I was sort of expecting/ hoping for more since I know you don't end up with the same amount of embryos as you started with follicles. But does anyone know what a good normal number is?
That is the worst. You know what, though?! You are going to be through stims before you know it! Others with more experience will chime in, but I think the follicle numbers can jump up a lot in the final days of stims, so don't get too discouraged! You've got this!
) When I donated my eggs to my sister nearly 5 years ago, 18 eggs were retrieved. I became insanely uncomfortable somewhere along in the process. Like, I couldn't hardly walk for a couple of days. If I placed my heel on the ground, it was shoot immense pain into my ovaries. Now, nearly 5 years later, I have 10 follicles. I feel nothing. I just went running without issue. Am I so old now that I have aging, disappearing follicles? I basically asked this same question to my RE this morning and he responded with a really non-responsive "when you're perfect, you are perfect!" WTF? What stims are you on again? And how many nights have you been using them? When is your next ultrasound? Mine is on Thursday.
Um, yeah, that immediately stressed me out! We have our nurse consult next Wednesday at 2pm and meet with the doctor at 3:15. We had scheduled the doctor meeting first to get some questions answered, decide which program we are going to do, etc. This whole process is so scary and how much it affects our lives. ugh.
And I'm so sorry you haven't been running as much. But its awful to put that good exercise you love on hold for two weeks every other two weeks. Just. In. Case. But it will all pay off soon, right?? 
I think that we are going to take some out of savings and then we got a 0% for 18 months credit card so that we don't have to finance the rest and pay interest. This thread has been closed by the original poster.
-
@Amorini: oh my goodness, so cute!
-
@Amorini: Oh. My. Gosh. Adorable name and breed. One of my best friends has a Greater Swiss Mountain dog which are similar, I believe. Such fun, big dogs.
-
@Amorini: Adorable!
-
@Amorini: adorable!
@jaguar: sending prayers your way!
-
I went for my first ultrasound today since I've been doing the meds... I have 10 follicles.
I was sort of expecting/ hoping for more since I know you don't end up with the same amount of embryos as you started with follicles. But does anyone know what a good normal number is?
-
@agold: I don't have a good answer, but I'm sending prayers for lots of quality eggs!
@jaguar: when do you get an update?
-
@AmeliaBedilia: Thanks, lady. I'm sure the "good" number is all relative. It is what it is.
So has IF been totally ruining fun things in anyones life lately? I'm ready to buy a new house, but just can't do that while paying for IVF. So I can adjust to holding off on that. But now this exercise studio I've been watching every day being built with extreme exciting anticipation is FINALLY opening up with free classes their first week and, well, its during the week of my stupid expected embryo transfer so now I'll be on bed rest. I'm very happy to be doing IVF. Its just that I've constantly been missing out on things for the past two years in hopes that I might be pregnant and, of course, I never am so I missed out for nothing. Ugh. Rant over.
-
@agold: I totally get that. We are doing a renovation that is more expensive than planned, so IF is making that more stressful. I'm missing a white water rafting trip this weekend. Rafting followed by steak, drinks, and hot tubbing? Wish I could go! I just realized I have a four mile run in six weeks, but haven't been able to work out because the meds I'm on (all for IF) make me feel so terrible. I have a niece or nephew who will be born this week and I'm trying to deal and worrying that my family (who doesn't know except for my mom) will get upset if I don't make a fuss.
-
@AmeliaBedilia: I remember you mentioning that rafting trip. It sounds like a dream trip and I'm so sorry you are going to miss it. And gees... IF money putting unneeded stress on your home renovation. I understand that. I'm so sorry, lady. I get all of that. I wish these IF treatments could be a for sure thing so we dont keep missing out and burdening ourselves for nothing at the end.
Also, I think my IVF meds might be making me [have stomach issues]. (So sorry for TMI) [EDITED to take out the exact symptom because it was a gross overshare. so sorry!] So yea... that's preventing me from like jogging the three miles I force myself to do for exercise a handful of days each week. I suppose I'll sit on the couch and each skinny cow ice cream bars instead.
-
@agold: yes! It wouldn't be so bad if it were a sure thing. Hugs!
-
@agold: @AmeliaBedilia: I'm so sorry about how much IF sucks and the only thing I can think to say is this: I totally get it. I feel like I'm constantly weighing my daily decisions (and future-looking anxieties) around IF and whether we are/aren't going to be successful with IVF. Like what I wouldn't give to just BD, test, get the BFP and get on with life. We also want to buy a house, but I just don't feel like I can really make that decision right now.
