Assisted Conception (and all the bits in between) volume 7

[Italiangreyhound]

Hi ladies Pumplinjoy, Shirley, Lissy, Keziah, Womanly,Val, Late, monkeybumsmum, tametortie and Rowing* - hugs to you all.

woowa of course you can join us.

Choco and Horton and londonlottie do you still look in on us?

Can you all find us?

No time for a big post but just wanted to say lissy that's brilliant!! I have everything crossed for you. What a great result. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Oh and daisy welcome! I'd echo what others have said. If you get a good blastocyst, most places only want to transfer one and that does seem to work better. If you're under 35, I think they'd need some serious persuasion to do more than one.

lissy YAY YIPEE. Wonderful news. I am so, so pleased for you.

daisy18 welcome.

Keziah hope you will be well again soon.

beginnings and Scrummy how is it going?

CareBear1 welcome. The Immunology tests are done before a cycle, although normally you would have one or several failed cycles before you would have the tests. Normally, the clinic would not suggest tests until you had had a few failed cycles (I think). The reason I asked was because we had had numerous failed UUI cycles, and one UVF cycle with donor eggs that failed. There are lots of different immunology tests. Maybe someone can link to some info on it.

I am NOT recommending this clinic or book or info but it is one place to start to look for info on Immunology.

www.fertility-academy.co.uk/recurrent-failure/reproductive-immunology/

Can anyone else link to any useful info? We used to have a lovely lady called BagofHolly who had loads of useful info. If you are interested, if you look back over former threads, you may find it.

Rowing how goes it? Thinking of you. You have been through so much. . Really hope this will all have a happy ending for you. Roll on September for us both .

Who have we not heard from for a while? Womanly, Woowa, Lateatwork, Val, Monkeybumsmum,Nooknook and TametortieLucy Any news?

Londonlottie do you still look in on us from time to time?

I feel kind of weird. I am feeling very old and decrepit at the moment and I suddenly realised if I have another baby that baby will be a person in their own right! Now, you will think I am mad but I always thinking of this baby as my baby, my hubby?s baby, my dd?s sibling, but this person will be a person, and I will need to lavish all the love and care and mental energy that goes into the rest of my family. I am feeling tired and wondering if I have the energy. I would not turn back now, I am so close but I just want it all to be decided, to have an idea, it is taking so bloody long to get our donor and I just want that call. Here?s a funny thing! I called someone at work last week but I accidently called my own number (long story!) but as I was on the line waiting for this other person my phone started going (cos it was me calling me, I'm a Dumbo!) and I (for a moment) felt my heart leap that it might be the donor coordinator with a match! So now I just want that heart leap moment for real.

IUI and IVF obviously!

Sorry that should be ...

and Tametortie

Lucy Any news?

Hi all,

Italian, what are you like! Phoning yourself! I used to do that, so that I could pretend I had friends. 'Hello' 'Oh hi' that kind of thing. Then I told myself to stop phoning me.
It's funny about the immune tests, not doing them until we have spent a small fortune or had multiple heartaches with failed cycles. It's as if the clinics have forgotten that we have all been TTC for years before attempting assisted, clearly, for us there is something not working and perhaps immune treatment would allow some women to conceive without the risks attached to IVF.

Lucy I think the dizziness may be partly related to the methotrexate munching all my folic acid. I'm not allowed to supplement because it could stop it working, so just have to put up until the hcg is down to 0. Wah!
It could be nuts on here in October, you're right!

Off for another blood test tomorrow morning, will post back soon...

Hey rowing is it October for you or September? Hugs to you.

I'm feeling so emotional at the moment, keep kind of hoping it will be because of a natural pregnancy - that is making me so emotional - but I know that is not the case! Just waiting for our donor to appear!

Hello gorgeous ladies...

Just wanted to pop on and say a quick hi to everyone.

Italian- Donor will come soon, I just know it! In the meantime, you have a lovely holiday awaiting you. When are you off? (sorry, I forgot)

rowing- Levels are going down, levels are going down...

keziah- How are you feeling?

lucy- What's happening, chick?

beginnings- Thanks for the encouragement!

AFM, from Sunday to Monday my HCG levels went from 252 to 384, and my progesterone was at 359, so both very good. And today was my OTD! Tomorrow I'm in for more bloods, and possibly another intralipid infusion pending the results of my mini-immunes. Although I will be on tenterhooks for the next twelve weeks, I feel much more confident that things will be ok, because ARGC are so unbelievably thorough. I did get to stop taking that awful Ritodrine, and I feel much better for it, thank goodness! Still on a regimen of Clexane morning and night, prednisolone, aspirin, Cyclogest pessaries morning and night, and a shot of Gestone. My poor bum!

Have a lovely day...

lissy that's fab news. Good luck with the mini immunes? I'm interested that you're on clexane morning and night. What dosage are you on, if you don't mind me asking?! I'm wondering whether I need to be on a higher dose as when I was taking it I didn't bruise at all and everyone was telling me I would!

