September IVF

emmasemm · September 2017

Hi guys, I've just intro'd in a separate thread.
i would like to join the September IVF party please!!!

@Decemberdoll27 looks like you're the leader of the pack in terms of timeline. Do they still think your ER will be around 12/9?
I will also not do Lupron at the start. But I also don't do BCP either. Just straight into stims.
And I also had a major panic attack this week about not getting meds on time, but disaster has been averted now and I'm trying to be calm for at least a few more days :-)

@sunnyrain2 I've got pre AF symptoms and hoping she comes any day now. So might have very similar timing! It's great to have your experience in the group and fx they say you can go on your trip still this weekend.

@latvaughanash do you have your plan now or still chasing it? I feel you on needing to have it and know

@irisheyes81 hope all is going well with stims ready for ER next week

@loverin first thanks for starting the thread! And if AF takes her time to make an appearance then I guess we might end up cycle day buddies instead

@adirat fx all stays to plan for you to catch the mid September train. I can't stand all this waiting waiting waiting.

adirat · September 2017

@emmasemm Welcome! Do you have a timeline for starting stims? I know what you mean about the waiting!

emmasemm · September 2017

@adirat I will start GonalF at 225 on CD3. So first I am waiting for CD1...
Then first monitoring CD6or7 and see from there if need to change doses or lengthen/shorten planned no of days and if need to add in the Orgalutran already to prevent early O (one of my ovaries likes to O early if it has the dominant follie normally...)
We plan to trigger me with Ovitrelle (HCG) when it comes to it and then supplement progesterone vaginally...
But all the best advice at the moment is telling me it's great to have a plan, but more important is to be flexible in the moment depending how it all goes down in the end!

As Robert Burns said "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry"...

loverin · September 2017

IT'S FINALLY SEPTEMBER!!

Insert all the smileys here!

Welcome @emmasemm! I read your intro and it's nice to see a new face

My husband studied abroad in Germany for a semester and I went and visited him there. If my DH hadn't met me 3 months before he left he probably wouldn't have come back, we love it there

As for infertility, they had you go with your natural cycle and your just waiting for AF? Sounds like you're close to a couple different people's cycles depending so that's nice! One of the very few times in life that you wish for AF.

AFM tomorrow is my last day of birth control!! Guys, I can't even tell you how ready for it I am. I keep telling my husband I really feel like a good part of my anxiety and some depression is due to it but it's hard for him to understand how much hormones can affect your mindset. I'm hoping for a similar experience @DecemberDoll27 where it's a very immediate difference. (That's been my experience before)

I also start Lupron tomorrow morning so I'm about to go set out a area somewhere in our house so that everything is more organized. I'm not sure if tomorrow counts as CD1 or if my baseline appointment does?

Glad we're finally in the month of IVF, the waiting is the absolute worst!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/6h/cfuh7jsmljvs.gif

JaeJayStark · September 2017

Hi Ladies!

I'm in the middle of my first round of IVF. I have a frozen transfer this Sunday (9/3). We had planned a fresh transfer but they had trouble getting to my left ovary. They had to puncture my lining so they wanted me to take a cycle off. Now it's here! I am quite nervous.

So excited for all of you getting started! Fingers crossed.

artemis618 · September 2017

Hi ladies! Happy September. Jumping in here because we met with a new RE yesterday and decided to get back to it after a few month break (time not on our side). Planning on IVF #4 starting with this month's cycle (due around the 20th if my body cooperates) with a new-to-me lupron flare protocol, probably putting ER early October.

Background is mostly in the signature below, but I'm always on mobile so I can't see it either:

Me 39.5 (40 in October), DH 42
Married June 2016, *TW* natural BFP with July 2016 cycle, MC our NIPT-normal little girl @11w5d in October 2016
IVF#1 - antagonist - 12R, 7M and ICSI'd, 3F, 0B (one morula at day 7, nothing to test)
IVF#2 - luteal lupron w/o OCP (it makes me crazy too) - 10R, 8M, 8F (5 IVF, 3 ICSI), 5B, 1 PGS normal
IVF #3 - luteal lupron w/o OCP - 14R, 5M/F (all IVF), 3B, 0 PGS normal

Primed with Androgel (testosterone) and used Omnitrope (HGH) for all three cycles. No testosterone priming for this coming round, but still using the hgh.

