Assisted Conception (and all the bits in between) volume 8

[lucylookout]

Looks like we need a new thread for Italian, Scrummy, Beginnings, womanly, lissy, rowing, fretfree, Teds77, keziah, frustrated and anyone else who wants to chat about assisted conception!

Wow Lucy that is fantastic really good luck tomorrow - will keep everything crossed for you. let us have an update tomorrow xxx

scrummy 39, TTC #1, first IUI on 8 Nov, trying to relax on 2WW.
Lucylookout, 40 TTC #2, failed IUI May 2011, moved to ARGC, highish immune levels, after 2 doses Humira waiting to cycle
Italiangreyhound 46, DD aged 6 (IUI), MC 2006, IUI/failed IVF with donor eggs, awaiting FET Feb 2012
Pocket 44 ttc#1, DET expected end November

That's fantastic lucy!!! Best of luck for your blood tests

lucy- Holy crap! How AMAZING!!! :) :) :) It had to've been the Humira! Good luck with the blood tests, and keep us posted!!!

pocket- How exciting that you only have two more weeks to go! Keep calm, my dear...

rowing- Ummmm, blank stare? Hope you're chilling out and reaching a zen-like state.

scrummy- Boo about your cold. I came back from the States with a chesty kind of thing that never turned out to be full blown, but I'm still hacking up some nastiness. Hope you feel better very soon. Load up on Vitamin C!

Italian-Glad to hear you're feeling better, both in body and in mind. I confess to watching ONE reality show, and that is the American show Survivor. 20 people are marooned for 39 days. It starts out as two teams of 20, and then as people start getting voted out, the tribes merge into one. I think it's the least manipulated of all the reality shows, and the most challenging. If you want to check it out, try sidereel.com or watchseries.eu. You'll see how different it is from I'm a Celebrity...

Teds- Well done you! Keeping my fingers crossed....

AFM, call from clinic that blood tests were good and I no longer need any more immunes testing. YAY! The only thing I need to do is have a full blood count once a month. 24 weeks pregnant tomorrow! Feeling good, loads of kicking, and starting to think about decorating the nursery. DH and I have actually settled on a name we both like, which seems a bit of a miracle. The older set of twins that I nanny for had their Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, and it was such a good time!

So many of you on their 2 WW!! I think of you every day...

Sprinkling loads of baby dust on everyone...

Wow Lucy that is fantastic news! Best of luck for the rest of your tests tomorrow. What wonderful news!

Am due to be basted tomorrow at 4pm. Have gone from one extreme to another, from 5 follies down to just one. But as the doc said 'a juicy one' measuring 20. Although when I saw the nurse after she already started talking about upping the medication for my next cycle. Hmmm I know the success rates for IUI are low, and especially with only 1 follie, but doesn't install a lot of confidence when this one isn't even over. Anyway we shall see, gues it's good to be realistic. Am going to take a sickie so I don't need to stress about dashing to and from work.

Everyone has so much going on, I shall be joining some of you on the 2WW as of tomorrow!

Hi all,
getting busy on here again!

First of all LUCY! What! That's so funny, all this time you have been complaining about AF not turning up, which is kind of the logical opposite of what TTCing is all about! I'm so pleased for you, that is great news! Hope it all goes well at AGRC!

Sunny good luck tomorrow, who knows, who knows!

Italian is this guilty confession time about TV? The only reality thingie I was watching is TOWIE, which has now finished, oh and the 'Real Housewives of...' which has also just finished. What shall I do?

Lissy great news about the reduction of poking and prodding, and congratulations on the 24 week mark when it comes!

Teds how are you getting on?

Scrummy are you feeling any better or is the cold still hanging over you?

Pocket how are you feeling?

Weller are you still there?

My news is that I had a bit of a freak-out last night when I had pains, exactly like the pains with the ectopic: around the left ovary and down the front of my left thigh. It had been very memorable, as it went on for weeks and it was very disturbing to be reminded of it again. I managed to calm myself down, quite frankly I would rather it not work than have to go through that again.
On a more positive note, last cycle - the ectopic I had started bleeding by 5dpt, which was yesterday so I feel I have crossed that line as I have no sign of bleeding, which does help reassure me that this might not be a repeat of last time. Gulp!
Oh and I also had a similar pain on the right hand side when I was at work today, so unless it is a double ectopic, it might just be ovarian pain/cysts or something not too scary.
I also have noticed my joints are a bit loose and I feel quite tired, but that is probably sleep-deprivation. I wonder if it is just a side-effect of the progesterone? Did anyone else have this from progesterone?

