JANUARY FET BUDDIES

BecauseLove

Hey Ladies,
Thought I would get a January FET board started. 

When was your retrieval?

When is your FET date?

What was the single best thing that happened in 2016?

What was an unexpected joy in 2016?

What was biggest thing you learned in 2016?


What was the best way you used your time in 2016?

Looking forward to getting to know you ladies better and hopefully great things happening for all of us this New Year!

LeFemmeViolette

Hello there!

I'll go ahead and jump in since it's looking like my FET will be in January. A good way to kick off 2017!

Retrieval should be the 2nd week in November.
FET hopefully the first week in January- or sooner.
Best thing that happened in 2016? Our two-week long California road trip!
Unexpected joy of 2016? Starting to volunteer at a local therapeutic horseback riding center.
Biggest thing I learned in 2016? Patience. Still working on that one...
What was the best way I used my time in 2016? A good balance between hard work, community service, and striving to make a family.

BecauseLove

LeFemmeViolette Glad to be in good company this January! We are also looking at retrieval the 2nd week of Nov. Is your clinic doing any big holiday breaks? Oh my gosh your 2 week long CA road trip sounds amazing! Were you in northern or southern CA? That is so neat about volunteering at the center! That sounds like a wonderful experience! Gosh every year I feel like I have learned enough patience but ever year it is the same lesson again. I suppose once we have kiddos that will be another lesson pushed again from a new angle. I love how you summed up your 2016! 


When was your retrieval? Tentatively 11/10

When is your FET date? Early January TBD

What was the single best thing that happened in 2016? 2 week trip to Europe with my family. So relaxing. Yummy! Interesting! Awesome memories made! 

What was an unexpected joy in 2016? I started a new business and it has been a ton of hard work but also very exciting! It was kinda started on the spur of the moment.

What was biggest thing you learned in 2016? Non me TTC...that my B/SIL are expecting there first kiddo and that I am gonna be an Aunt. HAHA or how to use instagram. 

What was the best way you used your time in 2016? New businesses, old business, full time job, TTC, doing little mini getaways for an afternoon or evening with my DH. Even the short time away was really restorative. 

LeFemmeViolette

@BecauseLove a two-week trip to Europe sounds awesome! Our roadtrip was from LA to Portland, OR. Made stops @ the Redwoods, San Francisco, and several others. It was my first time to CA and OR, so I was super excited. We even rented a convertible mustang for one leg of the trip.

I start stims tonight! Hooray! Never would I have thought I'd be this excited to stab myself with needles. Hahaha

BecauseLove

LeFemmeViolette I hear ya! Starting stims made it feel more real. I haven't had to give myself any injections up to this point (always had the DH do it) but he is gone for a trip and then I am traveling with out him so its just me! I was surprised how much my thigh could bleed with the long needle. Will you be planning to transfer 1 or 2 embryo's this next time? Were you able to know if it was a boy or girl before transfer?  Your trip sounds wonderful! So jealous about the convertible driving! So awesome! Sounds like a grand adventure! 

I am a bit frustrated that I don't get to do FET in December but doing my best to just let it go (my clinic is not doing any transfers between Dec 16-January 2nd)

LeFemmeViolette

@BecauseLove If we get the chance, we'll be transferring two embryos. The main issue with last cycle was that after PGS testing, we only wound up with one normal embryo (a boy). So a higher dose of stims and omnitrope should hopefully leave us with more good embryos.

BecauseLove

LeFemmeViolette Hopefully this stim cycle will be better. I am doing 2 vials of Menpour and 225 of Gonal -F. Are you doing something similar or higher? 

My Dr usually likes to transfer 1...but I have just heard so many sad stories about even transferring 2 and only having 1 make it (and so many people that have had it not work at all). Makes me consider if we should do 2 or not. They also won't tell us gender until after transfer...

LeFemmeViolette

I'm on 225iu of Follistim, and one vial of menopur. That's interesting they dont tell you the gender until after the transfer. Is that so you choose the healthiest embryo, regardless of gender?

BecauseLove

Yep! They wont let you gender select..and they just want the best embryo possible. Though I have high follicle #'s so hopefully there will be lots of best embryo's to choose from after stiming and fertilizing and cell development. 

Bharvey10

Thought I would go ahead and jump in here as well. We will be looking for AF in December. I had my retrieval back in June. Due to a fibroid I had to have removed I have to wait for FET for January. I hope 2017 brings us all good times!!

