February IF Check-In (SAIFW)

KRoseToes · February 2012

(Sorry for wonky formatting.)

If you're new, let us know the basics - when did you start TTC, what is your diagnosis/suspicion, where are you at in the process/next steps? Please let us know if you have upcoming treatments, so we can check in with you on a more regular basis during that time. Also read this check-in often the first week it is posted so we can answer everyone's questions. (It seems prolonged to have someone ask a question in this post and not have it answered until next month's check-in!) Finally, if you have suggestions about what else should be included in the check-in or changes, throw them out there!

Currently Trying to Get Pregnant!

KRoseToes (December 2008)
Diagnosis - Severe MFI, Late ovulation, Short LP
Current status - IVF/ICIS scheduled for summer 2012

tst1998 (June 2009)
Diagnosis ? Unexplained
Current status ? IUIs unsuccessful, IVF 1 = c/p, FET = m/c, FET#2 scheduled for April.

babyaustin725 (TTC #2 - not preventing since Aug. 2007, actively trying since Jan. 2010)
Diagnosis - None. No testing performed to date.
Current status - Will try 6 cycles of Clomid after the appropriate dose is found. After that, will discuss testing and/or additional treatments.

Kglan (TTC #2)
Diagnosis ? One ovary, MFI
Current status ? One son thanks to IVF! TTC child #2 with IVF.

suzie711 (TTC #2)
Diagnosis ? Unexplained - amenorrhea
Current status ? Will start IF treatments when first child is 2; currently in the not preventing stage and seeing naturopath.

N.CarolinaGirl (TTC #2 - October 2008)
Diagnosis - No ovulation despite LH surge, MFI
Current status ? Doctor suggested trying Metaformin

girlofsummer78 (September 2009)
Diagnosis ? Unexplained
Current status ? IUIs unsuccessful, first IVF unsuccessful

Angelinmind (September 2008)
Diagnosis ? Unexplained so far
Current status ? Variety of testing

HopingForMyFirstBaby (April 2010)
Diagnosis ? Severe MFI
Current status ? Saving money for IVF/ICIS and researching clinics

gakester8 (September 2011)
Diagnosis - PCOS
Current status - IUIs

Success Stories!

Theresab
Diagnosis - Unknown, possible endometriosis
Current status - Pregnant with #2!

amandaleigh1
Diagnosis ? Stage II endo, AMA
Current status ? Pregnant after IVF#1

jennyann28
Diagnosis ? Blocked tube, endometrial polyp, cyst, severe MFI, hypothyroidism
Current status ? Pregnant!

Purvalicious
Diagnosis - Polyp
Current Status ? Pregnant!

xxbblueangel
Diagnosis - PCO on the ovaries, LH secretion syndrome, Androgen issues, very small uterus
Current status ? Pregnant!

WatchPot
Diagnosis ? Blocked tube
Current Status ? Mommy to two boys!

MrandMrs07
Diagnosis ? Idiopathic infertility
Current status ? Pregnant after IUI #3

MrsH_08
Diagnosis - Late ovulation, short LP, don't produce enough follicles, low morphology
Current status ? Mommy to a boy thanks to successful IVF#2!

JDCSKF
Diagnosis - Homozygous MTHFR, two copies of C667T, hyperhomocysteinemia
Current status ?Mommy to 2 girls!

Mrs.Kiltlifter
Diagnosis - Severe MFI, non-obstructive azoospermia
Current Status - 8 IUI cycles and Mommy to boy/girl twins!

m&m823
Diagnosis - PCOS, Short LP
Current status ?Got pregnant after using Metformin, Now Mommy to 2 kids!!

Questions:

1) Where are you at in the process/what is your next step?

2) What are you doing fun this month that is non-IF related?

3) Any vents/confessions?

4) Any questions you'd like to ask the other ladies?

KRoseToes · February 2012

Is anyone interested in taking this over? I'm not very good about getting to it around the 1st of the month, as originally promised. I can't Bump at work and I get home pretty late sometimes and just don't have the energy to deal with it. Plus, I'm sure the check-in could use some new energy and ideas. I can keep doing this for awhile (will probably stop if/when I get pregnant), but I thought I'd offer up the opportunity to anyone else now, especially if you're able to create the check-in on a more regular basis.

