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

luck that would be great, I'd love to hear how you get on. Except if it's awful, in which case lie!! I was considering new slippers, as the puppy has chewed one of mine and I've carried on wearing them anyway. I also realise I've had my dressing gown for 10 years- really glam me!
Thanks teds as well for your kind words. We're using the money for ICSI that really should be paying for new guttering as it's falling apart and leaking causing damp patches, so fingers crossed for a mild winter ha ha!
Can anyone else feel twinges in their ovaries during stimming? I'm not bloated or anything, but I can def feel it periodically. Hope it's a good sign that things are working!

Hi Ladies,

Finally home and have internet access that is a little quicker than a snail's pace! Second week of the school holidays and still feel like a dish cloth that has been rung out! Enjoyed a walk in a London park near where I live and met a friend for a coffee, apart from than general housework and checking emails.

Loving the new home for this thread and meeting everyone!

owl, whispering congratulations to you, hope you are putting your feet up, Im going to end up testing early I think, Im a shocker altho I spent so much on OPK when TTC and never got a :) that it put me off!

Garden any more furniture purchases planned? Ive seen a gorgeous retro jukebox in a shop near me but have spent far too much money this month

Just a quickie, am cooking dinner...

ellan yes indeed, I have felt my ovaries twingeing since day 6 of stims. Not painful, I'm just...aware of them. And yes, I'll lie if Leeds aren't nice, although they were great today.

Well baby brain kicking already it seems - doing some really stupid things at the moment!

Owl a very whispered congratulations - mine was very faint when I first tested too and then I had my blood test which confirmed so fingers crossed the same happens to you. Slap on the wrists for testing early though (but don't blame you!)

Luck really glad they found your missing ovary - maybe its just shy and doesn't like the camera! Keeping everything crossed for you for Thurs. I bought a new dressing gown but didn't get to use it after all as they kept my in the disgusting hospital gown!

Ellan I totally understand, I had very similar feelings about the money but its one of the most important thing to you so you are not allowed to feel guilty about it. Guttering can wait!

Teds well done on your first injection, it does get easier believe me, I completely freaked out the first time and then it becomes second nature, you'll get used to I promise.

Garden sending loads of AF vibes your way!!

Speak soon, I'm away for a few days now probably with no internet access, back Saturday/Sunday so will catch up with you all then. In the meantime, wishing you all the very best of luck in whatever stage you are at. Louise best of luck with ET.

xxxx

Owl you naughty little bird - ssshhhh congrats sweetie, everything crossed for a darker line on Thursday.

Glad the bloods were good Caramel and a scan just next week, how cool is that .

Go Teds with your first jab, whoop whoop!

Luck am pleased they found your awol ovary and you're on for EC on Thursday. Sending you loads of positive vibes for a lovely big batch of eggies.

How you doing Kool, sinking in yet? I hope you're taking it nice and easy in this hot weather.

Glad you're all booked up for Friday Louise. Can you have a glass of vino for me tomorrow - enjoy .

Sorry your feeling down Ellan, you absolutely are doing the right thing, no competition with the guttering. I mean you can't put cute clothes on that can you . Hang in there xx

Any news on AF Garden? If not am sure she's on her way as mine showed up this evening, hoorah! Am sure our waggling was a contributing factor but think white knickers and a run tipped it . Am so pleased, as started worrying yesterday that it wasn't going to and that my scan on Monday would show I hadn't down regged, so would fall at the first fence. (Lou, I'm down regging so AF is my dr bleed.) So don't need to worry about that now and PMA is resumed.

A big hello to everyone else xx

Good morning fabulous ladies,

Gosh tomorrow is going to be a big day for the thread - big waggles for Caramel 's scan, Owl 's test, and Luck 's EC

Caramel I do hope that bite isn't camera shy! How are you feeling? Hope you're well and that you and Mr Caramel are getting over the BFN / BFP shock!

