Starting IVF soon (children mentioned)

greateggspectations · April 2020

Hello fellow Bumpies! After 4 years of time off my DH and I have decided to start the TTC journey again. (we have 3 children) I am AMA and have been told by the RE to just jump straight to IVF. We've undergone a bazillion blood tests and are just waiting for my period to start so we can start BCP/ASA/prenatals and then monitoring. If everything goes as planned (ha!) then we should do retrieval mid-May. We're both really nervous but excited to give this one last go. We will be doing ICSI/hatching/and PGS as well as there is a high level of embryo defects at my age. I'm glad to be part of fellow journey(wo)men as I walk this path.

greateggspectations · April 2020

Well I am not exactly the message board magnet, eh? lol So I'll just update my own thread. I had my CD3 blood work done yesterday before going to work. They wanted me fasting but after seeing what they were testing for, I have no idea why I was fasting. I start BCP next week and then at the end of the month I begin injections. We're aiming for mid May retrieval.

vetgirl2011 · April 2020

I’m very excited for you! I think the traffic on this message board has been really slow due to cancellations caused by Covid-19. Hopefully more people will be posting in a month or two. Good luck this month. I look forward to seeing your updates!

FuzzyDust · April 2020

Good luck! Most people are out due to Covid19.
my clinic actually started to reach out to some patients who’re over 35 (with no preexisting conditions that are more vulnerable to Covid) to do IVF. So looks like I’m starting stims this weekend 😬

greateggspectations · April 2020

Thank you for the responses!

Today I start my Gonal-F and micro Hcg injections. I watched a few videos after my medication education and think I can do this without a hitch. I had my vaginal US and the doc said "You have bigger ovaries than I estimated." He said this is a good thing since it indicate more egg reserve than he thought. My AMH is 2.06. I did wake to some spotting and cramping this morning but my guess is my body is trying to have a period since I stopped BCP on Sunday,

laurad75 · April 2020

Hi @greateggspectations! Yes, it sounds like you are having a withdrawal bleed. Good luck with the meds today. It is a little intimidating at first but you will get the hang of it.

I started a May FET thread which I wish I could edit to read May IVF or all cycles but join us over there. Like the others said, its quiet because so many people are on the bench but a few of us are cycling.

FuzzyDust · May 2020

Good luck, @greateggspectations ! Stims are intimidating at first, but once you do a few days, it'll be no problem at all! You AMH number sounds pretty good, hoping for lots of good eggs!

I'm on my last days of stims, going to trigger tomorrow and retrieval on Sunday. Excited to see other people getting to their cycles too

FuzzyDust · May 2020

@greateggspectations, how did your first day of injections go?

greateggspectations · May 2020

Thanks for checking on me, Fuzzy!

I made my husband give the first set and then last night I gave them to myself. All in all it wasn't bad. The micro HcG burns a little and I don't really feel the Gonal F. Onward and upward!

FuzzyDust · May 2020

Glad to hear it’s going well! I usually do my own belly ones and my husband does the intermascular (the butt ones) for me 😄
when is your next check up?
I did the trigger shot yesterday, and on to retrieval tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed for everything going well and plenty of mature eggs 🤞🏼 We’re also going ICSI, freeze all, and PGS.

greateggspectations · May 2020

Sounds like you're progressing like a champ, Fuzzy! I will say a prayer fro you for your retrieval. I have two monitoring check ups on the 5th and 7th and the doc will determine trigger shot and retrieval from those results.

We'll also be doing assisted hatching, ICSI, frozen with PGS. Do you know what the usual turnaround is for PGS results to transfer?

FuzzyDust · May 2020

Just got back from the retrieval - they got 24 eggs! I’m really happy about this

will get a call tomorrow about how many were mature and fertilized 🤞🏼

I’m curious to hear about your follicles progress on the 5th!

At my last IVF, PGS results took about 6 weeks. This time (difference clinic and the test lab) it sounds like only 2 weeks. I think in general they want you to take one cycle break between IVF and the frozen transfer, so it can be a quite quick turn around.

Are you planning to start the transfer process as soon as possible? We’ll be waiting till September, since my husband is a teacher and we want to time the baby with his summer break. Worked great last time - I guess IVF does have some benefits in this retrospect 😅

greateggspectations · May 2020

Thank you for the information, Fuzzy, I appreciate it!

24 eggs!!! you're amazing!

We'll be transferring ASAP (once the PGS results are back) as my age is working against me. I just turned 43 so time is definitely of the essence.

FuzzyDust · May 2020

@greateggspectations , how did your follow up go?

