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!

Hi everyone,

Scrummy fingers crossed for Molly, Monty or Anton. When is your official test day?

Josie it's hard but remind yourself that these doctors are not that interested in your bits, just the information they hold. It's completely unsexual. Think of them as a dentist or an optician doing routine tests, as that's really all they are. I used to get more stressed by it, and while still not pleasant, I'm now completely used to being poked and prodded and it doesn't particularly bother me anymore. And yes, talk, talk, talk to your counsellor about it, I'm sure it'll help you clear a few things.

Sunnyg I agree with Scrummy, it's all that build up and anticipation resulting in probably a bit of an anticlimax once it's all over and you just have to wait. Can you do something nice to treat yourself? Facial? Handbag shopping?

Pocket I would go for two too.

Rowing any more strange pains or have things calmed down? Hope you're doing OK.

Keziah are you around? 24 weeks today! I have a friend who wants to have some immunes testing. What is the name of the doctor you saw? Is he based in London?

I got some more results yesterday. HCG had gone up to 385, and progesterone (thanks to cyclogest) up to 225, so things are going in the right direction. I'm still absolutely terrified though that it's all going to go wrong! I have acupuncture today, that should help, and back in tomorrow for more tests.

Hi to Italian, Lissy and everyone else. Beginnings are you still around? How are you getting on?

Hello ladies sorry I have had a 2 week holiday from thinking about ovulation and conceiving and it has been good. Been eating really well and still not drinking and feel so much better, and lovely not having the pressure on us for a bit. Back to it tomorrow as seeing the consultant about IVF. Prob won't start til next year as going on real hol on new years eve so I am feeling more relaxed about it all.

Sorry I havent posted hope you are all doing ok and for the 2ww ers try and relax ! Easier said than done

Hi all,

Josie poor you. It is hard to overcome these kind of sexual identity issues we are so surrounded by sexual imagery that even breastfeeding has become taboo to some people. You will get used to the whole thing, if you can disengage from the embarrassment. Lucy is right the doctors are probably bored stiff of looking at labias, you know - thinks ...'now just relax... I wonder if I need to put more money in the meter...just a tiny scrape....I wonder what's on the menu at the canteen today' etc, etc...
I have never had an examination where the doctor has said 'wow, never seen one like that before' and I bet yours is just as boring as mine.

Italian how is the eating plan going? I'm really struggling with my appetite, which I think has been fuelled by the oestrogen or something, awful! I'm trying to do my exercise bike and walk, but I do feel guilty - that's not good is it? Guilt I mean! Are you preparing for the next FET in any way?

Scrummy yep I'm 9dpt too, transfer last Tuesday as well. Have you cracked yet and tested?

Pocket you are doing donor egg aren't you so your donor will be younger than you, which raises the chances of the transfer working so I suppose twins are a possibility. I did consider a SET, but the when I was over earlier this year, the rates of success the previous month for a SET were under 30% and the odds for DET were between 50% and 60%. I don't know what percentage of the pregnancies achieved were multiples, but in my experience a lot of women who start out with both embryos taking end up losing one early on, so I kind of want to give myself the best chance of a pregnancy whilst taking a calculated risk on the chance of multiples.
I do have child-bearing hips though and a large frame so I do hear you about your tiny hips. I would be interested to hear if that actually makes a difference or if it is an urban myth.
My friend has a swimmer's build, wider on the top, but tiny hips and leg and she did struggle with her pregnancies and labouring, but I don't know if that is common to people of her build in particular?

Lucy great news about the hcg rising and the progesterone responding to the treatment.

Oh dear I have to dash, but just wanted to say I did crack and tested this morning, but with an opk, I only have one hpt and don't want to waste it. I got a line, which was medium strong compared with the test line, so something is happening. I don't think I am about to ovulate somehow. OTD is Tuesday next week, so I won't do any more testing until then (yeah right!). Quite pleased to have seen a bit of a line and not have bleeding like last time. Still very long way to go....

ooooooooooh Rowing exciting!

pocket - my theory is if no one has told you not to have twins then you are fine to carry twins!! (I was told not to have 2 transferred due to a lung condition I have as twins would mean more strain on my lungs!!) And you get much more monitoring with twins too!!

