November 2019 IVF

31magnolia · November 2019

@ladyp0tter - good luck tomorrow! Let us know how everything goes.

@jsull1020 - how are you doing? Did you have another monitoring appt.?

AFM, I had my baseline appt today and FINALLY got the OK just now to move forward. There was a mix-up and so the nurse didn't call. I had to have the doctor paged to let me know if it was OK. She's good about calling right back after hours, so all is good!
Baseline appointment showed:
8 follicles (6 left, 2 right) all below 10mm (this is interesting because last IVF the left said had nothing).
Progesterone was .256
E2 was 76.70
I start the letrozole tonight and my first dose of omnitrope. They had my first monitoring appt on CD9. I had them move it up to CD8, one day after my first injection. I was worried the CD9 would be too late.

late_bloomer · November 2019

@ladyp0tter good luck with the ER tomorrow!

ladyp0tter · November 2019

Hi everyone! Thanks for the well wishes.

@31magnolia! YAY! You are finally getting going!! your numbers sound great.

AFM: ER went well, ended up with 9 eggs. Got the call around 1pm today that only 6 fertilized. bummer. Well, I was hoping and praying for quality over quantity so all I can do is keep up the good thoughts and see what happens on Monday. They will call me then to tell me how they are looking and call me Tuesday to tell me what time to be there on Wednesday for the Fresh Transfer. I am praying that I have at least 3-4 left (2 to transfer Wednesday and 2 more to test to be frozen).

I am off to pick up my endometrium (progesterone) vaginal inserts and will start the prednisone on Tuesday. I am guessing I will get that prescription Monday.

Good luck ladies!! Keep me in your prayers for this week!!

31magnolia · November 2019

@ladyp0tter - 6 is a great number considering the lower dose you were on. Sending positive thoughts that they all continue to grow and be the best quality!
what does the prednisone do?

AFM, on day 4 of stims. So still just the letrozole and the every other day of omnitrope. I start the 225iu follistim tomorrow.

jsull1020 · November 2019

@ladyp0tter 6 is great! It only takes one!!

I did my trigger on Saturday night and am having my retrieval today at 10:30! Feeling very nervous but excited to move to the next step. And to not feel so bloated.

My progesterone was 1.1 so I should be good for a fresh transfer, right?

timone47 · November 2019

Hi everyone. I’m new here. Hoping it’s okay to join your community for support. 2 years ttc after many failed attempts — had my transfer last week on Wednesday. Pregnancy test is on Monday. I won’t test early because I have had 2 chemicals so I want to know HCG numbers. Sending you all lots of baby dust.

ladyp0tter · November 2019

@31magnolia - Thanks! Prednisone is a steroid that helps the anti killer cells from attacking the embryo. It's not 100% necessary but for some people it makes a difference. I was never tested for NK Killer cells, but it doesn't hurt to try it. I will also be taking Pepcid and Claritin as the anti-inflammatory way to avoid anything attacking the embryo!

@jsull1020 - Thanks! Good luck with your retrieval!! Praying for great numbers for you! Yes, 1.1 is a good number. They typically look for anything less than 1.5. Last time mine was 1.63 so they were considering that borderline but he said he likely would have let me if I had wanted to.

@timeone47 - Good luck and praying for a good HCG on Monday!!

AFM: Transfer is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday so long as I have at least 1-2 still growing by then. I am anxiously awaiting the call today to find out!!

31magnolia · November 2019

@jsull1020 - Good luck on your ER!

@timone47 - Welcome and good luck on your test today!!

@ladyp0tter - I'll need to take a look into that protocol when it's my transfer time. I'm also thinking I'm going to do the ERA test, but we'll see.

ladyp0tter · November 2019

@magnolia31 - we decided we may do the ERA if the fresh doesn't work (if I have any embabies left). At this point, I am hoping for 3-4 to make it to day 5 then we can transfer 2 and test/freeze 2...

late_bloomer · November 2019

I finally heard from the RE and, unfortunately, none of the 3 blastocysts were normal. I asked if we could try them anyway but my RE said there were multiple abnormalities that were incompatible with life and he would be uncomfortable trying it.

