Toot, Toot. Calling all dirty chicks! Jump aboard the charabanc with Barry & The Berries. Destination BFP" (thread 26)

[happylass]

The smallprint –
Berries have a strict entrance criteria (TTC #1, over 30, TTC for 12+ months, NO instadiffers, must have a special pot and definitely no mention of baby dust or baby dancing).
Those not abiding by the rules may be escorted from the premises.

Current passengers:

Happylass, 37, TTC since Aug 2012. 2 failed ICSIs. Time to defrost the spare.
Beaky 35, ttc coming up 3 yrs, 2x failed iui 1x long protocol ivf cancelled due to poor response. Awaiting follow up with FC and possibly short protocol IVF next.
Minx, 34, both tubes blocked, 1 buried ovary, appointment with consultant early March.
Nolly, 33, TTC 2.5 years, BFP Christmas Eve, MC New Years Eve. Awaiting "spontaneous conception" before IVF starts, August 2015.
Wild 40 - TTC for three years. IVF double-stimms freeze all embryos cycle started in February - due to complete May/June.
HampshireBlues 36 TTC 3.5 years, unexplained. Cycle 1 chemical pregnancy, cycle 2 abandoned due to cyst, cycle 3 failed. Plan thrombotic profile, scratch and short protocol.
Lumen, 35, ttc since Nov 2011, unexplained, two IVF cycles in 2014, both bfns, waiting for lap&dye and results of numerous bloods, aiming for one last IVF cycle in the summer.
Tigerdog, 34 ttc since Jan 2013. Unexplained. Starting ivf in March.
Gillster, 40, TTC since Feb 2012. Had IVF in Feb 14 and had 6 one cell embies frozen due to polyp. Cancelled FET cycles in Sept 14 and Dec 14 due to more polyps. Awaiting hysteroscopy before commencing natural cycle FET. Hoping to be at least PUPO on the 4th attempt!
Smidge, 38, TTC since Jan 2013. Unexplained. IVF#1 Short protocol July 2014 yielded 1 blasto, BFN. IVF#2 in process - Long Protocol Oct/Nov 2014
Kuma - 40. TTC 2 years. Low AMH high FSH - DH antisperm ABs. Failed IVF June 14 and two cancelled IVFs Nov and Dec 14 due to poor blood results. Hoping for another try at natural cycle IVF end of Jan.
Jelliebabe - 40, Threw the pills away 8 years ago. Unexplained but have a very low AMH, 1st IVF with clinic in Prague, 2 embryo's, chemical pregnancy. 2nd IVF in London branch of clinic - 1 embryo, BFN. BFP Feb '15

Well done on the egg collection Lucie, 7 is a perfectly decent number. Sending good fertilisation vibes in your direction. Make sure you take it easy for the rest of the day.

Not long for you Wild, come on follies!

Pregnancy announcements are the worst HB (apart from within Berry HQ of course), they always knock me for 6. I find them harder than actual babies.

I've had a fairly easy few days Spare as took Friday off work too. Back at work tomorrow but it's office based so not too physical. Just hope I can get home at a sensible time! I plan on doing lots of walking but no gym or boot camp or cycling. Also no booze and coffee although I only ever drank about 3 coffees a week. Running a bar sounds like hard work!

Haha, my bar work days are long gone! The idea of dealing with drunk people at 1am brings me out in cold sweats..!
Going running is a sore subject with DH. Even the doc said a gentle jog is absolutely fine, but DH doesn't like the idea of it during the 2ww (I think he has visions of the embie being dislodged and falling out?!) so I'm going to abstain until test day and see how I feel after that.
I've just got one of those wrist band health tracker things, and have got a bit obsessed about getting my 10,000 steps a day so will have to go out power walking with the dog later

Thanks spare and Gill. Feeling quite pleased and so glad I proved that sonographer wrong and didn't go ahead and cancel! We have to ring the clinic between 1-2pm tomorrow for an update. They were going to give me utrogestan for the progesterone but I asked to swap to crinone instead as heard fairly good things about it and it's only once a day.

Is that an injectable Lucie?
I'm on horrible cyclogest twice a day. Its making my inner thighs all greasy and sore! I hate it sooo much!

Aww I know none of them are meant to be great. Not looking forward to it but needs must. Crinone is a gel which you apply internally once a day. Think it gets a bit gunky but meant to be quite good. Start the first one tonight.

Congratulations on being PUPO spare. business as usual sounds sensible. Lots of nice walking is a good plan. Cyclogest (or Cyclone storm according to the autocorrect!) sounds horrid. Have you tried the, ahem, backdoor?! It doesn't take much to upset my natural balance down there (tmi sorry) so I'm dreading using them! Anyone got any good tips?

hb pregnancy announcements like that are so hard, like gill says they're harder than the actual babies. I'm still adjusting to my brother announcing, although I'm chuffed for them and I'm privileged to be the only one in the family he's told so far, so I feel big sisterly even if it feels unfair that it isn't us.

lucie great news! 7 is a good number and you should definitely be pleased. Fingers crossed for a good fertilization rate!

