Sorry I have been a horrible blogger the last few months. It get's REALLY hard putting all of my hopes and dreams on display, falling in love with my little embryo photos, and such just to have it all come crashing down. This will be our SEVENTH EMBRYO TRANSFER. Can you believe it? It will be embryos #12 and #13. To date we have transferred 11 embryos. Here's a little recap to detail why I am so war-torn and bitter these days....
Embryo #s:
01, 02 = Failure
....03 = Chemical pregnancy
04, 05 = Praise the Lord our miracle baby
06, 07 = Failure
08, 09 = Miscarriage
10, 11 = Failure
12, 13 = ????
(14, 15, 16, 17 = Still on ice)
About Us
- Lauree and Mike
- After an 8 year battle with infertility and countless struggles, our family is finally complete. This blog chronicles the journey it took for us to start and build the family we always wanted. Background on the blog (started in 2012, just days before I found out the embryo transfer for our son worked).... I decided to start a blog after realizing I have only been able to make it through my TWW's (two week waits) with the help of Google and with the openness of other women suffering from infertility sharing their own stories and giving others hope. I have time and time again found my exact symptoms on other women's blogs and felt an overwhelming sense of calmness they provided me. I thought it was time to pay it forward and hopefully provide this same thing to other women on their own journeys.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Waiting to start FET #5
Sorry my post have been so boring. It get's harder and harder to put my life out there. To be so naked and have my hopes and dreams on display only for them to come crashing down around me. Anwyays, here's what's happened since the failed FET #4...
May 15 - Get period
May 15 - TSH = 0.192
Jun 01 - CD 18 +OPK
Jun 08 - TSH = 0.042
Jun 09 - CD 26 Hysteroscopy/endometrial scratch
Jun 12 - CD 29 Period
Jun 12 - CD 1 Start FET meds
May 15 - Get period
May 15 - TSH = 0.192
Jun 01 - CD 18 +OPK
Jun 08 - TSH = 0.042
Jun 09 - CD 26 Hysteroscopy/endometrial scratch
Jun 12 - CD 29 Period
Jun 12 - CD 1 Start FET meds
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Transferred 11 Embryos To Date
We have transferred 11 embryos to date. 1 take home baby. 9% success rate per embryo.
3 IUI (../'11) .... BFN
IVF 1 (07/'11) 2 3d BFN 17e, 12m, 7f, 2t, 3fr
FET 1 (11/'11) 1 5d BFP chem
FET 2 (01/'12) 2 5d BFP DS
IVF 2 (02/'14) 2 3d BFN 14e, 7m, 6f, 2t, 2fr
FET 3 (05/'14) 2 3d BFP m/c 6w6d
IVF 3 (10/'14) IUI, BFN
IVF 3 (01/'15) Freeze All 21e, 13m, 12f, 0t, 8fr
FET 4 (04/'15) 2 5d BFN
FET 5 (??/'15)
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3 IUI (../'11) .... BFN
IVF 1 (07/'11) 2 3d BFN 17e, 12m, 7f, 2t, 3fr
FET 1 (11/'11) 1 5d BFP chem
FET 2 (01/'12) 2 5d BFP DS
IVF 2 (02/'14) 2 3d BFN 14e, 7m, 6f, 2t, 2fr
FET 3 (05/'14) 2 3d BFP m/c 6w6d
IVF 3 (10/'14) IUI, BFN
IVF 3 (01/'15) Freeze All 21e, 13m, 12f, 0t, 8fr
FET 4 (04/'15) 2 5d BFN
FET 5 (??/'15)
WTF Questions and Answers
Letter to my RE:
I haven’t had my beta yet but at 17dpo my tests are negative. So I figured I’d send my questions early to get a jump on the next cycle. I’d like to take a cycle off and cycle again starting mid/late May with that period.
1. We have 6 embryos left. Would you recommend transferring two again? What were the grades of the two I transferred and what are the grades of the remaining embryos?
She will get back to me.
2. Should I do a mock cycle and check endometrial receptivity?
No. No really reliable test.
3. Should we repeat any tests (ex. HSG, hysteroscopy)? I had a blocked tube in 2011 and it appeared unblocked in 2014. Should we check for hydrosalpinxes just in case?
Yes. Repeat hysteroscopy next cycle.
4. I added estrace pills vaginally (I was prescribed them with my semi-successful FET 5/2014), can we add these into my protocol for my next FET? I just want it documented as I don’t want to “self prescribe” anything next cycle. I did 1 AM and 1 PM pill vaginally starting on cycle day 6. My 11mm lining seemed good on CD 12.
We will repeat this.
5. Is there any way we can get the person who did our successful transfer in 2012 to do the next one? Or a doctor who has the highest success rate per transfer?
Thursdays are Dr. Austin, Friday's are Dr. Flyckt and Lisbona. I can decide which day and person I'd like.
