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WELL I GUESS I'M THE ONLY ONE!

Nope, I'm out here too. I did pop in on the first Feb/March post, but there's nothing really going on with me right now. This is my 3rd IVF cycle. This time they're trying something a little different with me suppression-wise. They think there are male hormones (androgens) that are messing with my egg quality, so I'm currently on a 6-week regimen of bcp (no period - just continuous). I'm finishing up with week 3 today. So, about 3 more weeks before I start 8 days of Lupron (20 IU instead of 10 IU to suppress even MORE) and then stimulation with Menopur. I'm kinda dreading that part b/c the last 2 times I was split b/n 150 of Gonal-F in the a.m. and 75 (one vial) of Menopur at night. Now this time I'm just using the whole 225 of Menopur at night - that's 3 vials...I thought the 1 hurt! And I got really bruised from that 1 shot too. So, I'm kinda "seasoned" as far as having been through the procedure, but still not successful. I'm 29 - they are still confidant this will work once the protocol is right. Are you doing this out-of-pocket? I need encouragement right now - that's for sure...today I've had a down day for some reason. I think because even though the people at my church are typically my strength and support, I kinda dread going and getting the "how are you's" and "aw" sympathy looks. So, sometimes Sundays are a bit rough. I can't just pretend this all isn't happening like I can sometimes do during the work week while I'm kept busy and preoccupied. Anyway, when exactly do you start? My 6 wk. bcp stint will be done February 18th (a Monday) and then all start stimming 4 days later. Kelly

Kelly, you shouldn't be down. this is the very thing that should be making you stronger. Just know that you will have your little bundle of joy, sooner than you think. I'm doing some out of pocket. probably like 4 grand. if that. I'm not sure exactly when, but right now, i'm waiting on AF, i feel her coming, well i seen a little bit of blood on the tp. so i'm hoping she is coming tomorrow. i go in for a cd 3 baseline and that is where i will recieve my protocol...well hopefully.

I know, I think it's partly just stress at work. Luckily, the stressful deadline I'm under right now will be finished in a few weeks when I'll be starting and will need to be stress free! That, plus, I was always an avid excerciser and took pride in what it made my body look like. With 2 cycles behind me, my body is changing a bit as I cannot work out as much and for big chunks during the procedures, and I've more junk food cravings! Don't get me wrong, I'm MORE than willing to give all of that "body" stuff up for a baby, but when it happens and there's no baby...it's a bit defeating. I'm trying to come out from under my black cloud. I'm anxious to get my new protocol too - probably later this week when we sign consent forms again. Kelly

Kelly, you're right. i've gained weight before while on clomid. i was exercising but couldn't understand why the weight didnt come off and i was eating "right', but nothing. found out it was the clomid. i told dh once i have our first child or children (twins; secretly hoping for them) I will definitley get my body back to atleast pre-clomid. :-)
Stress isn't good either b/c it just gives you more to worry about and plus it is not healthy.

I know - I decided I'm taking tomorrow off to regroup. My sinusitis is flaring up too. I'm secretly hoping for twins too! Especially because once it works I don't know if I could do this all over again...and I'll be older by then which means your chance decrease.

Kelly, how old are you if you don't mind my asking. you probably told me before, but I forgot. I hope you feel better. much rest is needed when you aren't feeling well.

Don't mind at all - I am an open book as of lately :) I'm only 29 right now. My REs told me that 32 is when their percentages for success really drop off. So, I figure once we can have one and are ready for another, I'll be right around there. Thank God we started trying when we did though and realized something was wrong. Time is everything in this arena!!

