Assisted Conceptions (and all the bits in-between) Volume 11

[vallinnapod]

I really hope I haven't missed someone else starting this!

Don't say that Juciy mine has a history of being crap

But doesn't it only have to measure 8mm to be considered ripe for implantation? Correct me, please, if I am wrong, as I need to know for my own sake after next week!

LOL - very much depends on the person and clinic. Most clinics would like it to be double digits.

When I had my successful IVF mine was only 8.1mm. It was 7.8mm for my failed FET. None of it is an exact science unfortnuately. My consultant has finally decided that mine will just never get that far - I also had an abandoned FET where I was kept on various forms of oestrogen for 'too long' in the hope it would thicken further but I ended up with breakthrough bleeding. Hoping that doesn't happen this time.

Go Vall! Here's hoping it continues to thicken and you get to have the transfer this time next week! Good luck!!!

Juicy this two week wait is dragging! Am trying to stay calm and positive and not try to symptom spot but it is hard. Am willing the little one to remain where it is and grow, grow, grow! Time will tell.. by next Tues I shall know either way (otd is next Mon)

DSB

Everything crossed for you ginger

Good luck val it sounds like its all going in a positive direction :-)

Glad you're keeping positive ginger no long to go now :-)

DSB xxx

Hi everyone, I've been lurking but not posting but the thing is I now have a question which I hope someone can answer?

Today my IVF consultant was talking about protocols and I told him I'd like to go on the short rather than the long. He said either would be ok for me but now I'm wondering if I've made the right decision? And why he let me choose instead of telling me which one would be best for me? Could someone tell me the difference between the two, ie, in which situation would you do long and which situ would you do short? I only chose short because its less drugs but I want it to work and will do the long if that's what it takes. So confused.

Sorry twinkle I can't help but I am interested in the responses you get. If we need to do a full cycle again I want to see if I can do the short protocol. Considering my ovaries do bugger all at the best of times it seems frustrating to spend a month 'shutting them down'!

Twinkle, please try Fertiilty Friends for help with your questions if you don't get them on mumsnet. I am so sorry I can't help but as you know I am donor egg and therefore not downregging at all. You definitely should not have been simply left to make this decision without proper instruction from your consultant. Bastard.

Hi twinkle, I had the short protocol first time around. Dint get a choice they chose for me. Like you, I liked the reduced drugs. Only real difference I know of is that it gives they less control over your hormone levels, which isn't necessarily good or bad. I would say though that you should phone the clinic and ask them to talk it through. It's a lot of time and money and drugs and you need to be in the right frame of mind which you won't be if you have unanswered questions. Best of luck.

Waves to everyone else reading. Am still lurking, but not posting. Two weeks to go now till our ELCS so on the countdown. Will let you know when there is any news. Xx

I don't care what they do to me as long as it WORKS

Hi Twinklestar2 these threads might help you - I have used the short protocol except when I missed my first cetrotide once and then I had to restart my period and use the long.

Dont read the worries about side effects, because I can honestly I have had little side effects with either and Ive been through 5 rounds in 2.5 years! It's almost a breeze now!!!

infertility.healthunlocked.com/questions/1099666/Long-or-Short-Protocol-IVF?ref=home

The difference between long and short protocol is that the long protocol has a period of shutting down your own cycle before you start, called 'down regulation' which can take two weeks or more. Then you'd start the 'stimulation' phase, where you grow your follicles, followed by the egg retrieval etc.

The short protocol doesn't have the down regulation phase, you just start stimming from the beginning of your natural cycle and about 12 days later you have your egg retrieval. The benefit of this protocol is that it is much quicker (I was a month between starting and getting my BFP), and also less physically difficult (less injections and no down-reg).

I think short protocol is usually offered to women who have had previous cycles and not responded very well to the drugs in the past, although I know another lady on here used this protocol on their first attempt (as I did). Obviously you'll need to chat to your consultant to see which suits you but I certainly found the cycle easy and quick - it was nowhere near as difficult as I expected.

www.fertilityzone.co.uk/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=9237

Waves to all xxx

Lucky, you're so generous with your knowledge. How are you feeling, love? Any plans?

