! I'm trying to remember to trust my doctor. Plus, I think that first monitoring appointment can be a little difficult - kind of like a single beta - because you don't really know much yet and it is such a small change (typically) from the baseline 
. I'm sure you'll do great! They can really tailor your meds along the way based on your response, too, which always makes me feel better.
@GreenThumb: So hard to let go and trust the providers, isn't it?? one of my new years hopes is to not google so much 
They didn't even do a baseline estrogen for me (just an ultrasound) so I have no idea where I started from before stims.
This thread has been closed by the original poster.
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@AmeliaBedilia: The estrogen level is kind of an individual thing, based on the number of follicles you have growing. So it sounds like each RE might have their own formula for dictating when to increase, decrease, or stay the course on meds. Trust me, I tried to find a chart
! I'm trying to remember to trust my doctor. Plus, I think that first monitoring appointment can be a little difficult - kind of like a single beta - because you don't really know much yet and it is such a small change (typically) from the baseline 
. I'm sure you'll do great! They can really tailor your meds along the way based on your response, too, which always makes me feel better.
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@AmeliaBedilia: woo hoo for making it through day 1!
@GreenThumb: So hard to let go and trust the providers, isn't it?? one of my new years hopes is to not google so much 
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@endymion4: I know! I try my best to just keep the faith, but google gets the best of me sometimes
!
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I realized that I forgot to update last week while home on break. AF finally came on New Years Eve night, so about 6 days late. bummer..we have one more shot in January to get pregnant (albeit, not likely) and then onto BCP in February.
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@NorthStar: I am sorry about AF. It sucks to have a weird long cycle. Hoping January is a better month!
@AmeliaBedilia: How did everything go for you today?
AFM: U/S and E2 this morning. Still no measurable follicles, but I can see (and feel) that they are getting bigger. E2 rose and they didn't change my meds, so I guess the RE is happy. Another U/S and bloodwork on Wednesday. I also ordered a few more meds (I broke up the initial order into a smaller set), so hopefully I should have all I need for this cycle.
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My estrogen was 80 last Wednesday while I was on estrace- I was told a little high but ok since I was on the estrace. Today is day 3, I've done menopur 75 and gonal f 375 Saturday and Sunday night. My estrogen was only 47. The nurse said to increase to 375, and I said I was on 375 already. She said that was her mistake, RE just wrote 375. I thought estrogen was supposed to go up and am concerned this is a sign I'm not responding. I have an ultrasound and labs Wednesday. Is this concerning?
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@AmeliaBedilia: Try not to worry too much! I think you will have a lot more information after the U/S and bloodwork on Wednesday so they can see what the follicles are doing.
They didn't even do a baseline estrogen for me (just an ultrasound) so I have no idea where I started from before stims.
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@endymion4: I think I saw this last week too. I just cannot imagine going through that many cycles. I think that if I lived closer to my RE, I would totally do it (if funds allowed), but it's so hard living 2.5 hour away. It does give hope, though, that we will eventually get there.
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@NorthStar: Yes, I can't imagine the toll that commute takes in addition to everything else! I'm lucky that mine is only about 15-20 mins away on a good day, 30ish with traffic. It does make it harder to assess when to "move on," though, wondering if the NEXT cycle will be THE cycle
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Try not to worry about the E2 on its own; it's only really important as you get to the tail end, to see if it 'matches' with your mature follicles - and to check for OHSS if it skyrockets before/after trigger. x
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@GreenThumb: @jaguar: Thanks! I asked Dr. Google before seeing your responses and "cancelled cycle" came up too much and I'm intermittently freaking out. Though between a 16mm cyst and a few days on estrogen, and based on feeling terrible (almost migraine) Saturday, I'm wondering if my estrogen bottomed out and is now going back up. If my RE were concerned about lack of response, he would have increased the dose, right?
Thanks for bearing with my crazy. It's been a tough week even without ivf- unexpected death of a relative, near migraine, renovation stress, and work was crazy today. This low estrogen is pushing me to the edge.
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@AmeliaBedilia: I'm sorry you've got so much else going on in regular life. I hate that we can't just put all that on hold while going through IVF. Staying the course with your meds has to be a good thing. Hoping the migraines stay away and you get some good news on Wednesday! Hugs!!
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@GreenThumb: Thanks! On top of everything, I just got a bill from the local hospital for $122, only for a beta two months ago that was supposedly done in RE's office, and paid for as part of an IUI package. The hospital charges $297 for a beta but my insurance allowed $122. Hopefully, the RE's office will get this fixed.
I forgot to ask about whether a heating pad is helpful. It seems like it might help during stims and ER, but don't after transfer. Can the heating pad help the follicles grow?
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@AmeliaBedilia: Every time I went for a blood draw, and my RE called back with the results, I was never actually told the exact number, or I don't even recall if I was. It was basically like "everything is fine, keep meds at same dose." or "everything is fine, please up the meds to X amount." Try to just relax, take your meds, and trust your doctors. Sorry about the insurance mix ups. That's such a pain to deal with.
