IVFers thread

[TheMNPeacekeepingForce]

Anyone fancy starting an ongoing thread for those who are having IVF/ are planning to try again via IVF soon?

Ds was conceived via IVF - he's now 2.6 and we're stepping back on the scary rollercoaster ride with a FET - I started taking the drugs yesterday!

hopefully you'll be pootling over to the spa area when I arrive soosy!!

LOL at your lack of 'ancient-ness'.

Hi all

Coggy - fab fab fab that they fertilised ok!
Glad EC wasn't too bad.

We're getting ready to welcome you into the 2ww house!

Coggy - over what time period have the 14 tries been?

No news here. Zonked out today so that's a great sign but a little inconvenient when I'm trying to finish writing the book and get work done! But heck I'm not complaining!

Had a fab facial this morning - bliss and so relaxing!

Soosy is plumping cushions and removing sweetie wrappers in readiness for Coggy's arrival on Monday. SS is in the spa area folding towels and having a smoothie. OAP has snuck off for an early night.

Have a good evening everybody!

Urm..............14 tries?

SS has either got me mixed up with someone else...

SS has serious pg head already!!

I have doem a seriously bad typo somewhere along the way...

Ooops!
Just like that one!!

(done not doem!!)

Coggy I am mixing you and Soosy up!
My preg head never went away from me after ds so if I get a double dose this time I'm going to end up seriously malfunctioning!!

Meanwhile in the 2ww house, SS is looking forward to scoffing her not sushi dish from the sushi takeaway.

Bet they don't do potty training in the BB house - that's what we've been up to today!

Soosy - when are you going to give in to the evil pee sticks?? And just why are they so blardy expensive - bet they cost about 10p each to make, add on marketing and a few other costs and that still leaves a humungous profit margin.

Coggy, great news that you have 2 embryos! Bet you got no sleep last night, and didn't relax at all until that phone call this morning! And I'm sure your clinic have told you this, but once your eggs have fertilised then they virtually always go on and divide nicely.

Have been bored and crampy today. Surely shouldn't be crampy yet, even if AF approaching with hobnailed boots on? DH on plane to India, no help there either.

Off to sit on the sofa, profers around cake and more tea.

SS - haven't got to potty training yet, DD still learning to talk. Said "Tea" today for the first time, and it is only about her 3rd word. Guess what I do a lot of?

SS I am trying not to give in to the evil pee sticks, during my 13 previous attempts (over 10 years btw,this is our 10th year at the clinic!) I have tested early, not tested at all (af arrived) and tested on time. I don't know what's worse, it's all pretty c*p really. But I have become v superstitious and now cannot have test in the house, have not even bought one yet and will buy one next week if af has not shown her ugly face. It's not really a question of money, hell 14 attempts means we have spent loads of cash! Just me being odd!

Potty training oh joy, we did that this time last year. whispers we used GF potty training book and I agree with her on one point once in pants don't go back. DS got it in about 2weeks. We have had bad times, starting school etc, but no pooy nappies is a real plus!

OAP, could crampy be sore ovaries and some wind from the cyclogest? I get that crampy feeling for a few days after EC. Thank you for the Cake delicious,hot chocolate anyone, might make a change from Tea!

Soosy, lies on other sofa and waits for Casualty to come tv.

SS...it's the double letter and y on the end that does it!!

OAP...thanks for saying that..I wasn't sure how likely/ unlikely the cell division was so that's good to hear.

Soosy...was Casualty good?
I missed it but will prob tune into the BBC iplayer thing tomorrow.
Had a night on my friends kareoke playstation game and didn't think about ttc/ IVF for about two hours!! BRILLIANT!
Now...how many songs will I have to sing to get over the 2WW??!!!!

Anyone in the house today? There is tea (more tea!) and scones with jam today on offer.

Coggy, hope you aren't worried too much today about tomorrow. I always worry about what is happening in the lab, and feel much better once the embryos are back inside me, best place for them.

Soosy - understand what you mean about tests I think. They have a magnetic effect, if they are in the house they call to you, saying use me use me use me. Best to leave them in the shop I think

Less crampy today, odd twinges every so often. Am feeling in a better mood - although that may be down to the sunshine. Both my father and my MIL want to come and stay in the next two weeks, and as I haven't told them (and won't) what is going on I have no excuse not to open my doors and welcome them in. Still, at least it will take my mind of the result I suppose.

