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

bella30 I'm so terribly sorry for your loss. My thoughts really are with you and your family. It's incredible news about your bfp, congratulations. I'm sure it feels bittersweet, surreal and a whole heap of other things right now and I wish you strength and hope, much love.

garden not sure how things are going for you? We're on the floor below you today . Sending you lots of positivity today x

bella30 big hug - I am so sorry for your loss and also thrilled for your bfp - I am at a complete loss for words..
garden how are you doing today hon? I do hope your follicles made best with the extra help they got and that you're closer to taking the ovitrelle injection in prep for EC.
Wave to everyone else.
jumping Am on an IUI cycle so do not have any answers for you -- very glad though that you have an appt for next week - may the days fly by :)

Bella30, bless you, what a tough time, I have absolutely no idea how you must be feeling. Am so so sorry to hear about your mum xx. Sounds like you have an amazing family supporting each other through this difficult time and I hope that your fantastic news can bring some happiness to you all at this otherwise sad time.

I am absolutely delighted for your BFP , I hope you can have a very boring, uneventful and enjoyable 8 months. Please stay with us and we'll help with any mentalling that you might have xx.

Garden, thinking of you today. Am sending the biggest positive vibes for the little fellas, hope they have plumped up nicely and you have the go ahead for your shot. I also hope that the bloods have been less traumatic. Big hugs (((((((()))))))), let us know how you're doing xx.

Kool, Teds thanks for advice on ZW vits, think I might take the plunge as I can deal with luminous pee just didn't enjoy the (sorry TMI) constipation that pregnacare gave me . Loving the chair but showed it to DH and he didn't think it was particularly stylish, ???. I've taken that to mean he'll source similar product with greater style (???) and no doubt a greater price tag should the time come .

Hi Womanly, hope you're doing ok.

Great news on the appointment Jumping, I'll have to have a proper look at your qu's later and see if I can answer any based on my experience to date. Got to get on with some work now as people are hounding me!

And I need to eat my boot camp lunch as my belly is making strange noises .

skitoo I have to agree, it's not the most stylish chair but I think in this instance I'd take comfort over style.....Having said that, if you hunted out a more stylish version I'd be interested!

Can't post at length as I'm on my phone and I find it too much of a faff but will reply to others later.

Monday group hugs, anyone?

Hi all, I'm back from a long weekend away. Part of it was a conference DH was at so I tagged along for the ride. And what's the #1 question all the other wives (who were at least 20 years older than me) asked? 'Do you have children?' Er, no. 'Oh well, plenty of time for all that!' Er, no, apparently not. I know they were only being nice but I felt I was allowed a minor grump to myself.

Anyway, tra la. To catch up with everyone:

Bella30 you poor love, my deepest sympathy to you, I'm so sorry to hear about your mum. Maybe a bit of her spirit has gone into your little bean? Sending big hugs (((()))), mixed with sympathy and delight at your BFP. xxx

Garden it's been a rollercoaster for you, how are your follicles today? You are NOT rubbish at IVF, you are even more brilliant than the rest of us because you're overcoming extra obstacles to get there. I'm thinking of you - hope the people in white coats sort you out today.

skitoo I'm on the ZW vits too although by crikey they're expensive. I get mine from my acupuncturist and I'm not seeing her until a week on Wed, and we're now running out (DH is on them too) so we're rationing them to one lot a day, on the basis that something is better than nothing. Am also taking the Pregnacare ones too, so I should be rattling when I walk!

Waving to everyone else and I hope you're all OK. Jumping hurrah for your appointment!! I'll have to look at your qs later, because I can't do the back button at the mo.

News here is that we start the down regging next Wed 6th - straight in with the injections, no sniffing here alas! Am nervous about it all, esp the injections and crazy hormones but I guess it's got to be done. My mum is type 1 diabetic and has been injecting herself twice a day for 40 years, so if she can do it, I can...and she has told me some HORRENDOUS tales of re-usable horse needles that they had to use in the 70s...ghastly.

Here's a question for you all - my small nephew has chicken pox, it appeared on Friday and I saw him the preceding Sunday and did a lot of carrying him, sharing biscuits etc (he's 2). I'll be ringing our fertility unit later to check that it's OK for me to continue with the injections next week but just thought I'd ask if anyone has heard anything re: chicken pox/inability to continue with treatment. I've had it, but of course there's shingles etc. aaarargh this process is turning me into a real Worried Well!

