@vflux33 Sorry that nothing is super clear one way or another. I can imagine how frustrating that must be, but definitely not something to be embarrassed about!
I am cautiously optimistic about my dx; I am on day 3 of Metformin so hopefully something comes from that!
@eggplantface OMG that gif- yes! I literally laughed out loud.
History and blog link in spoiler
2016 - dx with super low ovarian reserve; failed cycle with clomid, failed IUI, 2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks May 2020 FET; BFN July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate Oct 2020 BFP!
@Anna_1021 I'm sorry the work stress is really affecting you. I am in that same boat right now, and I'm angry about it. I'm worried I'm putting all this money, time, and energy into TTC and that the stress from work is going to negate it. Hugs to you. Hopefully the acupuncture helps. It does help me a bit.
@zwink1 FX your H follows through on getting his BW done!
Update: I was told that the reason they told me to put the Ganirelix in the thigh was so that I would remember that I took that one. Umm yea pretty sure I remember each of these shots and that is the only one I take in the morning. Also, as if I am not a total psychopath about making sure I take everything and the right amount etc. hello doc? Was told it is totally fine to put it in my stomach and it was sooo much better. Icing before also really helps. Just putting this out there in case it helps anyone else!
Enjoying my last cup or maybe second to last cup of caffeinated coffee before I start this IVF process. It's not a big deal because I've gone to decaf already anyway (except during AF).
IVF girls do you typically start stims the day of your baseline appointment? It will be CD3 for me.
@leekat14 hmm it was a little different for me. I stopped bcp the day of my baseline and got my period then started stims 4 days later (baseline monday morning stims friday night). Btw, I was told it is okay to have one cup of coffee and glass of wine while stimming. I still kept my morning cup of coffee to feel normal.
Ah I feel like I've missed so much here! Got slammed at work the past two days and came home exhausted. Glad to have some time to be back!!
@TravelingCouple sorry for AF but so glad you don't have to worry about tearing and can really enjoy yourself on your vacation. Have so much fun!!!
@vflux33 sorry for all the confusion about diagnosis
@Anna_1021 hope everything went well with the IUI yesterday!
@leekat14 sorry for AF but glad that you are ready to go for IVF! That gif made me laugh
@laurad75 oh wow I can't even imagine the stress of all those calculations! Fx that the new protocol is everything it needs to be!
@zwink1 enjoy your time off and good luck with the new job!!!
@eggplantface that gif is everything. Of course the nurses know the process but to explain it like it's so easy is frustrating!!! Who is going to remember that? I'd be calling them for follow up!
So I got my trigger shot in the mail yesterday. DH had to stay home from work cause we needed to sign for it. It came in a cooler with Hershey kisses in it. I cried when DH told me. Maybe I'm just emotional from the letrozole but just the fact that they took the time to put that together was such a thoughtful gesture. That pharmacy has been so nice and helpful and it really had an impact that they did that. Question- do you guys leave the trigger shot in the prescription box in the fridge or take it out? I was expecting the pen but it was just a syringe.
@laurad@kiki75@saralee797-2
SAME I feel like a constant brain fart and then I panic right after the
injections because I feel like I added wrong and welp! they are already in my body!
@saralee797-2 that’s great you were able to start in your
abdomen, I did one shot in my thigh and it was the worst. I would rather use my tummy as a pin cushion than thigh ever again.
@leekat14 I took my last BCP on March 5, had a baseline scan on March 6, then started stims on March 9, so that's...CD4? I also was given zero restrictions on alcohol during stims and told to stick to the <200mg caffeine rule, so I drank whenever I felt like it. But I don't binge drink anymore anyway, and I didn't want to be tipsy while injecting myself, so I had no more than 2 glasses of wine at a time.
@saralee797-2 I'm glad you got the OK to inject in the stomach; the thought of my thigh makes me wince. More nerve endings, maybe? I feel like they're more sensitive.
@beachbunnyxo123 I kept all refrigerated meds in the boxes in which they came. It'll still stay cold in the box. That's so sweet they sent the kisses with it! They know what's up.
