TTC for 10 months and the rest. Ten plussers welcome. Thread 2.

[lucieloos]

We have been so busy chatting I've started a new thread. Welcome all 10+ ladies. Hope we all have some luck on this thread.

Hope you're not feeling too horrible Sammy - thinking of you

On the thin lining front, had a productive discussion with the consultant which might be of interest. He said be thought it wasn't that I'm not necessarily producing enough oestrogen - as with all those follies if he were to measure my levels it would be sky high. He reckons it's that the oestrogen receptors in the endometrium (antennae, as he called them) are a bit desensitised and need to be woken up - so he'd expect to see a cumulative effect over time as they're exposed to more oestrogen.

We discussed how we would do a FET if we can't do a fresh transfer . Likely route would be to try an HRT cycle straight off my period after this cycle: try and thicken up the lining, and hope that it syncs up to the right thickness at the time of ov (as once the progesterone kicks in the lining will change appearance and compress). If that were the case, we'd transfer.

If it didn't sync up, then it would be a useful exercise in oestrogen priming to wake up the antennae, and we'd then start down regging me 7 days after ov, in prep for a full medicated FET the following cycle - where if we remove ov from the equation, we can keep going with the oestrogen pills and patches to get to the right thickness for as long as it takes.

Was v helpful to have it explained to me in a way I could understand. The bloody pill though - I would NEVER have taken it it I'd have known it could contribute to this. Argh!

Boris I just told work I was having some 'medical treatment' and left it at that. Re the Gonal-F, the only side effects I have had is massive bloating. I honestly looked 4 months pregnant after just 2 days of stims. It's abated a lot since dropping the dose down, so I think it was def worse with the elephant dose!

The injections themselves are a doddle, esp Gonal-F as the needles are teeny and the drug is pre mixed in a rediject pen. I put DH on prep duty for the Cetrotide which has to be mixed up - that's the blocker drug I add in after a few days of stims to stop premature ovulation. The type of blocker you take, and when you start taking it, varies depending on your protocol. They will explain everything in detail so you know exactly what to take and when

Boris, my treatments have all varied even when I've used the same protocol but yes everyone tends to start on day 2 and then they add Cetrotide in later around day 7 which will stop you ovulating. My egg collection has always been on day 14 except for this one which is looking like maybe 15 or even 16.

I've not noticed to many side effects, some bloating and niggles and pains around the ovaries but that ms about it. Although I expect you will have a lot more follicles than me so could feel a bit more but generally it's fine.

Hi from sunny Czech Republic! It's a beautiful day here today. Really sunny but nice and crisp. I had my last scan this morning and I've gone from worrying about them not growing quick enough to growing too fast! I think I was looking for them to be 18-22mm to trigger. He only really measured the 3 biggest ones and kind of guessed at the rest which is a little annoying for someone like me who is obsessed with details! This is what I got 23,22,20,18,18,17,17,16,13,13 I am triggering tonight and egg collection is on Tuesday morning. I worried that the 23 and possibly 22 might be over mature as still have another 10 hours until trigger but not much that can be done I guess. I suppose at least it's better than being too small and definitely not containing an egg. I had 2 new follies pop up as well so have 10 altogether now although think they will be too small. Anyone else have a big follie on trigger day?

Amazing news lucie - that sounds like a fantastic crop! I don't think it sounds too over mature. And your 13mm might catch up - anything over 15mm can contain a mature egg as you know.

Excited for you!!

I triggered last night, EC at 9am. Started the oestrogen tablets yesterday, please please please lining don't regress like last time.

I have chronic pain due to a spinal injury and take pretty hardcore pain meds - which obv I have to be off by transfer. It takes a while to come off everything slowly enough to avoid going into withdrawal, so I've been in a fuck of a lot of pain the last few weeks and I'm not even off everything yet. If I don't get a transfer AGAIN and I've been tapering off everything for nothing - which is a distinct possibility - I will hit the fucking roof.

Scuse potty mouth but BLOODY BODY!!!

Xx

Thanks Banana, hope you're right! Always something to worry about.

Great that you've triggered and really hope your lining is ok. My lining thickness is fine but on my first IVF my largest follicle disappeared by my last scan but I transferred anyway and I'm sure that's why it didn't work. I think I ovulated early and it meant my lining was out of sync so that's why I'm opting for frozen transfers now as I can have more control over it.

