***Weekly IVF Check in***

Pintobean39

Unfortunately I've seen so many people talk about having to move onto IVF and I felt we needed to have a check in for a place we can all come together and support each other.  I finally sat down at a computer this morning to research the last check in to figure out where to start, I just didn't include where everyone was in their cycle because I'm sure it has all changed.  I'm mostly mobile but I am going to try my best to keep up with this check in every week on Monday, I'm already a day late.

This weekly check-in is for 3T regulars to fill us in on their IVF cycle.

If you'd like to join please provide the following...


1. Where are you in the IVF process (prepping, stimming, ER/ET date, etc)
2. What cycle? 
3. Test/beta day?

QOTW:  When you have extra money, what is your favorite thing to splurge on?

Pintobean39

I'm on birth control right now and I go for an US next friday and if everything is fine then I will be starting stimming the next week.  Nothing excited going on with me yet.

QOTW:  Until all these hormones have made me gain weight I loved buying clothes.  I also loved sandals but thanks to my messed up feet now I have to have special shoes and they just don't make a lot of cute ones.  Now my new things is purses!  I never pay full price . I love shopping at TJ Max and Marshals and finding cute purses.  I've found I can be wearing my gym clothes but having a cute purse on my arm makes me feel dressed up.  

adadeart

Thanks for starting this Pinto!  I'll just re-intro so you have all the details.

1. Where are you in the IVF process (prepping, stimming, ER/ET date, etc) I had my retrieval Friday and should go in tomorrow for a 5dt.  I am so nervous nothing will make it but I'm sure if they thought that on day 3 they would have transferred them then.  I had 8 going strong day 3.  I won't get any information on size/grading til I'm there.  I hate my RE for that as I know most clinics give better updates.

2. What cycle?  First IVF cycle.  Hopefully only one but if we're not successful I will probably do a 2nd fresh cycle so I hopefully would have enough to freeze and do CCS testing on.

3. Test/beta day? May 24.

QOTW:  When you have extra money, what is your favorite thing to splurge on?

Right now, home items.  I really shouldn't be buying anything b/c we're trying to sell our house, but I really want to buy a nice patio dining set but they are SO expensive!

Pintobean39

Good luck tomorrow @adadeart‌ I'll keep my FX that everyone of them make it and that you even have some to freeze.

I honestly can't imagine the stress level from 3-5day because I haven't even started the process and I'm freaking out already.

runawaylaurel

I haven't been on 3T for very long, and I lurk a lot, but I'll chime in. Thanks for organizing this, @pintobean!!

1. Where are you in the IVF process (prepping, stimming, ER/ET date, etc) - prepping! Stims start 5/19, estimated ER 5/30-6/1
2. What cycle? IVF #1
3. Test/beta day? I guess it would be ~6/14? That seems soon!

QOTW:  I used to splurge on clothes too, but since I've also gained weight, lately I've been buying house stuff. Etsy is SO addictive. 

Pintobean39

@runawaylaurel‌ good luck! It's amazing how quickly the process can be. It seems like you have to wait forever to get started and them it comes and goes in the blink of an eye.

I guess I could give all my details.


1. Where are you in the IVF process (prepping, stimming, ER/ET date, etc). Birth control pills. Stimming should start 5-27 and ER should be about 6-9. I'm doing ICSI and PGD.

2. What cycle? 1st

3. Test/beta day? The beginning of August. Seems like forever.

Twinkie0612

1. Where are you in the IVF process (prepping, stimming, ER/ET date, etc)

2WW

2. What cycle?

1st FET (using donor embryos) We've also done 3 IVF cycles (Only 2 resulted in transfers, our transfer was canceled for IVF #1 when all of our embryos stopped growing)

3. Test/beta day?

I've been testing since Sunday, all BFN. Beta is Monday 5/19.

QOTW: When you have extra money, what is your favorite thing to splurge on?

It's been awhile since I've splurged. I used to splurge on clothes, but clothes shopping is kind of depressing right now. I would like to splurge on a weekend trip for DH and I but I doubt we will. I would feel guilty.

jessimi06

Thanks for starting this!

