Anyone else want to join me in getting ready for ivf in 2013? Good egg buddies wanted!!!

[Karbea]

Hello,

Dh and I have been trying for over 2 years and had one failed ivf (Icsi) attempt at the Argc last spring. We are going to go again in the new year.

I wondered if anyone else was planning to do the same? And whether anyone fancied joining me in 'princessing' (stolen from style & beauty :) ) for ivf?

I'm not sure what this means in terms of what I'll do, really hoping for some help in researching how to get the best eggs ever, and perhaps how to improve dh's little swimmers....

Anyone up for being a good egg buddy?

[EuroShagmore]

Sharon when I started my cycle last summer, I told work I had some drs appointments coming up, and that was it. I didn't get as far as EC, but I planned to work from home for a couple of days afterwards. For me it was important to keep things as normal as possible, without overdoing it.

SE3 I'm also at Create (and live in SE4, so we might be near neighbours if your name is representative of where you are based!)

[SweetieTime]

Now all the festivities are over and done with it is back to reality. I have my scan tomorrow to check my womb lining is ok to proceed after taking the mock cycle hormones. I am hoping if all is ok we will get a better idea of dates when things will start. Exciting times.

Anyone else got appointments coming up?

[Northey]

sharon, I might have had to accidentally drop a turkey on your SIL's head. Or pop a champagne cork right into her hammy backside. But I am mean.

My period turned up over Christmas, so yesterday I managed to shoehorn in my cd2-5 blood tests, which we needed recent versions of before the consent appointment this Wednesday. I was really worried I wouldn't menstruate beforehand (cycles have been utterly unpredictable since last ectopic), so even though I'm not pregnant at least I have got my tests done in time for the appointment.

[Northey]

sweetie, my consent thing is next Wednesday.

[SweetieTime]

Northey good luck, did they send you the paperwork to look through in advance? Good news AF turned up when you needed her to, usually it is the other way around isn't it.

[Northey]

Yes, they handed it to me after the initial appointment+info evening thing - a massive folder full. We are actually planning to read through it tonight and find out what Wednesday's appointment actually involves.

Good luck with scan tomorrow.

[fairypangolin]

sharon - I am planning to be out of the office for 7-10 days around the egg collection time but that is because I don't know how it will affect me as it is my first time. It is also pretty easy for me to work from home so I can keep on top of things even if I don't feel up to coming in. I wouldn't want to take a lot more time off than that not just because my boss would be v unimpressed but because I would just obsess about the IVF the whole time.

Does your SIL know you are considering fertility treatment? If so it seems extraordinarily insensitive of her. I don't blame you for being annoyed.

You all may know this already but I checked prescription prices at Asda and they were significantly cheaper than my clinic - £700 for my prescription against £1100 at the clinic so definitely worth going there. Apparently they supply at cost price.

I had a 'drug teach' today and start injecting some time towards the end of next week depending on when AF shows up.

sweetie good luck with the scan.

[delilahbelle]

sharon I must admit I always worked through most of it, but did take 5 days off around EC and ET. This time I am going to get my GP to sign me off for the whole 2ww - I want to know we have done everything possible to make it work. My boss and his boss are all vaguely aware of what is going on - big boss only has one child himself from IVF so is very sympathetic. Really though, do what is right for you.

sweetie I hope your scan goes OK today.

I'm having a lazy ish day today. Have a friend over for food later, but that's it. It's a beautiful day here so I might head outside for a walk at some point too.

[keepitgoing]

Good luck northey and sweetie!

Went to my first acupuncture session today. He normally does this ivf work up, 8-12 sessions, but when I said I'm already doing iui he wouldn't do anything in the tww. So I'm thinking I mightn't bother. Has anyone any experience?

Have been told we can't do stimulated iui the month before ivf. So stimulated iui next week, ivf appt early Feb, natural iui mid Feb, if end of Feb!!

[keepitgoing]

Sharon your sil sounds like a prat. How exciting you're starting soon too!

[Northey]

Lovely day here too. A mere half cup of coffee this morning, and a long walk planned for this afternoon. And lots of water.

No experience of acupuncture, keepitgoing, but I think euro has, if she's around.

[vallinnapod]

Hi Ladies!

Not strictly IVF but I am about to start a FET cycle, well, today fingers crossed. Have a baseline scan this arvo and then hopefully start popping Progynova.

History-wise. Came off pill, no period. Scan showed PCOs - but normal hormone levels etc. So confusing. No ovulation naturally, with Clomid or with Letrozole. Went straight for IVF and ended up with my gorgeous DS. Maybe he is too wonderful as I am desperate for number 2

We have two vitrified blasts which we have our fingers crossed defrost and stick around.

My bestie announced she was PG on NYE so really hoping I can join her. Surprisingly (and I know you all know what I mean!) I was absolutely ecstatic for her. More happy than when I found out I was PG (angst ridden pregnancy for me!)

Any way - hiya!

[EuroShagmore]

Norfy my consent appointment is next week too.

As I've already done all this once at King's, I'm hoping we can whizz through it.

[EuroShagmore]

And yes, keep I have had acu (quite a lot of it by now!), so feel free to ask me anything about it.

