****Been There, Done That**** 5/5 Check-in

Carol77B

Welcome to the Been There, Done That Check-in!!! (Intended for ladies who have gone through two or more IVFs/transfers and would appreciate the support of others who have also gone through multiple attempts.) Check-ins are every Tuesday. Your check-in leader is @Carol77B

Please update us on your current status! Cycling? In between? Taking a break? If you are not on the roster and would like to be added, please share your details with us and I'll add you!

Question of the week: Star Wars Day is next week (May 4th - "May the Fourth/Force be with you!") Are you a Star Wars fan or a Star Trek fan, or both, or neither?

Cycling:

@berries555     IVF #4

IfMamaAintHappy IVF #2 

@mm29           IVF #8 = DE/DS #2

@ronniesgirl1981 IVF #2.3

In between cycles:      

@Carol77B IVF #4.2

@Musicianlala26 FET #2

@Twinkie0612 IVF #4 FET #2.1

@westiemom22 FET #2

berries555

Well, ET was Sunday.  We had an excellent and good blast.  My RE grades them weird, but excellent is the highest.  Unfortunately we found out that nothing was able to be freeze, so we are praying these 2 stick.  I am not sure what our next step will be if they do not.  

berries555

I forgot QOTD....

I am not really a fan of either.  I am not really into Sci Fi.  I am hopeful that beta is on Star Wars Day.  May the Force be with my embies!!!

IfMamaAintHappy

@Carol77B I'm actually PUPO.    My beta is in one week....ugh so so far away!

Carol77B

@berries555 I'm sending thoughts and prayers for beta!!!

@IfMamaAintHappy congrats to you. FX that you'll have a great beta next week.

AFM:

I finally called the genetics company that's doing the PGS testing on my single embryo and the customer service rep I talked to said they received the frozen sample yesterday and that with frozen samples it takes about a week to get results, so I should get them next Tuesday. I'm glad to know which day to expect the call, but disappointed that it's going to be next week, since I'm going to be out of town for travel for work and will likely not have access to my phone during the day so I don't know when I will actually get the results, if my RE won't leave a message. I just want to know if I'll be preparing for a FET in June or another ER.

Carol77B

I forgot to answer the QOTW! I am a fan of both Star Wars and Star Trek. One of main hobbies is making costumes, and I've made both Star Wars and Star Trek costumes/outfits. I really liked the new Star Trek movies and I'm very optimistic for the new Star Wars, since I though the "prequels" were awful.

mm29

berries555IfMamaAintHappy Stick little ones stick!!

AFM- I'm in my 2WW as well.  Beta is Monday. 

QOTW:  I enjoy both, but a not a big fan.  I wouldn't camp out to see either in on the big screen.  But if I had to chose I prefer Star Wars.

IfMamaAintHappy

@mm29 thank you! Same to you!!

I have been so calm and peaceful until this morning. IF brain has showed up and I'm fearing the worst because I'm not getting a positive 6dpt, which is completely irrational I know. I need to get back to my happy place.

Carol77B

@IfMamaAintHappy everything I've read said that FETs often take longer to implant because they start a little slower due to the thaw, so 6dpt is too early. Both our other 2WW ladies are planning beta or bust, which I admire so much, since there's no way I could do it.

This is the first ER where I didn't do a fresh transfer, so I'm finding it interesting/annoying that I have symptoms that I would totally take for positive signs if I had had a transfer, so now I know, for me, that it all means nothing until beta!!!

IfMamaAintHappy

Beta or bust deserves a medal!! Patience is a virtue I don't have.

mm29

I'm not that patient, just scared to death to see a stark white stick.  I feel really optimistic right now and I have never been in this place with any of my previous cycles.  I want to keep this feeling forever.  I hope that I'm not faced with disappointment Monday.   

Carol77B

I'm rooting for you so hard, @mm29!!! I feel so good about this cycle for you.

berries555

@mm29 I hear you about the stark white stick.  I have seen enough of those.  I would rather not see anymore.  Good luck to you on Monday.  Looks like we are not only "beta or bust" together, but our beta is on the same day!!  

