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

Hi just wanted to say huge huge big luck for tomorrow caramel I will be thinking of you. And fantastic news about the little embies owl hope the ET goes brilliantly and that annoying cough disappears asap! Sadly my news isn't great, at my scan this morning they found my follicles hadn't grown at all in the past week and they concluded that since it was day 15 and they were still only 11mm they would cancel this cycle :( Am absolutely gutted but I had a feeling this would happen since the first scan. Desperately hoping that next time (if there is a next time) they will agree to start me on a higher dose (started on 112.5 this time) and that this will be enough to get my ovaries going (guess they are a lot wrinklier than I thought!). Am seeing the consultant on Friday to discuss. Any positive reassuring and optimistic stories would be hugely appreciated. In the mean time I think this calls for a bottle of to drown my sorrows. Big hugs to everyone, have a great week whether you are testing, scanning, stimming, EC-ing, ET-ing, down-regging, waiting for drugs to arrive or for an appointment etc xxxxxxx

Aw Dannygirl, the hugest of huge (((hugs))), I'm so for you. Right now you need to take some time (and obviously) but when you're ready it might be worth posting on the pregnancy board as you may well find others who this happened to on their first go who are now all nice and pregnant. I'm glad that you don't have to wait too long to see the consultant. I hope you've got lots of good RL support xx

Dannygirl - so sad to hear that. Take some time to decide what to do next. Thinking of you, xxx

caramel - good luck tomorrow

Oh Dannygirl I'm sorry to hear that sweetie. Hope you're being looked after, enjoy that xx.

Owl whoop whoop for your grade 1 embies! Good luck for tomorrow, be calm and am sure the cough won't be a problem. Will be thinking of you.

Hang in there Caramel, I have everything crossed for you xx.

Teds hopefully horrid af is a good old clear out, leaving you all lovely and ready for stims.

Bodeccia, sounds like you've beaten the dr's and can enjoy a nice break now. I'm hoping that being busy at work is going to occupy my mind and stop me going mental too.

Kool, oh to have even one thing in common with Lara Croft, just the lips would do!! However I did attempt Body Combats tonight and think I'm going to have to put that aside whilst d'regging as my body just wasn't willing.

How weird is it that I'm happy to have started my jabs?!?!?! I would have started my maternity leave this week and know that if I didn't have this to focus on now I'd be spending far too much time thinking about what would have been. Am feeling pretty positive at the moment so want to spread the vibe to you all xx.

Dannygirl so sorry to hear that, when you see the doctor make sure you tell them exactly what your worries are and ask as many questions as you want to, especially about starting on a higher dose next time. Enjoy the and make the most of it, I'm sure it won't be long until you have to give it up
again. Thinking of your and sending over lots of big hugs.

Skitoo I don't think its weird you're happy to start the jabs, thats the next big step and after that it's not long to EC so its a huge next step in the right direction. Great that you have that to take your mind off things too, you can really feel you're doing something positive towards your goal.

Bugsylugs, skitoo, Kool, Luck thanks for all your thoughts.

Hugs to everyone else and owl hope all goes well tomorrow.

xxxx

Skitoo, you're SO Lara! Body combat too?! I'm not surprised your body didn't want to play after your paintball escapades! You know what? I think putting that aside for the time being is a great idea! My Zita West book recommends taking a gentle walk while in a cycle and not a lot else so I don't need telling twice . I was also excited about my jabs and kind of looked forward to doing them every day as it really feels like you're getting somewhere eh? Yay for the positivity , especially as it ties in with what should have been your mat leave. I too was dreading my due date but knowing that I was getting on with ivf really helped me mentally.

Special thoughts and ((())) to Owl and Caramel today xx

Danny sorry to hear your news. Enjoy your wine (mmm wine) and hopefully the next cycle will see you right. Welcome to the raisiny ovaries club!

I look forward to my jabs too; it feels like I'm doing something proactive. Weird world! Ladies who have been through EC - what's the Pregnyl injection like, is it a subcutaneous one like the others?

Gah, have arrived at work, better show willing I suppose.

xx

Morning Luck . I did Ovitrelle not Pregnyl but they're both the hcg shot right? Mine was subcutaneous so I'm sure yours will be too . Mine looked a bit different from the gonal f stims pen I'd been using but it was exactly the same technique. When are you being scanned to see you're responding? Hope all is still going well!

I meant to see HOW you're responding !

Morning all,

Thinking of Owl and Caramel today - will be eagerly checking back to see how you're getting on.

Dannygirl how rotten that this cycle has been cancelled. Do you know how long you'll need to wait before you can start again?

As a general question - what counts as a full cycle? We have NHS funding for 2 cycles (as it stands at the moment!). How far along to you get before it counts as a cycle? As in, surely the situation Dannygirl is in doesn't count as a full cycle? What about if once they've done EC, none fertilize? Would that be a full cycle, even though there was no ET? Thanks.

