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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Anyone due to start ICSI/IVF soon?

45 replies

iamnotaspindoctor · 01/07/2015 13:41

I have to phone on the cd1 (approx 2 weeks time) to start down regging on cd21 (approx 5 weeks time)...anyone else in the same or similar boat and want to cycle together? First time for me so all support/tips welcome!

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Original poster
iamnotaspindoctor · 01/07/2015 21:08

Bump... for the evening crowd

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Original poster
iamnotaspindoctor · 02/07/2015 21:43

Really? No one?

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Elbbob · 02/07/2015 22:52

Me!
I am due to make the call in about 2 weeks. It's our first time too so no tips to offer, but would be great to have someone to talk to who is on the same track. I am pretty anxious about the whole thing, and haven't told anyone I know, so feeling a bit isolated.
How are you feeling about it all?

Original poster
iamnotaspindoctor · 02/07/2015 23:03

I'm also pretty anxious to be honest. Quite a few people know for us-family, close friends/colleagues...it would be difficult to manage otherwise as my job and social life is usually pretty full on. I'm terrified of how I'll feel if it fails Sad

What protocol are you doing? Do you know what your issue is? How is your OH (of you've got one) feeling? Are you planning on doing anything differently while cycling?

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Elbbob · 02/07/2015 23:33

I just feel unable to talk to anyone. Never told anyone we were even trying, I just don't want anyones pity or questions or useless advice. OH is fine but he is just matter of fact about it. I don't know what to do about work, I think it is one of the things that is stressing me out! I certainly don't want to tell them, but I work in the hospital so that is awkward.

What do you mean by protocol? I am going to have Suprecur then FSH. What about you? In terms of doing anything differently - I want to eat really healthily, but high calorie. Which is almost a contradiction! What is your action plan?

I am stupidly hoping CD1 doesn't come and I am in fact pg. But since that's never happened in 5 years of trying, that ain't gonna happen...

Original poster
iamnotaspindoctor · 04/07/2015 10:47

I know the feeling about secretly hoping cd1 doesn't come...but feel similarly unhopeful!

I've actually found it quite helpful to speak to people about it. People have been pretty universally supportive/sympathetic/tried their best to understand. One of my two best friends though has been useless. She's always been quite self absorbed and sine I told her what we were going through 9 months ago I don't think she's asked me about it once/expressed any interest/support at all. Its quite disappointing really, but not surprising- she's always been a 'good time' friend. My other best friend has been amazing generally which is nice. I guess it might be difficult if it doesn't work with people knowing but still, I think I'd tell them anyway, for me I need to talk things through, just hoping I don't regret it when we get to T-day!

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Elbbob · 11/07/2015 21:19

Well cd1 has arrived. Trying to see that as a positive thing! At least I can get this process started now. And I have spoken to a friend about it all. She was very supportive so I'm glad I did. And I am trying to increase my protein intake - really hope i can maintain it!
How are you doing?

Original poster
iamnotaspindoctor · 13/07/2015 13:17

Oh that's exciting! Do you have a date now for you injection teach appointment? Is it day 21 exactly? I am having some pink tinged discharge (sorry tmi) so suspect cd1 will be tomorrow....I've never been so excited for AF to arrive!

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Elbbob · 13/07/2015 22:13

They have already taught me how to inject the first meds, now I just have to wait for them to be delivered. And am counting down to day 21... I keep checking my period tracker to check no of days to go - unsurprisingly the numbers are going down one slooow day at a time! Hope your AF arrives tomorrow!

Original poster
iamnotaspindoctor · 14/07/2015 12:48

Oh wow, that's exciting! Is the injection procedure complicated? CD1 arrived today (sort of...I get two light days followed by a couple of heavy, they weren't really clear if my 'light' days counted, so I've plumped for the second 'light' day as CD1...bit worried about that but not sure what else to do), my injection teach is on day 21, I have to go to hospital, pick up the script, go to the onsite pharmacy, get the drugs, back to fertility centre and then I do my first injection there and then Shock is it weird that I'm excited??

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Elbbob · 15/07/2015 19:19

I am starting to get more excited now too! Have you decided if cd1 is here?
I completely understand what you mean about trying to decide which day is cd1, it can be hard to tell the difference between spotting and light flow. I asked the nurse in the clinic about this and she looked a bit nonplussed Confused...
Injections aren't complicated, I got to practise on a foam cushion over my tummy!
I had my second acupuncture today, I quite enjoyed it - not sure if it is doing anything though...

Newby32 · 15/07/2015 20:12

Hello ladies... I just read your feed and I'm in the same boat as you both! Just started taking the pill for three weeks, then I'm on short protocol.. I'm counting down the days it's so hard!
I haven't told many people.. Find it hard to say the words despite being asked when we want babies by everyone!
Been trying for over three years, had ovarian drilling (which didn't work) now having my first round of IVF. I have PCOS and app high risk of OHSS.. I'm sorry but I don't know many of the abbreviations.. Where do I get a list?!
Would love to know more about your stories and how your feeling?
Best of luck :) xx

Original poster
iamnotaspindoctor · 15/07/2015 20:34

elbob if you feel acupuncture is helping keep going. I am v cynical about it myself, but my consultant basically said that doing or not doing stuff which you think affects your chances is the best thing to do. For me, I asked about exercise (I'm into pretty hardcore hillrunning) and stress (work in investment banking-dont shoot me!) as I was concerned about both- her view was that neither if these has affected my fertility so far so if want to carry on, then carry on, but if I'd blame myself if it doesn't work, then take time out. Not sure what I am going to do yet, maybe a middle road....

