May 2018 - IVF

emerald99

@mich_elle That's so frustrating that they had so much trouble finding your ovary.  Do you get the same tech each time?  Was a different tech better at finding it - maybe you can request that one again?  My RE told us something similar, that if we didn't have at least x# (3-4?) eggs, they wouldn't do the retrieval.  FX that your follies grow and they can find them!!
@madasm0530 GL with the transfer!!!
@tinjp78 hopefully the BD worked! Otherwise, welcome to May 2018 IVF
@mayflower513 I'm glad the air bubble worked for you - I tried it too, and think it helped a little, but I def still lost some - I couldn't get rid of a bubble of the meds at the top.  Hate that that needle is dull!!

AFM the tech this morning didn't want to show me the follicles she measured, but I think I saw on the screen that I'm down one from yesterday.  Not too surprising, since one was so far in the lead.  I'm guessing it's unlikely that the smaller ones will get big enough at this point - waiting to hear what's up for tonight/tomorrow, but I'm guessing ER will be over the weekend or Monday.

Dr said that I'll feel crappy the same day as the ER and to take that day off, but curious for you ladies who have done this before, would you recommend taking off the next day as well?  I'm nervous that I'll be going through withdrawal from the super high estrogen=horrible PMS? (or does that wind down slowly??) or anything else

leilee101

@mich_elle I'm so sorry your appt didn't go as you had hoped, but honestly estrogen rising is a good sign and just because they couldn't find it doesn't mean it's not there! Hopefully you get some good news on Saturday. Any my nurse said the same thing about a follicle "hiding behind a gas bubble" omg I was so embarassed
@emerald99 keep us posted about an ER date! 

I've been obsessively refreshing my patient portal all day and they finally posted my E2 levels from this morning: 115. So I feel like that's still low but a huge increase from 33 2 days ago! And now they want me to decrease Gonal and add Menopur, and not come back until Sunday so I feel like things are progressing and I need to relax. Wow I really did not think an IVF cycle would be this stressful!

emerald99

@leilee101 @mich_elle On a similar note, even if I pee five minutes before they check me, literally every US tech complains that my bladder is full!  I try to pee after, but I swear it's practically empty.  So weird.

suziev3

@tinjp78 Hi.  Welcome.  Sorry your IUI didn't work out. FX for your 2ww. 
@leilee101 Yep. I'm a slow grower too. Follies are still growing slowly, but they are growing.  Gonal-f bump probably helped.  Estrogen jumped up to 600 so they won't raise my dose again. Yay for that. They think I will start to grow faster once they start to hit 10mm. Your estrogen is still rising so that's a good sign! My first IVF was a huge rollercoaster ride so I totally relate.  This time I was more prepared for that so I feel less stressed. 
@mich_elle A 25 min ultrasound? That is so frustrating. Maybe you just need the RE to scan you. And you really do give up all modesty going through this process.  They even asked to use me as a test patient for a new ultrasound tech once while the doctor supervised.  I was like "suuuure, welcome to my ovaries...anyone else want to join the party?"  I hope your next appointment brings you good news. 
@emerald99 My doctor insists that I take the next day off, maybe because I am at risk for OHSS. I didn't really feel too badly last cycle though so I was thinking I could go into work since I have a desk job.  Everyone is probably different.  The worst thing about post-retrieval for me and this is TMI, but I really wished someone had warned me about this ... the constipation (I guess from the anesthesia?)  

mayflower513

@mich_elle ugh.  I’m going to assume there are more follicles in both ovaries and you have like 4 or 5.  What an awful experience that must have been!  Does your RE usually do the scans?  He only didn’t my initial one now it’s the nurses.  Hopefully you get a different one next time!  I’m still really surprised they’re not changing your meds at all.  Good for you for all those questions!  I’ve never heard of like any of that!  Try to stay sane until Saturday, I hope there is good news and you’re pleasantly surprised and all this worry was for nothing!

@emerald99 I’m sorry you might be down one, maybe you just missed it!  But either way, you had a good number so you should be good!!  What did they say when they called?

@leilee101 that’s great!!  Relax and let’s things go and grow

@madasm0530 I’m doing ok, was super bloated and TIRED all day yesterday.  Like more than normal.  I’m curious to see what’s going on in there!