OAP ooh scones yes please!

So new entrants to the 2ww house are going to be your dad and MIL! Do you get on well with them at least?

The preg tests were calling out to me in Waitrose today too (buy more buy more) but I managed to hold back (the price always helps!) and have only one left so need to be careful with when I use it! I'm still being paranoid about it all. I tested this am and it was no darker than the last one (2 days ago) ? But maybe there are lots of variables like how hydrated you are etc?Am being paranoid it's going to be a chemical pregnancy.

The worry doesn't stop does it! I actually wrote an article about pregnancy after IVF a while ago so should know better but don't!

Off to make a cuppa and grab some choc biscuits.

SS, why would you think this is a chemical pregnancy? Any reason or just general paranoia?

I'd use the clearblue tests that just say pregnant or not pregnant, rather than torturing yourself over shades of blue!

My father is coming down to have food and wine and conversation on tap. MIL wants to see her GD and will help, but we don't really get on.

General paranoia OAP - no firm evidence. I'm sure my symptoms came and went last time so I should have learned by now it all means nothing and to wait for the blood test but well, you know how it is!

Have packed ds and dh off to the MIL for the afternoon, sat reading the paper...lovely!

Hi guys
So lovely to hear about how comfy the 2 ww house is and that the availability of cake and chocolate is good. You all sound like you are doing really well.

Coggy - hope all goes well tomorrow. You can recuperate on the sofa with trashy movies....

SS- Hope the potty training keeps your mind off your worries of a chem pg. When is your 16 days up? ie when can you get a hcg from the clinic?

Soosy - Hope your weekend good and you are not feeling too antsy about this week?

OAP - You are brave having MIL and Father down. Distraction at least? I echo soosy's comments about the cramping - Ive been worried about it for a while after EC before (and also ET too). Think it must be things moving around, or wind from the dreaded cylogest.

Sorry Ive been AWOL but have been feeling really antisocial. I think my mind always becomes single track concentrating on making eggs and I cant really think of words. Saw my lovely cousin yesterday and I couldnt string 2 words together. She prob thought I was most odd (or pg at least as tummy the size of 3 mths pg). Anyway, my GIFT has been brought forward to Tuesday to avoid over stimulating. Good news that the follicles are doing ok but tricky that childcare and DH's work arrangements now have to change at short notice. But best get it all over...... and on to the next set of side effects! So I will fast track to the 2ww on Tuesday all being well (as with GIFT they put everything back at the sames time as the EC).

Good luck this week. Fingers and toes crossed all round.

Goodness it will be a crowded house next week, how lovely. Shall get the welcome mat fluffed up in readiness for Coggy and Sticki.

Sticki - sorry to ask this if you have answered before (as we are on 12 pages now, and don't have time to re-read all!) but what is the rationale behind GIFT? I guess it gives everything a better chance as there isn't that artificial period for eggs etc in the lab, but why was it recommended to you? Don't they worry about multiple births etc?

Sticki - good to see you back on. Will be waiting for you in the 2ww house (I guess you could say I'm in the annex bit now) on Tues! There are loads of pee sticks in the loo, decaff tea and coffee in the kitchen.

The whole 16 day thing is weird to me. I don't understand at all why they say I still officially have to wait 16 days even though I had a day 6 transfer! I understand why slightly longer is better as the result is more reliable but 16+6 is silly and prolonging my torture!
I'm going in Weds am for my HCG as long as nothing dramatic happens before then and I should get the result back that day.

What day transfer do you think they will go for or will it depend on the number of embryos etc? I think Mr S does like blastocysts doesn't he.

Just had lovely dinner out with dh and ds (who was v v well behaved). Had to put ds in a nappy really though as a bit early in the process to expect him to use restaurant loos etc. But he's managed about 7 or 8 wees in the potty this weekend and only 2 accidents which I think is a pretty good start!