Lucy - we saw Dr George Nduwke, who moved to London in Sept. He is based at the Zita West clinic in London, but uses the LFC (I think) for treatment. Currently he does all scans, ET and EC's himself (wow not what I had) so he is very busy and limits his appointments. Think Feb is earliest he is available now (but once you are in, no more waiting!). He had a 74% success rate in Sept - that is all I know, and most people he sees are those with immune issues. Think the Lister and ARGC do immunes as well as Dr Gorgy in London.

Well saw midwife today - 24+0. Don't see her again until 32 weeks because I have a glucose test at the hospital at 28 weeks. Ummm - think have lazy midwife as I dont' think a blood test taking person will somehow dip urine, do blood pressure or measure baby or do heartbeat even if they will do the 28 week blood tests for me. Came home and cried, because 8 weeks between checks feels so long in case anything goes wrong.

Rowing wow that is very, very exciting. When will you test again or have the official test?!?

Thanks everyone for the cheer-ups. I think it was just definite emotional build up. I think the emotional toil has crept up and suprised me already. Headache subsiding (and no painkillers!) and starting to feel much better.

Scrummy love the names of your key follies, Molly, Monty and Anton! C'mon follies do your thing! Also loved the 'motility envy' really made me smile! When is d-day re testing end of 2ww? Or have you as rowing said, have you cracked and tested yet? It's tempting for me even and I've just begun my 2WW.

Wow rowing - sounds good And I'm sure you won't need to test again until Tuesday now...

sunnyg glad you are feeling a bit better. No headaches here but I can't wait to go on holiday tomorrow evening as I'm ready for a total break from the emotion of that last few weeks! Have you got nice relaxing things planned for the weekend?

pocket I've had two day three transfers and put back two embies each time and I'm 33 (well for a few more days at least...) and as you have three inches on me (in the height department) I'd say there was plenty of room for twins!

scrummy loving the duck splashing image - I think I'm now just desperately flapping - a bit like the baby penguins learning to swim for those who saw Frozen Planet last night!

lucy lovely to hear the results are going in the right direction and a whoop for Keziah for reaching 24 weeks. Sorry to hear about the lack of scan though - is there any way they will change their minds or could you have a private scan as a Christmas treat?

Josie so sorry to hear all your news. I found been told my ovaries were a little wrinkly for my age pretty devastating. But you are really young and that counts in your favour - your eggs should still be good quality so stay positive. My two embies were top grade on day 3 so I feel that I have as good a chance as people who were lucky enough to get two, three, five or ten times the number of eggs I got at egg collection. And from memory you have a good few years on me xx.

weller lovely to hear from you. Hope the consultant appointment goes well tomorrow.

Waves to everyone else.

rowing - sorry, totally missed your news - you hid it in there pretty well. For someone not waiting for something the test must have been fantastic. Keep us updated, but positively excited for you at this stage xx

Rowing hugs and all that honey.

Scrummybumb come on Molly, Monty and Anton

Lucy and Rowing I agree with your comments, the doctors and nurses are not at all interested in your bits Josie.

Rowing thanks for asking. Have decided that the only way I am going to sort out my impulsive eating is counselling to get to the bottom of it! Anyone know who does FREE counselling!!? Please?? Went for a walk this week and it exhausted me, I guess I am still not fully recovered from my illness/virus.

sunnyg thinking of you. Can?t say much to help andKeziah to, hugs to you.

weller hugs.

I am feeling good, although a friend who is 40 and pregnant bent my ear about all her complaints and I wanted to shout stop being so insensitive, but because I'm not like that I did not. Sis told me I should not listen to everyone?s concerns. I must admit pregnant people moaning about being pregnant does do my head in, even though they are not complaining about actually being pregnant, just some minor inconvenience connected to it. I want to shout you are Bloody lucky!