I'm guess that's why we have to keep moving forward the parts of our lives where do have some control, some creative power... like getting puppies, renovating houses, planning vacations...
@agold: Sorry to hear about your belly issues.
That is the worst. You know what, though?! You are going to be through stims before you know it! Others with more experience will chime in, but I think the follicle numbers can jump up a lot in the final days of stims, so don't get too discouraged! You've got this!
-
@Amorini: They look like the sweetest doggies :).
@agold: I don't know if it's the hormones but I'm just pissed that I can't have booze, coffee, or any of the other things that I comfort myself with when I'm stressed. I'm glad I have you ladies to commiserate with!
I had my first US today- 16 follicles so far. I can imagine they are really going to get more uncomfortable in a few more days. I haven't had any side effects with the drugs so far but I'm starting to feel a little bloated. I just keep reminding myself that this is the hard part and I just need to get though another week.
-
@dookie32: I am so very jealous of your 16 follicles. (Jealous, in the most friendly, supportive way.
) When I donated my eggs to my sister nearly 5 years ago, 18 eggs were retrieved. I became insanely uncomfortable somewhere along in the process. Like, I couldn't hardly walk for a couple of days. If I placed my heel on the ground, it was shoot immense pain into my ovaries. Now, nearly 5 years later, I have 10 follicles. I feel nothing. I just went running without issue. Am I so old now that I have aging, disappearing follicles? I basically asked this same question to my RE this morning and he responded with a really non-responsive "when you're perfect, you are perfect!" WTF? What stims are you on again? And how many nights have you been using them? When is your next ultrasound? Mine is on Thursday.
-
@agold: I so hear you on missing out on things because you are stimming/cycling/think you might be pregnant. I think that is one of the worst parts of if - bc you are not pregnant, but you are also not getting to do all the great things you want to do bc your not pregnant. I used to run fairly regularly, and loved doing races, but now I can't tell you how long t has been since I've run since I've been contantly doing treatment for the last 17months.
@agold: 10 is still good! And I definitely think it can surge at the end!
@dookie32: 16 is great!
Fingers crossed for both of you!
-
I've totally been MIA! Had a nice weekend away. @Amorini: ok - how adorable!!! Our DD wants a puppy in the worst way, but my husband is allergic, so it would be difficult. Maybe someday, but I feel like we have so much going on now that I cannot handle one more thing! But, man, how nice would it be to cuddle with a puppy like you have!
@agold: Hang in there with your 10 follicles! What day of stims are you on or how much further do you have before ER?
@AmeliaBedilia: I get you on the holding back on stuff during this whole process. We received a packet from our financial counselor yesterday and it immediately stressed me out. There are so many options and it looks like we have to prepay it all next Wednesday! We are also remodeling, but are working on our basement. I think that it will end up on hold during this process so that we can pay off the IVF first.
@dookie32: What a wonderful number of follicles! Are they going to lower your meds or keep them steady so that you don't get too many and risk OHSS?
Well, like I said above, we received the financial packet in the mail today.
Um, yeah, that immediately stressed me out! We have our nurse consult next Wednesday at 2pm and meet with the doctor at 3:15. We had scheduled the doctor meeting first to get some questions answered, decide which program we are going to do, etc. This whole process is so scary and how much it affects our lives. ugh.
-
@bloved: Thanks for your sweet response to my irrational rant. I swear I'm not like that in real life.
And I'm so sorry you haven't been running as much. But its awful to put that good exercise you love on hold for two weeks every other two weeks. Just. In. Case. But it will all pay off soon, right?? 
@NorthStar: You have been MIA! I'm so glad you had a great weekend. Sorry to hear you got your financial packet. And yep, I had to pre-pay mine all in advance too. All except for random things like anesthesiologist ($350) and egg freezing ($900ish, I forget)that will also suck to have to fork over soon. Sorry you might have to put your basement remodel on hold. What were you going to do with it? Is it a laundry room or a game room or something like that? I love basements.
