***August Tropical Ovaries 8/14***

gsancho

Welcome to the August Tropical Ovaries Check-In!!!  Check-ins will be every Monday (by AMShark) & Thursday (by gsancho).  

This is a check-in for those who are doing IVF/IVM or FET with an ER/ET scheduled for August. If you are interested in joining, please fill us in on your cycle below.  Please include what cycle number this is for you, where you are in the process, when you expect to start stims, and when you're planning on retrieval and transfer.  (Also, please update us along the way!)

Badge link: https://i61.tinypic.com/34zll06.jpg

DAY 10 OF STIMS:

QOTD:  What did you do, or what do you have planned for ET day?  Are you on bed rest for long?  Any good movie line-up or TV series binge you have lines up?

BFN

CRMhoney IVF#2 ((CPG - big hugs))

alpCRNA IVF#1 ((hugs))

Cindal IVF#1 ((hugs))

CML11 IVF #1 ((hugs))

PUPO!

AMShark IVF #2 

ashlee IVF#1

Buttmonkey34 IVF#1

calbiz IVF#1

Canuck13 IVF#1

gsancho FET#1

LeggyJeggy IVF#5

LuBirdie IVF#3

2WW (converted to IUI)

ronniesgirl1981 IVF#2

BETWEEN ER/ET

alicia1834 IVF #?

angjohns99 IVF#2

AuroraP725 IVF#2

AshleyS131 IVF#1

ktabs IVF#1

LilyHarper IVF#1

tifga IVF#1 (ET in Oct)

FET Cycle

aethornb FET#1

Aimothy FET#1

LundleBean FET#1

MeatandBandP FET#1

Pintobean39 FET#1

sunshinedaisies000 FET#1

TheNaijaGal FET#2

Stimming/Priming/Monitoring

aliciafiggy IVF#1

Andy99 IVF#1

CaringCat IVF#2

Daggermouth IVF#2

daydreamernyc IVF#1

Frenchteachermama IVF#1

heatherrb23 IVF#1

Kinderteach78 IVF#1

kmmd13 IVF#1

Lesliem0901 IVF#1

Prep (CD1/Lupron/Waiting on CD1)

blueeyes233 IVF#3

SillySally24 IVF#1

yvonne0001 IVF#1

gsancho

Good luck with your beta today @CRMhoney !  And good luck your your ER @ktabs !

ET is tomorrow and I am excited, but stressing about all the stuff I want to get done before tomorrow afternoon.  RE recommends 3 days bed rest.  I know there's conflicting data on best rest, so I'm not sure if I'll be held hostage in bed all weekend...but I'll be home relaxing and enjoying every minute of it.  

QOTD: We've been watching Hannibal on netflix, so I'll probably finish season 2 and try to not have nightmares.  I'll also be researching for fantasy football, since I haven't kept up with the news lately and have a few leagues, including on 3T  I need to win!  That's right, @ButtMonkey34 and @Pintobean39 I'm lookin' to kick your butts!  whahaha

Frenchteachermama

Thanks for the check-in @gsancho!  YAY for ET!  Have you seen Orange is the New Black or Homeland?  Both excellent binge tv series!!

AFM:  I'm feeling really discouraged  On Monday after 3 days of stims my E2 was only 33 and then yesterday after 5 days of stims it was 71.  I have 6 measurable follies (2-6mm, 2-8mm, and 1-9mm).  I'm just so freaking worried that this isn't going to work and that they are going to cancel my cycle.  I'm already on 450 of gonal-f so there isn't much more they can give me.  I have another monitoring appointment on Saturday.  I'm praying my E2 numbers keep rising and I can keep all 6 follies until ER.  Just feeling a little down

((Hugs)) to everyone who needs them!!!!!

tifga

ER was on the 3rd, I am still having pains here and there which are making me nervous about going back to the gym. I was thinking maybe I'll go back for the sept. training session and just rest up the rest of aug. But then I worry I am just being a lazy buns. 

We have an appointment on tues. to talk to our Dr. about the FET but his nurse made clear we are taking a one month break before we start.

Wow congrats on all the PUPO, that is amazing!

QOTW:

I don't know what my RE has as a rule but he is pretty up on new research so I can't imagine he will order bed rest so my plan is to walk with husband to the near by raw food restaurat for lunch after the transfer.