Josie I meant that in a nice way! I meant try not to stress and yes, keep talking.

Thanks gals. Really appreciate all the advice. Am off for scan later so I'll also try and firm up transfer date and ask about double transfer!?!

I'll post properly later but rowing wanted to say that I am in the train with tears in my eyes after you're update.

Hello all just been to see the consultant and agreed to start IVF in the new year

A lady turned up and said the consultant had said he could see her in between appointments and then he asked if we minded if he did a quick blood test for her before seeing us and I said yes. Turned out she was about to start ivf next week but is preggars and he just confirmed it with the blood test. She a looked slightly dazed when she came out but he said it does happen so don't give up hope along the journey that it can happen naturally.

Thought I would share that nice story with you

Have a good weekend all I'm off to Bournemouth with my Netball team for some girly fun! X

Hi all,

Glad you got your next cycle sorted out weller and enjoy your netball weekend!

Italian does your friend know what you've been through ttc? If yes, maybe you should say something along the lines of you're delighted for her that she's pregnant, but find it hard going talking about her pregnancy in great detail. That's not in the least bit unreasonable. If she doesn't know, maybe a bit of self preservation is in order for you, and you could avoid her for a bit, until her symptoms pass, or you feel a bit stronger. There's no point in putting yourself in situations that needlessly make you feel worse.

Thanks for the info Keziah. My friend has her IVF sorted out with a local NHS hospital, that means unfortunately Dr Nduwke won't treat her, so she is trying to make an appt with Dr Gorgy instead as he will treat only the immunes side.

Re the big gap between your appointments - could you ask your hospital for a reassurance scan midway? If you say you're concerned about things they might let you. Or as someone else suggested, could you do a private scan?

I went into ARGC again this morning so am currently biting my nails waiting for today's results.

Thanks for everyone's reassurance. I'm absolutely terrified for the HSC, and the results, and any following treatment, but I'm trying to stay strong and I'm considering asking DH to come in with me. Out of everyone who's had it, did you have your DHs there? DH keeps reminding me that I'm strong enough to do it, which is helping. Overall I'm feeling a bit more positive, despite being worried and just wanting to get it all over and done with.

Sorry about your friend Italian I'm in the same position in that my best friend is pg after 3 months of trying so it's verydifficult for me to be around her. She keeps putting things on facebook, ppictures of baby clothes and stuff like that. She knows what's going on with me and she used to be my support but I don't really feel like talking to her about my difficulties now

Hi all,
sorry it's bad news all! I started bleeding this morning and went to the early pregnancy support centre - which is the place I went for the ectopic. They have just phoned and said my hcg is below 5, which is a negative result. It's 10dpt so it should be above that by now if it were successful.
I'm going to keep taking the meds, but I think I'm out. So looking like time to call it a day, I have no money left to spend on this and I think my body is getting fed-up with the whole thing.

Oh rowing you poor love. I'm praying that you're wrong and you get the news you want early next week. Sending an enormous hug

Oh rowing, I'm sorry to hear your news. But it is still early days. One of the girls I cycled with at ARGC had massive cramping and bleeding the day before she tested, and she figured it was all over with, but then the morning of her test day she got a positive! Don't give up just yet...

Josie- I didn't have an HSG, I had a hysteroscopy, which they knocked me out for. DH was there when I woke up, encouraging me and telling me how brave I was, and how thankful he was that I was going through this for us. I'm sure your DH feels the same way. Whatever we have to go through will be worth it when you hold that little baby in your arms...

weller- Good to hear you've got a plan of action. There's been a few women on here who've been told that IVF was their only hope, only to turn up naturally pregnant. Keziah being one of them!

pocket- For all three of my cycles I opted to have two embies put back, because I figured with two hopefully at least one would implant. I did have a smaller sac underneath whilst being scanned after my positive, but it never developed into anything. I always knew that twins were a possibility...

sunnyg- I remember being totally emotional on the days of my embryo transfers. There's all this buildup, and then it's over in like fifteen minutes!

lucy- Keep those numbers climbing!

scrummy- How you doing, chick?

