September / October IVF

HBamama2B · August 2015

@Colleen0516 bummer, I'm sorry to hear that but excited you'll get your schedule. Are you nervous? I felt mostly just ready today.

& Oh I will def be having 2, lol! I

have to have a water sono too. On the 3rd. Not stoked. Plus it looks like the dr has decided he IS going to put me on OCPs so that delays things. Mostly, I'm nervous I'll lose the progress I made on letrozol. Every time I've been on OCPs my ovulation would go awol for at least 3 months.

LCK0830 · August 2015

I'm looking forward to seeing your schedule @HBamama2B ! I'm virtually joining you for happy hour - I'm on my first glass of wine.

I'm sorry about your result @colleen0516 . Our IVF schedules should match up closely.

ashleywillemsen · August 2015

I just started birth control pills on the 21st. Egg retrieval scheduled for the 30th. We are doing PGS. So nervous!!

HBamama2B · August 2015

@ashleywillemsen welcome! First IVF?

@LCK0830 thanks! I think we are all really close!
Right now it's:
8/29 - start BC
9/15 - stop BC
9/19 - start meds for 6-12 days
TBD - ER (9/26-10/2)
TBD - Fresh ET (9/30-10/7)

Colleen0516 · August 2015

@HBamama2B my schedule will be close to yours; maybe 2-3 days behind you.
We're getting Positives this month!! I'm willing it to happen lol

Joyzie77 · August 2015

I had my ER on Wednesday and am in between for the transfer because they are doing the PGD. That glass of wine last night was yummy!!I still don't feel that great. I hope the discomfort goes away soon. I'm not sure if I told you guys but as of Friday we had 9 fertilized. Monday I will call and check to see how many there are. I'm super excited for all of you starting this month. I still feel completely clueless about all this.

HBamama2B · August 2015

@Joyzie77 Congrats! 9 is fantastic news! FX there's the perfect sticky one in there! Are you planning on tx 1 embys since you are going PGS?

Colleen0516 · August 2015

@Joyzie77 are you going to transfer 1 or 2??

I started AF today! I got to the RE on Monday for OCPs! Here we go!

Joyzie77 · August 2015

@Colleen0516 .. It will depend what we end up with after the PGS screening. If we have 3, we will most likely do 2 this time and save one for next time if it doesn't work.

2legbaby · August 2015

Started my injections last night...tip for first timers if you are doing your own injections- after you get the needle in maybe look away while injecting...made me a bit queasy LOL

LCK0830 · August 2015

@2legbaby haha thanks for the tip! Did the injections hurt?

I've been spending way too much time looking at maternity clothes on Pinterest. I've officially gone crazy.

HBamama2B · August 2015

@2legbaby thanks! So not excited for that part!

2legbaby · August 2015

@LCK0830 the needle doesn't hurt really at all, it's very small, but because of that it injects really slowly so you can't just push it in and be done with it LOL so far no discomfort from the injections but I'm sure after doing them daily for a while it's going to start to get irritating!

LCK0830 · August 2015

Did you do the injection yourself, @2legbaby ? I'm planning on having my husband do mine but he really dislikes needles whereas I don't mind as much. I see it as a necessary evil although I might be singing a different tune once I actually start.

chelsbum · August 2015

I'm hopefully having my frozen embryo transfer this month! I'm waiting for my cycle to return after a twin miscarriage so I'm feelin positive and excited to get this show back on he road! Good luck to everyone :-)

khochanadel · August 2015

After OHSS during my late July stim cycle, we're doing our first FET on 9/17. Fingers crossed and sticky thoughts to all going on the juice this month!

Joyzie77 · August 2015

@chelsbum... Keep us posted. I'm so sorry to hear about the miscarriage. How many days after AF do they usually do a transfer. Or are they putting you on BCP's? I have a FET this month too. I'm waiting for Monday to see if there are any blasties. We need to wait for the results of the PGS testing and then we can hopefully do the FET. @knochanadel.... Good luck this month! I'm thinking my FET will be around the same time as yours but I'm not sure yet.

WhiskyandWhiskers · August 2015

@HBamama2B can you tell me a little more about your research about PGD? I'm debating if I should do it or not.

@Colleen0516, no it does not. PGD is testing of the embryo's to rule out specific chromosomal issues they may have, not you. For instance, I had a 9 week loss from an abnormal chromosome. A fluke on the embryo end, not mine.

Edited to add info

HBamama2B · August 2015

@chelsbum I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Will keep my fingers and toes crossed for a sticky little bean for you this cycle!

@khochanadel how exciting! Have to keep us updated on your FET!

@WhiskyandWhiskers happy to! My DH and I looked into it a bit, but I'm also interested in continuing to learn more as we may end up doing it down the road. PGD is specific testing for a specific gene (if you and partner are both carriers of something). This is hard on the egg. PGS is a little easier and is a general test for trisomy issues that may cause failure to implant or miscarriage. There's a meta study though that shows it may not be linked to higher pregnancy rates and more studies coming out that question how effective it is. Despite that, it is generally recommended for all women over age 38 in the U.S. And for women who may have had 3 or more failed IVF attempts (miscarriage or BfN). I'll try and post some links this week to articles.