I'm bored and want something to happen. V jealous of all this injecting happening!! Still not heard anything from the clinic or even the copy letter from the referring consultant. Will give them a call at the end of the week methinks. Missed our last window of SWI with the clomid - SIL staying and she is a v effective contraceptive! But I'm refusing to stress about it as it never seems to work anyway!

How is Gardenpixie? Not heard from her in a wee while.

Hi to all others

Hi guys,
Caramel and Kool really thinking of you both and hoping/dancing for good news. Lucy I had my previous cycle of IVF on NHS and was funded for one-just got past EC and no fertilisation-so was counted as my one and only go-unfair but that's the reality I guess
I am waiting for AF to arrive as tested BFN from just SWI and progesterone injections-knew that would be the case but at least it felt we were doing something proactive. Then downregging starts next cycle for ICSI. Nurse thinks I will be on 2 types of stims this time as only produced 6 eggs fr 12 follicles and they would have hoped for at least 8-poor DH s face dropped as mad on them last time! Just hoping, hoping, hoping for more positive outcome this time-if only to get to ET....
Love to all
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Ladies

skitoo - it is definitely not weird to be excited about starting jabs. I was definitely excited to think that we were 'trying something new' wrt trying to get pregnant.

luckbealady - my ovitrelle injection was just the same as menopur ones (although it was pre-filled which was nice as I found loading the menopur one up the hardest bit)

lucyraggydoll - we are having to go privately as we already have dd but for us we would have got a partial refund if we hadn't got to EC stage. As soon as we went into surgery it counted as a full cycle.

I had ET today. Apparently our blasto was v good quality, so fingers crossed. They will let me know later whether the remainder are good enough quality for freezing. I'm desperately hoping they are because I'm starting to realise how much this has taken out of me over the past few weeks and would really prefer not to do full ivf/icsi again.

Good luck to all

Test was negative sadly. I'm at work, but keep having to have a good cry in the loo, goodness knows what everyone thinks but really don't care. We're booked in to see our consultant again in a couple of weeks to see when we go again but I think they prefer to wait a full cycle which is fine by me as I'll get August off, think I need it. Also ordered a Zita West book and CD so at least I feel I'm doing something.

Who is on their second/third round on this thread - sorry I've lost track! On Sunday I re-read through the thread from the very beginning but have forgotten it all again.

Owl brilliant news about your blasto, keeping everything crossed its getting all cosy and snuggly in there.

Hugs to all

((((hugs)))))) to caramel :( :( Really sorry to hear that your bean hasn't stuck. You sound like you're being quite strong. I hope you and your DH are able to look after each other tonight with much
xxx

So sad to hear that caramel. Cry all you need, it's such a emotional experience and so hard when it's not successful.

I know several RL people who've had postive results after 1 or 2 failed cycles so there's still loads of hope. Give yourself some lovely treats in the enxt few weeks.

Oh Caramel I'm so sorry, I'm so disappointed for you . You're amazing to already be thinking ahead, you WILL get a BFP I'm sure. My best friend didn't get pg on her first cycle but now has 2 children from her 2nd and 3rd cycle. I'm sure you'll get lots of positive IVF stories if you post on the pregnancy thread, no rush though. For now, get through the day at work, get home and get looked after. And don't forget that we're here. Off the top of my head, Carebear is going to start her second (frozen) cycle, and Garden and Pumpkin are starting again, and Womanly is on her 3rd IUI I think. Sorry if I've got any of that wrong or missed anyone. Big hugs from me xx

Oh caramel my heart got all achy just reading that. Sending you loads of (((hugs))). I usually say embrace the raw pain for a day or two so cry all you like. Do whatever it takes to get you through the next few days xxx.

Dannygirl also huge (((hugs))) to you too. Me and Luck would love to welcome you to the raisiny ovaries club Hope the consultant is able to offer you some good advice on Friday.

Lucy on your query if you cancel before EC then it doesn't count as a cycle if you are being NHS funded and you get your go again. But sadly, as Pumpkin says, if you get through EC but then there is no fertilisation that does count as a cycle.

Owl lovely news about your blasto - hope owlet is nesting as I type

skitoo evil AF is passing but thanks for asking. Can't believe I start stims next Tuesday all being well

Kool / luck ahem "Subcutaneous"??! I am not going to google this... In fact I am going to make my body enter a Zita West-esque, zen-like calm state whereby I forget I even read your posts...

caramel just to add that Bondi got a BFP on this thread but that was her second cycle if I remember rightly. We will all get there, even if it doesn't feel that way today xx.

Fear not Teds! Subcutaneous just means injected just under the skin, which is why us non medically qualified types can do it as it doesn't need to go into a vein or muscle (thank heavens!). Although personally I do think we should get a certificate for doing it . Did you check your little caps? Were they def liquid or were they the replacement needles?

