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@Marfi: Did you have your ultrasound today?
@MoonMoon: Welcome to IVF - the official club of waiting, and waiting, and more waiting...
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@MoonMoon: Welcome (kind of, sort of, haha) to the club!
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Hi everyone! I guess it's time to join you.
I'm currently two shots into my first IVF cycle and hoping all goes well.
The first ultrasound to see how the meds work, is on Friday. -
Good luck to all the new IVFers! Last time we had a big batch we saw lots of success, hopefully this time too!
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@paranundrum: Good luck! Sorry you're having to jump over here form the POTS boards, but I hope IVF is successful for you.
How are the shots treating you so far?
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@foodiebee: Thank you, I hope so too! The injections so far haven't been bad, it's still early days though. I have done the last two myself. I was worried it would be worse, but I'm still not a fan. Anything for a baby, right?
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Can anybody tell me how rigid the FSH injection timing is? The time I have chosen works well almost every day, but tomorrow it's a bit tricky. Is it possible to nudge the time a bit and how much or will I mess everything up just by thinking about not injecting at the same time on the minute?
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@paranundrum: hmmm, trying to remember. I think 30 minutes in either direction would be okay, but I’m hoping someone else can weigh in too bc my memory is spotty on this.
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@foodiebee: Thanks, I'll try to sneak out at the right time, but it's good to know there might be some wriggle room in case of emergencies.
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@paranundrum: If I recall, the trigger shot and PIO start are the ones that have to be exact. Everything else can vary 1-2 hrs.
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@paranundrum: definitely check with your nurse. From what I remember. the trigger was super important to be on time, but everything else was wiggly. the PIOs I never worried about timing. I just did them "at night". Did your clinic tell you to be strict about timing? @yellowbeach
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@paranundrum: fwiw I was never that strict about anything except the trigger and was always told if it was plus or minus an hour it was fine. But as always, ask your doctors!
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@Mrs. Pajamas: Not until I did an ERA. Then PIO was supposed to be very timed.
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@yellowbeach: @Mrs. Pajamas: @skiierchck99: Thank you. I was told about the trigger being super important too. 36 hours before retrieval or the cycle is a bust. I have some time until then.
Later today is the first check-up, I already gave blood in the morning before work. -
Check-up update: Things are moving along. I'll continue with the same dose of Gonal and add the one that's supposed to keep OV from happening, two shots a day now, yay!
I have five or six follicles larger than 1mm and about eleven smaller ones, but I have no clue what that might mean for the end result. The next appointment is on Wednesday.
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@paranundrum: glad to hear this update and that things are going in the right direction so far!
How many follicles/eggs are the target, have they said?
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@MoonMoon: There hasn't been any talk about a number, but as I understand it, they'll just get all they can.
The past few days have been a bit harder with two injections a day. I thought I would get used to the poking or at least won't be as sensitive to it, but it seems like it hurts more now in comparison with the first shots. Cetrotide is worse than Gonal-F, no idea why, but it's a bit more painful, I can do Gonal myself, but SO is in charge of Cetrotide. This morning it wasn't as bad as the yesterday, but I had the added bonus of almost blacking out during the injection. Probably just a combination of it being early morning, my low blood pressure and nerves, but it wasn't a nice surprise.
They'll tell me when to trigger on Wednesday. -
@paranundrum: Getting close! I think I remember cetrotide burning a lot when it went in. One thing DH used to do that I forgot about was have me cough right as he was doing the injection. Something about it is very distracting from the actual pinch. Do you plan to take any time off around your retrieval? And will you be doing a fresh transfer this cycle or waiting?
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@yellowbeach: It does burn! Some mornings worse than others. Today wasn't too bad. I'll try the coughing tip, if it gets any worse, thanks!
I'll have to take some time off. The actual day of for sure, but I guess a day after that to be sure would be good too? It's my first rodeo, I have no idea how bad it will be.
The plan is to do a fresh transfer, providing there isn't a problem with overstimulating. If everything is okay, there will be a fresh transfer, if I need to recover, they'll do a transfer in February. They also said they'll leave an empty cycle between each try to let my body rest.
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@paranundrum: I was nervous about retrieval but found it to be pretty mild recovery-wise. I took that day off, but it was the day before a weekend, so I had the following days off already. I found a heating pad helped with any discomfort. I remember taking it easy and watching Netflix on the couch and napping the rest of the day. I hope you have an easy time of it too.
We also did a fresh transfer because everything was looking good for it. I'm now torn about that, because on one hand I would've liked a break to let my body recover some before starting PIO shots and the hormone swing of pregnancy, but it also worked and we have a wonderful son now, so I can't complain too much now!
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@foodiebee: Thanks! Good to know it might be survivable. I'm still scared though...
I'm so glad it worked for you, it gives me hope. -
I have another update. I'll trigger tonight and the retrieval is on Friday morning, but as there is a high risk of OHSS, they won't do a transfer this cycle. My body has a cycle or possibly two to recover and they'll transfer in February on March.
It does make me a bit sad. I feel like I have done my waiting and was hoping for a chance sooner, but they know better and I can wait a bit longer if it raises my chances for a happy and healthy pregnancy. -
@paranundrum: you have waited for a long time! I get what you mean, because you've been a champion of patience. I'm having a hard time putting trust in the process and the universe myself. You're right that you want your body to be as healthy and comfortable as possible for a possible pregnancy. Rooting for you!
