Anyone else about to start IVF?

[gardenpixie]

DH and I have our first IVF consultation in a couple of weeks and I just wondered if there was anyone out there who was in the same position?

We've had loads of tests done already so the Dr says we may well be able to start the treatment cycle sometime next month or early May.

We've been TTC #1 for 3yrs now and I am on cycle 5 of clomid so will continue with that until I start the IVF drugs. There are no obvious medical reasons why we haven't conceived naturally, just a case of unexplained infertility, I guess.

I know the odds of getting pg still aren't great but I am really excited about the fact that IVF even exists (isn't amazing what they can do?) and, although I am a bit apprehensive of everything it will involve, I am thrilled to be given the chance to see if it might work for us.

I would love to hear from anyone with any advice or who is in the same boat,

thanks for reading

Hmm, so I won't know. See if the embryos weren't looking very good, I'd be saying go for it and just put 2 back rather than risk not having any. Think the ideal for me would be blasto transfer of single embryo and some frozen. But then, it's not an ideal world. I hate not having all the answers- don't you just want a crystal ball??!!

Yes please, a crystal ball that let's me set the future as well as see it! Where can i get one of those...?

Waves @ luck and teds lovely to see you both, hope you're well xxx

Wow Carebear that's good news! Indeed it's strange to think what parts of you can 'get up to' when you're not there!

I'm still getting up on all of the lingo and processes (blasto-wotsist etc), but bear with me ladies!

Called Guys this morning and we're definately going with them - just need to get the appointment through now - they've said we're likely to get our first consult with them within a couple of months. Slightly frustrating as we're going to be taking a step back from where we got to with our local NHS Trust but we feel a bit better that we're taking control of something and choosing the place we feel best meets our needs. Glad to hear nice things about Guys on here... who knows, we might be sitting next to each other in a waiting room at some point in the near future!

I've just bought a book about the IVF process which is proving helpful and I'm starting a list of questions for our next first consultation. After last time, when I left feeling even more confused and nervous, I've learnt my lesson and will be more prepared to be assertive! Any tips or seemingly unlikely questions I should add to my list?!

x

Jumping that's great - Guy's are brilliant so you're in good hands. I found that, although I took a list of qus with me, the consultant covered everything before I had a chance to ask

The only thing I'd say from my experience is that, if you're keen to get going as soon as you can, it might be worth getting the blood tests that have to be taken on CD2-4 done privately so you don't have to wait for a cycle before starting. I know it sounds daft as it only added an extra three weeks to our wait but they were the longest three weeks in the world! I think the tests are FSH, LH and Estradiol (they have the info on the website). Then, in theory, you can get sniffing on the first CD21 after your appt.

Carebear I hope you've had good news about your eggs' night of getting jiggy xxx

Aw thanks guys you lot are so sweet. Great news today 6 developed into embryos and were dividing normally today (,so far). I spoke to someone who sounded like she wad passing on message from embryologist . They have booked me in for ET on thurs for transfer of best two, but this could get delayed till sat and changed depending on how things progress. I'm also a bit unsure re 1 vs 2 question. What do you think, take their advice? Ask more questions? Wait till thurs and see?

Gp please keep dancing! Everyone else your messages mean so much.

Jumping great news and great advice from gp.

Aw, I want to keep all 6! Hope they're ok.

Ooo Care that's fabulous. Will be keeping fingers and toes crossed that the 6 little ones keep progressing well. Can you freeze the ones you don't use? That way you can keep all 6

I don't know what to advise on 1 vs 2. I would ask more questions and listen to what they have say. I think you said previously you had possible PCOS and a short luteal phase? I would see whether they can say anything about what impact this might have on a BFP (i.e. there might be a case for 2) vs. any additional complications for a multiple pregnancy.

If I get that far I think I'd be really tempted by the 2...

Welcome to ellan and jumping lovely to have another join us at Guys. As Garden says they are willing to move quite quickly so if you are ready to go it won't take long.

Care 6 embryos! fantastic news. lets hope they all keep up the good work!!

Thanks to all for lovely anniversary wishes all. I had a lovely with my meal and was so glad I did.

News with me.. had scan today not Monday in the end and have lots of folicles - about 5 at the 15mm mark (size for collection) and hopefully the other smaller ones will grow big enough in time. There are a total of 17 but 5 of those are less than 10! I will be going for EC Thurs,Fri or Sat. Really hoping its Saturday as I am so mega busy with work. Why is it the times you want things to be quiet they go MENTAL.

I am feeling very positive at the moment despite now having to inject twice a day. Sending some of that postive energy to you all.

OMG it's all happening on here! Bondi great news re: your follicles and care 6 embryos!! That's so amazing. If you want it, I hope they let you transfer 2. It's what we all secretly want!

I'm so excited for everyone! We're on hol next week (in lovely Devon) so I'll be incommunicado and will miss all the action. But it will be worth it to get some sleep and chill out.

But we're not going until Friday, and it sounds like anything could happen this week. Go ladies, go!!!

xxx

Bondi, that's loads and well fat ones too! To have 12 over 10mm and 5 at the 15mm is fantastic news. x x x

carebear that is such good news! Can you go for two to be transferred and then, when the drs aren't looking, get your DH to put the others in too and then practice doing an innocent face so at your seven week scan you can say "why yes dr, sextuplets are common in my family" ...?

Seriously though, I think it's such a personal choice; I guess it's also different if you have day three or four embryos put back vs blastos. Are you pretty much on ET watch ready to go in whenever you get the call?

Bondi awesome news from you too - well done on your diligent egg growing!

womanly if you are lurking, I am sending you calming thoughts and hoping that your 2ww isnt too gruelling for you xxx

I feel like I am a bit of a slacker as I've only just got to my half way point of the down regs. Well, I hope it's the half way point as I'll be pretty grumpy if I haven't down regged properly by next fri!

