IVF / ICSI - everyone welcome for questions, hand holding, and waggle dancing

[Gardenpixie]

Ladies, we ran out of space on the old thread so here is a sparkly new one with dedicated areas for waggle dancing, hormonal outbreaks of bonkersness, sniffing, injecting and progesterone pessary related fartiness.

For anyone thinking about starting IVF / ICSI or going through it at the moment, do come and say hello. These wonderful ladies have kept me sane through the last few months and are a source of all knowledge concerning tests, down-regging, ov stimulating, DIY injections and much more so if you need any info or just some company, do join us.

So here's a welcome for everyone and an enormous waggle dance for many many more BFPs to come

Thank you for the whispered congrats ladies! I am certainly not counting my chickens but after three and a half years of tilting hpts at the window, squinting at them with one eye half shut etc, it is quite exciting to see an irrefutable line.

kool I was going to limit my poas activity to three or four times an hour so I'd definitely get some shares!

Whoop whoop Garden! Congrats to you and DH, trust he thinks it's the best bday present ever .

You're very brave to test early but as Kool said you know the hcg is out of system. Am SO chuffed for you xx

That is just ACE news, garden! I'm made up :o

Fantastic garden, that's amazing. Perhaps you've a line so early because D and B are both settling in?!

Ellan eeeek !

Seriously, we'd be thrilled with one or two ... Just hoping they haven't both spontaneously twinned as I dont think we could deal with four!

I am taking the "small milestones" approach advocated by wise womanly and just hoping to get to OTD of Friday to declare a definite BFP!

I have to say, if feeling utterly shattered, craving ice lollies (!) and having boobs like anti aircraft guns are all good signs then D&/or B are definitely still in there!

ten minute warning for Louise to take the pill!

Have lovely evenings ladies xxx

Oooh, I've been eating ice lollies a plenty so I'd say it's another great sign! I bought some yummy fresh orange ones from m&s the other day and ate 2 on the way home ....it wasn't me though, kitten made me do it

Can I add my congratulations too Garden! Wonderful news and sore boobs and cravings all sound like great signs... AMAZING!

Hello everyone.

Garden what great news, sooo thrilled for you (said in a very small whisper!). Yes those signs certainly look good. Are you going to have HCG test at your hospital too?

Louise I'm really pleased for you that you have a new start date to look forward too next month, time will fly by and you'll be doing those injections again before you know it.

Teds, Skitoo and all those ladies wondering about the Lister, thats where I went for my 3 IUIs and my IVF and I can wholeheartedly recommend them. They have been amazing, the nurses are all fantastic, they respond to phone calls within 2-3 hours, they are very understanding, patient and reassuring, professional, the doctors are fantastic too, we had several different ones but they are all as good as each other and I really would recommend Lister to anyone looking into another fertility clinic. I can't fault them in any way. Yes they are a little more expensive but to us it was worth every penny.

Kool I think I'm going to have to get those lollies from M & S they sound delicious, am salivating as I type!

We had our 9 week scan last Thurs and all was well. We even saw the little arms and legs moving and heard the heart beat so it was amazing ad very reassuring as I was worried about the lack of symptoms. So all being well Lister have waved me off and onto 'mainstream' care at Kingston - have my first midwife appointment next week and 12 week scan the following week. Still being very cautious and trying not to get too excited yet as still early days. Can't wait to get to that 12 weeks milestone.

Hi to everyone else, speak soon

xxxx

garden WOWOWOWOWO - Wow - not Ow! fABULOUS NEWS so pleased for you and it's so inspiring for the rest of us on this journey. Hope you are are feeling great. Lovely to get that news on you DH's b-day too!

Meds arrived just now - that's one big box! DH (who is off work today) and I have been nosy-ing through the different packets of stuff - daunting but also exciting. Hosp appt tomorrow to learn how to do drugs ... also going for first sesson of accupuncture with a new lady in Tooting - jsut to get in training for those needles

Had lovely birthday yesterday - hubby bought me a vintage bike & took me for nice lunch and then Inbetweeners movie in the evening - a perfect day ended with laughs - great movie - recommed it to anyone looking for a couple of hours of escapism! Also had a couple of - my last for a few weeks!!
Does anyone know of a make of good decaf coffee (made with the water decafinating system rather than chemical system) that I can buy?