Right, me and my vitamins are rattling off. Love to you all!

xx

In for the group hug (((((((()))))))) Kool.

Thats exactly what I thought about the chair but hey if he wants to invest his time and money in finding a 'cooler' one but also to have the same comfort then I'll not stop him!! I'll keep you posted.

Right I've ordered the ZW vits, so am now officially part of the mug club . I've got the cd too but was given it as previous owner just burnt it in to their itunes library - happy to share around if anyone else wants a copy?

Luck sorry you had to endure those questions at the weekend, and you're allowed a grump, it's hard to stomach. I found it easy to to answer the questions the whole time we weren't trying and now I find myself lost for an explanation so think I make it even more obvious .

Woo hoo for starting DR, 6th will be here in no time at all . I've opted to go for injections too when I finally get started. I think most peeps on here sniff so I'll be coming to you for advice . I'm no doctor but if you came in to contact with him over a week ago, surely something would have come out by now if you'd managed to pick it up?? Do you feel ok, feverish or anything? Wouldn't normally recommend Dr Google but you might find out the typical time it takes to come out.

I would offer a large plate of for Monday afternoon but I'm on best behaviour, so here's a selection of , full of goodness and essential vits

The logging-in process seems to have changed slightly - don't know if that's why we all losing posts?

Bella30 can't get my head around your news, how terribly sad and bittersweet and yet amazing all at the same time. My thoughts are with you and your family xx.

GP really hope your follicles are doing their stuff today. Am sending them all the positive vibes I can.

jumpin can't answer all the questions I'm afraid. On the genetic stuff both us and the Drs think DH's low sperm count isn't genetic but they felt obliged to test just in case it was. I'm not really prepared for what will happen if it is genetic .

I think - and please don't take this as accurate - that there is some sort of link between male infertility and CF but it's only some types of infertility and obviously you'd also need to be a carrier for this to be a problem.

My DH's problem is really about a very low count so not sure about morphology.

On your tests and stuff, everything that you've had done should be sent to Guys as part of your referral so you shouldn't have to be re-tested. However, you probably should be prepard for more prodding and testing at your appointment - sorry... I was tested for AMH at my first appointment but this can be done any time. I would be prepared for another internal scan but again this can be done there and then so doesn't make any difference. I think I also needed to be tested for Hepatitis B or C and so did DH - but I was giving blood for AMH and he was giving it for karotype testing so wasn't anything extra.

DH has been told he'll need to give a sperm sample at next week's appointment so I suppose that's another possibility.

Hope that helps. Waves to everybody else x.

Luck good luck with the injections and not sure about the chicken pox.

skitoo am munching on an apple... needless to say it's no substitute for an ice cream..

Hi all, I have the answer to the chicken pox question from the fertility unit - it's fine, so long as I've had it, which I have. PHEW.

I know we're all trying to be good and healthy etc etc YAWN but I have a top choc tip. M&S do little boxes of nibbles in various flavours including chocolate butterscotch and chocolate almond slivers. A handful of them really helps the choc craving, and then I find I rediscover my willpower and don't need any more, which is quite a miracle for me. They're so teeny tiny that they can't posisbly have any calories... and almonds are v good for you.... Plus they're doing two boxes for £1.50.

I should be on commission!

xx

Thanks Teds, I've had the hep round of tests (need to chase for the results) and I think the AMH is tomorrow's (if that's the one at 23/24 days).

Will keep everything crossed and send good vibes for your dh's tests all come back OK

Can I join the healthy eating? Have already shunned a really nice (read: chips) lunch today in favour of an uber healthy salad... CRAVING chocolate like there's no tomorrow though!

Actually, speaking of food, anyone else been told not to eat ice cream, as you're meant to keep your tummy warm 'for the baby' and it only keeps it cold?

Hi ladies,

Bella30 I am so excited to hear about your BFP and so heartbroken to hear about your mum. I guess she did meet your LO even though none of you realised your bean had snuggled in yet. I am sending big hugs to say congratulations and I am so sorry xxxx

skitoo I chuckled so much at the Usain Bolt comment - there is a lead follicle which I have now named Usain!

Teds thanks for my dance! And thanks to your animals too- all much appreciated!