Owl I am going to wish you lots of luck with your test tomorrow and I'm going to do it in a calm, collected way while secretly being very excited about your Small Slim Positive . Don't blame you about testing early though; I think I'll just buy a lorry load of cheap HPKs and pee liberally on them! If I get to EC / ET this time round

Luck I am so pleased that your growly ferral ovary was tracked down! I LOVE the idea of predatory cougar ovaries ... GrrrrrrrRrrrrrr . And thank you for noticing the wall paper; yes it is Colefax & Fowler . Only the best for the marvellous thread ladies! Hope it all goes really well for you tomorrow and do let us know how it went when you can xxx

Zeebee I am pretty sure that in the last thread, we ascertained that foreign sunny holidays were one of the success factors in the IVF process. Along with new shoes. So well done you for being so committed that you booked a break in Italy! Very exciting about your appt at Guys - it's just a month and two days away! Will you be doing long protocol? Do you know which CD you'll be on when you have your appt?

Skitoo hurrah for AF! The white knickers are a sure way to tempt her! Mine hasn't arrived yet but, as DH pointed out, I've had a rough few weeks with my uncle passing away and my main client sacking me for doing IVF and I know my cycles can be badly affected by stress so I think I may well be a week or so late this time round. But, frankly, it's no bad thing as I'll be having a lot of late working sessions next week and would hate to have to duck out to inject!

Dietcoke that's great that it's worked before for you at the Nuffield; they clearly know what works for your body. Big waggles that you get a second Cokelet soon

Ellan as the others have said, I think it's totally normal to have wobbles. I know I have had millions a few. It's particularly hard for we ladies as it's our bodies that are being played around with. A piece of advice I found useful was the lovely clinical director at Guys saying that once we start treatment, it's really all on the Drs' shoulders. Obviously doing stuff like avoiding booze, sky diving and narcotics should be avoided (especially in combination) but that really all we can do is follow their advice.

It's horrid to want something so much but have so little control over it but just remember everything you've done to get this far. You have really done all you can and that's all anyone can ask of you; the rest is up to God / the universe / Mother Nature (delete as appropriate). FWIW though we are all rooting for you so if good vibes can tip the balance then you know we'll be doing our bestest for you

And as for the money ... I bet you'd love a LO more than perfect guttering and there's always next year to get it fixed

Also, you asked about whether people could feel their ovaries. I most certainly did when I was on the stims last time round ... but mine had made over 50 follicles so I guess that was only to be expected they didn't really hurt though until I stopped taking the down regs and all the buggers ovulated. That was pretty ouch. Fortunately by that stage I was allowed to dig into have a small glass of wine to take the edge off.

Now, tell me more about your slipper chewing puppy ... I am a big dog fan!

Teds Yay for the first stim injection! I hope they are continuing to go well! How are you feeling on them?

Bugsy I will try to find the link to the last thread if you like? I won't do it here as i'm afraid I'll lose my post but will post it asap after this. How are you doing today?

Louise plumping cushions? That sounds like very heavy housework to me. Sit down immediately, have a and order yourself some shoes or book yourself a nice massage immediately I don't have any plans for new furniture purchasing yet (except your juke box obvs) but I do think I might hire a butler for us, what do you reckon? He will save us having to make our own tea / scones / cocktails and if he was also something pretty to look at, that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world - especially for Luck 's cougar ovaries! I am doing short protocol as I have very excitable ovaries which completely over-reacted to the stims last time round and the Dr said sometimes the down regging can make excitable ovaries even more sensitive to the stims so we'd try the short protocol this time round.

Hello to everyone else, I hope you are all well! Waves and 's all round xxxx

No news from me yet. I reckon that my shocker of a month means my cycle may be out of whack so I shall maintain my serene calm zen like state and just see when AF turns up. Looking at the dates, I reckon she'll definitely have shown up by next weekend so in the meantime, I'll just concentrate on work. As you can see, I'm really good at that and not being distracted by MN at all . So, if anyone asks, you haven't seen me ...

Hi ladies
I still have a faint line, I'm willing it to get darker tomorrow.
louise - well done on your embies, 8 is a great number and good luck for friday
teds well done on the injections, it gets so easy after a while
dietcoke, balcktreaclecat and sbarrett welcome!
ellangirl - I know what you mean about worrying about the cost, guttering is such a dull thing to spend money on though! I didn't particularly feel twinges in my ovaries when I was stimming. I was told that I would coz I'm quite skinny but really not many symptoms
luck - good luck tomorrow!
Skitoo good luck with starting the stimms!

