Bus 7 - all aboard the Donkey Cart! Ttc for way longer than we should've been with endo/pcos/ivf all welcome

[Marvellouslymadmum]

New thread will try and tag everyone if I can

@MIW01 The itching definitely is the hormones! It's one of the reasons I don't want to go on oestrogen.

It's such a shit feeling, I'm with you. I can never get my head round why it works for them but not for us. It's traumatic and, no offence to the people who it works naturally for, but it's not the same trauma. My fingers are SO firmly crossed for you, and I bet it's worse because you're in that horrid stressful stage of the tww now xx

@kerrym87 let us know how you get on, if it all goes ahead etc

@thislittlebird temp normal this am and do feel better just sound hoarse, but hay-fever also bad this week so yeah. Fingers crossed they collect eggies! Then the dreaded wait, just hit me about finding out how many eggs, how many will fertilise etc, forgot about this bit!

@Sunbird24 you certainly have a lot going on at the moment! I hope you manage to sort it all out with the clinic!

@kerrym87 oh wow that's quick! Exciting for you too. Sounds like mild thrush to me, all medications like to give that to me it's mega annoying! Glad you're feeling a bit better and good luck for ec today!!

@MIW01 two eggs is still two chances I've everything crossed this works for you!

@thislittlebird I've been mentioning it to him and he's not been disagreeing so I'm taking that as it's a possibility and I'm just going to book in some online consultations when the clomid is done and railroad him into it 😂 he's not a decision maker and likes me to take the reigns with most things so I am 🤷🏼‍♀️
This weight thing at our age is rubbish isn't it!! I want to know how others do it, you see some women in their forties and they look really fit - do they eat like mice or live in a gym or both??! Cos I can't work it out. Hope you had a nice holiday though?
I know your first round of ivf didn't work but that isn't to say others won't.

Me - AF FINALLY ARRIVED!!! My loooong cycle was 109 days in the end and I'm now on cycle 2 of 100mg clomid I'm just hoping the same thing doesn't happen again. Af was a mean one which I why I haven't really been on here much was dying quietly, I'm now cd10 so hopefully will ovulate in the next week 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

@Marvellouslymadmum are you pcos? If so inofolic alpha sachets, reducing sugar (including naturally occurring) and asking about metformin may be a good start. With pcos we struggle to lose weight and need a slightly different diet to others- I follow bits of Kim Campbell and just generally low glycaemic index and portion control helped me lose 4 stone and keep it off without having to be a gym bunny and eat like a rabbit!

Got 8 eggs, 2 immature, tested hubby's sperm and only 16% good quality so it's picsi for us rather than icsi, the 2 immature eggs they're gona see if they can put some of best sperm with them for standard ivf to see if anything happens with them.
Get feeling though if this doesnt work may not be eligible for next round on nhs due to hubby's weight s not a chance he'll get to bmi of 30, I think he'd look too thin tbh as well. Brain a bit bashed as had to face the egg/embryo/fertilisation issues today as was just going day by day not to continuously worry and obsess

Hi, can I join? I recognise one or two names from other threads I’m on.

Been ttc for 3 years come July. Diagnosis is unexplained infertility, but I am subclinical hypothyroid and I have raised prolactin. I’m currently taking a tiny dose of levothyroxine and I’m due for repeat tests mid July to see if the dose is working or if it needs changing. My prolactin levels are a nightmare, I’m ovulating but I’ve had high prolactin (1000 mark) for the past year and still waiting to find out if endocrinologist needs me to be referred for mri.

I’ve been referred for IVF - had the consultation and I can start once my thyroid and prolactin levels are normal. I also have a dud right ovary by the looks of it, difficult to find, trapped behind my bowel, small and they only spotted one very small follicule on my scan. Left one looks normal.

Feel like I’ve been in this infertility waiting game for a lifetime, but hopefully I’ll get an IVF shot this year sometime! I’ve gained a bit of weight since my referral so I need to get back on the healthy eating train before my IVF cycle starts as my bmi was 30.2 at the last weigh in.

@Marvellouslymadmum well, that's a positive I guess! Yeah, the weight sucks. I'm back on the diet and exercise and dreading my weigh in tomorrow. I gained it all back on hols and then I've been 20 mins circuits each day trying to get it back off again and calorie counting.

I'm waiting for AF to arrive now, due in the next few days but I didn't track ovulation this month so I'm not sure when it's due exactly, and then I can call the clinic when it's here. I'm prepping for a job interview right now, that's distracted me for a few days lol.