I lost some of my menopur last night Bc of a medicine bubble above the air bubble... I just couldn’t get it out and it just kept dripping before I got to the air, so annoying.  And then with the ganirelix I hit a blood vessel or something because it KILLED going in and then I had a BIG drop of blood at the end and some was in the needle.  Hoping I didn’t hurt anything.

@emerald99 pull the syringe like all the way open to fill it like all the way with air then tap it out, that worked for me this morning despite my placement issue!

mayflower513

Well this ultrasound was significantly more uncomfortable

7 on the left, 2 16s and some between there and 10, 2 less than 10 which gives the same total as last time, still 4 on the right, the biggest is 17 and there’s a 16, and 5 less than 10... so I lost 2 or she just missed them.

my estrogen only went from 352 on day 4 to 420 or something on day 6 which is what they wanted I think...so we’ll see what it comes bck as today.  She told me to order more meds since I run out Sunday but idk how I’ll make it past Sunday with 3 16s and a 17!

madasm0530

@mayflower513 when's your next appointment or planed ER? 

mayflower513

@madasm0530 I don’t know yet, she thinks I’ll go back tomorrow for bw/us but I won’t know until they get my blood results this afternoon.  The original estimated ER date was next Tuesday, which has me triggering Sunday, which makes sense to me based on my follicles but idk where my estrogen is.  

madasm0530

I just begged and pleaded with my nurse for a tiny update on how everything was going. All I know is of my 17 retrieved, 13 were mature and 9 fertilized normally. We're all set for transfer on Monday! 

mayflower513

@madasm0530 yay, that’s great!

I go back tomorrow morning for another check.

emerald99

suziev3 thanks for the warnings!  Better to be prepared, I think - or at least to know that I'm not going through something that should worry me.  Sounds like I may trigger tomorrow, so I'll block my calendar for Monday and also Tuesday just in case.
@madasm0530 w00t sounds exciting!
@mayflower513 GL with tomorrow's check!  You're right about the Ganirelix, I pulled more air today and I lost less of the meds than previous times.

AFM, 1 follicle at 21mm and 14 at 10-18mm - psyched there are so many, but isn't that a big range??  10mm is unlikely to be ready before a trigger tomorrow, I'd think.  I'm really hoping that there will be enough follicles ready.  DH and I are pretty wiped from all the early appointments, but tomorrow's office start time is an hour later than during the week, so we'll get to sleep in a little.  And DH and I made plans for a little brunch date following the appointment since we won't have to go to work afterwards Trying to stay upbeat over here and not worry in advance about quality - trying to remind myself that there's nothing I can do about it. 

mayflower513

@emerald99 that’s great!  They’ll still grow after trigger

leilee101

@mayflower513 sounds like you have some beautiful follies plumping up in there.. looking forward to another positive update tomorrow! I lost some Menopur last night also, it was my first time mixing meds and I STRUGGLED. I kept getting giant air pockets and almost lost my mind, had to facetime my nurse friend to help us! Im annoyed that my clinic just sent me a million meds and some instructional videos and sent me on my merry way

@madasm0530 that’s such a great update! I’m glad you pushed it, I wouldn’t have been able to go a whole weekend just waiting like that either 

@emerald99 those smaller follies will catch up! Those are greats numbers, good luck with your trigger tomorrow! 

@suziev3 ppl keep telling me that after 10mm they really start to take off, so thank you I definitely need reassurance from ppl who have been through this )

Good luck to everyone coming to the end of their cycle! Pretty sure mine will be pushed out a couple extra days due to slow start but so nice to all be cycling together

mayflower513

@leilee101  I know my clinic told me about the videos too.  They did offer to have a nurse show me in all fairness and I didn’t think I needed it.

ok so today... Right 21, 16.5, 16, 14, 14

Left 17 17 14.5 14.5 14 10.5 lining is trilinear and 11.1 and estrogen is 2100.  So I go down to 125 on follistim tonight and go back tomorrow am and hopefully trigger tomorrow!!

@mich_elle  how did it go today?? Did anyone else have appointments today?

sunny_side

@mich_elle ...isn’t it lovely to hear that bowels are blocking the ultrasound. My left one also hides so it is always fun while they prod around

suziev3

@mayflower513 Looks good. Fx for trigger tomorrow. 
@emerald99 Looks promising. Did you trigger today? 
@Leilee101 Follies did take off. Largest was 14, so don’t worry about a slow start. Last time I stimmed for 17 days! So this is actually fast for me. 