LUCY you cheeky mare, we were meant to be cycle buddies, you scooped off to one side and now you have sneaked back in with a BFP !!!!!!!!!!!!!! YIPEEE

HUGS hugs whoop whoops

Lots of arrow prayers it will all go well.

sunnyg I am sure I have told you this but I got pregnant with one follicle (having not got pregnant with two follicles). So best of luck for you, and arrow prayers for a great result. hugs.

lissy hugs to you.

Can anyone give me a story about someone losing weight and then getting an IVF positive!

Anyone else watching The Young Apprentice? I think Harry Maxwell has promise, I want him to win, or Hayley or maybe even James McCullagh, last week he annoyed me but now I like him.

Hugs and BABY DUST and chocolate boobs to all.

Lucy that is great news . (same happened to me, after failed ICSI and immunes tested and some immune meds begun before 2nd ICSI!!! - so quick rush onto Intralipids and other immune meds for us also!!) Hope all goes well for you with tests and coming weeks.

lissy that is great news for you.

Italian - yep I can, but not an IVF positive a miracle natural one!! lost weight for NHS IVF and then kept on at slimming world before the bfp.

SunnyG hope all goes well for you tomorrow.

Rowing - each day is a step closer, so hoping all goes well - not that you are counting days or anything, are you????

Italian - have just caught up with Young Apprentice. Not watched adult one, but found this series quite intriguing. Yes James was quite different tonight I thought, and the other male who sold lots of the vaccum cleaners really impressed me. Harry M is improving lots - he didn't get into the boardroom (or have I mixed the 2 Harry's up - either way ....) Am watching way too much tv right now - but had to rest lots since the bleeding episode 10 days ago (well that is my excuse!!)

24 weeks on Thursday, will be relief to get there. Hope midwife measures me and baby has grown.

LUCY! WOW congratulations! That is fantastic news. Hope it ll goes smoothly for you. Like you said, you'll be closely monitored by ARGc, so you're in good hands.

sunnyg good luck today. One follie is good. Strange comments by your clinic, but take no notice of them- it will work!

Will catch up with you all later.

Wow lucy - amazing, wonderful news! What is humira btw?

sunny really hope all goes well today xx.

rowing sorry to hear that there were problems at the clinic but am very jealous of your two hatching blasts! I'm definitely not sleeping well - don't know if that the progesterone? How are the pains today?

scrummy glad to hear the cold has gone and hope you're not mentalling too much on the 2ww. I was doing really well until yesterday... well that's a whole two and a half days mental-free which isn't really that good !

Italian where are your embie names from? Mine have been named Poppy and Wilfred as they were transferred at 11am on 11.11.11 - hope no one thinks that's disrespectful, it wasn't meant that way and once I had the names in my head I couldn't get them out again!

Pocket hope all is well - two weeks will fly by...

lissy happy 24 weeks today and keziah so close too.

Waves and ((hugs)) to everyone else x.

Have added myself to the roll call but lucy needs to update

scrummy 39, TTC #1, first IUI on 8 Nov, trying to relax on 2WW.
Lucylookout 40, TTC #2, failed IUI May 2011, moved to ARGC, highish immune levels, after 2 doses Humira waiting to cycle
Italiangreyhound 46, DD aged 6 (IUI), MC 2006, IUI/failed IVF with donor eggs, awaiting FET Feb 2012
Pocket 44, TTC#1, DET expected end November
Teds 33, TTC#1, failed IVF/ICSI Aug 2011, 2nd IVF/ICSI Nov 2011, struggling to relax on 2WW.

Hello and thanks for all your good wishes.

Pocket hope all's going well. Do you have an actual date yet for ET?

Hi Josie have you had any of you appts yet?

Lissy what a relief that you don't have to do any more immune testing. Is that just because the placenta/pregnancy has taken over control of your body now (!? You know what I mean, I hope!) And 24 weeks. Yay!

