Fertility Appointments and Beyond.... the journey continues

@beckyCarlos yeah, they want me to call them on my cycle after this one. Hopefully it’ll come on time, but the annoying thing is that I’ll be in Scotland from end of March to early April which is when that FET cycle is due to start so I’m hoping they don’t need me to come in for a scan right away and can wait a few days. I think they like to put you on oestrogen for it but my lining has been good at every scan I’ve had so I want to discuss with them the options and if I have to take it or they can judge it nearer the time.

Eight days will fly by!!! Funny, I’ve had some odd dreams (including one about my face growing and growing after the first of one of my injections) and I really didn’t realise how anxious I was until the transfer was upon me.

@thislittlebird whats the process for FET? Do you have to have a normal cycle first?

yeah 8 days! I've started having weird IVF dreams, thanks subconscious! I'm not actively stressing about it but apparently deep down I am, I've only stress dreamt about one other thing in life (my degree, after submitting my last piece of work) and I cant say I've missed it 🤣

@beckyCarlos thanks!!!! I’m chuffed too. I’m assuming we’ll transfer the four in three goes, since that’s last one is likely iffy. I’m fine with that. Nearly a week until you start down regging???

@Gracie2021 how are you getting on?

@magnoliasinbloom fingers crossed!
@jeaniej we might be stimming at rougly the same time! I'm downregging from next Monday (not this one coming)
@thislittlebird super chuffed for you, partner, and 4 embryos on ice 🥰 such good news and inspiration 🥰

We got our final update, 4 frosties it is. Very pleased with 4, it’s more chances than we’ve probably had so far.

@magnoliasinbloom glad to hear your IUI is going ahead! I am feeling better yeah, I’m sure anxiety was making it all worse. I’m on prednisolone too and I think that’s helping my lungs out.

@JeanieJ thank you! That’s very fast!

@thislittlebird great news on your embryos! 🙂
@Gracie2021 sorry you're having a rough time 😞

Little update from me ... got the call from the clinic yesterday to say my funding went through & had my long IVF chat today! (So fast)

I'm gonna be on the short protocol and start the period after next (6 weeks) all my pre IVF scans & blood tests happen in 2 weeks. So, I've got 2 more 'natural' goes before we dive in! Not sure how I feel about it - it's all happening so fast!

@Gracie2021 thanks lovely. I had my scan this morning and it was good news :) I'm triggering tonight and doing the IUI tomorrow! So we can still be IUI cycle twins. I'm sorry to hear you're feeling unwell from the progesterone again, I hope they ease up soon! I'll be joining you on that in a couple of days.

@thislittlebird that's amazing! It must feel so exciting and relieving. Hope you're feeling more relaxed now. Is your breathing better?

@Kay00 thanks!!!! It’s such a relief to get over this hurdle. Every step of the process feels like another mountain to climb, you know? And when you’re getting on a bit it feels like an even steeper mountain 🙃

Excellent @thislittlebird! 4 frozen is super excellent! I would be thrilled with these results xx

@Gracie2021 @beckyCarlos I’ve quite enjoyed talking to the embryologist because it’s been good news each time. I’m sure other people have had a worse experience of these calls and do not enjoy them!

I get zero symptoms of progesterone, it’s weird. As you say, it’s all for the bigger picture.

@thislittlebird 4!!!!! 🥰 so happy for you!!

@gracie2021 sorry youre having a rough time x x z

@Gracie2021 yessss we just got a call. She said they’ve now frozen 4 🙌 and announced two more are still hanging in there and they will give them another day but they’re unlikely to make it. I’m over the moon with 4, especially since half might be crap because I’m 39 in May.

Oh no I’m so sorry you have crap side effects. Have you had others? Let us know what the bloods say. I’m still here not breathing fantastically, it’s not fun.

@Juno231 I've managed to not pass out with careful management for vaccines and the 3 bloods tests I've had for fertility reasons... so I might be okay, but it is still a bit petrifying. Hoping I get an early call then.

Thank you @Gracie2021 - that gives me some reassurance. I think we most likely have a male factor issue but we are both taking lots of supplements to try to get everything as good as possible. Any idea how long after that first appointment that any action happens?!

@paintfairy congratulations on your little girl. Hope all goes well. You are all filling me with confidence and I hope of we have to go that route, that I will too deem it a non-event! We too would need IVF with ICSI at this point - v low morphology... hope scan in a few weeks goes perfectly for you.

