First IUI this week at CRGH. Anyone else?

[laughinglemons]

I am 35, had a polyp removed this summer. TTC1 for 18 months.
Here goes... we are doing the first cycle without drugs. I know that chances of it working first time are pretty low but can't help being positive.
Anyone else about to do IUI?

It sounds like we are all similar, no known real problems but just not getting updiffed.

I have been hideously emotional. Crying constantly. I live overseas and cried on skype to my best friend and to my sister. I've not done that in 5+ years of being away. I couldn't call my mother as couldn't face crying again! My sister did say to me that the stress wasn't helping and I had to ask her please never to say that to me again. What should I do? Quit my job (I am the main earner) and then stress about cash? I tried to explain to her that if you can't get pg you think about it every moment of every day and that stress may be a factor but a tiny weeny factor compared to everything else.

Have had every pregnancy symptom in the book with masses of cramping. Of course, I realise that these are due to the massive amounts of drugs that have been in my system. But hard not to constantly speculate.

Last night (12 dpiui) I had brown spotting. I cried and sobbed. DH was actually pretty good this time and promised to make every effort this month. We are going away for 4 days so it looks like the timing will be wrong for IUI so I might do the injections but then lots of bonking rather than IUI.

Since then nothing. So now my mind is thinking 'oh maybe, maybe'. I hate this rollercoaster. I do think AF is coming and now just want to get on with it and start the cycle.

I know nothing about the immune tests.

A friend is thinking of going straight on to IVF as stats are much better. I have read that it can be more economical than multiple IUIs. My fear then is that this is the end of the road, if IVF didn't work I would feel desperate.

Oh jebel I am so sorry for you. I can see that you posted first thing this morning. Has your period started or are you still clinging onto the hope?
It is awful I know. I also know what you mean about IVF being that step closer to the end. I have real up and down feelings from thinking that is I can't have a family I just want die from thinking it will happen and we should make the most of being child free. DH is getting better but they don't have the same urge for children despite wanting them. There seem to be pregnant people everywhere which doesn't help.

I think we are going to do 2 iuis with drugs (we have done 2 natural) and then if still nothing move onto ivf after Christmas. I need to have cut off and I know that it takes about 7 weeks for the ivf cycle. How old are you? I will be 36 in January and so am feeling like the clock is ticking.

Will check later tonight to see if you have replied. If it makes you feel any better I cried to my sister this cycle - until then she didn't have a clue how desperate I had become.

Oh jebel I am so sorry for you. I can see that you posted first thing this morning. Has your period started or are you still clinging onto the hope?
It is awful I know. I also know what you mean about IVF being that step closer to the end. I have real up and down feelings from thinking that is I can't have a family I just want die from thinking it will happen and we should make the most of being child free. DH is getting better but they don't have the same urge for children despite wanting them. There seem to be pregnant people everywhere which doesn't help.

I think we are going to do 2 iuis with drugs (we have done 2 natural) and then if still nothing move onto ivf after Christmas. I need to have cut off and I know that it takes about 7 weeks for the ivf cycle. How old are you? I will be 36 in January and so am feeling like the clock is ticking.

Will check later tonight to see if you have replied. If it makes you feel any better I cried to my sister this cycle - until then she didn't have a clue how desperate I had become.

Hi lemons, thank you for being so sweet. Now my period is here in full force I feel strangely fine and rational again and hopeful. Damn those hormones! I am just not very good at dealing with uncertainty. I think, like so many women, I've been able to plan everything (in fact, that's my job!) and now here is something so massive that we can't plan or control. And suddenly we find ourselves one of the reproductively challenged and it seems that all around us people just have to wink and get updiffed.

Off to see the doctor to start all over again. I feel hopeful and excited again.

I am also 36 early next year. I think I will also move to IVF after Christmas with 2 more IUIs before then. The success rate is so much higher. I broached the subject with DH and he said 'I don't really know the difference' and walked out of the room. He'll get there. I just have to realise that I am way ahead of him on this journey.

Have guests and their kids staying this week. Will have to tell them as will have a stack of gonal f pens in the fridge so they are bound to be curious!

Where are you in your cycle?

I've been avoiding MN for a while. But it's nice to be back and find so much support.

