September/October IVF

Hopeful_mom

Jsmorrissey  your amh went up that's amazing, I was told its irreversible hmmmm, so taking dhea actually helped.  I tried acupuncture but its quite pricey so its really hard to keep up with it.

Funny I was one of the first ones on stems on this board and funny i'll be back to start the next round.  It's still considered my first round of IVF since I didn't go through the retrieval process.  I don't feel like my body really responded to the meds, I did gonalf 300 and menupar started out with 2 and ended with 3.  Any suggestions of the other meds people have responded too?  I'm suppose to go back to the dr too see what the knew protocol will be.  On average what is the amount that the gonal F is for others?  Lastly for ppl on menupur do you find that the injection actually burns as you put it in.  By day 7 is really hurt every time, the gonalf didn't bother me as much.  Any tips are appreciated!!

I will add myself on as i'm hoping to make the magic happen in this next cycle!!

Hopeful_mom

JamieH2000 love your passion and applaud you!! I so feel the same, i'm with you on low amh just sticks.  My dr didn't give me the bcp since we already have it tough enough but I still only produced 4 mature follies, so upsetting.  Did your re mention how many they are hoping for.  I didn't realize the protocols have different names, not sure of the one she put me on or the differences.  You put the trust in your dr praying they aren't just guessing.

Esperer

Hi ladies, first-time IVF-er here!  I start meds tomorrow (EEK!!!) - I have PCOS and high AMH and my RE told me that means I am high risk for OHSS so I am doing mild IVF, basically like normal but lower doses of the meds.

I'll be doing Follistim and then Ganirelix, then HCG trigger.  I'll know dosage for the Follistim after I do tomorrow's monitoring but they are thinking 150-175mg/day.  I'm excited to start and feeling really hopeful!  A little nervous about side effects but it will all be worth it.  I have no problems with shots but my biggest fear is that I'm going to screw something up like put the vial in the pen wrong, break the needle, etc.  Anyone else with random irrational fears like that?

I added myself to the chart - fingers crossed that approx. 9-10 months from now we're all getting ready to welcome our healthy little ones!

JamieH2000

Joslynj11 - Sorry to hear that about the quality I have heard that sometimes a little less stimming and less # of eggs can improve quality? Have you read "It starts with the egg"? I found it useful and I am currently taking CoQ10 and Vitamin D because of the book. I am also doing acupuncture. I have also heard that the estrogen priming protocol can help quality since the eggs really like estrogen. Just a few ideas! Hopefully your RE has some plans to help with the egg quality too- I mean you are so young so that should be on your side at least!

Hopeful_mom - Sorry about the 4 follies ... I was devastated when mine got cancelled cause I only had 2. Originally they told my to expect 10-12 follies since my antral follicle count in July was 12, but after the birth control it was only 7 and then they only got 2 to grow with high doses of meds. So I am pretty sure the birth control really messed me up. I was able to get 5 mature and 3 almost mature follies doing low does of injectibles in May for IUI, so hoping if we can get the protocol right, I could maybe get close to 10. One of my ovaries is just a bum, so 10 on the one side would be the most I could hope for probably. I really hope this next time everything works out for you and DH and you get your BFP!

Esperer - Welcome!! that is exciting that you are starting already. I did those same meds last time and it wasn't too bad for side effects or anything. The ganirelax burned a little, but otherwise it was ok! FX for a smooth cycle and ER!

Jsmorrissey

@hopeful_mom I have no idea how it went up so much, but I'll take it.  My RE told the first time I met her to look into egg donation.  On top of that, she put me on all the items I listed, as research has shown to help with AMH.  I am more hoping that that means the quality went up.  I can handle a low reserve as long as I can get one good one and if I can stave off menopause a little while longer.  Acupuncture is soooo expensive, but I am sticking with it until the end if it helps.

@esperer - Welcome!!!!  My first round of IVF as well.  I am losing sleep over screwing up the shots.  I am finding myself to be irrationally angry as well.  Hoping that goes away soon.

