June 2018 IVF

becca07024411 · May 2018

Hello!

I have been waiting for a while for a thread like this to get started, but decided to go ahead and just put one together for everyone who will be doing IVF in June.

becca07024411 · May 2018

We did our first round of IVF with antagonist protocol in February with a failed FET in April and 2 frozen embryos remaining. We are going to go ahead and do a 2nd round of IVF this June, but my doctor is going with down reg Lupron this cycle since I stimmed so quickly last time (7.5 days of stims the 1st round). They collected 19 eggs, 14 mature, 14 fertilized and still looked great on day 3, but we only had 3 to freeze on day 5 (not PGS tested). The only known issues is MFI. Started BCP on 5/4 and will finish on 5/22. I start Lupron injections this Sunday on 5/20 and don’t have the 1st baseline appointment until 5/30.

Has anyone done antagonist protocol and then later a new cycle with long Lupron?

tinjp78 · May 2018

Hello @becca07024411 I'd be jumping on here as well. Today is CD2 for me and will be going to the clinic tomorrow to receive 'a shot that would relax my ovaries'. I'd be giving more details on this later.

I'm 39yo and DH is 37. Here is my timeline:

• I had a 7cm chocolate cyst removed through lap last Jan 2017.
• IVF/ICSI/FET #1 - July-Dec 2017 (bfn)
• IUI #1-3 - Jan-May 2018 (bfn)

We live here in Japan so meds are a bit different from what women in these threads use but I'll be adding these details on my posts as we go on.

Sorry I have no experience with the one you have - the shift to long Lupron from the antagonist protocol so I don't have any input for this. But I'm hoping that this new protocol your RE had set up for you would be the golden ticket to get your miracle. GL to us this month!

becca07024411 · May 2018

Good luck with your appointment. I had never heard of a chocolate cyst before (but I did google it). Does that mean your reason for needing to do IVF is due to endo? It will be interesting to see the difference in the meds and treatment in Japan vs US. I have seen a lot of stuff for the UK and other European countries, but not much from Asian countries.

I wish I had an appointment way before 5/30. After the failed FET (beta day was 4/28), CD1 came as expected on 5/2 and was pretty normal and I started BCP on 5/4, but for some reason everything just “feels” different. Almost like a heaviness/slight cramp or similar feeling like between O and AF. Not how I remember feeling on all the other BCP times. Probably just overanalyzing and hyper-aware of everything. Although I have never had any issues in the past, I am kinda nervous I will go in for my baseline and my lining will be too thick or have a cyst or something as a result of the FET protocol meds and be delayed!

I have no idea where all the June people are!!

mich_elle · May 2018

Hi @becca07024411 I'm from the May 2018 IVF board! I couldn't wait another moment so I had to start that one-I feel you! I just had my ET today so I may not be on the June train but, I wanted to share this with you: in my siggy is a link to a spreadsheet that I adapted from another bumpie. It's for the May 2018 IVF ladies. Feel free to copy & edit it and attach it to your siggy for the June train! I can speak for myself and say that I found it helpful to organize my info and to keep track of where the other ladies were in the process. Feel free to page me if you have any questions and best of luck to you! Hopefully I won't *need* to join you in the June train if you catch my drift!

tinjp78 · May 2018

@becca07024411 with the two Drs I've done/been doing ART with, they have not told us what 'exactly' is wrong. They shrug their shoulders a lot so I'm still assuming that means we are unexplained (sigh).

Im sorry again about your recent failed FET and all these crampy,uncomfortable strange feelings that you're experiencing right now. There may or may not be other additional surprises on the day of your baseline but what you can do now is keep a well rested mind and body and just continue to prepare yourself and your home for the coming of your miracle. This is what keeps me busy when worry looms over me.

I'm also wondering when the other June warriors would come and join us, but at the meantime we could apply the suggestion above and prepare a spreadsheet to keep track of things? Oh and btw @mich_elle sorry I didn't continue updating there at May 2018 IVF, a lot of activities are happening already in there and I feel I might not be able to be a good support for I'm just starting, but I still keep lurking there all the time

mich_elle · May 2018

No worries @tinjp78!

Here's one I started for the June train! You can just copy and paste it into your siggy @becca07024411 so that others can add to it. It should be editable to anyone who clicks on it. I'll leave my info in there for now as an example. Best!