This is IVF/ICSI #1. I had my trial transfer yesterday and stop bcps tomorrow, with my base us Saturday. I start injects on Monday with a tentative retrieval 5/29 and transfer 6/3. Test day will be June 12th

QOTW- vacations. Even if it's just for weekend- we both work so much/and on opposite schedules so I love just getting away and relaxing together.

Twinkie0612

Getting close @PintoBean39!

FX @runawaylaurel!

runawaylaurel

@jessimi06 - we're cycle twins- I start injects Monday as well! good luck!!

@twinkie0612- fingers crossed super hard for you. 

jaytee16

Good luck ladies!!  And FX so hard for you @Twinkie0612!!  

I am just waiting on CD1, likely in the next few days, to start IVF#1.  I had an endo scraping this morning - it wasn't fun, but it wasn't too bad, thankfully!  The plan is Puregon and Lupron, so we'll get started whenever CD3 rolls around.

QOTW:  We really are savers but one area we tend to splurge on is vacations.  I think it's always money well spent for the experience, memories and ability to see lots of different places.  I saw a quote once that said something like 'travel is the one thing that you spend money on but end up richer as a result' - I truly believe this.

Pintobean39

@Twinkie0612‌ as always I have everything crossed for you.

@jessimi06‌ Good luck!

@jaytee16‌ I'm glad the scraping wasn't to bad. I'm curious what is that for?

jaytee16

@Pintobean39 - there are some studies that have been looking at an increase in success rates for IVF after doing an endo scraping.  Essentially the theory is that endometrial scratching may trigger the release of growth factors from the womb lining that encourages embryo implantation.   It's still being studied, as with so many things in IF treatment, but it's a minimal procedure and so far it looks promising - some studies say it as much as doubles the chance of success.  I'm not sure if it will be that high once it's better studied, but I'm willing to throw everything we can at this IVF cycle.

Mozzarella13

Hey ladies! Fx for you @Twinkie0612‌! @adadeart‌ good luck tomorrow! My RE doesn't check on embies again between day 3 and day of transfer--he says there are better outcomes when they dont mess with them too much and leave them in their "growing environment"!
AFM, I'm on BCPs, going for ultrasound Thursday to see if I can start Lupron for IVF #2!
Qotw: accessories!

adadeart

Thanks ladies! I about lost it this morning b/c I received a vm from my RE this morning saying "please call before you come so we can discuss options and save you a trip". I thought for sure all embryos arrested. Turns out she just wanted to talk me into pgd! Too bad! Small heart attack, and wanted to punch her in the face!

Pintobean39

adadeart said:

Thanks ladies! I about lost it this morning b/c I received a vm from my RE this morning saying "please call before you come so we can discuss options and save you a trip". I thought for sure all embryos arrested. Turns out she just wanted to talk me into pgd! Too bad! Small heart attack, and wanted to punch her in the face!

I'd freak out too. So how did the transfer go?

adadeart

@Pintobean39‌ I hope it all went well! We transferred 2 of the 5 day blastocysts that were already hatching. We have 4 still going for another day, they think that only 2 will make it to freeze.

Pintobean39

adadeart said:

@Pintobean39‌ I hope it all went well! We transferred 2 of the 5 day blastocysts that were already hatching. We have 4 still going for another day, they think that only 2 will make it to freeze.

FX they snuggle in tightly!

StacyLH24

I would like to join, though we aren't actively in the process yet...

1. Our IVF consult is set for the 21st. I am waiting on CD 1 now so that I can start BCP. We are sitting this cycle out though. C and I both need a break. We are going to the bank on Monday to officially sign for our loan.

2. This will be IVF #1.

3. No testing date as I do not have a calendar, etc yet.

QOTW: We splurge mostly on eating out. I'm pulling that back in now though.

StacyLH24

@adadeart‌ - FX those embies are snuggling in!

@Twinkie0612‌ - I hope that your BFP is just around the corner. FX!!

Pintobean39

@StacyLH24‌ doesn't it suck to have to get a loan for IVF? I've got to call tomorrow to get my financing straight. I joke that our future child is going to have to go to public school because were going to be paying to get it here until it starts college.

