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apricot / 344 posts
Hi all! Thank you for all the well wishes and good luck! We found out today that 4 of the 5 fertilized eggs grew to early blastocysts! We transferred 2 and the doctor says we should have 1 to freeze. The other is questionable. We will get a call late tomorrow to let us know. We are so excited and relieved. Have a good feeling about this! Hoping to maintain this "cloud 9 feeling" for as long as possible. Again, thank you everyone for the positive thoughts, prayers and luck!! Can't wait to keep reading the board to see how everyone else is coming along!
pear / 1986 posts
@waiting4you: Great news!! So exciting!! Glad everything went so well for the transfer!
grapefruit / 4045 posts
@AmeliaBedilia: Happy anniversary! I know how it feels to be together a long time and still no kids. I'm coming up on my 4th anniversary, but we've been together much longer than that. We weren't even ready to try for kids until two years ago. I'm still telling people, "maybe some day soon!" Or, "We are enjoying our life with just the two of us still too much at the moment!" when someone asks when we are having kids. And its always the most annoying braggy new grandparents of our friends that seem to ask us. Our family, luckily, has more tact than that. Try to look at the positives - you have a husband who you love and hopefully you enjoy his company. That's more than a lot of people have. You've been together six years and that's a great acheivement! You've been through a tough time with IF and are still happily married!! You have a new home and so much more to be happy about. I'm sure you are beautiful girl, inside and out. So try to be happy for the moment and hopeful about your future!
@jaguar: Intersting that they only let you transfer one. What if you wanted to transfer two? My husband and I talked a lot this weekend about what to do for our FET. We decided we just want to transfer one. I was thinking transfering two made the most sense money wise, but I suppose that only is true for the present day. I'm trying to see the forest through the trees and transferring one really makes the most sense for us. Money is totally still an issue, but at this point we have to put everything on credit cards so whatevs. Pile it on, is my current viewpoint. Oh, and "FU, IF." I always still have that viewpoint.
@Amorini: I love what you said about you and your husband's DNA finally getting together. I'm latching on to that. I think its such a great thing. What's up next on your timeline?
@waiting4you: Hooray!! I'm wishing you all the best with those two growing babies. And I'm hoping one or two make it to freeze for siblings!
pear / 1881 posts
@waiting4you: Congrats on the transfer and hope you have been able to rest and take it easy! Does your doctor have you stay on bed rest for very long?
pear / 1881 posts
@Amorini: How are you feeling today? I hope that the bloating continues to go down and you start to feel a bit better.
I'm going to be MIA today, but am thinking of all of you girls!!
pomegranate / 3809 posts
Just popping in real quick for a second. My follicle measured at about 17mm last Thursday, but I'm pretty sure I haven't ovulated based on my temps. w.t.f.....
grapefruit / 4045 posts
@PurplePumps: I don't know a lot about temps because I never trusted them so I stopped doing it early on. What CD are you? Is this a natural cycle for you? Any other RE consults coming up?
I am meeting with my RE this upcoming Thursday for an after-failed IVF meeting. My doctor's office wasn't going to schedule me until October 29th and I was like no way, jose, that's too late. Now I'm curious how much this meeting is going to cost me. Umm... it should be free, darn it.
How is everyone else doing? What's going on? Where is everyone?
apricot / 344 posts
@NorthStar: thanks! The doctor has me on bed rest for 3 days. I'm about a day and a half into it and already a bit restless.
An update; got the call from the embryologist this morning. Unfortunately our additional 2 embryos didn't make it to freeze. was happy yesterday thinking that we might have a "2nd chance" if this doesn't work out, but that's no more. Fingers crossed the two we transferred are sticky!!!
pomegranate / 3809 posts
@agold: I'm on CD 39 of a natural cycle now. I charted for a long time and even used it to prove my OB wrong. (She didn't "believe in" charting, but I used it to do my progesterone level bloods 7dpo, which she though MUST be day 21, but then i told her it was actually like 30something, and she was like "oh" and then had nothing to say.) But anyways, I trust my charts, my pre O and post O temps are consistent for all my natural cycles the last 3 years. Should be any daaaay now!
