IVF graduates due Summer 2021

[SpyroC]

A place for those of us finally moving on from the infertility boards to share feelings, questions, tmi and to generally support each other.

Welcome @tikha!

So I received my blood test results and it’s good news. My progesterone is 70 and my HCG is 4000 so the nurse believes the bleeding was just the usual ivf anomaly and said she’ll see me on the scan date! I’m feeling much better now but it is random and am still freaking out when I go to the toilet. It’s knicker check, pass. Wipe check, pass. Sign of relief!
It’s become more routine for me then brushing my teeth!

How is everyone today? X

Welcome @tikha! Mines a DE too so fingers crossed 🤞 sorry to hear you’re had a traumatic time getting to this point. Here’s hoping things will be a little smoother. Did you mention to your DH yesterday?

@ChicaXS so pleased to hear you’ve not had any further bleeding and your hcg is looking good too!! Amazing news!! Just hang on in there to your scan - I know how hard it is!!!

@SpyroC I agree that the clinics must hear it all the time so don’t seem to be that concerned. I emailed the consultant again to just let him know that it had all settled down to which he responded “phew” and nothing further!! Am taking his lack of concern to be one to mirror.

Re the ass injections, I’ll be moving to the Lubion and utrogestan which although still a bit grim are easier to administer and keep taking than the ass injections. Consultant had originally said that he wanted me to do the ass injections as they’re “gold standard” from 5 days before ET to a positive test then he’d move me over to something more friendly, then when we went in for the transfer he extended it to the scan and seeing a heartbeat. Argh - I’d been on a countdown anyway with them so having another 3 weeks (almost) was a bit of a blow tbh. Don’t know whether I’m just being a wuss with them but they’ve always given me the heebies. They’re a bit of a faff with warming the vial for 20 mins first so the oil goes in easier, faffing around with a drawing needle, changing it over, icing the surprisingly small area on the ass and making sure to rotate both sides but the area daily too. Then a hot water bottle after to help disperse it all. And they’re just a bit wearing physically - they hurt and some of the areas are a bit knotty so painful when lying down in bed/ sitting etc. Eugh. Am so sick of them!!! I managed to do 3 myself initially (control freak) before having to have DH do them. He’s very happy to but I think will be happy come Monday and a change to the Lubion too!!! I know that one can be stingy too (had it on a previous FET before it was cancelled) but just feel it’ll be a bit more manageable really.

Sorry for the long moan/ explanation- am at my limit with them! 3 more to go!! But yes - the Lubion will continue to the 10 week mark and possibly the blood thinner that I’m on too (he’s throwing everything at this currently!!)

I’m with you on not being able to wait til Monday - though terrified too!!! We can do this 💪 I keep telling myself that if there is a problem then at least we’ll know about it now and be able to deal with whatever it is rather than having to wait further down the line. My safety net kicking in I think. DH commented he just hopes we can get through the appt unscathed!! Which I thought summed it up well!!

Enjoy your day off today - we’re going to be doing the Christmas trees this weekend which I love so will be kept busy with that! I’ve found an alternative to a mulled wine (alcoholic free) too so will be giving that a go!!

Hello all. I'm a fellow IVF graduate, due next summer - in early June (still can't believe it). I had a fresh transfer mid September and within a week I was admitted to hospital with late onset OHSS. Never been so ill in my life! It was pretty bad for about 8 weeks, & I still have some symptoms now.

I've had some bumps in the road. At my clinic scan, they told me they had just changed their policy & I was to stop cyclogest at 8 weeks, rather than the 12 weeks I was expecting. My anxiety went through the roof after that and I was on constant knicker watch.

The anxiety really doesn't stop. My dating scan showed a healthy baby, albeit very sleepy. When I heard others saw very active babies, I worried about that! Next worry was the screening and I scoured over NT measurements & the 1 in XX number results.

Is anyone thinking of doing NIPT? I debated it.

I'm now 14 weeks and worry about every twinge. Next milestone I can't wait for is the 20 week scan, & no doubt I'll then find the next thing to worry about!!

Glad to be on the journey with others who understand.

I'm glad you have some reassurance @ChicaXS ☺️.

