LT TTC & Assisted Conception Jan-Feb 2010

[juniper76]

MissK, I'm not sure where you FS is getting the medicare info from, but I just copied this from the MBSonline website:

13200 Amend Emsn Fee
ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES SUPEROVULATED TREATMENT CYCLE PROCEEDING TO OOCYTE RETRIEVAL, involving the use of drugs to induce superovulation, and including quantitative estimation of hormones, semen preparation, ultrasound examinations, all treatment counselling and embryology laboratory services but excluding artificial insemination or transfer of frozen embryos or donated embryos or ova or a service to which item 13201, 13202, 13203, 13206, 13218 applies - being services rendered during 1 treatment cycle - INITIAL cycle in a single calendar year

Fee: $2,940.00 Benefit: 75% = $2,205.00 85% = $2,870.90
(See para T1.4 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Extended Medicare Safety Net Cap: $1,550.00

According to that the cap is certainly in place...

Trubabe, I hope your mum's prognosis is not as bad as you fear. I'll keep you and her in my prayers.

[Miss K]

Murraycod - Thankyou for letting us know what to expect cause it doesn't seem as bad as I thought it would be LOL!! I will be crossing everything for you this cycle!! And I am feeling heaps better thankyou

Juniper - Thats weird! I see her again next week and will ask her whats going on lucky you said that!!

FGS - Congrats on the follies only one more sleep till EPU I bet you're getting excited now

Leabie - Have a nice relaxing time on your holidays sometimes a month off is a wonderful thing it actually takes a little stress off!

Emerald Star - When is your EPU? or are you still awaiting AF??

Bj - I was on Gonal on 75 trigger then they moved me to 112.5 then I OHSS so they are moving me to the puregon isn't it funny how you're going from p to g and I am going from g to p :P I hope all goes well for you I also have PCOS if you are concerned about OHSS get some sustagen and have that and drink plenty of water it reduces the risks of it


Hello to everyone else I hope your sniffing injecting is going as to planned and those in the tww I have everything crossed for you wonderful ladies xo

AFM - I started sniffing today it wasn't as bad as i thought I still gagged LOL!! Now I just await AF when I get off this pill and then day 3 start injecting then I guess they will let me know the next step from there when US and EPU will be I am excited but soo nervous at the same time due to my OHSS

[Moonflower]

Hello ladies!

Hope you're all doing well and had a fantabulous weekend!

MC - I couldn't agree more. My harvest went well, the little nap was great. I wanted another one after they woke me but they wouldn't let me go back to sleep. Grrr... Thankfully, I was not sick but I walked through the rooms like an octogenarian! I noticed that there were about 4 other ladies who walked the same was I was, so had a little chuckle to myself!

Special mention to you FGS - will be praying for you, your DH, your follies and your medical team tonight for your big day tomorrow. God bless.

Just on that Medicare thing, when my FS showed me the new price chart, it ended up being only about $200 out of pocket more than for last year.

Right, must away. All the best to all you lovely ladies. I'll pop back and see you again soon.
Moonflower xx

[murraycod]

FatGirlSlim good luck tomorrow, we will be thinking of you sweetheart, hope all goes well and you get some fat healthy eggies out of all this hard work you have put in XX!

MissK hope the sniffing is going well We will all be here for you for the crazy journey that lies ahead!

Moonflower, cyber huggs to you XX

[fatgirlslim]

Thanks guys

getting a little nervous!

L x

[Loops12]

Hi ladies
Sorry once again Ive been MIA, so I'll try and do some persies but sorry if i muck them up. Work has still been very busy.

Tru-babe ~ Sorry to hear things arent improving with your your mum, hopefully after she has the treatment she will start to mend. Thinking of you and your family and will be praying xo

Murraycod ~ All the best in TWW, hope you get your BFP 1st go, very exciting for you!

Leabie ~ Sorry about your failed IUI, hang in there, you'll get there. Sometimes it just takes a few goes or more.