Hope it's a good month for us all!

sunnyrain2 · September 2017

I had baseline yesterday. They had to squeeze me in since they try not to do those appointments over the holiday weekend. I start stims Sunday and will start Cetrotide on Thursday before my first monitoring appointment on Friday. I find that a little strange but I'll be in Canada Tuesday-Thursday afternoon.

This is only my second antagonist cycle. The first time around (at a different clinic) they monitored my lh and p4 and had me do Cetrotide based on that rather than start on a particular day. I only took it once during that cycle, on day 10 then triggered on day 11. So starting on day 5 is different for me.

Oh and my AFC was 25, 10 on left and 15 on right.

sunnyrain2 · September 2017

@DecemberDoll27. We're going to be on the same schedule. I start stims on Sunday as well

sunnyrain2 · September 2017

@loverin RE genetic testing. We did testing on our failed pregnancies and both were normal. My second clinic had us do some genetic tests for CF and SMA. The tests came back negative for us being carriers. My third clinic did more in depth testing and it turns out I'm a carrier for an uncommon CF mutation. Generally less severe than traditional CF but can cause infertility in males. Not typically linked to miscarriages. My DH also had the more involved testing and nothing popped for him. The weird thing they said was they couldn't tell me if I had this particular strain of CF or if I was just a carrier. Much more testing would be necessary.

Since DH isn't a carrier we decided against any PGD/PGS. Part of that decision is that we get so few blasts each cycle and with so few I rather not mess with them too much. If I produced more blasts I might feel differently about testing them

emmasemm · September 2017

@sunnyrain2 pleased they managed to squeeze you in, as a regular traveler for work I know what it's like when you get holiday weekends and work trips back to back, needs a flexible clinic!
And your AFC sounds great! I dream of those numbers!!! Did you have similar numbers last time or less?

sunnyrain2 · September 2017

@emmasemm I think the afc this time around is higher than my last cycle in March. It doesn't count for much with me though. I have PCOS so my amh and afc are high (5.3 amh in January) My issues are with maturity, fertilization and development.

The cycle that was successful with my daughter, was my best as far as numbers go. We retrieved 33, 28 mature, 20 fertilized (split cycle with donor sperm since prior cycle only had 40% ICSI fertilization with DH, this cycle 12 ICSI with DH and 8 natural with donor). I only had 3 morulas still developing on day 5 so the quality of the eggs retrieved was likely very poor.

loverin · September 2017

Welcome @JaeJayStark ! How did your transfer go today?!? I can't imagine how exciting that moment is!

Also welcome to you @artemis618 ! Hoping this cycle brings you beautiful normal embies! I'm assuming because I didn't see it anywhere that you're banking a few IVF rounds and haven't transferred your normie? *TW* I'm so sorry for your loss last year

Fingers crossed that this month is a good one!

@sunnyrain2 glad they squeezed you in! It's interesting how many different ways there is for IVF, I hadn't heard of what they did for you initially before.

Did your RE look at your AFC during some of your treatments? That's not anything that my RE has mentioned and something that I was curious about. I also asked if there was a way to determine the quality of my eggs before IVF (since we've done every other test under the sun) and they said they'd see once we got into IVF. There is so much to think about and consider for IVF, I just wanted to have all the facts lol

sunnyrain2 · September 2017

AFC kinda depends on the RE and circumstances. It may give a guide as to how many potential follicles will develop in a cycle. AFC does vary cycle to cycle so it's not generally used as definitive part of a diagnosis. My first IVF I think they counted around 30 AFC and we only retrieved 16 eggs (my RE was VERY cautious with me). My third IVF my AFC was around 18 and we retrieved 33 eggs. Other than using it as a base for meds it's not really used for a whole lot. For example someone with a AFC of 30 you aren't going to typically want to give them 600iu of stims due to risk of OHSS but if they only have AFC of 8 maybe 600iu is best to try to recruit more follicles.

