IVF/ICSI Hand holding

[Pinkforboys]

The old thread seems to have run out of room... I'm hoping this works as a continuation...

Hi All, I'm back at home after a very long morning in the hospital. In for 8am but not in the surgery until 12.20. Very thirsty!
They only got 8 eggs so I'm feeling a little disappointed. They're talking ICSI which in my view isn't great, but I don't know all that much about it. Everything is crossed now that a good number fertilise tomorrow....
blacktreacle have you called your nurses? You may just be having a reaction to the drugs, but it's worth checking to find out.
I'm off to bond with the sofa & an episode of Glee before DH returns with DS.
x

quick check in from bluestone having a lovely time. clo hope you are feeling better.
I was told did not matter when I took meds either DR or stim as long as at same time. Suggested DR am and stim eve. Stim at our clinic no later than 8.30 due to timing of hcg and collection. No real symptoms from dr hope they are working but 2 days ago did get f 'flush' nil since.

thank you ladies

for all your replies I've been doing my injections in the evening's the nurse did show me how to prep and use the pen. I'm getting the hang of it now

Glad to help, but they're quite easy to work once done a couple of times. My scan news: all going v well and they can clearly see 8 follicles so far which they're very pleased with at this point. Blood test also going in the right direction, so am pleased am responding, as wasn't sure for a bit because of cyst. Hurrah. Insh'allah, egg collection in a week. V exciting.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend and manages to enjoy the lovely weather for a bit longer before the frost finally comes! x

blacktreacle posted elsewhere but where did you have your acupuncture.
Which zita west cd's do people use. Holiday over was lovely,
Hope all well

In Leeds- Caitlin Allen. She is lovely.
Zita- the ivf one. Found it quite helpful. Now using Andrew Johnson Deep Sleep. Have his pregnancy one but it is for later pregnancy. Don't feel comfortable with it yet.

Glad to hear that the stimming is going well MrsMiggins, 8 follicles sounds like a good number. I wouldn't wish the amount I had on anyone, I couldn't stand up straight the last 2 days before EC and I don't think it really did us any favours in the end.

Glad you had a good holiday Bugsy. I listened to Andrew Johnson Positivity quite a bit during the 2ww and made me sleep well at least!

Think I need to listen to it again as I am absolutely terrified waiting for my scan in a week and a half, especially after what happened to Zeebee. I cried when i read what happened to her, mind you I am crying at all sorts at the moment! I just can't bear the thought of it all being swept out from under us like that after coming so far.

Sorry for the negativity guys, I think I'm having one of those days!

Ahh, hang in there Cloclo. You're doing brilliantly, but you've just had a bit of a rough ride recently. It doesns eem to be one step at a time, though, doesn't it. Each hurdle feels like a miracle.

I'm using ZW's IVF one too, and it is good so far. Also need to remember to use AJ's Positivity too! Am pleased with follies so far and hope they continue to ripen nicely. Speaking of crying, is anyone else in tears every time the new John Lewis advert comes on?! I love it, and the song. Sob! x

cloclo not surprising you are having a down day all those hormones and all you have been through. no advice other than to keep trying the things that relax you and give you some positivity do not be hard on yourself you are allowed to have ups and downs. Hugs

Thanks for suggestions folks. thanks blacktracle we are a trek from care as well but the other way. Need to phone tomorrow for down reg checking scan hope they will let me do it on Tues we shall see. Having fun juggling meetings already!!!
Hope everyones weekend was ggod. Am really shattered and thirsty is this the meds?

Evening all, hope everyone's well!

So, scan went well again today and everything is growing away nicely. All set now for egg collection Friday morning, with one more scan and blood test on Wed. Feeling tired today but geared up for later in the week. Would have liked another acupuncture session, but can't find anyone free this week. Hey ho.

Going to have an early night and take it easy tomorrow.

I'm hoping that no news is good news with everyone. Hugs x

Morning, I was hoping you wouldn't mind a newbie joining?

We had our first appointment at the ARGC yesterday and we saw Dr. Shrieve/Shrief (sp?). The appointment was fine and he explained everything to us, and said that I should have 3 iui a HSG and would start monitoring as soon as I got my period which is due around tHursday, DH had a SA.
DH and I went off to lunch happy we had a plan.
Then Dr. S called to say that DA S results were back and that they weren't anywhere nera good enough for IUI so we would need to start IVF straight away, no need for HSG.

