Any other DISers trying to concieve? Reread OP for the QOTD!

[beckmrk04]

Hi lovely ladies!!! (Remember me? )

I haven't been around (poor- turned off my home internet connection)- but I'm staying the night at my mom's house tonight because I am 37 WEEKS pregnant, contracting a fair amount, and we're expecting 6-9 INCHES of snow. I'm pretty sure if that pans out, my water will break at the most inopportune moment.

Things have been going well, though, and I'm due March 4, so I only have about 3 weeks (pray I'll go early).

Carla- a GIRL!! Woohoo! (I'm sure that's old news, but it's news to me!)

Who else has news. I'm SOOOO behind. I miss you all!

I hope everyone is doing well and feeling well. I think of all of you often, and I'm always praying for some BFPs!

 

[mickeyboat]

Becky! I am so glad to hear from you! I can't believe your little girl is almost here!

Denae

 

[arizonacolbys]

I'm at 8DPO today & think that my chart may be going Triphasic! It's gone up steadily for days & is holding steady at the same temp as yesterday this morning. I've been very hungry & tired the last two days & last night I had a mixture of nauseau & heartburn. I had a couple of these symptoms in October with my BFP, but they don't all appear to be the same - my bbs aren't really bothering me this time around (not sure what that means!)

Supposed to be getting a big blizzard here today - 4-8 inches by rush hour, another 4-8+ inches overnight & another 2-4 tomorrow. Sounds like good times!

Nicole - thanks! Sounds like you were a great help to your SIL & I can't wait to hear from you after the procedure on Friday. Sending you lots of Baby Dust & Sticky Vibes!!!

Steph - that's great news that you can feel O'g!! Good luck catching that egg this month!

DisneyDreamer8 - thanks - I hope your symptoms turn out to be something this month, too! Some of my symptoms are the same as in October, but some are different. I also have days where I think it's all in my head! LOL

Michelle - So happy to hear things are progressing nicely so far. Can't wait to hear an update later in the week! Baby Dust & Sticky vibes for you too!!

AllyandJack - happy to hear you're doing well & not losing anymore weight.

IMarriedGrumpy - I hope you're not getting a cold - good luck trying to catch that egg this month!!

Becky - we're getting that snow today now - it's crazy! Happy to hear that Vaylie is almost here!!

 

[7beasley]

This whole process sucks -- I am just sick to my stomach.

Our donor's retreival was today and they only got 7 mature eggs - that is way less than we were expecting based on her follicle counts -- she had 13 follicles on Sunday that were 14+ so how we only got 7 is beyond me.

Anyway - I am heartbroken and terrified.

We won't know how many fertilzed until Thursday.

The nurse told me today - for the first time - that the majority of people don't have anything left to freeze -- which is all news to me -- they had consistently told us that given the avg. numbers there are frozen embroyos.

Now I am wondering if something is wrong and that is why they are saying all that.

I feel like we will have one shot at this on Friday -- 2 embroyos (hopefully) - small chance of anything left over to freeze and this is a $20,000 bet on red -- either it works and we are hereos or it comes up black - and we lose everything and have to start over from scratch.

I just can't believe it.

I will have more news on Thursday when we find out how many of the 7 fertilized (on average it is 75%) and how many of those that fertilized are growing good.

Please send all your prayers.

I am going to try to stay positive - even though my heart is breaking at this news.

Afterall - it only takes one!

Hugs
Nicole

 

[kimntrent]

Good Morning ladies,

well for me I am somewhere past ovulation. Have no clue where but I do know my bbs hurt really bad. That is usually a clue for me. Not betting on anything here.

Nicole, I will keep you in my thoughts. Remember this, it only takes 1. So if you have 2 you got double the chance. It does suck that you only got 7 eggs. But maybe there were some that were not healthy enough or something. Who did you go through for your donor? I have a friend who is in the search.

Michelle, are you out there? Has anyone heard about her retreaval or anything?

Do you realize that we have two ladies right now with IVF that may be pregnant on or about valentines day? That is so romantic.

