40+ and Trying for 1st? Join in!!

[Weezy9]

Hello Ladies
Sorry I haven't been on to post for a while.

Vonn hope all goes well with the IUI

Terri - how much longer till test date? Fx for you all the way

Pussycat - how's the planning going with your FET?

Jean - best of luck with the MRI, hope it's gone ok

AFM: I'm sorry to post that the IVF failed : (
In the early morning on the day before my test date, I suffered really bad cramp and started bleeding more. The bleeding didn't stop and the cramp continued. I left a msg for the nurse the night before to say I had spotting and they called that morning and I told them I had started bleeding and not just spotting. She told me to continue with cyclogest and test as planned anyway. I did as she instructed but I knew it was pointless as bleeding didn't stop. So It def was AF and it's only today that it's eased off a bit but I had awful cramping for 2/3 days...much more painful than normal AF. Is that normal? I was an emotional wreck for the last few days. I know us 40+ have a lesser chance and have prepared myself for the worse, but I never thought I never imagined it to be like that. I was crying and DH cried with me for the last few days but the sun is shining today and I'm feeling better and getting to terms with it and planning the next step. My clinic offers free follow up consultation after a failed cycle, so I'm going to that to see what they say. Also I have a friend who had done 1 cycle of IVF and had twins and suggest I have a go at her clinic so I'll probably book a consultation there and compare both clinics before I decide what to do. I Think I'll give it another go later in the year but for now, need to claw back some of my clients that I've neglected for so long and earn some £££ to find this ivf.
Does anyone know how far my embies would have gone if AF came on 9-10dp3dt?? Would it have died pretty much soon after transfer?
This last cycle, I didn't do any extra testing, pretty much a straight forward cycle as the consultant instructed. Would anyone suggest I check any tests out? And if so, what would you suggest?

 

[terripeachy]

Oh Weezy, I'm so sorry this didn't work out. Huge hugs. I totally understand how you're feeling and it's good to recoup and get back to your client base, and find some $, especially if you are considering going through it again. I hate when it doesn't work! Regarding your embies, it is so hard to say when they stop growing because we can't see them and we're not getting monitored. I often wonder/wondered the same things and why. But..I guess some things are best not know. This whole process is so "studied" that it seems like with all the perfect conditions how could it not work, but it is what it is.

And finally, I don't have any advice, but your doctor may have suggestions when they do your follow up (more meds/different meds/less meds). Just go see what they say and go from there or take that info to your friend's doctor. We'll be here whenever you're ready to come back. The sun always shines.

 

[Jean40]

Oh Weezy, I'm so sorry!

I am finally home and the MRI went well & they found nothing wrong & my cardiologist doesn't understand why I've been treated so badly by other doctors on my journey. He is sending a letter to my RE saying I'm absolutely fine. If I do get pregnant, I also have to come back about 3-5 months (I think) along and have a fetal echocardiogram to see if the baby has any cardiac defects & if I would have to go down there to give birth. We upgraded our NICU at the hospital I work at, so not as many babies have to go down to the university hospital, but it does happen from time to time. So, I've spent over $3200 for a cardiac specialist to "clear" me to get pregnant. Really, it's to have PROOF for other doctors who refuse to treat me based on their insufficient knowledge. Now I can have them contact this doctor if they have a problem with it.

 

[Vonn]

Weezy--I'm so sorry to learn you did not get your bfp last cycle. Big hugs to you! I'll be curious to hear what the dr has to say in the follow up. I'm not sure about tests either. I think I've read that some people get their natural killer cells tested and anti-sperm antibodies, but I don't know any specifics. Feel better!

Jean--It sounds like you may need to trot out this drs "okay" to some friends and family who are skeptical. I guess you'll be full-steam ahead now, right?!?

Terri--I got my fx big-time for you, girl!

Hi pussycat--how are you?

AFM--I start clomid tomorrow & will do an IUI this cycle. Happy to get going with it all.

I got my AMH result from last month (which they had never given me, that drives me bonkers) and it was .3 (US). I realize this is not good. A couple months earlier it was .165, which is really horrendous. That's a pretty significant increase, about which I am pretty pleased! I know AMH is not supposed to fluctuate much like FSH does, so I'm taking it as a good sign. Does anyone have any insight about this?