Yea the Intramuscular ass injections do sound tough @TheGlitterFairy. I thought about asking for them but the pain put me off! Fortunately the lubion combined with the pessaries seems to have done the trick for me. The lubion isn't great but it's better than the IM ones.

I do feel as though all I do is wake up,pessary, lie down, go to work, shower etc, pessary, lie down, eat, lubion, lie down bed! With all the covid stuff work is also very dull. I am also doing the tree an wrapping today which I'm looking forward too. I got to Sainsbury's at 7.30 to avoid corona 😂 they'd sold out out of @TheGlitterFairy recommended alcohol free proseco so I just got nosecco instead!

I had a 🤪 moment last night . I inspect when wiping as @ChicaXS describes too. Yet I looked in the loo as I was flushing (not sure why 🤷🏻‍♀️) and saw the top tissue had spots of bright red blood on it! I had blown my nose so was almost certain it had come from there as my checking doesn't extend to snot! (I sometimes get tiny burst blood vessels in my nose). Anyway despite being 95% sure it was nose blood the incident still triggered a night of bad dreams about bleeding 😬😬. Then this morning my boob tenderness had all but gone so I felt really down. 30 minutes later I blew my nose and there was blood and I'm now much happier again! Totally 🤪🤪. Just 3 more days to go! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Anyone else developed food aversions already? Everything good for me seems to turn my stomach! 🙈

Hello ladies 👋 I'm tentatively going to join you over here! Wow this feels weird. I think somewhere in me I thought I'd never join one of these threads.

Haven't read through all your posts yet but from the ones I've glimpsed, glad I'm not the only crazy pant checking person 🤪 9 hours post BFP and I think I've checked about 20 times already 😂

Hello to everyone who wasn't on the other IVF thread - quick synopsis is that this was our first IVF cycle following a rubbish AFC and AMH picked up this summer. Amazingly I got a positive this morning at 11dp5dt (OTD). Scan booked for the 23rd Dec when I will be 7 weeks on the dot 🤞

Look forward to sharing this new journey with you all and keeping everything crossed for everyone x

Welcome @MGee123 omg I’m so glad you have joined the crew!!! Congratulations 🥳 I’m so happy for you! Have you told DH yet?!

@TheGlitterFairy I was just properly catching up on this thread and I am interested in the private natal care you were investigating? Elective c DES toon with a private room? That would be of interest to me too - I’m in London too but have no idea how it would work? Is this through the nhs?

Welcome @Mackie2020 ! Your ahead of most of us on this thread as we were on the November bus so we can learn lots from you on what to expect! I would say if your nuchal and blood results were ok for the 12 week scan then there is no need for the NIPT as it’s expensive and nhs won’t find it unless the nuchal and bloods were worrying. XX

@SpyroC has nausea kicked in yet? My DH came me banana porridge yesterday and I nearly threw up on my keyboard 🥵

Yes I showed him the test this morning once he woke up (I tested rather early 😂). Initial reaction was 'well that's interesting' 🤦‍♀️😂 Followed by a bit of chat, and then 10-15 minutes later 'so do you think you're pregnant then?' 😂😂😂

It must be really hard for them, not physically experiencing any of it. So glad to have joined you over here, thank you for your kind words 🙏😊

Hi @Mackie2020 congrats for reaching 14 weeks ;) I guess whether to do NIPT depends on your age and whats important for you etc.. its good for picking up downs. I am still in the early stages of this current FET. My actual OTD is next week Wednesday.
@MGee123 Congratulations on your BFP. I am on a very similar mindset
@SpyroC sorry to hear about PUL. here's hoping things go well for all of us this time
@ChicaXS good to hear that hcg is looking good and that you haven't had further bleding..
@TheGlitterFairy I am getting my DH to do all my injections..

So checked again today and as the line is still ok.. mentioned it to my DH. It was his birthday today. Just to have to see I guess how things go..

