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?

Hi everyone,
Apologies for going silent - - it's been a frustrating week - The week before I tested and got a bfn on cd 32..and then it was a looooog wait for AF...which finally and mercifully showed up yesterday! Day 42!!!
Good news is that AF is here and I started my injections today.

Lucy I am on puregon - 75 till my first scan (day 8 of injection) and then they take a look and let me know what's next. BTW your consultant sounds EXACTLY like mine ... so I know how it feels. What worked in my case was taking DH along... it turned out my consultant was just woman-shy -- with DH he was as chatty as a bird...
On my first cycle I had one dominant egg -- and it did not work - i got my period on day 25. They did a multi-disciplinary meeting and then came back with a ... let's go with the same approach for round two. So here I am.

My main issue is ovulation -- ie the follicle will grow to a decent size whether I am medicated or not...but despite the ovitrelle injection it does not break and release the egg. This first IUI cycle they are convinced I ovulated..though they did not scan me or take a progesterone test...so I don't know really...

italian glad you are OK after your accident. these things often happen out of the blue and hopefully when it does happen we do all the things to minimize damage - sounds like you did all you could do in such freak incidents.

Womanly can you get them to do a scan or blood test this time round just to reassure you that you've ovulated? So, have you had one 'normal' cycle between IUIs? And is it normal for you to have a 42 day cycle, or do you think it was the hormones from the first IUI messing your body up a bit? Lots of luck this time round

Lissy, sorry to hear you're finding things hard going. Apart from drugs messing with your mind, you must be tired too having to wake up at 1am to sniff. Still, hopefully this stage will be over soon and you can get onto the next exciting stage of egg growing! I called ARGC this morning about cancellations (yes, I know I'm on the 2ww after IUI. Just call me Miss Optimism) and they said they hardly ever get cancellations so looks like I'm going to have to wait til the end of July (when I turn 40, gulp). Out of interest, after your first appt how long did it take for treatment to start? Did they monitor you for a cycle first? Did you go to your first appt with all of the day 1-3 blood tests and rubella immunity? Sorry, lots of questions but you're the only person I 'know' having treatment there.

Lastly, does anyone on here take DHEA? I've read good things about it re egg quality and IVF success. Obviously I'll check with my consultant before taking it, but would be interested in any experiences you have.

Hi to everyone else too x

Lucy My IUI cycle was 25 days and they skip that cycle before starting the second round. I have PCOS so have irregular periods..though my average has gone from 28-33. 42 is a wierd number but DH thinks it's to compensate for the 25 day cycle...

Thanks for the information womanlyand lots of luck that this cycle is the one for you.

BB I was at CRM London on Saturday for IUI. It was my first time there (Viveka use it as their satellite clinic). I pay viveka, not them, so don't know what they're like about the money side of things, but thought the people there were very nice. Have your tests come up with any reasons why embies haven't stuck so far? Wishing you lots of healthy eggs for this cycle.

Hi all. Just to update, they got some eggs today, fertilised some. We'll find out in the morning what they look like (ICSI has a relatively low fertilisation rate because they have to strip the egg of its "shell" and inject the sperm in), and whether there'll be anything to transfer on wednesday. Sadly they don't work on saturdays which would be blastocyst day, so if there is anything living left over they'll have to freeze - but last time there wasn't anything over, so we're no expecting anything. Just praying for one.

woowa sending you a hot cup of tea and everything crossed for you.
baby have you called them up to ask if you need to go early? Can you go early?

BB I hope you've talked to the clinic and have got some advice/reassurance about it. When is egg collection scheduled?