I start my Follistim and Menopur tomorrow.  I'm a little nervous.

Hoping4Success

Ok guys this is starting sooner than i expected i was going to be on bcp for 3 weeks well turns out 2 weeks i didnt question it because i dont want to get over suppressed anyway soo i stop bcp sunday and go in for my baseline us tuesday so it seems i doubt i need to wait for a flow am i correct i forgot to ask that? If all bloodwork and us is good i will start stims on the 9th awww this is getting real and im soo excited but so bervous im mixed with emotions wish me luck i want to cry now im soo happy and i hope this works its my one shot at this as im all oop and had to get a loan

mandasd

@esperer Totally natural to be nervous. I'm first round IVF too but I did one IUI and it's very similar so I'm feeling more comfortable. The first time I did a shot I watched a YouTube video and since I was traveling for work, I had my coworker (and bestie) get an adjoining room so she could help me. She ended up just being there for support since she knows I'm a strong woman! She's a doctor and so I was lucky to have her with me to walk me through it. After the first shot, I was fine! You get used to it! 

Joslynj11

@Esperer Welcome! So sorry you find yourself joining us here but you are with a great group of ladies Good Luck on your IVF journey, I pray one is all it takes!!

@Hoping4Success Good Luck getting started with stims!! I am excited to get to see some ladies start stimming. 

PNW12RN

We had the investigatory US on Weds to make sure my sister can be an egg donor, and all is well.  She has no uterus, so they weren't sure how to figure out her cycle, but she was feeling all crampy like her period might be about to start and lo and behold there were some fabulous follicles in there!  At least 6 on each side, with one matured at 14mm. (with my DOR, we saw only 3-4 on each side, so I am pretty excited!).  Plus, now we know where she is.  Plan is for a blood draw for a progesterone level in 10 days, then start BCPs if the level is high.

We have to get a bunch of things sorted out before we can actually cycle, though:  we are required to have a legal contract (and not allowed to use the same lawyer, which stinks because my sister really doesn't want one, and my husband's best friend is a lawyer and offered to do this for free), and both sets of couples (my husband and I/sister and her husband) have to do a counselling session to make sure we understand what we are getting into here. I'm not worried at all about that, but I think it's probably a good thing that they require it.

Looking good to have a mid-October retrieval.  (my birthday is October 16th!) Not sure when the FET would be--we will do PGD if we have more than 3 good quality blasts, and that takes eons.  So, my silver lining for having 3 or less is that we get to start sooner.  

Hopeful_mom

Joslynj11  reading ur history g-d bless you, such a tough process.  praying the 3rd time is ur lucky charm!!  15 mature eggs is such a great retrieval.  What meds were u taking?  I did a round of stems but cancelled the retrieval so will be started back up hopefully when AF arrives.  Did you use menupar?  Did it start to burn you at all during the injection?  I found I had a strange reaction to that one.  Of course I googled and seemed like it was a common side effect.

Jsmorrissey I think i'll start back up with acupuncture once I start up again, I don't really find it all that relaxing just stressed to get there from work but I to want to try anything to help.  It really is expensive though, I need to try to find a cheaper place. how many powders of menupar r they starting u out with?

Hopeful_mom

PNW12RN i had a chance to take a peak at your blog and I feel guilty just complaining about the shots being difficult for me to take.  I really hate that you have to be here as you really have gone through enough already!!  Glad you did get god news and i hope from here on out it only continues!  Much health and happiness on this journey for you and your family!!

