Entering the world of Assisted Conception...like it or not...

[tulip11]

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been MIA. Didn't get notified of any responses and just checked in and saw many of you had responded.

Today is day 12 of stims. Bronte you are right, things are finally starting to catch up. I am realizing now what a good move it was for me to switch clinics. I figured out that As of Friday, had I been at the old clinic, I would probably have been cancelled again because I wouldn't have had enough by that time. Seems like I had about 10 days there. At the new place, they are not giving me any time constraints. Just so long as things are increasing with my bloodwork and follicles are growing,we are continuing on. So as of yesterday I have 3 mature follicles, with several smaller still. Not sure how much smaller, but that there are several. I go back tomorrow again to see how they are coming along. So I'm responding, just slowly.

And yes we have talked about freezing this batch and doing it again to have a good number in the bank. Just need to see what we end up with this cycle before making that call. So now I am singing the grow grow grow song!

Tulip, welcome to the thread and our group. It's a rough road but the support is so awesome. How are the shots going for you? Seems like a long time between starting meds and retrieval. What protocol are you in?

Lemon, I'm so glad to hear the surgery went well and thankfully they were able to discover your endometriosis. Sometimes things work out for the best. What complications does that present? I'm not very familiar with that condition.

I want to share a story I read this morning that I can really relate to. Well maybe not the part about th girl with too many kids but otherwise enjoy https://nadirahangail.com/2016/05/25/mind-your-own-womb/

Hiker thanks alot. Shots are going well with some side effect like headache , hot flash, mood swings and feeling low. Yes you can say there is a gap of more than a month between med n egg retrieval. I think its a short protocol as its started on my day 5 of cycle. And tbh i didnt know about short or long protocol I read about these terms on internet. I have started nowadays 0.5 ml of bureselin injections.

thanks

 

[tulip11]

Welcome to the thread Tulip. There's another "tulip" that just joined the IVF May/June board so I'm going to have to try to distinguish you since you have similar user names and are both starting IVF soon or have started. Best wishes for you. I start stims in a few weeks myself and should have egg retrieval in July.

Hiker - yay I'm so excited they are catching up and that this doctor seems to be a much better fit. You and Bee went to the same clinic, correct? I hope she can switch over as well since this new doctor seems a bit more patient centered and definetly not as time specific on several things. Really hoping your smaller ones catch up and you get a good amount for retrieval. If you want multiple kids then it sounds like freezing might be a great option in your case depending on your numbers. I love that it's even a possibility and that our eggs can stay at a "younger age" and will likely be more successful for us in the future. My husband currently only wants one child and I want at least two. But I have a feeling he's going to change his mind especially if we have left over frosties that at one point we'll need to decide what to do with. So I hope he comes around eventually. Though sometimes I think I know him better than himself and know he'll probably want more in the future if for no other reason then they can help keep each other entertained.

Lemon - hope you are doing alright. I made another post in your journal but you are definetly in my thoughts right now and hope you heal up and everything is alright. Endo isn't fun to discover at all and does make everything else more time sensitive in the future. I'm curious if I have it as well. Though I feel like it would have been seen in my ectopic surgery. It's most likely either that or scar tissue blocking my tubes and they think it's more likely scar tissue given my symptoms. They respond very similarly though and whatever it is it's not pleasant to deal with at certain times of the month and I really hope it doesn't affect either of our chances for a successful pregnancy very much. I know pregnancy itself can help some endo symptoms. Anyway hope you are doing alright and get some answers on your other potential issues soon!

BronteForever thank you so much. I wish you all the very best for your cycle. Hope we all have a good news at end. lol remember 11 digit with my name . hope it helps you

 

[Hiker1]

Happy to report that my retrieval is scheduled for Wednesday! As of this morning i have 3 follies for sure and 2 that are close. Hoping that the last 2 grew some throughout today as I trigger tonight at 1030. Numbers aren't super great but enough to move ahead, so I'm super excited. Here's hoping surgery goes well and they can get 5 eggs. ladies here who've done ivf, any suggestions?

 

[BronteForever]

Ooh Hiker, yay. Congrats. So excited they are proceeding and really hope you get a few extras. There's so many suggestions on what to do after retrieval. The most important I think is to just take it easy and get plenty of fluids. Hopefully someone that's been through it can give you some more tips. I might try acupuncture right before transfer as well.

Good luck.

 

[lemon_tree]

Bronte - thank you.

Hiker - that's tomorrow!!!! How awesome! I hear good things about post-IVF acupuncture. Hope all goes well for you! Can't wait to hear how it goes.

 

[Smille24]

Good luck tomorrow hun! I have everything crossed that you'll get 5 nice sized eggs!

 

[miranda007]

Hiker I've got everything crossed for u tmw.. Hope it goes well. Fingers crossed you get 5 good embies and they grow nicely all until day 5.

It's quality not quantity - some people have heaps of follicles and eggs but they don't end up with the greatest results.. We only got 4 eggs the first time. And all made it. My friend got 19 eggs and only 2 made it by day 5.

We also did a freeze all for the first cycle (along with genetic screening) and did another cycle

 

[lemon_tree]

Good luck today, Hiker!!!

 

[Hiker1]

Thanks everyone! Things went really well. They got 4 eggs today. We will know tomorrow how things fertilize and how we may proceed.

I am feeling very well. Just watching TV and drinking Gatorade and have a hot water bottle on my stomach.

