IVF/ICSI/FET - any more for any more... MORE!

[jumpingjackhash]

A thread for anyone going through fertility treatment, about to start or with a success story to share. Welcome one and all!

So our last IVF/ICSI/FET support, wallow, celebratory and whatever else thread got full, so let's pick up where we left off!

Carebear, great news on your EC on Sat!

I've got over my strop now and have re-rearranged my work schedule so all set once they confirm the date tomorrow!

I'm OK, jumping.

Feel awful but fatigue and nausea so bad now had to call in sick today . Got to go in tomorrow as interviewing. Feeling useless. Had two weeks off sick a year ago due to lap, two days when I hyper stimulated on cycle 2 and then two and a half weeks in March when I felt so low after cycle 2 failed. Just really struggling now. I'm over the moon I'm pregnant but worried it looks like I'm not pulling my weight at work.

Aww, hope it passes. When do you plan on telling work? They'll understand then.

I've already told most people as we've had two viability scans now, and I'm beginning to show. But my boss is very two-faced so although he'll be nice to my face I can just imagine what he's saying behind my back. Also feel like I'm letting my team down

Don't think like that Knackered, I'm sure they understand - or at the very least appreciate - the changes your body is going through and the impact it's going to have. Can you speak to HR to get it off your chest and underline your commitment / worries? Then at least you'll have it boxed-off a little and don't need to worry so much.

FWIW, I hear it gets better once you get through the first trimester!

Morning all!

knackered - I hope you get peace of mind at work, I'm sure they will be fine. jumping may be right about speaking to HR if you feel that your boss is unapproachable/unsympathetic. You have had a lot less time off than I've had over the course of the last year but fortunately my boss is so laid back and male so doesn't want to ask questions

Have had a new symptom appear today.....I've read loads about this metallic taste in your mouth that can appear. My mouth has had a funny taste in it all morning - not so much metallic but more like a bitter/sour taste at the back of my mouth - is that the same thing?????

I had that last time fishfingersarnie so a sign indeed! And my sense of smell went crazy!

Do you have any other symptoms or feelings?

Today I'm just feeling exhausted - physically drained - (but I didn't sleep well last night) adn a bit dizzy from time to time along with getting hot/cold flushes to go with the niggly/crampy twinges. I've also felt quite nauseated today, went off food last night and just want to nibble little bits.

I'm worried I'm finding things that aren't really there and getting my hopes up.

Pheww - I went and got my HCg levels checked yesterday and hosp just called to say they were good. I'm going to have another test tomrrow morning... Was worried when I woke up yesterday morning as boobs had stopped hurting and thats what happened the first time when the ivf pregnancy failed... So feeling positive today now!
Jumping - all Those signs are good
& fish finger - fingers crossed for your test tomorrow being a lovely BFP!
Care - how r u doing ? When do u test?
Waves to everyone else - am on phone and tricky to scroll back...

jumping - other symptoms include minor cramps every morning that seem to die off (so spend every morning thinking the end is nigh), still a slight bitter taste in my mouth but not as strong as yesterday, occasional shooting pains in my and a couple of head-rushes during the day (like I've been sat down too long and suddenly got up too quick.....even when I'm just walking around). Apart from that, not a lot going on and I'm still not sure what symptoms can be attributed to the Cyclogest and what might be genuine symptoms.
Just gotta hold on until tomorrow AM.......

jumping How are your symptoms coming along?

care how are you getting on?

zeebee - glad that the test has reassured you! Although I am desperate for a BFP, I'm sure the worry about every little symptom or disappearance of a symptom will continue for the next few months. Good to know that there are ways to check everything is going as it should!

ZB that's great news, what a relief. What was your HCg level out of interest?

My test day is next monday, though AF would be due this saturday i think. Yesterday i felt pretty exhausted, but more emotionally than anything I think. Other than that flutterings have more or less stopped, boobs feel a bit bigger than normal but not hurting - feel about the same as i normally do, so not feeling very positive at the moment.

Aw care remember that everyone has different symptoms - its the waiting to test that can get you so down and worried isnt it - ar eyou doing some nice things this week - I treated myself to the MOST AMAZING foot massage/leg scrub thingy at my local beauty shop toward the end of the 2WW and it really helped me feel relaxed - are you based in London - if so I can give you the salon's details - it really was amazing.... (they even wrap your legs in towels and put a relaxinf face mask on you at the same time!) it did cost around £50 but was WORTH EVERY penny.....
Oh yes - in my happiness at being told hcg levels were fine I forgot to ask what they actually were going back tomorrow so when they ring with those results i';ll ask them... they were really reticent about doing another test - think they think i'm wasting their time (even though WE are funding this round!)

fish so officially you can test today but are wiating for your DH's arrival tomorrow to test - is that right? you are ONE STRONG LADY!

