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!

Makecakes you are v welcome, for whatever reason!

SS yes what did happen, please tell us we want more ranting against the NHS!

Glad you are feeling better. I know you don't want to know this but 2 pg's from one cycle of IVF is really good, So I wouldn't give up you are very very likely to have another baby. Just let life get back to some semblance of normality and then maybe then you can make your decision. I seem to remember that you have some time to think about what happens next.

Night night everyone. Dh out so I am going to watch Holby City!

S x

hiya makecakes
thanks for tracking me down Well as you can guess from the thread the Clomid didn't work so we're entering the scary arena of IVF. Fortunately we're getting funded by the NHS for one cycle, after that it's up to us to find the cash. Here's hoping it works first time eh? How are you doing? Did you find out baby's gender at the scan? I've just finished your first baby ugg boot tonight

For the benefit of everyone else makecakes is my friend from the Clomid takers thread - she got pg on it and left me behind

Oh, NMM then out of curiosity could you or your fellow clomid-takers help me? I have a dear friend who is TTC and was pregnant 3 times last year only to miscarry around 6-9 weeks each time. She has been prescribed clomid now for 6 months before starting IVF. What I don't understand is how clomid can help with her problem, as she is obviously ovulating etc just fine, just experiencing problems continuing the pregnancy. Any ideas?

And NMM, good luck with your cycle. I (and lots of others too) got pregnant on their first IVF cycle.

Onlyaphase- I think your friend was probably put on Clomid because it's an officially prescribed step in the conception process...it regulates your cycles so gives more chance of you knowing your dates and therefore getting pg. FWIW I was prescribed Clomid for PCOS/very irregular cycles, had mc after 3rd cycle then finally conceived on 5th.

Nomore- all well thanks...28 weeks and counting every day as a blessing...can't wait to meet my little girl- who will look very chic in baby Ugg Boots. Seriously you should think about selling them...I'd buy them for all my friends. Sending you, and everyone on thread, positive thoughts and all my spare baby dust. Keep in touch...

Thanks for letting me burst in people.

this thread just about says it all, doesn't it? the up, the horrible downs, the hope.... My thoughts, prayers are with you all, whereever you are in the process.

I have a question for you lot. did you really wait 2 weeks before peeing on a stick? I always have in the past but this time it's driving me mad. my 2 week wait is up on sunday but i might just dig one of those sticks out and try it anyway.

by the way,

Nomore - do you make the mini Uggs yourself -how cool!

Swerve - no way could I wait. I tested from about day 10 post the equivalent of ovulation on both my cycles.

Well the hospital story. I was told by 3 doctors and 1 nurse that the only reason I was admitted overnight was.....get this....because they can't get an emergency scan if you are an outpatient. The wait for outpatients is 5 to 6 days so if they need to scan you before then you HAVE to be admitted to the ward and stay on the ward even if you don't otherwise need to be there. It is the dumbest thing ever since it must cost a fortune to keep admitting patients to the ward, takes up beds that other patients could have and apparently it happens quite often. If you add up the cost of all the patients they are having to do this to, it would no doubt pay for more scanning services.

The doctors and the scanning man were all up in arms about it that the trust isn't doing anything to sort this out.

Oh and of course to top that it's no fun for the patient either to be stuck in hospital overnight when you don't actually need to be there!

Oh god SS that is completely mad you poor thing, the NHS is completely bonkers. We once waited for a blood test for DS in A&E and because we had been there nearly four hours we had to be admitted, and then it was hand over, so what should have been done in 4 and 1/2 hours took about 8. It is such a waste of resources.

Swerve I know the 2 ww is hideous, I always wait now as I know if I get to my testing date without af arriving I am probably pg.

Makecakes, glad to hear you are enjoying your pg. Ugg boots eh NMM hmm can you do them for three year old boys? DS was given a pair when he was small and they were his favourite things. BTW I was chatting with a friend the other day and we decided that Clomid was the most disgusting thing ever and that we would both prefer to go through IVF than suffer the unpleasantness of Clomid!

Acupuncture this am, I was hoping to listen to hypnotherapy cd this week, but hahaha. Life is exhausting.

OAP I am with you a bit weird that they prescribe clomid. Obviously getting pg isn't your friends problem. They should be investigating reasons for early mc, like hughes syndrome, hormone imbalance or just genetic causes. I sometimes think that some docs just think that fertility treatment is doing something, although not v helpful if it is the wrong thing...... 5 think that your friend should ask for some investigations, not into getting pg but why she is mcing.

S x

soosy, thanks for your note. I've read back a bit and caught up on some of your previous messages. I also had no problem with embryos but clearly they didn't like the decor in there as they ran away as fast as they could. In the end my lovely dr measured my natural killer cell level, which was only slightly high but decided to try dealing with that as well (after they had tried all their other tricks, including pgs). so last time, which worked, I had steroids and 3xIVIGs as well as those gorgeous gestone injections (with icsi+pgs). That was in august 06. Now i'm back again hoping for the miracle to work again.

haven't done the test yet. too scared to. maybe i'll wait a few more days.

I know I should just ask the nurses at the clinic but all my injection sites are really itchy, weirdly especially in the evenings.

Has anyone had this after Gestone - the last injection was about 2weeks ago so this is weird!

Sounds like an allergy SS, I have similar with insect bites and they can itch for months afterwards. Actually she says remembering, My insect bites (from last summer) started itching again during last ivf cycle, weird. Try taking some piriton (if you have any at home) or if you have some hydrocortisone cream put that on the area and see if that calms it down, also, if you have any gestone left, check out the side effects on the leaflet.

