April/May IVF

chickyclg

@babylonghorn16 my FET meds last time were Prenatal, Folgard, Estrace, Baby Asprin, Minivelle Patch, Heparin, Progesterone Oil.  I'm assuming it will be a similar protocol this time, possibly switching Heparin for Lovenox this time.  The aspirin and Heparin were for my blood clots though.

Tulips29

Thank you ladies! I've been a slug the whole day mostly lounging around, napping and watching tv. I'm still in pain, which I don't feel when I'm laying down. Only when I get up/sit down. Walking a little bit here and there eases the pain and then it starts up again. I hope I can feel better by Friday so I can go back to work. 

I should find out how many eggs fertilized tomorrow and then they'll be off to PGD testing  

calfherder

@Tulips29 19 is a great number! FX for lots of fertilization! Are you PGD-ing 3 day or 5 day?  

AFM I'm on progestin. Trying to get AF started so I can start BCPs. I had BW/US, they said my hormones are out of sync from just coming off an ivf cycle. I also got a partial med shipment yesterday. And I got my calendar, retrieval should be around May 15th.  

Also, I have a new medicine this time called HGH (Omnitrope). Is anyone else getting this? My doctor says it is very recommended for me. I read about it on here and other forums, all good things. I'm excited to see what happens!

Tulips29

@calfherder I'm not sure, honestly. I'm waiting for the clinic to call me and discuss next steps. 

For anyone who has been through ER, is this pain normal? I feel like I got punched in the belly literally and I can't walk straight when I first stand up. Also, my belly really starts to hurt when I have to pee (sorry for the TMI). Getting off the bed a few times at night was not easy. The clinic said most people go back to their normal activities the next day, but I can't even imagine commuting to work like this. Not sure if this is normal or if I should be concerned. I'm taking tylenol, but not sure what else I can do to easy this pain. It's definitely not slight cramping type of pain.  

chickyclg

@Tulips29, mine was pretty painful.  Is there a chance you could be getting OHSS?  Are you having any swelling?  

calfherder

@Tulips29 I was in pain for a week and a half after retrieval. Did the clinic give you a laxative? Mine didn't and I found out all the pain was from trapped gas and being backed up. And ovary areas were sore for a couple weeks. I could barely move. So sorry you're feeling bad

Tulips29

@chickyclg It's so weird, I honestly don't even know. I'm not sure if it's swelling or bloating really. Not sure about OHSS, but I guess I can call the clinic and ask. 
@calfherder oh man, a week and a half? Ugh, that stinks. I didn't get a laxative, but you may be right. Did you take something on your own to release the pains? Why don't they tell us these things???

calfherder

I took a bunch of Colace and drank coffee. It still took that long to have a BM. I'm with you, I was upset that no one prepared me for that. The nurse actually said that I wouldn't be getting a laxative since we weren't doing a fresh transfer. They should give laxatives to everyone because that pain is no joke!!! 

wifeinraleigh28

I'm so sorry you're in pain @Tulips29  I haven't been through ER myself so I don't have personal experience to share, but I've heard from many women on these boards that pain is normal, especially in the few days following retrieval.  I hope you feel better soon!!  I would definitely call your clinic and explain your symptoms just to make sure there isn't anything else going on.  OHSS can definitely happen after all those injections!

AFM, I just did another AMH at my clinic.  Really not sure what I'm hoping for the results to be, since there are pros and cons to participating in the clinical trial and with doing IVF according to my doctor's treatment plan.  I guess it's out of my hands though and we shall see.  The good news is the nurse told me that I just need to be free of treatment for 1 month prior to the trial, which means that if we do wait until June for the trial, I will be able to do another IUI next cycle (which will mean an IUI in early May).  So I will still be eligible for the trial one month later in June if I get a BFN.  At this point all I can do is wait and see.

Tulips29

@calfherder so you can't take a laxative if you're doing a frozen transfer? I guess I'll ask my husband to pick something up for me tonight.

calfherder

@Tulips29 You can take a laxative, the clinic just didn't give me one since I wasn't doing a fresh. I assume they want fresh transfers to be ready and not have gut pains.

calfherder

PS I am definitely going to request one this time around. I bet the clinics have way better stuff than the grocery store has.

dragonfaerie

@wifeinraleigh28 I'm glad that things seem to working out with timing. FX for the best for you!
@Tulips29 Colace is recommended and allowed for me during my FET cycle, I'm not sure if an actual laxative would be okay though. 

