Long Term TTC & Assisted Conception - July/August 09

Welcome to the Long Term TTC & Assisted Conception Thread!

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Just a reminder to all: all LTers love seeing a fellow LTer achieve that longed-for BFP, and we all find hope in one of our own having success in this difficult journey. But please remember that there are those who cycled with you who may not have received good news at the end of their cycle. Please do not post baby/child/pg tickers or pg related signatures (eg blinking BFP icons) etc in this forum out of respect for them.

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The old thread is HERE.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Can I ask... can anyone recommend something natural to help 'move things along'?

(Gee what a classy way to begin this thread... lol)

I have had terrible constipation (sorry TMI:redface:) for the last week (despite drinking 2-3 litres water/day). The nurse said that the stim medication can have this effect.

Have tried Metamucil, eating copious amounts of lettuce with no success. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Tantee, I hear you. I was blocked up for a week after my stim cycle. I tried herbalax, a natural laxative which you can buy from the supermarket. It's got licorice in it tho, which is contra-indicated for pregnancy.

Personally, I only found All Bran to help. It'll take a few days tho.
GL!
Seph

Mitf, sorry to hear about your pop. I did a synarel dose 3 hours late and when I told my FS he seriously could not have cared less! He literally waved it away. I'm still fairly religious about it (I have alarms set half an hour before as well as at the time I'm meant to take it), but I don't stress over it if its late.

Daisie, my SIL got pg with a belly button ring. She had to remove it during the pregnancy because it became infected, but it certainly didn't impair her ability to conceive.

Tantee, I asked about this during my last IVF and was told to try prunes, dried apricots or pear juice. Or possibly all of them? ;)

Afm, looks like IVF#4 may be a little later than planned. I've been constantly sick with one cold/virus after another since last cycle and the GP thinks I've just pushed too hard with the back-to-back IVF. So, at this stage I'm thinking I need to give myself a chance to recover. After 18 months of almost constant AC I guess it might be time for a small break?

Hi Tantee,
Try Bran Flakes/all bran cereal.

Thanks ladies, I have already started on the Apricots today and will be off to get some Allbran first thing in the morning:crossfingers:

Hi Tantee,

I suffer at the best of times so dreading starting the stims on Thursday by the sounds of the stories from you guys. But I have found the Senekot helps - you can get it at any pharmacy and it's completely natural. Take a tablet before bed and it usualy helps by next day; if not take another. GL

The only time I suffered was after my EPU..........and prunes worked a treat!!! Plus i love eating them as a snack!!

Jasminstar, I only got constipation after my first EPU. I was fine the other two cycles.

Call me super paranoid (because I am), but I'd still check with my FS about the senekot if it were me. Mostly because I was really surprised when the nurse told me not to use metamucil (I never got around to asking the FS about it though). It's probably fine, but I don't take anything for granted now.

Hi girls

Justed popped in to say hi......

GL to everyone



_________________________
Me 40
right tube removed
DH 42
Good count low motility
TTC #1 for 2 years

1x natural ectopic 2007
IUI #1 18 April 2009 :bfn:
IUI #2 19 May 2009 :bfn:
IVF #1 7 July 2009 :crossfingers:

so.. it was a :bfn:

back to the start....

speaking of which, where do you start.. do you take "a month off" I was told to call in on CD1 and book an ultrasound for CD21 to start my protocol again, cause we only got one little frozen embie..

Mitf - Soo sorry to hear about your Pop! I hope your doing ok xxoo

Tantee - You poor thing there is nothing worse!

Juniper - If you feel a break is needed go for it better!! Have you tried Olive Leaf Extract I find it works in a day but get the peppermint flavour as natural is yukky :P And Olive leaf is all natural too!!

Emerald Star - How you doing???

Krikkit - I am soo sorry about BFN big hugs your way.. Not sure where you go from here sorry xx

Hello all my TTC buddies hope you're all doing well!

