FAO - ShouldknowbyFriday

[evansg01]

Hiya

Sorry I have not replied sooner ut work has been a bit hectic.

I'm doing the long superovualtion protocol. This cycle I start Norethesterone on day 19 for 7 days. On day 21 I start the puffer, buselin (spelling!) for 3 weeks. 3 days after stopping Noreth. I get my period and for approx 8-12 days from my period starting I'll be taking the FSH injections. I'm scanned on day 8 of the injections to see how the follicles are doing. You can't ovulate until they give you an injection of HCG. The puffer makes you stop producing your own LH surge.
I did a couple of microbiology degress but my career has been in Pharmaceutical companies working on various stages of clinical trials on new drugs.
Good to hear your SIL got pregnant at 43. We have no children and can't get hoping that it will happen naturally so have gone for a more aggressive approach. I can't quite believe your husband does not know what you are up to.

A couple of questions for you:

• has you clinic given you a limit on how many eggs you need to produce. Will they cancel if you produce more than 4. Are they happy for you to do timed intercourse
• in one of your earlier posting you mentioned a friend got pregnant through a dono egg, do you know which clinic they used? Thanks G

Thank you evans for the info, now I understand what you mean about 10 follicles, etc as you will either undergo IUI or IVF depending on result of injectibles. When you say you start the super ovulation on 12 Aug and injectibles on 30th, what does that mean? I was told the injectibles start between day 2-5 of cycle so maybe you are talking about the hormone treatment assoc with IVF? I did have my FSH levels checked in January and it was 7.2 which the dr was pleased with. My follicles were counted and there were 2 on each but I don't know if they were the resting follicles. 2 actually sounds dire! I did get preg on first clomid cycle but miscarried on day 42 while I did respond well to clomid the subsequent 3 cycles were unsuccessful. It is interesting that you say that your next cycle started 3 days after the last tablet as that is what the clinic has advised me. If that is the case with me, my fertile time will fall aroudn the time when DH is away so will wait until Oct. Did the clinic advise you that the injectibles can bring on an earlier ovulation I wonder. Re: doctors, I am not one of those that just takes their word on whatever they say, I have had a lot of experience with them also in a work situ and I know that alot of them are just 'practising' ie, still learning and gaining knowledge and that it is important to make your own decision on their diagnosis/prognosis. Can I ask you which field you research?
My sil got preg naturally after 4mths ttc at age 43 so it can be done. She didn't have any scans etc as I think she was actually dreading having another as her dd was 4yo and easier so I think she was secretly hoping that the over 40 theory would apply to her. Not the case so age 43 is not impossible.

The very best of luck and do keep posting with your progress! I think we are now moving over to the new thread.

just wanted to wish you luck

Hiya - today went very well. DH produced a very good sample, lots of high motile swimmers. The IUI procedure is so simple much better than going for IVF. So now I start the progesterone and the long 2 week wait, will do official pregnancy test on the 27th. I'm still quite bloated with all the drugs etc so I'm hoping that it will go down.
Do you think last night was implantation or dodgy food?
DebbysandBibbys - thanks for the good wishes.

I thought about you today and wondered how it all went. So pleased it was easy, did they rate the number of sperm DH had? The progesterone that you will start, is that in the form of cyclogest? As you know I am using it and you have to wear panty liners as some does appear but other than that its fine. I don't know if my dodgy stomach, nausea was a mini bug or the side effects while my body gets used to the drug. I have noticed that I am feeling quite warm all the time but when I ask everyone else they are too so maybe its the weather. Felt really dehydrated yesterday but was scared to drink as I needed to go to my office. Anyway, today was much better but still not back to normal. I think implantation takes place 6/7 days after fertilisation so should happen today or tomorrow. I am not optimistic about this cycle due to the cramping at the weekend but I do understand when you say its early days. I am also taking drugs for the first time so there are a number of things going on with my body. I haven't had any cramps since - maybe the stomach cramps have masked them! - so we shall see.
Remind me when you took the hcg and when you should have ovulated and the time of your IUI. How many times did they recommend you do timed intercourse at home. When do you start the progesterone?
I think your bloating will go down soon. Mine has.

