March IVF

mtele · February 2017

I had my baseline this morning! Waiting to hear with the results of blood work but I think the ultrasound looked good- lots of small follicles and no big cysts so I think I'll be good to go! I was a little surprised that I didn't get to see the doctor this morning just an US tech. I kind of wanted to ask her a few questions. Do you ladies see the doctor when you go in for monitoring?

@caseyw8784 - I hear you on trying to keep busy! DH and I are going to happy hour tonight before I have to give my first set of stims tonight and we'll probably go to a movie this weekend too!

artemis618 · February 2017

@cmiller73 At first, I thought you meant AF after ER. My AF after my 2/2 ER was easily the worst that I can remember - days 1 & 2 actually felt worse than recovery from the ER because of all the stimulation (though I did take pain meds just the day of the ER). But I have never noticed worse AF because of regular birth control (and usually only day 1 is slightly uncomfortable for me), if that was your question.

@rainbowwishes5 Yay for getting started again! This is a MDL or flare protocol? Whichever it is I hope it goes well

AFM, I had my hysteroscopy yesterday and my "cavity is pristine" so at least the ute's good to go. Because of the change for round 2 to luteal Lupron protocol (waiting till I ovulate on my own in a couple of weeks then starting the lupron to suppress), it's looking like I won't start stims till late March with a maybe early April ER...bringing us within a couple of weeks our first EDD *sigh* I guess it's another several weeks for supplements to try to do...something. It's really tempting to try naturally this cycle, but trying to keep the long game in mind.

Sorry I haven't been the best at keeping up with everyone - have been away since a bit depressed about disastrous IVF#1 but I'm thinking of you all.

ETA: @mtele Yes, I've always seen my doctor for monitoring (so far - for my 2012 ER with a private clinic, and for IVF#1 with a public university's operation). I think if my doctor is unavailable, I'd see the other doctor in the office.

caseyw8784 · February 2017

Hi ladies! Just a little heads up/PSA...I'm not sure if it's at all the stores, or just the ones here in the Boston area, but I just got back from Destination Maternity (I've very sensitive with hormones so I know the bloat is going to be so real once I start stims so I wanted to pick up a couple new pairs of leggings/lounge pants) and they were having a BOGO sale for their leggings!

laurad75 · February 2017

@mtele I never see my doctor unless I specifically have an appt to meet with him. When I go in for bw or us I see the phlebotomist and then the sonographer and then later in the day my nurse calls me with results and next steps.

Is there a nurse or someone you can call at your clinic with your questions?

HottLemonade2886 · February 2017

My clinic has a decent number of doctors and the doctors always perform the ultrasounds with a nurse taking notes, explain medications and drawing blood. It is nice being able to talk to the doctors right then if I have any concerns or questions. The only downside is you can't really stay with one doctor the whole way through since its pretty much whoever is scheduled to do that procedure that day is who you get. They do seem to be good at taking notes and staying informed with all patients.

DungeonTrollMel · February 2017

@caseyw8784 awesome announcement. I LIVED in maternity pants at the end. The 40 follicles bloat is real

caseyw8784 · February 2017

@DungeonTrollMel - that's what i plan on doing!!

because of the sale, i ended up getting 4 pairs...(and DH is none the wiser regarding the prices!

)

rainbowwishes5 · February 2017

@DungeonTrollMel 40 follicles!??????!!! Omg I am sooo curious as to your meds and dosage!!! I only had 8 last time and my amh is 3.6.........

DungeonTrollMel · February 2017

@rainbowwishes5 I started on follistim 225 for 2 days then dropped to 150. My labs after those 3 days had me drop it to 112 and I started menopur at 37.5 as well. I actually kept dropping follistim every time they checked to the point I wound up at 35 on stims night 7 and 8. I didn't take any on night 9 but did up menopur to 75 and triggered on night 9 as well. My AMH was only 4.0 but I hyper respond from PCOS. Ended up with 32 eggs. 29 mature

MMD1986 · February 2017

DungeonTrollMel said:

