LT TTC & Assissted Conception Mar-Apr 2010

Mellissa: fx so tight for you hope the little snow bub is a winter olympian
MWB" Hugs chick the whole process certainly takes it's toll on you maybe you need to take a little holiday with dh

Hi girls

sorry I have been missing. I have been super busy (am a glutton for punishment with not only a busy job and doing IVF, but studying and trying to do renovations). I finally got over the OHSS and then bam AF arrives, full on straight away. I normally get a bit of spotting the day before with a few cramps letting me know its on its way, but nope this time it was lots of cramping, lots of blood (sorry TMI) and lots of back pain. I was so over it. I rang the clinic and the nurse said that it was so heavy because my lining was so thick during the stim cycle and because my oestrogen went so high due to the OHSS then went back down low. Whatever it was it was so awful. But DH should be happy as she is now gone and he'll finally get a bit of BDing (can you call it BDing when you're on the pill and no babies will be made???). He's been a bit neglected as I've had AF here, was sleeping upright on the couch because of the OHSS before then and before that couldn't BD due to taking the puregon.

Anyways, sorry to be all about me when I have been missing so long. I have been popping in briefly to keep up to date and hope you are all going well in your cycles, wherever you are at. I will have my fingers crossed. We need some BFPs in here girls!

Oh and I have an appy with the nurses at my clinic next week to discuss my frozen cycle, so I will be able to find out if we have enough time to do a cycle before we go away in July.

Hope you are all well!

Mel

MWB don't be to hard on yourself for feeling a bit numb to the whole thing. I think at times we all go through that maybe its a way of us coping. I know that towards the end of last year I was feeling pretty much the same and now that I've had a break and life has been normal I feel more equipped to cope and go on. So maybe think of taking some time off? I don't think we truly realise what a battering our body takes with all the injections etc.

MelissaI :pray: that it all goes well for you on Friday I'm sure it will. As to how much is enough I suppose no-one can really tell you that. Hopefully you wont have to get to that stage.

Hi to evryone else hope you are all doing well and I agree with the others we definatly need to start seeing some BFP's in here

MWB, what you describe sounds pretty normal to me. As far as how many cycles, etc, we're just taking it one cycle at a time now. We're also taking larger breaks between each cycle (last time it was 6 months in between; it'll be 5 months this time if we do another in May). We find that the bigger breaks allow us to have some time to have a normal life for a while in between.

MelissaI, FX for your little emby.

Hello everyone
I'm new to this forum as a participant but have been reading your stories and finding inspiration in each of them for a couple of weeks now.

My history of TTC is below:
I'm 31 and so is my husband. I have PCOS and my husband has 35% Poor DNA integrity.
Since we've started TTC I have quit smoking, cut right down on alcohol and commenced walking each day. I'm also doing acupuncture once a week (have had 4 sessions to date) to try to improve our chances of conception.

APR 2009 - DEC 2009
TTC naturally with Maybe Baby but found that I NEVER ovulated so couldn't get pregnant. Was referred to Hollywood Fertility Centre by my GP as I was diagnosed with quite severe PCOS.

JAN 2010
Clomid initially and did not respond enough at all (did two lots of Clomid right after each other and still no response).
Our Dr at Hollywood Fertility Centre advised we go directly to ICSI (he has since decided that IVF is more suitable as it's a more "natural" way to conceive?)

APRIL 2010
Commenced Lucrin (and Metformin) on 25th March, started 125 Puregon on 1st April. On 6th April went for BT and U/S, Est only 332 and not enough development of follicles (but lots of small ones there). Increased Puregon to 150. Went for next blood test today and things are starting to happen (Day 12) at last. There are 4 follicles on each side that are 1.1-1.4cm. I was expecting them to be bigger? Is that size normal on Day 12?
The nurses advised that it was all really good, and going to plan. Dosage to remain at 150. I am booked in for my next BT/US on Wednesday and they think that egg collection will be this Friday.

I've found the emotional process extremely stressful and upsetting but have found that the acupuncture has really helped calm me down and feel more relaxed/positive. The financial side of things is another major stress factor related to IVF especially with the Medicare safety net changes (shame I didn't start this whole process in 2009!!)

The reason for my post is really just looking for support from people that have been through the same experiences and/or are currently going through them. I also want to know if my follicle development is "normal" or if they should really be bigger by now.

Sorry if this is very longwinded! I look forward to chatting with you all soon.