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@paranundrum: I had a chemical pregnancy after my stim cycle and have heard FET often have better outcomes these days because of how jacked up your body is while stimming, so while disappointing, maybe it will ultimately be for the best. Both my daughter and baby in the way are frosties! And getting ready for a frozen cycle is way way easier. Thinking good things for you - how many follicles did they see on the last us?
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@paranundrum: I have a frozen (current DS) and a fresh (DD). You’ll be great either way. But yes, IVF is all about waiting waiting and more waiting which is THE WORST.
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@yellowbeach: Whoops, thought I replied to you but apparently I didn't!
I've had 3 ultrasounds so far, last Monday, this Monday and this morning (I had some bleeding last night) everything looks good just a small SCH!
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@MoonMoon: @yellowbeach: @skiierchck99: Thank you! Waiting a month (or two) might not be a bad thing overall either, we have some stuff going on at the moment and some extra time to deal with that is good I guess. I would still definitely rather get pregnant right away if it were up to me though...
About follicles - I'm not sure, a bunch? I think they said there are over twenty of them over the size of 1,1, but I have no idea what units they use, mm? cm? I'm a real novice. About half of the twenty were larger than 2 said units.
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@Marfi: Hi baby!
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Another update in my solo IVF show
I had the retrieval the day before yesterday, I was super nervous, but it wasn't too bad. Inserting the IV was the worst part by far. I walked in the procedure room, hopped on the table, had a great nap and woke up half an hour later in my room. Apparently I had climbed on the bed myself, I have no memory of that.
There had been 29 follicles and they got 25 eggs. I'll get the next update in a week and find out how many embryos made it to the freezer.
And my prize was...twenty more days of Clexane shots so I don't die or something...
Other than that the recovery has been fine, the nurse warned that I might have some aches and pains because of the number of follicles I had and I did, but it hasn't been too bad and today I'm feeling fine. I hope it's still fine tomorrow when I have to go back to work. -
@paranundrum: I'm glad to hear it went well and I'm hoping for lots of viable embryos for you! Did you feel well for work this morning?
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@MoonMoon: Thanks! I'm at work and feel mostly fine. I would rather be lying down, but it's not bad, I'm just a bit tired.
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@paranundrum: So glad you had a painless and successful retrieval. Fingers crossed for great fertilization and growth to blasts! I know you said you’ll know full results in a week, but will they give you any updates along the way about how many embryos are still growing and dividing properly? Most US clinics give updates Day 0 (retrieval day), 1, 3 and 5.
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@yellowbeach: Thanks! They won't tell me by default, they might if I asked though. I think it depends on where you go to for IVF. We have two big hospitals and one or two private practices in the city where I'm at. The private ones probably have more of a personal touch and the hospital I'm at has more experience, but works more...factory like I guess. I'm sure it wouldn't be a great fit for everyone.
I thought about getting the updates and I actually think I wouldn't want them. Right now I'll get one number, but I'm afraid I would get downhearted if I heard lower and lower numbers every other day. Can't wait for the update on Friday though. -
So we went from 29 follicles to 25 eggs to 2 frozen embryos. At least it wasn't a completely empty cycle, but I can't help but feel a bit disappointed.
I do understand it's two chances, provided they survive the defrosting process. In a perfect world that's more than enough and more than a lot of other great ladies get.
Trying to stay positive. -
@paranundrum: hugs, I’m sorry - that must be disappointing. If you end up stimming again (which I so hope you won’t need to!) can you see if they will cover ICSI, where they individually implant each egg with a Soren versus a sperm wash? Did they have any insight as to why they didn’t fertilize? I’m still very hopeful that your two will lead to a
but I definitely get where you’re at.
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@skiierchck99: Thank you! I think they did ICSI, at least that's what my first doc suggested. I don't know the details right now, but I'll have to book another appointment in the beginning of next cycle and I can ask at what point things went wrong there. That'll probably happen some time in the next few weeks.
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@paranundrum: just want to say I’m sorry for that big drop. I know what a kick in the gut that is. Two embryos is definitely better than none, but darn it sure would have been nice to have 4-6.
Having been in your shoes, I will say the bright side is there are lots of medication adjustments they can make. Your RE along with the embryologist should be able to look at where the embryos were at each stage (did they look on track or behind in growth) at retrieval, fertilization, etc. changes in the hormone regimen and timing can really affect things. I would ask for a breakdown of how many embryos fertilized right after ICSI and then where those dropped off. If they fertilize and then stop dividing, that points to one issue vs if they stop at Day 3 or 4 and just never make it to a day 5 blast.
Take some time to grieve it, plan and organize your questions for what is commonly known as the “WTF” meeting, and go from there.
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@paranundrum: I’m sorry, I can definitely understand how that would be disappointing. I think @yellowbeach has some good advice
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@yellowbeach: @LAZB: Thank you!
I'll get my questions ready for the next appointment. AF will need to come first though.
I had three days of spotting after the retrieval, then two days with nothing and I now have been spottin for the last four days. At first I thought something was wrong, then I thought AF was coming and now I don't know what to think. The retrieval was eight days ago. I hope my body gets itself straight soon.
How are the shots treating you so far?
but I definitely get where you’re at.
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