Assisted Conception (and the bits in between) Volume 10

[MoJangled]

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

Hi all!! Sorry not posted sooner, have been feeling quite ropey since EC, much worse than last time, but thankfully seem to be picking up again now.

sunny so glad you are starting to feel a little better. You've been through such a difficult time. I love being by the sea too- my fantasy house would def be on some deserted part of the coast line - so glad the sea air started to work it's magic for you. Sending you big hugs.

badger amazing news about the scan - well done you. I cant work out how to see your profile either but I'm being lazy and in my phone. Remind me, was this an Ivf BFP?? I remember maples was the month after Ivf I think wasn't it?

bugsy so sorry about the bloody water and tonsillitis. Not fair!!!!! It seriously sounds like you need a break - have you got anything coming up??

pocket have been following your donor thread with interest (btw our stats in terms if height etc are almost identical!!). It is amazing how generous people are. Wishing you loads of luck and please do let us know whether any if the offers actually turn into serious potentials - fingers crossed for you

minih 19 vials of blood? Seriously??? I think i would have been on the floor. They took 10 from me a few weeks ago and I thought that was a lot. Very interesting what you say about your Dhs sperm and vitamins. My DHs have steadily got worse as he's taken bits, lost weight, eaten more healthily and drunk less.... Has been very bemusing. His current habit is pointing out to me men who are v fat/ take loads of drugs/ cycle 16 hours a day who have fathered children.... Oh the irony

Thanks for all your well wishes, disco lights and champagne. On day 3 we got a call saying of the 5 that fertilised, 4 were going strong and they wanted to continue to culture them. So went in today for ET, only one was still developing, the others had pretty much stopped, but we had one very nearly blasto transferred ( he said it was just starting to develop fluid cavity and break out) so hoping we are still in with a decent chance. I think having more eggs this time, and seeing the numbers go down, has just made me realise even more how precarious it all is....

So am officially on the bench... Wish me luck x x x

Hey chicken Hope you're feeling a bit better after EC now. Good to hear you have the little emby on board and I hope that the 2ww flies by for you. Yes, mine is an IVF BFP so hopefully you will be where I am 10 weeks from today. I have everything crossed for you.

P.s. Have just changed my privacy settings - Mini-Badger should now be on view!

Yay Chicken is on the bench (really wanted to say Chicken is in a basket!!). I hope you have a restful and peaceful 2ww. Try and keep busy so you dont drive yourself crazy.

Bugsy Poor you with yet more flooding. What a pain in the backside. And I can't believe you're poorly again - you def need a break. Somewhere warm and sunny.

Hi Sunny i am a bit cross about your non-scan but i cant say suprised given your previous answer from gp. But at least your headaches are going - the meds do knock you for six. Sounds like the sea air has done you good and it's nice to see you in a happy place.

Badger am on mobile but can't wait to check out MiniBadger. How are you feeling? Any symptoms yet? How's that tummy coming along?

hello to everyone.

Badger i just love your piccies. The Badger on the sofa made me smile... but the MiniBadger scan pic made me well up. What a little poppet. Such a lovely thing to see and thanks for sharing. xxx

Ooh pocket please tell me how. I can't figure it out and so want to see mini badger

Hover over Badger's name on the header of one of her posts. Then a profile page will open up in another window - then select photos.... its worth it... (btw, dont think you an do this on mobile, you need to be on computer). x

Thanks Pocket. I nearly just put the Badger up but then thought you might prefer the scan instead!

I hope my story offers hope - Mini-Badger wouldn't be around without the IVF journey and although it was only 3-4 months ago, I can honestly say I barely remember the stress, upset, discomfort and certain consultants who need retraining on the old bedside manner now. (The memories of leaky cyclogest, on the other hand, might stay with me for a while longer...)

So chin up ladies, and ride that rollercoaster. Me and Mini-Badger are rooting for you all. (Oh dear, now I'm verging on making myself well up at work - damn hormones!) xx

chicken hope the bench is treating you well and that you are getting some rest.

bugsy you really are having no luck with water. You definitely deserve a desert island trip - just make sure it's not one with freak hurricanes or monsoon rain!

badger haven't managed to see your pics but so thrilled the scan went well.

sunny I know what you mean about beg, borrow and steal for argc. So far I've been pleasantly surprise by it though (but had prepared myself for chaos so was expecting the worst). The staff are friendly and very helpful and although it is hugely busy in the waiting room and the appointment times can be long I do feel like they are making it personal to me. Back for another blood test today so hopefully will find out soon when can start. Oh, and dh's sperm DNA fragmentation results came back normal - yay!

