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

Ok own up, who has hidden the sun?!

Just going out for lunch but wanted to pop in to see how care and garden are doing this morning?

teds I've got my schedule appt next Friday and I think I'm due to start sniffarama on the following Tuesday...

Will catch up properly later, hope everyone else is doing well

carebear The wkend with my SIL was fabulous - lovely weather, good holiday - lots of good food :) I haven't contacted my preg friend but will be going for the shower at the end of the month. The prog pessaries continue - so not sure if AF will arrive as long as I take these. I too have PCOS - and love chocolate..but the addiction there is not about cocoa but to the sugar..
On the question of telling people, I have not told folks at work - just family (mom mostly) and a couple of my close friends.
Congrats on the ET being complete and sharing your exp.. I think it's ok to be negative... this is an overwhelming process..and it's not just one process but like 3-4 processes bundled into one..it's like going up one hill..and then coming donw..and then going up another..and down.. I hope you're also finding some time to do some soothing stuff..like music or a walk.. Love the idea of the scan photo - fingers crossed for you over the 2ww - you're almost there honey - - big hug, warm cup of tea and lots of love to you :)
happygomummy welcome to the thread and you are certainly not intruding :) Please lurk away or do join in when you would like to.. I just read your story too - thank you for sharing - it's some journey you have travelled and like others I feel terribly proud for you... The online forums are wonderful because they give you the opportunity to share and the chances that there are others out there who will listen and respond without taking it personally (like family and friends do) is that much greater...
Bondi Woo hoo for 10 eggs being collected - hope you are having a relaxing weekend. and fabulous news on 8 embryos - all the very best to you for Monday :) Hope your back to feeling wonderful by then.
Bella - Hope the ec went well for both of you...
garden I am sending you a big hug sweets - Is there anything you can apply to help with the rash? something like chalomine lotion... in a wierd way I feel that your body is responding and rejigging itself for this cycle - I hope monday comes very quickly for you. And that you get to the stim drugs even more quickly than that. Just read your recent post - am glad you called your friend and that you're getting some relief now with wine... i am sending you a big hug, a warm soothing tea ... i feel terribly for you ... if at all possible, think of yourself as a surfer and feeling this nasty wave go under you...because you're better than it...

Hi ladies how are you all today?

womanly thank you for your wise words, you are right, I must just surf the wave of grrrr and wait until I land on the beach! How are you doing? I hope the 2ww is treating you well and that the prog isn't making you feel funny. Not sure about whether AF starts while you are on prog ... But I'm sure yours won't as you are clearly going to get a bfp instead

Care how are you today? I hope you are well? I agree with the others, feeling down is prob quite normal after all you've been through. And there's something so comforting about leaving things in the control of the drs that to hand everything over to the lap of the gods is pretty disconcerting. However, you can rest assured that you will have a tiddly bear as I have been dancing in the woods again - this time near some damsel and dragon flies which has to be a good sign seriously though, I hope you are feeling less ouchy and that you've had time to look after yourself.

How was your lunch kool ? I am quite grumpy with whoever stole the sun so when you find out, let me know so I can growl at them too! Hope mr kool is feeling ok today. Not long till the 10th ... And until sniffing. Have you received your drugs yet?

Bondi how are you today? Any more news about your protobondibabies? I hope they are all doing well and that you have lots of healthy ones to choose from.

Hello to everyone else, anyone watching the tennis? I like Nadal but I wish he'd stop ferreting around in his bum crack to pull his pants out... I mean, how much does he earn compared to the cost of some new knickers?

Thanks all for your kind words and support over the last few days of me feeling I have to say the superstrong antihistamines worked wonders. They knocked me out before I even got to the wine and I was asleep for 14hrs. Woke up with no itchy rash and feeling much much calmer. I split my sniffing to leave a couple of hours between the doses and am feeling fine so far.

