Shannon IVF success 2 1/2 years of trying for #2 (very long and rambley)

Hello, I am now 29 and DH is 36. We were married for 5 years when we surprisingly got pg with DD. Looking back, we were never careful and should have gotten pg long before this point so I guess we always had a problem. When DD was 2 1/2 we started trying for #2. After 6 months of trying I went to gyn for exam and to be checked for endo. (AF was getting more painful every month). GYN said that the treatment was just to go on BCP and wanted to just start me on that. I told him we were TTC and he said that would help with the endo too and to try to get that to happen. He gave me temp charts and told us when to BD. I don't know how long we tried all the natural stuff. I was Oing right on schedule every month, drinking green tea, lying down for 20 min after, and even tried EPO.

I called our insurance Co. and found that we had infertility coverage and decided to go to a specialist. All blood tests, U/S, HSG, SA and PCT were normal. They started me on Clomid 100 mg to give the swimmers more targets. I had another PCT while on Clomid and found that the med made me have hostile CM. On to IUI. First IUI there were 3 follicles and good sperm counts. Second IUI there were again 3 follicles and better sperm counts. For the third cycle, the processing lab was closed for routine maintance. I was very upset at loosing a month. I talked my Dr. into doing a lap to check for endo. Dr. thought it was too agressive but did it anyway. They found a mess. Endo, and scar tissue from a previous ab surgery had fused my right ovary and tube to the bowel and the left was surrounded. They cleared all this away and said that we could be considered fertile now and should ttc naturally for 6 months. This was not good enough for me. We took one month off to recover then back to the 100 mg Clomid and IUI. The ovaries now cleaned off produced 10 follicles. IUI cancelled and on to IVF. They retrieved 10 eggs and 6 fertilized. 2 made it to day 3 and were transferred. I was put on progesterone suppositories. Beta was -. Again took a month off.

I ended up talking to another RE and he said that since the lap found endo outside the uterus he could assume that there was some in the tubes also and that IVF sounded like my only option. We met with him in February to start the process. This office was wonderful and totally worth the 2 hour drive. I March I was put on BCP, Lupron, Gonal F 1 amp, Repronex 1 amp, and Baby Aspirin. The stim amounts were adjusted for the last week. April 13th (day after 9 year anniv.) was retrieval day - 27 eggs. 17 fert and by day 3 all were still going, day 5 all were still going but one was wonderful. On the 18th 2 blasts were transferred, one perfect and the other an early blast. I started on PIO and spend 48 hours on self imposed bed rest. The remaining embies were allowed to continue to grow and 3 more made it to blast and were frozen. Beta was scheduled for May 1. A week before this I was in a car accident and started cramping - here comes AF. I was in bed for a week sore and very depressed with a very bloated stomach. I took a HPT on April 31 and it was neg. May 1 my first day back at work after the accident. I get an intercom page to go to the front desk. DH was on the phone saying that he called and checked messages. At this point I'm wondering why he wants to depress me even more at work. He says after a message that seemed to last for 5 minutes he hears "and your beta is positive" we both start crying and laughing. He said he knew all along, I was totally convinced that AF was on the way. Two days later I realized that I had half of the symptoms on the OHSS sheet. I had to go have another procedure to have fluid drained. By this point though the OHSS had peaked and nothing further need to be done about that. I am now 16 weeks with one baby and feeling great. 2 weeks ago I had to get some maturnity pants. The only problems I had in the first trimester was extreme fatigue and two days of nausea. I felt the baby kick about a week ago and last night three big ones that I actually felt on the outside. Hope this long and winded story give someone else hope. Good luck.

Here's my IVF success story....
We've been trying to conceive since July 1999,
and were pregnant by October 1999,
but lost the baby within one week of a positive beta (my OB was suspecting m/c due
to very low hcg numbers). I turned 30 on January 27, 2000,
and we continued trying to conceive, basal body temping &
all that until April 2000 when I had my first appointment with an RE,
Dr. Joseph Hill. We did all the tests… HSG, endo biopsy, SA, & b/w…
and they all came back normal. So, diagnosis was unexplained infertility.
In August 2000, Dr. Hill started me on clomid (50mg, cd5-9) with IUI.
That shortened my LP, and he decided it just wasn't for me.
He wanted me to begin injectables with IUI right away,
but I had a huge cyst left over from the clomid.
I spent September on birth control pills to suppress
the cysts & gear me up for the injectable cycle.
I began gonal-f (1 amp per day) on Oct. 19…
and by Oct. 29, had only a 23mm follicle & a
14mm follicle in my right ovary,
no measurable follicles on my left.