Hi @MGee123 it's lovely to see you over here. 😊 it took about 5 days for my anxiety to kick in. I was surprised as I thought it would be within 24hours. I think the late implantation bleed you had would've put me on knicker check sooner too though. That scan will be a lovely early Christmas present 🎁

Welcome @Mackie2020 im sorry to hear about your ohss troubles. It seems us ivf ladies can't catch a break! The only upside to me having 2-7 eggs each time is not having to worry about ohss. I have my viability scan on Monday at 6+6 I am excited but also a tad scared of it not going well. I can totally see that if it goes well I will feel relieved for a short while and then the anxiety will kick back in. I'm thinking I'll book a private 10 weeks scan. To be honest I haven't looked much past Monday as I'm afraid of jinxing things. If things go well nipt/harmony is at the top of my list to look in to as well as anything related to the booking in appointment which I have on the following week. Do you have any top tips?

Sounds promising @MGee123

Yes @ChicaXS I am now nauseous most of the time. For me it seems to be anything healthy that turns my stomach 🙈 I just crave carbs constantly and if I don't eat them I feel more nauseous. I've been low carb high protein since March but that's basically had to go out of the window now. I hope it doesn't turn to actual throwing up! 🤞🏻

Morning ladies

So unfortunately I had more blood this morning, this time it was brown and resembled coffee granules. I have no idea what is going on. It was a small amount and I pray it was residue from the bleed earlier this week but it’s such a mind F£(@! My clinic didn’t seem bothered on the previous bleed and just wants me to be patient for my scan which seems a million years away. I wish someone knows why we bleed!
Again minor cramping nothing too bad but I do have a back ache today. I really pray everything is ok. My only hope is that my bloods were good.

Great start to the weekend!

Thank you @tikha. It's hard to get excited isn't it, when there is so much worry. Like you @SpyroC we're not looking beyond the scan. I keep seeing IVF as one big long series of hurdles. We've all got over so many already. How did your husband take the news @tikha ?

@SpyroC @ChicaXS these nausea stories aren't filling me with joy 😂 I love food! I think just eat what you want or whatever helps. You can always take a multi vitamin or something?

I'm not sure what a nipt/harmony is? I've seen several people mention them but as you have to be pregnant to have them decided not to worry about it!

@ChicaXS I'm so sorry, this is really putting you through the mill. From everything I've read, brown blood seems to be accepted as okay, and cramping/back ache is totally normal (I'm still having some regularly although am a week or so behind you). Try not to panic. Would speaking with the clinic again reassure you? Don't worry about bothering them - that's what they are there for!

I'm feeling a little less worried this morning and the knicker check frequency is reducing 😂. I've not had any more of the bleeding and for a moment this morning thought 'I am pregnant', which felt really weird. I actually went for a gentle run this morning, and feel better having been with no adverse effects so far. I checked with the consultant who said it was fine but to take it steady. Running 4-5 times a week is my norm so it was good to go after a 12 day abstinence. I'm going to have a restful rest of the day doing Christmas wrapping and some cooking. Have you watched The Queen's Gambit on Netflix? If you fancy a sofa afternoon I'd highly recommend it 👍😊

I'm sorry you've had that upset this morning @ChicaXS . It does sound like residual old blood from the other day but I can completely understand why it's thrown you (it would me too). Are your clinic open to check on with? It might be worth calling just to log it. Did they check progesterone along with hcg?

Sorry @MGee123 we must've crossed posts this morning. Hopefully you won't get the morning sickness, some women are lucky and don't. I am just giving in and am introducing small amounts of gluten as I have a fear that me not eating it could cause a full blown wheat intolerance for my baby. 🙈 I feel I can't win with my diet at the moment! I do take a good multivitamin though so hopefully that will be ok. Not all good turns my stomach, bacon goes down really well for some reason 😂. I'm like you, I do t know anything about pregnancy. I'll definitely step up my research if Monday goes well.

Thank you ladies.

My progesterone and HCG were really good (my HCG was over 4000 at 5 weeks) and progesterone was double it should be. The more I’m thinking about the spotting the more I think it’s the pessaries ? It must be irritating my cervix? I don’t know. I’m going to try the back door which will be not great as I suffer from IBS but I don’t want to risk the spotting and I want to rule it out. Only other thing I’ve done differently is change my vitamins and spotting started after switching to seven seas. Surely that can’t be it?

I’m so full of anxiety I can’t enjoy the day and I really literally want to sleep until 40 weeks now! My nerves are through the roof.