But of course I have months to think about it. 

gsancho

@frenchteachermama I watch Homeland, but I've been thinking of adding OITNB soon.  Hopefully your ovaries kick into high gear and get more E2 going.

And for your amusement, I thought I'd share how ridiculous my stomach looks with all these E2 patches.  I kinda wish they'd take my E2 again so they could maybe let me take 2 off, assuming my levels were good.  I've learned to take the sticky stuff off with makeup remover, but I am too tired and lazy today - I'll clean up before ET tomorrow.

Pintobean39

Good luck @CRMhoney‌ today on betas, @ktabs‌ at ER and @gsancho‌ tomorrow at FET.

Congrats @Buttmonkey34‌ on being PUPO!

Not much going on here just waiting for my next appt for my lining check to schedule my FET. I do have to increase my vivelle patches tonight. Just curious anyone that's been on them have you had any side effects? I honestly thought they were smaller, I now see your problem @gsancho‌ about having a place to put 6 of them.

QOTW: I don't have instructions yet about activity. I imagine I'll probably take it easy for a few days though. I'm hoping my husband is off so we can binge watch Strikeback. Were running out of shows. I've already seen Orange is the New Black and House of Cards. We also just started watching The Knick, which is good but it just came on.

tifga

@gsancho

Wow that looks really uncomfortable. Good luck at your ET!

Kinderteach78

Today is day 4 of stims and I woke up feeling a little crampy but otherwise ok Nausea seems to be subsiding slightly every day. Went in for monitoring this morning and everything looked good. Saw a bunch of follicles on the right and several were around 10mm already. Left showed several but not as many as right. Wondering if that's because of the cyst I had there? I'll find out more when my nurse calls later!

My RE doesn't do bed rest for ET or ER either, which makes me a little nervous! She said to take it easy the day of and them play it by ear. I guess everyone is different in how they feel. She did say 2-3 days of light activity after ET. I'll def need some clarification in that lol!

Pintobean39

@gsancho‌ I've had patches before and found that the Neutrogena bath oil takes that residue off with no scrubbing at all. I just put it on before I took a bath and the residue just wiped off.

ashlee

@Frenchteachermama Sending (((Hugs))) I know it is so stressful! I was in the same situation this cycle with lower E2 and only six follicles, and threats of cancellation. I think my RE wanted to prepare me for the worst, but it ended up being okay after all.

I am 3dp5dt. Today will be my first day to get out of the house! My RE told me 48 hrs. bed rest. I watched the Young Victoria, which was good.

Aimothy

Good luck with your beta today @CRMhoney !  And good luck your your ER @ktabs!

@kinderteach78 I also had uneven amounts of follicles in my ovaries each time. The right worked better the second time than the first. Hopefully, you'll balance out a little bit more! C'mon Leftie!

@gsancho Perhaps you can turn the left over adhesive marks into some sort of awesome IF tattoo?

AFM, FETs are so much more relaxed. I feel like I'm not really in the cycle at all because I feel like I'm doing nothing. 5u of lupron at night and estrace twice a day now.  

QOTW: Two years ago, my RE had a strict 48 hour bed rest policy.  During my second IVF this spring, he said research showed movement increased bloodflow to the uterus and they were finding higher success rates, so I only had to be on rest the day of the ET. I was supposed to take it easy the next few days.  No exercising until beta results.  

AMShark

Oh ladies, I messed up!  @CRMhoney 's beta was on 12-Aug.  I added the note on Tuesday, but forgot to remove it yesterday.  I knew I would do something wrong.  

If I remember correct, she got a low beta, so we all still have FX for doubling, tripling or more!

AMShark

So, now that I've already messed up a check-in, I might as well check in myself.

No real updates.  I'm still PUPO.  I moved my beta up one day from 8/20 to 8/19, because on Tuesday I found out that I'm going to Amsterdam for work, and my flight leaves at 5 on 8/19.  (Sort of a last minute work emergency - not the normal day in the office).

QOTW: My RE orders bed/couch rest on the day of ER & ET, but said I could return to work the next day, so that's what I did.  I have a desk job, so it doesn't really matter.  I am restricted from lifting heavy objects, and they just said *no* exercise - which I hope will be changed to moderate exercise soon.

I watched a lot of bad tv, like Catfish the tv show after ET, and mostly slept a lot after ER.

AuroraP725

Good luck with ET tomorrow @gsancho‌!

