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!

[Sticki]

Hi
Good idea - an IVF thread. I dont think I belong in the ttc threads. We are starting a GIFT IVF cycle in late Jan. Our clinic recommends GIFT in cases of serial failure - its our 8th cycle. We have a miracle DD of 2.5 (who was conceived naturally while waiting for more treatment). Our problem is probably an egg chromosomal one.

Im worried about my negative feelings impacting on the cycle. I need to turn my thoughts to hope that it can work rather than just dreading the failure. But I find it so stressful, especially as all our friends and close family are pg with apparent ease.

PK - I think acupuncture can make a huge difference, not just to easing the symptoms but also I read somewhere egg quality too.

Soosy and Coggy - Fingers and toes crossed! I always underestimate the impact of drug side effects which seem to really floor me every time. But at least with every dose I felt I was doing something constructive, even though I dread the injections. Our ECs are done under sedation which is great (would recommend) so you dont know anything about it.

Heres hoping that 2008 is a happy year and brings us all our dreams!

[soosy]

Hi sticki, I have never been offered GIFT, even though like you we have had serial failure. Are you at a London Clinic? Don't worry about negative thoughts, I have good and negative thoughts the whole time I do ivf, tis the nature of the beast i suppose.

PK, that is the bit i hate about the drugs the bloating, after my last attempt, last June, everyone told me I had lost loads of weight, but actually it was just stopping taking those damned cyclogest pessaries ugh...

How are you doing coggy.. I've 11days or there about before I start injecting. Got to get my prescription filled!!!

[TheMNPeacekeepingForce]

Soosy - reckon I'll be starting the injections at around the very same time as you.

Think I might book some acupuncture in - I am worried about fitting it in this time as I hardly have any time without ds to work and have a massive project on but if it will help minimise side effects etc it will be worth it.
Last time I had so few side effects and was having acu every week so it does hint that that's why things might have been different so far this time.

I am so bloated I feel like my jeans are going to burst open!!

[soosy]

I live in London and I found a fab acupuncturist who visits me at home. It has been interesting when my ds has been around but on the whole he has been v good. I usually have it in the morning when he is at nursery school, but it is the holidays a the moment.

I hope you can find someone to help, if you are in central London then I'll pass on her number.

I am just waiting for af to arrive so I can start my cycle.

I know what you mean about the bloating, no useful info to pass on I am afraid.

[TheMNPeacekeepingForce]

Thanks Soosy - I'm going to go to someone I have used before who happens to live v near me and is lovely.

I went to someone a bit further away in my first cycle of treatment and she was amazing and specialised in fertility issues and pregnancy but now with ds I don't think I can find time to do the journey.

Have felt happier today - not sure why but no PMT type grumps which is good.
Are any of you at UCH?

[Sticki]

PK - Glad you are feeling better today.
Yes we are at UCH. We started at the old site and now the much larger one. Was an easy journey when I was working in central london but now a bit longer from home. The last cycle made me swear I wasnt going back but here we go again..... Its nice seeing all the same people and them knowing our history. We did think we would move clinics but havent summoned the extra energy to do so.

S - I took my DD to a few of the acup appointments I couldnt schedule in nursery time. I agree its a bit less relaxing trying not to let her trash the place. But needs must.... (I also had to take her up to UCH for scans/bloods etc which she loves but I didnt feel v comfortable in the waiting room etc)

Since our last cycle in Oct/Nov I have managed to comfort eat enough to keep up my bloated size - I had to buy some new jeans to wear during treatment and not showing signs of wanting to put them away. Choc is my downfall!

[TheMNPeacekeepingForce]

Hi Sticki - us too. I like them there. The new site is much much better isn't it.
Am very much the same re feeling reluctant to take ds to the clinic as I feel it isn't terribly sensitive. That said first time round I didn't mind seeing people's kids there.

I just guess I'd feel really bad if he started behaving as 2 year olds do sometimes!

Am trying to wangle scheduling all but the Etransfer for when ds is at nursery which should work ok. Not sure what we're going to do for the ET as they only do them in the pm and ds only does nursery in the mornings.

[coggy]

I'm fine Soosy thanks. Just waiting to start on the progeserone tabs - 12th Jan - than I'll really feel like it's all beginning to happen!

Sticki - I read last night about doing a 7 or 10 day liver detox before preparing yourself for IVF drugs. It's in onme of Zita West's books and she says that it helps to cleanse your system before putting all those drugs back into them.
I guess it's relevent for all of us in between treatments.

I'm going to read the rest of the chapter later on today (fell aslepp reading it last night!!) Light-weight!!!