@kerrym87 good that they're trying those two with some decent sperm. When will you hear more? Did they mention his weight to you?

@Lauralozzle welcome to the donkey cart! I'm in the weight loss gang too. Mine isn't too bad (slightly high BMI) but I feel like it's too much for my height and I'm trying to work at it because it's something I can control amongst all this chaos.

@thislittlebird the 4 immature they put to standar ivf- 3 matured but did not fertilise. Of the 4 for icsi 3 degraded/didn't survive injection. So we've got 1 embryo that was a strong fertilisation. I feel its all over already although embryologist said its not over yet. I just guess I'm remembering our 7 embryos last time with only one making it. They've said my egg quality is poor from pcos. I think although it was 3 bleeds from last cycle it was only 5 months between cycles due to staff holidays and we'd have had to wait til August. Think if this doesn't work we need time out to recover and maybe try in new year.

Well find out if this cycle doesn't work in next few months if we're not eligible for next cycle ivf as when they put hubby's sperm in hyaluronic acid only 16% were good quality. I think rather than hanging all hopes on him losing 7 stones by Jan and then at last minute them saying no, well start looking at the london clinic. I wonder if I need to look at receptivity test, clotting etc. One thing I do have is a good fluffy bed in my uterus of at least 9 mm and triple lining! It's finding a non duff egg that seems to be the issue....may have to look at donor route

@Lauralozzle welcome to the donkey herd!

@kerrym87 so is one the final number from this round or are there more still in the running? Are you doing fresh transfer?

I can’t remember if you got your dh to see an andrologist or not? Might be a good idea if this round doesn’t work before you move into another. Because it might not be all on your egg quality, so worth looking into both angles?

Hey all, may I join?

Been ttc naturally since December 2019. Diagnosed with PCOS in 2021 and am currently on my 4th round of clomid (3dpo😬)

@kerrym87 I have suspected that I may have pcos before but nothing showed up on blood tests, I do however have suspected endometriosis which doesn't help with water retention, excess stomach gas and bloating.
1 little embryo is definitely a chance, I have everything crossed for you! I'm coming to terms with the donor egg thing now as it may have to be that route for us too but I'm determined to loose some weight incase that's effecting my egg quality first!

@Lauralozzle hi and welcome, great that you've been referred for ivf, I suspect I have thyroid issues as it runs in my family but my levels are just in the ok level so they just rules it out! I also have hiding ovaries, both of mine sneak right away and they can never see them properly, apparently excess bowel gas obstructs their view too! I'm also trying to loose weight though rather unsuccessfully

@thislittlebird I'm too scared to weigh myself as I know I've probably gained again recently!! Good luck with the job interview!

@pcosandme.x hi and welcome, I'm on my 5th round of clomid! I've 3 rounds of 50mg and this is my 2nd round of 100mg though it keeps messing my cycles right up! How have you found it?

@Marvellouslymadmum thank you :) I did one round of 50mg and they upped my dose from round two - so this is my third round of 100mg (I think🤣) sorta got used to the side effects now! The part I struggle with is the low mood - how are you finding it?

@thislittlebird if they feel sperm is an issue because of his bmi they won't fund the 3rd, if they feel its just me they will. We'd have to go private for his investigations such as for hydrocele androgynous etc and we haven't even started looking yet. Nhs wasn't bothered about previous torsion or any other tests

@pcosandme.x ahh my consultant just left me on it for the full 3 cycles before upping it! I don't get many side effects, mild headaches and some hot flushes/night sweats. Unless you count the 45-109 day cycles 😂 that one I could definitely do without!!

Very sorry to hear about this @kerrym87 I'm in the poor egg and sperm quality club and also very seriously considering egg donor/adopt an embryo route if Wednesday doesn't yield fruit @Marvellouslymadmum this is our 3rd and final round on the NHS. Apparently my uterine lining is good this time at 10mm. We're keeping everything crossed for test on Wednesday. Since I've started taking all this new medication about a year ago. Weight has just piled on and I have an active job walking 20,000 steps a day which is a real challenge with ME/CFS & Fibro. I've found medication has taken away my off switch fpr hunger so I feel constantly ravenous, nothing stops it. I'm eating high protein as I've found this most beneficial but still gone from 9 to 11 stone in next to no time amd I'm only 5"2. It is very depressing and really getting me down. Though have always had the infertility and diabetes even when much lighter so I don't think weight is causing physical health issues. Just huge impact on my mental health and self esteem. But if I am pregnant trying to shift it now isn't a great idea.