When was your retrieval? June 2016

When is your FET date? TBA

What was the single best thing that happened in 2016? We have 5 embryos in the freezer. 

What was an unexpected joy in 2016? B/SIL is bring me a nephew!


What was biggest thing you learned in 2016? Patience which I'm still working on!!


What was the best way you used your time in 2016? Going on vacation and doing things to keep my mind going strong!

LeFemmeViolette

Welcome @Bharvey10! Patience is definitely something IVF forces you to learn!

jodes727

I will go ahead and join you all as well

When was your retrieval?  July 27th and I had 43 retrieved with 36 mature eggs and of course ended up with severe ohss due to the large number.  

When is your FET date?  First one was Oct 6 and it was cancelled in order to allow my body to fully recover from ohss.  Second one was today (Nov 3) and was cancelled due to thin lining.  I was supposed to start meds again next week, but my lab closes at the end of Dec to clean the equipment and be sure all is running properly (which would have been my fet date).  So we are delayed to start med until Dec with our FET in Jan.  

What was the single best thing that happened in 2016?  Taking some time off from my teaching job!

What was an unexpected joy in 2016?  Taking a step back and letting go of some of the stress.  

What was biggest thing you learned in 2016?  I have very little control over things and I have learned (and I am still learning) how to accept that and take what life gives me.


What was the best way you used your time in 2016?  I have found some time to read again.  I love it because it takes my mind of off things and gives my brain a break!

LeFemmeViolette

Had my first monitoring appt this morning. Everything is looking good. They counted around 10 follicles that were 7 to 11mm. Adding in ganarelix tomorrow and then going back in on Monday. Probably triggering mid week next week, with a retrieval towards the end of the week.

jodes727

@LeFemmeViolette sounds like you're off to a great start!  

LeFemmeViolette

I'm triggering tonight and retrieval will be on Wednesday. They measured 9 mature follicles today. Hopefully there will be more mature in a couple days. I'm a different kind of nervous this time- while I'm comfortable with the process and know what to expect, I feel like the stakes are higher and I'm just so worried the same thing that happened last cycle will happen again. Trying to stay hopeful and positive! : )

jodes727

Good luck tonight @LeFemmeViolette!  Stay positive (even though it can be so hard)!

Bharvey10

@LeFemmeViolette good luck! I know it's hard to stay positive!!

LeFemmeViolette

Well, despite being on a higher dose of follistim/menopur, we wound up with 16 eggs again. Here's hoping this batch is better quality than last time.

jodes727

Congrats on the 16 eggs!  Are you doing ICSI?  Hoping for strong and healthy ones @LeFemmeViolette

LeFemmeViolette

@jodes727  Yes, like last time we had ICSI done. Things are seeming to go better this time- we have 8 left on day 3! : )

BecauseLove

Hi All,
During my IVF I feel off the Bump wagon. 

I did the antagonist cycle with BCP primer. I started Stims on 10/30 and did my retrieval on 11/10. They were able to get 38 eggs. 30 were mature. 16 were able to fertilize. We are now waiting on cell growth. I will get a call on Wed letting us know how many made it to blast and ratings. Then they will be tested by CCS (PGS) and we will wait 2 weeks to hear about if we have normals. 

They are still talking a FET in early January. I haven't gotten AF yet so once that comes I will start BCP as we wait for news and then get going on lining development. 

Welcome Bharvey10! Where did you go on vacation this year? Congrats on your nephew! I also feel blessed I gained a niece during the IVF stim process-it was a fun distraction. Nice about the 5 embryos! 

jodes727 I am sorry about all the cancellations! So very very very frustrating! Glad your ok after the OHSS. That is awesome about the 36 mature eggs!! How many were able to be fertilized? Did you get any grading back? 

LeFemmeViolette So excited for you! Glad you got some good egg babies! FX for you! 

Ladies how many embryo's are you considering transferring at your FET? 

LeFemmeViolette

Got the update that 3 embryos looked good enough to biopsy today. And they're giving 2 more the chance to grow a bit more tomorrow. Was hoping for a higher number, but as long as most of these (if not all) are PGS-normal, I'll be happy.

Worldtravler0522

I'd like to join if that's OK?  I'm about to get testing done for recurrent miscarriages and then we will go from there but I'm guessing we will try for our third FET in January. I look forward to participating in the group!  