StacyLH24

@Pintobean39‌ - Yes it does suck! I have to put one set of my student loans into forbearance so that we can afford the loan. I wasn't planning on doing that, but wouldn't ya know that when I went to reapply for the income based repayment that my monthly payment went up by almost exactly what our monthly payment for the IVF loan will be. I spent a good deal of the evening crying and trying to decide what to do. I qualify for one of the 10 year forgiveness plans and am a year in to the payments already. Oh well. It came down to the fact that I'm not willing to wait 9 years to start our family.

PurpleDaisy923

If it is ok, I would like to join you lovely ladies.

1. It looks like IUI#4 is a bust, so my WTF appointment is scheduled for May 20th. We are looking at IVF and embryo adoption right now. At my clinic, traditional IVF costs around $13,000 a cycle, whereas embryo adoption costs $6,000 a cycle. We only have a certain amount of money to spend on treatments and we want 2 or 3 kids (if possible), so the lower price tag on embryo adoption is looking really good right about now. 

2. This will be IVF or embryo adoption #1. 

3. Not sure about any dates yet. I should have a better idea after my WTF appointment.

Pintobean39

I'm sorry @purpledaisy923 about the BFN, but good luck in the IVF process. My husband and I have thought about embroy adoption if this first IVF doesn't work.  He said he wanted to try 2 cycles but we would revisit it after the first.  It's odd because after my 2nd medicated cycle that ended up in a cp he said he would not even consider IVF and now he says he's willing to give it 2 tries.  They say women can't make up their minds.

Amazing817

Hi All,

We have been trying to conceive for about 1 1/2 years now and it looks like our IUI #3 will be a BFN according to our RE. I am writing because he feels our next step will be IVF however we have two more IUI to use per our insurance which will take us into mid summer. 

I was curious if any of you have found a particular website or even a blog of a fellow board member helpful in learning the general timeline of IVF. I know that of course everyone has different protocols but wasn't sure if you could recommend something to hold me over to our 1st appointment. I know that we will be going to several meetings/sessions at are our RE office but I am a bit anxious. 

Your thoughts are much appreciated and thanks in advance!

PurpleDaisy923

@Pintobean39 - My husband and I have talked about IVF vs. embryo adoption a lot lately. I have come to the conclusion that it is more important to me to be able to experience pregnancy and childbirth than it is to have a biological child. My DH on the other hand, specifically wanted a biological child. He even asked me if it would be ok if he donated sperm to a sperm bank, so there could at least be a chance that he could have a biological child out there somewhere (I gave him the look of death for that comment). That was before he knew about the price differences. He is now all for embryo adoption lol. Men do change their minds a lot! 

Good luck to you too!

ChristieH917

@StacyL24 I am right there with you.  I go for my IVF consult on the 21st as well.  I am on progesterone to get AF here and then I will start my BCP.  This will be my first IVF cycle.

As for extra money... with this whole process, there isn't much extra.  If there happens to be some, we spend it on house stuff.  To top off the IVF process,  we are also trying to a buy a house through a short sale.  We have had our offer in for just over 3 months. 

runawaylaurel

@Amazing817- Sorry about the BFN. I'll plug my own blog (in my signature) but I'm still very early in the process (it'll be about 5 weeks from CD1 to embryo transfer for me). I'm blogging about my personal IVF timeline. There are also almost 300 blogs on this site that are about IVF, and they're helpful to see some other people's timelines. And this site has technical info about the various protocols and their timelines. Hope that helps. 

@christieh917- how stressful to be doing house buying at the same time! Hope that goes well!!!

StacyLH24

@runawaylaurel‌ - Thank you for sharing the blog site. I haven't checked it out yet, but I too am anxious and want to see what other experiences have been.

Mozzarella13

Back for a second update...had multiple cysts at ultrasound today, so I'm benched again. RE is going to check me next week to see if we can proceed...just hoping not to repeat my last time being benched with a cyst for 6 weeks plus!!

jessimi06

@runawaylaurel good luck to you too! It'll be nice having a cycle buddy

@Mozzarella13‌ I'm so sorry about the cyst, but hopefully it shrinks quickly!