Newbie- hi! Welcome to Mumsnet, sorry you're here for such a shit reason! I think there's a list of acronyms on the full website but you can always ask us! CD1 is cycle day one (first day of your period), ICSI is basically IVF+ where there do an extra procedure to select specific 'good' sperm and inject them direct into the egg (rather than just sticking it all together in a Petri dish) and its used to treat couples with MFI-thats male factor infertility ie a problem with the man. How does short protocol work? Do you go straight from pill to stims? I'm on long protocol which means down regging (injections to shut down your natural cycle) from cd21, then stimming.

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Original poster
iamnotaspindoctor · 15/07/2015 20:36

Oh and AF= aunt flo (period), TMI =too much information, DH/DP = dear husband/dear partner...

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Newby32 · 15/07/2015 21:11

Thank you! Your right, it is a shit reason! Thanks for your help, il hunt down the full list but I'm sure il pick it up!
Basically yes - I start the injections for swimming then I have an injection to down-reg straight away, rather than over a period of time it shuts my system down immediately. App it's safer for people who have OHSS.. So what cycle day are you? I have no periods at all so started taking the pill as of yesterday!

Original poster
iamnotaspindoctor · 15/07/2015 21:18

I'm on cd2 today. Start my injections for down regging on cd21, which is 3rd August. I'm actually pretty excited about it, which is sort of ridiculous but at least there is a maybe 40% chance that I'll be pregnant after this, whereas we know there is pretty much zero chance on any other cycle!

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Newby32 · 15/07/2015 21:38

Such a good way to look at it.. I just bought a book called 'Get A Life' - it's a couples story of IVF and it explains so much, I highly recommend!

Elbbob · 15/07/2015 23:07

Hello Newby32 welcome! I really like having contact with others on this journey. It's fascinating that everyone is doing it in a slightly different way - I've not heard of ovarian drilling. Thanks for the book rec as well, will have a look on Amazon.

Iamnot I like your positive outlook. I need to work on that! Your life does sound pretty intense re: your job and running but I think you need to do what is important to you. For me it is important that work is a total distraction, and I enjoy being able to focus on it. I am also sceptical about acupuncture and my acupuncturist is not a fertility specialist. But I want to try and relax more and I am hoping it will at least help with that. It is cheap at £20 a session... and it's helping me get used to needles!

funkky · 16/07/2015 17:12

Hi , I start my injections tomorrow and just realised I haven't done any research!

I finished using the pill for 35 days last week and after a 7 day break, I start injecting tomorrow. I was meant to have a period though but nothing so far.

So many acronyms I am not sure what is what but mine is PGID, basically hubby and I carry some blood thing which we shouldn't risk passing to a child so its IVF plus select the right embryo before implanting.

What stage are you all at? Any tips re: diet, exercise, medicines?

Elbbob · 16/07/2015 18:03

Hi funkky good luck - I am waiting to start injecting in about 2 weeks. In terms of tips I have been told to take CQ10 to improve the quality of my eggs, (not by the fertility clinic, but they said I could take it 'if i wanted to'), eat avocadoes, eggs, lots of protein, but most importantly eat healthily, don't drink or smoke. There is an absolute mountain of 'advice' out there and trying to find anything that is properly evidenced is hard.

Let us know how you get on.

Original poster
iamnotaspindoctor · 16/07/2015 20:23

Hi funky, welcome to the thread! You'll have to update us tomorrow re injection success!

elbob what does cq10 do? Who recommended it to you?

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Elbbob · 16/07/2015 22:35

Iamnot I read it in a fertility book (not sure which) and there is a lot about it online. When I mentioned supplements to my consultant she mentioned CQ10 and said I could take it if I wanted to. Not really a glowing endorsement.
It's meant to help improve egg quality although I am not sure how. There doesn't seem to be any convincing evidence for it but it is not harmful to take. I also take fish oil supplements and Pregnacare.

Original poster
iamnotaspindoctor · 17/07/2015 09:10

That's interesting bob, I'm just taking a conception supplement that contains folic acid. I am finding it all a bit confusing....there doesn't actually seem to be any hard evidence for anything Sad I also don't want to get to obsessed- i have a bit of an obsessive nature- when I do things I throw myself into them, and I've never not succeeded (sorry of that sounds arrogant) so I am really worried about doing that with ivf, and it failing, and beating myself up about it, so I am taking more of a 'what will be, will be approach'. Not sure if this is the right thing to do or not though.

Funky- how did the injection go?

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Original poster
iamnotaspindoctor · 20/07/2015 21:41

How is everyone doing? Time is draaaaging at the moment, I just want to start!!! I'm trying to eat healthily and dh and I are having a last minute weekend away this weekend to spend time together before the madness begins Grin

Have had some bloody stupid advice over the past couple of days-one friend told me I must jump too much, and Mil told me I must think positive otherwise it won't work... they mean well, but the language they use is just a bit 'blamey' if you know what I mean... like they're already looking for reasons it might not work.... and really the most likely thing that will stop it working is dhs shite sperm...

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Newby32 · 21/07/2015 13:03

Hi! Time is going soooo slowly for me! And I'm not even properly started yet! Just taking the pill to bring on a bleed then the injections start...
I haven't told anyone really which is the only good thing re people asking me about it. I just don't stop talking to my DP about it!

What is it your waiting for again iamnot? Sorry to ask, feel like I've read so many forums I lose track! :)

How is everyone else doing? X