Assisted Conception (and the bits in between) Volume 10

[MoJangled]

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

Oh Mo so very very unfair. Thinking of you xxx.

mo so sad to see your post I had really high hopes for you

So sorry to read your news Mo

Dear lovely Mo I am so very sorry about your scan result. It's just so cr*p. and i am just completely gutted for you. Sending you and dh a huge hug. You could not have done more than you did. Be kind to yourself. x

Mo I have no words - I am just so so sorry. I can't imagine how hard this must be for you both. Thinking of you. Xx

mo so so sorry to hear that, thinking of you xx

Firstly, Mo, I'm so very sorry and saddened. Am sending you a big hug.

sunngyg - I am with a UK clinic's egg-sharing scheme. The communication from the egg donor to the recipient is something initiated by the clinic. There is no communication from the recipient to the donor but I asked if I could send a message back to her and they were happy to facilitate that for me.

mini and cat - congratulations on transfer and best wishes for the 2ww and a successful outcome.

Last - I don't have a lot of experience of the private clinics but from what I know and have heard subsequently, I wouldn't mess about but would go straight for ARGC or Lister. ARGC would be my first choice but if Lister is a more convenient location, I would go there.

I definitely don't check on mumsnet often enough. I find it difficult to keep pace with developments so apologies and waves to everyone I've missed!

I meant to check on everyone's progress over the weekend but ended up spending Friday night and all day Saturday in hospital with DD who has broken her wrist and had to have the bones manipulated back into place under GA. My donor starts stimming tomorrow.

Mo I'm so very sorry for your news Take care of yourself

Thank you to everyone who answered my questions. We'll be doing some investigating into your suggestions.

frosticle good luck with your donor stimming.

lastbox have just sent you a PM as didn't want to fill up the thread with my ramblings about clinics.

AFM, I had to start on the dreaded gestone injections yesterday. Evil 1 1/2 inch needle That being said, it didn't hurt doing it, just some serious numb bum issues afterwards. Did get some good sympathy from DH though Clinic need to see me for repeat progesterone tests tomorrow again after which I seriously hope they leave me alone - I've only got a week till OTD and had planned on having some serious clinic free days during this time.

Hi everyone, I hope you don't mind a newbie

I'm a regular on the 'mid 30s, TTC#1 etc' thread but we start our first round of IVF next cycle (hoping day 1 is before 23rd Oct otherwise I have to wait a month thanks to the Christmas holidays...) and I just wanted your advice please

I have quite short cycles typically anything from 22 days to 26 days and I spot for 3-5 days before my cycle leading to my acupuncturist to suspect my progesterone levels drop too early. I'm with the NHS so haven't had as many tests as I think I could have had up until now but just wondering if there are any vitamins etc you'd recommend to give me the best shot?

I'm now with the Oxford Fertility Unit, anyone else?

Thanks and best wishes to everyone x

Caipirin yes to vitamins - any pre-pregnancy vitamins would do. I bought the Zita West ones, but had to get them posted. Heard good things about other special ones for conception - the sooner you start the better so whatever you find!! All the best for your cycle. I had a private cycle with very few tests too in reality - it is only some of the clinics like ARGC that do lots of tests, so don't worry about that.

Hi Caipirinhas, I got the Pregnacare ones, they seem to have all the goodies in them you need and you can get handy packs with the men's tablets in them too. Expensive but worth it, my DP's little wigglers definitley improved after using them for a while.. not that you mentioned your beloved's being an issue but hey ho..

Mini how are you doing? I've been at home for 3 days aftr ET, already going slightly mad, looking forward to going back to work to keep my mind off symptom spotting which has me in it's grip already! Ladies who have been through this please advise me on how to deal..

Hope everyone is doing alright - it's nearly the weekend ;)

Hi dear lovely ladies and thanks very much for all your kind words and support, they do help.

And hello and welcome to Last and Caipirinhas . Caipirinhas I would expect you to be given some projesterone supplements for your cycle, so if low levels are an issue they would be given a boost automatically.

Mini and Cat hope you're both enduring the bench and not going too bonkers.

Pocket it's up to you now! Score that goal for Team Donor xx

Ginger how are you doing? How was your blood test yesterday?

It's pretty tough going here. Not helped by actually feeling more nauseous and sore of boob than I have till now. Presumably this is either the gestational sac churning out hcg regardless, or the fact that my levels are now dropping and it's the change rather than the level doing it, which I think I read somewhere... We have to go back for a confirmation scan next week and have been told to keep going with all the drugs. The truly awful thing about that is that a treacherous bit of my brain keeps thinking that just maybe next week there'll suddenly be a healthy baby there. I know babies don't restart once they've stopped developing so every time I catch myself thinking this I'm brought up against the reality and have to face it all over again.

Mo honey it's completely normal to still have hope so don't beat yourself up about that. I'm still v peed off about your result, and I would love for you to have good news next week. What was your drs view? xxx

Mini and Cat hope you're doing okay on the bench.

Hi to everyone and welcome to the newbies.

AFM, scan on Tuesday showed good quality lining but no thicker since last week (sorry if that's tmi). So dr not that happy and my meds have been upped and I have another scan tmw. Fx I am where I need to be. Donor ec is tmw. So fx we are on for weds transfer (I'm assuming we'll go for blasto as before).

Caipirinha welcome. Splements will be good overall but won't change progesterone. You should get pessaries or shots for that, but I would try and push them to test as well as my first cycle I 'just' had twice daily pessaries but am now on that plus daily shots so shows how low my progesterone must be. good luck.

thecat it is tough, I know. I worked last time but actually enjoying time off is time. For me I went for lunch day after ET with dh, had to go for repeat bloods at clinic day two and today and yesterday popped out to buy DVD player so that has hugely broken time up. I find one trip out a day is a must to stop insanity.

pocket fx for your donor EC. Fx as well your lining improves. Mine was a bit slow and only really got to where it needs to be just before ET.

