Okay, so for all you prospective IVFers, I wanted to give you an update. I just got back from my b/w & u/s this morning and after 5 days on follistim, I'm responding really well. They said I have 6 follicles on one side and 8 on the other all ranging from about a 10 to 14 (mm?). So, for the first time through this whole thing, (through all the blood taken, brusies becasue of it, sonograms, and injections), I finally feel excited! :bouncing: It's been a long time coming, but it was pretty cool to see all of them in there...growing and waiting to become little miracles. Well, I just wanted to share my news! :D I'll keep you all posted!

It's always great when things are going your way when we are going through these procedures. I am very happy for you!!! You're in my thoughts and prayers that the rest of your cycle will be just as encouraging!!

Baby Dust!!

~ravae

Hi KM

That's so cool :) I am so happy for you that it all seems to be going so well. I haven't posted for a while as I have been really upset and down about having to do IVF and I am just waiting for my first appointment and AF just came along and I just feel so down about everything. But it is so great to hear from my IVF buddy that it isn't as bad as all that and it might actually work!

I just long so badly for a BFP I can't tell you......... :confused:

Good luck - what happens next?

TB xx :wave:

KM7503, boy time is flying by -- hopefully for you too. I am soooo glad to hear everything is going well. I have my follow-up appointment tomorrow to see if I am healing as I should be and hopefully get the o-kay to proceed. Best of wishes, keep us informed.

Actually, things are progressing nicely but I am at risk right now of hyperstimulating, so they are watching me closely. My retrieval might be Friday. :bouncing: I am getting very excited but feeling terribly bloated and "full" (of follicles I guess). But between some cramps and occasional nausia, it's not too bad, especially becasue it's getting closer to the end.
TB, I know how you feel b/c I felt the same way. You are certainly not alone in your feelings or in going through it. I am so suprised every day when I go in to my clinic and I see so many women there, all going through some kind of treatment. You have to stay positive. We all want that BFP. Just think, this may be the only way to get it, so you have to look at it as a miracle worker/a positive, unbelievable opportunity that women were not privied to decades ago. We should feel lucky that this is even available to us and that we can still be successful in getting pregnant.
I wish all of you good thoughts and good news soon...I'll keep you updated of my progress. Thanks for your responses! :wave:

KM, thanks for the update. I'm glad that you're feeling so positive. I have my fingers crossed for you! Have you experienced any mood swings? How long was it between your first IVF appointment and now? Did you have to go on the pill for a month? I'm going to be doing all of this in May (I think) so I'm very curious.

Well, yes I have had mood swings but not too bad. Mainly, I'm cranky and just irritable and if I'm not, I get there pretty quick; like anything can set me off. I have noticed I can cry at the drop of a hat lately and I'm very tired. Physically, I'm feeling bloated and sometimes crampy and I've been feeling some pressure in the past few days. They said today I have like 27 follicles in there so it's no wonder why! :p I don't mind it now though b/c I may go in the next few days!! :bouncing:
As far as the time, I'm not sure if you meant from my very first appt. or when I actually started but...I had my first consult (when they mentioned IVF) on Feb. 7th. Then, since I was in mid-cycle at the time, I had to wait for AF and then start BCP which I did about 3 weeks later b/c AF was late. I started the pill on March 2nd and was only on it until the 14th, but actually started Lupron on the 10th. I started follistim on the 21st. So the whole thing for me from when I started the pill will be almost 30 days.
Today they said my estrogen was up to 3000! :eek: So, they are stopping my follistim and starting me on a light dose of HCG, (not the trigger), to calm things down so I don't hyperstimulate.
If you have any other questions, let me know...I'll keep you all informed over the next few days. :wave:
Thanks for the warm wishes and lots of luck. I feel I could really use it. :angel:

Sounds like you are getting close to egg retrieval! Try to stay as hydrated as you can - lots of gatorade and xtra protein!

Excited to hear more about your journey! :bouncing:

Hi KM

How is everything going? Very excited following your progress through your 1st cycle. Hopefully it will be me soon too.