Had an appointment today. Looks like I’ll be ready Wed or Thurs for retrieval. I may have about 15 follicles in range. My estradiol jumped from 600 to 1600 over the last two days so they are dropping my gonal f back to 150. That makes me a little nervous but I wasn’t totally surprised because I could really FEEL it.  I add hgh starting tomorrow. Next appointment is Monday. 

mayflower513

Oh yeah @emerald99!!  How did your appt go?  Are you triggering tonight?

@suziev3 that sounds good!  

emerald99

Triggering tonight 8pm, for an 8am Monday ER.  Wish me luck please!  I'm def nervous, but my SIL assured me that it's NBD and I'll be ok.
@mayflower513 you're sounding good, FX for trigger soon and GL on the ER
@leilee101 weird that they didn't show you in person how to do the shots!  I can't say that I really remembered what the nurse showed me by the time I actually did them, but it did give me more confidence.  The videos are good though, and we're here to help if needed!  I've learned from these ladies that sometimes, pulling more air into the syringe helps.  GL!

sunny_side

Mobile is erasing my posts! I checking in on everyone and what got posted was a 1/2 sentence to @mich_elle about bowels blocking ultrasounds. I literally get 3 sentences. Oh well... I’d like to vent for a sec. This month I have 5 total follicles. 3 of which are growing well and the other 2 are stragglers. 
*TW**
last month i was in a similar situation with 3 follicles. When i woke up from ER the Dr. was there explain to my husband that there weren’t any eggs in the follicles. I was so crushed. I’m thinking positive but I cried today for fear that they would be empty again. I know every month is different and I had 10eggs back in Feb but still- I worry.**

Thx for listening

sunny_side

 My last one posted so I’m going to try another to check In on everyone. 
@mayflower513 those are great numbers! Congrats on that and your triggershot! 
@emerald99 how was tonight’s trigger?! Did the video tell you to sit or stand? I like half sitting on a stool vs standing so I don’t faint - lol I do my own shots but I get a little woozy if I see a drop of blood

sunny_side

@suziev3 15 follicles is amazing! We are proabably on the same time table as I’m looking at a Wed retrieval also. Are you doing a freeze or 5dt?
@madasm0530 good for you for asking for an update! So excited for your transfer and FX for healthy embryos. 

@leilee101 I like to draw air in the syringe before putting it in the vial also which helps pull the mixture into the syringe. Are you headed for another us tomorrow or Monday to check on the growth?

mandurz

@emerald99 woo hoo for trigger and ER! Good luck, hope you have a great report after retrieval and fertilization Tues.

@sunny_side I totally get that fear after getting awful news last time. In my case I would be terrified of having no embryos make it again, so we are going to look into the possibility of embryo adoption so it takes out that factor. I hope that when you do get to the ER point, that you have plenty of eggs retrieved. 

@suziev3 awesome having 15 follicles in the range to be ready for retrieval Wed and thur. Hope it goes well and you get some good strong eggs out of it.

@mayflower513 woo hoo, hope you get to trigger tomorrow and get good number of eggs! 

So many so close to trigger or retrieval! It's awesome. If I missed anyone sorry and good luck! 

mich_elle

@madasm0530 Best of luck with your transfer! FX for you!!

@prudence9-2 Thank you It was not a good day! It's their responsibility, I feel, to tell you what could happen. Thanks for being my cheerleader lady!

@emerald99 Thanks. I've only ever had my RE do the us but she was out of the office. That was the 1st time my nurse did it. GL with your ER tomorrow!

@leilee101 Thanks for your support I wish we could just put on ute goggles to see what's happening in there! Yay for your rising E2 too! GL at today's appointment! Sorry you're struggling with meds!! Hopefully it gets easier for you. 

@suziev3 Yeah, it was not pleasant. It never is but this was accessional! And, ugh constipation! Can you take a stool softener beforehand? GL with your upcoming ER! So exciting!

@mayflower513 Thanks for your support! Yes, usually it's my RE. Ouch, how are the rest of your shots going? You have great number girly! When's your ER?