Kim

 

[AllyandJack]

Becky, I can't believe how close you are! My good friend went into labor a few years ago during a massive storm. Luckily she lived within a mile of the hospital and walked there. You're right....it will happen at the very worst time. We're expecting the same storm tomorrow. We're SUPPOSED to be getting about a foot where I am - we'll see. I have no trust left for weather people around here. Post pictures as soon as the big event happens!

Nicole, I'm so sorry about the eggs. I've been there. I had dozens of follicles on each ovary and very few eggs. That has been my biggest symptom of PCOS. I have no other symptoms, but it hits at the worst time - during IVF. During my 3rd cycle, I woke up and had my doctor tell me they only got 6 eggs. I cried my eyes out. It was so devastating. But, I had all 6 fertilize. We transferred 2 great embryos and had 3 left alive on Day 5 to freeze. So, it's very disppointing, but hope isn't lost. I know that it means a lot for the future to have some frozen, too. The thought of having to go through another fresh cycle (and, for you, having to go through this expense) is scary and depressing. But, my RE always says "quality over quantity". Keep us posted.

 

[exwdwcm]

This whole process sucks -- I am just sick to my stomach.

Our donor's retreival was today and they only got 7 mature eggs - that is way less than we were expecting based on her follicle counts -- she had 13 follicles on Sunday that were 14+ so how we only got 7 is beyond me.

Anyway - I am heartbroken and terrified.

We won't know how many fertilzed until Thursday.

The nurse told me today - for the first time - that the majority of people don't have anything left to freeze -- which is all news to me -- they had consistently told us that given the avg. numbers there are frozen embroyos.

Now I am wondering if something is wrong and that is why they are saying all that.

I feel like we will have one shot at this on Friday -- 2 embroyos (hopefully) - small chance of anything left over to freeze and this is a $20,000 bet on red -- either it works and we are hereos or it comes up black - and we lose everything and have to start over from scratch.

I just can't believe it.

I will have more news on Thursday when we find out how many of the 7 fertilized (on average it is 75%) and how many of those that fertilized are growing good.

Please send all your prayers.

I am going to try to stay positive - even though my heart is breaking at this news.

Afterall - it only takes one!

Hugs
Nicole

Nicole- i am so sorry- actually her numbers are actually just like mine. a high follicle count doesn't man much, it is the actual egg count that is important and mature eggs at that. one girl had 22 follies retrieved, but only 5 eggs.

so your donor is really just about on average for her count. as for freezing.....statistics online say very few couples have anything left to freeze. only 20% of people will get to freeze anything. so most of us won't be freezing anything. so the misled you by telling you there was a high chance of freezing, it is actually rather low at 20% of patients. they won't freeze unless it is a blast high quality with no fragmentation. any lesser grade embryo won't survive thawing i think, so they only freeze the best and most folks just don't have that many good ones and if they do, they already transferred them.

i think on avg, they retrieve 8-12 follicles. not every follicle will have an egg. i actually just read up on a formula they use... this an example based on what my doc has told me. he says I have 13 measurable follicles over 10mm. he expects 7 will be mature. i found this formula online today, so my doc's calculations on 7 being mature is right on the money. i am guessing i will have 5 fertilize. then from there, i am praying at least 2-3 make it to day 5 or blast.

13 follicles >10 mm X 75% recovered = 9.75oocytes

9.75 oocytes recovered X 80% mature = 7.8 mature oocytes

7.8 mature oocytes X 70% fertilize = 5.46
embryos

I hope that helps cheer you up. you and your donor are doing just about the same as I expect to do. I wasn't thrilled hearing he thinks I will only have 7 mature, but it is what it is. from what I have noticed, the ones that have huge counts turn out to have lower quality. it is about quality, not quantity. and those with the smaller or avg counts have higher quality eggs. it just seems that way from all the IVF people I have watched post etc. so i am hoping it is true! lol

as for me- ER is scheduled for Thursday, waiting for the call on the time. i am so nervous. if i have 5 embryos, i just hope they are good quality and can make it to day 5 and hope we have two really good ones to transfer next tuesday! Nicole- hang in there- i'll send you an email!

Carla- so great to hear from you- can't believe how far along you are. you are so right, after surviving IVF (much less as many cycles as you did), you can survive anything. congrats and i hope you feel better and better!

