May FET

hbomb513

@hopefulmom Congrats on 7! FX for big beautiful blasts lol....

@desperatemom My RE never talks about "protocols" so I'm not sure what his philosophy is. I'm so busy with work and grad school, I just do what he tells me to lol...

Lupron, from what I understand, is a ovulation suppressant. It prevents the pituitary gland from telling the ovaries to secrete the hormones necessary for ovulation. There are a lot of different ways to do a FET, but my doc wants to control the entire process. ALL of my hormones will be supplied exogenously (which probably means I'll be on PIO injections for probably the whole first trimester if I get a BFP). I'm on Lupron for 2.5 weeks total, with an overlap in estrogen (bcp's (stopped 4/20), oral and patches (starting 4/25) and progesterone (PIO, oral AND crinone vag supp starting May 10). PLUS prednisone and doxycycline for a couple days post transfer. It is a shit ton of meds and I have multiple alarms set to help me remember. It sounds like your doc is doing a completely different protocol.

It's so interesting how every RE does things differently right? Goes to show how important it is to ask about success rates at your first appt. In the end, I went with the guy who is weird and awkward AF, but he's smart and knows his stuff. With $20k on the line (and the least of my concerns right now), this better work!

Ash_SE

@caseyw8784 with 45 chromosomes that means its missing a chromosome 21since 46 is normal. Trisomy 21 is 3 copies of 21 (an extra one ) and is actually Downs Syndrome.

congrats on the 2! I never understood the purpose of a doctor withholding info that is paid for and your body not theirs. I would sign on with a doctor with that policy honestly. All of this whole process is totally "fake" and manipulated so really I don't think this one little bit of it needs to be so protected and withheld. Now if I was only doing it for sex section them that wouldn't be best but again whose business is it or a right to judge. 

caseyw8784

@Ash_SE - i realized later on that it was 1 less chromosome... But thanks for correcting me!!

weird, I had a whole other paragraph that got deleted. To paraphrase it: my RE is complying with my insurance's rules on not revealing gender, since my ivf/fet it 100% covered due to it being "preventative". If insurance found out that we knew and chose a certain way, they could/would pull the approval request. RE had said if we were OOP, she could've told us ahead of time. Messed up, I know, but we didn't think it was a mole hill to die on... ::shrugs::

Hopeful_mom

Hi ladies Fertilization report is in thank g-d all 7 fertilized, yay!!  Praying this is my golden batch!!  I'm excited to have 7 fertilized praying they can make it.  As for my hand its still throbbing but the nurse was really nice and applied pressure so it wouldn't bruise.  The Anesthesiologist just wasn't my cup of tea.  he thinks its his show and the world revolves around him.  He was all hyper and happy stating why aren't I smiling and such.  I just looked at him and said I guess when you MC twins this part isn't so easy.  Something like that, I know he's a Dr and I should be glad he did his job but he definitely hurt me.  I actually screamed in pain when he put the meds in before I went under and his answer..."yea it hurts more in the hand."  Really ASS why I asked for you not to put in there.  Just glad its over.
My head actually hurt the most this time around.  Yesterday I had a tough time sleeping but today I'm finally resting!
So since this cycle I have literally gained 10lbs I know i haven't been eating great but this is insane!  I only had 7 eggs so I really cant have OHSS, i'm super bloated, gained another 2lbs post hoping tomorrow some of it will go down.  I'm drinking fluids but I can't find a spot on me thats no bloated!  I'm living in sweats!  Now back to worrying about my embabies

caseyw8784 congrats on your results, one and one yay!  Interesting on knowing one had the gene, you're such a great mom already looking out for your lil ones!!  Enjoy your weekend get a way!

hbomb513 grad school and IVF - g-d bless you!!  Yea my dr doesn't always have the best bed side matter BUT is as smart AF as well...at least I hope she is

Ash_SE are you sure you're not an embryologist!! Took me forever doing the research on my results and the findings were not fun!  How one missing or extra gene could do so much havoc!

kaseycoco

@hopefulmom  sorry your anesthesiologist was such a jerk! It's no fun to have anyone in the OR be rude or snarky like that. But congrats on all 7 eggs fertilizing, FX this is your golden bunch

caseyw8784

Hope you ladies all had a great weekend!