So the new plan is DH has 6/8 weeks to improve his sperm, Dr S said to take Selenium. The as soon as I get my first period after Christmas I should call then and we start the IVF journey.

I'm in shock, yes we've been trying for a year but everyone said it was just stress, getting married, moving house (living with inlaws for 4 months etc), DH was really sceptical about going initially, and I'd just assumed I had a small blockage in a tube and when that was fixed we'd get pregnant straight away.... and now we are having IVF.

So does anyone have any top tips for getting us both in shape for IVF?

Thanks x

karbea welcome. Will try and post later bu prob not today or someone else will but cut out caffeine DH says decaff tea is the same! ditto alcoholo or cut down. Selenium as mentioned vit c 100g, zinc and a preconception vit for him. Others do loads more also healthy eating.

Just a quick hello. Off for scan to check I have DR. Need to be there at 8. yipee. but boohoo as DS 3rd bday and I will not be home for him waking up. Feel an awful mum but was oncall yesterday so could not get out of it.

Karbea hello! Exciting news for you both and I wish you luck on your journey. My prep involved taking a preconception vitamin (includes folic acid), a strong probiotic, extra strength fish oil/omega 3 and I pumped DH full of zinc and multibionta! Other than that, cut out caffeine, alcohol and don't smoke! Try and be as healthy as you can, but there is a limit when only chocolate will do! We've manged to cut out alcohol as we're not big drinkers anyway, and don't drink more than 3 cups of tea a day, so not disastrous. It is hard, but I found I've done more than DH...! THe other biggie for me is not to do too uch when going through it all. Try to be nice and relaxed if possible and I've found that acupuncture regularly in the run up has been fantastic.

I share your feelings about starting it all in a busy year, as we also got married this year, I left my job in London to move up to Scotland, am still not working as wanted to get into shape for IVF and are now going through it all, with my egg collection tomorrow! Am v excited about it all, but also anxious too. I had a terrible sleep last night because of it all. I've known for a couple of years (even before I met DH and we got married) that I'd need IVF after a horrendous pelvic infection and subsequent reparative surgeries has left my bits in a mess. But even with two years of getting to grips with it, it's still a huge thing to deal with and emotional support from your DH and family as much as anything is super-important. As many others will also say, Zita West's IVF book is lovely, as is Brigid Moss' emotional guidance book on it too. Well worth a look (and cheapo on Amazon). There are also some good IVF relaxation CDs about (Zita West's again is very good) and I am also using the Andrew Johnson app for iphone on deep relaxation. If nothing else, he has a lovely voice that always sends me to sleep!

This is getting long, and is by no means definitive, just my things I've done so far. I'll report back tomorrow/Sat on how my egg collection goes, but hope that you all are doing well and am sending waves and good wishes.

Wish me luck too!

x

mrsmiggins best of luck for hopefully tomorrow, you will be in my toughts. Hope you find it as 'relaxing' as the others.
Set off in good time this am then remembered I had forgotten to take injection with me so had to trot back home hence a dash to get to appointment. Call this pm confirmed I can start stims. Started this pm. had a funny 'turn'. gave myself gonal-f then mixed menopur really aware of very strong smell had to leave the room and felt lightheaded, then all settled!! was the drug that I could smell but how odd.

Have been so thirsty on suprecur and notice that says if you get with stims to stop !!! will not know will I.

Had a lovely day hope everyone else did to.

Evening all, thanks for nice wishes. Self indulgent post, be warned

Well, they got 7 eggies, of which 5 look good and mature (they couldn't tell at this stage about the other two). But my surgeon was v pleased, so I am too. Must say, procedure wasn't lovely. I found it quite sore and uncomfortable, even with extra sedative, but thankfully, it didn't last too long, perhaps 25 mins. Had a sleep afterwards, then tea, biccies and water. Bit of hanging about waiting to speak to the lab and get (both) my canulas taken out (the first one didn't work so they had to go into my other arm, and they hurt!). Slept a lot all afternoon, then DH made supper of Pizza Express pizzas and is currently now out getting ice cream. Hurrah. Will have an early night, as still v tired and achy, but not too bad considering.