We first used donor sperm during IUI. We did 3 rounds with DH then switched to donor. My RE didn't think it would make a difference, assuming my eggs where the biggest issue in conception, however I got pg the first IUI with the donor. It didn't take unfortunately but it made my RE re-evaluate how much of a factor my DH's sperm was in our infertility struggles. At my current clinic my RE didn't want to do ICSI on my IVF in March (4th IVF) since DH's SA wasn't that bad and he said "since you got pregnant during IUI I have to assume that he can fertilize your eggs" I had to explain that my DH hasn't fertilized anything naturally. I cut him some slack since he didn't have all of the information about my prior cycles but ...really? I think he ended up using ICSI on all of the mature eggs and attempting natural on the others, just in case (none fertilized naturally).

My second IVF I was so happy that we had a significant number of mature eggs that it was a punch in the gut when only 7 out of 17 fertilized with ICSI. I didn't want to risk it again so we did a split cycle on our 3rd IVF, just in case fertilization was an issue again. We had a lot fertilize but it wasn't a big difference. We had two of DH's embryos on day 5 and one from the donor. I wanted to transfer all three since they were only in the morula stage but my RE at the time was way more concerned with genetics than I was and would only transfer the two from DH. The donor embryo didn't make it to freeze.

JaeJayStark · September 2017

loverin The transfer went great! It was pretty easy, surprisingly. It was only tough having such a full bladder that whole time. We transferred one embryo. Now for the wait!

funkykey · September 2017

*lurking* @JaeJayStark Yey! FX for you! Sending you all my good vibes!

JaeJayStark · September 2017

@Funkykey Hi!! So excited you have 4 frozen embryos! Thanks for the well wishes!

DecemberDoll27 · September 2017

@sunnyrain2 Yey for being cycle buddies! How are the first couple of days treating you?
@JaeJayStark Congratulations on the transfer! I am sending sticky vibes your way! I hope you will be our first BFP in the September IVF thread!
@loverin How is life without BCP? I am still enjoying my good mood and DH is not afraid to be around me aymore, LOL.

AFM, day 3 of Menopur injections, had my first blood test today, hoping everything is on track. However I am panicking a little bit: I stopped BCP on Thursday ( Aug 31st) and then my period started on Sunday ( the same day I started stims). Is that normal to start bleeding and stims on the same day? I've never heard of that happening, usually people start AF and then start stims 3-4 days later... There were no nurses at the clinic this morning, but I left a note and somebody will call me later today with an answer. Hopefully I am panicking for nothing and it is normal. pppffff, sigh........ any thoughts, ladies?

sunnyrain2 · September 2017

@DecemberDoll27 Totally normal and fine to have AF on stims. There is plenty of time for your lining to build back up. My 3rd IVF AF started 3 days into stims, by the time 5 day transfer rolled around I was back up to 14 mm lining

AFM already starting to feel a bit swollen, this time next week my lower back will be killing me (left ovary is behind uterus and I always feel it when I have follicles on that side)

loverin · September 2017

@DecemberDoll27 I had the same question! Saturday was my last bcp and I just this morning got AF. I have my baseline tomorrow and wasn't sure if I should have had it earlier or later or what! So thank you @sunnyrain2 , you eased my worries as well

@JaeJayStark I've heard a lot of people talk about how uncomfortable the full bladder was during that! When is your beta?

@Decemberdoll27 I wish that I felt 100% back to my old self but I'm still struggling a little with the anxiety. My outlook and overall demeanor has FOR SURE improved though and ditto to my husband not being afraid to look at me wrong

I did a happy dance the last night I took it and the next night when I didn't have to take it lol How are stims going?