Just an update: I have a cyst ie a follicle that never ruptured. So I can't have any drugs this cycle. Gutted as was so ready to go again.

My doctor said she was upset that it hadn't worked this time but she believes it is going to work. It makes me feel better that she cares as it means she is using all her experience to make a go of it for me. She said that statistically people usually get success on the 3rd time of iui (no one knows why) so recommended doing 3 or 4 rounds.

So we'll see if I get a follicle naturally on the side without a cyst and then I'll be getting jiggy.

Jebel - i'm so sorry about AF especially after pregnancy symptoms, it just doesn't get easier. Has the gonal F caused this cyst then? Does a cyst just shrink ? I do worry about using these drugs for that very reason. I'm quite pleased i'm off the gonal this month, certainly less cramping anyway. I'm sorry about all the crying this month. I think that's one of the hardest things about all this and it's those uncontrollable feelings of despair and sadness.

hi lemons - have you decided where you are going for your medicated cycles...taht's of course if this doesn't work this month?. I'm pleased you are happy with the timing this month. I've got mine on Wednesday and i will take a trigger shot tomorrow. I'm going to try and not think about whether it's too early or too late this month. My aim is to just go and do it and continue to have swi afterwards to cover all bases and not concern myself with timing. haha famous last words. But last month i was up all night worrying that i was ovulating before i even had it done. My doc has just told me there is nothing wrong with either of us and be patient and stop worryign. urgh , how can i stop worrying when i know several people in their 40s who have conceived quicker than us!
That's nice you dont' have to worry about getting out of the office but i know what you mean about wanting to take your mind off things. For what it's worth, even when i'm in the office it doesn't take my mind off it.

hi slightly - sorry you're in the same boat. I did do acupuncture and it was nice. The guy i saw had a very good success rate with getting pregnancies and he told me i would be pregnant within 6 months...well those 6 months were up 6 months ago. I do think he made my periods less heavy though. I do go through the same thoughts as you too like Perhaps DH and i should just live the life of riley and go on several holidays a year. I think i would be a neurotic mother as well so perhaps i don't need the stress. HOwever, it's not long before i change my mind. I would also be interested to hear about immune stuff. Although i'm sort of loateh to pursue another theory as to why we can't get pregnant but desperation rules.

Thanks for the positive vibes and the stories - it is sad that there are so many of us in the same boat.

I am 36 already, was sure I'd have kids before I was 35!

I will research the immune stuff a bit more and get back to you all. I have also been told about taking aspirin - I tried it but bruised like a peach and so stopped, but I know of people that got pg almost instantly after starting it - just the baby low dose stuff. Apparently if your blood clots too much it thins it so you get a better lining, also it increases the blood flow to the uterus.

Am feeling strong enough as now day 4 and hormones evening out to be able to phone clinic again and start again.

Good luck all this month x

Dear All - 3rd time lucky. I have written two very long posted which I've then lost because of sodding BT but no matter. 3rd time lucky.

We are all feeling positive. Well done us.

Slightly - I have heard that clomid can cause thin lining... I wouldn't take aspirin without guidance. What happens if your blood gets too thin?

Joycep - Good luck for tomorrow. Had consultation yesterday (more below) where i discovered that it is the clomid (or similar) that is the treatment rather than the IUI proceedure. Seeing as they don't when we ovulate following surge or trigger it actually doesn't matter if they do the insemination on the day of the smiley or the day after... in fact the lovely consultant yesterday said that it was important to have sex because the semen (which they remove when they 'wash' the sperm) is good for the lining. Also take heart that you are the baby of thid thread - we are 36 or v nearly.

Jebel - how very very VERY frustrating. however, i think that it is normal (that is why UCH recommend doing alternate months, to avoid cysts) so hopefully you will just miss this month and carry on. I know that it is still the last possible thing you want but everything is ok? the cysts will go away on their own?

Yesterday me and DH saw Mr Salim (who works in both UCH on the NHS and at CRGH). VG outcome. DH actually said he felt like a different person...

We now have a plan. We are going to go with the NHS and Mr Salim is going to be our consultant. He specialises in IVF. We don't have time to do this before Christmas (both units are closed over Christmas) so we are going to do 2 back to back IUIs with drugs and then drugs in January. We are seeing Mr S for a pre IVF consultation in Dec (appointment will be sent in the post, that is the NHS).

