Fertility Appointments and Beyond.... the journey continues

[Gracie2021]

New thread for us to continue our fertility clinic appointment progress...

Some of us are waiting for initial appointments, some are having tests and some are starting treatment!

@tillybabs
@thislittlebird
@kay00
@jeaniej
@PurpleUnicorn01
@paintfairy
@dogmam
@flutterby8
@Ughmaybenot
@dancingfairydreams
@beckycarlos
@jkjellyhead
@juno231
@decaffe
@bumble44
@BritinNZ
@tinkerbell098
@pinkginpls
@thedaydreambelievers
@everymumday
@wanderlust16
@lori23ttc

@Gracie2021 it turned into a migraine, I think it’s my ovulation migraine which is worrying me 😬😬😬. Glad I’ve got a scan in the morning to check what’s happening again.

I’m in at 9 again, are you meeting with them and having a scan? I’m absolutely fine except for the migraine today (which may not be the fault of the drugs) and the bloody thrush which has been constant. I have to keep treating it, I’ll have to time it right for before EC too.

I’m trying not to go down a rabbit hole of a transfer not working because of my iffy microbiome, I’ll cross that bridge when we get there. I really wanted to take antibiotics and then probiotics before any transfer because I know I have issues with bacteria balance in various ways, my skin especially. It may not be an issue in this context but it’s in the back of my mind for any future failures.

Sorry the migraine caught you. If it helps o have the sorest breasts I've ever had in my life and that's usually a sure sign I've just ovulated I'm assuming because we're being kept ovulation ready but delaying it we get all those symptoms.

I'm having a scan. Would normally be with the nurse so we'll see what the story is. I'm going to ask for the doctor to call me back in the afternoon with the results and what they're advising. We'll see if I have any luck there. Normally with my clinic everything is through the nurses.

@Gracie2021 @thislittlebird good luck tomorrow!

Good luck tomorrow ladies!!

Thanks @Kay00 @paintfairy hope you're both keeping well? Fingers remain crossed for you both x

Thanks @paintfairy @Kay00

I’ve got 19 follicles today, but probably only 12 will be big enough to be useful. Collection likely Friday but they’ll call me this afternoon to confirm in case they decide Wednesday, and I’ve had to pick buserelin up at the pharmacy. They’ll tell me later whether to trigger with ovitrelle or buserelin.

@thislittlebird great news! Had there been any more discussion about a freeze all yet? I know you were keen for one. What's their reasoning for not being able to decide between buserelin and ovitrelle?

@Gracie2021 good luck for today. I can totally understand your mixed emotions, pros and cons for whichever way it goes but I hope they can give you assurance either way. Oh and please don't apologise for the IVF talk! Its what this thread is for. I'm absolutely rooting for you, both of you x

@dogmam they seem to be saying that they’ll decide on the freeze all based on retrieving 20 eggs or more and I’m on the threshold. So the nurse is going to speak to the doctor today to find out if they want me in for collection Friday or Wednesday and also about which trigger I need and she and something about the number of eggs and choice of trigger determines the freeze all decision. Did you have buserelin? I feel totally fine so I’m not sure which way I’d prefer to go.

My lining was 11.87mm and my uterus was apparently ‘beautiful’, but yet that bloody beautiful uterus has refused to get pregnant naturally so that’s annoying 🙃

I don’t really understand the lining situation. What happens now, will they give me oestrogen after EC? Or will they not if it’s thick enough? Does it disappear?

Today’s appointment was a lot to take in, looking forward to them calling me later when I have a pen and paper in hand.

@Gracie2021 good luck for the appointment!

@thislittlebird that sounds like a good number. Pleased for you. How are you feeling?

How are the rest of you? X

@thislittlebird i was borderline do they transferred but then ended up with ohss which is zero fun. Id recommend lucozade sport if you do get it on the odd day as it helped. My transfer did work however thats the one I MC.

@PurpleUnicorn01 I’m feeling fine but I’m worried about OHSS because I’m not sure how I feel now makes a difference to whether I’ll get it or not, if that makes sense? Did you feel ok before the transfer?

@thislittlebird well done to your folicles! I always have paper and a pen whenever I speak to anyone (i literally just mean paper though, I've written on receipts, envelopes, anything to hand 🤣)

Its really interesting hearing all the different drugs, oddly I'll be taking burserelin to down reg and turn off, and then a lower dose while stimming to make sure nothing gets too giddy. My trigger is gonasai (I think, I'd check but I cba, I'm wrapped in two blankets because it's grim up north 🤣) x

@beckyCarlos on my EC info sheet it lists gonasi, ovitrelle and buserelin triggers and they crossed out gonasi for my sheet. Narrowed it down to two 😂

I don’t think I realised how in-depth today’s appointment would be and was massively regretting not having a pen and paper when sat there. But luckily she’s calling me so I’ve written down questions.

Before we leave home on EC day, DH has to do his sample at home and I have to use a rectal painkiller. Very romantic baby making all this 🤪

@thislittlebird great news for Friday/Wednesday. You're well on your way. Love the romance 😂😂😂

@beckyCarlos that's the way to spend the day. I plan on blankets on the couch and couch cuddles as soon as I finish the days work here. I've done gonasi before, handy little needle and not sore if that helps.

Thanks @dogmam didn't want to be insensitive and overdo the IVF talk here, then again the way my cycle is going don't think I'll be making anyone jealous.

