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Thank you everyone that has given progesterone shot hints. My husband and I dread the thought like the plague but we will take your suggestions when we start them next week.

Helena - stims are going well so far. I went in this morning for u/s and b/w and everything is coming along. We expect ER sometime early next week. I am getting pretty excited now. We'll have to wait and see. Congrats on your ET. Sounds like things are moving along wonderfully for you. Happy thoughts to you for the 2ww.

Colleen

Hello Shansy: I think you are a day apart from me in the 2WW....How's everything going?

Yup, shots are progressively taking over the real estate in the tush department. This time my DH was only gone for one evening at reserves, so that was ok.

I think this cycle will be a BFN for me in that I feel awful in the pelvic area (feels like someone hit me/bruised me just above the public hair line) as well as rather yucky/slightly barfy in the stomach. (I don't throw up). The bruising feeling is rather annoying to say the least.

Very similar as if I was getting my period. But it's too early for that, I think, and I bet that I am all out of synch with all these meds... Maybe it is the gorgeous full moon out there now pulling at the tides and my stomach....Who knows...I don't recall feeling this poorly in January. Blood work this Thursday, Saturday and next Monday. I don't think there is much to do other than to wait it out. I have to get some sleep too. Wishing everyone a wonderful Wednesday filled with much baby dust and blessings to all. Cheers, Diana

Wanted to ask if I might be able to join this thread. I am just gearing up to start my first IVF late next week (first Lupron is scheduled for Aug 17th). I have sat here last several hours re-reading about the amazing journey you all have taken together. (I chimed in a couple times but as I was not in active IVF I did not want to disturb your flow). First I want to say thank you for sharing so much of what this process involves – emotionally, financially and of course physically. I have read 2 books, hundreds of articles etc and I do not think any of that prepared me for what to expect as much as did your honest and open forum.

As I said before Holly and Sunflower I am so sorry for your BFN. I do not know why things have to happen this way but your grace and strength are absolutely inspirational. Suzy I am also terrible sorry to read about your BFN. I hope all the pain has begun to subside as you are looking to the future and whatever the next step might be

Diana, Helena and Shansy I think you all are still in your 2WW so I am hoping the best for all of you.

Colleen good luck to you as you head into the ER I am sure you will have lots of follies just waiting to be retrieved.

Catherine are you still on hold or have they let you start again. LA Girl are you still out there? If so we would be starting shots close to the same time.

Deslynn I hope everything is still going up, up and away for you and your HCG levels.

Thanks

Hi everyone,

Well later this morning I go in for my ET. I am very nervous/excited. I am also anxious to find out how my embies did these past few days. Wish me luck or say prayers for me if you can. I will be on bedrest for the next few days so I will write sometime this weekend. In the meantime, take care and giant sized buckets of babydust to us all!!!

Shannon

Diana Evans- Don't give up hope yet. All of those symptoms sound like a BFP to me. I have heard from many women that they get AF like symptoms and in fact they are pregnant. I nkow it could just be the Progesterone and hormones but stay positive until you know for sure. When do you find out?

Lila- Welcome! This is a great group of ladies with so much to learn from. Like you siad nothing can prepare you but the honest truth from people who are experiencing it first hand. No one else quite understands so this forum is a great help! Good luck to you!

Shansy- Good luck today! Hope you have great embies to transfer. Keep us posted and I will say a prayer for you!

Diana, I'm with Sunflower, those all sound like good signs to me. Keep positive.

I myself have had ovulation/menstrual type cramps and twinges for the last several days. Every little one I'm trying to read what it means. Some days I think it can't be good, other days I think it might be good. It's the age old guessing game; It's not a fun one to play. I'm tying to keep positive. You never know until you know, right?

Shansy, good luck on ET today. I'm praying for FANTASTIC EMBIES for you. I think you were asking about AH the other day. They utilize AH when the zona pellucida (shell) covering the egg is over a certain thickness. Some clinics utilize this process as a general procedure for all patients as it is theorized that it may assist in implantation. Who knows.