Now I have to decide if I’m going for a 4th cycle or if I’m just going to try my luck with my 1 normal embryo. If I was younger, I would definitely just try the one normal and do more IVF cycles later, if necessary. At 44, my clinic may not let me try again later. I know some people my age use donor eggs but I don’t want to do that (and my RE says I respond well to the meds).

Has anybody done back-to-back IVF cycles? I’ve always taken a break between cycles. I’m wondering if there are any issues with quality or response if you do 2 consecutive IVF cycles.

@ladyp0tter good luck with your transfer on Wednesday!

@jsull1020 I hope the ER went well.

@timone47 Fingers crossed for your test!

@31magnolia I hope your follicle count is getting even better.

31magnolia · November 2019

@late_bloomer - I’m so sorry. I would want to take a break too, for mental/ emotional reasons, but I hear that it’s best to do back to back. Unfortunately I don’t remember why. One of the girls in the low AMH post did. Ack to back cycles and her eggs got better each time.

If you do proceed with just the one embryo, Have you already done an ERA test to see when is the best time to implant?

ladyp0tter · November 2019

@late_bloomer - I am soo sorry. I know that feeling all to well. At 44, my last batch of 7 tested was all abnormal as well. Only 2 had only 1 abnormality, so my doctor let me try them, but nonetheless, it didn't work. This time we changed my protocol to hope for quality (I did so much research about overcooking, LH being too high causing quality problems etc.). My doctor worked with me on this one, and although I only got 9 eggs this time (6 fertilized), I am hoping they are much higher quality. I don't expect more than 1 and if I am lucky 2 normal, but that would be a blessing!!

I would do the back to back retrievals just because we aren't getting any younger and your one normal isn't going anywhere right now!! My biggest issue was the cost of the meds all over again...sigh....but it is what it is.

Good luck in your decision.

late_bloomer · November 2019

@31magnolia and @ladyp0tter Thanks for the kind words and advice. My DH and I had previously decided that we would only do 3 rounds but this morning we decided to try 1 more time. Luckily, my employer covers some IVF procedures and 80% of the drugs, so we don’t have to pay the full price. There is a lifetime maximum amount and we are getting close to that with this 4th round, so fingers crossed that 4 is the magic number!

ladyp0tter · November 2019

I would so do another round if my company covered it at all (any part)!!!

31magnolia · November 2019

@late_bloomer - that's wonderful that your employer covers most of the cost. I wish mine did!

AFM, I may be out before I really even started. Had my monitory appointment today, and I already have a follicle at 22mm. I 've only take one 225iu of follistim so far! Now I'm upset that I didn't have them move the monitoring appointment to an even earlier date (today is CD8) and that I didn't get the doctor to lower the dose of the meds to 150iu follistim. I'm waiting on the nurse to tell me my lab results, rest of the follicle sizes and next steps. Just a little disappointed right now.

jsull1020 · November 2019

@late_bloomer I am so sorry to hear about your news. I think 4 IS the magic number! That is great news that your employer covers some of the cost.

My retrieval yesterday went well. We got 12 eggs! I was so uncomfortable going in, so after I woke up I wasn't surprised to still be in pain. Today is better, but still pretty uncomfortable. That's normal though from what I hear. Now just waiting on the call to see how many fertilize. The waiting game that is IVF. SIGH!

ladyp0tter · November 2019

@31magnolia - Noooooo!! that is scary! I hope that you have enough mature ones that you can trigger and get enough mature eggs. I had a 23 size my last appointment. So you could still go a day or so if you trigger tonight, but obviously would only be worth it if you had several follicles more than 15-16!! I am praying for you!!

@jsull1020 - 12!! Great news! I hear ya...I am STILL uncomfortable several days later but now it's more due to constipation from the progesterone and anesthesia...