I'll let you all know what it involves.
I seriously need to now get a grip and realise that I must make the most of my body prior to IVF. Re-started Weight Watchers to kick-start me out of the puddings and wine!!
Today has been good so far.....LOTS of water as recommended also.

[coggy]

I've just read back through the last few days properly.

Thanks for putting my mind at rest about the needles and all!
I am a bit of a wimp I have to say!!!
But usually the thought of these things is worse than the doing.

[cedar12]

Hi Just wanted to wish all you ivfers all the best. A special hello to Coggy and Sossy hope your both ok. havent had time to read through the thread but where are you both in the process. Good Luck. I am back to ttc naturally at the mo just had a lapa nd dye.

[soosy]

Hi coggy, It sounds as though we are all starting treatment at the same time.
Never read Zita West, I did do Foresight for about four years, now that is quite brutal, no red meat, white flour, booze. Lost loads of weight, but it was acupuncture that did it for me. So I'm sticking with that. Not entirely surprised you fell asleep though,pmsl!!!

Lots of water also recommended after et.

I wonder if you know each other, by sight pk and sticki? I say by sight, as certainly at the Chelsea & Westminster you don't actually speak to each other in the waiting room. Is it the same at UCH?

Finally picked up prescription today so it feels like its really happening.

[TheMNPeacekeepingForce]

God yes Soosy - no one ever conversed at Acu when I was there last time. It's all very hushed in the waiting room - hence especially not wanting to take ds there.

Yes we must have been doing treatment at pretty much the same time - I think it was Sept 04 for us.

[Sticki]

Coggy
Thanks for the info (and reminder) about the liver detox. I agree its a really good idea with all those drugs. I'll have a look at my old info - like Soosy I did a Foresight brutal diet change thingy years ago. Not sure I have the commitment for that now (just thinking how I would love a glass of wine tonight!). 7 days would be just about survivable!

No one ever looks at eachother in the waiting room, let alone talk. Perhaps a stolen glance whilse on the pretense of looking for a magazine. Yes PK - we have been doing treatment at the same times, so perhaps we have seen eachother there! I also never minded seeing other children there (perhaps gave me a little hope??) so hopefully others dont mind too much. We tend to run around outside until the last minute and hope they are not running too late.

[soosy]

I am getting quite brave in our waiting room and smile at people.

Sticki, it sounds as though you have been at this for quite some time too.

coggy,I didn't mean to be rude about the detox it was just the reading about a detox would be sleep inducing.

[Onlyaphase]

Oh how lovely, an IVF thread just when I need it.

I too feel I don't really belong on the TTC threads as frankly I've been TTC for 6 years now with NO success other than an IVF cycle 2 years ago resulting in our 14 month DD.

Am on day 7 of my second ever IVF cycle, downregging using the pill. Ironic just isn't the word, seeing my IVF clinic handing me a blister pack of contraceptive pills. I used buserelin to downreg last time but became a tad ....tetchy....shall we say on this, so didn't want to go for that again. Am waiting for my schedule of drugs and scans to turn up tomorrow so I know where I am for dates etc.

Reading about the needles etc has brought the nastiness of the injections back to me all over again. Deep joy at the thought of fiddling around with little vials and needles again.

Good luck to us all

[leoleo]

Hi- I had IVF to concieve my ds (2.9). I followed most of Zita West's advice in a book called fertility and cnception. i didn't have acupunture but did have hypnotherpy which i think really helped with all aspects of the treatment including egg collection and transfer.
i think you have to really make time for yourself and your body and as someone else said earlier drink lots and lots of water because ZWest says that your body cannot funtion 100% if it is dehydrated in anyway.
Good luck everyone. still deciding whether to do ivf again.. it's hard work x x

[TheMNPeacekeepingForce]

Leo Leo - it would be so much easier just to have sex a couple of months in a row wouldn't it!

Onlyaphase - ice that injection site beforehand - numbs it. I wish someone could numb my squeamishness though - that's the worst bit! Reckon the first one again will be the worst and then we'll all be stabbing away, not quite happily but as a matter of routine.
That is ironic you've been given the pill isn't it. I didn't know it could be used for downregging.

What are those of you who are just about to do cycles going to do with your dc's when you're having the actual transfer - I've been told by our clinic ds can't be there. Probably not a bad thing but I don't really know what to do with him (no kindly but sensible rellies nearby to take him and he doesn't do nursery in the pm)

[Onlyaphase]

MNPKF - its a tricky one isn't it, care of DCs during IVF. I have no childcare or relatives nearby (sadly my mother died several years ago and I would much rather not involve MiL).