Lila-welcome. I can't wait to hear how your journey progresses.

Buckets of baby dust. Keep us posted.

Hey Everyone:
Shansy I hope everything went really well for you at the transfer - make sure you get lots of rest. Wow, you are transferring 4 that is very courageous - my RE much more conservative. With my age I am thinking I would love to transfer as many as possible but I still have a long road ahead until I even know how many would be available. I think you mentioned you were thinking about doing AH can I ask if you in fact did do that? Also curious how you decided between 3 vs 5 day transfer? I am thinking positive thoughts for you today and can see those little guys super-gluing themselves to that lining.

Diana and Helena hope you both are holding up. As you said that guessing game can be a real drag. How long till you can test?

Holly I saw you did a Lap surgery before I was wondering how you would compare that to the ER surgery pain and recovery wise? I just had my Lap on Monday and I have to say I was really surprised how much it knocked me down. I was not expecting that at all.

Hope you are feeling better I am sure this is a difficult time for you and DH as you contemplate the next step. I hope you will continue to hang out and chat with us as your insight and strength is so wonderful. Even after I had decided to go ahead with the IVF I have to admit I was really shaky about that decision. Only by coming on to this forum and reading everyone's, but especially your, posts I was able to overcome some of my anxiety and start to feel a little optimism about this path. I know there are no guarantees baby wise when it comes to this but I was able to realize that no matter the outcome this process was going to change me and so I better throw myself into it and try to make it a positive change. Thanks for the inspiration.

I have one more question for you guys does everyone take BCP before Lupron? It seems like everywhere I read everyone takes them to suppress the ovaries and get them ready. If I do not take them won’t I ovulate before I take the Lupron on CD21? If I do O does that mess things up? It is ridiculous how many things there are to be worried about during the process.

Thanks everyone for sharing…till later

Hi Ladies,
I am writing this quickly and heading back to the couch. My ET went smoothly, we were able to transfer 4 eight-cell embryos, so we are very excited about this. We were'nt expecting to have that many eight-cell embryos. Also, we were able to freeze the other 5 embyos. My RE and everyone seemed very positive that this will work, and we are praying for the best. I will write again soon when I can move around more.

Good Luck to everyone else.

Shannon

Sounds very promising Shansy! Take it easy and keep us posted!

Thanks so much for th positive thoughts Asunflower and HelenaS.....yup, just waiting it out here....Focusing on the positive!

Very much appreciate the community support here!!

On the non-IVF part of the world, I just was promoted at work (a big step in my industry), so I am dealing with all the logistical transitioning of my old job and ramping up on my new job. Hopefully, all this IVF stuff works and the promotion will help replenish the college fund that I plundered. So fortunately, I have lots of distractions at work. Although this really annoying bruising sensation at the pubic hair line does remind me a bunch of what is going on. Fortunately, the annoying back cramp went away. So we shall see....

GREAT news Shansy!! 4 embies. You are blessed with youth, so maybe twins. Each clinic seems to have a slightly different philosophy about how many to put back in. Typically, they will tell you their guidelines up front.

Fortunately, at my age, they allow up to 6, if you are that very lucky to have even have 6 embies get to a good cell stage. There's been almost NIL triplets above 42 and twins aren't that prevelant in the above 40 crowd. Even a singleton is a miracle then. Statistics galore are available on the CDC site and from every clinic.

I keep saying my age here and I should share that am making fun of myself here. ;D I am truly and really blessed with excellent overall health. I was training for smaller tri-athlons (NOT IRONMAN) before I started all this IVF stuff....obviously, I scaled back everything. Most folks think I'm in my early thirties, although lately the added weight makes me look more in my age direction. But that will adjust itself at somepoint when I get to throw sports at my previous clip back into my life pattern. Not doing sports...it's tough to keep the equilibrium to what I am used to. My RE put me on a total STOP to swimming (my favorite), so that's really vexing...but it will be worth it. When I see folks jog by....I am just dreaming I could go along....In time, the reality will return.