I have a history of over-reacting to stims, so lots of follies, but way less mature eggs as a result (all of those follies competing for the hormones to grow), and then OHSS after the retrieval. I'm now waiting for my 8 fertilized eggs growing, while feeling like an over-inflated balloon

But it's all good, the potential of a baby in the end is all worth the struggle

ashleyhj29 · May 2020

Hi ladies! I am currently on BCP + Metformin 1000mgs and will start my 2nd round of STIMs next week for ER #2. We got 6 untested embryos in 2019 but sadly 5 were chemical pregnancies....we are sending whatever embryos we get this time, plus our remaining embryo from last year to PGS testing after the ER on June 3rd.
BC of the chemical pregnancies with 5AA/5AB embryos, my MD wants to do an ERA before I transfer. Has anyone done this? I've heard that it's painful, to no feeling at all? The HSG was awful, so I'm hoping it's not like that.
I'm on higher doses of STIM meds and now Metformin which I've never taken before. I'm feeling very woozy/lightheaded at times and then exhausted by 3pm. Seems to be a side effect but let me know what you've experienced. I have mild PCOS, always get my period on time around day 34, but my AMH is 6.9 at 35 yrs old so they think I have it...who knows, just want a baby in 2021!!!
Looking forward to connecting with you all!

laurelew · May 2020

@covergirl2985 I am on track for an ERA on May 19. I haven't heard much either way regarding the discomfort but I agree about the HSG and even more so about hsyteroscopies being awful. I'm kind of hoping that even if the ERA is painful, it will be quicker than the other two. I'll try to remember to let you know how it goes.

FuzzyDust · May 2020

@covergirl2985, I think we were in the same thread for Dec transfers

Sorry about all the failed FETs, it's heartbreaking

Good luck with the IVF#2!!! Hope you get a bunch of beautiful tested-normal embryos!!!
We're in the waiting right now for the PGS tests results for our 4 frozen embies from the retrieval last month.

inthewoods23 · May 2020

@covergirl2985 for the ERA they take a small piece of your lining. It HURTS, but only while they're using the knife to cut it out. Then the pain goes away fairly quickly. I was by myself for the procedure and instead of opting for the nurse's hand I chose to read the brochure on the Receptive test they were also doing with my lining.

That was my experience at least. It's only a few seconds for them to get the lining so don't sweat it too much.

greateggspectations · May 2020

Hello Bumpies!

So I did my trigger shot on Saturday evening and went in on Monday for retrieval. They stuck me nine times and still couldn't get a vein. Finally they have Ketamine IM and it was lights out for me. They retrieved 9 eggs and then we found out they accidentally disposed of my husband's sample he had turned in three weeks ago. There was a miscommunication and they thought it was for assay only even though we signed paperwork to freeze it. My husband had to drive an hour into town and give a sample. After some tears and stress it all worked out.

Today they told me 1 embryo failed to split, one split into two cells and the 7 split into 4 cells which is very promising. Today I did my FET education and holy med regimen, batman! It is two months of intricate planning. But if everything goes as planned then I should be pregnant by early August.

I have BCPs, then estrogen, progesterone and lurpon in my future. Anyone know any good online pharmacies I can price compare?

laurad75 · May 2020

Hi @greateggspectations! Congrats on a good ER but I'm sorry about all the stress. For pharmacies, I have used Village Pharma and Apothecary by Design. Your clinic may have a partner pharmacy that offers a discount too.

laurelew · May 2020

@covergirl2985 Had my ERA today. It was nothing (imo). I think they were having a little trouble finding my uterus so that delayed things but the biopsy itself only took like a millisecond. I would compare the discomfort to the feeling of pricking your finger on a needle.

Do you know when your ERA will take place yet?

FuzzyDust · May 2020

@greateggspectations , that sounds like a pretty successful retrieval!!! Have you gotten the results on how many got frozen at the end?
Sorry to hear about the mess-up with your husband's sample, that must have been pretty stressful. Glad it all worked out in the end.
Fingers crossed for lots of frozen embies!

ashleyhj29 · May 2020

@greateggspectations prayers to you that you got some great embryos by day 5/6!

I start my STIMS tonight, 150iu Gonal + 150iu Menopur. At baseline they said I had 18 eggs on the right and 20 eggs on the left...my first retrieval I only got 15 eggs retrieved, 11 mature and 6 made it to day 5/6.
I'm hoping more eggs this time will give us more embryos to send for PGS testing.

FuzzyDust · May 2020

@covergirl2985 , good luck!!!!

greateggspectations · May 2020

Well here's the skinny. Three embryos made it to frozen but all were seriously defective. They all had some form of aneuploidy. I was expecting some to be defective but was really bummed there were no viable ones for transfer. So as of next week we go through another round of meds to get ready for retrieval the third week of June.

I had a long talk with DH and if this round doesn't take then we will consider donor embryo on the third round. I hope all my fellow bumpies have their babies soon!

ashleyhj29 · June 2020

So sorry to hear that @greateggspectations

We triggered tonight and retrieval is Tuesday morning. I feel good, bloated by the end of the day. Not super hungry though since starting metformin a few weeks ago. Has anyone else had that happen? Like almost nauseous when thinking about food.

greateggspectations · June 2020

Hello Bumpies!