@waiting4you: I'm sorry you didn't have any frosties. FX for your two.
grapefruit / 4045 posts
@waiting4you: Hey there. Sorry you are feeling a bit restless. Just try to nap, watch good TV, play on the computer, etc. And I'm really sorry that none of the embryos made it freeze. I understand the disappointment of losing embryos. I really hope that your current two are implanting and growing as we speak! Try to stay positive and happy. Do you know when your blood test is scheduled for?
@PurplePumps: It sounds like you are a temping and charting expert! It seems like quite a few OBs aren't very well versed in fertility issues, which is too bad. I hope your cycle gets moving along as you are hoping quickly!
apricot / 344 posts
@agold: test is scheduled for the 13th. So, a week from tomorrow. I can get it done at the local labcorp instead of having to drive the hour each way to the dr.'s office. Even better is they open at 7am. Better believe I'll be the first one in the door that day!! husband made me promise I wouldn't test early (which will start to get tough for me), but I'm going to go with it.
grapefruit / 4045 posts
@waiting4you: A week isn't bad - you can hold out!! I'm wishing all the best for you. I hope this is it!!
apricot / 365 posts
a couple questions:
*after speaking to a couple of people who had different post transfer instructions, wondering who has a dr who recommends bedrest after transfer (and if so, how long?) and who has a dr that recommends NOT being on bedrest?
*anyone take any additional supplements? I saw an acupuncturist for the first time today, and she recommended chlorophyll complex and wheat germ oil, as well as a loose tea blend to "warm up" my uterus.
kiwi / 613 posts
@endymion4: My clinic does not require bed rest after transfer - I think recent studies have shown that bed rest does not result in more positive outcomes and that extended bed rest can actually have the opposite effect. For supplements, a lot of us are on CoQ10 for egg quality, so maybe look into that?
apricot / 365 posts
@momazon: thanks! it's so hard to know what the "right" thing to do is! since it'll be the week of halloween, i'd love to participate in some activities with my kiddo (though I wouldn't remind a little rest ;)).
I already did the retrieval, so not worried about egg quality unless I have to do another one. Prepping for a frozen embryo transfer now!
kiwi / 613 posts
@endymion4: Aha! Sorry, didn't realize you were already post retrieval! I have been MIA from hellobee from a little while and haven't caught up properly on the thread. Best of luck for a successful transfer! You might want to ask your acupuncturist for her bed rest thoughts as well- mine felt pretty strongly that maintaining activity and blood flow was really helpful after transfer (light walks, etc.) Are you going to have acupuncture sessions pre- and post- on transfer day?
apricot / 365 posts
@momazon: this board moves so fast!
thanks! not too long to go. I will definitely ask her. I wish I had known earlier about acupuncture, etc. Today was my first one and i'm just a couple weeks away from transfer. Current plan is to do 3 more visits with her before the transfer, and then 1 a week after transfer
pomegranate / 3764 posts
@endymion4: No bed rest after any of our transfers. We're up and walking out the door 10 minutes later!
@waiting4you: Hope your embies are snuggling in tight.
@agold: What I want doesn't seem to matter! I mean, we're mostly happy with SET's because I just want a healthy baby, and to avoid risks wherever we can. But this is now FET #7 and apart from the two miscarriages, all have been negative/fails... and I'm not getting any younger.
grapefruit / 4045 posts
@endymion4: My doctor recommends three days of full bed rest, followed by two days of minimal acticity. He didn't tell me to take any supplements. Just the meds he prescribed and low dose aspirin. I did consult an accupunturist who told me I needed like over a hundred dollars a week of herbs and whatnot. I couldn't even afford all the accupuncturist was suggesting to me. It was more than an IUI cycle.
@momazon: I did even a 4th day of bedrest and it didn't work so maybe I should do no bedrest and get right back to pilates after my upcoming FET! But how can you trust an accupuncturist over an RE's recomendations? Maybe I don't know what accupuncturists really are, but I'm also in the camp that thing's chiropractors aren't doctors, so.....
