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 all

Blimey, loads has been going on here! Hugs to the following:

((((( garden, womanly, skitoo, care, anyone else who wants one )))))

I'm starting my injections too on Wednesday, luckbealady, we can be drug-buddies (how dodgy does that sound??)

Glad it is going well for you kool, I seem to remember we were going to be in sync too this cycle.

I have a CrAzY amount going on a work at the moment, I'm glad in a way that I don't have too much time to think about what the next few weeks might bring.

I've been trying to be as healthy as possible, and trying to get my weight down. I'm sure it will make bugger all difference all the difference to the end result.

Reading all the stories, the good and the bad (ACE news, bondi!) it is doing me the world of good to know that other women out there are going through the same thing. It helps me keep my feet on the ground, yet seeing you come back after a terrible knock makes me feel like if you can do it, so can I.

I'm LOVING at the moment. Can't stop playing it :o

Evening ladies - just catching up

Bondi thanks for the positive thoughts, DH and I had a little cry about our chances today but we are going to stay positive. There is pretty much nil chance of getting pg naturally so this is our best shot!

luck ellan the Dr kept saying to us today that it's just one egg and one sperm that we need so just a little group (((hug))) from me that are eggs and sperms get lucky

Welcome caramel - I think I'm going to be a little bit behind you, skitoo, kool, luck and Bodeccia as will start down-regging on 15th - which is a week on Friday I think.

GP hope you are doing okay and waves to Care, womanly, BellaB and Bella30 and everyone else.

Just to say that the Dr was gentle but a little brutal with us today. The stats don't look great for us but we might as well give it ago. My ovaries are definitely a little wrinkly so if we get more than 3 or 4 eggs that will be a result. Frankly I'm feeling that 3 or 4 would be great at this point. Ho hum.

x

Well, the last 2 nights have been tons better with the injections - got it down from 30mins to 7 mins, so I guess it does get easier with time. Kool - sounds like we're going for around the same time - I go in for my first blood test on Thurs, looking like egg collection on 15th all being well...good luck with your blood test and good luck to everyone else going through this. I'm doing my injections in my thighs - found it less painful than tummy, which came up in a massive bruise first time, think there's more meat in my thighs!

yay Bodeccia it's great that you'll be our drug buddy, welcome to the club with skitoo and kool! In one way I'm looking forward to getting going, and in another dreading it. But at least we get the chance, right ladies?

Teds I am adopting your mantra - it only takes one, it only takes one...

caramel, glad the injections are getting better - it'll be 7 seconds soon!

Have a good Tues everyone xx

7 minute injections?!! oh lordy... I faint at the sight of blood so have no idea how I'm going to cope with all this needling

Quick favour - some of you London ladies have visited a acupunture place in Blackheath, so sorry but I can't remember who. Would you be able to PM me details? Or is there are any other recommendations nearby would welcome those too.

Teds it really does only take 1! I'm sure the docs wouldn't let you go through with it if they didn't think there was a chance it would work. Sending you loads of hugs {{{{ }}}}

ladies who are busy injecting themselves I hear you pain! All in a good cause.

x x x

Evening Lovely Ladies

Ohhhh no, sorry I don't graduate to the drug buddy club just yet, name is on the list but they won't let me in just yet! All being well with scan on Thursday I'll start on 22nd, so Teds you'll be a week ahead of me .

It all became a bit more real for me today as talked through my schedule with my clinic nurse on the phone . So have all the dates in my diary assuming everything goes to plan. I just really blody hope that nasty cyst has buggered off by scan on Thur, as nurse told me if it's still there, they will cancel my cycle . So this is a plea for some cyst dispersing waggle dancing, pleeeaaassse. I'll take the big hug Bodeccia* if thats ok?

How did the bloods go Kool, have you got lots of lovely follies sprouting?

Caramel, glad the injections are getting better, fingers crossed for you for Thursday.

All together now girls 'it only takes one, it only takes one'.....

Hey all!

Bodeccia thanks for the group hug, I'll have me a bit of that action! All the best with the injections tomorrow. I'm on day 5 of them now and they really are ok, I promise (and I'm a really squeamish type) so remember......just do it! Each moment of procrastinating is a moment too long!

