IVF Support Group

[Parkerpooh]

I have PCOS and did over 8 yrs of fertility treatments which resulted in 5yr old ds and 9month old b/g twins. I had so many setbacks- job loss, cervical cancer scare but was so determined to have the family of my dreams. It took alot of $$ and shed many tears but the end result was so worth it!! I'm thankful every day for our 3 beautiful kids and glad we didn't give up. I definitely think it's made me a better mother because of our struggles with infertility. Most important thing for me was read,read,read...and find a great support group online. Best of Luck, Jen

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I also have PCOS and had my miracle baby in October 2003. I just wanted to wish all good luck and (since is the DISboards)...a little pixie dust!

 

[jlstwinmommy]

I just heard back from the weekend nurse -- they were not able to schedule me for surgery to remove my polyp on Tuesday. The calendar was too busy with IVF procedures.

They will try tomorrow for Wednesday and continue through this week. If they don't schedule by 6/8 (says the nurse) or 6/10 (says my doc), then we will have to wait until July.

I feel better now -- there's nothing I can do to influence the outcome...will just wait and pray and see what will be...

Here's a prayer they can get you in on Wed. My sister is also going through IVF right now. She is supposed to have her retrieval on Wed. She keeps calling to ask me what all the different medications are for. It is amazing how much of that process I had blocked out. We transfered 2 embryos and got back 2. They gave us an option of putting in a 3rd, but since it was our first attempt they recommended that we just start with 2. My DH is so glad we only put in 2. Triplets may have pushed us over the edge.

 

[Marshay]

I still didn't get in for the surgery...tomorrow is the last day they can notify me for Friday's schedule. So if I don't get in tomorrow, then we will delay the IVF until next month (assuming I can get the surgery done in the next 30 days)

The bright side of this delay means we have more time to re-organize our house and tear down DH's office to make it into a nursery.

 

[Marshay]

Fingers crossed that you get in soon for the procedure. I had to have a very large cyst removed before my procedure and that minor setback got me down for a bit but after that we were on the road to success. Keep your chin up.

Thanks! When we were going to start IVF before our trip to Disney they said I had a very small polyp but it wouldn't interfere. Then we decided to enjoy Disney and not worry about trying to do IVF at the same time. So Doc said that they would have to re-check the polyp...I just sort of forgot all about it and then thought it would delay everything by a few months -- glad I was wrong. Chin is up!

I have PCOS and did over 8 yrs of fertility treatments which resulted in 5yr old ds and 9month old b/g twins. I had so many setbacks- job loss, cervical cancer scare but was so determined to have the family of my dreams. It took alot of $$ and shed many tears but the end result was so worth it!! I'm thankful every day for our 3 beautiful kids and glad we didn't give up. I definitely think it's made me a better mother because of our struggles with infertility. Most important thing for me was read,read,read...and find a great support group online. Best of Luck, Jen

thanks Jen! It's actually quite good for my soul to hear other struggles...I hope that doesn't offend anyone...I really don't mean it that way...it just helps me to put everything in perspective...a month or two or even a few more really is nothing in the scheme of life!

What is PCOS?

I also have PCOS and had my miracle baby in October 2003. I just wanted to wish all good luck and (since is the DISboards)...a little pixie dust!

Thanks!! Lots of miracle babies!!!

Here's a prayer they can get you in on Wed. My sister is also going through IVF right now. She is supposed to have her retrieval on Wed. She keeps calling to ask me what all the different medications are for. It is amazing how much of that process I had blocked out. We transfered 2 embryos and got back 2. They gave us an option of putting in a 3rd, but since it was our first attempt they recommended that we just start with 2. My DH is so glad we only put in 2. Triplets may have pushed us over the edge.

I hear you on the multiples, particularly more than 2...but of course I will love any and all we have.

I have been watching the Jon and Kate Plus 8 show more and more though...

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Thanks! When we were going to start IVF before our trip to Disney they said I had a very small polyp but it wouldn't interfere. Then we decided to enjoy Disney and not worry about trying to do IVF at the same time. So Doc said that they would have to re-check the polyp...I just sort of forgot all about it and then thought it would delay everything by a few months -- glad I was wrong. Chin is up!



thanks Jen! It's actually quite good for my soul to hear other struggles...I hope that doesn't offend anyone...I really don't mean it that way...it just helps me to put everything in perspective...a month or two or even a few more really is nothing in the scheme of life!

What is PCOS?



Thanks!! Lots of miracle babies!!!



I hear you on the multiples, particularly more than 2...but of course I will love any and all we have.