AFM - My transfer is at 7AM tomorrow!! I am super excited. The call late afternoon yesterday said that all 6 were still growing. I should find out more this afternoon how many look good (or maybe not until tomorrow morning when I guess he will pick which one/ones to use).

Wish me luck!!!

jsull1020 · November 2019

@ladyp0tter ahhhh good luck! That is great news!!!! Hoping for a sticky baby!

We got 6 eggs fertilized. They didn't even call. They told me via portal. Could more fertilize or is that it? I feel like it's easier to ask you guys questions than my office. My transfer is set for Saturday at 9:30!

ladyp0tter · November 2019

@jsull1020 - THANKS!! As for fertilized, likely that is it. I have not heard of a change in fertilized after day 1. Sucks they didn't call you. Even when the nurse calls me I feel like they give wishy washy answers. Like when they called me late last night to tell me my 6 were still growing, I asked if any looked better than the others/how far along they were in comparison to each other and no answer.

Last time around day 3, they told me that 15 were growing and that 10 of them looked promising and were at the stage they should be. Then on day 5, none of mine were ready and they took them to day 6 where I ended up with 7.

I am hoping this time, I can use 2 and still have 2, but it's faith holding that together!!

jsull1020 · November 2019

@ladyp0tter Oh wow, so you had a lot of fertilized ones!!!! Is it normal for them to schedule the transfer right away? How do they know I'll even have any by Saturday? This is all new to me. My friend actually did IVF two weeks before I did with the same doctor coincidentally and she had the same thing happen to her. Not much feedback. She chalked it up to her only doing IVF because her husband had a vasectomy years ago and she was healthy. Had five embryos, had transfer scheduled and didn't hear a thing about it. Had her transfer, doc said they all look perfect and that was that. Is that the norm or is it because there weren't any underlining issues because I am "healthy" as well for fertility stuff.

31magnolia · November 2019

Well, I triggered tonight and my ER is scheduled for Friday morning. Just hoping for at least the one and that it’s great quality. The smaller one did jump to 15, so that’s some good news.

31magnolia · November 2019

@ladyp0tter - so your clinic doesn't tell what the cell count is or the stage of growth at all? Mine will say it's 2,4,6,8 cells or moroula. They always let you know. It's crazy how things differ so much from clinic to clinic. How are things going? Are you still good to transfer two tomorrow?

ladythor31 · November 2019

Hello everyone! I had started this whole process back in August, but didn't have my retrieval until 10/23. 16 eggs retrieved, 14 were mature, 13 fertilized, but only 3 ended up being recommended for transfer after PGS. My RE also found some polyps in my uterus, so I am having surgery for that on 11/26. then I start the Estrace a few days after that. scheduled to have our transfer on 12/19.

how is everyone else's cycles going? Anyone else have polyps removed and success with a frozen transfer? I see so many more people on this discussion than the October one I was on before.

Good luck to everyone!! :-D

ladyp0tter · November 2019

Good afternoon everyone! I am resting at home after a transfer yesterday of 2 - 5 day blasts (good and fair quality). They don't give me the "number" qualities at this clinic. They told me one more was at the morula stage yesterday morning and 2 others were a little behind that one, so hopefully, I will have at least 1-2 more that make it today to test/freeze on day 6.

@jsull1020 - I think every RE is different in how they handle the schedules. I knew Friday at retrieval that my transfer was scheduled for Wednesday and that depending on the growth of them (if I had any by day 3-4) then we would still be good to go. I had my tubes tied after my last kids with my ex-husband, but unfortunately, my bigger issue now is age which affects my egg quality. Even if my tubes were NOT tied, I would likely have a hard time getting pregnant (or likely would lose more pregnancies). It's so sad too because I used to say I was fertile myrtle back in the day since I got pregnant like 7 times!! Only two successful pregnancies though.

@31magnolia - YAY for retrieval!! I am praying they find a couple of hidden GOLDEN eggs for you!!

