I'm out for who knows how long. I went in for my last cyst check. This was the deciding appt on whether to continue with IUI or if I need surgery. Unfortunately in 2 weeks the cyst grew almost 10 mm making it well over 3 inches completely covering the ovary. I've been on BC for the past 7 weeks and bleeding/spotting for the past 4 weeks.
It doesn't help that the nurse said "oh god" when she took the measurement and it's not because of estrogen levels which are very low right now. I also had blood work and the woman had to prick me 6 different times (3 in each arm). I told her the best place where they never have problems but she insisted on going almost an inch in the other direction.
Sorry to be the downer but it's been that type of day and it's not even 10:30.
Post by seeyalater52 on Jul 23, 2018 10:18:09 GMT -5
greengardener, the PIO was much worse in my head than it was in reality. Not pleasant as it's still an injection but not so terrible as I'd thought. I hope it's the same for you!
megstoo I'm so sorry that the cyst is still growing and keeping you from moving on with treatment. I hope they can get it out soon.
I'm just in my own little waiting hell over here. September feels SO far away.
Post by thoseareradishes on Jul 23, 2018 10:33:41 GMT -5
greengardener, H had to travel a couple of times when I was doing PIO, and I was able to go to my monitoring clinic and have my nurse do the injection. Biggest thing is making sure it goes in the right spot- ask your nurse to draw circles where it should go. Heat before and after helps too - I never used ice because I wanted the oil to disperse, and that's easier with heat. Good luck!
greengardener, I usually have the worst PIO experience, but it really hasn't been so bad for me this time. I'm still very sensitive to IM injections, but injecting the right spot is really the key.
I don't know what the hell I'm doing anymore. I guess getting an ultrasound next month between CD1-3 and more baseline labs, but that's not until August 10th or so. I'm researching some more REs in the meantime.
I'm so frustrated.
I'm not sure where you are but we're very happy with Shady Grove fertility. It sucks I have this cyst to deal with but we've had a wonderful experience with them so far. They're expensive and we're self pay so it sucks but our Dr and Nurse respond within a couple hours. I had an ultrasound this morning at 7 and the Dr called me around lunch to go over the removal of cyst with the nurse following up around 3 to make sure I'm ok where we are etc.
greengardener I may be the odd duck out but I always preferred doing the PIO shots myself Vice having DH do them. After your first time it’s no big deal (minus finding new spots that don’t hurt after 4 weeks!). I can’t believe your transfer is so close!
Post by FishChicks on Jul 23, 2018 17:03:57 GMT -5
I'm so sorry megstoo . Sending you good thoughts for the removal procedure.
greengardener You've got this! In another few weeks, you'll be able to share your own PIO tips with people.
I'm actively cycling now. Had my first monitoring appointment and I have 3 follicles growing together and my lining is at 5.2 and trilaminar. For me on day 5, that's not terrible. I'm hoping the lining and the follicles all keep growing in sync. Tomorrow is one year since our daughter was born and passed, this month is two years since our first treatment cycle. I try to remind myself that my girls are with me, even if they aren't here with me, and that helps get through the fact that we're still trying for a THB.
Hi! I have an hsg and shsg (not sure on the abbrev) on Thursday as well as a new clinic consult. Yesterday I started femara for an iui this cycle. Waiting on blood work results too. I had a hsg in 2011 and almost passed out from the drop in blood pressure so I'm super thrilled to do this again. No issues then otherwise and expect the same now. Wishing everyone the best.
Post by seeyalater52 on Jul 23, 2018 19:16:47 GMT -5
FishChicks I’m so sorry this has been such a long and difficult process for you. I hope your follicles continue to develop evenly and that you recruit some more. Good luck with this cycle.
Lining check this morning looked good. I'm @ 8.6, and a week out from transfer. Should be ready to start PIO Friday. I just got instructions from my nurse this morning, and I start PIO Friday MORNING. DH won't be home from his trip until evening. The best laid plans... They drew circles for the injection sites & gave me a pep talk. I feel ever so slightly better.
