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

rowing I think lemon in hot water in the morning helps liver function.

Right, better get back to my knitting...

rowing - liking your style!! (Swim lane choice that is). So glad your hcg is still dropping.

Hi all,

Lissy that sounds awful. What kind of muscle relaxant makes you jittery, you should be lying around like you have spent a week in Jamaica. Hope they decide your muscles are 'relaxed' enough now. Take some probiotics if you can, munch lots, I had nausea with the medication I had to take, apparently it mucks up your digestive system, does something to the way you digest. I found the probiotics and gaviscon seemed to counteract the burst digestion after a day.

Lucy time to start knitting a very complicated arran jersey, even if you can't knit it will be interesting to see what you make.

Keziah deciding which lane to swim is always hard, there is never a perfect lane. I think you should go for it and get in the lane with the very splashy, 'creates a wake like a cruise liner' bloke. It will act as an incentive!

I didn't take a sickie in the end, wasn't really ill enough, which is good really. I had another hcg today and I have had another drop over 20% in the past two days.
The nurse said the levels can drop quite slowly when they get lower, apparently it is the liver which crunches the hcg, so I need to help mine to work more efficiently. Better stop the Jack Daniels in the morning (I sound like Ke$hia?).
Has anyone got any top tips for improving liver function. Do you think having liver casserole would help?

Another quick update. Apparently it's not the steroid that's making me feel sick, it's something called Ritadrine, which is some sort of muscle relaxant. It makes me feel nauseous and super jittery, which is an AWFUL combination. Called the clinic to tell them that I'm having a hard time with it. Hopefully they'll let me stop taking it! Also have to start doing the pessaries twice a day again, in addition to the Gestone shot. Back on Thursday for another blood test to check my progesterone levels...

Lucy- steroids are part of the immune treatment ARGC recommends.

What are the steroids for Lissy? What fab news about your frozen embies too. Fingers crossed the good news keeps rolling in.

Rowing so glad the HCG is going down, down, down. I'm not surprised you were emotional going back to your maternity ward, especially given how much you've been through over the last few months. How nice you got support from a kind nurse. I hope you're being very kind to yourself in RL and that the cramps are getting better.

Keziah at your swimming descriptions. Sounds like you're definitely on the mend.

Italian do they have any idea when there might be a donor available? I hope the waiting isn't driving you too mad.

Scrummy hello! And waves to everyone else.

I'm 9 dpo and started spotting today. AF due to start at the end of the week. I've got PMT and feel a bit flat, trying to keep myself busy and distracted but still have inescapable feeling of spending my life waiting . ARGC appt is a month today.

Argh, steroid making me soooo nauseous! I'm swimming in vats of peppermint tea...

rowing having a day off sounds a good idea - it is not a holiday, you are undergoing medical treatment!! Am at the breast-stroke race. It is hard enough going in the slow lane, believe me, and the first time I did it I could only move one leg and one arm... I have turned into a breast stroke lady (but purple silicon hat, not flowery ) I thought - but thankfully I managed 30 lengths last time with 2 arms and 1 leg (instead of a very sedate 12!!!).... problem is now I am faster than the breast-stroke ladies but can't really go in medium lane. This is my dilemma for tomorrow... how slow am I with one limb not really working!!

sorry - lots of waffle. Made strawberry jam tonight - had to wait up till I could put it into jars.

Hi all,

Lissy woop woop for the FOUR embryoteers (sorry). So that's the siblings sorted then! As far as I know the core of the pineapple contains bromelain (like what scrummy says ) which is supposed to help with implantation if you take it for the five days after transfer.
I'm not sure of what it does, it is supposed to reduce inflammation in the bowel and could thin the blood or improve circulation, seems a bit like aspirin, but without the stomach-related side-effects. Oh, and it does break down protein because it is used to break down protein in experiments. Who knows! It tastes alright as well.
So there you go, that wasn't very helpful was it!

Keziah I can see the traffic jam building up behind you with your float and one leg paddle. You could always build up to having a race with one of those breast-stroke ladies with the flowery swimming hats.

Scrummy thank you! As far as I know I have to attend the clinic until the hcg is down below 5 or to 0. Can't wait! I'm not allowed to do anything more strenuous than 'gentle walking' until then.

Italian it's not that long sweetie! When I get down to 0 hcg you can join me in my good health and fitness campaign!

I'm seriously thinking of taking tomorrow as a sick day, just aaargh! They are so short-staffed at work that I feel guilty having a holiday. I'll see how I feel tomorrow.

lissy - the good news just keep rolling in! That is just fantastic Pineapple's core contains bromelain, which ALLEGEDLY can aid in implantation. You can eat it in pieces or turn it into juice. But it is the CORE only. How it would react with the drugs you are taking, is something worth finding out though.....

rowing Ive looked into ectopic pregnancy now and realised that for medical treatment they will want to follow your progress for a while. Have they given any indication as to how long this may be? The cramping sounds quite nasty. Wishing you loads of strength and happy times in other areas of your life to compensate.....

3 frozen blasts is amazing Lissy - so pleased for you. Enjoy the distraction of work. I took 2 ww off but think would work it next time, unless I had to be in London for treatment etc etc. Enjoy your treat.

rowing - the leg is doing really well, the physio said it is recovering much quicker than expected. Am swimming once a week on it too, used to swim and compete etc so know what am doing in a pool to get more flexibility - although swimming with a float in the slow lane is an interesting event, with only one leg fully working.

keziah- I'm back to work tomorrow. I'm glad, because it gives me something to do, and I miss the kids. (I'm a nanny)

scrummy- I felt the same way about getting my AF before I started treatment. It feels like something is finally being accomplished.

