January 2012 IVF

[HuskyMomWI]

Welcome to the new ladies - I will try to update the first page tonight

Not a good day today. Had my first scan. He measured a few follicles but they were all very small. I think he had 3-4 of them but all were between 5-8mm with a few smaller ones. Lining is still thin but he says that is to be expected at this stage. He thinks we will probably stay on the high dose but they will call later today w/details. He said he saw what he expected that we will have to "hit my ovaries pretty hard". I then got home and screwed up my menopur injection. I was mixing it and ended up shooting it all over the counter. Two vials of med - what a waste. Ugh - I need this day to start over please.

 

[Dis3tnd]

Hi everyone,
Looks like I can join in now! As some of you know I had my IVF cycle in December, but the transfer was postponed due to OHSS.

AF came, so I went in for my Day 3 scan today, to find out when my frozen transfer would be. I was under the impression that there would be a month in between, and that I would be on BCPs or something, but looks like that's a no. I was told it should be in 2-3 weeks.

At my clinic you don't see your doctor at all, just the nurse - and she irritated me a lot today as she didn't seem to know anything. It seems as though I won't be having a medicated transfer, but that seems odd to me considering my cycles are so wonky, so I've made an apptmt with my RE for next week.

I have a few concerns which the nurse said was no biggy for the FET:
1. I have a small cyst (19mm) on my right ovary
2. My base line lining is already at 8mm - that seems seriously thick to me!?

 

[Dis3tnd]

Welcome to the new ladies - I will try to update the first page tonight

Not a good day today. Had my first scan. He measured a few follicles but they were all very small. I think he had 3-4 of them but all were between 5-8mm with a few smaller ones. Lining is still thin but he says that is to be expected at this stage. He thinks we will probably stay on the high dose but they will call later today w/details. He said he saw what he expected that we will have to "hit my ovaries pretty hard". I then got home and screwed up my menopur injection. I was mixing it and ended up shooting it all over the counter. Two vials of med - what a waste. Ugh - I need this day to start over please.

31 - don't worry about the small amount of follies! At my first scan I only had 3, and I was really worried. My RE didn't increase my meds but in fact lowered them after a few more days... at every scan a few more popped up and I ended up with plenty of nice eggs!

 

[Mrs. Bear]

Princess - don't worry about copying, it is hard trying to rewrite the same info in a different way in several places, who cares if it is copies Sounds like things are going to plan at least. I'm sure they are used to us IVFers obsessing about the follies so the less they tell us the better

Dis3tnd - yay for getting started! I definitely agree with making the appointment with your RE. Better to go through it all with the RE and feel comfortable. Even if the plan remains the same at least you will feel better about it after talking it over.

31 - Try not to stress, they scanned you VERY early. We started stims the same day and my first scan is still two days away. I suspect they wanted an early scan to make sure things were working the way they wanted so they had more time to adjust meds accordingly. Do you know when your next scan is yet?

 

[HuskyMomWI]

I go back on Friday for another scan.

 

[Mrs. Bear]

I go back on Friday for another scan.

That's closer to when most people have their first scan so you couldn't compare to what other ladies see til then anyway. Even then, everyone is so different and there is no telling how many eggs are in there til retrieval so it is probably best not to compare at all. Sorry you are having such a rough day so far. Try not to worry

 

[princess_1991]

Thanks mrs bear,
31 I was gunna say they have scanned you early haven't they!

I've got a question girls, I've heard alot of people say you shouldn't have baths while stimming and I know for definate your not allowed a bath after et, the thing is I'm DYING for a bath, especially with these bruises, a shower just isn't cutting it, have you ladies been having baths, would you say I could or should I just not risk it?

 

[Mrs. Bear]

I think you aren't supposed to have baths because of the heat from the temperature of the water.

 

[princess_1991]

Well originally that's what I thought but my clinic have recommended hot water bottles or heat bads on my belly
Some of the rules definately makes me confused.com

 

[Mrs. Bear]

I think it is more because your whole body is in the hot water so it raises your core body temperature. Who knows, the clinics all say so much that is different . I ususally go by my standard rule: If there is a question and you will blame yourself for doing it if things don't work this cycle then don't do it. Better to do without than feel guilty and wonder if that had a negative impact later.

 

[vesper21]

Mrs Bear - you're right, it's because it raises the body's core temperature. Having said that, a hot water bottle on the belly is supposed to be good during stims as it encourages the follies to grow.

My follistim dose got reduced yesterday, so I'm now on 50 follistim and 75 Menopur. Dr. thinks they'll reduce follistim again today... Also had my first scan, but not much to report other than lots (and lots) of little follies.

I'm a little annoyed with my clinic, something I didn't know before, but each time I go for a scan it's going to be someone different. This unnerves me as I feel like what's going to be recorded is going to be inconsistent. My RE told me I was stuck with him, but he's on vacation from tomorrow till Monday. So it's doubtful I'll see him at all unless he's on call when I have my ER or ET.

31 - yup, it's still early days. SOrry about the Menopur - it's so fiddly isn't it?? What doses are you on?

 

[KristyHart]

Hey ladies

I am on day 4 of stimming, going in for my scan tomorrow. I have just got back from an acupuncture session. She told me NOT to use hot water bottles on my tummy. The direct heat is too much. She told me to never get too hot or too cold through the whole process. Baths...I was never told to npt have baths after ET? I will ask my clinic about that as I am worried now lol. I was told not to have hot baths thats all? I guess everyone place has their on set of beliefs. My acupuncturist has just lent me Zita West pre collection, post transfer and 2ww visulisation and relaxation cd. So going to give that a whirl this week.

