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!

Thanks rowing

I do have a working title, it popped into my head about 48 hours after I found out I was pregnant but I haven't even told DH it yet so I'm not telling you lot yet :) it's just for me and "it" for the time being.

Lucy we're off to sunny Greece. I can't wait!

beginnings that's so lovely and I'm glad you're starting to chill. Much better that way. Now, for the working title bit....my guess is on....

lissy at the bump showing. Have you started looking at what maternity wear to buy?

fret are you still testing or have you accepted the news?

Italian hope you are doing ok?

rowing nice to hear from. Do come and share when you think you start your cycle.

frustrated how are you getting on with the sniffing?

pocket how's things? Have you got your appointment yet?

mojangles womanly and level hi to you all

Exactly one month to go now....I had this moment at work today when I thought, oh my gosh, maybe our appointment was 14 September! I had to calm myself down and avoid phoning them to confirm

Scrummy sounds great! I love Greece. I smiled at your moment of confusion at work. It's the kind of thing I do and have to check my calendar every half hour or so just to make sure I have got my dates right.

Beginnings yes she is lovely. I know what the chances of it working are given my age etc, etc, but instead of drumming that into me (as some others have) she definitely had a 'glass half full' approach, which was a nice relief.

Rowing tell me about NK cells and diet too (and supplements, in fact if I take any more I won't have to eat at all and then I'll save lots of money ). I looked into cytokines a bit and am currently taking turmeric and guzzling tomato juice and pomegranate juice. I'm going in next Wednesday for my retest, so fingers crossed it will have worked.

Frustrated how's the down regging going?

Italian are you down regging too (I mean are those the drugs you're taking)? Hope you and your DH are finding it all less 'challenging'...

Hope all the updiffed ladies are doing well

AFM I'm having a perturbingly strange cycle this month. My body is normally quite good at giving me pointers about what stage I'm at, but this month nothing. No EWCM (sorry, TMI), no ovulation twinges, so I'm either ovulating late, not ovulating at all or ovulating without normal symptoms. Anyone's guess . I'm sure it's a side effect of the Humira so I'm still hoping it means that AF might be late again so I have my immunes results back first. I'm also hoping it doesn't last for more than one cycle.

Hi all,

Lucy, I can't wait to hear how you get on with your next blood test. It's not very often we self-medicators get to find out if it all actually works. I'm not sure that I would choose those three ingredients to make a cocktail, but if it works. I haven't had Humira, have you googled it or checked on FF to see if an irregular cycle or lack of ovulation is a side-effect?

Scrummy oh luck you, going to Greece. Where are you going? Don't forget to say Kali mera to everyone.

Beginnings I don't blame you for not saying, even if you are the most scientific person in the world you can't help thinking that getting too comfortable, telling everyone and buying cots is kind of bad luck or at least will upset the fine balance - and I hate superstitions.

Still haven't sat down and worked out dates, it's been a bit frantic this morning and that's just doing housework and sorting out bills. Off for a coffee with the girls (well we think we are girls ) soon.

Enjoy your holiday scrummy!

Lucy definitely glass half full. Glad it went well. Hope your cycle gets a bit more talkative!

rowing, outing myself a bit, I'm Irish which means superstition is sadly part of my genetic make up. But in particular in relation to pregnancies, it really surprises me and most of my Irish friends how early people start preparing for the arrival of babies over here. I've been into fully decorated nurseries as early as 32 weeks. To me, that's really odd. And don't get me started on baby showers.....I only ever bring a present for the mum-to-be. Irrational as it is, I just couldn't do anything else. I don't even want to book my 12 week scan yet!

Hi all just me, me, me for now! I am fine, it is looking like about three weeks so I feel very positive.

Hugs to all.

Italian woo-hoo!! 3 weeks is no time at all.

scrummy- Have a wonderful time in Greece! Never been, but hope the weather is nice and sunny and warm! Have started looking into maternity clothes, but will probably do the bulk of shopping when I go back home to the States. Old Navy will be cleaned out!