Sorry to anyone I've missed out. Dd is snapping at my heels so have been a bit rushed!

Ooooooh Owl I am feeling so excited calm for you!

Bugsy here is the link to the last thread if you want to catch up with it

xxx

Afternoon all

Vibes being sent to caramel for her scan (still can't quite get over your BFN/BFP story, talk about rollercoaster!), owl for confirmation :) , luck for your EC. I'll be visualising a HUGE disco ball over Leeds :o and louise for ET on Friday. Hope everything is going OK for you, and your littlelous are dividing nicely :)

I really echo your sentiments, garden , I know that the money thing is a real worry, and it is totally natural to panic about it. It really is hard to just trust in the bigger picture, especially when we've all experienced disappointment. But the stories everyone shares on here give me hope that this might work. And ellan , and everyone else who is worrying at the mo about the "cost" of this (financial, physical, emotional etc), it is going to be so worth it. FWIW: DH doesn't have a job at the moment, we're flying by the seat of our pants just now...

((((((((( hugs for all the ladies who are particularly worried at the moment ))))))

Ooh, I love a hug

As for me, I've been doing my stims. I'm a bit worried that DH is preparing the syringe wrong, there's 1ml in the glass vial that you snap that you then have to put into three pots of powder, let all that dissolve and then inject it into you. By the time I get to inject it, there is only 0.5ml. I think what he's doing is snapping the glass vial rather violently, so that he spills some out. He is totally sure that the powder (the important stuff) is in the syringe, even though it doesn't say 1ml. I had a bit of a wobble yesterday saying that I didn't want this not to work because we've been doing the flipping injections wrong. I'm going to be watching him like a hawk tonight...

Got my scan on Friday and all being well (assuming I'm actually absorbing enough hormone stuff), EC will be next week.

A to listen to in the sunshine :)

Ooooooh bodeccia good call on the summer tune! I am making a fool of myself dancing seductively to it as I type!

What a quandry re your injections. I'm as all of my injections have been prefilled pens (although the short protocol requires some DIY mixing). I am sure that it will be fine though, they must aim off for a bit of imprecision given that none of us are nurses, pharmacists, Drs or otherwise qualified to do these things massively accurately. Or at least that's what I'm hoping because the chances of me mixing anything exactly are pretty slim !

So is it your Day 5 scan on Friday? Exciting!

Right, joining in the group (((((((((())))))))))

MASSIVE good luck to Owl , Luck and Caramel for tomorrow - I will be thinking of you all and waggling furiously that everything goes well

xxxxxxx GP

Wow, it's busy on here at the mo, what a lovely, lovely group

Welcome Dietcoke

Louise I'm so pleased things are going well for you and wish you all the best for Friday.

Skitoo and Garden, your waggling in the garden antics really made me chuckle! Skitoo I'm glad AF appeared for you and Garden I hope yours arrives at a good time for you

Luckbealovelylady wishing you all the very very best tomorrow, lie back, enjoy the anaesthetic and take it easy xxx

Zeebee great news that you've got your appointments, they'll come around really quickly I'm sure . Hope you're making the most of until then

Caramel good luck tomorrow, how exciting! I have to wait until 19 August until my clinic scan so I'm sure we'll have some more bfps by then!

Speaking of bfps.... owl you are one brave lady! Congrats! And here's hoping that your line gets progressively darker (altho I'd say there's nothing to worry about - apparently a line's a line, regardless of how faint it is)

Teds I'm so glad your first jab went well, are you doing the tummy? When is your first scan/blood test (sorry if you've said this and I missed it...). Yes I'm back to Guy's for what will be my 7 week scan so it feels weird at the mo as I was so used to going all the time but now I won't have to go until 19th Aug. Hope you're still finding the acupuncture beneficial.

Bodeccia I'm in for a bit of huggage . Like garden said, I really wouldn't worry about your meds too much, they must allow for a bit of spillage/margin of error and if by any chance you weren't getting enough they'll be able to tell at your scan and get it sorted.

