Journey33's IVF Journal-update Beta #1 2/15

Since I followed everyone else's IVF journals and found them very helpful, I decided to create one of my own too! I can only hope that this journey is the begining of a cycle that leads to a BFP and the baby DH and I were meant to have!
I thank you in advance for reading and for all your well wishes!! I will need them!

Here's the background
me: 29
dh: 33

Started TTC September 2009
pg in March 2010-chemical
TTC for 1 year and nothing
Went to Dr Brenner at LI IVF in May 2011
Dx: Male factor-Count, morphology, motility and volume.
Because I wasn't quite ready for IVF, we did 4 IUI's- all failed :(
Took 3 months off at the end of 2011 and that brings us to our first IVF cycle.
And away we go!!!

December 25th-January 14th BCP

January 17th-January 20th
Gonal F- 150IU
Menopur
Dexamethazone
We did our first shots tonight-not bad at all!!!

I go for monitoring on Saturday the 21st to see any progress.

I still can't believe we'r doing this! I feel excited, nervous, hopeful, anxious, scared everything!!!

*January 21st* Monitoring Day
Im really dissapointed They only saw 2 follies on the right and one on the left 7.7 and 7.8. She said she saw a few smaller ones but that was it. I dont know why but I was expecting so much more. What should we be hoping for?

they said not to worry, they may change my meds after looking at my blood/estrogen levels.

Anyway.. protocol going forward
1/21 and 1/22
Gonal f 150
Menpopur
dexamethazone

I got back for monitoring on 1/23

I hope im not wasting my time

I have to add that I have had a pounding headache since Thursday... nnothing takes it away. Im sure its the meds... maybe from my estrogen increasing too quicky...

*1/23 update
Sooo... i went in for my monitoring this morning and they saw more follies!!!!!... around 8, but they are on the small side. 10mm. Dr Brenner called me about some other items and I asked him about it. He said that Im about 2 days behind where they expected me to be but once he checked my estrogen and other bloodwork, he'd know better if my meds need to be adjusted. He did say that they want to be careful not to overstimm b/c of my age and want to give me the lowest dosage to create the best quality eggs. I guess this is what I asked for I just thught Id respond more quickly... what do I know though
Anyway, the nurse called me later and lining was 4.1 and estrogen was 193. It was 67 on Saturday... she said the actual number isnt what matters, but that its rising, and it is.
soooo.. one more day of same protocol and then I add ganirelix.
Why is it so hard to trust that they're directing me the right way?

I also went for my accupuncture today and told her that my follies are on the small side. She decided to do some electric stimulation which was interesting... not painful at all.. she said sometimes points on the back with e stim helps to give them the "zing" they need. she also gave me a meditation CD for an IVF cycle. I'll listen to that tonight. I've also been trying a lot of visualization.
Im still very excited and hopeful. I just want my little eggies to catch up.
here's what the next few days look like
1/23
gonal f 150
menopur
dexamethazone

1/24 and 1/25
gonal f 150
menopur
dexamethazone
ganirelix

I go back on Thursday for more monitoring....
as always.


**1/26
Well I have to thank you for your well wishes because it looks like my little eggies caught up a bit.

I have 13 in total ranging from 10mm-14mm. Lining is 10.2
This is really what I was hoping for, to see a response to the meds and feel like I have a chance with multiple folicles. I finally feel like I can trust my dr's protocol and just "let go"... something that's normally really hard for me.
I go back again tomorrow for monitoring and should be triggering at some point this weekend...giving more follies a chance to grow
I'll update more tomorrow. Thanks for reading and for your positive thoughts!!

Protocol for 1/26 and 1/27
Gonal f 150iu
Menopur
Dexamethazone
Ganirelix

*1/28
Well I went for monitoring yesterday and today but have been crazy busy-first chance to update.
All follies have grown to where Dr brenner wants them
I have 13 follies measuring 15-18 right now. Lining is 14.2 triple layered and estrogen is 976.
Triggering tonight with Ovidrel and Monday morning is my retreival!!
After 12 days of stims, last night was the first night I really started to feel bloated/uncomfortable but overall its not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.
I guess I'll update after my retrieval. Wish us luck!!!!

**1/30 Back from ER
I was really nervous but all went ok. Never had anastesia and I was competely knocked out.. it was sooo hard to wake up! Feeling perfectly fine now, just resting up. My body feels a little "floaty" but no nauseau and anything like that..

so, they got 10 eggs and apparently DH's count was low so they had to do all ICSI instead of just half. Please tell me this is ok. I dont know if its the effects of the meds/nerves but I feel badly about this. I know 10 eggs is not a lot and Im just worried that they dont grow as they should.
In case you havent noticed I worry about everything!
no injects tonight!

tonight until scripts are done
Medrol
Doxycyclene
Baby Asprin

I'll update tomorrow with the FERT report.

Thank you all ladies so much for your support, posts and FM's so far. you're a great group of women!

**1/31

Got the call that 7 out of 10 fertilized. I guess that is a good number. 7 is a lucky number for me lately so that makes me happy They're going to call me tomorrow with updates about progress and let me know if we should do a 3 day or 5 day. I doubt we'll do a 5 day unless all 7 are thriving but we'll see.