I had it through my IUI cycles last year. Neither of the two acupuncturists I have seen have had any problem doing treatments in the 2ww (although they do modify what they do according to where I am in my cycle).

[vallinnapod]

Just my experiences of work and acupuncture.

Work-wise. I was very lucky. My clinic is 5 mins walk from work so it was easy for me to nip out for the multitude of blood tests and scans (I ended up stimming for over 3 weeks...!) Because to the unpredictable nature of EC and ET I did actually tell my boss when I knew what day EC would be and that ET would be roughly xx days afterwards. My 2WW was over Christmas so I worked from home/had the BHs off. I actually started running again (already did a lot and gymming before) a couple of days in as very bloated from EC. Helped keep me sane

I am a big fan of acupuncture. I started about a month before my IVF cycle and carried on weekly until my first trimester and then fortnightly until birth. I credit it with a symptom free PG.

This time I started in September knowing I would by transferring around January. Odd about the 2WW comment. I will have it the morning of ET and then after the transfer and will continue with it weekly.

[Sharonbenn]

Thanks everyone for work tips. Like Fairy I think I will take time off as it is my 1st time.

Delilah I was also thinking of asking GP to sign me off but wasn't sure if that was possible. Has your GP said she will do that for you? That's really encouraging.

Northey/Sweetie I hope your appts and scan went well. I didn't consider all the paperwork. BF will freak out. He is already so nervous about this.

Fairy thanks for the prescription tip. I asked Guys at the fertility show about going elsewhere for drugs and they assured me that they are the cheapest as they get them at cost. Now im not so sure Which clinic are you with? Good luck with injecting. I'm dreading that bit. I'm so squeamish about needles. Oh well needs must.

keepitgoing I've had weekly acupuncture since May. My therapist is great. She had DS with DE 2 years ago and specialises in fertility. I find it so relaxing.

Vallinapod you are an inspiration. I've had 5 pregnancies announced in 20 months (2 from SIL from hell who knows we are starting IVF) and Im ashamed to say I was nowhere near as gracious as you. I am going to try to be more positive.

Northey are you 'princessing' your eggs? What are you doing?

Have a lovely weekend all. Thank goodness for Friday nights :-)

Xx

[Sharonbenn]

Northey sorry just realised it was Karbea who started this thread about 'princessing'!

[delilahbelle]

sharon My GP has been lovely - put loads of my blood tests through on the NHS, has said he will do the same for the drugs if I get pregnant (My clinic only provide them up to date, after that you have to buy them yourself) and has said he will help me with whatever I need. Very very grateful :)

Has anyone got any specif tips for good lining quality? I assume its all the normal things like vitamins, exercise and lots of water, but anything else that might be useful would be good. I'm afraid I'm very much an acupuncturist skeptic, although I do have some relaxation CDs I plan to use when I start the next phase of treatment.

[delilahbelle]

loads of autocorrect errors there, sorry people :)

[vallinnapod]

Sharon I think it is only because she is my BFF :), that and the fact I am excited about getting going again on our journey, and the prospect of being on mat leave together.

Delilah - I have lining 'issues'. My IVF was done when my lining was 7.5cm so they are accepting that I just have thinner lining and if I get that far they won't push me to 8+. That said, I am an acupuncturist believer...so we are going to be working on that. Plus lots of protein in my diet.

[vallinnapod]

CM?! Clearly I mean MM...or have a jumbo uterus

[SweetieTime]

Sharon for my ivf cycle last year my GP signed me off for 6 weeks from the first stim injection right through past outcome. I would not have this long off again it did my head in the waiting & mentalling. I think I would say from EC through to a couple of days past ET. My GP has been lovely too, really supportive and put my hormone drugs needed for DE mock cycle rather than going through clinic with their additional costs.

delilah I used relaxation CDs too, there were different tracks for the different stages. I did find them very useful and tried to do it every day.

My womb scan went well, lining 13. something so they were really pleased. This was after 12 days on the hormones, I have to continue until Monday when they will investigate the donors cycle to try time things to line up. Am excited now, feels like it is getting close now. Exciting times.

[Isabeller]

We have our next clinic appointment on Monday and fortunately I've been too busy on full time care duty for last 9 days (but home now, phew!) to obsess before. We will have the treatment plan explained which will be a big help as I've got rather a hazy idea of the medication side.

It sounds like I might be about 3 weeks behind you Sweetie and I need to look into your advice about prescription costs fairy.

I'm feeling very muddled headed but that's mostly due to deep tiredness and sneezing

[Northey]

Gosh so lots of us this week then. Good luck with yours isabeller.

I have been told I'll do short protocol - anyone else on that?

I am a bit torn between feeling positive and preparing myself for the worst.

[fairypangolin]

northey I am on the short protocol as well, so I go directly into the stim phase with no down regulation. My doctor prescribed this because I have a very high AMH for my age (39.79 pmol, 39 yrs old) and there is a risk of OHSS. Paradoxically though because I am older its also advisable because I don't need to be shut down as things are already slowing down!

I am grateful for the short protocol because much less time to wait and I have read the side effects are less.

I know what you mean about feeling a bit torn, I think because it is now so close I am having major second thoughts about going through with it. I took my DS on a special trip to London yesterday and kept thinking maybe I should just count my blessings and let it go.