 

[Pussycat1]

Hi Weezy, I'm so sorry you didn't get your BFP, I know only too well how devistating it is and it can really floor you. Sadly IVF is not always the golden ticket we hope for. Take time to grieve and be kind to each other. Remind me was this your first IVF? If so It's unlikely that Drs will suggest any other tests as you've 'only' had one failed cycle and over the age of 40, so they'll no doubt say it's down to egg quality. However I wish I'd pushed for tests earlier. Are you at the lister? If so they'll probably offer thrombotic risk and NKC assay but it's expensive (c £900). Ask as many questions as you can in your consult (suggest you write them down so you don't forget any) and don't let the dr fob you off with any airy-fairy answers, there's no 'normal' in this game and every treatment case is different. I ran out of money for treatment in UK so now go to Czech Rep and it's very easy and quality of treatment is excellent, cost is half the price ....
Jean, great news, all be it frustrating having to pay so much. However, it's another step taken forward.
Vonn, good luck with this cycle! No idea about your AMH increasing, I didn't think that was possible, would be interested to hear what your clinic say about that.
Terri, how you doing? When is test date? xx

 

[terripeachy]

Test date is on the 14th. I'll say that I'm halfway there because this week next time my blood will have been drawn.

Vonn-I'm excited for your IUI/clomid this cycle. fxfx.

 

[Weezy9]

Terri, Fx Fx!! you're half way yay!

 

[Weezy9]

Hi Weezy, I'm so sorry you didn't get your BFP, I know only too well how devistating it is and it can really floor you. Sadly IVF is not always the golden ticket we hope for. Take time to grieve and be kind to each other. Remind me was this your first IVF? If so It's unlikely that Drs will suggest any other tests as you've 'only' had one failed cycle and over the age of 40, so they'll no doubt say it's down to egg quality. However I wish I'd pushed for tests earlier. Are you at the lister? If so they'll probably offer thrombotic risk and NKC assay but it's expensive (c £900). Ask as many questions as you can in your consult (suggest you write them down so you don't forget any) and don't let the dr fob you off with any airy-fairy answers, there's no 'normal' in this game and every treatment case is different. I ran out of money for treatment in UK so now go to Czech Rep and it's very easy and quality of treatment is excellent, cost is half the price ....
Jean, great news, all be it frustrating having to pay so much. However, it's another step taken forward.
Vonn, good luck with this cycle! No idea about your AMH increasing, I didn't think that was possible, would be interested to hear what your clinic say about that.
Terri, how you doing? When is test date? xx

Thank you ladies for all you kind words xx

Pussycat, yes this was my first IVF cycle and I am with the Lister (how did you guess? were you with them at one point?).
I know what you mean about costs...especially if it doesn't work first time
and it starts to feel like a black hole, sucking up every penny you've saved.
Hopefully, I'll save enough for my next round ASAP. I think me and DH will have to have a serious talk about treatment abroad if my 2nd cycle doesn't work (arrhhh...why so negative!! stay positive stay positive).

I was keen to do more testing before I started IVF because of what other ladies say about NK cells etc. etc. on other threads. I ask my consultant at the time what other tests she would suggest I should do and she said none apart from a DNA fragmentation test for DH (which came back normal).
With it being my first cycle, I wasn't sure what to do and thought the consultant will have a better idea what is right for me (just to learn that they probably have a standard procedure for everyone and I'm best doing my own research and need to push for things that I think it's right).
Just want to ask, what should I be expecting in my follow up consultation? Any questions I should ask whilst there?

 

[Jean40]

I did it! I gave myself a Bravelle shot! Needle itself didn't hurt, but it does sting a bit going in. Now I get my ultrasound Monday & see when to trigger.

 

[kaysbc]

hi gals.
Jean I love your attitude and determination about not willing to accept that you won't ever have a baby. It amazes me how little faith people in our lives can have about it. I feel the strongest thing we have is our faith and belief that it will happen for us. It will happen one way or another, I believe.

oh weezy I'm so sorry about your bfn. sometimes I feel there are no words I can possibly say, just know I'm thinking of you.

AFM, I think my cycles are all screwed up. last cycle my temps were so wonky I even confused FF. Not sure if I O'd. Then AF came and it was normal. Now I'm CD17 and still no sign of positive OPK, and I mean absolutely no sign whatsoever. The dark compare-line is there and then absolutely stark white for my LH line. If I haven't even gotten any faint sign by now not sure I will O this cycle either. My temps have been flat so its not like I missed it.
I've been having cortisone injections into my shoulder for pain control from my accident. I've read a little online that cortisone can mess up your cycle. Has anyone heard anything about that? I hope that's whats going on with me, only because then I know its temporary and should go away when the cortisone flushes out of my body eventually.
If that's not what's going on, then I"ll just freak out a little bit...