Teds re the accu, that was me and Bondi so i'll pm you. I've just got home from a session and am feeling nice and chilled. So sorry that you and DH had a wobble - completely understandable, it's all quite overwhelming at times but you're so right, it takes just one and you're on your way now. I faint at the sight of blood too but the injections really are ok.

caramel well done for reducing the time, that's great! Let's hear it for one minute tomorrow

hey care how's it going?

skitoo, I'm so glad you're feeling all excited! Fingers crossed that your cyst has gone, can totally relate as I had to have my jumbo one removed surgically a couple of months ago and was dreading its return.

I had my bloods done this morning and they're a bit high so I'll go back on Thursday for more bloods and a scan. My follies are a bit keen I think so I hope they don't go too wild. They've kept me on the same low dose injection so I guess I've just got to trust they know what they're doing.

Oh dear, 2 tubs of chocolate cornflakes mini bites seemed to fall into my basket at M&S today.....so I must dash!

OMG skitoo, there is no club here hon, unless its called the "it only takes one club" :)

Hmm... shall we go off on a tangent where we try and find as many songs with the idea of "just one" or "only one" in the title? off the top of my head

Bit nervous about tomorrow. Caramel: you're not helping with your 30 minute injections. Tell me the scenario goes like this:

• going to do it
• can't do it
• going to do it this time
• can't do it, its a needle in my LEG
• after 3
• 1, 2, 3...
• 4...

(30 minutes later)

• ouch, did it

I could see myself doing 30 minutes of that. If this isn't the scenario, hmm... I'm not sure I'd like to think of what the other version of a 30 minute injection is like.

Good luck luck and anyone else just starting out on this crazy adventure, will report back tomorrow

Boddecia - don't worry it wasn't the actual injections that made it take a long time, my vials and syringe kept getting pressurised so that was what took so long, kept having to sort that out and it just made me more stressed - good tip is to take the syringe out of the vial once you release the liquid, draw a bit of air into the empty syringe before you put into into the vial, release it into the vial before you fill the syringe up with the contents. Seems to work. I used to be terrified of needles but honestly now, I don't give it a second thought, you'll be fine after the first one.

Nice to have some injection buddies - Kool, Boddecia, Luck and Skitoo. Talking of LAGER LAGER LAGER, every time I go off to the loo at work to 'sniff' the Suprecur I feel like a drugee!

Kool - good luck on Thurs, fingers crossed.

I'm doing acupuncture too - in Covent Garden where I work, my acupuncturist is amazing and she also has a clinic near my hospital in Chelsea so that will be really handy for EC and ET days.

I'm not getting many side effects either - getting a twinge now again around my ovaries but could be just imagining it.

This thread is really helping, its so nice to hear from people going through the same thing otherwise it can e a bit lonely.

Speak soon (Sorry for some reason I can't bold your names!)

Just a quick one to say omg caramel you poor thing! Your injections sounds far trickier than mine, I'm not surprised it's been stressful. Mine is just a pre loaded pen type thing so once you've set the dose it's pretty much done. Glad you've found us, it's a lovely thread.

Hehe Bodeccia loved your scenario! As Nike says, just do it!!

Apologies for very quick me, me, me, me post but can anyone tell me how long the Guys' Patients Evening goes on for? Thank you x

I don't remember it being much longer than an hour

Thank you thank you thank you...

Hi all

I'm happy to report that I did my first injection at the hosp this morning and it was fine! The needle didn't hurt at all, and the juice just stung a bit. But I am SO relieved - and even more relieved to find out that those big needles in the pack are just for drawing up the dose. PHEW.

So here we go....bring on the crazy hormones!!

love to you all
xx

PS Bodeccia my 'one song' suggestion is Chesney Hawkes 'I am the one and only' ahhhh my lost youth...

Hi everyone,
Now that a good number of us are progressing in our respective IVF cycles - it's a bit hard for me - a non IVFer - to keep track of all the stages :) So here's a big hug and wave to all of you - - Kudos for keeping at it, the 30 minute injection scared me - so amazing to get that down to 10 and continue doing it.. luck good luck and congrats on the first injection going well.. Teds Best of luck for your appt..
Bodecia I am in for the group hug too.

