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!

tigers - it was only when I moved to a private consultant for ivf that we learnt that my thyroid level was wrong - so the fact you know now means you could get it to the right level and it may just be that tweak you need to get a miracle bfp (you never know) whilst waiting for tests/treatment! Worth a push for referral to sort thyroid out as Gp's are not specialists.

Katatonic yes I would say that. Good luck. If there is anything else relevant, family history, I would mention that too.

Joycep we had an idea there were more reasons to our infertility than male factors identified. For eg we'd ttc for 7yrs with no implantation. I have some health issues that indicated immune issues - hayfever, asthma, coeliac disease recently diagnosed. I recommend reading the book "taking charge of your fertility" by beer. Tests aren't cheap but they are less than a cycle of ivf.

Italian- I also had three intralipid infusions, once before my EC, once after ET, and another when I was about six or seven weeks along. Intralipids are soy-based, as opposed to IVIG which are blood based. IVIG is also way more expensive. I think it depends on how high your levels are in regards to your NK cells and cytokines. Mine weren't ridiculously off the charts, but enough of a concern to get the treatment.

Welcome to katatonic, Tigerseye and joy. I am currently 25 weeks pregnant thanks to ARGC. My DH is paraplegic, so our only option was IVF/ICSI. We had two cycles at another clinic before ARGC, the first ended in miscarriage, and the second cycle failed completely. I was told my AMH was below normal, but as I'd never tried to get pregnant before, I figured I wouldn't have any problems. Going to ARGC was the best decision I've ever made. They are intense, but they'll do everything they can to get you pregnant.

lucy, Italian - thank you so much for your replies.
L:ucy - yes I think I'm fairly healthy, normal bmi. I've taken up zumba dancing to try and get fit as well! I did acupuncture but it didn't seem to do anything for my LP. I may not have given it long enough go though (3 months) and so may try it again.
Lissy - congratulations on the preganncy and thank you for letting me know how you found ARGC.
keziah - congrats to you too. And thanks for the Beer recommendation.

Thinking of you today Rowing sweetheart. I know it was supposed to be test day. Hugs to you xxx

Rowing and Scrummy sending ((hugs)) and hoping that otd has brought better news. Thinking of you both xxx

Waves to everyone else - v short as on hols in middle of nowhere...

rowing - how are you my dear? have you done a blood test?

scrummy i think today was your official test date, how are you?

Lucy, how did it go with your immunes? it sounds very intense!

sunnyg and teds - hope you're keeping calm on your 2ww

Kezia, i'm sorry there's not a nice easy solution for your scan - are you feeling better about it now?

Mojangles, nice to have you back and know that you're lurking - and Lucy's right, you can enjoy the festvities with bells on

Italian, well done with your weight loss - its so hard but you're doing well

welcome to katatonic, tigerseye and joycep i hope you get the help and support you want from this thread. i've found it completely invaluable.

katatonic and Tigerseye I agree with Italian re getting professional help, I decided to get help pretty quickly after we decided ttc, and I'm glad we did as my AMH was so low I would never have conceived naturally. I'm going for donor egg and i'm glad i didn't waste too much time... i'd definitely try and get a recommend or two from friends (if you can find someone to talk to). If you're near London I hear good things about ARGC and some of the girls have already posted their good experience stories - I'm with Harley Street Fertility Clinic (in Devonshire street - NOT the other clinic with the same name) which was recommended by a friend of a friend (who got pregnant there with just one egg!!) and so far they've been amazing - Dr Venkat is just fantastic. i'd suggest that you call a few clinics and just ask a few questions, its okay not to know what to ask, they should be able to help you - but dont be afraid to ask how much things cost! you'll get a vibe from them and you can decide if you want to take it further

Joycep I'm going for egg donation in the next week or so and I'm already on Prednisolone as a preventative measure for immunes. i think that's normal given the fact that i'm having ED and also my age (44)

Thanks for all your good wishes, my scan went well and we are back on track - thank God. Thanks also for your thoughts on one or two embie transfer - I asked my consultant and she said 'we'd see dependent on the quality of the embryo' - and I did say 'I am keen on two?'. So we'll have to see... i'm back for another scan Friday (josie, you really will get used to all the prodding )

Big hello to everyone else and sending lots of luck and choclotate boobs to all

Hello dear pocket. I would definitely consider two if they think it is safe but totally up to you.

Hugs to Rowing, scrummy.

Best wishes to all.

Hugs to everyone.

Off to clinic this week for follow up appointment with consultant.

Wow italian you're a midnight owl aren't you? Hope you're appt this week goes well. Are you doing immunes? Will you also firm up dates for your et? Best of luck to you - you deserve this so much. x

just trying to catch up a little..

pocket when do you find out which day for et?

sunnyg hope all is good on the 2ww- when is otd?

Welcome to katatonic joycep and tigerseye loads of lovely helpful advice on this thread xx

Lucy any more test results for you?

Italian is ET likely to be Jan?

Was also up late tossing and turning so caved and did a test this morning.. Amazed to get a bfp still a little bit in shock but feels pretty good! Thanks for all the lovely support from you all and a special thank you to beginnings for her clinic and consultant advice xx

Wow teds wonderful news . Im so pleased for you When is your otd?