Me: late 30s | H: early 30s TTC #1 since April 2015 RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016 IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal Polyp removed May 2017 FET May 2017 - BFP! Baby boy born 2/2/18
@leekat14 I have been told to start stims the evening after baseline (usually CD 2) but different doctors have different protocols.
History and blog link in spoiler
2016 - dx with super low ovarian reserve; failed cycle with clomid, failed IUI, 2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks May 2020 FET; BFN July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate Oct 2020 BFP!
@laurad75 Thanks love. That's so nice to hear. I don't feel brave...I feel like a quivering mass of freaking the eff out. Also? I think you're so brave, because IVF is so expensive and so intense. You're all in, and that's amazing. I guess I'm all in, too, in a different way. IVF is just not an option for us because of the expense...plus the RE I saw last week told me she didn't disagree with that decision since she didn't see a lot of increase in our chances with it (although, as you can tell, I just can't even with the odds anymore). So our all in is throwing money and time at weekly acupuncture and ridiculous amounts of supplements and herbs, and sperm freezing and IUI. TBH, I've thought more than once (or a million times) about saying eff it, it isn't meant to be and I can't take it anymore. But then I remember that, oh yeah, I'm a stubborn shit and I don't go down like that.
Me: 45 OH: 42 Beloved SS: born 12/2011 TTC my bio #1/our #2 since January 2016 **TW** June 2016 had CP **end TW** August 2016 - dx with DOR Somewhere in here received recommendation to do IVF with donor eggs, elected not to; OH dx with Low T May 2017 - began freezing sperm June 2017 - OH began treatment for Low T July 2017 - began doing 1 IUI via a midwife and 1 at home insemination each cycle http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/6259ba July 2018 - exhausted frozen sperm, officially NTNP since OH is probably shooting blanks
I went to the specialty pharmacy this morning and picked up the first round of my meds! I'm doing a FET so it's just for the egg retrieval... and even with a coupon and only the first half of the meds it was still $2500. Ouch. But yayyyyyyyyyyy I'm excited! And I have my appointment tomorrow for bloodwork, ultrasound, shg, and med teaching. Shit I'm just so happy this is actually getting going.
I hope you ladies don't mind me asking this here. I've been lurking this thread for awhile now so I know it's been discussed but does anyone have any specific questions that I should ask at my RE appointment? I just got a call yesterday saying they can see me tomorrow instead of July but I'm left running around to get things ready so I'm prepared. I just browsed the last 5 weeks and I couldn't find much but then again it was just a browse so maybe I missed something. I've tried searching and well perhaps the words I'm using are not great because it's not bringing up much.
@mispanda good luck at your appointment!! So speaking only from my own experience, the first appointment is just them getting a ton of info from you. I had gotten some testing done from my ob/midwife so I asked questions about those results and what he thought of them. Mostly what will happen though is that they will ask you a bunch of stuff, and then based on their suspicions of what's going on they may set up bloodwork, ultrasound, HSG. Once all that is done they will set up an appointment to go over all the results and potentially suggest steps moving forward. That is when you will be asking a bunch of questions to them.
@antoto Thanks! My OB did some tests so I was hoping I could ask them what they thought of those results too. I'm really interested to hear what their opinion is vs what my OB has told me.
@mispanda May I ask you what you think or your gynecologist thinks the issue is? It often goes differently if you're coming in with nothing versus a possible issue (for instance I went in and said "my luteal phase is only 8 days" and while DH and I got all the diagnostic testing we started with thinking that was the problem, which it kind of was).
@mispanda What @antoto said. The more you can be prepared to answer questions, the better. Print out all of your past test results (2 copies, one for each of you). I also wrote down what CD/DPO the results were from. Bring your charts but be prepared for them to not be interested in them. I put my supplements/medications into a spreadsheet to keep it tidy and easy to have a current list.
