Ttc first baby 1 year + thread 3

[orangeloo]

Started new thread as precariously close to 1000 @KatBeCool @starkid @MotherOfShihTzus

Thanks for starting a new thread!

@KatBeCool - I'm doing a fresh cycle, so down-reg injections from 3rd dec, baseline scan 8th January (so long to wait!!), then if ok then stims on 10th if all ok, for egg collection Jan 22nd :) So long of doing the down reg injections!
Good luck with AF playing ball for you and everything else being just right!

Thanks for the new thread!!

Awesome that treatment is happening here :)

Have any of you read the book 'it starts with the egg'? Could help with improving egg quality and maximising everyone's chances ahead of treatment :)

I feel you re.nhs frustrations @orangeloo ; I recently spoke with a nurse at a nhs who encouraged me to raise a concern; may be worth doing if there's anything you still need from them? Or indeed if it could help improve process for future?

I see lots of September babies here :)

@orangeloo nope, no pressure at all. I'm on birth control to make sure it happens on the right day. AF came when expected for the retrieval cycle back in September, so I'm hopeful it'll happen this time as well. What made cut so short is that AF didn't come on time in the previous cycle, one after the retrieval, it happens for many women that the cycle is longer. Mine was 34 days, instead of the regular 28. It doesn't help that we're also moving literally days before the transfer. But better before then after.

@MotherOfShihTzus I've heard a lot about the book and seems like some it helps some, it does nothing for others. So I'm skeptical. The book seems to go overboard in precautions. Like switching to all natural everything, no chemicals whatsoever, some awful diet (goodbye Christmas feast), etc. There are women who fall pregnant while on drugs, fast food diet, and breathing in harsh chemicals every day. So I'd maybe be cautious of some things and add a few proven supplements than completely turn my life around.
I know someone who is about to start taking supplements that are made of cow uterus, cow hormone gland, sheep spleen, etc. I told her she's insane. But her clinic suggested it and she sees nothing wrong with it.

Very good points @KatBeCool !! I've added supplements from the book, and binned some scratched up Tupperware, that's the main things I've taken from it! I think I try and cling on to things I think I can control, to stop feeling so helpless, constantly waiting and nothing ever changing / no positive tests 😔. Yes the plastics section terrified me before bed one night! So I just skipped to supplements x

@starkid that does seem like a long time for down regs (I have no idea how long it is or should be) but at least you will have started which is what it's all about.

@MotherOfShihTzus I have read it. I think it's good as much of it is evidence based but is a lot. I avoid plastics and fragrance where I can. Added a couple of sups I think that's the main things. You have to still live life you can't avoid all chemicals and I just can't eat Mediterranean diet all the time haha but yeah I think it's definitely worth a read.

@KatBeCool ah I see re birth control I was thinking that's a lot to pin on Mother Nature haha. Oh gosh just a bit going on then, your moving too but as you say better before than after.

@MotherOfShihTzus many plastics have changed since the book was written, so not all horrible. I don't use plastics much, or Tupperware, because it absorbs all the food flavors, but my sugar and flour and stuff are kept in plastic containers, and I'm not changing that.

@orangeloo I don't think I could ever handle Mediterranean diet. I want my potatoes fried in butter, and cakes, and pastries, and anything that comes out of the oven. At least I don't eat chocolate bars for breakfast like I did in my early 20s.

@KatBeCool I can definitely relate to that. I love carbs and treats and comfort food. Life is too short to live on veg and lean proteins alone haha.

The dreams have started for me even though I haven't started IVF yet. I've started having dreams about how many embryos we get etc and me having bad eggs 🙈 god what am I gonna be like when the time actually comes.

@orangeloo try not to think about numbers, as hard as it is. It's extremely unpredictable. I went from having 18 follicles to only one embryo, while some people get 11 eggs from 5 follicles. Only positive is that most women do get to have 5-day embryos, even if it's just one.

@KatBeCool that's true and good advice I will try.

I'm glad Meghan Markle has spoken out about her miscarriage regardless of what anyone thinks of her awareness is good. I wish more people in the public eye would speak out about infertility too, I know many do, but I just wish people were more aware.

Spoke to the nurse today and feeling more confident about the injections now after being shown - they arrive tomorrow so will give it all a good look!