Shhhh!

I meant to check but didn't - it would make sense if they were replacement needles. Doh

Tee hee!

Ladies, I've missed you!!!! Smelly old work has rather taken over my life (booo to having to pay bills ) but I'm taking a breather now!

Dannygirl I am so sorry about your cancelled cycle. It is a massive blow isn't it? It took me a while to get my head round things after mine was cancelled so I am sending you lots of hugs. Something that I've been told by the clinic over and over again is that the tiny weeny silver lining (actually they may have used more medical terminology) of a cancelled cycle is that the Drs know more about how you're likely to respond next time round so have a better chance of getting it right.

I know it doesn't stop the disappointment, frustration and general feeling of crushedness that goes with having to stop a cycle but I found it did help me a bit. Here, have a special and an arm stroke xxxx

LucyRaggyDoll thanks for asking after me! Sorry I have been absent ... just trying to deal with packing in as much work as possible before starting the next cycle.

Having a bit of entirely unwelcome experience of cancelled cycles on the NHS, I can share what I've learnt about it: NHS funding is considered spent once you get to ET, so if anything happens that means that the cycle is cancelled, you still retain your funding. You do, however, have to contribute to the costs of the drugs for the next cycle - how much will depend on which PCT you're with; I have to pay the whole thing but, because I'll be doing a short protocol, they are hoping it won't be that expensive

Pumpkin sorry to hear that natural SWI didn't do it for you this month ... how are you feeling about starting a new cycle? It sounds like you are in good hands with the clinic and I am waggle dancing furiously for your ovaries to respond to the double stims

Bodeccia by the time I'd been on down regs for three weeks, I was practically eating the furniture so I have to bow to your calmness! How are you doing with everything? Hope it is all going well

LaraSkitooCroft ooooooh body combat???? Cool! Is that a good way of dealing with all the hormonal nonsense kindly inflicted on us by the IVF drugs? Sounds like a good excuse to go a bit bonkers!

Luck I still have my ovitrelle trigger shot in my fridge. It's a whopper but the nurses said it's a sub-cutaneous one as they don't like patients to have to do a DIY intramuscular one - PHEW!

Kool how are you? And how is your DH doing? Has he finished this round of treatment yet? I hope he is feeling OK. When will we get news of KittenKool ?

Womanly how are you doing? What's going on with you at the moment?

Caramel and Owl I am sending love, hugs special thread waggling your way - I hope everything goes well for you both today xxx

Hello and to everyone I've missed - it's going to take me a while to catch up but I'm on the case now! I hope you are all well xxx

I had my follow up / 'let's get on with it again' appt at Guy's today and I have to say the consultant was brilliant. He said that he wasn't that thrilled with how my meds had been handled last time round and felt that the Drs looking after my case should have just carried on with initial dose of meds rather than trying more gentle stimulation. So he's written in big writing all over my file that nobody is to lower my dose!

He was really sympathetic about my nascent needle phobia too and said he couldn't believe they'd got me in every day for 12 days in a row for tests - especially given how tricky it was to get blood out of me.

While I was a bit that he'd been so honest about what he would have done differently, I did feel encouraged that he was taking "oversight" of my next round (whatever that means) and that I shouldn't have to fanny around with the blood tests again because, if my stim dose is to stay the same, there's no point monitoring my estradiol levels

I have to say I was still in two minds about whether to go for another cycle but after chatting to him, I'm feeling much more positive.

So I have to wait for AF and then start the short protocol on CD2... I'm not entirely sure when that will be but I think it will be sometime between this weekend and next weekend (my poor body is a bit still after the battering I took last time round)!

And ladies I have to say an enormous thank you to you all for joining in this thread - can you believe we are almost at 1000 posts...? I am a lucky Pixie to have found so many fabulous and brave ladies with whom to navigate the IVF journey xxxxx

Caramel for some reason my computer has only just updated to include your post (and everyone's after that).

I am so sorry.

I think it's a good idea to give yourself a full cycle before trying again. I know my case is different to yours in that my cycle was cancelled but I really felt that taking that break made my body and mind stronger and ready to go again.

You are being amazing to think about the next round already.

I am sending big hugs to you and one of these xxxx

gardenpixie I have had to pay for all my drugs myself and unfortunately the stimming ones were the most expensive. It's worth investigating cheaper suppliers now as I think the online ones can be much cheaper, although require a few days for delivery. As my stimming drug dosages were increased over my cycle I ended up getting the extra from the (private) hospital pharmacy and was over the cost!

Thanks owl I will check that out. I suspect that what a high level consultant who does private and nhs work defines as 'not too much' might not tally with my definition! How are you feeling post ET of super brilliant emby?