August 2019 IVF

marakeshgirl · August 2019

I didn't see an IVF board for August so I figured I would start one.

My RE has me on a Mini-IVF protocol that seems very different from everyone else on these boards. I will be 47 on Monday so Mini-IVF seems to be an age related regimen.

Last week I had an U/S that should 2 follicles. After reading "it all starts with the egg" I have started taking Vitamin C, D. E, Folic Acid, Melatonin, CoQ10, plus 2 other supplements. Scheduling a nutritionist session to see if I can make some dietary changes that might be beneficial.

Also trying to increase my workout regimen by bicycle commuting to work 2x per week.

hanshotfirst77 · August 2019

Hi @marakeshgirl thanks for starting this. I am starting my 1st IVF cycle this week. I'm doing Antagonist Protocol, my last bcp is tomorrow, my meds are due to arrive Wed, baseline will be on Fri, and start Stims on Saturday!

marakeshgirl · August 2019

Welcome @hanshotfirst77 ! I'm not familiar with the Antagonist Protocol what's that?

Had my blood-work and U/S and I have 23mm follicle (my largest so far). ER is scheduled for Aug 14 in the am.

Wishing you good luck as you start your round!

hanshotfirst77 · August 2019

Good luck to you too! @marakeshgirl Look's like I'm about 2 weeks behind you. Saturday I will start Gonal F and Menopur, and then I think sometime next week I add in Ganarelix. My ER is estimated to be around 8/26.

Are you planning on a fresh transfer?

marakeshgirl · August 2019

@hanshotfirst77 No, they only do frozen transfers at my clinic.

ER went as expected - 1 25mm follicle.

I notice that they changed my normal protocol (usually first 2 weeks bcp daily followed my alternating pill for 1 week followed by no pills, followed by Lupron shot 48 hours before ER). They changed it to this week alternating bcp - curious to see what changes as a result.

hanshotfirst77 · August 2019

@marakeshgirl oh Fx for you! Are you doing testing too?

Im doing frozen too. Just got my meds delivered today. Starting to feel real.

31magnolia · August 2019

Hi All - Guess I'll join this post. I officially started the process today. Had to redo my baseline labs since it's been a year when I had them done. AMH is still low. It was .24 and now it's .26. My FSH jumped though and that has me a little worried. It was 5.19 and now it's 9.99.

That has me a worried.
I'm 43, going on 44. Anyhoo, I will have my sono/saline test on Tuesday. They are not putting me on BCP. I'm guessing it's because of the already low AMH.
Good luck to everyone.

hanshotfirst77 · August 2019

@31magnolia Welcome! Good luck on your Saline Sono next week! Do you know what Protocol your doing?

31magnolia · August 2019

@hanshotfirst77 - Thanks. I have no idea what protocol I'm doing. My RE didn't tell me. As of right now, I'm scheduled for the sono next week. The week after next I start estrace. And then starting that September 2nd I will start my stims: 300 IU Follistim in AM, 150 Menopur in PM. Once I have a follicle that reaches 12.5 I have to start cetrotide or Granilrex (sp?). At some point I also do antibiotics but I don't remember when. I have med review next week (thank goodness).
I also decided to get my meds at Walgreens and not mail order. Since a couple of places told me that I couldn't return what I didn't use. I am also doing PGT, so it will be a FET. My clinic only does frozen.
What presciption dosages do they have you on?

hanshotfirst77 · August 2019

@31magnolia that sounds really similar to mine. I start my stims tomorrow. 225iu Gonal F and 75IU Menopur and then sometime next week add in Ganirelix. I think the antibiotics come in after the retrieval. I’m also doing PGS so I’ll be doing a FET too. I got my meds through CVS specialty pharmacy.

31magnolia · August 2019

@hanshotfirst77 - yes, our protocols do sound very similar. I'm not loving the fact that my doctor has me on such high dosages. From my past IUI experiences, she tends to lower them half way through, because my follicles respond so fast. I guess we'll see how this goes. I'm extremely nervous and trying to be hopeful.
It looks like I'm a couple of weeks behind you.

hanshotfirst77 · August 2019

I had my first monitoring appt today. So far so good according to the RE. Continue meds as normal and come back Thursday for another check.