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@endymion4: Sounds amazing! I wonder if or when that option would ever be available (plus how much would it cost)? 80% success rate is very high!
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@NorthStar: right?? too bad it probably won't be available until after I move on from this one way or another
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@endymion4: That was my thought exactly!
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I had a great acupuncture appointment. She's so positive this will work. She's actually delaying a trip so she can be in town to do treatments around my transfer!
First ultrasound and more lab work tomorrow. Please send prayers!
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@AmeliaBedilia: Good luck at your appointment! will be thinking of you! So nice to have someone believe so strongly in your cycle and want to be there to support you!!
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@endymion4: Thanks! I are are that you're always so encouraging!
6 good follicles, several little smaller (7-8mm) that might go. He estimated 5-10 retrieved which is down from 10-15 he previously said. Otherwise it looks good. He is still estimating 2-5 good embryos. He is guessing retrieval will be next Thursday instead of Wednesday. This will probably require more time off work than expected and ordering more meds, but I'm waiting to get the confirmation call this afternoon. I'm disappointed about fewer eggs, but his nurse quickly said that its quality, not quantity. I've read that the eggs that respond first are usually highest quality, so hopefully this won't be too problematic. I'm really hoping we get enough that we can get two kids out of this cycle so I never need to worry about my eggs again.
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@AmeliaBedilia: What day of stims are you and they kept your medication dosage the same? Also, how many days were you planning on taking off? I really only needed the day of the retrieval off and felt fine to work the next day, if that helps you any. and yes, quality over quantity. Try not to worry about what ifs and second kids. You need to get the one child first, so try to focus on that instead and trusting your doctors. I know how hard it can be (trust me - I'm super type A!), but so important. Are you doing any sort of relaxation or meditation in the evenings? I found that to help tremendously as well.
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@agold: So excited to see that your transfer worked out! I know I've been following along with you for a few months now. Congratulations!!!!
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@NorthStar: Today is day 5 so I've done four days of stims. I will officially hear this afternoon about the dose once the estrogen results are back, but he said he probably wouldn't hangs the dose (gonal f 375 and menopur 75). I was planning on taking egg retrieval and transfer day off. I just found out my company treated Christmas in a weird way so I have less paid time off than I expected. I work a four day wrk week and things can be adjusted some. I had adjusted one of my days off to be the anticipated transfer day, but that is probably changing. The Person who does scheduling is a pain to deal with so it makes it more stressful.
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Hi everyone! Popping back in after a long break from HelloBee
Starting our 2nd cycle stims on Sunday. The RE changed my meds slightly this time, adding Human Growth Hormone. Anyone else used this in their cycle? Interested to hear any feedback about success, side effects, etc.
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@waiting4you: Welcome back! I don't have any experience with growth hormone, but I hope it works! Is this for your first baby?
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@AmeliaBedilia: Me too! Seems logical to use Human Growth Hormone to "grow a human" right? hehe! That's what I keep telling myself. and yes, this is for our first. Have done 2 IUI's that didn't work out (though I responded "too well" to the meds) and then a round of IVF in Sept/Oct of 2015. Transferred 2, nothing to freeze. Now we're back at it. Hoping this is our time!!!
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@AmeliaBedilia: My cycle with the least eggs (3 retrieved!) was the best we've ever done, and got G. Every other cycle with more eggs has been dismal. Quality better than quantity. x
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@AmeliaBedilia: Glad your U/S went well, even if there are less follicle than the RE first estimated. I agree with PPs, quality definitely trumps quantity!!
AFM: I'm on day 8 of stims (tonight). U/S today finally had a few measurable follicles with some smaller ones, too, but I'm definitely ok with slow and steady. Estrogen is still looking good so that's a relief, too. I keep having a fear that it is going to skyrocket, but it hasn't yet. Same meds today and tomorrow, back for another check on Friday! They won't give me an estimate on ER, but I'm going to guess Monday or Tuesday. Hopefully we'll get a better idea on Friday!
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@GreenThumb: Glad things are going well!
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@GreenThumb: Slow & steady is the way to go!
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Hey ladies, just wanted to say Happy New Years and let you know I'm thinking of you all. Keeping calm, steady and focused over here.
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@AmeliaBedilia: @jaguar: @Amorini:
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@GreenThumb: Mine were slow and steady in my August cycle, too! Not long to go for you!!!
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@GreenThumb: Sounds like it is going great and yes, definitely slow and steady. You don't want to stim too quickly and compromise egg quality. Yay for progress!
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@AmeliaBedilia: Did you hear back regarding your retrieval, although, it's still early yet and a lot can change (my retrieval kept moving). When is your next ultrasound? Tomorrow, I'm guessing? Thinking of you..
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@endymion4: @NorthStar: Thanks ladies! How are you doing? Has the new year been treating you well?
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@GreenThumb: I'm doing ok - just hanging out this month and will give it one old fashioned try in January until I start BCP when the next period comes. My baseline ultrasound is Feb 28th, so we are about 7.5 weeks out until that point and it cannot come soon enough!
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@NorthStar: Oh, I know that feeling! That was me basically all of November and December! Do you have any fun things to keep you distracted?
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