Fertility Appointments and Beyond.... the journey continues

@Gracie2021 that's great to hear, so pleased you have a clear plan in place and that this cycle is free :) You'll be IUI cycle twins with me!

@gracie2021 I'm so glad things sound a bit more positive for you now 😊 but dont ever feel you have to apologise for coming here and getting it off your chest, thats what we're all here for x x x

@JeanieJ I've never had day 21 bloods done, while I'm guessing, I suspect if you've had an internal ultrasound thats confirmed ovulation and youre fairly regular they won't be overly concerned. They also give you some form of progesterone (mine is vaginal, so sexy) but I know other ladies have injections, to help after stims/before and after transfer so nothing to worry about there. Although, I would ask the question anyway just to be sure! X

@JeanieJ they'll give you progesterone regardless when going through IVF so it won't matter! I don't think they'll bother to test you for it at this stage either.

Hey guys,

Question -
So, I'm playing the waiting game for NHS funding for IVF right now.
However, I've never had a day 21 blood progesterone test - when I asked my Dr, he said I didn't need one because he'd seen that I'd ovulated when I had a scan, but the reason I'm worried is because when I temp, I'm always cold - max 36.6 & I have weak OPKs... I wonder if I just have low progesterone?
What do you think I should do? If I get accepted for funding will they just do the blood test at that point?

@Gracie2021 thanks! Eating all the almonds and avocados for vitamin e at the moment. I hope your appointment goes well today and you get to ask your questions! You're a trooper through all this :)

@thislittlebird thank you!

@dogmam I'd have felt more comfortable with the buserelin but ovitrelle it is. Just have to hope I'm one of the lucky ones who doesn't get OHSS :/ I'm going to speak to the doctor on the EC day if I'm not feeling well since the trigger.

The reason I'd asked for a sedative for ET was because I'd heard mixed stories about how it has gone for people so I'm concerned it won't be smooth sailing and I'll freak out. I don't like the speculum scenario, prefer the familiar wand.

@Kay00 I asked how awake I'll be and they said I can choose, so I'll be requesting not to be awake/aware! I had to be sedated for an endoscopy before.

@magnoliasinbloom good news!

@Gracie2021when will you be speaking to them tomorrow? Discussing your options including egg banking sounds like a good idea.

@Gracie2021 don't be sorry at all. It's not an easy process and for them to get it wrong and you now having to start the cycle again is really frustrating.

My holiday was fab thank you (you asked me on the other thread). My surgery is next week Weds, but it's pending a pcr test 3 days before so just praying that comes back negative.

@thislittlebird my trigger was 1mg buserelin. I had Lorazapam the night before EC and the morning of, I would deffinetly recommend it if you're anxious, ask you clinic about it. It deffinetly took the edge off, felt mildly drunk. Then I had the sedation but I was awake so could feel stuff going on and hear them chatting.. Then fast asleep for an hour straight afterwards. When it comes to collection, from my 2 experiences, zero pain at all, very calm, basically lie there and let them do their thing. For me, I feel less during transfer than I do an internal scan, so if you're fine at scans than transfer will be a doddle. The worst part is the glaring lamp that is directed at your 'area' so they can see what they're doing!
With OHSS, if fingers crossed it works, then your pregnancy will bring the OHSS on, if you were high risk. I remember saying to my clinic after collection that I felt ok so would fresh be considered, but that didn't matter as the risk was later on if it worked.

@Gracie2021 ah bless you, what a really shitty time you've had. I'm pleased you've got your list of questions prepared. You sound like you've got a clear plan to move forward with this which is good. Fingers crossed for tomorrow that whatever the outcome you will know what your next steps will be.

@PurpleUnicorn01 how's your FET cycle going?

I had my 10 day scan for my first letrozole/IUI cycle this morning. I have responded to the meds (yay!) and had a dominant 15mm follicle on my right ovary, but my uterine lining was still looking a bit thin. I have to go back in for another scan on Thursday morning to see if it has progressed, with trigger/IUI hopefully happening after that. They wanted me to do OPKs but having PCOS they generally aren't accurate for me. I might try and do some just in case anyway.

I had a similar sedation when I had my (two) colonoscopies and endoscopy last year. I certainly felt like I was awake for the whole thing but remember nothing about the endoscopy and have huge blank spots about the colon part . It was all very relaxing considering!

@thislittlebird the transfer was so easy I wouldn't have even known they'd done it, had they not been showing me. Didn't feel a thing, never mind any pain.
EC the sedation is weird. I could have sworn I was awake the whole time. But I have no memory of anything bar about a minute and they couldn't have been that quick. The drugs relax you so you physically aren't anxious and mostly have no clue what's even going on. Much less stressful than going to the dentist!