I had know idea that allergic reactions could play with one's mental and emotional state so much. I am a numpty pixie

I have to say I'm still not loving the drugs but, as long as I continue to feel like this and don't go back to the black hole of yesterday, I can keep going, even if my lack of AF means I have to stay on them for a bit longer than planned. Not saying I want to, obviously, but I can now see it as an extra twist on the path rather than the brick wall it seemed yesterday.

Anyway, back to watching nadal's bottom bothering,

Xxxx

Hi all, GP how's it going today, are you feeling any better hon? Did the wine and a good night's sleep make any difference? I love that prescription, what a great friend . Teds thanks for your comments has time speeded up at all for you yet, surely that has been a couple of weeks already?! Sending you lots of happy vibes. Kool that is so exciting, appointment next friday, best of luck lovely that has come round quick, massive fingers crossed you get to get started straight away afterwards. Womanly, you are so right about the hills, i love that analogy! Its the emotional equivalent of walking the himalayas! ..and there's been a few ups and downs since yesterday already. Have been listening to lots of relaxing music, not doing too much, trying to keep positive but it is a weird time. Found myself straying onto the baby name part of this site.....silly really as I should have better self control and it only makes things worse but hey ho. How do you keep the right kind of positive that will help it happen, but not so far into la la land that its going to hurt with a thud if it doesn't work??! Impossible I think, reading everyone's posts on here sure helps! I'm booked in for a blood test on the 18th which would be 2 weeks from ET, though they did say you can home test from about 12 days post ET which would be 16th. So bit like to the moon and back from now! Time for some more (realistically positive) affirmations!

Bondi how've you been, good luck for tomorrow, Bella have you had any more scans, Luck and everyone else, do post with updates of how you're getting on. x x x

Hey GP, x posts, fab news you're feeling a bit perkier and the antihistamines did their job, well done you for getting through a gnarly bit, hopefully it will be calmer waters till friday! . Do you know I think you have hit the nail on the head, until now the Dr's have had complete control and its been so reassuring, and now its back to just me and every other time i've failed miserably!!! its good to have that worked out for me though, good to know what's going on in my own mind, thanks everyone for working it out for me!

As for Nadal's tightie whities, some wise person somewhere must be shrinking them in the wash for us all!

x x x

garden you are a brave pixie and totally agree with you on the ferreting comment - LOL

Good evening ladies, and thank you for welcoming me!

care I'm sorry the ET was not painless: I now feel guilty for saying no worse than smear. I think I had so much adrenalin pumping through me that they could probably have performed root canal work and I'd have been fine. I was also in state of slight bemusement as I was sitting in "smear position" with consultant having a good old nosey whilst the embryologist was chatting to me through a cubbyhole showing me images of the embryos. I have never been so simultaneously mortified yet almost uncontrollably excited!!

Anyway, given the chat re emotions on 2ww, I think at the time we were almost in shock. During the process there is a lot of actual physical stuff to keep you "distracted" and short-term targets such as getting AF, good lining, follicles etc that it slightly distracts you from the endgame. When ET is done, it is like you're in a bit of a wilderness, life is almost in slo-mo as it goes from being mega-hectic to, well nothing (excluding things like work, which was in my case, horrifically stressful, as I'm sure it is with many of you)

I think I was very close to just stopping and saying "I just can't do this" but you can't.

The 2nd week of my 2ww was on holiday. We had taken DVD of "my name is earl" which we watched quite a bit of. Neither of us can really watch it now as it takes us back to what felt like quite a dark time.

But I'm sorry if I sound negative, I don't mean to, and I suspect there is a big "chemical fallout" for your body to adjust to.

I'm now in deepest darkest Scotland and am limited to reading and typing on iPhone over v slow connection so I may not becaround too much, But will be thinking of you all

Very best wishes for tomorrow, Bondi.

Xxx

Ps gardenpixie I hope things continue to get better. Xx

Very quick post to wish Bondi all the best for tomorrow!

GP glad you are feeling a bit better. Kool woo hoo for snifferama

care and womanly stay sticky and positive xx

((( hugs ))) to all the other laydees out there.