When was your retrieval? July 5th 

When is your FET date? Not sure yet but I think the first or second week of January depending on what happens

What was the single best thing that happened in 2016? Hmm... not gonna lie that this has been a trying year.  So far the single best thing has been growing closer to my husband which I didn't think was possible.  

What was an unexpected joy in 2016? I volunteered at a special needs prom and that was amazing.  It was almost a year ago and I still feel really good whenever I think about it.  

What was biggest thing you learned in 2016? How strong I am, patience, and the ability to handle waiting with grace (still working on that last one)


What was the best way you used your time in 2016?  I'm with @BecauseLove about the mini getaways.  DH and I went away just after our chemical pregnancy in August and it was very good for us mentally. 

jodes727

I only ended up with 3 embryos to test @BecauseLove. Now we have 2 frozen embryos (one boy and one girl). My RE said my body Definitely did quantity over quality:(. Because we are completely out of pocket, that was our only ER that we I'll be able to do. So (like all of us) we are praying that when we finally get to the transfer, it works. 

Glad to hear you have 3 healthy embryos @LeFemmeViolette.  Hoping your other 2 continued to grow last night!  

LeFemmeViolette

Thanks, guys. We got one more Day 6-er. So 4 total. Hoping they are better quality this time.

cakeforbreakfast

I'm freaking out and super excited to finally start the IVF process! Got my period and starting my cycle monitoring and injections tomorrow . Holy heck its expensive and a gamble eh lol. 8 grand in meds, covered thankfully, and 12,000 for the procedure which we are paying for out of pocket. All for a 20% chance of getting preggers........ whew.

Edit to add that we are freezing any and all eggs for FET in January to let me body recoup from the drugs and get a good lining .

Winnie81_Old

Hello! I think this is the thread I should be in. I was hanging out with the lovely gals in October/November, but I am for sure not doing FET until the beginning on January. I start my stims on Saturday, and just had my baseline US and BW this morning. I look forward to getting to know everyone in this thread (as well as this board). 

Side question: My BW results just posted on my patient portal, and shows estradiol at 12.74. I don't know if that is a normal range for yesterday being my last bc pill. Anyone have input on this? I'll definitely ask the doc in the morning, but I'm one of those people who let things fester in my head.

lilmissslp

Hi Ladies,I'd like to join this thread as well.

When was your retrieval? We did our retrieval in July. We transferred one at the time and were left with 4 frozen. Our first cycle was a BFN. We transferred 2 in August which resulted in a BFP. We found out in September that it was ectopic and had emergency surgery. After the surgery and an MTX shot my HCG is finally back to normal and AF arrived yesterday.

When is your FET date? After the MTX shot we have to wait three months. This will put us in late January or early February.

What was the single best thing that happened in 2016? I've been such a debby downer that I'll admit that it was hard to see the good in 2016. It's been a heartbreaking year. I will say that my in laws moved from NY to NC to leave near us and it has been great having them.

What was an unexpected joy in 2016? On a whim (probably trying to fill a void), we got a 3rd dog. She is a naughty little puppy but always so excited to greet us when we get home form work.

Worldtravler0522. I'm trying to work on that as well. I've also learned that I can't control everything nor can I make sense of some things.


What was the best way you used your time in 2016? Gosh its hard to answer these questions when you feel discourage but I really appreciate that you're trying to find the good in things @BecauseLove. Id say the best way I have used my time is working on building some new friendships and enjoying my husband and relatives.
 
**edited to add our protocol. We don't plan on doing injections. We will be doing estrogen patches and estrogen pills. 

JESSABER0414

Hello ladies,  
Joining you from the December FET board after hearing yesterday that my clinic's embryologist has to go out of town during my scheduled FET in December ! So bummed.  Anywho,  moving on to a better 2017, right? 

ER September 26 (planned fresh but had OHSS)
FET January 9

Single best thing that happened in 2016 - got to go to a World Series Game and the Cubbies won finally! (In our house that was a BIG  deal)

Joy- We marked a couple of bucket list items off this year. In the Today Show audience, College Game Day backstage and the previously mentioned World Series. 

I learned to stop caring what other people thought or said to me about baby-making. The loss of control has been hard to handle for me,  Type A Aries  (not that a seriously believe in that ). 

The best way I spent my time was with my grandmother who unexpectedly passed away after a short period. I was able to be off for the whole  week from her terminal diagnosis until her death with family. I truly believe it was a blessing to be there. 

