IVF UPDATE/OPEN FORUM

Hi everyone. i just wanted to update for all those who are going through ivf or are going to be going or for whoever is interested anyway. i had my retrieval done on friday - 46 EGGS!!!! my dr. told my dh, "they just kept coming out." I was so nervous about going under. when i came in the nurse took my pulse and she had to keep taking it - she said you are very, very nervous. the truth is i knew i was nervous, but didn't realize how much till she took my pulse. then the anestheseolgist comes to insert the iv - he tells me "oh, you have a good vein" - well that good vein ended up not being so good and i got a huge black and blue mark (he blamed it on me taking baby aspirin) - anyhow he finally got it in. i kept asking them please make sure i'm breathing the whole time. they were like, don't worry, we're monitoring you. The whole thing took about a half hour and then i rested there for about another half hour or so. The cramping was pretty bad. i actually felt better when i sat up. when i got up to go i noticed: i have a huge stomach -i look pg. i really did and still do - the bloating (which they say is normal - especially since my ovaries were a little hyperstimulated, but not dangerous)is going strong. i'm telling you if i didn't know i was not pregnant i'd actually think i was. my stomach is round, hard, and feels a little sore/tight inside - more when i walk. anyhow from the 46 eggs that were taken out 23 matured. from those 23 Thank G-d 10 embryos fertilized. so i'm doing a day 5 transfer. they thought maybe i'd go in today (day 4), but i called this a.m. and they said

[Berko]

continued...
looks good for tomorrow. i'm still nervous about the progesterone shots for tomorrow, but i met someone at the drs. office and we became really friendly - we've been keeping eachother up to date - she's ahead of me so basically she's telling me how things are going and what to be nervous or not about. but she said she did not feel the shots at all -not the one they did at the office and not the one her dh did this a.m. - she's so thankful. and she's really little - i've definitely got more flesh than her so hopefully it'll be okay. i'll be sure to let you know. oh by the way if you are doing ivf and get really bloated i was suggested to drink gatorade/powerade - about 8 cups a day - supposedly helps with the bloat. so far that's about it. nervous and excited about tomorrow. but G-d Willing all will go okay. Thanks for listening.

[haileya]

That's awesome! I don't know you but I'm really happy and excited for you it sounds like you got a ton of eggs! Stay positive and try and relax! It will all work out! Sticky baby dust to you:)

[low22]

Girl, you are an egg making machine!  That is so cool.  I hope all goes well tomorrow.  Will be thinking of you...

[pearl451]

I am so glad to hear all went well so far! I will be praying for a good transfer & a strong batch of eggs! Please keep us posted!

[Facere23]

46 eggs!!!  WOW!!!  Good luck on that transfer!!!!  I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!!!

[hawki]

I'm so pumped for you!!!  I don't really understand the whole process, but I know I would be nervous/excited too.  So do they put all 10 in you?  What if you end up with quintuplets?  Or do they just do a few ...I'm sorry, I'm so intrigued by the whole thing. I have a friend who really can't weigh more than 90 lbs and had it done and ended up with triplets!  I can't imagine what she will look like when she starts showing!

[Berko]

Thank you so much everyone for your well wishes!!! and all the advice and everything you've been giving me over the past few months (and hopefully will continue to, but i'm hoping in the way of pregnancy next G-d Willing). You've all been a really great support team since my last m/c so "RAH!! RAH!! RAH!!" to all of you!!

kris123: they usually put in 2 (possibly 3 - but only this when a) requested b)have had few failed ivf cycles c) are older and don't have much time). if they would put in all 10 there would be chance of all 10 implanting and that would be really dangerous. so usually what they do with the extras is if they're able to be frozen (has to be certain Grade - i'm not sure what though) then they freeze them (if you want) and you have them for future tries. a frozen cycle is a lot easier than a fresh cycle and can be done back to back (if G-d Forbid fresh cycle doesn't work)otherwise would have to wait at least a month in between and start from scratch with the meds. hope this info helps.

[sam2]

Best of Luck Tomorrow!  My prayers are with you that this is very sticky month for you.  I work with a woman who is having her eggs retrieved tomorrow so she is right behind you!  

GOOD LUCK

[Berko]

see above post - for you also.

[Berko]

thanks!! feel free to tell her about my experience. just tell her to drink a lot after and rest. wish her luck.

[jen023]

I was hoping to see a post from you soon! I'm so excited for you!!!! Good luck tomorrow - it sounds like you are very soon going to be on your way to the BFP club!!! Congrats!!

[kris123]

I see.  So if they transfer three, you could have three babies.  I'm still ttc.  I haven't gotten my af, it is a day late.  I took an hpt on the 16th and 17th, both BFN.  I haven't tested since.  I thought I ovulated on the 1st, but maybe it was a few days later.  Don't know.  I am to scared to test.

