LT TTC & Assisted Conception Jan-Feb 2010

[juniper76]

have you done the same protocol every time e.g Antagonist or Down reg or have you tried both?
what is this??? but i have written it down to ask my FS today , and BIG THANKYOU all for your kind words, fingers are crossed for all of you girls too!!!!

Have you used the same drugs in the same way each time?

For the long down reg protocol you start Synarel or Lucrin at 7dpo (or CD21) in the cycle before your IVF cycle and continue it until EPU (egg pickup). You may or may not have used BCP earlier that cycle. You start FSH (puregon or gonal-f) injections early in the IVF cycle and continue that until EPU too.

For an antagonist protocol, you don't start any drugs in the cycle before the IVF cycle. When your IVF cycle starts (with AF) you start FSH injections around CD1-4 and when the follicles reach a certain size you start the antagonist (eg Orgalutran) to prevent you ovulating before EPU.

In both cases you'd have a trigger (hcg - eg Ovidrel or Pregnyl) shot ~36 hours before EPU, then EPU, then transfer and then start progesterone (you might start progesterone between EPU and transfer for some clinics). You may also have hcg booster shots during the 2ww.

There's also another protocol (flare protocol) which has you starting Lucrin at the same time you start FSH injections.

So, essentially, the difference between all the protocols is the method of suppression (Synarel vs Lucrin vs Orgalutran) to prevent you ovulating before your EPU.

Lairdoz, I've done pregnyl booster shots (lower dose than for trigger) during the 2ww for two of my IVF cycles. My understanding is that our bodies metabolise hcg to produce progesterone and so it helps that way. I think there might also be a theory that it makes the body more receptive to an implanting embryo by making it think it's already pg (affects the uterine lining somehow). It's fairly common, I just don't understand why they do it that well.

[trubabe]

hi ladies, i would like your advice.when i see gynae on monday to try organizing laparoscopy i was going to see if there were any other tests that could be run since the twenty or so that have already been done have all been normal.so was wondering what other tests i could ask to be run? (probably not so common tests since they have all been done) i was thinking of asking for NK cell test/antibody test but thats all i've thought of.

Oh and heres a laugh. saw my mum last week and took up her -mp3 player, perand toiletries for hospital (though most were ordered before we found out about her cancer) any way talking to her yesterday she pointed out that one thing i took up she wont need in hospital-a really pretty smelling 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner.she started losing her hair last thursday.talk about blonde, i didnt even register the fact it was shampoo and mum would have no hair when i gave it to her.so been getting teased by mum and my DP since then lol

[*beannaithe*]

Emerald Star - woohoo for your little embies, awesome news!! And yay for being a RAK recipient, that is so neat!!
Trubabe - hoping that your mum is doing ok. Having watched my own Dad go through cancer, I really feel for you, its a horrible time for you mum and all of you too so a huge hug to you. Sorry, I am still a bit ignorant as to what testing should be done so can't help with that question but hope you can get a few answers
Miss K/Loops - hoping your scans went well today and there are lots of nice juicy follicles doing their thing
Littlegem - welcome and heres hoping that this upcoming round is much more successful for you
Danyelle - Buserelin is the NZ equivalent of Lucrin or Synarel, think that is what you Oz girls use? The worst part I found for the buserilin was the hot flushes and so so so tired. I'm only having half the dose now so starting to feel a bit more human
Me - well I had my scan today and had no idea what to expect. Well. I sure as heck didn't expect the 20 follicles that were there. Luckily my E2 is still relatively low but we go for another BT and scan on Sunday as the clinic is talking about the possibility of cancellation which I would be absolutely gutted about. Quick question, I know that it will be different for everyone but how much does E2 tend to rise right before trigger? I REALLY don't want this cycle cancelled and have been having wee stresses about it. At least I know I wasn't being completely sooky about my sore wee tum

[Loops12]

Hi ladies
Another quick one as I wanna go and relax on the couch.

Emerald ~ yep my scan today was my 1st and final one for this cycle. Just heard from the nurse about 5mins ago and EPU will be on Tuesday (luckily not my 30th bday which is Sun lol). Your little embies sound great - GL for the transfer.

Trubabe ~ Glad you were able to have a smile and share a laugh with your mum. The best way to be. Big hugs hun and thinking of you.