Looking forward to no meds for awhile (except BCP) and the holidays without appointments and sneaking around giving shots.  

LeFemmeViolette

We got our PGS results sooner than I thought we would and...

WE HAVE THREE PGS-NORMAL EMBRYOS!!

I am SO relieved. The last few days have been filled with shitty curveballs and I thought today would follow suit. Our 3 embies are made up of 2 day 5s and 1 day 6. Initially, I'm thinking about transferring one of the day 5s, and then if needed, transfer the other Day 5 with the Day 6 together.

I'm so glad we get to continue our journey. : )

BecauseLove

LeFemmeViolette I am so excited for you! So good to hear you are going to have some options about transferring. I think its a great ideas to do the day 5 and then save the day 6 and other day 5 for a further transfer if needed. Are they recommending what you should do at all at your clinic? 

JESSABER0414 Welcome! So frustrating about your FET being pushed back. Glad you are over your OHSS...Scary stuff! I hear ya about the loss of control being hard to deal with! What a blessing to have that time with your Grandmother! I hear ya about enjoying the holidays with out having to do a ton of TTC stuff.  

lilmissslp Welcome! I am so sorry to hear about your ectopic! That is wonderful to hear about your inlaws moving closer to be near you! I know it can be hard to look beyond all the TTC crazyiness and heartache but clearly I sorta try to find ways to focus on the other things in my life (though sometimes very very hard to do). I hope that 2017 brings you good things! 

Winnie81 Welcome! How are stims going? Any news on how many they expect to have at removal? 

cakeforbreakfast Welcome! How was your egg removal? Have you started meds for transfer in January? I wish any of our TTC was covered by insurance! Lucky lady! Hopefully your luck will be even better in January!  

jodes727 How was your Thanksgiving? 

Worldtravler0522 Welcome! Wow that is awesome about volunteering at a special needs prom. Cool experience! I am sorry this has been a rough year for you! I sure hope 2017 brings you good news! I am glad you made a point to do some little getaways...for us it made all the difference! Have you started meds for your FET? Have you received a calendar yet? 

Winnie81_Old

@becauselove Stims are going ok! Today is day 10, and just lots of cramping and a constant headache, along with feeling like I might pop one if i sit down too fast, lol. As of yesterday, I have 18 follicles that are a good size, and another 11 that are less than 10mm. Last Wednesday they called me after bloodwork came in so that I should start the cetrotide asap. My E2 level was 916 and they said I could ovulate any minute, which scared the hell out of me, but yesterday everything was on the right track so I was relieved! I started taking Benadryl about 30 minutes before injections, because the cetrotide is making me break out in hives. So my ER should be between Thursday and Saturday, yay!! 

*Oh, one awesome side effect that I have to mention, is that my skin has been really clear lately, which I assumed it would be the opposite. I have had moderate to severe hormonal acne since I was 11, so this is a nice surprise and makes zero sense to me!

How was everyones Thanksgiving? Any fun Black Friday/Cyber Monday finds? I just bought a refurbished sewing machine on Amazon so I'm pretty excited to get it!

BecauseLove

Winnie81 I had a similar reaction to cetrotide...oye! I hear ya about feeling like you might pop a folli. Glad its going well otherwise! Sounds like lots of good eggies going on! Two notes about retrieval...1 eat prunes lots of prunes before retrieval, after retrieval, and the next few days. I got all stopped up and my ovaries hurt a bunch the following days (actually the day of retrieval they were pretty ok but the next few days were less good). Heating pads rock too! Hoping all goes smoothly for you and you get so many great eggs! Are you doing PGS or PGD or CCS testing at all? 

I had a good Thanksgiving...super loungy with lots of yummy food. I am debating whether I should shop for some cyber monday baby deals or if that is totally silly being I am only hopefully going to be prego in January...

Winnie81_Old

@becauselove Prunes!!! I would not have thought of that, thanks for the suggestion! I think the last thing I would want is to be stopped up after the ER as its already full enough in that area I loveeee my heating pad. It pretty much stays glued to me at home because of the endo. I am doing PGS testing after, and the lab is in house, so it should only take 2 weeks, but they will be closed for the holidays and not back open until the first week of January. Honestly I'm a bit conflicted on whether its necessary, because they suspect I can't get pregnant from blockage, but the doctor insists its necessary. I think I'm probably just being impatient and don't want to wait until January. Im hoping that after my ER, I will get my period when I'm supposed to (not sure when that is) so that I can prepare for the Transfer to be in the first week of January as well. 