Wave to all :)

teds sit near the back and you'll be able to sneak out of the lecture theatre unnoticed not that I ever did that at uni

Great stuff luck! Well done!

Oooh and my song is 'the only one I know' by the charlatans - loving a bit of chesney too though, far more anthemic!!

luck: I'm posting for you, but I have to admit I couldn't watch the whole thing. The hairstyles, the mole: scary stuff! I just had to turn it off.

Anyhoo... I had my first injection too, I was a bit nervous but I did it. I'm not sure I'll remember how to do it tomorrow, I totally see what you mean about it taking 30 minutes, caramel. I didn't get any itchiness or anything, I just felt a bit nauseas afterwards. I just drank water and was fine. I've got a bit of a bruise there now, I must have been faffing too much. I hear what you're saying kool about knowing where to inject, so I think I might just trace a picture, see if I can get my bruises to make some kind of image... :)

So, that's me. I so need chocolate right now.

I'm right back at my school disco with ! Thanks kool :o

Hi Ladies

Wondering if I cold join you (been lurking for a while!). I'm going to be starting menopur injections tomorrow evening. I have a daughter already (thanks clomid!) but have been waiting for what feels like forever for no.2

Not many symptoms for me with the DR (other than chocolate ice cream cravings). Hoping that stimming will be equally as uneventful.

Will go back a re-read everyone's history now!

Back to 30 mins last night :-( and another stress fit (poor husband!) hoping tonight will be easier again! I'm starting to feel quite bloated all of a sudden, got my first tests tomorrow so fingers crossed - these injections better be working after all the hassle!

Bodeccia and Luck - well done on your first injections, thats always the worst, it can only get better.

Kool - good luck with your tests tomorrow too.

Welcome owl and good luck with the injections, let us know how you get on.

Hi Ladies

It's been ages since my last question :)

Wondering if you could help I've eventually got my date for the open day at GUYS I can't tell you how happy I am :o. But know it's got me thinking what treatment they might do first Me 35 Dh 34 unexplained infertility have any of you had IUI first then IVF did you have a choice I know I'm thinking way ahead but as im getting closer to my B-Day I keep thinking time is waiting for no one

Ive been keeping up with all your up's and downs laughing and then sad sometimes at all the going on's and then thinking ill almost be on the rollercoaster aswell but Im scared and excited at the same time thanks for any Info

Big Hug To All

close I am on IUI currently. My consultant first had me on Clomid - that did not help me ovulate. Then he suggested IUI but where he'd put me on injections and Ovitrelle but have us continue to have sex..ie without the insemination part. He then changed that and said let's do a full IUI. They will go three cycles before they then reconsider if now I need to go for IVF. The rates of success are higher in IVF than IUI. IUI is less intense than IVF.
caramel I hope you are feeling a bit better - are these daily injections? Have you spoken with your nurse? In my case, I used a pen-injection.. and did it on my upper thigh. Also agree with Kool on knowing where to inject..some days it would hurt as I injected..while other days there was no pain -- though that didn't help me figure out why or where to inject... I thought it was about missing my veins..don't know.
Wave to everyone else :)

Hello all, hope you're all doing ok

Bodeccia, Luck, congrats on getting over the first hurdle with the injections, fingers crossed that it gets easier.

Hope your tests went well today Kool and your follies are behaving .

Welcome Owl, hope the menopur goes ok tonight.

Caramel I really hope your Wednesday night jabs were better and that you found out today that they're working so worth it.

Teds did you make the open evening?

Womanly do you know when you're cycling next on IUI?

Close, great news on your appt. Sorry can't help with qu, we were referred straight for ivf after no luck with clomid but we both have fertility factor issues. Hope your appt is soon so you can work out where you're going and have a plan.

Waves to everyone else xx

Well good news for me - have just got back from clinic and the cyst has gone!! I am SO happy, my body has done as asked for once, I can't tell you how relieved I am . So holiday next week, drugs delivered beginning of week after and then I finally get started end of that week - HOORAH! Bonus that I also lost 2 lbs this week, so off out to dinner with DH to celebrate and obviously put the 2lbs back on, oh well...

xx