Not my first IVF rodeo

Hopeful_mom · April 2017

@cashewchicken how old are you if you dont mind me asking. Its because of the MC that the RE really believes I should be doing the testing along with my age, I'm not 50 but they almost act like I am at times. Nothing conclusive came back to answer the why of the MC so they always turn to that.
So sorry you had such rough cycle, a contamination killed all the embryos OMG what did you do, what did they do? I certainly hope you got a refund for that one...not that it makes a difference through the pain, but still.
I was surprised but the dr i met with for the PGS called me today and its still a tricky thing. She stated even with a perfect normal embryo thats 1/2 the battle and your uterus is the other half. So I'm having a heart to heart with my uterus to make sure shes onboard. All the tests show things are good so you do wonder what the problem is. yes they say many 1st timers MC so hoping that was my unfortunate issue.

cashewchicken · April 2017

@Hopeful_mom- I'm 38, turning 39 in a few months. I think at our age, ~40% of blasts, on average, are normal by PGS. The percentage of normal embryos decline steadily after age 35. This is all average by the way, varies individually, keep in mind.

My husband's sperm sample was the source of contamination, they said, so we didn't get our money back. That was devastating as I had 8 fertilized embryos going, and poof...

I had this funny image in my head, when you mentioned having a heart-to-heart with your uterus. I haven't even gotten there yet. My eggs are currently getting a talking to!

Hopeful_mom · April 2017

cashewchicken well I can see we both have trouble sleeping

I hate that i was up to the wee hours just tossing and turning about this stuff!
You got me laughing out loud!!! My eggs are getting a talking to as well, but they did give me a much better amount this time...even though I"m being greedy and wanted more blasts...just praying they're normal!! I'm always greedy even when I was in my tww i just talked about getting that bfp but I wanted 2, I wouldve been thrilled with all 3 sticking...OH NOT SO MUCH!!! So I really was over the moon seeing both of them!
I'm still a lil confused about your husbands contaminated sperm, thats a new one for me. So what are they doing that it doesn't happen for the next time...and yet it still fertilized 8 eggs and they didn't let continue to grow? I owuldve been beyond, you've got a great attitude!
I cried over a year ago when the nurse called me and told me i couldn't start my first round of clomid for an iui as my body wasn't ready...the nurse was more then taken back by my reaction. I was just so ready to get started and was just so frustrated I couldn't.

mtpbadger · April 2017

DH has started contacting agencies and attorney's for gestational carriers - even though I still don't know if this cycle is a bust or not, I'm a little excited to start down the next (potential) path, as well as VERY nervous as this is a whole new ballgame. We may have our first consult within the next 1-2 weeks just to get a feel for the specific agency, ask general questions about the process, etc. I know using a gestational carrier won't be all sunshine and rainbows, but it's almost like when you go from IUI to IVF - all the hope, excitement, etc. is there again and I'm sure it will come with it's share of heartache and disappointment but I think going into this process (if we do continue), I won't be as naïve as I was when initially starting IVF.

Hopeful_mom · April 2017

mtpbadger glad DH is starting the process, hopefully this will help your body relax and get to where it needs to be all at the same time

cashewchicken · April 2017

@Hopeful_mom- I got to confess. Infertility wasn't what was keeping me up, I was watching the final episode of Grimm. Can't believe that was the last episode and the show is over!

As soon as I start the third cycle this whole infertility thing will occupy my brain, but right now I'm still in the waiting period and I'm not worried about it as much. Re: contamination, it doesn't happen that often. My doctor says it only happens 1 in 300 cycles at his clinic, so... yeah. To prevent this from happening again, we bank his sperm and test them ahead of time, just to be sure.

@mtpbadger- My friend is using a gestational carrier and the baby is due in June! He and his partner love the carrier and seem to have a great relationship with her.

AFM-I realized last night that I screwed up on taking bcps... I was supposed to take 22 pills (two packs), but I misread the instruction and took only 21 pills (1 pack). Hope that the extra pill doesn't make a huge difference. Ugh.

mtpbadger · April 2017

@cashewchicken hopefully that extra pill won't really matter! That is great about your friend and how exciting for him and his partner! Do you know if they went through an agency to match?

Had my lining check this morning - nothing, nada, zilch. No change, even with the increased dose of letrozole. I almost lost it in the exam room but I am not a pretty crier and have a bunch of meetings today so didn't want to look like a hot mess for the rest of the day. I really think my body has hit a wall, as I've always responded to meds in the past (even it is was slower than expected). I also have an apt to get my prolactin and thyroid checked next week to see if anything is out of wack there that might be inhibiting a response from the meds.