She did say they're currently not putting people under general anaesthetic for the egg collection, but instead heavily sedating, due to otherwise not being able to have as many patients per day from covid-19 rules, would have to air the room for an hour afterwards etc. but said you're still out of it, but recover quicker too. Don't know if that's the case at any of your clinics but was something interesting.

@starkid interesting about not doing general anesthesia. My clinic just did a blood test for the virus two days prior. I would be so worried about coming to during sedation. But it's supposed to be easier on you to wake up.

@KatBeCool - yeah, hopefully they give a great big dose of sedatives!
I've still got to do a covid test 2 days before and both of us self-isolate before the egg retrieval too, yeah

@starkid I didn't realise they weren't doing general anaesthetic. I would go for that if I have the choice. I've heard people say they live the sedation though.

The hospital phoned me earlier and said I can't have it done there and need to choose between 3 others. I moved GP specifically to have it done locally to me and the consultant and secretary before ( who spoke much more sense) said that was fine and I would have treatment there. 3 emails later and I'm still gonna have to phone secretary in the morning to clear this up. It's giving me anxiety because it all seems so unorganised and like something has gone awry somewhere. she also asked for my partners name and DOB!? They have this. he had a bloody semen analysis last week so u definitely have this info. I just hate shitty unorganised systems I don't want any mistakes or delays.

Love sedation that should be not live.

And when I say have 'it' done I mean IVF haha. sorry stressful afternoon.

@orangeloo - i'm sorry, that does seem disorganised which doesn't make you feel at ease at all I'm sure! :(
Yeah there's no choice currently, otherwise they wouldn't be able to run at a decent capacity, but I'm sure it'll be fine, I've had worse done to me TBH!

@starkid thank u, no it really doesn't.

It makes sense they are prioritising capacity, that is the right decision In The circumstances. Do they give pain relief too or is the sedation on its own enough?

@orangeloo - I'm not sure actually!

How is everyone doing?

I started down-reg injections yesterday, did a lot better with it today, as yesterday I didn't realise you were meant to twist the needles off the syringe, and spent ages trying to yank them off then bent one in half oops

@starkid ohh you're funny, did you have to use that bent needle? What meds are you injecting?
I'm on supposedly cd3. AF was supposed to be here on Wednesday after three weeks of birth control but apparently my lining was so thin, there wasn't anything to shed. I literally had to check if there's any sign of it good at all uhm... internally. I was starting to get worried. Had blood work yesterday and ultrasound today. Somehow my lining was already 4.5mm. And somehow they forgot to include estradiol to the tests. And I only learned about that today when I got the other results. I was like, come on, this is literally the second most important test. Thankfully the lab still had my blood so they'll test. Things are moving so fast now, I'm scared lol.

@katbecool yikes poor you having to check like that 😬😬 I'm on Suprecur (buserelin) at the mo till my first scans in January. I chucked the bent needle!! 😂 Was a lot easier and quicker doing it today now I know how to get the needles off gently!

@starkid yay for starting meds glad you figured out the needle ditch haha.

@KatBeCool oh gosh there's always something isn't there. Thank for they kept your blood. It is all getting so real for you now. 🤞🏼

So I did have to change hospital in the end I picked a private hospital that take nhs although it's a bit further away than I'd like I'm hoping it will be a bit more efficient. They should receive our paperwork next week and then they will send of our funding request. I really hope it doesn't take too long.

How's the down regs going? @starkid

How's the transfer looking? @KatBeCool

I have had nightmare with the hospital and our IVF stuff they have just been really incompetent and mixed messages and so inefficient still got to have more tests they said before we didn't need. Luckily now I feel, we are actually moving hospital from them due to where we live. Just got to get all these finals tests sorted with them and then on to a private Nuffield hospital that take nhs patients so I'm glad we'll be leaving our local hospital now as they've been dreadful and really stressed me out. Can never get the time they've wasted back but hopefully onwards and upwards.

@orangeloo - ahh I'm sorry you've been having a hard time with your current hospital, like you said can't get the wasted time back! Fingers crossed with the nuffield
The down-reg is going fine, they're easy to do now and only a tiny sting each time. No symptoms yet but it's only been 8 days of it so I'm sure they'll kick in soon! Just waiting for my period to start which was due yesterday; the nurse said the down-reg might delay it, so I'm not going to jump and do a test just yet...

@starkid thank you x
Glad it's going okay so far and you find them easy to do. hopefully you stay mostly symptom free 🤞🏼