I had my 42nd birthday and suddenly got panicked about getting "too old". I went to a free open house for a different fertility clinic than the one I've been to previously, to see what they're all about. Check out their personalities, philosophy, and prices for IUI and IVF. I even called my bank to see if I could qualify for a personal loan for 20-25K (just in case I suddenly wanted to do IVF). I am able to get a loan, but I really can't afford the payments on it. I don't know if IVF would ever be in my future because of financial reasons only. This new clinic and the clinic I went to before both quoted similar prices in the 20-25K range.

best of luck to you terri. keep us informed.
vonn I'd love to know your thoughts on what you were doing that may haved increased your AMH? my AMH was horrendous and is probably worse now than it was 2 years ago when it was tested.
have a good trip clizard!

 

[terripeachy]

I got my first bfp today! It's been almost two years, and I haven't even had a hint of a line, so I'm really happy this morning. I go in for my blood test on Tuesday so I'm going to remain cautiously excited. Today, I'm pregnant!!

 

[Pussycat1]

I got my first bfp today! It's been almost two years, and I haven't even had a hint of a line, so I'm really happy this morning. I go in for my blood test on Tuesday so I'm going to remain cautiously excited. Today, I'm pregnant!!

Terri, this is such amazing news! I'm so happy for you, huge congratulations!! xx

 

[Jean40]

Congrats Terri! That is awesome!

I am feeling something going on with my ovaries, so I expect a few nice follies come Monday. I called the RE nurse Friday late afternoon and my cardiologist STILL hasn't sent anything to them, so I emailed the cardiologists nurse and will call her on Monday. I'm not going through all this for the RE to refuse to do an IUI because the cardiologist didn't tell him it's ok. This is starting to be even more of a PITA than I expected.

 

[terripeachy]

Jean-Doctors always work on their own time. It's so frustrating. "Don't you realize I'm not getting any younger, and I need you to be on super speedy time???!!! " I hope they get their act together on your part. *sigh*

 

[Juniperjules]

Hi ladies.. Hope u don't mind if I join in here.. I'm 40 & am TTC, no children, never been pregnant.

I saw a FS a few weeks ago who sent me for some bloods, & a saline flush by ultrasound of my uterus & tubes. So In the past week I have found out that I appear to have hydrosalpinx of my left Fallopian tube, & will most likely have to have it clipped due to high risk of ectopics, and also bcos the fluid from the tube leaking into ur uterus can stop an embryo from implanting. I've also discovered I have something going on with my thyroid.. An antibodies test that should be below 35, was 141!!! Way out of range.. Am trying not to Dr Google but I've kind of self diagnosed & made myself a little miserable about it all!

Am doing my best to stay positive.. The ultrasound showed an otherwise healthy uterus, 11 follicles, and my AMH just came back at 24.7p/mol which is good... But I still have this heavy feeling hanging over me- I've always been pretty healthy, & suddenly I'm finding out things that are going wrong all at once!!

I'm guessing that we'll def have to go down the IVF route now due to my dodgy tube... There goes the savings!

It's great to read all of ur stories & experiences.. A problem shared really is a problem halved I guess : )

 

[terripeachy]

Welcome Juniper. I've seen you around here posting. Don't feel so down on yourself. At least now you know what the issues are and you can move forward. I'm sure it was like spinning your wheels before going to see the doc, so I think you're moving in the right direction. So what's the next step for you?

 

[kaysbc]

OMG terri congrats! that is THE BEST news ever! I am so happy for you

 

[terripeachy]

Thanks kaysbc! I'm excited and nervous. My bloodwork is Tuesday and then again on Thursday. I just hope everything goes well.

 

[Jean40]

Even though the RE nurse told me it wasn't necessary to do OPKs, I used my CBFM anyway and at 5:30am this morning, I got a "peak". My ultrasound isn't until 1:30pm, so I wonder if I even need to use the trigger shot. Guess I'll find out soon enough. I just hope I don't have too many follies and now I wish I had used a smiley last night.

 

[Weezy9]

Wow Terri....fantastic new!!! I'm so happy for you so now we just waiting to hear if you're going to have triplets hee hee
We need some positive news on this thread...woohoo