AFM - my DH told me off this morning for having made us both have the most miserable day yesterday waiting for the results to come back - I then told him off to say that if all this was happening to his insides he'd be 100x worse! He's pulled a ligament in his knee and is making SO MUCH fuss about it - you'd think he was at deaths door - so enough said!

Good luck poas tomorrow fish!

Care don't worry about symptoms or not - my SIL didn't have any at all for the first few months, then it was really only the bump that gave it away!

My cramps have gone now, but I'm still tired (mainly because I'm not sleeping - I'm drinking so much water in the day I'm constantly in need of the loo and feel like I'm peeing all night!). Also I no longer need the prune juice (quite the opposite in fact) tmi - sorry!

Boobs still a bit bigger and a bit tender, but putting this down to the cyclogest as they've been like this for a while now.

Jeez - it's easy to convince yourself of anything you want to believe!

Glad your mind is at rest now zeebee, I'm sure your DH will soon learn the error of his ways and stop commenting on your feelings and reactions!

Hi all
Hope everyone hasn't expired in the heat on this thread - what a gorgeous day!
fish hope things are OK?
jumping & carehow you doing ladies?
AFM - my HCG levels have doubled in 2 days 3000 on tues and 6000 today so i'm, really pleased/releaved/ing...

Just had an email from a great friend in australia - who is 41 who is 17 weeks PG with 1st child - they were about to start IVF when suddenly she found herself PG! SO happy for her....

Zeebee. That's fantastic news. How many days past EC are you? It might give a hint as to whether it could be twins or not...

Mine were
Day 14 post EC 167
Day 16 post EC 273
Day 21 post EC 3,169

Obviously there is a massive range and a high beta doesn't necessarily mean twins and vice versa, but it's fun to guess! Mine started off low for twins (my initial doubling rate was slow) and then it really took off.

knackered
EC was 16th July....
so i'm 24 days post EC.... and it's 6000! cripes!

Zeebee I reckon it's twins...

Have a look at this website - not particularly scientific but it gives medians (from getting women to add their data) for twin and singleton pregnancies at each day past ovulation / EC. You're pretty much bang on for twins!

www.betabase.info/showBasicChart.php?type=Twin

Of course, I could be wrong, but I had fun trying to guess!

Love that chart - thanks knackered - here's hoping! Now I must get on with some work today and stop obessing over beta results !!

Are we having a sweepstake on Zeebee? I'll go for triplets!

You must be really relieved! This may be a stupid question, but how are you monitoring your HCG levels?! Do you have to have them done at the hosp?

Afm, I've had a weird 'pulling' or 'prodding' feeling in my belly button and after a cramp free day yesterday they started again today. In fact, I feel like I constantly have a full bladder (that 'heavy inside' feeling) and my belly is swollen and looks like I'm already 3 months gone. I feel really crappy and by the end of the day just want to curl up and not move (unless it's to eat potato!). God I hope this works, I feel far worse than the last full cycle (taking solace in the fact that one didn't last long after the bfp so maybe 'this is it'?!).

Fish, how did you get on? Have been thinking about you today.

Jumping . Sweepstake made me laugh!

Your symptoms sound much like mine. It's sounding very promising. How many days past EC are you now? I am amazed you haven't cracked and tested!

I'm wondering how fishfinger got on too....

Meant to add betaHCG levels are monitored by the hospital via blood tests.

My clinic does them as standard because they are more predictive than a home pregnancy test as to how likely a pregnancy is to be viable. It's a bit of a double edged sword - pregnancies with low betas 14 days post EC can be successful so too much information could cause unnecessary stress. But, it also prepares you if it's likely to end in early mc. And low levels or slow rising levels can indicate it's ectopic - which of course is a greater risk of an IVF / ICSI pregnancy.

My clinic confirms pregnancy if your beta is greater than 75 14 days post EC. That gives a 70% probability of a viable pregnancy. At a beta of 100 it increases to 84%. Obviously a point is reached when it plateaus at about 90% probability. Of course pregnancies with lower betas can definitely be viable, but it falls to around 50% at a beta of 50.