Sunny remember, it only takes one. Hope your basting went well and lots of luck for the 2 ww.

Rowing how are the pains today? I'm sure twinges and stretches are very normal. I haven't noticed tiredness/loose joint side effects from progesterone tbh. Fingers crossed they're a good sign.

Thanks Italian - I know, it was a complete curve ball . But I like to keep you lot on your toes. Have you started planning the FET yet with the clinic, or is it too early?

Hi keziah - wishing Thursday gets here quickly for you and that you get the all clear measurement-wise.

Hang on, I'm being called. I'll be back later to finish update!

Hi everyone, had my first appt at fertility clinic, wasn't prepared for the tests to start there and then! Had a smear to check for chlamydia (routine), an ultrasound to check my ovaries which had no cysts but not a lot of follicles either, and a blood test to check my egg reserves as she thinks that's the reason for my high oestrogen, oh and she also said my ovaries and follies appear to be more like a womans 10 years older than me. So the jist is that I might not have very many eggs, but she does think I'm ovulating, and as she put it - it only takes one! I have to have an HSC or whichever initials it is! Has anyone had that, can you prepare me please, I'm terrified! She said I'll need to be pampered for a week afterwards, is it really that bad! I was very embarrassed and nervous today, I'm a very private person, had to say no to male doctor coming in for the tests so I'm feeling rather violated at the moment. Anyway, she said if the blood test shows I have low egg reserves, or there is something wrong with my tubes, she'll be recommending IVF sooner rather than later. I was a bit shell-schocked tbh, wasn't expecting IVF to be mentioned just yet, I thought that was kinda the last straw . So not feeling massively positive but I'm giving myself tonight (and maybe most of tomorrow) to feel sorry for myself, then I'm going to fight. I have decided this sitting around being miserable isn't helping and if I'm going to have to have these tests and maybe IVF, I'm going to have to be strong to get through it so I might as well start fighting now.

Hugs to everyone

Hi Josie, sounds like you have had a lot to take in today. I had an HSS (which I think is quite like an HSG) and it really wasn't bad at all. With an HSG they put a very small amount of liquid into the uterine cavity, and then x ray what's going on to make sure the liquid spills into the fallopian tubes (it's just checking to see whether either tube is blocked). My HSS was really no worse than a smear. I certainly wasn't laid up in bed for a week afterwards. I know it's hard, but try not to go too much on the nurse's speculations. Wait until you have the actual facts in front of you. And remember, even if you do have lowish ovarian reserve, you're young, and young eggs trump older eggs every time.

Scrummy thanks! Hope the 2ww is treating you well.

Teds when I had my immunes tested, both NK cells and cytokines came back high. Humira is an injection you give yourself (four times in my case) to bring the cytokines down. At ARGC they want you to do this before treatment starts. Apparently they've had a spate recently of women getting naturally pregnant after Humira.

AFM I got my results back. HCG was 224 (back in tomorrow to see if that increases as much as it's meant to) and progesterone was 94. They like it to be over 100 so I have cyclogest, as well as aspirin and clexane to increase blood flow to the uterus.

Oh and there's no way I'm going to update my roll call info until I think I'm out of the woods!

Hi to anyone I've forgotten

Hi

Wow lots of action on here lately - November is turning out to be a busy month!

sunny g hope it went okay today (basting, I love it!!). so you're on the 2ww too - woop woop

rowing sorry to hear you've got twinges - i'm in the dark on that but i hope its a good sign. I'm feeling okay thanks. My tablet conconction seems to be keeping me awake at night but i'm not tired during the days. how are you doing otherwise (blank look)?

Italian, I've not managed to catch each Young Apprentice, I did start but i have missed a few. I'm ashamed to say that I'm watching IACGMOOH (please don?t judge)

lucy I don?t really understand the levels but hope it goes okay tomorrow. FX for you. I don?t have a date yet for DET, should know more after my scan on Friday.

Josie great that your tests started so quickly. Try not to get bothered about the poking and prodding, you do actually get used to it (I affectionately call the scans 'Fanny Cam' (hope that doesnt offend anyone) and i've had about half a dozen now and they honestly no longer bother me. Wait and see what your results say before you worry too much. There are lots of options whatever the results and Lucy is spot on about young eggs.