@Frenchteachermama‌ I'm sorry you're feeling discouraged. I was a slow responder to stims too. FX everything starts growing quickly!

@Kinderteach78‌ My ovaries are lopsided too! I have 3 on the right and 6 on the left. My RE was never concerned about it. As long as your follicles keep growing you should be just fine!

After a disappointing scan yesterday, things are looking up today. I have 5 follicles that are 18-20mm and my lining might be starting to thicken. The fellow today measured it at 5.1! My nurse will call me later with my E2 level and decide if I'll be triggering tonight or tomorrow. Finally!

QOTD: I haven't thought about ET yet because we've never made it that far. I don't know how much bed rest my RE will suggest, but I'm looking forward to catching up on some House and Orang is the New Black episodes.

Canuck13

Well I am still PUPO at 6dp5dt...waiting is getting harder, especially because I don't feel *anything* happening at all (and I know, I know...many people have no symptoms during the 2ww but still...)

QOTD: I stayed on the couch the day of ET and the day after I stayed home but moved around a bit more...I watched some tv, read, surfed the Internet, etc.

As some of us get closer to betas I just wanted to wish all of you a ton of luck...let's get some more ladies on the August BFP list!!

gsancho

AMShark said:

Oh ladies, I messed up!  @CRMhoney 's beta was on 12-Aug.  I added the note on Tuesday, but forgot to remove it yesterday.  I knew I would do something wrong.  

If I remember correct, she got a low beta, so we all still have FX for doubling, tripling or more!

I thought I read her second beta was today...so technically you didn't mess up, and that's why I kept the comment on the check-in list

Lesliem0901

Hi ladies!
I should start stimming tomorrow if everything looks good. The RE is doing another cath check b/c they didn't record it when I went it for the saline sonogram. Not happy about that...

QOTD: I can't wait to watch a bunch of series. I just signed up for 3 months of premium channels for free, so I'm going to get into some of the new Showtime series like Ray Donovan.

TheNaijaGal

Hi ladies. Well cycle day 17 and finally got a positive ovulation test today. I will go in tomorrow and maybe Sat to see if the egg was released and then transfer 5 days later (natural FET cycle), which should be Wed or Thurs of next week. My lining is at 14. Almost crunch time!!

QOTD: I am going to take the day of transfer off. Stay on the couch and watch tv. Eating chicken soup and drinking hot liquids only. Will have socks on always. I am still contemplating whether or not to take the next day off. I think I will and take it easy

alpCRNA

I'm 10dp5dt and I pretty much know I'm not pregnant.  HPT was negative 9dp5dt.  I didn't bother to POAS today because AF has arrived in full force (TMI sorry).  Beta will make it official tomorrow.  I would like to wish everyone who is still in this good luck.  I would love to see lots of BFPs from the Tropical Ovaries!

QOTW:  RE wanted me on couch/bedrest the day of transfer plus 2 days.  So, DH and I had a Rizzoli and Isles marathon on ET day.  Sadly, I am hosting a baby shower for my nephew's girlfriend later this month.  I didn't want to have to do anything baby related if we found out I wasn't pregnant, so I also made all the decorations while on BR.  I'm not looking forward to that day at all.

Aimothy

I'm so sorry, @alpCRNA. Take care of yourself {{hugs}}

tifga

@alpCRNA I am so sorry. 

Pintobean39

I'm so sorry @alpCRNA‌ ((hugs))

Frenchteachermama

@alpCRNA I am so so sorry.  

@AuroraP725 and @ashlee thank you so much for sharing your stories, definitely gives me back a little of the hope I lost!!

ronniesgirl1981

@gsancho All I saw was how cute your little belly is.  Eff the stickiness!!

AFM:  I have to admit to feeling a little sad that I'm not PUPO.  Being PUPO is so exciting and such a treat after the exhaustion of a cycle.  I guess I'm not not PUPO, but you know what I mean. 

QOTD: I requested chicken and rice soup for ET.  We had already bought all of the ingredients, so DH made it for me.  Honestly, I was super, duper crampy the day of my IUI, so I pretty much had a couch day.

Kinderteach78

Why the soup and warm liquids on ET day? I noticed seeing that a few times?

kramiemom

@alpCRNA I'm so sorry, and I agree there is nothing worse than doing a baby shower when you just found out you aren't pregnant. I had to host mother's day right after my canceled IVF cycle and I cried for a while after.