[Berko]

jen023: thanks for your excitement!!! G-d Willing all will go well.

kris123: right, if they put in 3 all 3 can implant, but the truth is i think these embryos may even be more prone to splitting (correct me if i'm wrong) to identicals so anything can happen. Until af shows up you're still in the clear. good luck!! hope she stays far away and you get your BFP!!!

[kris123]

I am going to break down and buy one - maybe in two days.  I am going car shopping tonite :-)  I wish the best and I will be thinking about you.  Maybe you will have twins :-).  Good luck.

[Berko]

break down, honey, just break down - we all do it!! i'm probably going to try to find a dollar store to stock up (like all you poastickers out there) and take it from tomorrow morning (to see if hcg shot out of system yet) and then from week after transfer....till my blood test. we'll see - maybe, i'll be able to hold out. good luck on the car shopping - what are you looking to buy?

[kamiyama]

Hey girl,
that is great news now you have it behind you and soon you will be telling us tha you are having twins........

I wish you all the best.

[Berko]

G-d Willing - i'll take either as long as healthy!! By the way did i see a post down below that you had some good news? I'm thrilled to hear it!! may you have a healthy and happy and very uneventful nine months!!

[Mertek]

Good luck Berko! That is great news!

[Berko]

thank you so much!!! I laughed out loud when i read your dh's reaction cuz i can imagine...why, he doesn't think it's normal to just pop out 46 eggs at a time, i mean c'mon what does he think we're in?!!? this is the 21st century after all!! :) :)
well i hope you get your bfp this month and don't have to do this whole ivf thing, but if you do let's see  how many you "pop" out and then we'll talk. :) what are you up to in your cycle? how's everything going? i'll keep everyone posted - if not tomorrow not too long after. thanks again for all the support and well wishes!!

[anniesland]

Oh thats so wonderful! baby dust to you sweetie! This is me on day 4 of lupron so i guess i have a few weeks before the fun stuff starts!

[HIS GIFT TO US]

Glad things seem to be going in the right direction for you :) Good Luck tomorrow!! Keep us posted. LOVE & PRAYERS

[markysmom]

Good luck and God blessyou and your journey. It sounds like things are coming together and you will be pregnant soon with probably more than one!

[buda1]

I was hoping that you would post about your IVF. I went to my fertility dr yesterday and he said that since my IUI's didn't work then our next step is IVF. He went through all of the details with me but it was a little overwhelming. Plus after he told me the cost of it all, I couldn't really think straight. But I called my insurance and they cover almost all of it. I just have to pay a certain percentage of it. Which is a lot better than the overall cost.  I am nervous about having it done. Although, I think my husband and I are going to wait a few more months before we have it done. At the beginning of the year I will have vacation time, so I can use it for when I have to have everything done.  Please do keep us posted on what happens. I wish the best for you!

[AnnieBrooke]

I am so pleased for you that ten eggs fertilized!  That ought to give you good odds for at least four or five really top quality embryos by Day 5.  GOOD LUCK!!!!  (((HUGS)))  Annie

[JJety]

Wow!! 46 eggs, and 10 fertilized!!  WOW!!  Congratulations and I hope things go smoothly for you!!

[kris123]

I am a little uneducated about IVF. Do they put 10 embryos in you.  Some will implant and some not???  How does it work?

[Berko]

Thank you all.

anniesland: good luck to you - hope your cycle goes well - any questions just ask - i'll try to answer what i can.

[anniesland]

I'm so glad you said that!
Ok we are kind of confused with the whole process, we were supposed to have our consultation last fri but my dr was sick. They started me on lupron anyway and i will see the dr this fri. When did in the whole process did you go to get the eggs retrived? and how did you deal with of the needles! i am ok but the thought of a few more weeks of this is terrible, i know it's all worth it! Thanks so much!

[projectbaby]

I can't even tell you how excited I am for you!!!Holy cow 46 eggs!!! I just told my DH (he is sitting in the room with me) and he said, "46 EGGS!!!!!" screaming this...  I know this time you are going to get your BFP...I just have this feeling!!!  Thanks for sharing your details....please let us know how tomorrow goes... I know you will be probably resting so I don't expect you to e-mail us ASAP!!!  I will pray for you!!!  I know this is your time!!!  THink pleasant thoughts and stay positive (that is what the hypnosis article said!!)  Good Luck!!!!  hugs!!!   Jacquie

