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Lillies
Grateful for my babies!
Member since 2/12 4571 total posts
Name:
<3
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Starting IVF info
Hey ladies..
Can you give me some input on how long an IVF cycle is usually?
I am cd1 today.. going into the RE on Monday (cd3) to begin everything hopefully.
When did you start your stims?
When I met with the NP on thursday, she said they were calling in an order to the company that day and I would hear from them soon. Haven't heard a thing and my period is 5 days early so I don't think anyone expected this.
Will freedom overnight the meds monday if I need? Do I start that day?
I am starting on Femara first for a few days and then menopur I believe.
Also, How long do many of you stim?
The nurse looked at my meds and said it's high stims but femara seems a bit weak to me :/
Any insight?
Thanks
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Posted 11/9/13 6:04 PM  |
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PhyllisNJoe
My Box Is Broken
Member since 6/11 9145 total posts
Name:
Phyllis
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Re: Starting IVF info
Every IVF cycle is different (from what I gather) I will be stimming longer then the average because of my DOR and slow response so far. If avg is 10-12 days of stims, I will be doing it for 14-15 days.
I've gotten meds from freedom next day so I think you'll be ok there. Especially if you are starting with femara anyway, you'll have time for the rest.
I started with femara but at the same time as I started the Gonal and menopur. I'm on Max of both. The femara or clomid is just an added boost for DOR patients.
Which practice are you doing the IVF with? I know you were seeking other drs. Just curious with where you decided to go.
Message edited 11/9/2013 6:13:24 PM.
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| Posted 11/9/13 6:13 PM |
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Lillies
Grateful for my babies!
Member since 2/12 4571 total posts
Name:
<3
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Re: Starting IVF info
I have DOR also.. so you think I will be stimming for a longer period of time then? I am totally not a medicine person at all so curious how I am going to deal with this lol
Clomid was the original starter med bc I always got 2-4 follies from 50mg. Unfortunately, it caused vision issues and cysts so we are jumping to femara for a start. I have never been on it- hoping I respond to it. The RE is **hoping** for at least 2-3 embryos but said we may just have 1 good quality :/ We don't know at all how I will respond because I was never even on an injectables cycle.
She said she didn't think I would respond to inj as good as I did with clomid. I still don't understand this. I always thought clomid was a weaker IF drug than an injectable drug like gonal?
As for my RE, I am sticking this cycle out with RS. Dr. Sung gave me a really good consult last week and seemed to have a great game plan for a girl like me with DOR. Unfortunately, the other RE just said he will stim me "like a 40 year old" which didn't sound professional enough for me to begin a cycle with him. So far, I am confident that this is where we should be for this cycle.
I have a consult with SIRM in Dec to meet with Dr. T so I can see what his opinion on my case is. Hopefully I will be pregnant and won't need to see him lol
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| Posted 11/9/13 6:29 PM |
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PhyllisNJoe
My Box Is Broken
Member since 6/11 9145 total posts
Name:
Phyllis
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Re: Starting IVF info
I'm not a medicine person either. I was petrified about how I would feel. I never used injectables either before now and here I am on max dose!
The femara is a lot like clomid minus the blurred vision and cysts. It gives me hot flashes, headaches and bitchiness. Nothing out of the ordinary. The injectables cause no side effects at all. The only thing in feeling now (after 8 days of stims) is cramping and sore ovaries but that's just because they are getting crowded.
They had no clue on how I would respond. Dr Stelling is hoping for 10 follicles at retrieval in the hopes if getting at least 5 mature eggs to work with. With DOR you never know what you're going to get. You just start stimming and hope for the best. So far I have 6 measurable and 5 too small to measure. I have about 5 more days if stimming ahead if me so I hope some if the little guys become something.
I hope your cysts are gone and you can get started ASAP. It's a definite roller coaster and way different then clomid IUIs. But like I said, just on the injectables I have no side effects whatsoever. The only thing happening now is I'm on edge. Nervous hoping the follies grow.
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| Posted 11/9/13 6:36 PM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7626 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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Re: Starting IVF info
You can have the meds by Tuesday. There is no way you will get them Monday unless you ordered them today - they do not ship on Sundays because FedEx does not operate on Sundays.
I have stimmed for a different amount of time each time anywhere from 8-12 days. I was on a low dose of meds, but I always responded well. We started with IVF (no IUIs) so my first cycle they put me on a semi-low dose of meds. I never had any side effects - other than bloat at the very end.