Hi Italian, hope you're doing well...

Waves and chocolate boobs to everyone else!

AFM, not much to report. Have an appointment with the midwife next Wednesday for my 25 week milestone. Other than that, just making plans to get our flat in order...

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend!

Hi everyone, got a letter from the clinic yesterday confirming my test date is Tuesday. Part of me wants to test tomorrow so I get the news on a weekend, part of me wants to wait. We'll see. Had a pretty stressful week at work, which I'm sure is partly because of the anticipation re TTC. So, got myself another massage booked for today

rowing (((()))) you've been through so much. I hope you've got something nice planned for the weekend to try and take your mind of it. Keeping my FX for better news next week.

Lucy what did the results say? Really hope it was good news.

Josie the nurse and the doctor at my hospital were lovely when I had my HSG. The nurse even offered to hold my hand through it. Like most people here, I didn't find it painful. I hope you will find yours as easy as I did.

Weller IVF in the new year - let's hope you'll have a natural BFP at Xmas! But the plan sounds good, so glad you've got that in place.

sunnyg Glad you're feeling better. How's the nerves?

teds we missed the Frozen Planet on Wed, so I'm looking forward to Sunday's repeat. Loved your penguin comparison Have you tested yet?

lissy have you chosen your nursery furniture yet? I'm really looking forward to that bit. And are you buying loads of baby clothes? Will you be having a 3D scan as a memento? Sorry, a lot of questions. Just very excited for you. Feel free not to answer.

pocket how did the scan go? Have you got a date?

keziah Sorry to hear you've been in tears. (((()))) like Lucy said, maybe book a private scan?

Italian thank you darling.

Rowing I'm so sorry. It really was your turn to have some luck. I hope you can take your mind off it all with DS and DP this weekend x

Scrummy results are OK. HCG went from 385 to 909 (it's meant to double in about 48 hours) so that's good. My progesterone went down a bit to 139, so that's 3 cyclogest suppositories a day up the back passage. And apparently because my NK (natural killer) cells are still a bit raised, I might have to go in on Monday for IVIG (an infusion that distracts the NK cells away from the embryo), but they'll let me know for sure tomorrow. TBH I'm in slight denial about it all. I don't feel any different physically, and until I see an embryo for myself, with a heartbeat, in the right place I'm not going to believe it might happen.

Enjoy the massage. Have you been symptom spotting (silly question, I know!) Anything to report?

lucy- Yay for your HCG numbers! In my experience, progesterone numbers do tend to fluctuate wildly, so don't stress over that. I had three intralipid infusions during the course of my treatment, and it did prove to be effective.

scrummy- Haven't done any shopping, as luckily family is going to buy us our nursery furniture. Have been looking around and getting ideas, though. Also, being Jewish, we tend not to do any major shopping before baby is born, just essentials. DH and I are going to totally repaint our flat after the new year, so we'll have a nice fresh start when baby comes.

Lissy but when did you start to feel symptoms? I've got slightly sore boobs, but that could be because of how much I keep prodding them to see if they're sore . I think I'm anxious because of my mc last year, when I didn't develop any symptoms at all and knew something was wrong before I had the scan to confirm it. I think it might not be til 6 or 7 weeks that I have felt things change in the past, but I really can't remember and would love to hear your (and keziah's) experiences this time round.

Lucy great numbers. Due to NK levels I had Intralipids at 5/6 weeks and about 8 weeks. I didn't feel any symptoms at all - think first thing I really noticed was blue veins on my bust, then slight nausea at 8 weeks. Wasn't till I was off the progesterone that I really felt pregnant (yes, I even hoped for sickness just to prove I was!!)

Really? Thanks keziah, back in tomorrow morning, so just hope the numbers keep rising

Lucy- My boobs started feeling sore before I tested, which is how I knew I was pregnant, but I'm one of those women whose boobs hurt with every slight hormonal change. My morning sickness didn't kick in until about six or seven weeks. Don't worry, you might be one of the lucky ones that doesn't get sick!