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Conception

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Fertility Appointments and Beyond: Electric Boogaloo

888 replies

thislittlebird · 20/08/2022 13:54

Hit capacity on the old thread, will tag you in!

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thislittlebird · 03/04/2023 09:36

I feel like screaming. The best response I had was a year ago on the lowest dose of stims. Private clinic increased stims and got fewer eggs in November. I said to them I’m concerned higher isn’t better for me but I had to trust their knowledge and now today on day 3 of stims on the highest dose I’ve had, I have ONE follicle growing lol. I had 13 growing on day 4 in my last cycle. To say I’m fed up is an understatement. Feel like this cycle is already over before it’s started and seriously don’t know whether to pull the plug and try again another month.

I know it’s early, but this is the third time I’ve done this and my eggs don’t magically start to grow at the end of stims in my experience, they stay at a similar number throughout stims, give or take a few.

I’m mentally already back on my fitness and exercise regime for holiday and saving for a cycle with Create.

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thislittlebird · 02/04/2023 22:52

I keep forgetting eggs are a good source of protein and have lots of them in my fridge so that solves a few lunches!

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thislittlebird · 02/04/2023 22:42

@Kay00 oh god, yeah I can never be that woman, not even told anyone about ivf this time and that’s unlike me. Tbh even more so after we had that chemical. Now if anything works I’ll think it’s a chemical or miscarriage until we’re way down the line. But I just can’t even imagine ever getting there. Luckily for the fertile people have no experience of this shitty world.

So far I’ve been on 150 Gonal F and got 15 eggs, 12 mature, and then 150/225 gonal F alternate days and got 12 eggs, only 6 mature. I’m really not convinced a higher dose is going to activate the ones that don’t want to grow but I’ll find out soon enough. I had to try to trust the doctor, but if this cycle is an even worse outcome on higher doses then I might have to consider a cycle with Create for low dose ivf.

Omg yeah give me pasta or rice or bread. Instead I’m trying to keep active and eat all this boring protein. I’ve tried to plan some high protein meals I’ll enjoy for the week, because I’m a bit bored of chicken. I have a beef bourguignon pie from Lidl to look forward to in the freezer for next weekend, and there’s an amazing salt beef, cheese, gherkin and sauerkraut toastie from Pret that will be on the menu for lunch one day this week. The other days will definitely involve protein shakes, and those high protein yogurts, although already getting bored of yogurts lol

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Kay00 · 02/04/2023 21:52

@JeanieJ I'm glad you have stopped testing. When my SIL got pregnant, she tested once, and without any doubt in her mind, told about 20 people she was pregnant within 24 hours. I wish, if I ever get pregnant, that I can be this confident and care free, but I know I wont. Obsessive worry seems to be the curse of those who struggle to conceive 😟

Good luck for Tuesday xx I will keep everything crossed for you xx

@thislittlebird wow, that sounds like a strong protocol! You need to make sure you are looking after yourself x I hate the high protein diet too, I always feel full but unsatisfied. Nothing is quite as satisfying as a big bowl of pasta 😅

thislittlebird · 02/04/2023 21:03

@JeanieJ yeah it's a lot like groundhog day, with added unfortunate surprises thrown in. I haven't had many symptoms before, this is the highest dose I've had now (225 every day, rather than alternate days last time). The only thing I get is a blurry head briefly when the injection happens and then a tiny bit headachey briefly a couple of times in the day, worried that will get worse as the days go on, we'll see.

My clinic asked me what i was doing exercise wise and told me to carry on as I am. I feel a bit nervous, I could feel my ovary area when working out and don't want a twisted ovary or anything, so i've tried to do things that weren't so high impact yesterday and will again tomorrow. Trying to do lots of walking, I'm technically in pre-holiday weight loss phase lmao, don't know how to juggle that with stims. The excessive protein is already annoying me 3 days in, I'm usually mostly veggie. Graham's 25g protein yogurts are helping me out!

I think stopping testing is a good idea. It either works or it doesn't I guess, for me it didn't and testing wouldn't have helped iykwim.

@Kay00 Thanks! It's ok, just done day 3 of stims, then a scan in the morning which I do not want to do. There's always fewer follicles growing than I'd like so I guess I should be used to it at this stage and accept it.