Wishing everyone a terrific Thursday! Diana

Thanks so much for th positive thoughts Asunflower and HelenaS.....yup, just waiting it out here....Focusing on the positive!

Very much appreciate the community support here!!

On the non-IVF part of the world, I just was promoted at work (a big step in my industry), so I am dealing with all the logistical transitioning of my old job and ramping up on my new job. Hopefully, all this IVF stuff works and the promotion will help replenish the college fund that I plundered. So fortunately, I have lots of distractions at work. Although this really annoying bruising sensation at the pubic hair line does remind me a bunch of what is going on. Fortunately, the annoying back cramp went away. So we shall see....

GREAT news Shansy!! 4 embies. You are blessed with youth, so maybe twins. Each clinic seems to have a slightly different philosophy about how many to put back in. Typically, they will tell you their guidelines up front.

Fortunately, at my age, they allow up to 6, if you are that very lucky to have even have 6 embies get to a good cell stage. There's been almost NIL triplets above 42 and twins aren't that prevelant in the above 40 crowd. Even a singleton is a miracle then. Statistics galore are available on the CDC site and from every clinic.

I keep saying my age here and I should share that am making fun of myself here. ;D I am truly and really blessed with excellent overall health. I was training for smaller tri-athlons (NOT IRONMAN) before I started all this IVF stuff....obviously, I scaled back everything. Most folks think I'm in my early thirties, although lately the added weight makes me look more in my age direction. But that will adjust itself at somepoint when I get to throw sports at my previous clip back into my life pattern. Not doing sports...it's tough to keep the equilibrium to what I am used to. My RE put me on a total STOP to swimming (my favorite), so that's really vexing...but it will be worth it. When I see folks jog by....I am just dreaming I could go along....In time, the reality will return.

Wishing everyone a terrific Thursday! Diana

shansy - congrats on the ET. It sounds like it could not have gone more perfectly.

Lila - I found the same sense of comfort joining this thread. I signed on only a few weeks ago. Many of the women on this thread are ahead of me, which I very much appreciated because they could let me know what I should be expecting in the upcoming weeks. I am on my stims still and waiting for word on when my ER will be. You had asked a question about the BCP before lupron. I was on the BCP before lupron, I think more for scheduling purposes than anything else. I actually started the lupron shots while I was still on the BCP. I do know that some women in my RE office don't do the BCP at all. I guess there is a method to their madness. Hope this helps.

Hope everyone has a great rest of the week.
Colleen

Hello all!

I am so happy to feel all the positivism on this thread!!!!
Sounds like everyone is experiencing successful cycles and even you ladies in the 2WW are feeling good! I am so happy for all of you and I hope it works for everyone. I can't wait for a bfp on this thread!

Lila--Thanks for your kind words. It actually brought tears to my eyes--in the past week or so I have really mulled over and questioned why I was led down this path and what the purpose was in having a failed IVF and your insight was so meaningful. You are absolutely correct in that this process DOES change you and it is up to you to determine that change--will it make you or break you, so to speak. If nothing else, I am thrilled to know that my words have helped you in this process and maybe that is the real reason I was led down this road. Either way, it makes getting over the bfn easier and it makes me stronger as a person. So thank you ;)

To answer your question, the lap knocked me on my heiny! I was told by my re to take at least 2 days off after the procedure and since it was done on a Wed. I also had the weekend to recover before returning to work. Personally, I needed everyday! I felt like someone had played an intense game of fooseball in my uterus! I felt about 90% by the Monday after surgery and was back to my "old" self after a week's time. I believe you also wanted to know how that pain compared to the ER--honestly, I would say it was not quite as intense but my insides felt similar, especially my female organs. I definitely took it easy, as you are supposed to do, I just felt very tender and bloated. There were no scars or stitches to worry about with the ER, however. My stitches really bothered me after the lap and they still itch a little bit for me from time to time.
If I did not completely answer your concerns, let me know and I can try again. I really don't mind sharing details if there is something specific you want to know--I would boldly say that all of the women on this thread would agree. As I teach my students, "Who will take care of us if we don't take care of each other?!"

