4/18/2009 9:19 PM
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Congratulations Roxanne! That's great news. I was definitely crampy and to this day, I'm still crampy. Keep us posted.
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4/18/2009 5:41 PM
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Cid,
Thanks for your vibes! I did an hpt today and it was pos!!! I don't feel pregnant infact I feel as if I will start my period any time now. I simply could not wait and I did not plan to go for testing until I tested myself...I did not want to hear it over the phone. So I am cautiously hopeful until getting the serum test because I am still very crampy, consistently. This was not my experience with my first pregnancy...I felt nothing! I will keep you posted...thank you for your encouragement!
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4/16/2009 4:20 PM
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Best Wishes for you Roxanne!
I too had the bad cramping after implantation. But it subsided after a few days. Just try to rest and let you body take over.
Sending LOTS of positive energy your way!
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4/14/2009 4:59 PM
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Hi Roxanne,
Good luck on your test, and my thoughts will be with you. During the day of my first HCG test, I asked one of the nurses if it's ok for me to feel some cramping, especially if on one day it was more pronounced on one side of my uterus area. 2 nurses told me that it's normal and that my body is just responding to the medication and it's preparing my body for a pregnancy, but that it didn't necessarily mean a pregnancy. One night after my husband injected the projesterone, I felt the sharp pain on one side. I told him to get me a hot wet towel and it helped a lot. The symptoms I had were cramping just like menstrual cramps, I didn't really have any spotting, but I did go to the bathroom in the morning quite often, and I was really thirsty, and very sleepy and tired, and my boobs were on fire! The weird thing is I've been wanting to eat ice cream or drink milk. When I'd go for a walk, I would feel the cramps. From what I'm told, a blood test is more sensitive than a urine test. So please hang in there. Oh I'm just as bad as you are, I keep looking at different information regarding pregnancy success rates in my age group, and I've been reading up on miscarriages, only because I'm very worried.
Oh and on another note, I got one scare today and please don't be grossed out. For the past few days, I've been experiencing constipation, and even with all of my high-fiber intake. Today there was a little blood in there. I called my nurse and she said that it happens sometimes and that I should increase my fluid intake or I can take some over the counter medicine like metamucil.
Oh and we were trying to figure out how pregnant we are, and we thought you start the count from when they do the transfer, or when the eggs fertilized. My nurse said that it starts with the stimulation, so we're 5 weeks pregnant. But I'll double check again during the ultrasound which is next Thursday. You're very sweet! Again, our thoughts are with you and we're hoping for the best for you.
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4/14/2009 2:55 PM
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hey mtizi8,
Yes, my serum hcg is scheduled on the 21st. My transfer was last Friday. After all of the meds I don't know when to expect my menses if this cycle failed! I looked up the hcg shot and most sources say 5-7 days and it is gone. I still have not decided whether or not to do a home test, but I have been having a lot of cramping, like mild premenstrual cramps so I think it has failed. I know implantation can do that, however it has been very prominent for 2 days now...I have made a promise to myself that I will no longer do any research on statistics of pregnancy rates in my age group. It has been bumming me out and makes me wonder what the H--- am I doing?!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience...not just for me...but for all the women visiting this site looking for a little light of hope...bless you and please keep me posted, I am excited for your ultrasound!!
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4/13/2009 6:51 PM
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Hi Roxanne,
I have to admit the whole experience was nerve-wracking and there were certain things that were going on in my life that was beyond my control that stressed me out. To tell you the truth, I wasn't sure it was going to work out on our first try, but seriously, I changed my eating habit, exercise and rested quite a bit. Our out of pocket expense is over $15,000 which we financed, and we're more in debt than ever before. I didn't qualify for the SharedRisk Program because of our age. Please don't give up hope. I was preparing myself and my husband for the worst, I had to remind him each time he was worried that I knew what I'd do if it didn't work out, it would have meant doing another cycle of IVF if the first one didn't work out. I like my doctor as well, but on some occassions I had to talk to the other doctors because he's off and I got one advice from him which my real doctor didn't think was the case. It's a long story. The hardest part was getting a hold of my nurse, and I had to keep contacting different nurses some days. On another note, they didn't put me on Lupron at all, they had me on Ganirelix, I think it was because of my age, being 41. Believe it or not, I tried the pineapple eating idea, because I read somewhere that it helps with implantation. I don't know if there's any truth to it. Our U/S will be next Thursday, so we're crossing our fingers. It would be amazing if they are twins. I told my husband that I'd be happy with one, and especially happy with 2. I will definitely keep you posted. Please hang in there. Are you waiting for your Beta test?
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4/13/2009 3:00 PM
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mtizi8,
That must truly have been nervewracking!! I don't know what decision I would have made...but clearly you made the right one! Kudos! I had 3 eggs retrieved, only one fertilized with icsi. So I don't think culturing the one for a 5 day xfer was ever an option. I love my doc, but I got the distinct impression he felt the chances were slim for me. He grasped my hand and said "I'm here for you...". When I think of all the money I spent that I truly do not have(equity in house), it makes me nauseated. I do not feel hopeful at all about this cycle. We did Follistim 450 for 9 days, micro dose lupron and dexamethasone then hcg...he says that he will try another protocol next time...I just don't know how far I want to go, each time I think to myself this is it...I take it further...I think it is not good for my spirit and maybe I should just be happy with the blessings I have. The wait is usually agonizing(after iui without stimulation), but I think because I feel so pessimistic about this cycle I truly am suffering less, spending more time thinking about if I should take it a step further. When is your US, wouldn't it be something if there were twins? How exciting. Please keep me posted, stay positive, healthy and happy. Thanks for the info, it gave me hope that I was not the only one with a paucity of eggs on stim! I really appreciate it.
