ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 9/19 update

Ok - so to be honest, I was not going to do one of these. . .BUT. . .all the girls doing them have had some fabulous luck, so I decided to give it a shot

Me: 29
DH: 30

My RE: Dr. Brenner at LI IVF

Due to health issues before we started dating, DH has no sperm production at all. Luckily, before he began chemotherapy, he froze one sample of sperm. It is enough for 3 fresh IVF cycles, but unfortunately, it is all that we have.

First IVF: May 2011. We retrieved 6 eggs, 5 of which mature and 2 of those fertilized with ICSI. By Day 3 we had an 8 celled Grade 2 and a 6 celled Grade 2 and transferred both. I got my BFP around 7dp3dt, only to find out at 14dpt, my beta was only 27. The numbers never got above 150 and ended in a chemical pregnancy.

So we're on to our second round of IVF. My RE is increasing my meds and I've started acupuncture - so I'm trying to have high hopes for this cycle! After this we'll only have one more try at starting a (biological, at least) family, so I'll take any prayers that you girls offer up.

8/15: CD3 bloodwork. Got the ok to start my BCP today. Last pill will be 8/26 and my next appointment is 8/29, which should also be the day I start stims!



8/29:
Had my appointment this morning. I haven't received AF yet, but I was told I was okay to start stims anyway, since my lining was so thin (has anyone else heard this? is that normal?). She said I'd probably start a bleed in the next day or two and it would be short. I'm trying to get pumped up for this and trying to be positive!

8/29-8/31:
All intramuscular:
225 iu Gonal-F
150 iu Repronex
dexamethasone

First monitoring appointment is Thursday 9/1!

9/1
I had my monitoring appointment today. I had 10 follicles. I was hoping for more, obviously, but I am trying to be positive! Most of them are on my right ovary. I still have AF so my lining was thin, but I go back tomorrow for another monitoring appointment. I am not sure why I am going back so soon, but its all good! I like knowing whats going on.

Tonite I took:
all IM
225 iu Gonal F
150 iu Repronex
Dexamethasone

Will update tomorrow!!


9/2

Went back again this morning. I have 8 follicles between 9.5mm and 13mm, and a couple that are around 8-9. I they catch up! Come on guys, grow grow grow!!! I might actually start ganirelix tonight, this cycle is going so fast!

IM: 225 iu Gonal F
150 iu Repronex
Ganirelix
Dexamethasone

My estrogen was 450 today! Back in tomorrow morning.

9/3
I had 12 follicles measurable this morning. Some of the smaller ones might not catch up, but I'm pretty happy with how this is going My lining is still pretty thin at 4.6, but I just finished AF yesterday and I'm optimistic that it will thicken up quickly. I forgot to ask what my estrogen was today, but I'm back in tomorrow for another monitoring appointment. I think my retrieval might be on Friday or Saturday!

Same meds as last night:

IM: 225 iu Gonal F
150 iu Repronex
Ganirelix
Dexamethasone

9/4
I had 14 follicles this morning ranging from like 8-16. I'm assuming those 2 small ones (8 and 8.5) won't catch up, but I'm hoping the 11s and 11.5s can maybe catch up? I think that would put us with about 10 "in the range" Anyone have feedback on that at this point in the game (tonight will be night 7 of stims)? My bloodwork from yesterday showed my estrogen around 600. My lining went up to 6.1 today and it is triple pattern - we are confident it will be nice and thick by time we schedule ER / ET. Praying for a call with good estrogen numbers later!!

My estrogen was 871

IM: 225 iu Gonal F
75 iu Repronex
Ganirelix
Dexamethasone

9/5
I had 14 follicles this morning ranging from 9.5-19.5. I think about 8 of them were over 13.

I got the call a bit ago that I'm triggering tonight. . .after only 7 nights of stims?!?! I'm petrified that my eggs won't be mature. I tried calling back, but the office is closed already and I feel bad having the doctor paged on Labor Day. I am just nervous that this isn't a good idea.. .but, I'm assuming that I should just be trusting my doctor and having faith. I'm trying not to get worked up

9/6:

Went in this morning for bloodwork. Retreival is set for tomorrow morning at 8:30, I have to be there by 7:30. Please pray for my follies that they have lots of mature eggs already!!!

9/7: Retrieval Day!