I have been watching the Jon and Kate Plus 8 show more and more though...

Since you asked, PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. (BTW, Kate from Jon and Kate also has it) Here's a link with info...it's actually the number 1 cause of infertility. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCOS

 

[Colinsmom]

My first is a Clomid/IUI baby, and my second (just turned 2) is an IVF+ICSI baby. I actually found the IVF easier than the IUIs. With my IUIs (four before we moved to IVF when trying for #2), I was in daily for monitoring for a whole week, and my body just was stubborn about responding to the fine-tuning that they would try to do to get just a couple of ripe eggs at the right time. We moved to IVF and I found it sooo much easier because they seemed to have so much more control over the cycle. I think that I went for 3 monitoring appts + retrieval + transfer over a couple of weeks.

For me, retrieval was the big surprise. I was fine through the procedure (knocked out), but my abdomen was pretty tender for a few days afterwards. I found it hard to care for my older son (2.5yo at the time). They technically advise resting for a few days after the transfer, but realistically told me to just avoid lifting. I felt fine after the transfer once that retrieval tenderness had subsided.

Retrieval got us 17 eggs, 15 of which were mature. 13 fertilized. Based on the quality of the embryos, we put back 3 on day 3, got pregnant with one. None of the remaining embryos made it to day 5 to be frozen. I was 33 at the time. I didn't do PIO; they let me do the progesterone suppositories instead.

We're debating doing this again for #3. IVF doesn't scare me. Multiples scare me!!

FYI - Jon and Kate did IUI, that's how they ended up with 6. None of the docs that I've worked with would have allowed me to do the IUI with that many ripe follicles - the cycle would have been cancelled. Any reputable RE has the goal of a SINGLETON healthy pregnancy for each client.

 

[ERMama]

I agree with the last post. A huge soapbox of mine is docs who dont monitor their fertility patients and allow them to get pregnant with "unsafe" multiples. I understand the pain that goes with wanting a child so badly but I do NOT think its worth the medical risk to child and mother to allow for high number multiples. Even twin and triplet pregnancies are high risk enough.
Im glad the clinic we chose would only allow us to transfer 2 embryos at a time. Because honestly, I know of several women who have gone thru IVF (including myself) and had embryos split on their own. Two is enough quite honestly because even just 2 can become 3 or more.

Our IVF was with ICSI also. Fresh cycle was negative. First FET was positive and gave us Evan (they believe 1 embryos split making 3 sacs but then just twins developed but after 3 u/s with 2 heartbeats, baby B suddenly disappeared). Third FET was negative. Fourth FET positive but ended in m/c (blighted ovum actually). We have no more embyros frozen.


The day of our embryo transfer from our fresh IVF cycle was crazy. I had to leave my husband and 3 yo son at the time in the ER and walk up to the IVF docs office by myself. Our son was being admitted for seizures so as soon after the transfer I spent most of the day with my drugged up son who would not sit still. My husband sent me home for the night to rest while he stayed with our son. I really think the stress did not help that cycle to be positive.

The day of our first FET I actually rested that day then went to work that night for a few hours (Im an ER/trauma nurse). I wanted to try to keep my schedule as normal as possible and lowest amount of stress. I did try to rest a bit more over the next few days but bedrest was uncalled for and not possible for me. Evans here and just fine.

 

[jlstwinmommy]

I agree with the last 2 posts as well. I can't imagine a dr allowing someone to go through with IUI with that many follicles. My IVF cycle actually started as a IUI cycle. I had 11 follicles and they were going to cancel the cycle, but I was fortunate enough to have it converted to an IVF cycle instead (which ended with my twins).

I do love my twins dearly and wouldn't trade them for the world. Most days I love having the opportunity to watch the relationship that they have which is certainly special. Yesterday was a bad twin day. For some reason, my DD has decided that if her twin can do something, there is no reason she shouldn't be able to and she gets VERY upset if she can't do it. It doesn't matter that there are many things she does that he can't do or can't do as well. She is a very competative little girl. Definintely the dominant twin.

 

[Angieandpooster]

Hi there! I am not currently doing IVF, I just wanted to say "good luck" to those who are.
I had one failed IVF cycle as a gestational surrogate a year and a half ago, and have not tried again. We had 2 w/ PGD put back and I still can't figure out why it didn't work.

I have 3 of my own kids.

 

[Marshay]

Since you asked, PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. (BTW, Kate from Jon and Kate also has it) Here's a link with info...it's actually the number 1 cause of infertility. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCOS

I never heard of this before. thanks for the info!