New day, more bad news here tbh. My main follicle on the right is now 30mm but the other two are good sizes. Two tiny tiny ones in the background between the two follicles and then just the cyst on my left ovary. Talked to the doctor after the scan but she wasn't aware of the issue with the medication. She said I was already on the highest doses and that based on the number of follicles seen on this and my TSI cycles that she's guess that my AMH is much lower than when last tested and that any IVF cycles I do will recruit small number of follicles. On that basis she's keeping me on the meds and rescanning on Wednesday and then will convert to TSI or proceed to IVF with a tiny number of follicles . Told her about the meds issue and she's going to follow up on that. Also asked about converting to IUI since we'd already tried 8 TSIs and she said that was a viable option too.

Then spoke with the nurse a short time later to schedule the scan on wed. She checked and if we cancel they'll refund all our money due to the medication error. I asked her to check wht the financial impact of IUI or proceeding to IVF would be and she's going to come back on that. And I also asked them to retest my AMH on Wednesday and she'll do that.

So basically it's a dumpster fire over here guys. I'm not doing so well. Just need to get through the work day and cuddle the puppy. So terrified of what this means for our future family and not just this immediate round. Always wanted a family of 3/4 and now worried we won't even manage 2. Feels like we went from such hope to such low in such a short period of time.

@thislittlebird I was perfectly fine until they did the embryo transfer. Just a bit sore. Its the rising hcg that causes the ohss. That wasnt fun but the dr was like ohss means its worked this was before my test. It does make you feel unwell.

@Gracie2021 sorry to hear that. My friend had something similar. Apparently 'natural' ivf works better with lower amh.

So they called to confirm EC is Friday at 10.30. I’m bricking it, just want the tea and biscuits stage tbh. Ovitrelle trigger also confirmed for 22.30 Wednesday.

@PurpleUnicorn01 this is the thing, I’m convinced I’ll get OHSS of some kind if it works and hopefully mild but they don’t seem bothered so it is what it is.

@Gracie2021 I’m really sorry, this is all so stressful without additional problems. You’re on max doses now, but you weren’t before that so they can definitely get you a new protocol and start again surely? Possibly with down regulation I think you said?

Glad to hear there’s a possible alternative option, have they discussed egg/embryo banking with you at all? I know a few women with low AMH who are doing that. Also good to hear they’re happy to refund because of their error, which is the right thing to do.

Totally understandable that you feel like crap and you should totally not feel bad about that, I think we’ve all had to do some readjusting of our future plans but try to take it one day at a time so it’s not overwhelming. Cuddle that puppy lots.

Hi ladies. I've been really quiet as nothing much is going on at the moment.

I have my hysterocopy coming up which I'm doing privately and then the clinic will decide what to do from there.

As I have adenomyosis I might need to downregulate for 2-3 months and zoladex has been mentioned. Im trying not to read too much into it but some of the side effects and potentially going into early menopause is slightly worrying. Although my amh is good so hopefully that won't happen but I will discuss with them in detail all my options before starting anything.

@Gracie2021 I'm really sorry to read your updates. On the plus side, I'm glad you won't lose out financially as it was there error.

@thislittlebird good luck with your EC!

@Gracie2021 I'm so sorry to hear that :( What a nightmarish couple of days this has all been. Nothing is impossible though - low AMH definitely does not mean that you can't get pregnant. Hope you have lots of puppy cuddles tonight xx

@thislittlebird glad it went well for you today :)

@thislittlebird a rectal painkiller?!?! Tell them thats not how you make babies 🤣 I'm crying here!

@gracie2021 I'm so sorry that sounds awful. I know what you mean, I always wanted 2, maybe three, and knowing I'll be lucky to get 1 (with my own eggs) is so hard to think about. As @thislittlebird said, they might recommebd you for a long protocol (its what I'll be on, eventually, still period pending!) Because, somehow, you get better recruitment of folicles when you quieten the ovaries then shock them with high stims x

@beckyCarlos it’s such a very dignified experience all round 😭

I spoke to them about a sedative for the possible transfer. I have previous with massive anxiety about procedures and ended up freaking out during a couple of invasive things in the past so I’ve asked if it’s possible but I have to ask on EC day. They said dh can come in with me, which is nice. Assuming we get any embryos at all 🙃🙃🙃

Come in for ET I mean, not for EC.

@Gracie2021 that's crap. But - if it were me, I would cancel and start again if they are willing to pay the difference. You might have low amh but the amount of meds you have early in the cycle is what creates more. The amount later just makes what is there grow. So done properly it may well be that you get more follicles next time? And I would want to maximise my chances.
I know it's disappointing it means waiting another month or 2 but I think that's better than going ahead and potentially ending up with nothing (and a huge financial hit).

@thislittlebird my clinic can do you a Lorazepam (spelling?) Before EC, on top of the sedation they do, so I dont see why they wouldn't be able to before ET, always worth an ask! I'm pretending I'll be 100% chill by the time ET rolls around, but I know I'll get lightheaded and faint in the chair, its just who I am 🤣 so good to hear your partner can go in with you though! X

@beckyCarlos Maybe I’ll mention that one! I’m going to ask them if I’ll be asleep asleep. I cannot be awake in any way for the EC.

I’m prone to get myself in a right old mess, I really panic and there’s the risk I’ll try to run away from the bed/chair/table I’m on.