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

Hello ladies. I'm hoping I can join your thread. Currently in the middle of our 2nd ICSI cycle (last one was in October) and looking for positive vibes wherever I can find them! In our last cycle we just had 3 eggs and none fertilised, so it felt a bit as if it was over before it had started. We've been told if we get the same result again (no fertilisation) that we'll be advised not to carry on with treatment. But we may have just been unlucky. Any advice on how not to drive yourself mad thinking about different outcomes?

Thanks!

Welcome Bella30! This is a great thread, everyone's enormously helpful and supportive, a right bunch of lovelies.

I'm sort of in the same boat as you. We're doing ICSI too - just waiting for first scans etc - but we've been told our chances of success are ca. 10%, as DH has a lowish count and my eggs are apparently a bit rubbish. Much debate here about whether we'd pay for a second cycle if our chances are that low. It's a really weird time.

So I'm sending you HUGE positive vibes that your follicles are growing big and strong and you'll have a whole clutch of eggs this time. How far along in your cycle are you, when is your egg collection likely to be?

I hope you find us helpful here. Meanwhile, enjoy a virtual !

xx

Thanks for the welcome luckbealady! Really nice to chat to people in the same boat!

I'm about halfway through the cycle I guess - started on the FSH injections last Friday, so if all goes according to plan, EC will be next Friday (scan next Monday). Keeping fingers crossed for more eggs this time round. I've been told to eat quinoa for the protein so busy working it into my daily diet... I already need some new recipes!

When are your scans coming up? Hope you're finding it all OK. As for going for a 2nd cycle, we always knew we would, but I think you just have to get through the first and see how you feel. And hopefully you won't need to make that decision anyway

Off for my virtual now and the Apprentice. That should take my mind off things!

Welcome Bella30 and the very best with this second cycle :)

wow - I am struggling to keep up with all the conversations :) Bondi Congratulations on your fat follicles :) am excited for you - best of luck for today or sat.. garden vitD mmmm not sure..but you're our research guru on this thread... so go for it and plus doesn't help to get out as much as you can with the sun ... kool all the best for your info night..care Agree with the girls -- it is a personal decision.

So my story is like one of those whodunnits where you know who's done it ..but the people in the movie haven't got there yet... know that feeling?? LOL I took the progesterone blood test yesterday - yes, the very one everybody was SURE we should not be doing but if 'I feel strongly then...' - - And so I give the test at 11 and at 3pm get a voice message asking me to pick up progestorone pessaries since the doctor is worried at my low progesterone level.. so I asked.. what was the level exactly...and it was (I can't believe I don't remember this exactly) - somewhere between 16-18. So now I am on these pessaries - twice a day till June 10. My guess is that they think I ovulated and that my p level is just not good enough and hence needs help... I can't get the number 30 out of my head..which is often what they say is proof of ovulation...so oh well... the good news is at least we know where we are at now..and have something to do with it.

garden It's too early in the morning.. meant to type it doesn't hurt not help!! lol

Womanly its a good job you persisted in having the test isn't it, information is power as they say. Easier said than done but don't lose faith. Hope you have a great week with your SIL. You had any contact with your friend at all? I got yet another email today anouncing a second birth from a couple who started trying about when we did. I'm on prog pessaries too. How undignified are they !! Was so surprised when I was given them I actually asked the doc what i was meant to do with them! Lol.

Welcome Bella 30 to the thread, I think you're the only one on here who's already done a cycle, we're all new to it, so please share some of your knowledge! Have they talked about upping your drugs at all this cycle? How many follicles did you have on the scans before? My doc told me to drink at least a litre of milk a day for the protein to help grow the follicles. Gillian mckeith always bangs on about quinoa I wonder if she does any good recipes with it?

BellaB sending you a huge glass of . What day r u on now, were you meant to be bleeding? Hope you enjoyed your anniversary anyway. I say stuff work and concentrate on yourself.

Kool, how was the patient info evening, was there any interesting talks? I never went to one either. How was it being in a room full of others about to go through the same, weird or comforting? How's DH doing?