@rainbowwishes5 I started on follistim 225 for 2 days then dropped to 150. My labs after those 3 days had me drop it to 112 and I started menopur at 37.5 as well. I actually kept dropping follistim every time they checked to the point I wound up at 35 on stims night 7 and 8. I didn't take any on night 9 but did up menopur to 75 and triggered on night 9 as well. My AMH was only 4.0 but I hyper respond from PCOS. Ended up with 32 eggs. 29 mature

Wow, that's great, but I can imagine the bloating was awful.

sugarhead-2 · February 2017

I just got news today that insurance finally approved us for IVF! I'm not in the clear yet, I have to make it through the baseline ultrasound. I'm hoping there are no pesky cysts or other things to delay us. I have to go stock up on coconut water for hydration because this is starting to feel real!

on another note, my insurance can never just do the right thing. They denied ICSI, which we probably need, and denied assisted hatching, which we probably don't need. So we have to figure out if we need to pay for ICSI out of pocket. For those paying out of pocket, do u know how much the ICSI part cost?

--Sugar

rainbowwishes5 · February 2017

@MMD1986 I'd take a week or two of bloat and 39 eggs--- Bc then you probably only have to do ER a couple of times max. I only had 8! So every time I try a FET I have to do 1-2 ERs. That's a b**** ugh. Greener grass! I don't have PCOS but I'm in a worse position than if I did fertility-wise.

I have no treatable conditions and nothing to explain my situation.

these hormones bring out the sadness in me

I feel like I'm going to be able to cope and then I start stimming and I get worse

DungeonTrollMel · February 2017

@rainbowwishes5 I am so sorry that the medications make your emotions worse. Hugs

cmiller73 · February 2017

@casey8784 Ooooh! Exciting! Shots are fine so far, THANKFULLY.

Then again, its day 1 of double shots hahah. We shall see

famiylgrl86 · February 2017

@DungeonTrollMel omg that's amazing! I just had my ultrasound & they said I had 12 measurable so far. I thought that was good, but wow! haha. Wish I had those kind of numbers

caseyw8784 · February 2017

@SugarHead - yay for insurance finally coming through! it's very frustrating though, when they don't "cooperate" and stuff. Is there any way you can appeal about the ICSI? Has your baseline appt been scheduled yet?

@cmiller73 - i will admit that i'm nervous about the shots. I hate needles, so my DH bought this gigantic bag of hershey kisses, and he will give me one after each shot for "good cooperation." he couldn't keep a straight face when telling me that!

MMD1986 · February 2017

@SugarHead yay for insurance approval! Anything to save money is great. At my clinic ICSI is $1,850.

@rainbowwishes5 I'm sorry you are feeling down. This whole process is such a rollercoaster. I'm still learning everyone's back story. How many ERs have you done?

mandasd · February 2017

I had my U/S this morning. Right AFC 6, left AFC 3-5...all the same size. No cysts, lining good. I start injections Sunday, 2 vials Menopur, 300u Gonal-f. Bloodwork 2/28 and around 3/3 I'll start Garnilix. Estimated retrieval 3/9. Excited and nervous for round 2!

LoveDontCostAThing · February 2017

Hey Everyone,
I tried to catch up and read the whole thread (or most!)...I had my baseline blood and ultrasound on 2/22 and started stims yesterday. They had me on bc, but no one told me when to stop it! I had to ask the nurse the other day when I was there if I should stop...ugh! Hope that doesn't mess anything up. I have my next blood and U/S tomorrow. I'm annoyed because they totally didn't order me nearly enough Gonal...I'll have to order more soon.
I'm not excited to be doing this again, BUT I am excited to be doing something that could lead to a "live birth" as they like to call it lol...good luck to all, and I am looking forward to being a part of this community. I didn't join during my first round, but I kept being an insane googler, which is NOT a good thing...so I am hoping this supportive community will keep me off of google...at least some!

sugarhead-2 · February 2017

Caseyw8784 we can appeal thedision. Maybe we should, but my insurance is non-moveable. From their own documents and guidelines we meet the definition of Severe male factor infertility and should have had IVF with ICSI since last year. We appealed 4 times for IVF but they made us suffer through 6 rounds of IUI. I had a feeling they would deny ICSI. We only have this insurance for 6 more months, so we'll count our blessings and pay the $$$ for ICSI. Insurance has paid everything else.

rainbowwishes5 · February 2017

@DungeonTrollMel thanks lady
@MMD1986 #2
@LoveDontCostAThing welcome! Sucks to ever have to do this more than once. Sorry

afm- us today saw 8 on each side less than 10mm and 2 on the left at 11mm. Too early to say but looks like I'll have more than 8 fx although my re said that my micro dose lupron flare protocol can lead to poorer quality eggs to even tho there are more none may make it to blast or be PGS normal. But flare was my choice over down reg so I knew the risks....