Melissal ~ glad you're scan was ok and I will have everything crossed for you that your EPU doesn't get cancelled.

Littlegem ~ Sorry the IVF road has been a difficult one for you. My dosages have been increased as I didnt get many eggs last time and none to freeze but going by my scan today doesnt look like the increase has helped that much.

Hi all - hope you're going well, Im looking forward to some BFP's very soon. xo

AFM - Ultrasound was today. There were 11 follies in total but only got sizes for 9 of them - so obviously the others might not get big enough. The nurse said 7 were growing so not sure exactly what all that means but I think there might be a maybe 1 or 2 more than last time - hopefully anyway.
EPU will be Tuesday, FX I get plenty so that this time I might get some to freeze as well as 1 to transfer.

[sunshine 11]

wishingbaby/juniper76 - Thanks for the info on Pregnyl, just didn't know if it was a trigger shot why you would take after transfer but that makes sense. Thanks also Juniper76 for the info on the different IVF cycles - when I had mine I was surprised I could start so quickly as I thought everyone had 6-8 week cycles in IVF.

Trubabe - I had a friend who went through chemo and she still washed her head - she says it smelt nice with the shampoo so it won't go to waste! Can't help with the tests info, I think if I were in your position I would be asking the FS if there are any other tests and put the onus on him/her.

Emerald Star - Hope your embies are still doing well

Loops12 - great news on your follies - it's hard to interpret some of what the medical staff say sometimes, little do they know we are hanging off every word to hear some good news!

MelissaI - I hope all goes well for Sunday, can you still do an EPU even if you can't transfer this month? I know that cancellation is worse sometimes that a BFN so I'll have my fingers crossed for you

Hi to everyone else

AFM - Just caught up with one of my best friends for lunch and guess what - she's pregnant! That makes three people in total close to me now pregnant, each one telling me just before my transfer or BT dates for the last three cycles. Surely I deserve to have an IVF cycle where I don't have to get excited for someone else getting pregnant by seemingly only having to high-five their partner!

[Loops12]

Lairdoz ~ thanks you!! You are so right lol they just dont understand.
Thats hard when people all around are getting pregnant - Im in the same boat.
All the best on Tuesday for your transfer!! GL and FX

[Emerald Star]

Loops12 - GL with EPU on Tuesday!! Hope you get lots of eggs and plenty of embies to freeze. I am always in the same boat too...i never have any to freeze!!

AFM - ET tomorrow..yay!!.. we are transferring 2 A grade blasts.. and the other 2, they will let me know tomorrow what will happen with those...i'll keep you all posted!

[bj*81]

trubabe - So nice to hear that your mum is keeping positive and you can still all have a laugh during this tough time. My thoughts are with you all. Sorry I can't help with the tests either but I agree with Lairdoz, tell your FS that you want it all!

Melissal - I always have problems with my E2 as well. In my experience I had 4 days between my test and EPU and it obviously didn't rise much at all seeing as E2 level suggested 1 egg and that's all I got, even though I had 17 follicles about 10 of which were good size. I know that its hard but you don't want to get to EPU and end up with nothing which happened to me on my 1st ever cycle. Looking back I wish that they had canceled that cycle, that way I would have avoided all that pain and not lost that money. But I do hope that it decides to rise up for you and everything can go ahead.

Loops - for Tues and have a great day on Sunday. See you in the 2ww for a day at least!

Lairdoz - It's so hard isn't it....trying to put that high I'm so happy for you voice on when you just want to scream! But time to focus on you now....GL & FX for tuesday

Emerald - All the best for tomorrow, you tell those little embies to stick and stick good!! See you in the 2ww.

littlegem - I'm sorry that you have had such a rough trot honey. I respond unpredictably as well, they switched me from Puregon 100IU to Gonal F 112.5IU (wanting to up my dosage but not too much) and I got a much worse result. I thought they were meant to be the same but I obviously responded to Puregon better. It sounds like the more they upped your dose they better the results have been though so just make sure you ask your FS everything and get ALL the options. All the best. I hope that you get some answers and some great results soon. I'll be watching out for you xxx

