how big our thread is at the moment there is to many for me to remember everyone lol.so ill just say a huge to all of you new girls its great to have you all and i wish you all luk on your journeys im sure ill remember you all soon so stick around there are some amazing women in here rite now who are more than willing to help .

AFM - mmmmmm nothin just sniffing still, boring

BEL- you sweet heart short one hun but im so so thinking about you for you epu i hope you get heaps and heaps of eggies hun- HAHA YOU SOUND LIKE THE EASTER BUNNY LOL with all them eggs ..but serious my chicky you have done so well and you deserve your bfp this time,youve done it your nearly there and SMITHY for you bel go get em hun...

RUTH .hunny also thinking of you and i hope all goes well for you with your epu i hope you get heaps of beautiful eggs to ..

JBM.. always thinking of you and keeping a look out you will get your baby girl ?? or maybe even 2 baby girls?? lol i hope so hun take care you can do it ..

well every one else i am thinking of you all just cause i dont write your name dosent mean i dont luv ya ok lol..
to you all and good night xxoo

[Bel]

Ruth and BDT, my EPU buddies.

Am thinking of you both today, and am wishing for the three of us a great outcome.

Hugs Bel

[diamond]

Good luck for for epu today Bel and Ruth - I hope it all goes well and that you have a relaxing time afterwards. Am thinking of you today..

Babytruj i agree with Bel - give the ovulating medication a go for a while. In terms of DH sperm, we were tested for the normal stuff like count and motility through my gyno, and then again at IVF who tested for these things and then for additional stuff like antibodies etc. But like Bel says, if you are getting impatient with the meds move onto a FS. From my experience, I got nowhere with my gyno for 1.5 years, and looking back now on that time wasted I feel a bit let down. Of course im not saying this will happen to you though. Also hcg? If you havent discovered this answer yet, hcg is the pregnancy hormone produced once implantation has occurred. Pregnancy tests detect this hormone, either in the blood or urine, to confirm a pregnancy. In my IUI cycle, I am given hcg injections to help my body along. When I have a confirmed hcg reading, i was confused (still am) as to whether this was a pregnancy or just the left over medication in my system. Unfortunatley the hcg levels did not rise as they are supposed to, and so no confirmed pregnancy this cycle.

Hello Bella2 - Im sorry to hear your first cycle ending like that - how very disappointing for you!! Can I ask did you do IUI first? Or did you decide to go straight to IVF?

[BOC]

Hi Everybody!

Wow it's gotten really busy in here! Won't even attempt personals this time. Will come back soon with a notepad and make notes on everyone LOL. Welcome to all the newbies. Keeping for all the embies & ers.

AFM have been for a while, not a lot happening.

Am really down at the moment. Sorry to be such a bore but need to vent. Still no luck on the job front. Missed out on 2 really great jobs due to wedding & baby plans and am really disappointed. On the up side we are almost at our FS appt, but DF says if I'm not working soon we will have to delay the procedures for financial reasons

To top it off step-son #2 just announced they are TTC as well. That they are ready for a family. I get really frustrated as they say they have been TTC for 6 months now, yet they still go out drinking and partying 2 or 3 nights a week and his girl is STILL smoking and refuses to quit. They blow all their cash on stupid things and come to us when they run out and constantly ring our doorbell at 3am to let them in when they've drunk too much to drive home. To me that is not being ready for a family. I know it probably makes me sound like a really horrible person for saying it and I feel bad but I hope they don't get the BFP anytime soon as they really need to grow up first. I really want to blow up at them but DF tells me to bite my tongue as he doesn't want to rock the boat. It just makes me that there are so many people like us out there busting our butts to do the right thing getting nowhere and they just make a complete joke out of it.

Anyway enough of all that negative stuff, I've had my rant. Focusing on the FS appt. Can anyone tell me what happens at the initial? DF asked me yesterday what to expect but I have no idea!

6 sleeps til 1st FS Appointment
50 sleeps til the BIG 3-0!
4 months and 4 days til our wedding! Gonna be a Valentines Day bride!

[Bengal]

Hi There

I have never joined an online forum before and this is my first post - so I am hoping that this will work!

My husband and I have been TTC since 2006 and we have just failed our first attempt at IVF -ICSI, we didn't even get to transfer (actually got to the clinic physically but then were told the news). I only had 5 eggs retrieved, 4 mature, 2 fertilized and made it to day 3 and then didn't make it to day 5. We are both shattered. We are able to start again as soon as we like and that will be as soon as AF arrives.

I wanted to link up with others experiencing the IVF journey and ask if any of you started a treatment cycle so soon again?

Look forward to chatting.

Bella2
Me 32; DH 38

Hi Bella2
Im new to BB and new to the IVF experience as well, I start Purgon Injections as soon as AF arrives, any day this month, I have never wanted to expect AF so much in my life .. Ironic isnt it ... Sorry to hear about your trip to the clinic and then to receive that sad news ... my FS told me that may happen, so fingers crossed for all of us that that never happens again

[Bengal]

Hi WouldLoveABubba

Please anyone correct me where I am wrong, but I think it is a shorter cycle with a different protocol. Just starting the FSH on Day 1 of AF, then taking this other injection additionally (sounds like Orangutan - but not the ape), and then EPU just before O. In other words, no pill or Lucrin before hand. I think these have been my downfall.

As I seem to be understimulated, I am hoping I am not told to wait until AF then do the usual Day 19 down reg protocol. If I do I bet knowing my luck I will clash with Xmas. It seems like we have waited so long since losing our last bubba to get this IVF started, I do not want to wait another 3 months to get another crack at this!