AF showed up this morning! so I've now got an appointment tomorrow morning for baseline blood work and ultrasound. I'll find out afterwards when to start the Estrace and when they want me to come back in for monitoring. yay for finally being in the home stretch!

caseyw8784

Had my appointment this morning. I have a probably naive/"beginner" question for those that have had a FET already. (Since this is my first, I haven't had to really track the thickness of the endometrium before.) Today is CD2, and the thickness was 5.7 - should i expect it to thin/shed a lot more during the next couple days or has it already shed a lot over the last couple days? I haven't received my portal instructions yet, so not sure when I'll be going back for monitoring, but was trying to just figure it all out in my head during the rush hour drive home earlier...

fivetimesnoluck

@caseyw8784 I am not sure if it will shed a lot more, but I know that my monitoring u/s to measure the lining was on CD 10 and I had been told to expect it between CD 10-12. Congrats on AF! I know how it feels to want to get on with the show!

@Hopeful_mom I am so happy to hear all 7 fertilized, but hated that your experience was so unpleasant! Hopefully you won't have to deal with him again!

As for me, I am SOOOOO close. DH and I go to the lab for him to contribute on Wednesday. Then the next few days will surely be the longest ever, and our transfer is planned for May 1.

Do you typically get daily reports on the developing embryos? I know the nurse told me she would call me the day after to tell me how many fertilized, but I am hoping I will hear more details from them between Thursday and Monday!

JESSABER0414

@caseyw8784 I would expect it to shed a lot more over days 3-5, then if you're preparing with any estrogen, it takes over. Mine was only 4.3 a few days before stopping pills and I had a heavy period for 3.5 days.  

caseyw8784

@JESSABER0414 and @fivetimesnoluck - thanks for the answers ladies! that's one thing I never really considered...on which days exactly the lining sheds...haha. 

@fivetimesnoluck - FX for tomorrow with DH's part! At my clinic, they gave us the fert report the day after ER/fertilization, and then didn't tell me anything until day 5/6. I know some other clinics will give intermediate reports too, though. How exciting for May 1st...it'll be here before you know it!

AFM, got the orders to start today 2mg Estrace twice daily, and to go back on Friday May 5th for blood work and ultrasound. They said if my lining is where it should be then, I'll start the PIO that night, and the transfer would be scheduled for Wednesday May 10th! FX that the lining behaves!

whitebarley

Hi again - sorry it's been a few days since I last posted.

@hopefulmom - congrats on the 100% fert report! what happy news!
@caseyw8784 - we are in very similar positions. just got our genetics report back on friday and I am thrilled to say that all six of our embryos tested normal . . . i really did want to know the genders (hopefully that doesn't mess things up with insurance, although i didn't hear that it would . . .) and we have two girls and four boys. it definitely does make it seem more real!

My first monitoring appointment since going on the Estrace tabs is tomorrow morning and I'm kind of scared to be honest. Those little pills are so small, I just can't believe they are doing anything! I feel nothing. If I'm on track though, I guess my transfer would be around May 5, which means beta would be on Mother's Day. Honestly, that kind of sucks, lol. It will either be a fantastic Mother's Day, or the worst?

Happy Monday to everyone else!

whitebarley

I forgot to ask whether anyone is of an opinion whether a 4AC Day 5 blast is better or worse than a 5CA Day 6 blast. I've tried to do a ton of research myself and see such conflicting reports. It doesn't seem to make a difference which day the blast was frozen on by my reading, nor is there really a difference between a 4 or a 5 . . . but I do believe that the first letter might be better than the second. I dunno though, I've seen reports going either way! Does anyone have an opinion/wisdom on this?

Hopeful_mom

Hi Ladies!  Have my update from today and not really sure how to feel about it.

Luckily all 7 are still growing but remember day 3 they should all be an 8 cell and only 3 are right now and last time 5 were at an 8 cell by day 3 and we see how well that went.  