Hello everyone sounds as though everybody is having a fab weekend. Sadly I shall be moving out of the 2ww house as af showed up today. Really really upset this time as I thought with 2 grade ones and hell of a lot of acupuncture this would have been my lucky chance.

DS not well either and I have to say it has been hard work this last cycle. I really don't know what to do next. We have two vials of donor sperm left and the 3 or 4 frozen embryos.
Whilst I have no problem with the embryo transfers and don't want to abandon the last two vials of sperm, and feel I should at least try to have a sibling for DS, but I am not sure about anymore IVF either. Tough decisions ahead. I hope the rest of you have better outcomes I will look in and see how you are doing.

Lots of love

Soosy I'm so sorry to hear this.
A large hug for you.
SS x

Soosy, am very sorry to hear this. Best wishes in whatever you decide to do going forward
Hugs

Oh Soosy...I feel terribly sorry for you and your DH.
Can you leave decision making for a while until you get your head round this?

((hugs)) from me.
X

Soosy Im so so sorry to hear that af turned up. Pants pants pants
Take care of yourself.
big hug

Sad little house today, isn't it?

Coggy - how did today go?
Sticki - best of luck for tomorrow

I really can't deal with this waiting for much longer - I am such an impatient person at the best of times, and can't deal with waiting for stuff, Am vacillating between being sure I am pregnant and then equally convinced I'm not. Roll on the weekend!

Yes, a very sad little house. Not at all the same without soosy on the sofa.

OAP - I know what you mean about being impatient. IVF (or infertility) seems to just be one long waiting game.. waiting to start, scan, inject, collect, transfer... etc. It is torture! Hope you are feeling ok about it now - ticking off the days.

You asked earlier why we are doing GIFT. (GIFT is the forerunner to ivf used when they couldnt culture embryos - they collect the eggs then put eggs and sperm together in fallopian tubes.) When talking to Mr Serhal at UCH he talked about some recent research (backing up his own experience) that has shown when there have been repeated failures (6+ cycles)to get pg in ivf gift can work (0% pg rate in ivf blastocyst transfer vs 40% in gift). Some kind of magic can happen and the fallopian tubes support embryos that wouldnt make it when cultured. So we are hoping for some of that magic!

SS- Hope you are doing ok. Fingers crossed for Wed. Well done on your potty/accident ratio - looks like you are on the way. Damn hard work though I know! 3 months on and I had to deal with a big puddle in our local library today!

I agree the 16+6 is ridiculous but I guess they want to be absolutely sure you will get a line or level on the hcg when they do test. Ive been told to wait 18 days this time... haha Ive never got past 10 days after transfer before.

Coggy - how are you? How did today go?

Soosy - hope you are ok (if you are lurking). More hugs and I'll leave you a huge toblerone mountain and a lovely glass of red wine to try to bolster your spirits).

Yes I'm fine. All went well yesterday but I didn't really feel like I wanted to post positive news after hearing about Soosy IYKWIM.

Both embryos divided ok. One was better than the other but the embryologist said that they were both suitable for transfer so that was, again, a massive relief to hear.

I am now trying not to do anything unecessarily strenuous but have managed to bake some rather yummy choocy biccies which I would love to be able to share with you all!!!! (And put on the table next to the red wine and toblerone for Soosy.)
I normally don't do baking....could be my new hobby to get through the next 13 1/4 days!!!!!

Sticki...I am very interested to hear about GIFT. I had no idea how different it was to IVF. I guess you only really know about the processes you are going through...there are so many different routes and combinations aren't there? My DH was most bemused when the nurse asked if we were having ICSI!! Of course he'd never heard of that before cos he's had no need to!!!
I seriously hope you are in that 40%.
X

Hi all

Coggy - hope you are managing some rest....!

Sticki - that's so interesting about GIFT - after hanging out on the boards of an infertility support website I thought I was pretty aware of most infertility terminology/ treatments but until now didn't what GIFT actually was. It sounds fascinating that it can work where standard IVF fails.

OAP how are you doing?

Hi to everyone else.

Off to the clinic tomorrow for bloods - will let you know when I get the results - presumably in the afternoon although I'm not sure how much a single HCG test tells you given it's the progression that counts. Have convinced myself it's a chemical as all symptoms gone. But we'll see!