AFM - Well AF has left the building and due to the cyst situation I am on monitoring this month no meds or anything so CD12 I have my BT which is next tuesday then we'll see where we are on this rollercoaster..

3 Cheers for Allbran :cheer::bluecheer::cheer:

DH bought some for me on his way home last night. Thanks ladies

Krikkit - I'm sorry that you had such a dissappointing result. Thinking of you and sending you hugs.....

FS nurse told me that you do need to take a month off after all the stims (even for a FET I think?)

Krikkit, I'm sorry to hear about the bfn. I just did back-to-back fresh cycles because we had no embies frozen from IVF#2. I was told to come back at 7DPO of the cycle after IVF#2 to confirm I had O'd and then could start the synarel again that day. 7DPO ended up being something like CD33 because the IVF in the previous cycle delayed O by a week (happened again this cycle after IVF#3).

just letting you know i am still alive. still not well. and it is so annoying. arggg.
had acu on thur and was good i love my acu lady she is so lovely.
but we think prob oct now, was my suggestion as i kinow my body is just not right to do this yet.

hi to all will do personals later . xo

Mitf - So sorry about your pop - deepest sympathies xo :hug: I too have been a little late with the Synarel -not by much. I got AF but it has been very light.

Springvalley - A big CONGRATULATIONS! :cheer::bluecheer: All the best for a H&H pregnancy.
Thanks for your wishes for my EPU and ET

Emerald Star - thanks for your thoughts. Mitf and I are on very similar cycles yes.
GL with yours - very exciting!!

Vira - GL with your injections etc and I hope you're feeling better. Its great we are at the same stage and can go through this together.

Tantee - GL for the 29th - its coming up fast. Thanks I hope i will be fine to go as I have friends coming to this ball and have paid for my ticket. Its our families charity ball in honour of my late sis- very special every year.

Krikkit - So sorry about your BFN. :hug: Thinking of you x. Hope you can get back to trying again very soon.

Miss K - hi and all the best into the future.

Hi to anyone ive missed. :bluedust: to all!

Krikkit - sorry to hear BFN. The next one might be the one....hang in there.:hug:

Tantee - glad to hear the motor is finally working!:lol:

Miss K - I'm doing well......so far..

AFM - I had started Gonal F injections Tuesday 7th and still going...i then started the Orgalutran on the 11th..tomorrow I have BT and U/S....I'm hoping there are a few beauties...i suppose i will also find out when my EPU and ET will be....i hope its soon..starting to get abit anxious now...I'll keep you posted tomorrow.

GL everyone!

_________________________
Me 40
right tube removed
DH 42
Good count low motility
TTC #1 for 2 years

1x natural ectopic 2007
IUI #1 18 April 2009 :bfn:
IUI #2 19 May 2009 :bfn:
IVF #1 7 July 2009 :crossfingers:

Tantee, glad to hear the all bran worked - I might stick to that if you think the senekot is not the way to go (will check with FS on Thursday). :pink-babydust::bluedust:

Krikkit, so sorry to hear about your BPN. Keep your chin up and sending good vibes your way for next time.

Emerald Star, hoping lots of happy little ones for you :egg: :crossfingers:

AFM: waiting for Thursday to see if I start FSH - I've had no contact with the clinic or my FS since I started the syneral 15 days ago so hope it's all working ok :crossfingers:

jasminestar - Are you on the down reg as well?