Regulart Fert
7AB, 6BC, and 6B
ICSI
8A, 8A, 8AB and 7AB

I know they tell you its how they test and not how they look but worried that the others wont catch up and i'm lucky if i have 3 to test again!  How many cycles are we suppose to go through this.  I know my body can do it so WTH!  Feeling a bit down...

whitebarley wow big congrats to you how exciting!! So you have 6 normal frosties ready to go?  The grading system has been driving me bonkers recently as well and I believe that you are right the letter grade is what they look at.  SO I believe your 4AC is better then your 5CA.  I think  Someone posted a link on it and of course i can't find it...will post it if I do!  Exciting how much closer you're getting!!

caseyw8784

@whitebarley and @Hopeful_mom this is what someone had pointed me to look at regarding embryo grading...i thought it was pretty cohesive and easy to understand... https://www.advancedfertility.com/blastocystimages.htm

@Hopeful_mom - Could they just be slow growers? If they're being graded as well as you wrote, I would be hopeful that they'll still be good quality by day 5!! FX that they catch up!

whitebarley

@hopefulmom - those grades look really good to me! i'm not sure how day 3 embies are graded really, but i see a lot of A's, and the bookworm in my thinks that's a great sign! yes, we have 6 "normies" ready to go and would like to try our luck with the girls first. the two girls have the grades i mentioned above . . .  i have my appointment with the RE tomorrow and am going to ask his opinion if he thinks one is better than the other.

@caseyw8784 - thanks for that! i had found that link but it still doesn't seem to say whether one letter is more predictive than the other. most articles or pages just imply that "both are important". sigh. i'll see if the RE has any helpful input tomorrow and will update!

prudence9-2

May FET will not happen for me  my hcg levels are not down (12 as of today) And at this point I'm not going to make it for a medicated FET in May...

good luck everyone! Hopefully my lucky month will be June 

Hopeful_mom

Prudence9 I do hope June will be your month!
whitebarley I'm trying to go with the grade theory too
caseyw8784 I'm really hoping that they are slow growers and I can still have a good outcome!

What I find interesting is one of my 7A was a 5B on day 2...so at first it was ahead of the game and then it slowed down, how strange is that.  I think theres a part of me that was hoping one would be looking like a day 4 already (too many cells to even count)  The cycle I got pregnant I had one of those, so of course I think my normal embaby was that one.

caseyw8784

For those who have done a FET cycle before, what should I expect from the Estrace tablets? I've heard hot flashes and headaches are pretty common...anyone get moody? bloated/weight gain? 

Hoping10

@Prudence9 so sorry- that sucks! Hope June is your month!

@caseyw8784 Estrace made me moody (although I feel like I've been permanently moody since starting ivf regardless of meds lol). Also, I noticed if I had even one glass of wine while on it, I would wake up with a headache so personally no wine for me while taking it. Other than that, it didn't bother me. Good luck- yay for getting started!!

Hopeful_mom

@caseyw8784 I took estrace with my fresh transfer are you taking it just orally or vaginally too?  Like Hoping10 I feel like I've been permanently moody since starting ivf regardless of meds!  I did get headaches more frequently but I was taking so many different things who knows exactly what the culprit was. Hell I'm still bloated!   glad you're getting ready to start.  Are you transferring one or two i forget. 

caseyw8784

@Hopeful_mom - just taking it orally right now, 2mg twice a day. Woke up today with a headache but it's a rainy day so it could just be a sinus headache...who knows...lol! Transferring 2 if insurance said ok, RE didn't mention it when they told me the approval request went through, so I guess I'll find out for sure on transfer day! Will be ok with 1 or 2, but hoping for 2!

Joslynj11

**Lurking** @caseyw8784 I just read through the thread this afternoon and all I can say is EKKK!! So glad AF showed, so glad you have boy/girl embryos waiting for you, and SOOOO glad your getting ready to transfer! Good luck to you girlie and all the others with transfers coming up. I pray I see a ton of BFPs coming from you laides

brooklyngirl18

Hi ladies! I'm joining you over here, it looks like I might be able to squeeze in my first FET at the end of May. I just completed my first ivf cycle, we retrieved 40 and had 10 make it to day 6. They've been sent off for PGS testing and frozen. I'm waiting for my period post retrieval (today is 6 days post ER) then I'm starting bcp and estrace. The nurse said it usually takes about 3-4 weeks from starting your period, does that sound right? I'm looking forward to getting to know you guys and wish you all the best of luck.

edit to clarify- does starting bcp on cd 1 sound right to have a transfer 3-4 weeks later? I thought when a woman started bcp she did a whole cycle on it and then transferred the following cycle. I didn't get detail but the nurse said something about starting bcp with my period, then estrace pills for 2 weeks and pio for 1 week then transfer so I'm a little confused.

caseyw8784

@joslynj11 thanks! I'm getting very excited for transfer day to get here, and then hopefully can move over to the PAIF!