June 2018 IVF Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1b5FTAcQCst95uR_W9hN1aYYwhMeYO_HEd7d9OQsT64E/edit?usp=sharing

tinjp78 · May 2018

Ty @mich_elle

mich_elle · May 2018

tinjp78 · May 2018

DH and I went to the clinic today thinking that I would just get a shot - ONE shot that would relax by ovaries (as we were told the last time). BUT to our surprise, other things other than the shot happened

1. CD3 US - 10,9 (rt) 9,9,9 (left) with 28mm choco cyst
2. EKG
3. BW

Here are the meds that I'd have to take:
1. Melatonin 1xdaily for 30 days before sleeping
2. 5/22-6/14 Premarin 0.625mg x 4
3. 5/22 , 5/29, 6/5 Cabaser 0.25mg
4. 6/3-6/10 Duphaston 5mg x 2

Dr is doubtful that we'd get more eggs next month because of my AMH (0.56) so she expressed that we might take 2 ERs. However, if there is going to be only one or two follicles that'd show up, the cycle will be cancelled.

Since we're OOP almost all of the time, I'm thankful for every little savings that come our way. Like today, idk but our insurance covered my and DH's meds.

Imajin99 · May 2018

Joining this thread as I am currently on Day 4 of stim injections and expect egg retrieval to occur first week of June and we are planning on having a fresh transfer. I have low AMH so I am very nervous for my first ultrasound to see how many follicles I will have. Dr. says he is hopefully we will be able to retrieve 5-6 which seems so low. This is my first IVF cycle and still learning as I go along. Did you ladies opt for ICSI?

becca07024411 · May 2018

@tinjp EKG as in the test for your heart? I have never heard of most of those medications before. Did you not get many embryos your first round?

@Imajin99 Hi, is this your 1st round? We opted for ICSI per my RE’s recommendation. He likes to do that in most cases anyway, but especially because our issue is the sperm. Good luck on your 1st ultrasound. Every time I would get so nervous, especially since they don’t give us all the details of size/count/etc at my clinic. When I would inquire and get a little information I would stress myself out googling people who had that many follicles and how many embryos they ended up with, and in hindsight every office looks at things so differently you really CAN’T compare to others on the internet. (even though I know this and say it now, it will be hard not to follow it myself here in a couple weeks). Is your doctor aiming for a 5 day transfer? I don’t know much about fresh transfer since that wasn’t even offered to us, but I would like to inquire if that is an option this time since I hated the 7 week wait between ER and FET, but most likely it will be no. Seems like standard practice at our place. I know everyone always wants a lot of eggs and statistic do matter, but it is not always everything. We went from 19 eggs to 3 embryos and I have seen people have 6 eggs end up with 4 or 5 embryos.

tinjp78 · May 2018

Welcome @Imajin99 to the June IVF train. I've done IVF/ICSI/Frozen ET last year but *tw* bfn. *end tw*
I hope that you'd have many follies and get more eggs than what is expected. What's your protocol?

yes @becca07024411 ekg is for the heart. Their machine at that clinic was horrible. The suctions were sooo strong and painful. I still have some marks on my chest.

But there are many other pain that we experience during ART so I learn to endure and toughen up. ^^ I'm on the Kauffman method (hence the meds). I don't have much info on this yet but it's looking like I'm on an EPP (Estrogen Priming Protocol). Then if things would look good next month, I'd start with Clomid.

On my IVF#1, we got 4 eggs, fertilized but only ONE made it to day 5 to freeze, we transferred that but *tw* bfn.

tinjp78 · May 2018

Oh btw @becca07024411 have you already put the spreadsheet on your siggy? That would be a good way for us to track where each other is on our own precessess.

bakerstreetboys · May 2018

Hello. I'm new to the board, and have just created an intro post. My husband and I will be signing our consent forms for IVF next week, and will hopefully get out protocol then. It may take a couple of months to get started on the process, but that will depend on wait times at the clinic, and my cycle. I am excited to finally have a plan to move forward...and also scared out of my mind!

I look forward to chatting with you ladies

Imajin99 · May 2018

tinjp78 Thanks for your support. I was on EPS priming for last month to prep me for this cycle (Androgel for 28 days and estrace for 7 days. I started my injections on Day 2 which is 225IU Puregon in am and 225IU Menopur in evening. Tomorrow is my first blood test and will start taking Orgulatron as well. I think the first ultrasound most likely will be Sunday and eager to see the numbers but I know it is important not to get hung up on them. We did not have a baseline u/s so just very curious what the numbers will look like.

becca07024411 Thank you for the information. My doctor recommended ICIS but DH has high count and high motility so I wasn't sure if it would be a real benefit but DH says its our first time lets just try it and see. We keep debating between having the genetic testing because our embryo numbers may be low and they charge for the testing of 6 or 8 at one shot. If for any reason we see a huge count we will ask the clinic if we can have the testing and then it will be a FET of course.