emilia4321

You know that saying "we plan, God laughs?" Yeah... I went in on Friday for monitoring with the plan to start stims Friday night. For the past 15 months the one thing I've been able to count on in all of this is being able to start meds whenever my doctor is ready, since I don't ovulate on my own and my hormone levels don't fluctuate the way they're supposed to. Lo and behold, when I've talked to work about taking the necessary amount of time off from traveling, bought my IVF meds, and have pumped myself up to get this show on the road, my body decides that this is the month to wake up and grow a follicle! I honestly go back and forth between astonishment at this miracle, and utter frustration that we finally have a plan and now it gets put on hold (I can't help it, I'm a planner!). So, instead of starting follistim Friday night, I did my HCG trigger, and now we're hoping for the best with TI (at least it's a long weekend!) So, I'm wishing all you ladies the best for a successful month and hoping for a miracle myself! Can't do it from my phone but I'll take myself off the spreadsheet and join the IVF thread again if and when we get to it next. Wouldn't be next month because my work travel schedule picks back up and I already have a trip at the end of the month - I asked my boss to get out of the travel for September but she's not exactly the nicest/most understanding so I don't think I can ask two months in a row. 

I feel like this latest twist has really opened my eyes that I truly have no control over any of this, and am starting to accept that it will happen when it's supposed to happen, and I really need to work on having patience. That's never been a strength for me but I am trying! Good luck this month ladies! Fingers crossed for all of us. 

Kp214

@Hopeful_mom I've been on menopur for the last two cycles.  It burns when injected fast.  Slowly inject it.  Also, make sure the needle is perpendicular.  That helped me also.  Some women have suggested ice before injecting it.  I haven't needed that.  Just going slower with it helped me.  Good luck!

Hopeful_mom

emilia4321 i know your so right its just so frustrating!  Maybe this will be your good luck cycle and you don't have to start the process, i'll be praying for u!!  The one cycle i had 3 promising follies with Clomid I had a death in the family and my OH mother was having surgery so there went that iui....I was devastated still....why!!  everything was working adn we were all set and then bam.  I just keep thinking its a black cloud but just trying to move past it...good luck!!

@Kp214 THANK U!!  I thought i was going insane with the burning, it got worse as time went on, how many powders were u doing?  I'm getting nervous for the next round, but let me first get there right

hope everyone is enjoying labor day weekend and trying to have fun!!

Kp214

@Hopeful_mom I used two vial of powder to one vial of saline.  My sites even turned into red welts that slightly itched afterwards.  Once I started slowing down that injection, it really helped the burning and redness.  

PNW12RN

Thanks, @Hopeful_mom  We never thought we'd be in this position, but we're just rolling with it and hoping we can still get our happy ending.  The biggest silver lining of all (and I am collecting every single one...) is that all of the health and fertility drama has really brought my husband and I even closer together and we have bonded over that whole 'in sickness and in health' part of our vows.  So, if we end up with an actual baby at the end of all of this, I'm gonna count the whole cancer thing as a net positive.

Monica54321

Today is day 4 of Lupron... waiting for my period to start stims. That's a crumpled Dove chocolate wrapper   After each shot, DH gives me a chocolate and then opens and reads a little inspirational card.

Hopeful_mom

@kp214 I was itchy for hours and red as well.  I first thought I was having an allergic reaction as it was getting worse instead of better...but seems it happens to others.  Being so itchy and hot too was tough especially as my family doesn't know what im going through so they can't understand y i would be so itchy.

PNW12RN I love your positivity and truly hope this is your miracle bean!

Monica54321 awe yay for the dh!! having a good support system is so important.  My dh travels for work so its tough.  Glad to see some embrace the craziness and help!

slp330

Hey everyone...hopping over here from the August/September board. I was scheduled for August but didn't have my transfer until today! We transferred one. Now it's the waiting game! 

JamieH2000

Hi ladies, hope everyone had a good Labor Day weekend!! I needed a long fun weekend of camping after getting some dissapointing news on Friday from my nurse. I was supposed to start my next cycle this month after a postive OPK with estrogen patches, however the timing would put me with ER and transfer in mid October. However the REs are at the big ARSM conference so they won't be around to do any procedures for that week. So now I have to wait another month to get started :0( starting to realize I have no control over this and I need to try to just let it be. I'm very hopeful that this new protocol will be the one that works. It's called the schoyer protocol and it's a variation of the estrogen priming protocol. The ironic thing is I had a consultation with Dr Schoyer (who the protocol is named after) and I decided to go with a different clinic because I just clicked with the other RE better. I really hope I made the right choice. I'll still check in and be cheering you all on, tho my ER won't be till early Nov likely. It sounds so far away :0( 
@monica54321- I love that pic!! What a sweet tradition for you and DH! Hope the shots are going good. When do you start stims?!
@emilia4321- I hear you on having no control over this. It's so hard. I really hope all the timing works out for you!!
@hopeful_mom- hope the itchiness hoes away soon. That does not sound fun at all! It will all be worth it in the end if it works!