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| Posted 11/9/13 6:42 PM |
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Lillies
Grateful for my babies!
Member since 2/12 4571 total posts
Name:
<3
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Re: Starting IVF info
Posted by PhyllisNJoe
I'm not a medicine person either. I was petrified about how I would feel. I never used injectables either before now and here I am on max dose!
The femara is a lot like clomid minus the blurred vision and cysts. It gives me hot flashes, headaches and bitchiness. Nothing out of the ordinary. The injectables cause no side effects at all. The only thing in feeling now (after 8 days of stims) is cramping and sore ovaries but that's just because they are getting crowded.
They had no clue on how I would respond. Dr Stelling is hoping for 10 follicles at retrieval in the hopes if getting at least 5 mature eggs to work with. With DOR you never know what you're going to get. You just start stimming and hope for the best. So far I have 6 measurable and 5 too small to measure. I have about 5 more days if stimming ahead if me so I hope some if the little guys become something.
I hope your cysts are gone and you can get started ASAP. It's a definite roller coaster and way different then clomid IUIs. But like I said, just on the injectables I have no side effects whatsoever. The only thing happening now is I'm on edge. Nervous hoping the follies grow.
Omg that is an awesome response for DOR!!!! I am totally pushing for your protocol if mine does not work out lol.. All the RE's look up to Stelling. Are you by any chance doing PGD? I know he is the main coordinator with it. Sung really wants me to consult with him for it but I just can't afford an additional $5000 on top of what we are paying now.
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| Posted 11/9/13 6:53 PM |
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Lillies
Grateful for my babies!
Member since 2/12 4571 total posts
Name:
<3
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Re: Starting IVF info
Posted by PitterPatter11
You can have the meds by Tuesday. There is no way you will get them Monday unless you ordered them today - they do not ship on Sundays because FedEx does not operate on Sundays.
I have stimmed for a different amount of time each time anywhere from 8-12 days. I was on a low dose of meds, but I always responded well. We started with IVF (no IUIs) so my first cycle they put me on a semi-low dose of meds. I never had any side effects - other than bloat at the very end.
So after you start meds, what days do they usually have you come back to check for response? Is it early on?
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| Posted 11/9/13 6:55 PM |
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PhyllisNJoe
My Box Is Broken
Member since 6/11 9145 total posts
Name:
Phyllis
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Re: Starting IVF info
Posted by Lillies
Posted by PhyllisNJoe
I'm not a medicine person either. I was petrified about how I would feel. I never used injectables either before now and here I am on max dose!
The femara is a lot like clomid minus the blurred vision and cysts. It gives me hot flashes, headaches and bitchiness. Nothing out of the ordinary. The injectables cause no side effects at all. The only thing in feeling now (after 8 days of stims) is cramping and sore ovaries but that's just because they are getting crowded.
They had no clue on how I would respond. Dr Stelling is hoping for 10 follicles at retrieval in the hopes if getting at least 5 mature eggs to work with. With DOR you never know what you're going to get. You just start stimming and hope for the best. So far I have 6 measurable and 5 too small to measure. I have about 5 more days if stimming ahead if me so I hope some if the little guys become something.
I hope your cysts are gone and you can get started ASAP. It's a definite roller coaster and way different then clomid IUIs. But like I said, just on the injectables I have no side effects whatsoever. The only thing happening now is I'm on edge. Nervous hoping the follies grow.
Omg that is an awesome response for DOR!!!! I am totally pushing for your protocol if mine does not work out lol.. All the RE's look up to Stelling. Are you by any chance doing PGD? I know he is the main coordinator with it. Sung really wants me to consult with him for it but I just can't afford an additional $5000 on top of what we are paying now.
Not doing the PGD. There is no way we can swing it. Even with that test there is still no guarantee it will work.
They brought me in for first check right after I finished the femara. Day 5 of stims. Then 2 days after that and another 2 days after that. First visit they didn't see much. I think it was more for a baseline of blood to see if I kept the same dosage (which I did). 2nd visit they saw 8 follies all under 10 so they didn't measure. And then today with the 6 measurable and 5 small.
Like I said everyone responds differently. I happen to responding slow but they are happy I'm responding at all!
I love Dr. Stelling. I have been fortunate to see him at every visit since starting. I saw Halfen today and will see him again Monday. I like him too. But I have to say I really like Stelling. I have since my first consult a year and a half ago. Wish I would have listened then and jumped onto IVF but without coverage I couldn't see skipping the IUIs which were covered.
