Assisted Conception (and the bits in between) Volume 10

[MoJangled]

Our new home, hope you all find me soon...

Mo the smiles are gorgeous and more than make up for the fact that the farts mainly happen at 3am, keeping everyone up! Have everything crossed for you. Is monday test day?

Hoops have visions of a 'leaning tower of baby'. Bless him. Glad you're having a lovely time with him.

Mini watching your progress too, let's hope the argy work their magic again!

Sarlat I got a surprise BFP while waiting to cycle and didn't have any symptoms until about 7 weeks.

everyone else I'm rooting for you!

Hi Ladies and thanks for the replies - it honestly calmed me down.

Hoops - that's great about your success after immunes, congratulations! . I think it is something I need to keep in the back of my mind and will explore if these 'good' embryos don't implant (one in now and some more in freeze). I don't think I have toxic fluid in my tubes which is washing them away although can't be 100% sure. So immunes may need ruling out.

Mo - ooo good luck with this cycle and how strange that we both got the shooty pains around the same time. I felt really excited when I read that as this is something we have in common despite you being on meds and me not. Therfore it can't be attibuted to medication or ovary activity. I am not on any meds and the meds you are on will have shut down the ovaries I think? I am haing no medication at all. My transfer was timed for 6 days post LH surge and no progesterone either, but previous test results indicated this bit wasn't a problem for me. It's difficult to comment on the cramps you have, as, like you say it can be attributed to the meds. But then again during my fresh cycle (with all the meds) I didn't hadly cramp so here's hoping this is positive sign for you.

I had the blood chlamydia antibody test at hospital which was negative along with all other infection screens. I have heard of the Greek test as someone on the 10 month + forum did it. I would be open minded to this type of testing. But like you say, maybe I am being premature and I need to stay positive and focus on the here and now. I have a good blasto, a thick womb and no evidence of dodgy fluid on the scans this month so I need to keep this in my mind. But, as I'm sure you know, it's great to have plan B tucked away and steriods could be worth a shot for me in the future. Good luck with the next few days, I will be checking this thread in anticipation.

Lucy - congratulations on your pregnancy. It is interesting that you didn't get symptoms until 7 weeks and to be honest this is fairly normal I would have thought. My mum has been trying to say the same to me - that she didn't feel anything until 6 weeks. I think the reason I mental over symptoms so much is because when I was pregnant 2.5 years a go and before the M/C I had strong symptoms very early on. But I guess no 2 pregnancies / 2ww's are the same. I also wonder if different diet impacts on different 2ww symptoms in the same way it can impact on PMS. Before that pregnancy, sore boobs and period pain, spotting etc was a normal part of PMS for me anyway. So the pregnancy was like a souped up version of all this. But over the last couple of years I have added far more healthy stuff and supplements to my diet to ease breast pain and pms with success. I wonder if this means any pregnancy symptoms now would also be less ferocious or come along later. That's me - always thinking, thinking. Need to switch off more.

Thank you again for the handholding, Sarlat xx

Sarlat the wait is just so hard. How much longer till you can test? I have never had a bfp so can't help with symptoms but am rooting for you.

Mo how is the bench treating you? Not much longer now.

AFM, I had scan yesterday nd although follies are coming along nicely they think could be another seven days. I am om with that if it means I don't overstim which is what happened at my last clinic and really impacted egg quality I think. Means I have lots more 5am starts to go but am slowly getting used to it. It is getting to the uncomfortable stage of stims now where belly feels tender and bloated but I know it is all for a good reason.

Happy Sunday all - is definitely a duvet day with all this rain. That's where I am heading after bloods today (assuming no repeat bloods needed). Xx

Morning all, how is everyone today?

mini boo to another 7 days but yay to follies coming along! Looks like we are still on mirror cycles then, I have my stim scans booked for Tuesday & Friday next week.

Have to say stims haven't improved my general feeling of well being too much, I don't feel as bad but I'm still very weepy and bleugh, although I do notice a difference in the evening after I do the Menopur injection...

mo are you testing tomorrow? Excited for you x

pocket are you still on track with your donor? I drew the line at being a belieber lol

Hi sarlat I lurk a bit on the 10+ thread (not in a stalkerish way, I just check in every do often to see how you are all doing as its thr first thread I found when I started TTC) all the best for you!

ginger hope everything is settled down and you are still believing

Enjoy this Grey Sunday everyone, I'm tucked up on the sofa with a blanket at the moment but will take puppydog out for a long walk later when bloody OH surfaces - not talking at the mo since he went to a friends BBQ last night and didn't roll in til half 4 stinking of booze and fagsand puking in the bathroom like a 15 year old despite knowing full well how upset I was yesterday about everything

Morning everyone, mind if I join u? I'm on my first ivf cycle, started the snorting on Friday and mainlining yesterday ;) it's all very bizarre but exciting!
Positive vibes going out to all of you!