_________________________
Me 40
right tube removed
DH 42
Good count low motility
TTC #1 for 3 years

1x natural ectopic 2007
IUI #1 18 April 2009 :bfn:
IUI #2 19 May 2009 :bfn:
IVF #1 7 July 2009 :crossfingers:

Emeraldstar, yes. Expecting to have BT Thursday then start FSH and hopefully be ready for EPU by 29th July - that's the schedule I was given if all goes to plan. It seems a long time between visits though - but if it works I'm not complaining ;)

May I jump into this thread please ladies? My first FS appt is on the 14th august. They have told me to bring in a semen sample, whae else should I expect on my first appt? TIA

Mrs S - Hi and :welcome:
In here is a great place to be. GL on the 14th. They will want to know if you have had any tests etc yet, they will work out the quality of your DH's semen and go from there I suppose. When we first met with FS for example we had DH's results and I had results from ultrasounds and Laparoscopy which all came up clear. So our FS knew then that it was male factor infertility and discussed starting with IUI (inter uterine insemination) which we have now down twice both being a BFN and now trying 1st IVF.
It must be exciting for you that you are heading in a good direction, a step closer to getting your little miracle. All the very best :pray:

Jasminster - hope you're hanging in there waiting with me for injections and so forth to start. Thinking of you.

Emerald Star - thinking of you today and hoping your U/S goes well. All the very best x

Hope everyone else is well x

AFM - I had BT the day before yesterday to determine when to start the injections and my results have gone astray - bloomin pathology - they have been nothing but pains in our butts the whole of our journey.
Anyway here's hoping my nurse finds them so our cycle doesnt get stuffed up.


Ahh cool- as I just finished writing this above my nurse rang with results that I can start on the Puregon tonight.

Mrs S - Welcome !! I agree with Loops12, they will probably run tests and then see what suits you. GL:)

Loops12 - Your'e so lucky to have Mitf and Jasminstar doing similar protocols and so close together....GL!!! we are that much closer to a possible BFP!!!!

AFM - Did BT and U/S today, don't know what to make of it....I had 30 follicles in all so far. 17 were 13mm or less 5x 14mm 4x 15mm 1x 17mm 1x 18mm 1x 20mm and
1x 22mm. I am hoping that the 14's and 15's catch up. Does anyone have any idea what size is the minimum mature follicle? The nurse also told me to increase my Orgalutran so now i have to inject one in the evenings and one in the morning.....have another BT and U/S on Friday AM.....i might be doing EPU on MOnday.

GL to all the ladies on this thread:bluedust::pink-babydust:

_________________________
Me 40
right tube removed
DH 42
Good count low motility
TTC #1 for 3 years

1x natural ectopic 2007
IUI #1 18 April 2009 :bfn:
IUI #2 19 May 2009 :bfn:
IVF #1 7 July 2009 :crossfingers:

i thought it had to be a minimum of 1cm????

Well I'm pretty upset at the moment. My frozen transfer has been cancelled for the month. I've just had my day 9 BT and my oestrogen is at 365 and my progesterone is at 11............i now have to go in for another BT and US tomorrow to make sure but it looks like i've already ovulated........soooooo early!!! That's another month I have to wait. I'm not actually upset, I'm bloody furious!!!!!!!!!!

baby2bee - I feel terrible for you. Are you doing IUI or iVF? Hope the BT and U/S go well tomorrow hun,:hug:
As for the follicle sizes 1cm = 10mm, which means i should have about 20 - 25 follies to :pray: for.....is that right? sounds toooo good to be true. Hope a few of them have mature viable eggs...guess we'll have to wait and see....I really hope you're right about the 10mm thing.

_________________________
Me 40
right tube removed
DH 42
Good count low motility
TTC #1 for 3 years

1x natural ectopic 2007
IUI #1 18 April 2009 :bfn:
IUI #2 19 May 2009 :bfn:
IVF #1 7 July 2009:crossfingers:

thanks Darl. It's my first IVF cycle......we already had 3 IUI's. We collected 24 eggs from pickup and got 5 fantastic little embies who now have to freeze their little 'bits' off for another month. Because we got too many eggs then I couldn't do a fresh transfer. I know it's definitely 10mm for a natural cycle (not IUI or IVF) and from memory IVF and IUI cycles were also very similar in size. Sorry I can't be of any better help. BEST OF LUCK with everything!!!!

