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.

Hi SNBF and Evans, Managed to find a computer. Well I wanted to tell you it was a BFP but unfortunately it was a BFN as you would expect feeling a little flat DH is working away at the moment which doesn't help. However I am trying to remain positive for the future and I know we are very lucky to have our lovely DS. I wanted to Thankyou all for your support. Will continue to watch thread as you've got me hooked now and I am very keen to hear how things work out for you. In the meantime look after yourselves xx

Sleepless - I'm so sorry to hear your news. My DH works away at the moment and it makes it much harder. On my last cycle failed cycle he came home for a night o give me a big hug. Will you be trying again?

SKBF - Thanks for your figures, when I was trying to read the number it looked like 270, as you say they would like to see over 300. I keep checking for my LH surge but it has not happened yet. I hope I get my hCG injection tomorrow as my ovaries feel like they are going to burst. I'm looking forward to seeing what my follicles have been doing. It looks like Clomid is giving me the same results as 300 units of Gonal F so maybe my own FSH works just as well. Not looking forward to going back to Bristol so I hope this cycle works. I think I'll be away for a few days so won't be able to post until Friday. My acupuncturist is standing by and I hope to see a refexologist next week.
How did your scan go?

Thanks Evans, yes hopefully will try later next year, will be sure to update you if any news

Hiya - I've had a very hectic and stressful few days. On Wednesday I went back for a scan and my two follicles had grown to 23 and 25mm with another 14mm one on my left ovary. They would not do an estradiol test as there were only two follicles. I started worrying that they had grown too fast and too large. They grew about 10mm in 2 days. I got my hCG injection and we did the IUI on Thursday. That evening my tummy ballooned up again. So I'll be spending my 2 week wait in my usual bloated state. I'm so glad I'm taking next week off as I need a rest from this weeks activities. DH and I also have bad colds which did not help.
SKBF - I hope all is well with you.

On my way out so very quickly:

So sorry Sleepless that your cycle didn't work. Keep trying is all I can say and that I am thinking of you. Hugs.

Evans, 2 great follicle sizes, I think those were the sizes when I got preg in my first cycle. I think. Will check. Don't worry about the uqick increase, I have had the same where I couldn't believe the rate at which they grew especially on this cycle and now look at me. Everything crossed for you.

Mumsnet fingers crossed for you /link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1366&threadid=202249#4980102\here} evans

here

SKBF - how are you and the twins doing?

I'm 6 days into the 2ww and I've been in bed most of the time with a cold. I can't believe any potential embryos will have survived my bouts of coughing. I've no signs yet but the last time nothing happened unil after day 8. I'm so glad I took time of work. I'm off to have a session with a reflexologist tomorrow.

Evans, sorry to hear you are poorly. Don't worry about being ill and poss pregnant. I had flu a week before I found out I was preg and was dosed up to the nines as I was in Italy for 4 days and for the second day had difficulty getting out of bed but thought it was a cold and the next day I couldn't get out of bed. The following day I had to fly back and it was so difficult. That was Tuesday and the following Monday I found out I was preg with DD and I did wonder how I managed to keep the pregnancy as I took as much neurofen as I could as I ached all over. Also decongestants. WHen is your 2ww over so I can put it in my diary? Fingers crosse.d

Twins are fine so far, am 15 weeks this Friday. Held a four week old baby yesterday and started to feel excited as I enjoyed holding her and realised how wonderous the whole thing is. This little person. I have been slightly in denial as I know the potential problems with a twin pregnancy and don't really want to get excited only to lose them at 20 weeks etc. Anyway, am going to bed at a sensible time and am now off the stodge (essential in first 12 wks) so feeling more normal. My DD (aged 4) wasn't pleased with my pregnancy but is now coming round to the idea. DS wants a brother. My dh announced it a couple of weeks ago although I would have waited as their birth is so far away for such small children.

Hope you feel better soon. Really hope this cycle works for you.