My first is a Clomid/IUI baby, and my second (just turned 2) is an IVF+ICSI baby. I actually found the IVF easier than the IUIs. With my IUIs (four before we moved to IVF when trying for #2), I was in daily for monitoring for a whole week, and my body just was stubborn about responding to the fine-tuning that they would try to do to get just a couple of ripe eggs at the right time. We moved to IVF and I found it sooo much easier because they seemed to have so much more control over the cycle. I think that I went for 3 monitoring appts + retrieval + transfer over a couple of weeks.

For me, retrieval was the big surprise. I was fine through the procedure (knocked out), but my abdomen was pretty tender for a few days afterwards. I found it hard to care for my older son (2.5yo at the time). They technically advise resting for a few days after the transfer, but realistically told me to just avoid lifting. I felt fine after the transfer once that retrieval tenderness had subsided.

Retrieval got us 17 eggs, 15 of which were mature. 13 fertilized. Based on the quality of the embryos, we put back 3 on day 3, got pregnant with one. None of the remaining embryos made it to day 5 to be frozen. I was 33 at the time. I didn't do PIO; they let me do the progesterone suppositories instead.

We're debating doing this again for #3. IVF doesn't scare me. Multiples scare me!!

FYI - Jon and Kate did IUI, that's how they ended up with 6. None of the docs that I've worked with would have allowed me to do the IUI with that many ripe follicles - the cycle would have been cancelled. Any reputable RE has the goal of a SINGLETON healthy pregnancy for each client.

I was always wondering about J&K+8...I thought it was an IVF thing...kind of glad to hear it wasn't ...

I agree with the last post. A huge soapbox of mine is docs who dont monitor their fertility patients and allow them to get pregnant with "unsafe" multiples. I understand the pain that goes with wanting a child so badly but I do NOT think its worth the medical risk to child and mother to allow for high number multiples. Even twin and triplet pregnancies are high risk enough.
Im glad the clinic we chose would only allow us to transfer 2 embryos at a time. Because honestly, I know of several women who have gone thru IVF (including myself) and had embryos split on their own. Two is enough quite honestly because even just 2 can become 3 or more.

Our IVF was with ICSI also. Fresh cycle was negative. First FET was positive and gave us Evan (they believe 1 embryos split making 3 sacs but then just twins developed but after 3 u/s with 2 heartbeats, baby B suddenly disappeared). Third FET was negative. Fourth FET positive but ended in m/c (blighted ovum actually). We have no more embyros frozen.


The day of our embryo transfer from our fresh IVF cycle was crazy. I had to leave my husband and 3 yo son at the time in the ER and walk up to the IVF docs office by myself. Our son was being admitted for seizures so as soon after the transfer I spent most of the day with my drugged up son who would not sit still. My husband sent me home for the night to rest while he stayed with our son. I really think the stress did not help that cycle to be positive.

The day of our first FET I actually rested that day then went to work that night for a few hours (Im an ER/trauma nurse). I wanted to try to keep my schedule as normal as possible and lowest amount of stress. I did try to rest a bit more over the next few days but bedrest was uncalled for and not possible for me. Evans here and just fine.

Wow -- what a story! I can't imagine one kid in the ER while you are getting the IVF done...whew!

I agree with the last 2 posts as well. I can't imagine a dr allowing someone to go through with IUI with that many follicles. My IVF cycle actually started as a IUI cycle. I had 11 follicles and they were going to cancel the cycle, but I was fortunate enough to have it converted to an IVF cycle instead (which ended with my twins).

I do love my twins dearly and wouldn't trade them for the world. Most days I love having the opportunity to watch the relationship that they have which is certainly special. Yesterday was a bad twin day. For some reason, my DD has decided that if her twin can do something, there is no reason she shouldn't be able to and she gets VERY upset if she can't do it. It doesn't matter that there are many things she does that he can't do or can't do as well. She is a very competative little girl. Definintely the dominant twin.

Interesting that they let you go from IUI to IVF ... when I asked at Shady Grove they told me I had to choose one or the other.

Hi there! I am not currently doing IVF, I just wanted to say "good luck" to those who are.
I had one failed IVF cycle as a gestational surrogate a year and a half ago, and have not tried again. We had 2 w/ PGD put back and I still can't figure out why it didn't work.

I have 3 of my own kids.

Thanks!

 

[Marshay]

just an update!

I go for surgery tomorrow at 1:15pm which means I can start the Lupron shot tomorrow and we are on schedule for June start date.

So here we go!!