As for me, found out our funding for one cycle of ICSI is confirmed which was expected but lovely all the same.

Night all x

Good luck Bondi! I hope all goes really smoothly, sending plenty of sticky vibes your way.

Teds great news re funding

Good morning ladies - best of luck to bondi
teds congrats on news on funding.
garden hope you continue to sleep well with the anti-histamines -- best of luck with your appt.
Last stretch of the 2ww - as is typical, have not symptoms and am sure not preg... lots of AF related pains..though no af due to pessaries I think... Friday is not that far away, thank the good lord.

Have a lovely week :)

Teds that's great news re funding, marvellous to have it confirmed

Bondi am keeping my fingers crossed for sticky miniBondi(s) for you! Hope it all goes well

Care how are you feeling today? Hope everything is going well and that your tiddlybear is bedding in nicely I know what you mean about losing faith in your body but just think about all the extra help you've had this time round - you have done absolutely everything you can to make it happen, it's up to the tiddler now!

Womanly hope you are OK and that your cramps are pg symptoms rather than AF predictors!

Big waves to everyone else!

I have left a message at Guys for someone to get back to me re drug horridness but am actually still feeling OK. Although I did hear back (finally) from the counselling people who said they could fit me in in 8 weeks time I thought that might be a little late ...!

Hope everyone's week is off to a good start, here's a big for you all xxxx

Right, I'm attempting a bit of a catch up from a few days I missed so it might all bit a bit out of date now...

jumping great news that you're going with guy's too, that makes quite a few of us now . I know it's frustrating that you're a bit behind where you were as you have to wait for your initial consultation but you could perhaps phone to see about getting a cancellation? I think you were asking about questions you could ask? We too had a list but they were all answered by our consultant tbh. Although it's worth checking out the HEFA website www.hfea.gov.uk/fertility-clinic-questions.html, I found it really useful. I'd also recommend garden's advice about getting the day 2-4 tests done before your initial consulations as it might avoid any extra waiting.

Garden you mentioned supplement you'd been looking into...did you start the vit D? I'm just taking Sanatogen mother to be and hoping that'll be sufficient but I too end up researching and thinking that it's bound to work if I take x, y or z! I often find myself looking at the very expensive Zita West vitamins...but then I do try to reign myself in. It's not easy but I'm trying hard to think if it's going to work, it's going to work despite pilfering away money on pills which could otherwise be spent on shoes fresh fruit and veg (not beansprouts tho...)

at our matching anniversarys (ies?) Bellablister - maybe we'll have matching due dates too

Patient info evening was fine thanks, I didn't feel too conspicuous being on my own, just stuck my head in my newspaper. There wasn't really any new info but I'm glad I went. I liked the little video clips of the various procedures, made it all seem quite real. Garden they gave me the colour coded forms (!)...I have a feeling I may already have filled these in though so they had them for the initial consultation. Does that sound about right? You'd think I'd remember with the handy blue and pinkness as they look really familiar but I don't remember them being pink and blue (see, all it has done is confuse me!). Maybe they ran out of coloured paper.... Also, you asked if I'd got my drugs yet and I've not. I know yours came a bit last minute so do you think I ought to have heard something by now? I don't start until a week tomorrow but I guess it'll be cutting it fine if I wait until my schedule appointment on Friday to get it organised?

I'm so glad you're still feeling ok today, I still hope that Guy's get back to you to let you know what to do next.

A belated welcome to Bella30

And to Happygomummy - I'm so pleased you de-lurked, it's great to hear such a wonderful success story, thank you.

Right, I think I'm up to date. That might be my longest post. I had a hot when I started, which I've now finished

Ooh, I wonder how Bondi is getting on?

I meant to say, Care it's not at all to find yourself looking at the names bit of mn! If it makes you feel any better, manys the time that I click on the adverts on mn for maternity clothes, nursery funiture etc! Including that blossom website that's in the top right hand corner at the moment - gorgeous stuff, so expensive tho!