Monica54321

@JamieH2000 - We don't know for sure when we'll start stims since I'm not using OCPs. Should be cd2, 3, or 4... so just waiting foroom AF to arrive... sometime before 9/14 hopefully!

nellin-2

Hi all,

This is my first time posting, just joined the bump on the weekend.
I'm based in New Zealand so some of my drug names might be a bit different and I'm not up with the lingo, but I haven't found any good local communities to join here (I guess we are such a small country (4.5 million) there aren't that many people doing IVF at any time.

Anyway, like @Hopeful_mom this is technically my first IVF round because I didn't get to egg retrieval the first time. I only had two follicles maturing and my Dr wanted to remove a polyp before we carried on.

I'm 32 and have PCOS and have had a couple of surgeries to remove tubal cysts and surgery for abnormal pap smears. Also had 6 unsuccessful monitored Letrozole cycles.

Tonight is my last night taking provera as I don't have regular periods, so hopefully I'll have my "day 1" in a couple of days and start the serious drugs.  
Last time I was on 75 Menopur and that was fine (no real symptoms) but now they have upped it to 150 Menopur and my doctor warns me I might overstimulate and have to do a freeze all cycle.

Fingers crossed for you all!

Joslynj11

Good Morning!! Good Luck to any ERsand ETs we have coming up this week.

@Hopeful_mom Yes, it has been a bumpy journey so far but I hope the light at the end of our tunnel is on the way! As for my drugs the first round of IVF I did about 5 days of only Follistim, then I added Ceterotide and then I triggered with HCG. I did end up with OHSS so this time around they want to switch me to Menupar but I am not sure I can avoid the protocol change with my insurance coverage. They do not want to cover some of the med changes. So we will see..

@Monica54321 I love the pic and I love that your DH is finding ways to help you find positivity in this nightmare that is just so sweet!

@Nellin I am so sorry that you find yourself introducing yourself here but I think you are with a great group of ladies! Welcome and good luck on your journey!!

mandasd

Oh, the itch is totally normal - I had a mild case of hives. Technically, this is an allergic reaction - but these are very strong drugs so I think it's to be expected.

AF came yesterday....a week early. I called my IVF coordinator and left a message, waiting to hear when I can get a saline sonogram scheduled, check the calendar and meet with my other IVF coordinator. As you all know, I'm at Navy Medical Center San Diego but they contract SD Fertility, so I have 2 IVF coordinators. I am crossing my fingers I can go this month but it could be likely they push me closer to October-it's the military, I am at their mercy. 

KirstenCas

Went in for my 1st monitoring appointment today and i have one 18mm follicle so i'm cancelled and converted to an IUI later this week. I'm almost ready to just give up, i'm not even sad, i just don't feel like anything. So I'm off the list again, i'll be lurking and wishing everyone luck

Hoping4Success

KirstenCas said:

Went in for my 1st monitoring appointment today and i have one 18mm follicle so i'm cancelled and converted to an IUI later this week. I'm almost ready to just give up, i'm not even sad, i just don't feel like anything. So I'm off the list again, i'll be lurking and wishing everyone luck

How long were you on stims for?

caseyw8784

oh, @KirstenCas, that just stinks!! i'll keep my FX for your for a successful IUI!! 

Jsmorrissey

Hi Ladies!

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend and did lots of fun things!