As for the medications, I feel a bit bloated and tired but other than that feeling well. Wishing all you ladies a successful cycle and thanks for welcoming me.

becca07024411 · May 2018

tinjp78 I was just trying to make a spreadsheet and it keeps locking up and kicking me out. Not sure if it is an issue with my computer here at work, or I just don't really know how to use Google Docs. Would someone else be able to create one? I can try again later and see if it was just my network having issues. I mobile bump for the most part, but was trying to set one up with my computer here at work.

becca07024411 · May 2018

bakerstreetboys. Our IVF consult appointment fell on CD1, so were were able to get started with the BCP part of the process a couple days later, so hopefully your clinic wait time does not cause you a big delay.

Imajin99 · May 2018

Got my first blood test result and they said my E2 level is lower than they want. It is at 311 pmol/L and they want it to be 500 pmol/L on day 5. I am in Canada so the measurement I believe is different in the USA. Anyone had a slow response and an increase? I go in on Monday for bloodwork and first U/S.

becca07024411 · May 2018

Imajin99 Did they increase your dosage? I think I had the opposite happen. After my Day 4 BW they had me start Ganirelex that night, so I think mine must have been pretty high, but i didn't ask. Do they automatically tell you all your bloodwork number, or do you have to ask?

Imajin99 · May 2018

becca07024411
my clinic calks by the afyrtnoon with the rrsult but they also post it in my portal. Nurse said for me to stsy on current dose as it is quite high. They are hoping that the ultrasound tomorrow will give more info and then will decide what to increase. Im do nervous. Hoping cycle doesnt get cancelled.

purplg8r · May 2018

I just posted my intro so hope it’s ok to join in here. Just found out today that IUI #3 didn’t work so we’ll be moving on to IVF. I have to wait until cd3 and then I start bcp for 14-17 days and then start stims (not sure if the timing will put me with having a retrieval at the end of June or beginning of July)

emmasemm · May 2018

@purplg8r hey friend, so sorry to hear about the latest IUI. Whether I do this cycle or not we’re still planning to cycle in July too, so I’ll be around to keep you company one way or the other.

purplg8r · May 2018

@emmasemm I’m sad to see you here (but glad to have you keep me company!)

Imajin99 · May 2018

Hi everyone, hope your all doing well. I had the ultrasound today and they only see two follicles on my right. Could t really see anything on the left. They have me coming bsck in on Wednesday but are talking to me about strong possibility of cancelling and converting to iui. I have been pretty upset all day. Worked hard to get my mind to the point of accepting infertility and getting in this path.

becca07024411 · May 2018

@purplg8r Welcome, have you already done the IVF consult or whatever you have to do at your RE clinic to get started when the time comes, or will you have to be going in before the baseline appointment? I remember seeing you on the TTGP board when I was a long time lurker over there. Too bad you have to join this group, but glad to have you on the June board while you are here.

becca07024411 · May 2018

@Imajin99 did they see 2 measurable follicles or 2 total? That does really stinks and I am sorry. I know how frustrating it is to dive deep into this both physically and emotionally and have things either not work like we hope or get curve balls along the way. IF is a difficult enough issue to have to deal with in itself without also navigating the frustrations of the "treatment."

Imajin99 · May 2018

@becca07024411 they only saw two that were about same size of 14mm. On left side they couldn’t see anything but Dr has always had trouble seeing that ovary. So there could be some but not sure. My e2 level was 650 (converted to US measurement that is 182). I think that corresponds with having 2 but I’m still learning and maybe you could let me know if that is correct. I go back in tomorrow. I thibk they will convert it to iui. I guess that is better than them continuing with ivf and only getting two eggs. We are paying out of pocket except my medications are covered.

purplg8r · May 2018

@Imajin99 I’m sorry! That has to be so frustrating! I hope your dr sees more tomorrow

@becca07024411 we already had our consult and signed all the papers. Just trying to get everything in order for the loan now

becca07024411 · May 2018

I had my baseline BW and US this morning and already got the results/instructions call. Normally they don’t call until the end of the day! Ok, here we go…

Estradiol was a 19, right ovary showing 16 follicles, left ovary showing 12 follicles

Continue 10 units of Lupron through Friday

Saturday-Tuesday: Drop down to 5 units of Lupron, 2 Menopur vials in the morning, and 150 Gonal-F in the evenings.

I go in for CD4 BW on Tuesday 6/5.

