April 2019 FETs

Tulips29 · May 2019

Thanks, @wifeinraleigh28, I hope so too! I've been deep in google searches for the past hour and looking all over these boards for some reassurance. There's a mixed bag of stories out there. At this point there's nothing I can do but wait. In your case, it never hurts to try naturally and I've seen many stories here and in real life of women who have success naturally after IVF. Whatever you decide, don't be too hard on yourself. This process is stressful enough as is.

wifeinraleigh28 · May 2019

Thanks @Tulips29. Nothing about this is easy. Obviously for the last year I was hoping I would be one of those "success after IVF" stories and it never happened so I'm really not that hopeful. But it can't hurt to try! We have little to no control over any of this. I'm slowly starting to accept that life is just going to play out the way it will and I just have to let it be. And focus on the good things.

ittybittybug-2 · May 2019

@Tulips29 - I'm so sorry you're in beta hell.

I was there in my January FET, and hope yours turns out better. FWIW, the biggest concern from my RE was that my second beta didn't double because sometimes in FETs the embryo takes a while to expand and therefor is slow to implant and get going. FX for your numbers to shoot up!

AFM, I got the call back this afternoon. I'm at 83, which is a bit lower than my successful pregnancy (extrapolating backwards from my first beta, which was 2 days later that cycle) and definitely on the low end of the betabase, but above their threshold of 50 for what they 'like to see.' It's definitely not the more typical 200+ numbers we seem to get here! I'll also be waiting anxiously for results Monday.

Tulips29 · May 2019

@ittybittybug-2 oh man. This was your first beta too, right? Sounds like we'll both be in beta hell until Monday. I hope we both get really good news on Monday and are able to breathe a little easier.

somewhereinnyc · May 2019

@Tulips29 oh man. Congrats on the positive but sorry you’ve entered beta purgatory. I hope your numbers go steeply upward.. I don’t get why this happens with pgs normal embies

callingthestork · May 2019

Hi, I have a question: if anyone has an LH test strip, please could you see if it comes up positive? I just had a chemical pregnancy from a 5d FET in mid April, and on the seventh day after the transfer I tested with both an LH and hCG strip. LH showed a strong positive, hCG a very faint positive after 5 minutes.
Any idea what hormone that could be picking up? 8 days later, I still get a positive on the LH. Just had estrogen and PIO, medrol & doxy.
Hope those low betas turn around! Many do, especially if progesterone is ok.
Sorry to just pop in like this.

ittybittybug-2 · May 2019

@callingthestork LH and hCG are very similar hormones and both types of test strips react to both types of hormone. When you say the LH is positive, do you mean the same way an HPT is positive (some kind of line)? Or do you mean it's positive for a surge (as dark or darker than the control line)? Have you started a new cycle yet? What cycle day or DPO are you on?

mackorori · May 2019

@tulips29 @ittybittybug-2 hoping the best for the both of you on Monday.

callingthestork · May 2019

@ittybittybug-2, hi, thanks. LH was a dark positive, darker than test line, a week apart. By the way, a blood beta of 12 showed up clearly on a cheapie hCG stick. Surprised me.
So I just started bleeding, and the next possible transfer would be in late June. I have severe endometriosis, and the doc wants me to do 2 months of pituitary downreg before trying again. I'd much rather skip that-- it didn't help in the past with retrievals-- but I don't know what is best. I think around 20% of early detected pregnancies do turn out to be chemicals and it's just bad luck.
This was my first transfer. I did 5 retrieval cycles to get 5 untested blastocysts. I am 36.
Good luck to you and tulips29 tomorrow, so hoping you both get good news.

wifeinraleigh28 · May 2019

How are you ladies hold up @mackorori @crookshanks10 @italianmommy8? Thinking of you.

Praying for good news @Tulips29 @ittybittybug-2 tomorrow!

mackorori · May 2019

@wifeinraleigh28 thanks for checking in, it’s definitely been a rough few days. I’m still just in shock about it all, it doesn’t seem real. How are things with you? I hope they are getting better.

crookshanks10 · May 2019

@ittybittybug-2 @Tulips29 I hope you both get good news today!

@wifeinraleigh28 All is just okay over here. We have our failed transfer appointment this afternoon so I'm interested to see what the RE has to say.

