November/December IVF

Sparrow004

Hello everyone! I am 33 and DH is 33 as well. After nearly 6 years of TTC our journey through unexplained infertility has led us to IVF. I have been on BCP since 10/10. I will begin Lupron injections on 11/10, stims on 11/27, and ER is estimated to be on 12/5. Who out there is joining me in an IVF cycle starting in Nobember?

Piperella

I'm still in the Oct/Nov IVF thread, but I'll join you here, as this is where I'll most likely end up. :-)  I'm currently on BCPs.  I will go in for an ultrasound on 11/16 and will start stims on 11/18 or 11/19.  ER will be after Thanksgiving and the ET should be the first week of Dec. Thanks for starting this thread!  I'm hoping this month will fly by.  Next weekend is our anniversary and my birthday, the following weekend we are going to see Mythbusters Live, and then the next week is Thanksgiving.. I love a busy November!

emsmama15

Thanks for starting the thread @Sparrow004 - I've been meaning to start one and just haven't gotten around to it.  I'm currently on BCP (started last week) and will start stims on Nov 27th as well (cycle buddies!).  No Lupron up front for me because I'll be triggering with Lupron due to my PCOS.  I look forward to the journey with everyone here!!

***child mentioned***

A little about me: I'm 40, my hubby is 42.  We have one daughter who was conceived rather easily in hindsight (just a little Clomid and TI).  We've been trying for a sibling since I stopped breastfeeding in March 2014.  I say 18 months since it took FOREVER for AF to return.  We've been working with our RE pretty much that entire time.  I did several TI cycles and 6 IUIs.  I've also changed my diet and lost 45+ pounds to prepare for IVF.  So, I'm feeling pretty good right now!!

Sparrow004

It's great to meet you @emsmama15 and @Piperella plus a happy birthday and anniversary to you! Cheers to a busy November and Baby Dust to all of us!

Sparrow004

I am beginning Lupron shots on Sunday rather than today. I had my baseline appointment today and the doctor saw an egg follicle in my right ovary and wants me to continue taking birth control pills for a few more days to control it before I start taking the injections.

jhealey23

Hi all! I'm new here (and new to posting in general) but I've been really comforted/educated by the other posts I've read so I thought it might be nice to join in. Background is I'm 35, DH is 37, 3 years ago he was shot in the back and is paraplegic. He's awesome and inspiring and pretty much we just tried to get back to normal as much as possible, work, whatnot, but his injury makes natural conception pretty much impossible so we are doing IVF with ICSI, I'm on lupron now, scheduled to start stims on 11/22. Nervous, excited, terrified, all that. Glad to be here!

Piperella

Hi @jhealey23!  We we will be doing IVF with ICSI as well.  I'm not doing lupron for my cycle, and am just doing BCPs for now.  Looking forward to getting to know you better and supporting you and others goign through IVF around the same time as I am. :-)

emsmama15

Welcome @jhealey23!  We are doing IVF as well.  No Lupron though, just BCP.  Good luck!!

Sparrow004

I'm glad you decided to join us @jhealey23! We're both starting stims around the same time so we can support each other along the way!

PrayingMom2Be

Welcome @jhealey23! We're doing IVF as well and this time (3rd try) RE had me on Lupron. Having all those mixed emotions is just apart of it, embrace it and know that it's all well worth it!

Hope everyone is having a good night!

twomommiestobe

Maybe I should be here.... I have been lurking/participating on Oct/Nov ivf board just to get used to what happens and to learn as much as I can. I am starting provera to jump start my cycle then I will be doing my mock ivf cycle. So I won't be transferring when you are, but prob doing a lot of the same steps At the same time DW will be waiting for her cycle to start so they can proceed with her testing and check AMH and then start her part (she will be doing the egg retrieval) I think I will be doing a FET around the end of Jan. I am sure I will have a ton of questions, bc my RE told me nothing it seems! Lol

Sparrow004

Great to see you here @twomommiestobe ! I brought a small note pad with me to my baseline appointment today. I recalled most of the questions without referring to my notes but at the end when my RE asked if we had any more questions, I quickly scanned my notes for any questions I might have forgotten. I have much more peace of mind now. I hate the feeling of remembering a question I forgot to ask right as I've stepped out of the clinic!

twomommiestobe

@Sparrow004 I asked a tons of questions and took lots of notes. We had a few medical discoveries that took us by surprise (pcos and endometriosis) that we weren't really expecting, so I wasn't prepared lol I didn't really realize until I got home and we are sorting out two different protocols (my wife's and mine) that there were a few unclear things.

emsmama15

I have my nurse consult tomorrow.  I feel like I've had a lot of my questions answered, but I know there are a few things I'll forget.  I'm making notes in my phone of things I still need clarified.  I got on the scale this morning and I'm down to my goal IVF weight!!  SO FREAKING HAPPY!!!!!   I've lost 47 pounds for this.  I hope it's worth it.  HAHA!