The #1 question for you to get answered is how to ask more questions. Because you'll have them. I was prepared and not shocked by anything she said but I still blanked. And frankly, part of it you'll forget until it applies anyways.
The rest of it is in getting a feel for the place. Are they willing to work together with you to form a plan or will they dictate to you? Is it a care model you're comfortable with? Mine, I feel like a person needs to be kind of knowledgeable and prepared to do some self-managing (like following up at the IUI about progesterone supplementation) and it's definitely not a Dr. holding my hand every step of the way place. But, so far it works and it's totally worth it to me to have a 20-minute drive there over the next closest which is a solid hour with reasonable traffic (but people are stupid and get in wrecks all the time). How much are they willing to trust you and allow you to direct your care? One thing I like about my doctor is that she understands the emotional fatigue and I don't feel pressured either way to do low-intervention or high-intervention but if I called tomorrow and said, "Forget IUI. Let's set up IVF." She might make sure I knew what I was getting into but she'd be down for it.
So happy they're getting you in earlier! Good luck!
Me: 34 DH: 38 Married: June 2011 TTC since Feb 2016 BFP#1: 7/7/16 MMC: 8/16/16 BFP#2: 5/8/17 - CP BFP#3: 6/27/17 EDD: 3/10/18
@adirat my OB didn't really give me anything on what he thinks it is. When I asked about a RE and if he thinks I should see one he told me he wasn't sure what they would add, but it wouldn't hurt to get more info. Edit: grammar
@antoto exciting stuff!!! Good luck at your appointment tomorrow. @mispanda I think everyone else pretty much covered it just wanted to wish you good luck and I hope your RE is a perfect fit!
@antoto When you said first half of meds, you meant just for the ER and the FET meds are the second half? Or do you mean you just got an initial supply but may need refills as you use them? I'm just asking because for my FET I had to pay for the Del Estrogen injections OOP and that was only $125 ("only" is relative here, I suppose), and the progesterone in oil was oddly covered by my insurance. My guess is that PIO is also indicated for pregnancy, so it counts as prenatal and is therefore covered. TL;DR The second half of your meds may not be such a huge expense
Me: late 30s | H: early 30s TTC #1 since April 2015 RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016 IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal Polyp removed May 2017 FET May 2017 - BFP! Baby boy born 2/2/18
@eggplantface I h ope you're right that they will be a lot cheaper! And yeah, I meant just the meds for ER. Not sure when I'll get stuff for the FET. We're doing PGS so it will be a while. I think they said they estimated my FET would be the end of July/beginning of August which feels like forever away.
@adirat my OB didn't really give me anything on what he thinks it is. When I asked about a RE and if he thinks I should see one he told me he wasn't sure what they would add, but it wouldn't hurt to get more info. Edit: grammar
lol. At your doctor, not at you. This stuff is an RE's job. They will add a lot.
I don't know your background/history with ttc but I can tell you this -- I started with basic cd3 testing and an ultrasound at my gynecologist (who I love) because it would be covered by insurance. She said there was nothing obvious and referred me to an RE. The RE figured out my issue within a couple of weeks with his standard testing, which is more extensive and personalized. It makes a huge difference to see a specialist.
@antoto For reference, my original FET date was May 11 after a March 19 ER, and that included waiting 12 days for my period then two weeks on BCP, then 20 days of meds. My friend's doctor used her natural cycle to transfer, so she just had a period, then when she O'd they did the transfer 5 days later. I hope everything goes well tomorrow!
Me: late 30s | H: early 30s TTC #1 since April 2015 RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016 IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal Polyp removed May 2017 FET May 2017 - BFP! Baby boy born 2/2/18
My clinic does BW 8 days after trigger to confirm O, and my numbers (progesterone and estrogen) came back good so I'm happy about that. But it definitely hasn't helped my BSC. Does anyone not do BW to confirm O? I'm thinking of not doing it in the future so I don't think too much into it.
@madspunk My RE didn't confirm O in my Clomid/IUI cycles. I asked him how they know I O'd without u/s or b/w and he said that with the trigger shot they're "pretty sure" it happened. I took their word for it.