I have just seen the piccy of mini-badger and I loved it! Made me also get teary. And thank you also for your reminder how things can change. I have to admit there's been times recently when I've wondered if I would honestly ever feel better. I know you had those times too and look at you now! Really, really gives me hope.

pocket how are things with you my dear? Yes more annoyance with the NHS and not getting a scan but also not terribly surprised. Let's hope next AF post MC is not too far away and all is okay. The last thing I need now (finally getting back on my feet) is to have to go in for d&C or whatever at this point. But let's not think about that.......

mini that's great news about ARGC. I think sometimes it's about managing our own expectations right? And sounds like you've done that and been pleasantly surprised.

chicken hope then bench is going okay? I wanted to tell you your recent cycle and mine sounded very similar. In that we got 6 eggs, 5 fertilised but by day 5 we had 1. It was also an early blasto, called a Morula I think and that was my BFP. So fingers and toes crossed!

No news really here. Headaches definitely on the way out but now new headache is getting some answers out of the NHS. DH and I really just in the talking stages of our next step, but I wanted to see if/how/when/where I might be eligible for NHS funding for an IVF cycle. (I moved boroughs after our 2 failed IUIs then went off for private egg-sharing) which makes things even more complicated. Spent 3 hours on the phone Monday and Tuesday and do you think I actually spoke to someone? Anyway long and short of it is our gp will try and refer us to NHS hospital but it's going to be long and painful. looks like we have to go to our local hospital first for initial testing first before we can even get to the NHS clinic. As if we were having initial investigations done. Which is ridiculous as we are long past that, and I have copies of ALL test results ever done, but at NHS clinic and private. And all are pretty recent. But at least we may be able to get on a wait list somewhere while we consider our options.

big hugs to all oxo

Hi ladies, just popped on to announce the birth of Ben on 17 July. He weighs 9lb2 and is ofcourse beautiful. I will still check on everyOne's progress but wanted to wish you all lots of luck and thank you for all your support over the last 18 months x

lucy massive congratulations!!! Enjoy getting to know your gorgeous little boy. and badger I managed to work out how to view your scan pic - thanks pocket - how amazing! I needed to hear your positive stories today, am having a bit of a wobble here on the bench, so thanks for your v helpful words of encouragement. sunny interesting our cycles were so similar. I wasnt sure whether one embie left by day 5 was along the lines of what they expect or not? Think I got a bit over optimistic having 6 eggs as only had 1 last time . The clinic stuff sounds very pointless and frustrating but as you say at least you'll be on the list once.

mini glad ARGC is going well. Hope they are leaving you some blood

Have been feeling a bit flat today - not really sure why, but def struggling to feel very hopeful about this cycle. The 2ww really is the pits isn't it? So I've done nothing from my long to do list and watched tv and movies all afternoon!!! And now am contemplating what chocolate we have in the house . Spending the next few days with friends with lots of babies so that will be lovely and difficult in equal measures

Love to all x x

lucy congrats on the birth of Ben that's lovely news

lucy really, really happy for you

minih my acupuncturist recommended i take natural iron support during the stimming, considering the amount of blood tests you'll be going through. Duly I followed her advise and didn't suffer from tiredness or anemia. Glad things are going well with you there. I'll be back at the clinic on Monday for full blood count and mini immunes - my NK's have been misbehaving big time.

badger - glad to hear things are well with you too.

bugsy the sun is on it's way - I promise!

maple how are you getting on?

Hi to sunnyg, mo, Italian, keziah, pocket, weller and all the new girls.

16 weeks here. Bump is now very much a baby bump and not just bloating. Have had to ditch my jeans and start wearing maternity jeans now. My evening nausea has returned and at times still feel exhausted during the day - and I end up going to bed by 9pm at nights - but not complaining. Have a reassurance scan booked for Monday (NHS here doesn't offer scans at 16 weeks), the said blood tests and MW appointment on Wednesday. Sadly, I fully expect to have to have IVIG on Friday - not looking forward to mingling with the Olympic crowds in central London.