Here are my embabies!! So hard to compare them to pics I see online. I know what to look for, but mine always look so different. The one on the left is apparently the better-graded one as he said the one on the right, just hadn't fully expanded yet and that had we not done the 5 day transfer, he would have kept them until day 6 so I would have not yet again had ANY 5 day blasts ready...sigh....

ladythor31 · November 2019

@ladyp0tter baby dust to you! that is such great news. :-D

31magnolia · November 2019

@ladythor31 - Welcome! Wishing you much success on the removal of the polyps and a speedy recovery. I've never had any so I can't offer any advice in that area. But thanks for the well wishes. I'm hoping the same for you. That's wonderful that you were able to get 3 PGS normal embryos. What was your IVF protocol?

@ladyp0tter - Thanks! I'm keeping toes and fingers crossed, but I'm also ready to do another cycle just in case. Soooo I REALLY had my days mixed up. For some reason I was thinking you transferred on Friday, but I guess I was thinking of your ER, which was last Friday. Oops. Glad everything went smoothly. That's cool that your clinic gives you pictures. Mine doesn't. The embaby on the left looks the the pics I see on google. Lol. Sending you positive vibes! Are you going to do a HPT or wait for the beta?

ladyp0tter · November 2019

@31magnolia - I am TRYING to hold out until at LEAST Thanksgiving day which would be 8dp5dt. If it worked, it should be clearly positive!! I have family coming for Thanksgiving, so just don't want to be bummed out if I don't see a positive before then. I have absolutely NO willpower though, so I will likely break down by day 6...

@ladythor31 - THANKS!! Good luck in your cyle!! So excited for your 3 Normals! I would LOVE to be able to have 1 at this point! lol...

Also, got the call about 20 minutes ago that 1 more made it to Test/Freeze on day 6 so, off for testing he/she goes. Praying for at least 1 normal in one of my 3 (of the 2 onboard or the 1 being tested today).

ladythor31 · November 2019

@31magnolia thank you for the good wishes! I was 10 days of stims, 150 Gonal F, lowest dose of menopur-I would have to check the number to be sure, since I have pushed that trauma from my mind at this point. the menopur stung! and it left bruises all over my tummy. I start the estrace on 11/30. so I guess in all reality I should be in the December forum. I get my new meds calendar on Monday the 25th to see when I start the Endometrin and progesterone.

@ladyp0tter I am the same as you, I have no patience and self control. come Christmas morning I am going to be wanting to take a test, but that may be too soon after the transfer on the 19th. I am wishing you the best for your frozen embaby to be normal and at least one of the ones going right now to be normal. :-D

31magnolia · November 2019

@ladythor31 - haha about menopur. I don't remember it being that bad, but maybe I've blocked it out.

@ladyp0tter - LOL. I hear you on the willpower. Last time I made it till the day before my beta, so I was proud of myself!

AFM, I had my retrieval today. I had two mature follicles and they BOTH actually had an egg, so I'm really happy! That's one more than last time! Now I have to wait for the daily updates.

ladyp0tter · November 2019

@31magnolia - WOOHOO!! 2 Golden Eggs!! All it takes is one...I keep repeating to myself daily!! Can't wait to hear updates.

@ladythor31 - HAHA! It will be a FABULOUS Christmas present!!! I remember the menopur stung for me but not everytime...seems to have depended where I put it. Some times more than others. I did get the nasty bruises though.

AFM...feeling good. went back to work today and been drinking water and had to do my progesterone at lunch...lol...what a MESS!! I hate this stuff!

31magnolia · November 2019

@ladyp0tter - ugh! Progesterone at lunch! I did that once and then said never again. I now time it before and after work. Lol.

AFM - both eggs fertilized!

ladyp0tter · November 2019

@31magnolia!! SO GREAT to hear about your eggs! I am hoping your day 3 update was as good. I am now on day 5p5dt. I am actually doing pretty good about not wanting to test. I am treasuring every moment of being PUPO!! I will likely try to hold out until Thursday night or Friday morning. I go Wednesday for my first blood draw (but just for Estrogen and Progesterone - not HCG). I am hoping I can drop the progesterone from 3 a day to 2.