Bodeccia i know exactly what you mean, i'd quite like to just lie down for the next two weeks. Actually have done a lot of lying down for the last 2 weeks and feeling plumper for it, so have decided to start light aerobic type stuff in spare bedroom, plus carry on with walking a fair bit and yoga. the hardest thing for me will be cutting out chocolate i think, but its got caffeine in so am going to really try. love that i now has a medical condition (PCOS!) to blame for my chocolate addiction.

Luck hope you have a great holiday too, think you've timed it well with the weather so hope you soak up loads of sunshine. I'm sure cornish ice cream has some kind of vitamin that is beneficial for ivf?

GP and Ted, this sunshine and vit D idea is fab what a great excuse to lie in the garden as much as possible. Hope your waiting will go by speedily - sending you time travel vibes.

Well my news is that after speaking to the embryologist this morning because the 6 are still dividing normally they've postponed transfer till saturday which will be at the blasto stage. I had a good chat with the embrylogoist yesterday too and they said that if there had of been 2 that looked better than all the rest today then they would advise to transfer to avoid the risk of one or both failing and patient being left with none. But with more they take the risk of waiting, and the risk that some will fail, but if one or two make it to blasto then this gives a slightly higher chance of implanting (something like that). They said they always give advice based on patients history, how things have gone and what they think would be best for patient. Also she said that you could leave it to the very last minute before transfer on the day to decide on the 1 vs 2 question, and even speak to the embryologist on the day if you want. I've really been very impressed with the service at guys so far. So am desperately trying to not get my hopes up too high (impossible!) but apparantly 5 of the 6 were top quality. very bizarre, surreal ,and very very scared that am going to be completely crushed if it doesn't work. Guess we all feel that eh.

Here's a question, how many people have you told you're having treatment? What do you think, to tell or not to tell? x x x

I'm telling quite a few people. Some people at work know (my boss and my immediate team who are all good friends of mine), both mine and DH's immediate families (that means my sis and his two sisters, as well as our mums) and my close friends. I find it easier to tell people, and would rather they knew, because I intend to work at home/take a fair bit of time off as treatment progresses/be a bit our of circulation this summer and I don't want them to feel I'm not pulling my weight.

BUT I do think this will make it much harder if it doesn't work. So many people seem to think IVF/ICSI = a baby, when we all know it's much more complicated than that.

I'm very, very lucky in that we are a close team at work, and share quite a lot. One has already been through IVF so I am lucky I can chat to her about it. There are of course other people who I'm NOT telling, mainly because it's none of their business and they are Foghorn Leghorns who would spread it round the office before you could say fertility treatment.

Anyway care, how lovely to think you've got 6 potential babies in the making! Such lovely news . Focus on that for the moment; a lot of people don't get this far.

xxx

I'm with you luckbealady, have told quite a few people as I hate the idea that people would be whispering behind my back 'oh you know they're struggling to have another one etc etc'. if someone wants to know something I'm always quite happy to answer! I was the same when pg with my DS, I told people early, because if something awful happened, I'm want their support and understanding. That's just me.
However, wish my MIL would stop asking silly questions. She asked what the big hurry was to start treatment, and helpfully suggested that spending money on a holiday would be just as likely to help us conceive. She can't get her head round the fact that we have a DS, so why wouldn't we be able to have another. To be honest, I can't get my head around that either. 0% motility is 0% motility right? As in, no chance! So our DS must have been the one and only swimming one ever

Hello ladies

Kool I hope the evening yesterday went well - did you find it useful? Hope Mr Kool is feeling better

BellaB Sorry to hear you are 2 weeks off schedule; I think I might be lagging behind as well as I've had no AF yet so I have no idea whether I'll get one before my scan next Fri. I think the option is a good one though! Hope it helped!

Bella30 welcome You are definitely in the right place for some support and positivity, the ladies here are all lovely. Sounds like you had a rough time with your last cycle I would love to give you some advice on how not to drive oneself mad by thinking about all the different outcomes but I haven't mastered that myself yet!