@sunny_side No shame in this process LOL! FX that you've got full follies lady!

mich_elle

AFM, I had my 3rd scan yesterday and I'm so happy we flew my mom out here for a few weeks. My hubby & I had to drive over an hour for that appt so she was able to stay home and watch DS. This appointment was much better than Wednesday's:
No fluid in uterus; lining: 8mm, tri-laminar
right ovary: 16.5mm, 15mm, 8mm
left ovary: 11mm
E2: 363
Next scan is tomorrow so it looks like I'll stim for at least 11 days. I only have enough Follistim to get me through tonight so I ordered more Thursday for Saturday delivery. Friday was super busy for me and didn't really check my email. I should have bc I would have noticed that I did not get a tracking email from them. Well, when it hadn't arrived, I called and sure enough, they took my order but never processed it! So, now I don't have meds for Monday am! They had no explanation and just kept apologizing as I'm sobbing on the phone. It was overnighted yesterday with a Monday delivery between 6-8am. My appointment is at 9 so I'll either do the shots whenever the package arrives or take all of my Follistim cartridges that have overages with my so that the nurse can combine them all and use that as my morning dose. I mean, seriously?!? Come the fuck on! Anyone who's been following my journey can attest to the crap I've had to deal with. Don't get me wrong, we all have crap to deal with...I just don't handle it well I guess.  Anyway, mom's here for Mother's Day and we haven't been together for it in over 10 years, so I'm going to focus on that today. To those who celebrate...enjoy your day! xoxo

prudence9-2

@mich_elle glad the appt yesterday was better! And glad you’ll get the meds tomorrow morning! Nothing is ever simple. 

enjoy mother’s day with your mom today!

mayflower513

@mich_elle woo hoo that’s some great growth you got there!!  You should have your 3, maybe even 4!!

AFM I’m so uncomfortable and ready to be done.  Idk how people have so many eggs! I have:

Lining is 12.5 and trilinear

Right ovary - 21 18.5 18.5 18 15.5 (12 11 10.5 10)

Left ovary - 21 19 18 16 15.5 14.5 14

estradiol was 2,100 yesterday... will find out today’s in a couple of hours and I am really hoping my estrogen is below 4K (if it hits 4K I’ll have to do lupron trigger and likely can’t do a fresh transfer) and I get told to trigger.

mayflower513

Triggering tonight for tuesday retrieval!  Estrogen was 2,600 so I also don’t have to do the lupron trigger.  Phew!

leilee101

@mayflower513 ah that’s awesome you got the go ahead to trigger! Can’t wait to hear how many eggs you get, those numbers looks awesome

@mich_elle that’s so annoying about the meds, it’s honestly always something. That won’t mess with your cycle too much will it? Glad you’re spending time with you mama, that always makes things a little better for me:)

@emerald99  good luck at ER tomorrow!! This group is having a lot of retrieval’s this week so here’s to starting us off strong 

@sunny_side thanks for the med tips, I tried pulling air in last night and it def helped. I totally get your anxiety about having another cycle that ends up similarly, but just keep thinking positive.. each cycle is so different and if you’ve had good numbers before, it sounds like empty follicles was just a one time fluke ( albeit A terrible, heart wrenching fluke)

@suziev3 glad everything took off for you, that makes me super happy for you and also feel better about my own slow start so win win situation haha. Hoping you get the go ahead to tigger tomorrow!

monitoring today went well, things still moving slow but they keep assuring me this is a good thing and they like to see slow and steady:

E2 jumped from 115 to 547, 21 follicles now but the largest only at 11mm (2 of those), 3 at 10 and the rest “just under 10.” They are not adjusting my meds and seem happy with the progress. Hoping for ER around Friday but still too soon to tell.. tonight will be night 9 of stims. Next appt Tuesday

mich_elle

@prudence9-2 Thank you ❤️

@mayflower513 Congrats on the good news! I'm so excited for you!!

@leilee101 I hope not! A nurse emailed me back this morning to tell me that I can either wait until my pkg arrives or go in and have them combine the vials. Best of luck to you...grow, grow, grow!!

sunny_side

Thank you @mandurz. I know you've been in a similar situation and your support means a lot. I just keep telling myself every month is different. Hopefully I  have eggs in my follicles... and that they fertilize... and make it to freeze...so many hurdles. Happy to hear about the embryo adoption option! Is that when couples have frozen pgs tested embryos leftover after they decided they are finished growing their families? Lmk. 

@mich_elle What a headache but in the end it looks like your scan went well! I've never ordered meds through the mail because my Walgreens is basically like a fertility clinic pharmacy. I can imagine those situations would test ones patience! Enjoy time with you Mom! 