Same for you lucy, I hope AF arrives when she's supposed to!

rowing- Your comment about the pineapple really made me laugh out loud. But why pineapple? Is it supposed to be THE fertile fruit or something? I'm so sorry about the pain you're in, both physically and mentally. I think it's amazing how well you've had a handle on things, and if I were there I'd give you a great big hug too.

Hi Italian and Womanly!

AFM, I have excellent news! My three embryos made it to good quality blasts, and they're being frostbitten as we speak! WOO-HOO! That brings it to a grand total of four frosties. I was at the clinic most of the day for another intralipid infusion, and I have to go for another blood test on Tuesday. The lounge is most definitely taking shape, and my brother-in-law came over to hang up a very heavy mirror and our television, so that was helpful. Although I didn't really take it easy today, I didn't really do anything strenuous. I will rest more, I promise!

Tomorrow I'm going for a mani/pedi, come hell or highwater! (Or, you're darn tootin', in American parlance)

G'night all!

rowing - glad you found that nurse and that the numbers are going down. Reassurance apt's sounds good idea to me!

Hi all,
Lissy fantastic, fantastic, well done you for cooking those eggs and DH for his contribution! I'm crossing my fingers for those other, slightly slower embies to make it for tomorrow.
Don't forget the pineapple (you eat it apparently, not anything painful)

Lucy I hope everything runs smoothly and AF arrives on time, then...

Womanly are you feeling a bit pms'y?

Keziah how is your leg? I hope it isn't too painful to do the exercises. [wince]
There does seem to be a slightly raised risk of ectopic with IVF, the research is all over the place though. The doctor doing the transfer measured and said 'your uterus is 5.5 cm and I will place the embryos at 5cm - which is a lot more info than I have ever been given before. I will ask if it is better to place them lower next time, but I don't think there is any evidence that ectopics can be avoided by anything the doctor does - just bad luck really!

I've been feeling pretty rubbish, with lots of pains and cramping for the past couple of day - you know that thing where you are waiting for four hours to pass so you can take another paracetamol! So went into the hospital early and walked into the maternity ward where I had my DS and promptly burst into tears.
The nurse was so lovely and gave me a hug, I think she thought something awful had happened to DS. It just brought it all back and reminded me of the absolute slog that assisted conception has been (not that I regret it).
The good news is that the scan showed no sign of anything rupturing, no fluid/blood in my abdomen and my hcg has dropped to 400, from over 1000 last Sunday. So it's going the right way. Got to go back on Tuesday for a review because of the cramping, think it's to reassure me more than anything. Such a lump!

lissy - 2 good quality blasts, with all those drugs sounds excellent news. Are you able to have 2 weeks off for your 2ww? All the best for it xx

lissy that is excellent news! You deserve that rest and here's hoping the remaining Embies keep developing into blast. FX. Really, really happy for you

Lucy noticeably so. AF def is on her way and I would normally feel really down by now, but as I have tests to arrange etc, I feel like I'm back in control a bit. And of course, every time it's good news, it feels like it's taking us closer to that BFP.

Woo hoo lissy! That's great! And a slightly reduced 2ww too, less chance to descend into insanity (then again 10 days is probably plenty of time!) Truly have everything crossed!

Hi girls! Sorry not to name check, but it's a "me" post...

Today I had two blastocysts transferred, one high quality, the other above average quality. I am officially on my 2 WW, although my OTD is June 28th. Docs put me on a cocktail of aspirin, clexane, gestone, and steroids...oy! And there's the possibility of another round of intralipids tomorrow.

As for the rest of the embies, two more were blasts, but not sufficient quality, and the last three haven't reached blast yet, so they have until tomorrow. Here's hoping!

Will do more personals next time, but right now I'm going back to bed!

Hugs, chocolate boobs, and baby dust to all!

rowing that is good news that your hormones are going the right way, and fingers crossed this won't happen again. I really hope you get back to normal soon and can get your next cycle started soon.

AF due to start next we and i am not expecting any surprises!

lissy exciting day for you! I hope it all goes really well. Do you normally produce this many eggs during IVF or was it more at argc?

scrummy I'm glad the scan went well and hope the progesterone gets sorted out soon. Are you feeling better now that you've set things in motion?

Hi to everyone else too

hoping it keeps going down for you rowing - I always thought they operated for ectopics, so it is great there are other options now, if they work. I was told higher chance of ectopic with ivf, as they put the embryo near the top of uterus but that is my entire knowledge on ectopics. However, my knowledge of immune issues in pregnancy is now more than my gp's - which is not much more - but I hope to learn more when see the gynae next month.

Hi all,

Scrummy....thank you! The consultant phoned me today and kind of said the risk of another ectopic are higher after having one, but equally they are higher after having surgery, especially if the surgery is to remove the fallopian tube completely. He said there is an 'easy' op where they remove half the tube and leave a 'stump' which can then attract another ectopic. The 'tricky' op is to remove the whole thing and involved arteries and things [erk!] and causes scarring, plus recovery takes ages. So rock and a hard place really.
Just cross my fingers, that'll work! [delusional face]

Italian, I love your list! Are you getting ready for your treatment? Not long to go - nag nag!

Lissy what are you up to tonight? Good luck tomorrow, don't forget to buy a pineapple!

Keziah that's funny about your GP not having a clue. I am with the GP incidentally!
There seems to be quite a bit about it on the internet, but it's a bit mind-boggling.

Lucy when are you testing this month?

Womanly when is the next treatment?

Feeling a little bit more energetic today, but the pain down my leg is soo annoying. Wish this would all be over soon. Hope the next blood test is well down, that would be great.

...... rowing

Sorry, forgot to say, glad to hear your results were good and it's gone to plan, try not to worry about the next round too much. The chance of anything going wrong again must be minimal.