Hope you are all well & hello to lovely skitoo & louise
zx

ps - caramel our posts crossed just now. I loved your post & read it out to DH who is tying to get on with some work the other side of the room! How wonderful about the heart beat and good luck with the next 3 weeks leading to your 12 week scan.
can i ask - was this your first IVF attempt?
zb x

Congratulations gardenpixie what a lovely birthday surprise for your DH
Lovely news about your scan caramel

Hello everyone else :)

I have had such a shit day today :( I had my pre-op assessment at the hospital (for my cervix dilation op). My appointment was at 1pm and I thought I'd only be there an hour max. How wrong was I?! Spent at least an hour in waiting room, then my prescription for yet more buserelin wasn't ready so lots of faffing around getting that done, then they realised prescription was wrong, MORE faffing...

I got back to work at 4.15pm feeling very stressed.

THEN I got a load of hassle from one of the managers, who decided to bring the deadline for project I'm working on forward by a MONTH to the end of September

I want to ask you all what you did about work? Did you tell them about your treatment? Did they give you time off, or did you book leave, or take sick leave? I really need to sort something out because the amount of time I'm spending away from work at appointments / operations is getting ridiculous :(

I haven't started treatment yet but have told my headteacher about it already and have warned him that I will probably need certain days off (I'm not planning on taking weeks off if I can avoid) as well as needing to get out for scans etc. He has been supportive so far, whether that will continue if I need several treatments I don't know!

Hi ladies,

Just a quick message as Ive been back at school today and its wiped me out! Feel quite drained so early night for me :-)

HoHo I told my headteacher straight away and Im glad I did as they have been really good about it all, I offered to make the time up (I work late anyway and come in early) but they were fine about it all. Ive tried to have a week off around appointments so I only have to take 3 1/2 days off. Teachers are entitled to 5 days paid special leave for IVF in any one year (as far as I have read in the red book thingy/ NUT guidance)

Zeebee glad your meds arrived...on step closer!

Hi Caramel lovely that you saw little arms and legs moving around :-)

Kool the ice lollies sound yummy...

Hi ho hi ho its off to bed we go, yawwwwn

Lou xxx

I think the difficultly I'm having is not knowing which days I need off in advance, or only with very short notice.

If my cervix wasn't such an awkward bugger and I didn't need this op, I would be having my eggs collected this week Instead it's been delayed by 3 weeks and it's really dragging out.

I'm having to take 2 days off work next week just for this op, and then time off the following weeks for scans, egg collection, and regular stuff - and I'm not sure of the timing of any of these so I can't tell work.

I don't know why but at my clinic appointments seem to be like a time warp, so you think you're just nipping in for a quick 8.30am scan, and you emerge blinking in the sunlight three hours later.

I am going to have to tell my manager about my treatment tomorrow, which I really hoped to avoid for various reasons.

God I'm being such a whinger today I'm even doing my own head in Sorry

Just popping in to say OMG congratulations GP I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooo delighted for you!!!!!!! Wow what amazing news

And caramel fab news on the scan, that's lovely to hear!!

What a great Monday!

For me, despite my pessimism, my follies have been growing (woo hoo) and I have everything crossed for a possible EC on Thursday (to be confirmed at a scan tomorrow, am trying not to mental too much about it)

HoHo I really really sympathise on the work front, it's a nightmare. I had to tell my work too, there were too many days off at short notice/late starts etc. They have been great about it, although like Louise I can make up time on other days or in the evening. I feel a bit less stressed about the whole thing because I am not having to make up excuses/go AWOL during the day, especially as I only started at a new company 5 months ago. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Waves to everyone else.