Hi Scrummy, Teds, Lissy, Weller and everyone else.

I'm so excited for everyone on here - its an action packed thread that's for sure!!

And I love our new sign off. Chocolate boobs to all

PS: Meant to ask... what do you feel about going for more than one embryo transfer? i know there are risks but i'm really starting to favour this - i'm 44, so will probably only do this once. And i thought that two donor egg kiddies would always have eachother to talk to about it all... what are you all doing? xxx

Hi all,

Lucy I'm glad to hear things are moving so fast, I'm sure the next number will be nice and high.

Josie I have had an hsg and it was ok. It is actually quite interesting. I watched the dye travel around and enter the tubes, it was fascinating. Afterwards if there is a blockage they will probably give you antibiotics to ensure there is no infection as a result of the dye taking a while to leave you body. I did feel a bit 'off' the next day, but I was OK after, but you should be fine if you take a paracetamol after.
You will have a doctor present performing the procedure and at least one nurse. I had more trouble with the unhelpful, unpleasant nurse (just one - the others were lovely) than the male doctor. There are a lot of female doctors, but there is always a nurse present for every procedure in my experience and you do soon get used to being treated like just a body, it is quite clinical and not sexual at all.
It is all a bit scary, but we are all here to help support you through this and to give you as much information as we can. On the positive side, the more information you have the better you are able to find a way to get your bfp.

Teds hi sweetie! I love Wilfred, that's the top of my list of boy's names. How are you feeling?

Keziah if I were on the 2ww, I would definitely be counting and symptom-spotting and even considering testing, but of course I'm not [blank face] so I'm not doing any of those things.

Scrummy and Teds what's happening, where is the crazy symptom spotting, where is the hysteria? The 2WW is supposed to be a time of utter lunacy, but you guys are serene and calm. Shall we all go crazy next week, get it out of our systems?! It'll be fun!

Hi ladies

Is it Friday yet?!?!

So was basted yesterday bout 5pm. All done and now joining some of you on the 2WW! Although it went fine, not feeling incredibly positive. Only 1 follie, but a bigger at 20. DH's goods were ok, lowish count at about 9 mill, but that's no shock. Although good mortility at about 92% C'mon little guys!!!

Silly question ladies; Why do they trigger you if you ovulate normally? And after the trigger when usually would ovulation occur? I just feel that perhaps my IUI happened after my ovulation. Just a feeling. Got my smiley Monday am, was triggered about 1pm Monday and felt like I had ovu pains Monday pm. But wasnt done until 5pm Tues. So hmmmmmmm............

Lucy - sounds like the results have been promising. I have all my fingers and toes crossed for you!

Scrummy - how's the 2ww going for you? And the cold?

Josie - I've had a HSG too and just like the other ladies have said, it's really no more uncomfortable than a smear. It's good to get it done, another thing to cross off your list!

And a big hi to everyone else as well! oxox

Gotta run to work (yuck!) oxo

Josie - no idea what that nurse/dr was on about but a HSG, whilst not pleasant is little more than a smear. I took a painkiller an hour before and one after and was able to go to work the next day no problem (a fairly active day at work too). People don't need a week of pampering after IVF - egg collection or transfer, unless they want to be and that is more painful for some. Grrr.... at scaremongering person!!! Do ignore them!! It is a standard procedure to check no blocked tubes.

sunnyG congrats on being in 2ww.

rowing at your logic!!!

pocket if I had the choice of 2 at ET then I would go for it, as I know a few people who have one child but had 2 transferred. Also much depends on your health (could you carry twins ok) and whether if only have a SET if the other/s can be frozen or not.

Thanks kezia. I am really leaning towards two if they let me. What defines being able to carry twins? I am fit and healthy and uterus is apparently in good shape for an old bird (I'm 45) but I am fairly little - 5'3" size 8-10 ish.

Having a senior moment - in 44 not 45!?!?! Hope everyone is doing okay today

sunnyg honey all the best, one follicle is good. Come on follicle!!! [grins] get going in there and make it a home.