Super loungy with yummy food sounds like an amazing Thanksgiving weekend! I definitely feel you on the cyber monday baby shopping. I keep seeing so many good deals and they are so hard to pass up! 

Worldtravler0522

@BecauseLove just waiting on AF to get here before I start on my next steps.  I'm kind of enjoying my off time but eager to jump back in again.  

Bharvey10

Got an email from my clinic. As soon as AF arrives we can jump on the FET train. Talk about good baby finds before thanksgiving I was shopping for my new nephew and I found a jogging stroller for $25 new in the box! I was excited and bought it

amanning2011

Found out yesterday that I'm joining you lovely ladies now

-When was your retrieval?

November 8th.

-When is your FET date?

January 17th (currently) because of the holidays our doctor won't do the transfer until after the New Year

-What was the single best thing that happened in 2016?

We got a second rescue Australian Cattle Dog She was really skittish when we got her, but she is doing a lot better now.

-What was an unexpected joy in 2016?

My cousin who was also struggling with infertility finally got pregnant and had a healthy baby girl!

-What was biggest thing you learned in 2016?

The reason for our infertility! Apparently there is something going wrong with the fertilization process.

-What was the best way you used your time in 2016?
That whole TTC thing and working to socialize our new dog.

natalie4oscar

Hi all, I was excited to see that a Jan FET had been created already and to see some familiar 'faces"

I had my ER last week (11/23) and we are now doing a FET in Jan. PGD testing should be back in two weeks and at this point we have 2 strong embryo on ice, and 1 that is still in culture (we get the results today).

When is your FET date? mid/end Jan - I'm hoping for Australia Day 1/26 given I'm an Aussie living in USA

What was the single best thing that happened in 2016? I married the love of my love, we were surrounded by people who came near and far to be with us and it was truly the most magical experience of my life.

What was an unexpected joy in 2016? adopting a 9 year old Maltese, he is our joy and has bought us so much happiness.

What was biggest thing you learned in 2016? To be patient and that giving up control can provide a wealth of calm.

What was the best way you used your time in 2016? my goodness between wedding planning, entertaining guests from Australia and Spain, honeymooning in Italy, starting IVF, failing IVF, starting IVF again... I don't feel that I have time for much else.

thucks

I'm back ladies!! it's nice to see some femilur names on this board. I'm glad we are back at this journey together.  

When was my ER? April 11, 2016 11 embryos in the freezer. after 3 failed FET's we have 6 left.
 
When is my FET? January 20th thawing 2 transferring the best 1. 

What was the single best thing that happened in 2016? hmmm we bought a new home in November. much bigger and with a large yard.
 
What was an unexpected joy in 2016? becoming closer as a family. 

What was biggest thing you learned in 2016? I learned to accept what God has in store a little more. 

What was the best way you used your time in 2016? I really tried to focus on my twins a little harder and be more hands on. they are growing so fast I don't want to miss anything.  

BecauseLove

We just got word...38 eggies down to 30 mature eggies to 16 fertilized eggies to 8 awesome blato's to CCS tested 3 normals (3 abnormal) and 1 unknown that we could retest in the future or use as is possible if needed. I had really hoped for more to give us possible more chances if needing but really just hopeful now that our first go at FET will work.

Now waiting on our FET schedule and hopeful transfer date!! 

Update!!
I received my FET Calendar. I start meds 12/8, have a lining check 1/3 and a transfer 1/9 if all goes well! We will be transfering 1 PGS/CCS normal 5AA (hopefully a girl-but we won't know). Which would make a future due date around Sept 27th 2017 if all goes well! So hopeful...which makes me anxious as hope often fails me. 

BecauseLove

Winnie81  I hope the prunes help you! I sure wish I had eaten more before...and after. Where are you at for retrieval at this point? 

Worldtravler0522 I hear ya about enjoying the down time but also being eager to start!

Bharvey10 that is awesome about finding the great sale!! How are ya doing with the AF wait? 

amanning2011 Welcome! When are you starting Fet meds? 

natalie4oscar Welcome! I hope you have great PGS results  

thucks That is awesome that you have so many frozen embabies. I am sorry to hear that you have had FET's that haven't stuck. Did you do PGS/CCS testing? Have they said why they think they are failing? So frustrating!!