Just got back from our weekend away and just checking in quickly to whisper congrats to Pixie-how many days after EC did you POAS? Hope you and Mr Garden are relaxing and what a super birthday present it was for him.
Will check in properly soon-got my first stimming scan tomorrow
x

A call out to all those on whispering bfps - please do join this thread to share where you are at - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/1294712-Early-pregnancy-All-welcome

caramel
thanks for the glowing recommendation for The Lister clinic. I actually read your post yesterday while on the way to their open evening and am now really really tempted to give them a try first despite the higher costs although dh still wants to go with ARGC as their stats are better, ho hum

congrats to everyone with good news, hopefully my turn will come

Hello ladies,

I hope you are all well. Sorry I haven't been around much, I've been trying not to obsess about whether I'm still pg or not so have tried to avoid the internet. I have managed to stay away from the hpts and am going to keep away until the official test on Friday. Obviously I am now concerned at every twinge and equally concerned at any lack of symptoms! [losing mind emoticon]

skitoo is your test day today? I think I was two days behind you with EC so I think you are 16dpo today? Good luck and I'm waggling for you!

HoHo sorry to hear about your cervix, ouch! I hope your manager is supportive.

Danny yay for your follicles, that's great news!

pumpkin I did an hpt at 7&8dpo to check there was no residual hcg in my system from the trigger shot, I got a very faint line at 10dpo and a stronger one at 11dpo. I am, single handedly, supporting the hpt industry

Hello to everyone else, please can I ask for waggles for an official bfp on Friday...?

Xxxx

Hi all, well what a cloudy wednesday-half way through my annual leave and with DH back at work I am having a pyjama day! Thinking of watching a film this afternoon-think something funny to lift my mood-got my books from amazon-had to collect from depot as they were delivered while we were away-got lost and then had a mental go at poor DH-there was me thinking I was symptom free this time on the stims! Anyway, am reading 'Pink for a girl' about a womans struggle to conceive,also got 'inconceivable' by Ben Elton as I thought this may be a bit more light hearted-LOL am looking forward to when my whole life doesn't seem to be obsessed with TTC. On a bit of a downer last few days-feeling panicky the same thing will happen and we won't fertilise any eggs again as I know this is still possible with ICSI. Where will that leave us?

On the plus side, accupuncture was better yesterday and my first stim scan was ok-must try and stay positive-any tips guys? Don't know why I feel like this Next scan tomorrow.

Well enough of me me-sorry to be so pesimistic.

Dannygirl How did you get on at your scan yesterday? Hopefully its all on track for you-We're nearly EC buddies!

Marmite The ARGC are good an have really good stats and so do the lister-making the choice is very hard-We have gone with a private clinic where I had previous IUIs and other tests done. I feel quite a rapport with them-think you have to go with your gut feeling as its important to feel comfortable.

Hoho your situation sounds very difficult. ((( ))) Sending lots of love. I agree it is so difficult with work-caught between needing to explain for appts but not wanting to say too much as you want to maintain that privacy. I would imagine that your employer will be sympathetic-I would like to think so anyway.

Louise glad you've got a date to start-that will give you something to focus on and now you're back at work the time will fly by am sure. My Dhs birthday was sunday and Xmas always seems to arrive very quickly.

Zeebee-Well you're about to start with the meds. It really is exciting when they arrive isn't it? It really isn't at all bad and when you think what could be at the end its all worth it!

Any news Teds, Skitoo, Boddecia? Hope you are all doing good. Love to anyone I've missed. xxx

Also, Garden thanks for that info on POAS-When you say PO do you mean post EC or ET? I just wanted to get it straight in my head (if I dare to believe/hope we get to that point) I know I will be just the same and could support the HPT industry single-handed!! Its just sooo tempting going by previous months TTC-so have pushed the clearblues as far back on the top of the wardrobe as possible!! Your BFP certainly sounds like good news-My friend also got a positive 8dpec (ICSI) think positive and I know good things will happen for all of us. Waggling for you for friday.