Sorry to hear you are in pain off your meds. Really hope you get to have transfer.

Holy moly. Back from egg collection.

17 eggs retrieved!

All 6 frozen eggs from the last cycle survived the thaw.

So that's 23 eggs in the love lab!

They have to do ICSI on the frozen eggs (because they have harder shells) but will do standard IVF on the fresh, as DH's sample was 'excellent'.

Consultant said he wished he knew what was going on with my AMH as he is completely stumped how someone with perimenopausal AMH and FSH has responded like this. But he is very very pleased, as am I!

Lining is 'so so', so I'm desperately hoping the oestrogen tablets help to thicken it up so we can have a fresh transfer. Dr will scan me later this week and we will see where we're at. If there is any doubt we will freeze all, and transfer in a FET, as he doesn't want to risk transferring a decent embryo into a suboptimal endometrium.

But for now, the focus is on trying to get some embryos. Our eggs and sperm are getting jiggy in the love lab so keeping everything crossed for a decent fertilisation rate when we get the call tomorrow!!

Banana that's brilliant!! Congratulations and fingers crossed for lots of embies!

How thick was your lining? Xx

banana that's awesom! You are a medical marvel. Hope you are doing ok without meds.

lucie how exciting! Hope you are enjoying Brno everything crossed for you. When are you planning to come home?

I have an issue with my next couple of cycles. apparently we would be looking at egg collection on cd 13/14. DH needs to be back in the UK cd 15 - 17 to pick his child up from school, due to issues with his ex he can't negotiate or change this. Is this too close to work for ivf? Would we be safer to defer until he is likely to be around for a few days after intended EC in case of delays?

Hi everyone,

So sorry for disappearing - I’ve been pretty busy and not been thinking much about TTC, thankfully. THis thread has got so exciting in my absence!

Sammy – how did things go with ov? Did you get your temp rise? Did you book in for acupuncture? I had my second session last week - I turned down the herbs but took the pills. I just can’t drink the tea, which I admitted and she told me off. Given our MF diagnosis I’m not sure why I’m still going, it’s so expensive!

Itsme, hope you’re feeling better this week? It’s so unfair that it’s taking us all so long. What is wrong with your tubes? Have you had them checked? Hope your appointment next week is helpful.

Lucie, amazing news on the scans and the follicles! This is sooo exciting - good luck with EC tomorrow. Looking good for at least two frosties surely.

Banana, AMAZING news on all those eggs, congratulations! Everything seems to be lining up for you this cycle - I have everything crossed that your lining plays ball too. Keep us updated! Just out of interest, how long have you been TTC and how come you’re not eligible for NHS funding? Funding and waiting times and IVF rounds is all such a postcode lottery isn’t it. Where are you in London? I’m in Southwark but moving out of the borough soon but I want to stay with King’s as they’ve been great so far.

trixie, is it your appointment this week? Let us know how it goes.

MPP – how you doing? Hope wedding plans are progressing! I would quite like my OH to stop cycling for a few months but like Lucie’s DH he loves it and it’s the only exercise he does so don’t really want to ask. My Chinese Dr is convinced that her herbs will fix his sperm but he’s not having any of it. Don’t blame him as that tea is so awful, but as she said it's “easier on the body than IVF” (not his though!).

Boris - that's frustrating with the timing. Don't have any great advice I'm afraid as never done IVF, but given the fluctuations in a natural cycle it does seem to be cutting it a bit fine. Very frustrating that there's no flexibility in the childcare arrangement. Is there definitely no family that could step in if you need to stay out there?

I’ve been diligently taking the metformin and proxeed. I’m 100% convinced I ovulate since I track my temps but if it can help with egg quality I’m all for it. I think the feeling is that my ovaries are PCOS-like. I don’t have cysts or a hormone imbalance, and have regular cycles but with 27 follicles on one ovary maybe they’re working a bit hard. I dunno. AF arrived on Saturday 2 days early. Feel fine as wasn't expecting anything with the low motility diagnosis, but still a little disappointed today as I got invited to a baby shower in March :(

Wow Banana that's amazing news. Maybe your amh is not as low as they initially thought. I bet if you had it retested it would be higher. Can't wait to hear your fertilisation news tomorrow. Hope you get to have the fresh transfer.