-
@agold: I've just been super busy and was at my parents over the weekend. And, work has been super crazy! It's stressful, but I think that we will get a lot of answers next week, which I'm excited for
I think that we are going to take some out of savings and then we got a 0% for 18 months credit card so that we don't have to finance the rest and pay interest. We built our house 2 years ago and had the basement left unfinished (except for the walls - they were sheetrocked and mudded/taped). So, since then, we've been doing everything ourselves to finish it up (bathroom, 3 bedrooms, family room). We have some stone work and trim left and then if we can afford it (which isn't likely this fall), we will get carpet! We still have to buy a bathroom vanity and some other items to finish it out. Luckily, a lot of the expensive stuff is already done. We also want to do an accent wall in the family room with barnwood
-
Crosspost:
Progesterone is 38.1 6DPI/7dpIUI. I had an ovidrel booster to help progesterone. So now more waiting.@NorthStar: that sounds great! Our basement is great now (looks like normal living space), but the new house it's a cellar. The best we can do with it is a root cellar. I'm tired of making decisions- I finalized the outdoor lighting this morning for almost the price of an IUI cycle. Something else made me remark to DH that it costs what an IVF cycle does. It's funny how I now sometimes think in terms of IF cost.
-
@agold: Ha well I may have a good amount but my history is crappy quality of eggs so I'm cautiously optimistic :). I'm on Gonal F and Menopur (150 ICU each per day). I started on Sat and next US is tomorrow. Is this any easier for you since you've already been through the egg retrieval part? I hope you guilt trip your sister all the time that you went through all of that for her :).
@northstar: My meds are staying the same so far. When we did all my testing my AMH was pretty good considering my age (37) so my dr is counting on a good amount of eggs. I did talk to the nurse about OHSS (def freaked out about that) and it sounds like they can have me do a different trigger instead of HCG if it looks like I'm at risk for that. That made me feel a little better that they will be monitoring it that closely. The financial stuff does make it really scary- I hear ya on that. We're fortunate that my insurance is covering a lot of the IVF stuff but we're also doing PGD which we have to pay ($7k) for in full the day of retrieval. We had that money earmarked for some upgrades to our house and oh well- there goes that! Just praying that our appliances make it another year :).
@bloved: I'm not a runner but just not working out in such a long time makes me feel really groady :(.
-
@dookie32: We are so close in our cycles! My second ultrasound is also tomorrow. Do you have a tentative retrieval date? Mines the 15th. And with PGD, do you have to do a freeze-all this cycle or can you do a fresh cycle? And that's so great your insurance is covering most of it. The PGD is still a big cost. It sucks to have to pay for any of IVF.
@AmeliaBedilia: That sounds like a good number. The waiting is agonizing. But I know you will get through it great! Do you plan to test early at all?
@NorthStar: Your basement sounds amazing! It doesn't sound like you have much more left to do. The barnwood wall sounds awesome. you will have to post a picture when you are done with it. Is that something you will do yourself, or hire someone?
-
@dookie32: Wow - amazing that a big portion of your IVF is covered! What a blessing and glad to hear they are closely monitoring everything for you. I'm looking forward to hearing how the remainder goes since I'll be starting in October.
@AmeliaBedilia: ugh - I know. I can't help but compare stuff we want to buy or do to the house to IVF or IUI cycles. It's the worst!
@agold: We don't have a huge house by any means, but yes, we do love it. We live in the country, so it's nice and peaceful. and yes, we would do it ourselves. I am extremely fortunate to have a very handy husband!
-
@agold: No, I won't test except maybe he morning of my beta so I don't get bad news on the phone after wagon all day. I keep telling myself that nothing else has worked, so why would this? Downer I know, but I keep getting my hopes up.
-
@agold: They haven't said anything yet but I would assume it will be Wed or Thurs. The ultasound tech told me most people do 10 days of stims. I'm really hoping I don't go too much longer- I messed up on my Menopur last night and had to throw out a day's worth so I think I'll be screwed if I have to go past Monday
We'll only be doing a FET since it takes a while for the PGD to be done. Are you doing a fresh or frozen cycle?@northstar: I know- I'm very thankful! I live in IL and we have mandatory coverage here- something that every state should have. I'm in awe of all of the people that have to do this completely OOP. It is a huge sacrifice and commitment- it's so unfair.
@ameliabedilia: I feel the same way about not wanting to get my hopes up. I think it's just natural when you've been on the emotional roller coaster so many times.
-
Sorry for going quiet folks.. spent the last few days trying to get answers out of my clinic, the lab just kept ignoring my calls. Finally got a response about the embryos today.