Last time I only did 1 vial Menopur with 200 Gonal-F. I hope 2 vials is not too much for me!

I have my first acupuncture consult/session this afternoon. I have had acupuncture a couple times before, but just for headache/sinus/hip pain from my aunt who is a chiropractor.

Question: For the 2 vials of Menopur, would I just combine the two? Like put the liquid from the solution vial into the first powder, draw that up, and then mix that with the powder from the 2nd vial and draw that up and inject, 1 ml total (and just have a leftover vial of liquid). I am thinking that is how I have read people do it, but I totally forgot to ask the nurse when she called.

emmasemm · May 2018

Hey ladies, Short intro as I mostly hang out on the Low AMH thread. We’re in the middle of our 4th IVF cycle (and one cancelled due to too high FSH and E2). I have DOR, my AMH and AFC are basically as low as it gets whilst still existing. We are traveling this time to a new RE with local monitoring (which has been a challenge!). I haven’t posted so far as since baseline we were still at high risk of being cancelled again every day - and now today things are more positive to keep going.

For those not using the app you can see all my details in my signature. This is the first of three planned back to back cycles to try to bank some embryos for genetic testing and later FET with autoimmune and clotting treatments added in. So even if we might now do ER right at the start of the month, then I might even squeeze in a second one almost within the same month!

I’m currently on CD7, we did estrogen priming through the luteal phase of my last cycle, started stims (FSH-delta in the form of Rekovelle at 12iu) and HGH on CD2 after the baseline that morning. Today added in cetrotide and switched to Menogon dosed at 450. HGH continues every other day.
We have six follies which is more than I have ever seen before. Biggest is just over 14mm, next 11mm, 9mm and the last three still 6-8mm. I really hope this med switch wakes them up nicely! BW today showed my E2 had increased from 111 on Monday to 274 today.
We go to the clinic on Friday for what could be final monitoring with potential trigger sometime over the weekend and ER early next week.

Any questions feel free to reach out any time (as I’m something of a veteran by now).

@becca07024411 you’ve got a lot of follies! Definitely keep asking at each appointment to make sure they keep OHSS risk in focus. Your estrogen rise will be the most critical thing to look at. Estrogen in the 1500-2000 range is pretty risky.
And if your Menopur vial is 75 then that will mean your FSH intake per day is only 25 more than last cycle. The Menopur also contains LH whereas gonal f doesn’t do maybe they wanted to alter the ratio to encourage better egg maturity and quality.
In theory you can combine injections, but this time my clinic has specifically asked to make separate injections for each vial. Means I get stabbed 6-8 times a day. Awesome!

@Imajin99 sorry you’re also in the poor responder club. One of my ovaries also hides sometimes. It certainly adds to the stress. However tricky it’s being at ER they always manage to get to it. And E2 is tricky. It’s a rough guide, but only rough. Yours definitely wouldn’t suggest you have lots of follies hidden, but you could still have a few. Two of 14mm at just under 200 is probably about right, but could be another one or two smaller ones contributing.

@bakerstreetboys hope you’ve got all the paperwork sorted and are ready to start next cycle!

@tinjp78 hey old friend. My new RE will also do a double trigger and ER for DOR patients with poor response if he sees a second wave of follicles coming. I’m interested to see if this will really happen and what is the difference in quality between the two ERs. How many weeks before you start stims? By the way the estrogen priming phase kicked my butt big time - I was completely exhausted that whole time. Now I feel like a new woman!!!

purplg8r · May 2018

@becca07024411 I’m new so don’t have any advice but I do know that I’ll be using two vials of menopur too. How was acupuncture? How often do you plan to go? Im thinking of starting.

@emmasemm yay to have more follies!!! That’s great news!

Imajin99 · May 2018

Still only showing two follicles. E2 is up to 258. Dr has given us the choice to decide to convert to iui or to move ahead knowing we only have two follicles. I’m so confused as I don’t know what the best option really is. Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated as I need to decide by tomorrow morning.

emmasemm · May 2018

@Imajin99 I’ve written a longer reply on the low AMH thread for you. If you can only do one round of IVF, then I would think about cancelling. If you can do at least one more after this then I would personally go ahead and see what we can learn from it - maturity of eggs, egg quality, ability to fertilize, how fast embies develop, any fragmentation etc.
Oh and as I’m in Europe which is why I sometimes answer overnight whilst you’re all sleeping!

becca07024411 · May 2018

@Imajin99 That is a really tough decision and I don’t think there is really one right answer. You have to weigh so many different things and it will be different for everyone. Like emmasemm mentioned above, the doctor will probably be able to learn things from this cycle, but if you are limited in how many cycles you are able to do you will need to take that into consideration.