So, Jason gave me the HCG injection
to induce ovulation & had two Intrauterine Inseminations to no avail. All I got from that
cycle was another cyst, and had to go back on birth control pills for 3 weeks
to suppress those darn things!!!! At this point, I was getting desperate and
really just wanted to move on to In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), but insurance
wouldn't cover IVF until 3 failed injectable cycles. So, I was on the slow train towards nowhere (or so I felt!!!)
Well, in November, while on birth control pills, I met a woman, named Beverly, who was visiting my church. She and her
husband prayed with me about my inability to conceive and my miscarriage. Her husband told me that when they came back
next November, they expect to meet my baby. Also, Beverly gave me a very special Bible verse, which I have kept so
close to my heart and have repeated over a hundred times every day since then. It is Exodus 23: 25-26, "Worship
the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and NONE will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span."
Then, on December 5, I got my period and was very ready to begin my next injectable cycle, just knowing and believing that this was the month my prayer would be answered. I was so positive and sure of it, and I knew this was my month to get pregnant. I began with 2 amps of gonal-f on December 7, and by my cd7 ultrasound, there were quite a few mature follicles. I was overjoyed and so excited to do my Intrauterine Inseminations. On December 9, my ultrasound showed at least 15 good follicles and Dr. Hill called to tell me that I would have to convert to IVF. Chances of multiples would be too risky with IUI or just plain ol' baby making! But, I had to wait for the insurance approval. So, at 12am on December 10th, Jason gave me my hcg injection and we prayed very hard for the approval to come through. I was so certain it would because of my faith in God's answer to my long awaited prayer.
The next morning, Jason and I drove through a snowstorm for over two hours of what should have been a 40 minute drive to the hospital where Dr. Hill's office is, and met with the IVF coordinator and the anesthesiologist. After that, Dr. Hill met with us and pretty much told us that the insurance would probably NOT approve the IVF, so we should go home and practice safe sex. I just wouldn't believe him, and took it upon myself to call the Blue Cross & Blue Shield infertility specialist. She answered the phone and told me I was all set. I started crying, and just knew that God was remaining faithful to his promise!!
The next morning, I went in for my retrieval. Twelve eggs were retrieved and ten of them fertilized. I began 1cc of progesterone and prenatal vitamins on December 16th. I waited to find out if I would have a three day transfer or a five day transfer. On the morning of December 18th, the IVF clinician called and told me that the embryologist suggested a three day transfer due to "pits" in my embryos. Well, when I asked him what "pits" were, he said "bloops". I just thought that was a good answer… heehee!!! So, we transferred back an 11cell embryo and an 8 cell embryo (both without fragmentation). I woke up the next day feeling queasy, but good!! On December 26th (8dp3dt), I had brownish spotting all day long and began to feel a heaviness and pressure in my lower abdomen. By the next day, my abdomen was extremely bloated and very sore! And, that continued…. By the third day, I called Dr. Hill's office. I was told that it was a good sign, and it may be that my body began producing
it's own hcg and caused some ovarian hyperstimulation.
The excruciating wait until January 2nd, when my beta was scheduled, was only eased by the continual prayer of that Bible verse given to me back in November. I truly believed that I would get pregnant this month, and did not once allow myself to think or speak otherwise. When my nurse called with my positive beta results, I was ecstatic, as you could imagine…. But NOT surprised!!! Thank you God, for this wonderful miracle you have created!!!
Love, Kara

Hi!
My husband (age 25) and I (age 26)
had been trying to conceive baby#2 for over a year
when I went to be ob/gyn for my annual checkup.
I explained how we had been trying to no avail.
He referred me to a reproduction specialist.
We saw him in January. He x-rayed me for
blocked tubes and he tested my husband's sperm.
The results were that I was fine but my husband
had a low sperm count and low motility.
He started me on Clomid in February and
did the IUI at the end of February.
We just did one IUI
24 hours after I received an hcg shot to ovulate.
I knew it didn't take because I didn't feel ANY different.
No cramps, no breast tenderness, nothing.
By March 13th, my birthday,
I was officially notified I was pregnant.
I guess my prego radar wasn't working!
I am now almost 10 weeks pregnant,
sicker than a dog, and loving every minute!!
Good luck ladies - keep thinking happy thoughts!!!
Kasi

I have become pregnant on my first invitro cycle. I've had two blood test that were both positive!