After my first cycle my beta was 72, and my clinic was only cautiously optimistic.

What's really important is to retest. My clinic does this a week later. They look for a doubling time of 48-72 hours to confirm things are OK. Initially low betas can pick up.

Different clinics do different things, and sometimes too much information doesn't work for some people. Some people prefer to know. I personally like to be prepared, but that's just me.

Thanks Knackered, I don't think our clinic does it as a matter of course as last time I called them with the bfp they just booked me in for a viability scan at 7 weeks. I can see how the info from these tests could reassure or panic so will see how we get on!

Oh, sorry, am 14 days past collection (same as ov in ivf?). Sometimes I feel so I'll informed! I'm very much a 'they'll tell me if I need to know!' kinda gal!

Was half tempted to test tomorrow (day early) so if it doesn't work I can just get blotto at friend's wedding. Resisting the urge though!

Hello Ladies. I hope you do not mind me nesting here. After 6 months of tests with the fertility nurses at my local hospital we found out my DH has a low sperm count and our option is IVF. After a bit if panic we requested another test done for him while we wait on our next appointment but needless to say finding out that natural conception is now out of the question and that we do not qualify for NHS IVF has really knocked us back emotionally.

I picked up a few books the other way, read some things on here and started watching a bit of personal video logs on youtube. I wanted to stay away from random internet information but so far the book I am reading is by a journalist who went through IVF in the UK and seems to explain quite a few things which will hopefully give me a bit of heads up before the next appointment.

Please feel free to offer any early advice, especially things such as coping with busy work schedules, appointments, things to look out for, hidden costs and how many months do I realistically need to invest for tests-treatments-etc.

Welcome Photographerlady! sorry to hear about your struggles but if it's any consolation, Dale factor infertility is an easier problem to work around than female.

Are you looking at ivf or icsi? That can often be a better route, depending on the actual problem (we're having that as in addition to a low sperm count DH's swimmers don't actually swim much either!).

Is you book the Kate Brain one? I have that and it's really helpful. I first got the Zita West book but found it a bit 'woo!'. I like Kate's honesty and frankness (plus she's been where we are too). You will see case studies and anecdotes of couples on their seventh round, but don't get disheartened, I think they're extreme!

So, the practicalities! Really it depends where you're having treatment. We chose our clinic because of it's reputation but also because it's only 5 mins in a cab from where I work (about 40 mins from home), as that way I can easily duck out for scans, blood tests and what have you without anyone knowing what it's for. I have a lot of 'errands' and in the last year have had opticians, dentist and solicitor (inventive!) appointments! You do need to take a couple of days off for your egg collection and might prefer to have a day off for the transfer (I went back to work after 2 of these, took the day off for the fet in-between).

In terms if timings, once you start sniffing you get a scheduling chart with approximate timings so you kind of know roughly when things might happen and you'll need to go in. I just blocked likely dates out of my calendar and told a close friend at work I needed to go to some hospital appointments (but not what for) so she covered me in any meetings.

As for the physical/ emotional side and work, well you get used to sniffing drugs in the loo (sounds v 90s!), on the tube, wherever! Plus you get used to hiding and side effects. I've not had any issues juggling it all but I do plan my work diary meticulously which helps!

Also, re the costs, your clinic will give you a list of all costs, usually this doesn't include drugs. Allow around £1k for these.

One point, we're self funding, rather than private (we didn't see any real difference between the two other than an extra £1k) and our clinic doesn't include drugs in their costs. Some clinics include drugs in their self funding costs so check for your budgeting.

Also, I found it useful to have a small notebook for this, I write down everything from dates and intstuctions to conversations with embryologists. That and a calendar we mark all key stages / dates on is invaluable!

Thank you for all the info. At this stage we have just been referred to IVF. So not sure that stage that is GP> refer Fertility specialist nhs > every test > back to specialist who now say IVF is only option. They said all my tests were prefectly fine but with DH low sperm count I guess I wait on the next step of figuring out IVF or if they suggest icsi. Will a clinc make me pay and take all the tests again?

Cost wise I am still trying to figure out what self funded and private means. I am sort of understanding that I could go to a clinc of my choosing or take it at my next NHS appointment they are
Going to suggest NHS lead clinc (but ofc paying).

I commute 1.5 hours a day to London so little worried about where to go clinc wise and not lose my job. They won't be very supportive on me missing work but will burn that bridge when we come to it.

Thank you so much for your help so far means alot