KirstenCas

@calfherder I have not given myself injections but i'm not squeamish, so i'm not too worried. DH and I just got back from having our STD panels, he was already scared of needles and of course they couldn't find a vein and tried to 'pop' it in and ended up with a different nurse and the other arm.  I thought he was going to pass out. I had no problems It does make me nervous about any shots he has to give me.

So my acupuncturist says she wished I would have come in a couple months in advance to prepare. I got my needles in, no problem, but i assumed she would put some in my belly, which she didn't.  She also said I should take Nourish Ren & Chong formula Chinese herbs.  I was so pumped about everything I immediately agreed and spent $70 on them.  Now I'm rethinking it. She assured me that all her patients take it, IVF and others. I just don't want to mess up my other drugs.  Thoughts? 

dragonfaerie

@KirstenCas I would check with your RE. I was basically told I shouldn't be using any herbal meds (including teas) because we just don't know how they could interact with the other meds we're taking. Since acupuncture usually is recommended for the process, your RE may be okay with her herbs, but definitely call and ask. 
Also, my DH HATES needles, but had no problem giving me my shots. He just said he doesn't mind when he's not the one getting stuck. I hope your DH has the same reaction!

Tulips29

Just got our fertilization results. Out of 19 eggs 10 fertilized, so we lost 9 because they were either pre-mature or post-mature. Kind of bummed. Now we wait until day 5 for them to go through biopsy and PGD testing. I'm praying we don't lose any more eggs through that. So nerve wrecking! 

dragonfaerie

@Tulips29 That's really good though! FX for you! 

calfherder

@Tulips29 10 is great! Grow little embryos, grow!!! FX for you!

And I wanted to add because I'm not sure if my post was mis-understood, I don't think you would need an actual laxative before an FET since you don't have retrieval 5 days before a FET. (anesthesia is what causes the back up) 

wifeinraleigh28

@Tulips29 That is actually a good fertilization amount!  You usually lose about that many for those very reasons you said.  Otherwise they wouldn't be trying to retrieve so many eggs in the first place!  GL with the PGD testing!!

Tulips29

I'm glad to hear that, thank you for the reassurance! 

cmm012

I echo everyone else.  10 Embryos is a great number to have!

AFM- I got the blood typing back, and the results are the same A+.  I'm going to let the issue go, but I still find it strange.  I'm wondering if my blood type changed or if a mistake was made early on when I was typed as O+.  Anyways, moving on...

ultratomato

@Tulips29 that is a great count good luck keep us posted.
tomorrow I go in for bloodwork and us and start meds at night if everything went well.  

@wifeinraleigh28 good luck on AMH

chickyclg

@Tulips29 that is a good number, It took the nurse to calm my nerves during our check ins.  Are y'all planning assisted hatching?

chickyclg

I feel like I'm in limbo but my hysteroscopy date is on the 20th which seems so far away, and should be getting close to the end of my cycle.  I am feeling the nervousness all over again already for my FET.

nikkiannan

 Hello all!!! Im joining this board.. I was part of the March/April board and learned so much.. But i don't start my meds til tentatively 18th. going to play catch up with everyone on here.. Its nice have such positive groups.

Tulips29

@chickyclg we haven't discussed it yet. I feel so strange not having the whole plan of next steps laid out in front of me. Do you have a scheduled date for your FET?

chickyclg

@Tulips29 nope, our goal is next month and I'm assuming it will be around the 18th based on my cycle.  I'm trying to did deep in my memories for what it was like last time.

ultratomato

Welcome @nikkiannan good luck. You will get caught up quickly. Is this your first ivf 

wifeinraleigh28

@ultratomato GL with your u/s and with starting meds!! Thinking of you.

Welcome to our group @nikkiannan!  I agree with you, it's so nice to have these groups on here

@chickyclg I hope everything goes great with your FET next month!

There is a good chance I won't be an April/May IVF participant, but I hope y'all don't mind if I stick around... I'm enjoying following you ladies on your journeys.

