Kdeezy- I hope you lining cooperates also, there is nothing more frustrating than when our bodies don't cooperate! Sorry I keep asking so many questions, but thank you for answering all of them! Is estrace like lupron to suppress everything? I googled it and it said cream, so I'm assuming you aren't doing injectables. Just tell me to stop asking questions if they are annoying, I just feel like I don't know as much about a FET and want to know more!

Leah how are you doing? Do you also have to get a period? I'm freaking out bc my when I stop bc it usually takes like 5-7 days to get AF so I hope that doesn't push me back way late!

FYI I still f'ing hate lupron but at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel with doing this cycle, unlike when I was doing it as an endo treatment. I'm back to not sleeping well which sucks a big one...........

Hey Katie!!
I'm doing good, took my last BCP today!! I don't have to wait for a period, but I'm sure it will happen in the two days I don't take meds (but the nurse said that was ok??)
I haven't taken Lupron, why do you hate it? I hope it doesn't take almost a week to get your period!!! Damnit that would stink!!
I'm having such a hard time sleeping too... But I work nights so I usually do :( I bet you're just like me and want to start this shit already!!!!!! Lol!!
Hey, have you read about endometrial scratching with HSG?
I asked my RE about it, because I read it can increase IVF odds up to 20%.
He looked sheepish and said that his office is considering doing this with every IVF cycle because the success is so much greater.
Soooo.... I told him that I didn't care if I haven't had a failed IVF cycle yet (it's normally recommended for those who have failed a few cycles) that I wanted it no matter what. Lol. I don't fuck around.
So, anyways, they will do the retrieval on the first day, the endometrial scratch with HSG the second day, and embryo transfer the third day.
You should see if your RE will do it too! (I'm sure I'll be paying more for it, but I'm willing to pay for up to 20%!!)

Keep asking questions! That's what this group is for!

Estrace is estradiol pills. It's different from Lupron but has the double effect of stimulating your lining while suppressing ovulation. When you're in a fresh cycle and stim your estrogen goes through the roof. You don't have that with a frozen cycle so they supplement with estrogen pills. My RE said it's not as effective as Lupron but does the trick in the majority of cases.

I'm sorry the Lupron isn't a pleasant experience for you. I loved it, and my side effects were really minimal.

Leah - I've heard of endometrial scratching! I may ask about it if this cycle fails.

Of course, I meant HCG- not HSG. Whoopsers, had my latest insurance fight on my brain!

Hi ladies! I just have to say how nice it is to have people to talk to about all of this! I feel like through our journey I have talked to certain friends extensively about he while process, but they only get it and can maybe relate to a very small amount (typically the miscarriage part). While it's nice that they ask, after a while of explaining, and re-explaining what is going on it gets exhausting. I also feel like it's all that is on my mind and all I want to think and talk about, so this site is such a great thing for me!

Leah, I haven't heard of that (endometrial scratching) but it's now on my list of questions to ask about :) thank you! I hate lupron mostly bc it puts me on edge all the time. It increases my anxiety and gives me insomnia, which in turn increases my anxiety, which is a very viscous cycle! I have two more nights of bcp's!! So excited that you were able to stop, I can't wait!! Did you start stimming? How'd it go? What's your dosage?

Kdeezy - thanks for answering my questions! Makes sense that you would need some estrogen!

Are you guys doing PIO?

In typical fashion, I just started getting a cold, I haven't taken any meds (for cold) but had to do an Advil today bc I couldn't take it. I'm sticking to Tylenol from now on but didn't have any at school so I had to take the Advil plunge. Hope you lovely ladies had a great day! It's sooooo cold, stay warm

Started my stims today!! 300 of Follistim and one vial of Menopur.
But since I was so excited, AF showed up to join the party just like I thought she would. But, the nurse said it was ok... It just seems weird to me. Hopefully AF won't last too long....

Yeahhhhh for starting stims! Took last bcp Friday and now just waiting for AF to start so we can go in for baseline blood and ultra! Can't wait

Wahoo! Get your ass here AF!! My friend Katie wants to join this IVF party ASAP!! (:
P.S. I am doing PIO, forgot to tell you that earlier.
I only have done the vaginal suppository of pills before. I'm nervous about the pain everyone says they are. Something more to be nervous about.
But can we talk about the actual egg retrieval? I'm freaking about that one!!!!!!
@KDeezy- any advice or inside information?? How was the pain/anxiety compared to a lap?? (The only real thing I have to compare it to pain wise...)