When I do catch myself dwelling on negative outcomes, I have a large swig of something alcoholic a stern talk with myself to remind myself that yes, it could all go tits up, but it could also end marvellously and I'm doing my bit to make it work so I have to trust everyone else involved is doing the same. Obviously that only takes the edge off the madness rather than getting rid of it completely!

When is your next appt and what is the next step for you? Just let me known and I'll go and do an ICSI waggle dance for you to send good vibes!

Womanly wow, well done for being persistent about the prog test! FWIW, when my clomid consultant said that my CD21 test results of 57 {insert relevant measurement of prog as I've forgotten what it is} was ^disappointing^ , I called the analyst people to double check and they said on a medicated cycle, anything over 10 means ov probably happened, and anything over 20 means it definitely did, so I'm sure you did ov. And great that you pushed for the test - I am sure the pessaries (NOT looking forward to them tbh!) will be helping your bean nestle down even as I type!

Luck pffffft @ Foghorn Leghorn analogy - yep, know a few of those! It's great that you are able to tell people at work as that must make it easier to duck in and out of appts. How are you feeling about it all? I hope the sunshine is being cheery for you?

Care that is such great news I'm so excited for you! So everything looks good for you to have two (if you want) blastos transfered on Saturday with some spare for freezing - amazing! I am so pleased for you! Is it odd to think that you have proto-babies busily growing into people in Guys? Eeeeeeeeeek!

Re your question about who we've told ... I've told 3 really good friends and that's it. I wanted more people than just DH and me to know so it took the pressure off us to have to deal with it ourselves but I didn't want to tell too many people in case it doesn't work.

I'm self employed and work for a number of different clients simultaneously so I always say I have a meeting when I need to go for an appt. Also, with one of my clients in particular, if they found out I was TTC, they'd get rid of me so I'm keen to keep it secret for as long as I can.

I haven't told my family because they would be AWFUL. My mother was banging on about one of my cousins who had IVF and she kept saying how she thought it was "unnatural" and "a silly waste of time because kids aren't that great anyway." She also has a tendency to be very negative about things so I never share anything important with her as it's a bit like putting a curse on it!

How is everyone else doing? I hope you are all well

Oooooh, best go as DH needs his dinner! Lots of love to everyone xxxx

Sorry ellan x-posts! I can't believe your MIL! If only a holiday and fertility treatment were comparable in their ability to produce little people! The important thing is that you and Mr Ellan know that you are doing the right thing

Right, really best go now as DH is prowling for naughty snacks so I'd best get something healthy cooked before he overdoses on bombay mix

Evening ladies. Stuck at work. Ugh.

BellaB hope the scan tomorrow goes well and the injections can commence.

Welcome Bella30 - I drive myself mad too! Hopefully some follicle fatting vibes from here will help - am convinced that's care's successful EC is really down to us .

My DH has very poor swimmers but ellan proves to me that it only takes one! It also looks like my eggs might be few in number and a bit rubbish but there are so many stories of just one good egg leading to one amazing BFP that I think it's worth staying hopeful.

womanly so glad that you persisted and that the prize for this is, err, a pessary

care fabulous that your eggs are doing so well. I think luck is right to say focus on that at the moment.

For me, I think I'm very much going be a 'secretive' type. DH and I haven't told anyone and I don't think we will. Maybe this will change and there obviously isn't a right and a wrong - it's just what feels best for you. For me, lots of my friends who do have children seemed to have conceived easily - though of course this may not be true! Whilst their behaviour might be through ignorance I've sat through so many moans about how terrible morning sickness and sleepless nights are and even thoughtless comments about fertility or ivf or when you should have a baby that I've just got no idea whether their reactions to me telling them about DH and I would be helpful or hurtful. I don't know if that makes sense

I've also found that other friends, with and without children, seem to assume that having IVF = a baby and I don't feel strong enough or wise enough to explain how I feel about what the chances really are and how the big black hole of being childless forever absolutely horrifies me

Is that all too ?? Sorry to bring the thread down. On the positive side, even though I'm obviously potty about DH anyway, have really found that sharing ttc and ivf and all our worries and fears has made us emensely strong. There is no one who understands like he does. Not including you lovely ladies of course

You see, the thing is, I feel so much better just for putting this on here! Not sure if that means I should just keep posting my every feeling on here or try telling the 'real world' how I feel...