UCH are closed on the weekends but for IVF they use CRGH on sats and suns.. so no worries there. He said the progesterone levels of 15 and over mean you've ovulated and that the chances of not following a surge and a trigger is 1%. I have cancelled my preogesterone test for friday and saved myself the misery of going and £50.

The best bit... given that IVF means you make and freeze embryos we'd actually be better off in the long run if we did get to this stage (remind me i've posted this next week when i get my period please someone). The reason being is that we'd be able to do the expensive bit on the NHS, use eggs of a 36 year old (ie me in January / February) rather a 39 year old, me in 3 years. We pay to freeze and we'd have to pay to have the second lot implanted because UCH only treats the childless (i am getting way ahead of myself hear talking about having DC2 before DC1).

I am waiting for the big come down... I am sure that in a few days I will be really miserable about it all again but so far, after yesterday, so good.

sorry, so worried computer was going to crash, para starting "we have a plan..." and then drugs FOR IVF in January.

Hiya,

Lemons ?it sounds like you have a good plan which is excellent and you are sounding much more positive as well which is fab. When will you have been trying for 2 years? Are you going to wait until that time comes ? I just ask because i know when they talk about stats they say quite a few women take 2 years to conceive. I must say ivf does scare me and i have been contemplating in to lookin gin to natural ivf or ivm over at Care but i know the results are less successful. It?s the drugs i don?t like.
I had my second insemination yesterday. Lovely and undignified as usual! Again I?m sure the ovulation trigger is making me ovulate quicker as my breasts were slightly sore yesterday which is a clear sign that ovulation has taken place. So i think it was done too late. Anyway, i did manage to do the self injection trigger shot myself so i?m quite proud of myself. I won?t think about timing anymore. I feel in a better frame of mind this month. My gynae wasn?t positive this month which i much prefer. Weird I know but every month she says everything looks great and something will definitely happen and i believe her and my hopes are dashed. She also told me that the sperm in that solution can live up to 6 days...so I don?t know why they don?t try and do it before ovulation as opposed to after.

Let?s hope we keep our positive frames of mind for as long as possible. I feel totally unbothered by a lack of baby at the moment which is quite frankly a nice and rare feeling!

I thought that they DID try to do the insemination BEFORE ovulation... You are right that the sperm do still live a long time after pre iui washing. I had been worrying that they didn't. I am going to stop reading craxy american websites from now on and also not worry about timing. You do have sex too don't you? As long as you do then I am sure that you'll have some in there at the right time.

It will be two years in January although until March of this year we didn't always try at specifically the right time or use the OPK.

I am still very bothered that I might never have a baby, a family in fact. I feel positive because only 3 more periods and then treatment with a real chance (rather than these IUI stats which mean you need to do 4 before you have a sporting chance).

I didn't want to take drugs - not clomind, not a trigger shot. I agree. I don't like the sound of it one bit. BUT my levels of desperation combined with seeing the lovely consultant (who by sheer chance does IVF, I met him when i had a hycosy) have tipped me over the edge. I hadn't even considered IVF until we saw Mr Salim last week - i thought we wouldn't get that far.

What I like about reproductive science fiction is that we could make all the family we are ever going to have in February...because I know that in the UK at least, a maximum of two embryos can be implanted simultaneously. So the rest (I have no idea how many viable ones you make from one egg collection BTW) can be stored for a couple of years time.

I think I have just decided that IVF will work first time. I can only do it on this basis and surely being 35 (currently) and everything being fine with me and DH this is not unrealistic, although optimistic.

I have just had a tiny bit of spotting. AF isn't due until Thursday. Today is only day 21... i am not going to post an implantation bleed thread and I am sure sitting on a train facing the wrong way is responsible for me feeling mildly nauseous...

I faced my fears and went to see heavily pregnant friend yesterday. Am glad I did. I didn't tell her we were trying and failing I just sounded positive about the various different things I do work wise and making my PGCE application for next September.

Hye Lemons - how did Dr Salim convince you about ivf - jsut with the stats? Any news this month? I'm so hoping for you...