Ah thanks juicy no point keeping it to myself when others might have success because of it :-)

I'm doing ok. A couple of low points when it hits me I might never be a biological mother and my hubby a biological father, but I somehow remain quite pragmatic and think if that's the case then I certainly don't want to miss the chance to be pregnant, bring a baby into this world, so we just have to keep moving forwards.

We've applied to our clinics donor list today they seem to have a good few to offer us and we should be able to cycle in August, so a plan is on the horizon.

Not many responses on MN or FF from donors which is dissapointed. Our reason for finding our egg donor in this way was because we would ideally have liked the same level of detail as we have about our sperm donor. The HFEA regulations prevent uk clinics sharing a childhood and adult photo for example.

But the main thing is - we have options and that's important - so roll on August and ill be back on the rollercoaster!

How is everyone getting on in their cycles????

Xx

Thx lucky.

Still haven't heard back from consultant grrr

Lucky good progress and good news about an August cycle

Mini lovely to hear from you. Not long now hey?

Ginger just a few days to wait for you. How are you feeling? Hope you have a chilled and stress free weekend planned. Got everything crossed for you.

Good luck to everyone wherever you are in your cycle/treatment.

An don't stop believing. Please.

Im 36 weeks today
x

Lucky, I have the odd moment when I start to 'grieve' for the biological baby I'll never have and then I slap myself around the face with Zita West's Guide To Assisted Conception and quickly come to my senses

I'm off to Prague on Sunday! Yes..that flooded city where arm-bands are a prerequisite. From there we get the train to Brno on the 10th, our donor has EC on 12th and ET is 17th! I have had such an incredibly easy time of it from my end. Thanks to no downregging my drugs have treated me well (can I say I feel physically more buoyant and libidinous on these oestrogens? I don't want to come off 'em!) The Prednisolone I can't even tell I am on despite others' stories of steroid hell.

My donor's first scan this week showed she is responding very well to her drugs. Did I tell you she is 24 with a proven history of fertility? We are so very grateful to her and for this opportunity.

Pocket, wow! Did you ever think you'd get your dream baby? Marvellous stuff

Ginger, am thinking of you, stay cool. Vall, how's things right now?

Twinkle, stay cool x

I'm kinda starting to believe

I can't even begin to tell you how and I am right now. It turns out I was meant to have been called on Tuesday night to increase my drugs. I wasn't, so didn't and now my lining has decreased and my cycle has been abandoned. I am just so upset, angry and disappointed. The clinic's reponse was just so blasé, it took the third person I saw before I even got an apology.

As you can imagine, letter of complaint written.

Vanil this is so upsetting for you and when the clinic responds in such an infuriating way its 10 x worse. Which clinic are you at hun??

I hope they are going to pay for you to complete this all over again and your time/expenses - I know this dosen't make it any better, but being out of pocket as well is not good! Have a bloody big glass of wine tonight, a hot bath, loads of chocolate and everything possible on the NO list!!! So sorry again hun - thinking of you!

Jewcy I have the Zita West book along with a whole library of IVF books, but can't think for the life of me what she says?

For others ladies info BTW - my clinic advises that each year you have a mammogram, Pelvic scan and and CA125 cancerous blood cells check each year after IVF just because we are in a slightly higher risk group for Ovarian and Breast Cancer due to the hormones/drug treatments. I found out Nuffield Health will accept my consultants referral - £61 for the blood test £135 for the Pelvic scan and (here's the biggey) £200 + £199 for the Mammo - half is the consultants time and half is the scan! Never the less I really want peace of mind after 5 rounds in 2.5 years so I am going to get it all done on Monday - this way if god forbid anything did come up I would think twice before going for it again in August. Don't want to freak anyone out, but better to be well informed I think - Care would have never have advised me on anything like this!!!