Jumping sounds like you have lots of answers to your questions but I just wanted to say you can have blood tests done at guys at the weekend - they are open for business every day. As one of the Drs told me yesterday, follicles and embryos don't really appreciate weekends! Guys' website lists all the tests they do - FWIW, they told me they are happy to use most tests done elsewhere if they are less than 6 months old, and some are fine even if they are over a year old. I can't remember if you said you'd had HIV tests done or not, but they will do that too.

Kool I am sorry you have also been to guys today I hope your DH is OK. You are a real inspiration for me to keep going. Here's a quick chemo friendly for Mr Kool and a more traditional one for you

Luck curse the women with the disinhibition issues and no sense of what is an appropriate question to ask. Well done for not flooring them! Glad the chicken pox issue isn't a problem for you

womanly how are you? Hope everything is going well?

Sorry for such a short post and for not posting much over the last few days. I've been pretty unwell with all the estradiol in my system and I've spent quite a bit of time in bed.

I had another scan today and the lead follicle (Usain Bolt) is now 18mm, there are about 6 at 16mm, and 10 at 14mm. The trouble is my estradiol is now so high that they have to pull back on the stims but they still want me to go back in tomorrow for a scan and blood tests as they reckon the biggie and the 16mms will be producing lots of their own FSH so it might well have pushed some of them over the edge (so to speak!).

So I really appreciate all of your follicle fattening vibes and dances - they are obviously all working!

Best go now as am feeling quite pukey and don't want to barf on my laptop

Lots of love to everyone and I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow xxxx

Hi Ladies, sorry i have been absent for so long. work is just crazy at the moment.

Bella30 I cannot quite imagine the emotions you must be feeling right now. My heart goes out to you and I wish you a very smooth 1st trimester. take it easy lady.

Will get chance to read all your other posts tomorrow and can give a proper shout out to all you lovelies

ooh and GARDEN i will be thinking of you tomorrow - we are all behind you!

GP good luok to you, Usain and the other follies. Sorry to hear that you are feeling so rough so do hope that the 16mm-ers rise to the challenge set by the world record breaker

jumpin day 23-24 might be progesterone? Although it could be AMH.

Gah! Should be working... but am clearly not!

Garden Best of luck tomorrow - i hope you feel better too - you've been a true soldier for all these weeks - hope EC comes quickly.
Wave to everybody else :)

Afternoon All

Garden I hope you're doing ok today and feeling a little less ick. Just to make you chuckle a little more, I have found myself doing the Usain victory pose a couple of times in the last 24 hours - what a nutter and I haven't even started treatment yet . Stick at it GP, you're getting there!

Luck glad you got an answer on the chicken pox, one less thing to worry about eh. I'm not normally that big on chocolate, more savoury snacks and jelly sweets, but you have me sold on the little M&S nibbles, is it wrong that I have planned a slight diversion on my way home from the gym tonight to pick some up? .

Ooh chips Jumping, well done for resisting temptation. I'm determined to be good for the next 2 weeks until my hol. Am trying to avoid carbs with exception of brekkie. Interesting comment about ice-cream, I hadn't heard that but had heard that you should try and keep warm...and as I am part of the mug club I took that to mean that I had to go and purchase a lovely new luxurious fur jacket hot water bottle - snow leopard, it's very cute.

Teds I'm with you on the work thing, soooo can't be bothered. Keep looking at my diary trying to work out what my schedule will look like and when I can not be here - oops!

Waves to everyone else xx

Just re-read my post and realised the contradiction with being good and going to pick up M&S nibbles

Hi all, another quick post again due to pukiness... Usain the big follicle had grown by half a mm but the others hadn't grown at all. I am feeling really fed up and have lost faith in this ever working for me. Just been talking to DH and we think we are going to stop. I tried to get to talk to a dr today but the nurses wouldn't let me and I feel like there's nobody who can give me a bigger perspective of what's going on. In the meantime, they seem to want me to come in every day for blood tests and a scan which means I haven't been able to work so I'm not getting paid and one of the nurses cheerily said this could keep going into next week which is just not an option for us.

Although we won't lose nhs funding if we cancel before EC, I think we are going to give it a few months and then go private for a short protocol treatment. After the hideous allergic reaction to the down regs, the EC that never happened and now the inability of the drs to prescribe high enough doses of stims to do anything, I just think this wasn't meant to happen for us this time round.