Em-star ~ no worries. GL with this cycle. Sounds like we are on similar cycles again. Im also sniffing and waiting for AF which is due now. All the best! Hope AF comes soon for you.

FGS ~ very happy for you that your follies started to do well and I hope you get a good collection. Remember quality not quantity! FX for you hun!

Moonflower ~all the best with your cycle, FX this is the 1 for you

AFM ~ Got my meds yestie, started sniffing Fri and start jabbing on 27th Jan for EPU around the 8th Feb - day after my 30th bday. They have increased my dosage so hopefully this time we get more eggs and have some to freeze - Im getting excited. For those that were interested I was told out of the $4,300 prepayment (Monash IVF) we would be about $2,600approx out-of pocket so not the best but better than nothing I suppose.

Hi to everyone Ive missed and GL to all

[babytruj]

Hey all

Murraycod - 6 embies is great! ET sounds great, and good luck to you. Keep positive and try not to get too anxious on your TWW.

FGS - I had FSH injections for about 10 days, and then EPU was about 2 days later. But I was on 150, as I have too many eggs. Some were too small, but some were a good size in the end. I had 38 eggs, but only had 11 frozen, so more is not necessarily better. As Rob said, we are all in different circumstances, and what meds we are all on depends on a lot of things. Try and relax and not get too stressed. That won't help you. You have to be positive and calm.
Yay for all the eggs that happened. Good luck for the EPU

WaitingAwaiting - we all know the feeling, and where better to rant than amongst people who are in the same boat as you. It is hard with other people around you having babies, getting/being pregnant, but you have to believe that your time will come. I have been TTC for just under 4 years now I guess and I have seen my best friends fall pregnant and have babies - and they have all had 2. I just found out my one friend is pregnant with her second. It is hard, but I know they want them too, and I wouldn't wish this horrible waiting game we are in on anyone. I may take my time to congratulate them (I need a few hours or days to get over the pain and disappointment that it is not me) but then I am genuinely happy for them.

Rob - Twins will be cool, but you are right, you go in this to get 1 baby, so any more is a bonus! Good luck, and I hope you are feeling well

MissK welcome to IVF

Trubabe - I am sorry to hear about your mum, but sounds like she is in good hands with lots of progress with things happening.

Leabie - sorry about the IUI. I did 4 of them. The first was positive, but with an ectopic, which is why I did the rest. BUT, IVF you have more control over. You know for sure that the eggs are fertilised. IUI you can't be positive that the eggs have even been released from the ovaries. My husband wanted to move to IVF sooner as he felt it had more control. I was petrified of IVF and the injections, but I managed with no problems, so am very proud of myself
Saying that, IUI is a lot cheaper to manage more often, whereas IVF costs a bomb. Enjoy your holiday, and good luck with the decision!

AFM, I am just waiting till my march cycle when we can do a FET, so in the meantime lurking in here every now and then.
Just something for your girls. A friend told me to drink 1 litre of milk a day (along with the 2 litres of water) during the meds. I didn't understand the whole thing, but it was something about getting rid of the side affects of the meds. I spoke to my friend who is a dietician, and she said that milk helps with hormones. I don't know if any of you suffer with PMT like symptoms while you are on the meds, but I had none. I was fairly relaxed, not moody or tearful at all. So 1 suggestion - drink milk while you are injecting Gonal F. It can't hurt, and if it helps any mood swings thats great for you!!
I don't know what the "sniffing" is about, I never got any meds to sniff. Just tablets and injections I think I'd swap an injection for sniffing something

Hope you are all staying positive and strong during this time!

