Hi everyone,
I'm 38 and my husband and I are undergoing our first round of IVF. I had an overwhelm crying breakdown yesterday after the consultation. Today I feel grateful that we have access to this and science can bring us our family. Looking for any tips, words of wisdom and or support. Anything you could offer would help and I'd love to share my journey here with a community that is going through the same thing.
We have been trying for 16 months with no luck and have done 3 clomid IUI's that didn't work. We decided to move to IVF to give us better chances and to to see a little more clearly if we have any other problems. All of our testing came back great no problems, however, I do have Hashimoto's and high elevated antibodies so that could be making it more of a challenge. I look forward to sharing with you all. Good luck and baby dust!
Re: New to the board...approaching IVF for our first time..looking for support on this journey
Do you have an idea about when you'll be starting? I presume they have some tests to run before they can put you on a calendar. The monthly threads are really great for helping you connect with people who are cycling with you.
Good luck!! And congratulations for making the choice to bring out the big guns by moving on to IVF!
7 IUIs, 7 BFNs.
2 IVF attempts, both cancelled and converted to IUI, both BFNs.
Decided that my tired old ovaries are ready to retire.
Next step- reciprocal IVF, using my wife's eggs, my uterus!
fresh 5 day transfer (2 embryos) 4/17/17- BFP!
Identical twins "due" 1/2/17 (but anticipated arrival sometime December)
me 28 (Lean PCOS, hypothyroid)
dh 33
TTC #1 since early 2011
May 2011- natural pregnancy (metformin only); m/c @ 9 weeks + D&C
July 2011- lap to remove dermoid cyst
August 2012-current- 9 rounds of Clomid, 1 cycle of Femara, several cycles of soy isos, 1 IUI, O'd every cycle, BFN
August 2014- lap to remove uterine septum. Everything else looking good.
Moving onto IVF Feb/March 2016 Just kidding. Natural bfp 1/30/16. 1st beta 2/1 = 110. 2nd beta 2/3 = 332.
First ultrasound 2/19 - one baby with a heart rate of 127! EDD 10/11/2016
***bfp mentioned***
You will have plenty of melt downs, "I can't do this", "this isn't fair", "not one more needle"- moments. All. Perfectly. Normal. Especially because you'll be hopped up on hormones. Know it's ok to take a few moments to cry, be upset, let your emotions run your life for a few minutes.
When you get your box of medicine, you'll have another meltdown because seeing it all at once, it's overwhelming! I cried for 20 minutes staring at the box. Finally, I decided to go through it all, step by step. Each step in the process went into its own zip lock bag along with a note telling me what step was inside. Breaking it all down like that, made it so much easier to process to me. I highly suggest that to any woman doing ivf.
It was a terrible process and my DH was an amazing support. I couldn't have done it without him telling me I can do it, I was stronger than he would ever be, and it would all be worth it. One fresh cycle with bfp that ended in m/c followed by a frozen transfer that ended up in our beautiful, one month old twins. Now looking back, the process seems like nothing to me. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat!
I also agree with PP, you should connect via the other threads with those ladies who are in the same part of the journey as you. A strong support system at home and a strong support system here with women going through exactly what you are going through are so necessary to keep you going and keep you sane!
Good luck on your journey!
I actually am starting a repeat pregnancy loss and IVF blog and would love for you to check it out. My goal is to start a little community of women who are experiencing these similar struggles through this blog: ThreeLittleBeans.com
Positive vibes headed your way!
Kelly
Hi! I have a similar story. 3 failed IUIs and then on to IVF. I remember that meeting, and I was just devastated. I'm so sorry you're going through this. **hugs**
My best advice would be to have small milestones to make the time pass. I look forward to the 1st monitoring appointment, then maybe acupuncture, then stims, then appointment and so on. The process can be SO long while you wait. Stay positive! I know it's frustrating.
****CHILD/BFP WARNING****
TTC since 2/11 - Unexplained IF B/W revealed high prolactin levels. Taking bromocriptine for prolactin.
IUI #1-3 = BFN
IVF #1 = Cancelled (undermedicated = small follicles)
IVF #2 = ER 12/6 - 6R/4M/Only 1F
Transfered our one and only blast (3AA) on 12/11 = BFP!
Trying for Baby #2
IVF#3 - 13 eggs retrieved, 7 fertilized. All 7 got a fungus and arrested.
IVF#4 - February 2016 - 13 eggs retrieved. All arrested.
IVF#5 - June 2016 - 12 eggs retrieved. All arrested. Told I need a donor egg.
Changed REs.
IVF #6 - September 2016 - T-priming, HGH, Lupon flare. 31 eggs retrieved!!! 12 made it to blast! Transferred 2 blasts (5AA, 4AA).