I feel pretty good. sore nips (but likely due to progesterone) and some uneasy feeling in my tummy, but likely nerves. I know it's really too early to "feel" anything....but of course any symptom I overanalyze. LOL!! Going to be a fun couple of days before Thanksgiving!!

31magnolia · November 2019

Thanks @ladyp0tter. The clinic called me today and said that I had one continue to grow. It’s now an 8 cell. The other one from yesterday stopped at a 2 cell. So now just praying that this one makes it to blast. They won’t call tomorrow for an update but will call Wednesday.

I definitely believe in PUPO! And it’s definitely hard not over analyze symptoms. But hopefully the holidays will keep you occupied.

How many embryos were you able to freeze?

ladyp0tter · November 2019

@31magnolia - I'll be praying for your GOLDEN egg to make it!! I think I read that you were going to do one more ER after this cycle??

AFM: only 1 more made it to freeze. I hope to hear a "normal" PGS result in 7-10 more days.

ladythor31 · November 2019

@31magnolia I think the Menopur stung because my husband may have injected it too quickly, and because of the location. the Gonal F and everything else was totally fine. That's great news about retrieval!! and it only takes the one egg. I am hoping you get some amazing news on Wednesday! :-D

@ladyp0tter progesterone at lunch?! oh no! are you doing endometrin as well? or doing shots twice a day? my RE is making me do the endometrin and the shots, but I don't start the shots until 12/14. How awful is the progesterone? that is what I am most nervous about. and it's so easy to analyze every feeling and to be hyper aware about something so important.

It's so tough to wait!! I wish the best for you both. it's the time of year for amazing things to happen.

ladyp0tter · November 2019

@ladythor31 - I am doing the endometrium suppositories vaginally 3 times a day. I have to wear two pantyliners to keep it from ruining my pants!!! Sometimes it seems to be fine, then other times, I can feel it...gross. I am only doing the suppositories. No shots. I really would like to switch to either less tablets a day or use the oral progesterone. *Trigger Warning* When I had my previous kids (not during IVF), the oral worked just fine for me.

ladyp0tter · November 2019

My results from my blood draw (not HCG) came back and my progesterone was lower than they wanted (15) so they added an oral along with my 3x a day suppositories. My estrogen seemed fine. However, that put me in a panic and of course, caused me to test this morning at 7dp5dt. BFN from what I can tell. My embabies were not hatching yet and were still expanding, so all I can hope is that they are just a day or two behind other peoples who get positives at 5-6 days past their transfers. This is exactly why I said I wanted to wait...now I am torturing myself. grrrrr.....

31magnolia · November 2019

@ladyp0tter - It's still early! I know it's hard but try and hold out at least until after Sunday and stay positive! When is your beta again? FX for you!

AFM, I got the call this morning and the one embryo is still growing slowly. Today is day 5, but it's at the morula stage. So now I'm waiting for a call on Thanksgiving.

ladyp0tter · November 2019

@31magnolia - yes, I am trying. Monday is my Beta so likely will test Friday morning...trying hard to hold out until then. My 1 that was frozen on day 6 was still a morula on day 5 too. Hopefully, you get some great news tomorrow! One of the ones that was transferred was barely out of the morula stage into blast, so I am hoping that is why I am getting no results yet. I have seen others not get + results until 8-10dpt so I am still hopeful!!

Are you doing one more ER after this before transferring?

31magnolia · November 2019

@ladyp0tter -yes, I am going to do one more ER. I don't want to put all the pressure of the world on this one embryo. I think next time, if I have more than 1 embryo I will fresh transfer at day 3 and either let the other one go to blast or freeze it at day 3.
Hopefully, the holiday tomorrow will help you in your hold out!

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