Buddies wanted--Starting IVF April 2013-June 2013!

[Starlight2012]

Hi ladies! I was hoping to find some others who will be beginning their IVF journey soon so that we could go through it together

DH and I have been TTC since May 2011. DH's SA showed everything looked good and as for me, I have at least one clear tube and irregular cycles. I just finished 5 unsuccessful rounds of clomid and now moving onto IVF (doctor thinks we have unexplained infertility) - we have been referred to an IVF/Fertility Clinic and have our first IVF consult on April 29th, so I hope to begin our first cycle in May/June!

Please come and join me!!

 

[Mrs. T]

Hi Starlight2012! I am also moving onto IVF this year. I think I will probably shoot for June. I am currently securing financing and I go back to see my gynaecologist this month who is going to refer me to Lifequest in T.O. I'm nervous. This is a huge step.

 

[Starlight2012]

Hi Mrs. T! I see you are also from Ontario I am in Ottawa!

My gyno also just referred us to a fertility clinic. I had been on clomid for about 6 months with my gyno, and now being referred to the clinic for IVF. we have our first appoinment on April 29th, so am really anxious and excited for it. I have a feeling that the earliest we could also start is June - so maybe we can go through this adventure and cycle together!

You're, right, this is a huge step! Hope that there are no complications in securing financing. How long have you and your hubby been TTC?

 

[born2bamama]

Hey Girls,
Would love to join you- hubby and I are beginning long protocol ivf middle/end april. We have been ttc for over two years and are unexplained (hormones, hsg, sa all normal). We are excited about IVF but definitely scared of what might/might not happen! We are in Canada also, so securing funding is on my March to do
list too. We are completing our pre-ivf tests next week and then heading to vegas to try to relax before starting the craziness. As of Monday I have basically given up coffee and cutting down sugar, doing yoga, etc. I plan to do acupuncture starting April too! Are you guys doing anything to prepare for ivf?

 

[Starlight2012]

welcome born2bamama - another fellow Canadian, how wonderful we are also very excited for ivf but have the same worries as you about it maybe not working.

what will you be doing for your pre-ivf test? I am really new to the whole process and slowly figuring things out, we are not meeting our ivf doctor until the end of April, so will be a bit behind you so eager to learn about things through you as you go through them!

Ohhh Vegas, how wonderful - have you been before? My husband and I really enjoy Vegas! It will be perfect to relax and enjoy a bit before starting into the IVF adventure.

We are also going on a trip right befor our IVF consult - we are going to Barcelona from at the end of April, then the day after we get back we have our IVF consult, so the timing worked out perfect so we can relax on vacay, then come back and figure out what to do next!

To prep for IVF, I have been going to the gym more regularly to get into a good routine, and cutting back on caffeine as well. I thought about doing accu as well but had a consult and didn't like the accu person I met with, so I think I may try to find another one as I have heard wonderful things about accu

 

[Mrs. T]

Hi Mrs. T! I see you are also from Ontario I am in Ottawa!

My gyno also just referred us to a fertility clinic. I had been on clomid for about 6 months with my gyno, and now being referred to the clinic for IVF. we have our first appoinment on April 29th, so am really anxious and excited for it. I have a feeling that the earliest we could also start is June - so maybe we can go through this adventure and cycle together!

You're, right, this is a huge step! Hope that there are no complications in securing financing. How long have you and your hubby been TTC?

I got the approval for financing just have to go sign.

We have been trying to conceive our whole marriage! 10 long years!!! We were so psyched when our first IUI worked last year but unfortunately I had a miscarriage. But I am at least hopeful I did get pregnant so I guess it can happen again.

 

[Mrs. T]

Hey Girls,
Would love to join you- hubby and I are beginning long protocol ivf middle/end april. We have been ttc for over two years and are unexplained (hormones, hsg, sa all normal). We are excited about IVF but definitely scared of what might/might not happen! We are in Canada also, so securing funding is on my March to do
list too. We are completing our pre-ivf tests next week and then heading to vegas to try to relax before starting the craziness. As of Monday I have basically given up coffee and cutting down sugar, doing yoga, etc. I plan to do acupuncture starting April too! Are you guys doing anything to prepare for ivf?