Tulips29 · May 2019

Thanks for the good thoughts, everyone. Blood draw done and now I wait. This is the most nervous I think I've ever been. I feel like I can't even function or breathe today...my stomach is in knots and my hands are shaking. On top of it all, I have a very busy and stressful day at work today and I can't even concentrate on anything but the beta news. I'm a mess.

@ittybittybug-2 thinking of you today as well. Prayers today brings good news!

@crookshanks10 I hope your appointment goes well and you figure out a plan for moving forward!

@mackorori thinking of you as well. It's never easy to go through something like this.

Isthisthereallife · May 2019

@ittybittybug-2 Tulips29 Thinking of you!! Good luck today.

crookshanks10 good luck today also. I'll be interested to hear what they say. Hopefully there is an idea why and a plan forward.

@mackorori & @wifeinraleigh28 hope you two are doing okay. i know it's been rough and I'm thinking of you.

:::TW:::

We had our first ultrasound today at 6w1d. Baby is doing great and measuring ahead at 6w4d 120 bpm. As per usual, I always ride a high for a few days after a good appointment and then start to get nervous again. My clinic graduated me today but itll be a few weeks before I see my OB. They said I can come back anytime for another scan. I'm just so thankful that baby is doing well today. It's the best birthday and mothers day present I could ever ask for!

somewhereinnyc · May 2019

@isthisthereallife yay congrats!!

@Tulips29 @ittybittybug-2 hope you guys are getting some good numbers!

Had my first ultrasound today at 5 weeks 1 day- 2 gestational sacs and 2 yolk sacs! So early but so thankful that both implanted and are where they’re supposed to be right now!

Tulips29 · May 2019

@Isthisthereallife that's great, congratulations! the worrying never stops, i think. but it's nice that your clinic offered a scan. and yay for graduating! although i'm sure going to the clinic for constant monitoring provides a sense of reassurance as well.

@somewhereinnyc wow, both implanted! that's amazing! congrats girl. i know you previously said you thought maybe just 1 implanted, but how are you feeling now knowing that both did? i'm so excited for you!

Isthisthereallife · May 2019

somewhereinnyc yay!! That's great news!!!! When is your next scan? How are you feeling?

@Tulips29 Thank you! I'm so excited.

somewhereinnyc · May 2019

@Tulips29 @Isthisthereallife I’m very excited!! I’m surprised bc my betas aren’t super high and the only symptom I’ve got is being very tired but my doc was pretty confident both would implant if I had 2 transferred. I would love twins if both make it!! My next ultrasound is in like 16 days (which is 7 weeks 3 days). Doc is out of town next week and so am I so that’s fine.

@Isthisthereallife I think you’ve been through this song and dance before right? If this is your first tho, call OB sooner than later. Seems like it takes awhile to get an appt..

wifeinraleigh28 · May 2019

I am nervous right along with you @Tulips29! I hope that you get a very happy call soon!

Keep us posted on what your dr shares with you @crookshanks10. I never went back to see my dr after our beta news. I think I just needed to separate myself from everything for awhile.

I'm sorry @mackorori. It's just cruel. To be so excited and then to have that happen. I hope you're starting to heal. I'm definitely feeling better and just focusing on other things for the time being. I have zero desire to jump back into another cycle right now. I'll have to decide in a couple weeks if we're going to get going again or wait a little longer. I don't know what the right answer is.

Huge congrats @Isthisthereallife and @somewhereinnyc! I'm so glad you ladies are bringing good news to this board right now

Isthisthereallife · May 2019

Thank you @wifeinraleigh28! I'm so glad that you're feeling better and taking the time you need to decide when you're ready to try again. This whole process is just so draining.

@somewhereinnyc not my first rodeo

called my OB and going to see the nurse next week and doctor the following. Is it bad I'm kind of hoping to have weekly scans just to be safe? So exciting that you get to go out of town to get your mind off things! Where are you going?? Hopefully both little beans are getting nice and comfy!

somewhereinnyc · May 2019

@Isthisthereallife nah totally makes sense about weekly scans.. the first trimester anxiety is real. I’m guessing you’re in the no-PGS camp like me? speaking of rodeos, I’m going to Texas to see my husbands brother and his brothers fiancé.. that’s nice youve got an OB! I love my fertility doc and today I called the OB she recommended and the staff was like “oh we will get back to you if we can see you” which is a bit.. perplexing.

ittybittybug-2 · May 2019

@Tulips29 Thinking of you today and hoping you got good news. I’ve been through days like this several times before, and I know how awful it feels to be waiting.