Woowa I'm keeping everything crossed that there'll be a couple of healthy little woowas to transfer on Wednesday. You've already got one DD from this, so the process does work for you. Sending you lots of positive thoughts. Be nice to yourself today and tomorrow, and give yourself a couple of treats, be it a tasty slice of cake or a new pair of shoes! x

lucy- DH and I got in around the right time, I guess, because we only had to wait 6 weeks for our appt. They gave me the option of starting my monitoring cycle right away, because I was at a good time in MY cycle, but wound up postponing until the next month. Everyone has to do a monitoring cycle, but you can alleviate costs by asking your GP to do your day 1-3 bloods, which ARGC will happily accept. Also, if your GP can do HIV, Hep B & C testing, etc. you'll save a bundle as well. The main cost in your monitoring cycle is the immunes testing, which is £860. You don't have to have it done, but since it's what ARGC is known for, I decided to go whole hog. I also decided to postpone treatment after monitoring cycle due to holidays, and they're cool with that as well. You can start as soon as your monitoring cycle is done.

Drugs are kicking me in the ass, as at previous clinic I only had to sniff twice in the morning and twice at night. Now I'm doing it every six hours, and the hormones are really affecting me. I've got my eyes on the prize, as difficult as it is at the moment.

DON'T GIVE UP HOPE!! It's not over til it's over...

woowa- Good luck sweetie, have everything crossed for you!

BB- Don't panic! Did you call the clinic?

A few questions which I keep meaning to ask anyone who knows the answer:

What does AF stand for? It's not on the acronym list. I know it's your period, but what are the A and the F? I risk looking like a complete wally when one of you tells me!

Can I also ask, people who are sniffing, what are you sniffing?

BabyB - hope that it's all ok. It's a terrible feeling when something goes wrong, I know. Let us know what's happening.

Thanks for all the crossed fingers and legs. xxx

Thanks for all the info and advice lissy, appreciate it. Not long to go now; you're right - keep your eyes on the prize, and just be kind to yourself.

Woowa drugs I can't help with particularly, although I think the sniffing is the down regging part of the cycle. Some clinics sniff, some inject(?), guess it depends on their preference. And AF is Auntie Flo, or is it Aunt fanny? Something like that. I'm not a lot of use really am I.

Hope everyone's doing OK x

woowa- I'm sniffing a drug called Suprecur. Most people during down regging either sniff or inject buserelin or naferelin. I agree with lucy, I think AF stands for Auntie Flo.

Hi all,
Italian I am doing my best to find the threads I saw on the subject of chromosome transfer, but not quite sure where it is. If you go to FF and search on epigenetics, quite a large number of threads appear.
There is this blogwhich has a post or two which you might find of interest.

Woowa I think Lucy is right, I have always understood AF to stand for Aunt Flo. Aunt Fanny is a new one.

Not much to add from me. I am still spotting and the blood is still on the red side. Shrug! I refuse to cowtow to this uncertainty though and am doing my best to keep on living life as normal. Sick of having everything dictated by AC.

Thanks rowing for the thread link interesting. Sorry about the bleeding and hope it will all get sorted soon. I am really hoping this will work for you now and just keeping everything crossed. Hugs (((()))) honey, you REALLY deserve it.

Woowa AF is Auntie Flo. Horrible, I know but even I use it now by text! some friends re totally uncertain what i mean, when I texted AF gone AWOL and got a BFN on a test, my friend texted back, sorry too many letters!

Lissy all the very best.

BB how has it worked out, what did clinic say?

woowa what isthe latest?

Hugs to you all! [tea]

BB- Well done to you for staying calm. You're absolutely right about the mind fuck...if it's not hormones, it's our crazy female mind doing the work. Hope to hear good things!

Hi Italian!

rowing- Sorry to hear about the bleeding. Hope there's an explanation for it, and everything works out ok.

AFM, I had a scan and a blood test this morning, and I have one massive follicle that's not supposed to be there. Instead of doing an aspiration, they're going to bring on another AF with Provera and Pregnyl. On the one hand, I'm irritated that I'm being delayed, but on the other, I'm glad that something is being done that's based on my individual scans and bloods. I have a feeling that the same thing happened at the last clinic, but they went ahead and stimulated me anyway, which is why I got so few eggs. At least I can sleep in for the next five or six days, instead of waking up and getting out of the house by 7 to be at the clinic by 8. Oh well. I think someone else on here had to do the same thing...