[bj*81]

murraycod - I'm glad that you went back to acupuncture, like you said, it can only be a good thing. I am such a advocate of it now....even though I've had 2 transfers with no success (yet) it is still such a life saver for me. If anything just to keep you relaxed and balanced out with all the stuff we are pumping into ourselves. I hope your 2WW flies by !!! Hang in there

Miss K - Thanks for the info. I got moved over to Gonal F cos Dr wanted to put me on a tad higher dosage but Puregon only goes up in 50IU's and he thought 150 would be a bit much. The Gonal F has knocked me around a bit more than the Puregon though, have a constant headache and so tired! But on antagonist cycle so should only be another week and then EPU (eeek) I have been drinking tons of water but I hadn't heard about sustagen before so thanks I'll get some tomorrow. Will be keeping an eye on your progress, try not to stress.

FGS - Hope everything went well today for some good numbers for you

AFM - Have been on FSH since Sat, start the Cetrotide tomorrow and have 1st scan in the morning too, so lets hope those little follies are growing!!

to everyone xxx

[fatgirlslim]

Good Morning Lovelies...

Firsty, sorry about the 'no personals' - but I am just about to run out the door for a few errands and an acupuncture appointment...

Had my EPU yesterday... was not tooooo nervous going in - weird thing is... I remember some things that were going on in the room when I was asleep... I don't know if that was because I had just fallen asleep - or I woke up.. not sure... but I remember wriggling around and saying "owww" when I guess is was the speculum they inserted.. lol...

I woke up from EPU fine - checked my palm for that magic number.... 8!!! I was over the moon - which I think gave me some kind of rush because I was wide awake and happy after that... little premature my getting up and leaving i think.. I got out of the elevator to the car and wooohh..I started feeling SICK. Slept it off and was fine by the afternoon.

I jut got the phone call from the lab this morning to let me know - that of the 8 eggs, one couldn't be injected because it was too immature. Then, of the 7 eggs that were injected (ICSI) 6 of them have fertilised!!!

I am soooo happy. She said they're single cell at the moment, but by this afternoon they should have divided. A little nervous because they don't check them again til Friday, and then Saturday morning - and they wont call me unless something has gone wrong.

Really, really happy!

Thanks for all your lovely, supportive messages

L x

[WaitingAwaiting]

Morning all,

MC - Thanks for remembering me & my appt yesterday.

Truj - You're stronger than me! Nearly 4yrs - I would be going insane! Best of luck with your journey.

Saw the FS yesterday. She asked some questions, did 2 different types of PAPs (the fat and the thin kind...!) and orders some bloods.

First one needs to be done on Day 22 (which is the 25th Jan) (Fasting) and is for Blood Group-ABO & Rh, Rhesus antibodies, HIV, Hep B Serology, Hep C Serology, VDRL, Varicella Zoster (antibody), Rubella, Herpes-Varicella-Zoster Serology, FBC, EUC, LFT, TSH, free T4, Iron Studies, Totoplasmosis IgG, Parvo Virus Serology, CMV IgG, Parvovirus IgG, CA 125, Prolactin, cholesterol profile (HDL, LDL etc), Insulin levels, Progesterone.

Does anyone know what any of the random letters are??

My second one is on Day 2-3 (at this stage I would expect it to be 5-6 Feb) and is non-fasting for FSH, LH, E2, DHEAS, Testosterone free, FAI, SHBG.

Again - letters?! I've tried Google but it comes up with more things that confuse me...

I go back to the FS on 12 Feb with all my results and then I should be having my Lap done within a month. Total cost without private health insurance....I'm looking in excess of $5k. Ew. I'm more concerned about the money than the surgery! LOL oh well.

Things we do for baby love

Feeling a little overwhelmed right now. Ok better look busy. My brain hurts.

Thanks for reading & hugs and random support to you all.