Welcome @twomommiestobe!!  I love the idea of the reciprocal IVF.  A beautiful plan for your family!

Sparrow004

Congratulations on reaching your goal @emsmama15 ! I am a personal trainer do I know how much hard work it takes to lose 47lbs! @twomommiestobe, did they discover the endometriosis through a laparoscopy? Sending you and your wife lots of love and wishes you work through these discovers smoothly.

twomommiestobe

@Sparrow004 no, they saw the endometrioma on the ultrasound. It was covering the left ovary.

twomommiestobe

@emsmama15 way to go!!!!! We changed out eating habits and cut out gluten and I gained weight! Hahahaha

emsmama15

@twomommiestobe - that doesn't seem fair!!  I've cut out gluten too.  I feel so much better.  Do you notice anything different??

This brings up a question I had.  Is anyone doing anything different diet-wise to prepare for IVF?  

twomommiestobe

@emsmama15 I feel a LOT better. We already eat mostly chicken and ground turkey (very little red meat) but have cut out pork. More fruits n veggies (the least amount of processed foods we can) and no gluten. I feel great! DW is losing weight, I'm gaining weight! Hahahaha story of my life!

Piperella

Congrats on reaching your goal, @emsmama15!!!  That is awesome!  I've gained about 10-15 pounds since doing infertility meds this summer.  Right now I think I'm maintaining.  We have cut out all fast food (except Chickfila) are cooking in much, much more.  We are trying to do more crock pot recipes with chicken mostly.  I've cut out deli meats to prepare for not being able to eat them all the time (they are supposed to be okay if cooked though, but I love a COLD deli meat slice).  Hope your meeting goes well tomorrow.  

I think my nerves are getting the best of me.  I'm tired of taking BCPs and ready for Monday, when I go for the ultrasound that will start my stim meds.. Actually.. I think I just don't want to go to work Thursday/Friday.. haha.. 

emsmama15

@Piperella, Ahh, Chickfila!!  My hubby is stopping there on the way home and getting me a salad for lunch tomorrow.  I love Chickfila!  I joined a clean eating crockpot challenge on Facebook.  They post the recipes every day starting next Monday.  I'm pretty excited to see what they post.    

The fertility meds are awful for weight gain.  I asked my nurse if I have to be at my goal before or after stims.  I was VERY happy when she said before!!    

imnottelling

Thank goodness I found this post. I'm new to posting, but I've been on the BUMP for a while now. My husband and I are both 38 and have been TTC for just over 2 years. I took Depo for over 10 years.

We live in a really remote part of the world so IUI wasn't an option for us. I am starting Suprefact nasal spray tomorrow then on the 25th I will be travelling 1800KM to my clinic for an ultrasound on the 27 start sims on the 28. My ER is scheduled for Dec 11. I'm excited and nervous and scared. I'll be away from my husband for 2 weeks, then he'll fly down for the procedure and drive back with me afterwards. 

I'm not really sure what I'm looking for on here. Maybe just following other women's journey so I don't feel so alone in it.

Sparrow004

Welcome @imnottelling! I'm glad you found us too! We're all here to listen and help whatever way we can!

Sparrow004

Hello ladies! I created an Instagram account to document my IVF journey. If you want to take a look at some photos look me up sparrowtales. If you ladies have IG accounts that you would like us to follow please let us know!

sfleiss

Hi Everyone! I'm also on this journey with all of you, it is so nice to know we are not alone. I feel like my treatment is a bit different: I am not taking Lupron. I started on BC on the 4th day of my cycle, and start sims on 11/20 with approximate ER on 12/1. I am so nervous for the ER, I haven never been put under, and I don't hear such good things from a friend who is going through IVF!