Hi! Can I join you guys? Today AF came after my second failed injectables/iui cycle. So we are moving to IVF because my insurance only requires 2 iuis before moving on, and my re seems to think that since success rates are so much higher than for iui that ivf is the way to go. I am glad to find some others going thru it! I am 32, dh is 33. I have PCOS and don't ovulate naturally. I did many rounds of Clomid and it did nothing for me. The injectbles really stimulated my ovaries- and the problem in my 2 cycles was keeping the drugs low enough so that not too many mature follies grew. But then the cycles dragged on and i may have o'd prematurely. To top it off, the hcg trigger shot stayed in my system for 15 freaking days so I got a "BFP" on the day my period was supposed to arrive. So sad. AF is here with a vengeance now. Anyway, I am new to this IVF thing. The protocol my RE will start with is: BCPs for a few weeks, one week before AF, start on lupron, then start gonalf. my clinic only does 3 day transfers so I guess we'll see how it goes. wanta-mb- good luck with your baseline since it seems like you will start first! kelly- it seems like my cycle may start close to yours, though i'm still waiting for insurance approval and the ivf "class". I have been under a very black cloud these days too. My younger sister is due to have a baby in 3 weeks, and I feel the same way when I go home- people asking how I am, and feeling sorry for me. I feel like I am alienating my friends and family because when things aren't going well, i don't feel like talking about it AT ALL. well girls i am glad i found you-- lots of february baby dust to us!!!!!!!
:) hendy

Hendy - you sound just like me (system wise)! I also respond very strongly to injections. This has been such a crazy, emotional journey...I'm just hoping this is the end with this next cycle. I should be starting stims toward the end of Feb.

Hendy you can very much so join us. I just wish there were more people here to help us. I;ve been back and forth between boards. so hopefully they can help you as well.

Are you sure that it was the hcg shot that was in your system not a possible pregnancy (chemical pregnancy) I haven't heard of hcg staying in your system that long...well the shot.
I was kinda alienating myself from my family and friends at one point b/c everyone seemed to have kids except for my husband and me. It hurt and I was like oh well, I guess i will just keep to myself. but people couldn't understand why...I got talked about, but you know, if only they were to go through this they wouldn't know what to do either.

I know what you mean - I have 5 friends that are pregnant right now, one of them just had her baby girl 2 days ago. They're all so excited about each step and I understand that, but then I get the pity comments (they all know what's going on). It's so hard to be there and excited for them...I'm really trying, but it's harder than THEY will ever know. I just keep telling myself that one day (hopefully soon), God will bless us with a child as well and all of these feeling will go away...and it will be that much sweeter!

Hi girlies! Thanks for the warm welcome. One of my best friends from college just had twins today- no fertility drugs! Some people are super lucky. Wanta-mb- did you start your protocol yet? Kelly, which protocols have you tried so far? I started my BCPs and am just waiting for the financial coordinator to get back to me to see when we'll start. Have a great weekend! :) Hendy

Hendy, nope i haven't started my protocol yet. I have my cd 3 u/s today. so we will see. but my doc will put me on the lupron protocol, which will probably involve lupron 7 days before AF shows until they tell me to stop and I will have my stims on the saturday after AF starts and go about that for like 9=10 days and trigger and have ER and 5 days later ET. but i will know for sure Monday

Hendy, my first 2 cycles I did similar to what wmbaby just described - bcp, then Lupron (10 days overlapping with the pill) then 10 days of stims - I was taking Gonal-F (150IU) and Menopur (75IU). This time, to really supress some androgens they think I have in tiny follicles that don't mature, I'm doing double-duty suppression. I'm on bcp for 6 weeks (instead of 3) - I'm currently in the middle of week 4 (no period in between - just straight through). When there are 4 days left I will start Lupron at double the dose (again more suppression - was 10IU, will now be 20IU). That will only be for 8 days. Then, I will start stims, but only Menopur this time (combined dosage from before - 225IU). I guess they think it will be better for ONLY hitting the follicles that mature fully...which I have a lot of. I'm starting to get VERY itchy to start this next cycle. Normally, I would be starting right now with stims (last night, to be more exact!). Oh, and then I'd have ER followed by a 3 day ET. Then....THE WAIT!

MY CD3 BASELINE UPDATE: My lining was a 5 and he said it was nice and very good. He looked at my left ovary and said that it looks normal and so does my right ovary. I have about 5 follicles on both sides. he said that was really good and normal and based off that I don't have anything to worry about. I was a little down b/c the last time I had like 8 follicles (small of course) on both sides. My blood work came back good.