It really isn't that bad. I've found that my hips, rather than my actual butt, are better places to inject and mostly pain free (the ventral gluteal location if you want the technical term). I did watch lots of YouTube videos. (Yes, I'm a nurse but it's different when giving yourself injections!)
Post by starryfish on Jul 24, 2018 10:22:20 GMT -5
hey all! I had my baseline b/w and ultrasound this morning and got cleared to start IUI! Gotta drop off my RX to get my meds. I am doing letrozale and menopur. The GREATEST news is that my trigger shot is SubQ this time. Last time they were all IM and OMG I hated those! I did it in my thigh and hated watching it go in.
Waiting for the PGS results to come back on our embryo, hopefully by the end of this week.
DH and I are meeting with my Dr this morning to review the cycle and discuss next steps. We have not been thrilled with the care we have received so far. Everyone is very nice, but we get conflicting information depending on who we talk to, we don’t get explanations behind decisions they make, etc.
For example, when she called me to tell me that there was in fact an embryo that could be sent for testing she just delivered the news and then asked if I wanted to proceed. Of course I said yes. But after my head stopped spinning I did some googling about 7 day blastocysts and their success rates. I just wish that she had provided me with more information so that I could make an educated decision. I probably would have made the same choice, but I guess I feel that she should be proactively helping me make educated choices, it shouldn’t be an afterthought. Especially when they KNOW I’m on an emotional rollercoaster!
Anyways, I just hope we can get some better communication and partnership moving forward. I know I need to advocate for myself better as well.
UPDATE - the meeting went well, our Dr was very receptive and validated our concerns. She also had our PGS results (sooner than expected) and the embryo is NORMAL!!!! I’m so happy to have 1 in the bank! We also talked about changes to my protocol for next cycle and I feel much more confident. Whew!
Post by FishChicks on Jul 24, 2018 11:43:06 GMT -5
greengardener Rats on the PIO timing! You've got this, though!
starryfish You did IM shots in your thigh? You are brave! I don't mind watching the needle go in, but I suspect it's a bit more painful during and afterward. Glad you get to avoid that this time. Do you know why they're changing your trigger? I always wonder about that.
fairfax I'm hoping you get great PGS news. Your clinic sounds like they have a lot of opportunity for improvement. I'm sorry that you're the one who has to get them there! Are there other options/clinics available to you?
greengardener Rats on the PIO timing! You've got this, though!
starryfish You did IM shots in your thigh? You are brave! I don't mind watching the needle go in, but I suspect it's a bit more painful during and afterward. Glad you get to avoid that this time. Do you know why they're changing your trigger? I always wonder about that.
fairfax I'm hoping you get great PGS news. Your clinic sounds like they have a lot of opportunity for improvement. I'm sorry that you're the one who has to get them there! Are there other options/clinics available to you?
Yes it was horrible. My IM trigger was from two years ago. I know the subq one was available last time but they didn’t let us use it? Maybe it was newer then? I’m just happy lol
greengardener Rats on the PIO timing! You've got this, though!
starryfish You did IM shots in your thigh? You are brave! I don't mind watching the needle go in, but I suspect it's a bit more painful during and afterward. Glad you get to avoid that this time. Do you know why they're changing your trigger? I always wonder about that.
fairfax I'm hoping you get great PGS news. Your clinic sounds like they have a lot of opportunity for improvement. I'm sorry that you're the one who has to get them there! Are there other options/clinics available to you?
Yes it was horrible. My IM trigger was from two years ago. I know the subq one was available last time but they didn’t let us use it? Maybe it was newer then? I’m just happy lol
You poor thing. I always had SQ trigger shots, until this last time when it was IM. I did it in my hip, same as PIO.
Today will be my last day of Gonal F and I will hopefully trigger tomorrow with an IUI on Saturday. This was my first round with injectables and man, giving yourself a shot is so surreal the first time. lol I think I finally have the hang of it, though I'm a little nervous for the Ovidrel tomorrow. You ladies doing more than one shot a day for several days for IVF are rock stars!
