Dear Readers:
I would like to refer you to some of the blogs that I follow that I consider worthwhile. Some of these ladies are still going through IF, some have finally achieved the pregnancy that they have been hoping for, some are going the adoption route & all are infertility advocates. I admire them for being willing to share their infertility journey publicly. They all welcome your comments & laments. Here are some: http://www.thefertilityblogs.com/ (a collection of bloggers), http://www.pouringoutmyinsides.blogspot.com/ , http://www.infertilityoverachievers.com/ , http://www.fromiftowhen.com/(in her 2ww period now), http://www.roadtohappilyeverafter.com/ (PCOS w/6 IUI's now pregnant), http://www.fertilitychick.blogspot.com/ (one of my fav's...on a break from IF treatments) and of course, one of the most popular blogs out there, the very funny, sometimes heart-breakingly so, http://www.999reasonstolaugh.com/ .
Another great resource: A few months ago I participated in Melissa, "The Stirrup Queen's", very rewarding "ICLW " infertility blogroll (http://www.stirrup-queens.com/2010/08/icomleavwe-august-2010/). On her website you will find a links this month to 166 blogs !!! Melissa has been blogging since 2006. To quote her: "Blogging is a conversation and comments should be honoured and encouraged. I like to say that comments are the new hug–a way of saying hello, giving comfort, leaving congratulations." In addition to Stirrup Queens, she also writes the daily Lost and Found (LFCA).
If you have a blog that you want to add to my list...please leave a comment & I will add it! Good luck on all your journeys, and remember:
"All of life is a journey; which paths we take, what we look back on, and what we look forward to is up to us. We determine our destination, what kind of road we will take to get there, and how happy we are when we get there." from A Little Book of Happiness
Edward Ramirez, MD
Infertility Blogger...& Friend
Thank you for shedding light on our little circle of blogs!! It really is a supportive community for those of us who have trouble building our families.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for recommending my blog. I also found a few new reads from your list as well!
ReplyDelete~Aly
www.infertilityoverachievers.com
Awwww... Thanks Dr. R!! Really appreciate it and avidly follow you for a plethora of great information and tips. Can you be my doctor - please? :) Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog because I saw your comment on another person's website. I love that you are out here and blogging! As you have found, there are a lot of women in the infertility blogging community looking for support and it's nice to see a medical expert participating. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMaddy
ICLW #61
Thanks for becoming my latest follower! The support I've gotten through IF blogs has been wonderful. It's nice to have a doctor in the midst of it now too.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have a clue what to do without my blog friends. Thanks for helping to spread the word, Dr. Ramirez!
ReplyDeletewww.kitvond.blogspot.com
Thanks for commenting on my blog, Doc. It's nice to see some professionals taking an interest in us. I've found both blogging and connecting with people on twitter to be very helpful and therapeutic while going through this process. And educational - we teach each other SO much! My last minute IVF would've been so much more stressful if I hadn't been able to harness the power of the Infertile Twitterati and know that my questions would be answered in moments by IVF veterans.
ReplyDeleteDoc, I wanted to stop by and say thank you. Not only for stopping by my blog, but also for providing your thoughts on potential meds for me. I hadn't really heard of Medrol, but you mentioned that I should consider it. I asked my doc about it, and he thought it was a good idea. So I will be taking it on my next IUI cycle. Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, thanks for checking out the blog land. As a patient, I'm very impressed that you're taking the time to understand the IF patients out there more. And I like the info on your blog too - I'll be following...
Thank you so much for your comments on blog. Your comment about IUI's done by NPs is very interesting (I am suppose to be at one of the top places in the country, Cornell in NYC). I will take this up with my RE right away.
ReplyDeleteLike some of the above commenters, i am so impressed that you do this. You clearly are very didicated to your work and your patients. Your patients are very lucky.
Looking forward to following along with your blog. Thanks again!!!
I want to thank everyone above for taking the time to comment & for the compliments! My philosophy has always been to share my knowledge in the simplest, most understandable way possible so as to make it possible for the patient to progress with CONFIDENCE on their treatment path. Some of the women & men who write to me are hopelessly confused and frustrated, and sometimes I can't blame them. My suggestions are just that & if they help create an informed dialogue between the patient & their health care provider, then I feel that my role here as a blogger is worthwhile! Good luck to all of you!
ReplyDeleteThanks to you I now have some great additions to my Google Reader! If you like, check out my blog here.
ReplyDeleteThank you for you all of that information about IUI's, it is something very interesting and I hope to be able to bring this up with my RE (in 6 IUI attempts, I have never had a u/s before and only had one IUI not back to back-this was at two different clinics, each time HCG was used). You are clearly a very dedicated RE, I wish we were all so lucky.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I think we are returning to IVF again as this will give us the best odds.
I look forward to following along with your blog.
hello dear edward'
ReplyDeleteim 30 yrs old going thru my first ivf cycle i got my egg retrieved today (i got 13 smile) and my doctor advised we do the transfer on day 5. but the problem is i want 3 embries transfered but my doctor insist on 2 embryos, plz i need ur advise. thanx
magana dole
Hello Magana,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a good number of eggs retrieved. We will have to see how many fertilize and then you and your doc can decide whether to transfer on day#3 or day#5. Some clinics are automatically going to day#5, but you should only do this if you have a large number of good quality embryos (>5 8 cell grade A or grade I) otherwise, you stand to lose a lot of embryos in the extra culture days. I prefer day#3 transfers because I think the uterus is a better culture media and incubator than the lab, but that is a personal choice.
The recommended number of embryos to transfer in your age group is 1 only at day#5 (1-2 at day#3). This is the recommendation of SART, the group that oversees IVF in the US. It is not a mandate, so you ultimately have the decision. After all, it is your embryos. Keep in mind that if you transfer at day#5, and you transfer 3, because you are young your chances of a triplet are high and that would be a risk that even I would advise against. At day#5, 2 embryos is the max, if they are good looking embryos.
I remember reading your blog on a previous ICLW and have noticed you are a follower of many the blogs I have commented on this month. I have just finished my first IVF cycle, well cancelled is probably a better term as unfortunately I didn't get any eggs even though I had 8 good size follicles. I also wanted to say what a great blog you have! Kim
ReplyDeleteKim, Thank you for the compliment, though I'm sorry to hear that news. Being able to produce 8 great follicles is a good thing, unfortunately, the cycle was cancelled because I assume none fertilized. I don't know what protocol was used but perhaps if you try again the RE will be able to tweak it a bit & make it work for you. I have a Feb. 15, 2010 blog post from a 33 yo woman who was a low responder that you might want to read: http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com/2010/02/33-yr-old-low-responder-trying-for-5th.html
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your journey...I will keep my fingers crossed for you!
Wow. That's for recommending my blog! Laughing at infertility is the best way to cope! xoxo Naomi
ReplyDeletehttp://999reasonstolaugh.com/
Thanks Dr Ramirez for recommending The Fertility Blogs!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your blog! My husband and I are looking to do IVF sometime in the very near future and I have definitely learned quite a bit from this site that I didn't know. Thank you!!
ReplyDelete