Oh! Did you watch the Proff Winston series this Tuesday where two couples had IVF? Watched it with DH and when they talked about the reduced fertility in women over 40 dh asked what happened to me. I replied 'you know I am really fertile' and that was the end of the conversation. !!!!!!!!!!!

I cried though when both couples built up the hope and had difficulties along the way and then cried when one succeded and the other didn't. I felt their pain as I have been there with the serious diappointment when a cycle doesn't work.

SKBF - I'm not sure what Clomid will do to my cycle but my AF always starts 14 days after ovulation - so I'm expecting I'll know if this cycle has worked on the 14th of December. Seven more days to go :-(
I think the Winston programmes have been excellent. Next weeks should be interesting as the subject is about donors.

This is the 2nd time I'm writing this, don't know what happened to other post. Got BFN this morning but I'm still waiting for AF to arrive so there is still a little hope. For to a 2 day meeting so will post again Friday eve.
Hope all is well with you.

I'm afraid my AF arrived, so this cycle was not a success. I am disappointed but not surprised. The good thing that has come of it is that DH and I have had a long chat. I will be 44 in January so we have decided to ease up on all the ttc activities. So the caffiene, wine etc are back and the monitoring of ovulation, supplement pill popping is out and we will be going back to having fun bd. I'm now devoting my energy to investigating the option of using donor eggs. I may have given up on my ovaries but not my uterus.
SKBF - you have not posted recently, I hope all is well with you and the twins.

Evans, sorry to hear things did not work out. Wishing you and your DH all the best of luck for 2007.

I have not been able to post as problems with internet although I have been thinking of you. I am really sorry to read that you didn't get a BFP this cycle. Really sorry. Yes you should have fun I agree as the whole thing is very stressful. I wonder if the injection route is a good option for you? Otherwise the donor egg option sounds promising but where would you get the egg from? Would you consider going abroad so that you have anonymity? The friend that I have who did succeed had the eggs 3 mths before the law changed so while they will be open with their twins, they won't have any details who the donor is either now or later. I missed the last programme of Proff Winston which I hope you were able to see. It was interesting in the last but one programme that one couple went to Russia for a donor egg which I think they said cost them £3-4k.

I am fine thank you, next scan is next week so after that appt I will know if pregnancy will survive but as it is now 4 weeks since reduction I think I am probably in the clear. There is no sign of bleeding, pain etc but am still relying on scan.

I wish you a merry christmas and hope you can stay positive. Remember that I had my consultation last December, it was just before Christmas and then had my fsh testing in January and then I started the Clomid in February. I am just mentioning this to remind you (and me) that it was not an overnight thing so this time last year I had been trying for almost 2 years. I was anxious about the whole thing and now look at me. But even this pregnancy hasn't been easy as you know, I would never had imagined the triplet situation and the reduction etc and the worry all of which I have got through on my own. Also have had to deal with dh (serious sulking and he did hope that I would miscarry ), the terrible nausea/fatigue and dh's family (they hoped I would miscarry as well and asked him if we were going to terminate WTF?) but I have kept my head up and dealt with it. I didn't really post about it at the time as I wanted to forget about it. I let him get used to the idea that I was pregnant for a number of weeks before I hit him with the news that it was twins!!!!!!!! At this point he had resigned himself to my pregnancy so the sulking and hoping I would miscarry started all over again!!! Now he is happy and thinks he has super sperm. I am happy to let him have this false impression obviously. It has been a serious test of strength for me which I managed and I am sure you are strong as well to go through the process except you have a supportive dh and family. I really hope 2007 is your year and will be thinking of you.