 

[ERMama]

Technically you do have to choose one or the other, IUI or IVF. IUI was NOT an option for us.
However, if a doc is monitoring you properly during an IUI cycle and finds there are too many mature follicles, they can often give you the option of changing to an IVF cycle. That way they can better control how many follicles are fertilized and possibly implanting.

 

[tinker-belle]

Good luck on your surgery!!! Glad to hear things are rolling.
Gonna add my two sense in...
In nutshell, after 2 and a half years, high dosages of clomid, progesterone suppositories, and two IUIS and miscarriages back to back, we did IVF. First one worked, but ended in miscarriage due to trisomy, second one has me currently 31 weeks pregnant.

A couple of my own tid-bits:
- I heard fresh pineapple is more effective than pineapple juice.
- I was TERRIFIED of shots, so my dh gave me all of them.
- I remember feeling crazy overwhelmed after the shots class- looking at the 'big picture', but if you do it just one day at a time, it's really very manageable.
- For the lupron shots (which I got in my tummy), I would pinch myself and let myself feel 'pain' of pinch more than the needle itself.
- For the progesterone and trigger shot which were in my butt- even those became not a big deal- we did it first thing in the morning- & my nurse showed me a trick. Find your hip bone- put your thumb on it- stretch your pinky as far as it goes, and in the middle of those two fingers (that little skin flap) is where you want to put the shot and you barely feel it- I always iced beforehand, and first few days drew 'bullseyes' on myself so dh can get it right.

DH was terrified of giving the shots, everything terrified me- but after a couple of days it became no big deal.
Lots of luck to you!!!

 

[Marshay]

Good luck on your surgery!!! Glad to hear things are rolling.
Gonna add my two sense in...
In nutshell, after 2 and a half years, high dosages of clomid, progesterone suppositories, and two IUIS and miscarriages back to back, we did IVF. First one worked, but ended in miscarriage due to trisomy, second one has me currently 31 weeks pregnant.

A couple of my own tid-bits:
- I heard fresh pineapple is more effective than pineapple juice.
- I was TERRIFIED of shots, so my dh gave me all of them.
- I remember feeling crazy overwhelmed after the shots class- looking at the 'big picture', but if you do it just one day at a time, it's really very manageable.
- For the lupron shots (which I got in my tummy), I would pinch myself and let myself feel 'pain' of pinch more than the needle itself.
- For the progesterone and trigger shot which were in my butt- even those became not a big deal- we did it first thing in the morning- & my nurse showed me a trick. Find your hip bone- put your thumb on it- stretch your pinky as far as it goes, and in the middle of those two fingers (that little skin flap) is where you want to put the shot and you barely feel it- I always iced beforehand, and first few days drew 'bullseyes' on myself so dh can get it right.

DH was terrified of giving the shots, everything terrified me- but after a couple of days it became no big deal.
Lots of luck to you!!!

First, Congrats on your pregnancy!!!

And thanks for the advice, thoughts, suggestions, etc. I think my DH too, is scared of giving me the shots ... and I really don't want to ask him -- I rather think he knows just what he is doing!

 

[jlstwinmommy]

You do have to choose IUI or IVF, and Shady Grove said they normally don't let you switch because the insurance companies usually require notice and approval before going to IVF. I believe God was watching out for us because our insurance approved the switch mid-cycle. Everything really worked out just perfectly that cycle. It truly was a miracle.

Good luck with the beginning of your cycle. Maybe you and my sister will find out good news around the same time. She just had her retrieval today.

 

[IheartAriel]

Good luck tomorrow!

I consider myself lucky, I was allergic to the progesterone shots since it was suspended in peanut oil so the doc took me off of that and just kept me on the suppositories. Second round of IVF we just stuck with the suppositories. When we did do the shots my husband would count to three, I would take a deep breath and then exhale on 3 and that was when he would do the shot. It seemed to help with the initial pain. After the shot I would rub the area to disperse the oil which seemed to help too.

When you get to the shot point remember to change the needle! I knew someone whose husband drew the oil with the drawing needle (which is huge) and then forgot to change the needle to the shot needle (which is still big but not quite as big as the drawing needle). Needless to say she was not too happy with the huge needle plunged into her back hip!

