IVF/ICSI May/June

[Cauliflower82]

Hi everyone

I’m creating a new thread with the hope of finding people with similar dates to me. I am due to start medication on May 13th with the hope egg collection will be June 19th. I’m 34, female factor fertility.

Anyone else out there with similar dates?

[jemimafuddleduck]

Hi @Cauliflower82 - I was planning on starting a thread on this soon, so thanks!

I'm a little before you, meds start on 25th April with a view to transferring w/c 18th May. I was going to join the April/May thread but they seem quite far ahead!

I'm actually doing a mock cycle now so am on Progynova at the moment and had a scan today to check lining - all ok.

We are using donor eggs and this is our second cycle - first failed in December (NHS). I was absolutely devastated. We're now using IVF Spain in Alicante so fingers crossed!

I have premature ovarian failure.

Is this your first cycle?

[Cauliflower82]

Hi @jemimafuddleduck

I’m really sorry to hear about the cycle in December. Fingers crossed that this one is more successful. How was your first cycle? Did you find it tough at all?

Yeah, this is my first cycle. Long protocol and it seems much longer than I ever anticipated. Just over five weeks of injections and toldto keep in mind that sometimes it’s longer .

I don’t know anyone who has been through ivf so I’m relieved to have found a board such as this one.

[jemimafuddleduck]

I did find it tough, not really from a physical point of view (but then again as an egg donor recipient I don't have the daily injections etc), more from an emotional point of view. I cried every day and my emotions were everywhere. Plus the TWW was horrific! But it can't have been that bad because I'm here doing it again. I think I just hadn't anticipated how emotionally difficult it would be.

5 weeks does seem a long time to be on the injections, I feel for you 😢

Is this an NHS round for you?

[Cauliflower82]

@jemimafuddleduck

I realised as soon as I pressed post that obviously your first go at ivf was difficult. I try to keep in my mind that it’s important to be positive but realistic too - too many people are keen to share success stories, but that’s not always the case.

How are you finding working with a clinic abroad?

This is an NHS cycle, yes. I would love to go with create and do something a bit more mild. I went to puck up all my drugs and needles today and I completely broke down in the car. I don’t even like taking painkillers so I’m not quite sure how I’m going to manage doing this. I worry massively about side effects and the unknown.

[jemimafuddleduck]

Oh hun 😢 you will get through it because the end product will be worth it. But it is tough. A massive part of me struggled (and still does) with the unfairness of it all. It's stupid because I know it's not something I can change! But I can't shake they "why me".
Re the clinic abroad - we've had a few teething problems but overall ok so far. I would have preferred to stay with my clinic in the U.K. but the waiting list for eggs was REALLY long plus our overall chance of it working is higher in Spain.
Do you have a partner supporting you?
Do you mind me asking why you need IVF and how old you are? I'm 33 btw x

[Cauliflower82]

@jemimafuddleduck

I can completely relate - it is so unfair, but I guess you’re right in that there’s nothing that can be done on that score.

We started having investigations last summer and found out I have misshapen fallopian tubes which will make conceiving naturally incredibly difficult. I have my husband of three years who is incredibly supportive. I’m 36 so I guess time isn’t on our side but our dr seems hopeful as amh is good for age and I have 21 follicles. I’m not convinced it makes all that difference though. For me, I feel ivf mostly comes down to sheer luck.

I had a bit of a breakdown last night with my husband and told him that I’m not quite sure I’ve got it in me to do this journey. I think getting all the medication, syringes, etc had knocked me for 200. My head is a bit of a mess.

I’m assuming you have a partner to by ‘our’. I’m happy you do - this journey seems too tough to go through it alone.

[Cauliflower82]

Oops, I’m 34. I’ve just aged myself by two years, lol. Well, I guess I’m 35 in the summer.

[jemimafuddleduck]

That's good that your AMH is good and you're producing lots of follicles. I have low AMH and high FSH so the chances of own egg IVF working for us were tiny.
I agree IVF seems to be a lot of luck. I'm doing everything I can to make sure we have the best chance of this working but in reality I don't think there's much I can do.
I feel for you - my head was in a mess the first cycle too. I don't feel too bad this cycle but I am on different meds. I'm due to have an injection on Wednesday which puts me into a state of menopause so I'm anticipating I may feel worse from then on...!
I tried acupuncture last time and it didn't do much for me. This time I'm going to have a few hypnotherapy sessions in the hope it helps to keep me relaxed.

[jemimafuddleduck]

And yes - I have a DH. We've been married 4.5 years, together for 10.