SKBF - DH washed sperm was 20 million/ml with 80% motility. I did not note down any more details i.e. morphology etc. I read loads of research on timing of IUI post hCG injections. Common is 33 and 39 after injection with 10-14% pregnancy rates. On Tuesday I found paper where a site did timings at 34 hours (14% preg), 12& 34 hours(30% preg) and 34&60 hours (12% preg). We did night of injection, BD 12 hours after injection and IUI at 34 hours, so I think we have covered all the possibilities. The clinic did not recommend all this, they would have done the IUI at 39 hours and I changed my injection time without telling them. I was worried about the BD at 12 hours but DH managed to still produce a good sample. My clinic are really more geared for IVF/ICSI - I think they would have preferred if I had done that treatment. I'll be start the Cyclogest tonight and then morning and night for the next 2 weeks.
I'm pleased to hear the bloating goes down soon. I'm walking around looking pregnant which is a bit frustrating. Have you decided a day you're going to test or are you going wait to see if AF arrives?

Well 20million with 80% motility sounds excellent! So you gave it three gos which sounds optimum and no doubt you are very pleased with that. I really hope this works for you.
The success rates relating to when post hcg are interesting!!! Just worked mine out and we bd'ed 12 hrs post ov and 36hrs so according to your research puts me in the category with the highest chance. We shall see. Re: giving up caffeine, for the last week I have been slumped in the evenings as I just can't muster any energy and going to sleep from 8pm to 10pm and then off to bed for the night at 11pm. Its been quite weird and I did wonder when it would stop but tonight I dropped DH off at train station for his one week trip at 8pm and thought I would crash when I got home but surprisingly I have had soo much energy tonight. So pleased I gave up!
Re: testing, they recommended a test 16 days I think post ov not post hcg which makes my test day Friday 22 September. That will be day 28 of this cycle and in March when I was preg I had a metallic taste in the morning of day 28 and my sense of smell was stronger so I just knew before I had tested. Re: looking preg, I did as well as my abdomen was so distended. Plus there was a tendency to hold it with my hand as it felt so tender!
Off to bed now, really need to sleep.

Hiya - At the moment I feel like pooh. Last night I had back and low abdominal ache. Nothing like period pains. Down below just feels so conjested. Again today my abdomen is really swollen and I wish it would go down. I just feel really heavy and low in spirits. No more baby activities to do, just have to wait.........

That's a shame. Is that from the cyclogest do you think? When you say congested, do you mean constipated? If that is the case, kiwi fruit does it for me and fast but you need a bowlful, say 4, and not just one. I think after doing all that you can do, there is an anticlimax to it all and that can affect one's mood. Chin up and lots of luck.

I had a couple of cramps yesterday which I tried to ignore and one strong one on my right side. I am still kidding myself that it may have worked and its just a week that I have to wait now. I have been feeling low about not being preg and therefore have been eating more than I need so not only am I not preg but I am also half a stone heavier. So that depresses me. So I have made a concerted effort to eat more sensibly(no choc, alcohol, fatty things, eating when not hungry) so now tummy which was swollen has improved but that may be from the stage of my cycle as today is day 21. I feel much better as a result.

My conjestion is mainly the swelling round my middle. There were times when I thought I was going to burst! I think it has started to go down now. I'm also half a stone heavier so I think we can put it down to all the drugs we have been given. Last night couldn't sleep because my body is full of cramp, wish I could stretch all my muscles in one go.
Twinges and cramps can be a good sign, hopefully a little embryo is burying its way into your uterus :-)

Oh! Maybe now that you have stopped the injections and you are beginning your luteal phase, your tummy will go down. I have almost lost my half a stone which I am thrilled about. When I started going to this clinic I was 8.9 and I increased to 9.3. So actually that is more than half a stone. I am now 8.10 so getting there. My breasts are still enormous and puffy and larger than they usually are for this weight and I wonder if it is the progesterone as I read that progesterone can increase pmt symptoms so the larger breasts would make sense.