 

[momoffive]

Hi, I have been following your thread and I wish you all wonderful luck. You may or may not want to hear my story. Waited a couple of years before we started trying only to find out that I was not able to get pregnant on my own, PCOS. After 3 years of treatment, our last round of Gonal-F, we found out we were pregnant with HOMs. I had the disappearing pregnancy of at least 2 embryos by week 12 and now surviving beautiful 9 y/o girl. The plan was try for a year after her birth and then revisit the RE. She picked up where we left off the first time and we now have 5 beautiful children. It is very scary. Our RE was not happy that we ended up with 4, and we were her first, its just that my follicles were not really mature and not expected to survive, like my first pregnancy, but they did. I wouldn't change a thing. 5 under 2 is difficult but love Xs 5 is unbelievable too. I do not agree with the transfers of such high numbers of embryos and would discourage it. The pregnancy is difficult to say the least, and deciding what is right for your family is just as difficult, but a decision you live with for the rest of your life. I know several of you stated the fear of more than 2. It can be done, but it is a personal choice. Us keeping all four was never a dilemma for us, a personal choice and a choice I would make over again in a heartbeat.

I love reading your stories and truly wish you all happiness.
momoffive

 

[Marshay]

You do have to choose IUI or IVF, and Shady Grove said they normally don't let you switch because the insurance companies usually require notice and approval before going to IVF. I believe God was watching out for us because our insurance approved the switch mid-cycle. Everything really worked out just perfectly that cycle. It truly was a miracle.

Good luck with the beginning of your cycle. Maybe you and my sister will find out good news around the same time. She just had her retrieval today.

Best of luck for your sister! So glad your insurance worked for you. Surprisingly, our insurance doesn't cover IUIs at all so we had to pay totally OOP for our first two. They do cover IVF though, so that's another reason why we switched over to IVF.

Good luck tomorrow!

I consider myself lucky, I was allergic to the progesterone shots since it was suspended in peanut oil so the doc took me off of that and just kept me on the suppositories. Second round of IVF we just stuck with the suppositories. When we did do the shots my husband would count to three, I would take a deep breath and then exhale on 3 and that was when he would do the shot. It seemed to help with the initial pain. After the shot I would rub the area to disperse the oil which seemed to help too.

When you get to the shot point remember to change the needle! I knew someone whose husband drew the oil with the drawing needle (which is huge) and then forgot to change the needle to the shot needle (which is still big but not quite as big as the drawing needle). Needless to say she was not too happy with the huge needle plunged into her back hip!

Definitely will remember to switch the needle!! Wow -- that must have hurt!!!

Hi, I have been following your thread and I wish you all wonderful luck. You may or may not want to hear my story. Waited a couple of years before we started trying only to find out that I was not able to get pregnant on my own, PCOS. After 3 years of treatment, our last round of Gonal-F, we found out we were pregnant with HOMs. I had the disappearing pregnancy of at least 2 embryos by week 12 and now surviving beautiful 9 y/o girl. The plan was try for a year after her birth and then revisit the RE. She picked up where we left off the first time and we now have 5 beautiful children. It is very scary. Our RE was not happy that we ended up with 4, and we were her first, its just that my follicles were not really mature and not expected to survive, like my first pregnancy, but they did. I wouldn't change a thing. 5 under 2 is difficult but love Xs 5 is unbelievable too. I do not agree with the transfers of such high numbers of embryos and would discourage it. The pregnancy is difficult to say the least, and deciding what is right for your family is just as difficult, but a decision you live with for the rest of your life. I know several of you stated the fear of more than 2. It can be done, but it is a personal choice. Us keeping all four was never a dilemma for us, a personal choice and a choice I would make over again in a heartbeat.

I love reading your stories and truly wish you all happiness.
momoffive

Oh, please believe me I want to hear everyone's stories, whether successful or not...since that is the reality of IVF...It helps to know that one is not alone in this. And if I ever meet you in WDW, it'll be more special!

I'm still learning the acronyms -- what is HOMS (xxxxxx of multiples???)

Forgive my ignorance on this ... the "disappearing pregnancy" -- so there are multiple heartbeats detected or multiple sacs on the u/s and then when checked again, there are less. So it is assumed one of the (I chose to call them) babies didn't progress? What happens? Does the body expel it right away or not until labor?

Sorry for my questions if they are offensive...I don't mean them to be...just interested b/c we had to terminate based on ectopic pregnancy (i.e., not growing in my uterus) and it took a while for that to happen, even with the shot.

As for me, I'm hoping for a singleton...but will trust in God's plan (that means no more than twins, right God?? )

Please don't be afraid to post what options you chose and the results and anything else you want to say.

 

[Marshay]

Well, wouldn't you know it? We had some terrible storms move in the area yesterday and the Medical Building lost power. So unless they get the power back on in the next hour, my surgery is canceled for today. They will see if they can fit me in tomorrow.

My DH said well, one door is closing so let's see what other door will open up.