December FET Buddies

ShayLatrice

Hey all, I'm from the September/October IVF group. I started my stims back in Sept and was supposed to do Fresh ET in October but got delayed until December due to some fibroid issues. I'm just trying to see how many of us will be going through this process together. My FET is scheduled for December 3rd! I've been doing acupuncture, taking baby aspirin, drinking raspberry leaf tea, and doing castor oil packs to help prepare my uterus for the transfer. I'm really just trying to stay nice and relaxed and not stress out. 

Introduce yourself and let us know when your FET is scheduled and what you are doing to prepare. 

amos1417

How did I miss this post?! I was going to start one too! I am working toward a FET mid December. My ET was on 10/23 and I hyper stimulated (Estradiol was 11,662!) so they did not do a fresh transfer. I started birth control yesterday and I take prenatals and baby aspirin. I will be starting acupuncture in a couple weeks as well. I am trying not to stress as well, but I am afraid that when I meet with my RE on Tuesday he will change my unexplained fertility diagnosis to poor egg quality.  Which I don't understand because I have a high AMH, always have plenty of follicles during my cycles, etc. Fingers crossed, prayers said and sticky baby dust for a successful December!

ShayLatrice

@amos1417 HI!! So happy to have you on the journey with me! I need to find a good prenatal I have a few left from my OB and now I'm looking for a good over the counter one because I don't want to pay $25 per month for the brand OB prescribed. Why do you think your RE will change your diagnosis... are they concerned about your eggs? is your FET scheduled for early or late Dec? 

FX crossing that Dec will be our month!

amos1417

I like Garden of Life Vitamin Code raw prenatal from Amazon. They are a little pricey, but they are organic and raw.

Well, I had 24 eggs retrieved, 15 fertilized, however, only 4 made it to day 5 and then only 3 froze. On top of that, they are fair to poor quality.  I don't even want to think about any of them not surviving the thaw. (

I am looking at December 14 for transfer right now, but that's subject to change.

How many do you plan on thawing and transfering?  

ShayLatrice

Well I only got 3 as well... so our plan is to just unthaw 1 and transfer 1 at a time... and just hoping and praying they make it through the thaw. I'll def check out those vitamins. 

This whole process is so nerve wrecking... you make it past one stage and just hope you make it past the next. I thought the ER was the worst part, wondering if I would have any embryos to freeze...  now I'm wondering if it'll last through the thaw. Can't even wrap my head about hoping for a BFP yet.

amos1417

I know. It's draining. Every step there's something new to stress about. We are going to thaw all 3 and transfer everything that survives. What were yours graded?

ShayLatrice

They were 4AA before they were frozen. And my RE thinks they were beautiful and she is very hopeful and isn't worried about thawing at all. So I'm trying to stay hopeful.

amos1417

That's awesome!! Good luck and keep me posted!

halips

Well I am now joining you both in early Dec FET's! I feel like it's a lifetime away!  RE has me nn Endometrin 3x a day (insert) right now. I keep reading about the possible benefits to acupuncture so I made an appt for this weekend. I figure at worst, it will help me relax more. Anything else you ladies are doing to help prep?

ShayLatrice

@halips... HEY GIRL! LOL... I think acupuncture will definitely help you a lot, it reduces stress and just helps with energy and mental clarity. I think with the holiday this month that it'll go by pretty fast and our FETS will be upon us before you know it. Besides all the stuff I mentioned already, I'm now planning for my Thanksgiving dinner. I think I'll be hosting 8 adults and 2 children and I'm also shopping for Christmas decorations since this is our first year in our new home. Hopefully both of those will keep me preoccupied and make this month go faster! 

amos1417

Welcome @halips! It does feel like a lifetime away! It hasn't even been a week since I started birth control. Which I cannot stand taking! What is your protocol? Seems like you're a few days ahead of me.

I am starting to plan Thanksgiving too! My husband and I host his family now. There should be 10 adults and 4 children. I really hope it helps pass the time!

ShayLatrice

@amos1417 sounds like you have a lot of cooking to do. What's on the menu?

halips

@ShayLatrice  pretty sure we are in about 7.5 groups together  

@amos1417 thanks! Right now I'm doing endometrin (vaginal progesterone) and will start estrace as soon as AF comes (so hopefully the next week). They are thinking FET somewhere btwn Dec 7-9

Thanksgiving planning is going to be busy for both of you! We aren't hosting this year, instead my SIL is and I'm just making the cranberries, sweet potatoes and a pecan pie. 

ShayLatrice

@halips... I know we are group mates! LOL! Not hosting is sometimes a great thing, especially since you have so much going on preparing got the FET. This is our first year in our home so I definitely want to cook for hubby and friends. I'm planning my menu now, one great plus is that hubby want's his friend that owns a BBQ business to make brisket and turkey legs so this year all I have to worry about are the side dishes and desserts!

amos1417

Well, I cook the turkey, cranberry relish, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin roll and mashed potatoes. Each family member also brings a dish.

That's great that all you have to worry about are sides! That's easy Last year was the first time I made a turkey and thankfully it came out perfectly. How could it go wrong covered in bacon anyway?!