Welcome @pcosandme.x and @Lauralozzle I'm a long timer here almost 5 years into this journey now I think. First referred by GP in June 2019 then diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in Feb 2020, then Covid, then turned 35 so had to swap areas to be eligible. Laparoscopy for endometriosis in May 2021. Then found I have Ovarian Insufficiency (heading for early menopause), fibroids and thin uterine lining. First round of IVF IN August 2021, 2nd in Feb 2022 and will do a pregnancy test following 3rd and final NHS round on Wednesday 29th. Up to this point no pregnancies at all. Wishing you both better luck than me.

@MIW01 Embryo is well behind and fragmented 40% so looks like it won't be viable- they're culturing to day 5 but told me it's almost certain to not make it. I also think we won't be eligible for 3rd nhs round with hubby's weight with poor sperm quality but we'll see when we get appt with consultant in a couple of months. They've only done SA on him, nothing else so debating going private for urology /andrology although nhs won't accept what they do anyway. I think donor egg may be way forward but it's too soon to get my head around or move forward, just got to sit with my misery right now and won't be doing another cycle until after Xmas now

Fingers crossed for you x

@MIW01 I’m sorry to hear your journey has been difficult so far. Fingers crossed that your final round on nhs will go smoothly and as planned.

I suspect I might have endo on my right ovary. It’s small, I have next to no follicules on it, and it’s difficult to find behind but bowel. Also right side is where I tend to get my cramps. I suspect that it’s stuck to part of my bowel and that’s why they struggle to find it. Docs haven’t mentioned it though so no lap for me.

@Marvellouslymadmum hiding ovaries are a nightmare! I dread going for scans because of it! Suppose I’ll have to get used to it with IVF looming. I’m subclinical with my thyroid but I ended up going down to GP and saying it needs to be below 2.5 for IVF and I’ve been referred and I have all these symptoms. Think the doctor took pity on me!

The weight loss is hard though. I’m an emotional eater/stress eater and infertility really hasn’t helped.

Im just sat patiently waiting for 13th July so I can have my bloody blood test.

@Marvellouslymadmum omg did the clomid give you really long cycles?? 🙃😬 all the waiting is the worst part, I really struggle with that👀

@MIW01 oh wow. What a journey you've been on. Fingers crossed for a locket bfp on 29th, how do you feel? I also have a fibroid - it's pedunculated

@Lauralozzle I have endo too, was on my ovary but usually part of fertility investigations involve a lap anyway, I wonder why they've gone to ivf without checking with a lap for tubes being unblocked etc? I had laser on my endo left ovary during lap and it still produces some eggs just less than the other side, really helped with symptoms on that side.
Some people also have small ovaries or only one working and only one ovary can still produce eggs so fingers crosses for you x

@kerrym87 I’ve had a HSG to check tubes which are fine apparently, but no lap. I suppose my ovary might just be small and dud lol.

I literally have all my eggs in one basket! Hoping my left ovary will be all we need during IVF treatment. Makes me wonder if reason i haven’t got pregnant yet is because of my right ovary. When they tested my progesterone I suppose I could have ovulated from my left and everything looked normal from blood work, but might actually not be ovulating correctly at all from my right ovary? Who knows?

Hey all, it's been ages since I've been on but I just wanted to drop in and say that I think about you all the time and really hope there's been some good news or will be soon! So much love, you are all warriors xxx

Nice to see you @Motherofkittens28 !

My little embryos are making the cross-country road trip to my new clinic tomorrow, so fingers crossed we’re actually on track to go for it in July.

@Motherofkittens28 thanks, this round just failed turns out I had covid......having to look at private for next round now
@Sunbird24 that's great news x

@kerrym87 I'm so sorry to hear that 😞 Covid is the nightmare that never seems to end. I really really hope that you are able to find a reasonable private place and can cycle again soon xx

@Sunbird24 that's wonderful! I hope the new clinic is the one! xx

@Motherofkittens28 hi, hope you’re ok!

I might be joining the covid train @kerrym87. found out my colleague has it, I spent all day with her moving offices on Tuesday and AF arrived yesterday, I’m due to start scans for transfer 2 next week. I should have been more cautious, I just forgot about the risk of it all, I’ve been indoors mostly for months.