Hugs and chocolate boobs to everyone...this is going to be our year!

lissy I'd agree that it sounds like good, personal care. When my egg was too big/lining to thin during this IUI cycle, my clinic told me to go away and come back in two days to see what, if anything had changed. I felt I should have been scanned the next day and drugs changed if necessary. They seemed to think 'we'll do what we always do and hopefully it'll be alright'. I'd much rather put up with a bit more hassle, if it means that treatment is being tailored to my personal needs. Go ARGC! Hope it all gets sorted out anyway.
BB well done for staying relaxed, nothing will improve by stressing and lets hope all the eggs are still there I don't think I'm quite so productive; don't suppose I could have one or two could I!?
Ugh. The two week wait. It's only day 4 and already doing my head in. If this IUI cycle doesn't work, I think I'll take a couple of months off until my ARGC appt. I'm getting fed up with not being able to have a cup of coffee or glass of wine without feeling guilty for it, and just having so much of my life/brain power focused on ttc. And I need a rest from all the sex. I'm sure it's not healthy.
Hi to everyone else; Rowing and Woowa hope you're doing OK. Italian, you've been a bit quiet the last few days, you alright?

2 little bundles of cells transferred this morning, now on the 2ww (i know what those initials mean!)

I feel exhausted, still a little puffy in the tummy, and aprehensive. We all know that the 2ww is when we dream but try to keep a lid on it, just in case. Ill be away most of the next 2w though, so i hope it'll go fast, and it'll stop me hassleing the internet for signs of hope!

thanks for the help re sniffing and AF. Amazed you can downreg a cycle via the nose. I jabbed buserelin. Amazing what medicine can do! xx

Woowa wow, fab.

Lissy and BB thinking of you both. Hope it will all go well.

Lucy I will hold your hand on the 2 week wait!

Rowing Hugs.

Baby dust to all.

Rowing, just a quick one for you. I'm reading Zita West's Guide to Assisted Conception and in it she says that early bleeding after IVF is much more 'normal' than in a 'natural' conception. They don't know why, but it just happens more and doesn't necessarily mean anything negative x

going to find out why the ivf failed today ... will backread later xx

Oh congrats babybarrister - that is a good number of eggs.

Well I will never see the consultant I saw today again. The only advantage of paying I guess. She was totally useless in all honesty and would not consider gonal F etc until 3 failed cycles. So, why have to have 3 lots of bad news before change anything when she said egg numbers were not great, nor quality?? So, see a different consultant in July - hopefully get a new protocol and maybe just maybe be allowed to move forward. This consultant said they have to write to my gp before I can cycle again as had 4 days in hospital due to physical reasons.... all welfare of the child. Uh? explain that to me. I had 3 days off work (work part-time and then it was Easter and holiday time) and gp not want to see me for 3 months to check how I am. Get a diagnosis of depression, have a physical problem not linked to anything and then get told - oh you can't move forward with another cycle until we have written to your gp. Why - not being able to walk 100% does that mean people in wheelchairs have social services take their children off them as soon as they are born? I can manage stairs ok, within a few weeks should be totally back to normal. And I said I wanted to wait a few months to cycle. So although booked to see a different dr it is the same clinic so feel so low right now. Oh to live somewhere with more choice!!

BabyB - hope all goes well for you!

Keziah so sorry to hear this bad news. Really hope it will all work out.

BB well done on number of eggs. All the best,

Rainbow thinking of you.

Well car is a right off and so we must get a new one. Feel quite sad about that. Lady at work thought I was pregnant! Told her about irritable bowel and she ended up praying for my irritable bowel and for a baby for me! At work, in a corridor! (I do work for a Christian charity so it is not quite as weird as it sounds!).

Hugs to all.