2170 replies to this topic

[SweetPea33]

Anyone cycling in April/May? Waiting for AF to show up so I can start bcp!

[valishka]

Hi Sweat Pea I hope this topic will be much more popular
I'm starting stimming around april 11th ! But I'm anxious that my present cycle will be a little delay (maybe because of stress ?) I don't know but usually I'm ovulating at day 13-14 of my cycle and now I'm on day 15 and nothing yet ! I hope AF will come on time...I'm so excited to start this IVF roller coaster

[Kel]

Hi Sweetpea, Valishka!

I'm going to be cycling in April/May. I start the nasal spray (suprafact? I can say it, but the spelling always trips me up) on April 10th.

[SweetPea33]

Hi Valishka and Kel!

I'm also excited to start the process again. I'm a bit worried about waitng for AF to show up because I had no peroid for 4 months last fall. Hopefully that won't happen again!

Hope this thread will get popular.

[valishka]

SweetPea if your AF is very late you could go to the clinic and they can help you to make it start

[Graceland]

Hi ladies!

I'm here, too. I started BCP on March 26th and the plan is to start Suprefact injections on April 13th. If all goes well, I'll start Puregon on April 26th. It's exciting/nerve-wracking to be starting another IVF! I hope the change in protocol (from antagonist to agonist) will be our magic ticket.

[SweetPea33]

Thanks so much for the info Valishka! I will call them on Monday!

Welcome Graceland! Best of luck!

[Mel W]

Hi Valishka - Looks like this is this the most recent thread for April/May Cycle Buddies? I am gearing up for IVF #2 - starting Suprefact on April 6th - with ER expected early May. Would love to connect with others going through a cycle during that time period. Thanks!

[KTN]

Hi all! Wow looks like everyone is starting already!! I'm waiting for Af. ;( I'm Soo nervous though, this is our second time. I'm praying this one to be the last! Good luck all!

[Graceland]

It sounds like there are a few 2nd timers here. It's nerve-wracking, isn't it? What are you doing this time that's different than last time? I'm on a new protocol (agonist) and I'm taking co-enzyme q10. DH has been taking fertile pro vitamins since February. I'm also being much stricter with my caffeine intake... as in I've cut out coffee/tea completely. Who knows if any of it will make a difference but I really hope so!

[Obabyplease]

Hey all! I'll be joining you as well although I'm doing a FET and not a fresh cycle. Today is CD3 and I'll be unmedicated so I think my cycle will be going a lot quicker than most of yours, but hopefully you'll have me anyway! Good Luck!
Graceland - nice to cycle with you again!

[YVRunner]

Hi everyone! I'm new to the forums so forgive me for not knowing the "lingo" that well. I started Synarel nasal spray on March 27th, and took my last BCP today (April 2nd). I'm waiting for Day 1 of AF and then I call the clinic for my injection start date. I anticipate the start date to be within a week but will repost when I know for certain.

This is my 3rd attempt. First was an IUI that failed early, second was an IVF - got to egg retrieval, 12 eggs, none fertilized. Fingers crossed this time round. It is 2012 - year of the Dragon! I say it's a good year for me to conceive!

[DeniseLBC]

Hello ladies!

Another first timer (hopefully my deets show up below in my signature).

Looking forward to cycling with all of you!

YVRunner, seems like our timing is really similar. Are you doing ICSI this time? We definitely have a language of our own, us TTC'ers. Took me about 5 minutes just now to figure out what FET meant (frozen embie transfer?). I also just learned PUPO (pregnant until proven otherwise). I'm really looking forward to that!!!

Graceland - you are my hero. No caffine!!! I've really been trying but it is my one vice! I'm down to one small cup per day, which is huge for me, plus some organic green tea.

Hey, I'm a little perplexed about how to balance this process with my job. Seems like there will be a couple of last minute day off requests (ET and ER), and I'm a little nervous because I just started this job. How much notice do you usually have prior to these procedures?

[SunflowerGirl]

Hi ladies! I'm in it with you! Started BCP March 18th, Suprefact on March 29th.
Bloodwork scheduled for April 12th - should start Puregon then if all is good.

I'm crazy tired lately. Not sure if it's my busy schedule or the Suprefact making me so tired. Yawn!

Good luck to everybody!

[DeniseLBC]

Ugh, I was just thinking about how exhausted I am. Is that a side effect?

[Graceland]

Hey SunFlowerGirl! I'm a patient of Dr. K's, too.

[Mel W]

Hi Graceland - My protocol has changed slightly from my doctor - I will take Menopur instead of Luveris and my dosage will actually decrease since I responded a little too well last time - 19 eggs on ER day and 15 fertilized initially. However he is concerned that my egg quality is not as good as it appears - since most of our embryos did not survive the thawing process in Jan of this year. They had to thaw 7 embies to get two day 3's to transfer and they were only 5-cell. When they were frozen they were all beautiful 8 and 9 cell Grade 1 and 2's. This time we are aiming for two 5-day blasts to transfer!