Also pleased because sperm was better than last time, so straight IVF not ICSI and am hoping that they're doing a little dance together tonight. All being well, aiming for blasto on Wed.

They also told me something interesting today: super-new research over the past couple of months (ie since my assessment in Sept when I last asked about this) says that the success rate of putting back in one blasto isn't as great as they'd like, so despite the higher risk of a multiple birth, they ARE now telling people if they'd like to put back two embryos, even if under 35 to increase the chances of a live birth. Thought I'd let you know in case you'd like to bring it up at an appointment.

Anyhoo, off for pudding and a cuddle on the sofa with puppy and DH! Waves to all and have a nice weekend

Mrsmiggins glad EC went well.
I'm 8 weeks after SET blastocyst so it does work! I'm glad we had SET twins would be very stressful.
Good luck for fertilisation xxx

Thanks Blacktreaclecat! It's a tricky decision and one we're still thinking about. Out of the 7 eggs collected, 5 have fertilised normally, so insh'allah, aiming for blasto on Wed. V excited this morning, so one more hurdle out of the way. x

Mrsmiggins great news congratulations on gettting past this hurdle. Hope they continue to grow well. Here's to Wed

Hello all,

Wee update: after nervously waiting for the phone call this morning from the lab, they've confirmed that the five embryos are still merrily dividing away, so going for blasto on Wed. Am v pleased. And also quite nervous but excited now too!

How are you doing Bugsy?

excellent news mrsmiggins so pleased for you come on Wed.
I have day 6 stim scan tomorrow no symptoms so hope it is going ok

Ooh, good luck! I didn't really have any symptoms either, so fear not. Am excited and nervous all at the same time and stupidly paranoid that they're going to fall out! Also desperately trying to find an acupuncturist who can see me afterwards for a session (but am not stressing too much as that would be counter-productive!).

Hello all - do you mind if I join in? You all sound lovely and I'm hoping you can help me?

I had my second follicle scan yesterday - not a lot has changed since Friday (6 follies on one side, 4 or 5 on the other, most of them less than 10mm) despite doubling the dose of Menopur. My ovaries are being stubborn!!!!! My womb lining had increased from 6mm to 9mm, still the same number of follies and no real growth (maybe 1mm since Friday) so I came out of the scan and had a wobble. More Menopur and Buserelin on order (more money spent!!) and just wondering what the heck is going on with my follies?!! I'm now on day 12 of stimms and still no sniff of when EC will be. I have another scan on Friday so that'll be day 15 of stimms.
Is there a limit on how many days they will let you stim for?
I'm worried sick that there will not be enough growth by the time I go back on Friday.....could there be a chance that this cycle will be abandoned? Or if there is a little bit of growth will they just keep me on the stimms until they get the growth they're after?

Help!! Has anyone been in the same boat?

fishfinger welcome sorry to hear your stims are not going to plan am unable to answer your questions, good news about the lining maybe that will be the stimulus to get the follicles going.

mrsmiggins hope all is going well
my scan was good lining good, 4 rt side 3 or 4 lt 8.5-12mm they seemed really pleased hope it continues the same

Hi ladies
I was hoping you could help with a few questions
I went for a hycosy yesterday, tubes looked clear, but while they were there they mentioned the follicles they could see, approx 15, is this a good sign? I know the size of them matters, but if I start off with that many without any drugs, is it promising? Or am I way off mark?
My amh level was bad, but fsh ok, and I'm sure I am ovulating every month.
If anyone could help I'd really appreciate it, as I know nothing, which might be obvious!
Next consultant appt is not for 3 weeks

I think that is a good number at my base line scan I had 8 in rt they could not see left so sim to yours and they were really pleased. What was your AMH mine was 8.5 now 11.2. in a natural cycle you start off with several follicles but only one gets to mature in an assissted cylce of ivf they want lots to mature but you need a good number at baseline for this to happen. hope that makes a bit of sense if not will try tomorrow. long day

Thanks Bugsy, the first consultant seemed irritated by questions, can't see new one for 3 weeks, and I'm just trying to make sense of it all.
Amh was .48 which is non existent so very surprised about follicles, but obviously it's the quality. I thought amh didn't change?
I think all my results are conflicting, but I have no expert to explain anything.