ivf cycle buddies??? :-)

[alaskacouple]

Hi all,
looking for ivf cycle buddy to share comments and questions with.  I am (will be) on the protocol for high responders (FSH, Ganirex, Lupron Trigger, then PIO and E2 patches).
Currently on BCP, going on 22 days of them (and now I remember why I hated them - bloating, acne, nausea)
This will be my third ivf cycle (thank God my doctor charges only a fraction of what others charge - best kept secret in Alaska!)
Thank you to all.

[Helen72]

I am on day 18 of my b/c pills.  Hope to start Lupron tonight.
Good luck to you!!  I hope 3 is the charm for you.

[alaskacouple]

I do another US next week 3/18 - even after being on BCP for 21 days, I had thirteen follicles, mind you, they were all pretty small...still my Dr. wants me 'clean' so that I do not hyperstimulate again.  Last IVF cycle I had to coast for several days.  Hopefully, 3/18 will be my last day for BCP, then start FSH on 3/20. I have no other meds scheduled until about day 6 (depending on follicles...) then Ganirelix in addition to FSH.

[bny807]

Can I ask what the timeline is with IVF, from the time you sit down and make the decision to do IVF and start the meds till the actual transfer??? It seems as if people always have it scheduled about three months out and I was curious if it takes that long?   Thanks! and GOOD LUCK To all of you! ill keep you in my prayers!!

[Helen72]

Well, I am still in the suppression stage.  I am supposed to start Gonal-F and Menupur hopefully next week.  I guess you ae a good responder.  I have no idea how well I respond to FSH.  This is my first ivf cycle and I never used injectables before.  I hope to produce enough good eggs so that we have some for possible FET.  
Stay in touch!  I guess we are very close in our cycles.

[Helen72]

You typically start ivf cycle with a month of birth control pills and do not begin stims till the cycle after.  So, it's about two months between the start and beta.

Note that different clinics have very different protocols so the timeline may vary.

[alaskacouple]

I am not sure what the appropriate 'timeline' is.  But, normally they don't start counting anything until after retrieval (or harvesting as I like to call it) of the eggs.  Then you are suddenly 1 or 2 or 3... and so on... past days of ovulation. And, depending on when the embryo's or blastocysts, are transferred, that's a whole new math. My last ivf cylce, I had 2 5day old blastocysts transferred.  Just remember, the day of harvest is the day of ovulation, and if you have ICSI done, that is also the day of conception.
Good luck to you :-)

[alaskacouple]

The sub-q injections are really easy!  I had to do four of them a day prior to harvesting, my last two ivf cycles.  Now, I only have to do 1 in the beginning and then 2 at some point (no pun intended).
The hard ones are the PIO that my DH has to give me.  I think it pains him more than me.  If you are doing the PIO after harvesting, remember to warm up the oil.  Put the vial in your armpit for about half and hour before injection --- this makes the oil go in much easier :-)  

[Helen72]

Yes, I will be doing PIO shots after retrieval.  Those needles are sooo long, auch!
Thanks for your advice!

[rxyrxx919]

Hello.  I hope you guys don't mind if I join your IVF buddy group!  I am scheduled for a HCG (I think that's right) at the beg. of my next cycle...probably beg. of April, then we'll set a timeline when I start my meds and stuff.  My transfer is scheduled for the 1st week of June if all works out and we can afford the payments.  This will be my 1st IVF and hopefully it works because it will be the only.

[alaskacouple]

Of course you are welcome to join... the more the merrier :-)
You will have to keep us posted.
Sending some baby dust your way.

[alaskacouple]

here we go... US was clear today...last day of BCP...start FSH shots in a couple of days (depending on when cycle starts)...

[Helen72]

Congrats!  Now things will probably go really fast for you.

[alaskacouple]

How are your shots going?