I had my trigger last night and will have my ER tomorrow. I got SO SICK from the Azitromycin they made me take. I thought i had another bout of food poisoning but when i looked up the side effects of the anti-biotic and they were "nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, upset stomach," I knew it was just that. They made me take like double the dose. Does anyone's clinic make them take an anti-biotic before the ER? Weird. Anyways I feel MUCH better now! Wow... I was also EXTREMELY anxious before the trigger shot for some reason but when it happened I didn't even realize i had been injected or anything. Worried for nothing.

QOTD: My clinic only has you take it easy the day of the transfer not bed rest or anything but my husband and I have been vacillating between seasons of Star Trek, the Dick van Dyke Show, and our favorite Seinfeld. I may try to finish the last season of Grey's Anatomy as i relax. My mom is making me a bunch of food and freezing it so that the whole week I don't have to think about cooking and can just relax after work.

LeggyJeggy

I am PUPO, 1dp5dt!  I almost didn't think I was going to make it there yesterday.  My anxiety has been pretty bad this cycle and I had a full blown panic attack yesterday morning prior to ET.  The whole knowing anything was really getting to me since we never had more than 1-2 embryos to transfer on day 3 prior.  I thought for sure we were going to get there and I was going to go to acupuncture and then they were going to tell us that we had nothing.  Luckily, that did not happen.  

We had 2 hatching blasts that looked great so those were transferred. I was in shock and disbelief (and still kinda am) so I don't even know exactly what they were rated.  I'm not sure if they do the standard blastocyst rating there since I really thought we'd never get there.  Then of course, I was stunned and couldn't get any questions out!  Oh well, the RE was really happy about it.  We also had 2 early blasts that they were watching and hoping to freeze today!  I'm still patiently waiting that phone call...

@buttmonkey34 I'm glad your transfer went well! Did you get a call yet on frosties???  

@alpCRNA I'm so so sorry ((hugs))

QOTD:  Just taking it easy for me!  I did watch some RHoOC since I'm a few seasons behind though.  2WW is easy at this clinic, just no alcohol and taking it easy!

Lesliem0901

Big hugs @alpCRNA...I'm so sorry.

LeggyJeggy

@Buttmonkey34 Ok, I'm glad I'm not the only one who hasn't gotten a call yet!  A letter in the mail?!?! wtf.  Yep, seriously behind, still watching Gretchen and Alexis...!  RHoBH is next!  I was so happy to find them on hulu plus! 

gsancho

I'm so sorry @alpCRNA ...take care of yourself.  Baby shower sounds no fun.  For a vacation coming up, we booked an adults only hotel, just in case I couldn't handle seeing kids...I couldn't imagine a shower.

CRMhoney

Beta Update: Today was my second beta and doc just called. Beta went from 6.2 to 7. So, I am out of the running. RE called and told me to discontinue progesterone as well as answer some of my questions. This is now 2 failed pregnancies. I asked RE to run a panel of tests regarding my recurrent miscarriages. He told me that he is not concerned and that it has just been bad luck. 3 blasts gone, 3 left frozen. I am not sure if I should push for the testing or wait it out one more cycle. I am at Cornell in NYC, arguably one of the best clinics in the country...Do I trust his opinion?? 

Good news, if thats possible, I am ready to start getting ready for FET as soon as AF arrives. We will transfer 2 5 day blasts sometime in the coming weeks.

Game Plan: undergo 1 more natural FET. If that fails we will go on to do another fresh cycle with PGD. Here is the kicker... We are OOP so another fresh cycle is 13k with 6k for PGD. This is on top of the 26+k we have will have already spent. We are fully tapped out. Gone is the downpayment for a house. If all fails, we might have to sell the dog.  :o3

Thank you for all your kind words throughout these past 2 weeks! I could not have done it with out you.  I am FX for all of you that you get you much deserved BFPs!!! I am officially moving on to the september group, But I will be keeping tabs looking out for all your good news posts! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask!! 

Much Love! 