@jaguar: Ha! Seriously... what I want doesn't really matter anymore either. The doctor encouraged me to schedule a meeting with him to ask questions and whatnot following our failed fresh transfer. But I'm like, no questions here, sign me up for the next step asap! Seriously... i don't even want to go to a meeting. If I have to pay for it, I'm cancelling it. Just get me in for a FET. I'm not getting any younger either! If I can even have one child, it won't be delivered until I'm 33/34. And then a second would have to be when I'm 35/36, even assuming we get there. A third... gees. Not what I had planned. Ever. At all. Not that it's bad in general, its just not what I had planned for myself.
pomegranate / 3764 posts
@agold: I hear you, chick. If I hear ONE more person tell me how young I am, I'll lose my mind. We have been doing IVF since I was 26, ffs. I'm 32 next birthday. That is a LONG time of my life to be wasting on all of this.
grapefruit / 4045 posts
@jaguar: Yep, there is no such thing as "too young" or "too old" or "not very long" or whatever related to time when it comes to IVF. I've been wanting to change jobs, buy a different house, pick up new hobbies, and I've been putting it all on hold over over a year because of this IVF hanging over my head. Now possibly a second IVF. I thought I'd be past needing maternity leaves by this point. And I thought I'd be ready to buy a bigger house. Nope on both fronts. My mortgage guy emailed me just today to see where I'm at with my plans to get a bigger place. I was like "umm... some unforeseen medical issues are putting us a year or so back now." He probably thinks we have cancer or something. I hate being vague, but I don't want to be like "wah, I'm having to pay to try to have a baby." It all sucks. And I'm not really negative like this in real life. Just in my head and on Hellobee. And I also have a major case of the Mondays. So sorry.
pomegranate / 3764 posts
@agold: *big hugs* You never have to apologise. I know how hard it is! I'm sure I come across as the most negative nancy around online - but honestly, I do enough pretending that everything's fine offline, it's refreshing to just vent it all out in a safe place, you know? Don't get me wrong; I have it good. We have a roof over our head, we HAVE a beautiful little girl from the first few rounds of IVF.. but apart from her & hubby, life is kind of a mess right now. Things have to look up eventually, right? xx
persimmon / 1114 posts
@endymion4: I've done both. For my fresh Ivf and first two FET I was on total bedrest for 2 days and easy activity until beta. For my most recent FET my doctor was adamant that I don't restrict activity. She said studies show the increased blood flow is good. Even my FET before that the doctor said the only reason they did bedrest was not because studies show it works, but because, were it not to work, they feel like women blame themselves less if they did "nothing" versus worrying something they did contributed to it (which I thought was a very weird, non-scientific answer for a clinic to give but also makes sense). All this to say- I think either is probably fine. I liked being free to move because I find myself going stir crazy and obsessive on bedrest.
apricot / 344 posts
@agold: whoever started this bedrest convo...THANK YOU!! I'm super torn when it comes to thinking should I be laying in bed or not. However both my RE and acupuncturist said to stay in bed. My RE's nurse said its not so much the laying down as it is avoiding stress. Even driving around in traffic with terrible drivers, waiting in lines, etc is "stress" and they'd like you to be as relaxed as possible. I guess I get that, but now that I've been in bed for 48 of my 72 hours....I'm probably more stressed out laying here than not!
A few randoms that my acupuncturist "Rx'ed"...she said to watch at least one funny movie per day while in bed. That studies have shown that the endorphins or whatever is released from laughter has been shown to increase odds of success. Thanks to on-demand, that's been an easy one to "swallow" she has also suggested gogi berries thru the whole process. They taste a little like cranberries and can be bought at most grocery stores. Again, easy enough!
As far as venting on here...I'm glad you gals do! Like someone said, it's a safe place to get it out. While I used to try to be vague about what was going on...now I find myself just telling people. I try not to let them know what "stage" we're at so there's no phone calls the day of our blood test, but at this point...whatever. I think I'd rather tell people what's up and possibly have to tell them it didn't work out than continually lie or make excuses about why we're 34/35, married 3 years and don't have kids yet.
Ps, one of the funny movies I watched while in bed...my big fat Greek wedding. The "windex" line never gets old!!! If only we all could use a little windex for IF
pomegranate / 3809 posts
@endymion4: My RE recommends bedrest/light activity just the day of transfer and then can resume regular activity the next day. No additional supplements aside from starting Estrace. CCRM donor packet recommends 2 full days of bedrest after transfer.
I agree that studies show that bed rest dont make a difference. My RE also says no sex during the slightly less than 2WW, but I've also read some studies that say that sex doesnt hinder implantation and some that go as far as to say the proteins in semen may actually help. Not that I'm even in the mood during the tww of a ivf cycle. hahaha
apricot / 365 posts
@jaguar: any restrictions at all? I have a 30+ pound 3 year old that needs to be lifted in and out of her crib!