Have you had any symptoms?  I am not sure what I am having....only time will tell I guess.  I am trying to stay off Dr Google.  And I have a busy schedule for the next few days.  

westiemom22

Hey all!

I am still waiting on beta to go down. It was 44 Tuesday so working its way down quickly! We will begin ER after that.

I am neither a Star Wars or Star Trek fan. I haven't ever seen either (I know, I'm crazy)!

Carol77B

@westiemom22 that's great news about your beta. Your RE isn't going to make you wait until your first period after your beta drops before you start prepping for another ER?  I was told I needed to take at least one month off after my first period after my MMC/D&C before we could try again. I ended up take a lot longer off, since I wanted to maximize major lifestyle changes (weight loss, diet, supplements, etc.) However, based on my response to my last IVF, I'm worried I took too much time off.

Carol77B

@berries555 I'm going to be stalking this page on Monday for updates from you and @mm29!!!

IfMamaAintHappy

@mm29 you ladies are wise. I've been looking at white sticks and it's not a good feeling. So interesting how our experiences can be so different and lead us to make certain decisions. I've never been in this boat before and I totally regret not holding out. You articulated it perfectly- you want to hold on to that feeling forever. Stay strong!

mm29

berries555 said:

@mm29 I hear you about the stark white stick.  I have seen enough of those.  I would rather not see anymore.  Good luck to you on Monday.  Looks like we are not only "beta or bust" together, but our beta is on the same day!!  

Have you had any symptoms?  I am not sure what I am having....only time will tell I guess.  I am trying to stay off Dr Google.  And I have a busy schedule for the next few days.  

I'm not sure.  I've had twinges and cramping here and there, and I swear my boobs are super veiny (is that a word?)  I also wonder if it's the side effects of the meds.  But other times, I'm just my typical self.  I'm staying away from Dr. Google Fo' Sho' 

I just want to hibernate and wake up when the next few days, so instead I'm drowning myself in activities and work.  I have awesome coping skills LOL!!

przemosbabe

mm29 said:

berries555 said:

@mm29 I hear you about the stark white stick.  I have seen enough of those.  I would rather not see anymore.  Good luck to you on Monday.  Looks like we are not only "beta or bust" together, but our beta is on the same day!!  

Have you had any symptoms?  I am not sure what I am having....only time will tell I guess.  I am trying to stay off Dr Google.  And I have a busy schedule for the next few days.  

I'm not sure.  I've had twinges and cramping here and there, and I swear my boobs are super veiny (is that a word?)  I also wonder if it's the side effects of the meds.  But other times, I'm just my typical self.  I'm staying away from Dr. Google Fo' Sho' 

I just want to hibernate and wake up when the next few days, so instead I'm drowning myself in activities and work.  I have awesome coping skills LOL!!

Ticker warning



Am I allowed to post here? Were rooting for you over here!!! I can't handle it lol.

berries555

Beta results are in ladies.  

108!!  It is a positive.  I am sad it isn't a little higher, but I will take it. 

Progesterone is 78!!  

IfMamaAintHappy

@berries555 108 is a fantastic first number!! Congrats!  All my T&P and everything crossed for doubling numbers.

mm29

@berries555 My clinic said they look for a beta >100!  Sending lots of doubling vibes your way!!

My Beta is finally in.  Drum roll please... 

BETA is 1360. I'm shitting myself. (Excuse my language).

Carol77B

I am so freaking happy for you both!!! That is so wonderful, @berries555 and @mm29!

I'm on travel and don't have my laptop set up, so I'm just going to make this the same check-in for this week, since we have such good news!!!

