IVF questions about embryos

Ah DB. Thanks hon. I am not working so I dont commute or have to worry about office stress, so Im very lucky that way. I get to nap whenever I want. I lay by the pool and went to see Ted to have a laugh. I am hoping and praying it all goes well. Scan at 7 weeks on 13 Sept - am worried about bad news there ! Am still totally symptom free but then again am only 4.5 weeks. I think its from week 6 it gets messy right? Am a little tired and have some reflux / heartburn but very seldom so no clear symptoms. Delighted to hear that things are good with you. Have you put on a lot of weight? Women in our family blow up by 20-30kgs so I wonder how Ill get on.

I just wrote a LOOONG reply here only to get that super annoying alert from EW website saying “only authenticated users may post blah blah” I got signed out mid way through typing I guess. So, yes. It’s great news but I am very anxious and still worried about the high risk of m/c. Holding thumbs. Every day I wake up and check my body to see if anything feels different and check for no bleeding. And I thought the 2ww was bad! So I think the difference for me was that the doc ran early tests and delayed IVF until I was ready. She told me that Tyroid, Insulin and Age are the 3 most nb factors. So all my blood work was done and mostly fine but again my hypothyroidism was back and I had to take meds to stimulate production. Also prolactin levels were unstable. Had to be checked again for both and only when they were stable did we start around 6 weeks later. She also prescribed DHEA which is a ‘master hormone’ which apparently can help egg supply and production. I have read a lot of success stories online about DHEA. But I had to buy it at a the Dubai Mall pharmacy (next to Waitrose) rather than the health shop variety. They take months to work effectively but I still took them for 6 weeks plus the IVF cycle but was told to stop at ET date. Folic acid for weeks and months in advance and still taking. I also used Dr Ou for a few sessions of acupuncture and found her very knowledgeable. My AMH was very low – only 0.35 so doc said my chances were low. Meds were adjusted every 2/3 days after scans. Day 1-5 : Bravelle x 4amp (75 x 4 300iu) plus Merpfin (sp?) x 3 amp Day 6 : Gonal F 7 525 iu Day 7- 10 : Gonal F 7 525 iu plus 1 x Centricide Dady 10 – also at told to take an Ovitrelle injection at 9pm sharp. Apparently this causes ovulation precisely 36 hours later. My ET was booked for 9am 36 hours later. I believe that the Centricide prevented premature ovulation. Started the 2 x daily progesterones from ET and still using them. I did some research and decided to eat foods which have an alkaline effect on the body, to avoid an acidic digestion because disease only forms in acidic environments. I read that can also help to avoid m/c Was your protocol different? Id be very curious to know how its done in other clinics. Very best of luck! You are still years younger than me and I can only predict you will get lots of baby dust and love your way. <em>edited by hilsbils on 27/08/2012</em>

@awayfromhome15 - thanks for that. I feel reassured and have now just been reading about HCG and it seems that sometimes readings can conflict with the real situation. She didnt seem to suggest another test and feels its a only 1. @dallydoo and mummabear - amazing how different your symptoms were! Wow arent we women all so different? I believe it can also happen from one pregnancy to another. Mummabear - yours was also IVF but with Fakih right? Glad to hear another success story @Alismum... yes, he was looking very earnest last night and did all the dishes (maid is awol) and told me to 'rest' Poor man has had a hard time the past 2 weeks as I was a grumpy goat. Aryanwynn, DB, zoco, gud and all the other lovely lovely ladies who are being so supportive - its nice to be able to offload and e-talk somewhere as we haven't breathed a word to anyone. Our friends and family have presumed that we have chosen not to have kids as we never talk about it and dont act broody in public. If only they knew. In fact in my family of 5 adult siblings, none of us has children and I know the others aren't planning families (I think) so our news is going to shock everyone. My mum will be hysterical. Holding thumbs for the next 7 weeks... and beyond!

alowicious_28 - Yes, its our first attempt. I felt very in control of the whole process because she does loads of blood tests and will take time to balance things out, and get you ready. I felt rushed at Fakih as he wanted to start before running any checks. But he has good stats. I like that Munira is a also a specialist obs doctor so I can carry on seeing her for the next stage. She is very calm and her nurses very good. But you may just want to take all your blood test results etc along to Fakih when you have a clear picture of your situation. Very good luck to you both! Im still feeling terribly normal and looking forward to feeling sh!tty asap :)

Would be so lovely if multiples Hilsbils but even if not you are so so blessed. When is your first scan?xx Hello lovely Confusion. Well, its at the 7 week mark and I wonder if I should really be seeing her at 8 weeks? But I don't mind. Reaching 7 weeks will feel like a good milestone. Getting the heartburn and tiredness today... but I may just be slumping after the anxiety and stress of the last week. I was 100% sure it was a neg and we were already discussing life after IVF. Whew and ...yay!

Congrats Hilsbils!!!! Fabulous news, you must be on top of the world! I am sure no one on this forum will be more pleased to welcome morning sickness, aches and pains, heartburn and fatigue! Praying all goes smoothly and yes, the wait til 12 weeks is oh so long but taking it one day at a time helps. Have lots of rest and nothing strenuous at all. When is your first scan? I wonder when they will be able to tell if it's multiples (they might be able to tell on how quickly your bHCG rises as with twinnies it's obviously a lot more hormone, so the levels increase quicker). Yaaaaay! So happy for you :) Thanks DB. I have been wearing the flats and using natural hair stuff too...all to be on the safe side. I have had heartburn and reflux - so thats normal then? My HCG was 60 at just short of 4 weeks and I read online the normal range is 35-50 at this stage so it is possible. I would love multiples as we would have an instant family, but doc thinks its unlikely. Woke up amped to get healthy now... eating papaya and limes for breakie. Ha.Im still in denial though as I feel so normal. Dh also looks bewildered but at least Im being nice again Fingers crossed for good health

Thanks so much ladies. I have to tell [i'>someone[/i'> right? I was so unhappy and certain of a negative result this morning, and didnt want to hear the news from doc, so did a clearblue test in the mall toilets an hour before my appointment. I was really shocked then as the urine tests are less accurate and I would be 1 day early. Blood test confirmed it. Whew .... Im 41 and Dh is 43 so no time to waste Now to hold our thumbs and breathe until week 12 and beyond. Yay!! <em>edited by hilsbils on 22/08/2012</em>

its a big fat .... POSITIVE !!! we are in total shock.