R Ovary 12 follicles <10 and 3 b/t 11-13mm

L Ovary 7<10 and 2 b/t 11-13 mm

ruby696 · August 2019

Hey everyone, I hope it's okay if I jump in here. I'm doing a fresh 3-day transfer this cycle. I had an US today which showed five follies between 20-23mm, so I trigger tonight and ER is Thursday. I'm a little nervous about egg quality since I'm triggering after only 9 days of stims and I have so few follies, but I'm trying to be optimistic.

hanshotfirst77 · August 2019

@ruby696 So glad to see you here! I think you might be the first of us to have ER and transfer. As you know I have my FX for you so hard!🤞🏻❤️

ruby696 · August 2019

@hanshotfirst77 Well I triggered tonight, so I feel like this is really happening. Eeek! FX for a smooth retrieval and a couple of good eggs!

31magnolia · August 2019

@hanshotfirst77 - those are really good numbers. Are you starting the cetrotide/ganrilex for the ones that are over 12mm?

@ruby696 - Welcome! Good luck! Do you mind me asking what your med protocol was?

AFM: I did the saline test yesterday and the ultrasound. And got some not so great news. I went from 7 follicles (at the beginning of the year) to 1.

So of course I broke down at the doctor's office. Doctor offered mini stim, but after much soul searching we've decided to go through the traditional IVF process and if it doesn't work, then we'll look at mini stim.

ruby696 · August 2019

@31magnolia I was on a microdose of Lupron for ten days, plus three days of 75 Menopur twice a day and eight days of 175 iu of Follistim twice a day. I triggered last night and ER is tomorrow. My follies got pretty big pretty fast, so I'm a little nervous about egg quality. Also, if it matters, I'm 38 and have DOR, so I guess five mature follies is okay? That's what I'm telling myself anyway.

Have you considered a fresh transfer since you don't have many follies? My RE is insisting on one because I don't have eggs to spare and we'd lose some if we let them go for five days. I have mixed feelings about that, since it means I can't do PGS testing and I have a history of RPL.

hanshotfirst77 · August 2019

@31magnolia I’m sorry for the disappointing news at your saline sono. But fx for your cycle! I’ve also heard fresh transfers recommended in similar situations.

Tonight I started Ganirelix. My nurse called and my estrogen was over 400. And she also had me double my Menopur dose starting tonight.

But im kinda afraid I screwed something up. When mixing my dose tonight I forgot to expel the excess air and started injecting it then realized I forgot and pulled it out and the syringe started leaking and I didn’t know if I should expel the air and inject what’s left or if I needed to start over. No way of knowing how much of which med I got or didn’t get. But on call nurse said to just inject the rest and not to double dose. So here I am freaking out I majorly screwed something up. Even though the nurse didn’t seem concerned. I go back tomorrow for a follie check so hopefully this didn’t cause too much damage to my cycle.

@ruby696 I can’t believe your ER is tomorrow!!! Ahhh so excited for you. Fx ❤️

ruby696 · August 2019

@hanshotfirst77 I'm so nervous about timing! I'll be relieved when it's over and they tell me it went well (ie., I didn't ovulate early).

Re: your injection, I'm sure you're fine. My instructions just say I'll have more than 1cc because of the addition of the meds. Hopefully all you lost was some sodium chloride. Try not to worry too much. ❤

ETA: words

hanshotfirst77 · August 2019

@ruby696 I am hoping so hard that your timing is perfect and your ER goes smoothly!

and thank you for the reassurance. RE confirmed this morning he doesn't think I did anything too detrimental to anything. Just said to try not to let it happen again. And tonight I will be way more careful.

As for my follies they are still chugging along. RE thinks I need about 2-3 more days of stims and estimates the ER for either Monday or Tuesday.

R Ovary 8>10, 7 b/t 11-13mm, 1 15mm

L Ovary 7<10, 2 b/t 11-13 mm, 1 15mm, 1 b/t 16-17 mm

ruby696 · August 2019

@hanshotfirst77 Eeek! I'm so excited for you - you're so close!

31magnolia · August 2019

Thanks ladies for the words of encouragement. My doctor didn’t mention a fresh transfer so I’ll have to ask the nurse when I go in tomorrow. I was so distraught that she just wanted us to think things over. We have and we decided to go with the conventional IVF, since they are offering a special on it. If it doesn’t work we will look at the mini.

@ruby696 I would say those are good numbers considering you have DOR. I keep reading it’s quality and not quantity. FX for you! Will your doctor freeze any of your embryos that you have left over? How did you ER go?

@hanshotfirst77 I was also going to say I’m sure you’re fine on the med but I see that you RE also confirmed it. So that’s good!

ruby696 · August 2019

@31magnolia ER was NBD at all. I've been a little sore this afternoon, but nothing some Tylenol and lounging around hasn't taken care of. If all three fertilize, we will likely freeze one. I think my RE will probably want to transfer two.