@Hopeful_mom I went in to the doc yesterday for blood work and my estrogen came back too low (160), she wants to see it at 250 or above for where I am at.  So...I was on 150 of menopur (2 vials) but she upped me to FOUR last night   Booooo, I hate menopur, A LOT!  I have my first US tomorrow to see how the follicles are doing.

@Nellin - Welcome and I am sorry you find yourself here.  But it's the best place to be for some of the best support!

@kirstenCas - I feel that is so quick so them to know that they want to convert to an IUI.  But I guess if they feel no more follicles will develop no sense it continuing, unnecessarily.  I am so sorry, I will be crossing my fingers that the IUI will work for you!!!  If I doesn't I hope they can start your next round ASAP so that you can be apart Sept/Oct.

@JamieH2000-ugghh!  That is frustrating that you now have to wait until mid October.  Have they said when they'll start stims?

@kp214- My shots, follistim and menopur (the Lupron is my favorite if you can have a favorite) also hurt, itch, sting and make me bleed.  I am  already so bruised on both sides of my lower abdomen.  The waist of my pants hurt my lower abdomen. 

@mandasand - FX that you begin soon! 

@slp330 - Welcome and that is so exciting that you had your transfer already!  Happy 2WW, definitely keep us posted on everything!!!

@Monica54321 - That is totally adorbs that you guys do that!  Heart it!!!

@PNW12RN - I am so glad to hear that despite the whole nightmare you have experienced, that you and your hubs are still going strong and are closer.  Your story brings tears to my eyes. 

I decided that every time I go to Acupuncture I am going to start putting positive vibes out for all of us to a successful cycle or at least strength to get us through these cycles.  I try to do this anyway when I lay there, but my mind often wonders onto other things.   

I am not loving being on these shots and it was particularly hard this past weekend as I wasn't at home doing them.  I had to do them while out of town and in the bathroom at a wedding I attended on Sunday.  This is my first round, so I am still getting the hang of the dosage, etc...  Totally overwhelming.  I feel I am screwing it up because I wasn't able to be at home the whole weekend to do it and to take my time.  I feel this has affected my estrogen levels.  which in turn I now have to do 4 vials (300) of menopur.  I feel that maybe I haven't been doing it right.... I am not pretty nervous for my first US tomorrow.

Bright side, it is Tuesday (even though it feels like Monday).  So... happy Tuesday everyone!

mandasd

I heard from the clinic - I do my saline sonogram next Tuesday. We will look at the calendar and pick a date - probably at the end of October. I'm a little disappointed because I'm ready now. However, with the military, there is a waiting list and only so many people can be in cycle at once. It sounds like they have 4-5 people in cycle for Sept/Oct (mostly FETs), which pushes me a little. I guess one doctor will be taking leave at the end of Oct so they can't schedule too many people for the other doctor. Anyway, if I went to a private clinic and paid $30k, they could start me today. But since I'm in the military program, I have to show a little more patience and "go with the flow." My husband said he was the property of the US government for 21 years - guess now it's my turn!

I did get a basic rundown of what will happen and I started making a flow chart for myself. I know this is paying off because originally my coordinator said we would pick a date in November and after a little more persistence from me, she said she will try and fit me in October. There you go - 3 years of planning (and the massive binder to prove it) is paying off in the end, I hope!

I may need to bump to an Oct/Nov thread but I'll wait until next week after my appointment when I get my date picked. 

KirstenCas

@Jsmorrissey - Its because I only have the one measurable follicle and its almost ready to go, there's no way anything else could catch up.
@Hoping4Success - I stimmed for 5 days, not sure why one of my follicles grew so much more than anything else.

Megzb510

Hello all!

I have just started down the IVF road. I will be doing my egg retrieval in October and transfer in early November. I started BCP today. I have the hysteroscopy on Friday, and next Wednesday we have the consult with the IVF nurse along with the trial transfer. 