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| Posted 11/9/13 7:07 PM |
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Lillies
Grateful for my babies!
Member since 2/12 4571 total posts
Name:
<3
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Re: Starting IVF info
Posted by PhyllisNJoe
Posted by Lillies
Posted by PhyllisNJoe
I'm not a medicine person either. I was petrified about how I would feel. I never used injectables either before now and here I am on max dose!
The femara is a lot like clomid minus the blurred vision and cysts. It gives me hot flashes, headaches and bitchiness. Nothing out of the ordinary. The injectables cause no side effects at all. The only thing in feeling now (after 8 days of stims) is cramping and sore ovaries but that's just because they are getting crowded.
They had no clue on how I would respond. Dr Stelling is hoping for 10 follicles at retrieval in the hopes if getting at least 5 mature eggs to work with. With DOR you never know what you're going to get. You just start stimming and hope for the best. So far I have 6 measurable and 5 too small to measure. I have about 5 more days if stimming ahead if me so I hope some if the little guys become something.
I hope your cysts are gone and you can get started ASAP. It's a definite roller coaster and way different then clomid IUIs. But like I said, just on the injectables I have no side effects whatsoever. The only thing happening now is I'm on edge. Nervous hoping the follies grow.
Omg that is an awesome response for DOR!!!! I am totally pushing for your protocol if mine does not work out lol.. All the RE's look up to Stelling. Are you by any chance doing PGD? I know he is the main coordinator with it. Sung really wants me to consult with him for it but I just can't afford an additional $5000 on top of what we are paying now.
Not doing the PGD. There is no way we can swing it. Even with that test there is still no guarantee it will work.
They brought me in for first check right after I finished the femara. Day 5 of stims. Then 2 days after that and another 2 days after that. First visit they didn't see much. I think it was more for a baseline of blood to see if I kept the same dosage (which I did). 2nd visit they saw 8 follies all under 10 so they didn't measure. And then today with the 6 measurable and 5 small.
Like I said everyone responds differently. I happen to responding slow but they are happy I'm responding at all!
I love Dr. Stelling. I have been fortunate to see him at every visit since starting. I saw Halfen today and will see him again Monday. I like him too. But I have to say I really like Stelling. I have since my first consult a year and a half ago. Wish I would have listened then and jumped onto IVF but without coverage I couldn't see skipping the IUIs which were covered.
I saw Halfen two weeks ago for a consult. He just happened to be in Mineola. He was pretty informative but was also pushing PGD :( I wish I could afford this, really, but it's such a gamble in every way for us.
Good luck with those follies! Slowly but surely they are coming along! So exciting!
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| Posted 11/9/13 7:11 PM |
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babyfever24
LIF Adult
Member since 1/11 3340 total posts
Name:
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Re: Starting IVF info
Good luck! How many embryos are they expecting to have this cycle? If you only have a few embryos doing PGD is too risky IMO I would just transfer and hope for the best! Freedom is definitely quick just make sure they really ordered your Meds. I had to call RS insurance person numerous times before my Meds were ordered.
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| Posted 11/9/13 7:26 PM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7626 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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Re: Starting IVF info
Posted by Lillies
Posted by PitterPatter11
You can have the meds by Tuesday. There is no way you will get them Monday unless you ordered them today - they do not ship on Sundays because FedEx does not operate on Sundays.
I have stimmed for a different amount of time each time anywhere from 8-12 days. I was on a low dose of meds, but I always responded well. We started with IVF (no IUIs) so my first cycle they put me on a semi-low dose of meds. I never had any side effects - other than bloat at the very end.
So after you start meds, what days do they usually have you come back to check for response? Is it early on?
For my last cycle, I started stimming on CD 2. I then went back on CD 5, CD 7, CD 9-11. I triggered on CD 10 and had my ER on CD 12.
Good Luck!
In the past, we had poor quality embryos, but with this last cycle, we had two superstars - we did not do (nor were we planning on doing) PGD - although we had thought about it because our new RE had mentioned it as an option.
Message edited 11/9/2013 7:48:03 PM.
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| Posted 11/9/13 7:46 PM |
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babydreams21
LIF Adult
Member since 12/12 3656 total posts
Name:
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Starting IVF info
I started stimming on CD 2 or 3 I think. I stimmed for both IVfs for about 11 days. I think I went in after 3 days of stimming and then 3 more and then more often. The few days before ER I went in almost every day. IVF is a lot more monitoring than IUI. Our first IVF did not give us a lot of eggs so we increased my meds for IVF #2 and I responded better. We did not do PGD.
