January/February IVF

babyexpress · January 2016

@mskeenan did they talk to you about the cell number for each quality embryo? My nurse said once they know how many made it to freeze, then they would know cell count, then the RE can give recommendation on how many he thinks I should transfer. Any other conversations around that or do you have to wait for next step?

mskeenan · January 2016

Thank yall !!

@alexiskiriluk I'll be 29 in a few weeks . I was on 112.5-150 units gonal f and 75 units of menopur for 9 days . Triggered with Lupron .

@babyexpress they didn't make mention of that . I wish we had gotten more info . All he said was "very good". I'm going in to see the RE as soon as AF comes so I'm hoping to get more info then . My RE previously said we can transfer 1 or 2 . Not sure what we will decide . I definitely want to make an educated decision and i haven't researched too much .

sassysd7 · January 2016

Hey y'all! I have been reading for a while and I thought I would join this post now! We are in the process of our first IVF with no prior treatments. I am 24, my husband is 26, and we are male factor. I had my baseline ultrasound today and will be starting Lupron tomorrow. Any advice on handling possible side effects? I will end my BCP on the 20th, go for med teaching on the 26th, and start stims on the 28th. I will be taking I think 150 gonal-f and 10 of lupron. Retrieval is scheduled for the 9th and transfer the 14th! I hope to transfer 2 since this is our only chance at IVF. I am so very excited to be on this journey with you all! Baby dust to everyone!

twomommiestobe · January 2016

Any tips for headaches? It is rough today!

@mskeenan I bought a few maternity clothes on tax free weekend. I knew after ivf we would be so broke and probably couldn't afford much. I have yet to wear them yet though. My stomach has always looked a little pregnant, so after all these meds I look REALLY pregnant. Thankfully no one has asked. Lol

mskeenan · January 2016

Hello again @sassysd7 !! Welcome to this board !! We are glad to have you !!

@twomommiestobe I work with little kids and one of them already assumed I was pregnant . She walked up and said "ms Madison has a baby in her belly "... As she started rubbing my stomach . Not good for my self confidence ugh !! Good call on the tax free purchases !! .... For headaches I would recommend peppermint oil . Have you ever tried it ? I put it in a oil diffuser or dab a tiny bit on my temples (make sure not to get it close to your eyes ) . I was surprised it helped !!!

twomommiestobe · January 2016

@mskeenan I will try that! Too bad I don't have some at work because these crying babies are really not helping lol

babyexpress · January 2016

Hi @sassysd7 welcome to our group. Wish I could provide some advice on side effects for gonal or lupron, but I was not prescribed those meds for IVF.

alexiskiriluk · January 2016

@mskeenan thanks for sharing. I'm taking the same injections but double the dose. I'm 34 and apparently my eggs are "sleepy". Thanks Doc... Lol
Starting another injection tomorrow night (day 3).

MelD17011 · January 2016

@sassysd7 I’m 7 days into my shots (gonal f and menopur) and haven’t had any significant side effects. Just 2 things I changed going into it: Cut way down on caffeine (I limit myself to 1 cup of coffee a day – which is hard!) - and I’ve tried to stay over hydrated (I mix ice, Gatorade, and Coconut water and drink as much of that and water that I can)….. Staying hydrated was the most consistent advice I’ve heard…. I’m not sure if either of these 2 things actually helped, but I’m feeling good. The 28th will be here before you know it!

laur2835 · January 2016

@alexiskiriluk did you have an appointment today too? I thought you did....I was kinda bummed my bloodwork shows nothing really going on yet. I go back Sunday for more bloodwork (no ultrasound yet).
@sassysd7 welcome!!! Sorry I have never done lupron so not sure about side effects!! You'll get through it though!!
@twomommiestobe ughhh the headaches!!! Not looking forward to those again (I got awful ones with my IUIs with menopur)....I am on menopur now but this will only be my third night so thank goodness no headaches yet. I just kinda dealt with it though (I tried not to even take Tylenol), but I am going to try the peppermint oil like @mskeenan suggested! Sounds promising.....

MelD17011 · January 2016

mskeenan - I'm on gonal f and menopur now (slightly different dosages than you).... did you take Cetrotide at all? I'm scheduled to start this tonight.

alexiskiriluk · January 2016

@laur2444 I have an appointment. Tonight will be the third night of stims. I will get blood work and an ultrasound tomorrow. Why are you not getting an ultrasound? I'm sorry blood work wasn't showing much. I'm sure mine will not be any different tomorrow. I am a slow grower.

Selena2016 · January 2016

@kadair123 I am so bloated it's like I'm freakin pregnant already, I did 9 days of stims then triggered Tuesday night. I can't wear anything but workout pants and leggings. My RE is really strict. On day 3 of stims you can't work out at all only walking, no sex, no lifting, no bending at the waist.

@Cmartin6706 congratulations! Great to hear it!