DH and I have a meeting scheduled with a Gestational Carrier attorney/agency next Wednesday just to ask general questions, get a feel for the process, and see if we like that agency. I'm sure we will meet with a few before making a decision. While I'm happy to have a path to move forward down, it still sucks beyond belief that using a carrier is that path.

JamieH2000 · April 2017

@mtpbadger- aww girl, i'm sorry. That has to be SO frustrating. I don't have the lining issues.. but know what its like to have constant delays and disapointments and to be considering an option that most people, even with infertility, have to consider. My heart goes out to you and I only hope that if you do the GC route, that goes as smoothly and as fast as possible for you guys. Please let us know how the meeting goes next week.

AFM- I finally got AF after the 50 day cycle, but now I have a cyst at baseline. Waiting to hear if its producing estrogen or not and what the RE reco's, but I am feeling pretty certain I don't want to start this month. I think the cyst is on my good ovary and I would be worried it would hinder the development of other follicles. Now I am just worried how it will go away since I don't want to take BC since its so supressive for me

Gosh I just wish things could go smoothly for once. I should be used to delays after 3 rounds of IVF... but I am just feeling defeated today.

mtpbadger · April 2017

Aw @jamieh2000 I'm so sorry about the cyst! You have every right to feel defeated and hopefully you can take it easy today/tonight. Hopefully your RE will have some recommendations on how to move forward and it doesn't delay things too much. Listen to your gut if they still want you to move forward and you're not 100% sure.

I keep telling myself to look at the end game - a baby. I know in my heart of hearts that in the end, it really doesn't matter how any of us come to be parents (donor eggs, donor sperm, GC, adoption, etc.), we will love that child even more due to everything we had to go through. It still totally sucks that something that is supposed to be so natural can be so freaking difficult!

I will keep you all updated on the meeting next week! I'm sure I will be completely overwhelmed (just like we all were starting IVF) but gotta start somewhere. It's a whole new world that's for sure!

radmom27 · April 2017

@mtpbadger I'm so sorry your lining didn't cooperate

I'm glad you're able to take some steps forward for a gestational carrier. I agree with you, it just doesn't matter how you get your child in the end. Having said that though, it just seems unfair that it has to be this hard to do something that is so seamless and easy for others. Keep us posted about the process!!

@JamieH2000 I understand the feeling of defeat. I'm hoping that this cyst won't stand in your way to move forward. The waiting is truly torture.

AFM...I started stims last night after lots of back and forth with my clinic about whether they would allow me to use a frozen sample from hubby. Of course, his three work travel days that are not changeable this month, happen to fall on my first possible retrieval in a year. At first, the clinic told me I could just wait another month or two, but after pleading my case, they're going to let me use a frozen sample. Two steps forward, one step back

mtpbadger · April 2017

@radmom27 way to go convincing your clinic to use the frozen sample! Hopefully the schedule works out so that your retrieval falls on a day when your hubby is in town.

Received a voice mail from my nurse and the doctor on call actually wants to increase my letrozole again to 10mg for 5 nights and try for an IUI. I usually am one to go all in and see something through to the end, but my gut is just telling me "no" on this one and to stop now. I don't think the increase will do any good considering my follicles haven't budged after a round of 5mg and then a round of 7.5mg. I haven't really had any breaks longer than 3-4 weeks here and there since we started treatment almost 2 years ago (YIKES) and I think a break will do some much needed good to give my body a chance to detox from all these different meds.

JamieH2000 · April 2017

@radmom27- good for you for insisting! A frozen sample is just fine for IVF and alot of places reco it just in case anyways! Though I hope the timing somehow works out for him to be there of course

@mtpbadger- I hear you.. sometimes you just have to listen to your gut! I think a break would be nice and if you feel you have tried it all, then tell them know. If there is any part of you that would wonder if a higher dose would help you get the lining you need, then go for it. But sometimes we just need to know when its time to be done too... I have been going at this straight for 13 months and wondering if its time for a summer break from it all too...

Hopeful_mom · April 2017

@radmom27- congrats on starting best of luck this cycle. I'm so confused why you could have to convince your clinic to use a frozen sample, isn't that the whole point of having a frozen sample. Yes they always say fresh is best HOWEVER they also say only the strongest of boys survive the thaw and are great for IVF. Thats very interesting. I missed a cycle not having the frozen sample. You're body is really the one in charge so maybe it will time it right for hubby to be back. What dose of meds are u starting with?