Mo I can't imagine what you must be going through. The fact you have to wait and keep taking the drugs must be very hard. I hope dh is looking after you.

AFM, waiting to hear if ARGC will now leave me alone till OTD. All depends on today's progesterone test. Have another prescription for a second steroid as well in case they want me to start that. Would mean am on six different drugs (most of which are more than once daily). Junkies have nothing on me

Welcome Capirinhas, hope you get the answers you need re your progesterone levels, but if not, do push for it, as the other ladies said, as you will need the extra medication if your levels are low. The pregnacare supps are good, I have also taken these to help in advance of my cycles.

Thecat, hang on in there on your 2ww. I know it can drive you slowly mad, but distraction (and plenty of dvd's) is the key. It won't stop you dwelling completely but it should help.

Mo sweetheart, so sorry you have to continue drugs and all that waiting and having the symptoms too still. I felt awful with symptoms for my first week after, but am slowly starting to feel physically better. My blood test on Mon went ok, I managed not to faint again, but then they took the precaution of lying me down first. I hit another emotional wall when they rang me later to confirm my levels were at 2.5 as I think it finally dawned on me it was all over.

Pocket, fx for your lining and your donor's EC and your potential ET on Wed.

Mini, hope your progesterone test goes well today and ARGC give you some peace till OTD. Loving the junkies comment!!

Hi to everyone else!
xx

mo and ginger I am soooo sorry this has happened to both of you. My heart just goes out to both of you. I remember so clearly going into that first scan and finding out it wasn't to be. It's just unbelievable isn't it. And then like you Mo to be told to stay on the drugs and come back in a week. Lean on all of us here. This is a horrible, horrible time. All of you were wonderful when I had my MC in June, especially pocket and bugsy with lots of wise words. I hope you are both being well looked after at home. Thinking of you guys oxo

Such big love going out to mo and ginger, this whole process is so so so unfair and there's nothing to say to make things better. Thinking of you both and hoping you are able to have time off to deal with things. Hugs xx

Thanks for the bench advice *gonger, mini & pocket' work has been fairly distracting and have lots of DVDs lined up.

Oh Ginger I'm dreading the next scan, even though I know what it will show - boobs deflating and going back to normal colour and getting hot flushes so can't kid myself that this will end well. Well done on not fainting, at least. What happens now? Has your spotting been the bleed or are you expecing more? The utter desolate hopelessness of it all being over is crushing, isn't it.

Pocket very best of luck for your scan and EC today! Hoping for lots of juicy and gorgeous eggs and a luscious lining for you. What extra drugs have you been given?

Mini hoping for a calm and unfiddled-with remainder to your 2WW. Although it does sound like they are taking very good care of you. Better to be prodded at if it means they can fine tune everything all the way to a BFP and healthy baby (but you might need to grit your teeth).

Thanks ((( Sunny )))

Cat distractions and DVDS are the way to do! How long now?

Last night I went to a tea, cake, and joint 2nd party planning evening with local mums, knowing that a couple of them were pregnant, to be besieged by everyone announcing their good news - 10 out of the 12 of them were expecting. I deserve an Oscar. I know it's only to be expected but gah. Keep checking my diary to see when a good time to fall apart might be but haven't identified one yet.

Mo you truly deserve a medal for that birthday planning tea last night. Don't plan when it's good to fall apart - it'll come when it wants no matter what you do. Thinking of you.

I have officially fallen into 2ww insanity. My boobs are no longer that sore so am convinced that is a bad sign even though I am on so much progesterone that it wouldn't be a symptom anyway. Have managed to convince myself that given the volume of progesterone in my body lack of boobage is therefore a bad sign - I know, no logic in that, but like I said, I've lost it today!!! Was doing so so well but just woke up with a negative feeling about it all. Please would someone slap me? Thank goodness I am back at work on Monday.....

I'm an ARGC graduate - and I remember the 2ww's like it was yesterday! I was bonkers - avoiding cracks in the pavement, chuntering to myself, screaming and crying, the lot. It's horrid. And OTD day! There was a woman making chomping noises in my seat in Providores and I nearly lamped her!

Very best of luck MiniH - and everyone else!

Mini am feeling EXACTLY the same as you. Negative, angry, weepy, feeling is all pointless and that lack of symptoms means it hasn't worked :( however have just eaten huge pizza which has made me happier and feel a bit sick at the same time..

Hang on in there, not long to go now - kind of...

What does OTD stand for?

Official Test Day

Oh Mo sweetheart what a situation to be in!? 10 out of 12 pregnant ladies in your group the other night!! I can only imagine how challenging that was. Well done for getting through it with your Oscar winning performance! Relax and be kind to yourself this weekend. And if you feel like a cry, go for it. My shoulder is there of you need it. x

Re my meds, I was already on progynova 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening, and I'm now taking an extra one at lunchtime too. And two aspirin daily instead of one. Seems to have done the trick as lining up to 8.2 today and consultant happy thank goodness.

Mini and Cat you'll go round and round in circles symptom spotting. But it's all part of the mind game that AC is!?! My conclusion, for what it's worth, is that symptoms or no symptoms at this stage are no real indicator either way. The meds we are on have symptoms of their own. And I've read that pregnancy symptoms tend to kick in about week 6 I think. but I know we will keep looking out for symptoms...

Ginger honey how are you doing?

Well my miracle angel of a donor gave us 18 eggs today. Unbelievable!! DPs swimmers are apparently doing well and today we will hear how many embies we have. Its happening gals.

Happy weekend everyone

And I'd like to say a heartfelt thank you for being there for me. This would be so much harder without your support and kind words. xxx