Strapping on our lady balls and going menkul because we HATE THIS SHIT!! The Berries: a lovely bunch of 30 something Ladybros TTC #1

[happylass]

The small print:

The Berries have strict entrance criteria: TTC #1 for 12 months+, over 30, NO instadiffers, must have a special pimping pot and absolutely no mention of baby dust/dancing. Not that we're fussy!

Current Ladybros:

Minx 35 - TTC 2.5 years. Stage 4 endometriosis, both tubes blocked, 1 buried ovary, IVF #1 started Aug '15 at Mustache Towers, if all goes well results due mid-Sept.

Smidge 39, TTC since Jan '13. Unexplained. Some high NK cell immune treatment. IVF#1 Short protocol Jul'14 BFN; IVF#2 Nov'14 and IVF#3 Feb'15 both Long protocol BFNs; Natural FET Jun'15 - Another BFN. Trying to work out what to do next.

Happylass, 37, TTC since Aug 2012. 2 failed ICSI cycles, 1 failed FET and 1 abandoned cycle due to poor response. Hoping to start antagonist cycle mid September. HATE THIS SHIT!!

Beaky 35, ttc 3 yrs, 2x failed iui 1 long protocol ivf cancelled, 1 short protocol IVF BFN, very low amh etc etc. In 2ww for 2nd sp IVF.

Tigerdog, 35, ttc since Jan 2013. Unexplained. IVF #1 chemical pregnancy. Currently redoing tests in preparation for IVF #2.

barkingtreefrog 36, ttc since Dec 2011. clomid bfp summer 2013 then mc @7 weeks, iui bfp summer 2014 then mc @6 weeks. Factor V leiden thrombophilia diagnosed at the repeat mc clinic. IUI bfn Jan 2015, IVF bfn April/May 2015. FET bfn August 2015, remaining frozen embryo perished. Pursuing private tests and then long protocol ivf in Oct/Nov.

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.

Kuma - 40. TTC 2.9 years. Low AMH high FSH - DH antisperm ABs. Failed IVF June 14 and March 15, cancelled cycle June 15. Last try September 15

Lucieloos, 36, TTC 18 months, low AMH & sperm motility. ICSI#1, April 2015, Czech, 2xblasts transferred, BFN. Icsi#2, cancelled before EC. Icsi#3, 2 mature and fertilised, both to blast and frozen. Icsi#4 in October, embryo banking.

Rain, 34, ttc since March 2012. unexplained. Mystery bfp oct 13, MMC Nov 13. IVF#1 Aug 2015

Sesame, 40, ttc with no dp, on this road for 2 years, multiple failed IVFs, 3 ETs, 1 bfp then mc, poor responder with v low AMH, but still looking for the golden egg.

nolly, 33, TTC 3 years, 1 confirmed MC, 2 more suspected. still in limbo

Spare, 34, TTC 3 years, IVF#1 short protocol + ICSI August 14 BFP but pregnancy loss at 20+ weeks, 3 failed FET, IVF #2 short protocol + PICSI August 15

Funkymonk 33. Ttc since October 2012. Mc June 2013, Mmc dec 2013, mc June 2014. Factor v Leiden thrombophilia. Abandoned IVF Jan 2015 due to thin lining. Abandoned FET Aug 2015 due to thin lining. 4 embies on ice. Cycling again November time I think.

Clem, currently on 3rd Clomid Cycle

Pip - quite simply the Best In Show.

Aw bollocks, just wrote a post on phone and lost it.

Will repeat later. Waves to all in the meantime

Sorry I cross posted with your messages last night barking and beaky!

barking that’s brilliant, thank you , I’m sure that the NHS guidance is that partners should abstain from alcohol during IVF, at least to show solidarity to the woman having to go through all the medical crap. Glad you survived the bbq, despite the bumps trying their best to spoil it.

beaky I'm hoping to start in the next 1-2 weeks, I’m waiting for the fc to confirm. I suggest you ask about whether you should have an HSG/X-Ray and laparoscopy to see if they can take a closer look at reasons why good embryos aren’t implanting. And if you’ve done these already, to have the results reviewed. I think RW recommends other tests to try to explain unexplained too. I’m not sure they’ll let you cycle over xmas - I know my fc closes its lab over this period anyway - best to check with the fc.

smidge pgd sounds very cool, I’d love to know if my embryo was a boy or a girl Have you decided to plump for it then?