Hi All, thanks again for all your warm wishes. Its so nice to be able to share this with all of you as I am trying not to tell many in my own circle of friends.

My ET has been pushed back to Wednesday but thats no bad thing. I have still got 8 embryos (AMAZINGLY). 4 are apparently "perfect" - cannot tell you how amazing that sounded when i heard it, the other four are "above average and better than we would expect at this stage." i am currently quite giddy and cant contain myself. I know this doesnt mean a pregancy but its all still positive. i have decided to work from home until ET day. I just hope I wont end up disappointed....

Now, Care I am sure we all take a sneaky look at theses ads and things. I know I do. I have already bought a pack of baby socks (bought in 2009) and a little bunny (bought it March) so, you are perfectly normal.

Womanly symptoms for AF and early pregnancy are the same so... fingers and toes are currently crossed for you. (which is making typing very tough)

Kool Glad the info evening was OK for you

Care with every day you get closer. Stay strong lady!!

Garden it may be nothing to do with it but I am wondering if my decent size EC was helped by the supplements I was taking. I took Barley Grass capsules. They are packed full of vitamins and lots of antioxidants. I was actually taking them for the antioxidant properties after my friend (beauty editor of a glossy mag) was banging on about the benefits from an anti aging perspective but..... well... you never know I guess

Teds Funding = excellent news

Bondi that is such excellent news! Hurrah! Brilliant stuff. You must be so excited! Thanks for the info on the supplements, I will go out immediately and buy some definitely have a look next time I'm near a holland and Barrett. Are you going to freeze your extra minis on Wednesday? And have you thought about whether you will go with one or two as it sounds like you might have quite a few from which to choose!

kool I have started taking vit D, I have issues with insulin and polycystic ovaries and apparently vit D can help calm the pancreas down a bit so it doesn't get so overexcited about insulin ... So we'll see I guess! I know what you mean about the lure of the supplements, I have to say I am indulging myself at the mo and am on everything under the sun! Am sure just a good pg supplement will suffice though and I'm sure I'll get bored soon and just revert to pregnacare!

Xxxx

Great news bondi - best of luck for Weds :) kool glad your info evening went well. I remember going by myself for most scans and appt and feeling odd that most everybody else came in twos... and then my dh came in once for a consutant appt and my gosh the 360 degree change in consultant's sensitivity levels...was amazing.

Go Bondi and your supersonic embryos! That all sounds really positive

Womanly that's pretty shocking about the sensitivity levels . That would really have an impact on my own positivity (or otherwise) I think.

Garden do you think I should have heard something about my drugs by now then? Nothing yet and I'm not sure I should waiting until my schedule appt on Friday as that'd be cutting it fine for next Tuesday. Maybe I'll leave it a couple of days and then start calling them over and over until someone gets back to me! Btw I think your dancing must be doing such a great job if care and bondi are anything to go by!

Hello guys-can I join you? Have been on the 'assisted conception' thread a little bit but would love to join you too!!-I am on this IVF bus journey and wondering if I can tag along with you gals?! I am due for my EC on 13th june, so have been taking stims for nearly a week now. Have found things quite tough up to this point but thinking more positively now. I have to try...

Anyway, just wanted to say I think you're all very strong and have seen lots of positive vibes-hopefully I can share/give some of this back. Speak soon I hope.

xxxx

Phewy! Have just managed to sign-off my mammoth report that I'm presenting at a conference tomorrow so am feeling very smug and happy... honestly thought I'd be in the office until all hours tonight!

Welcome pumpkinjoy of course you can join us Is this your first IVF journey? (not that it matters)

We have some sad and moany days but generally think we're a lovely positive bunch

Bondi wow 'perfect' embryos sound amazing - it's no surprise you are excited. I know that we all need to keep things in perspective and not get carried away but I think we're all due a little bit of excitement in our ttc journeys after all the rubbish we're had to put up with.