Right, back out into the garden for me to carry on with my waggle dance for care 's soon-to-be-sextuplets and for Bondi 's eggs!

Take care all and sleep well xxxx

care: that is so brilliant, very exciting! As for the 1 v 2 debate: go with what is best for you, hon. Either way, it is just so great Have you got any plans after they've been implanted? Are you going to do yoga? I've been wondering what to do with myself at that stage. I just want to lie down for two weeks with a pile of books. What are you going to do?

Bondi very exciting for you too

What a wonderful sunny morning

Bondi I have follicle envy! Hope they keep growing nicely and you have a lovely egg harvest by the end of the week

luck hope you have a lovely time in Devon - we honeymooned there and it is one of my favourite places. I read a whole book in two days whilst we were away over the bank holiday. It was blissful - I never have time to read that much when I'm at home.

Garden do you get scanned at all or is that what happens on 10 June? Basically how do they know you have down regged?!

Bodeccia do you start next cycle?

As for me AF came early so she's pretty much already been and gone. Just a case of waiting for DH's test results before anything else happens... Gah...

Congrats care ..9 is just fantastic. love thedancing undertone disco ball. thanks for all the fab advice on the friend situation... I feel like I have let go of the anger which is fab. am sitting at the hope for my p test... am off the whole week to spend time with sil... hence the brief msg. onwards and upwards ladies... I might not be in the disc but I am keeping up to date with all ur news

Hello all,

I hope everyone is well today and that womanly 's LO is planning his / her implantation strategy; that Care 's embryos are still busily dividing; and that Bondi 's follicles are still growing!

Teds on the 10th they will scan my ovaries and uterus to make sure the ovaries are, according to the nurse, "sleeping" and that the uterine lining is thin so they can start with the stim meds. I sooooo hope everything is as it should be so I can get on with growing some eggs!

Ladies, I've been on the internet all day briefly dipped online and found a couple of articles about vitD being linked to greater chances of implantation during IVF treatment.

Has anyone else heard of such a thing ...? Have I fallen victim to believing Dr Google...?

I have obviously run out to buy vit D tablets and omega oils and fizzy multivitsandmins just in case but thought I'd check if anyone else had heard this ...

PS Bodeccia I am also hoping your AF will be helpful and turn up early

Sleeping ovaries - Garden it really is all happening on here!

I think vitamin D is also good for cell division so good to take if you are trying to get pg anyway. My multivits have loads of it in. So even if Dr Google is talking nonsense about ivf/implantation your purchase is a perfect logical ttc investment... ahem

Oh good grief - Garden have just realised vitamin d is the sunshine one! Take the multivits back and book a holiday!

Thanks Teds ! I can now tell myself I am being ^sensible rather than crazy over-enthusiastic^

will text DH and tell him to start looking at flights to the Maldives instantly to ensure IVF success!

Ooh lots of action on here! Will reply properly but just dropping in to ask garden if you think it matters that I'm going to the patient info evening on my own tonight? It'll probably be a bit pointless as we've already had our initial consultation but I guess they want all the boxes ticked. It says in scary bold print that both you and your partner should attend....will we get a black mark?!

kool we are not going to a new patients evening at our clinic (leeds) because it's just not practical. The consultant said it wasn't strictly required, we will just have to tick a box to say that we have had enough information about our treatment, sort of a disclaimer I suppose.
By the way, a friend of mine got pg with IVF twins, and she went to turkey for a week after her ET, could be linked to the vit d/sunshine argument

Hi Kool they do a sort of a register when you arrive and give you an info pack; when DH and I went, there were some people on their own so you may be able to get away with asking the receptionist if you can take DH's pack for him and be a bit non-committal as to whether he is going to show up or just running late etc.

They also had forms for each of us (printed on blue paper for him and pink for me so we knew who was to fill in what ... just in case DH filled in the bit about transvaginal egg collection ) so you may need to grab those for him too.

I've generally found that they are much more relaxed than their letters would indicate though so I really wouldn't worry. They didn't insist that we went to an info evening before our consultation as they were also happy for us to go after the first appt if it was easier for us so if they do get about it, he could maybe go next month?

I think it's to help people decide between IUI and IVF but if you've already decided, I shouldn't think it would really make that much of a difference.

I hope he is feeling OK and that it's not because he's feeling horrid that he can't go with you. He does have a VERY good reason to need to have plenty of rest at the moment.

Are you OK about going by yourself? I would offer to keep you company but I have to go out with clients tonight

xxx

Right, Ellan I think that's the proof we need. We have already got regular pampering and the compulsory purchase of shoes confirmed as critical IVF success factors and we can now add sunny holidays.

It's the ^thread law^

Thanks for the info, bless you, I'm fine with going on my own but thank you for thinking of me . He's just tired so I figured there was no need for him to come as we already know what treatment we're having.

Have a good evening all, I'm happy I'll be home later in time for the apprentice , it's something about pets tonight, yay!

Hi all

Carebear wow! Amazing news. Do you know yet if ET is tomorrow? Will keep everything crossed for you.

Bondi also wow!

Kool, we have the same wedding anniversary!

Garden, did you book your holiday? If your DH can't make it, then i'll happily go with you

I had a scan on Friday to check my lining, it was about 8mm, but had a bleed (grim) on Saturday (happy anniversary!), so have to go back for another scan to see if the lining is thin enough for me to start the second lot of injections. I'm already 2 weeks off my schedule. Really tricky trying to fit it all in with work and the IVF place don't answer the phone in the afternoon so trying to get an appointment is a bit of nightmare!

Hope everyone is ok. I might have a glass of wine to cheer myself up xx