How is everyone else? I've got back in bed after doing some jobs this morning. Have needed a nap every day since starting stims.

tiger
You've inspired me. I'm taking the dog to the park and stopping in the lovely Italian cafe that does amazing cakes!
The leaflet says back door only if you have frontdoor bleeding so don't know if that makes them less effective? If I get a bfp, I might ask to try something else to get me to 12 weeks. That is a big if though at the moment!

Just back from a cycling weekend in the Yorkshire Dales. Just short of 100km covered in beautiful countryside including some classic hills. Felt like myself again for the first time in ages. Just got home and totally exhausted so apologies if I miss anyone, I'm on my phone app and too tired to take notes!

Lucie great news on the eggs , I'm of the ease of your egg collection, I have vivid memories of mine, just pain killers and mild sedation for me!!

spare I've had the cyclogest three times and I've always gone for the back option. Zero mess. I was told it was personal choice, both methods were equally efficient.

hb sorry about the pg announcement, they hit so hard, don't they?

I was cycling with an older lady yesterday and in a round about way we got onto the subject of fertility treatment. She'd tried clomid as well, but said it just made her fat. She also had 7 mc's. But she got her happy ending eventually and now has two sons .

Make way for iron woman barking with legs of steel! In awe of your efforts!
And thanks for the tip. I'll try the bum bullet way tonight. Did you get any ahem, seepage?
tiger I'll report back on them! Ive also bought a bumper pack of pantyliners to see if they help reduce the thigh greasing…

lucie How are you feeing after collection? Not too sore I hope

I'm using panty liners Spare and they seem to be helping as haven't felt too "messy" yet

Glad you had a good weekend Barking, a good blast on the bike is good therapy. Not sure how anyone could deal with 7 MCs. Had they give her anything for her successful pregnancies?

Lucie great news - 7 sounds really good to me, I maxed out at 2

Spare I used cyclogest and used the backdoor - zero mess, no noticeable seepage grim thought. I actually have a massive stash of Cyclogest as I got a BFN from first IVF so didn't finish the round I had then, then second IVF I never even got around to using them as the egg didn't fertilise. I suppose it will save me some cash on cycle 3 - if I get to that stage. I also have a load of dalteprin injections, which I'll also use if I ever get the chance. I suppose it's good to have picked these things up at NHS rate rather than private!

Barking your cycle sounds awesome. I've spent my weekend studying for a course I'm on next week, and at the 2nd b'day party, looking forward to having a more fun weekend next week.

Wild Good luck with the trigger tonight and enjoy your jab free day tomorrow. I liked that article too, although The ambience at the unit is more boutique hotel than medical clinic, the walls dotted with bright artworks that turn out to be photographs of dividing embryos - although that doesn't quite describe the lower ground floor at UCLH....

HB damn those pg announcements, it never ever seems fair.

A big wave to the other Berries and pompoms for the PUPOs!

Barking your cycling trip sounds great! I haven't been to the Yorkshire sales but would love to go sometime. I can highly recommend getting knocked out for EC really brilliant experience!

I was a bit sore afterwards and so the nurse hooked my drip up to some painkillers. I'm still very tender this evening and have had a stitch sort of pain on one side but hopefully it will settle down a bit overnight.

Thanks kuma, hope I get a decent number fertilised now and then can relax a bit for a couple of days.

Lucie I'm so glad that sonographer was proved wrong and you ended up with seven. Keeping fingers crossed for you for good fertilisation. I'm assuming the clinic in Prague will use the dimmed lights + Barry music method? Or perhaps they use a Czezh crooner.

Barking it's so good to hear that you are feeling more yourself. Hurrah for the Yorkshire Dales. I'm from the other (correct) side of the Pennines, but if the Dales have made you feel better then I'm all for them.

Kuma that waiting room has nothing of the boutique about it! Have you seen the old photos of patients having dental treatment? There's one which shows a whole ward full of people in dental chairs having teeth extracted, grim. The FC is moving later this year to a bespoke clinic on Great Portland Street.

Aw, sweet that you are having little naps Tiger. It's a brilliant idea to take it easy, you are asking your body to do something completely out of the ordinary and produce a dozen or so eggs. It makes sense that your body needs rest and fuel to complete the job.

I did the trigger at eight this evening. We had visitors today and they ordered a cab home for 8.15 - which seemed like it would be very awkward timing. In the event it was fine as I just laid all the trigger stuff out ready upstairs and then quickly went to jab it in at eight o'clock. Phew! EC will be at nine on Tuesday.

Goooo wild

spare never had any seepage at all, no need for pantyliners. Really is the easy option. Makes sense, your bum muscles (technical term 'cos I was unsure of the spelling of the proper word) keep it all securely in.

kuma good work on the party, karma dictates next wkd will be excellent .

gill she said she had injections, we're going back 20 odd years now but I think similar to what I'll be getting (if I ever manage another bfp) ie anti blood clotting.

wild good luck for the next haul!