Ellan I do hope you're feeling a lot better now. This is such a roller coaster, it's completely normal to have such anxieties. I found the lack of control quite hard to cope with too but you're doing a special, precious thing by doing this treatment and you will find all sorts of inner strength, even if it doesn't always feel like it.

No news from me really, have developed a need to drink sweet, fizzy drinks over the last few days. Erm, yup that's really about all! Xxxx

Evening all! Before you all worry too much that I might be wishing I was spending money on guttering instead of a baby- I'm not!! The guttering really is hanging off the house and the house leaks when it rains a lot, but hey- as you say there's always next year to fix it!!
So, name call time...
louise glad you're home- enjoy the holidays!
luck glad Leeds were nice to you
caramel enjoy blaming baby brain- for everything! Word to the wise though- if you're still blaming it when caramelbite is 16, you may get some funny looks.
skitoo it's not often you're glad AF has showed up! I started a week after doen reg started, and it had only just stopped after 2 weeks! Think it went on longer because the hormone levels weren't high enough to stop the bleeding after well after I started stims- it's also taken a while for the symptoms of down regging to go as well. Fingers crossed for your down reg scan- I'm sure it will all be very straightforward.
garden I admire your serene calm zen like state- repeat after me 'ommmm' I haven't been told not to drink- not that I do much anyway. Funny how advice and protocols vary so much isn't it! I am on the lowest dosage of menopur 150iu, so I sincerely hope I won't over stimulate on that . Scan on Friday (day 8 of stims) to find out. As for the puppy- she is a 5 1/2 month old springer cross westie (!) so she looks like a very small springer and is totally hyper. She's crashed out on the sofa next to me totally exhausted after puppy training tonight. Also have a 5 year old Collie girl who still thinks she's a puppy
owl fingers, toes and everything else crossed for you for tomorrow, but it's looking good!!
bodeccia re injections, is your DH flicking the top of the saline ampoule to make sure all the liquid is down in it and not caught in the top? You shouldn't be losing any liquid when you open it. Have you got the little ampoule snappers to help you open them? I have 2 vials of powder to one liquid, and I end up injecting around 0.9 ml.
Everyone else- hello and hope you're enjoying your evening!!

Just a quickie from me tonight as need to get to my beds (had to get up at 5 this morning to get to a customer meeting - how rude eh!)

Just want to wish Owl, Caramel and Luck all the very best for tomorrow, will be thinking of you all.

Big group (((((((HUG)))))), catch up tom.

Hi ladies!

Ive missed all the posts tonight, met a friend for drinks in a beer garden in North London, bearing in mind Ive not really had any vino for three months I didnt do too bad after 4 glasses! Managed to walk home anyway!!

Good luck Owl caramel and Luck for tomorrow, we will all be thinking of you xxx

We fly back out tomorrow to the Czech Republic, not sure whether I will be able to get internet access but hoping so. Excited and nervous about Friday!

Louise xxxxx

Very late checking-in post acupuncture. Am in a zen-like state but meanwhile my ovaries are hopefully raging away...

Best of luck for the journey and the ET Louise. Let us know how you get on when you do have access to the interweb.

ellan our roof was always very leaky but the week before we got married we had buckets al over the landing and we just kept muttering to ourselves that we would get is fixed after the wedding... So just keep muttering that you'll get the guttering all sorted out next year is my very unhelpful tip

kool very exciting about your scan! I'm back at Guys next Weds to check how my follicles are going and yes I'm in the tummy. It did hurt a bit today but hopefully the week will wizz by

Bodeccia sorry not to more helpful but I've just got the pre-filled pen things too. Can you ring and check? Or hopefully ellan's advice will help xx.

owl I agree with others that a line's, a line but I do hope it's a bit darker for you tomorrow.

Lastly, all the nicest, loveliest luck to luck for EC tomorrow. I'm sure your cougar-like ovaries are all primed and ready for action

Hi everyone
Love reading all the messages here - and thanks to people for mentioning me in their replies - feel very loved!