KRoseToes · February 2012

1) Where are you at in the process/what is your next step?

We met with the new RE last week and loved her. We talked for a long time about our diagnosis and what our chances would be with varicocele surgery, IUIs, and IVF. DH and I decided to go ahead with IVF and we are on the RE's schedule to do it this summer! In the meantime I have some additional testing/preparation to do. I can't believe this is happening finally! I was so excited after the appointment I could barely sleep that night.

2) What are you doing fun this month that is non-IF related?

We are doing the Oscar Movie Marathon at the movie theater again. We get to see all the movies nominated for best picture this year. We will see 5 movies on one day and the next weekend see the last 4 movies. We did it last year for the first time and it was a lot of fun.

3) Any vents/confessions?

Really excited about IVF, but I'm super bummed that we won't be able to go on a big camping trip to Utah. We had tentatively started planning a trip Arches, Canyonlands, Moab, etc. But I think that there is so much going on this summer and so many unknowns with IVF and pregnancy, that it would be best to decide now not to go.

4) Any questions you'd like to ask the other ladies?

For those that have done IVF, can you tell me how long it took from the day you started drugs (other than BC pills) to the day you had your egg retrieval? I know everyone's protocol is different, but I'm interested to see how many days people were giving themselves shots.

amandaleigh1 · February 2012

1) Where are you at in the process/what is your next step?

Since you mentioned SAIF, I thought I would come on in:) We are chugging along and I am getting to the I-can-almost-relax phase. Still need to tell my (new) boss at my (new) job. I am sweating this one.

2) What are you doing fun this month that is non-IF related?

Ugh. Not much happens in my life that is not work or preparing for our life-changing future.

4) Any questions you'd like to ask the other ladies?

For those that have done IVF, can you tell me how long it took from the day you started drugs (other than BC pills) to the day you had your egg retrieval? I know everyone's protocol is different, but I'm interested to see how many days people were giving themselves shots.

I can answer this question for what I did, which was pretty standard from what I gather for first time long-lupron IVFers.

Sept 18 (CD4) started BCP

Oct 6 started lupron injections 1X day in evening

Oct 9 last BCP (22 days of BCP)

October 15 started menopur/bravelle 1X day in morning (still on lupron 1X day eve)

October 25 last day of stims and trigger shot (11 days of stims total)

So I gave myself shots for 20 days straight (11 of these were 2x a day)

MrsH_08 · February 2012

KRoseToes:
4) Any questions you'd like to ask the other ladies?
For those that have done IVF, can you tell me how long it took from the day you started drugs (other than BC pills) to the day you had your egg retrieval? I know everyone's protocol is different, but I'm interested to see how many days people were giving themselves shots.

I'm so excited that you have it scheduled and only months away now!! It's good that you are happy with the RE, too. We did 2 different protocols, but both included about the same number of days of injections. I did the Long Lupron protocol (IVF #1) and the LEAP protocol (IVF #2). With each one, I had 10 days of injections before the ER. (The LEAP protocol was done over 2 menstrual cycles and I did 3-4 days of injects during the first cycle and then the 10 days of injects in the 2nd cycle before ER.) DH did all of my injections and I looked away every time. I'd prep the spot and hold the skin, but then look away til he was done. :-)

tst1998 · February 2012

1) Where are you at in the process/what is your next step?

One more month before FET. Waiting for AF, then will find out whether I start BCPs this month, or if I can skip BCPs and just start estrace.

2) What are you doing fun this month that is non-IF related?

Herb Farm!! I have been wanting to do this for awhile, and we've never been able to justify it. Heck, we still can't justify it, but we have no IF expenses this month so we are going for it.

3) Any vents/confessions?

I am avoiding my friends who are TTC. I can't handle any BFPs these days and I'm afraid I'm going to lose friends because of it.

4) Any questions you'd like to ask the other ladies?

The longer we are at this, the more I realize adoption is a viable option. We will probably do treatments for another year, but after that, I'm not sure this is money well spent. For anyone who has looked into adoption, where do you even start?

tst1998 · February 2012

4) Any questions you'd like to ask the other ladies?

For those that have done IVF, can you tell me how long it took from the day you started drugs (other than BC pills) to the day you had your egg retrieval? I know everyone's protocol is different, but I'm interested to see how many days people were giving themselves shots.