Retrieval was an absolute cakewalk compared to a lap. Here's way too much detail about my experience:

I arrived at the clinic at 8 am. My clinic doesn't do retrievals and transfers so I was referred out to a different one. They had me sign consents and then change into a hospital gown and socks and hop into bed. They got an IV going and gave me fluids and warm blankets while I waited for my turn.

When it was my turn (about 9) they brought me to the bathroom to pee, then into the room they use for retrievals. They double and triple checked all my information and then had me get on the table and finagle my legs into the tallest stirrups I've ever experienced. They shot something into my IV and gave me an oxygen mask and I was out in about 10 seconds.

My pain upon waking up was, at most, a 5. All the pressure on the right was gone but I had a bit of pain on the left (weird bc I only had two follicles on the left). My lower back was a little bit sore but I had no vaginal pain and very minimal bleeding. They gave me extra strength Tylenol and that was enough to make me feel better.

Not to freak you out but my recovery was a bit compromised because the second they knocked me out I aspirated either saliva or stomach acid and started to choke which is seriously my worst fear ever. Luckily I was unconscious so I wasn't aware and the anesthesiologist suctioned me so I was okay but I coughed for a solid twenty minutes after I woke up and had a nasty rumble in my lungs for about a week. I had to stay in recovery for extra time because my O2 sat wasn't very good. But there was no lasting damage so it's all gravy. Anyway they told me it would only take 10 minutes but mine took 30 because I was coughing the whole time so it was tough to hold the ultrasound and needle steady but they still managed to get all 9 eggs with zero complications - pretty impressive considering I've had two surgeons tell me that my pelvis looks like a bomb went off in it!!

I should probably add that they were all absolutely STUNNED that I aspirated. It's extremely rare for someone who hasn't had any food or drink for well over 12 hours so please don't go into your retrieval thinking it's going to happen to you! They still aren't sure what went wrong and they must have asked me like a million times if I was SURE I didn't have anything to drink!

I loved your detailed information! Thank you!!!!! Did you have conscious sedation (it's my understanding I will still be asleep even though it's conscious) or were you completely out?
The nurse told me she's only ever known of two patients they've had that were completely out (I'm assuming a general anesthesia like a laparoscopy).
I, of course, worry that they will not give me enough meds and I'll be not consciously sedated enough!
Thank you again!!!

I had conscious sedation but have zero recollection of anything. It's kind of funny that they call it that because you get the sense that you'll sort of be aware because you're conscious - not the case! You close your eyes and next thing you know they're waking you up.

You'll be pretty out of it for a while once you wake up. I asked how many eggs I got about 25 times and every time they told me 9 I said "I thought it was 7!" No idea where that came from lol

Finally I can join you lovely ladies! AF showed up to join the party, very calmly which was a pleasant surprise, hopefully due to lupron. I go in Friday for baseline blood and ultras and then hopefully start stims Friday night!

Leah when's you ER tentatively scheduled for? How are your follies growing? Looks like I am pretty off, timeline wise from you :( so I'm going to totally live through you.

Kdeezy how are you feeling? Do you have to still go in as often for blood and ultras as your fresh cycle?

Yayayayay Katie!!! Auntie Flo dance here!!!
I don't really know when my date will be yet? They haven't told me.
But I'll ask tomorrow when I talk to the IVF nurse!
I have another ultrasound this morning at 8AM and my estradiol level drawn too!!
So now I'm on Follistim 450 iu and one vial of Menopur. And this morning after my ultrasound I start the Ganirelix!!!
Can't WAIT to hear what they decide for you!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm feeling okay so far. I'm not sure if my bloat and discomfort is due to the meds or the fact that AF is still here.

Monitoring appointments are far fewer this time. Bloodwork only on days 5 and 9 and suppression check (bloodwork and ultrasound) on day 14 - and then hopefully transfer on 2/17.