Just a quick question - my first appt will be on April 18th and that will be around day 25 of my cycle - do you think (if everything else is ok) that they would let me start my 1st IVF on the following cycle i.e. just a few days later or do they need more time to sort stuff out?

Keep me posted - I have everything crossed for you :)

TBxx :wave:

Well, they will probably let you start...it depends on how fast you can get the papers signed and initial blood tests done.
As for me, things have taken a little turn off the progressive path and got a little screwed up. On Wed, my estrogen spiked, I didn't get the message for triggering b/c they had the wrong phone # and I took another HCG low dose, which spiked my estrogen even more! :eek: I freaked out thinking that all these things would go wrong... :confused: my eggs would get too big and be post mature, I would hyperstimulate, and they wouldn't be able to do the transfer, I was hysterical! :( I was suppose to have the retrieval today!!!....but now I'm just coasting with Lupron so my levels can calm down. I will probably trigger tomorrow and have the retrieval on Monday. But, the 30 somethin' follies I have are still growing and I feel so "full," exhausted and emotional that I can barely walk around without feeling tender and ready to cry. I'm keeping everything crossed too, I hope it works out. The nurse says, everything happens for a reason and that it's meant to be, so I'm trying to stay positive.
Good luck to all of you...I'll let you know how things go!

km7503-
oh, these posts take me back to my IVF cycle 7 years ago - March 23rd was the 7th anniversary of finding out it had worked! I gave birth to twins later that year. The whole cycle and all the million steps with meds and tests and the calls back and forth with the dr's office - it was so nerve-wracking! But worth it. When the twins were one year old, I very unexpectedly found myself pregnant without ANY medical intervention OR much thought, come to think of it. My husband had testicular cancer in 97 and I was infertile myself, so we were very blessed to be pregnant again. Now I have 3 healthy children. I know many, many people pregnant after IVF.

When your nurse said everything happens for a reason, I know firsthand what she means. My husband and I were struggling through clomid and IUI for the third time, after 3 years of trying to conceive independently, when he found a lump in his testicle. At the time, he had a varicocele and we were exploring elective surgery for repair to possibly increase our fertility. He went in for the second opinion on the elective surgery and when mentioning the lump, was found to have cancer. So, baby-making went on the back-burner and we concentrated on cancer treatment. A year later, he was healthy and we were doing IVF. If not for the infertility, my husband would not have gone to the doctor about the lump. There was a very good reason for both the infertility and the cancer, though at the time, it was difficult to appreciate. I hope that the whole wrong number scenario is to your very great benefit and that you can take some comfort from my "wrong number" scenario. I remember the tight throat, the tears, the discomfort, the pain of waiting, the fear of something going wrong - so, I will pray for you.

Hang in there - you will be fine, even though you don't feel fine now. One day, it will all be a blur. :)

Thank you so much for your reply. I am sorry to hear of your husband's cancer. That must have been really hard to go through. I'm so glad it worked out in the end though...and twins! How exciting! They must be heaven sent!
My DH just told me to try not to cry, as I keep having those moments of doubt and misery, and that I could be pregnant in a week. I think that might be the only reason I'm trying to stay positive.
Well, thanks again for your story. It gave me hope and maybe I am starting to believe that everything really does happen for a reason. :angel:

Hi KM

Thinking of you and hoping everything is going to plan. Hope to hear from you soon.

TB :wave:

Thinking of you! :wave:

Have you had your ER yet?

I had my ER today! :bouncing:
Feeling a little sore but NO more bloating! It actually feels so much better without all those eggs inside. They found 13 and some "empty" ones. I guess the really big ones either ovulated on their own or dissolved. I am so excited to hear the fertilization report tomorrow! ;)

YEAH for you!! I am anxious to hear your report tomorrow, as well! Keep us posted! My prayers are with your for lots of fertilization!

~ravae

GOOD DEAL!! When will you get a fertilization report?!!

You rest up and make sure you stay VERY hydrated! :bouncing:

I wish you the best of luck.....can't wait to hear your exciting news. :wave:

Hi KM

Glad to hear you no longer feel like a bloated balloon and well done for the egg collection - it's no mean feat to get this far, so I believe!