Honestly my clinic don’t help it’s a wait and see game and they only want to be bothered if the bleeding is full flow with cramps.thanks for your thoughts, wishing you all a better weekend then mine! X

@ChicaXS

Glad to hear your results came back so strongly! I think we've got our scan on the same day . Keeping fingers crossed for you. I'm sure everything is ok!

@MGee123 My DH didn't quiet believe it. so he said ok. we have previous bad experiences pre first scan so he is feeling it as much apart from being worried that it wont work this time. Am being pampered by him though. I totally agree. Its hard but am trying to keep a sense of detachment till OTD and first scan. Think am constantly anxious but its probably a normal response because of previous experiences.
@Mackie2020 the NIPT has been touted as a screening test for down's but there are lots of caveats to it and it might be that it may not as accurate as it is made out to be. There is an interesting blog post from Nuffield field of ethics: www.nuffieldbioethics.org/blog/non-invasive-prenatal-testing-is-starting-to-get-the-attention-it-deserves There is a link to a previous entry which has more information.
@ChicaXS fingers crossed for your scan. For my knicker checking saga, I noticed some brown discharge today and felt panicked but is probably the pessary irritating my cervix. If I use it the other way too often, it just unsettles my gut. Should I let my clinic know? I held off as feel as already on regular pessary and progesterone injection every 3 days and my level was ok at transfer (pre injection)
Am starting to get headaches similar to the ones I get with PMS. Hope it settles with paracetamol..

@SpyroC Good luck with your scan tomorrow! I didn't call to make my booking in appointment until after my clinic scan, so it's good you've already got that in the pipeline. I had mine at about 10 weeks. Different areas seem to be doing them differently. My midwife called me to do the bulk of the appointment over the phone. There's lots of questions about your medical history & family history. Mostly your family rather than your partners. The call took about 45 mins. I then went into the surgery to meet the midwife and she took bloods & gave me my notes. That was surreal! She then registered me with the antenatal clinic at the hospital, and I got my date through for the dating scan a couple of days later. It feels really real for a few days after each appointment, but then I slip back into not really believing it again!

@tikha that's really interesting about NIPT. I didn't go for it in the end and stuck with the NHS screening. I probably would have regretted the cost!!

I'm glad to hear that @ChicaXS . My clinic were the same, I felt better with the epu taking over. I think clinics are experts in getting us pregnant and aren't so knowledgeable at this stage whereas epu are exactly about this stage. Your results sound reassuring and now if you have further concerns you can go back and check the doubling time. Trying the back way sounds like a good shout. My bowel is easily upset and it don't cause any problems for the few days I did it last time. Just gives your cervix a break.

You are probably fine @tikha that dose of progesterone only gave me a level of 40 which isn't tragic but is on the low side. But as yours was checked at transfer pre injection you should be ok. It never hurts to tell the clinic though, just for reassurance if nothing else. Brown blood doesn't seem to be a concern.

Thanks for the info @Mackie2020 😊 I just wanted the next step in place after the scan. It does depend on where you live, they wouldn't let my friend book the appointment until she was 8 weeks hence she missed the testing window (stupid system). I'm glad it's like that where I live as that would ignite much paranoia. Mine is all over the phone, my friend didn't get her bloods done until the scan but we'll see. I just need to get past tomorrow.

So I had a terrible night. Woke up at 3-4 am with on/off left sided cramping which of course has made me fear another ectopic. I'd of called my epu but I know the chances of getting a scan on the weekend are slim to none. So my level of anxiety has gone from about 30 to 90 overnight. I'm how much more scared about tomorrow. I've also considered another scenario-what if one has implanted as ectopic and one normally 😕 that must be possible. It's going to be the highest stakes scan I've ever had! I'm glad my nausea is back this morning.

@TheGlitterFairy how are you feeling about tomorrow? I hope you haven't had a last minute scare.

@ChicaXS that's great your bloods were so positive! I did read that the pessaries can irritate your cervix and cause some spotting. I'm afraid I can't even contemplate putting them up the other day...when they put a painkiller up there post transfer my bodily systems did not react well! I wouldn't have thought the vitamins would affect it, but you never know. Hope you manage to relax a bit - is anything in particular which helps you feel calm?