@brooklyngirl18 hi and welcome! I'm not sure about the timeline when also taking bcps, but maybe someone else could chime in if they know more. For me, I think it'll be roughly about 3 weeks. AF started on Sunday 4/23, I had the CD2 bloodwork and ultrasound yesterday and started estrace last night. Going back for monitoring on Friday 5/5, and the nurse said if "the lining was where it should be" then I would probably start PIO that night for 6 days with the FET on the 6th day, which would be Wednesday 5/10. That would be just about 2 1/2 weeks from CD1 to transfer. I would assume that bcps would extend it a bit more...

kris031409

@brooklyngirl18 I would have been put on BCPs on CD 1 while waiting for my PGS results, but luckily the results came back on my CD 1 so I just started the estrace.  I've been on estrace for 3 weeks now, tomorrow is my final lining check so if all looks good I'll start the PIO for transfer next week.  Good luck!

JESSABER0414

@brooklyngirl18 that's sounds right!  I am getting ready for FET and a lot of my timing depends on clinic dates for transfer.  So they look at which dates they are doing transfers and count backward 19 days,  they want that to be cd1, so i take bcps until 4 days before that day. Depending on several other things,  would determine how long that pits you on pills. For first FET we have to wait for my ovaries and body to recover from Mild Ohss, then life happened for 2 more months so it was 3.5 months of bcpd. However,  for this one I had to recover from early miscarriage, delayed hug and 2 ovarian cysts. But once got the ok was only on bcps for 2 weeks. Already off, had at and been on estradiol patches for a week. Transfer should be May 8. Hope that excruciating detail helps

Ash_SE

I was the same as Kris. PGS results lined up with CD 1 naturally but then decided to take a break in between. 

AFM, I got my last bloodwork yesterday  to check an immune issue before the FET. My H stopped counting at 12 vials . This is tearing through Reprosource labs  to look at some genetic stuff and immune markers for repeat chemicals / implantation failure. Takes about a week to get back and that should line up with starting FET my next cycle. 

I have a little secret. I hoard cute high end baby clothes . I had a few things bought from before my first miscarriage and in the years of losses and disappointment gotten rid of everything either donated or given to friends. Anyway I'm a huge thrift shopper- I get brands like Talbots, White House Black Market , Chicos etc for my work clothes for a couple of dollars at the local thrift shops. While on Stims and mostly after ER have been perusing the baby sections and I have a bag deep in my closet of both boy and girl clothes from high end brands like Kissy Kissy, Pottery Barn kids, Nordstrom baby, Ralph Lauren, Baby Boden etc all bought for 99 cents or less each piece.

 Strangley this calms me and my anxiety because it feels like I'm starting to believe again and I have to be positive that this will work. I know I should share with H but it's also kinda embarrassing and he is in the camp of me getting my hopes up isn't good. Thanks for letting me share. 

Ash_SE

@brooklyngirl18 10 blasts for PGS testing is awesome! Congrats!

You have great progress @hopeful_mom . I'm betting some are just slower growers. Too fast is actually just as bad as too slow since they are burning up their energy stores and run out. Slow and steady is good and yours aren't that behind at 6 and 7 cells. I was similar and ended up with some blasts. 

@caseyw8784 that's crazy about your insurance. I get not wanting to rock the boat on that! Mine doesn't get involved to that level. Congrats on AF and starting Estrace. I hear ya! That pill is so small it makes me worry what the heck could it do? I only took it for a few days before our pause but I didn't have too many side effects-just tired and a little hormonal but that's my new normal. 

Ash_SE

@prudence9 I may be joining you in the June board. Sorry for the rotten luck of your betas. It just isn't fair. 

Hopeful_mom

Ash_SE i used to buy babies and kids clothing al the time!!  So many friends were having babies i was always ready with a gift!  I will say I did hold on to my favs in hopes for myself...unfortunately lost them all in a house fire but I do get it!  I think when I did my BW it was about 40 vials in the end.  My OH was quite shocked and confused.  17 was just for any blood clot issues I believe.  I wanted them to make sure if there is something on my end that we catch it now!!  Glad all the timing of everything should work out for you.
Today has been hard but still praying my normies are in this batch!  I'm also a bit torn with al the reading i've been doing on abnormal embryos that really aren't abnormal in the end and do further testing.  UGH not sure what i'm suppose to think.