DH and I went to our first ACU meeting at the hosp last night - it was in a lecture theatre with hundreds of other hopeful couples.. it was v interesting to see how the IVF cycle actually works - the only bad bit was each time there was a success rate graph rated by ages I of course being in the 38-39 category was the lowest success rate - argh - anyway - we are both trying to rise above it and be positive... Came home, had a BBQ for 2 and a large glass of rose each, then we watched (the frankly dreadful) Sex in the city 2 movie - such a disappointing sequel....

Next appt scheduled for 5th Sept with DR so I assume we will start our cycle with delightful nasal spary very soon after that.

Hey ho - roll on August!

ps - has anyone tried QiYoga with their treatments - it's meant to be very theraputic, altho pricey!

Hi All

Sorry for the confusion, my scan is NEXT Thurs but thanks for thinkng of anyway!! Currently in Devon on a couple of days of chilling and going for my first swaim tonight which I'm looking forward to.

Can't do a long post as my poor mother is patiently waiting in an internet cafe but just wanted to say Bodeccia I had the menopur vials too and I completely freaked out first couple of times. Tell you DH to swirl the vial with the liquid in first to make sure all the liquid is at the bottom, otherwise some of it may get stuck in the top part which is broken off, but as you say its the powder thats the most important part. Just take it slowly to make sure you draw up everything each time, keep calm and you'll be fine, after a couple of goes you'll be fine and it will be like second nature. I completely understand, my poor DH had to cope with me in tears the first couple of goes, it does get easier believe me. Big hugs.

Hugs to everyone else and good vibes to all, will do a longer post on Sunday when I'm back from Devon.

xxxx

Lovelyluck how was it? I hope your slippers were comfy and the toast plentiful! Xx

Zeebee I remember the patient evening at Guys well. I found it amazing to look around at all those people in the lecture hall. Sometimes it feels like we're the only ones in the world going through this, then being there makes you realise how many others are too. Sorry that the stats didn't look fantastic but the very fact that you are doing it at all gives you a good chance IMO. Yes, I agree with your sentiments re Sex & the city 2.....BUT it does contain what I like to think of this thread's anthem "I am woman" (much better by Helen Reddy than the SATC girls I must add) so it wasn't all bad

Teds good news re next week's scan, they should have a really good picture of how it's going by then.

Caramel wishing you a lovely time in Devon.

Owl I hope you're celebrating a nice, dark line today

Hi to everyone else! Xxx

Oooo toast AND slippers! I am jealous! Also hope it's gone well luck.

I have got all sorts of odd sensations going on in my baby box. Do hope it's good and my follicles are springing into action!

zeebee remember you just need one good egg and one good sperm. That's the thread mantra (repeat this over and over as you listen to "I am a woman" and bfps are assured ).

One of my fave tunes has just come on the radio so have to share:

Hi Guys
Crikey-so much happening here on this thread-got back from a weekend away and have been v busy at work-literally coming home from work and going to bed with bad headaches-blood pressure has been higher since failed cycle and now worried it will effect things but consultant doesn't seem worried.

WOOOOOW!! Caramel what fantastic news-You must be thrilled. it really is a lesson for the rest of us to not test early but you were even testing on time-all very . Congratulations-I am echoing everyones good wishes and sending lots of love your way. Here's wishing lots of dark lines for Owl also today.

Boddecia Bless your DH with the injections-Are there many lovely partners on here doing injections for their lovely ladies?? My DH would'nt even be in the same room! When I had IUI DH nearly fainted and the nurses were asking if HE was okay while I had my legs in the air! All the advice from others is good re: technique. I am a nurse although it doesn't make injecting yourself easier as I like to do it where I can see it-hence VERY sore thighs! As long as all the powder goes in thats fine as that is the medication-If you're still worried about the amount of liquid-just make sure 'drawing up' needle is below the level ie actually IN the saline/water at all times to reduce air bubbles-and before changing needles to the one you inject with, lightly draw back fluid in syringe and gently flick and tap the 'drawing up' needle before you change it as fluid can get caught in the bottom of the needle. Anyway- I think your DH is a diamond for injecting-Its a good way for the men to feel involved IMO-When is your scan?

Teds how is acupuncture? I am planning to speak to my clinic about it as I know it really improves success rates-I am going to throw everything positive at this next cycle! When is it recommended that one starts? I am on CD9 and awaiting AF somewhere between CD28-32 when I will begin ICSI-Should I get a move on?? So I take it you're stimming now? Hope there is lots of activity-love your phrase "baby box"! When is the scan?

