First visit with RE - Page 2

Netta And Nikki · 01-24-2007, 07:07 PM

HEy lady..Yea its normal to feel so excited that you want to just jump right in there...They usually want you to be on met for awhile, but you know every doctor is different...I dont know anything about ivf....Hugs Netta

Sarelle · 01-24-2007, 10:27 PM

oops, I think I misspoke, I meant IUI as well.

I seem to be having regular AF, but I'm starting to feel so full of questions and unknown since I haven't done this before!

How are you and where are you in the process right now?

drchickon · 01-29-2007, 02:45 AM

Sarelle - Good luck! My partner and I were together for 5 years when we started TTC, and we had to get through some docs who were not incredibly helpful before we found the RE who ended up doing the insemination that got me knocked up. It took a few cycles for me, but on 2000 mg metformin a day, 150 mg Clomid and an HCG shot - the IUI finally took.

My doc didn't make me take met for a while first. He just let me jump right in. Have you asked your doc about this yet? Have you chosen a donor? Where are you in the process now?

Sarelle · 01-29-2007, 07:16 PM

drchickon- I am very fortunate that the first RE I went to was incredible and that is who I am currently working with. I started with him in December, I didn't have AF in December so I wasn't expecting one and started last week so we weren't prepared to insemintate this month. I am going for HSG on Wednesday and then hopefully will have normal AF again next month and be able to inseminate then. I just started my first dose of Met last week, I am on the Extended Release 500mg and have to work up to 1500mg. So far I haven't had any of the side effects, knock on wood! He isn't making me wait any amount of time either so yep, we are jumping right in as well.

The whole process is so exciting but I am so nervous and full of questions! Did you have the HSG done?

What about you, where are you right now? I can't tell you how great it is having this group out here for support, knowing there is someone like me going through the same things!

drchickon · 01-29-2007, 10:36 PM

Sarelle - I am actually 4 months pregnant now. My doc was great and with the right meds, my body cooperated. I did not do the HSG, but my treatment was:

150 mg Clomid on cycle days 3-7
Ultrasound on day 12, Ultrasound on day 14ish, and ultrasound on day 17-18
HCG shot on day 17-18 depending on ultrasound results
Insemination exactly 36 hours after insemination

My doc said that with the PCOS, before doing tests like that, he wanted to see if we got any results from Clomid. I think it varies from doc to doc. Mine didn't do much testing at all once we realized that the Clomid was working. I think if it hadn't worked, he would have done more testing to see if there were other issues.

Good luck!!!!!

Sarelle · 01-30-2007, 06:30 PM

Drchickon-Congrats, I hope to be there with you soon! That sounds almost identical to the treatment my doc has me on, same clomid days 3-7, ultrasound day 12 etc. although he hasn't said anything to me about a shot, what is that about exactly?

I have a rather personal question and if you don't want to answer, no problem. Were you of "normal" size when you conceived? I am currently at about 250lb and would love to be smaller before conceving but I just can't wait any longer. I'm working on it though, changing eating habits, now if I could just get some exercise in!

Please keep me updated on your progress, I will live vicariously through you until it happens for me!

drchickon · 01-30-2007, 08:42 PM

Sarelle - I don't mind personal questions at all - we have to be able to ask each other this stuff! I was around 254 when I started TTC. My RE put me on a diet and I got down to 242, which was my weight when I actually did conceive. I truly do not believe that the weight loss had anything to do with it because the Clomid was working before i lost the weight too. I haven't gained any weight since being pregnant - I am almost 4.5 months and still weighing in a 242. I guess the baby uses all those extra calories I am eating

The shot we did is an HCG shot. Once they see follies are big enough on the ultrasound and have an egg ready to go, I had a shot of HCG, which tells your body to ovulate. They taught us how to give me the shot and we did it at home. Anyway, with the HCG shot they can time the insemination much more precisely than waiting for your natural LH surge. I am guessing, since you are early on, they are waiting to see if your dose of Clomid is working before they add the HCG in. But I would ask the doc about it just to see what he says. Some people do 2 insems - 1 12 hours after HCG and one 36 hours after (at least I think those are the intervals). We only did one - at 36 hours and it worked. It was all so expensive, I couldn't afford the extra vial of sperm and insemination costs each month to do two.

