Infertility
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Blood work chat

Good morning ladies!! Hope your weekend was filled with fun times and relaxation!! I worked...blah!! Lol.

I wanted to start a thread about blood work. Any tips pointers or ideas to help with bruising after those nasty daily sticks? I have a fantastic nurse that works every day at my clinic but on weekends it's all bets off. We get the "randoms" from other branches. I swear these people are terrible! So if you have any tricks of the trade or just want to vent about having a vein blown out ... By all means sound off here!!

Hope you ladies have a great week!! I'm off to dc today to check out a couple art exhibits. (Ya for working shift work and having off random days) :)
SIGGY WARNING//TICKER WARNING//PAIF

Long of the Short:
 TTC since April 2013  DH 42 y/o I'm 30  Dh had vasectomy reversal Feb 2013 after 3 months developed scar tissue 
 First Re appt was September 2013 OOP for everything minus meds  
DH's TESE surgery December 2013
First cycle was February 2014 BFN none to freeze
 Second cycle was April 2014 BFP ending in Chemical Pregnancy none to freeze
 Third cycle June 2014 BFN none to freez
 Fourth cycle October 30th 28 retrieved, 13 mature and 12 fertilized
PICSI, assisted hatching and fresh sperm from my DH's TESE surgery used
5 FROZEN from a freeze all cycle! 
FET completed on DECEMBER 9TH!!!
Beta #1 13dp5dt BFP!! 800
Beta #2 15dp5dt 2100
Beta #3 17dp5dt 3600 
First Scan January 5th! Everything looks great! Heart rate of 121!
Second Scan January 20th. Baby Justone13 looks amazing. Heart rate of 175!
Baby Girl is due August 27th
Liv Annmarie born 8/25 7lbs 6oz 21 1/2 inches long 
image 

Re: Blood work chat

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    Well mine always suggests putting pressure on the cotton ball for two minutes but I would just kind of press for 30 seconds then take my phone out while I waited for ultrasound. BUT I bruised really badly and only didn't care much because it was winter (long sleeves) when I did my iui's, so for this IVF I didn't want bruises everywhere with tank tops so I actually listened; full two minutes with pressure on the spot, and low and behold NO BRUISES! Lol. If you get an occasional bad one, ice when you get home if you're able to.

    Me: 37 | DH: 41
    TTC Since 2011 DX: Unexplained 
    IUI's #1 - 3 = BFN
    IVF August 2014: FSH 4.1, PRL 15.3, TSH 2.1, W/ AFC 8.
     08/03 ER 5R, 4M, 3F. 08/08 5DT of 1-3AA0, 2 frozen :) bfp @9dp5dt. Beta on 08/20 = 414.
    So excited to have one little bean on the way!!
     
    image 

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    I'm glorying in my poke-free arms right now!!! I second the value of applying pressure. I had a doctor recommend 5 minutes, but @Justone13 if your office works the same as mine, you are hustled so fast that it is hard to maintain the pressure- they want you to pee right after and sometimes are waiting before you're done peeing to take you for the ultrasound.

    I've had two funny/crazy blood draws so far, both with the same lady ;P With the first one, she couldn't find my vein (ouch) got flustered, tore her glove and knocked my vial into the giant sharps container after she finally got the blood. She left the room when I did, I guess she needed a break, too!

    With the second, the draw went fine, but she didn't apply ANY pressure after removing the needle, just slapped on the cotton square and bandage and it wouldn't stop bleeding. I just didn't know until I was in the bathroom and blood is pouring down my arm and I'm pressing and it is getting worse and worse. I finally had to ask for help. At least I was wearing a short sleeve shirt and didn't get any blood on my clothes.

     

    ***************************Loss Mentioned***************************


    Me 37 y/o, DH 45 y/o; DH vasectomy reversal (his 2nd marriage) 11/8/12; TTC since 12/8/12. IVF due to MFI. DOR diagnosis April 2015.

     

    IVF #1 BCPs/Antagonist w/ICSI Jan 2014 = BFN

    IVF #2 MDL w/PICSI March 2014 = BFN

    IVF #3 EPP/Antagonist w/PICSI May/June 2014 = BFP!; MMC 6w4d

    IVF #4 No suppression/Antagonist Nov 2014/Converted to IUI #1 = BFN
    IVF #4.1 Feb 2015 = cancelled
    IVF #4.2 April 2015 - Lupron Stop Protocol with ICSI = PGD testing of embryo indicated it was abnormal
    IVF #5 June 2015 EPP with Antagonist 

     

    image
    Everyone welcome!

