[~Lynda~]

hi gals, well we are going to do our first ivf cycle this coming cycle. i'm not sure what to expect so anyone who has been through it, if you could tell me a bit about it, that would be great. We are going to a seminar about it next week. It's been really nice not worrying about all the crap that goes along with ttc. But i'm so anxious to be doing something! we are trying to make money selling on ebay and having a rummage sale. i'm so overly aware of what things cost these days and I feel like the penny pincher cause I just want to save as much money for this procedure. We are going to do 2 IVF cycles with any FETs that come out of those two cycles. If nothing results out of that, we are done. I hate typing that cause it scares the bajesus out of me. DH is feeling pretty positive. He says my body wants to do it, there is just something in the fertilization that is going wrong. He believes the IVF procedure will help and work for a sticky bean. I pray he is right!

[SavaAngel]

Praying your DH is right too and that you get your sticky baby! LOTS AND LOTS OF PRAYERS!

[~Lynda~]

thanks christina!!! hugs

[~*Jackie*~]

I hope it all works for you and your hubby is right!

My suggestion would be to go to the IVF subforum in the TTC w/MA forum. Go through one of the long threads in there to get an idea of every day stuff. That's where I documented my journey with it (in the one from earlier this year). It would take me a day to write everything involved with it.

Good luck & lots of baby dust!

Good luck Lynda! I hope this is what it takes to get your sticky bean!!

Here's the cliff notes version of what my IVF was like, I ditto Jackie, going to the ttcma IVF subforum for a day-to-day will be really helpful!

I started with a baseline u/s (you will get VERY used to the internal u/s thing) then they did a mock transfer,where I think they were just trying to figure out what size catheter to use for transfer day. It took maybe 2-3 tries to find the right one, but it wasn't really painful, very similar to the HSG. Then they told me when to start Lupron injections and I did those in the morning for a few days before they had me start the Gonal-F injections. (you may notice a weird taste in your mouth after Gonal-F, but only if you're on a super high dose, I think I did like 450 iu starting and went up from there and it was just a nasty taste that lasted for a couple mins, most people don't do such a high dose though and I don't think they have the taste) I then did Lupron in the morning and Gonal-F in the evening. I also did a low-dose HCG but I don't remember when that started sorry, I know I did it at the same time as the Lupron though. So then I did those injections and went for u/s and b/w for every 3 days until my follies got big enough, then I went every other day until it got time to do the trigger. They had me do my last dose of Gonal-F and then at like midnight I had to do the trigger, they said I could pre-mix it, which was good I was worried I'd do it wrong in the middle of the night! After the trigger I didn't have any meds the next day and then the following day I went in for retrieval. Retrieval is pretty easy, they knock you out and then you wake up and just have to wait for the anesthesia to completely wear off. So then they have you start progesterone shots. I think I had one day with no shots and then they started. The progesterone shots are the really tricky ones, so far all of the shots I had done were subcutaneous (just pinch your tummy fat and inject, easy) The PIO shots are intramuscular though and on your butt. I had DH's aunt who is a nurse do them, so I have no help with how to do them, but when you do them... fill the syringe and then wrap it in a warm compress until it the syringe feels warm to touch. Then do the injection and then hold the warm compress on the area for 15-20 mins to help the PIO spread out and not stay in that muscle. DO NOT use cold compress, the cold makes the muscle tense up and then the PIO stays in the same spot in the muscle and it will make it hurt even more. The transfer is also pretty easy, except you have to have a full bladder and even after peeing afterwards you will still have to pee like every 2 seconds for the next hour or so after you leave, and you will NOT be able to hold it very long or at least it felt that way to me! None of the needles you use are really as big as they look, even the PIO needles, I could feel them more, but I wouldn't say any of the needles themselves hurt. You will start to look like a pin cushion though.

I think thats about it, if you ever have any questions during the process feel free to PM me! I try to keep up on this board, I know I don't post anymore really, but I'm still thinking about you girls!

[KDD]

I started my IVF cycle by taking Suprefact 5 times a day (thankfully it was a nasal spray and not an injection). This is the suppression drug and after about 5 days it gave me wicked hot flashes!

Then I had a baseline ultrasound and bloodwork on CD5 and that day I started my injections. I was on 2 (Gonal -F a high dose, and another). The injections really weren't that bad. I had really psyched myself up, but after I gave myself the first shot I realized that they weren't too hard to do. I was on the injections for 9 days before I did the HCG trigger.

While on the injections I was getting an ultrasound and blood work every other day.

I triggered on CD 15 (late at night) and they did the retrieval on CD 17. I found the retrieval uncomfortable and asked for a second dose of muscle relaxers - my ovaries were pretty freaking big by now! After the retrieval the nurse commented on how well I handled the drugs and the procedure and couldn't believe how quickly I was ready to leave (they like to keep you there to observe for a while and you can't leave until you pee). We went straight to a restaurant to eat 'cause I was starved!

I will suggest that you start drinking Gatorade the day before Retrieval to help prevent bloating. I was really bloated after the retrieval and that lasted the entire 2ww (and beyond).

The worst for me was getting the daily embryo reports. They just kept getting worse. When they talked about cancelling the transfer (because I had a mild case of OHSS) I nearly freaked out on them!

We did end up doing ICSI and assisted hatching. Like I said before, this was an infertility hail Mary!

The transfer was really easy (except for sitting there with a full bladder with my feet in the stirrups and my girly parts out there for 30 minutes!). I took the next day off work and really just took it easy for the weekend. They didn't put me on bed rest or anything, but I wanted to do what I could to help.

I did blog about my progress as I went on. If you click on the link in my siggy, then go back to my March posts you can read them all. Or just PM me.

Good luck Lynda!

[Hopingfor1soon]

I totally THINK and HOPE your DH is right!! IVF allows you to take the best of the best and that sounds like exactly what you need!

I totally agree with Jackie though. I would go to the IVF subforum on TTCMA. I did IVF my fresh IVF in November and logged EVERYTHING in there. Also there are so many different med combinations that Dr.s can use that it really depends on that before you will know who you can compare to the easiest. I would guess they will tell you the meds at your class and that will help. The class I took made things so much clearer and easier too and that was nice.

Cant wait to hear how it goes!

ETA: If you have any questions at all just PM me!!

[Ana*Addey*OliveMommy]

Hey Lynda! I am not sure if you remember me (was dreaminogems). I keep checking up on you. I wanted to stop in wish you the best of luck!! Sending you lots of for a sticky bean!!!

[~Lynda~]

you gals just make me cry! you are all so wonderful and thoughtful! I have been really busy trying to list things on ebay to make more money for this. So i've been a bit lax here. So sorry!! love you all!!! will be back more now.

and yes SwtPea I do remember you! how is your baby?

[snsgirl336]

I'm so excited and super hopeful that your DH is right on! I'll be praying for you and followig you to your BFP!