Italian- Three weeks isn't long at all! Yay!

rowing- I would think that, as anxious as you are to get going, having a clear plan would make things less stressful.

lucy- I'm sure it's the Humira, but all the lovely ladies at ARGC are more than happy to answer questions. I had a zillion in the beginning, and was constantly calling them up.

beginnings- How ya feeling?

frustrated- How's the down-regging going?

Hugs and baby dust to all! Me? Just chilling. Nothing really happening until my 20 week scan...

Hello I have just joined mumsnet and started reading your stories last week as I had just started the fertility investigation route. I have just been told the results of my blood tests are not good. Fsh is 13.4 and Amh 0.24 . Can you tell me really how crap this is and what my chances are of successful iui which is the next step or then ivf? I'm 41 (just ) partner is 35 and I have a 10 year old son from a previous partner. Really want to cry but in my own in waiting room Thanks in advance

wellerbabe welcome. I'm afraid I can't tell you anything about your stats as I don't know but the FSH doesn't sound too bad to me. Ask the clinic what they receommend, are they offering/suggesting IVF?

I had a google around and found these:

[http://highfshinfo.com/]

[http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/ivf-high-tech/566881-what-considered-high-fsh-level.html]

[http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/hormonelevels.html] says "FSH is often used as a gauge of ovarian reserve. In general, under 6 is excellent, 6-9 is good, 9-10 fair, 10-13 diminished reserve, 13+ very hard to stimulate. In PCOS testing, the LH:FSH ratio may be used in the diagnosis. The ratio is usually close to 1:1, but if the LH is higher, it is one possible indication of PCOS."

So although 13.4 is not great it is not too terrible either, and it does seem to vary from time to time.

Take a quick peak at

[http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/high-fsh-premature-ovarian-failure/661357-welcome-high-fsh-premature-ovarian-failure-board.html]

This last one contains this message of hope "Do not despair. There are a lot of women on this board who?ve had the same speech who?ve gone on to become mothers. One woman had a FSH of 52 and now has twins. Another, after being turned away from IVF many times because she couldn?t produce more than 2 follicles per cycle found a doctor who took her to IVF and has a daughter. Several who only had 1 embryo to transfer. We?ve even had a few who were told they were inches away from menopause who managed to do it on their own (surprise, surprise)! And then we?ve had others who gave it their all and decided to use donor eggs or adopt."

CANNOT recommend them, just suggest them.

All the very best, is your DP with you?

Hello thank you so much. Did try to post before but that disappeared? Am feeling more positive after cry and hugs from DP and then DS promising to get up earlier in the morning if it means he can have a baby brother or sister (had to explain what was going on to him) . Will look at the links whilst trying to digest it all. Am going to see Luca Sabatini who did my scan for IUI mid oct (my consultant doesn't want to hang around)
Look forward to following your progress (all of u) and will keep u posted on mine. DP having sperm test tomorrow we are finding that all quite funny at the moment and am off out for a big fat curry

wellerbabe enjoy your curry. All the best.

Here ladies - one and all - watch this, it is very moving.

www.leader.co.za/article.aspx?s=43&f=1&a=3090

Hey all

italian is it 3 weeks until you start stims? Are you still on down reg?*
fret congratulations! - What treatment did you have?

So I've been on stims (menopur) since last Thursday and have had 9 injections. I'm on 450iu which is 2 injections a day (6 vials!). I had my day 8/9 scan today.

They were right to put me on the max course of drugs. My biggest follicles are 11 mm so still a bit to go. I've got another scan booked for Monday.

Overall it's good news. I have 1 10mm follie on the left ovary and 3 smaller ones. I have 7 10/11 mm on right plus 3 smaller ones. For someone who thought they had only one follicle this is great news! Apparently it's good that the bigger ones are all the same size as hopefully they will all become mature at the same time.

Also my lining is already 10mm which I gather is good.

All in all I'm feeling much more positive. I'm not expecting this cycle to work but it's nice to know that I do respond to the drugs and I've got a fair few follies to go at. It's one mental hurdle over as I know I should be able to get to this stage in future IVFs and gives me hope that I'll get there with time (and £££).