Hi to everyone I've missed. I think I've rattled on enough Trying to keep myself busy....5 days to go! But I just wanted to ask a question....has anyone had AF delayed by Crinone? I had it on my 1st cycle but only 1 a day and AF came before BT. This time I am on 2 a day plus it has been a shorter cycle?? Would love to know what you think. Stay strong girls xxx

[murraycod]

Bj, Crinone perraries held off my AF I had 1 pessary per night. It didn't hold the AF cramping off though!! Took 3 days for AF to show after ny last dose.
Dunno what I would prefer, prob AF before my BT!! You are past the half way mark honey!! Stay strong and positive X

Emerald star good luck tomorrow I will be thinking of you!! 2 balsties WoW!!! Will be sending StickyVibes your way XX Have a lovely day!
Congrats on your RAK!

Loops good luck for the upcomming EPU!!

Lairdos IKWYM XXX Are your FET blasties?? Just wondering, I have a thaw comming up in March and am a little nervouse about the whole 50/50 survival rate with the thaw process.
Wow reading your sig you have had a hard long road, you are such a strong woman to get where you are now

Melissal your poor tummy X I hope that all works out for the very best and you have a successfull EPU XX

Trubabe am glad to read that your mum has been in good spirits!! I'm not sure about other tests that can be suggested for you, but I hope you get some answers as to what is happening. It is frustrating always getting a 'normal' result with tests, atleast if we know whats wrong we can attempt to fix it!
I asked my FS on Wed about implantation problems and he said that he would not think of testing for that untill I had gone through atleast 3 unsuccessful IVF cycles, I hope it doesnt have to get to that though. He did say it was jut a small biopsy of the endometriun lining that they can do at ET stage and it can be done 'in the chair' so to say, no operations or general anasthetics.

littlegem I do hope you have more luck this time, i'm still only new to IVF im not very much in the 'know' yet about different cycles and meds. But good luck and keep us posted on how you go. Is great you decided to join in, there are so many supportive friendly girls here that will make you feel very welcome. Nice to meet you XX

Wishingbaby 1 week down!! Sending you babydust and loads of sticky vibes darling XXXXX I hope the days leading up to the 16th go quickly for you!! Good Luck X

Moonflower if you are lurking away, I hope your time away with DH was refreshing and full of happy moments XXX

Sharee, Danyelle, juniper, Tammara, MissK, Terry and Ric, Huggs to you all XXXXX

Sorry I have beed MIA for a week, am in a much better head space now after the stress of last month!!! The hardest part of the whole cycle, was going back to work after 3wks off, and not being PG. But after a couple of days I got back into a normal routine and am looking forward untill March. Have enjoyed a few wines and late nights, let my hair down and still getting spoilt by DH!!!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, take care, and good luck to everyone having EPU's, ET's and BT's!!!!!!

[littlegem_98]

Good morning ladies...
Well we went to our FS yesterday armed with half a sheet of questions for this poor Dr, and id love to share the out come with you all , so here goes...
im doing the same treatment as last time , which the my Dr referred as a " short cycle "
i will be on 300 uls of Gonal F at the same time taking 10uls of Lurcin this will be over a course of 15 or so days then EP .i found out all about Antagonist, and was told that we probably wouldn't benefit from it as the last cycle went really well , He said that isn't really anything to help increase egg amounts, because of my age, but the last egg was very healthy ( thats something! at least ). i did ask that if were lucky enough to get 3 little eggies and fertized would he transfer all 3 back... We got a defiant NO lol , thought id try our luck any way... I will also be taking Cordiospirin 100mg aspirin from EPU,so in the meantime , hopefully Af will arrive when she's due within two weeks and that we get a place in WFC.

[sunshine 11]

Emerald Star - glad today went well - next Thursday will come before you know it. I have only once used an HPT and that was last cycle. I was going insane waiting for the blood test and am happy I did it as it's way too dramatic for me to have to ring to get dissapointing news. I felt prepared as I already knew I wasn't pregnant but just had to go through the process. Here's hoping for some double lines for you v.v.soon!

murraycod - my embies are all three dayers - I had four left and my doc doesn't do blasts for less than 5. I guess I'm glad he doesn't because one of them turned into my DD. The thaw rate at my clinic is 70-80% for the process mine went through, but for any I have frozen from now it's 90% so I think thaw rates are getting better each year. Glad to hear you are in a good place too.

littlegem_98 - I sometimes wish we lived in the US so I could put more than one embie back at a time - of course I don't want twins, but just to increase my chances a bit

[sunshine 11]

littlegem_98 - wow do you have to get a spot in your clinic or they won't take you? FX that all goes well - funny how we get excited about AF one month then the next devastated by it.
bj*81/Emerald Star - HPT are evil! I bought 100 online when I was trying for the first 3 years, I went through so many and never saw anything, including when I had an early miscarriage and should have. Can't say that I won't use them again though as they make the last few days of the wait better because at least it's not a shock when you have to have the BT.