@Isthisthereallife Weekly scans sounds great to me. Or at least frequent. With my son I had them at about 6w, 7w, 8w, 10w and then the NT scan.

AFM, I did get good news. More below.

Beta almost tripled and is now higher than my son’s beta on the same day. This despite yesterday’s HPTs looking unchanged from the day before, and today’s only a little darker so don’t drive yourself nuts analyzing line progression!

So no further draws and she said ultrasound at 7 weeks. I messaged back asking if I could come in at the end of next week just for peace of mind and she said of course and suggested waiting until 6w1d or 6w2d just to make sure we wait long enough to get a heartbeat. Since that would mean Monday instead of Friday, I’m leaning towards scheduling for 5w5d, which is the same day I had my first with my son where we saw the heartbeat but couldn’t hear it. Even with my unsuccessful pregnancy in January, we saw a heartbeat at 5w4d.

Tulips29 · May 2019

@ittybittybug-2 that’s great news! So happy for your update. I would definitely ask for a scan sooner. I don’t think I’d be able to wait that long. Continuing to send positive vibes your way and things continue to go in the right direction here.

@somewhereinnyc remind me what was your starting beta? You say it was low given twins but you did a natural cycle like me so I’m wondering if the low betas are as a result of that. Another nurse told me the same today.

AFM -

got the call that beta almost tripled. It’s still low but at least happy it went up nicely. They’ll check again in 72 hours. I asked if we can do a scan to see what’s happening in there and they said its way too early and we won’t see much yet. Now praying the numbers keep going up!

somewhereinnyc · May 2019

@Tulips29 my betas were 202 then in 2 days 374 and then in 3 days 1163. I guess my betas have been in between Singleton and twins? That is wonderful about you and @ittybittybug-2 having such sharp increases!! I’ve heard that the betas can start out lower for FET’s (?) and yes, I did a natural cycle w 2 expanding blasts (no pgs or assisted hatching).

Tulips29 · May 2019

@somewhereinnyc yea, I was curious because of what the nurses keep telling me about FET's and natural cycles and lower betas. I've just never seen such low betas as mine on this board and especially comparing with my previous experience. Yesterday my nurse told me the lowest first beta she ever saw was 7 and it turned into a viable pregnancy. So I'm holding on to tons of hope. When's your first ultrasound?

wifeinraleigh28 · May 2019

Happy for you both @ittybittybug-2 and @Tulips29!

mackorori · May 2019

@tulips29 @ittybittybug-2 happy news for both of you, congratulations!!

somewhereinnyc · May 2019

@Tulips29 had an ultrasound yesterday, 5 weeks 1 day and next will be 7 weeks 3 days. Are you doing beta #3 or straight to ultrasound at 6 weeks?

Isthisthereallife · May 2019

@tulips29 @ittybittybug-2 congrats!!! Thats wonderful news!! Can't wait for the scans.

@somewhereinnyc that is so bizarre. I don't know if I'd want to work with this OB. My OB is the same one that delivered my daughter a couple years ago. He's 75 and definitely old school, but I like the idea that he's been around the block and seen it all. When it comes to my pregnancy/delivery, the very last thing I want to be is unique lol. No PGS here so I'm just hoping all continues to go well. Now that we've seen the heartbeat I'm feeling much more confident, even though I know that doesn't mean we're in the clear. One can hope, right?

Tulips29 · May 2019

@somewhereinnyc exciting! hope it all went well yesterday for you! I have a third beta on thursday. i don't think my nerves would handle waiting until 6 weeks.

@Isthisthereallife hoping for the same for you! so happy you were able to see the heartbeat

ittybittybug-2 · May 2019

@Tulips29 - Yay! So excited for you. I’ve never heard of low betas being associated with natural cycles and it doesn’t make sense to me that they would be. I’ve done a couple natural cycles and a couple medicated and the only real difference is estrogen support, and the amount of progesterone, because there’s no follicle to release. There’s also the hcg trigger but would be gone by then. I have heard about FETs sometimes being lower because the embryo takes more time to fully expand after thawing, and therefor implants a bit later than it would if fresh. My nurse coordinator mentioned it when I had my low betas last cycle, and I’ve seen articles and information on it online. It’s great they’re doing another beta. My clinic doesn’t do any more, so I feel like I’m in the dark.

