TTC for 18+ months and feeling low!

@Natty2 just wanted to check in on how your egg retrieval went?

@LucyLoopyLu i assume you have started your first round now? Hope it's going well!

@LucyLoopyLu

Ahh ok this is really good to know, so maybe I should say yes sooner rather than later! I didn't even think about this because they said the ivf clinic would be in contact within 4-6 weeks, never thought about additional appointments. That's really helpful, thank you!

@Emz09 I know what you mean, I kind of felt the same but even though there wasn't much of a waiting list for us, it's still taken a while to get to this stage. There's a few appointments to get through, lots of forms to sign, then you have to wait for a slot they can book you in and then you have to wait for the right time of your cycle. We had our first appointment at the fertility clinic on 10th Jan and just starting (hopefully) this week. I think that's relatively quick for NHS IVF because there wasn't really a waiting list once we were under the care of the assisted conception unit.

Have a think about it over the weekend. You might as well be waiting for your appointment in the mean time - you could always ask to push it back slightly if it comes around quickly.

Ahh thank you so much for all your kind words!

I think I'm just scared if it doesn't work, so I feel like I'm not ready to grab the bull by the horns just yet. In our area we get one shot so feel like maybe I'll give it a few more months so it's been 2 full years. I should be really grateful that they're not giving me ovulation drugs to drag it out.

@missmoosh I think the timeline for IVF where I am is pretty much imminent, there isn't really a wait. That might be why I'm so scared 🫣

@Natty2 & @LucyLoopyLu
I will 1000% any advice that I can take. Thinking of you and praying for you both, you're doing amazing.

@Natty2 no I'm on short protocol! I'm glad actually, at least it's a quicker process.
My FSH is fentanyl, which doesn't look as bad as it's just a pen and seems like it'll be much easier. The Cetrotide is added a few days in and it's the one that stops you ovulating too soon. The needle is pretty scary looking (for me with a needle phobia), I also feel a bit guilty that I need help from my husband and feel so grateful he's willing to do it. I feel very worried about him doing it though. I'd feel nervous about messing up if it was me. Hopefully he will get the hang pretty quickly. I've seen a few people recommend using an ice pack. I might give that a go. I'm really hoping IVF will be needle exposure therapy. There's so many needles involved! Literally my nightmare.

Hoping you won't get OHSS, sounds like it can be very uncomfortable. At least they have flagged it and are keeping an eye on you now. Do you know when your EC is likely to be? When are you back in for next scan?

@missmoosh yeah, I'm just waiting for my period which should really be tomorrow or Friday then I can call the clinic and get started. I hope my period's not late! I've booked time off work after Easter and also hoping I can do baseline scan on Saturday. It would take a weight off my mind if it came on time!

@Natty2 hi, yeah I think most people are further on. Maybe I should have joined the April one but I'm going to be crossing over the two months if it goes to plan. Wow, 40 is a lot of follicles! Fingers crossed you get quite a few good eggs from those. It's all a minefield how people respond to the drugs isn't it! How have you found stims so far? I'm nervous about the Cetrotide. My husband is going to help me and I'm trying not to think about it too much tbh.

@Emz09 sorry you're in a similar situation. It is quite daunting. I think if you're anything like me once you actually get to the cycle you'll have your head around it a bit more. I was really hoping we wouldn't need IVF too (even up to the start of this year)

@LucyLoopyLu sorry pressed send to soon, how are you feeling? Your cycle is due to start soon right?

@Emz09 yes its normal for it to fluctuate a bit, things like weight gain/loss can also affect it, as well as the menstrual cycle 🙂 I don't think I have ever had the same reading twice in a row lol
I am sorry that IVF is the next step, it is a really daunting prospect. Have they given you indication of timelines?

@Natty2 how is your IVF cycle going?

I hope everyone is getting on ok on their journey's 🤍

@missmoosh thanks for you reply, so I had my bloods re done on NHS and they were 2.1, does TSH fluctuate month to month?
Also had my HSG done, all normal. So they are now offering IVF and I'm really scared to be honest.

@Natty2 thanks, good luck to you too and hoping this cycle is the one for you 💞

@Natty2 sending all my best wishes for you for this round! Keep us updated ❤️

@Natty2 sorry, meant to say I'm expecting to start around the 23rd March x

@Natty2 hi lovely, hope you're all good and your next cycle goes ahead without any delays! I imagine having all the medication makes it feel very real.

Not started yet, just in my "last" fertile window, we've had our nurse's appointment so I just need to ring on day 1 of my next period and go in for baseline scan then hopefully get started. We pick up the medication there on the day of the baseline scan but everything else is in place now. We have a sharps box and a few other bits and they've shown us how to do the injections.
Really dreading it but just want to get it over with. I'm over on the March IVF thread (slightly different username) but it's a nice group if you want to pop over there x

@Emz09 sorry for the delayed response! So your T4 is slightly only the higher side, but only just out of range. I actually feel better with mine towards the upper limit of what is considered normal. TSH although technically normal range, it isn't optimal as your fertility clinic said under 2/2.5 is the best in general life as well as for ttc. Have they considered putting you on a small dose of levothyroxine?

@Natty2 ahhh that's come round quickly! Hope AF arrives soon for you, so you can get going! How are you feeling about round 2? Good that they will be checking for cysts etc as well. Really hoping this is the one for you and you get your miracle from it 😊

@missmoosh ahh amazing, thank you.
In September it was 2.6, however was retested via a private tests along with a full thyroid panel and TSH is 3. My free T4 is 16.60 pmol/L.

@Natty2 thank you 🤍 xx

@missmoosh congrats, I haven't been there but I imagine daily vomiting is a small price to pay, especially after struggling.

@Natty2 when is your next round starting? 40% chance sounds good to me!

@Natty2 oh how frustrating about the NHS transfer, do they keep the embryo so you can pay for a FET if needed? Yes I can imagine it's a lot, the price when you need ICSI is just horrific! Good to hear about the insurance, though hopefully you won't need to do more than one more round before you get your miracle. I really am crossing everything that your time is coming soon!

Thank you ❤️

@Emz09 i actually don't have a thyroid, so know a fair bit about it and fertility. What is your level? My endocrinologist upped my meds recently as my level got to 1.9 (up from 0.7 at beginning of pregnancy) and he said that was too high! So I do think under 2 is actually the most optimal but your t4 levels also need to be checked as tsh alone won't give you the full picture

@Natty2 happy to hear round 2 is coming up. Keep positive, keep going. I have everything crossed for you and I will keep you in my thoughts 💫

I had my first NHS appointment last week, it was a phone call. very positive, however I was so shocked that we could have agreed to IVF there and then. I have opted to have a HSG initially so if you have any words of wisdom or tips for this then please share them 🤍

The only the thing the fertility nurse said is my TSH is normal but not optimal because it was over 2.5. Has anyone had experience with this at all?

Thank you