I had my ER this morning. 16 eggs! Can't wait to hear from the embryologist tomorrow! ☺️ Just using the heating pad and laying low today.

laur2835 · January 2016

@alexiskiriluk I'm from Connecticut and just switched from Yale where I was doing my IUIs to UConn, which is much closer to my home and has better outcomes. I was a little surprised too, because Yale did a ultrasound every time I had bloodwork. I guess though it makes sense because nothing is really going on until the estrogen gets higher, so no sense in doing an ultrasound (personally i like it better because it means I miss less work!!)

TWWAB · January 2016

@selena2016 16 embryos nice! Please update is with fert report asap!

Minnie1155 · January 2016

@Cmartin6706 congratulations on the good news!!

@Selena2016 16 eggs sounds great!

@mskeenan very good sounds promising!

@sassysd7 I just started lupron this week. So far side effects haven't been too bad, I've had some minor headaches and a couple of hot flashes. Yesterday I was super cranky, today I feel fine and have had no effects at all. For me it's been hard to tell, am I cranky because of hormones or just because of the stress of everything.

I'm almost done with BCP, so looking forward to that. They've been making me break out worse than when I was in high school!

Cmartin6706 · January 2016

DW has excellent response to put lavender on her temples for headaches. Might try that too.

@Selena2016 excellent job with the egg growing! Keep us updated! Oh, the waiting is so hard.

kadair123 · January 2016

Evening everyone!
@Selena2016 16 eggs that's great! So happy for u!
@mskeenan congrats on your good news today! Can't wait to hear about your progress moving forward!
@sassysd7 welcome! I'm on day 9 of Lupron 20 units and have been off BC for about 5 days now. It wasn't until my 3rd day off BC that I really felt bloated, cranky, irritable and have this persistent dull headache that just never goes away. Today AF reared her ugly head with a vengeance and I feel like a bear! Ahh!

Soo I got the call from the Re office...my progesterone level is decreasing but is still too high to start stims

I go Saturday morning for one last ultrasound and BW to see if I'm continuing this cycle. I'm preparing myself for the worst but trying to stay optimistic.

Selena2016 · January 2016

Thank you everyone for the kind words and support. I have never joined a community before and I don't know how I would get through this without you all!

@kadair123 stay positive. I had 2 cycles delayed because of cysts I know how disappointing that is. It will work out when your body is ready. Sometimes as hard as it is to wait it turns out to be better timing. FX for your cycle!

@mskeenan woo-hoo! I'm so happy for you!

Does anyone know where to find a reliable chart for the embryo quality grading system? I'm hearing very good- which sounds great but im not sure are we comparing that to. I'm not finding much info from my embryologist. I want to be informed before I have to freeze.

MelD17011 · January 2016

So…. I had my first mishap with shots tonight…. I completely forgot that I was at the end of a gonal f pen and would need to use a 2nd…. And I move the knob without reading it first! I was pretty sure what setting it was on, but when we did the math on how much I should need in the 2nd pen (based on 450 units), it was way off….. freaked out – called the nurse…. apparently there is extra in all the pens, so we went with what I thought the reading was. You’d think I’d be paying more attention!

laur2835 · January 2016

@selena2016 sorry for the late congratulations but....congrats!!! I hope to get results as good as yours! As for the bloating and heating pad...that sounds like it's par for the course for everyone....I can't wait lol.
@kadair123 don't lose hope yet! I know cysts are the worst...after my last IUI we were going to attempt another but I had 3 pretty large cysts so we had to delay and then just decided to hold off and move on to IVF instead. You want your body as healthy as possible (as frustrating as it is!!)

Piperella · January 2016

*Lurking from Oct/Nov IVF / Jan FET Boards*

@selena2016 I use this website to look at day 3 and day 5 grading: https://www.advancedfertility.com/blastocystimages.htm This is the day 5 page.. you can get to day three from the menu on the left hand side.

I'm so excited for all of you in the jan/feb ivf board. I love lurking and cheering you on through "love its". Good luck with the stims, retrievals, and possible transfers!

Selena2016 · January 2016

@Piperella thanks!

kadair123 · January 2016

Thanks @Selena2016 and @laur2444 these boards really are a big help. DH has been my rock through all of this and its been soo much easier when u have this amazing cheering squad of awesome ladies!!

mskeenan · January 2016

ugh @twomommiestobe I deal with some cry-ers at work too. NOT good for headaches.

@sassysd7 I've never thought the side effects of gonal were that bad! I actually felt better on gonal than I did on birth control my months leading up to IVF. But some people have side effects hope its not too bad for you! I would second @MelD17011 in staying hydrated! You will likely bloat big time and that will help...

@MelD17011 I was not on the Cetrotide... not sure what that is. Is it to suppress ovulation? I was taking ganirilex (spelling?) for that..... Ugh!! Medication mishaps are the worst! I panicked when my husband messed mine up too..... Blah! Oh well won't make that mistake again!

@alexiskiriluk nothing wrong with growing slow! slow and steady is good. Hope your bloodwork and ultrasound show some good growth today! Keep us posted

@Selena2016 that is so exciting!!! Congratulations!!!! Hope you get a great update today! How often do you get updates?? Hope you are feeling ok today!