So I am going to wish everyone huge amounts of luck and say thanks for all your support. I will, of course, keep waggle dancing for tons of bfps all round xxxx

GP are you sure? Your follies are already way bigger than mine were - can't they take them out now, I'm not sure why they are still waiting? Do you really feel that bad? Far be it from me to say what you should or shouldn't do but if you just want some encouragement then let us know! Sending you huge hugs, am sure whatever you decide you will get there eventually. x x x

Bella 30 so very sorry to hear about your mum. I'm sure she will be with you every step of the way in spirit, and like GP said they were in this world together albeit all too brief. x

Luck how about those women. Its really hard to come up a response that fits the bill isn't it. In my mind I always say 'WDYMYOFB' but never outloud.

Kool hope things went ok with your DH.

Teds loved that song, haven't heard of that band before, so thank you.

Can't remember who it was that recommended I look at the assisted conception thread for info about immune tests but thank you that was really helpful. We had our review appt today, and they recommended an FET as next step. What settles it is that they surprised us by saying our NHS trust has changed its funding policy again, and we are funded for a further 2x FET and 1xIVF. Bit gomsmacked and very happy about that. They couldn't really say why it didn't implant last time round just one of those things, but they will put x2 back next time. Bit and worried that we'll just go through loads of rounds of this and still not get anywhere but hey ho.

waves everyone else. x

Care it is good isn't it! I suppose the good thing about a FET is that you get to 'test out' implantation without having to go through all the drugs again - not sure if that is a helpful comment but it sounds like it's worth a shot. Fabulous news about another round of IVF as well - though lets hope you don't need it.

GP am so very sorry you are having such a touch time. I think opting for private treatment that's more tailored to your body might be a good route to take but like Care if there is any encouragment we can offer to get you through this cycle let us know. You must make the best choice for you but I'm still hoping that somehow your follicles do enough overnight to get you to EC. Lots of love and (((hugs))) xx.

Thank you care and teds , the hosp won't consider EC until three follicles or more are above 18 mm even though I have loads at 16. Given the choice, I'd be happy to go for EC now but they won't.

If any of the 16ers have grown tomorrow, even by just a bit, I might ask again but I am on such a low stim dose that I am not hopeful...

care that is great news about the funding, hurrah! Just think of all your little frosty ones getting ready for you!

xxxx

Garden sorry this is short and sweet but just wanted to say sorry you're still having a real tough time and that it's making you sick and down . It is obviously your choice and only you and Mr Garden can decide where you go now. I really really hope that you get somewhere tomorrow as you're so so close. Like Care and Teds say, we'll be here to support you. Massive (((((((((HUGS))))))))) xx

Care great news on outcome of your appointment

Garden My heart goes out to you. Youve been having a tough old time of it....

You have to do what feels right for you and DH in all this. If you feel calling this off and going private, speaking from my own experience the short protocol is very manageable (i know we are all different so others may disagree). However, i did also want to say, if you feel you are close to being able to have EC and you have strength to fight another few days. WE ARE HERE and we want you to try and stay positive. which ever you chose, you can do this, I know you can.

Care Funding ..... whoooop whooop

Hi all, quick update - my scan showed that usain the big follicle is now 25mm but none of the others had grown. I grabbed a consultant to talk to about it all and he said they might be able to get me to EC on Sunday but that, given how unwell I am on the drugs and the fact that I'll probably have to take antibiotics for my arm which is now really inflamed from all the blood tests, that he agreed we should call it a day.

It was when he said I might need blood tests twice a day between now and Sunday that I really got scared!

He has suggested a review meeting in a couple of weeks and said, given how badly I reacted to the down regs that he thinks a short protocol would suit me better. I was quite annoyed that the nurses hadn't passed on the message about my allergic reaction to the down regs and he was v apologetic about that and the fact that the nurses wouldn't let me talk to him yesterday.

So I have to say I am feeling relieved at not having to have people dig around in my swollen arm for blood any more and that, if we do decide to go again, there are options that don't involve me taking drugs to which I'm allergic.

DH and I aren't sure if we will go again or if we will stay with Guys - at the moment we just need a bit of a break.

So I might not be posting every day but I will stick around to see how you are all doing.

Lots of love to everyone xxxx

Hi GP this is a real bummer - so sorry that the whole process has been such a nightmare for you. I'm glad that you got to speak to the consultant in the end and got some sense out of him and sounds like the decision is probably the best one.

Do stick around but make sure you have some time out to recover from both the stresses and also the drugs overload. Hope that DH is looking after you. ((( Hugs))) from me x