How do they get the eggs? Were you under general anaesthetic or sedation? And did your DH have to do the (very important) deed at the hospital or at home?! My DH is worried about the pressure on him having to perform to order......how did yours cope?

Can't wait to hear about the ET (see I am getting to know all the IVF lingo in preparation for me hopefully starting in May!!)

Keep us posted.

TB x :wave:

Congrats KM, do you know how many will be inserted back into you. Does your RE have a limit? Keep us posted :)

Tropbelle28, will you be starting BCP in May or actually already on them and having your ER in May. If you will be starting the BCP we can be cycle buddies. I am currently on BCP right now, but have to finish this pack and when AF arrives I have to call to start the process.

Well, I guess I spoke too soon on the bloating...at about 2 am I was VERY uncomfortable and thought I was going to be sick. :rolleyes: It turns out I hyperstimed a little, but feeling better today.

Anyway, they said that 12 out of 13 were mature and out of those 12, 7 fertilized! :bouncing: I was hoping for more but if even half those continue to divide I'll be happy. :)
So my transfer day will either be Saturday (day 3) or Monday, (day 5). I'll know more on Sat. I would love to put back 2 to get a higher chance of one and maybe even twins! But, since I already hyperstimed, my RE is advising against it if I do go to blast stage, day 5, since it is probable that both, if very good, would implant. And after pregnancy starts, the hyperstimming gets worse. She thinks at that point it should only be one. But they really have to wait and see the quality and the number and advise what would be best.

Anyway, tropbelle you wanted to know how they take my eggs? I did get anestesia, which I was so nervous about. Didn't feel a thing until I woke up about a half hour later, then I was pretty sore. I think they stick a long needle at the end of a probe and then there's a suction thing that takes them out from each side. They have to insert the needle through the vaginal wall and "puncture" the ovary. I'm not too sure about any more than that.
And yes, my DH did the deed there at the office ;) ~while I was in "surgery." He wasn't shy about it at all and we actually preffered it b/c we live more than 20 mintues away with traffic. They did freeze a sample prior to yesterday just in case, for back-up, but didn't need it. You could have your Dh do the same if he feels the pressure. (Although, they say that frozen sperm is harder to see quality b/c their motility is lower.)

Anyway, I'll keep you all posted on the transfer. And I can't wait to hear all your journeys soon. Good luck! :angel:

withinreach

i have my first appt on april 18th to go through everything and all being well my first IVF cycle could then start around 9th May. At my clinic they don't put you on BC first (i think) but will find out all the gruesome details in 8 days time (and counting). If I am right, we could both be going through it together! Will keep you posted.

TB :wave:

tropbelle28, please keep me posted. I will start my pack at the end of this month and have sorta followed a calander they gave me months ago when I was suppose to start. Anyway if I don't have anymore set backs my retrieval should be at the end of May beginning of June. Hopefully all goes well and I don't have to go through anymore waiting. It is driving me crazy. I know its all for the best but being patient is an entirely different topic. We may have to start our own thread.

So...what's the update? I hope things are going well.

My transfer was on Saturday when we put in 2 beautiful 8 celled "A" quality embies, and now I'm in the dreaded 2ww. Well, thank g*d it's actually less than 2 weeks. In fact it's only a week from tomorrow and then I have my BETA. I can't wait to just find out and then go into the dreaded anxiety of the 12ww. Hopefully, as time goes by, I'll be more confident and stay positive. :angel:

How are things going with you?

My husband has his post-varicolcele surgery SA this week and we'll have the results by the end of the month. I have an appointment already set up at the clinic to start the IVF process, the first week of May -- but we'll cancel if he miraculously has good SA results. I'm trying not to get my hopes us. I think it'll be IVF for us. I'm hoping for twins!!!

Well, I hope that he does have a good SA! Keep me posted! I'm hoping for twins too, ;) we did put two beautiful embies in...hopefully they both found a comfy place! I have a strong feeling about having both of them, about being a Mom who is a twin, having twins. Anyway, good luck and I'll keep you posted on my miracle babies soon!