Josie Try not to worry about IVF. I felt the same way as you about it being last resort but now I think it is not too scary at all. If that is what the doctors recommends then I would go for it. Also if you are being offered a male doctor and you would rather see a female, just say. I have actually found some male doctors very nice and felt more comfortable with them than some female doctors but it is all personal choice. I had a HSG- Hysterosalpingogram and I did find it painful. I was tempted to say nothing but I think it is best for me to be honest because although others may not have found it painful, I did. However, the pain was short-lived and I did not require a week to be pampered to recover. I think everyone is different and everyone has different pain threshold, the other thing was that one of my tubes was a bit blocked so that might have accounted for the pain.

Pocket totally up to you but I went for 2 each time and would say it is a good idea. If you do get any more embryos than you would like to have put in you can have the remaining ones frozen. PS am jealous you are so slim, what is your secret!!!!

Rowing hugs to you and may all go well.

Keziah, Lissy and co, big hugs coming your way.

Ladies
Has anyone who's had IUI (or I'm guessing IVF etc may be similar) been horrendously emotional right after??? Basted yesterday and today I'm a mess. Why oh why? Also have a horrendous headache and was told not to take any painkillers.

Will just have to tough it out.

Oh no and this is only day 1 of the 2WW.

I think I just need to get a grip!

Thanks for all your comments, I'm still a bit worried but I know it's only half an hour of my life. I'm more embarrassed than anything to be honest, I don't even like DH being down there never mind complete strangers. I had to say no when they asked if a male doctor could be present for my tests yesterday, I think I would have found it all way too much. Had a bit of a cry and hug off DH tonight because I got myself all worried that he wouldn't love me anymore if he knew what happened during the tests (I feel very violated) and that he would be disgusted by it all (part of my self-esteem issues that I'm working through with the counsellor) and he assured me that no matter what, he will never be disgusted by any part of me and will never stop loving me He's being very supportive. So although I'm worried, I'm not going to let myself dwell on it because that's what makes me feel worse, and the chances are it'll not happen till after xmas so there's no point worrying about it now. Plus, that's three times I've had to have a speculum and cervical scrape and I can hardly feel it to be honest so it's not that bit I'm worried about, it's more the catheter and fluid.

Hope you feel better SunnyG

Keziah I don't think she was trying to scare me, I think she could sense how terrified I was (I imagine I looked like a rabbit caught in headlights, especially because I found discussing cervixes and vaginas in open conversation quite a new and embarrassing experience )and was trying to make me feel better

Josie, please try not to worry, it is fine, really you will get through it and the prize for all this crappola is hopefully a baby. Try not to worry.

Ladies, take a look.

Very good

Very informative

sunnyg it's an emotional rollercoaster this TTC business and feeling like you do the days after IUI is perfectly normal. I did that too. It's all that anticipation you have beforehand and once it's over you feel like you've been left hanging. Well, that's how I felt and my cold - which has luckily gone - made it worse.
Ovulation can occurs anything up to 36 hours after you first detect the surge so I'm sure you're fine. Just trust your doctors to know best. And welcome to the 2WW PS. I have motility envy

rowing don't let appearances fool you - like a duck here, calm on the surface and flapping like mad beneath it! Despite my best efforts I'm playing mind games of trying to explain away any symptom that could even remotely indicate that I might be preggers and yet stupidly still going - ohh, maybe? 9DPO here. Sorry to hear about your pains. That's a bit alarming. Have you been in touch with a doc about it? Hope it's gone now.

lucy hope you're levels are skyrocketing!

pocket I would go for two. The risk - although there - is very small. In fact I understood the guidelines were 1 for under 35, 2 for 36-40, 3 for over 40s. Or maybe that's just my clinic. I have a risk of triplets as there were 3 mature follies on the day of the IuI!

teds love the names. Are you managing to mental a bit less?

lissy and keziah wow, 24 weeks. Other people's pregnancies seem to go so fast. I'm sure it hasn't felt like that for you, but you're both doing great.

italian I still think Sara is a strong contender. But Harry M had a good week with Hayley, so there's a few of them still in the running. Really hope that not all 5 follies held a good quality egg. There were 3 mature ones and 2 smaller ones on the day of the IuI. I named them as soon as all 5 were spotted and as it was 2 mature ones on the right and 1 on the left, it means that Molly, Monty and Anton were fighting for the swimmers attention in the end.