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4/12/2009 4:48 PM
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Thanks Roxanne. This is our first pregnancy with our first ivf cycle. I did a 3 day transfer. To be honest with you, I was really scared with my decision. You see, when they did the retrieval, I only had 3 eggs and my doctor said that it will be a 3 day transfer, my doctor incidentally is one of the founders of the center that I went to. The next day I got a call from another doctor who said that all 3 eggs fertilized just fine and that I was scheduled for my 3 day transfer. On the day of the transfer, my husband and I were getting ready to go to the clinic, but the main executive director told me that my eggs were only 4 to 5 cells and that they have not developed in to 6 to 8 cells which is their preferred number of cells for doing the transfer. He said that I can do the 5 day transfer (blastocyst) but had a 75 to 80% chance that the eggs will not develop any further, but then if it did develop further, I'd have a 20% chance of getting pregnant. He said that I can still do the transfer on that day, but I only had a 5 to 10% chance. I went with my intuition and my gutt feeling and hoped for the best even though it meant getting the progesterone shots for nothing, but I'd rather give it a chance than let the eggs fail in the test tube. My doctors said that my eggs are not abnormal and I didn't have to worry about that. I got my 2nd pregnancy test and my HCG level more than doubled to 311 and my progesterone level is 33. They changed my progesterone shots to where it's just weekly shots as opposed to nightly shots. Nope I didn't have to do the prometrium with my progesterone shots at all. I double checked with the nurse who called me about my blood test and she said that I didn't have to do any more follow up blood test and that my next appointment is my first ultrasound. So I really don't mind if you ask questions because I wish I had someone to ask who was going through what I did. I only had 15 to minutes to make up my mind on that day of the transfer. I hope you don't have to go through that. Good luck to you.
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4/11/2009 5:56 PM
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To mtizi8
Congratulations! that is fantastic. Is this your first pregnancy? Did you do a 3 or 5 day transfer and how many embryos did they transfer? I suppose you won't know if it is a single or multiple for a while yet? Did you not have to do the prometrium with your progesterone level being good? sorry for all the questions...it just gives me some hope!
Well done!
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4/11/2009 4:59 PM
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This is my very first cycle of ivf and I am 41 years. I took drastic measures and changed my diet all together. I cut out alcohol, and forms of caffeine, and have been eating organic, no junk food and I've upped my intake of calcium. I took my second pregnancy test today and my hcg level doubled and progeterone level at 33 which is where my doctor wants it to be. I was really nervous because the first time I took my pregnancy test, I didn't really know what my doctor meant when he said that my test was positive, and have a level of 140. Somehow, the "positive" news just surprised me that I didn't even think to ask what the 140 number meant. Well during my second test, I took the time to ask questions and now I understand more. I guess my point is that if you don't want to blame yourself by not doing this or that, or by not reading more, it's really important to do your homework or research and most importantly change your habits when it comes to food, exercise, rest and relaxing. Even when I read the brochures of the IVF treatment, there was nothing there to explain some things that I was curious about until I went online and read some other forums. Good luck everyone.
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4/11/2009 3:04 PM
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Hey Palmhara,
I also am not a success story...but I know what you are going through. there is an increasing sense of urgency with each new cycle. I also feel very alone. I am a single parent of a 2 year old daughter and desperately want to have a sibling for her. I have had iui without stim and one iui with stim, I only produced one egg! I just went through invitro, I was on the max dose of follistim, retrieval was on the 7th and they got 3 eggs, only one fertilized however and the transfer was done yesterday. I am not very optimistic. The data is overwhelmingly against me statistically. I am 43 and just did not feel ready to attempt a pregnancy until 8 months ago. Friends who have not been through it do not understand. I also have a difficult time sharing this with anyone, I don't want the constant "ARe you preg" questions. this is by far the most emotional, financially burdensome, time consuming effort I have ever been through. It is a roller coaster ride. Each failure I ask myself, "why", was it the stress, the glass of wine, a poor diet, a pessimistic attitude...etc. I also ask myself each time, how many tries is too much, etc. I think that it was good that they stopped the cycle with the cysts as stimulation can cause ovarian torsion if there are large cysts present. Hang in there and try not to be discouraged...I'm just trying to "chug along" and keep busy.
Best of Luck
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4/10/2009 5:20 PM
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Not a success story, but still trying.
We started IUI last month. We did 5 days of Clomid and 1 Follistim shot. After almost 3 weeks, we were finally able to do the HCG shot and IUIs. With only 1 egg, our chances were slim and I started my cycle yesterday. Went back in today and Doc said to increase hormones. Higher mg of Clomid for 5 days and 3 Follistim shots. He is very confident that it will work this month.
We have been trying different methods for 10 years, have been pregnant 3 times and lost all 3. This time, I hope, is the magic combination!
Don't give up hope, just keep on, keepin' on!
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4/10/2009 3:04 PM
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Hello,
I've been doing Clomid for the last year or so....
Last month I started the Follistim treatments with IUI.
I REALLY thought it would work.....but it didn't. I got my period the other day.
I went in today to do a baseline ultrasound....
The doctor said my body is taking and responding well to the new meds so he upped the dosage.
I need to hear success stories. My hope is fading and I want to be more positive.
Any tips? Success stories? I just need a little encouragement.
I have friends who desperately want to be there for me....but understand that they can't because they don't know what I'm going through because they've never gone through it before themselves.
I know I'm not alone....but it often feels like I am.....
Thanks in advance....
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