I know that feeling of worrying that it?ll never happen. I don?t know how to deal with those awful thoughts but if it does end up with ivf, they can do wonders so it?s highly unlikely you won?t have a baby.

Anyway, I hope you're well and hopefully AF hasn't turned up.

Hi Joycep - excellent timing. I was logging on to post on here. AF arrived this afternoon. I was mildly hopeful on the basis of having 5 days of spotting from last friday, (10dpo) until tuesday. Alas.
So (big breath) clomifene 50g starts tomorrow for 5 days. And as well as drugs for the first time, this cycle is our first with UCH.
It wasn't just the stats - IVF seems appealing on the basis that we could freeze embryos for the future so that it would be a whole lot easier to have a second baby... I am a whole lot less positive than i was. He said we should come and see him in December but the appointment from UCH is for January. I am going to make a private appointment to see him in Dec.

oh Lemons, i am sorry. I hope you're ok. Hopeffully something will happy with the clomid though.. . I expect i will be put on the injections again. I think round 3 will be my last actually. My dh's swimmers seem to be fine so i think it's something to do wtih me. I know my body doesn't like to be rushed and i think i just need to take a step back from all of this.
have a lovely weekend. It will happen for both of us and when we finally hold a baby it will be even better than it is for people who didn't struggle .

thanks Joycep. i like the thinking. it is obviously hard with a first baby and WHEN we do have one we should remember this desperate time and not turn into mums who moan about not going to the theatre etc.
Am impressed with UCH so far, they do answer the phone, although they don't want to scan me until day 9 because they have copies of the CRGH scan that i paid for last month.
we will have a month "off" after I get my period on Christmas day, before IVF. I guess that is ok... i can't imagine it ever happening, but now we have the plan and I have taken the first clomid pill out of 5 and feel totally normal, i guess it is ok to go through the process and bawl lots in april if nothing has happened... How are you doing on your 2WW?

i 'm pleased you are impressed with UCH lemons. It's important to trust your place. I'm glad you are fine on the clomid. I felt fine on it as well, apart from feeling a bit hot every now and again. I think I cried a lot on it as well but i was warned about it. I didn't do iui on clomid though.
goodness i hope you don't get your period on Christmas day...how mean is that! I'm still crossing my fingers you will be upduffed by xmas .

AF here for me. On to 3rd IUI now. 3rd time lucky ....

Hi all

Sorry, have been AWOL for a while.

Joycep - sorry to hear AF has arrived. Fingers crossed for the next round.
lemons - I get all your positivity about IVF. Good luck with the Clomid, it really does work brilliantly for some people. Totally agree with your comment about not being a moaning mother.

Had an u/s mid-cycle and cyst hadn't grown which is good. Also had a good follicle on the other side so just did things the natural way this month. Who knows, it may have worked. I will test end of the week.

Good luck all xx

Ladies, sorry for butting in to your thread but I just wanted to offer some words of support. I was really sad yo read your posts as I know totally what you are going through. I just wanted to offer you some support. I have 2 children through IUI. The first child was conceived on the 1st IUI (with injections, not Chlomid) and the second child was conceived on IUI no.5 with injections. I was prepared to do it 6 times before IVF, although suing that, of course I was lucky the first time, knew that it had worked for the second time so was prepared to give it a good go.

Fertility treatment is up there with the most stressful times in your life, I know it.

My doctor told me that IUI needed good timing and a lot of luck. The second time I conceived was a miracle as I had already ovulated (the egg had gone) and the Doc said, well since we are hear and the sperm is ready we will do it, but don't get your hopes up!!! Talk about luck!

Anyway, just wanted to offer my support as someone who it worked out for and to say to you lovely ladies to keep your eye on the ball and keep your nerves os steel. I believe that those who do not give up, get there in the end. I too found the cycles very hard to deal with. I used to exercise a lot before the IUI and then take it easy afterwards, treating myself to facials, gentle walks and a good, engrossing book. I also used to make a list of all the things that needed doing that you never get round to (putting photos in frames, clearing out a cupboard etc.) and tried to keep my mind off the dreaded 2 week wait.

Lots of positive vibes coming your way from me....XX

Hi everyone,
just wondering does anybody know which gp in medway(kent) area refer for iui treatment.