Menopur has been fine. I had spotting on day 3 but google reassured me. I was wiped out a few days ago - really tired even though I got loads of sleep. It could have been random but I think it was the drugs. Now I feel fine and (tmi warning) have loads of EWCM.

How is everyone else getting on?

Hi everyone

I've been insanely busy with work this week (two overseas trips) so haven't managed to catch up. Looks like there has been loads going on.

scrummy - enjoy Greece - what part are you going to: mainland or islands? It should still be really warm this time of year. I guess it will be almost time for your appointment by the time you get back (early October?) so it must be really nice to have "forced relaxation" in the run up to an exciting date

level - good luck on the stimms. Great news about the follicles. wow - I can't believe you are on 450 iu a day. I only did IUI, so was on a much lower dose (50 or 75), but did see on my puregon pen just how much 450 iu is (if you overshoot the value you need, you have to twist right through to the end (450) before it allows you to go back to the start without losing any liquid). Kudos to you for that. How's it going? Any soreness?

Lissy - I hope you feel better a week on from 9/11. Found out the other day that a Global Forum on Counter-Terrorism has just been set up to try and tackle the root causes of terrorism. Hopefully that will make a difference and help prevent anything similar ever happening again. How cool that you are showing. 15 weeks + :) glad to hear the nausea is wearing off. Good luck for the 23rd.

Lucy - any news on your dates? You sound really positive and upbeat, despite the bizarre symptomless time you are having. Good luck for getting your hormone results back before AF.

Italian - have you got over your stomach upset? Hope so. Great that you have a date now. Fingers crossed.

Beginnings - completely understand the superstition. We won't be telling anyone until after the 12 week scan. I have managed to avoid a business trip to a really dodgy place in Africa, so didn't have to put my foot down and refuse to go, with the risk of having to explain why! Really pleased to hear that the cramp thing was not anything ominous. How many weeks left to 12?

Wellerbabe - welcome. I've heard that AMH is still a fairly new test, so there are disputes over how accurate the results are. I can't remember my figures off-hand. Have you had a chance to talk the results through with your Dr?

Hi to everyone else.

After having cramping over the first two weeks post-IUI, I have not really been experiencing many symptoms, with the exception of finding myself feeling less fit than usual if climbing up anything (e.g. hill walking or even just stairs) and breasts feel 'there' (not sore per se, but just 'there'). Also increased CM (sorry if tmi). I don't feel pregnant and keep wondering if I just hallucinated it all. I have one pregnancy test left, so will use that tomorrow just to make sure I'm still hanging in there. Just under 2 weeks to go before my Dr appointment. They are likely to go quickly due to the amount of things going on at work (at least I hope so).

Best of luck and perseverance to everyone (((o)))

Hi everyone, any success stories with injections? I'm due to start in 2 weeks N very wary as dh and I are paying for it as NHS won't fund it.

level I am still stimming.

Thanks for asking.

All fine with me.

Love and hugs to all.

Hi all,

Fret I'm sure it wasn't all an elaborate hallucination, but I don't blame you for feeling that way. It's a bit tumbleweed: the 2WW compared with the frenzy leading up to it. It's a bit 'guys, guys, is anyone there?!?!' [wind whistles] Still you have had your crazy schedule to keep your mind otherwise occupied - perfect really. Have you been anywhere nice or no time to look?

Italian how's the jabbing going? Feeling OK? No side-effects? You are being very zen about it all.

I just need to do a bit of stream of conciousness typing here because my head is a bit minced.
I have worked out my cycle dates: Bled for weeks after the methotrexate shot, but stopped for a little while then I had AF on 9th August, followed by AF AGAIN on 26th of August (17 day cycle!?!)
and nothing since that, which means I am on CD 24, so quite respectable.
I do have sore boobs so hoping that means AF is on the way possibly due on the 22nd or 23rd?
I don't think starting this coming cycle will work out. The treatment would actually be during DS's half term holiday which would be very difficult to cover, unless I take him, which might be fun, but would double the cost of flying and any other travel and accomodation.
So if I start treatment on the following cycle, I have calculated that I would be over for the FET some time in the second week in November - which is scary, given the weather last November. I don't think the serious snow arrived until the end of November, so fingers crossed I don't get stuck in CZ. Wah!
I'm just off to see when it snowed in Czech Rep last year - but they are used to it aren't they? [she says hopefully]

Hugs to you Rowing.