QOTD: for binging after ET... True Detective is THE BEST series I have seen since "The Wire". If you haven't seen "The Wire" you have to watch it!! OITNB is amazing also!! Honorable mentions: Penny Dreadful, Silicon Valley, Veep and House of Cards. It was a long cold winter here in NYC... lol

*loss mentioned*

TTC - 4 years

Me: 33 mild PCOS, Polyps removed (no scarring)

DH: 39 Lazy sperm

4 or 5 IUI's with clomid - BFN (lost count at this point)

IVF#1- (ICSI) BFP on 5dpfresh5dt. Heartbeat 120 @ 4weeks! M/C 9 weeks, 3 Days. Natural miss-carriage. No tests able to be done. Heartbroken. 

IVF#2 - FET. 2 beautiful day 5 blastocysts.  BFP on Beta only. Negative on all FRER. Beta #1 - 6.2.  Beta #2 - 7.  Conclusion - Chemical Pregnancy. ~X(

IVF#3 - FET Early September 2014

3 Snowbabies left.

gsancho

I'm sorry, @CRMhoney  Hopefully, you can get started on on FET right after AF.

Pintobean39

@LeggyJeggy‌ Congrats on being PUPO. For Future reference maybe take an acidophilus with an antibiotic, it helps a lot for those that have sensitive stomachs.

@CRMhoney‌ I'm so sorry. My RE doesn't usually do repeat loss testing until 3 confirmed cp's either.

AMShark

@gsancho - I should have known you were on top of things.  I'm so impressed with you for handling the Mon & Thu check-in duties by yourself in the beginning.  You rock.  GL with ET!

@ronniesgirl1981 - I remember feeling much worse after my IUI's than I did after my ET's.  I felt crampy on IUI days, and vomited after 2 of my 3 IUI's.  Don't downplay your procedure b/c it was IUI - Take care of yourself (chicken soup sounds like the right call).

@angsjohn99 - I took Cipro before ER.  I think that's an antibiotic post ET is standard.

@LeggyJeggy - Congrats on being PUPO!

alpCRNA - I'm so sorry. You are a strong woman with a very big heart to be hosting a baby shower in the middle of all this.  ((hugs))

Canuck13

Lesliem0901 said:

QOTD: I can't wait to watch a bunch of series. I just signed up for 3 months of premium channels for free, so I'm going to get into some of the new Showtime series like Ray Donovan. 

I started watching Ray Donovan (season 1) a few weeks ago...I'm about 5 episodes in, really liking it so far

Canuck13

@alpCRNA‌ I'm so sorry to hear about your bfn Are you on progesterone? I thought it would prevent AF from coming??

alpCRNA

I just wanted to thank everyone for the support.

@Canuck13  I thought that too, but apparently not.  I'm on progesterone suppositories BID.  I started spotting 7dp5dt and 9dp5dt AF showed in full.  This is one of my many questions I want to ask at the WTF appointment.

LilyHarper

@alpCRNA‌ and @CRMhoney‌ I'm so sorry. Progesterone frequently prevents AF, but not always. No idea if there's a technical reason for it. @angsjohn99, my RE has us take the same med, it even comes labelled which day for which pill, and I needed 2 the day before. @Frenchteachermama‌ are you just on gonal f? I was on Follistim and Menopur, they increased my dose of Menopur, rather than Follistim. Maybe they'll do that, if needed? Also, your e2 doubled in 2 days, which I think is the important thing, not the overall number. (my e2 wasn't doubling as fast as I liked, and some days would stall a bit, only increasing by 50%, but no one ever seemed to worry about it but me. ) AFM, I get my update tomorrow morning, and find out if I have to hightail it over there for a 3DT, or if it will be Sunday. QOTD: if my transfer is on Sunday, I'm sure DH and I will binge watch Orange is the New Black. If it's Friday, I may actually do the lesson planning I've been putting off. Maybe.

Pintobean39

I'm sorry @Buttmonkey34‌ FX your embaby is snuggling in nicely.

LilyHarper

*losses discussed in a general sense* @crmhoney, it used to be that 3 losses were required, but most doctors are willing to do the testing now after 2, because the recommendations have changed. But make sure your insurance is on board with that. Expect to give them about 15 vials of blood. And, unfortunately, many times you don't get any answers. My rpl panel came back normal for everything, and even though it was frustrating, it was good information to have, and it was nice to be told I was normal for once.

ktabs

Thanks for all of the well wishes today, girls!
My ER was quick and painless. They retrieved 8 eggs and said they had to actually dilute DH sperm... Never heard that before! Apparently there is such a thing as being "too active"? I will get the call tomorrow to find out how many fertilized