[Spongebob79]

Hi @cauliflower82 I think I fit in to this group though I don’t know my exact dates yet. Quick bit of history, this’ll be my 6th round (4 fresh and 1 FEt previously) I’ve had bfp’s before but I only ever get to about 7ish weeks. We have now decided to use donor eggs as I think that I’ve given my own eggs a pretty good go but something just isn’t quite right. We were matched with a donor a few weeks ago and I go in for the scratch and tia on 2nd May.

Also hi @Jemimafuddleduck I think we’ve spoken on other threads before.

[jemimafuddleduck]

Hi @Spongebob79
Yes I remember you from previous threads - in the nicest way I'm sorry to see you back here. Exciting news that you've been matched to a donor! Is that in the U.K.? I take it you are self funding now?

[Spongebob79]

Hi @Jemimafuddleduck The matching process was more stressful than I thought it might be. Yes we’re self funding an egg share so they match you as best they can. It’s not a perfect match but I’m now excited to get started. And yes it’s in the uk. We discussed going abroad but I feel very comfortable with my clinic and it’s only 10 mins up the road from me

[jemimafuddleduck]

Yeah I understand. We would have much preferred to stay with our clinic we had our nhs cycle with (they do both sides) but unfortunately their waiting list for egg donors was far too long so we decided to go abroad.

[Cauliflower82]

@jemimafuddleduck
I’m thinking about trying hypnotherapy too - I’m not too sure acupuncture is my kind of thing. Did you ever have any doubts before you started the ivf journey? Unfortunately I feel a bit checked out. Now I have everything and I’ve read through all the ‘side effects’, it all seems too much. I seem to have lost sight of the end goal if I’m honest. Seems ridiculous as we’ve waited so long to get here and now I’m filled with doubts that just won’t leave my head. I’m pretty sure I’d regret not doing this so I’m going to have to get myself out of this rut.

@Spongebob79 welcome to the thread too. It sounds like you’ve had quite the journey. I hope that using donor eggs works this time for. When would you be looking at embryo transfer date?

[jemimafuddleduck]

I didn't have any doubts about doing the IVF itself, but I am plagued with doubts about whether we're doing the right thing in terms of the clinic we have chosen. It's so much money and I'm so worried that it's all going to go wrong and they'll screw us over!!!

Also, I'm scared about the implications of it actually working - how much it'll change our lives, the possible impact on our relationship, etc, etc... Which is ridiculous because I absolutely want a child?! 🤷‍♀️

[RedLorryYellow]

thanks @Cauliflower82 for creating this thread!

Female Factor here too - after failed cycles in the UK have decided on abroad for DE with Reprofit in Czech Republic.

@jemimafuddleduck - we are on a similar timeframe, my ET is mid-May too!

@Spongebob79 -so exciting re: match! Not had mine through yet..

Totally get what has been said re: the jitters...our lives has been totally consumed by ttc for so long now. It structures our every decision, I feel like we are stuck in 2009... haven't allowed myself to actually think about how everything will change if it does work...I want to be positive but have been grounded by a decade of realism! First time with DE though...So, hoping this is the change which fixes the broken record ;)

[Spongebob79]

Hi @cauliflower82 and thank you, not sure of timings yet, will find out when I got in on 3rd May, I’ve been put on the pill as to sync mine and my donors cycles. She’s much younger and has a much higher amh tan me so fingers crossed.

Hi @RedLorryYellow you and me sound like we are in a very similar boat, it’s also been 10 years for me and DH and we’re hoping that using DE’s will be our chance finally.

Also to distract us both from our constant disappointments we’ve decided to get a puppy 🐶, off to view 3 girls this Friday and we’ll chose one.

[jemimafuddleduck]

@RedLorryYellow - that's great we're on a similar timetable! It'll be so nice to have people to share this with. Have they given you any indication of when you might get your match? We got ours within 2 weeks which was great. We did have a consultation with Reprofit but it was a ball ache to get to them, plus we just felt we gelled better with IVF Spain. When do you go over?

@Spongebob79 How exciting re the puppy!! What are you getting? We need pictures please!

So I have had my Decapeptyl injection today which puts me into a menopausal state. I didn't have this the first time but think it's similar to the buserelin nasal spray. I've been feeling ok up until now although I'm expecting things to change as of today - I also start on the progesterone pessaries today... yay 🤦‍♀️

[RedLorryYellow]

@Spongebob79 - call for puppy pictures seconded! Lovely, lovely. I have a cat and am increasingly interested in plants ;)

@jemimafuddleduck - hope the Decapeptyl injection, doesn't cause too much hilter skilter...I was prescribed that but Fertility2U, the online pharmacy I got my medication from did not stock it, so my prescription was changed to postrap, which I took on Monday (presently in menopausal state). The only side effect I felt was massive bloating early next morning, but it subsided pretty quickly and nothing since...so, hope it is the same for you...