@mtpbadger- sorry things aren't progressing as you hoped but glad you have some distractions headed your way. This process is really hard and i'm sure a rest will do you body good. I'm going right into another stem cycle, not sure its the right thing BUT hopefully my body has one more strong one in her! Go with your gut, if a break it was you desire then thats what you should do, i'm sure you're RE would agree.

@jamieh2000 hey sweets already posted in low amh, hope ur relaxing and feeling a lil better then earlier.

cashewchicken · April 2017

@mtpbadger- Turns out, it was okay that I missed a dose of bcp. Whew! The couple did go through an agency. They were initially matched up with a carrier 500 miles away, but right before they were going to sign the paperwork with her, another carrier that lives in their city became available. The carrier has already done this for another couple. It's really nice for my friends since they can go to all the ultrasound appointments since she lives nearby. I'm sorry your body is not cooperating.

@JamieH2000- I'm sorry about the cyst. You don't need to take any bcp for the cyst though. I had a cyst going into my second IUI, and since it was producing estrogen, I had to sit out that cycle. I did literature search then, and read that bcp doesn't really shrink the cyst or make it go away any faster.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24782304

I wasn't prescribed bcp and for that cycle, I ended up ovulating early. Normally I ovulate CD15 and have a 30-day cycle, but that cycle I ovulated around CD8 and ended up with a 24-day cycle. The cyst was gone when I went in for u/s the following cycle.

cashewchicken · April 2017

@radmom27- It's strange that the clinic wasn't going to let you use your husband's frozen sample. The past IVF cycle I used my husband's frozen sample and it was fine. At my friend's clinic, the frozen sample was the only option (but that may have been because they were using DE, I don't know). I know that for IUI, my doctor didn't recommend freezing the sperm sample because the sperm count will drop by about a half, but for IVF, you don't need that many anyway. And my RE said that he hasn't seen any significant difference in fertilization rates between fresh and frozen sperm. Glad they were able to change their mind about it.

JamieH2000 · April 2017

@cashewchicken- Thank you for the info! The more I have read, it sounds like BC doesn't help which is good. I am hopeful that whatever it is, follicle or cyst, it will be gone by the U/S next wed. I am just concerned because the provera/estrace made me have my period on Monday.. and now there really won't be a lining to shed in 2-3 weeks even if I do ovulate in the next week. I really should just let my body fully reset for a cycle or two.. but we haven't gone on vacation for a while and really were hoping to get this cycle in and then go the last week of may. and of course the summer is so busy with stuff I really wanted to not be cycling in June/July. of course IVF is the most important.. but I have already put my life on hold for months and its starting to take its toll mentally and it only gets harder to be around all my pregnant friends and their kids... So did you just finish you BC and now you are starting?! when is your baseline?

radmom27 · April 2017

@mtpbadger Sometimes a break is just what the dr ordered. I have to say that after 7 months of being off all fertility meds that I felt much better both physically and emotionally. You know your body best!

@Hopeful_mom My RE was insisting on not doing frozen because he wants this to be "the most ideal situation possible." After explaining that a 5th IVF cycle is far from ideal, he gave in

I'm hoping hubs may be in town for the retrieval but also explained to my RE that the stress of worrying about the timing was probably not helping me and that lowering my stress level during this process would probably be worth more than worrying about the sperm being frozen or fresh. I started with estrogen priming, then 5 days of Clomid and have been on Gonal F 300 units for three days. I have a monitoring appointment tomorrow to see how things are going. Hopefully I've made progress!

@JamieH2000 I hope your cycle works out this month!

JamieH2000 · April 2017

@radmom27- thank you! Hope you are getting good news at your monitoring appt today!!

mtpbadger · April 2017

@radmom hoping for good news at your appointment today! I think a break will do me good. DH and I decided we are going to take a break until at least the beginning of July, so that'll be three months. Depending if we have any trips scheduled for the rest of the summer, that break might get pushed out till early fall, which I'm okay with. I was anxious about taking a break but now that I've made the decision, I'm at peace with it.

@jamieH2000 I've put IVF/IF first for SO long that I think I am going to enjoy this summer and really live it up. The past few summers I've been so stressed about trips and worrying if/when cycles would interfere or what meds I would on when travelling, I'm looking forward to not having to deal with that for a few months and just be "normal". In the back of my mind I think I'll still have that ticking clock but a few months isn't going to make or break anything and if I try a new cycle less stressed, maybe that'll do me some good! Hopefully your cyst resolves itself sooner rather than later though and you won't have to worry about taking a break!