X

@magnoliasinbloom it does feel like you’ve been having scans for ages now!

@thislittlebird Friday (CD20). It would just be good to know one way or the other. Sick of the dragging and the spaced out scans!

@Kay00 yeah, I am concerned it's a touch of OHSS and I do not want to risk it. Anxiety could be contributing too, but doing the transfer today would have not improved my anxiety whatsoever so I think this is the best decision all round. Can't believe how soon you're potentially starting, exciting!

@paintfairy another girl! How wonderful ❤ congratulations 🎊

@thislittlebird I didn't want to say OHSS but that was my worry last night. I'm really glad to hear your having a freeze all with FET in April. It's not that long to wait at all and you'll be happier and healthier once your breathing issues have been resolved.

@magnoliasinbloom thanks 😊 I need to book the first step... a BMI check at the fertility clinic for OH and I.

@paintfairy good news on your scan, I’ve heard that icsi stuff and I try not to think about it, it’s crap we’re all forced down this route. Fingers crossed for your next scan x

@Gracie2021 @beckyCarlos thanks! It’s a relief tbh, just to know they’re on ice. I can take a month off from all this at least and once I feel better I’ll start running. I couldn’t do it right now, still have the jiggly tender ovaries :/ but maybe soon.

@magnoliasinbloom thanks! When do you get the final verdict on this iui?

@thislittlebird that's great, so pleased they listened to you and you got the result you wanted :) And you've got two months to prioritise your health.

@Gracie2021 it feels very frustrating, I have this instinct that none of the follicles will actually grow big enough to ovulate and I might go from potential over-response to under-response haha. I'm not sure I would personally want to take the risk to do the IUI if there are 3 dominant follicles - my husband's SA results are much higher than average and the only reason we are doing IUI in addition to the letrazole is because consultant suggested "throwing the kitchen sink" at the ovulation induction procedure. If this month is cancelled it will be interesting to see if they suggest sticking with meds/IUI or going to IVF!

@Kay00 that makes sense. Amazing that you can have funded IVF without a wait! And planning kitchen renovations sounds like a fantastic distraction from this all.

That is great news @thislittlebird! At least you'll be waiting with some embryos in the freezer :) one step closer x x x

@FlyOnTheWall89 I found the injections ok, but my husband administered them.

@Gracie2021 @pinkginpls @paintfairy @Juno231 @beckyCarlos thanks for the good wishes!

So the doctor was really good, she listened to my concerns and decided it was best we do the transfer when I’m feeling better. She scanned me, said my ovaries were still enlarged and she said that I could have some blood causing the breathing issues but that it will resolve. Couldn’t see free fluid which is good. Agreed it was best to do a freeze all so we’re doing that! I’m relieved already. I was so scared of being unwell, I’ve had such a shit couple of years health wise. Obviously it means no transfer until April but we’ve waited this long so I don’t mind, it will give me time to get to a point where I feel healthier. She’s also going to arrange for me to have the transfer done by her so that I know who will be doing it and won’t be anxious.

We had good results on the embryos so all that protein paid off!!!! Of the 9 that fertilised we have three good blasts, one of which is top quality, and they would have transferred it today but we’ll freeze it now. Also have two that are a day behind and they’re going to call us tomorrow to let us know if they can be frozen. Either way, three is amazing because that’s what we’ve got nhs funding for.

Haven’t read everyone’s updates properly yet, will do that soon.

@FlyOnTheWall89 are you OK with needles usually? If so then you should be fine. I found it all a bit of a non event. 🤣 Otherwise you could get your OH to do it and just not look? Also icing the area before and after helps. You don't really feel it then!
@Gracie2021 yeah I'm OK thanks. Had a gender scan on Sunday but I'm not sure I believe them. 🤣 They said girl. I'm 17 weeks now. Really anxious about the 20 week scan. You start reading all this stuff about higher risks of defects with icsi babies (no one ever tells you this before!) and it just plays on your mind. But I'm taking it a week at a time and I'm just glad to get to every week! When is OTD for the IUI? I know its worked for some people so it'll be interesting to see if it does for you! But when I did my rounds I basically dismissed it and just was counting down to ivf. Mentally its so hard.
@thislittlebird good luck today! 🤞