2legbaby

Hello! Ladies! I will  be joining you (hopefully) and will be starting stims the 25th-26th with estimated retrieval date of Dec 9th. This is my second round of IVF so I am hoping I can help out with any questions for the first timers! I was in the Sept/Oct group and it was great to have so much support. My RE has me doing a "natural" cycle leading to IVF to try and improve my response, but it means that my period has to start by Nov 26th at the latest since my RE office batches their IVF cycles....FX!

Looking forward to getting to know you all!

Thanks @Sparrow004 for starting the thread!

Joyzie77

Hello everyone!! I figured I would pop in and say hi. I was in the September group but the embryos did not stick. A little about me. I've done one round of IUI and one of IVF. Unexplained infertility. There were 6 embryos but after PGS testing we only had 3. So, last month we transferred 2 but it didn't work. We have one more frozen embryo to transfer this time. The doc wanted to try a longer protocol so I'm on week 2 of birth control. I will probably do another week or so. Then Lupron. Then estrace and progesterone injections. I guess my transfer will be around the first week or so of December but I'm not sure. Glad to join you all and hope to provide support and answer any questions I can to help anyone who is new to all this. It can be so overwhelming at times. it sounds like we all are on a similar timeline. Hoping to see some BFP's in thus group!

Joyzie77

@sfleiss ... I'm sorry you are worried about being put under. I was under for the retrieval and found that I was more nervous than I needed to be. It's a scary thing if you've never been put under. I hope your experience is an easy one.

kristylang

Hi ladies new to this board, but have been on TTTC. A little background on me and my DH. I'm 33 years old and so is my husband. I'm diagnosed DOR and my husbands sperm count is ok, not the greatest but nothing the doctor is concerned about. We did two IUI's and one round of IVF. All failed. We are beginning our second IVF. Right now I'm on BC and they have me onAndroderm patches which is testosterone patches. Those help with my follicles. Our first IVF my follicles were good sizes but they were only able to get one good egg. Huge disappointment but it fertilized and we did a day 2 transfer. TWW was torture and we got out BFN. We took some months off so I could focus on myself and continue with acupuncture to balance my body. We will be starting our stim cycle on 11/30 with ER 12/9-12/13. We are coming up on 2 years TTC. We are both ready for this round and continue to pray this will be our Christmas miracle pregnancy.

Thanks for letting me join and I look forward to going through the process with everyone.

Babyvin

Hi everyone, this is my 2nd cycle of IVF. I will also be joining you for Nov/Dec. Currently I'm on birth control. I'm starting Lupron on Mon 11/16 and stims 12/2. The 23rd I go for my 2nd endometrial biopsy. Not looking forward to it.
Hoping the 2nd round is the lucky one

Joyzie77

Welcome @kristylang and @Babyvin ...

emsmama15

Welcome @imnottelling.  What is Suprefact nasal spray?  May I ask where you're located?  You have quite the "commute" for your IVF!!    Good luck!!

Welcome @sfleiss - your protocol sounds like mine.  I'm not doing Lupron just in case they need to use a Lupron trigger if they're concerned for OHSS.  I found out today though that they plan to use HCG if all looks well, so that made me happy - only one shot.    Also, I obviously haven't had IVF, but I've had the sedation they use for carpal tunnel surgery and I woke up feeling like I'd had an amazing nap!!  

Welcome @2legbaby.  Good luck with IVF #2!!  Glad to have you here!  I hope your period arrives on time!  This month, I had to start by last the 4th or my cycle was in danger of being CANCELLED and it finally started in the afternoon on the 4th.  I was freaking out!!

Welcome @Joyzie77!  Best of luck to you on your FET!!  It seems like the meds for FET are just as intense or more so than for a fresh cycle!!  It surprises me!

Welcome @kristylang!  Are they doing something different in the hopes of getting more viable eggs this time?

Welcome @Babyvin!!  I hope your 2nd IVF is successful!!