PS. Thanks Marcellus and Smithy for recommending this thread.. x

;)K78,
yay glad you found this thred hunny,you will find some wonderful support in here from these beautiful girls who are going through the same thing.wishing you all the very best.
keep strong all you girls your dreams will come true i just know it ,keep those lovely chins up ,stay positive and you will do it never give up ,love to you all and best of luk to each and everyone of you xxx

Hi K78 and welcome! Given that you weren't getting much action from your initial dose, that sounds like a great improvement after just a week at the higher dose. There's always a risk with PCOS that you'll go from no response to too much (20+ follicles) with only a small increase in dose, so to have around 8 follicles well on their way is a fantastic outcome if you ask me. FX you don't have long to wait for EPU. KUP on how you go with tomorrow's monitoring.

Thanks for your message. Not up to the abbreviations yet. What is EPU? Will give an update after results come through after tommorrows b/t and u/s.
How are you finding acupuncture? x

Right
1.9
1.4
1.4
1.0
1.6
1.3
1.2
Left
1.4
1.5
1.4
1.5
1.2
1.0
1.3
1.0
So 15 in total (plus lots of little ones). Will be getting them removed on Friday. Not sure what to expect - does it hurt? Do you feel anything? I'm concerned that I'll get OHSS but should be okay the nurse said... Waiting for them to ring with instructions for the trigger...
Hope all of you are well! x

Hi Ladies
Just a quick one

MWB ~ thanks hun and GL to you with it all. I reckon we'll only do about 4 or 5 IVF cycle and if still not pg look into adoption. Althouhg I havent had a real good discussion with DH about this.

K78 ~ :welcome: AND WISHING YOU all the very best, hope you're not in here long and that you move to the pg threads.
Those follies sound really good, 15 is great! All it takes is one too. GL for Friday! Its a bit uncomfotable when the cathetor first goes in but then its fine.

Hi all, hope you're well.

AFM ~ Just waiting for AF so I know my system is back to normal, should be here in a week or so. Not sure my body is a bit out of whack I think.
xoxo

loops: hey chick for once here's hoping af rocks up for you soon. and I really don't think you guys will need to adopt not when you came so close last time.
K78: FX for you chcik welcome to the thread sorry you had to join us in here but hope you time in here is short.
AFM: One more day then I start the nasal spray am starting to get anxious about the needles I'm not good with needles although a million and one blood tests in my life plus 4 tattoo's beg to differ lol.. I'm feeling a little blah today just so tired calving is really knocking me about I think and not having a good matress is starting to take it's toll I think we'll be using the spare bed till we can go out and buy our new one once calving slows down.
hope everyone is having some luck with transfers thawing snow babies or anything else goodluck everyone hopefully we start seeing some bfp's would be nice to have a group of us move into a utd thread

K78 – drink lots of milk and water when doing all the IVF drugs. The water helps flush any excess out your system, and the milk is supposed to absorb any extra hormones. When I did my IFV drugs back in December, I felt surprisingly calm – I expected to be a mess, but someone had suggested I drink 1l of milk a day, which I did, and was so normal it was scary.
Your follicle size sounds good – you also don’t want too many like me – I had 38 (only 11 fertilized) and I was OHSS so couldn’t transfer straight away.
I can’t help you – I was out for the process, but was sore when I woke up – but I think that was just the swelling from so many follicles and OHSS
You are in the right place for support – everyone here is great

Sorry I haven’t caught up with anyone else – I’ve just read this last page. I’ve been a bit absent lately – been trying not to think too much about TTC – Been on a break for a bit and just trying not to think about everything!

But now, I am back. Started taking Proganova tablets and Lucrin Jabs started yesterday. So I am back on the baby making train! Scan is on 24th, and possibly transfer the next week. Very exciting and scary at the same time. I so want this to work, but also don’t want to get my hopes up. I am keeping myself very busy for the next two weeks, cos my DH is putting me on bed/house arrest for 2 weeks once transfer has happened

K78: Your follies sound good! As long as you dont develop OHSS you should feel pretty good after your EPU - maybe a lil tired and tender, but keep up the panadol or pandine forte and you'll be good. Oh and I also drank plenty of fluids + powerades (like they were going out of fashion) and chicken soup for protein as I was obsessed with avoiding OHSS symptoms since I had it with my first IVF cycle.