@emmasemm Thanks for all the info. Yes, my vials are 75 each. I think I am just going to mix them and have them clarify when the call me back after results next Tuesday- surely nothing too bad can happen, I hope!!? I can’t remember what they said my estradiol the morning of trigger was…I want to say like 1700, but I honestly can’t remember. They never really told me officially, he just kinda said it to himself when I asked what my risk of OHSS was. I really wish I would have asked for more details during the 1st cycle, but I didn’t want to be annoying to them asking so many questions and honestly I thought we would only have to do one ER. My RE said at our initial IVF consult that he can’t see any reason why we wouldn’t have “our whole family” with one ER, but here we are 4 months later…So, since you are banking embryos for PGS testing, does that mean you have to wait to finish all the ERs before you send the samples off for testing and results? If so, I couldn’t imagine the patience you must have.

@purplg8r Acupuncture visit in spoiler

Okay, about to acupuncture- first a disclaimer, I am not the type of candidate who will have the most to gain from acupuncture IVF success wise since from what we know, it is all MFI with no female factors that we know of yet. From what I understand, those who have female fertility issues/egg quality/etc should see the most improvement since they actually have something to “correct.” With that said, my main purpose for going is to improve overall body function, health, and circulation. At this point any little extra I can do to help I am willing to try. I’m going to try and stick with it for a while and see if I notice any improvements, but I can’t promise I am going to stick with it forever because a). it is not cheap b). it is almost 1.5 hours from my house, so days like yesterday I drive over 2 hours one way to my RE in the morning and then leave work a little early and drive 1.5 hours to the acu clinic c). they only stay open after lunch 1 day a week.
So, as far as the appointment, one of the acupuncturists met with me first and did a quick overall analysis by asking me some very general questions, looking at my tongue, and eyes. He gave me a cup with 8 small round black Chinese herb supplement to take before the session. I was a little leery to take some random supplements, especially starting stims, but most of them are all legit MDs who went to medical school, so while it is a very traditional acupuncture practice, they all have a strong medical background, so it made me feel comfortable enough to go with it without asking many questions. He had me lay down and put in the needles, left the room, and a different lady came in to ask a lot more in depth questions. She wanted to know all about my cycles, first IVF, and even charts where I had been tracking my BBT last summer. According to her, the temperature charts are very important and can tell a lot about overall health. She wants me to start back doing it after ER. Moving forward, she wants me to return 1 x week, following up in slightly fluctuating temperature in the FP and LP (could be indication of something with liver), and improving circulation based on my freezing hands and feet (apparently that impacts blood flow to the pelvic area).

purplg8r · May 2018

@becca07024411 thanks for the in-depth info about acupuncture! I appreciate it!

bakerstreetboys · June 2018

@emmasemm It looks like things are going together for you! I have been following your story as I have been lurking these last few months, and I have my fingers crossed for you!
We did get the papers signed this week, and I got my protocol, but now we have to wait 3-4 weeks for them to call...and then wait for my day 1 after that, so now we're looking at July at earliest. So much waiting!

melissa022 · June 2018

Hello! How are you doing? I hope you are doing well. Well, last year my friend had blessed with a child through IVF. IVF is the great alternative to have children for peoples who are not able to have naturally. I am also an infertile person. I had faced infertility for many years. I became a mother because of surrogacy blessing. Surrogacy and IVF are great alternatives to cope with infertility. I hope best for your IVF. Stay blessed

purplg8r · June 2018

My RE called today to talk about some things. Looks like I’ll be on a no-carb diet once I start stims so that’ll be super fun. She also mentioned that she wants to try to get the FET done before I go back to school the first week of August (previously we had talked that it would have to be later.). So we’ll see.

mandythym · June 2018

Hello, everyone! I am on my first round of IVF after we discovered my DH was born with his ducts not connected. We were able to extract his sperm through TESE which I am thankful for because he really wanted to father his own children. I am in the military and feel the stress of all the waiting because I am currently tasked to deploy. I am worried if this doesn’t work, we won’t be able to try again until 2019. We have made good progress so far though; I’m on day 7 of stims and all my BW and U/S have been good. I had 10 follicles on the left and 11 on the right as of yesterday.

What is everyones thoughts on transferring 2 embryos? Our RE really only wants to do one, but I am more leaning towards 2.

mandythym · June 2018

@purplg8r how does low carb help stims? I would have a tough time sticking to that!

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