April/May IVF

chickyclg

@calfherder, I was sedated just woke up in pain.  Maybe I'm a wimp lol because I felt like I was dying when I had my SIS too.  

lrynwnab

I got my LH surge yesterday so talked with a nurse today. We are doing a different priming protocol this time: instead of the patch/ganirelix, I am taking estrogen pills starting next week. I will also have a U/S a few days before CD1; which i haven't done. I'm guessing that's to see if I have any lead follicles/cysts. Hope not, but after I had one cyst it's hard not to be scared I'll get another. Fx that my eggs this month are better quality.

Tulips29

Good luck with this cycle @lrynwnab!  

Mazda626

I've been lurking a long time. Like 3 years long time. We are preparing for a May/June cycle so it looks like now is the right time to jump in. 

I'm 35, H is 36 and our dx is male factor: low count and low motility. We've had 1 IUI and 2 scheduled but cancelled due to low counts. Based on the time frame my RE provided we should be ready to go next month.

calfherder

@lrynwnab good luck with this cycle! 

@Mazda626 Welcome!

mtpbadger

Wow it sounds like a lot of you are gearing up to start your injections soon and another bunch will be there shortly!

@cmm012 that is so strange about your blood type! I've never heard of that before! Hope you aren't sore at all after your car accident!

@wifeinraleigh28 good luck today! Fingers crossed your BW qualifies you for the study! When will you find out for sure?

AFM - AF started yesterday (yay!) so I'll re-start BCPs on Sunday for 2 weeks. I was worried my body wouldn't cooperate and I would have to take provera to jump start things and have everything pushed back again. I'm trying to temper my excitement/anxiousness since I know things can still get delayed but I've decided to celebrate each and every step forward. My DH thought it was funny I was excited about AF starting....he just doesn't get it fully.

Does anyone else think it's Friday today? I was CONVINCED this morning that today was Friday....that means it's going to be a loooong two days. Ugh

erica0901

@mtpbadger I think I will just be a few days behind you! I am expecting AF by Monday (hopefully) and then I will go in for baseline and BCPs for 2 weeks. I'm excited to have a cycle buddy!

Tulips29

@mtpbadger yay for AF! And I was totally convinced it's Saturday today, since I didn't have to wake up until 8 am and it was light outside when I woke up. So I thought it's the weekend and then quickly realized it's Thursday and I'm waking up later since I'm working from home today lol. What a bummer! 

dragonfaerie

@Mazda626 Welcome! We have a similar story. I hope your stay is short!
@mtpbadger My days have been so thrown lately, I keep forgetting what day it is. DH and I are going out to dinner tomorrow to celebrate starting the FET process, getting my car paid off, and his work going well, so I'm like "Friday? Is it Friday? No? What?" Lol. I'm glad your body is cooperating!
@Tulips29 Anesthesia is different for everyone. I usually wake up weepy, but I didn't this time after my ER. They had me leave my glasses on so when I woke up I could see and not be too confused. I think it's a lighter anesthesia then say, a full surgery would be. I recovered from it quickly, but definitely took a nap when I got home. Sending you egg health juju!

mtpbadger

I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't keep my days straight! My coworker just told me she thought yesterday was Friday and was glad today was! I could barely keep a straight face telling her today was only Thursday (right, it's Thursday? I think I'm getting myself even more confused!)

@erica0901yay for cycle buddies! Hopefully AF comes on time for you! It will be interesting to see  if we starts stims around the same time if we will have our ERs around the same time depending on how our bodies react.

@dragonfaerie you have a lot to celebrate it sounds like!

Tulips29

@dragonfaerie I'm glad to hear the anesthesia isn't too bad and recovery is quick. And thank you! I will take all the egg health juju I can get!  
Enjoy your celebrating, you deserve it. Did you start anything for your FET yet? Looking forward to hearing what it entails. 

dragonfaerie

@Tulips29 Some people come up from anesthesia angry (like, trying to punch the nurses!) but with such a short "surgery" it shouldn't be too bad. Definitely have someone to drive you home and then sleep when get there. I ate lunch before my nap because I was starving, but then I just had an hour or two of sleep and felt so much better. I sat on the heating pad most of that day too. 
@mtpbadger Thank you!

I had a blood draw this morning to check my thyroid and Vitamin D (Vit D was low at the start of this.) I'll get a call sometime today with confirmation to start BCPs. I'll let you know as soon as I get my calendar and details. 