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    I just press the gauze on my arm until the nurse tapes it or bend my arm to put pressure on it. I'm not too concerned about bruising. It's kind of fun to watch it change colors for the next week.


    ***siggy warning***

    Me: 29; DH: 53
    TTC since February 2013 --- mild thin PCOS (or not, depending on which RE you ask), MFI

    TI#1: BFN (April 2014; Clomid 50mg x5 days, Estrace x5 days, Clomid 50 mg x4 days)
    IUI#1: c/p (May 2014; Letrozole 2.5 mg x5 days, Estrace x5 days, Bravelle 75 IU x10 days)
    IUI#2: abandoned... O'd early & DH hormone issues (June 2014; Letrozole 2.5 mg x5 days, Bravelle 75 IU x2 days)
    IUI#2.1: BFN (July 2014; Letrozole 2.5 mg x5 days, Bravelle 75 IU x4 days)

    Moving on to IVF. (Why we're moving on to IVF)

    IVF#1 (w/ICSI): BCP 9/9-9/23. Gonal-F, Ganirelix, Low-dose HCG (antagonist protocol). 41R/35M/32F... 2 transferred on 10/14, 14 frosties! On cabergoline to help avoid OHSS. BFN, possibly because of 90% drop in estrogen and progesterone a few days after ET.
    FET#1: Transferring 2 on January 8. BFP! beta#1 (1/17): 408, beta#2 (1/20): 1310, first u/s scheduled 2/5

     image 
     image    image
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    HollowBerry I love that you bring your own stretchy tape. How easy is that to purchase? And no, I wasn't on any blood thinners when I had all the bleeding. I can only imagine how much worse it would have been if I was!

    ***************************Loss Mentioned***************************


    Me 37 y/o, DH 45 y/o; DH vasectomy reversal (his 2nd marriage) 11/8/12; TTC since 12/8/12. IVF due to MFI. DOR diagnosis April 2015.

     

    IVF #1 BCPs/Antagonist w/ICSI Jan 2014 = BFN

    IVF #2 MDL w/PICSI March 2014 = BFN

    IVF #3 EPP/Antagonist w/PICSI May/June 2014 = BFP!; MMC 6w4d

    IVF #4 No suppression/Antagonist Nov 2014/Converted to IUI #1 = BFN
    IVF #4.1 Feb 2015 = cancelled
    IVF #4.2 April 2015 - Lupron Stop Protocol with ICSI = PGD testing of embryo indicated it was abnormal
    IVF #5 June 2015 EPP with Antagonist 

     

    image
    Everyone welcome!

  • Options
    @carol77b holy crap girl!! I would have flipped the f out on that lady!! 

    @buttmonkey34 omg .... weekend people ... blah!!!! The last weekend lady dug in my arm for over a minute still couldn't find a vein. I yelled at her... then I made a complaint.... haven't seen her since. :) 

    Thanks for all the tips ladies!! today (thankfully) was a bruise free day :) 
    SIGGY WARNING//TICKER WARNING//PAIF

    Long of the Short:
     TTC since April 2013  DH 42 y/o I'm 30  Dh had vasectomy reversal Feb 2013 after 3 months developed scar tissue 
     First Re appt was September 2013 OOP for everything minus meds  
    DH's TESE surgery December 2013
    First cycle was February 2014 BFN none to freeze
     Second cycle was April 2014 BFP ending in Chemical Pregnancy none to freeze
     Third cycle June 2014 BFN none to freez
     Fourth cycle October 30th 28 retrieved, 13 mature and 12 fertilized
    PICSI, assisted hatching and fresh sperm from my DH's TESE surgery used
    5 FROZEN from a freeze all cycle! 
    FET completed on DECEMBER 9TH!!!
    Beta #1 13dp5dt BFP!! 800
    Beta #2 15dp5dt 2100
    Beta #3 17dp5dt 3600 
    First Scan January 5th! Everything looks great! Heart rate of 121!
    Second Scan January 20th. Baby Justone13 looks amazing. Heart rate of 175!
    Baby Girl is due August 27th
    Liv Annmarie born 8/25 7lbs 6oz 21 1/2 inches long 
    image 

