ROLL CALL
Age (if you care to share): 34 (DH is also 34)
TTC since: Jan 2012
TTC Recap: In brief, in July 2012 we learned that Darling Husband has very low sperm count and motility. He had a varicocele embolization but that didn’t help. I had a small uterine septum and had hysteroscopic surgery on that. We did our first IVF cycle in Jan 2013 and have basically been continuously doing IVF / frozen embryo transfers since then. Our first cycle was a CP. After that cycle 2 (FET) was a BFN, cycle 3 (FET) was a BFN. We switched clinics (because we moved), did another IVF, had a horrible egg retrieval by a covering doc, I developed ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and spent a night in the ER, we did another FET and had a CP. After that we did another IVF but delayed the transfer because my hormones were a bit off. In the meantime we did a uterine biopsy and found that the development of my uterine lining was out of sync. We did several things to try to fix that (some antibiotics in case it was related to infection, femera to try to reset things, and a normal HSG) but the repeat biopsy was still abnormal so we did a course of 3 months lupron depot shots to try to fix it (and treat any presumed endometriosis, which can cause endometrial dysfunction). We did two more FET’s, in May (BFN) and June (CP). So that’s 6 total embryo transfers, 3 CP’s, and 3 BFN’s. Most of our early transfers were single embryo transfers from our choice, the last two were supposed to be double but each time one embryo didn’t quite make the thaw. Most recently we did another fresh IVF cycle at a 3rd clinic, got 20 eggs and 6 frozen embryos, which are currently out for PGD and we are starting a frozen cycle now.
Issues (if any): See above!
Chart? No point.
Currently: I’m on estrace to thicken my lining in preparation for a frozen embryo transfer, probably around early to mid-Oct assuming that at least one of our frozen embryos comes back chromosomally normal from the PGD.
Supplements/how are you going about your BFP: IVF. As far as supplements I take metanx (prescription strength vitamin B), Vit D, Calcium, Vit E, Melatonin, Vit C, and a prenatal. Most of those are for egg quality. I’m also on synthroid for subclinical hypothyroidism.
When I get my BFP, I’ll celebrate by: I’ve had a few CP’s so I’ll be anxious until at least the first ultrasound! <br />
If it’s not this cycle, we’ll: Hopefully have enough normal frozen embryos to do another frozen cycle. We’ve also thought about donor sperm, donor egg, and adoption.
Since TTC after 12+ cycles (or with IF) issues, is a very different experience than a fertile couple trying in the first month, how do you stay positive and hopeful? <br />Somehow we keep on keeping on…sometimes I’m pretty amazed at our strength as a couple and that we’ve been able to do this for the past 2.5 years. But, in addition to all the needles, clinic visits, etc. we pretty much just live our lives. I have a very busy and fulfilling job, so that helps. Darling Husband is great with helping with housework, cooking, etc., so that also helps. Right now we have a new project of looking to buy an apartment (a very tough thing in NYC) so that is keeping us busy.
And just for fun, what are your holiday plans this year? Are you crafting or making any awesome homemade gifts? Taking any trips? <br />Oooh, fun question! We actually haven’t planned our holidays yet, really. I usually end up working Thanksgiving, as I will be this year. DH’s family is going to be in town though so Darling Husband and his dad might cook dinner and we’ll have Thanksgiving dinner when I return from work! I’m still deciding whether to use my vacation days so I don’t have to work Christmas week — in which case usually we visit family in 3 different states over the course of a week so it’s a whirlwind! Darling Husband and I also always host an annual Christmas party for our friends — we buy a big tree and decorate it with ornaments we collect from all the places we have traveled, and we cook tons of different types of cookies and make peppermint bark, so I guess that’s sort of “crafty”!
And, with the start of this new thread I just want to say how much I appreciate all of you ladies. It would be a much more lonely experience without all of your support. And, huge congrats to our graduates from the last thread. I’m really hoping we get several more on this one!
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I’m afraid to POAS but will on Tuesday if flow hasn’t showed. Can’t believe when you want the bitch she’s MIA! 