Kerami1

Good morning! I have been trying to keep up with everyone. It is exciting to see everyone moving along. The wait has been torture for me. I am currently on my second pack of bcps. I am supposed to take my last one on the 15th of April and then my baseline u/s is on the 19th with stims starting on the 20th. Now that I know what we have to do to get pregnant I am so tired of just being on birth control pills! I want to get started already!

Tulips29

@dragonfaerie oh man, that's some intense waking up. I'd hate to be the nurse getting punched! Hopefully that won't happen and all will go smoothly. I just look forward to napping all day and watching tv . My clinic also won't allow you to come to the ER alone and you need an escort home. Either DH or my mom will take the day off with me and drive me back. 

@Kerami1 welcome! waiting to start is brutal, but looks like you don't have much longer to wait. I was on bcp's for 4.5 weeks, so I know how anxious you must be. 

wifeinraleigh28

@Tulips29 - The only time I was under anesthesia was when I had my wisdom teeth removed.  I just remember waking up and feeling like no time had passed.  It was great!  I did feel a little groggy but it wasn't such a bad experience.  It's different for everyone, but I'm sure you will be just fine!

Welcome to our group @Mazda626!!  I'm glad you decided to join us and start posting

@mtpbadger - Yay for AF!  I totally get your excitement.  I was thrilled when AF was here on Tuesday just knowing that meant I could get my CD3 bloodwork finally and move forward!

I went in for my CD3 bloodwork this morning and I was told that my results should be in by tomorrow.  They are testing DHEA, FSH, TSH, and testosterone.  Fingers crossed for good results that qualify me for the trial!!!

erica0901

FX for you @wifeinraleigh28 !!

Tulips29

Good luck tomorrow @wifeinraleigh28! I'm glad to hear your anesthesia experience wasn't bad either. 

dragonfaerie

@wifeinraleigh28 FX for you!!!

Kellyfish79

Hi everyone!  I'm new to this group/thread!  I'm so excited and blessed to find a group of women going through IVF at the same time that I am. I've skimmed through the thread so far (already so big!) but will definitely take some time to go through in detail and get familiar with all of your stories. 

This will be my first IVF cycle. I am 36 (so is my DH).  We've been TTC for over a year and found out about 9 months in that I have a very low ovarian reserve.  So, RE recommended going straight to IVF (no IUI's).  We'll also be doing PGD testing.  AF came today, I have my baseline ultrasound and BW tomorrow (4/1) morning, and expect to start stimming tomorrow or Saturday. Ideally we will get to do a FET in May. 

Looking forward to getting to know all of you.  Cheers!

Tulips29

Welcome @Kellyfish79! GL with your baseline appointment and I'm hoping you have a successful first IVF cycle! 

calfherder

Welcome @Kellyfish79 !!!

@wifeinraleigh28 Good luck!!! FX for great results!

dragonfaerie

Just got a call from my nurse: she is so cheerful sounding!
I start BCPs tonight, last pill will be April 20th. Lupron starts the 16th. April 26th is considered "Day 1" and I have ultrasound/bloodwork. Then start the Estrace/PIO/Vivelle and tentative FET date of May 11th. May 25th is our anniversary, so I'm going to take this as a good sign and good luck!

ultratomato

Good luck @wifeinraleigh28 and welcome @Kellyfish79
got all my meds today which was like a big Christmas present lol. I go 4/8 for u/s and bw and should start meds as long as everything comes back ok.  They told me I might get a light AF not sure so I will see its expected on 4/7. I stop taking birth control on 4/3. Good luck ladies in every step 

Tulips29

@ultratomato you're the first person I've seen refer to meds delivery as a big present lol. I saw the number of boxes and got scared haha! Although now it doesn't seem like it was that much that I've gone through 2 gonal f and 1 menopur boxes. But big yay for starting so soon! 

ultratomato

@Tulips29 I'm actually scared of the needles for the meds I have not taken before. But I'm excited to start this journey 

Tulips29

@ultratomato do you give yourself the shots typically? What new medication did you get this time? 

ultratomato

@Tulips29 when I did iui I did follistim and ovidrel which were both small. Now I'm doing menupor and ganerelix, progesterone oil. At least my DH is doing the progesterone for me in the butt. I can't remember all my meds there are too many lol

Tulips29

@ultratomato I see. I didn't have that for my IUIs. I did bravelle first which got recalled. Then switched to gonal f. Now for IVF I'm doing gonal f since I have some left over + menopur and will do gonarelix also later on. I also have progesterone inserts and a bunch of pills that I haven't started yet. Think those are for the transfer. My sharps container is definitely filling up quickly this time around than during all 3 iui cycle. 

babylonghorn16

Hi Everyone!