Italian fingers crossed for you that you don't have to wait too much linger. I'm sure there's a lovely lady out there for you soon.

Keziahopes how are the tonsils? Hope you're feeling better.

rowing good luck with the test this morning.

Lucy what did you think of Bridesmaids? I thought it was hilarious. DH not so much.....don't think he'll be coming back to the cinema with me for a while.

scummy I'm so sorry I only just realised that I addressed an answer to you as part of a post to someone else. I'm still new at this!! My experiences of the lister have been really good. They have really good rates for people with high FSH and low amh which is why we went there. They've also done their own research into immunology which has been, I think, recognised by the HFEA. You have to stay on top of them and be master of your own treatment, but honestly, I think I'd be like that wherever I was!

I'm hoping I'll be joining you ladies in September or October. I don't know how long the Lister will make me wait between cycles. Although they didn't really make me wait between the fresh and frozen one.

beginnings- I do a 20mg shot every morning and every evening, and my stomach looks gorgeous! Also do 75mg aspirin in between. I think because my NK results are on the high side of normal, they'll give me the intralipids to be safe. This'll be my third one...

Thanks lissy Hmm same dose then, just administered differently. I was on 40mg at night. I don't envy you having to do shots of it a day, it stings!! My NK cells are ok, it was my cytotoxicity levels that were high and I was just on 25mg prednisolone for that.

Fingers crossed for third time lucky for you.

Hi all,
sorry just dashing on but Lissy Woohoo! Hooray to stop that nasty medicine.
Italian end of September/beginning of October, as have to allow 3 months from the methotrexate.

Just got bloods back down to 108!!!! Yiiiipppeeeeee! It was 404 last Tuesday, so that is a big old drop. Completely pooped though! Holiday next week so a chance to chill.

Rowing yay! It's all going the right way. Just hang on a bit longer and once you're back to zero you can stop the drugs and start to feel human again.

Beginnings I thought Bridesmaids was hysterical. I literally cried with laughter. I went with a girl friend but reckon DH would have liked it too, I can see it appealing to his base sense of humour!

Lissy it all sounds great. Do you have any symptoms yet? Maybe it's hard to tell with the drugs. All fab news though

Italian hope you're bearing up OK. Waiting is difficult anyway, and the last few weeks of waiting always seem to drag the most. It won't be long now, I'm sure you'll get that call any time now (and it won't be you on the other end of the line !)

Keziah I hope the tonsils are better and that you're on the mend.

Hello to everyone else.

I'm fine. Got a busy few weeks coming up. Settling DS into a new nursery and I'm going to see Dirty Dancing in the theatre tomorrow. I can't wait. The film and more especially the soundtrack featured very heavily in my teens [wanders off singing 'and I've had the time of my liiiiife']

Hi. Thanks for asking, the six grams a day of antibiotics seems to be doing their job. Voice returning but not very loud.

Sorry for the me, me, me post. Feeling a bit stressed, work stressful and feeling sad. Someone I spoke to about donor eggs (not about me) was a bit like 'oh ethical issues' and I know what she means but I've worked out my ethical issues already. Just feel I want it to be over soon!

Love to all and baby dust and chocolate boobs - as we used to say on this thread - to all.

Hello all, sorry I haven't been on here to update you all- it's been a tough few weeks sorry for no individual posts, just wanna update then I'll be back "properly".....

About 4 weeks ago we got to the stage of egg collection, all looking good. Went in for the op, came out in absolute agony (sorry for those of you having ec soon), not tummy ache or cramping, sharp stabbing pains up my bum sorry guys!!! Nurses were baffled and apparently, dh says I was hanging off the bed screaming. I have trouble with my bowels anyway as have a bowel adhesion from endo but this was horrendous. Finally got pain under control, went home, threw up all day- it was grim. We got 9 eggs, 4 for us and 5 for recipient and this kept us going.

Call from embryologist came the next day, really bad news, the worst news- no fertilization from all 9 eggs.

So it seems we have an egg issue- not sure what.

We are allowed to donate again but we have to be paired with a couple who need icsi as we will too.

It's all been a lot to take in but will be back soon for another go x

Love to all XXXXXXX

And congrats to lissy xxxx

Oh and the pain after ec was a 'nicked' bowel- have had lots of pain, antibiotics and bleeding but all sorted now- feel top of the world

Oh Tamtortie I am so sorry. That is terrible news for you. Big hugs, hope you will be well soon.

Cracked this morning and tested, BFN, I knew it and did not even get upset. So obviously periods stopped again. Found a description of our last donor in my notebook and prayed for her. I had not thought of her for ages, she was described as not a perfect match (because of eye and hair colour I guess and maybe blood group) but she was perfect to me! Just waiting now.

