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Hey there!

I haven't gotten on here in a while. I see that you are moving on to IVF? We took a break after the Thanksgiving IUIs. (I had to have 2 b/c they wouldn't give me a HCG shot!) Anyway, now we've switched REs to one recommended by my OBGYN...He always gives the HCG shot! We will try clomid IUI again with him if not preg this month.
How many IUIs did you try and do you know what the cause of your infertility is??

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jellybean,

Yes we are going on to IVF. I got accepted into a IVF study, so the costs will not be so high. I had 9 failed IUI"s (I had daughter in March 2005, after 3 IUI's and the third one took!). My dh has male factor, which has gotten worse since we concieved in 2004.

Why wouldn't the doc give you an HCG shot? That doesn't make alot sense. With the shot, you know that you will ovulate and when.

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Yeah, my OBGYN recommended another doc. We had a consult and really like him. He says he always gives the hcg shot and that the ov. predictor sticks are "a waste of time." Wish we would have started the process with this guy! If this IUI with a higher dose of clomid doesn't work, he wants to do a lap. to make sure I don't have scar tissue or adhesions from my csection. If that's the case, he recommends IVF. :-\

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jellybean,

Yeah, I know about feeling about wasting time. However I love my doc!

Do you have any problems with the clomid? I remember taking that and feeling bad! Hopefully you won't have to worry about the lap. and will have a BFP from the next cycle.

I started stims yesterday and go back to doc on Sunday. Then I may have to go again on Monday,Tues, Weds. Which really sucks because its a 2 hr drive one way for me. But I will do it. That is one time I just turn up the radio and drive.....and try not to think too much.

Had to pay doc yesterday, more than I expected, but since we have to do ICSI, and Cryo, that of course was extra. I just didn't realize just how much extra! Oh well, its only money right?!?

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Arabsrcool- I am glad to hear you started your stims. After the first 2 days of stims I had to go for bw everyday and to monitor my E2 levels, but I cant imagine 2 hrs one way! Wow that is alot of driving, but well worth it in the end. I wish you the best of luck this cycle. I also had to pay for the ICSI out of pocket. If you don't mind me asking, do you know how much the ICSI procedure was? I have seen a great variation in price from place to place. My clinic was the most expensive I have seen out of the places I have investigated, so I am just curious to see what the average rate is.

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lyly14,

So you had to get bw everyday? I am hoping I don't have to go that often, but will if I have to. Yes, 2 hours one way is alot of driving and in Indiana the weather has been pretty dicey, and they are calling for another system to move in on Sunday (and I know I have to be there on Sunday). So it could be a fun drive. There is an branch office an hour from me, but since I am in the IVF study, I have to go to the main ofc for everything.

ICSI for this office is $1300 for 10 or fewer eggs and $1450 for 11 or more eggs. Cryo fee is $600. How much was your ICSI fee? I don't have any insurance coverage left, so everything not covered in the study is out of pocket......so I was a little shocked when they told me how much I needed to pay. I shouldn't have been after 9 IUI cycles, but it was still sticker shock! Follistem and Ganrelix is covered under study but I still had to buy progesterone, pain meds and valium.

They are anticipating my ER will be around 2/22 and ET around 2/25. Surprisingly right now I am pretty calm about it, but I'm a old pro at the shot stuff, so that might change when the ER date gets closer. How did you feel after ER? ET?

Keep me posted on your clinic's moving progress. Don't you have a consult coming up?


Ronda

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Ronda-
I did go for b/w everyday after the first 2 days of shots. The u/s were a bit less frequent. I don't think that is the norm but my RE was being cautious because of how I responded to the stims in a previous timed bd cycle. My E2 was initially slow to rise then all of a sudden had doubled in one day and they had to coast me to get my levels to drop. The ICSI in my clinic was a flat fee of $2705 ( and we only had 6 eggs!!!!!!!). Looks like your ER will be here before you know it, how exciting! The ER itself wasn't bad, but I felt really bloated and uncomfortable after. I actually even took the day after off from work because I fell like my skin was going to rip it was so tight. It was uncomfortable to move around. I don't think it had anything to do with the retrieval, but effects from the stims and trigger. By the second day after the ER I felt back to normal. The transfer wasn't bad at all and I had nothing but minor cramping that evening. Well I have to get working now. My consult is on Tues so I will keep you posted and you do the same!