Ash_SE

@hopeful_mom I think of lot of that info is based on older PGS technology and day 3 embryos. I to debated on it and it's hard to think what if but my doctor said that NGS of Day 5 is reliable. My results for Downs Symdrome ( T 21), T 14 ( very rare to get any living babies so it doesn't have a name), and partial deletion on chromosome 12 . It's hard to see that but it would be harder for me to chance using them and have problems/cause suffering. The one I struggle with the most is the Downs Syndrome embryo because those can live and while have some health issues can be ok in life. Our clinic won't transfer but I feel torn about it since I do get a bit of te nagging feeling about playing God like the other PGS poster said. However I've made the decision to keep all 3 abnormals frozen ( and pay the $$) and wait and see if better technology emerges to retest in a few years. 

caseyw8784

@Ash_SE - i think we share the same little secret! (TW) last year before i miscarried, i had picked out some baby clothes (end TW)...also, when i got on trips i sometimes pick out a cute onesie (example: when i was in new orleans over a year ago, i got a couple onesies that said stuff like, "my parents found me in a king cake!" or "i like my diapers like i like my gin: dry!" in june DH and i are going to California for a family wedding, and going to go to disneyland and universal, so you can bet that there will be some harry potter and mickey mouse onesies making their way back home to Boston! I keep them in a small plastic storage bin on the top shelf of the guest room closet...I don't think DH even knows about it...

Hopeful_mom

@Ash_SE  thats a good idea i have to see if thats an option for me...i'm sure tey wont care as long as i pay for it

brooklyngirl18

@caseyw8784 @kris031409  @JESSABER0414 @Ash_SE thank you so much for your responses, it makes a lot more sense now. Am I the only one who totally goes blank then the nurse calls and then when i hang up I have all the questions?? I feel like I'm gettnig my period any minute so I guess I'll be on bcp for several days before getting the pgs results. 

Hoping10

@brooklyngirl18 No you're not the only one- I always think of questions after speaking to a nurse or after my dr appt! Then I write them down so I don't forget again! Lol.

Hopeful_mom

@brooklyngirl18 yep!! every time practically.  You think we would know everything by now but nope theres always something extra i forget!

kris031409

Final lining check today, I'm at 8 (thinnest of all monitored cycles) but it's ok.  Starting PIO tonight, transfer on Monday!  This is getting real!  When the nurse gave me my calendar, I noticed that I'm scheduled for my beta on May11th, our one year wedding anniversary

fivetimesnoluck we'll be transfer buddies!  So is today your fertilization day?  I hope you get great news!

hbomb513

@Ash_SE I have a whole (secret) baby registry on Amazon. I started it when I did my first IUI. It kinda hurts to look at, but I do keep adding to it so it must not be that painful lol...

@kris031409 Your transfer is so soon, I'm jealous! Mine isn't until the 15th. Surely it's auspicious it falls on your wedding anniversary

AFM, anyone else doing a long Lupron protocol? I've had a constant headache for three days - I actually have to keep track of how much tylenol I take in a day so I don't take too much. I have three final exams in the next two days, so it's really throwing a wrench in my study plans
RN said at my day 1 U/S yesterday that basically Lupron puts the body into a premenopausal state. She said I should start feeling better once I start adding estrogen, which is today. I also get to decrease Lupron from 10 units to 5, so that makes me happy too.
Anyone else feeling some side effects?

caseyw8784

@hbomb513 - i completely forgot that i have a secret registry at buybuybaby...it's a complete mess and i really just use it to mark what i've seen and what i like, etc (like, i'm not going to actually register for 5 different car seats or pack n plays...!) But, DH doesn't know about it, and i don't think he'd want to know that i've kept it active for the past year...

Re: side effects...I'm not on Lupron, but I think I'm having some Estrace side effects. Mainly, a dull constant headache, a shortened AF (it stopped after 2-2.5 days? usually lasts 4-5-ish!), and feeling slightly more irritable about things...haha

kaseycoco

@kris031409 how exciting that your transfer is so soon! It must be a good sign that beta date is on your anniversary  
@hbomb513 Sorry you are experiencing headaches, I'm not on Lupron but I'm no stranger to side effects, and know they are no fun. I hope the estrogen helps.

I love the idea of the secret registries! I must confess I have a few onesies as well. I always look at friends registries to eye what I might want, so maybe I should set one up just to be ready. 

AFM, AF finally arrived on Tuesday so now I wait until May 4th to start monitoring for ovulation (since I'm doing an unmedicated FET). It's a nice change to finally feel excited to get my period instead of the usual misery