 

[miranda007]

That's a really good result!! Take it easy today.. U deserve it.. The wait is the worst.. Keep us posted. Look forward to hearing more good news

 

[Hiker1]

Thanks Miranda! Can I ask how many were retrieved each time you had a retrieval? And how many did you implant? How many do you have left? I'm afraid after all the fertilization and waiting we won't have any thay survive. ..
And I feel pregnant already. Well more like I look pregnant. My stomach is really puffing out. I'm going to wear a loose top tomorrow! !

 

[Hiker1]

Docs just called. 2 made it!!

Need to wait until tomorrow to see how they're doing. Then the doc and embryologist will consult and let me know what they recommend. Im leaning towards if they are candidates for freezing, let's freeze then try to get more. If not, transfer both and hope for the best!

 

[lemon_tree]

Eeee this is so exciting, Hiker! Your two sweet little embies.

 

[Smille24]

Wishing you all the best! Whatever you decide, I really think you'll be pregnant by the end of summer.

 

[miranda007]

Thanks Miranda! Can I ask how many were retrieved each time you had a retrieval? And how many did you implant? How many do you have left? I'm afraid after all the fertilization and waiting we won't have any thay survive. ..
And I feel pregnant already. Well more like I look pregnant. My stomach is really puffing out. I'm going to wear a loose top tomorrow! !

Sure.. The first time 4 were retrieved, 4 made it until day 5 and we had them genetically tested (we don't have any genetic condition but we wanted to know as implanting an embryo is really expensive here!) So got 3 out of that.

Oh we did ISCI because husband's sperm is really low - which is why probably why they fertilised.

Then decided to go again because I was 35 - well 36 by the second cycle.. I might add here that our second round of stims was cancelled because somehow I didn't respond to the drugs so well. So werid!!! Same drug allocation - just only 1 or 2 grew. My dr said that's the way the ovaries work sometimes.. So we didn't do an extraction. She said we can compare u to last time when you did react well. I guess otherwise they would have just assumed I didn't respond so well to the drugs and that's all I get.

So then did another stim round - 6 retrieved.. 4 to test by day 5.. 3 came back genetically all right.

I was really worried we wouldn't be left with anything at day 5. Hang in there. The wait is the worst.. I'm sure you'll have two great embies by day 5.. I'd be leaning towards what you are - if u can freeze them and then going again. If u can afford it. Yikes when I think of the $ and everything. But my husband (bless him) said don't worry about the money. It's our family.

We decided to implant 1.. We didn't really discuss it very much with my Dr. She said right back the year before she thought I was young (even though it doesn't feel like it in the fertility world!!) and she said she believes implanting two great embryos effects each ones ability to implant. I don't know if I'm remembering that correctly. She also said there's more complications with twins. But in saying that there's heaps of people in this forum who have had great twin pregnancies! And then there's the added bonus of having two little bubs so they can be friends together.

 

[miranda007]

And I know it doesn't feel like it.. But you're so close.. You'll be pregnant soon I just know it.

 

[Hiker1]

Aw guys, I sure hope you are right! I could be technically be pregnant tomorrow this time!! What I am leaning toward, if both embies look good for freezing and/or implanting, is to implant one, freeze one. Then if it works, I can rest a little easier knowing we have at least one more waiting for us. If it doesn't then I think I'll want to move ahead with doing another retrieval. The frozen one won't be going anywhere, so it won't hurt to try to get some more. But I do think I want to move ahead with transfer tomorrow, and of course I will go based on what the doc and embryologist recommend as they are going to meet with hubby and I beforehand.

If they think the best thing is to put in both, then that's what we'll do. Again, if 2 work, well then, we are done! (even though I am terrified about twins) And if 1 works, then fantastic! And if we cant get more after the one, then that was the universe's plan for us, and perhaps we would just adopt for more kiddos. And if neither take, then well, we just try again. So many variables, but this process has taught this planner to relinquish a lot of control.

I had acupuncture yesterday, and then was lucky to find another acupuncturist who will take me first thing tomorrow morning and then right after (my regular practitioner doesnt work Mondays). I'm going to wear some fuzzy socks, I got my pineapple cut up and ready as well as a big bottle of pomegranate juice. Need to get some Brazil nuts and get some McDonald's fries right after as well (all stuff I've read that is supposed to help - I'll try anything haha!)

I'll update tomorrow with what happens!

 

[Smille24]

Good luck tomorrow!!!!!! Wishing you all the best.

 

[lemon_tree]

Eek good luck, Hiker!!!

 

[Hiker1]

Update as promised. Well of course like this whole journey, we couldn't have a step in the process without some bad news. So both of our embryos slowed growing after 3 days. So they did not get to the blastocyst stage, and therefore the option to freeze is not there. So we transferred both and hope that they are happier inside the uterus. I want to be optimistic, but the vibe I got from the doctor was not great, and saying things like "we tend to know from experience with how embryos behave" ...but she didn't go into more detail ...dunno, I just took that to mean that there isn't much of a chance. But who knows. I did get in acupuncture before and after. Trying to stay positive without getting my hopes too up, like always. I go back next Wednesday for bloodwork to find out if it worked. I'll probably want to do a hpt before. Any of you ladies who've gone through this know about when it would be safe to test? I got a pack of 25 cheapies last month so I am not worried about wasting the more expensive ones. anyway that's me. Fingers crossed