Yeah I am very interested in starting acupuncture. I have never been before.

Are you girls gonna be taking any supplements/vitamins or anything? I keep hearing about everything from CoQ10 to royal jelly to whatever. It is enough to make my head spin!

 

[Starlight2012]

Mrs T - that is great that you already have approval for the financing and just need to sign, when will you be doing that? So sorry that you and your hubby have had such a long TTC journey you're right, that is very postive that you were able to get pregnant last year although very sorry it ended in m/c. I have a good feeling about the ivf and that it will do the trick for you!

The only supplement I am taking right now is folic acid as I was worried that other supplements may not react well to the meds I was previously on, but now we are on a natural cycles till IVF starts. What are you currently taking or thinking about taking?

 

[Mrs. T]

Thanks, my bank lady just called me a couple of days ago to say it's a go and she will call me when the papers are ready to sign. Hopefully I will hear back soon.

Right now I am on a prenatal multivitamin, folic acid and vitamin D. My gyno recently tested my vitamin D because he said there were studies done on links between vitamin D and the success of getting pregnant. My vitamin D was low so I am on 2000ius a day now. I don't know what else to take. My last IUI I took Royal Jelly and my uterine lining was really thick that cycle but then again I was also on more powerful fertility drugs.

I think I may not take anything else this time and just try acupuncture. I am scared of acupuncture though. I have never done it before.

 

[Starlight2012]

That's perfect on the financing. I hope you hear back soon as well so that you can just get it out of the way and off your plate.

Hmm I wonder how my vitamin D levels are. I could always ask about that when I go for my appointment next month.

I have been on the fence about trying accupuncture - at first it scared me, then I was willing to try anything, so I booked a consult. At the consult, I didn't really feel comfortable as she admitted that she didn't really specialise in fertility accu, so I never went back. Now I am thinking about doing it with IVF as there is an associated accu clinic related to the fertility clinic I am going to. But I am not sure! When will you start yours?

 

[Mrs. T]

I am just looking online trying to decide who to book an appt with.

 

[Starlight2012]

that's exciting - let me know if you end up booking and how it goes!! If I do accu, I think it will only be during my IVF cycles but very interested to hear about how it goes with you if you end up going sooner!

 

[born2bamama]

welcome born2bamama - another fellow Canadian, how wonderful we are also very excited for ivf but have the same worries as you about it maybe not working.

what will you be doing for your pre-ivf test? I am really new to the whole process and slowly figuring things out, we are not meeting our ivf doctor until the end of April, so will be a bit behind you so eager to learn about things through you as you go through them!

Ohhh Vegas, how wonderful - have you been before? My husband and I really enjoy Vegas! It will be perfect to relax and enjoy a bit before starting into the IVF adventure.

We are also going on a trip right befor our IVF consult - we are going to Barcelona from at the end of April, then the day after we get back we have our IVF consult, so the timing worked out perfect so we can relax on vacay, then come back and figure out what to do next!

To prep for IVF, I have been going to the gym more regularly to get into a good routine, and cutting back on caffeine as well. I thought about doing accu as well but had a consult and didn't like the accu person I met with, so I think I may try to find another one as I have heard wonderful things about accu

Hey!
For pre-ivf testing we had to get bloodwork done (did this on Monday), and next week I have to get a pap with swabs and he has to do a functional SA (fancy SA to see if ICSI will be needed). I've already had an hsg a few months ago so other than those tests we are all good to go; just have to wait for cd1 to call them to start the cycle. I'm thinking of paying beforehand though, so it's less to stress about at the time (that way it would be taken care of before Vegas too).

As for Vegas, we have never been, and we're excited to get out of the snow and go have fun and destress! I'm so glad you guys enjoy it, we sort of picked it out of nowhere when we were getting overwhelmed with everything and just wanted to get away! Barcelona will be amazing I'm sure, I've always wanted to go there!