Ah Teds, I know what you mean. This thread actually reminds me of friendships i had at school where you just tell people every little detail about yourself and how you feel without screening things. I've definately got into a place where i hide bad news about myself and my life and only want to tell people good things.....not sure why. Side effect of the ttc journey or there anyway?

You're so right to take the credit for the EC haul. Hmm I wonder if that means I would have to name my perfect girl and boy twins the proto-babies currently in a petri dish at guys TedsLuckBondiGardenEllan and BellaWomanlyKoolBodecciaPixie??!

Sending all your follicle fattening vibes right back atcha along with loads of positivity to be able to keep on going.

Garden, i have a very hippy friend and we were having a conversation about the 'naturalness' of ivf and she said what i thought was the sweetest thing, which was 'well it was developed by people wasn't it, who are natural, and the materials used originally came from the ground didn't they, which is natural'. She was one of the good people who i discussed it with who said helpful comments. i too have completely avoided anyone i mistrust to say the right thing.

Ellan just keep focused on everything came together last time, and it will again even if things need a little geographical help.

x x x

Hi All, its way past my bedtime and tomorrow is egg collection day for me so I am going to be breif

Bodeccia you asked how injections were. I have to say after nerves doing the first one, it was absolutely fine. DH did most of them and I also did some. By the end we were fighting over who was going to get to do it. (joking). I think doing something positive ourselves towards the IVF process actually helped and the needles are so small it didnt hurt. Other good news was that aside from the last few days of Menopur I had no bloatedness. Now my boobs feel a bit tendor and my tummy is a bit bloated. Basically - I think we may have been lucky but it traumatic in any way, shape or form.

Welcome Bella30 Stay strong. We can ride the storm with you on this one!

Care Here's to you, your embreos and BLASTO! yeaaayyy
BellaB let us know how you go with your scan. I'll be thinking of you.

Guessing I will be out of action tomorrow so to all those lovely ladies I havent mentioned.... Sending you HUGE amounts of energy and fighting power to deal with each of your personal journeys

Good luck for EC today Bondi!!!!!!! Will be thinking of you. x x x

Good luck Bondi with the EC today!Thanks for sharing your experience with the injections, it doesn't make me so fearful when we (finally) start.

For the question "who are you telling", I am trying something totally new. Usually I never tell anyone anything about anything, literally the only people who know my deepest feelings and secrets are DH and my two best friends. I have always been the kind of person who is very guarded with my feelings, very self reliant to the point where I can be quite cold emotionally. I guess it is all linked to my previous post about having a rubbishy childhood where I could only really rely on myself (ah, the amateur psychologist...). Of course, like Ted I'm terrified this isn't going to work (what do we do then?).

With this IVF thing, I have been trying to put myself out there a bit more. I have been practising showing my vulnerability, allowing myself to ask for support if I need. With that in mind, I've told close colleagues (hated doing that!), and I've told my family. Actually I told my family ages ago that we were having trouble conceiving (we've been trying for a child for 6 years). I have told them that we have been referred to an IVF clinic, and that's all they know. To their credit, they haven't been asking about it every 5 minutes which I've appreciated. I try and involve them by making them concious of our progress by saying things like "by then we'll have started the injections".

Sharing the truth of what is going on for me really doesn't come naturally, but I figure that I need to start showing my vulnerability to get some love and support back from people. All new ground for me. It is really helpful having this board, thanks garden for starting it!

Going away for the weekend. Big ((((hugs)))) to you all :)

Super quick post to say very very good luck with EC Bondi !

Will be back later for a proper post xxxx

Hi all, I haven't managed to reply to the last couple of day's threads yet but just a really quick one to wish Bondi all the very best today.....get dancing garden

Proper post later too but lots and lots of lovely luck to Bondi for the EC xxx

Bondi do hope that all has gone well today. The information on the injections is helpful. I am a bit nervous about the EC bit but feel so reassured by all the info on here.