Aww lucy congrats that is brilliant news.

scrummy thanks for advice re iron - will definitely look into that. Can't believe it is sixteen weeks already.

chicken i agree, the 2ww is almost worse than the treatment as you are just sitting and waiting. A day of tv and movies does sound quite blissfull though!

Congrats Lucy and welcome to gorgeous Ben xxxx

A massive congratulations to lucy on the arrival of baby ben. How wonderful. Hope Mum and Bub are doing well.

scrummy sounds like things are going well. Woo hoo for maternity jeans! If it was me I would be having as many reassurance scans as I could afford! The NHS ones aren't very often as far as I understand. Hope all goes well and the Olympic crowds are okay.

chicken I know totally how you feel. I was too stoked to get 6, then having 5 fertilised I was overjoyed as the clinic had made us feel our cycle hadn't been very good. So I remember feeling a bit negative during the 2 ww thinking there was not way that 1 little early blasto embie would have implanted. Well it did my dear, so it can happen! But the 2ww is just horrible. No doubts about that. When is your test date?

Happy Friday to all oxo

Chicken how are you doing my dear? When is otd? You?re right the 2ww is pants ? but you don?t know till you know, so just hang on in there? really rooting for you x

Badger thanks for the motivational words. Its good to know that the memories of the troublesome side of ttc can fade? cylcogest is a joy that will remain with us all forever

Mini good to hear you?re well and truly on your journey ? fx you?ll get a bfp in the very near future.

Sunny nothing is easy in this journey ? fx you get a fast track v soon as you go off armed with all your paperwork

Bugsy how are things with you?

Yay Scrummy lovely to hear from you and your bump. If you need to come to London this week at least you might get a seat on the tube/train if you stick your bump out.

AFM, well I think I?ve found my gorgeous donor. I was so lucky that a few people came forward to offer their help on my posts and within that group of lovely kind ladies, I?ve found someone who?s a good physical match to me?. So we?re in the process of tests and being matched by the clinic. Its early days but so far so good...

Enjoy the sunshine this week girlies?

Pocket That is FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB news!! Good luck to you and your donor with the tests. Don't forget that Hotel Chocolat helps with the process

Scrummy Great to hear your news. A bump - yeah! I hope that your appointments go well this week. Don't forget water for the tube! And don't be embarrassed to ask people for a seat - especially the priority ones. From some other threads I've read it seems that tourists are some of the most likely people to offer a seat so maybe the Olympic crowds will be a blessing in disguise...

Chicken How's the bench? Are you prodding your in public yet?

Many congrats to Lucy and hellos to everyone else. I hope some of you are managing to enjoy the sunshine - I'm already in my office staring at it and wishing I were outside raising my vitamin d levels...

pocket yay!!!!! That is amazing news. Hopefully they will whizz through the tests and you will be on your way soon.

I am having terrible impatience - got call Thursday to tell me immunes were back but would need to wait for dr to call. Hurry up!! Until I get that call I don't know when I can start. Not so good with this being patient stuff!

Happy sunny Monday to all xx

Am officially

My cytokines and nk cells are high so need two rounds of humira. Means earliest we can start is October and that's assuming levels drop first time round. Bollocks bollocks bollocks

Mini, I had to take two rounds too. It feels like a major pain and i know the delay it causes is almost intolerable, but after the second round my levels came down to within normal, and I got my surprise BFP while waiting for IVF to start. Have faith in ARGC, they do know what they're doing and it'll be worth the wait.

Thanks lucy you are so right. Have put my positive face on again and am looking forward to the options that this time might bring. There are so many things Dh and I wouldn't have done had we fallen pregnant as quickly as 'planned' so who knows what these extra few month may bring. We are on this journey no matter what - may as well not the ride!

I have no idea what day of the week it is or what time... and apologies for not catching up with everyone's news... I just wanted to let you know that there are babies!

My little girl arrived on Saturday weighing 6lb5oz followed closely by her brother weighing 6lb8oz. They are awesome .

Thank you for all the amazing support and advice you provided me with on this thread and am wishing the hugest amount of luck and strength to each and every one of you.

I shall be popping back to monitor progress xxx

YEY!!! I just spotted your name having done an update. Oh I SO needed to hear some good news today. So pleased for you. Lots and lots and lots of best wishes, and enjoy!!!! x x x