Lyly

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lyly,

Went to doc on Sunday. Have 5 follies on right and 3 on left (also have 3 more on left, that they noted, but didn't measure). Don't have to go back till WEds b/c of estradol level was still pretty low. Started ganerelix shots in thigh on Sunday also. Nurse told me that would hurt, but actually its not as bad as follistim in tummy (those are hurting now) I am getting very full feeling already. I decided to go with 3 embies for transfer day....I was on the fence about 2 or 3, but after your experience, I am going to go for it (that of course, is if we have 3 embies to transfer).

One more day until your consult. Keep me posted.

Ronda

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Ronda- It sounds like things are progessing nicely with you. My estradiol levels were always low to start and then shot up quickly, which is why they checked my levels daily. So I wouldn't worrry too much if yours are low. I never used the ganerelix, only lupron, repronex, and gonal-f. They all went in the belly. The only thing that didn't was the progesterone. I had no problems with the belly except a few times I hit a bad spot and it hurt, but the backside ones were not pleasant. But everyone is different.

Things went well with the consult today. So now I am waiting for my March period to come for an April FET(frozen embryo transfer). Hopefully my cycle will coincide with the opening of the clinic, but if not he will put me on birth control pill to manipulate my cycle. We are going to transfer all 3 frozen embies this time (scary and exciting). He said he normally wouldn't recommend transfering more than 2 but since we only have 3 left it would probably be a good idea. If we only transfer 2 and it doesn't work, he said chances with a single embryo transfer were low. That being the case he would not be against putting all three in. He said chances of triplets is not high but to be aware that it is a possibility. I would be exstatic with one but definitely not unhappy with twins. Triplets is definitely scary, but since we put in 2 fresh and they didn't take I feel that is the chance we have to take.

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lyly,

Sounds like you will be back in the saddle so to speak in a few months. I know it can seem like an eternity, but it will come. I understand about the scary part of putting in 3 embies....that is why I was on the fence for so long about how many.

I went today for b/w and u/s. I have 15 follies, but they don't think all of them will mature before they have to trigger. I have to go back in the morning for more b/w and u/s. They are guessing HCG will be tomorrow or Friday night, which means E/R will be 36 hours after retrieval. Its a good thing they didn't take my blood pressure today b/c I'm sure it was sky high. The weather was really bad and it took me along time to get there this morning. And of course my dd is sick and I was home yesterday with her b/c of high fever, vomiting etc. I am hoping I don't get it.

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Ronda- Sorry to hear about dd being sick, I hope you do not get it. Did you do the trigger yet? It sounds like you have a good number of follies. Good luck with everything. Keep me posted.

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lyly,

Had to go back to doc this morning (thats 3 long drives in a row). Trigger is tonight at 9 pm and ER is on Sunday morning. Transfer is scheduled for Weds. Nurse said I have 15 follies, 12 that are large enough to fertilize. I have a cold now and dh woke up 2 days ago with fever. Nurse said I cannot have a fever for E/T......so I am going to try and get alot of rest, drink fluids etc. Now I am getting nervous...this is it! My regular doc is not on call this weekend, so the E/R will be done by another doc, whom I have never meant. However my reg. doc will be able to do the E/T on Weds.

I know you had consult, did you ask how your frozen embies were......grade etc.?

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Had E/R yesterday. They got 16 eggs, 15 of which fertilized with ICSI. E/T is set for Weds. I am feeling pretty crappy right now, lots of cramping, bloating, headache etc etc. My dh is now thinking we should only transfer 2 embies, and I am now wavering about how many. I don't want triplets, but I also don't want to get a BFN.

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Ronda- Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner.I didn't see the message before the one today until now. The RE wasn't sure about the quality of the frozen embies, but he said they only freeze grade 2 or better. I felt pretty crappy the day after my e/r but it wears off. I know how you feel about the thought of triplets. This is your first IVF right? Will you be able to do it again if doesn't work ( financially)? If so maybe you should just put 2 in for now and than try the 3 if this is a bfn. I know the thought of having to go through it again stinks but triplets is hard in many ways. It is risky for your health and the babies. It is really a personal choice and no one can make that decision but you. My dh originally said I should put 3 in and I thought he was crazy. My RE was not for it either with my age and this being my first IVF. He said they really only put 3 in women over 37. Now I wish I did, but at least I still have another shot. You need to do what you feel is right and just be comfortable with your decision.You are almost in the home stretch the dreaded 2ww. So whatever you choose good luck and lots of baby dust to you. Hope you are feeling better soon.