Have a fab sunny weekend ladies - good luck to those all in waiting - keep yourselves distracted

xx

Welcome Twinklestar2. I did the long protocol the first time round, with no success. The short protocol is a lot easier, but please do get clarification from your clinic as to which is more suitable for you.

Lucky sorry to hear you are a bit up and down emotionally, but on the most part you sound positive, so keep going love! Good to know your clinic can offer you some good donors. I am keeping fingers crossed for you!

Great to hear from you Mini and can't believe it is so close now, how exciting!

Juicy glad to hear you are feeling so well on the drugs. I am feeling ok on mine too, though my boobies are very sore (but am hoping that is a good sign!). Good luck for Prague and the donor EC and ET for you on the 17th! Everything crossed for you too sweetie.

Hi Pocket! 36 weeks!! Wow, that is fab! How are you managing in this heat? Hope you are well.

Vall I am so sorry! That sounds like an absolute nightmare, I am not surprised you are fuming, I would be too!! What will you do now? ((Hugs))

AFM, I am going slightly crazy waiting for otd. I have a strange positive feeling, and am feeling almost confident, so I guess that is good. However, I can't wait till Mon. Would I be crazy to test on Sunday?

DSB

vall what a nightmare! I hope you get a proper apology and treated like royalty from now on. What was their expanation? As lucky says treat yourself this evening, and then kick some ass.
ginger great to be confident! I love to think that I will be able to wait until OTD and not test before, but is it humanly possible? It depends how you think it might affect things - if not at all, just do it! Would you rather wait? Your call! Fingers crossed.
lucky that is great that you get a list to choose from! Good luck with this, we're all rooting for you.

Thanks ladies. Feel a little 'held hostage' by them as they have our frozen embryo. Even then, it is sort of a better the devil you know. They clinic is also really convenient for work and from what I can tell none are perfect.

Thanks for the tip Lucky I was thinking that all the extra oestrogen can't be doing me any favours.

Ginger I think I was peeing on a stick from the day of ET so I am very impressed at your restraint!

Juicy exciting times for you. Travel safely, hope you don't have to swim in Prague and loads and loads of luck. Great that you're starting to believe - don't stop!

Vallina I'm so sorry. That is very poor and inexcusable. Make sure they treat you like a princess for your next cycle! And they don't charge you for this one!

Lucky thanks for that info re scans and risks - didn't know that. How's your donor matching going?

Ginger it's okay to be going a bid crazy on your 2ww. That's all part of it! Got everything but everything crossed for you whenever you test! Thanks for asking, all is good and the heat hasn't bothered me much other than my feet have swollen beyond belief - even my loosest shoes are too tight! I shall be spending much time this weekend with legs elevated and will get DP to dig out my flip flops. You've all got this to come!

Hello to Motorcyclemama and anyone else I've missed.

Don't stop believing.

x

Aw, Vall, how utterly dispiriting. I'm so sorry for this set-back, but it's a blip which was maybe supposed to happen. You'll get there

Thanks, Pocket, yes we fly tomorrow at 4pm. I administered my first Cetrotide injection this morning: bloody loved it! I felt Very Important And Scientific.

Ginger, I hereby declare that you must test on Sunday

Adios, lovely ladies...

HELP ME TO BELIEVE!!

juicy believe believe safe travels and wishing you all the luck in the world!!

ginger I tested for three days before my bliss test. BUT only do this if you can genuinely keep an open mind that a negative night not be a negative and that the levels may not be registering at that point! This is the first time I had ever tested early as if got to the point where I wanted to know if it ever was positive and then failed! Sadly the negative tests remained the truth. So only make the right decision for you both :-)

pocket hope you have those flip flops on and your ankles are reducing in size never a good look is it swollen ankles!!! Haha, but all absolutely worth it!

Just back from a matinee to see the body guard at the theatre. If anyone needs some girley fun, I would highly recommend it followed by a jug of Pims (for those that can if course!!)

Waves to all xx