BEcky- great to see you- wow, due in just like 19 days! how crazy! thanks for coming back to visit. i hope you have a healthy and happy delivery!

 

[MindyGirl]

Wow, this thread moves fast!

My thoughts are with you girls going through the IVF process, you are incredibly strong and resilant.

Well, AF showed today.. about on time. This is TTC cycle #6 after being on BCP for 15 years. So far, I've had pretty short cycles, (25, 26, 26, 28, and now 25 days) which I thought was a good thing until recently. It appears this last cycle I O'd on CD 17, which means my luteal phase was only 8 days. Hmm, not good. I won't worry too much yet, since this was my first month really charting. We'll see what this next cycle does.

Anyone else have experience with this? I haven't had too much time to spend time googling it (as I would rather be here complaining about it ) and I don't exactly want to search "short luteal phase" into my search engine at work!

Anyway, I am pulling for everyone and look forward to hearing good news in the next few weeks!

Mindy

 

[mickeyboat]

Wow, this thread moves fast!

My thoughts are with you girls going through the IVF process, you are incredibly strong and resilant.

Well, AF showed today.. about on time. This is TTC cycle #6 after being on BCP for 15 years. So far, I've had pretty short cycles, (25, 26, 26, 28, and now 25 days) which I thought was a good thing until recently. It appears this last cycle I O'd on CD 17, which means my luteal phase was only 8 days. Hmm, not good. I won't worry too much yet, since this was my first month really charting. We'll see what this next cycle does.

Anyone else have experience with this? I haven't had too much time to spend time googling it (as I would rather be here complaining about it ) and I don't exactly want to search "short luteal phase" into my search engine at work!

Anyway, I am pulling for everyone and look forward to hearing good news in the next few weeks!

Mindy

Mindy - I googled for you.

If you have short luteal phases, your lining is not building up enough for implantation. You need at least 10 days for the lining to bild up enough. It is usually caused by low progesterone I guess it is pretty common, and fairly easy to treat - progesterone suppositories.

I had low progesterone when I was PG with my first, and had to use progrsterone suppositories for several weeks early in my PG.

My recommendation is to continue to chart, to serve as evidence of what is going on with your cycles. Also see if your GYN or PCP will do some bloodwork to see if they can figure out what is going on. Some are willing and able to do the initial testing, but some will not be. If you want or need to pursue it further, keep charting and get an appointment with an RE.

Hi Michelle and Nicole - I am keeping fingers and toes crossed that your little eggs will grow and be healthy!

Hi Carla! It is so good to hear from you.

Emily - Sounds like we may be hearing some good news, soon. My first three PG's, sore bb's were the predominant sign. But when I got PG with Emily, my bb's were only a little sore, and I thought I was having latching problems with my nursing baby. I didn't know until I was almost 7 weeks along that I was PG!

Good luck to all!

Denae

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

It appears this last cycle I O'd on CD 17, which means my luteal phase was only 8 days. Hmm, not good. I won't worry too much yet, since this was my first month really charting. We'll see what this next cycle does.

Anyone else have experience with this? I haven't had too much time to spend time googling it (as I would rather be here complaining about it ) and I don't exactly want to search "short luteal phase" into my search engine at work!

Mindy

Hi Mindy!

I have a short luteal phase, too - usually 10 days - and from what I've learned so far, it can be very easily treated. It's called Luteal Phase Defect, or LPD. The problem with LPD is that while you might get an egg fertilized, it won't have time to implant before AF starts, or if it does implant, the uterine lining might not be fully mature enough to support a healthy pregnancy. What I've heard is that a Dr. can put you on progesterone for a little while, and that almost always does the trick to lengthen your luteal phase and ensure good lining and implantation. Once that happens, most people can go off the progesterone and everything moves on as normal. Hope that helps...

Unfortunately, my HMO has dozens of hoops for me to jump through before I get to be treated for a short LP, so we're still at least 4 to 6 more cycles away from getting that looked at. I hate my HMO...

 

[mickeyboat]

IMG - When we first started seeing the RE, he ordered some blood work, one to measure luteal phase. My insurance company did not pay for the bloodwork, but all the tests only cost about $500. Do you think it might be something you would be willing or able to pay for yourself, to speed things along? Do you think your GYN or PCP would order them? Just a thought.