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| Posted 11/9/13 8:59 PM |
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MrsH
LIF Adolescent
Member since 3/07 766 total posts
Name:
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Re: Starting IVF info
Posted by PitterPatter11
Posted by Lillies
Posted by PitterPatter11
You can have the meds by Tuesday. There is no way you will get them Monday unless you ordered them today - they do not ship on Sundays because FedEx does not operate on Sundays.
I have stimmed for a different amount of time each time anywhere from 8-12 days. I was on a low dose of meds, but I always responded well. We started with IVF (no IUIs) so my first cycle they put me on a semi-low dose of meds. I never had any side effects - other than bloat at the very end.
So after you start meds, what days do they usually have you come back to check for response? Is it early on?
For my last cycle, I started stimming on CD 2. I then went back on CD 5, CD 7, CD 9-11. I triggered on CD 10 and had my ER on CD 12.
Good Luck!
In the past, we had poor quality embryos, but with this last cycle, we had two superstars - we did not do (nor were we planning on doing) PGD - although we had thought about it because our new RE had mentioned it as an option.
Sorry to hijack here, but did you do anything different this cycle that they contribute to the better embryos? Thanks!
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| Posted 11/9/13 9:26 PM |
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Lillies
Grateful for my babies!
Member since 2/12 4571 total posts
Name:
<3
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Re: Starting IVF info
Posted by MrsH
Posted by PitterPatter11
Posted by Lillies
Posted by PitterPatter11
You can have the meds by Tuesday. There is no way you will get them Monday unless you ordered them today - they do not ship on Sundays because FedEx does not operate on Sundays.
I have stimmed for a different amount of time each time anywhere from 8-12 days. I was on a low dose of meds, but I always responded well. We started with IVF (no IUIs) so my first cycle they put me on a semi-low dose of meds. I never had any side effects - other than bloat at the very end.
So after you start meds, what days do they usually have you come back to check for response? Is it early on?
For my last cycle, I started stimming on CD 2. I then went back on CD 5, CD 7, CD 9-11. I triggered on CD 10 and had my ER on CD 12.
Good Luck!
In the past, we had poor quality embryos, but with this last cycle, we had two superstars - we did not do (nor were we planning on doing) PGD - although we had thought about it because our new RE had mentioned it as an option.
Sorry to hijack here, but did you do anything different this cycle that they contribute to the better embryos? Thanks!
I was thinking the exact same thing!
Message edited 11/9/2013 9:30:24 PM.
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| Posted 11/9/13 9:29 PM |
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elizabeth78
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/09 644 total posts
Name:
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Starting IVF info
Where are you now going.. I think I need a change.. I'm so not happy with previous dr.
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| Posted 11/9/13 9:30 PM |
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Lillies
Grateful for my babies!
Member since 2/12 4571 total posts
Name:
<3
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Re: Starting IVF info
Posted by elizabeth78
Where are you now going.. I think I need a change.. I'm so not happy with previous dr.
It still hasn't gotten better there?! I couldn't take it anymore- I went back to my previous RE. Consulted with her a few times and liked her protocol. I figure I have to start somewhere at this point and at least try something to see how my body handles the hormones.
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| Posted 11/9/13 9:36 PM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7626 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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Starting IVF info
For this cycle, we changed clinics - I used to be at CNY Fertility in Albany (where I live). For this cycle, I went to RMA in Manhattan. The lab was MUCH better. We also changed my meds slightly. I was originally on 75 Menopur and 150 Gonal F from Day 1 of stimming and had to coast my first 2 cycles due to high estrogen levels. This time I was on 150 Gonal F for the first 4 days of stimming and then they added the Menopur.
Those were literally the only things that I did differently. We are dealing with MFI so I think a little bit of it just has to do with luck honestly. RMA happened to get two great sperm cells out of our frozen sample.
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| Posted 11/9/13 9:41 PM |
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FlowerWife
Positive Vibrations...
Member since 1/08 8423 total posts
Name:
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Re: Starting IVF info
here is my cycle in a lot of detail with days, meds etc if you are interested in reading IVF Journal
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| Posted 11/10/13 9:58 AM |
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MrsGoldie
<3 Miracles can happen <3
Member since 9/12 1700 total posts
Name:
R
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Re: Starting IVF info
IVF journal 1& 2
I documented everything in my journals too. My first one has a lot of general IVF info as well as my protocols.
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| Posted 11/10/13 12:31 PM |
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