[Berko]

here's how my cycle went:

i took follistim (which i think is lupron - just another name) for 4 nights and then went to dr. then he had me take it starting in the morning for 2 days on lower doses. then he started me on follistim (small dose), ganirelix (i think also called gonal-f), and menopur for a few mornings - i don't remember how many - that's how quickly you forget the shots!! personally i didn't mind doing the subcutaneous shots - i gave them to myself and didn't really hurt much. it's those progesterone shots that just the look makes me woozy :) anyhow he then told me to stop all meds on wednesday and just take the hcg shot at an exact time - 12:15 a.m. in my case. the nurse told me to set my alarm - i told her i don't think i'll have to - don't think i'll be going to sleep. anyhow if you look down to last week thursday's postings you'll see one i wrote on my hcg experience - i thought i didn't get everything...but obviously it was fine b/c i ovulated (retrieval) Friday - you should have seen the way i got rushed into the OR the second i walked in - b/c they really gotta get you in fast - the pharmacist told me you ovulate exactly 36 hours after you take the hcg - that's why need to take it at time they say and they need to do the retrieval exactly 36 hours later. i don't want to even imagine had i ovulated 46 eggs on my own - WHOA!!!! anyhow from the retrieval on i wrote up in this post. don't get scared off if you get really bloated - drink gatorade/powerade - i mean i'm still waiting for my belly to go down, but honestly i think it may be a little better today and i drank a lot of powerade today so far. they'll start you on some antibiotics (i think called something like medrol and diocycline) - will have to take for 5 days - to make sure don't get any infection or anything. they'll call you the day after the retrieval to tell you how many eggs actually survived and how many fertilized - and they'll let you know when they think you'll need to come in for the transfer - in my case they knew it would be either monday, tuesday, or wednesday so i've had to call every morning to check. today they told me will be tomorrow. so i'm doing a 5 day transfer - which from what i've been learning they do if there are quite a number of embryos and if the embryos are looking good - they like to do it if they can b/c they feel if embryos have matured and lived so long out of the uterus then hopefully better (called blastocyst - something like that), but other people feel better to do 3 day transfer b/c less likely for embryos to not make it and better for them to be in their natural place than in a lab. i'm sure it works for people both ways so whatever they end up doing with you i wouldn't worry. it's interesting though a friend (i met in the drs. office) had thought only 1 egg had fertilized, but by the time she did her transfer they had 2 fertilized so i wonder how that works - i guess some of them can take longer. anyhow tomorrow morning i'm going to drink lots of water, keep my bladder full, go to the dr. and have them give me the first (YIKES!!) progesterone shot and then the transfer which they say is simple and is similiar to an iui - which i've had and doesn't bother me much. what else can i tell you? hmmmm....well i would definitely suggest you read the following two books: A Few Good Eggs (authors are Julie Vargo and Maureen something) and Conception Chronicles (written by 3 women - pink book). They're both funny - i think A Few Good Eggs  may be a little funnier, but the Conception Chronicles gives you more details about the actual procedures you'll be going through. Get it and then tell me you don't laugh at what they call the progesterone shot - i don't want to ruin your reaction so i'm not gonna write it here. if there's anything else i missed out or you have more specific questions ask away. i'm sure you'll do great!!! rooting for you!!!

[kris123]

Something cheap on insurance.  A little history about me, I am a recovering drug addict.  About three years ago I was doing heavy drugs and got in a lot of tickets and accidents.  Well now that I am sober and clean for almost three years now, I am paying the price for those tickets and accidents.  March of next year I will have about 10 things come off my insurance record :-)  I am one of those people that pay about $450 a month in car insurance. So a four door that is safe.  Donesn't matter what.

[LUVBABIES]

46 THAT'S AWESOME!!!!!!  Oh girl I feel your bloat was there too.  Kinda glad I gave you a little heads up.  Again going to the bathroom a whole new thing--relax is all I can tell ya and it will come out (sorry for the tmi). Take BEANO or GASX for the bloat all is okay and will help on the gas trust me!  So I guess sex is out of the question (chuckle)  I thought you were nuts when you thought you would be able to.  Hope all goes well and GOOD LUCK :)

[anniesland]

Thank you so much, you have been so helpful and i will definetly look into treading those books!Good luck to you too!

[jian]

Soooo..... glad for you. Waiting to hear your success story. Good luck.

[marieamy]

i haven't been posting much, but have been reading and keeping up.  Thats great thus far, your IVF cycle is almost complete.  You've made it through the hardest parts, having eggs but not hyperstimulating, going for retrieval, and fertilization of eggs.  Once there put back in, you can know you fought so hard for this baby and it is now truly in gods hands.  good luck in the next week and keep us posted.

[MaevesMomma]

I am new here although I am an IVF vet.  Following my husband's bout with cancer, IVF was our only option (ICSI)- I have had 4 cycles 2 pregnancys resulting in miscarriage, 1 chemical pregnancy and 1 live birth.  I now have a beautiful 11 mos. old firecracker!  I have just finished my 5th IVF - I am 4dpt of two embies and I am having bad cramping.  Very much like the cramping you get the day you get your period.  I don't remember this happening in any other cycle.  Is it possible to get your period so soon after a transfer and has anyone experienced this also?  What were your results?  I'm angry at myself b/c we attended a wedding between retrieval and transfer and I had a cocktail. I hope this did not ruin my chances. Please let me know if you have had a similiar experience.  Thanks!