Funny how different protocals can be - currently just on BCP's until the weekend and then next week I start on the Estrofem (I am also on prednison for immunes and have asked to take mini aspirin). No progesterone until the day of the EC...and then it will be a shed load of Utrogestan.

We consulted a few clinics in Prague and Reprofit had the best response rate...we chose them because they were cheapest for what they offered (have already plundered so much into ttc, it can feel like a bottomless pit!)...In another life I worked in the region on a 6 month contract, so I guess that played a small part too because I felt comfortable travelling there...We will go over second week of May and try and make a holiday out of it...if my nerves allow!

Cauliflower82 - how are you doing? Your thoughts on feeling 'checked out' resonated...I'm desperate to get on with it, but on some level I have this feeling it won't work for us this time, just a feeling which I am doing my best to shake off, think positive etc...What I do have is a plan in mind for next steps...and it helps to know that there are steps after and I'm not just walking towards a cliff edge...

here's to all of us xox

[jemimafuddleduck]

That's good to know that your side effects weren't too bad. Yeah, it's mad how much the protocols change. I'm in a mock cycle now so started on Utrogestan today (as if I would with EC). And I'm still on progynova (estrogen). Stop all meds Sunday night, then off Monday-Thursday (during which time I HOPEFULLY should have a bleed, then if all is good I start estrogen again Thursday. Then start Utrogestan on the day of EC.

What about everyone else? Are any of you doing other stuff like pineapple juice? I'm drinking pineapple juice and pomegranate juice - not sure it'll make a drop of difference 🤦‍♀️ and seeing my hypnotherapist for our first session next Tuesday.

[Cauliflower82]

Whoa, a lot of activity on the board over the last day or two. It’s nice to see there are more of us to support each others. This journey is incredibly difficult and, although people mean well, unless they’ve been through it themselves it’s hard for them to really understand the implications it really has on your life on a day to day basis.

A little update on me: I’m no longer feeling like I can’t do this, but I have this utter fear that the medications, etc will have long term health implications. I wish I could just stay with the mindset of one day at a time but I’m finding that difficult and the longer I wait to start downregulation makes it even harder. I wish it was three months from now and all over and done with.

Is buserelin a soul destroying liquid ready to consume what’s left of me? I tend to over dramatise too

[Mrbay]

Hi all

Can I join you all please?
I've finally had my NHS funding approved not got my dates yet but I expect we'll be starting next month.
@cauilflower82 - I'm glad it's not just me who is scared about the end goal of having a baby, I don't know how to explain it really as I know I want a baby but I wish it was kind of a surprise and not so clinical.
I have no idea what to expect and I'm worried that even tho I'm 31 my AMH is really low so no idea if I'll be able to produce the eggs required.
On the plus side due to DH's profession we get 3 fill cycles funded so fingers crossed I'll be able to produce some good eggs.
Thanks for starting this thread

[Cauliflower82]

@Mrbay welcome! Once our funding was approved, it all went very quickly from there. In fact the whole thing has been very swift if I’m honest. Have you had your amh tested?
It’s not so much the baby part that scares me - it’s just the process to get there. I’m not good with medications - I hate feeling tampered with. I don’t want to do downregulation and the thought of doing it for over three weeks terrifies me! I’m just a whinge basically but I feel if we can’t whinge on this board, where can we do it?
Onwards and upwards

[Spongebob79]

@cauliflower82 I only did the long protocol on my very first round and from what I remember buserelin started to give me a bit of a headache after a week or so. My clinic advised lots of water and if I needed a paracetamol to just take one. Overall, obviously we are all different but I’ve never really had any bad side effects from down regging or stims. I was on max dose for stims so towards ec I got very tired but that’s about it. Once you get into the swing of doing the injections I didn’t find the process that bad.

Off to visit puppies tomorrow, we’re looking at getting a beagle. They’ll be two weeks old tomorrow so not ready to leave until end May/early June. Will post some pics

[Cauliflower82]

@Spongebob79
Thank you for this insight. I’m just naturally a very nervous and risk averse person. I’m happy to hear your experience. How far do the injections go in? I’ve been looking through my kit and they’re quite big - about half an inch!!