I'm in bed planning my cycling for this week and next weekend . Feeling alive!! . Stuff ttc, I'm getting fit again .

Wise berries, do I need to take menopur at the same time every day on long protocol, or can it be give or take a couple of hours? I have to leave early tomorrow and I'd rather just do the injections but it'll be about 2 hours earlier than normal.

Excellent news on trigger wild its all go go go!

Glad you had a lovely weekend barking. Good to hear of happy endings for others who have been through this shite. Do you have your appointment tomorrow? Hope it goes well if so.

Ha kuma I laughed when I read the bit about the unit being like a boutique hotel. My NHS fc is not at all like that. The stats at the end were pretty good in terms of the numbers of people getting pg!

Tiger I was told I could take my stim drugs anytime between 7 - 10pm each night, so there was a three hour window to play with. I was on Merional and Fostimon rather than Menepur but I can't see it would be any different. I say take them early if it makes life easier. Hope that helps.

Tiger just to quickly say that I was also told that Menopur should be taken at roughly the same time when possible but that a couple of hours early won't do any harm.
Hi to everyone else. Will catch up tomorrow. Bed is calling!

Thanks guys. With the burserelin they told me a 4 hour window but didn't say anything about menopur and I forgot to ask. I decided to wait until I arrive to do it, so I'll just shoot up in the office. Am just coming down off the ceiling after my taxi decided not to turn up to take me to the station. I thought I was looking at having to spend £80 on a new ticket but luckily Mr T jumped out of bed and dropped me off. My hero

Good luck Barking with the meeting today. Hope you get some answers and approval for the tests you want. Remember write everything down but I'm sure you're all over that! Kick ass!

Wild good luck for your egg collection tomorrow I hope you get a good haul!

Barking hope your meeting goes ok today and you get some answers.

Tiger I was told that I needed to do my Menopur at the same time every evening.

Gill hope your 2ww is going well.

I have to ring in 2 hours to find out how many of my 7 eggs fertilised. Feeling really nervous again. It doesn't get easier at any stage of the game does it. Really don't want it to be less than 5.

The waiting is agonising Lucie. Hope you get good news

Thank you wild, another girl who had EC the day before me at the same clinic got 7 collected and just found out that all 7 fertilised! How amazing is that. I would literally be doing cartwheels around the room ha ha. I have a lot to live up to and for some reason am thinking about 4 x

Fingers crossed lucie
We were told around 75% is good... Hope you get your 5

barking Good luck for today

wild How are you feeling today? Not too uncomfortable, I hope? 24 hours to go!

Gill How are you feeling today?

Just dropping in to update on my appointment, will reply properly when I get home!

When looking at the IVF, the consultant said that the scan showed only a couple of potential follicles at the start which was why I was given the maximum dose for stimulation. It also took me longer than expected to get them to the right size, but he was pleased with 8 eggs and said a fertilisation of 7 was excellent. Everything was perfect but sometimes it just doesn't work.

He got an embryologist in to speak to me about the quality of the embryos. She talked me through the three numbers they grade them with, I think one was size, one was the baby bit and the other was the supporting cells bit that forms the placenta but I could have got that muddled. It was all very detailed but basically the two we have frozen are ok but not excellent. If I remember correctly (I should have written it down but didn't) They were 4/5 out of 5, 3 out of 6 and 2 out of 3 on the three grading systems. So it might be that we want to put both in on the frozen cycle. The embryologist explained that freezing them involves dehydrating them, and when they thaw they have to hydrate them again. If the embryo takes on too much water it can burst, if it doesn't take on enough it doesn't thaw properly. 1 in 5 embryos don't survive the thaw. I'm not sure whether putting two in gives us the same chance as putting in one, and then putting in one again another time, as it would be a different month and a different womb lining etc, rather than chancing them both on the same womb lining? I didn't think of this until afterwards but we don't need to make a decision now, we'll see him again before then.  Â

He agrees that with my history of mc as well as failed iui/ivf there is reason to look at the nk cells and have the scratch, they can do both atthe private hospital he also works at but we'd have to pay - I need to call his secretary up there to ask about prices and book in.

When they do the biopsy it has to be a month when we use contraception so I'm definitely not pregnant. They will take a bit of the womb lining and test it for nk cells, and also look at progesterone levels and whether it's doing what it's supposed to (something I've always been concerned about with my short lp). Â

If they find nk cells then they still won't prescribe the steroids unless they can prove they will work for me, so they'd give me steroids for a month and then do another biopsy and see if the nk cells had decreased. So if they find nk cells, that's going to put us back a few months.

He was very lovely as usual and asked where dh was. I explained at the beginning. Then at the end of the appointment he said he would be happy to write a letter to his school explaining why these appointments were necessary and why he needed to be there. He also said that we could request a telephone appointment with him if there was anything we wanted to ask.

Just need to find time to call the private hospital now, all a bit hectic today.