We had 8 frozen at day 4. 4 were compacting morulas, 4 were early blastocysts. No actual grading, they just had to make a fairly strict criteria for day 4, and all passed. There were no embryos they were watching - apparently there was a big divide between what was good/not good. The remaining discarded embryos were all significantly behind (2x 7-cell, 2x 6-cell, 8-cell, 9-cell, 15-cell with severe fragmentation) and wouldn't have caught up, so they were very happy with the 8 they did freeze. The scientist I spoke to today was also the one who grew out our day 1's last time (who saw me sob through the transfer of our crappy last one left) and said compared to the embryos he had to work with last time, these were way better. So I'm trying to be positive that maybe future FET's won't suck as badly as they did in the past.
Now I just have to wait for a period (still haven't had one and we're 10 days post egg pick up!) so we can get on the pill.
Looks like lots of cycles underway! My advice re: follicles and scans while stimming is to take things with a grain of salt. Not every follicle will contain an egg; and some follicles can't be seen well, so you may end up with more than you thought.
(Case in point, we were expecting 8 at EPU, got 19 + then some they couldn't reach -- always a guide only!)
-
@jaguar: that's good news that they are better quality! hope your period comes soon and you can get this show on the road.
-
@jaguar: Great! What do you think made the difference in better quality?
-
@AmeliaBedilia: I understand the "why will this time work" feelings for sure. But its good to stay hopeful! You don't have too much longer of a wait.
@dookie32: How did you mess up the menopur??? And how did your appointment go? I'm now on every day appointments and have to return tomorrow. I'm hoping to do a fresh cycle. My doctor is a big supporter of skipping fresh cycles and going straight to frozen cycles so I think your plan is great! And its soooooo nice you only have to pay for the PGD.
@jaguar: Freezing 8 good and better embryos sounds so great! And yes, do try to be positive about the FETs. These 8 could for sure do it for you!
And thanks for your advice re: follicle count. I found at my u/s today that there was another follicle growing that wasn't counted before. So I'm not going to stress about it.
-
@agold: Yeaaah...I was getting frustrated because I couldn't get all of the liquid out of the vials and I pulled out the stopper on the syringe. That made things worse. I eventually had to just start from scratch since I was nearing the end at my time window when I had to do my shots. Since the seal was broken on the vial that has the mixed part in I think it has to be thown out?
Appt today was fine- they said I'm at 12 (mm?) and that I'm "trucking along". The dr changed my Gonal from 150 to 75- not sure what that means. It sounds like I'm going to have to do monitoring both days this weekend which sucks. They won't do appts- it's first come first serve starting at 7am :(. This is cruel to do to someone that is off caffeine right now! How did everything go for you?
I really need to be done with these meds soon. I am a complete b*tch on these hormones!
@jaguar: you are a rock star :)- I hope things start progressing soon.
-
@dookie32: ugh, I hope you don't have to do both weekend days. Yuck.
-
@PurplePumps: I thought I remember you mentioning this a few weeks ago and now there is a podcast on it!
-
@dookie32: I absolutely know how you feel about wanting to get all of the medicine out of the vials. I feel that way about the little skinny Follistim vials. There is always a few drops of medicine left in the top and I hate throwing it away. The menopur never gives me that problem though. And you are SO good to be doing your shots in a tight timeframe each day. I'm pretty loose about the time.
I'm glad your appointment went well today. If the doctor lowered your dose of gonal F, then that probably means your follicles are growing great! My follicles are getting pretty big, but my follistim was still increased from 225 to 300. I was also told to do a ganirelex shot tonight. AND I get to back for an appointment tomorrow also. Luckily my RE does appointments and its not too terribly difficult for me to get to his office. Still, needles and shots in general are sucking big time. My nurse said today that my bloodwork was being shipped off to some different lab to get ready for the egg retrieval surgery. This is all getting more real really fast!
-
@NorthStar: thanks! I will listen to that as soon as I get home. We're in Greece for two weeks just escaping everything for now. .,
-
@PurplePumps: oh my gosh! wow! I had no idea..enjoy it! sounds absolutely wonderful
-
@PurplePumps: Oh my gosh. Greece! Post a picture for us girls, please!
-
@PurplePumps: Enjoy! Enjoy! Soak it all in!
@jaguar: Yay for such a glowing report! Hope your period comes soon!!!