[murraycod]

FGS that is wonderfull news, I remember how exciting that week of EPU and Transfer was, I loved it!! Enjoy every moment!!! Congrats XXX

WaitingAwaiting, WOW OMG will you have enough blood for all of that!!!??? Sorry can't help you with the meanings of all those tests, bit atleast it is going to be thorough!!
I hate BT's !!!! Evil vampires!!!!
So glad to hear that you appt went well though, and good to hear that you will get your answers soon enough XXX

BJ81, about that accupuncture, I dfinately wont be going back to that specific place again for as long as I live. He first, had a dig at me for all of the "Western Medicine" I was killing my body with, he told me I was killing my liver and kidneys having all of the "Westernised hormones injected into me", he then told me, my pulse was showing great signs of early pregnancy, but the cramping I have been feeling is not good, and not to expect a great outcome. He pretty much told me it had not worked. If I had not had a heap of pins stuck into me at that point, I would have told him to shove it up his ar$# and left immediately. Instead I told him to remove the pins, and I walked out...
I have been miserable eversince, thinking he was right about this cycle not working, I have had constant cramping since, and quite strong.

Oh I do hope everyone is doing better than me today!! Sorry I'm not in the most positive mood today XXXXX

[WaitingAwaiting]

MC - OMG how totally inappropriate of him...that's so awful that he said that to you. I'm upset on your behalf. R u ok?? *insert supportive hug here* Methinks you need to find a new accp person.

I have BTs too - and I surely hope I do have enough blood...am slightly concerned I'll run out half way through! lol

[Loops12]

Hi all

Babytruj ~ thanks for those health tips, I'll try those. GL with your up-coming cycle

Bj*81 ~ All th best with your cycle for you! Hope those follies are growing nicely.

FGS ~ that is excellent news, will have F and TX that they continue to divide and you get a great transfer.

Murraycod ~ so sorry hun, you had to go through that ordeal, thats horrible. Hope you find something to cheer you up but I'd try not to let it hurt you because seriously how does any1 know if its worked until your body does. xo

WaitingAwaiting ~ things we have to do to have a baby. It will all be worth it in the end though. All the best with your results and moving forward, hoping you get a BFP ASAP!

GL all and lots of babydust and stickyvibes coming your way!

[xx Rob xx]

FGS that is wonderfull news, I remember how exciting that week of EPU and Transfer was, I loved it!! Enjoy every moment!!! Congrats XXX

WaitingAwaiting, WOW OMG will you have enough blood for all of that!!!??? Sorry can't help you with the meanings of all those tests, bit atleast it is going to be thorough!!
I hate BT's !!!! Evil vampires!!!!
So glad to hear that you appt went well though, and good to hear that you will get your answers soon enough XXX

BJ81, about that accupuncture, I dfinately wont be going back to that specific place again for as long as I live. He first, had a dig at me for all of the "Western Medicine" I was killing my body with, he told me I was killing my liver and kidneys having all of the "Westernised hormones injected into me", he then told me, my pulse was showing great signs of early pregnancy, but the cramping I have been feeling is not good, and not to expect a great outcome. He pretty much told me it had not worked. If I had not had a heap of pins stuck into me at that point, I would have told him to shove it up his ar$# and left immediately. Instead I told him to remove the pins, and I walked out...
I have been miserable eversince, thinking he was right about this cycle not working, I have had constant cramping since, and quite strong.

Oh I do hope everyone is doing better than me today!! Sorry I'm not in the most positive mood today XXXXX

Murraycod I am so sorry sweety, sounds as bad as my first double transfer. So I know exactly how you feel.

Maybe try bowen therapy. It worked for me. I did it for only 4 weeks leading up to transfer. The cramping could be a good sign as you will get that with implantation. You know mine as so bad I can actually tell the day the baby had finished as it stopped all of a sudden.

Keep your chin up hunny it ill be fine xox.

FGS awesome results. for lots of little blasties. And remember like my embryologist from Repromed told me. No news is good news

Hope everyone else is coming along nicely wherever you are at in your cycle.

[Moonflower]

Hello ladies.

I don’t pop in for a day and a half and look at everything that’s been going on! Sadly, I must keep this short as I’m at work but thought I’d sneak in here for a bit!

FGS – I am so freakin’ happy for you! And completely jealous! 8 eggs, 6 fertilise. That is so brilliant! I’ll keep you and your embies in my prayers sweetie. Don’t get impatient waiting for Friday my sweet. The worst (tww) is yet to come! *chuckle* MC and I will be there for you – don’t you worry!