HottLemonade2886 · February 2017

@LoveDontCostAThing - Welcome to the group!

AFM I had another ultrasound. Looks like around 13ish good sized follicles. Estimated ER is Wednesday!

famiylgrl86 · February 2017

@rainbowwishes5 that sounds like a good number! Fx for good eggs! What's a micro Lupron protocol?

@HottLemonade2886 that's awesome! So exciting we're getting to the end of the shots.

Got my results from my ultrasound this afternoon. I now have 5 on 1 & 9 on the other ready to go. I trigger with 0.5 hcg & 20 units of Lupron tonight & have retrieval Monday morning! So excited but more than a little nervous about doing my own hcg shot. I'll have to try not to overthink it.

rainbowwishes5 · February 2017

@famiylgrl86 it's a Luprom flare protocol with lupron, follistim, and menopur. 4 shots a day.

LoveDontCostAThing · February 2017

Thank you for the welcomes

Looking forward to connecting with all of you throughout this crazy process!

HottLemonade2886 · February 2017

@famiylgrl86 - I am getting sick of the needles. I'm usually fine but last night they seemed to hurt more and then the bloodwork needle left my arm still hurting hours later. So excited you get to trigger already! GL!

@rainbowwishes5 - FX you get some good eggs since your starting numbers sound promising.

cmiller73 · February 2017

@caseyw8784 OMG that is amazing... I got a card with a kitty giving me a 'high five', flowers and Star Wars bandaids for every shot I give hahaha Right now my tummy looks like The Empire Strikes Back (man, I wish I could post a pic haha) They aren't as bad as I thought they would be. I ice for a few minutes before I stick (usually as I am mixing/preparing my shot) and then just poke and push. The subcute are easy. I am nervous about the IM shots... those scare me

Rachel_leigh22 · February 2017

@famiylgrl86 they estimated my egg retrieval day to be march 15th

Rachel_leigh22 · February 2017

What are stims?? Is that the shots that you're on?? Ive been on birth control for about 2 weeks now n will take my last one on Sunday and I have been on Lupron since Thursday and will be adding gonal-f next Sunday...this week I start baseline bloodwork and ultrasounds on Friday

LoveDontCostAThing · February 2017

@Rachel_leigh22--yes, stims are the shots! ugh no fun lol....i am stimming now

QsMadd · February 2017

I am back from vacation and they switched up my dates while I was away. I stopped birth control on Feb 20, baseline was Feb 23 and I started stims tonight (2/25)!

So far, here is my dosage:
Night #1: 225 mg follistim and 7 units HcG
Morning #2: 100 mg follistim
Night #2: 125 mg follistim, 7 HcG
Morning #3: 100 follistim
Night #3: 125 mg follistim, 7 HcG
Morning #4: Blood work and ultrasound

I can say that the HcG shot had no side effects that I could tell near the injection site but the Follistim burned and I am still having some radiating pinching pains around the injection site. I had a mild headache for an hour afterwards. Other than that, I feel fine so far.

DH is not happy about having to wake up at 6:30 am for the next injection...I offered for him to sleep in but he wants to participate. And he is a physician, so his steady hands that early in the morning will help!!

Rachel_leigh22 · February 2017

@LoveDontCostAThing thanks! Yeah these shots are no fun...what are you taking? Is this your first IVF cycle? I feel like a lot of ladies on here don't take their stims until after their baseline blood work and I started mine Thursday and don't have blood work until Friday....also @QsMadd I was wondering why they have you on the same shot twice a day and also HCG injections already? I'm new to this and my "plan" looks completely different than yours, just curious!

caseyw8784 · February 2017

happy sunday everyone!