@agold: @dookie32: You ladies are in the thick of it! You're doing it! I can't believe ER is the next step. Cheering for you and coming close behind.
I stopped BCPs today and continue with leuprolide for another week plus. Stims start next Friday and somehow I'm supposed to get a period in the next 5 days. After tracking my cycle so closely for TI, I have no idea what is happening inside my body right now.
Puppy Margot had a good week and is getting the hang of how things run around here.. Doggy daddy and I are tired! Big brother is making himself scarce, too. Oh but she is so sweet and peaceful when she's sleeping!
Last thing, I finally told work about my "medical condition that requires surgery" and pre-surgery monitoring. It's a relatively new job with intense short-term deadlines so I have been holding off until the last possible moment. Unlike my last job, no one knows what will be 'hot' around the week of my ER, so why give lots of notice... At least that was my thinking since my boss is an older male, close to retirement, and it's mostly the two of us at a satellite office. There was no way I was going to talk about anything in specific terms! Unfortunately, as much as I tried to make it sound like no big thing, (but. heck, monitoring, surgery then an outpatient procedure are kind of hard to minimize!), I'm afraid he thinks I have cancer or something... He was supportive and has my back if the home office balks! They won't, they're just a bunch of good ol' boys ... all the more reason to play this down big time!
-
@Amorini: Wow! I'm excited for you to be starting stims. I got a period a few days after I stopped birth control and it seemed unaffected by the luepron that I started around the same time. And I have no idea whats going on with my body either! Absolutely no clue what cycle day I could be.
I'm so glad that informing your work went smoothly and that your new puppy is doing well!!
-
@agold: @dookie32: How did your monitoring appointments go today? Thinking of you both!
-
@Amorini: Waiting is so hard! Hopefully you will be good to go on Friday and joining us:).
@agold: I started Ganirelix on Friday too- ugh that one is not fun. There's like a delayed burn and I think it's making me nauseous. I also took mine back to back sort of (Friday night then Sat morning) so that might have made it worse. Any indication of how many more days for you?
So after my Friday ultrasound the nurse told me I have 29 follicles(!!!) which is freaking me out. She said my estrogen levels look good so far though so they aren't too worried yet about OHSS. They reduced my Menopur to 1 vial. I had the day off yesterday then went in at 7am this morning (blech). The ultrasound tech said things were "cookin'" so I was like- sweet! But then when I saw the nurse before I left I said "So is there any possibility of triggering tonight?" (I asked because they told me they could draw a circle where we have to do the HCG shot and I wanted to make sure we didn't miss that) they were like- "Oh no you still have probably 3 or 4 more days...." UUUGGGHHHH. The tech on Friday said she thought I wouldn't even be back Monday and now I likely have 4 more days. I really don't know how this all works- I'm sure it's really trial and error with the drugs- but all this uncertainty sucks. I was sort of preparing for ER this week and now it sounds like it might be this weekend. We don't have any family nearby so now we have to scramble to find someone to watch our son in case it ends up being Saturday.
-
@Amorini: I can't wait to be checking in on you and YOUR monitoring appointments!
@dookie32: I really hated to add the ganirelex. I'm sorry you are having trouble with it. Why did you need to take two back to back? I've been really off with the timing of my shots, but I always take them in the evening. The ganirelex sucks for me because I hate the needle. Its harder for me to get in. I don't know if I felt it burn, though, since I do it before the menopur and menopur definitely burns for me. I can't believe you have 29 follicles! That's incredible! How are you feeling? Are you puffy? Sore? My little 10+ follicles (
) are making my stomach really sore, so I can't imagine how you feel with 29. I have one more night - tonight - of follistim, menopur and ganirelex. My doctor's office had to give me three vials of menopur and one of follistim since i ran out. Are they going to charge me for it?
They didn't say. I have to bring my pregnyl to my appointment tomorrow morning and they will inject it for me. Then my egg retrieval will happen on Wednesday. @dookie32: your egg retreival isn't really that far off! The weekend will come quick, and maybe, figners crossed, it happens on Friday so you wont have to worry about childcare. -
Question for you ladies - how have you changed your diets during the process? My acupuncturist said to go gluten, dairy and mostly sugar free. I've tried since Friday and I'm starving!!!! Not sure if I can continue this through end of November..
Thread Closed
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite1
4007 comments