Fertility Appointments and Beyond.... the journey continues

@beckyCarlos I'm the same with blood tests. Takes about half an hour everytime with about 8-10 holes in various places of my arm and hand. Each time I make sure I've drunk enough, even hold my hot water bottle to warm up my hands, have even run to the GP surgery to get my blood pumping before I go for the test. Nothing has worked, and just recently got very bruised after a blood test that I couldn't move my arm for about 2 weeks! Horrendous experience! So another hurdle for me to cross when I have to go through IVF. I do drink plenty as well, so I don't know what's wrong with me. I think it's a cold weather thing for me though, as I didn't struggle last summer, and I generally have cold hands and cold feet.

@thislittlebird glad your LFT was negative, hope you don't catch it. Hopefully the progesterone will delay your periods and you can make it to the scan. Hope you can have the transfer next month.

@beckyCarlos yeah, I got tired of drinking it tbh lol. I’m definitely not having enough right now but I will start again soon.

I should add, I'm not a total numpty, my wee is always a 'good' colour apart from maybe first thing in the morning when its a bit more yellow but never anything alarming lol. Still, I'm all about the things I can control, and I can control my water intake 😊

@thislittlebird sounds like a plan!

I thought so, but I cant have been drinking enough water, I've added the water widget to my watch and measured how much is in my standard glass 🙈 no excuse now! I'm pretty grateful to the guy, I probably wouldnt have noticed otherwise!

@beckyCarlos yes, that’s the progesterone. I have zero symptoms on that happy to take it!

I’ll call them on Monday and see what they say about pushing the scan by a day or two.

Are you drinking your 2-3 litres of water per day? Smash down the water and protein, it might help!

@thislittlebird thats good! Is cyclogest the progesterone pessiary? They havent really yet, just 'w/c 28th March' depending on what they see on the 25th.

Having my screening bloods done today was, with no word of a lie, like getting blood from a stone. Two nurses tried, no blood, even the anaesthatist had to try twice (one arm, success in the hand). Plus side, I got to meet an anaesthetist and he was lovely. Downside, he said I must be super dehydrated as my veins weren't giving blood out when he did manage to get in... I had over a pint of water this morning before we went, I added up what I drank yesterday and its a good amount, I actively try and drink whenever I apss the tap... so afterwards I had a little cry because I cant even have a blood test properly 🤣 am on strict drinks of water every hour now because I've got it in my head folicles cant grow if I'm dehydrated. What . Is . My . Actual . Life .

My LFT was negative last night! I’ll do another one tonight.

@beckyCarlos what date are they pencilling in EC for you?

I’m considering maybe taking some cyclogest tbh. I have plenty here. I’ll start it tonight and hope I can push AF back a few days.

@kay01 day 2 went ok, a way to go before I'm doing it mostly one handed like the nurse but I definitely felt more confident. Probably in my head but the solution seems to go in, physically, easier than morning shots too.

@thislittlebird husband is still negative, it can be done 💪I totally understand how upsetting it is though, and I have everything crossed for you. Your FET sounds like a mind f* i hope you can speak to someone properly next week who will listen to you x

@Kay00@ @beckyCarlos I’m really hoping I don’t get it. I feel ok today, had a complete meltdown last night though. The pressure of all this and work the last few weeks has caught up with me. Supposed to be doing a job application today but I just feel like shit so I’m procrastinating.

That’s a great story though that he didn’t get it. Fingers crossed I’m the same, I’ll test for a few days just in case. Cancelled acupuncture just in case, will rebook later this week.

So my clinic is being super annoying lol. I asked someone to call me to discuss FET, no one called, they emailed. I said what’s the process, she said take oestaradiol for two weeks from day two. Ok that’s fine timing wise, except I really do not want to take oestradiol. I have hormonal migraines that I’m assuming will be triggered by the withdrawal from the pills. Then I have had thrush pretty much constantly since the ivf, I treat it, it goes away for a few days and then it comes right back, so I think my hormones must still be all over the shop. Another reason I wanted acupuncture but it’ll have to wait.

So I email back saying can I speak to someone to discuss options and explain the issues, she emails back saying you can do a natural cycle and “For this you will have to contact us on day 1 of period and we will book you for a scan around day 9-10. If there is a dominant follicle we will advise you to start testing the ovulation and when you have a positive ovulation test we will book the transfer for you a week later.”