I was able to get an ultrasound scheduled for 6w2d, on Monday the 20th. I was really hoping for next Friday, but my actually RE had an opening on Monday and that seemed worth it. They had recommended 6+1 or 6+2 as more likely to have a solid heartbeat. I’ve had several ultrasounds in my 5th week before, so I know what to expect with one and would have been fine, but having her do it is nice.

Tulips29 · May 2019

@ittybittybug-2 thank you for saying all this. it gives me another sense of reassurance. i'm just so paranoid since i can only compare this cycle to 1 previous experience, which was completely different. i kept asking about progesterone support yesterday as well since i'm only on suppositories and sometimes think maybe they don't go in all the way or deep enough to really be effective...or that maybe i should switch to shots because at least then i'll know everything went into where it should. the worrying really never stops. can you ask for another beta just to for reassurance? otherwise i hope the next 2 weeks go by quickly for you!

ittybittybug-2 · May 2019

@Tulips29 I dont think it matters how deep the suppositories go. They are absorbed through the vaginal walls, whether they’re way up by the cervix or halfway down. It’s just more comfortable to have them up high. The only issue I think would be falling out, but I can’t imagine you’ve got it that low! I’m on both PIO and Endometrin, so I get the worst of both worlds - sore hips, leakage and thrice-daily inserts. Some days I have 6 different things to keep track of doing/taking, other days 5: vitamin supplements, estrogen patches every other day, 3 suppositories and the PIO injection! I could ask but I feel weird about it after having already asked for the early ultrasound. But maybe I will anyway.

Tulips29 · May 2019

@ittybittybug-2 funny you mention them falling out. i've had those thoughts too. i always think the further up they go the better. i did endometrin also, which is the same as progesterone suppositories. except my pharmacy gave me the option of tiny generic progesterone pills that cost $10 or the brand name endometrin that costs $50 and are way messies. i chose the small pills and they aren't messy at all, which helps since i also take them 3 times a day. the only thing i liked about endometrin is the applicator. and i hear you about feeling weird. i've told my nurse she probably thinks i'm a psycho with all my questions...she laughed and said they get much worse so i feel better about bugging them all the time

ittybittybug-2 · May 2019

@Tulips29 I did end up asking about additional hcg testing and my nurse said they could absolutely do that and she has patients who do 5-6 tests just for peace of mind. So I have one scheduled for Friday.

Tulips29 · May 2019

@ittybittybug-2 good for you! So glad you’ll get another test soon!

Isthisthereallife · May 2019

Hi ladies, Need your advice on a couple things. I have to travel for work next week and nervous about it. 1. I know it is, but can someone please reassure me it's safe to travel in your first trimester? 2. I have to give myself the PIO 3 times by myself. I've never done it and I'm a nervous wreck. Has anyone administered themselves? Is it awful?

somewhereinnyc · May 2019

@Isthisthereallife hey! I’ll be traveling next week. My doc said totally fine. My sister in law traveled in her first trimester and also totally fine. Re: shots, I’ve never given myself progesterone shots. Why don’t you try giving yourself the shots before you leave so you get used to it? You could also see if your doc will let you switch to suppositories at this point..

ittybittybug-2 · May 2019

@Isthisthereallife Its totally safe to travel in your first trimester and I’ve done over 200 PIO/EIO injections myself. I’d far rather do them myself than have a lay person jabbing me in the butt with a needle. Once you do your own, you may never want to go back! 😜 You just have to psyche yourself out for the first poke.

@Tulips29 Thinking you had another beta today? Hoping for good news!!

ellis1983 · May 2019

Hi Ladies! congrats to everyone with little peanuts snuggling in! Thoughts to everyone still trying, stay positive!

Had 2nd u/s today, twins are growing equally both at 8w2d with hb at 180 and 171. We saw the heartbeats again and the spinal cords this time. We officially are released from fertility and have next appt with OB May 29th which will be 11 weeks. Hoping and praying things continue like this!

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