Me: late 30s | H: early 30s TTC #1 since April 2015 RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016 IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal Polyp removed May 2017 FET May 2017 - BFP! Baby boy born 2/2/18
@madspunk my office does not do bloodwork to confirm O and they don't make you come in for a beta either. Just call with a positive hpt. I was grateful to not have those extra appointments honestly.
@eggplantface@saralee797-2 Good to know. I think I will request not to go in for that additional BSC-fueling BW then.
In other news, I had a horrifying moment walking to a coworker's office today where I wasn't sure if I was peeing my pants a little or if the progesterone decided to all rush out at once. Luckily, it was the progesterone.
@madspunk do you have ultrasounds before triggering? If so it's probably fine to skip the bw. My RE did ultrasounds to monitor the follicles but never did post O bloodwork.
@madspunk Ah yes the progesterone rush, when you hope you remembered the panty liner and it's holding up under the onslaught...
Me: late 30s | H: early 30s TTC #1 since April 2015 RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016 IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal Polyp removed May 2017 FET May 2017 - BFP! Baby boy born 2/2/18
Hey friends I'm usually really bad about updating on the weekends and I know a lot of you check up less on the weekends as well. So I just wanted all of you to know that while this weekend will be tough, I will be thinking of each of you. You aren't alone in any of your sadness, jealously, or anger. I will be drinking wine and staying away from social media. I hope you also do something that keeps your heart safe this weekend.
You guys... my clinic put out roses for the patients today and through the weekend knowing that it is a tough time for us.
History and blog link in spoiler
2016 - dx with super low ovarian reserve; failed cycle with clomid, failed IUI, 2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks May 2020 FET; BFN July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate Oct 2020 BFP!
Re: IF/Weekly Check In 5/8
I'm horrible with math! I just told DH that he is going to need to figure all of this out because I'm like....
Edit to add tags @eggplantface and @saralee797-2
@vflux33 Sorry that nothing is super clear one way or another. I can imagine how frustrating that must be, but definitely not something to be embarrassed about!
I am cautiously optimistic about my dx; I am on day 3 of Metformin so hopefully something comes from that!
2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos
moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos
Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC
Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks
May 2020 FET; BFN
July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate
Oct 2020 BFP!
Take a look at my blog
WOOOHOOOOO! So excited for you
@zwink1 FX your H follows through on getting his BW done!
@LadyMillil Woo hoo! Good luck!
IVF girls do you typically start stims the day of your baseline appointment? It will be CD3 for me.
@TravelingCouple sorry for AF but so glad you don't have to worry about tearing and can really enjoy yourself on your vacation. Have so much fun!!!
@vflux33 sorry for all the confusion about diagnosis
@Anna_1021 hope everything went well with the IUI yesterday!
@leekat14 sorry for AF but glad that you are ready to go for IVF! That gif made me laugh
@laurad75 oh wow I can't even imagine the stress of all those calculations! Fx that the new protocol is everything it needs to be!
@zwink1 enjoy your time off and good luck with the new job!!!
@eggplantface that gif is everything. Of course the nurses know the process but to explain it like it's so easy is frustrating!!! Who is going to remember that? I'd be calling them for follow up!
So I got my trigger shot in the mail yesterday. DH had to stay home from work cause we needed to sign for it. It came in a cooler with Hershey kisses in it. I cried when DH told me. Maybe I'm just emotional from the letrozole but just the fact that they took the time to put that together was such a thoughtful gesture. That pharmacy has been so nice and helpful and it really had an impact that they did that. Question- do you guys leave the trigger shot in the prescription box in the fridge or take it out? I was expecting the pen but it was just a syringe.
@laurad @kiki75 @saralee797-2 SAME I feel like a constant brain fart and then I panic right after the injections because I feel like I added wrong and welp! they are already in my body!
@eggplantface that is some serious math.
@LadyMillil that’s wonderful!