@emerald99 Congrats on ER tomorrow morning. FX for lots of eggs and a good news on Tuesday!
 
@mayflower513 Congrats on a ton of follicles and a steady E2! This is your first ER, correct? You will do great. It is a breeze!

suziev3

@emerald99 Best of luck!  And your sis is right, you will totally be fine.  Try not to stress because you prob won't remember the retrieval or feel or anything at all. The hard part will be waiting for the results!
@sunny_side I am doing a freeze all, since we are pgs testing.  Although, I was having doubts about that last appointment because I usually have trouble with my lining and my lining was already as thick is ever gets. What about you? And yes, stay positive because you are doing everything you can do!  I hope we both get to go in on Wed!
@mich_elle Sorry you have to stress about med delivery.  That's the LAST thing you need, but it sounds like it is going to all work out. 
@mayflower513 Great stats. FX for you.
@leilee101 The important thing is that you are responding. I'm sure you will feel better on Tuesday when you see those follies jump up in size. 
@mandurz Thank you for your support.  Glad you are looking into embryo adoption option. Keep us posted. 

sunny_side

@suziev3 Im hoping for a freeze all pgs also. One of my meds is Clomid so I cant do a fresh because the clomid messes with UL thickness. 

@leilee101 Happy to help! And thank you- I will look at it like a fluke. I like that! 
@mich_elle I guess im a little behind but did you say there was a spreadsheet? Did i miss that?

mayflower513

@leilee101 thank you!  That’s a lot of follies!  I bet by Tuesday they’ll be much bigger, it seems once they hit 10 they takeoff pretty quickly!!  Good luck in advance!  I can’t wait to hear about it.

@mich_elle thank you!!  I hope you had a good day with your mom.  I hope your meds come nice and early and it’s a non-issue, but man how stressful!!

thank you @sunny_side!  Yes, my first ER.  I’m excited and nervous, of course!  Hopefully it keeps going smoothly through the transfer.  I know it’s easier said than done and I’m totally the pot calling the kettle black, but try to trust the process.  You’re doing all you can!

@emerald99. GOOD LUCK!!  I can’t wait to hear how it goes!!

@suziev3 thank you!

AFM idk why I’m so worried about ovulating early but I’m going to try to take my own advice and trust the process and my doctor.  I’ve responded well so far and can’t control anything so ... trying to let it go!!

tinjp78

Thank you ladies for welcoming me here and for all the encouragements.

This seems like a busy week for this thread with retrievals and u/s and many more. I hope and pray to see many positive and pleasant updates from y'all.

suzycupcake

@tinjp78 I'm sorry that you find yourself here too, but I'm so glad that I get to see you posting where I'm at now sort of (sort of where I'm at, not sort of I'm glad to see you posting lol). You are one of the nicest women I've met on tb. You're so supportive to everyone and so optimistic about their journey. I wish nothing but the best for you and hope that you get your take home baby soon  

leilee101

@madasm0530 happy transfer day!! 

mayflower513

Happy transfer day @madasm0530!!  Good luck!

retro_belle24

Oh my, so much has happened over the weekend and today and I'm so excited for everyone who's having ER and transfers this week  It's amazing how fast yet so slow time goes with the IVF process.

AFM, I had bw and us this Saturday. I don't remember the sizes and or how many but I believe they were around 10-14mm. The doctor who did the us told me that they grow about 2mm per day so I believe everything is progressing nicely. My medication is still the same. I have another bw and us appt tomorrow morning and the doctors say that we should know our ER date by tomorrow so that's super exciting! 

My nurse has never told me what my estrogen levels were and after seeing a lot of women on here share theirs, I'm curious to my know mine and curious why the levels haven't been shared with me.  

EDIT - I emailed my nurse to get the exact information that I mentioned above and she replied with the following: "Your estrogen is rising nicely  from 136 to 736  Looks like you have 11 follicles growing right now  Their exact size not measurable now but you should have a better idea when you come in tomorrow"
I'm glad I reached out to ask the exact numbers. 

mayflower513

@retro_belle24 they’ll definitely grow pretty quickly now!!  I’m a pain and always ask my e2 levels, they never just give them to me.

retro_belle24

@mayflower513 Right?! I wonder why we have to drag it out of them. 

Question - during the stimming process, when you do guys start to feel bloated? It hasn't happened yet to me but I've heard it's a very common side effect.