JamieH2000 · April 2017

@mtpbadger- A break does sound nice! Definitely pro's/cons in it. You should stay in touch on here and keep us updated about the GC process. Sometimes I like to consider being a GC if I ever get through my own journey (assuming its just my eggs and not my uterus that have issues). I wonder if my IF challenges would disqualify me though... I think anyone who is willing to be an egg donor or GC just is a special kind of person. Any chance anyone you know would offer once they knew this was the path you were going down? I know my cousins wife was considering being a GC and mentioned it to me once after she knew about my challenges since she is done having kids.

cashewchicken · April 2017

@JamieH2000- I finished my bcp last Friday and I've been doing lupron injections for about 10 days now. I had my baseline last Tuesday and my ovaries are nice and quiet, and ready to start stimulation shots. I'm going to start my stimulation shots starting tomorrow morning. I'm excited and nervous as this is the third cycle already.

I totally understand the frustration that comes with having to put everything on hold for IVF/TTC. We put TTC on hold for my career, and when we finally decided that it's time to start a family, well, it hasn't worked out for us. We have been TTC since the summer of 2014, almost 3 years now. Now even my career isn't going as well (unstable workplace due to management change, low morale, etc) and I should look for a new job but it's hard to with IVF. Right now I have flexible hours and can take time off whenever I want, which is great when dealing with IVF or after I become pregnant. I like that aspect of my job, but it's a dead-end job at the moment. Now I feel like I'm putting my career on hold for IVF. We both need a vacation, that's for sure.

Hopeful_mom · April 2017

@mtpbadger- you certainly deserve a break and hope u do live it up this summer and i stress free!! Please come keep us updated!

cashewchicken its a shame we have to put our careers first at times. Mine was that and I also first found the man i really wanted to have children with later, so theres that too

I dont have a staff job so its nice to be flexible especially with this process but makes it tough on the jobs you take etc. IVF is just tough period, whether you're working or not! I also need to broaden my search for work but some of the jobs are too demanding - 16hr days and i dont want to put my body through that while stemming, so i hear ya!!

@radmom how did your appt go?

AFM: AF arrived and i went for my baseline and I'm not really sure if i'll be starting injections tonight or not...tech said I had leftover folliels, each side had one at 10. I had an ER last cycle so how can i have "leftover" anything? Is that a normal thing? Having 2 that far ahead I"m not sure what it means, so we shall see.

rainbowwishes5 · April 2017

@Hopeful_mom. Could they be cysts? I always have cysts afterwards. Even if I have had a ridiculous amounts of meds yielding a handful of eggs.

Hopeful_mom · April 2017

rainbowwishes5 I thought that too but the tech was too knew to really know...that what you get on the weekends

I got the call and they said I was good to go...I'm a lil nervous but I have the meds so i will start and see what the cycle does. The nurse says that the RE was not concerned and said the follies i have now should disappear once i start the meds...it will be interesting to say the least. I just go for blood work mon, so assuming i'll first see something on wed maybe. How are you doing?

radmom27 · April 2017

@Hopeful_mom I'm so glad you got cleared to start stims!! Looks like we'll only be a couple of days off in our cycles. I just finished Day #4 of stims...bloodwork and ultrasound were both "ok" yesterday. I had one dominant follicle with 4 or 5 following close behind. Hoping Monday brings good news!

Hopeful_mom · April 2017

Questions for folks that have done pgs and banking?

AFM: I got a call from the genetic lab today and apparently they sent my samples out to be tested instead of batching them altogether which was suppose to be after this cycle and i believe is going to cost me more now...I'm just so confused. Of course im now anxious to hear the results

I just don't get how there was a miscommunication on this. Nothing ever goes easy. Has that happened to anyone before??

@radmom27 glad we're so far in it together! today will be night 4 of injections so lets hope I see some follies start to pop up tomorrow...

radmom27 · April 2017

@Hopeful_mom I can't believe they forgot to batch your embryos!! I would demand that they charge you the same price either way since the error has NOTHING to do with anything that you were involved in. I'm so sorry that you have to deal with this snafu! Let us know how your monitoring appointment goes tomorrow.

AFM, going for monitoring tomorrow. On Monday I had 5 follicles all about the same size with 5 following close behind. Since I'm only running one ovary, I was pretty happy with that. Just hoping that things have progressed!

mtpbadger · April 2017

@jamieh2000 I don't think you would be disqualified from being a GC! I've read quite a few articles where someone initially went through IVF, had a successful pregnancy and then became a GC! That would be such an awesome experience and I think it would make the carrier that much more able to relate to the intended parents, having struggled before as well. DH and I talked about trying to use someone we know, but we haven't been very open with our journey so far and all the people I can think to ask, have had high risk pregnancies so they most likely wouldn't be medically cleared. I will keep you updated - I'm nervous for the appointment today!