Lots of hugs megstoo , I hope your week is going better!
It's going better after talking again with the Dr yesterday. I'm going in next week for an aspiration. They want to go as minimally invasive as possible so they'll so an aspiration versus a laprascopic. Once it's removed we'll actually start letrazole the next day. That's the other advantage with aspiration is there's no down time, basically no recovery, no pain (from what I'm told) and we can go right into IUI. I've had my letrazole and ovidrel at home for the past 2 months.
Lots of hugs megstoo , I hope your week is going better!
It's going better after talking again with the Dr yesterday. I'm going in next week for an aspiration. They want to go as minimally invasive as possible so they'll so an aspiration versus a laprascopic. Once it's removed we'll actually start letrazole the next day. That's the other advantage with aspiration is there's no down time, basically no recovery, no pain (from what I'm told) and we can go right into IUI. I've had my letrazole and ovidrel at home for the past 2 months.
This is such a great update! I’m glad you have a plan of action that doesn’t continue to delay your treatment. I hope the aspiration goes well.
Lots of hugs megstoo , I hope your week is going better!
It's going better after talking again with the Dr yesterday. I'm going in next week for an aspiration. They want to go as minimally invasive as possible so they'll so an aspiration versus a laprascopic. Once it's removed we'll actually start letrazole the next day. That's the other advantage with aspiration is there's no down time, basically no recovery, no pain (from what I'm told) and we can go right into IUI. I've had my letrazole and ovidrel at home for the past 2 months.
That is a fantastic update!! I'm glad you don't have to delay treatment and can jump right into the letrazole. Fingers crossed for you!
We just got back from a work incentive trip in Canada, it was such a nice time away. I'm in the middle of a mock transfer cycle with an ERA biospy scheduled for Aug 20th/
We need to make a decision to either travel back and forth here from Florida for our official transfer, or ship our one good embryo to Florida and do the final transfer there. Anyone have any opinions? Cost is not a factor. Fear is.
fairfax, YAY for a good embryo. So happy for you!!!
We just got back from a work incentive trip in Canada, it was such a nice time away. I'm in the middle of a mock transfer cycle with an ERA biospy scheduled for Aug 20th/
We need to make a decision to either travel back and forth here from Florida for our official transfer, or ship our one good embryo to Florida and do the final transfer there. Anyone have any opinions? Cost is not a factor. Fear is.
fairfax, YAY for a good embryo. So happy for you!!!
My opinion: don't do it. I had mine from my first cycle transferred across Texas, and lost 1, and the other 2 didn't survive freezing. I don't know if the shipping had anything to do with it (they were all BC or CC in quality anyway) but I'll always wonder what if.
Hsg and shg today- all normal and clear. Blood tests came back though I was told it would take 2 weeks. Insulin- 5 ulU/ml LH- 3.7 mlU/ml Glucose- 88 mg/dl AMH- 1.53 ng/ml T-4, free- 1.4 ng/dl TSH- 2.63 ulU/ml Prolactin- 10.8 ng/ml Estradiol- 42.9 pg/ml FSH- 6.3 mlU/ml
Started me on thyroid medication due to the above. Everything else says it's normal, I can't find any real info otherwise.
REs like their thyroid hormones within a narrow range, much narrower than the "normal" (I say that TIC) population. I was almost on thyroid medication myself.
barney96 I was on thyroid medication during treatments and throughout my pregnancy even though my numbers were in the "normal" range. My RE liked to see it around 1 for trying to get pregnant.
barney96 I was on thyroid medication during treatments and throughout my pregnancy even though my numbers were in the "normal" range. My RE liked to see it around 1 for trying to get pregnant.
Same. I was on a low dose for my thyroid b/c I'm hypothyroid anyway but when I started seeing my RE he wanted my numbers much lower so he tripled my dose and then upped it one more time when I got pregnant.