Garden Loving our new home here and the comments about the decor-it sure looks very snuggly-company is fab anyway! When does your cycle start?

Ellan the gutters can wait-I am with you completely-I hear we're up for a very dry spell!?

Hi Zeebee Don't take statistics too much to heart-I know it's really difficult though. its interesting on the HFEA website to look up specific clinics success stats. statistics can be further broken down and they can be misleading (either way)-as there's so many different factors to this infertility nightmare, it is difficult to 'group' age groups together and look at them like people are all the same-I agree with Kool as you are increasing your own chances by doing this and remember you're doing a pro-active thing.

Luck hope EC was good and that there are lots of bouncy eggs for Mr Luck and there will be a very lucky party with the bits involved tonight!

Love to everyone else-I know I have missed someone but agree with Louiseteacher-HELLO btw! it is difficult to go back a screen to catch up and then fear wiping the message-thats happened to me a couple of times but I am completely USELESS on the computer!! When I first joined MN I was writing details down in a book-but that surely defeats the object-DUR! This has turned into a very long post-sorry! Have a lovely evening.
xxxx

Just had to say Teds Thanks for that tune-That is one of my faves-She says out of breath from dancing round the room singing into hairbrush!! Love the lyrics-very special xxxx

Hello all, I was on the last threat but really crap at posting/updating, so have made a new-month resolution to be much better, if you'll have me?!

We attended our Patient Information Evening at Guys last night - was surprised at just how many people were there, so kind of reassuring we're not the only ones going through this but sad that so many need this kind of help. Anyone else having treatment at Guys?

Now we've been taken through the process in detail, I'm feeling really nervous but very excited at the same time, if that makes sense? It's all 'very real' now, whereas it's just felt like all talk so far.

We have our first appointment with the specialist on Monday (after a few frustrating false starts due to a moronic gp it seems ), and as I'm about to start my next cycle next week, I could be on the drugs by the end of this month! Wow!

However - a question... did anyone look to delaying the start of their treatment to avoid things like holidays?! Sounds a totally stupid and shallow question, only we have a couple of short trips during what I think will be the injecting time, and it's likely the egg retrieval will quite possibly take place during a pretty major family affair (4 days long), which we can't not go to without explaining why (and we don't really want to do that). If we hang fire for a cycle we'll have a clearer run and fewer distractions (although maybe distractions would be useful?!).

Sorry for banging on about my own situation - still getting to know who else is here and their progress!

Hello all, I'm new here and thought I'd pop in to say that I'm starting IVF in the next few weeks (have our first appointment on 19th Aug) so it's great to see such support and advice before I go. I've got a horrendous history after several serious surgeries due to a grim pelvic infection that has left me infertile with still some issues to this day. I'll be 35 in Feb and my surgeon has been amazingly supportive since Feb 2009. I got married this year and my lovely DH is a gem in supporting and caring for me and the next MASSIVE step is IVF that's been agreed and organised in what feels like a few days! I don't have much to say right not, only that you're all an inspiration and that it's lovely to read about how it works (ie not on the HEFA website!) in real life! Good luck with everything this week, will report back in a wee bit :)

Hey Punmpkin I started acupuncture just around the same time as I started down regging and confined until implantation. Trying to decide whether to carry on for a few more weeks or not now. A friend of mine literally just had her pre and post transfer sessions (and now has 2 children!) so I guess it's whatever you feel most comfortable with.

Hi jumping, lovely to see you on here again! Zeebee was there last night too, you may have been sitting next to each other without knowing it! I recently had my ICSI as Guys, and Teds and Gardenpixie are having their treatment there too. I was chomping at the bit to start my treatment but can totally understand why it might be better for you to wait esp if it's only a delay of a month or so. You could always get all the necessary bloods done so that you're good to go as soon as you're ready. I agree that distractions are good but during stimming you could well have to be at Guys every day/every other day for blood tests and scans so that wouldn't fit in well with a 4 day 'do' (especially if you're not telling people). Good luck anyway!