Italian, I'm sorry to hear you are sad and stressed. You've been through a lot over the last 6 years and these last few months must be dragging for you, but try to stay positive. You will be matched to a kind lady soon and your treatment will start. Did the person you were talking to know you were having egg donor IVF? I think not from your post, so just put it down to somebody's not unkind, just uninformed opinion. It's strange how when some options close for us (i.e. being able to have a child naturally) our brain and emotions are able to grow, envelop and absorb a concept that would never have occurred to us before, and it becomes normal and acceptable to us (IVF, DEIVF etc). Also, I don't want to over simplify things, but there seems to be such a discrepancy in how society views egg donors v. sperm donors. I mean I know that egg collection is more invasive, but if both acts are entered into altruistically and the donor isn't being exploited why is using an egg donor a bigger deal than using a sperm donor (which people barely bat an eyelid at anymore)? It just seems to be very unfair and I would like to see an opinion shift. Sorry, I'm rambling. I hope I'm making sense. I'm just trying to tell you I support you!

Tametortie what an awful experience you've had. I'm so sorry. I'm glad the nicked bowel pain is better (ouch). Are your clinic able to tell you more about the possible problem with the eggs? We have talked a little about DHEA on here while you've been away. It's meant to help egg quality (and reduce FSH while increasing AMH). Have your clinic talked about it? It might be worthwhile asking them if they think it might be suitable for you.

Here here Lucy! I completely agree with you. italian you say you have resolved any issues you might have had so I hope that helps to deal with comments like that. When I found out about my low amh, I started to think about how I would tell any child about egg, or indeed sperm, donation. The conclusion I came to, albeit simplistic, was that making a baby is a bit like making a cake. You need the right ingredients but that just results in a bowl of ingredients. In order to make the cake, you need an oven at the right temperature, to keep an eye on it, and to look after it until it's actually a cake. So, it may be possible that we don't have all the right ingredients, and therefore some incredibly generous person helped out, but we still made the cake! I feel the same way about surrogacy, some ladies have a problem and need a bit of a hand with the baking! As lucylookout said, I'm just trying to tell you that I support you too! I imagine that most people have never really considered this properly and make off the cuff remarks without really thinking it through.

tametortie my word you have been through it. I do hope you're feeling better and get some answers soon. I should know more about the DHEA that lucy mentioned at the end of next week and will post back soon.

Hope everyone else is having a good day.

Oh Italian I just spotted your last post. I'm so sorry. I "knew" as well last week but it still is horrid. Fingers crossed for the next time, and that it's soon.

Hi all,

just wanted to give virtual hugs to Italian and Tortie (and a virtual lettuce leaf).

Italian I'm so sorry you are feeling fed-up and down. Is the work thing just a busy time or are there other things going on. Do you want me to run over any of your colleagues, just in a minor injury kind of way?
What is being done about your thyroid issues. I have read it can cause huge delays to AF if left untreated?

Tortie that sounds like a horrific ordeal, poor you. I'm glad they know what caused the pain and hopefully learnt from it. It is better to know than have one of those mysterious pains.
So sad about the eggs, but it sounds as if they are working on a solution for you. I can't remember if you did anything special diet or supplement-wise but there are quite a few supplements which seem to improve egg quality.
Take it easy though, you have been through the mill.

Lucy thank you for your kind comments. She had no idea and I did not tell her. I know she would like a baby too and she is not young so I hope it will be straight forward for her. I know if I were discussing this subject 10 years ago when I first got married I would not have even though of it and would have thought it weird! Now it seems normal!

beginnings what a totally brilliant way of comparing a baby to a cake. I totally agree, someone else has the egg, I've got the flower, milk, sugar and butter, I've got a hot oven and a mixing bowl and a spoon and even a tea towel to put the bowl on! I just need the egg! Hugs to you,

Tamtortie hugs and hope you will be feeling totally recovered and better soon. Do they have any idea why it did not work? Can I ask a question, feel free not to answer! How do you feel about the fact the recipient gets the extra egg? When you have an altruistic donor they get matched with two people and couple 1 gets the extra egg. I am just curious. Maybe it is too early for prying questions! Tell me to hush my mouth. Hugs to you honey.

Rowing how's it going?

Hugs to all

Italian it sounds like that holiday couldn't come early enough for you. Have you got any special treats lined up for yourself? Why not book a facial/massage/spa-day/girly lunch - whatever normally brings calm and a bit of happiness into your life. I can't even imagine how you've felt through this journey of yours but I know from your posts and other people's comments that you are a very resourceful and giving person and have helped many others overcome their low days/periods. Maybe a bit of me time is what you need?

I've got some good news in that my HSG showed everything was normal (apart from slightly lopsided uterus, but we won't dwell on detail) Will start chasing hospital for cancellation Appt today.

beginnings thanks for the feedback on Lister. I suspect I wi go with ARGC (if need be) purely because they are closer...we'll see. Loved you 'bun in the oven' story

lissy I realise I havent posted since the clinic confirmed your BFP. Do you still need to continue to visit them and if so, for how long? Do they do the first scan or will leave that for NHS to pick up? Hope you're walking on cloud nine

Hi to everyone else. Will catch up proper over the weekend.

scrummy i think I'm going to lobby mnhq for a bun/cake emoticon. Biscuits just don't cut it in this context!