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lyly,

Sounds like your embies are good ones!

This is my first IVF and will be my last. WE cannot afford to do it again. My only thought would be that we would have the frozen embies and could do a FET, which is alot cheaper, but obviously, still not free. I will be 37 in March, so the doc's will let me do 3 if I want. I was told there is only a 5% chance that all 3 would take.....so dh and I decided last night to do the 3. Only time will tell if that will be the right decision. I have talked to several women my age and they all put in 3 and only one took.

Still feeling pretty crappy and dd doesn't understand why mommy cannot pick her up. Makes me feel terrible, but physically I'm not sure I could pick her up even if I was allowed to.

I'm not looking forward to the 2ww and my pg test will be on 3/12.

I'll let you know how the E/T goes.

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Hi Ronda- I am glad you and dh came to a decision. It is unlikely you will get all three to take. So good luck to you. I felt bad about my dd also when I was going through the process. She is 9 but is always climbing into bed with me and dh and curling up on the couch to watch t.v but when I was so bloated I was uncomfortable and nervous about her pushing on my ovaries. She is old enough to understand somewhat but I felt terrible. It is only short term and things will be back to normal once the stims wear off. So just hang in there and you will be feeling up to picking up and holding your dd soon. I can't wait to hear about your ET. Only one more day. How exciting!!!!! Talk to you soon.

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lyly14,

ET was a breeze compared to ER. Doc, lab tech and lab directors strongly recommended that I only transfer 2 embies b/c of the quality. So I only transferred 2 perfect embies and am hoping for the best. I have 9 embies frozen and they are watching 4 more. Doc said one embie is fragmenting so it will probably not make it to freeze, but that still means 12 frozen. I am taking it easy today and will go back to work tomorrow. Its so cool b/c they gave me a picture of embies before they transferred them and I got to watch them be flushed into me. Pretty amazing this infertility stuff.

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Ronda,good luck to you!Now you are officialy on 2ww!My doctors told me 2 days after the transfer to relax in horizontal position(but there is no proof that we need to do it at all,just for the piece of mind that we did everything in our power to help embies to implant,because the implantation takes place 48 hours after the transfer).
Lyly,
I think,you and me will be together in April for the FET.
I didn't think like that a couple of days ago,but now when I'm recovering physicaly I realized that we are not done yet and since we have frozen embies there,we can try again,it's very scary,but I just need to get back to normal and my RE said I shoul give myself at least 6 weeks and by that time we''ll know all the results.
Heve you done any reserch on FET?

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Ronda- Congrats on making it to the 2ww. I am glad to hear it went well. I wish you lots of baby dust .

Marina- I am happy to hear I may have someone to go through it with, but sad under the circumstances. I have researched the FET a little but I don't really want to look into it too much. I know that they can do it on a natural cycle or with lupron and estrogen and progesterone supplements. My RE told me that I would start the estrogen patches as soon as I got my period, so I am thinking he doesn't plan on using lupron. I don't have the full details but he said it is a lot easier and less stressful. I did read that it is just as effective as the fresh as long as the embryo quality is good. I am not really sure of the quality of my last 3 embies. What about you?

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Hi girls,

Thanks for the encourgement. I am back to work today, so laying down today is out, but I at least have a desk job, so I don't have to do alot physically.

Marina,

I'm glad to hear you are feeling better. My heart breaks for your loss, but you do have frozen embies (which is why we all pay the extra) so we have another shot or two.

Baby dust to all......now I just feel like what do I do now? After all the shots, driving, appointments etc....I feel kinda lost as wierd as that sounds!

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Ronda,now you can relax(well,I know ,easy to say,hard to do) and go with the flow!Now each day going to be 10 times longer,and by the end of your 2ww,will drive you absolutely nuts(LOL)!But you'll get there and I wish with BFP of course!
Lyly,
I've read the same thing about FET.With me,we have 5 exelent embies,frozen in 2 and 3,the rest of them are average quality.We didn't have an appoitment with RE yet because there is no sence to see him before we get all the test results they did on me and my baby.We'll go from there.And I'm changing my regular OB for sure,that was a big mistake,but it's too late now.I still have some recovering to do and get my hormons and my body back to normal,hopefully it won't take a long time,I'm hoping for April,but of course can't know when my cycle will come back.