Great news Sesame, fx for a better response the cycle. I have added hysteroscopy/laparoscopy to my list. I've had an HSG already which was clear. They've actually offered me the cycle over Christmas, with ec scheduled for 1st week of jan, I just can't decide whether it's a good idea or not.

Waves to tiger hope the wedding planning is going well!

ladybros! I'm out of control today - I'm eating my third piece of cake!

How is everyone?

beaky I think the clinic timetables will dictate - if they close over Xmas then it'll likely rule it out. As others have said though, might be a good distraction to be so busy over Christmas. I'd be tempted to get started as soon as possible but I'm finding the waiting a killer at the moment.

smidge excellent explanation. Are you going to do it then? I would have thought they wouldn't reveal the sex, would they?!

sesame I think I need to read some more of the RW information. I'm head in the sand at the moment. I don't want to read anything that will make me feel anymore depressed.

clem BWH is Birmingham Women's Hospital. I had my first cycle there and I would not really recommend it. Well done on getting your coursework done, now for your fertility assignment!

water sounds like classic nhs admin and poor processes. Hope you manage to get everything sorted.

barking hormones are fuckers. Fact. I'm a spotty and miserable cow at the moment, if it's any consolation. Cold has gone pretty much but af has arrived so feeling below par.

AF was a day late - poas and bfn of course. Then it showed up. Called to book my 3Dsis and dummy transfer and the women on the booking line asked me how many weeks I was?! I'm calling the fertility clinic ffs. Awaiting a call back for an appointment next week. I felt so gloomy this morning. I just want to do my next cycle!

Ladybros, crack open the real Champagne - AF is finally in the house! Enjoy the party, I'll be back to catch up later.

Smidge that is fascinating.

sesame I'm hoping to start downregging in 3 weeks. Just the small problem of then going on holiday for a week, with the first scan date bang in the middle. Hoping I can just stab for 13 days not 7... It was all going to work out perfectly, but then AF showed up 6 days early last cycle and now this one .

beaky you're lucky they're open over Christmas. Go for it, September baby . You can pretend to be a smug instadiffer who planned when she wanted to give birth .

tiger we got home hungry last night and ate cake then started cooking dinner. Then after we'd eaten we were gutted as we realised we'd already eaten our pudding .

happy what's going on with AF? Yours has got longer and mine is suddenly 6 days shorter?!

Got the invoice through for our notes so I'm hoping they arrive in time for our appointment next week. Will be chasing to make sure!

I have been mulling over my adenomyosis diagnosis this morning (whilst in the grip of agonising af pains). Although the doc at the FC said it isn't linked to infertility, Dr Google disagrees. I mean, for me it must be linked, as everything else looks on the good side of normal...

beaky you have it too, right? Do you suffer very badly during af, and what are your symptoms?

I have had some success in managing the symptoms this last three months, using ladies mantle and vitex tinctures - which suggests that it is perhaps hormone-linked. I stopped using them this month and I am suffering for it.

There doesn't seem to be much known about it really....

Oo what have you seen to say it contributes to infertility Tiger? I hadn't really found anything that supports that and my clinic plus the Greece one said it wouldn't make a difference. Having said that, I do feel that if there is a problem it can't help but affect everything else?! I do get very bad af pains and every couple of afs I get a very heavy clotty one that autocorrected to flirty then clitty how's the wedding planning? Did you decide on one of those beautiful dresses?

Barking 7 days is not very long to down reg at all, my clinic is a min of 3 weeks so hopefully you'll be ok. Enjoy your holiday anyway!

Minx how are you feeling? Is the scan on Monday?

Smidge when do you start stabbing?

Sesame how's the running going? I'm back to my couch25k app tonight!

We also ate cake last night, I just about managed to keep it to one piece though!

