Assisted Conception (and all the bits in between) volume 7

Thanks lissy Hmm same dose then, just administered differently. I was on 40mg at night. I don't envy you having to do shots of it a day, it stings!! My NK cells are ok, it was my cytotoxicity levels that were high and I was just on 25mg prednisolone for that.

Fingers crossed for third time lucky for you.

beginnings- I do a 20mg shot every morning and every evening, and my stomach looks gorgeous! Also do 75mg aspirin in between. I think because my NK results are on the high side of normal, they'll give me the intralipids to be safe. This'll be my third one...

lissy that's fab news. Good luck with the mini immunes? I'm interested that you're on clexane morning and night. What dosage are you on, if you don't mind me asking?! I'm wondering whether I need to be on a higher dose as when I was taking it I didn't bruise at all and everyone was telling me I would!

Italian fingers crossed for you that you don't have to wait too much linger. I'm sure there's a lovely lady out there for you soon.

Keziahopes how are the tonsils? Hope you're feeling better.

rowing good luck with the test this morning.

Lucy what did you think of Bridesmaids? I thought it was hilarious. DH not so much.....don't think he'll be coming back to the cinema with me for a while.

scummy I'm so sorry I only just realised that I addressed an answer to you as part of a post to someone else. I'm still new at this!! My experiences of the lister have been really good. They have really good rates for people with high FSH and low amh which is why we went there. They've also done their own research into immunology which has been, I think, recognised by the HFEA. You have to stay on top of them and be master of your own treatment, but honestly, I think I'd be like that wherever I was!

I'm hoping I'll be joining you ladies in September or October. I don't know how long the Lister will make me wait between cycles. Although they didn't really make me wait between the fresh and frozen one.

Hello gorgeous ladies...

Just wanted to pop on and say a quick hi to everyone.

Italian- Donor will come soon, I just know it! In the meantime, you have a lovely holiday awaiting you. When are you off? (sorry, I forgot)

rowing- Levels are going down, levels are going down...

keziah- How are you feeling?

lucy- What's happening, chick?

beginnings- Thanks for the encouragement!

AFM, from Sunday to Monday my HCG levels went from 252 to 384, and my progesterone was at 359, so both very good. And today was my OTD! Tomorrow I'm in for more bloods, and possibly another intralipid infusion pending the results of my mini-immunes. Although I will be on tenterhooks for the next twelve weeks, I feel much more confident that things will be ok, because ARGC are so unbelievably thorough. I did get to stop taking that awful Ritodrine, and I feel much better for it, thank goodness! Still on a regimen of Clexane morning and night, prednisolone, aspirin, Cyclogest pessaries morning and night, and a shot of Gestone. My poor bum!

Have a lovely day...

Hi all,

Italian, what are you like! Phoning yourself! I used to do that, so that I could pretend I had friends. 'Hello' 'Oh hi' that kind of thing. Then I told myself to stop phoning me.
It's funny about the immune tests, not doing them until we have spent a small fortune or had multiple heartaches with failed cycles. It's as if the clinics have forgotten that we have all been TTC for years before attempting assisted, clearly, for us there is something not working and perhaps immune treatment would allow some women to conceive without the risks attached to IVF.

Lucy I think the dizziness may be partly related to the methotrexate munching all my folic acid. I'm not allowed to supplement because it could stop it working, so just have to put up until the hcg is down to 0. Wah!
It could be nuts on here in October, you're right!

Off for another blood test tomorrow morning, will post back soon...

Oh and daisy welcome! I'd echo what others have said. If you get a good blastocyst, most places only want to transfer one and that does seem to work better. If you're under 35, I think they'd need some serious persuasion to do more than one.

No time for a big post but just wanted to say lissy that's brilliant!! I have everything crossed for you. What a great result. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Hi daisy - we were told that if you can get to blastocyst stage (day 5) they like to put just one embryo back in and freeze others as chances are higher. I guess a lot depends on how many embryos you get etc.

lissy that's great that your blood test was so good. So the question now is, will it be twins!? Am so truly delighted for you x

rowing I'm hoping I might be a cycle buddy! I guess realistically if it happens, it'll be sept or oct. Looks like it could be busy on here round then!
Can you take anything to reduce the dizziness? I hope you're able to take it easy.

Hi daisy and welcome, I think number of embryos depends on age too. By the time I have my treatment I'll be 40, so I'd hope for 2 (if I'm lucky to get that far) and I think at ARGC (where I hope to go) they sometimes even put 3 in. Yikes.

Welcome carebear, hi scrummy, italian and for those heat wave non believers I hope you're eating your hats (lissy I'm looking mainly at you.) It's scorching here!