6. Should we do an endometrial scratch the cycle prior? http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267215.php?hc_location=ufi
Yes. She will get back to me about cycle timing (I pushed for luteal phase, she wanted to do in follicular phase with hysteroscopy, I'm not comfortable NOT doing it in the luteal phase).
Immunotherapy Questions:
7. There is a link between Hashimotos and insulin resistance? Put on Metformin as a precaution? http://www.hormones.gr/556/article/low-dose-metformin-improves-pregnancy-rate-in%E2%80%A6.html
Testing for insulin resistance on 5/7. She will put me on metformin if I need it.
UPDATE: Insulin was 15.1. RE and PCP still didn't want to put me on metformin. Endocrinologist agreed to 500 daily metformin. Started on 5/15.
8. Should we add more prednisone sooner and longer? “Achievement of optimal success with corticosteroid therapy requires that the treatment be initiated well before ovulation takes place (about 7-14 days prior to anticipated implantation).”
No.
9. Should we look into IVIG? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11723539
No.
10. Can we add lovenox next time? We added this with my only pregnancy post having baby #1 (FET 5/2014). It failed, but it was the furthest we got in our efforts to have baby #2.
No.
11. Should we add neupogen? http://www.sims.ie/news-views/neupogen-and-implantation.1682.html
I haven’t had my beta yet but at 17dpo my tests are negative. So I figured I’d send my questions early to get a jump on the next cycle. I’d like to take a cycle off and cycle again starting mid/late May with that period.
1. We have 6 embryos left. Would you recommend transferring two again? What were the grades of the two I transferred and what are the grades of the remaining embryos?
She will get back to me.
2. Should I do a mock cycle and check endometrial receptivity?
No. No really reliable test.
3. Should we repeat any tests (ex. HSG, hysteroscopy)? I had a blocked tube in 2011 and it appeared unblocked in 2014. Should we check for hydrosalpinxes just in case?
Yes. Repeat hysteroscopy next cycle.
4. I added estrace pills vaginally (I was prescribed them with my semi-successful FET 5/2014), can we add these into my protocol for my next FET? I just want it documented as I don’t want to “self prescribe” anything next cycle. I did 1 AM and 1 PM pill vaginally starting on cycle day 6. My 11mm lining seemed good on CD 12.
We will repeat this.
5. Is there any way we can get the person who did our successful transfer in 2012 to do the next one? Or a doctor who has the highest success rate per transfer?
Thursdays are Dr. Austin, Friday's are Dr. Flyckt and Lisbona. I can decide which day and person I'd like.
6. Should we do an endometrial scratch the cycle prior? http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267215.php?hc_location=ufi
Yes. She will get back to me about cycle timing (I pushed for luteal phase, she wanted to do in follicular phase with hysteroscopy, I'm not comfortable NOT doing it in the luteal phase).
Immunotherapy Questions:
7. There is a link between Hashimotos and insulin resistance? Put on Metformin as a precaution? http://www.hormones.gr/556/article/low-dose-metformin-improves-pregnancy-rate-in%E2%80%A6.html
Testing for insulin resistance on 5/7. She will put me on metformin if I need it.
UPDATE: Insulin was 15.1. RE and PCP still didn't want to put me on metformin. Endocrinologist agreed to 500 daily metformin. Started on 5/15.
8. Should we add more prednisone sooner and longer? “Achievement of optimal success with corticosteroid therapy requires that the treatment be initiated well before ovulation takes place (about 7-14 days prior to anticipated implantation).”
No.
9. Should we look into IVIG? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11723539
No.
10. Can we add lovenox next time? We added this with my only pregnancy post having baby #1 (FET 5/2014). It failed, but it was the furthest we got in our efforts to have baby #2.
No.
11. Should we add neupogen? http://www.sims.ie/news-views/neupogen-and-implantation.1682.html
No.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
FET #4 BFN
Caved and tested last night. 12dpo. On a FRER. ........BFN. It's over. No, it's not too early.
