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Asunflower,
We are lucky that there are clinics so close there are so many couples that are not as fortunate. My dh travels so my mom will be in town to help out through the retrieval and transfer so I will be forced to take it easy. Thanks for the tip on pain medication I had a laparoscopy 2 years ago so I definately understand the power of a good pain pill. The clinic we are using only do blastocyst transfers they said it is the only way to really know if the embryos are viable for transfer. For the first time I am actually uncomfortable around expecting moms and new parents I don't know why but in the last week I have really been bothered by it. I will definately keep you posted I go back for bloodwork on Tues. Good Luck!

Kris,
I too fell uncomforatble around pregnant women and babsies too. It is vey hard especially when they got pregnant and weren't even really trying. I have a best friend and sister in law who both are pregnant and jstu went off birth control in the fall. We have been trying for a long time. It is good your mom will be there! It is also good your clinic only transfers blastocysts. Ours doesn't and that was the main problem with us. They didn't think our embryos were going to grow anymore and they would rather have them peter out in my than in their dish. You know, it makes me look bad, not them. We told our RE that we are waiting no matter what since we know we have embryos that can make it to that stage. Keep positive is the best thing! You are already so brave, giving youself your needles. I could never do that!

Asunflower,
I am glad to hear I am not the only one that feels this way I was begining to think that something was wrong with me. At first I was nervous about the blastocyst transfer but I have been doing research and have really found that this is the best stage. The only thing is our clinic is limiting our transfer to 2 blastocyst because I am under 30 and the multiple rate seems to be higher with blastocyst transfers. I don't really feel brave with the injections I think I do it myself because it is the last thing I am actually in control of. I am not sure if your clinic warned you of this but Lupron can cause a period around the 7th day of injections it is not as bad as they said it could be. I feel really cranky and emotional since starting my stims, I am assuming this is normal. Good luck on the Lupron tomorrow and keep me posted on your cycle.
Kris

Kris,
Thanks for the info. on the period. My clinic did tell me that so I am already expecting it. There are many side effects to the meds. Just be ready for anything. As you get closer and closer to your transfer day and your follicles get bigger, you feel very bloated and your stomach even looks like you are pregnant. A few days before my transfer I could hardly walk I was so sore and bloated. They retrieved 19 eggs from me. I am young as well and our clinic will only transfer 2. I think your chances are very good, especially with you being under 30. I am 31 and they did 3 because the cells were so small. As you see we ended up with nothing and we were worrying about triplets. My hubby is doing my shots and I am so thankful for that. They are a piece of cake these days. Keep up the good work! I am right behind you!

Hi Ladies
I am getting ready to start my stims for my first IVF on Thursday, so nervous but ready to get it over with.......not to mention I really hope it works. We will be doing a day 5 blast transfer (as long as we have embies that get there.)

I am trying to stay postive and hope that it works.

Lani,
Today will be my 4th day on stims I am on a down regulation protocol. I feel better on the stims than I did on the Lupron but I still have several days to go. I was really nervous but since I have been talking to people going through the same thing it has gotten better. I am trying to be optimistic but realistic about IVF. This is my first fertility treatment of any kind so I am concerned about failure but understand it is part of the process.

I think staying positive is our best defense, good luck to you!

Kris
How are your stims going? What is a down regulation protocol? I have to start on the max dose of the meds because I had an elevated FSH on day 10 on my clomid challenge test. So on Thursday I will start on 450iu of Gonal F.....I think my protocol is call an antogonist protocol or something, once my follicles reach a certain size I have to decrease teh Gonal-F , start Menepor and Ganarelix until it is time to trigger. So it is a lot of drugs and I am scared of what htey are giong to do to me....but i know whatever it is will be worth it if it works.

My husband and I went in for our embryo transfer yesterday. This is our first round of IVF. We had our egg retrieval on Thursday, which gave us three days for embryo growth. We were part of a study approved by the FDA to fertilize and incubate our little ones in something called an "invo-cell", which is a device shaped like a barrel and placed in a device just outside the cervix. The rest of my eggs were fertilzed in the lab. The biologist was very pleased to see that the 11 of 12 eggs fertilized in the lab. They were all doing very well. She stated that the ones in the invo-cell should be doing even better. Unfortunately for us and the doctor doing the study, the ones in the invo-cell did not turn out as expected. Only two of them did anything at all, and only one of them was viable enough to put in my uterus. My little embryo was three celled that they put back in me. I know that this quality is very poor, but I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of someone getting pregnant from such a low-quality embryo? The doctors say that there is a chance, but after all the disappointment over the years with not achieving pregnancy, we are just wanting to brace ourselves for another disappointment. We are trying to stay positive.

Lani,
My stims are actually going well I feel better than I thought I would my lower abdomen is a little uncomfortable. My RE says this is because my left ovary is hiding and now that it is growing there will be some pressure. The down regulation is where they suppress you for longer than normal I am 26 and the RE does not want me to overstimulate. If my first IVF doesn't work she was talking about using the protocol that you are on. I was really nervous about starting stims I thought I would just become completely unreasonable but shockingly I still feel ok. Hang in there I am sure you will do fine and you are right it will be worth it if it works.
Kris

Brownie,
This is my first IVF cycle so I am not the most knowledgeable about things I do no that there are amazing success stories out there. How many eggs did you have all together it sounds like you had a good fertilization rate. Did they transfer just one embryo or did they transfer some from the lab and 1 from the invo-cell? I have my fingers crossed for you and your DH keep us posted.
Kris

Kris-I am glad that your stims are going well. My RE told me to take most of them in my thigh...which I think is strange because everything thing even the drug manufacture says the abdomen but oh well, i am sure they know what they are doing..and if i don't like it in my leg I can move it to my abdomen.

Are you doing the shots or is dh? I think I am going to try to do the sub-q ones, i think i like being in control.

How often are you being monitored?

Lani,
I haven't tried my thigh I think it would hurt worse but that is just me it may be better. My RE told me I could use my thigh, abdomen, outer hip or arm just whatever felt best to me. I have been giving the shots to myself my dh travels plus it is a control issue. When it comes time for the IM progesterone I will get help but until then it is all me.

My last monitoring was on Friday I had a Sono and E2 tomorrow I have an E2 and on Thursday I have a Sono/E2. After Thurs. I will go every other day for monitoring how about you?
Kris

Kris-I take the drugs for 4 days and go in on the 5th day for blood and u/s...I guess depending on what htey see then they will tell me when to go back.

I am glad DH has to do the IM shots because I don' t think I could, it is a big needle! Whoever invented the pen was smart, i think that will make it much easier.

Lani
I guess every clinic is different they did tell me that my monitoring schedule could change so I am just along for the ride. As for the IM injection I do get needle anxiety with that since DH travels my mom is going to come in town for the retrieval and stay until a few days after transfer so she will do my injections when she is here.

I have read where some women have given themselves the IM injections more power to them. Keep me posted on your cycle.
Kris

Hi Lani and Kris-

I am also doing a March cycle. I am on Gonal-F and we are doing an IUI next week (hopefully). My DH has been giving me the shots in my abdomen as I am a wimp! We started the shots last Friday and so far I feel OK. We go back to RE tomorrow for u/s and bloodwork. Hope all is going well with the two of you! May March be our lucky month! :) Babydust!

Shannon

Hi Shannon,
You are a brave woman letting your husband inject you. I am taking follistim which is apparently the same thing as Gonal-F I am going for my egg retrieval as early as next Tuesday. I am starting to feel the reality of the situation.
I hope the RE visit goes well I have an E2 tomorrow morning at 7am. I do have a good feeling about March maybe it is because of St. Patricks Day!
Kris