Carol77B

The text is all weird, so I can't figure out how to edit the Question of the Week on my phone, but in honor of Cinco de Mayo, a new question:

What's your heritage? Do you have any special cultural events or holidays you love to celebrate?

berries555

@mm29 That is amazing!!  Do they think twins???  WOW!!!

przemosbabe

Ticker warning


Mine was 42! 100 is awesome! Congrats!!!!

berries555

@przemosbabe how many days post transfer was your beta?  

westiemom22

@Carol77B I think I will end up with another month off. They want me to start my period so they can do some saline scan thing to make sure I didn't scar from the D&C then I will start the ER with the next period is what I was told today. I'm doing what you did: exercise and change my lifestyle while I wait. I am also restarting acupuncture today. I'm ready to go! I hate the wait!

westiemom22

@mm29 and @berries555 Congrats ladies!!!!!!! So exciting!

przemosbabe

berries555 said:

@przemosbabe how many days post transfer was your beta?  

I got a pos at home 6 days after, and a beta of 42 7 days after

Carol77B

That sounds like a good plan, @westiemom22! I understand the hating the waiting! But at least with the diet and exercise and acupuncture, you are doing things to make yourself healthier, which is only a good thing!

AFM, unfortunately I found out yesterday from my RE that the embryo they tested was abnormal. He said it was a rare chromosomal abnormaility (he didn't say which one) and didn't think it necessarily meant I was doomed to future failure, so we are going to move ahead with another IVF ER-only cycle in June. I'll start EPP this month after I ovulate, so sometime around or after 5/21. And then I'll do 150 Bravelle AM/PM and 150 Menopur AM/PM. I'm happy that, at my request, we are not doing any Lupron. It may be completely my imagination that I have bad results with Lupron, but I don't think so, so I am very optimistic that I will have better results this time. And I will definitely keep up with the PGD testing, since that saved me so much heartache this time.  

westiemom22

@Carol77B good luck with your next ER! I think mine will be in June also so we can keep each other company!

berries555

@Carol77B  I am so sorry for you test results.  I hope that the June ER is much better

berries555

I forgot to add....Beta 2 was in and it was 225.  I wish it were higher, but I will take what I get.  I am really unsure because of my past losses...but I will just take it day by day.  For some reason, I don't think I will ever move to the pregnant after IF group.....

I am sorry for the pity party...I should be happy, but I am not.  I don't know why....DH is over the moon

IfMamaAintHappy

@Carol77B I'm really sorry for your test result. Hugs. You are strong and I admire you.

@berries555 hang in there. I imagine after losses we will never breathe easy until baby is in your arms. All positive thoughts from me to you (since I can't give them to myself)

AFM: had my beta this morning and am now waiting for the dreaded phone call. I had some bright red bleeding last night (it was very short lived but it's way too late in the game 13dpt to be having implantation bleeding) my hpt yesterday and today were negative. I've cried enough the last few days and am ready to start thinking about when I can do my next transfer with my last embryo.

Twinkie0612

Hi ladies!  Sorry I've been MIA.  Right now we are just working out what our next steps will be.  More to come once things are finalized. 

Congrats @berrries555 and @mm29!

westiemom22

@berries555 I think it's so hard to be positive after losses. You just want a pregnancy that is well above "acceptable" and comfort in knowing it's going to be great but it never happens. Hang in there. I hope you keep getting good news this time.

przemosbabe

berries555 said:

I forgot to add....Beta 2 was in and it was 225.  I wish it were higher, but I will take what I get.  I am really unsure because of my past losses...but I will just take it day by day.  For some reason, I don't think I will ever move to the pregnant after IF group.....

I am sorry for the pity party...I should be happy, but I am not.  I don't know why....DH is over the moon

Ticker warning



I thought the same thing as you not too long ago. I am still in shock now. Don't be sad it's not higher. I think you're doing great! My first one was 42 and the second was 80 something. Don't think that way the baby can hear you lol

Carol77B

@westiemom22 I hope I do have you as a cycle buddy in June!

@IfMamaAintHappy I'm so sorry. FX you can prep quickly for another FET.

@berries555 I understand completely and I'm sending so many prayers that your beta continues to rise and you go on to have a fantastically healthy pregnancy.

@Twinkie0612 sending thoughts and prayers your way and eager to hear about your new plan when you finalize it.