I really hope all the holiday prep helps take my mind off the transfer. I met with my doctor today, he is still optimistic about the transfer and said that you can't judge an embryo's success by its appearance just as you cannot just a person by their looks. That was reassuring. He also said that he cannot say I have egg quality issues based off one IVF cycle. He said that my ovaries could have just had an off month. That was also nice to hear. We have done non stop stimulation since June. 3 IUI cycles with femara, one IUI cycle with injectables and one IVF cycle with a lot of injectables. So, the ovaries could be tired.  

ShayLatrice

@amos1417 Turkey wrapped in Bacon sounds amazing! I've been cooking thanksgiving dinner since I was 17 and so any year I don't have to cook, or don't have to cook EVERYTHING I take what I can get. Hubby is so picky that he doesn't like eating over people's houses so even if we go somewhere to visit I still have to have a meal prepared at home. Unless we go back to MI to visit his grandparents. 

I'm glad your doctor is still very optimistic about the transfer that really does help. My RE is very optimistic as well and that def takes some of the pressure off my mind. Your ovaries could most definitely be tired, they had put in a lot of work since June and I'm sure they are appreciating a break. Have you already gotten your FET calendar or are you still waiting?

amos1417

It really does help that he is optimistic because I was really feeling down about it all! I didn't get a calendar, but I did get a timeline. I have 2 weeks of birthcontrol left; I start small Lupron injections next week and then once my period starts I go back for baseline and then I start estrogen and progesterone until my lining is thick enough. I told my doctor that I wanted results before Christmas so he said a transfer on 12/14 or 12/15 should be good. I can't wait!!

I helped my mom cook thanksgiving for as long as I can remember. I am really looking forward to it!

ShayLatrice

That is awesome at least you have a timeline. I start Estrace and Progesterone in 2 more weeks I think... not looking forward to those butt injections every day, but the things we have to do in order to get our miracle. I've been on Lupron for 5 days so far and my lasct BCP is tomorrow...should get a period a few days later and then I go in for my Baseline on the 16th. Seems like right around day 5 on Lupron I get a major headache, luckily I had acupuncture today, because when I went in and told her I had a migraine she did some points to treat it. Walked out there feeling so much better. 

halips

@ShayLatrice  My progesterone is taken vaginally rather than the shot. have you asked if you can do that instead? No pain, very little mess.

@amos1417 so glad to hear that your RE is optomistic! Fx!

ShayLatrice

@halips I did ask if I could do the vaginal progesterone, but due to my history of low progesterone my RE believes that the injections are better suited for me. She said they produce higher blood levels, which is what I need apparently. I wish I didn't have to do any more injections... I'm really tired of them. I'm on Lupron injections for 16 more days and then the next day I start Progesterone so it's non stop...

halips

@ShayLatrice- boo, darn! Sorry you're feeling like a pin cushion, just remember why! Fx the time goes by as painlessly and quickly as possible!

ShayLatrice

I know right?... gotta keep my eye on the prize. I'm just like if I get a BFP I have to stay on them until 10 weeks of pregnancy... I don't think I have that much room on my butt! LOLOL

braz7911

Hi ladies! Nice to meet all of you! Glad I found this thread! I love popping into the bump - I just need to try to get on more often!

I'm prepping for my FET which looks like it'll take place around the first week of December. I was suppose to do a fresh transfer on November 3rd but none of my embryos made it to blast by then. Thankfully 4 made it to freeze. We have two 4AAs, a 4AB and a 3AB. We are going to thaw 2 and transfer 2. The nurse explained to me yesterday that if one doesn't survive the thaw, they will try to thaw one more.

I'm on estrace now with prenatals, vitamin c (recommended by my accupunturist) vitamin d (I have a deficiency), and do accupunture once a week. The last 2 days I had the worst cramps (was warned by my RE that this period would be brutal). I told my accupunturist and he did 2 points on my feet that totally took the cramps away. If I was ever skeptical before, I'm a total believer now!

Anyways, I'm so happy with how quick the FET protocol is. I totally agree with all of you about how the next few weeks will go by quickly. I have my birthday this weekend, report cards and parent teacher conferences the next week, then hosting both my and DH's family for thanksgiving. Then decorating the house for Christmas and beginning all the celebrations! I couldn't have picked a better month to have to wait it out.

So, the one thing I'm worried about is the PIO. I haven't had to do that at all during the ivf cycle or any IUIs. So how bad is it?

I'll be thinking of everyone as we move closer to our FET!

ShayLatrice

@braz7911 WELCOME to the December FETs! YAY!!! Looks like you and I will both be doing FETS first week of December. I'm a total believer in acupuncture. I've been doing it twice per week for well over a year and it has helped with everything from allergies to Lupron headaches. I hope you have a wonderful Holiday and it helps to speed up the time until the FET. HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY!!!

amos1417

Welcome @braz7911! Great quality embryos! So exciting I am worried about the PIO shots too! I haven't had to do them yet either. I will start Lupron next Wednesday and I am trying to mentally prepare myself for shots everyday for a few months. I am sure I will be doing PIO and vaginal tablets. Joy! LOL!

