TTC TPR Check-in 1-19

[mugee]

Hi Lovelies.

This check-in is for those of us using TPR to TTC including donor sperm, donor eggs, donor embryos, gestational carrier, surrogacy, or any combination of those. Lurkers are welcome to come in and ask questions or become part of the check-in!

Point of clarification: I am using 'surrogacy' to mean traditional surrogacy (using the surrogate's eggs) and gestational carrier where the carrier's eggs are NOT used. They are sometimes referred to as 'traditional surrogacy' and 'gestational surrogacy' respectively.

CurlySu717 will be taking over this check-in. She can decide if it is weekly/bi-weekly and the day of week.

1. Where are you in the process?
2. How are you feeling?

QOTW: If you could change one thing about yourself, or your significant other, what would it be?

If your status changes and/or you want to be removed, please let me know.

Donor Eggs
meepmeeps - Prepping for transfer on 1/26.
mugee - Prepping for transfer on 1/25.
kaliRN - DE IVF cycle in the Czech Republic. 2/9 transfer and has donor.
longhornwino0907 - DE IVF cycle in the Czech Republic. 2/9 transfer and has donor.
eroticantibiotic - ERA biopsy on 1/25. Starting mock injections.

Donor Sperm
CurlySu717 - IUI scheduled around 2/2

Gestational Carrier
kmitch1 - Going to be GC for DB and SIL


~~~Book List~~~

If you find other books you'd like to add, please let me know.
Egg Donation: The Pea that Was Me, Kimberly Kluger-Bell
Surrogacy: Sophia's Broken Crayons, Crystal Falk
Surrogacy: The Very Kind Koala, Kimberly Kluger-Bell
Egg Donation: The Very Special Ducklings, Wava Cirisan
All forms: What Makes a Baby, Cory Silverberg

[longhornwino0907]

Thanks mugee and CurlySu717! I'm so glad we've got this board up and running!

We transfer in THREE WEEKS?!?! How did this happen?

Started Estrace today. No side effects yet but we'll see how things go after a few days.

[CurlySu717]

1. Where are you in the process? Waiting for Aunt Flow to start Cycle #1 -- hurry TF uuuupppp!! Was supposed to start today!!
2. How are you feeling? Cautiously optimistic, and forcibly compartmentalizing everything else. (That's heathy, right? )

QOTW: If you could change one thing about yourself, or your significant other, what would it be? I wish I were better at letting it go, and I wish DH were better at expressing his feelings.

[mugee]

longhornwino0907 - 3 weeks is just around the corner!!! So excited for you.

CurlySu717 - come on, AF! Show your ugly mug! I'm totally with you on the feelings part.

AFM: Last week's b/w and u/s looked good, except for my TSH has gone up again. Increased Synthroid and continuing on Estrace 2x/day. If all goes to plan, we're looking at a transfer on 1/25. I go in tomorrow for another check so everything is frickin' crossed! I continue to be cautiously optimistic; work has me so crazy I can't even think about TTC for the most part.

QOTW: I wish my DH was more ambitious (but I knew he wasn't going into the relationship). If we are to be blessed with a LO, he'll be a SAHD. I wish I wasn't so critical of myself and others.

[longhornwino0907]

Totally missed the QOTW! I would get rid of my almost-debilitating-at-times anxiety. As for H, I would like for him to be more expressive with the hard feelings. He has no problem being lovey, but having the difficult conversations about touchy subjects? No dice.

[CurlySu717]

mugee, that's so soon!! Fingers crossed for you and sending lots of hugs!!

[mugee]

CurlySu717 - looks like DH will do his deposit on 1/25; I will hopefully transfer 3 days later! Still super soon!

[king26]

We are looking into donor eggs. I'm getting mad because the place my clinic recommended for frozen eggs won't call me back. I've called 4 times, gotten a call back once but I was at work. I called back a direct number they gave me and no call back. I'm not feeling them and I haven't even talked to them yet.

I'm currently trying to log in to a webinar on donor eggs from a big clinic but the page won't load. GRRR.
longhornwino0907, WOW! You are so close!
So exciting to start CurlySu717,
FX you are good to go for next week mugee,

[meepmeeps]

mugee , thanks for getting us started this week! Can you believe we're almost there?! Eeeekkkk

1. Where are you in the process? DH made his deposit this AM. We'll get a fertilization report tomorrow. We are starting with a lot of six eggs, which is standard for my clinics high quality embryo guarantee with a proven donor.
2. How are you feeling? I can't believe it's here. It's crazy. And, we've been trying for so long now, so it's like, "oh damn, what if this really works?" which is funny that I think that sometimes. I can't wait to find out the news tomorrow but terrified to answer the phone. Last try, with my OE, I had six mature eggs, and only two fertilized normally, so even though it's totally different eggs, my fear is to hear only 2 fertilized. Just emotional trauma, I guess, because I stimmed for 19 days that cycle before ER and cried when they called because I was exhausted and had given all I had to give, I felt like. But, here's to happier times, I think! Thanks to a tall, 26 yr old girl with sweet answers on her bio.

QOTW: If you could change one thing about yourself, or your significant other, what would it be? We both need pushing to be adventurous, but he's worse. We're such planners, so we need to lighten up a little. But, we do make a good team

[therealbug]

mugee and CurlySu717, thanks for getting the check-in up and running over here. I took a step back from 3T and this check-in after my September transfer.