Took a big long break from everything fertility related after I got my 3rd BFN from IUI. Now I'm starting the lovely journey of IVF! Had a consultation with RE on Tuesday, and just finished the online class my RE office requires. Have to say, it scared the crap out of me. So many meds and injections! Youch! 

I'm looking forward to getting started! Just waiting for AF at this point! Should be in the next couple of weeks. 

GL to everyone! 

Mazda626

We completed all of our baseline blood work and testing and have a follow-up appointment with the doctor on April 11. Any idea what we should expect? I'm guessing she's going to review the information and come up with a treatment plan. She's already determined IVF so what else could happen?

Tulips29

@babylonghorn16 welcome! The videos can be very overwhelming but they go over all possible injections you may have. Doesn't mean you will have all of them. I only received 3 out of what seemed like a dozen they went through. I also went through 3 iui cycles and to me IVF injections seem a lot easier. The needle is definitely smaller (for now on the injections I'm doing) and they don't sting like the iui ones did. You've got this so don't worry! And wishing you luck with your first IVF cycle. 

@Mazda626 yes, your RE will review results from all the tests and determine next steps. Since you said that IVF has been identified as the plan of action, you'll probably take birth control first, then get all your medications in order and start your cycle shortly thereafter. Good luck! 

babylonghorn16

Thanks @Tulips29!! I only did one injection (trigger shot) for my IUIs, so IVF definitely seems like a lot more. Good to know the injections are easier though! I think once I calm down and accept that fact that this HAS to happen in order for us to conceive, it won't be a big deal. I'm sure you get used to the injections after awhile anyway. Man, these babies suuure are going to be loved!! 

wifeinraleigh28

@babylonghorn16 Welcome to our group... I remember you from the IUI threads.  I'm sorry you have to join us over here but still happy to have you!  Congrats on moving forward! (Injections aren't so bad).

@ultratomato Congrats on receiving all your meds!  I'm sure you'll get used to the injections just fine and we just have to remember how worth it this all is

Welcome to our group @Kellyfish79!  It's always nice to connect with others on similar cycles, going through the same thing!

AFM, I was hoping to get the results of my CD3 blood work today but the nurse in charge of the trial emailed me this morning to tell me it will probably be early next week that she gets the results in.  I'm so anxious to move forward (either way) but I guess a few more days of waiting is nothing in the grand scheme of things.  I'm ready to join the rest of you with the stimms and ER!

calfherder

@babylonghorn16 welcome!!! I love your screen name!

erica0901

Whelp I'm gonna be delayed a month Just got a call from the nurse and my bloodwork came back with the testing they did to make sure I'm immune to certain diseases and it looks like I am no longer immune to Rubella. Like how does that even happen? So basically I have to get the MMR vaccine ASAP but the kicker is that you cannot try to get pregnant until 30 days after you get the vaccine. Feeling defeated right now, but I know I really don't have any other options to move forward.

cmm012

@erica0901 I'm sorry to read about the delay.  It seems like infertility is one bug delay after another.  Perhaps you could start acupuncture or some other type of health program to make the 30 days you have to have more productive fertility-wise.  Please hang in there. 

caseyw8784

@erica0901 We might be cycle buddies next month! that happened to me! but for chicken pox...even though i had it when i was 3 or 4, i guess it's been long enough or it was a mild case, either way i'm not immune anymore. What does the rubella vaccine entail? the chicken pox was 2 shots with 30 days between the two, and then that 30 day waiting period (which for me, ended this past saturday!)...it sucked to have to push back everything. also, my insurance won't cover IVF if i wasn't up-to-date on vaccines. i'm in a holding pattern anyways due to the pgd set-up being "built" but hopefully next month i'll get the green light! 

ultratomato

Sorry @erica0901 I hope your able to get it done soon. Good luck keep your head up this is just a little bump in the journey.

erica0901

@caseyw8784 I am waiting to hear back from my PCP, but I think it's just one vaccine (I will be looking it up). Yay for the possibility of being cycle buddies

dragonfaerie

@ultratomato For me, the Ganirelix was similar to Follistim. Super easy to go in and no pain. It was a little itchy after, but that's normal for most women.
@erica0901 I'm sorry to hear about your delay. Definitely use this time to have some fun and maybe add something to help with stress.
@babylonghorn16 Welcome! It can be overwhelming, but you'll be a pro in no time! I hope your stay here is short.
@Mazda626 I brought a list of all of my meds, workouts, and activities that I do/use to see if I should modify anything. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions!