IVF/ICSI/FET - any more for any more?

[jumpingjackhash]

Hi all, we're about to start FET following an unsuccessful round of ICSI last year (well, we got the bfp, but then I miscarried shortly after ). But... time to get back on the bike and go again...

Anyone else going through this?

Sorry to hear you are both having bad times Raspberry and Zeebee I hope things can start going your way soon

Could I jump in and join the thread please? I start my first cycle of ivf tomorrow with the prostap injection and frankly I am bricking it. I'm on ff as well but I find that the ladies are mostly in the states where the meds and standard practice seem to be a little different

Hi Rogersmelly . Very best of luck for your cycle . It can be a rollercoaster but there are also good news stories too so here's hoping .

Zee so sorry you had a difficult consultation. That is really hard. I know how you feel about the time pressure of age. It puts added pressure on you. It is a huge cost though to go privately . Maybe 6 weeks wait is not so bad - but I totally understand your panic and need to move things on.

thanks Josie appreciate it. hope you get your referral through soon. Xxx

ZB that is very strange the clinic would advise that, how difficult. Is it still your choice, were they just saying the chances might be slightly higher with fresh than frozen? Or were they advising against doing the frozen round? Its just so hard when the goalposts keep moving isn't it. I had a private appt the other week where he was saying he thinks a hysteroscopy should be done routinely before ivf, so am also thinking about having one before doing next round.

Welcome rogers - i never had a prostrap injection, which protocol are you on long or short? Best of luck with it. I found the side effects of the drugs nowhere near as bad as i feared, it was more the emotional side of it and the thought of it all that was terrifying.

Afm, after having to switch clinics before the next round am getting very frustrated by the new clinic already. We've gone for the Agora in Hove, and they never seem to answer the phone or return my messages. I'd really like to know a timeframe of when it might be likely for us to do another round but no idea at the minute. Have just started a 'super ovulation' round and taking letrozole but feels a bit like taking a vitamin tablet so far after all the IVF drugs, i can't feel a thing.

waves everyone else, what are you all up to?

Hi everyone

Have been lurking on here for a while while we've been through a second unsuccessful round of IVF - and just wondered if you had any words of advice as this time I'm finding it much harder to deal with both emotionally and just trying to get my head around why it might not be working :(

We have a follow-up appt at the end of next week with our clinic and they have already suggested more tests before FET which is the next option because we have 2 embies on ice and I presume they want to give these as much of a chance as poss - it seems like our problem is less to do with making nice quality embryos (which is the good bit) but with getting them to stick (despite progesterone, clexane and predisolone post-ET, time off work, not doing anything vaguely risky). Hormones are all fine, DH is fine, uterine blood flow looks fine, endometrium looks fine - I've done short protocol both times (as I'm an old bird) and responded well enough that they worried about OHSS but my womb just seems to go on strike the minute an embryo dares to try and take up residence. What they might suggest investigating? I know about NK cells but what other tests are there?

Would be great if you could shed any light on what to expect and if there are any treatments you've had that have made a difference - just to get a BFP for the first time in my life would be a huge step forward, never mind the long road ahead after that.

Wishing you all lots of luck for the future and hugs for all the difficult times you've been through.

Thanks

Hi lotionsand potions sorry you are having a rough time. good that you have two on ice. Don't know too much re immune tests. I've been looking up supplements and how that can improve chances especially over 40. Think similar approach as zita west.

Waves to everyone else will post tomorrow as struggling on DH's iPad just now and already lost a long post..........
care have you e-mailed the clinic to get a reply?
zee have you decided re test and or clinic switch?

Happy Zzzzzzzzzzzs everyone xxx

Hi ladies,
I've been lurking on here for ages; keeping an eye on your progress since I was active on here. I just wanted to say that I'm so proud of you all and to say please don't give up hope. I am just aware that there doesn't seem to have been a lot of good news stories recently and for all of you, huge hugs. I'm now 16 weeks pregnant through FET and although I know that every case is different, I just wanted to inject a little positivity to the thread. It can work!
Good luck to you all and I hope you don't mind me continuing to lurk.
X

Thanks raspberry, I am going to look into DHEA and I've just found the Infertility Talk, so will join a thread or two there too. Went to see a counsellor yesterday and not giving up hope - it's not over til it's over.

Fx for everyone, rakkers is right, there's not been enough good news so it must be someone's turn soon for a sticky BFP soon - good luck everyone.

Lx

Hello all!

Sorry I've been away for so long - have been manic at work and then away on holiday without internet access so finally have the chance to check-in and catch-up. I'll go through the updates but hope everyone is well.

x

Hi ladies,
Beautiful sunny saturday here. thanks for the good news Rakkers - that is wonderful news! ! hope you are feeling well and enjoying it!

Lotions - did you find the counselling helpful.? I went for hypnotherapy yesterday which was by a zita west trained practitioner and I think it has helped me feel more positive - who knows what negative thought processes can be doing to our chances - I left feeling more positive about many aspects of life right now!
As for the DHEA found out that it is not an omega supplement but is actually an androgen ie a hormone related to testosterone so those studies using it are research related abroad and under supervision. As for DHA that is am omega 3 fat and I am taking a supplement of that now at high dose.

Hi Jumping good to have you back and hope you had a lovely hol. How are you doing? X

Hi to everyone else and hope you enjoy the holiday weekend x

Hi Raspberry

If I'm honest, I feel much better now after a night out with one of my best friends than I did coming out of the counsellor's offices! It gave me somewhere away from home (and work) to cry and it does help for that person to be a stranger. However, while I didn't feel she was especially empathetic verging on bored, she did ask me questions that made me think about the future and how I felt about the possible alternatives - so I left feeling better about recognsing I had other options if IVF does not work. But I felt immensely happier having had a lovely time with someone that knows me and has encouraged me not to give up yet. I know that counselling is not about giving you answers but what I really needed was for someone to say it's OK for it not to be over yet, to keep trying and for that person to be on my side.

I'm sure other people have had much better experiences than me - the other thing that bothered me was that she pretty much poo-pooed the accupuncture I've been doing and wanted me to think about visualisation, which I suspect is what she specializes in. The last thing you want is someone making you feel that your efforts outside of IVF have been pointless (and I know I have felt physical benefits from the accu).

Are there any other views from others on counselling? I don't want to be overly negative, it just didn't work for me.

Hope some of you have had some sun over the weekend, I am fed up with the rain and general greyness!

Lx

Hi ladies,

I know I have been AWOL for a while, have been going through a bit of a bad time, think I am finally coming through the other side of it now though, well I hope I am :)

I am going to read back through the thread, to catch up on the latest news from everyone.

Hope you are all well.

xxx

Hi all - hope you're well.

its all gone very quiet on this thread. Just a quick update from me, i had my immune test results back at the weekend and my 'natural killer cells' are very high. So am going onto a steroid treatment for a few months with a 'super ovluation' plan, with a view to if it doesn't work having another try at ivf later in the year. If any of you haven't had this nk test i think it definately worth having. The two appointments (1st and then follow up) with tests came to about £1,000 so not cheap but not bad in the scheme of things.

Carebear glad you have some answers. That seems cheap compared to care do you know if you can have the tests if BFP I know you cannot have level 1

Bugsy... I hear CONGRATULATIONS!!! is in order
How very wonderful and exciting x

Hi Ladies,
Lovely to have you back Lumili - we have missed you!

The counselling doesn't sound great Lotions but I suspect can be a bit variable and if you connect with the person. I have found it helpful but other friends haven't. I totally agree with you about the acupuncture - I really feel the benefit afterwards - less stressed and anxious . - so doing that is certainly not pointless in my book. Zita West is a fan of acupuncture too. Visualisation sounds interesting though?

That is great you have a plan now Care - at least now you can move forwards so well done.

Nothing much to report here except I seem to be piling on the pounds - started a Zumba class to counteract that.Think I am still feeling aftereffects of drugs and PMT so clothes trying on at the shops today was hideous - so concentrating the next couple of months on eating well (but less) getting fitter and trying naturally. We might try another cycle later on in the year - possibly, possibly.......not sure yet at all..............

Would love to hear all your updates.xxx

Care glad you have got a plan. I think that is a good price for immunes care want 1800 which I think is steep as London way seems cheaper and the lab is quoting 1200 dollars!
Raspberry I spent a bit of time getting a wee bit fitter eating better went low gi
Angel fairy thanks big stopped all folic acid etc as IVF was not imminent obviously worried scan next mon. One day at a time.

Have got a low protein s not sure if a true level or following mc in Jan but had waited 6 weeks and is 30% down now need someone who might know to see what I need to do.

Hope everyone is having a good Monday

lumili hope things are improving it is a hard hard journey I think that is why I have been so slow in getting myself back up and on the go. Thinking of you

Hi everyone, sorry I have been awol, the cake business has been really busy these last few weeks! And I've been feeling more like myself, so it was nice to just enjoy it and not stress too much. After chasing up my referral for almost 4 weeks I finally have an appt at the new clinic on 28th May. I also have an interview for a new job on 21st May so it's all systems go! Nothing more to report really, just going to see what the new consultant thinks then see where we go from there

Hope you are all ok, will catch up properly soon

Josie good luck with the interview. From our ccg definitely would be a lower cost and not counted as a cycle have you got it checked out. Hope the appointment goes well

Hi all - saw this on the pred thread which i thought was interesting:

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2145697/IVF-couple-baby-joy-woman-drip-fed-egg-soya-oil-stop-body-destroying-embryos.html#ixzz1vOXpw9hQ

my first round of Super Ovulation plus pred has ended in a BFN so not got there yet, but am going to persevere for a few more months on this before another round of IVF.

How's everyone doing from this thread? We've gone a bit quiet on here haven't we. Hope you're all ok. Feel like I've lost my thread buddies a bit as on the pred thread they're mostly repeat MC'ers so bit different from me. Dusts off team ribbon hopefully. x

Hi care what is "pred thread"? That Soya and Egg yolk piece is very interesting.. I wonder if my hopsital will look at giving this to me next time around. I think CARE are excellent aren't they - best in the country no?

I must say i've been feeling pretty down about things lately, seems to come in waves - & even more people I know are falling PG naturally and I feel even more down. Even find it hard to socialise with people who don't know our situation, which means I think i'm also becoming a bit of a recluse.... argh.

Haven't been back to my accupuncturist yet - not sure if I will... have my hysteroscopy next tuesday so maybe some more developments will come from that? at least someone if going to look inside me to see what's going on finally!

Where are you going to try next Care?
xz

Hi everyone, yes it seems to be very quiet, I haven't been here in a while and there's not many new posts. I've been a bit preoccupied with baking and work, and our desks at work have moved so my line manager can see my screen so I can't come on anymore when she's in (maybe she's trying to tell me something )

I've been feeling ok until my appt came through, now I'm miserable again and my ex-friend is due in the next three weeks so that's not helping really. But I've found someone at work going through the same so it's helped me a lot to be able to talk openly and frankly with her and not have to hide how badly I'm feeling because she understands it. She's not quite at treatment stage although the dr has suggested IVF to her so I've been able to give her some advice and it's nice to be able to be the voice of some experience, makes me look at me own situation better. And she did say that although she's had enough, she's taking inspiration from me as I'm not giving up, so that was nice to hear. And I'm going to make the most of the sun. It would be fab to be pregnant over summer.....

Aah, ZB I totally hear you about how you've been feeling, that sounds like me! I hate socialising at the minute I just feel I've got nothing to say which makes me feel even worse. I've even really struggled lately with just seeing close family, which will kind of leave just DH and I if things keep going in that direction! Its now a year since my first IVF and nearly a year since I started weekly acupuncture so think I'm going to knock that on the head as its clearly not worked. Wish I could offer you some more positivity but I haven't got any to spare today. Good luck for your hysteroscopy, i had one of those. If they find something then it might be something they can fix, and if not then its another thing crossed off the list. Plus they do say it clears your insides out a bit don't they, so you should be squeaky clean for a few months after. The 'pred thread' is another thread on here - ttc on prednisolone. Its a steroid treatment for high natural killer cells. i've just tried 1 month on it and got a BFN. I'm going to do a few more months of this i think before another round of IVF - just got my referral stuff through from the Esperance in Eastbourne - its on the NHS so I'll take whatever i can get.

Josie you're sounding very determined i'm impressed. Which appointment is this, is this at the different clinic? When do you go? Its nice to find someone to talk to isn't it. I do worry sometimes when I offload onto my 2 closest friends as neither are ttc yet and I really hope I'm not filling their heads with things they will then worry about for themselves if that makes sense. But then i don't want to talk to people who've got kids either about it as that just drives me mad.

Glad I'm not the only one who's not been around much lately, but so sorry to hear some of you are having a rotten time.

We're gearing up for our next appointment with the consultant on 1 June, so hopefully they'll give us the go-ahead to start on the icsi again on my next cycle. Looking at the calendar we have a lot on in Sept, so hoping we can avoid that without delaying the ever-frustrating process for too long!

Think I'm ovulating normally now (first time since the FET, so it feels like it's been a while!), so we're still clutching at ttc naturally straws, but hey, it's fun all the same!

Everyone surviving?

Jumping nice to hear from you, that's not long, and I hear you about the ttc - always worth a ttc natually punt - for those stories you hear of people who were between ivf cycles and just fell natually (oh if only). I've just rebooked my appointment with the Esperance for July so may get going on the next IVF earlier than I thought. I'm about to move house so would be nice to get that out of the way first.