I hate when it gets to April, I always knew this year wouldn't be it for us, if any ever will.

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JeanieJ · 02/04/2023 20:50

@Kay00 oh, I'm sorry about CD1 - it's bloody Groundhog Day ☹️. I'm assuming still no news on the surgery?

Tbh, I'm quite anxious about having another loss. I stopped testing last week because I was getting obsessed with line progression & it wasn't doing me any good. (Googling line progression is the worst idea ever).
I do have symptoms this time round though 🤷🏻 I have my first scan on Tuesday, so praying it goes well 🙏🏻.

@thislittlebird how are you doing? You must have started now?

Where do both of your clinics stand on exercise at different stages of your treatment?

xx

Kay00 · 02/04/2023 20:22

@thislittlebird how is your IVF cycle going? You have a really interesting protocol and I hope it does the trick for you xx

It's CD1 for me (meh...). Double meh actually, because now its highly unlikely (even more unlikely that it already was) that I will have a 2023 baby.

@JeanieJ you are you feeling?

JeanieJ · 29/03/2023 09:54

@thislittlebird best of luck with it 🤞🏻I'm sorry that it feels like Groundhog Day.
I was on gonal f (300) & didn't find I had many symptoms from it, so hopefully you're the same 🙏🏻
xx

thislittlebird · 29/03/2023 08:54

@JeanieJ yeah, we’d love a new bathroom but it’s not to be. We’d really like to move but that’s also all on hold until we’re done with ivf.

@Kay00 We keep talking about travelling around Ireland. We’ll do it eventually. I want a camper van lol

So ivf cycle number 3 looks like it’s starting. Had a nurse assessment yesterday, period started today and brought a gonal F pen home with me yesterday. Need to get the rest of my meds, and will email the clinic today to say what I’ve got left.

Will be on 225 Gonal f (was supposed to be menopur but there’s a shortage), with clexane, injectable Lubion every other day, Cyclogest daily, and will be having a double trigger of suprecur and ovitrelle to try to mature the eggs. I don’t feel positive, will just have to see how it goes this time.

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Kay00 · 27/03/2023 22:23

That sounds lovely too @JeanieJ I have always wanted to travel around Ireland. It looks so beautiful ❤️

JeanieJ · 27/03/2023 07:53

@thislittlebird arghgh that's so annoying that you don't have answers, but it's also good news that your parameters are ok 👍

The lakes & Portugal both sound like lovely trips! 🙂

@Kay00 I'm with you on the money front, we spent so much on DHs embolization & my laprascopy last year that even a new kitchen isn't a goer. It's still the kitchen we had when we moved in in 2020 and still has missing tiles from our rewire🤷🏻🫠
We're just gonna go to Ireland (where I'm from) this summer & borrow my sisters camper to drive up the west coast. Cheap & cheerful! Xx

Kay00 · 26/03/2023 22:47

@thislittlebird thanks x

Urgh... It's annoying when you don't get answers, but it is good news there is nothing wrong in those departments.

It sounds like you need and fully deserve some decent holidays to look forward to ❤️

We have booked a remote week in Wales in Oct/Nov to escape to the fireworks (our dogs have issues), and I need to book somewhere over our birthdays in the summer, but I'm not sure we can afford an abroad holiday. IVF + new kitchen = zero money.

thislittlebird · 26/03/2023 19:29

Tentative congrats to you! @JeanieJ

@Kay00 Hopefully you get the date soon.

DH got all his test results back which are good, but I'm so over all this. We just go round in circles. So everything was good, his DNA frag was "incredibly good", his karyotyping, sexual health, reactive oxygen species tests were all good, my NK cell test was normal so back to square one we go. I emailed my doc on friday asking what now, waiting to hear back from him

In other news, we blew some money on holidays so we're going to the Lakes for a week in July and Portugal for a few days for my [censored] birthday. Looking forward to the trips, not so much the yet more IVF.

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Kay00 · 22/03/2023 21:37

I've never got a BFP, but from what I have read the cramps are super common xx

No date for my surgery yet. I guess it could be another month or two before I get the date.