Swerve, Are you at a clinic in London, and if so which one, I am trying to find one that offers this type of treatment, and has a good rep for my second opinion.

I know what you mean about being to scared to test, when are you due to test?

SS: my gestone injections are numb and itchy - euk! my thighs are covered in bruises and, fingers crossed, I've got another 3 months of them! I found hot baths and a dry brush to get the circulation going helped a bit.

Soosy: I go to the lister. When they suggested this approach they told me very clearly that this treatment had not been through clinical trials (though the drugs have been for other treatment purposes) but there is a lot of research being done (mostly from the US) looking at why a pregnancy doesn't hold and this was felt to be an important new direction. It worked for me last time (we assume it was this protocol that made the difference - I'd never made it beyond 1 week post transfer before this). Fingers crossed. Test date is Sunday (or maybe a little leek tomorrow morning, just to see!). Feeling braver now dh is back home to hold my hand (not literally) while i do it.....

Swerve - have you been happy with the Lister - a friend is considering going there. 3 months of Gestone - gosh I struggled with 3 weeks of it! Why so long?

Soosy - I am like that with insect bites too - they swell up huge and can itch for weeks.
Actually you're right, the itching is very similar to an insect bite.

GOOD LUCK SWERVE - someone on here has to get a BFP!

soosy the ugg boots re knitted booties so probably not ideal for 3yo! Made some for 1yo DGodS and he 'crawled' them off in about 5 mins. Think they're mainly for show on babies who don't move! Pic on my profile.

Swerve, good luck for tomorrow if you do decide to test early. How do you feel?

FWIW I tested early on my first IVF cycle as I suspected it had worked - tested on day 10 post transfer. I think a lot of people do test early, but I would try and resist testing early if possible....easier said than done, I know!

SS - I think Soosy has hit the nail on the head with the allergy thing. Have you tried piriton yet?

Have emailed my friend and asked general questions around her clomid treatment, and if she has been referred to a recurrent miscarriage centre etc, and why the clomid prescription. I am hopeful she will respond saying yes, has seen world's leading expert and this is their recommendation - it is just that she really really wants a child and is 40 this year, so hasn't got the time to waste on random ill-thought out treatments - and so I feel that whereas normally I wouldn't impose my views on others in this way, I should really do so this time.

Soosy - how was acupuncture? I am managing to have reflexology again now, twice in a fortnight, which is just lovely for me and I do feel better for it. Hope you are managing likewise.

SS - what an utter waste of time for you, and what a waste of an NHS bed. Barking system.

Sleep well everyone

Can't get MN to load pic at the mo - will try again tomorrow.

so i did it... and a big fat nothin. now i'm trying to convince myself that its a false negative and sunday will be totally different. hmm....

i love the team at the lister. they have all been so kind and helpful through this.

((swerve))
Sunday's still a long way off - you could have tested too early

Good morning nomore!

Morning Yorky (well afternoon now!)

Swerve NMM is right,Wait til Sunday, the fat Lady hasn't sung. Lister was on our list for 2nd Opinion. We have seen Sam Abdullah at the Chelsea & Westminster, but they won't do more experimental procedures. So perhaps we'll have a go there.

OAP, yes I have acupuncture every week now, hoping it will do wonders for my forthcoming FET. I am a glutton for punishment. Hope your friend gets some answers, the place to be referred to is the Lindo wing at St Mary's Paddington, about recurrent mc. It is private but they are the best. Good Luck to her.

SS get that piriton, you'll feel much better.

Having nice glass of Red. See you all tomorrow.

S x

Swerve, so difficult to resist testing early, but Sunday is still a long way away in terms of hormones. Best of luck for your retest on Sunday morning anyway.

Have been decluttering all week in preparation for our move north next month. Cannot believe how much crap we have....still, at least Freecycle has benefitted from this!

Soosy, I've never had acupuncture. What exactly do they do (I have visions of you lying face down covered in great big needles!) and do they do anything specific for fertility?

OAP yes apparently they can increase the blood supply to the uterus and help you relax. There are some recent studies that say that acupuncture immediately before and after an ET can improve chances of pg by 65%. (The study took place in a chinese fertility clinic which have lower success rates, but still that is a hell of a difference.) They use very small needles and I hardly feel them at all, then I don't mind needles, but they hurt much less than using Gonal F pen. They are put all over your body and sometimes in your ears, not only your back. Although my last cycle was unsuccessful, i did manage to freeze four embryos and had the best quality embryos for a very long time and I think the acupuncture had something to do with it. I did have reflexology for about a year and it did make me feel v relaxed, used to fall asleep on the treatment couch thing! I loved it, but it didn't help, sadly, i would love to justify having some more!!!

Sx

Hi all

Thought I would just wish everyone luck with there IVF's and FT.
I am currently half way through my 2 week wait after having a FT on the 3rd March. The 2w wait is a nightmare I dont know what to do with myself, trying to keep busy but not always easy.
This is my 2nd FT and my 5th attempt going down the IVF route. We have also tried IUI 4 times.
I had one MC just over a year ago which was very sad and have now decided to go for it again.
I have lots o twinging going on at the moment and am praying its not my period coming.

Hi Malaket

So sorry to hear about your m/c last year - you would think if life were fair that once you got pregnant after fertility treatment then all should be plain sailing

Do you mind me asking how old you are? Seems like you have had a lot of treatment, poor you

No advice on the 2WW really - last time I was convinced I was pregnant, only to find I wasn't - but being convinced I was pregnant made my 2WW a lot better! When do you test?

Hi Everybody
Just wanted to pop by & say hello hope you are all ok?
Day 6 of our 2ww.
Especially good luck to malaket I too had transfer on 3/3.