  • Options
    I don't have a problem with bruising, but I am a terrible stick. Even drinking 16-32 oz before hand to make sure I am hydrated, it still is hard to get the needed vials.

    imageimageimageimageimage

     

    image

    TTC #1 since August 2011

    My Blog

    September 2012: Start IF testing

    DH (32): SA is ok, slightly low morph, normal SCSA  Me (32): Slightly low progesterone, hostile CM, carrier for CF, Moderately high NKC, High TNFa, heterozyogous mutated Factor XIII, and +APA

    October 2012-May 2014: 4 failed IUIs, 3 failed IVFs, and 1 failed FETw/donor embryos

    November 2014: IVF w/ICSI #4 Agonist/Antagonist with EPP and Prednisone, Baby Aspirin, Lovenox, and IVIG for immune issues.  Converted to freeze all due to lining issues.  2 blasts frozen on day 6!

    January 2015: FET #2 Cancelled due to lining issues

    April 2015: FET #2.1


    PAIF/SAIF Welcome!

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    LO95LO95 member
    OMG I still have bruises from my ER.  She was horrible and horrible during my most important "stick". My clinic does the IV in the side of your wrist---just awful. 

    Me: 27 DH: 27

    October 2013: Endo erosion/ Clear HSG

    March 2014: SA #1/  2%morph, borderline sperm count, decent motility

    June 2014: SA#2/  2% morph, low sperm count, worse motility

    Plan: "Quick Start IVF"/antagonist protocol with Follistim, Ganirelix, Ovidrel and progesterone suppositories (yay)

    High AMH (11) and Low BMI= low doses of everything to prevent OHSS

    July 27, 2014: Started Follistim injections for ten days

    July 31, 2014: U/S= 20 follicles, 8.5 lining, E2 is good, Ganirelix for 4 days starting 8/2

    August 4, 2014: 14 follicles on-track, good lining, Trigger 8/6

    August 9, 2014: 9 ICSIed/ 5 embryos; aiming for a 5dt on 8/13

    August 13, 2014: 5DT of 1 4BA almost-hatching blastocyst (Please hang in, Little Bug!)

    August 14, 2014: We have 3 frosties! Hope they're having fun hanging out together. :)

    August 23, 2014: Beta #1: 144 8/23/14: Beta #2: 374 Beta 8/25/14  Beta #3: 6,600 9/3/14

    September 9, 2014: Ultrasound #1 115 heartbeats per minute

    September 23, 2014: Ultrasound #2 182 heartbeats per minute 

    September 26, 2014: Love my OB's office

    October 10, 2014: Our baby looks like a baby and is moving all over!  

    December 8, 2014: Anatomy scan- It's a girl! 


    "Hope strengthens.  Fear kills."- Karen Marie Moning

    "Heaviness is only temporary; the daylight will soon break in."- needtobreathe

  • Options
    @lo95 the guy that does my iv for the er is wonderful.. he even uses numbing meds before .. I have never bruised from his IV's ... Those weekend people tho... whew... bad news! lol 
    SIGGY WARNING//TICKER WARNING//PAIF

    Long of the Short:
     TTC since April 2013  DH 42 y/o I'm 30  Dh had vasectomy reversal Feb 2013 after 3 months developed scar tissue 
     First Re appt was September 2013 OOP for everything minus meds  
    DH's TESE surgery December 2013
    First cycle was February 2014 BFN none to freeze
     Second cycle was April 2014 BFP ending in Chemical Pregnancy none to freeze
     Third cycle June 2014 BFN none to freez
     Fourth cycle October 30th 28 retrieved, 13 mature and 12 fertilized
    PICSI, assisted hatching and fresh sperm from my DH's TESE surgery used
    5 FROZEN from a freeze all cycle! 
    FET completed on DECEMBER 9TH!!!
    Beta #1 13dp5dt BFP!! 800
    Beta #2 15dp5dt 2100
    Beta #3 17dp5dt 3600 
    First Scan January 5th! Everything looks great! Heart rate of 121!
    Second Scan January 20th. Baby Justone13 looks amazing. Heart rate of 175!
    Baby Girl is due August 27th
    Liv Annmarie born 8/25 7lbs 6oz 21 1/2 inches long 
    image 

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