Hello Lucy its so lovely to hear from you and to know that little Ben is doing well x

Mo love how are you doing? You?re nearly there? I shall be checking this thread at half hour intervals tomorrow? What time will you test? I?ve got everything crossed for you honey. xxx

Ginger hope you're doing alright and are resting as ordered!

Mini sorry to hear you?ve got more 5am jabs, but it sounds like you?re making good progress and are being well monitored. Lucky you off to Cornwall soon ? DP and I will also head down there during our 2ww. Something lovely about being able to really put your feet up, relax and get away from normal day to day life and in general distract yourself!!

Sarlat poor you, you sound really stressed. Its really easy to drive yourself bonkers symptom spotting during 2ww ? I?ve had two rounds of ivf, got a bfp first time (then mc) and bfn second time. Neither time did I have any symptoms at all. I think that every woman and every pregnancy is different. Plus the meds we?re all on can often mimic symptoms. I?ve also read that symptoms often don?t kick in until approx 6 weeks ? so try not to worry about not having any symptoms as they dont seem to be that reliable an indicator either way early on. Fx for you when you text, really hoping yo get that BFP.

Scarlat I?m sure DH will be along in a bit with his tale between his legs! Btw I also drew a line at becoming a Belieber. Yes I?m on track with my lovely donor ? transfer mid October? I should know a bit more in the next week or so when they start scanning me (and I assume here to see how here follies are doing). I still cant believe that she is doing this just for us! What an incredible women.

Welcome TheCat you?re in good company here. Hope you?re ttc journey is a short and successful one.

Hi to everyone else

Don?t stop Believing

I have a question.. I have just started short protocol. I'm a bit concerned that even though I have a cyst on my left ovary (which the Dr's have seen) I'm on Gonal-F and all the notes say 'do not use if ovarian cysts present'. I'm sure the Drs know what they're doing but it does make me a wee bit concerned. Has anyone else had a similar experience? My left ovary did feel a bit tender after my first injection (net one due in 10 mins..) is this normal?
I'm really trying to be super chilled but this is kind of niggling my brain!

Quick post to say bucket loads of luck to Mo for tomorrow! Will be checking the thread at regular intervals, and keeping fingers and toes crossed for you.

Waves to everyone else and promises longer post tomorrow acknowledging everyone else.

xxx

Sarlat great that you're feeling a bit better - sometimes just having a vent can help. It sounds like things are going really well so let's just all will on your minisarlat and hopefully you can save yourself all the time and trouble of immunes and other stuff with a lovely BFP.

TheCatSofa really glad you made it over. Not sure about the GonalF with a cyst; I'd definitely be double-checking with the clinic, just to put your mind at rest, you really don't want to be having niggling doubts.

Mini slowly and carefully sounds like the way forward; just think of the 5am starts as a warm-up to early feeds in about 10 months time...

Ginger hope you had a great weekend with your sis and the bleeding has gone.

Pocket how's the synching going? Do you have any more news from your donor?

WARNING ME ME ME POST

Thanks to everyone who's offered me good luck for tomorrow. The clinic emailed me yesterday to say they wanted me to test on Weds 26th rather than tomorrow; not sure whether I got it wrong or they did, but not keen on waiting that long. The donor's EC was 2 weeks ago on Monday.

But the big thing is that having felt some encouraging symptoms during the week: megasense of smell, bursting out of bra, very engorged uterus, wanting pickles and off tea, and couple of dodgy tendons suddenly getting very sore; during the course of Saturday they all vanished. I cracked and POAS on Sat morning and got a very faint positive, and repeated it this morning to get a BFN. I'm 99% sure that this is an exact repeat of the June cycle, with a successful implantation starting things off and then failing to progress.

Devastated doesn't even start to desribe it. I've emailed the clinic to ask whether there's anything we can do at this stage and am obviously carrying on with the drugs, but my body can hear the fat lady even if my mind has it's hands over it's ears going 'lalalalala'.

Mo - sorry to hear about confusion with dates and the clinic. Sorry you got two different results - I really hope that tomorrow it is more positive. If it is the same as June, did the clinic change meds to help with implantation (aspirin, steroids etc?)

Good luck for tomorrow, sorry this is such a hard time.

mojanged I'm so very sorry. Is there just a glimmer of hope? I am hanging on for you and that it may yet work out. Thinking of you.