Caramel lovely news on your scan also-sending lots of love
xx

Pumpkin, you dear thing, it's so normal to be feeling worried. It's human nature to base our worries on past experiences, and as your first experience was so disappointing it's only natural to be feeling like this. But your body can do this, it's ready, and your first stims scan went well. Take it a day at a time and try to visualise a positive outcome for each step (like the docs telling you tomorrow that this scan looks good too). What happened last time was awful, but there's nothing to suggest it won't go really smoothly this time. Hang in there, you're getting to the nitty gritty now, so pj days, good books and films sound like the way forward (((())))

Sending garden all the luck in the world for confirmation of your bfp on Friday xx

Hi ladies

Just got back from holiday so loads to get through!

Just a quick congratulations to gp. Really happy for you.

Teds I was at Lister, I would definitely recommend them for treatment. My only reservations are that it's a bit of a conveyor belt (never seen the same doctor twice, I didn't feel particularly special etc etc) and the costs are not clear in advance. We have spent £8kish on one cycle (icsi plus blast stage plus embryo freezing plus drugs). However I felt my treatment was really well planned and dosages changed promptly (both increased and then decreased in response to scans and blood test results). Feel free to ask me any questions

Evening Lovely Ladies

Sorry been absent too, distracting myself all weekend and then back to the mental place I work.

Caramel, glad you had a good scan and feel reassured . Its all about the milestones isn't it, midwife next week i great.

HoHo, sorry to hear of your bits making it even more complicated, it's hard enough as it is, so really feel for you, big ((((hugs)))). As for work I told my boss as I started on the assisted conception path over 18 months ago and had 10 monitored cycles on clomid before moving to ivf. So stacks of appointments to fit round work. I am lucky and have a fantstic relationship with my boss which made it easier. Kept it quiet from everyone else at work though and he covered me.

Dannygirl, fab news on your follies, hope your scan went well today and you're on for EC tomorrow. Sending huge waggles over to you, go follies go .

Hang in there Pumpkin, you're doing amazing my sweets. Sounds like follies are behaving, am sure scan tomorrow will show them ripening up nicely . As Kool says take each step one at a time and you'll get there, remember there's no reason why this can't work for you. Massive (((((((hugs))))))) and muchos waggles for you xx.

Can't believe we have so many teachers on our thread - hope returning to school is going well for you all - it's really messing with my journey to work, ggggrrr!

Hows it going Teds, Kool, Womanly, Bodeccia, Owlhope you're all well.

Garden have you managed to stay away from the sticks today ? As our landlord I'm sure the other ladies will join me in a rowdy waggle conga for your official BFP on Friday .

To add to the discussion on poas days post collection/transfer - I did mine this morning which was 16 days after egg collection and 14 days after transfer and I got a BFP . Am surprised, excited and very scared. I'd convinced myself in the last couple of days that it hadn't worked but I got a very thick dark line in seconds

Waves to everyone else I've not name checked xx

WOWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Skitoo thats fantastic news!! You must be made up and then some-you are proof that dreams can come true-make sure you're resting nicely and little skittle is settling in nicely.

Thanks ladies for your reassuring words. Thanks for the ((()))) Kool

I have a dilemma about the accupuncture. I told you I went for my 2nd appt yesterday-at the end she said to text her and let her know how I did at first stim scan(after 6 doses) Basically I had 13 follicles one side and 12 the other-I am on poor response protocol hence the 4 injections a day. Anyway only about half of these were the 10mm size they would expect/want at this stage-so then my face dropped but I was told by the specialist nurse they are happy with this. Got a text back from accupuncturist this morning "Can you come in tomorrow morning-I would have wanted them bigger at this stage" Now I have just spoken to my sister who said that this is bad as she is putting doubt in my head and shouldn't say one thing when health specialists are happy-basically conflicting advice. She said us IVF ladies are at a vulnerable stage and would basically do anything for a BFP-she would hate to think of someone taking advantage of me (as I would) Anyway what do you think?-the whole thing makes me very and is not helping my mood and positivity one bit. I want to do all I can to make this work.