MelissaI- woohoo - hope to hear about lots of eggies from Tuesday!

Renee - welcome - I have found this a really supportive environment for what is surely one of the biggest rollercoasters you can be on! I hope all goes well for Friday.

Hi to everyone

AFM - I told my hubby I need something to look forward to as I am home this year with our DD and I would prefer to work part-time at least but as my job is really a full-time job I am taking another year off and will go back when she's 2 (assuming I am not pregnant by then). Going a bit stir crazy as I am so used to working so said I want to plan a holiday and he agreed. Nice to have something to look forward to as I don't think I can handle too many IVF attempts this year (she says knowing that it's not over yet!)

[Miss K]

This is going to be really quick ladies as I am flat chat atm just thought I would let you all know scan on Thursday went well I am unsure LOL I was told to come again Monday to see if any had matured so I am going tomorrow and seeing how many we have for possible EPU on Friday at the earliest FS's exact words were " well it will be interesting to see how many of these mature " so unsure what that means till tomorrow... I will be back on tomorrow after scan and will catch up on personals then!!! CYA LADIES AND GL

[Loops12]

Hi lovely ladies

Emerald ~ Your welcome hun xoxo. This will be our year!!

BJ ~ Likewise and wishing you all the very best, FX

Murraycod ~ Yeh my year was the same - felt like 2009 was just about TTC, but this is a new year and things will be different xo

Renee ~ Hi and welcome. Our stories sound pretty similar. MY DH had low sperm/mobility and we have done 2 IUI plus 1 IVF, now onto our 2nd. All the best, will have FX for you too.

Melissa ~ We'll be both in tomorrow then. All the best, hope they get lots of eggies. xo

Miss K ~ will be for you those follies grow and grow, just have to be pos I suppose. You will hopefully get a very pleasant surprise Fri, FX and GL

Hi to people ive missed and all the very best.

AFM ~ EPU tomorrow - Im nervous and excited too! Hoping for good eggies

[murraycod]

Loops, good luck tomorrow I will be thinking of you!!!XXX
Gosh I remember last month when I was getting closer to my EPU date, I was terrified, now I'm sooo jealouse and want it to be me!!!!
As you can tell I am just a teeny bit excited to go again!!

MissK I will keep popping back to see how you went!X Fingers crossed!

Lairdos your right it's not over yet!!! Holiday sounds great to me.YThis is going to be the first year DH and I won't be going on a holiday, so we can afford to go full guns at this IVF caper. We will go and go and go and go until we mentally cannot go anymore, it has to work out sooner or later!

Littlegem Woohoo foe AF!!! I hope you get a spot in this month, you have to!!!!
I agree with you about your thaughts on having a heavy physical job, I am a nurse and sometimes have to work in the nursing home next door to the hospital which I don't like, not because of the oldies, but because of the heavy work and unpredictable behaviour. I took the whole TWW off but I think it did not do me anygood sitting at home in my self induced depressive state!! Mabey I will just make a conserted effort to take it slow and easy so I can go back to work after 1 week XXXX

Melissa goodluck to you too tomorrow hun XXX I hope you get some big fat juicy eggies XX

Rene, how are you, hows the jabbing going? X

OOOH!!! I have an Avy!! Love it, thanks {sarah} XXXX

[Loops12]

Thanks so much Murraycod and Miss K!!

Miss K ~ sorry I thought you were the opposite - werent growing quick enough. Must have been mixing you with someone else. Will have FX you don't get OHSS and get a great result at EPU!

Murraycod ~ Where on the Murray do you live? I know what ya mean, ive been hanging out since Aug to go again and now it is here! Mind you the time went pretty quick when I was so busy with work etc.