Mo hon I'm with Italian. Holding on with hope till Weds. Sending you a huge hug and positive positive sticky vibes

Mo keep those hands firmly on your ears and don't listen to the fat lady. Hope the clinic come back to you quickly and have some suggestions. Am keeping everything crossed that the bfn was a blip test and that they are hanging in there. Thinking of you.

Ginger hope you are doing ok.

Scarlett such a shame that the stim meds are still affecting you. I am ok on them apart from uncomfortable belly, but that's size of ovaries rather than meds itself. I was the evil wife from hell on Thursday night though and made Dh sleep in the spare room which I've only ever done once before (and that was during down reg) so clearly not entirely myself at the moment.

thecatsofa I had cyst on last cycle and they gave me gonal f, but I would still check with clinic as I'm not sure my old clinic did everything right.

Waves to everyone else. Xx

Mini - I can test Wednesday onwards I suppose when I will be 13 dpo. I have had some mild twinges in my groin and mild cramps - but not much else so trying not to get my hopes up. I am on a natural cycle, no medicaton at all.

Scarlett - I often hover in other threads too - people here really are a fountain of knowledge. I think it's great that people might read about my experiences and get something from it as I have got so much from reading about other people. Stalk away Sorry you feel so rubbish on the stims.

Cat - good luck with this first cycle. During the stimming phase east loads of protein (chicken, eggs, dairy etc). Sorry I don't know about ovary cysts but I agree you need to be insistent with the Dr's about checking that this drug is appropriate to you. Can you ring the nurses directly and ask for a return call withing the day? I'm sorry - you don't need stress about this on top of everything else.

Pocket - thank you for your words of wisdom - you are right, I am looking for symptoms a bit too soon. I'm sorry to hear about the mc followed by the BFN. . I know this is easy for me to say, but clearly you can get pregnant with IVF, you just need luck to be on your side. Are you going to have another cycle? Really hope things work out soon.

Mo - I am sorry that you had BFP, followed by BFN - could it be that the second one was simply a bit diluted? Those symptoms you had sound so strong that it is hard to think everything has come and gone that quickly. But I understand where you are coming from due to the last cycle BFN. I'm sorry you are going through this extra torment. I'm also sorry the clinic have moved your test date. Surely knowing your beta numbers is even more crucial in your case. Can you argue the point? Thinking of you, let us know how you are. Hopps has some wise words abouve about meds. Thank you for supporting me through this awful 2ww.

Mini - sorry you don't feel yourself, I'm sure your DH will understand.

Well, I have developed a heavy, nasty cold complete with a nice set of mouth ulcers. I don't think these are related to the 2ww am I / aren't I situation. It's just a bit of bad luck and maybe triggered by all the mentalling. Other than that, the nigt before last I had some low down cramps - I think. You see, I'm not even sure because I was half asleep and could have been dreaming. . Yesterday I had occasional and mild groin pains / cramps. And that's about it. Still inconclusive. Ah well, not long now. Thanks again for all the support from you ladies.

Hi all!

First of all, I am so so sorry Mo, but am still holding out hope for you as the others say, the second test could have been a blip, and could it poss still be too early to get a definitive pos or neg? I do hope your test on Wed proves the fat lady wrong, and we both get the news we hope for (my scan is on Wed). Will you test again before or hold on till Wed now? Hang in there sweetie.

Welcome Sarlat, and good luck with the 2ww, and more importantly with the testing (potentially on Wed - another nervous wait along with me and Mo)

Welcome also Cat, hope you are getting on ok with the stims, and have sorted your query re Gonal-F and cysts with your clinic. I'm afraid I have no experience with it, but would defo query it if I were you. All the best of luck anyway.

ooh, my break at work is over now, so best sign out now. Will check in again later.

xx

Hello ladies I have been lurking the last couple of weeks as I prepare to get back on the merrygoround after my failed attempt in June. Seeing the consultant next week for a saline sonogram to see if he can find anything that would have prevented my 'perfect' embryo from sticking last time! Feels odd knowing I am going to start again having switched off from it all for a while.

Mo got my fingers crossed for you....

For the new ladies I'm 42, TTC for 2 years, DS from previous relationship, 1 failed IUI, 1 abandoned IVF, 2nd IVF 5 eggs, 3 Blasts, 1 transferred but didn't stick

mo have everything crossed that it was just too early x

Thanks so much for all the support ladies, I do feel like I've lost the plot a bit this time round. Pathologically unable to control stick peeing once started, I tested again at 5 this morning after 2 hrs lying awake willing myself not to (I did wave in Mini's direction), and... got a BFP!f course, it could still be the tail end of a failed implantation and I'm not counting my chickens, but it's enough to keep me from going completely doolally till Weds and some proper numbers. The clinic are sticking to their guns re the test date and don't want to adjust the drugs as I'm already on everything under the sun. Hoop the clinic did a hysteroscopy after the last cycle to renew my womb lining, and have upped my steroids and clexane for this cycle, and am already on intralipids and antibiotics so they probably have a point that tweaking it further is pointless. I would so love a couple of last week's symptoms back but I'll just hang onto the BFP going up rather than down possibility for now! Sorry for drama queen tendencies...