PrayingMom2Be · August 2015

GL and FX to everyone in this IVF journey!
I have been on estradiol pills since Aug 14th and started the progesterone injections last night. First (2nd IVF attempt) FET scheduled for Friday Sept 4th. Prayers going up for all!!

HBamama2B · August 2015

@PrayingMom2Be FX for you! It's so exciting that your FET is so soon! ;;)

It has just hit me how long this 18 day wait on OCPs is going to be.... Man, not fun!! :-w

Colleen0516 · August 2015

I know @HBamama2B, I'm starting OCPs today. Water sono schedules for next Wednesday.
They don't think I'll be doing injectables until end of September-- feels like forever!

HBamama2B · August 2015

Ugh! Is the saline sono like the HSG? Mines this Thursday the 3rd...

2legbaby · August 2015

@LCK0830 I have been doing the injections so far (subcutaneous ones), I am a vet so am used to handling needles, still makes me queasy to watch it going into my skin though, the intramuscular one is a little tougher (I think the trigger shot is given in the muscle) so DH might have to help out with that...last night my cat tried to help and head butted the needle twice, while it was in me...so another tip- no animals in the room during injections:)

2legbaby · August 2015

Good luck and sticky thoughts for FETs this month!!!!

@PrayingMom2Be

@chelsbum

@khochanadel

Colleen0516 · September 2015

Got my schedule today!
Birth control tomorrow...
Injections start around the 25th
And then possible ER on Oct 6
Possible transfer Oct 9th..
So it looks like I'm a 3day transfer

Anyone know the difference or benefits of a 3day or 5day.

This is all new to me.

Knottie24173360 · September 2015

So someone replied to my post earlier today and told me to speak up on here

So I have copy and pasted my previous post below.... TIA guys!

Hey Everyone!!

I am new to the forum thing and I may not know all of the Lingo or shorthand My Husband and I are on our first and only cycle of IVF, we have used all of our wedding/savings money to fund our hopes of having a family. A little bit of history..... I have been TTC for 8.5 years with unexplained infertility. I have had multiple cycles of IUI's both med and non med with no success. Sadly. So we started CD21 with Lupron 20 and continued until CD3 and moved down to Lupron 10 and Follistim 150. Monday was our first bw day and my E2 was 345, so they had me drop my dosage to Follistim 100 last evening. I came in for bw/us this morning and got the call at lunch that my levels had doubled 695 and I have 15-16 eggies(which is good right?), so they have dropped my dose again to Follistim 75 for this evening. I am apparently responding super....super fast to stim. Our IVF schedule has us triggering on Sunday and retrieval on Monday. I am beginning to get a bit concerned. I know I should just relax and go with the flow but this is our only chance.

I need advice or talking down or something. There is not much you can read on the web about levels and what is good and all of that so I need you guys advice and your thoughts. Hubbie understands and tries to calm me down but well you know xxxxxx hormones. lol.

TIA and well wishes to everyone TTC

PS does anyone or did anyone get that pinchy feeling in there abdomen while on stim??

HBamama2B · September 2015

Welcome! I don't start drum until mid-September but others here are farther in the process and many of us are on our first IVF! GL on your ER!

HBamama2B · September 2015

@Colleen0516 does your insurance cover 5 day? It's an additional charge, but I think they prefer it if the eggs are growing well enough. I've read a couple stories that they were Planning et on day 3 but pushed for 5 BC the blasties looked good. And they have to go to day 5 for PGS I think. What did your dr or coordinator say?

Colleen0516 · September 2015

@HBamama2B my insurance covers everything except PGS. I didn't get to talk to them about a 3day or 5day yet, but I plan on it before the retrieval!
Are you set up for a 3 or a 5?
When do you start injections?

HBamama2B · September 2015

@Colleen0516 I start stemming (is that the correct use? Lol) on the 15. The nixed the third week of OCPs for me which I'm very excited about. We are doing a 5 day tx.

I'm already nervous about how much I'll produce for my ER and already feeling protective of my potential blasties. Is that normal?? I'm reading about what to do if you're lucky enough to have additional embies. We want more kids (3) and are very worried about secondary infertility and my age so extra would be great. But what if there's extra when we are done? Interested in hearing everyone else's thoughts on what you would do!

Knottie24173360 · September 2015

We plan to put our extra embryos up for adoption when we are finished having our littles

So we can help other TTC's that are not as fortunate.

HBamama2B · September 2015

DH and I have discussed that but aren't sure it's for us although we love the idea of helping others like us. Are you planning on open or anonymous donation? Do you choose the couple? I'm torn BC egg donation and sharing sound a bit more palatable to me emotionally at this early stage, but those would be hard BC you have to decide not to inseminate the eggs and lose the opportunity for a blastocyst. Do I save them for family? Do I give them to strangers? To research? I never even thought of this before IVF and it wasn't a problem I had considered. The weird places infertility puts us!