I will report back tomorrow with my follie and lining details.

One question you may help me with?? Do you get 1 egg per follicle?

Hope you all have a nice evening xx

 

[Mrs. Bear]

vesper21 - that is definitely annoying It is one thing to know it going in but that is wrong to just spring it on you like that. Yay for lots of follies though - FX they grow and grow and grow

Kristy - some follies are empty but it is also possible for there to be more than one egg in each follie. I've seen ladies on BnB have several more eggs collected than there were follies at their scan. I've decided I am going to assume only 2/3 of the follies have good eggs so I don't get my hopes up.

I think the no baths after transfer is due to risk of infection, especially since there are wounds healing from the needle for retrieval. I was also told no baths or swimming after IUIs for 3-5 days because of that. They probably also don't want the body temp to go up too high will the embryos are trying to implant.

 

[princess_1991]

Thanks ladies I think I'll just suffer without my baths I'd rather not chance it

Kristy I was told definate no to baths after et untill your atleast 6 weeks pregnant
Also some follies don't have any eggs in but I'm not sure if you can have more then 1 egg in a follie

I always thought I was well clued up on the whole ivf buisness until I've actually got to it and there are quite a few bits I'm confused about

Vesper they also reduced my dose from 225 to 187.5
My doctor told me they prefer to start high and bring them down if necessary rather then under stim and not have enough time to correct it

 

[HuskyMomWI]

31 - yup, it's still early days. SOrry about the Menopur - it's so fiddly isn't it?? What doses are you on?

I am on 150 1x per day so I use two of the vials. I'll have to ask the nurse if I should order 2 to make up for what I put down the drain. I have to order more follistim too so no big deal. So I am on 150 of Menopur, 400 of follistim and 10 units of lupron 2x per day. I will get a call back this afternoon to let me know if my dose of follistim needs to change but I am guessing it will be the same.

 

[aem118]

So is anyone on here doing ivf that has had recurrent losses in the past? I am trying to stay positive that this is the right choice? The doctors say they will have mOre control of all my levels and will be able to control meds as needed..

 

[schoolteacher]

I'm a little annoyed with my clinic, something I didn't know before, but each time I go for a scan it's going to be someone different. This unnerves me as I feel like what's going to be recorded is going to be inconsistent. My RE told me I was stuck with him, but he's on vacation from tomorrow till Monday. So it's doubtful I'll see him at all unless he's on call when I have my ER or ET.

Hello! It's the same a my clinic, I always saw a different person! annoying.com! x

Hey ladies

My acupuncturist has just lent me Zita West pre collection, post transfer and 2ww visulisation and relaxation cd. So going to give that a whirl this week.

I will report back tomorrow with my follie and lining details.

One question you may help me with?? Do you get 1 egg per follicle?

Hope you all have a nice evening xx

I have that CD, and it's good! -the different sections don't change much though but it was nice to visualise the embie snuggling in!

I knew that follies can sometimes be empty but I didn't know that there could be more than one egg in a follie! very interesting!x

Hi to everyone!x

AFM-still no AF so off for a scan on thursday to see whats going on. May not stimm now til start of feb, boo!! x

 

[vesper21]

I've heard the Zita West Cd is very good, wish I could get hold of it...

aem - are you going to be taking aspirin during this cycle? Do you know why it's recurring? i.e. immunes issues, clotting, chromosomal? I don't have a history of recurring, but did lose a baby at 23wks last year so totally understand your anxieties.

Re: number of eggs in a follie, yeah you can get more than one.

I have the opposite problem - I usually have a whole boat load of large follies (due to PCOS) but only ever produce a handful of eggs; 6 and 5 (with one golden egg!) in my previous cycle. The Dr. who scanned me today poo-pooed me for implying I have empty follicle syndrome... She said every single follicle has an egg, but sometimes dr's think it's empty if the egg is too immature.

Princess - my clinic is the same: start me high, then bring it down.


Got the call just now - my E2 levels are getting higher (335), and I start the Ganirelix tonight. Same dose for Follistim and Menopur.

I'm feeling a lot of activity in the ovaries for having done just 3 nights of stims...

 

[aem118]

I have hx of 6 mc's. I have been diagnosed with APA and ANA. And hypothyroid which was only diagnosed after last mc. I am taking synthroid, aspirin, heparin and prednisone with stimulation medicines...

 

[sarah10380]

Thanks for the welcome
y'all are chatty, so i had to get caught up.

so i guess i didn't realize that not everyone took bcp. i thought that since i was taking bcp that i was on a the long protocol...haha. i'm learning more everyday. So for you girls that are on bcp, how long do you take it for? my dr. said he wanted me in it for about 2 weeks. is that normal?

regarding the eggs in the follies: thats the thing i'm most scared of...that i'm not going to have any eggs in my follies or that i have bad eggs, because at this point my infertility diagnosis is unexplained. I'm really trying to push those thoughts out of my head, but it's hard.

so another question...how long does the stim process last? and how often do you go in for scans? i'm sure i wil find out all of the stuff when i go in for my meeing with my ivf nurse next week.