Good luck at your appointment tomorrow!!

hanshotfirst77 · August 2019

@31magnolia how was your appt?

AFM I had my ER today. Got 12 eggs. It wasn’t too bad. I’m a little sore now but it’s manageable. Now just trying to not go crazy waiting to hear how many fertilized and then how many continue to grow and then how many PGS normals...

31magnolia · August 2019

Hi Ladies,
i took a little mental break (a little calm before the crazy). My SO and I had a trip planned to Mexico, so we’ve been enjoying that. Had to find a place that could do my progesterone level check, so I could start estrogen pills. That was an experience! Anyway, I found a place and I got the results the same day. I’m clear to start. Yay!!
Also, After doing a little more research I decided to hold off on asking about a fresh transfer. Because of my age everything is saying frozen is better and it will give my body time to recover from the stims. So we’ll see.

@ruby696 how is it going? Any update?

@hanshotfirst77 12 eggs are great!! I can imagine the wait being hard! Please keep us updated if you can.

FX for both of you!

hanshotfirst77 · August 2019

@31magnolia I'm glad you are having a good time on vacation and yay for being clear to start!

I got my fertilization report yesterday. Out of the 12 retrieved only 6 were mature, but all 6 fertilized. Next update will be tomorrow! Hoping and praying they make it!

31magnolia · August 2019

@hanshotfirst77 that’s wonderful news!

ruby696 · August 2019

@31magnolia Not much going on here. All three eggs fertilized and we transferred them all. Now I'm just waiting until next week, when I'll have betas. I've been a little crampy yesterday and today, so hoping that's a good sign.

@hanshotfirst77 I can't wait to hear tomorrow's update!!

marakeshgirl · August 2019

@hanshotfirst77 That's great that 6 eggs fertilized. Hoping for a successful implantation for you. AFM: The blastocyst did not survive Day 7. This stuff is far from easy emotionally.

marakeshgirl · August 2019

@ruby696 - Wishing you a successful implantation!

31magnolia · September 2019

@marakeshgirl (hugs) it’s definitely not easy. The entire process (even at consultation) is an emotional process. Do you think you’ll take a break and try again?

hanshotfirst77 · September 2019

@marakeshgirl I’m so sorry. Sending you big hugs!

@ruby696 FX so hard for your betas!

AFM my 3 day report Friday showed all 6 still growing. Just over here hoping and praying they make it to blast. Next update won’t be until Tuesday for 7 day report.

ruby696 · September 2019

@hanshotfirst77 That's great news - hoping so hard all six make it to blast!! Cant wait to hear your update tomorrow!

31magnolia · September 2019

@hanshotfirst77 yay!!!

hanshotfirst77 · September 2019

My update is in, 4 of my 6 embryos made it to blast. (3) 5 day blasts and (1) 6 day blast. Biopsied and frozen!

31magnolia · September 2019

@hanshotfirst77 woohoo!!!! That's great news! How long do you have to wait for PGS?

31magnolia · September 2019

@ruby696 I meant to ask you why did you all decide to transfer them all and not freeze one as planned?

hanshotfirst77 · September 2019

@31magnolia My RE said it will be about 2 weeks

ruby696 · September 2019

@31magnolia Because mine were only two day embryos and given my age (38 with 45 year old ovaries) and *TW* my loss history *end TW* my RE felt like I had a better chance of one of them making it if they were in the uterus asap. We didn't do PGS testing because we didn't get enough to risk losing any. And it didn't make sense to pay for storage for one when, given my history, it is extraordinarily unlikely all three would develop.

@hanshotfirst77 I know I already said this, but I'm so excited for you!

ETA: tag

31magnolia · September 2019

@ruby696 - ok. That makes sense. Sending tons of good vibes your way!

I’m still waiting for AF to start. She never comes when you want her to.

31magnolia · September 2019

Hey everyone. I hope you all are patiently making it through your wait periods.

I have to vent a little. So I’ve been waiting for AF to start. It was a few days later than normal this month and ended up starting on Saturday morning. I tried to get in contact with the nurse triage all day Saturday at the weekend location and was stressing that I wouldn’t get my Pre-stim ultrasound done in time (by day 2). I left four messages. Someone finally called me this morning and told me that they don’t do ultrasounds on the weekends. I wish I had known that before. I wouldn’t have stressed all day and all night. Anyway, so now I go in tomorrow (Monday). If all is clear I’ll start the stims tomorrow evening. So I will be starting on cycle day 3 and not cycle day 2. I guess that’s ok and doesn’t change anything.

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