I look forward to hearing about each and every one of you everytime I log on. I am so thankful we are here for each other and take care of one another. I am thinking of all of you, but especially those in the 2WW. For you I think nothing but baby dust!

Take care! Holly

P.S. I reread the post about bcp--I did not take them prior to lupron shots on Day 21. My nurse told me that I would naturally start my period in 10-12 days after beginning the lupron shots and I did on day 11. My RE rarely puts patients on bcp b/c I asked--I have no idea what the thought is behind it. I agree w/Colleen--it's probably just a scheduling thing/controlling all known factors rationale.

Asunflower--so glad to hear you held a pity party too. I had another one yesterday in my therapist's office. She said we have every right to break down and it is most healthy to get it out when we need to, so I thought what the heck! I'd have another one w/her!! :)

She, like yourself, has remarkable spiritual insight into everything and I cherish both of your thoughts so much. Spiritual thinking does not necessarily come "naturally" to me, so I really appreciate what you (and my therapist) have to offer as it always makes so much sense and makes all of this much easier to deal with. It also has given me direction into how to process the loss and where to go from here.

Let us know how things are going as you proceed as well. You are in my thoughts--

Holly

Thank you to everyone for all the great welcomes. I know you all have been together and formed a bond with one another so I just want you to know how much I appreciate your generosity to welcome others in and how nice it feels to be included.

Thank you also to Holly and Colleen for helping with my questions, and so quickly too! Holly it really makes me feel so much better what you said about the Lap – I was in tears to DH last night saying if the lap was this bad then maybe I was too old and decrepit to go through with the IVF. I felt much better this morning so I told myself enough with the drama, it was time to pull it together and just take one step at a time. Reading your words tonight really reassured me that I was not being too big baby about the pain so thanks.

Shansy that sounds really great about your transfer. Things sound like they are proceeding well so I hope you are taking it easy for several days. It is nice you and Diana and Helena can all be together on the 2WW so here’s to hearing lots of really good news by the end of August. Wow I can not believe it is almost the end of August – where did this summer go?

Like Helena and Colleen I am also doing acupuncture. I had a terrible problem with my neck and shoulder a year ago and after numerous Dr visits all to no avail I tried acupuncture and within 6 sessions I was right as rain so I figured I really had to give it a try with the IVF and see if it could work its magic again.

Diana congrats on the promotion that is wonderful, although don’t let them run you too ragged right now. I think you said on some post that you are a chemist – is that right? Sunflower, Shansy, and Holly I know you are teachers which is awesome. It is interesting that so many of you all are teachers but I guess that makes sense timing wise. I may have missed it, and if so I apologize, but I am not sure what Helena or Colleen do. I am an Interior Designer in the Wash DC area.

Talk to you all later and I will keep thinking lots of positive thoughts for everyone where ever you may be in this TTC trek

Lila- Are you cycling with Shady Grove? I use them. My RE put me on BCP prior to a cycle for one it helps with scheduling but it alslo helps to make sure you do not develop any cysts in your ovaries prior to starting yoru cycle. If your ovaries are not quiet when you go in for the initial u/s they will not start you on your stims. It sucks as you can't event ry on your own that month but then again it does help to get all of your levels where they need to be. When I first started my IVF journey I was so excited. I was sure that I would be pregnant in no time. But you are right, this process does change you. I never realized the strength and confidence that I had and the ability to be an inspiration to others especially those of you in this group. It has helped me to be open and honest and it has brought me to my knees before the Lord. I have learned that I have to trust in him for everythign because this IVF thing is not in my hands and it is only in the RE's hands to a certain extent. I wish you well on your journey and hope that all goes well for you!