Thanks for your reply Where the's hope .

I spoke to my FS yesterday when we signed the contracts .. she told me there are two different cycles in IVF - the flare and the antagonist - I could explain them at length but basically the flare has extra medication to take before OV - where as with the other type, they hope to catch OV without the extra meds

[babytruj]

Hello Everyone.

Thank you all for your support and knowledge. Its amazing that I have learnt more here in the last day or two than from my gynae.
I have another apointment next week CD13 - and I have a lot of questions to ask this time. I do think we will give the meds a bit of time - but my DH is the impatient one and wants to move it along like yesterday!!
I think I will look at a FS in Jan, gives me a fe more months on the meds, and see where that leads. New start for the new year though!!

All of you going for EPU today, good lunck and good outcomes

[Where there's hope]

My next BT result has come in. E2 was 126 on Tues (after 4 injections). On my increased dose of Puregon, it was 490 this morning (after a further 3 injections). Considered a steady but slow increase.

My guess is I either have a small group of small follies or a couple of developing ones. I have another BT and my first ultrasound on Monday. Decision will likely be made that day as to whether to continue.

Feeling a bit flat - because the spotting has stopped and I have been feeling cramping I thought it might have been higher

[Bella2]

Thanks for all your lovely welcome messages ladies .... As each day passes i feel better, you end up looking forward to the next cycle - just wanting to move forward.
I think this next cycle I might try gentle Yoga because I didn't exercise at all

Qu - in relation to exercise what does everyone opt for or has found the best type of exercise and most relaxing thing to do whilst on treatment?

Shell08 - Thanks for your words of support. Unfortunately, we had an early appointment and had already arrived - timing - it was just one of those situations. The FS and clinic staff were really nice about it all and allowed us to take our time to regain composure to head home. Hopefully, it wont happen next time and if it does -I guess we will be that little bit tougher! We are going through SIVF for our treatment.

diamond - Hi and thanks - we went straight to IVF-ICSI. DH had v.low motility so FS recommended ICSI as IUI would be no different to actual intercourse for us.

woudlloveabubba - Hi and thanks. totally understand about waiting for AF. it really is one extreme to the other at times. Good luck with starting Puregon - be kind to yourself!

I am sending all my best wishes to each and every one of you ladies - you are all inspirational!

Bella2
xx
____________
Me (32); DH (38)

[Mels77]

a short update from me following my BT this morning - unfort my hcg levels dropped today to 28, so another chem preg for me. i'm devastated. sorry i'm not in the right space for an upbeat post today.
hope you're all well. mels

[Cuddlepie]

I am so sorry to hear your news Mels...life can be so unfair...take care yourself...

[tippytoes]

Hey Mels77 - I am really sorry to hear this. It is so devastating... Just remember we are here if you need anyhthing. Sometimes it is really hard to feel anything but anger, disapointment and sadness when stuff like this happnes. Take care of yourself loads of to you.

Bel - look foward to hearing your results....

Smithy - Hello my friend..

WTH -I hope this weekend your follies get the growth spurt they need....I monday has some good results for you.

Hello and goodluck to everyone else - I'll try more persies later...

Rach xx

[barney]

hey rach not long now hun -come on af

thinking of you bel and ruth hopeing you both get heaps of nice eggs

[wishingbaby]

WOW THERE ARE SO MANY OF US IN HERE AT THE MOMENT I DISSAPEAR FOR 3 DAYS AND OUR GROUP HAS EXPLODED SORRY i CAN'T DO PERSONALS I PROMISE I WILL NEXT TIME.
JUST A QUICK GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE WITH WHATEVER STAGE YOU ARE UP TO.
AFM DP AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN ING LIKE CRAZY OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS SO KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED AND HOPING FOR A BFP SOON.
AGAIN SORRY NO PERSONALS THERE ARE JUST SO MANY OF US IN HERE NOW

[Bloom]

Hello ladies,

Just wanted to send a hugs to Mels, sorry to hear your news. I hope your DP is taking good care of you.

I had my egg pick up today. A bit of background: 18 follicles on day 4, 10 big follicles at day 12 scan, expecting 10 or so eggs... so when the nurse in recovery told me that they had got 5 out I burst into tears. I was a blubbering mess and wanted to see DH but I couldn't for another 40 mins till I was out of recovery. I felt okay after the general except for pretty bad period pain. I had sandwiches at the hosptial and came home, only to start feeling truly horrible. 2 bouts of vomitting, 2 hours sleep, and now I feel better except for the period like pain. We are both pretty bummed re only 5 eggs and I couldnt' see the FS after to ask why I only got 5!?!?! Does anyone have any theories, is it normal to only get 50% of follicles with eggs? DH wonders if one ovary let it's go too early so they only were able to harvest from one ovary.

I'm hoping that acu tomorrow will help with the pain as it's pretty nasty.

Babydream time and Bel - I hope you both faired a lot better than me!

[babytruj]

Hi Ruth

I haven't gone to your stage yet, so I haven't experienced it, but I hope you feel a bit better later.
5 eggs is still a chance of a baby is it not??

[Millymoo8]

Ruth8- don't despair. I had 5 on my first and 6 on my second and all of them fertilised. I had 11 on my one at the moment and only 4 came good at fertilisation. Think Qualilty not Quantity!! Take care of your self and good luck for the next few days. Fingers crossed for you for the next few days I am sure you will have a lovely couple of embryo's for transfer.