Loops12: The adoption talk is a tricky one, i bring it up a lot and I think my husband is now starting to understand that for me, not having children in my life, for the rest of my life is not an option, and if i continue to prove infertile its the next and only step, once I've had enough IVF.

Babytruj: Good luck with the up and coming FET, you have plenty in reserve i see - your a lucky lady!

Juniper76: Thanks for sharing your thoughts on taking a break etc - scary thing is - we kinda just did, a week in Vegas after my last miscarriage in FEB....wish we could afford to go again already!

Well we are off to see our FS tomorrow to advise of the BFN and that i dont want to do another cycle until we have some more answers re my egg quality and what can be done to improve it. Think I've mentioned this before on this thread, but anyone been prescribed DHEA or any other drug to improve poor egg quality? Think i may also ask for the test to determine how my egg reserve is...

Well its been a while but just thought I would drop in and see who is still around.

K78 your follies sound great, do beware of the OHSS drink lots of powerade or staminade, electrolytes are so important to help reduce the chances.

Loops IVF is definitely a lengthy process so look into it sooner rather than later.

Babytruj good luck with your fet and stay positive. It was an FET that did it for us.

Trueblue I assume calving means you are on a farm dairy or beef ???

JBM good to see you in here again girl I will be watching you closely ;)

To anyone I missed I apologise. Good luck to you all wherever you are in your treatment and cycle. Remember to take it easy, take a breath and take each day as it comes. Every step is a step forward in the direction that is meant for you, so keep your chins up and smile :)

wow so much is happening in here ATM.
loops: dar AF, we hate her
trueblue: you'll be not that long after me with start sniffing. good luck to you. pray all goes well.

mellybelly: glad OHSS is gone. good luck to you
terry : hi to you
babytruj: good luck for scan on the 24th, not long to go now.
MWB: good luck to you as well

KT8: welcome to our crazy group, or maybe thats just me . ha ha
acupuncture will help you to relax. good luck for EPU ( egg pick up ) on friday. theres somewhere on BB where you can find out about all the abbreviations, thats what i did when i joined. i printed them out and used to have to check them ALL the time to know what everyone was talking about. i get most of them now.
all i can say about your egg collection is to take time to rest afterwards. don't rush to go out for long walks or anything, just rest and you'll be fine. i wasn't in any pain afterwards. but just did too much and it was a bit too much for my body.

good luck to you. fingers crossed.

AFM: well i have been sniffing for 5 days now and i am feeling fine, thank goodness i do not get headaches from the synarel. scan is on the 19th
DH and i gota have BT on friday.

it's all happening.

chat soon

sorry if i forgot to say hi to you. x

hey rob, are you following me again. LOL

K78, EPU = egg pickup (ie egg collection). That looks like a good batch there. Some of the smaller ones might not give you eggs though as they may not mature by Friday. But often there are some hiding (especially when you've got so many), so that may balance them out. I always find EPU is the easiest part of the IVF cycle. I walk in, the anaesthetist puts me to sleep and I wake up in recovery. You can feel a bit achy and crampy after, but it's easily manageable with medication. I just make sure I have some Panadeine Extra at home.

MWB, I didn't mean going away somewhere, I just meant a break from the doctors, tests, etc. It's been over a year now since DH & I went away for a holiday and I desperately need another... With regards to egg quality, my acu had me on CoQ10, which I believe is supposed to help that.

Hi Everyone,

I am a brand newie to this forum but really feel i need people to talk to that are going through the some things, this whole process is really hard on your emotions!!!!

Heres my story, TTC for 3yrs, unknown infertility, except for slightly low sperm count, but shouldn't be causing problems. 1xIUI in november with BFN, on advise from FS and with discussion amongst ourselves decided to try IVF.
Started long protocol cycle mid Feb, had EPU on Mon 12th April, had 15 folicles but only 2 eggs????? Both fertilised clinic does day 2 transfer so went in today for transfer, because of my age they have always said only 1 would be transfered at a time, which turned out to be a good thing as when we got there today we were told 1 wasn't suitable for transfer or freezing due to muliple nuclui (sp?) which would cause abnormalities if it did implant which it prob wouldn't.
So back to the point we had our 1 and only embryo t'fered day2 (only 50hours post EPU) with 2cells and slight fragmentation scientist said bout 15% fragmented which she assures me is fine??
Has any one had 2day 2 cell t'fer success??? and with slight fragmentation???

Sorry this turned out to be long!!!!!