Erm ok, so that’s a problem. I’m away first week of April, back on the evening of the 5th. I have a course on the 6th. If my period starts on the 24th, I’ll be in Scotland for day 10. I could do a scan a bit later, but I’m not sure what to do. More oestrogen sounds horrendous to me, I’m sure I already have too much/plenty and my lining is always fine, it gets quite thick. The other issue is I’m unlikely to have a positive ovulation test, I get them rarely.

I don’t know how to approach them about this. Obviously my holiday and lack of positive ovulation test is the issue for a natural FET, but I know roughly when I ovulate because I get symptoms and I might get a positive test, hard to say.

@gracie2021 urgh! That's a lot of supplements 😱 but very interesting how your docs have given them the thumbs up. Maybe I should keep taking mine... Happy St Patrick's day too!

@beckycarlos congrats and well done on your first day of stims! Exciting times!!

@thislittlebird oh no! Hopefully you won't catch it, despite the notification xx I'm just getting over Covid now, I had mild flu like symptoms for a few days and now just a lingering cough xx

@Gracie2021 belated thappy st Patrick’s day to you! Sounds like your scan was good news, that exciting and my fingers are crossed. How long to go until EC?

@beckyCarlos you’re braver than me! Well done on doing the stims and mixing.

Oh @thislittlebird I'm so sorry. If you need a 'currently good news' story, my darling husband went to work on tuesday (after saying hes wfh for the duration, we're both lucky to be in jobs where we can, he works away a lot, but that 'should' have all been done, and theres enough time for him to get it and be ok but not be, but anway anyway I digress) on weds morning he gets a call from a guy he was with whos tested positive. I was FUMING. We've stayed separately, all the windows are open, hes not left the spare room apart from toilet breaks, and he's currently still negative 🤞 he was in a room with the guy for 2 hours, no masks, sat across from eachother, but a window was open... got everything crossed for you x

I’ve not been on a lot to try to keep my head clear before FET but I’m pissed of. I went to the ideal home show on Wednesday, first day out anywhere like that in a very long time, and I got a bastard Covid contact notification today. Of course I did!!! Ughhh. I should not have gone, my period is due to start next week, I thought it would be ok. It’s just one day 😭

I’ll read up on what’s going on here now

@gracie2021 haha I read that back and I can see how it sounds! God no though, switched needles, stabbed myself in the finger with the mixing needle, in the belly with the correct needle haha

Freezer cupcakes? Just normal cupcakes youve frozen or is this an amazing thing I dont know about haha

So many folicles! 🤞 for your next scan!

@tinkerbell098 its a nice way to start the day, especially this morning in my sun trap of a garden x

@Gracie2021 haha! miracle cupcakes! We all need those!

@Gracie2021 great news about your follicles! Could it also be those chicken breasts you've been gulping? Good luck for Monday xx

@beckyCarlos oh I'll look into that for when I start my treatment. Anything that'll help, especially if it is something like meditation that'll definitely relax and calm your body.

@tinkerbelle098 they're like a guided meditation but with more of a focus on particular stages of IVF, I'm currently on the stims stage so every morning I'll listen to it, and try and do what its telling me lol, then switch to a new one for collection, transfer, and two week wait 😊 its a Zita West product so not cheap, but it gives me something else I can feel like I'm doing, and half an hourna day focusing on relaxing cant be bad

@PurpleUnicorn01 any update on your tests? Thinking of you x

@beckyCarlos aww glad it didn't hurt. Well done you! What are these visualisations you are downloading? sounds interesting!

First stims went....well they went 🤣 I stabbed myself with the big green mixing needle haha. But it went ok, got the needle in, didnt hurt, pushing the plunger seems easier, and I'm now sat with a hot water bottle and downloading a visualisation for before bed. What is life!

@gracie2021 thats the best image, eating chicken and rattling away :) what time is your scan? Hope it goes well! For what its worth, if the supplements help your mind (and dont hurt you) its all good by me!

Just on my way back from acupuncture so my world is currently very rosy, but had a heart in mouth (or falling out of arse) moment earlier because the clinic rang 'about my screening bloods' 😱 turns out theyre almost out of date so we need them doing again, but my god I'd convinced myself (in the space of 2 seconds) that Id somehow got syphilis haha

Happy St Patricks Day 🍀