@kadair123 Thank you!! Ugh I'm sorry you didn't get the best news. I'm hoping that your BW and ultrasound Saturday is better so you can continue!

@Piperella Thanks for cheering us on!!!

Cmartin6706 · January 2016

The advancedfertility.com is an excellent resource for a lot of IVF questions and concerns. We love their website. Just remember that embryo grading is not a science. Counting the cells, yes but the look of your embryo is very subjective and even fair embryos implant and are born all the time. Also, there is no standard embryo grading system used in the USA. Example: our clinic uses the advance fertility method of 4-1/cell count. 4-3 = great looking 2 = fair and 1 = poor.

Anyone getting any embryo or egg updates today? I know we have at least one waiting for Monday to finally get here. (Let's not rush everyone though the weekend though!)

Also, I'm riding the bike at the gym right now. Entering mile three. This is how much I care about your progress.

TWWAB · January 2016

Just transferred 1- 5AA blast and it looks like we will have 4 to freeze 2 - 5AA and 2- 5BB

mskeenan · January 2016

Yay !! That's awesome @TWWAB !!! I'm so excited for you !!

twomommiestobe · January 2016

@TWWAB Congrats! When do you have a beta scheduled?

alexiskiriluk · January 2016

@TWWAB that's awesome!! Congrats!

alexiskiriluk · January 2016

Just had an ultrasound this morning. I have been on stims for 3 days and there were only 10. They said that this was appropriate for how early it was but I'm a little worried!!

TWWAB · January 2016

Thank you everyone!! Beta is the 24th

TWWAB · January 2016

@alexiskiriluk don't be worried I had nothing measurable until day 8 of stims

babyexpress · January 2016

@Selena2016 late congrats, but way to go on your eggs!

Anyone else been in major pain after ER? Each day has been a different type of pain, all mainly focused around cramps. First two days were more of a soreness in pelvic area and hard to get up and down. Then a lot of bloating the last two days, but today feels better for that. (way more bloating then before the ER) I kinda remember my RE telling me that I will have a really heavy/bad AF this cycle. Today I am feeling more like AF cramps are coming, but it is so bad that I don't want to walk around. I don't know how some of your girls are working out. I want just lay on the couch.

babyexpress · January 2016

@TWWAB That's great. What does the 5AA and 5BB mean? I love learning about this stuff, it helps me prepare for my questions.

TWWAB · January 2016

@babyexpress that's how they grade the embryo quality at my clinic. She explained that AA is the highest which is great quality. I didn't even ask about BB but I assume it's good, but not perfect

laur2835 · January 2016

@TWWAB amazing!!! Can't wait until the 24th!! Fx for you! And that makes me feel better that you didn't have anything measurable until day 8...I go back Sunday for only bloodwork (will be day 5) because my estrogen was only 36 yesterday. Hopefully it will be much higher and we can get this show on the road!! @alexiskiriluk I'm sure you will get many more that start growing! How are you feeling today? I still feel pretty good no real headaches. Felt a little crampy this morning but I'm fine now!

kjplaza · January 2016

Man so much happens on this board overnight i can barely keep up! @babyexpress, those are awesome numbers i hope i see somewhere around 12 fertilized eggs. @mskeenan, great story about the shot mishap, i start injections tomorrow and am having the worst time watching videos and reading all the packages. my clinic for whatever reasons just has online videos to watch to self teach. my schedule just says to start with 450 IU's follistim and 2 menopur's (gives no actual dosage for menopur) Also congratulations on 10 frozen embabies! thats amazing and so excited for march to come for you! @Cmartin6706, congratulations on the great results, fx for your transfer in Feb. @TWWAB also congrats on the great news and fx for your transfer date, sending lots of sticky thoughts! Im currently just sorting through all my various meds and schedule and trying to put it all together, i feel very lost and like my IVF nurse has left me in a lurch, my clinic operates on emails a lot but i have yet to get any replies to my hundred emails the last week so she will likely be getting a call from me now that i have a week day off. all these stories of major bloating and making me worried i wear mandatory scrubs at work and only have 5 pairs and am worried im not going to fit them and would hate to go buy new pairs for a limited time, my coworkers have a few pairs of maternity scrubs we pass around to anyone whos pregnant so im hoping to avoid buying them when pregnant as well!. im planning on going to get coconut water and gatorade today based on all the comments about drinking that to help, where have you all picked up the oils for reducing headaches? ive been having headaches the last couple days and havent even started meds so i dont know what its related to! question for everyone going through with embryo transfers, how many days off from work are you planning to take off?

babyexpress · January 2016

@kjplaza The headaches could be due to getting off BCP. My headaches started before the stims also. Lasted about 3 days. I went and got a nice back and head massage, came out relaxed, but still had the headache....go figure.

alexiskiriluk · January 2016

@laur2444 what day of stims are you?? Tonight will be my 4th night. They were around 8 mm today, but only 10. She said that I'm on track but I was hoping for more!! I'm feeling ok too. Headache is better. I just hungry and exhausted....when is your next ultrasound?

Want a personalized experience?

January/February IVF

Re: January/February IVF

Choose Another Board

Search Boards