@agold: yup! those supplements are $$$. we've been all out of pocket so far, so there IS a small part of me that is thinking, what's a couple hundred more if it helps? I can't even stop to think about how much all of this has cost so far!
@Bloved: I'm thinking i'll try to take it easy, but not be on complete bed rest. It will be halloween time with my 3 yo, so i'd like to at least be able to go to some activities with her, even if I just sit once we're there!
@waiting4you: love those RXs So what are everyone's favourite laugh out loud movies/books??
@purplepumps: I don't picture being in the mood either?? and then thinking about all the suppositories and the supposed "smurf blue discharge" yikes!!
Another question (besides the request for suggestions on favourite funny movies/books/shows--looking forward to that part of the 'protocol' ;))--anyone NOT been tested for MTHFR? (those with multiple miscarriages). a few people i know have been tested, my RE does not do that test, so curious.
pear / 1881 posts
This moves way too fast, so sorry if I miss anyone!
@waiting4you: I'm SO sorry to hear that you didn't get any embies to freeze. I'm trying to hold as many good thoughts as I can for those that you did transfer that you have some stickies in there
@endymion4: I would probably shy away from taking any supplements from your acupuncturist. It's not that I don't trust them (I go to one weekly), but for how much we pay for these IVF cycles, it might be best to let your doctors control everything that is happening with your body. Also, in my IVF packet, there was a long list of herbs that they didn't want me taking. Just my two cents
As far as bedrest, my RE suggests taking it easy the day of the transfer, but resuming light activity after that. I work at a desk, so I should be able to handle that ok. Now, dealing with my 3 year old daughter, that is another story.
@agold: Any idea how quickly they can get you in for a frozen transfer? I wonder if they could just do a phone consult so that you don't have to actually go in there and yes, this should be free!! Hang in there!
I'm still just hanging out and taking my birth control pills. I sent my check for my meds last week, so hopefully, Winfertility calls me soon. I need them by 10/20, so I'm hoping I get them on time.
apricot / 365 posts
@NorthStar: Do you happen to have that list of no-no herbs handy? i take some things for headaches (in an attempt to avoid ibuprofen and caffeine during this process), and would love to see if they are on the list (hope i'm not swapping in one bad thing for another :/)
oh, yes. the 3 yo issue I tried having DH give DD a bath last night to start getting used to the idea of having him help out those couple days (most nights he's home late, so i end up doing it and when he comes before bath it's just easier for me to do it). What a DISASTER! all i could hear was crying and screaming
persimmon / 1132 posts
@waiting4you: How are you feeling? Hope those embies have snuggled in tight. I'm really sorry your other two didn't make it to freeze. I can only imagine how that news felt... However, there's a good chance this could all work out beautifully! You are so strong to not test!
@PurplePumps: Seriously! Sexy time is not gonna happen during the 2ww (or anytime just after) of an IVF cycle. One word: P suppositories. Blech!
@endymion4: I think my RE is having me stay home and lay low after the ET, but more because of the Valium she wants me to take... I have instructions to abstain during the 2ww, but like I said, no problem! Regarding supplements, I did start taking a magnesium supplement for headaches which got super bad in my pre-cycle. DH took herbs from the acupuncturist (he has MFI). Interesting that you mentioned about "warming" the uterus. Apparently mine is warm enough but my lungs are "damp" and aren't clear for "calling in the soul" so all of my treatments have been about that! All I know is that I always feel 100% awesome after! P.s. For funny movies, the last one I truly could not breath I was laughing so hard was Bridesmaids, That was forever ago!
@jaguar: Things do have to look up eventually, but in the meantime, we've gotta be real, right?! The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide, said somebody wise... We all appreciate your vast experience, honesty and just telling it like it is.
@agold: Hopefully you can avoid a follow up and just get on with it. Has anyone told you what to expect for your FET (meds, timeline). What I've been told is that I need to have my period, get back on BCPs, a baseline scan, about 10 days of meds, and I guess another scan, then FET. So I don't know long I need to be on BCPs, but it was 5-ish weeks of them for my precycle. Let's hope not that long. The bummer right now when talking timeline is that I'm not going to get AF until I stop Lupron which I'm still taking to treat OHSS. Ack!