@saralee797-2 that’s great you were able to start in your abdomen, I did one shot in my thigh and it was the worst. I would rather use my tummy as a pin cushion than thigh ever again.
@saralee797-2 I'm glad you got the OK to inject in the stomach; the thought of my thigh makes me wince. More nerve endings, maybe? I feel like they're more sensitive.
@beachbunnyxo123 I kept all refrigerated meds in the boxes in which they came. It'll still stay cold in the box. That's so sweet they sent the kisses with it! They know what's up.
TTC #1 since April 2015
RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016
IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN
IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal
Polyp removed May 2017
FET May 2017 - BFP!
Baby boy born 2/2/18
2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos
moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos
Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC
Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks
May 2020 FET; BFN
July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate
Oct 2020 BFP!
Take a look at my blog
Beloved SS: born 12/2011
TTC my bio #1/our #2 since January 2016
**TW** June 2016 had CP **end TW**
August 2016 - dx with DOR
Somewhere in here received recommendation to do IVF with donor eggs, elected not to; OH dx with Low T
May 2017 - began freezing sperm
June 2017 - OH began treatment for Low T
July 2017 - began doing 1 IUI via a midwife and 1 at home insemination each cycle
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/6259ba
July 2018 - exhausted frozen sperm, officially NTNP since OH is probably shooting blanks
All you ladies are heroes to me
Otherwise I cosign @antoto
The #1 question for you to get answered is how to ask more questions. Because you'll have them. I was prepared and not shocked by anything she said but I still blanked. And frankly, part of it you'll forget until it applies anyways.
The rest of it is in getting a feel for the place. Are they willing to work together with you to form a plan or will they dictate to you? Is it a care model you're comfortable with? Mine, I feel like a person needs to be kind of knowledgeable and prepared to do some self-managing (like following up at the IUI about progesterone supplementation) and it's definitely not a Dr. holding my hand every step of the way place. But, so far it works and it's totally worth it to me to have a 20-minute drive there over the next closest which is a solid hour with reasonable traffic (but people are stupid and get in wrecks all the time). How much are they willing to trust you and allow you to direct your care? One thing I like about my doctor is that she understands the emotional fatigue and I don't feel pressured either way to do low-intervention or high-intervention but if I called tomorrow and said, "Forget IUI. Let's set up IVF." She might make sure I knew what I was getting into but she'd be down for it.
So happy they're getting you in earlier! Good luck!
Married: June 2011
TTC since Feb 2016
BFP#1: 7/7/16 MMC: 8/16/16
BFP#2: 5/8/17 - CP
BFP#3: 6/27/17 EDD: 3/10/18
Edit: grammar
@mispanda I think everyone else pretty much covered it just wanted to wish you good luck and I hope your RE is a perfect fit!
TTC #1 since April 2015
RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016
IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN
IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal
Polyp removed May 2017
FET May 2017 - BFP!
Baby boy born 2/2/18
I don't know your background/history with ttc but I can tell you this -- I started with basic cd3 testing and an ultrasound at my gynecologist (who I love) because it would be covered by insurance. She said there was nothing obvious and referred me to an RE. The RE figured out my issue within a couple of weeks with his standard testing, which is more extensive and personalized. It makes a huge difference to see a specialist.
TTC #1 since April 2015
RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016
IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN
IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal
Polyp removed May 2017
FET May 2017 - BFP!
Baby boy born 2/2/18
TTC #1 since April 2015
RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016
IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN
IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal
Polyp removed May 2017
FET May 2017 - BFP!
Baby boy born 2/2/18
In other news, I had a horrifying moment walking to a coworker's office today where I wasn't sure if I was peeing my pants a little or if the progesterone decided to all rush out at once. Luckily, it was the progesterone.
TTC #1 since April 2015
RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016
IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN
IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal
Polyp removed May 2017
FET May 2017 - BFP!
Baby boy born 2/2/18
2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos
moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos
Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC
Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks
May 2020 FET; BFN
July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate
Oct 2020 BFP!
Take a look at my blog