Just popping by so sorry for not name checking everyone.
Rowing does DS have grandparents you could leave him with for day or 2? Could that be another option?
Pinkapples what treatment are you having?

I'm not sure of the exact drugs yet will find out in the ext week at my next apt with the consultant I am starting hormone injections tho as clomid after 7 cycles has failed to bring on ov

pinkapples I don't know then I'm sorry. I have had injections for an IUI that didn't work. I'm currently waiting for IVF but really have no knowledge of injections to induce ov. womanly is I think clomid resistant?? (sorry if I got muddled) and might know a bit more about your situation.

Rowing - if it is Nov then CZ very used to snow and that is not too late so doubt that it will snow so early.

Hi everyone and thanks for your wishes for a good holiday. We're off to do a bit of island hopping and the forecast says sunny and 22-25C so it should be very pleasant.

lissy navy does some lovely stuff and I just saw they deliver to UK so have made a bookmark! (feeling very positive) Hope you stay in touch from across the pond

Lucy thanks again for your tips on the bloods. GP surgery confirmed they're happy to do the pre-appointment bloods and will include Day 3 bloods on that so I'm all set for monitoring in October.

frustrated how are you?

rowing yes they are used to snow over there. It will be bitterly cold in November so you need to wrap up warm.

Italian baby dust to you!

level that is great news about your follicles and lining.

I should have ovulated today. Had a positive OPK yesterday, negative today with temps still down this morning. So, it's another 2WW for me. Let's see how long it takes before the spotting starts. Hopefully it won't spoil the whole holiday

Hi all,
Scrummy that sounds lovely - the island hopping. Are you just playing it by ear or have you a plan? Bit of raving in Mikonos?

Keziahy I've pretty much decided I won't be going in October, but it will only be early November, so, hopefully, the snow won't have arrived here at that point. It's more the landing back in the UK I am worried about. I'm sure the Czechs laugh at our attempts to deal with snow. Did you get your cossie yet? There is a dress style cossie being discussed on one of the fashion threads, looks like a mini dress, but with lots of tummy room.

Lucy I wish we could just use the grandparents, but we aren't really consulting grandparents on this donor treatment, there are so many different aspects to discuss that I just don't want to start talking to them about it until there is a positive result. The holidays are just a really tricky time to leave - too stressful, just the thought [shudder].
Oo, interestingly, after we were posting about the cytokines I discovered that the TNF alpha cells I was writing about ARE a kind of cytokine. I have been taking a cocktail of supplements which can lower TNF alpha: green tea extract, pynogenol and grapeseed extract, but I have been feeling a bit ropey since taking them. I had a quick check and apparently fungal infections are shown to rise when TNF-Alpha is suppressed - like ringworm? Just on a whim I have now stopped all except the green tea and actually feel a bit better. I think they must have been doing something to my immune system.
Can't wait to hear how your test results come back. [squeals and rubs hands together]

Italian hugs back!

Pink Apples do you know which drugs you will be prescribed or do you have them yet?

So not much to add, but thinking if November doesn't work out then I probably won't be able to go until next February/March if the weather does what it did last year. So not the end of the world! Might have won the lottery by then and be able to have lots of tries plus the most expensive immune treatments and a daily acupressure session.

rowing - am sure Nov will be ok as you say in Czech, I have been in that area many times to visit friends etc. Early Nov is unusual for snow here - and as long as you get the treatment there all is ok. Yes I got a tankini in the end, black and white which seems to fit. I am a different size top and bottom so it seemed the best solution. Even used it once!! Now I am working less my aim is to swim weekly and do ante-natal aqua aerobics once midwife approves it this week all being well. Glad things seem to go ok with you with supplements etc. Nov great time if it works too

How is it going pinkapples?