IVF May/June/July 2015, Lets Get Ready!

[WhiteOrchid24]

I assume we could try naturally although after spending $11k so far on it all as delighted as I would be to get pregnant I'd also be a little gutted about the $!! Still we may as well try - after 3 1/2 years of trying our odds seem so low!!

Re the medicated v non-med. cycle for FET I'm honestly not too sure... I guess you just take nothing then do the transfer? All I know is I have to start taking Estrace on CD2 of my next cycle (estrogen) then go for a scan on CD12-14 to check my lining. Once it looks good I start on a type of progesterone and the transfer happens a week later..... seems so far away

 

[myonechance]

I'm going to catch up with everyones posts but i need to type this before I start crying and my DH asks why. So...I am 8dp4dt. This AM I caved and took a HPT and got a faint line. not a squinter but faint. I was happy but cautious. My Beta isn't supposed to be until friday. I am packing to go visit family..leaving in 1 hour for airport... and i went to pee and there was brown spotting. and now I have cramps. I know what we are all thinking as we read this. It's not good and as much as I thought I was prepared for a bfn.....I am WAY not prepared. I feel like I am going to lose it. My DH has a brain injury and he will not be able to handle this right now. It is a lot for him to vacation...leave our city and fly and so forth. Plus he really didn't want me to do a hpt. Go figure....
I just needed to vent and take a deep breath and hope that my family we are flying to and DH can't tell something is wrong. Thanks for listening ladies. hugs.

 

[WhiteOrchid24]

Myonechance - I don't really know what to say other than to send you lots and lots of hugs and positive thoughts I know what you must be thinking but I am praying that the spotting and cramping stops and it all turns out ok. How long are you away for?

You are not alone so if you are able to talk and get on a computer etc we're all here for you. I don't think anyone can be prepared for a BFN after IVF - it is my biggest worry about how mentally I will cope... I know it's hard but try to stay strong. Huge hugs to you

 

[PecksTTC]

I'm going to catch up with everyones posts but i need to type this before I start crying and my DH asks why. So...I am 8dp4dt. This AM I caved and took a HPT and got a faint line. not a squinter but faint. I was happy but cautious. My Beta isn't supposed to be until friday. I am packing to go visit family..leaving in 1 hour for airport... and i went to pee and there was brown spotting. and now I have cramps. I know what we are all thinking as we read this. It's not good and as much as I thought I was prepared for a bfn.....I am WAY not prepared. I feel like I am going to lose it. My DH has a brain injury and he will not be able to handle this right now. It is a lot for him to vacation...leave our city and fly and so forth. Plus he really didn't want me to do a hpt. Go figure....
I just needed to vent and take a deep breath and hope that my family we are flying to and DH can't tell something is wrong. Thanks for listening ladies. hugs.

It could be anything! Could it be implantation? One of the ladies on the IVF success thread said she wish she would have known how bad the cramps could be so she would not worry so much. Here is the comment " *Anything else you would have wanted to know before you started this process: I....I also wish I knew how much cramping there may be, as it scared me at one point but apparently this can be a very good sign! .... Dont lose hope if you don't get as many as you hoops for. It only takes one & I'm proof of that!"

I also know it easier said than done but try and relax and enjoy your vacation. Try!!

We all know there is a chance it will not work yet we really hope more than anything that it will work. For all of us!

 

[KrissyB]

Wish2 - Some clinics prefer FET to fresh because it decreases the chance of OHSS and it makes it easier to do PGS. Then when it comes to the transfer cycle, some clinics give the choice of a natural FET where you're monitored without meds, until you are close to ovulation, then given a trigger shot and the transfer is timed appropriately. Or there's a medicated FET where you take BCP and Lupron for a month before the transfer month, then you stay on meds through the trasfer cycle so they can manipulate the precise timing and conditions more strictly. At least, that's the protocol for the med vs. natural at my clinic

Myone - I second what Pecks said. Spotting and cramping were my first pregnancy symptoms with my DD, so don't count yourself out yet. And it happened later than implantation, right around AF - because your body doesn't quite know how to handle the new situation yet, and there are some uterine contractions that cause some old blood (brown spotting) to be dislodged. Try to just take it one day at a time, and we'll be sending you all the good vibes, best wishes, and prayers we can muster!

White - We were going to try during our offcycle (I felt kinda weird about it because they told us not to and I didn't really want the false hope of another natural TWW, but DH could not be dissuaded lol)... but in the end O never came, so that was that lol.

 

[PecksTTC]

so I must admit - what is a 'medicated' vs 'non-medicated' FET? What meds are you taking, when, and why?
And pecks - how come the scratch is so early? My RE didn't even introduce that concept to us, nor an FET, so I'm very unaware of these things..?