I am doing acupuncture weekly and will do it before and after ET. I have cut down big time on sugar, caffeine - one small tea a day only! And I get what YVRunner is saying - hopefully I will get it out 100%. I only eat organic, eat tons of fruits and veggies, take Vitamin D, Omega 3, and my hubby is also taking the same vitamins.

I have gone back and forth on the fertility aids/fertility herbs - like Fertil Pro and there is one this website but keep wondering if I should have taken them. Anyway I swear by acupuncture! Would definitely recommend it!

[nextchapter]

Hi Ladies
Here I go AGAIN!!!! Doing my third IVF/ICSI April/May..I'm on Cycle Day 3 and will start BCP tonight. Haven't gotten my schedule so not sure when I start Lupron or Gonal-F or Menopur.. Wish/pray/sing to the heavens above that THIS is OUR cycle!!

[sonya]

hi Mel w
is it too late to start acupunture?

[Mel W]

Hi Sonya - My Acupuncturist advised me to start a minimum of six weeks before - just once a week - and then to do a session ideally right before transfer and right after. If that doesn't work you can do one a few hours before and the next day. I also did sessions once a week during the 2ww. With my last FET I did about 10 weeks before the transfer week and did a session at the fertility clinic before we went in to the FET and then the next morning at my acupuncture's clinic. I didn't get pregnant but I was so relaxed throughout the whole process and I have read many studies that appear to support the link between sucessful IVF/IUI and acupuncture. If you have less time that 6 weeks I would still call and see what they think - if nothing else it will relax and de-stress you which has to be a positive thing overall during this roller-coaster ride that we are all on! Sonya - if you are in Calgary I can share the name of my acupuncturist - she is amazing. Just let me know.

[KTN]

Yvrunner- I'm pretty new to these forums too.. I didn't know what pupo was until someone just posted it.. (deniselbc) Hehe..
Deniselbc- they usually give you a lot of time. That is if everything goes according to the schedule they gave you. I had to change my requested days off a total of three times.. The medications was working as it should and so I had to continue on them an extra two days. After that, my embryos were going weak so instead of the intended five day transfer it was pulled back to day three. ;(
Graceland- My protocol is staying pretty much the same.. My RE wants to up the dosage a little more. I have been taking a lot of vitamins this time around. Coq10, prenatal, and fresh royal jelly. My DH as well. I gave up all caffeine. All fast food. All junk food. Let's see how it goes!
I hope this is going to be it, my body isn't going to produce much more eggs. Might be our last cycle before having to go over to a donor egg cycle. Downside of getting pushed out from my mom too early I guess.
Does anyone know if acupuncture helps??? What exactly does it do??

[YVRunner]

DeniseLBC - I'm pretty sure we'll do ICSI again. But will wait and see what the doctor says.

Good luck to everyone this cycle! I'm looking forward to being of support to all!

I've just added a signature, so check it out!

[Mel W]

Hi KTN - The medical community seems divided between those who think acupuncture is a direct link to IVF success and those who don't. If you google it there are tons of studies that show increased pregnancy rates in women who had acupuncture during IVF compared to those that don't - but here is where it gets confusing, there are studies that also show NO improvement in pregnancy rates with those who had acupuncture! Overall the studies promoting acupuncture contribute success to its ability to reduce stress and increase endometrial thickness - both of which can improve pregnancy rates. Again who knows for sure.

I can only talk from personal experience - while I was doing acupuncture before my last FET, I was so relaxed, and my PMS and period symptons were gone. No cramping, no moodiness, no breast soreness...it was crazy. I have these symptons with every period since I can remember and none during the months after I started acupuncture. So I don't know, I just think it has to be balancing my body out but again who knows for sure. I started after a friend encouraged me to try it as she did it with her IVF and got pregnant but honestly I wasn't expecting much - overall though I have been really happy with it. Good luck if you decide to add it to your regime and fingers crossed for success across the board for all of us this cycle!

[valishka]

Wow it's cool to know that this topic will be alive this time
About acupuncture, I agree that it may be more the fact that it reduce the stress that contribute to up pregnancy rate...I won't try it because I'm not a believer, and it's really $$$, but I just bought a relaxation CD on internet made for IVF treatment only, so I hope it will help to reduce my stress and give a booster to my chance of a BFP

Sunflowergirl we will be stimming the same time

Do you know why some have BCP and some don't ? I'm starting right with stim this time at CD3, no BCP.

I hope to give you hope girl and I want to let you know that it worked at my first IVF and now I have my lovely son with me I'm starting again for a sibbling now and I hope to be as lucky as I was !
Good luck to everyone It's really a stressfull experience and a huge roller coaster of emotions, but in the end it is REALLY worth it !

[Graceland]

valishka, can you share a bit more about the relaxation CD you purchased? I'd be interested in getting one for myself. Thank-you!

I didn't use the BCP during my first IVF cycle, but I'm on it this time around. My RE found my follicle growth too scattered the last time, so the hope is that the BCP (and Suprefact) will shut my system down completely. Then, hopefully Puregon will reawaken my follicles at a steady rate, preventing a dominant follicle from developing.