Update: 4/16 Beta HCG = 0
Sunday, April 5, 2015
FET #4 - Frozen Embryo Transfer - Protocol, Transfer, and Symptoms
02/21/2015 - CD 17 semi-dark OPK
02/25/2015 - PAP: Normal02/25/2015 - TSH: 0.767
SP = Self prescribed
Protocol
03/15/2015 - CD 1, Start 3 patches every other day
03/18/2015 - CD 4, Start vaginal estrace AM/PM (SP)
03/20/2015 - CD 6, Start medrol 8mg/day (SP)
03/21/2015 - CD 7, Switch to 10mg prenisone/day (SP)
03/24/2015 - CD 10, TSH: 1.370
03/26/2015 - CD 12, Endometrium = 11.06mm
03/28/2015 - CD 14, Increase prednisone to 20mg/day (SP)
................... Start progesterone 1cc
................... Start doxy 1 this day, 2/day til gone
03/30/2015 - CD 16, Last vaginal estrace (SP)
03/31/2015 - CD 17, TSH: 1.450 (Synthroid upped to 150)
04/01/2015 - CD 18, Start 10mg claritin/day (SP)
................... Start 20mg pepcid AM/PM (SP)
04/03/2015 - CD 20, Transfer (2 attempts)
04/03/2015 - CD 20, Transfer (2 attempts)
Our "cookies" according to Victor
Symptom Watch
04/03/2015 - 0DP5DT:
No symptoms
04/04/2015 - 1DP5DT:
Kinda nauseous after eating PM
04/05/2015 - 2DP5DT:
Bloated, cried, tiny cramps in evening
04/06/2015 - 3DP5DT:
No symptoms, cried, lower back tweak
04/07/2015 - 4DP5DT:
Bloated, yellow CM, depressed, veiny? (nope)
04/08/2015 - 5DP5DT:
Left boob pinches 15 sec afternoon, tiny cramps PM, right boob pinches PM, nipples burning middle of the night
04/09/2015 - 6DP5DT:
No symptoms AM, super bloated after lunch, dull cramping and lots of bloating after dinner, a few uterine pulls when moving just before bed (minimal), a few uterine pinches middle of the night (minimal)
04/10/2015 - 7DP5DT:
Sore nips when I woke up, gone shortly after. No symptoms mid morning other than bloat. Slight cramping after lunch. Feeling pretty normal come evening. :( Major meltdown. Feel like it didn't work.
04/03/2015 - 0DP5DT:
No symptoms
04/04/2015 - 1DP5DT:
Kinda nauseous after eating PM
04/05/2015 - 2DP5DT:
Bloated, cried, tiny cramps in evening
04/06/2015 - 3DP5DT:
No symptoms, cried, lower back tweak
04/07/2015 - 4DP5DT:
Bloated, yellow CM, depressed, veiny? (nope)
04/08/2015 - 5DP5DT:
Left boob pinches 15 sec afternoon, tiny cramps PM, right boob pinches PM, nipples burning middle of the night
04/09/2015 - 6DP5DT:
No symptoms AM, super bloated after lunch, dull cramping and lots of bloating after dinner, a few uterine pulls when moving just before bed (minimal), a few uterine pinches middle of the night (minimal)
04/10/2015 - 7DP5DT:
Sore nips when I woke up, gone shortly after. No symptoms mid morning other than bloat. Slight cramping after lunch. Feeling pretty normal come evening. :( Major meltdown. Feel like it didn't work.
TTC #2
sticky vibes!
Lucky Coins
Superwoman socks and notes from fellow infertile friends.
Transfer #6.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Ovulation after IVF (Negative OPKs after IVF)
So we are in a holding pattern waiting to start a FET cycle after our freeze-all IVF cycle. I have been testing for ovulation using OPKs (ovulation predictor kits) since cycle day 12 (CD 12-15 not shown below) so I can know when I ovulate so I can predict (give or take a day) when my period will arrive so we can start our FET cycle!
I normally get a positive OPK on CD 17. Well, CD 17 came and went and the test line on my OPK was only 1/3 as dark as the control line. I think it's interesting they tried to get dark on that day though. Weird. I googled: "negative opks after IVF". Turns out, the internet is filled to the brim with ladies who turned an OPK positive 1 week later than they normally would.
I woke up this morning, CD 25, wondering if I'd ever ovulate this month, took an OPK, and it was ALMOST positive. OPKs aren't hard to read (though most ladies on the internet at baffled by them). With HPTs, if there is ANY sort of line it's positive. On OPKs, the test line HAS TO BE AS DARK OR DARKER than the control line to be positive. So finally, mid morning on CD 25 I got a positive! (See below.) Overall, the OPKs went from light to dark to light to dark to positive. Glad I stayed on top of them!
I estimate my period showing up anywhere from 10-14 days from today. Which would make this cycle 35-39 days long! Oy!
I normally get a positive OPK on CD 17. Well, CD 17 came and went and the test line on my OPK was only 1/3 as dark as the control line. I think it's interesting they tried to get dark on that day though. Weird. I googled: "negative opks after IVF". Turns out, the internet is filled to the brim with ladies who turned an OPK positive 1 week later than they normally would.
I woke up this morning, CD 25, wondering if I'd ever ovulate this month, took an OPK, and it was ALMOST positive. OPKs aren't hard to read (though most ladies on the internet at baffled by them). With HPTs, if there is ANY sort of line it's positive. On OPKs, the test line HAS TO BE AS DARK OR DARKER than the control line to be positive. So finally, mid morning on CD 25 I got a positive! (See below.) Overall, the OPKs went from light to dark to light to dark to positive. Glad I stayed on top of them!
I estimate my period showing up anywhere from 10-14 days from today. Which would make this cycle 35-39 days long! Oy!
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| Negative OPKs after IVF cycle. OPKs were over a week late turning positive after IVF cycle. |
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