Boris, they normally always do egg collection on day 13/14 unless you have pcos or you are doing a long protocol like me. I have always been day 14 apart from this time when I am 15. I'm not sure I would like to risk it if you definitely need to be back for cd15. Can you take northisterone to delay af for a few days. It worked ok for me. Explain to the doctor and they should be able to prescribe something or alternatively our dh could go out with you and leave his sample and go home earlier if EC was delayed.

Star, welcome back. Sorry af arrived. I always find baby showers etc hard and try to avoid them as much possible.

We have had a nice relaxing day today. Went for a walk to a big lake which was all frozen up and had lunch in a little log cabin type place. Warming up back in or room now. Have to be at the clinic at 830am tomorrow for collection. Eeekk really don't know what to expect! Will keep you posted. Really hope it's good news.

Hi ladies,

This thread has got very exciting indeed, and full of positive vibes, I send those that are due collection and transfer over the next couple of days my very best wishes!!

I am feeling much better about things this week, it's a journey and I keep reminding myself it's not easy for everyone. I've had a HSG and the tubes are fully blocked, don't know why so lap and dye on 28th.

My DH has low sperm motility anyway so according to our consultant we would be eligible for IVF on male factor alone. Which is why it's so frustrating that we have to go through this operation on the 28th, I don't see why we can't just get cracking with the IVF on the NHS (we only get one round)

Anyway, more waiting! Hope that BFP is just around the corner for all of you!

Itsme, you never know. The lap and dye might just do it and then you'd be pleased you didn't have to go through ivf. My OH has low motility too, 18%. So we're on supplements and then ivf in 4 months. Did your consultant say anything about improving sperm quality?

Lucie, that sounds like a lovely day. Nice and relaxing before your early start tomorrow

itsme fingers crossed for the lap and dye

lucie thank you. Your day sounds lovely. And good luck for tomorrow. 8.30. Eek that's conevriund quick.

Thanks for the advice. I'll see what we can do. dh could come early and leave a sample if that would work and I could have a lovely break in the Czech republic by myself.

Conevriund = come round.

Yes that's an option Boris. You could both come out together over a weekend. Grab a cheap flight and you can check out the clinic and get your bearings with everything and then pop back on your own for the egg collection. There is always someone out here from the Facebook group if you wanted to go to dinner with others. I've made some really good friends that way.

Thanks Boris, I just hope it's not too sore!!

Star our consultant told us that there isn't anything proven to greatly increase sperm motility/quality as it is often a physical factor, rather than a 'generation' problem. I don't know... What supplements is he taking?

Boris, my ec ended up being a few days earlier than expected, I think it really depends on how you respond to the meds. I had to take norethisterone to delay AF before my cycle and it was absolutely fine.

Hi Star, it's good to have a little break from thinking about ttc every now and then. Great to have you back though. Yes, my appointment at King's is on Friday morning - Eek!

Sammy, hope your thrush has gone.

Glad you're feeling better about things Itsme, sorry to hear about your tubes being blocked. At least it's not long to wait for your op.

Lucie, good luck with ec in the morning and Banana FX for great fertilisation results and a nice thick lining. Will check in tomorrow lunchtime to see how you both get on.

I can't believe we only got 3 eggs again out of all those big follicles. It just doesn't seem right I'm devastated.

Oh Lucie, it really did sound like you were going to get more. Remember those are the best ones though - I am crossing everything for 100% fertilisation again and 2 (or all 3 even) to blast.

I just feel like it's never going to happen. I can't keep going through all this for hardly anything. It is so hard waiting for the call when you only have 2 or 3. I just want to cry.

It is going to happen Lucie! Remember, you only need 1.

lucie I'm sorry. Try to stay possitive. Have the clinic given you any indication as to why three not more? Hopefully these three are so fantastic they will go the distance. 100% fertilisation of three would be amazing.

No they haven't said anymore at the moment. Normally one of the three is immature so that will leave me with 2. It's so hard going to blast with only 2. I think I'm going to start my NHS the end of Feb. There doesn't seem much point waiting much longer if 3 is all I ever end up with.

Lucie, so sorry to hear you didn't get more from all those follicles. You've had good fertilisation results previously haven't you? Fx all three make it. Will they freeze day threes or do they have to get to blast?

How many do you have frozen already?

I think planning on doing your NHS cycle is a good idea, there's always the chance that it will work and then you won't need to spend the extra abroad.

However you are not out yet, you may have 3 more blasts to add to your collection.

I'm keeping everything crossed for you, xx