10 days of Lupron, then 9 days of stims + lower dose of Lupron (Gonal-F pen + Luveris by syringe), so at the end it was 3 shots per day. They are all *really* easy shots with tiny needles, so I had no trouble. I even did my own IM trigger shot, which didn't hurt, just a weird angle.

The nurses there do a really good job of making sure you don't have to pay for any more medication than what you are actually going to need. Since they stock everything in the UW pharmacy, if you need more stims, you can pick up just what you need.

So excited for you!!

tst1998 · February 2012

KRoseToes:
Is anyone interested in taking this over? I'm not very good about getting to it around the 1st of the month, as originally promised. I can't Bump at work and I get home pretty late sometimes and just don't have the energy to deal with it. Plus, I'm sure the check-in could use some new energy and ideas. I can keep doing this for awhile (will probably stop if/when I get pregnant), but I thought I'd offer up the opportunity to anyone else now, especially if you're able to create the check-in on a more regular basis.

I'm almost never on here anymore. I love keeping up with everyone though. Are people interested in continuing this? Is there a better way to keep tabs? More frequent GTGs? FB? Email? I can take over if there's interest, but I can't promise I will be able to make it the 1st of the month regularly. Or if we want to try some other means of "checking-in" I could try to organize that.

moohaha · February 2012

1) Where are you at in the process/what is your next step?

Just waiting for AF to come -- and of all months for my cycle to be crazy late, it's this one. I thought it would come around Feb 1st but I guess I O'd way later than I thought. So so annoying. I did meet with the RE in January and discovered a couple of things:

a) DH's variococele surgery didn't really improve things

b) She's going to switch me to an antagonist protocol (I was on Long Lupron last time) to improve my overall egg quality. Last time they retrieved 30 eggs, fertilized 16, 2 made it to blast and none made it to freeze. A little nervous since it's a different protocol (and we were successful last time) but excited to way fewer shots.

2) What are you doing fun this month that is non-IF related?
Not much--excited for the Oscars I guess?

3) Any vents/confessions?
Just frustrated that AF isn't here yet! I want to get this started asap.

4) Any questions you'd like to ask the other ladies?
Got some great tips on places to buy medication last time, thank you. Please keep that advice coming. I'm going to start researching the cheapest places to get Menopur, Ganirelix and Follistim. If you have any tips for any of these three specifically, let me know.

KRoseToes:

For those that have done IVF, can you tell me how long it took from the day you started drugs (other than BC pills) to the day you had your egg retrieval? I know everyone's protocol is different, but I'm interested to see how many days people were giving themselves shots.

Sure -- here was my schedule (long lupron)

7/11 - Started Lupron
7/24 - Started Follistim and Menopur shots
8/2 - HCG Trigger
8/4 - Egg Retrieval

So, 3.5 weeks of shots of which about 1.5 weeks of it was 3 shots per day. Also -- keep in mind, depending on your protocol, shots don't stop at egg retrieval. I still had to keep getting PIO shots even after I found out I was pregnant. I forgot when I stopped but most women keep taking it until they are about 9-10 weeks pregnant.

KRoseToes · February 2012

Moohaha - sorry I forgot to add you to the list on the check-in. I'll try to remember next month.

Everyone - thoughts on continuing the check-in, skipping it, or trying something new? The participation seems to be somewhat spotty (which isn't helped by me posting irregularly I realize.)

KRoseToes · February 2012

tst1998:
4) Any questions you'd like to ask the other ladies?
The longer we are at this, the more I realize adoption is a viable option. We will probably do treatments for another year, but after that, I'm not sure this is money well spent. For anyone who has looked into adoption, where do you even start?

As you may recall, we thought that we might do adoption first, so I have a little insight. I would suggest lurking the Adoption Board on the Bump. I also bought the Idiot's Guide to Adoption (you can borrow it if you want). That will help explain the pros/cons of private adoption, adoption through lawyers or agencies, foster-to-adopt, international adoption, etc. You can get most of that info on the internet, but I found it helpful to get a general outline of everything in one place. I also went to info sessions for a couple of local agencies as well 1) Amara and 2) Open Adoption & Family Services. We can talk about my experiences there at some point too (I probably have a lot of documents from there I can share as well.)

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February IF Check-In (SAIFW)

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