Denae

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

Well I think I'm out...not that i was ever really in...but I'm freezing today and my CM has that "look" to it. Oh well...hopefully after Friday I will have a direction to head. On to cycle 12.

Emily-I really hope this is it for you and your DH!!!!! Keep us updated.

Nicole & Michelle-Keeping you both in my thoughts...You are both so strong to be able to withstand the stress and the drugs and the uncertainty.

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

Hi Mindy!

I have a short luteal phase, too - usually 10 days - and from what I've learned so far, it can be very easily treated. It's called Luteal Phase Defect, or LPD. The problem with LPD is that while you might get an egg fertilized, it won't have time to implant before AF starts, or if it does implant, the uterine lining might not be fully mature enough to support a healthy pregnancy. What I've heard is that a Dr. can put you on progesterone for a little while, and that almost always does the trick to lengthen your luteal phase and ensure good lining and implantation. Once that happens, most people can go off the progesterone and everything moves on as normal. Hope that helps...
QUOTE]


I really think that is my problem. That is the first thing I will have the Dr. test for. That and blocked tubes.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

IMG - When we first started seeing the RE, he ordered some blood work, one to measure luteal phase. My insurance company did not pay for the bloodwork, but all the tests only cost about $500. Do you think it might be something you would be willing or able to pay for yourself, to speed things along? Do you think your GYN or PCP would order them? Just a thought.

Denae

My next "HMO approved" appointment is mid-March, and I'm bringing it up again then. My GYN is sympathetic, but we're restricted by the HMO rules to what we can do and when. It's a crazy system, and my GYN is working to push the envelope as much as possible and bump up the schedule when we can. DH isn't ready to invest any money in this yet, so he's not up for doing anything independent of the HMO. I'm trying to be patient, since we really have only been trying since August, so I shouldn't complain when we haven't even gone a year yet.

 

[MindyGirl]

You girls move quick!

I figure I will chart for one more month just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, but I will definately make an appointment. Perhaps I should do that now since it takes me so long to get seen. I live in Germany and work for the Army, so my doc is at an Army clinic. I am pretty lucky because so far she has been a great resource for me, as it turns out she had fertility issues as well (never asked the details) so she is super about answering my questions. I could attempt to see a German doctor, but I would have to pay for everything upfront and then be reimbursed by my insurance. I would perfer not to go that route, if at all possible.

Time for bed now, but I will spend some quality time with google tomorrow and learn what I can. Thanks for all the info, you guys rock!


Mindy

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Hi Carla - Glad the baby's doing well. Hopefully you're feeling better soon!

Becky - 37 weeks, contractions, big snowstorm.... All signs would say she'll be here soon!!!!!!

Nicole - keep your hopes up. 7 eggs is still a good number. I'll be thinking of you.

Michelle - good luck!!!! I'm so glad you're finally there!

MindyGirl - keep charting. The more info the doctor's have when you see them, the better you'll be. They love data......

Emily - Sounds promising for a BFP! That would make a great Valentine's present

Take care everyone - I'm going to make sure I've got gas for the generator, and a shovel for my husband. The new weather forecast has us getting 12-24" of snow over the next day!!!! I'm so excited!!!!

Jen

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

Happy Valentines Day

Hope you all have romantic plans with your Hubby's tonight

 

[TrueEeyore]

I hope this thread is still around when I start TTC in about two years!
This seems like a great bunch of support. Good luck ladies!

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Have any of you tried the ovulation calendar?
http://www.ovulation-calendar.com/

It's free to try for 45 days...pretty nifty.

 

[MindyGirl]

Hope everyone had a great Valentines day

DH and I went out for all you can eat sushi, Yum! Knowing that I am not pregnant makes it a lot easier to enjoy

We are headed out of town for the long weekend, DH is going to spend the weekend snowboarding and I will relaxing in the spa, ahhhhh. It will be nice to unwind after such a longggggg week.

I am really looking forward to hearing all the good news from our friends in the 2ww, and those who are about to begin the 2ww! How exciting

Mindy