To SKBF - I'm so glad you have posted as I was beginning to worry that something bad had happened.
We are following the clinics/consultants advice and letting our family and friends know that our only option to start a family of our own is to have a donor egg. Our nearest a dearest can then consider helping if they wish. We are also investigating the waiting list times for various clinics and we have a counselling appointment booked in January at the Bristol clinic. Everyone has said if you want a quick solution you should go to Spain. Both DH and I have agreed that we don't want to use this option, he doesn't want a 'foreign' baby and I feel strongly that if I used a donor egg the resulting child should have the option to trace the donor. Donor conceived children have campaigned for years to have the law changed and I can understand why not knowing who their biological parent means they feel 'something is missing' in their lives. The hardest part of having a problem is being subjected to other people ramming their feelings on the subject down your throat. I'm sorry to hear that your DH and his family have been struggling to come to terms with the pregnancy. I know the twins are here to stay and when they make their entrance into the world DH and his family will be really proud of them. Many thanks for the good wishes and I hope you can enjoy the festive season. 2007 will be the year you double the size of your family .

Merry Christmas Evans. Re: donor eggs and no anonymity, I was told by friends that there were less donors in the UK as the donors themselves do not want a situation where at some stage in the future an adult will contact them as their blood child. That's the difficulty. I had no idea that donor egg chldren had been campaigning for this and I can understand the need to meet the biological mother/father. My friend will be open with her twins re: the real mother but won't have her details. Her dh donated sperm to the donor as her dh's sperm was low/problematic and my friend and her dh don't know if his donation has resulted in children. I am sure you will do what is right for you and how great that you have a supportive family who can also help you financially. Did the acu quote for the donated egg route? Hope you are feeling well and positive for 2007. >

Oh! DH looked at our chldren at the table thinking they were so cute and reminded that we are going to have 4 of them soon and shall we try and have another set of twins afterwards. !!!!!!!! I knew he would come round and be happy and excited, thank goodness I have the strength to get through the difficult bits. BTW, I wouldn't get preg again if somebody paid me!!!!

Happy New Year. I hope the Christmas festivities went well in your house. I'm looking forward to 2007, but a little anxious about trying to start a family by using a donor egg. One of my resolutions is not to keep reading/postings on sites like this. But I want to know when you give birth to the twins. Let me know your due date and I'll keep having a look for your message.

Happy new year Evans, have been wondering how you are. I think it is sensible to take a step back. I found it hard not to obsess and while I was happy to read about MNers who did get pregnant (although I felt that I had failed) I also found it daunting that there were ladies who didn't get preg which bothered me. Had I not been preg by the end of this year whether I continued to try or not I doubt I would have been involved in a thread as there comes a time when talking to others about it just doesn't help and there is only so much one can take. Having said that, chatting to others about fertility treatment and reading about others experiences has been helpful and an education, especially bubbly's on line diary.

I hope you are pleased that you tried the acu and don't regret it. A close friend of mine who knows my story was told by a close friend of hers that she was ready to start a family and is about to turn 40. Been married for a long time but a real high flyer in the City and didn't want to interupt her career. My friend told her that she had to speak to me about the ins and outs of fertility/trying at her age which she did. I think I mentioned this to you before. ANyway, she didn't go to the acu but her dh did and had a sperm test and was told he had a very low sperm count so she is pleased they were aware of this. I had the conversation with her in July/Aug and they are now looking into having a surrogate baby. What I am trying to say is that they happy that they are fully informed and are looking at other options such as surrogacy (tricky I think) rather than trying for months on end and getting anxious.

I really hope that the donor egg works for you and understand that you won't be posting. My due date is 1 June but hope for mid May c-section rather than beginning of May as that would be 36 weeks gestation. I am hoping then that after my post to announce the twins' arrival that you will be announcing your pregnancy. I have everything crossed for you, I really hope you are pregnant soon.

Hi SKBF - I will start checking the boards again in May and I'll be looking to see the wonderful news that the twins arrived safely. Hopefully in the next five months I'll be busy and have some good news to report, even if it is I'm on a waiting list. Today the diet starts and I want to loose the stone that has crept on since I got married.
Good luck and enjoy your (last) pregnancy

Thank you evans. Speak May.