Background on our journey: Me 32, DH 30. We have a 4 year old son.  Been TTC since last year when I got Mirena out, with temping and all of the whole TTC shebang for 14 months now. Did acupuncture for 4 months, and started seeing the RE in June. HSG revealed potential blocked right tube. All other tests normal. Failed IUI in August. I can't stand the low IUI chances and it just was too much financial and emotional cost to have it not work. So here we are at IVF. Looking forward to going through all of this with you guys! 

Jsmorrissey

@kirstenCas - Ya, I kind of figured that after I sent it.  I am so sorry!!!!  Do they have any answers why its been so difficult?   I am hoping they can provide some answers and a protocol that will work for you. 

nellin-2

@mandasand a month or two to save thousands of dollars is probably worth it!
I am very lucky that NZ has 2 cycles of publicly funded IVF, it's based on points system so once you have enough points and you go on a waiting list that was a year. We did monitored cycles and surgery to remove cysts in that year. Oh and had some great non-kid friendly holidays!

@KirstenCas that really sucks, but don't give up - that one follicle could still be enough for a BFP the old fashioned way! My first cycle attempt I had 17 follicles but then all but two stayed tiny. 

This whole process is such a roller-coaster. You want to be happy when things start working but that sets you up to fall further if they fail.

It's so nice to have people that understand
 

Hoping4Success

Ok got the call from the nurse my bw and ulstrasound all look great im cleared to start stims friday so happy but also nervous aa

Zoey1019

Question for you ladies: I am approaching my fertile week (CD 12 now - normally O CD16-18). I have an RE appointment on Friday to decide next steps now that they have my H's second SA results (morph 0% first time, 1% second time). I have done all CD 3 and CD21 (7DPO) testing necessary. 

What other testing will the require of us before we start a protocol? A saline sono? hysteroscopy? Can these things be done any time in the cycle? Will trying naturally right now affect the offices ability to do these tests before my next cycle? 

I just don't want to put this off any longer and if I can't do these tests because of trying naturally that would really annoy me. I called my RE office but they had no information to give and just said see you at your appointment Friday. ugggg......

mandasd

@Zoey1019 in order to have the saline sonogram you cannot be bleeding so they will probably do that first. Then when you get your next AF, they may put you on BC cd2 and schedule ultrasound to see how many follicles you have. Then they will provide a calendar of when to start injections and all the details about blood tests, ultrasounds, etc.

i am not sure where you are at in your journey - this thread is for IVF so I assume you will be doing IVF...if you are not doing IVF, ignore above because if you haven't seen an RE yet then this is a conversation for a different thread!! 

Tell your husband to abstain from any smoking or drinking for 5 days prior to sample. This will help out his morphology if he drinks or smokes! Sperm life cycle is short so there's changes he can make NOW that will have a positive effect - including taking supplements (just search online for the good ones for male fertility, there's a bunch) and a healthy lifestyle. in general, motility, morphology isn't such a huge deal with IVF if they also do ICSI, since the sperm doesn't need to work to find the egg - it gets injected in. Morph sperm does not correlate with the ability to get a good quality embryo either. However, anything you can do is always good!!

Zoey1019

Thank you @mandasand ! So they can do the saline sono at any point in the cycle as long as you aren't bleeding? I am going to abstain until the RE appointment on Friday night..just in case they can move forward with this before my next AF (probably like the 26th). 

Jsmorrissey

Good Morning Ladies

Hope you all had a great night!

AFM -I had my first US since starting Stims, today.  They showed 7 follies on the rt and 8 on the left.  She wanted to see between 10-15.  She is estimating ER to be next Tuesday or Wednesday.  FX they are of good quality as well.

How is everyone else doing?

KirstenCas

Another update - so i ovulated before my IUI. So now we know that lupron and ganirelix don't keep me from ovulating - so i'm totally screwed. I'm completely hopeless, i'm not sure how i'm going to finish this day at work.

Jsmorrissey

@kirstenCas NOOOO!!!!!   I am so so so so sorry!    I think you need to leave work and have some time to yourself!  I would totally leave work and have a glass a wine (if that's your thing), I don't care what time it is   I hope your RE can figure out what is going on and what will work for you.