I am so excited that I have completed a full week of BCPs! Looking back, the week seemed extremely long!

Keep plugging along ladies, you're doing great!

ShayLatrice

I'm really nervous about the PIO shots as well...I keep looking at the needle like.... um...no thanks! But I guess when it is time to do it we will find the strength to get it done. So many of the ladies in my Sept/Oct Group are finally done with PIO and it seems like the time went very fast for them even though I'm sure it didn't. But from the advice I got was to make sure you ice your butt well. One lady leans up against the wall and another lady lays on the bed. When I did my trigger shot I just did it so fast I didn't feel anything...but PIO starts on the 28th for me so I have a little time to get my courage up! 

halips

@braz7911 Welcome!

Your embryos are great quality, so exciting! Fx for a BFP!

I also have been doing acupuncture and because of @ShayLatrice just started drinking raspberry leaf tea too. I go for my 3rd ever acupuncture appointment on Saturday. Not sure I'm feeling the benefits yet, but I'm hopeful! My RE also said to expect one of the worst periods I've ever had..YAY! But at least I know things are resetting and I can get all prepped for this little embaby

I'm feeling really lucky that my RE is having me do vaginal Progesterone instead of the PIO! Though, here's my funny (not funny) story about big needles... When I was on Menopur for stims, they provided me with syringes that had the 2.5 inch needle for mixing and the qcaps. I thought the 2.5 in needle was for injecting because I missed the itty bitty package of the tiny needles in my box of supplies. So for 4 days I was injecting menopur in my thigh, into the muscle. It wasn't THAT bad....

amos1417

OMG @halips!! That's so funny! But, it's not the first time I heard of that happening I know a girl who was going the PIO and her SO was injecting into the wrong place on her butt! She was breaking out in hives and then scabs from itching so much. Since she went back to our RE, she got the right spot and better needles and all is well in her world. Her first ever fertility treatment/IVF was a success!  

I have been doing all of my own shots so far, but I don't think I can do this one! Sometimes it took some time to even work up the courage to do the menopur and trigger! The follistim is easy because it doesn't really look like a needle. LOL Hopefully my DH can get past "hurting me" and get the job done! yikes!!

HBamama2B

@ShayLatrice lol. it felt like fooooooreeeeveeer. I think my hinnie has ptsd.

ShayLatrice

@halips OMG... I can't imagine menoupr in the thigh... the way it burns I would suspect I wouldn't be able to walk the next day. LOL... but I'm dramatic sometimes. 

@HBamama2B from the outside looking it just seems like it flew by but I'm sure it was like watching water boil...I feel like that with the Lupron right now... I'm like I'm only on day 7 of Day 23??? WTF!!!

halips

Well Ladies, my big mouth spoke too soon! I just got a call from the Nurse with my official schedule for FET. I will be starting my Lupron shots on Saturday along with my Endometrin. Then once I stop the Endometrin I will be on... PIO! Darn it! Last time she said it wasn't going to be necessary but now it is apparently?? I will be one of you now, bruised booty and all

The menopur in the thigh wasn't so bad. The burning only lasted for a few seconds and then I was fine. I thought that in the abdomen would be so much worse!

amos1417

I was envious for a bit there @halips!! I'm sure we will all be just fine

ShayLatrice

@halips Well I'm happy you have your official FET schedule. What day will your transfer be? Sorry you have to be with us in the bruised booty club! @HBamama2B I think we need to make those booty shorts for real now! 

amos1417

I have been experiencing light cramps on the BCP pills. It's like AF is trying to start or something. I've only been on them one week and I haven't been on BCP in 10+ years and I can't remember if this is normal. Anyone else?

halips

They have scheduled it for Dec.9th!  Only 27 more days! I agree with @braz7911 that this month is a good time for it! I have a birthday later in the month, then Thanksgiving and then a huge special event (Polar Express) for work on the 6th. So I will get through all the stress just in time for my transfer and be kept busy until then!

@amos1417 I have been off BCP for almost 3 years now, and when they put me on them prior to stimming I had cramping and then got AF. Seems normal to me, but if it gets worse or worries you, call your RE!

ShayLatrice

I remember being crampy every time I start back on BCP...it made me constipated which was causing the cramping feelings for me. I've heard other people say they had those issues as well. Could be your body adjusting to the hormones. 

@halips... WHOO HOO... we are 6 days apart! YAY!!

amos1417

Thanks ladies! I feel better knowing I'm not the only one.

Awesome, I am 6 days after @halips! Praying for our BFPs!!

ShayLatrice

@amos1417 YAY... that means we are 12 days apart! BFPS all around! Positive vibes in the atmosphere!

halips

I'm so excited for all of us!

ShayLatrice

Me too... I thought I was gonna be a lone ranger with my December FET. Hi-YO SILVER!!!

StephanieWalstrom

Good luck with your embryo transfer! I had my first egg retrieval today! They got 13 eggs!! I think my transfer would be in December or January. I'll be waiting 3 weeks to see how many viable embryos we have! Keep up the zen attitude!