Thanks for the congrats ☺️ she really is a very cute baby.

JeanieJ · 22/03/2023 21:11

@Kay00 wow that's amazing for your sister 🙂
Congratulations on becoming an auntie 💕
I couldn't cope with my sisters pregnancy, but found the birth & meeting my niece much easier, I don't know why 🤷🏻

Have you got a date for your surgery from the NHS yet?

I'm ok. Been testing daily like a crazy person, the line is strong & I hope it stays that way 🤞🏻 got a scan in about 2 weeks with my clinic. It's just a day by day thing for me ... we are a higher risk than average of another loss, so I'm very cautious.
I'm quite crampy & tired otherwise, but this happened with my last pregnancy... basically early pregnancy & pms symptoms are the same for me I guess 🤷🏻

I don't like the crampy part though, it's disconcerting xx

Kay00 · 22/03/2023 20:56

How is everyone else doing?

Kay00 · 22/03/2023 20:56

How are you doing @JeanieJ ?

My SIL gave birth yesterday. I'm less triggered than I thought I would be, which is good. I'm really pleased for her, and hope I get to be in her position one day 🤞. She was TTC for 7 years before getting pregnant naturally after loosing a lot of weight (she has PCOS too).

JeanieJ · 20/03/2023 07:48

Thank you @Kay00 💕
I hope this one sticks 🙏🏻🤞🏻 xx

Kay00 · 19/03/2023 21:53

Amazing news!!! Tentative congratulations @JeanieJ ❤️ I had a positive feeling about your round. This is very good news for now at least xx

JeanieJ · 19/03/2023 06:54

Thank you @Kay00 💕

A mini update from me. I'm 10dp5dt and this morning I got a clear positive test.
OTD is on Tuesday, so it's really early days. I'm praying it sticks 🤞🏻🙏🏻
I've been down this road before (11week miscarriage last year) so I'm not getting ahead of myself, but staying cautiously optimistic.

Hope everyone is ok.

xx

Kay00 · 17/03/2023 22:48

*mind not mink 😂🦦

Kay00 · 17/03/2023 22:47

@JeanieJ gah! The TWW is just a complete mink fuck. The cramps are normal and are the result of soaring progesterone levels. I have never got to 8dp5dt transfer without bleeding, so you're doing well by my standards 😁

@thislittlebird I would like to do genetic testing too as I suspect a high percentage of my embryos are aneuploid... But I need to get more than one blast per cycle before I can even consider it. Plus it's expensive so possibly out of the question anyway.

All good here, I'm likely ovulating soon, so need to convince my sorry arse to dtd with OH tonight/tomorrow, on the (very slim) off chance something could happen naturally.

I have some Clomid left... I'm tempted to give it a go next cycle just for shits and giggles 🙃

JeanieJ · 17/03/2023 17:41

Guys,

I'm quite crampy & I'm 8dp5dt ... I actually feel like AF is coming 😵‍💫.

The TWW totally sucks & right at the start of it, I found out a really close friend of mine is pregnant after only trying once 😵‍💫 .... and she's 4 years older than me too. Instead of feeling happy & hopeful, it sent me on a downward spiral & I feel hopeless. Been totally crap at climbing out of it.
I've decided to test on Sunday as my OTD is on Tuesday & I just know if it's bad news I'll be a mess on a working day.

@thislittlebird I think genetic testing is a good idea, it's just so expensive 🫠

Hope everyone is doing ok xx

thislittlebird · 12/03/2023 13:13

@JeanieJ good news on the transfer!

Yeah grading doesn’t really mean an awful lot when push comes to shove. It either works or doesn’t. We want to PGT-A test next time but right now it feels like it’ll never happen, no idea when there will be any light at the end of the tunnel for DH. Feeling old too, my body is just…a bit different as I get nearer to 40.

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JeanieJ · 12/03/2023 09:05

Thank you @Kay00. I'm trynna stay hopeful 🤞🏻
My other two on ice are lower quality (3BC) but I'm not gonna get too bogged down on this as I know grading is subjective & a seemingly perfect embryo could be genetically abnormal & fail, plus I also know more than one person who had success with lower grade embryos 💕

xx