When I go for my scan on Friday, I hope that they'll confirm egg collection - estimated to be 28th. Then transfer will be 3 or 5 days after depending on how embryo looks. I'm getting really nervous and excited

YAY Teds!! :o :o :o

Yay teds what fantastic news! Very chuffed for you

pocket not long to go for you then. Exciting!

italian good luck with follow up appt.

On my way back in to ARGC for more bloods, on Monday HCG was over 3000, so more than doubling every 48 hrs, which is good. Still find these days of results nail biting. are still quite painful, which I'm delighted about. Bring on those symptoms!

Hi to everyone else!

teds wonderful news really happy for you.

Waves to all

congratulations teds great news!

at Lucy wanting symptoms!! Will they scan you at 6/7 weeks?

lucy- They should start scanning you around 5-6 weeks, and they'll do it once a week until you're 12 weeks. Numbers are good, just try and relax! My boobs STILL hurt, but not as badly as they did....:o

Afternoon all! Pocket I'm at the same stage as you - scan on Friday and then, fingers crossed, egg collection on Monday. It's getting more and more exciting/scary the closer it gets! Are you on Menopur at the moment?
I'm interested to know if anyone has felt any different on Menopur?
I've had a few twinges and just been sleeping loads (12 hours last night!!!!) but other than that, nothing really......no bloating, no pain or anything.....does that mean anything in regards to the number of follicles that might be growing?

Hello to everyone else on the thread! Any advice for egg collection and embryo transfer? Did you have much time off work etc?

teds congratulations!

Wow lucy you go girl! Keep us up to date. Btw how many weeks are you now?

fishfingersarnie welcome aboard this wonderful thread. How nice that we are in sync . I'm actually going donor egg route so am on different meds - cant remember names but will post later. We could both be up the duff next week . Hope it all goes well for you, keep us up to date x

Hi to everyone

xxx

fishfingersarnie I'm on Progynova, Evorel, Prednisolone and Aspirin

Thanks everybody for your good wishes, but it wasn't to be. I did another home test yesterday and then headed to the clinic to confirm. Whilst there, I also had a chat about next steps. I turns out, they don't recommend immunes as part of IUI. It's seen as part of IVF treatment. They want to keep the IUI as close to natural conception as possible, even if I do get a little help with Clomid and pessaries. And they weren't really concerned with my immunes in the first place. So, we're back to the plan of simply going ahead with another cycle of IUI. The good news is, that we can start straight away, so as soon as AF shows up, we're onto the next round [Smile]

Welcome to all the new ladies. Sorry that you find yourselves here, but it's a great group, so plenty of support and advice available to you.

joycep I too chose ARGC partially because my office is a short walk away. They are great and really friendly, although very busy and a bit chaotic at times. That does mean that there is a lot of waiting involved. If you get asked to go for bloods and scan at 9, you may still find yourself there at 11. also, if you go with IVF/ICSI, ARGC are very intensive. There will be daily testing early in the morning and on the second week you may get asked back for more. I would consider taking leave from work, at least for the second week. Whatever you choose, I hope you get your BFP.

Lucy great news about your levels. Sorry, but did you end up having to take IVIG?

italian are you anxious about the follow-up?

pocket and fishfinger not long now! Exciting

sunnyg how are you pet?

rowing thinking of you.

Hello and chocolate boobs to everyone!

A big hello to all.
Wow have only been absent for a few days and feel already soooo much to catch up on. Last I checked we'd just heard the fabulous news about Lucy and now Teds! Amazing news Teds, very very happy for you. A very big congrats!

Scrummy luv I am sooo sorry it wasn't meant to be this time. I was really gunning for you. I don't know much about immunes but I'm happy you can get straight back into it with the next cycle of IUI.

My 2WW ends officially next Tuesday but I am pretty certain it's a no goer this time. I believe AF is just around the corner.....

Yesterday I found out that one of my best friends had fallen pregnant literally 4 days after coming off the pill. No joke. I am ashamed to say whilst very happy for her I was also a little bit jealous. No okay very jealous. But I'm more ashamed about this jealousy cause at the same time I found out she was pregnant I found out she had just miscarried. 9 weeks. I felt truely devastated for her and guilty for those feelings. Was teary all day yesterday. Emotions all over the shop these days..... She arrives in the country on Saturday for a 5 week holiday here with her DH (planned for some time). What am I ever going to say to her ladies?!?

Welcome to all the new ladies, I haven't been here long but already I feel right at home. Everyone is sooo helpful and welcoming.

Rowing any news of your test?

Italian - how did you get on at the clinic?

Pocket - best of luck for the upcoming ET.keep us all posted.

Sorry if I've left anyone out. Getting tired and brain goes all wobbly about this time of night. I know, such a nana!

Waves to you all oxox

scrummy gutted about your news. But great that you can keep up the momentum. What sort of timings are you looking at?

sunnyg I hope you're just being cautious. And that your wrong . I'm praying that you announce a BFP on Tuesday.