Today I had a few cramps as I was out and about and tried not to think about them. Then I thought about Brooke Shields and how she had 7 attempts of IVF so just injecting oneself by comparison with Menopur is much simpler and far less invasive so have mentally prepared myself to try beyond December.

Hope your puffiness goes down.

Well I have that due af ache so wonder if I should continue to take the cyclogest? Do you know how long af takes to come after stopping the pessaries? I might ring the clinic on Monday and speak to one of the nurses for advice.

skbf, my advice would be not to stop taking them until af definitly appears IF she appears (good luck and im hoping she has gone for 9mths or so)

check with clinic if you are going to stop taking them and af hasnt appeared if you feel you need to, but id personally take them until i knew for definite that this cycle will be a negative

good luck again and i still got my fingers crossed for you

skbf, i never actually answered your question sorry,

my friend who did iui went in for pg test and it came back negative so clinic had told her to stop taking the pessaries,...af appeared 3 days later

but i suspect that it all depends on the individual, for someone else it may appear the next day perhaps

SKBF - I hope your aches are not the dreaded AF. I think you should keep up with the cyclogest, in the leaflet it says it could affect your period, making it earler or later!
I've managed to lose a couple of pounds, I think any remaining weight will have to be shifted with some serious healthy eating.
I don't feel anything, boobs are their usual tender self but it is always the same after ovulation.
By the end of the week you will know for sure if the treatment has worked. As always I'm keeping everything crossed for you.

Thank you bubbly and evans. I won't stop taking the cyclogest until the packet is finished which is Thursday. I am supposed to test on Friday but these pains are soooo obvious. Bubbly, I wonder if I should have a blood test like your friend as then I could stop sooner and then af is sooner and I can get started sooner. BTW, did you friend conceive using IUI? I can't have ov fall on the days where we have a hectic social calendar as for this BD'ing lark I need a couple of quiet nights in!
Thank you both for your good wishes.

SKBF - I don't think the cyclogest has a big impact on when AF arrives. I'm reading messages on www.repromed.co.uk where a lot of women are doing IVF and taking cyclogest. It looks like if you are not pregnant your AF will arrive at its usual time. It sounds like you know your body really well so you'll know if AF is coming. If the treatment does not work for me I'll wait at least one cycele to give my ovaries a rest then give it another go before Christmas.

skby no unfortunatly my friend didnt conceive through iui, she only had one go as she is petrified of needles.

good luck to you and evan

Thanks for that info evans. I hope af will start on friday as I just want to get going with next cycle and also the artful planning of dh's diary!

SKBF - How are you? I'm having a low day, 7 days since IUI and no symptoms. Implantation should be around now so maybe something will start to happen. I'm dreading next Wednesday and wondering if AF will arrive. My cycle is always the same I have my AF 14 days post ovulation. Hope you are doing well.

Why are you feeling low? Why also do you think there should be any symptoms if you are preg? When I was preg first time, it was unplanned and I had no idea until day 35 when I was late and breasts were seriously swollen. Preg No 2, planned, there were no symptoms whatsoever but I was confident I would get preg easily (age 38, such arrogance!) and I did. Did test on day 35 and bingo. But no symptoms whatsoever until the stretching cramps started in weeks 6 and 7. With pregs 3 and 4 (both miscarried) I had no symptoms whatsoever so I knew I was preg. With every failed cycle bl*y symptoms so I think your no symptoms are a very good sign. I know that it is stressful and it is a serious waiting game but we have to be strong as possible.
I am okay, the af pains continue and I sent a text to my ob friend saying I was unhopeful but she still thinks there is a chance. Then I started examining my dark nipples (usually pink) after a bath and wondered if I was. Got excited (stupidly) as pale pink this morning!! I have 5 more pessaries of cyclogest so one tonight then 2 more days, Thur and Fri but I should be testing on Friday. Not hopeful just want to get on with my next cycle and seeing what my fsh levels are. It has been 3 weeks since no caffeine and 3.5 since no alcohol and I have resumed the acupuncture and told her to work on my fsh and have reflexology on Wednesday. Am also taking Milk Thistle in an attempt to make my body as capable as ever. How are you finding the cyclogest? Without tmi, I thought I had a tummy bug, now I wonder if its the pessaries as I read it can cause such symptoms. It may also be that I have changed my diet, I don't know, just wondered how you were finding it?