Tulips29

@wifeinraleigh28 yes, please stick around. I'm sorry if I missed it, but did you get results from your last AMH test and if so, are there next steps with proceeding with the study?

dragonfaerie

@nikkiannan Welcome!  
@chickyclg It's so hard to wait for your cycle to catch up and be where you want it to be, right?! I was hoping AF would come early this last month so we could start our FET sooner, but it came right on time. But now we're just a little over a month away from the transfer and it's crazy!

mrshegs

Hello! I am new to the board but I have been reading along for the past couple weeks and thought that now is as good a time as any to join in. DH has no fertility issues but I have a slightly elevated FSH every so often when tested so my biggest concern is getting at least one good quality egg. We started our IVF treatments March 28 with Ganirelix shots for 3 days in a row and the Minivelle dot patch alternating every other day. On 4-1 they started me on 375 IU of Follistim. Went in for our f/u tests on 4-7 and they are adding on 125 IU of Menapur tonight and another f/u appt on Saturday - I am hoping this time they will tell me how many follicles they see. Wishing everyone good luck this month!

dragonfaerie

Welcome @mrshegs ! I hope this cycle is the one!

caseyw8784

welcome @nikkiannan and @mrshegs ! This group of ladies are awesome, supportive, and helpful! @mrshegs i do hope this is your cycle!  

@Tulips29 -  will your clinic update you every day on the status/number and how they're progressing? FX for you! 

SanBL

Hello everyone! I'd like to join you. I'll start the BCP on Tuesday and I'm suppose to start the stim early in May. This will be our first IVF cycle! It's so exciting and stressful at the same time! 

I have unexplained infertility. The only things left before starting the cycle is a SIS (next friday) and the authorization from our insurance company (FX).

I was wondering, when do you have the mock transfer? Is it during the SIS?

It will be exciting to follow each other cycle!!

Kellyfish79

Welcome @nikkiannan , @mrshegs , & @SanBL ! 

@mrshegs We are pretty much exactly on the same schedule.  I started my stims on 4/1.  Had u/s and bw on Wed. 4/6 and today. RE is increasing my Gonal F dose tonight and back for another appointment on Monday.  My infertility diagnosis is diminished ovarian reserve so I too am hoping for at least 1 good quality egg (or more obviously, but I understand that I may not get tons of eggs out of this process)!
Sounds like I will most likely trigger on Monday or Tuesday and ER on Wednesday or Thursday. 

zara987

I will be starting my ivf next month. I am 27 and DH is 31. I have severe endometriosis. I am totally freaked out as this is my first time. Just hoping it goes well.

mrshegs

@Kellyfish79 Good luck! I hope this is your cycle! I have a decreased dose of Follistim to 225 IUs tonight - I thought that was odd but they didn't tell me anything about my follicles really other than I had 2 dominate ones and that others will most likely start to grow (hopefully!). I plan to ask them more about the number of follicles/sizes at my appointment tomorrow. I don't think I will trigger until late next week or weekend- the plan is to reintroduce Ganirelix toward the end of the stim cycle. 

I'm a little nervous to introduce the Menapur tonight because I heard it burns when you inject it. After being poked and prodded so much the last few months you would think a little burning sensation would be no big deal! 

Kellyfish79

@mrshegs Same to you! Yes, I just reintroduced cetrotide (same thing as Ganirelix) back in today so I guess I'm just a few days ahead of you.  I've been doing Menopur since the beginning. It's not that big of a deal and for me really not that much worse that the Gonal.  It does burn a little bit but it's over quickly.  Just breathe!  I always catch myself holding my breath while I inject and making sure to breathe really helps me! Good luck and I'll be following your progress!

babylonghorn16

Welcome @nikkiannan, @mrshegs, @SanBL, and @zara987! Wishing y'all the best!

@zara987 this is my first IVF cycle as well. I'm nervous, but more excited! It's not going to be fun for about 30 days or so, but that's NOTHING in the grand scheme of things! Just relax, take a deep breath, and know that you have us to lean on throughout it all. GL!

So much going on... congrats @Tulips29 for your 10 eggs! Hope you're starting to feel better as well.

@wifeinraleigh28 please stay! We enjoy your company  

AFM - still waiting for AF. Started having some cramps last night, so I thought she'd be coming today... no such luck. No sore boobs, so I prob still have a while. Bleh, I'm so ready to get started!!