Hi Emerald Star, I don't want to disappoint, but I thought mature follies were more like 18mm- 20mm. Remember, it's quality not quantity. ;)

baby2bee - how many mm's were your follies?

Lovenhope - thanks babe, i knew it was too good to be true...however there are still afew there and hopefully some might catch up by Monday.

_________________________
Me 40
right tube removed
DH 42
Good count low motility
TTC #1 for 3 years

1x natural ectopic 2007
IUI #1 18 April 2009 :bfn:
IUI #2 19 May 2009 :bfn:
IVF #1 7 July 2009 :crossfingers:

Hi there ladies, I popped my head in a few times a few months ago while we were waiting for our FS appointment which we FINALLY have a date for, July 28th. Mrs S has already asked one of my questions on what to expect at the first consult but my second is a bit of a dilemma for me. I know people always wonder do we tell our work or don't we - well my big problem is that I work in the lab where all the fertility testing is done and really want to avoid my private stuff becoming public knowledge for everyone I work with. At what point, if it has even come up, have people told their employers what is happening? I am excited that help is finally on the way but very apprehensive about work.
Looking forward to getting to know all you lovely ladies here :)

Emerald Star, my FS told me they'll take an egg from any folicle over 7mm. She said that the closer to 17mm the better but that the smaller ones can produce an egg that matures too so they take them all. Anyway you still have a few days for the smaller ones to catch up and sounds like plenty of them are above 10mm too which is great. Here's hoping the best for you :goodluck:

MrsS, welcome to the group. I'm pretty new myself and I have to say the support is amazing. Even just reading about all the experiences (happy and disappointing) makes you feel like everyone else is, so can I. Best of luck on the 14th - they will probably do tests and get results for your DH sample and then advise the best way forward.

Loops12, thanks for the support; looks like we are going to be very close in our cycles. Here's hoping for both of us :) :pink-babydust::bluedust:

Baby2Bee, sorry for your disappointment. I have never done an ET were you on a suppressant to stop you ovulating - how frustrating :wall:. Hang in there.

Tantee, Still sending you :stickyvibesboy::stickyvibesgirl: GL

AFM: Nervous about tommorow but hopeful. FS said they should have BT results same day to let me know whether to start FSH - I hope so, surely 17 days on syneral is enough to kill the hormones ;)

Hello there LTTTC'ers!

I am back from NZ and back into BB full throttle.

DH actually queried me as to how I was coping without BB and I had to say I was really missing all the contact.

So, I started my Lucrin injections on Monday and I was so proud that I did it myself. I didn't want to rely on DH to be home when I needed them and it was my little way of exercising control over something that is so out of my control (IVF in general that is) :dance:.

Went to acupuncturist today who told me to have a month of clean living. Already not drinking, no coffee etc but trying to be good with food and getting out for a walk. We had teriyaki salmon, rice and choy sum for dinner and I am hanging out for some strawberries for dessert now.

I have to go to clinic next Wed 22nd for BT and to pick up Puregon ready for the next phase.

I have tried to do some personals without making this the longest post in history - apologies to those who I have missed.

Mitf - I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your pop. My thoughts are with you

Loops12 - Glad to see you?ve decided to go ahead with the cycle. We thought we may be cycling at the same time but it looks as though you?re a bit ahead of me. I am on day 3 of Lucrin injections now and don?t start FSH until next week with a bit of luck.

Mrs S - Welcome! You?ll find this is a great place to be. A place where no judgements are passed and where there is no such thing as a stupid question!

Krikkit - I am sorry to hear about your BFN - reading your posts made me really feel for you. Thinking of you.:hug:


Emerald Star - I am sorry but I am of no use when it comes to follicles as I am not there yet. I hope everything goes well for you though and good luck with your EPU.

Baby2Bee - Sorry to hear that your transfer has been cancelled. You?re in the right place to be venting. Hope your tests go well tomorrow ? thinking of you.

Melissal - Welcome back! You are in a unique position and I completely understand your reluctance at your personal details becoming public knowledge. I actually told work (I am a teacher). My decision was a reasonably easy one to make as I have a very understanding and compassionate principal (who happens to be a woman!). I had to have 4 days off after a lap & hyst so it was an easy transition to make. Since then I have needed more time off for FS and clinic appts and she has been so understanding. I have also told some of my colleagues as we are a fairly open and tight-knit bunch. I thought that it would be strange to be taking chunks of time off (for EPU, acupuncture & transfers) and coming in late after U/S and BTs without an explanation. They have all been really supportive and 2 have since disclosed they did IVF also and got BFPs first cycle (unlikely but not impossible!!!). The only people I don?t want to know are the parents of the children as I don?t see it as their business and I don?t want to be judged for taking time away from the classroom. Ironically, the FS who signed my prescription for Lucrin is a parent at the school! I couldn?t believe it when I found out but I guess she is bound by confidentiality not to say anything. So good luck with your decision and I hope I?ve given you some food for thought.


Better be off now - have to finish up tax paperwork as we're off to the accountant tomorrow in the hope that we'll get a big refund in order to help pay for IVF:whip:

Hi all and welcome to all the new members:welcome:,

AFM: recovering from the flu, stopped the pill and waiting for AF to arrive:pms:, continuing with the Buserlin injections.

GL to all.

Hi all

Baby2bee - in the last 12 months my cycle dropped from the regular 30 days to 20 or 21 days... meaning i was ovulating really early. I started taking Sharkeys herbs and my cycle lengthened again and I was ovulating round 14 days. I know the FS doensn't like anyone to take the herbs on IVF, so I'm currently off herbs. I think when I do a frozen transfer (if i get some frosties) then i'll go back on the herbs...have you thought of or tried herbs?

Jasminstar - hope your BT and US goes well, I'm about a week behind you in my protocol. I think I"ll be doing my BT etc next Thursday. I'm just taking the OCP at the moment.... never thought I"d be back on that!

See you all later

Emerald Star, I'd agree with Lovenhope that follicles are usually considered mature once they reach 18-20mm. However, I'd add that I'd expect anything 16mm or more at trigger time to be mature by ER. :goodluck:

Melissal, I didn't tell my work until about 8 months after starting treatments. It was kind of difficult though because I had really bad side effects from clomid and missed lots of work, which was then hard to explain. Once I knew we were starting IVF I told them everything. And I mean everything. I have to deal with 2 male managers, but they have both been incredibly supportive, tolerant and accommodating. I'm very lucky that both of them have young children and appreciate just how important (and difficult) this is for me.

I'm back from my BT and US..they are still unsure wheather i've ovulated or not????? either way my hormones are no where near where they should be to support a transfer. Sooooooo they have suggested I now do a HRT cycle with oestrogen tablets and pessaries 3 times a day etc etc. Has anyone any information on this cycle or can anyone shed a little more light on it for me?

B2B: hope the new cycle works, don't know much about it. good luck
juniper: it's good your work supports you. not long til next cycle.
to all others: good luck whatever part of cycle your doing.

chat soon

Hi B2B
I am currently doing a HRT FET cycle.
Starts off from Day 1 taking the oestrogen tablets 3 x a day. Should have a BT and scan somewhere between day 10-14 to see levels and lining. My levels and lining were good so started pessaries x3 the next day and transfer will be 6 days after starting pessaries (I have 5 day blasts so depends on what you are transfering).
When they start introducing hormones into the body your body stops making its own so if BT comes back positive (fingers crossed) you continue the tablets and pessaries upto around week 13 of pregnancy. With HRT the clinic pretty much takes control of your cycle so don't have to go for blood tests all the time to pinpoint O like in a natural cycle.
Hope this helps and good luck

you are fabulous Jacki........thank you so much for this info. It's helped alot!!!