I'm just off to see bridesmaids so hoping to have a good giggle

What heatwave! There is no heatwave! I'm in Scotland of course, where we are accustomed to wearing a fleece jacket in June.
I come over all faint if the temperature goes above 20 degrees.

Lissy hope you can stop one of the drugs. It's all very well all this taking stuff, but it's quite difficult to remember it all and make sure you have enough and put up with the side-effects. I could go on and on and on.

I've been having horrible spinny heads recently and staggering around so did a bit of googling and apparently, dizziness is a side-effect of a folic acid deficiency. Oh well. [thud] falls over!

rowing- Down down down!

Welcome Daisy!

CareBear- When I had my first panel of immunes at ARGC, even though the tests went to Chicago, I had the results within a week.

Thanks for all the well wishes, ladies! I did go to the clinic today to have my blood test, because I figured what the hell? Why wait? Clinic called to tell me that I have an official BFP, and that my HCG was at 252, which is very good. Back tomorrow for another HCG test, progesterone, and mini-immunes. Luckily I can stop taking that awful Ritodrine, but still have to continue with all other medications.

I'm snorting with laughter about this "heatwave"...I'm such an obnoxious American!

Hi all,

Daisy welcome! I think the SET thing is being pushed because younger women were having more pregnancies with multiples, which makes the pregancy more difficult to manage and increases the risks to the babies. If you are over 35 though, I have read returning more than one embryo would be lowering the odds of conception too much. It's hard to say, but if you do a bit of research, perhaps you can find enough information to help you make a decision one way or the other.

Scrummy I see, I hope the hospital gets their finger out soon. How long have you been waiting? My surgery takes a good 5 days to get any results returned.

So Scrummy and Keziah it could get a bit crazy on here in early Autumn, can't wait!

Not much from me, but I am feeling a bit tired now. I wonder if the lack of folates is starting to affect me (methotrexate east folates apparently). Bleeding quite a bit, which I hope is a good sign.
Next blood test Tuesday. Down, down, down, down!!! [walks off chanting]

Hello all, I hope you dont mind me joining your thread, I was on another thread 'difficulty trying for number 2' but can't seem to find it, been absent for a while. To cut a long story short we are trying for no.2, first was a natural pregnancy but after a long time trying for no. 2, had all tests and discovered DH has low sperm count ( 3 mil per ml) so we need ICSI. I am booked on this cycle, I have just moved abroad so will be having it here. My consultant is strongly advising 1 embryo transfer rather than 2 - I really want to maximise my chances as I am paying, just want to know your thoughts really and your plans if you are going through IVF. Its so lovely to have a thread like this. Wishing you all lots of luck.

Hi rowing my surgery, where I prefer to have my bloods taken rather than the hospital, asked for a copy of the results to be sent to the surgery when I had my day18 bloods done. They haven't received them, which means I haven't got an early indication of whether there is anything wrong with my progesterone levels. So, we'll have to chase the hospital for them.... I may join you in September/October.

I hope you all have nice things planned for the extra sunny day today!

Well done lissy! what great news. Fingers crossed for Monday.

Thanks rowing. I did enjoy it!

Keziahopes I hope you're well on the way to recovery by now.

carebear we had all of our tests done in one go. The thyroid ones, blood counts and chromosome karyotyping were all done on the NHS. The killer cells tests were done at the lister as, as far as I know, you can't get them on the NHS. I don't know if the Lister are the only place that does the analysis in the UK. Within about six weeks I had all the results. It didn't matter when in the month of had these tests done but they were done in the course of a natural cycle.

Hope everyone else is well.

Lissy - congratulations!!!

Carebear - after too many years ttc naturally and over the age of 35 and one failed ICSI we decided before paying out for another cycle to test for immunes. The dr at the private clinic told us not to until 3 failed cycles, as it wasn't ethical of them to suggest such expensive tests until then. But as I have 2 known autoimmune conditions we insisted (it is our money after all!). I have had them before treatment - am not at ARGC, so they don't do things so thoroughly where I am (just test and treat, no testing in cycles etc). For us we had to see a consultant to approve the level 2 tests, but level 1 we could just phone up and book no problem etc, then results take several weeks plus you need to see a dr that can interpret the results (that is what we are waiting for now), then hopefully treatment with a cycle.

rowing am really hoping we will be having treatment early autumn!!!

Hi all,

Lissy that's fantastic! I had a feeling this would be a success. Most women (who aren't ancient - like me) conceive by their third cycle, so I put a bet on . I'm absolutely thrilled for you. Gigantic hug!!

Keziah big hug for you too, poor old thing. Spending too long in the swimming pool! I hope you are feeling better soon!

Carebear hi, welcome to the thread.