So we had our follow up yesterday. I asked about potential reasons for implantation failure as we had 2 iuis and 2 ivfs fail and no bfps at all while trying naturally and he suggested doing bloods for this which I was pleased about as I wanted to ask for them but wasn't exactly sure what they would do. I've had them taken and find out results in 2 weeks. It covers thyroid, antibodies, the one Barking and Funky has, and some others which I can't really remember. If they are ok, we carry on as normal, if not we incorporate treatment. I asked about embryo glue and its turns out I've had it and it's used as standard (did you know this Minx?) also he wants me to have another scratch before my next cycle. I asked about assisted hatching and he said they didn't use it any more as they hadn't found it helped when they used it in the clinic previously. I then asked about a lap or wombleoscopy(!) and he said there was no point as nothing was flagged up with previous testing etc. I wasn't so sure about this one but will go with it. I asked about our embryos and whether they would keep them on til day 5, and he said its a decision to be made at the time depending on how many, how they are doing etc as they prefer to put them back sooner if there isn't many as they think it gives them the best chance. He said the early bleeding isn't linked to failure or success of IVF and that it very often happens in successful cycles. He doesn't think it's a sign of anything else and they want to keep on with the cyclogest as they've found it to be better than the alternatives.

The next cycle is pencilled in for January, they did have us in over Christmas but dh and I felt it would be too difficult because we always go away to visit family and I'd have to keep drugs in the fridge and couldn't drink etc - which is fine but it causes family gossip as we havent told people about the IVF. So it's only really two weeks later than it would have been which is fine. Overall I feel more hopeful and am getting back on the IVF clean living wagon now. Fx that 3rd time is a charm!

Also for those of you that know the magpie rhyme (one for sorrow, two for joy etc) I've changed it as I kept seeing one on its own. It's now; one for joy, two for joy, three for joy, four for joy. It doesn't rhyme but it's way better for my mental health.

at your new rhyme beaky. Brilliant!

If my cycle sticks to plan I'll start stabbing on Wednesday. But we all know AF doesn't like to show up on schedule

I’m trying not to eat cake My BMI is threatening to creep up beyond ‘overweight’ and into the next size category so I’m trying not to be good, which is really hard, especially as my work is an obstacle course of office treats right now, there was even a random late macmillan coffee morning going on earlier.

beaky at my second ET when I got booked in, I opened the blinds to let some light in and the nurse goes “ooh look, there’s a bird…”, bloody thing didn’t do me any favours that day. There’s nothing quite like hate this shit infertility to bring you back to superstition and religion... So I definitely prefer your rhyme. Sounds like you had a productive follow up appointment. I think starting at the beginning of January sounds a little easier. Well done for going back to c25k! I went out last night and plan to do one more v short run tomorrow before the big 10k race on Saturday!

tiger I like the RW letters as it makes a nice change to read opinion on fertility treatment from someone who knows their stuff rather than fertility friends, even if I don’t always like what he says. Have you made a decision about your wedding venue?

barking I think it’s probably ok to stab for a few extra days when you are DR, I did it for work reasons when I was on LP, also I think women doing a donor cycle, can be maintained on DR in order to sync with their donors.

happy hooray! Have you been booked in for your baseline scan?

smidge, yay for stabbing from Wednesday, I think we might be cycling at the same time

minx I am a bit nervous of starting again, my credit card’s also taken quite a bashing over the last 24h, so I’m also worried about costs if I end up having to cancel again. Good luck for your scan on Monday! Have you got any pregnancy symptoms yet?

Any berries used norethisterone to programme their cycle start? I tried to convince my fc to allow a natural period start, but they won’t do baseline scans at the weekend, which basically means I risk having to cancel if af arrives off schedule. If you programmed your cycle, which cycle days did you take the norethisterone and for how many days? And did you then start stimming on day 2 following your withdrawal bleed, or did you have to wait a fixed number of days?