Good luck to all.

Cynthia

I can't believe I am finally able to post this success story! We are pregnant after trying for two years.

We began with doing everything standard, temperatures, ovulation predictor kits and herbs from the TTC store. I had heavy AFs for as long as I can remember, so after six months of trying, we went to OB/GYN. I had a sonohistogram done, and everything turned out normal. Did an HSG and all was normal too.

Then I began clomid during the months of October, November and Decemeber of 2000. That only resulted in a grapefruit size cyst that required emergency laproscopic surgery. They removed the cyst and endometriosis (I had stage I endo on the cyst and a few other areas).

We took several months doing the natural thing, and in April we finally did our first IUI. We didn't use any clomid, just did it when I had an LH surge. It didn't work.

I came back to my OB for a follow up visit, and he suggested two things: go to an RE, or go on Lupron for six months! First of all, I only had minor endo. and from what I know now, the lupron would not have been a good step. Second, he basically gave up on me after one IUI. Looking back, I am glad he did, but it was frustrating.

We decided to go to an RE. We absolutely felt so much better, and insurance covered it. We began with the RE by doing two cycles of ultrasound monitored IUIs. All looked good, including DH's sperm, but none worked. We began to notice that the ultrasound technicians could not document my follicles collapsing after ovulation. They would continue to grow and often turn into cysts. This would prove very important later.

So, we went onto injectables in November (2001). I overstimulated and made 9 follicles, and was counseled about risk of multiples. Everything looked great, so we did the IUI. Then, in follow up IUIs, we again saw that all nine did not release. We were devestated. DH decided we should go straight to IVF, and the RE suggested the same thing. It is called LUFS (lutenized unruptured follicle syndrome).

I don't want to scare anyone with this, as it is EXTREMELY uncommon and can only be confirmed with ultrasounds. Most people are cured by it with HCG trigger shot, but that didn't work for us.

So we began our IVF cycle! We started on the birth control pills and then lupron. We ended up doing 3 amps of gonal-f and had 15 eggs retrieved. 11 of them fertilized, and we had eight embryos make it to blastocyst stage. We transferred two of them on 1/28/02. We froze the other six.

We found out we were pregnant of 2/6/02! Our first beta was 260, and the second one on 2/8/02 was 639! So all looks really good, and our first U/S is on 2/25 to see how many made it!

I really feel NO different. I had NO implantation spotting. The only thing that was a sign was my ovaries began to hurt more and more about four days before my PG test. DR said they were a little overstimulated and the HCG was making them inflamed and sore...Other than that, I don't feel too different!

I can't say how much this site is a blessing in my life. Had I not learned from these women and been able to vent, discuss, support and encourage others going through the same thing, and have them support me, I wouldn't have made it!

I know we are not out of the woods yet, but we are very hopeful. As my friend Dede said, it is not really a success story until you hold that baby in your arms! That couldn't be more true.

All I can say is, never give up hope. I had almost given up the day before my PG test and my husband said, there is still hope. And there was!

The chances are so high that for everyone here, they will be PG at one point someday! I wish with all of my heart that everyone here finds success soon.

Luv
Nicole (From IVF board)

IVF:

I finally feel comfortable submitting my success story now that I am 12 weeks pregnant after IVF #3. I am writing so that others may feel inspired to keep trying after the many long disappointments associated with TTC.

We started trying to start our family over three years ago after being married then for 5 years. Like most people, we had spent the first years of our marriage trying to avoid pregnancy while getting established in our careers. Once we started actively trying to get pregnant, we thought it would happen quickly. Everyone in both our families was very fertile and seemed to get pregnant by just thinking about it. I was 28 and my spouse 26. After 1 year of trying unsuccessfully, I consulted my GYN. She told me I was too stressed out and with time and having sex more, it would happen. Of course, we blamed ourself at this point and thought we were too stressed with life and work to have a family and that we needed to relax. We made a point to eat healthy, exercise regularly and I even took yoga classes. We felt good but still no pregnancy. Then a friend who had just gotten pregnant on clomid gave me her left over medications. She told me how she had taken it, and I decided that it could only help even though I was ovulating every month and had very regular periods.