DecemberDoll27 · September 2017

@loverin and @sunnyrain2 I don't know if I am doing the injections wrong but so far I don't feel any different from stims. Maybe bloated a little bit but it might be AF related. Thank you so much @sunnyrain2 for calming me down with AF timing.
@loverin now thinking about it I still do have some anxiety too, however I think it might be just because we are all going through IVF and it is not a walk in the park. I woke up in the middle of the night Sunday and started panicking that my Lupron trigger is not going to get delivered because of the hurricane Harvey ( my meds come from Texas). Had to wake up DH because I was crying hysterically. Thanks to DH and Google we figured that the meds come from Dallas not Houston and I have nothing to worry about. Only took 2 hours in the middle of the night to calm me down. It will make a funny story one day.

sunnyrain2 · September 2017

@DecemberDoll27 I'm sure you're not doing the injections wrong. I normally don't feel anything this early but my RE upped my dose this time around so I'm really scrutinizing things. It may all be in my head and I don't have any activity yet. My first scan isn't until Friday.

JaeJayStark · September 2017

@loverin Sept 12th! I also struggle with anxiety so I totally get it.

JaeJayStark · September 2017

@ DecemberDoll27 Thank you! And, I had a friend that bled as soon as she stopped BC and the doctors said it was totally fine.

latvaughanash · September 2017

Oh I really like seeing that some people don't react as strongly to the stims as others! I think so far I've only read horror stories and didn't realize they don't make everyone miserable! Hopefully I'll fall onto that side! I start on the 18th which will be here before I know it.

@emmasemm Yes! Got my schedule before I had to demand it, haha

My retrieval should end up being between 9/28 and 10/1, which makes me so excited that it's finally September!!

So since this is my first time with IVF, it's also my first time using birth control to delay my period. What am I in for when I stop and it comes? I'll have used them for 5 1/2 weeks and I'm kind of assuming it'll be pretty awful...

loverin · September 2017

@DecemberDoll27 Oh girl, how cruel is our brain to realize that in the middle of the night?! I'm so glad you didn't have any delays from the hurricane! I was hoping to blame all my crazy on the bcp but alas, some of it has lingered

It is such a crazy stressful process that it's not a wonder we get anxious, I was just hoping it'd go away with the bcp!

@latvaughanash Agreed, I see a lot of side effects from stims online and even what I'm on now, the Lupron. So far so good, hoping it's a good sign that I won't notice the stims as much!

Also, I was on bcp for 5 1/2 weeks as well to delay my cycle and so far coming off of it hasn't been too bad. I'm on day 3 without it and am just getting any type of period, I'm honestly not sure I'll get a full one.

emmasemm · September 2017

@sunnyrain2 sounds like we are polar opposites with our AMH... sorry I know many people are focused on us ladies with very low numbers but I understand it can give you just as much trouble when it's so high. Was your DD from one of the day 5 morulas then? If yes then this really shows that there are exceptions to the norm. I've already told my RE I am not willing to throw away any embies that are still growing however slowly. I'm pretty sure due to my OCD question and reference list I always take to see him he already has me pegged as crazy before I start injecting meds...

@JaeJayStark pleased the ET went well and fx for you during the wait!

@DecemberDoll27 fx you continue to not have negative side effects from the injections
Sorry about your middle of the night panic, maybe that was a little due to the meds? Sounds like your DH is a real diamond spending the time with you to Google in the middle of the night, bless him

@latvaughanash so great you got your schedule finally! Anything surprising in your protocol or all as planned? Do you have your meds already?

Sounds like a lot of us will be right in the thick of stims and ER and ET the next weeks. Fx to everyone!!!

AFM I'm still WFAF after all my panic and drama last week! It's totally holding out on me - everyday I get PMS and it looks like it's about to come full force and stops which is super frustrating. Come on CD1!!! (First time in my life I've said that!!!!!!!)

artemis618 · September 2017

@loverin Thanks for the welcome

. The plan after the *TW* loss was initially to do the two cycles for which I had insurance coverage for (edit for clarification: order to do) PGS screening (screening not covered by insurance) - we managed our expectations poorly (despite our ages) not anticipating the cycles would go so poorly since we got *TW* pregnant our second month trying. Our first cycle was disastrous, but then the second one gave us *just* enough hope to pay for another one (mostly) out of pocket.