Scrummy I have read about milk thistle, but I'm afraid to take anything in case it stops the methotrexate from working (albeit very slowly). I will drink lots though, like what you said.
I didn't quite follow what happened with your bloods, but get on a waiting list for something, that's what I think.

Italian what are you up to?

Lucy bum and poo about the AF, that's so typical. I can completely relate having had to cancel flights, hotels, life because of stupid af turning up or not turning up as the case may be.

Beginnings enjoy the wine.

Not much to add from me, but on quite an uplifting note, lots and lots of the women who went to Reprofit in CZ have had bfps. I think it's Spring, seems to increase the rates. I wish I were doing another cycle in Spring, but it's going to be late September, early October I reckon. Will anyone else be having treatment then apart from me and Italian?

thanks Lissy and congratulations!! always great to hear of a bfp!

italian and beginnings, after reading back through the posts, i see you're having or had immunology tests, did you have them during an ivf cycle or just during a normal cycle? did they have to take them at a particular point in the month?

thanks

ps i think Helen will win too

lissy WoW!!!!!! Congratulations! Really, really pleased for you . I'm sure they'll be happy to see you on Monday. does it feel real?

rowing I learned that milk thistle is supposed to be good for liver cleansing. Although, there is also a school of thought that says liver itself is designed to remove toxins, so as long as you drink plenty of water, your body does it for you. Really glad to hear you're making good progress.

Lucy that was annoying. I almost had the same this week. Was waiting for AF to turn up so I could book my Day 3 bloods and HSG. Luckily she did, on Q on Wednesday. I missed it last month because of bank holiday.

So, had my bloods yesterday and have booked my HSG for Tuesday next week. DH dropped his second sample yesterday too, so we're going to be all set from next week. They haven't sent copies of my results to the GP grrr, so I will contact the hospital next week and see if I can put myself on 'waiting list' for cancelled appts. I'll also try and get hold f the consultants secretary to see if they would send the results to my GP. Just seems silly to have to wait 2 months, especially as they can't offer any treatment to us.

Italian I've had such a mad week this week and with AF my energy levels have been really low, so I fell asleep on the Apprentice! I think Helen might win, although I find her voice really annoying. Tom is just such a cuddly mad professor. TBH I would not hire any of them, but it does make good entertainment.

keziah I hope your feeling better now

Hi to beginnings. Im interested in hearing about your experience with Lister. Are they the only clinic that do their own immunology testing in UK?

lissy can't be long now but sooooo excited for you! Fingers crossed for Monday x

Morning everyone!

First off, a big welcome to beginnings and CareBear1. This is the most amazing and supportive group of women you will ever come across, so don't be shy to just dive in. We're here for all the ups and downs, and obviously we can sympathize.

Lucy-Don't worry about all the bloods. As long as they're in before you're ready to start your monitoring cycle, you'll be fine. And actually, the closer you have them to your appointment, the better. That way you can just dive right into your monitoring cycle if you decide to go with ARGC.

Keziah- Argh, sorry to hear about your tonsilitis! Drink loads of tea with honey, lots of rest, and I hope you feel better very soon.

lucy- All I can say about AF is that she's a fickle bitch, isn't she?

CareBear- I am currently at ARGC, having had two cycles elsewhere, the first I miscarried and the second didn't work. DH and I decided to go to ARGC because of their fabulous success rate, and we decided that whatever they told us to do, we'd do it. That included having my immunes tested. During your monitoring cycle, ARGC send 16 vials of blood to Chicago for four kinds of tests. Three of them are thyroid tests, the fourth measures the natural killer cells. During stimulation, they'll do a mini-immunes again, and that determines whether or not you'll need intralipid or IVIG therapy, steroids, etc. As it turns out, my NK cells were on the high side of normal, and I've had two intralipid infusions so far. They've also put me on a regimen of clexane, aspirin, and prednisolone. They don't mess around!

rowing- Glad to hear your levels are going down down down. Hope you're feeling ok, sweets.

Italian- Sweden beckons! I am picturing the Muppet Swedish Chef in my head as I type this...

AFM, I succumbed to the siren call of the HPT, even though I'm not supposed to be tested until Tuesday. (rowing, I can see you shaking your head in disapproval). However.....BFP!!!!!!! OMG, so excited. I used one of the digital ones, and it only took like 30 seconds to come up pregnant. I will call the clinic on Monday and go for a blood test then instead of Tuesday. If this was ever an advertisement for the wonder of ARGC....

Have a great day!

Hi all, hope you don't mind a gatecrasher, i'm on the 'anyone else starting ivf' thread and a couple of people mentioned that one of you had had immunology tests on here, was that you lissy? I've just had first round ivf which didn't implant and interested in what these tests might show about implantation problems before paying for more rounds. Any ideas or info much appreciated,

thanks and best wishes all. x x x