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Hi,

hope you girls dont mind if i join this discussion. I am in my 1st IVF cycle...transferred 3 embies on 24/02 - the original plan was to transfer just 2 but follicular development was a bit slow so my docs, dh and i decided to go with 3 to give us a greater chance of success. I am really nervous about triplets but would rather triplets than a BFN...this waiting is driving me nuts though! My beta is on 07/03 - that's this friday! Wish me luck! I'll say a prayer for all of you.

Hopeful,
RB

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RB,

You are very welcome here!

I understand about the triplets issue. I went around and around about that and finally decided to go for the 3 embies. However when I got there, doc, lab workers etc, all advised against it. I am still kinda disappointed we only transferred two, but my doc said transferring three would not up my chance of pregnancy, but would greatly up my chance for triplets!. Of course, if I don't get a BFP, I will alway wonder if I should have insisted on 3 embies.

Anyway, your beta is coming up.....any symptoms? I have some wierd twinges and still feel really really bloated and tired. Other than that, nothing! Don't know if thats good or bad?!?

Baby dust to all

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Hi!

For me the decision to go with 3 embies was becasue my follicular development was kinda slow...my dh said my ovaries are stubborn just like me:) I was taking the max. dose of Menopur (4 amps) morning and evening...we got 10 eggs - 3 transferred, 3 frozen and 4 didnt make it so i guess we're playing the odds here. We'll see... :-\

As for symptoms...i had period-like cramping, bloating and sore BBs for the first day or two post ET but not much is happening now - twinges now and then and mild soreness. I do feel tired and kinda weepy but i guess that could be the progesterone. I dont know what to think! I am counting down the days to beta! Yours is a few days after mine...the 12th right? Best of luck and lots of baby dust to you. Keep us posted.

Reshma

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RB,

Yeah, my testing is on the 12th. Yours is coming up quick. Have you taken a pg test at home? I haven't but am still 7 days away from beta check. I am going to try and hold out and not do one.

I still have bloating, sore BBs and kinda moody. I hope its more than the progesterone.....but those are all side effects listed on meds!

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Just so you know ther eis a great IVF chatroom on babycenter:

http://boards.babycenter.
com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1132&nav=messag
es&webtag=bcus6070&tid=510

It
helped me go through my iVF and a lot of people from there are just starteing their IVF cycles.

Good luck!

Julie

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hi girls,

my beta was yesterday...it was 85 which they told me means i'm pregnant! wow! I'm on cloud nine. I did an hpt this morning just to see for myself!

Rhonda- good luck on wednesday! lots of baby dust and positive thoughts from me to you! keep us posted.

I have another beta on friday and then an u/s in another couple of weeks...

good luck and baby dust to all.
Reshma :)

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RB,

THAT IS FANTASTIC!!!!!!. Congratulations on your BFP.

I took a hpt this morning and there was a very faint positive, which is encouraging, but until I get the beta, I'm trying not to get too excited.

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Rhonda,

Good luck on Wednesday but i think it will be BFP!!!! Lots of baby dust until then! Try to keep busy to help the days go by faster but dont overdo it!

Are you planning to get the news first or are you gonna ask them to tell DH first? i hadnt thought of it until they asked me...i told them to tell dh but they called me!


Reshma

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RB,

I'm going to have them call me. I am irritated with dh right now. He blabbed about hpt to his family already and I wasn't planning on telling anyone until well after the beta came back. Now if something is wrong, I am going to have to tell them about that, which I wouldn't have had too if he would have kept his mouth shut. They knew nothing about the IVF and I wanted to keep it that way for awhile.
Sorry to vent !

How are you feeling?

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Hi Ronda- sorry I haven't checking in for a bit, but I am happy to see it looks like you have good news. I will save my congrats for when you get the beta back, but I am praying for good numbers for you! Sorry to hear about what happened, but I guess dh was just too excited to keep quiet. I hope you get all good news and you wont have to worry about the early leak of the news.

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