I am back on the protocol for egg retrival. Tonight is night #4 of the Gonal F as well as HcG. I go to an ultrasound and blood work on Tuesday and again on Friday. Friday my RE will tell me when to trigger and we are going to see how many eggs I can lay, lol! We're skipping PGS as my RE explained there is a lot of mosaicism with embryos and the "defective" embryos are likely to result in a healthy baby. Crossing my fingers that we are all holding our bundles of joy by this time next year.

greateggspectations · June 2020

Went in for my ultrasound and blood tests today. This cycle has resulted in a lot more follicles and they are maturing well. Tomorrow I trigger and will undergo egg retrieval Monday. Liely they will put back 1-2 embryos (if we get some helathy blasts) back by Friday-Saturday next week. I am a lot more nervous this go-round.

I've been using IVF Pharmacy (it's in England) and their shipping is SUPER fast and accurate. The prices are about a quarter for what I was paying here in the States. I was out of Cetrotide as of tonight. I saw the shortage coming so I had my RE nurse fax the script on Tuseday morning and it arrived today(Friday) via Fedex in Florida! To give you a comparison Cetrotide was costing $110 for one shot here, it was roughly $70 through them.

ashleyhj29 · June 2020

@greateggspectations I used IVFmeds.com for this ER and they were awesome as well!

AFM - ER on 6/3 went really well! We got 31 eggs, 26 mature, 18 fertilized and we sent 13 off for PGS testing last week and are anxiously awaiting results...Not sure what waiting period is worse, Day 6, PGS testing or Beta....

greateggspectations · June 2020

Wow covergirl! That was a great turn out for your egg retrieval.

They retrieved 10 from me on Monday and I was called today, all 10 are growing! 8 of them are going strong so it looks like I may even have some to freeze. I go Saturday at 8:15 to have 2 put back inside me and then the dreaded two week wait begins!

greateggspectations · June 2020

I went in today and found out we have 8 growing embies. I had some discussion with the embryologist as well as the RE and we decided to put 3(!) back. The thought process was with my age and previous aneuploidy (not testing this round so some may not take due to aneuploidy) that it would increase my chances of successful outcome with three going back.

As far as the other 5 go, if they are still viable tomorrow they get frozen. So to recap, ladies, I am 43 yo, 3 children, 2nd round of IVF with fresh transfer this time instead of PGS/frozen. I was on Gonal-F 450IU for a week, Cetrotide for 5 days, HcG 20 units, Ovidrel shot 48 hrs before egg retreival. 10 eggs retrieved and 8 embryos fertilized to blasts. I just want to share my stats in case anyone else in my situation is in a similar situation.

The biggest challenge for me now is to keep myself busy and not prematurely pee on a stick, haha! My first beta will be on July 2nd.

greateggspectations · June 2020

So much for self control. Of course I started POAS on Wednesady with BFN. However I got a second faint line today on an early detection EPT. I'll keep testing every day now just for fun until July 2nd. I've had MCs in the past so I know a BFP doesn't necessarily equal a baby but it does make me feel hopeful. I went online today and ordered a SneakPeekTest so I can determine sex if the pregnancy is successful.

greateggspectations · July 2020

Went for my beta yesterday, it was negative.

So I have an appointment next Thursday and I will discuss when we can put my two frozen embies back.

callingthestork · July 2020

Jeepers, that was a rough break when you were not expecting that result. I'm so very sorry.
At least you have a plan B in the future, and I sure hope it works for you!
Btw, were they blue dye tests? Pink are supposed to not give false positives, not that it matters now.
Good luck and hang in there💜

greateggspectations · July 2020

Thank you calling. It was pink dye tests, I used the EPT. I figure it was a chemical pregnancy which is not uncommon. I am trying to remain hopeful but it was a mental kick in the teeth to get those negative results. If the frozen embryos don't take then I still have a full cycle left according to the plan I purchased.

greateggspectations · July 2020

Not much to report here. I start BCP and baby aspirin in August to start priming for my FET in September. I begin Lupron injections as well as progesterone at the end of August. I did some reading and the reason progesterone is so hard to get a hold of is because it's hard to get medical quality sesame seed oil. So I ordered four vials (doc sent a script) of prgesterone in Ethyl oleate. Seems the oil is thinner and thus less painful on injection than the sesame seed oil version. I have only 2 embryos on ice so I really hope one of them takes. This journey is not for the faint of heart.

greateggspectations · August 2020

Just updating the latest in my journey. I have started the Lupron injections (Holy menopause symptoms, Batman!) and should be getting my FET done on Sept 24th. I will have both frozen (untested) embryos put back and pray very hard. I start progesterone around the same time the FET is done, I'll let everyone know how that goes.

FuzzyDust · August 2020

@greateggspectations, come join us on the September FET thread! Good luck!!!

greateggspectations · September 2020

Oops, behind the ball right now! I had my FET done yesterday and they put the last two frozen embryos. This journey has been very challenging and sometimes, disheartening. I struggle to stay positive throughout this. I have my Beta done on Oct 6th and will try not to pee on a stick beforehand, lol!

FuzzyDust · September 2020

@greateggspectations, congrats on PUPO! 2ww is hard. So far Sept transfers seem to be quite sticky here, so keeping fingers crossed for you!

greateggspectations · October 2020

Alas my beta was negative.

I have an appointment for the last week of October to determine when we start round #3. I am trying to keep my chin up but this is a tough journey.

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