Believe it or not, we got pregnant that very month. We were elated and thrilled. We unfortunatly told lots of people when I was about 5 weeks pregnant and miscarried 1 week later. I saw a diffent OB/GYN at that time who felt that the clomid was not the answer to my problem and suggested at that point that we see a reproductive specialist.

My first appt with the infertility specialist was 2 yrs into our fertility struggles. After testing and exams we were found to have unexplained infertility, and he said we probably would get pregnant on our own with lots of time but again there was no guarantee. He said a normal couple has about 15-20% chance of pregnancy any given month but our number was around 3%- pretty depressing. We decided that we would try artificial insemination for 6 months then move on to IVF. Needless to say, after all the inseminations did not work we started the IVF process. I was very excited to finally be doing something that so dramatically increases our chances- now our odds were 40-50 % that we could get pregnant. My first cycle was a breeze. My husband was great about giving my shots and I tolerated all of them well ( except that stupid PIO). We got 8 eggs and all fertilized. We decided to transfer 3 and freeze the remaining 4 that had continued to grow and develop.
The 2 week wait was the worst as I had every pregnancy symptom in the book and just felt strongly that it had worked. On the day of the blood draw, we found out that yes it had worked but our first beta was low at 69, and in my doctors experience he liked to see the number over 100 at this point. He said again our odds were 50/50 that this pregnancy would work. We went in 1 week later for U/S and saw a very tiny gestational sack that only measured around 4.5 weeks. I started bleeding the very next day. We again were devestated, and I felt like this was never going to work and started to consider adoption or not having children at all. Three months later, with renewed motivation we then tried a frozen cycle and amazingly all 4 embryos survived and we decided to transfer them all. Again the dreaded 2 week wait and for some reason did not feel very optimistic this time. Our pregnancy test was negative. I hit an all time low and did not think I would ever feel normal again.

After what seemed like forever, 4 months later we decided to try IVF fresh cycle again. I vowed to myself I would be positive and make this time work. I stimulated very well this time and they retrieved 26 eggs! Compared to my last fresh cycle, I was miserable this time. I was so bloated and distended and gained about 10 pounds in water weight on my gut. However, I felt that this time was the ticket. All of the eggs fertilized and we transfered 3 pristine embryos on day 3. I had 2 massages a week and stayed very calm. I followed my doctors advice and my own instincts by sleeping alot and totally avoided all caffeine, alcohol and anything else that I thought might harm the embryos inside me. After a long 2 week wait, our test was positive! And the beta was so high, the office thought it was likely twins. We were just cautiously thrilled and hoped for the best at our U/S in 1 week. Sure enough there were 2 sacs and everything looked good. At an U/S 2 weeks later we saw 2 heartbeats - we prepared ourselves for twins.

Unfortunately, I started spotting a few days later and an U/S confirmed that 1 of the HB had stopped and that fetus has stopped growing. The good news was that the one fetus that was still alive had a great heart rate and was growing very well. Naturally, the disappointment was strong about the loss , but I tried to concentrate on the fetus that was growing and doing well instead of getting negative again.

We had another U/S 2 weeks later and saw the one embryo doing well and actually moving and kicking inside of me. It was a thrilling moment. The other sack was now empty. We were very sad to lose one of the babies but felt so happy and lucky that one was doing so well. Now I am 12 weeks pregnant and very optimistic that this is going to result in a baby for us. I just want everyone to know that things can work out. I know that not everyone will get pregnant with assisted reproduction but a good majority will. I am so thankful that we have this technology available to us to give us hope, and with time the techniques will get better and better so that one day maybe no one will have to go through the uncertainty and miserey of not being able to get pregnant.

Whatever happens, the TTC journey changes people in ways that you never imagined.
We know this will make us better parents in the end because of all we have been through to get here.
When my children are mature enough-
I want them to read this story so they can understand how badly they were wanted.
I hope this story helps anyone who reads it and needs to be inspired to keep trying.

Love, Kara

Maura-37 (38 in May)
DH- 38
TTC #1 25 months!

I will make it short. We have been ttc for 25 months
the last four months went to a RE. Doc. said
its just taking me longer because of my age,
but I will have a baby.
First month of treatment I just had a natural IUI,
Second, 100mg Clomid 3-7, hcg shot and IUI,
Third month, 50mg. of clomid
(the 100 last month thinned out my lining to a six) and
last month ( THE JACKPOT) 50 mg. Clomid, hcg shot, and IUI....
That one worked like a charm.....