So, no, we have not transferred the normal yet and are kinda banking (the word sounds kind of funny to me when we have to work so hard for even one) - we're not super comfortable with the odds with just one, and would like more than one kid if we have any choice in the matter. I also have just 9 frozen eggs from 2012 - but the frozen stuff isn't going anywhere, so we're trying to work with what we have left (fresh) first (at least probably for what's left of this year).

Hope this cycle is it for you!

@JaeJayStark Congrats on being PUPO!

loverin · September 2017

Baseline this morning! Excited but also not sure what IVF looks like if Hurricane Irma heads our way so I'm glad I can ask. I know there's priorities but that is immediately where my mind went when they started to worry it could hit here.

DecemberDoll27 · September 2017

Good Morning Everybody,

So after my blood test at stim day 3 I got a call from the nurse and they increased my Menopur to 5 vials from 3 because my hormone level was not near high enough for what they expected. So now I think stimming hit me full force, I have a bad headache and I was barfing my guts out all morning.

@loverin Good luck at your baseline today!!! Hopefully you can start stims with us soon!

latvaughanash · September 2017

@emmasemm No surprises in my schedule thankfully! It looks like I'll be using either Gonal-F or Menopur, but I can't read my doctor's handwriting for which one I'm using to suppress ovulation until I trigger.
Honestly, I am the world's hugest over-researcher, so I'm trying really really hard to just not worry about it until the 18th, which is my suppression check AND when I get all my medicines. I work on a computer all day so have way too much time to Google.

I'm really not that familiar with all the medicines and protocols available, but it seems like mine is pretty low key compared to some? Since my infertility is unexplained, although likely due to mild endometriosis, I kind of figured that might be why since there aren't known issues we're trying to work around? But again, I'm not super educated on all of this and am keeping it that way until I have to know things, haha!

@DecemberDoll27 Dang! Hopefully that was just a one time and you'll feel better for the rest of the time!!

@loverin Oh no! Are you in Florida?

adirat · September 2017

@loverin Oh my gosh! I hope you guys stay safe in this hurricane! How scary and how tough to have to worry about IVF in the midst of this too

@DecemberDoll27 That's awful

I hope you feel better soon.

AFM -- still no update as the lab does not have our PGD probe ready yet. Pretty depressing news because I just desperately want to get this show on the road. (tw) The longer we have to delay to get started, the less likely it'll be that I will be pregnant by my due date for the baby I lost. (end tw) Here's hoping we get a better update next week... Cheering you ladies on in the meantime!

sunnyrain2 · September 2017

@latvaughanash Usually you'd be on both Gonal F and Menopur to stimulate your ovaries. Is your doctor giving you the choice between the two? Menopur is different from Gonal F in that it has LH to help mature the follicles and its in powder form so you have to mix it. If you don't already have Lupron (its usually started during the prior cycle) looks like you'll be doing an antagonist cycle and will use either Cetrotide or Ganirelix to suppress ovulation. Much the same but you have to mix Cetrotide like you do Menopur.

emmasemm · September 2017

@latvaughanash i know what you mean about doctors handwriting! And although there a few main protocols, slightly different brands or levels of drugs really means there are many options. Hope you get it all well explained on 18th!
Can I ask where you are? I'm in Germany so the licensed drugs and approved options are slightly different here compared to the US.

I'm on a very simple protocol this time (or the plan at least - you never quite know what might change at the monitoring appointments)

I will start CD3 with Pergoveris (Substitue for Gonal-F) which in March this year was approved by the EU in a pen form - so I don't have to mix the powder and solvent. It's especially indicated for very low AMH and high fsh patients.

Then to prevent early ovulation I will use Orgalutran (which has Ganirelix as the active ingredient) - but days will be confirmed based on monitoring.

My trigger is planned with Ovitrelle, which is an hcg trigger (also ready to inject, no mixing which it used to be).

Like @sunnyrain2 mentions I didn't start with Lupron and I'm not including Menopur in the stims part.

@adirat that's frustrating to still be waiting for the probe... Sorry as I know you're keen to get started

@decemberdoll27 oh I hope the headaches and sickness go away as your body normalizes to the new higher levels. Sounds like they've hit you with full force.