Ok, I'm rambling! I should go and actually do some work - I am really excited for you! This is all very exciting stuff!

Sarelle · 02-01-2007, 02:13 PM

Well, I had my HSG yesterday and everything was all clear! It wasn't quite as bad as I thought it was going to be but definately isn't something I would want to do again.

drchickon-how are you feeling? Has it been a pretty easy pregnancy so far? Thanks for the weight info, I really appreciate it. My doc didn't say anything about my weight but I'm just trying to lose it for myself. I would be happy if I could drop 10 by the time I conceive.

Did ya'll go through a sperm bank? We are looking at the fairfax cryobank, I think I found "Mr. Right" there but am still looking around.

Netta-How are you doing girl?

drchickon · 02-01-2007, 02:21 PM

Sarelle - We used NW Cryobank. I think they have slightly less in the way of selection, but their prices are much better. And since we found an acceptable donor there, it worked out for us. Also, if you want, I can share with you the diet I got from my RE. Just let me know. I'm glad your HSG came back clear - I bet you get some peace of mind from that!!!!

Sarelle · 02-01-2007, 10:57 PM

drchickon-I would love to have the diet your RE gave you, I am willing to try just about anything right now. My DP got me a great book for Christmas called "The Sugar Solution", it has some great ideas but after spending your whole life eating white bread and drinking coffee with cream and sugar its hard to make those changes. Sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup is in EVERYTHING!! Growing up and living in the South really doesn't help matters any, lol!

Yes, the clear HSG definately put my mind at ease and I like the fact that some things say it may increase your odds of conceiving.

I just saw your expected due date is July 6th, if you wait 5 more days you can have the little punkin' on my birthday, July 11th!

drchickon · 02-02-2007, 01:53 AM

Sarelle - I'll look for the paper that describes the diet - but I can tell you know you will have to essentially give up white bread, sugar, etc. I'll look for the paper tonight and tomorrow and then get you the info.

And for me - if I'm a few days later, the baby will share your borthday - if the baby comes a weekish earlier, it will share my partner's birthday!

Sarelle · 02-02-2007, 01:18 PM

drchickon

Thanks for getting that info for me, I really appreciate it! I think I am in denial about having to give up those things but I know it is the best thing to do. I have been working on it, I haven't had white bread in months, If I drink soda it is always diet and I've been using splenda in my "sweet" tea.

Okay, your partner wins, the baby should definately be on her birthday!

Gemini1885 · 02-02-2007, 02:22 PM

drchickon..i would love to see the diet that you have. I am currently trying to lose some weight. My RE seems to think that makes a difference with fertility. I am at 205 now and would love to lose about 30 pounds.

drchickon · 02-02-2007, 05:16 PM

Gemini and Sarelle - I'll look for the paper tonight. I think I filed it away a few months ago. If I can't find it, i'll call the RE office and ask them to fax me a copy of it. It's very basic and I'm sure it is a lot like sugarbusters or sugar solutions. But it did work for me. We called it the taco diet because we ate a TON of mexican food on it. The diet allows for eating corn, corn tortillas, corn chips, popcorn, etc. So, being the lazy people that we are, we spent a lot of time at Taco Bell. And still both lost a good amount of weight. I'll get the info for you both in the next day or so.

Sarelle · 02-03-2007, 12:19 AM

Drchickon, its no hurry, whenever you get a chance. It sounds great to me I LOVE mexican food, as a matter of fact we have a great Mexican restaurant right across the street from our neighborhood and we eat there at least once a week.

Have a great weekend!