Our TPR road is with donor embryos. We are on the traditional wait list for our clinic and are waiting to be #1 on the list. For those that don't know me, I'm 43, have shitty eggs (diagnosed in my early 30s), and am not an IVF with my own eggs.

***loss mentioned***

We did our first DEmb transfer 9/18 with two embabies, got our BFP, had great doubling numbers, and then a spontaneous loss the day before our first scheduled u/s.

***end mention***

Based on my history, our RE thinks that we may have a circulation issue so wants to attack that. I was already taking baby aspirin but we will be looking at adding Neupogen into the mix if we do another transfer. To add to the fun, I've noticed that I've been getting numb fingers (thumb and little) and my little finger will turn white and then purple. I let my IVF nurse know (because, hey, circulation) and she is suspecting undiagnosed Raynaud's. I'm waiting to see if the RE wants me to see someone on this and trying to decide if I should just send myself to a Rheumatologist if she doesn't.

I need to have another hydrosonogram before we get okay'd to do another transfer. Today is CD1 but I really need to schedule all things infertility after Feb 1 (new insurance) so we may have to wait until my next cycle to start more testing since Feb 1 is CD12.

[meepmeeps]

therealbug , do you have more embryos from your previous DE cycle? Good luck to you! I have mild Raynaud's but it's been present as long as I can remember, and I don't have any other features of an autoimmune disease. I'm actually a PA in rheumatology and haven't even had any other work up on myself, lol. But, seems there's a lot autoimmune in the IF world that we don't encounter in a traditional rheumatology practice, so I'd go with what ever they recommend. Good luck

[meepmeeps]

So, we had 6 eggs from our donor assigned. Three didn't look optimal on thaw, so they thawed 3 more, and after ICSI on six eggs, we have five day 1 embryos today! We're scheduled for transfer on 1/26, so no more updates till we get there. I never had five embryos all total with my OE!

[therealbug]

meepmeeps, how exciting about your embryos! FX for those five!

Jan 22, 2016 10:53:40 GMT -5 meepmeeps said:

therealbug , do you have more embryos from your previous DE cycle? Good luck to you! I have mild Raynaud's but it's been present as long as I can remember, and I don't have any other features of an autoimmune disease. I'm actually a PA in rheumatology and haven't even had any other work up on myself, lol. But, seems there's a lot autoimmune in the IF world that we don't encounter in a traditional rheumatology practice, so I'd go with what ever they recommend. Good luck

No, we had two embryos donated to us with the last cycle. 

Our clinic only uses embryos from their practice and for our first transfer we requested embryos from their fast track list. Those are embryos that either were frozen a long time ago or have some other areas on that would make them "less desirable." We could have went back to that list if we had wanted to but we had decided pre-transfer that if it did not work then we would keep our spot on the traditional list which has a 9 month wait list. Were approaching the end of that wait. 

From what I can see online, her treatment plan falls in line with what would be recommended if I do have Raynauds. I thought it was interesting that she had targeted a possible circulation issue prior to knowing about the thing with my fingers. It makes me feel a little more confident going forward. 

[eroticantibiotic]

1. My biopsy is on Monday morning, buuuut.. We are so snowed in. Jonas is worse than expected and my area has been the hardest hit with over 3 feet on the ground and more coming. Plows keep getting stuck in the snow so no main streets are clean, never mind the residential roads. My biopsy is in DC itself, we're 30 miles away...fml.
2. I am very stressed out. Hopefully either the roads get cleared by Monday morning or I'm able to move the biopsy forward a day. Otherwise this has been a wasted 6 weeks of prep.

QOTD: I would like to handle frustration better, and I'd make my husband more adaptable to change.

[meepmeeps]

eroticantibiotic , that sucks so bad! This would be some kind of luck I would have. Hopefully the roads will be passable and you have a day wiggle room. Maybe your clinic will call you with the plan for Monday

[CurlySu717]

eroticantibiotic, fingers crossed for you!! Can you take the metro?? My BIL lives in DC and I'm from Richmond; I can't remember how much of the DC metro is above ground vs underground??

[mugee]

meepmeeps - 5 is awesome!! Every body part crossed for you on Monday. Please keep us posted!
king26 - so frustrating. Did anyone get back to you???
therealbug - I'm so sorry...I'm also 43 with shitty eggs. I hope you have decent insurance and they can get the testing underway ASAP. Keep us updated on your journey so we can support you.
eroticantibiotic - hey lady. Been thinking about you. Sending vibes for drivable roads to get you there on Monday!

[king26]

Jan 24, 2016 11:00:09 GMT -5 mugee said:

meepmeeps - 5 is awesome!! Every body part crossed for you on Monday. Please keep us posted!
king26 - so frustrating. Did anyone get back to you???
therealbug - I'm so sorry...I'm also 43 with shitty eggs. I hope you have decent insurance and they can get the testing underway ASAP. Keep us updated on your journey so we can support you.
eroticantibiotic - hey lady. Been thinking about you. Sending vibes for drivable roads to get you there on Monday!

No!   Can you believe that?   I'm trying to spend $10K and they won't call me back.  I can't believe it.

[kaliRN]

Ugh. This estrogen is crazy. It's making me loose my mind. In other words- 8 days until we leave!! 15 days until transfer. Shit is getting so real y'all!!!!