@cmiller73 - i've bought the star wars bandaids too! and the minions ones and the teenage mutant ninja turtles. Didn't know if i would actually need them or not, but I figured i will try have fun with this whole experience!

AFM, i had my baseline ultrasound and blood work this morning! i've honestly never seen the office that busy, especially on a sunday morning - i actually had to wait my turn for the ultrasound...lol. cause of that it seemed a little rushed (but not so much that i felt like i was just another number or anything) and the tech didn't say what my afc was.

had a bit of a mental freak out at the end...the way this office does it, they have the patients fill out the forms since the techs hands are a bit "busy"...so she would say "on line one put xyz down for left ovary size, etc" and then for number of follicles she skipped over the right ovary and had me put "1" down for the left. ONE! so I was freaking out since in the past I've had 15-20+ afc! then, i realized that she was only measuring follicles over 10mm...not total count! silly sleep-deprived me...

has anyone had a "larger" follicle at their afc? is it going to pose a problem at all? granted, AF hasn't arrived yet since stopping BCP...

now just waiting for my RE to review the results and let me know when to start the stims and whatnot. yay!

cmiller73 · February 2017

@caseyw8784 AHH, I had a mini freak out too after my u/s. I really had no clue what to expect because I am trying not to get TOO analytical and over google stuff so when the nurse said I had two AFC on each, I was like 'cool'. Of course I then came home and googled everything and started to worry. I've gotten past that now and just am taking each day as it comes, meditating, doing my affirmations and resting. If I had 4 measurable, that makes me feel better hehe. Honestly, with the stims, once you get through the first one, your confidence goes WAY up and you approach each poke with an 'I got this' mentality.

@HottLemonade2886 I AGREE! Last night it actually stung for the first time. Same this morning with my Menopur. I'm thinking it might be because now I'm lower on my tummy, more an inch or so under my belly button. Tonight I will def be moving back up to either side of it instead!

AFM, I am still on my Menopur in the morning and Gonal f at night til my next u/s and bloodwork on Tuesday morning. Then we figure out how much longer I will need monitoring and hopefully nail down an estimated ER date!

exciting times, ladies. GL!

HottLemonade2886 · February 2017

@cmiller73 - I was also lower on my abdomen and I think that was a big part. Higher up I don't feel it so much but the menopur always stings and the ganirelix feels a bruise and itches a little. They increased my Follistism and today I feel like my estrogen might be climbing to high again. Half way through cooking breakfast I started getting food aversion and just couldn't look at or smell the food without feeling sick to my stomach. Also feel kind of lightheaded and tired. Really hope tomorrow they say I'm ready to trigger. GL on tuesday!

DungeonTrollMel · February 2017

@caseyw8784 @cmiller73 fun bandaids is where it's at! I have unicorn bandaids for all of mine. Just reordered to be ready for weeks of PIO

caseyw8784 · February 2017

Guys, I get to start stims tonight! 187.5 iu of gonal-f, and will go back on 3/1 for bloodwork. woo-hoo!

DungeonTrollMel · February 2017

Congrats @caseyw8784 time to get things cooking

QsMadd · February 2017

@Rachel_leigh22 research shows that using low dose hCG instead of other LH injections lead to better quality eggs. Many women report higher quality (and mature) eggs at ER after this protocol. It is an antagonistic protocol. I am unsure why it was chosen for me but my clinic has a 70% success rate, so I trust their judgement.

My only problems are mild endometriosis, endometrial polyps and high TSH. Everything else is normal.

LoveDontCostAThing · February 2017

@Rachel_leigh22 this is my second IVF cycle. I am taking gonal-F 150 iu in the morning and menopur 75 iu in the evening. My period has been whacky ever since I had a chemical pregnancy in December, so I went in for my baseline on either day 1 or day 2. Since I wasn't totally sure based on my weird period, I wanted to be sure to go early. Then, I started the gonal-F and menopur on day 3. Today I am considering cycle day 6. Tomorrow I add cetrotide in the morning. What are you taking?

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