 

[born2bamama]

Oh, I also wanted to tell you guys about acupuncture; I did it for the first time last year as part of a "natural infertility treatment" where you go like three times a week for the first month, then twice/week for another month, etc. It unfortunately didn't work i.e. didn't get pregnant; but I did find it relaxing and I was temping at the time and noticed it made my bbt really stable. I also thought it was helping my acne a lot (not fertility related but loved having clearer skin). I only stopped because my coverage ran out and it was costing me a fortune (not ivf fortune lol but still $100/session).

At the IVF info session we attended I asked the IVF docs about their opinion on acupuncture with ivf (as I have read a lot of studies re: the benefits of acupuncture before/after transfer). They said that there are lots of studies saying it helps and some studies saying it makes no difference, but there are no studies saying it does any harm...so for me (especially because I enjoy it anyway and have the coverage as it's a new year) decided if it can't hurt and *might* help, might as well do it!

If you have any questions about acupuncture I'd be happy to answer

 

[Mrs. T]

My questions about acupuncture are:

1. Does it hurt?
2. I am freaked out about sharing needles. I wonder what measures they take to sterilize them?

 

[Starlight2012]

Born2bmamma, thanks for sharing all that you've done so far. You're right it may be nice to lay beforehand to get it out of the way. When is your trip to Vegas and how long will you be there for? The food is delicious and there is so much to walk around and see! Will let you know all about Barcelona when we are back

Mrs T those are great accu questions, I had the same thoughts and also agree with born2bmamma that if the accu doesn't do anything bad then why not give it a try!

 

[born2bamama]

My questions about acupuncture are:

1. Does it hurt?
2. I am freaked out about sharing needles. I wonder what measures they take to sterilize them?

Hey Girls!
1. I wouldn't say it hurts exactly; just a quick pinch when they put them in. I'm a big baby sometimes so I was really nervous at first but it really wasn't bad, I found some areas more sensitive but again, it was just a quick pinch. And some needles I couldn't even feel go in. At my clinic they hook up the needles to a machine that sends like an electric pulse to the needles (maybe everywhere does this?) and they can turn up/down the intensity of that; I found it was uncomfortable at first and so only got them to put it on a bit, but after a few sessions you get used to it and I found myself actually asking them to increase the intensity.

2. I would hope this is the way everywhere, but again I've only been to the one clinic, at my clinic they use disposable needles and they take them out of their sterilized package right before they put them in.

We are heading to Vegas at the end of the month, 27th (Wednesday) and then coming back on the Sunday (31st). It won't be a loong trip but we are really excited to get away! (The last time we went on a trip it was our "this is our last chance because now we will get pregnant" haha soo naive..)

 

[born2bamama]

Oh, Starlight, I also wanted to mention something incase you are still taking clomid (noticed in your signature).. My IVF doctor said they wouldn't start IVF until two months/cycles after my last clomid cycle. Just fyi incase you are still taking them, I wouldn't want you to have to wait any longer than you want to! I tried clomid last month and was going to try it again but then they told me about waiting two months (3 cycles before stimming) so I opted not to try clomid again.

Happy Friday to you both!

 

[Starlight2012]

Wed to Sunday is a perfect length of time to go to vegas. Where will you be staying? Talking about it makes me want to go too! Heheh it is great to be hopeful and I hope you do get lucky!

Thanks for the tid bit in clomid as I had no idea! I am no longer taking clomid anymore as last month was our last cycle so I think the timing will work out well!!

The info in your accu experience was really helpful! Needles kind if freak me out haha so I am also scared about the injectibles!

 

[Mrs. T]

Something weird happened to me today. I went for a massage that I think induced my period to come early. I get lower back pain so she did a lot of work in that area and when I left I felt that period feeling so when I got home I checked and sure enough there it was 4 days early. I tried looking up online if this can happen but I didn't find anything.