Non-medicated / natural FET is in my case literally no meds until after ET and allowing my body to naturally thicken lining, prep uterus etc. but essentially hoping and praying your body does what it is meant to do in the time it normally does. This is only an an option if you naturally ovulate and you need to ovulate prior to FET. Natural I believe also needs to be monitored more closely in case they miss ov.
The medicate option helps you along in all aspects.
See the link below that helped me understand.
https://www.dominionfertility.com/f...ozen-embryo-transfer-fet-and-a-medicated-fet/

I believe the best time for a scratch is on CD21 (for a 28 day cycle) on the cycle prior to ET. My RE said that it is inconclusive whether a scratch definitely helps but no harm in trying. They do it for all FETs and only fresh If asked and after several failed.

 

[bettybee1]

Hope- wow you have to get a plane to your appointments ?? I thought driving 1.5 hour was annoying lol

There was no reasom they made a mistake well doctors did! Twice! They also put antibiotics am allergic to in the drug pack aswell:/ !!!



I don't know much about FET personally but I think people have had mixed results natural people like as its much more easier on body people feel it's the way it's meant to be but medicated cycles give people a schedule and and predict the cycle and plan it x

 

[PecksTTC]

so I must admit - what is a 'medicated' vs 'non-medicated' FET? What meds are you taking, when, and why?
And pecks - how come the scratch is so early? My RE didn't even introduce that concept to us, nor an FET, so I'm very unaware of these things..?

Non-medicated / natural FET is in my case literally no meds until after ET and allowing my body to naturally thicken lining, prep uterus etc. but essentially hoping and praying your body does what it is meant to do in the time it normally does. This is only an an option if you naturally ovulate and you need to ovulate prior to FET. Natural I believe also needs to be monitored more closely in case they miss ov.
The medicate option helps you along in all aspects.
See the link below that helped me understand.
https://www.dominionfertility.com/f...ozen-embryo-transfer-fet-and-a-medicated-fet/

I believe the best time for a scratch is on CD21 (for a 28 day cycle) on the cycle prior to ET. My RE said that it is inconclusive whether a scratch definitely helps but no harm in trying. They do it for all FETs and only fresh If asked and after several failed.

 

[KrissyB]

Pecks - That link is from my clinic lol. I was so surprised to see the URL

 

[beneathmywing]

Not sure if I am doing a natural/medicated FET. I am going to say I am doing a medicated with estrogen/progesterone. I have my appt with my nurse on the 11th so I should find out then.

Myonechance -- don't feel out yet!! Lots of women spot with their bfp's and it's perfectly normal. Also, cramping is normal as well! Keeping my fx for you

Pecks -- Thanks, hun! Good luck! Hope your frosties is your baby/babies!!!

Hopethisyear -- Good luck tomorrow!

 

[myonechance]

Hi all... I'm on the plane and I got the inflight wifi to distract myself. Thanks for all the kind words! I really do appreciate the encouragement. My cramps have subsided a little and I'm hoping the discharge is lessened as well. I will continue to pray and hope for the best I was going to wait until I got back home to do my beta but I think I will find a local labcorp place to get my blood drawn on Friday(beta due date)I won't be able to wait until I get home.
I hope tall have a great rest of your day and I will keep you posted
I am soooo glad I found this website. I think I would have broken down by now! Lol..

 

[beneathmywing]

Myonechance -- praying for you!

 

[Hopethisyear]

Myonechance - Keeping everything crossed for you. As others have said many many people have cramping and spotting at the beginning and even for several months. Keep us posted and know we are all thinking of you. Have a safe flight.

Question for everyone: Any specific questions I should ask at my baseline/injection training tomorrow? I started to write down a list.

 

[MrsL4]

Myonechance - Keeping everything crossed for you. As others have said many many people have cramping and spotting at the beginning and even for several months. Keep us posted and know we are all thinking of you. Have a safe flight.

Question for everyone: Any specific questions I should ask at my baseline/injection training tomorrow? I started to write down a list.

Discuss what time you should take the injections each day......make sure you know how to read the vial mg/ml so if they change your dosage, you will understand how to do that (sounds simple but sometimes you second guess yourself if you are stressed and never done it before---some meds are pens, which are easier to adjust dosage than meds you pull from a vial)....and just feel comfortable with the equipment.
I am a nurse so it wasn't new to me, but those are tips that I think would help most people aren't familiar with injections and medication dosages.

 

[myonechance]

Myonechance - Keeping everything crossed for you. As others have said many many people have cramping and spotting at the beginning and even for several months. Keep us posted and know we are all thinking of you. Have a safe flight.