Knottie24173360 · September 2015

The process is called Snowflake Adoption they are fertilized frozen embryos. You do in fact get to choose the parents for your snowflakes. I would like to keep it open only if there could be a health concerns in the future where possibly stem cells might be needed not that I expect that to happen but also to make sure that siblings will be able to find each other later in life. But that is the all "in touch" I want to be. Plus if our IVF does not go well this is the type of adoption DH and I will be doing. I think it would be a blessing to carry my adopted children.

Binnie505 · September 2015

Hi all. I posted this as a separate thread but then I thought September cycle may be a good place to post my scenario. I am back in game after the failed fresh cycle in August. I do have two 5-day blastocysts which has good to fair grade. I started back to back cycle because I feel my body is ready and since I won't have to do Stim meds, the cycle will go easier. And my doctor is ok doing back to back cycle. I started estrace 2 mg oral tablet twice a day from CD 3. On CD 3 my uterus lining was 3.5 mm.

How long do people normally take estrogen before transfer and when do you normally do the transfer?

I am asking this because I am scheduled for lining check on 11th (CD13) and the tentative transfer date is 24th September (CD 26) But to me that sounds as if the calendar is off by whole 1 week. I don't have any issues identified as of yet with endometrium lining or uterus. So my lining should be thick enough (esp. with the added estrogen). So let's suppose my cycle is 28 day cycle (which usually is), ovulation normally occurs CD 14 and I have 5 day blasts so by cd 20-21 the blasts should be in the uterus. That would be around September 18th -19th. Isn't that so? What am I missing?

Colleen0516 · September 2015

@HBamama2B My head is spinning... Lol
I would love to help others too, but don't know where my future lies at the moment. I would freeze the extra embryos for now, and wait until our family is complete. After that, I don't know!
I always think about this: my situation is not the best,but definitely not the worst. I have eggs and my husband has sperm- there are tons of people who don't, and i really feel for them. I cannot image being in their shoes, and would love to help them! I know if I was in their shoes, I would want someone to help me.
But, I feel attached to my embryos (already!) and they aren't even fertilized! Crazy!
So I don't know how I would handle that.
But, that being said- the snowflake adoption sounds like an excellent options! If I knew the family it was going to, it may make it easier to let go, and more rewarding to help!

It would be something my husband and I need to talk about a lot more. We have a few years. Let's get pregnancy #1 under our belts first!

PS: we're buying a house while undergoing this whole fertility process! NOT SUGGESTED! Lol
My head is really spinning lol.
Not so great for a stress free environment either.

Joyzie77 · September 2015

So, it looks like I have 6 embryos that made it to the blastocyst stage, yay! Now they will get PGS testing and then I should have the results back in a week or so. I hope that we have at least one or two that are OK. I"m so nervous. I think we will probably do the transfer at the end of the month sometime depending on when the results get back and when AF starts. How is everyone else doing so far?

Mel&40 · September 2015

Hello! I am new to the forum as well. This is also my first and most likely only IVF cycle due to financial reasons. I started stims last Friday 8/28. Had my first BW/US yesterday. Follicle count wasn't good. Only 3. Estrogen level was 278. I was told my estrogen level was good,so levels in the 300-600 is great! My RE wants to see me again tomorrow to make sure the three we are working with are growing. Hopefully my estrogen level will be up.

I have had the pinchy feeling in my lower abdomen since I started stims. I notice it when I move a certain way or try to roll over in bed. I also have really bad cramps which I wasn't aware would be a factor. They feel like menstrual cramps but really really strong and tend to start 2 hours after my morning dosage of Gonal F 300, lasts all day and stops in the evening. I don't get the cramps when taking my evening dose of Gonal F 150 & Menopur 150. When I first called my RE about them the nurse told me it was common and it was a sign the medication was working. That didn't hold true after my ultrasound was complete, and my RE said it wasn't normal. Frustrating after six days of pain, but we're hoping to see some growth tomorrow.

TTC-

HBamama2B · September 2015

Welcome everyone! It's exciting (not to mention extremely helpful) to hear how your protocols are going.

@Joyzie77 congrats! That's wonderful! I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed for great PHS results too! So excited to see your cycle going well! Hope you're feeling 100% after your retrieval and until your ET!

Knottie24173360 · September 2015

@Mel&40 We are on the same schedule

Best wishes first hon!!! I am so very pinchy right now I am glad to know that I am not alone in feeling like that but its for a good reason which is what matters. I am only on a PM dose of Follistim Pen AQ they have bounced me around on my dosage the last few days.

I started stim friday @150u and was at that dose until Mon my E2 was 345... the RE dropped my dose to 100u

Tuesday was my first US on stim. I presented with 6 on the left and 10 on the right. My E2 jumped to 695 so they dropped me to 75u.

This morning my E2 almost leveled out and I am at 791 so they bounced me up to 91.6u this evening.

I feel like a holiday turkey I am so stuffed feeling......and am I freaking hungry an hour after I eat the past few days.

Positive vibes and baby dust to you!!!

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