Things I did different were the following.

Finally!
I'm pregnant! 14 weeks today,
I've been very ill with hyperemisis and
hospitalised twice in the past 6 weeks but baby is fine!

Thanks to IVF we are due on the 14th November which is DHs 35th Birthday!
We are all very excited and cannot wait to
see the little one on ultrasound on 20th June!
*************** dustings to all ******************
Dianne

The passage below was written on 5/19/03.
As of 9/9/03, baby and I are doing fine and now in the home stretch.
Wanted to share my story so others can find the same hope I did
in reading about successes.

Just got back from the ob/gyn today and
saw our little one wiggling around on the ultrasound!
11 weeks 2 days. Everything looks great!
I went off the pill in October of 2000 at age 31 with intentions that we'd
really start trying in the New Year 2001. I started charting my temperature
right away and devoured "Taking Control of Your Fertility."
I had wanted to by a mommy since I was in college!
My first breakdown was about March when we weren't't pregnant yet.
We'd been married 7 years and I quietly built a career
while nesting away savings, waiting for DH to come around.
It was very hard for me to deal with the fact that this is something
you just can't put in the planner and make happen!
I knew I'd have to wait at least a year before the doctors would help us along.

Through charting, I realized I had CM issues - I tried lots of water,
vitamins, herbs, carrots, egg whites, astroglide,
nothing seemed to work for me.
My cycles were also doing weird things,
which could have been due to coming off bcp and
the stress of traveling for work.

In January 2002, I made an appointment with an RE
and would finally get into their office for the first time in May.
Fortunately, DH and I took advantage of great CM (surprise)
in April and I cancelled the RE appointment because I was pregnant!
I was sure we were pregnant with twins because my CM was so great;
it was like there was something "extra" happening that month.

First trimester progressed normally with off/on symptoms of morning sickness,
tiredness, and sore bbs. I heard heartbeat at 8 weeks and was thrilled,
it looked like this was it!
Symptoms quieted down around 9-10 weeks,
which I read could be normal.
I had a small brown spotting on June 10th (our anniversary)
but it was so small and just 1 episode that I didn't worry.
Unfortunately, our 11-week appointment (June 20th) showed no heartbeat.
U/S later informed us that it was twins but both died at around 8 weeks
a day after I heard the heartbeat. I had no idea!
It was a horrible way to find out it was twins (and confirm my suspicions),
I felt so bad for DH.
It was also hard for me since I am an identical twin.
I had D/C the next day.
We decided to give ourselves a couple of months
to recover and then try TTC again.

The fall came and still CM issues, cycles were shorter (thank goodness)
and more regular.
In November, I decided to make the appointment with RE again,
this time getting started in January.
The timing worked out great as I was just starting AF,
we got in all the diagnostic tests that month: U/S, HSG,
sperm analysis, post-coital, progesterone, etc.
RE determine I had high DHEA-S level and would like
to see a stronger ovulation, DH had opportunities for
improvement in motility (no fast swimmers) and morphology.
I was prescribed low dose Dexamethasone to help
improve egg quality and clomid to ensure good egg production.
IUI was our ticket since I was providing no
transportation method for the "troops."
Our first IUI was scheduled for Feb 15th and it went great,
doc was very pleased in improvement of DH's sample.
(DH cut down on hot tub, alcohol).
The troops got a free ride and I asked God to help with the rest.

Sure enough 2 weeks later, the temps looked great and at 13 dpiui
we were confirmed pregnant! Beta climbed as it should in early stages.
I felt great just sore bbs.
Which got slightly larger during weeks 5-6.
Nausea crept in around 6 wks and got worse through week 9 then tapered off.
RE did u/s at 6 weeks and gave great prognosis of 98% to live birth!
I heard heartbeat at 9 weeks (I'm very petite).
We told all the families in the last week (wks 10-11) and
just had a great visit with Ob/Gyn today.
U/S showed our growing baby with 150 bpm heartbeat!
After 2 years, our dream of starting a family is finally coming true!

Thanks to everyone on this website who provided support and
insight even when they didn't know it!

Paula, age 33, baby #1 due 11/7/03.