@hopeful_mom OMG, hopefully they don't charge you extra since it was their mistake in sending them early!

@radmom27 fingers crossed for great numbers today!!

JamieH2000 · April 2017

@radmom27- how did your appt go?! Hoping for a great update!

@mtpbadger- Can't wait to hear how the appt goes today! I really hope they have good info and some good resources. we have all been waiting so long, so even though you know its still months away.. hopefully once you are ready to dive in you can get started!

radmom27 · April 2017

@JamieH2000 and @mtpbadger Thanks for the well wishes! I'm still waiting for a call about the plan from this AM but it looks like I may be triggering tonight or tomorrow. There are 5-6 that are all 17-19 mm and a couple more lagging behind. I'm pretty nervous at this point because I'm right at the point where I ovulated through my meds last time...just hoping that I don't ovulate before showtime this time!

JamieH2000 · April 2017

@radmom27- i don't blame you, I would so nervous about ovulating too! Did they call you with instructions yet?

AFM, I'm hopefully turning the corner of bad news lately! My bw showed by LH and progesterone rising, so I should be ovulating very soon. I go back on monday to confirm with bw and then hopefully start priming. Hoping to start stimming in 2-3 weeks! But i know i should realistically plan for more delays haha.

radmom27 · April 2017

@JamieH2000 I'm so excited that there is a start date in sight for you!! The waiting and waiting and waiting for all of this stuff is torture.

I got the call and they're going to hold me over another day and have me come back in tomorrow for another monitoring appointment. I am VERY nervous about this and about waiting another day. I'd like to say that I have faith that this is the right decision, but I'm not at all sure and of course, as is the custom in the clinic I'm going to, I never get to talk to my doctor. Crossing my fingers that my follies stay put.

JamieH2000 · April 2017

@radmom27- that is frustrating that you can't talk to the RE, I guess you just have to trust them. What are they putting you on to prevent ovulation or are they just watching you closely? Sending lots of prayers your way for a smooth ER!

radmom27 · April 2017

@JamieH2000 I'm on cetrotide in the mornings to prevent ovulation...but I've ovulated through this same dose before. Just going to hope for the best and just hope that this time it goes my way!

Hopeful_mom · April 2017

AFM: Thanks for all the responses in regards to pgs - The PGS results are being held hostage haha!! I did pay them so I really wish they would've given my dr the results like they said they would today. My RE and clinic were quite SHOCKED to hear that my results were even in, so it was an interesting day for all. And they are now charging me the batching fee instead so lets pray i have a bunch more to send after this

So far my follies seem to be doing ok and growing together, praying it continues and more pop up!
Left, 12, 12, 8 and 8 // Right 8.5, 8.5,8 and 8...I should go play 8 huh! I need to order more meds, I keep forgetting and then they're closed ugh!!

@radmom27 how exciting! Your follies are the perfect size! great they growing together! We're there smaller ones they were hoping to catch up? My RE kept me going an extra day too BUT my lead follie was already 20, hopefully you're good!

radmom27 · April 2017

@Hopeful_mom I'm so sorry about your PGS results

I hope you're doing OK.

JamieH2000 · April 2017

@radmom27- how did your appt go today? Are you triggering tn?!

radmom27 · April 2017

@JamieH2000 My appointment went well! I have not ovulated yet (I made them check LH) and I have 9 follicles in range. I just triggered tonight and have retrieval on Saturday. I haven't been nervous up until now....definitely nervous!

Hopeful_mom · April 2017

@radmom27 thats great news for you! Good luck on your ER, hope everything goes smoothly for u! Are you planning on doing a fresh transfer, i forget?

Thanks for all the love, I'm still moving forward with this cycle but I'm not sure how many more cycles I have left in me. My OH called this the million dollar baby. I'm going to use up all my funds I had to support them in just trying to have them.
Here's my issue with the testing, embryos divide and grow better in the uterus SO if I did a 3dt maybe i wouldve had that normal embryo again...maybe thats why i had the normal embryo last cycle. Apparently my eggs are acting older then my age so its just making this process even more frustrating! I feel terrible for the ladies that have been in this position. In just coming off MC twins I feel lve been tortured enough and the hits just keep on coming. I never thought I wouldnt be a mom and now i just dont know.
So far I maybe have 5 follies around the same and 3 much smaller so its less then last cycle but the fact that last cycle is officially not a success not sure what to hope for anymore. I had 2 different techs do the measuring so who knows if some disappeared or not. My Estrogen doubled which they wanted to see so hopefully it keeps doing that.

JamieH2000 · April 2017

@radmom27- good luck tomorrow! Can't wait to hear how it goes!

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