@loverin how did the baseline appointment go? Hurricane Irma looks to have really hit the Caribbean hard, hope she runs out of power before she gets to you.

loverin · September 2017

@DecemberDoll27 that sounds miserable

I hope your body adjusts to the increase and maybe then so will the side effects! How're you feeling today?

@adirat that is so frustrating!! Waiting is the worst, fingers crossed that next week is the week!

AFM baseline went really well. Everything looked good with me and they gave me dosing for the next 2 days. I'm starting 1 vial of Menopur and 200 units of Follistim tonight so hurray for starting stims! @latvaughanash I'm in Savannah, GA so thankfully not in the line for the worst part but we're likely going to have to evacuate.

I felt so much better after talking to my RE yesterday about the hurricane. He's trying to "jump start" me a little I guess in case we have a few days I can't be seen during the hurricane(which is now likely

). But now I'm freaking out a little. I have another follow up appointment with him Saturday so I'm hoping he'll have a plan in place for how to continue this cycle. He was confident and said they didn't have any issues continuing through Hurricane Matthew last year so I'm just hoping and praying that we have no delays from this

I feel like a bit of a drama queen but for real...as if IVF isn't stressful enough! We left the hospital with a huge cooler for taking our meds, it gave us a good laugh at how ridiculous we looked lol

emmasemm · September 2017

@loverin fwiw I can totally understand your concerns and don't think you're a drama queen at all!

DecemberDoll27 · September 2017

@adirat Hoping you get your results ASAP! Fingers and toews crossed!

@loverin Congrats on starting stims! YEY! I am so sorry you have to worry about the hurricane on top of everything! But on the bright side if you get your BFP this cycle it will make a great story!

@emmasemm It is always fascinating to hear how everything is different between US and Europe! Which part of Germany are yo from?

AFM, I am feeling a little better, trying to figure out if the headache is caused by all the meds or if it is just coincidental. I had my day 5 US and BW done today, waiting to hear back. I am a little upset though as we only saw 7 follies 7mm + on there. And nobody explains anything at the clinic so I do not know if it is good or not, but I should have more by now and larger, right? I am also guessing that ER is going to be postponed too.... Ohhh well, whatever it takes. Going back tomorrow for one more US.

sunnyrain2 · September 2017

@DecemberDoll27 How long you stim for really varies. I've done as little as 8 days and as many as 12. The REs I've dealt with usually estimate 10 days but they won't know for sure until they are in the cycle with you.

My second IVF I had larger sized follicles (12mm+) on day 5. My third IVF I didn't have measurable follicles (10mm+) until day 7 of stims.

DecemberDoll27 · September 2017

@sunnyrain2 Thank you so much for telling me that! You manage to calm me down better than google, DH and doctors! :-) How is it going with you, cycle buddy? any updates?

latvaughanash · September 2017

@sunnyrain2 Ha, I feel like you just proved what I already suspected, which is that I really don't have any idea what I'll be doing.

The form does list both so I just assumed it was one or the other, so it obviously must be both like you said! I've seen people mention the antagonistic cycle but my doctor never used that term so I had no idea what it meant! I'll have to read a little more about it. But no mention of Lupron at all so assuming he doesn't plan to have me use that.

@emmasemm They are definitely going over everything on the 18th so I'm not worried.

I'm in the US in Oregon!

@loverin I'm really glad your doctor is confident about moving forward despite the hurricane. You definitely don't need the added stress of worrying about that!

sunnyrain2 · September 2017

LOL since this is my fifth IVF total I feel like I know all of the ins and outs.

I have my first scan in the morning on day 6 of stims. I accidentally took my Gonal F this morning and night. I blame it on travelling and trying to get organized. I had my Menopur out and ready to go and I had the Gonal F from my bag and was going to put it back in the fridge. I forgot which med I was supposed to be taking and did my Gonal F then did the Menopur as well. Oh well, one day of 550 iu instead of 350iu shouldn't make too much of a difference (just watch now my ovaries will explode

)

September IVF

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