Weller lovely to have you back! Good luck as you step back on the rollercoaster... It's weird getting your head back into IVF-land after being 'normal' for a while, isn't it!

Sarlat this sounds very positive - all those twinges could be your little blast settling down - everything crossed they are! Are you testing at home or with a blood test? Look after yourself and don't get run down with this cold. Perhaps it isn't surprising you've got it given all the stress of a cycle. Lots of fluids, protein and vitamin C for you!

Ginger how is the bleeding now? Are you back at work? Weds is turning out to be a red letter day for everyone. Do you think we should chant something at midnight or scatter ashes or something just to set the day up to go right for us?

Scarlett oops re your DH! Could it be his way of coping with the cycle and seeing you go through all the horrible side effects - did he just need to blow off some steam? Still, not surprising he's in the dog house! And hugs and headstrokes to you, you're really having bad luck with your reactions to all the drugs. Really hope you start to feel better soon. Are you drinking lots of water? It can sometimes help to flush everything through. I'm also a big fan of acupuncture which has helped massively with my ability to get through the emotional side of all this (last 24 hrs not a good example) - might help?

Pocket hon, I'm sure you'll make a much better job of your cycle than I am of mine, can't wait for you to start and show us how it's done...

TheCatSofa any news from your clinic re the cyst and Gonal F?

Keep on Believing!

Adding myself to the roll call:

Wellerbabe: 42, TTC for 2 years, DS from previous relationship, 1 failed IUI, 1 abandoned IVF, 2nd IVF 5 eggs, 3 Blasts, 1 transferred but didn't stick
MoJangled: 44, TTC for 5 years, 3 IVF all BFN, DS from first DE cycle, 2 subsequent DE cycles failed, diagnosed with immune issues, next DE cycle chem pregnancy; now on 8th&Last DE Cycle

Great Monday Mo - and no you are not doing anything I didn't do!! Hope Wed goes well. Sounds like they doing everything they can meds wise for you.

Many thanks for the welcome and support, lovely ladies! I'm very pleased to report that I feel absolutely fine after my Prostap injection. My DP injected me on Friday night, it didn't hurt and so far (fingers crossed) I feel completely normal.

Sarlat - I might be a bit late to comment but I completely agree with the 6 weeks for symptom spotting opinion. I have a DD (natural conception) from a previous relationship and I didn't notice anything (bar the obvious lack of period) - not even sore boobs - until 6-7 weeks. At the time, I remember thinking the only thing that cold potentially have been a sympton was feeling very slightly dizzy once or twice when I stood up but I can get that sometimes anyway.

Mo - hang in there! I'm sure symptoms can come and go, especially when meds are involved.

Right, I am home with no distractions so here goes:

Mini, how are the bloods and scans going, and your follies? Any news yet on EC? Remember to keep drinking the water to avoid OHSS (I know you probably are but just noticed your post re feeling tender and bloated). Thanks for your well wishes to me.

Scarlett, so sorry to hear you are still feeling ropey and emotional on the stims. I agree with Mo re what DH did, although I'm sure he is feeling guilty now. Men tend to handle things differently to us women, and bottling things up and going to get blind drunk is common (well it is for my DH too, although he has been relatively well behaved this time). I hope you have both kissed and made up now. I also hope you feel better and your follies are coming along nicely.

Pocket, how are you doing?

Weller, good to meet you! Good luck with the consultant and the saline sonogram. I hope you get the answers you need.

Mo, things are looking up sweetie! So so hope that this is your time. Hang on in there. We shall hold virtual hands, you, Sarlat and I on Wed, and send each other good vibes!

Frosticle, glad to hear the prostap injection went well and you feel fine. I hope the rest of your cycle is as successful.

Hello to all others!

As for me, well the bleeding continues. I have cramps on and off too, but not so much now. The bleeding is not too bad, but I'd like it to please bgger off! On the flip side, I am still experiencing "pregnancy" symptoms, (nausea on and off, tingly nipples occasionally, extreme tiredness..) though I know this could be the meds still... but I am still believing*. I am back at work now but this is not too bad, it is a non stressful office job and I get on with my co-workers so am finding it a distraction. One more day of worrying and then the scan on Wed which will tell me either way what is what.

Love to all you believers