Sesame I used Northisterone on both my private cycles as they liked to control when I start. I started taking it on cd21 (my normal cycle is 25/26 days). I'm not exactly sure how long I took it for but maybe 5 days the first time and a bit longer (I think 2 weeks as it was over New Year?) the second time. I then started bleeding about 3-4 days after stopping meds and I started stabbing on cd3. I was also due to start taking it tomorrow but to bring on the wayward AF this time - obviously no need now! I'm booked in for baseline tomorrow so hopefully can get going again then.
Beaky DH and I are absolutely paranoid about magpies. I've been seeing them left, right and centre since I started my first IVF a year ago. Then I hadn't seen any for ages but lo and behold there were 2 in my street this morning. Must be a sign!

Sesame I have just used northisterone for this cycle. I started 5 days before af was due and it took 5 days for af to arrive when I stopped.

I've got my first scan tomorrow which I'm real nervous about as something normally goes wrong. I'm also trying to decide when to start my cetrotide. My clinic has said day 9 the last two times which I am convinced is too late and I've ovulated early. It's day 7 tomorrow so I'm thinking to take straight after my scan if the follicles are big enough.

Ooo Happy Smidge and Sesame good luck!

Happy two for joy there I find I notice them a lot more than I used to! Brilliant news that you will be underway this weekend, it's been a long enough wait. Let's get you in the copter!

Minx yeah weird eh! He was all, oh yeah embryo glue, we've been using that as standard for a good few months now Any symptoms yet? Best of luck for Monday, crossing everything for you! I had no idea as many people had the magpie paranoia too. At least you can think "one for joy" next time

Sesame fx at turns up at the correct time. Good luck for your race this weekend! I'm impressed. I also quite like reading RW's letters but he is so dismissive of things and sometimes I feel a bit despondent after reading them also, mothers who write in on behalf of their kids who are having IVF/problems ttc do my head in I have issues, sorry

Lucie good luck for your scan tomorrow, I'd probably want to start cetrotide tomorrow too given your history. Also that's when I start it on antagonist.

Hope everyone else is ok and is avoiding random Magpies....

beaky loving your rhyme

smidge Which protocol are you on? I've lost track of what everyone's doing.

sesame hope you enjoy the run on Saturday .

Lucie good luck for your scan today.

happy which protocol are you on?

A question for those who have done long protocol before - how long were you downregging, which drug were you on and which cycle day did you start on?
I've also just realised that more stabbing means more drugs which means more money...

Barking afaik I'm doing short antagonist with Gonal F. First time for this. I don't know much about long protocol but for the short cycles I have done the down regging drug has been relatively inexpensive (maybe £20 for the whole cycle). It's the stimms that cost the big bucks (£1200 for the cycle!)

I used Burserelin, which is cheap I think barking. I DR for three weeks but only because I couldn't make the appt at 2 weeks and my clinic weren't flexible. 2-3 weeks is typical.

happy, lucie thanks, do you know if you had a pre-determined number of days between stopping the meds and starting stabbing? Or did you start stabbing x number of days after af arrived (based on your own cycle)?

happy how did your baseline scan go?

lucie how was your scan? From the studies I’ve read, I’ve seen people using 2 different rules for starting antagonist: either fixed day start, usually day 5 of stims; or based on response, e.g. when there is a 14mm follicle. But each place is different, my fc are very risk averse and they start antagonist on d4 of stims.

beaky thanks! How did your run go last night?

barking thanks! When I did LP, I downregged on Buserelin, from day 1 or 2 of my cycle, following baseline scan. I stabbed for 2 weeks, had another scan which said my ovaries were still noisy, so stabbed for 1 more week at double dose. I think clinics more commonly start on d21, so there won’t be any follicle activity to get in the way – but some choose to wait till af, so they can be sure the woman isn’t pregnant. As happy and tiger said, Buserelin is comparatively cheaper, with a bottle containing 11 days worth. I just found out the cost of cetrotide, and each dose costs about the same as the whole bottle of Buserelin – and I’m taking 2 a day! But, for LP overall there are more days of stims than SP, so that’s where the cycle could end up costing a few hundred pounds more. Have you asked your clinic for a full list of drugs, prices and estimated cost? There’s still time to source some things elsewhere if it came down to it.

newbie berries waves! Come tell us your news?