Kool hope that the patients' evening went well - I'm booked in for the July one. Seems like an age away!

Care do you get any more information about your eggs before tomorrow? Am really hoping all goes well.

After trying to get hold of Guys all week I've eventually got my appointment details - we're booked in for the first week of July which pretty much coincides with getting DH's results back and will hopefully be about CD11 so we might just stand a chance to start that cycle. Fingers crossed.

I've been so bad at working today...

Lovely nearly-the-weekend waves to everybody else x

Right ladies, I have danced for us all in the middle of the ashdowne forest this afternoon. DH and our hound were a bit but I'm sure it was all worth it. Hope you felt the positive vibes dancing your way and that everyone's ovaries, uteruses, eggs and embryos all had an extra nudge to do their thing.

teds that is v exciting ... If you get your cd2-4 tests done privately I am sure you will be up and running on your first cd21 after your appt !

carebear and Bondi I did a special dance for both of you! carebear have you heard any more about your mini babies? Bondi I hope everything went well today and that you get good news from the embryologist tomorrow

bodeccia have a lovely weekend away! Hope you have a fab and well deserved rest. Glad you are finding the thread helpful! I am very grateful such lovely ladies as yourself have joined in so thank you too

kool hope you and your DH are well. How did you find the info evening? Hope it all went ok.

womanly a big hug to you! I am sooo hoping that your persistence is paying off and that all the lovely progesterone is making things nice and comfy for your bean. I know you sometimes lurk in the 2ww so just a quick hello and some tranquilitea for you xxx

Big waves to everyone else!

I am concerned that I still haven't had AF yet so I am now paranoid that the down regs aren't working properly and I'll have to take them for longer than planned. Oh well, not much I can do I guess other than hope my body sorts itself out by next friday...

Hope your weekends are all getting off to a good start xxxx

Thanks all for the lovely welcome. I didn't realise I was the only one on my 2nd cycle. Mind you, the first one passed in a bit of a blur and then ended rather abruptly with no transfer so I don't know how many useful tips I have to pass on!

Carebear, yes, they have upped my drugs this cycle. Last time, they upped them after the first blood test as I obviously wasn't responding quite as they expected. So this time, they've upped the FSH dose from the beginning - apparently they want to 'recruit' follicles in those first few days. I feel as if they've been recruited - feeling quite bloated and a bit of twinging pain. has anyone else had similar? It sounds as if your cycle is going really well - fingers crossed for your transfer tomorrow.

Gardenpixie - I've got a scan on Monday and then Wednesday, and all being well EC will be on Friday. But I guess it's all rather uncertain at this stage.

Very glad to have found an additional source of positive vibes, and will certainly be reciprocating! Hope you've all got plans for a nice weekend in the sunshine - I will certainly be topping up my vit D just in case :)

Hi no more news from me, will find out tomorrow when i get there what's happened since yesterday. If all is ok then ET. Think its like having smear isn't it? Not too worried about the actual procedure. Will update after.

Garden thanks so much for the winnie the pooh dancing! that's only about 15 miles from me. Sending AF vibes to you, don't worry am sure all is fine, they can adjust things along the way i think if necessary. Teds that's very exciting, we're already in june, it will come round so fast. Bodeccia thanks for sharing, you've given me something to think about. 6 yrs wow, think you will be the most deserved mother ever!! Bondi hope it went great today.

Big hugs to all. x x

I am a shameless lurker. I went through ICSI almost exactly 4 years ago and started to read this thread as a sort of "therapy" - I would have LOVED such a lovely group of ladies for some "hand holding" during the process.

I just thought I'd speak up now as Carebear had asked about what the implantation was like. It is very like a smear - so in my case the odd "ooh" (not so many "aaahs"!) - certainly nothing to worry about.

I hope you don't mind me intruding, I feel very rude, but it is such a lovely supportive thread I just wanted to say hello and wish you all the very best.

Ooh, hello happygomummy, do tell us your story and any other pieces of advice. How did you end up having ICSI? What happened and how are you coping 4 years on? A story of where you've got to now would be great . x x x