Talking of vitamins - have any of you changed anything since you've found out? I've been taking B complex (I'm vegan), iron, vitamin D and folic acid throughout. Hadn't really considered whether I should change them?

@tikha that's lovely you're being pampered 🥰 mine seems to be struggling to believe it so we've not got to that stage 😂 although he did mumble something about needing to help more 😂

That's good to hear about the booking appt @Mackie2020 - thank you. I'm going to call after our scan on the 23rd I think.

@SpyroC I'm sorry you had a rubbish night and can totally understand your anxiety. I'm sure it's fine, as cramping is to be expected, but the rational part of the brain seems harder to switch when it comes to pregnancy related things I think?! Can you distract yourself a bit today? Hope you've got some nice weather so you can get out for a walk perhaps. And 🤞 for you and @TheGlitterFairy tomorrow. I'm sure it will all be okay 👍😊

Thanks @MGee123 my last cycle was just so scary it brought it all back. I walk come rain or shine 💪🏻😂 it always makes me feel better.

@ChicaXS I forgot you mentioned vitamins. They can and do effect things in a normal cycle but I'm unsure about pregnancy. For me Pregnacare conception shortened my cycle by a couple of days. I hadn't even made the connection and then I read about them causing this and pre af spotting. Was it just the brand of folic acid you changed though? as in that case I'd say this is even less likely. Might be worth a Google though, it would be great if you could find evidence for that being the cause!

@MGee123 I was following the advice in It Starts With an Egg so have stopped the majority of things I was taking. I was already taking a prenatal multivitamin as part of that but when I ran out I found that they had changed the formula of the naturelo ones and the reviews said they now smell like rotting fish 🤢 I then had to spend ages finding an appropriate alternative that fit the books advice (naturelo was author recommended) I settled on Pregnacare Max. I had been taking high dose vitamin D but stopped as I was worried about toxicity (Ive been on it since March). That being said my friend who is much further along said the hospital put her on an even higher dose to protect against covid! I'd say you are just fine taking folic and vitamin d only. It's only because I didn't want to change things to much in my case. Probably for the best with my current food aversions and cravings 😂 that being said apparently multivitamins can worsen morning sickness. This area is another minefield I feel I can't win with! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

@ChicaXS I switched to seven seas antenatal when I had transfer. Was taking a pre conception vitamin prior to that. My vitamin D was a bit low so taking an extra vitamin D 1000 is.

No further discharge today for me so keeping my fingers crossed.

Good luck for scans tomorrow @SpyroC @TheGlitterFairy

@MGee123 your running story has inspired. Will probably resume walking to work which am back at from Thursday.

@Mackie2020 did you self refer once you had your old or after scan? Last time I had to call them right after my clinic scan and they fit me as an emergency.

@EasterBunny7 encouraged by othe testers I too started testing early I only just reached 9 days today so feel surreal

@tikha I self referred after my clinic scan because I wanted to make sure everything was alright at that stage. I was 8 weeks exactly at that scan, although I thought I was 7 weeks based on my last hospital scan. I'd leapt forward a week which was a nice surprise!

My GP surgery said they booked booking in appointments between 8 and 10 weeks.

Welcome @Mackie2020 👋 and good to see you over here @MGee123!! I’ve been trying to catch up on things from the weekend here!!

@ChicaXS great to hear your bloods came back all ok and no further incidents since then. I think you asked about vitamins? I’m on the Solgar folate (folic acid) though the folate is meant to be absorbed easier. No idea if that’s true but I was throwing everything at this one 🤞 Also a high strength vit d and an omega 3 fish oil that the consultant recommended. Have just been on these 3 for ages now and trying to have a fruit/ spinach/ “good” smoothie for breakfast to get some more vits/ minerals in me too.

I’ve not had nausea per se this week but have woken up starving a few days and then felt a bit off colour/ as though if I don’t eat I’ll feel sick. Hard to describe but it’s different to the waves of nausea I had 2 weeks ago. Not sure if this is a good or a bad sign!!! Boobs are still sore and still tired and bloated.
Other odd symptoms - I keep sneezing loads and having a blocked / stuffy nose. It’s definitely not a cold or anything else. Thirsty a lot of the time too and keep needing to get up in the night to wee. Record has been 4 times which isn’t helpful for the tiredness!!!