A big welcome to pumpkinjoy - hope the days go really quickly till your EC.
Cool I have a consultant who is shy with women (yes, a bizarre career choice, certainly) - he never answered questions, did not provide clear descriptions, often mumbled into his chest...and then had me out of the room almost as quickly as I was in.... and then one day DH said he'll come along because he was worried about my anxiety levels..and that day - the consultant became the most chatty chap ever... it was an amazing transformation - end result, we got our qs answered and I was very calm exiting the room.. DH did tease me afterwords about how I could have ever cribbed about this wonderful consultant... LOL

can I just add - I am going bonkers waiting for June 10 -- I need help from my June 10 triplets.. how are you guys doing... I know I should not test... its just too early and with the dodgy progesterone reading... and no real symptoms... I mean I wish I would just swoon and faint and then when I was revived I'd hear the magical words... and no, I am not going anywhere near those baby names sites... and no I am not going near the pregnancy threads either... I was part of the frolicker group and everybody I joined with or thereabouts are all moms now.. sigh! day is coming to end..pretty good day for a Monday :)

Womanly that certainly is a weird career choice, how odd and lol about your DH's teasing . I'm a 10th Juner but only getting my schedule, not my bfp like you - completely get the wanting to swoon and faint thing! I'm just addicted to looking at that stuff - my original due date group are popping babies out left, right and centre. Weirdly tho it's not upsetting me now and is almost giving me some closure (eugh, not keen on that word but it fits here) as it's like the end of a chapter and now I'm on a new journey with you lovely ladies. Also I always try to remind myself that the fact that other people are having babies doesn't stop us from having them. I really wouldn't wory about no symptoms - I'm no pregnancy expert as I had a mc at around 10 weeks but I didn't get symtoms until a good 3 or 4 weeks into the pregnancy. In fact my only early symptoms were really tender (!!) so I thought my period was on its way for sure. I don't think I'd test yet if I were you, it's prob still a teensy bit too early. You're doing so well and don't sound like you're even mentalling too much, well done - nearly there (((hugs))).

Well done, Teds! It sounds as though you work terribly hard. Hope you'll be rewarding yourself with a tonight .

Welcome pumpkin, I'm not quite up to your stage yet, how exciting for you!

Gosh I'm addicted to mn today....I'm doing some work at home and it appears that I'm the world's worst procrastinator

Pumpkin welcome! Very exciting about your EC coming up. Are you doing short or long protocol? Do you have any scans between now and EC? How have you found the stim drugs?

Lovely to have you on board xxx

womanly you must be climbing walls! But the tenth is sooooo close! Just think, you are doing so much for your little one to get settled in, I am sure he / she is just picking the right spot. When is / was AF due? I know prog can mess cycles around so it's not as simple as late=pg but it's a good sign she hasn't shown up yet. I am doing a special IUI waggle dance for you! Do shout if you need any distractions

Kool sounds like you are being so strong about your DD group. It must be tough but you have such a great perspective on it and you're right, this is a new journey. I used to be on the same thread as womanly - the first time frolickers - and, as womanly said, lots of the people who we knew on there are now posting about their newborns. I'm thrilled for them all but it is hard accepting that our journey is trickier than others'. I can only imagine it must be harder after a MC. Am sending a particularly large your way

Re the drugs, I think you might give them a call. The problem I had was that they only send out the prescriptions just before the schedule appt and because my appt and sniff date were so close together, it all got a bit squeezed for time. It might be worth calling and just reminding them that you don't have very long before your appt and sniff day... can't hurt! To be fair to them, as soon as they worked out what was going on, it was all sorted very quickly.

Teds you do sound like you are working very hard indeed. I hope your meeting goes really well tomorrow - here, have one of these to have afterwards (or before if that would help more )

Hope everyone else is doing well tonight, well done everyone for getting through Monday

PS womanly your gynae who is shy with women cracks me up! He can't be very happy in his work ...! There are certain things a gynae consultant needs to be comfortable with ...