[rghkah38]

Hi Ladies,

I hope you don't mind if I join in.  This is day 9 of my 5th ivf  cycle and i am on follistim 300 a day and repronex 75 a day.  I actually did my 4th cycle last month, so I'm doing a back to back cycle.  So, far I have 6 follicles over 10 and 5 that are less than an eight.

I wish all of you ladies luck on this cycle.  Keep me posted on how all of you are doing.

[Helen72]

Unfortunately, I never started Lupron.  My u/s showed an ovarian cyst so everything is postponed indefinitely.  This extra waiting makes me feel like total ******.  My next u/s is this Thursday.  I hope it at least starts shrinking by then.  
I guess I'll be behind you...

[alaskacouple]

Good luck to you on the cyst.  How big is it, and what are they using to suppress it?
Do you have PCOS or endo?  My prayers are with you...

[Helen72]

They just told me to keep taking b/c.  I do not have PCOS or endo and the cyst is probably due to clomid that I took last cycle.
Thanks for your good wishes.
I hope that Easter will bring you many eggs  :)

[alaskacouple]

Right now, I would prefer the chocolate eggs....talk about PMS!!!
Keep in touch!

[elizabeth250]

Hello to all.. This is going to be my 3rd IVF, but we are going to use donor eggs.  I'm 43 and my doctor said we could keep on trying with my eggs, but it all depends on money.  I have no problem getting preg. it just my eggs only make it to 6-8 weeks.  The donor is about 90% a positive for me to get and stay preg.  Also with her last cycle she produced 43 eggs, which means if I don't succeed i can keep on trying.  I'm getting very excited, and nervous at the sametime.  The retrieval is on the 14th and transfer is on the 19th.  I start the lupron on March 25th.  Good luck to all.. Elizabeth

[fyrefly]

Helen,

I am going tomorrow to have my cysts aspirated. You and I appear to be in about the same place. If all goes well I have been told that I will start Lupron injections tomorrow and they will over-lap the BC for several days. Is this something that you could ask your physician about?

I hope you all do not mind if I join in as well.

[FaithNHim]

I apologize for jumping in but this has been quite interesting and educational.
I hope you do not mind me chiming in here.
I am on day two of stimulation meds and my ER is currently scheduled for 3/30.
I did not know that the ER date is day one of ovulation.
And the recommendation for the PIO is helpful and I am going to use it.
This is my third IVF cycle.

Hoping you do not mind me joining in.......   :)

[babywanted556]

My E/R is on 3/7, E/T is on 3/10 and first beta will be 3/24.  This is my first IVF.
I have nightly progresterone shot and 3 times/day for progresterone pills insert into vagnial.
I try to stay positive, but also worry because after 3 days of E/T, all symptoms like cramps, gas, stomach pain are gone.  I don't even have score bbs since then.....nothing at all.  I'm scare to take HTP test.
I need your supports.....
Thanks for sharing.

[alaskacouple]

think positive...not all women have the same symptoms when pregnant. sending lots and lots of baby dust your way...

to faithnhim... we are looking at ER sometime first week of April, so you will be a couple of days ahead of us. If your DH is injecting the PIO, have him rub your bum afterwards - it helps prevent welts, trust me!  If it is not massaged, your bum starts to look like mosquitos the size of texas had a feast there :-)  Are you alternating sides for the shots?
I also found that if I did shots in the same location of the house - it made me nauseous to go into that room - hence I stopped giving myself the shots in the bathroom.  I alternate between rooms (3rd time of IVF).

[sweetdrda]

Not doing IVF cause I dont have any ins. to cover it but just curious what is the process not all the meds and stuff but what is the difference between IVF and IVF w/ ICSI?  Do you know how much each of these cost???  Is it for 1 try every cycle and if it doesnt work you have to pay the whole thing over again???  I have shyed away from IVF because I heard that it is REALLLY EXPENSIVE$$$ especially because my DH has aoub 50% poor morphology so they have to do something extra.  Please help if you knowt the answers.
Thanks so much and I wish all of you the best of luck!