I start PIO injections tonight till transfer day.

**2/1
out of the 7 that fertilized, 6 divided. We are going tomorrow for our 3 day transfer. I'll update tomorrow with embie specifics...
Was a nervous wreck earlier but went for accupuncture and Im ready for tomorrow!!

**2/2 3D Transfer Day
Going to try to keep it brief since this journal is so long already!!
We transferred one 8 cell grade 2 embryo and one 6 cell grade 2/3 embryo. The Dr said they were good quality and that there could be more cells than that because they checked it first thing in the morning. my transfer wasn't done till 11:45.
the worst part of it was holding my pee while they were trying to get the catheter in and pressing down on my belly with the sonogram machine.. I saw it on the screen.. the embryoliogist pointed it out when the embies came out of the catheter and said, "look, it's like a shooting star" .. I saw a little flicker of white light-so cool!
Anwyay, I went for accupuncture last night and today I listened to a post transfer ivf meditation cd and ive been on the couch watching movies most of the day. Mentally Im in a pretty good place. We've done all we could to prepare for this moment. I that one (or both ) of these little embies gets comfy and cozy in their new homee My lining was 14.2 at last check so that's a good sign.

The 2ww is going to be really tough, my beta is not until 2/17 ... Ill just try to keep busy.

Last night of PIO tonigt
Endometrin starts tomorrow
Estraderm patches start Monday
contunuing with medrol, doxycycline and baby asprin.
I also added a probiotic because antibiotics reak havoc on my tummy!!

Prayers and baby dust much appreciated!!!

**2/15
The 2ww was agony! I tried my best to keep busy but really it's impossible. I rested a lot and took it easy as much as I could...

I held out until 13dpo and on an EPT digital, I saw the magical word "pregnant". I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. All I know is that I was so unblievably elated... it's been 2 years since I had a BFP and that ended quickly after.

I had ZERO symptoms. Less symptoms than Ive had in a normal 2WW if that makes sense. The only thing I can say that was "different" was at 9dpo, I had an intense pain in my bottom right abdomen-it felt a lot like ovulation and it lasted a few hours. then later that night, I felt some weird twinges in my lower belly.. and that was IT!

Starting yesterday I've had this insane thirst that is so hard to quench!!

This morning I went for my beta and Ive been a nervous wreck. I guess when you suffer losses and IF, you're always waiting for the other shoe to drop...
Anyway, 1st beta at 16dpo is 642!!! woohoooo!!! I can relax for tonight and then begin to worry about Fridays beta Then I assume we'll schedule an u/s...
Im so unbelievable excited and happy and I feel so lucky!!!! Trying to remind myself one step at a time.

Message edited 2/15/2012 6:29:31 PM.

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal

Good luck!!!!

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal

best of luck to you!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal

good luck!

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal

good luck!

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal

Good luck!!!

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal

Good luck!!!!!!

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal

I love reading journals..I find it so helpful!

Good luck to you

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal

Sounds good! Lot's of luck!!

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal

Best of luck!!

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal

Bump for update, and of course questions!

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal-Im a slow starter update 7/21

imo those are low doses...but i am a terrible responder and needed 450 gonal and 2 vials of menapur to make a few follies. some girls make alot and others not so much. they dont want to overstimulate you i think..but can you talk to you doc about dosing ?

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal-Im a slow starter update 7/21

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal-Im a slow starter update 7/21

I agree that the dose is on the low side. But, you never know, the smaller follies can catch up. Did the Dr. mention Ganirelex at all to help give smaller ones some time to develop? You might want to ask. GL!

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal-Im a slow starter update 7/21

Honestly it is still too soon to tell. The smaller ones catch up and new ones can still pop up. You are on the lower dose but that is the normal dose for a first ivf cycle. If they didn't raise you yet your estrogen levels are probably where they should be for the amount of days you have been stimming. Just try not to worry yet, it is early. Good luck!

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal-Im a slow starter update 7/21

hope you get good news monday!

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal-Im a slow starter update 7/21

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal-Im a slow starter update 7/21

Message edited 1/22/2012 12:44:59 AM.

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal-Im a slow starter update 7/21

I was a low responder as well. My las iVF they retrieved a total of 4 eggs - I was on very high doses of Gonal & Menopur - 3 fertilized. We transferred all 3 and I am now 17 weeks pregnant. Don't worry about quantity, quality is all that counts! Good luck!

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal-Im a slow starter update 7/21

Thanks ladies... I feel a lot better knowing some others have started slower as well. So they would really do IVF with only 3 follies? I started feeling some twinges yesterday so I guess somethings going on.
Ill be patient. not an easy thing for me.

thanks for talking me off a ledge ladies

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal-Im a slow starter update 7/21

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal-Im a slow starter update 7/21

I went ahead with it bc it was 100 percent covered and my doc reallllly knew my body and knew 3 was the best I could get. I was nervous bc it was the last ivf covered. If u never did stims before and this ivf is the fuirst time ask ur doc and maybe they will vcancel it and try again with higher stims and hope for more follies. U really need to talk to doc after next monitering appt and then u will have a better game plan! Xo

Re: Journey33's IVF Journal-update 7/23

bump for update!