That is, of course, assuming we have some frozen blasties. I'll get a call tomorrow or the next day (day 5 or 6) to see how things turned out. Trying to not spend too much time thinking about it ...unless my acupuncturist is telling me to "call in a soul."
@NorthStar: Thanks for asking about how I'm doing. I'm still dealing with 5 lbs of bloat since the trigger (about 3 lbs since retrieval), but it's definitely less bloated under my rib cage and mostly down in the lower belly. The crampy pain is pretty much gone and I didn't take pain meds today. Still drinking like crazy! I wore real pants today and did a full day at work, too! My RE said some girls still have enlarged ovaries for weeks - hoping not me. When I sneeze or pee, I totally feel them, but my acupuncturist put these little points on my ears (like spikes under a band-aid) that I push on when they ache. Totally works!
I'll update when I hear back about our blasties!
apricot / 365 posts
@NorthStar: thanks for posting that! one doc had recommended feverfew, but i hadn't started taking it yet. and interesting to see garlic and ginger on there--are you supposed to avoid the fresh versions as well?
@Amorini: is the magnesium helping you? i had bought some bc riboflavin wasn't working for me, and never ended up taking it (I stopped taking everything during the last m/c).
apparently my cold uterus can be warmed up by transfer time--i hope so!
forgot about bridesmaids! will add that to the list!
thinking of you as you wait to hear back in the next day or two!!
grapefruit / 4045 posts
@jaguar: *hugs* Thank you for ranting with me last night. My mom has been out of town for two weeks and she's usually the one I cry to. So, thank you. You are a doll. Wish you were my neighbor.
@waiting4you: If only windex fixed IF! Wouldn't that be great?!? As for bed rest, my RE also mentioned the issue of stress. You have one day left. You can do it!!! How are you feeling?
@PurplePumps: I'd be inclined to trust the CCRM recommendation. Just my thoughts...
@endymion4: The supplements are just what pushed me over the edge into "not doing it" zone. But maybe if I need to try a third FET, maybe I will try acupuncture then.
For funny movies - I love Old School! When Will Farrell gets shot in the neck with an animal tranquilizer out by the pool during his kid's birthday party... I laugh so hard.
@NorthStar: I had the same thoughts about acupuncture and not wanting to let it get in the way of what the doctors were doing. I was really worried it would mess up my cycles. Its so tough to know what to try.... I'm not sure how quickly I can get in for a FET. My RE said as soon as my period starts I can schedule my mock transfer. And then after that I can schedule my FET for whenever. Not sure what that actually means. I found out that the consultation I have scheduled with him on Thursday is actually covered by my insurance so I just need to pay the specialty $40 co-pay. Phew. Much better than the $250 I feared it would be. Its very close to my work so I should be able to just step out for an hour in the afternoon and then go back to my office. I hope you get your meds soon! Seems like Winfertility would over night them to you once your check clears.
And yikes! Your list includes garlic! I use garlic in half of all the things I make at home. I need to cut that out.
@Amorini: Yikes! Progesterone suppositories would for sure prevent any sexy time. I had to do the PIO shots. I was ready for major sexy time three days after stopping the shots. But now, five days after the last shot, my hips are hurting SO badly. Like nearly in tears kind of pain. I just took a hydrocodone I had left over from my egg retrieval. Anyhow, I would probably rather do the suppositories now if this pain in my hips is going to last much longer. And seriously... I really hope our FETs can happen sooner rather than later. I hope your OHSS goes down quickly!! Please update us quickly!
apricot / 365 posts
@agold: If nothing else, acupuncture was really relaxing, which I definitely need these days!!
pear / 1881 posts
@agold: @endymion4: I'll type more later, but I think that it's just the ginger and garlic herbal supplements that they don't want you taking and not necessarily fresh versions. I think that they consider them to be different..
apricot / 365 posts
@NorthStar: phew! we use ginger and garlic in SO much! and I need my fresh ginger in my morning cup of chai!
Anyone else having migraines with all the hormone flux. My doc okayed some extra caffeine and tylenol if needed, but it's not making a dent. I've had this last one since Sunday at 3am last night i had to wake hubby up to press my head because it felt like my head was going to explode.
Got the okay to start the estrace suppositories today. smurf blue discharge, here i come
pomegranate / 3809 posts
@endymion4: I was instructed to take Estrace orally. Do you know what the difference is and why some docs pic one way over the other?
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