Chin up. No symptoms is very hopeful in my exp.

SKBF - many thanks for the pep talk. With my only pregnancy I had 3 migraines in 14 days then had a BFP. I can't believe I'm wishing I had a migraine then I would believe it was going to work. I don't think I have side effects from the cyclogest. I'm still bloated and by the time I go to bed my waist has blown up a couple of inches. Quite a few women complain of extra wind. My healthy eating has gone out the window. My plan for the next time is to buy the Toni Welcher (spelling?) on Taking Charge of Your Fertility and one on IVF treatment and I'll also book acupuncture sessions. Think I'll try again in December after I've lost this excess weight. It will be the last attempt and then it will be going down the donor egg route for me.
If the treatment fails I'm looking forward to an enormous curry washed down with a whole bottle of wine!!!

Hi Evans. I see your point about no symptoms but maybe the migraines were due to something else? Also, I am presuming that your last preg was not assisted and therefore your body could potentially be different with this cycle/pregnancy. If you cat me I shall send you Imogen Edward-Jones book called 'The Stork Club' which I couldn't put down and read in an evening. I have just given Tony Wechler's book to a friend of a frind who is about to turn 40, has been married for 15 years and has finally decided to start a family having devoted herself to a high flying career in finance. My friend said to her upon her announcement 'you need to speak urgently to X' so that I could let her benefit from my exp and knowledge rather than one year down the line wonder why she wasn't gettting preg. She agreed that it is best to test hormone levels/semen now and be reassured that all fine or be advised accordingly than potentially waste a precious year. So she has booked an appt with her DH at the same clinic so that she is fully informed. I really feel strongly about women knowing at what stage of their fertile life they are at after getting preg so easily and thus being lulled into a false sense of security.

The thing about Toni Wechler's book is that it is aimed at women who are trying to conceive/not conceive naturally. It's very informative but if you are having scans/as much assistance as needed, will it be of benefit to you?

If the IUI doesn't work(and I sincerely hope it does), then having IVF then the donor egg idea is going to keep your options covered and why shouldn't you succeed? My friend of 43 who had the donor egg has a 28 year old's 2 eggs, one didn't survive past 6 weeks but the other one did and became twins as they were the eggs of a much younger woman and they were delivered at 37.5 gestation and they were 8lbs 7oz each!!!!!!!!! So the donor's egg dictates the quality of the egg which is reassuring.

evans i know totally where you are coming from with regards to you not getting any symptons therefore assuming the worst..

exactly this time last year i was in going into week 2 of the waiting game after having the iui treatment, with no symptons what so ever i was convinced i wasnt pg

right up until the phonecall to say i was pg i was convinced my treatment hadnt worked yet again

as it turns out i was pg so what im trying to say is dont give up and get yourself down until you know for sure, its easy to say and hard to do i know but please try to stay positive as best as you can and good luck

Hi Bubbly - thanks for your comments. I had a quick look at your diary again. Your did three IUIs and as you say the symptoms were not obvious and third time lucky.
I'm feeling more positive today but I think it because I am one day closer to knowing if it has worked.
SKBF - I have worked out how to CAT and hopefully have been able to send you an email. Apparently Toni has a second book that deals with IVF. If treatment doesn't work I'll be on Amazon and order her books along with the one you mention. I'm afraid I'm a great one for buying books, especially reference books. How are you doing? Have you done a test yet? Keeping everything crossed for you.

Hi evans. Today is the big day and I have a tummy ache which I am sure is period related and not the dreaded trots which I have been having. Will go out soon and buy a test but feel its a waste of time. Haven't taken cyclogest today as no point if not preg but will test to be sure. I can't remember which email address I put for my secret name so haven't received a cat from you!!!! So I shall cat you and give you my email address and you can tell me your address. If you do it today I can send it from the office for tomorrow delivery!!!!! Are you having a blood test to check if preg or waiting for 2 weeks?

just been to the cat facility and I have to pay!!!can you post your email on here or do you want to remain anonymous?