I got in at 7:20 or so and I was taken into the back by 7:25. I have to say - I really like Dr. Brenner and I was so glad he did my retreival today. He put me at ease and I was very calm. They did the retreival at 8:30 and the good news is they got 11 eggs!! This is a great number for me - last cycle they only got 6, 5 of which were mature. I'm just going to continue praying today that they were mostly mature and that we get a great fertilization report tomorrow.

9/8 Fertilization Report

So 10 were mature, only 3 fertilized. Embryology really didn't have any answers. They don't understand either. Assuming all 3 make it until Saturday, we'll be putting back all 3.

9/10

So today we did a 3 day transfer of 3 embryos - 1-8 cell grade 1 (highest grade on a scale of 1-5), 1-8 cell grade 2 and 1-5 cell grade 3/4

Dr. Kenigsburg did my transfer and I have to say I was so impressed. He was very optimistic and constantly asked how I was doing.

So - 2 of the embryos were of good quality, 1 stunk but we threw it in anyway. Now we wait. Is it too early to POAS? I'm horrible haha.

9/18

So - I've been POAS like crazy for the past few days. I was squinting, tilting the test, holding it in different angles of light, trying to see if I can see ANYTHING. I wasn't sure if I was going crazy, so yesterday DH peed on a stick for me so we had a test control We still weren't sure.

However, this morning at 8dp3dt on an FRER, I got my first real BFP this cycle! It is faint - and the digital came back as negative, but there is defintely a line on the FRER. I plan on retesting with a digital in the morning (and probably another FRER too, just to make sure it got darker).

Please send some sticky thoughts my way. I am so nervous and trying not to get excited just yet.

9/19

Line on the FRER was still super faint. It is there, for sure - but shouldn't it have gotten much darker today? (12 dpo)??

I did get a positive on a digital this morning, but I still feel uneasy about the faint positive.

Message edited 9/19/2011 9:43:03 AM.

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/15

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/15

Good Luck!

We have VERY similar IF stories.

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/15

Good luck to you

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/15

Good luck!!! I use Dr Brenner too!
I hope it onlly takes the 2nd IVF!!!

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/15

Good luck!!!!! Our transfers will be about 2 wks apart!!!

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/15

Posted by PennyCat

Good luck!!!!! Our transfers will be about 2 wks apart!!!

Message edited 8/16/2011 9:45:38 PM.

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/15

Posted by CatNYC123

Good luck!!! I use Dr Brenner too!
I hope it onlly takes the 2nd IVF!!!

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/15

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/15

Good luck!!!

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/29 update

8/29:
Had my appointment this morning. I haven't received AF yet, but I was told I was okay to start stims anyway, since my lining was so thin (has anyone else heard this? is that normal?). She said I'd probably start a bleed in the next day or two and it would be short. I'm trying to get pumped up for this and trying to be positive!

8/29-8/31:
All intramuscular:
225 iu Gonal-F
150 iu Repronex
dexamethasone

First monitoring appointment is Thursday 9/1!

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/29 update

good luck!!! can i ask why all meds are IM? just curious ty

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/29 update

Message edited 8/29/2011 8:06:39 PM.

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/29 update

best of luck!!!!!!!!

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/29 update

Posted by ShhhTTCin11

Posted by prunepie

good luck!!! can i ask why all meds are IM? just curious ty

because I didn't respond well last time to sub Q ETA: they weren't sure if I was "absorbing" enough of the medication.

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/29 update

Wishing you lots of luck!!!

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/29 update

good luck

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/29 update

stay strong, acupuncture is so helpful for so many things....

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/29 update

Posted by bonch20

stay strong, acupuncture is so helpful for so many things....

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 8/29 update

Working off my iPhone so I can't update my original post right now, but had my monitoring appointment today. I had 10 follicles. I was hoping for more, obviously, but I am trying to be positive! Most of them are on my right ovary. I still have AF so my lining was thin, but I go back tomorrow for another monitoring appointment. I am not sure why I am going back so soon, but its all good! I like knowing whats going on.

Tonite I took:
all IM
225 iu Gonal F
150 iu Repronex
Dexamethasone

Will update tomorrow!!

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 9/2 update

9/2

Went back again this morning. I have 8 follicles between 9.5mm and 13mm, and a couple that are around 8-9. I they catch up! Come on guys, grow grow grow!!! I might actually start ganirelix tonight, this cycle is going so fast!

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 9/2 update

Good luck!! You'd be surprised at how quickly your follies and lining can grow in just a few days!!

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 9/2 update

bump for update

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 9/2 update

Looking good!!!

Re: ShhhTTCin11's IVF Journal: 9/2 update

bump for update