MC – I can’t believe that s.o.b (am I allowed to say that?) said that to you. I am so proud of you that you made him remove the needles and that you walked out. You keep you head held high. That was absolutely the right thing to do and I commend you. I’m cranky that he made you miserable. Grrr....

WaitingAwaiting – I’m not sure which random letters you mean. I can tell you the following (sorry if I go over stuff you know):

Blood Group -ABO (these make up blood groups eg A+ or AB-) & Rh is the Rhesus antibodies – you either have them +ve or you don’t –ve. In my case, I am Rh A -ve. My DH is Rh O +ve.
Hep (Hepatitis) A, B, or C are the strains
VDRL - Venereal Disease Research Laboratory
FBC - Full blood count
EUC – Electorolytes, Urea and Creatinine
LFT – Liver Function Test
TSH – Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
free T4 – how much thyroxine is in your blood
FSH – Follicle Stimulating Hormone
LH – Lutenising Hormone
E2 – Estradiol
DHEAS – Is an androgen found in men and women (for testosterone and estrogen)
FAI – Free androgen index
SHBG – Sex hormone binding globulin

I hope this helps you. Phew! I need a rest!

Babytruj, how’s the rest time coming along? I hope you regain all your mental, emotional and physical strength for March. It’ll be here before you know it!

Loops12, how’s the sniffing coming along? Gearing up for the 27th?

Rob, hope you are doing well and feeling healthy and happy!

AFM – I’m in the tww and slowing going mad. If you come over my way, you’ll recognise me. I’ll be the one with the crazy eyes in the corner doing this:

Have a good evening ladies! (so much for keeping it short!!)
MF xx

[fatgirlslim]

Hey again...

MURRAYCOD... omg! I am sooooo horrified that you had to put up with that RUBBISH! That's almost exactly what happened to me on my first Accupuncture appt - he was basically saying that Repromed were rubbish yadda, yadda, elevit is rubbish... and I didn't have the guts to up and walk out... YOU DID!! Good on you! However, I called repromed and got a couple of names of Acupuncturists that they recommend (they actually participated in the IVF trial with Repromed) and he is GREAT. He is absolutey brilliant!! Don't give up hun! Find yourself someone else.. and you tell them EXACTLY why you left the other guy- they wont DARE step on your toes

Your accupuncturist should be supporting and working in conjunction with your FS... Don't let him get you down! I've heard cramping is common in implantation - so don't get down based on that!!

MOONFLOWER... I couldn't wait... I snuck my head into the 2ww thread... and now I wish I hadn't...!!! Hahaha... you and MC... jeez, I can almost hear you pacing up and down in there...

AFM - (sorry if this is TMI) I have SUPER sore BBs... is it possible that AF will come before they get a chance to ET????!!!! Is there any other reason I'd have such sore BBs and cramps? I don't start Crinone til tomorrow night....

L x

[terry]

Hi ladies

Sorry haven't popped in for a while but have been checking on how everyone is going. I'll do a few personals but sorry if I don't get to everyone

MC like everyone has said find a new acupunturist. I have lovely lady who has worked with MIVF and she puts my mind at ease.

FGS so happy that you got so many embies and don't worry you wont get AF before transfer I know its hard to beleive but we learn more about this trip the further we go along.

babytruj looks like you and I will be starting our journey together again in March. I will be having a FET and it all depends on when AF arrives and if I'm back from my holidays.

AFM doing everything I can to get my body ready again. Started regular acupunture eating right and hitting the gym really hard. Starting to see some benefits now got weighed by my persoanl trainer yesterday and in 2 weeks have lost 6kg I'd love to loose 15 before I start again so that's where my focus is at the moment as well as having some quality time with DH without being on the IVF rollercoaster

[WaitingAwaiting]

Moonflower- thank you so much! That info is awesome Much appreciated! This is all so daunting!