I had my nurse consult today, weight was on target at the clinic too (YAY!), so we're all set.  I got my protocol (Menopur and Gonal-F, Ganirelix later on, Endometrin suppositories after - so no PIO!!).  I was VERY happy to get a call from Walgreens this afternoon to discuss pricing.  I found out my insurance (which covers nothing for IVF) covered all my meds but my Endometrin.  Thank the lord!!  All in all, I had a GREAT day!!

kristylang

Thank you! They are hoping this will allow me to produce more eggs. Some meds are changing but I don't get my meds for another week or so. Prayers to all you ladies that we all get our BFP!!! Happy Friday!

imnottelling

I started my Superfact Nasal spray today. This is my first round of IVF and by starting the drugs it's kind of like "okay, this is really happening". And we aren't going to be able to do this naturally. I had just always hoped that by some miracle it would just happen. But now it's REAL.

I'll be on the nasal spray for 14 days then injections for 14 days, give or take. My husband has antibodies on his sperm so we will be doing ICSI and probably hatching.

I haven't really let any thoughts of this not working come into my head yet, but in the back of my mind I know it's a possibility.

Can someone tell me more about the acupuncture? Is there a certain point in your cycle it is supposed to be most helpful? how often do you go? I've had acupuncture before for other reasons but not this.

kristylang

I have been doing acupuncture since May and absolutely love it. I go to a doctor who specializes in infertility acupuncture. I go once a week and he has me on herbs too to help balance my period of cramps, clotting, and mood swings. They believe you shouldn't have any of that. Once your body is balanced you should have no problem getting pregnant. I like it because it has helped my period and is very relaxing. The herbs are expensive but thank goodness he swings it so my insurance covers it. I would start it right now and find a person who specializes in fertility acupuncture.

takethelongway

I have read everyone's intros and I am excited that so many ladies are going through IVF this month. I am glad to know I am not alone and I look forward to following everyone's journey.

@emsmama15 my protocol is identical! I have Lupron for a trigger (I think anyway) in case I have too many follicles. I have an AMH of 8.6 so my RE wants to be extra cautious. I'm hoping we can get an FET in before 12/22 because the lab shuts down then and for insurance purposes. However, it looks like right now the ET will be early December and FET in January. Last BCP today so just waiting on AF to get the party started!

emsmama15

@imnottelling - I've been doing acupuncture for anxiety (related to this infertility business) for the past year.  I also go to a fertility acupuncturist and I'm going weekly right now.  I read a couple articles that showed increased rates of implantation with acupuncture done before and after transfer with IVF.  My acupuncturist is going to come to my clinic to give me acupuncture on my transfer day.    I'd start now too!

2legbaby

@imnottelling- that really is quite the trip for your cycle! I hope that all goes smoothly for you and your husband! 

Regarding your question on acupuncture, I am like @emsmama15 I have been going weekly for acupuncture and while my acupuncturist claims she can sort out cycles for PCOS and thicken linings for endometrial problems (there are no medicine based papers supporting these claims), I really feel I benefit most because I just fully relax while I'm there,usually fall asleep and it is a good reset. As for medicine based evidence @emsmama15 is correct that most of the papers showing a positive response when getting it done right at the time of transfer - if we get to make it to a transfer this time, my acupuncturist wants to do the night before, morning before and right immediately after the transfer.- I think it is awesome @emsmama15 that your acupuncturist is going to go to your clinic-I wonder if I could talk mine into that?  

Carlaisy

Hi everyone! Been a member for a while.. TTC for 4 yrs, had 3xiui and now having ivf in Jan! Fx for all you gals... let's get those BFPs a-coming! I am also embarking on an acupuncture research. .it sounds so beneficial! Thanks for sharing all your experiences. I can't wait to start our first cycle ! We will do icsi too.

2legbaby

@emsmama15- I can't believe that AF waited to the last possible minute on you to start!!!! STRESSFUL!!! So glad you didn't have to cancel!!!

I am trying not to freak out about it as there is really nothing I can do to make the timing work HOWEVER with our deductable fully maxed out this year (LOL!) it will be a lot less expensive if we can go this cycle....what will be will be.....that being said- if anyone knows any "Bring on Aunt Flow" magical dances- I'll do them starting November 23rd I swear If they work I will even post the videos I will be so happy:)

2legbaby

Just an FYI For anyone paying out of pocket for their IVF meds, I used a Walgreens recommended by my RE office and they had an "IVF discount" card (cost $25) under New Life Agency that saved you $100 for every thousand dollars spent, plus you still got the rebates from the drug companies (I used bravelle, menopur and Cetrolix (sp?) and got back an additional $1040 in rebates as well)!