@beckyCarlos yeah, I’ve heard various things but mostly that people have been ‘asleep’ and I’m hoping that’s me. I will be telling them this, I don’t need to be aware!

@thislittlebird i have two friends who've told me about their EC, the clinic does 'waking sedation'... the official clinic info says youre really relaxed and, while awake, don't actually remember anything about the procedure after and certainly dont feel anything. Friend #1 said she was 'aware' of everything, her eyes wer closed but she could hear them counting eggs, and knew two different docs were involved etc. Friend #2 fell asleep as soon as the drugs went in and they had to wake her up for tea and a sandwich after 🤣 it seems very subjective! Definitely ask for extra help x

@beckyCarlos Maybe I’ll mention that one! I’m going to ask them if I’ll be asleep asleep. I cannot be awake in any way for the EC.

I’m prone to get myself in a right old mess, I really panic and there’s the risk I’ll try to run away from the bed/chair/table I’m on.

@thislittlebird my clinic can do you a Lorazepam (spelling?) Before EC, on top of the sedation they do, so I dont see why they wouldn't be able to before ET, always worth an ask! I'm pretending I'll be 100% chill by the time ET rolls around, but I know I'll get lightheaded and faint in the chair, its just who I am 🤣 so good to hear your partner can go in with you though! X

@Gracie2021 that's crap. But - if it were me, I would cancel and start again if they are willing to pay the difference. You might have low amh but the amount of meds you have early in the cycle is what creates more. The amount later just makes what is there grow. So done properly it may well be that you get more follicles next time? And I would want to maximise my chances.
I know it's disappointing it means waiting another month or 2 but I think that's better than going ahead and potentially ending up with nothing (and a huge financial hit).

Come in for ET I mean, not for EC.

@beckyCarlos it’s such a very dignified experience all round 😭

I spoke to them about a sedative for the possible transfer. I have previous with massive anxiety about procedures and ended up freaking out during a couple of invasive things in the past so I’ve asked if it’s possible but I have to ask on EC day. They said dh can come in with me, which is nice. Assuming we get any embryos at all 🙃🙃🙃

@thislittlebird a rectal painkiller?!?! Tell them thats not how you make babies 🤣 I'm crying here!

@gracie2021 I'm so sorry that sounds awful. I know what you mean, I always wanted 2, maybe three, and knowing I'll be lucky to get 1 (with my own eggs) is so hard to think about. As @thislittlebird said, they might recommebd you for a long protocol (its what I'll be on, eventually, still period pending!) Because, somehow, you get better recruitment of folicles when you quieten the ovaries then shock them with high stims x

@Gracie2021 I'm so sorry to hear that :( What a nightmarish couple of days this has all been. Nothing is impossible though - low AMH definitely does not mean that you can't get pregnant. Hope you have lots of puppy cuddles tonight xx

@thislittlebird glad it went well for you today :)

Hi ladies. I've been really quiet as nothing much is going on at the moment.

I have my hysterocopy coming up which I'm doing privately and then the clinic will decide what to do from there.

As I have adenomyosis I might need to downregulate for 2-3 months and zoladex has been mentioned. Im trying not to read too much into it but some of the side effects and potentially going into early menopause is slightly worrying. Although my amh is good so hopefully that won't happen but I will discuss with them in detail all my options before starting anything.

@Gracie2021 I'm really sorry to read your updates. On the plus side, I'm glad you won't lose out financially as it was there error.

@thislittlebird good luck with your EC!

So they called to confirm EC is Friday at 10.30. I’m bricking it, just want the tea and biscuits stage tbh. Ovitrelle trigger also confirmed for 22.30 Wednesday.

@PurpleUnicorn01 this is the thing, I’m convinced I’ll get OHSS of some kind if it works and hopefully mild but they don’t seem bothered so it is what it is.

@Gracie2021 I’m really sorry, this is all so stressful without additional problems. You’re on max doses now, but you weren’t before that so they can definitely get you a new protocol and start again surely? Possibly with down regulation I think you said?

Glad to hear there’s a possible alternative option, have they discussed egg/embryo banking with you at all? I know a few women with low AMH who are doing that. Also good to hear they’re happy to refund because of their error, which is the right thing to do.

Totally understandable that you feel like crap and you should totally not feel bad about that, I think we’ve all had to do some readjusting of our future plans but try to take it one day at a time so it’s not overwhelming. Cuddle that puppy lots.