Today, I’ve a day off, but I’m waiting in am for my drugs and I’m waiting for the clinic to call this pm. Would be lovely to get both out the road so I can go out to enjoy some of the sunshine that’s streaming in my windows.

Happy Friday everyone!

Thanks sesame I had just popped on to ask how other people's doctors decide when to start cetrotide. I have always started on day 9 but by this time my largest follicle was around 17mm which I think is way too big. I had my scan this morning and it wasn't great. It's day 7 so have had 5 days of stimms so was looking for around 8mm+ and all I got was 2x10mm, 2x9mm and 2x6mm which I think will be too small. Pretty disappointed as we did fairly well on this protocol the first time around. I was all set to start cetrotide tonight as I thought I would have a lead follicle but I don't. What would others do in this situation. My doctor has said to wait until day 9 again but this just worries me even though the follicles are a lot smaller now as it hasn't worked out well before. I don't want to risk taking the cetrotide too early either though and slowing growth? Any ideas?

Sesame I waited for me bleed from northisterone and then started stabbing on day 2. I'm thinking next time I might stop the dhea as like happy since I've started taking it I haven't been having a great response.

Oh and sesame how come you are taking 2 cetrotide a day?

No go for me Ladybros. Follicles are still enlarged and endometrium too think after the drugs I took on the cancelled cycle. Got to wait until next AF - which is due when we are away over half term. FML!!
Sesame I also started stabbing on cd3 rather than waiting a set number of days after the meds.
Lucie sorry to hear your scan didn't go as expected. I know nothing about Cetrotide I'm afraid but I'll be watching with interest as this is the protocol I'll be using if I ever get bloody started

Urgh, that's so annoying happy The lack of control and the waiting is the part of this that kills me.

Sorry to hear your scan wasn't quite as you hoped lucie. Fingers crossed these follies are just opting for slow, even growth this time. When do you scan again?

I hope you're enjoying your day off sesame and that you've got your drugs etc sorted now. No experience of northisterone here, I've only done bog standard long protocol.

Glad you had a good follow up beaky. We may well be cycling together in January then. My clinic told me yesterday (over the phone) that I will be very unlikely to start before the new year.

I'm a bit naffed off. I just want to get going, and it feels like I'm having to wait forever. My dummy transfer and 3D sis look unlikely to happen this month, as the clinics were already fully booked when I phoned on day 1. I am on standby for a cancellation, but provisionally booked in for next month. January seems so far off, and is so badly timed for work - right now would be an ideal time to do a cycle and it makes me so cross that I just can't influence it or make it happen more quickly. Helpless and at the mercy of the system.

Anyway, enough of the self pity. I need to focus on the good stuff. I just saw a magpie in the garden, and in the wise words of our beaky 'one for joy' . I used to say 'Good morning Mr Magpie' whenever I saw a lone one. I don't really know where that comes from!

Wedding plans getting there. Trying on dresses at my favourite place next week, and will decide on the venue this weekend - have three in the running at the moment, and they are all very different.

Also, only one more week at work to get through, then a whole week off. We have a little scandinavian mini break planned, then a couple of days at home. Can't wait.

Gah! Wrote a post but it got lost in the ether

Oh happy that is really crap news.

lucie I did short antagonist on my first cycle, starting FSH on day 2/3 of cycle, and then started cetrotide on Day 5 of stimms. Day 9 seems very late to me, as that's when I had to trigger! Despite the cetrotide from day 5, my LH still started to rise so I had a double dose of cetrotide on trigger day and triggered a bit earlier than they wanted. However, it must all be based on our own individual responses. I presume putting you on double dose will help, but I would be like you and wanting to start a bit earlier to be honest. but I guess we have to listen to our FCs given we pay them the big bucks to be specialists in their fields

barking I'm on long protocol at his time. Previously down regged with Lucrin injections, but Australia has run out, so this time I'm sniffing synarel. DR starts around Day 23. My usually 32 day cycle tends to extend when down regging a bit, but I'll start stimms on day 2 or 3 I think. Using Gonal F 200 this time (previously puregon 150). Will be triggering with Ovidrel again. (Packaging has changed but apparently the drug and dose is the same).