Question for everyone: Any specific questions I should ask at my baseline/injection training tomorrow? I started to write down a list.

Discuss what time you should take the injections each day......make sure you know how to read the vial mg/ml so if they change your dosage, you will understand how to do that (sounds simple but sometimes you second guess yourself if you are stressed and never done it before---some meds are pens, which are easier to adjust dosage than meds you pull from a vial)....and just feel comfortable with the equipment.
I am a nurse so it wasn't new to me, but those are tips that I think would help most people aren't familiar with injections and medication dosages.

Hope- I second what MrsL stated. I am a RN as well and it was second nature to me. Hopefully your injection class is thorough and you have a good nurse who is available for questions if you get nervous at home or you can always ask us nurses Write down dose times and if there is a window to ease your mind. I'm not sure what you will be taking but some medications can be mixed to decrease the amount of injections you need to give yourself. It's ok if you are slow to understand. Don't leave until you feel secure in your teachings. It's ok! Some medications are in mg , some are in units so take note of that. It may seem very overwhelming but when you are home in the quiet and have things lined up it may be easier than you think. Most importantly don't rush yourself and take a deep breath! You can do it!

 

[Renaendel]

Today I need your advice ladies. Last time i took a pill based birthcontrol, I was a lot younger but I remember getting super sick with it. Do you recommend taking it in the morning or the evening. I don't want to be puking the next 10 weeks while I wait for sims to start. Ths was one benefit of that nuvaring for sure. Too bad it looks like I still ovulated on it, and have a cp cyst on each ovary. (hope, not a dr., nope, just an electrical controls engineer with too much time on her hands)

 

[Wish2BMom]

myone - omigosh, I wish I saw this yesterday! damn client calls! anyway - I hope you're feeling better today. Cramping was my first sign, though I didn't know it. It felt like my body really wanted to have AF and was confused by the estrogen and progesterone I was putting into my body. And after I got my bfp, I had a cramp so bad the other night, I got up to go to the bathroom b/c I was sure I was going to see blood. Try not to worry! I know it's the combo of the blood with the cramp, but if you want to see anything, it's brown blood (old, like the ladies said). If you're preg, your uterus is going to start to stretch and move around so there's bound to be some stuff loosening up. Try to let your vacation be a vacation!! And I'm so happy that you saw a faint line!!! I hope you get to test again or you get to that lab! FX'ed for you!!!

Hope - good luck today!! I would ask if you are able to combine any of the meds. My nurse told me a couple days after that I could shoot the Gonal-F into the Menopur vial and draw it all out with one needle and have one injection, instead of the Gonal-F pen and Menopur separately. Also, my office gave me a website to go on that gives step by step instructions on how to do all of it, so I didn't have to feel like I needed to remember everything from their demo.
Also, a tip - if you think the needle hurts (for me, the needle didn't but the Menopur stung a little), pinch the skin so you feel the pinch instead of the needle or meds.

Ren - I had the SAME thought but I didn't end up feeling a thing! Maybe take it at night so it's on a full stomach? Or whenever you want, just make sure you have eaten or are going to eat soon.

 

[waitingongod1]

Hi ladies!

It's so nice to read and catch up with how you are all doing. I just wanted to quickly say that it looks like a July transfer for me now as well. AF arrived in full force on Friday so I called my clinic and they told me that I have to have 1 cycle off to let my body properly recover from everything. It makes sense but still sucks Anyway since my cycles are regular I don't need to go on the BCP so it's a full on natural month for me this month then the transfer in July - I'm guessing around 20th or so... Anyway for now it's just time to chill and wait.... Ah all this waiting

I know! I hate the waiting! Hopefully it will be worth it!

 

[Hopethisyear]

Ren - I take my pill at night after I've eaten, that way I will sleep through any effects.

White - I'm sorry you have to wait, it's so frustrating.

Thanks ladies for the advice on the questions. My appointment went ok today, US showed 2 follicles and then RE had me do bloodwork to check hormone levels. He said I may have to stop the BCP for a while to reset my body before I start stimming which would be a big bummer. I did do the injectable training and they sent me home with my meds. Follistim in the AM and Menopur/Bravelle in the evening. I can mix the evening ones together which is nice so 2 shots a day instead of 3. He may have me do Human Growth Hormone too, depending how I respond to everything else. Just waiting to get my bloodwork results back to find out if I start stimming Friday or not. I so hope I can get this started Friday, I hate not being in control.

 

[Wish2BMom]

FX'ed for Friday, Hope!! I'm glad things went well - it's the start of something new!!