Luckily DH's work has a really good policy for IVF so he can take time off for scans etc. In reality he will probably work at home for those days (maybe 6 of them?) and I will take myself off to the clinic while he babysits. Embryo collection is the time that is worrying me as we both need to be there for our various "duties", and we really can't take DD with us for the whole morning, and I won't be able to drive after the sedation. I have asked a very good friend to help out, but it is an enormous favour to ask - 90 min drive the night before plus 4 hours babysitting then drive back. Do you have a similar friend you could ask? Or else maybe a babysitter, or an extra session at nursery?

For embryo transfer, will probably have DH and DD in the car waiting for me. Not ideal, but neither is the whole bloody IVF process.

[leoleo]

hi i forgot to say we go with Barts in London.

[coggy]

LOL at you worrying about being rude Soosy!
The whole thing is enough to make you want to drop off isn't it???!!

I looked into the foresight info but have to confess to agreeing with you and sticki - it looked VERY full on and scary...and that was only reading about it!! I'm very impressed that you both managed to do it.

Cedar...I'm on CD13 and waiting another week or so before starting to take progesterone so that the clinic can time when I do my IVF. Probably scheduled for egg collection near to the end of Feb. I'm waiting foir a schedule to come through the post.....but nothing yet. Hopefully in the next couple of days otherwise I'll phone them.

Would it be a good idea to have a profile-type thing of each other eg. how many IVF tries, age, number of DC etc. or is that just really nosey of me??!!

[TheMNPeacekeepingForce]

Great idea Coggy.
Mine's:
MNPK - 1 previous cycle resulting in ds (2.6), Clinic: UCH, currently doing FET, transfer expected mid jan.

[coggy]

MNPK - 1 previous cycle resulting in ds (2.6), Clinic: UCH, currently doing FET, transfer expected mid jan.

Coggy - 3 X clomid resulting in DS who was tragically stillborn, 4 IUIs, now 1st IVF - just has the letter W/B: 4th Feb for egg transfer (Haven't started any drugs yet - can that be right???!!!)

[Onlyaphase]

MNPK - 1 previous cycle resulting in ds (2.6), Clinic: UCH, currently doing FET, transfer expected mid jan.

Coggy - 3 X clomid resulting in DS who was tragically stillborn, 4 IUIs, now 1st IVF - just has the letter W/B: 4th Feb for egg transfer (Haven't started any drugs yet - can that be right???!!!)

Onlyaphase - 1 previous cycle two years ago resulting in DD (14 months) currently downregging to start another IVF cycle. No dates yet but expect to have egg collection around end Jan. Clinic not that hopeful this time due to my age (38) and poorish response last time.

Coggy - that sounds about right to me as you should be on the stimulating drugs for around 10-12 days only before egg collection. Downregging before that can last up to 4 weeks but often not, it depends on the clinic and their timetable. I also wanted to say how sorry I was to read your short history, and to see the loss of your DS. How very sad.

MNPK - did you say you were on a medicated FET? In my ignorance I would have thought that they would just monitor you and transfer the embryos at the appropriate time - what sort of drugs are they using?

[soosy]

MNPK - 1 previous cycle resulting in DS (2.6), clinic UCH, currently doing FET,transfer expected mid Jan.

Coggy - 3 X clomid resulting in DS who was tragically stillborn, 4 IUIs, now 1st IVF - just has the letter W/B: 4th Feb for egg transfer (Haven't started any drugs yet - can that be right???!!!)

Onlyaphase - 1 previous cycle two years ago resulting in DD (14 months) currently downregging to start another IVF cycle. No dates yet but expect to have egg collection around end Jan. Clinic not that hopeful this time due to my age (38) and poorish response last time.

soosy (38) - 9 icsi cycles, 2 fet's, first resulting in pg mmc at 10 weeks, 3 iui's with donor sperm, 4ivf cycles with donor sperm , first resulting in darling life saver ds (2.11) currently waiting to start 5th ivf cycle, which should start end next week, beginning week after. All at the Chelsea & Westminster.

Sorry its all a bit long and complicated, and yes I think I have had everything, but as you can tell we really wanted a family.

I know what you mean about childcare during treatment, like you onlyaphase, my mother isn't around and I would rather my mil didn't. DH usually takes time off, we live v close to the hospital and I have always walked home after sedation, Dh & Ds come to pick me up. The hospital do think I am nuts btw. The hospital have been v good during scans and sometimes the nurses play with DS or he has come in to the room with me, he is quite aware about what is going on this time and when I went to pick up my prescription, he asked if i was going to have an ultrasound and if he was coming too.

About it being easier to have sex to have children, it would be, but do you know I have got quite used to it now, takes about 10 years!

[TheMNPeacekeepingForce]

Dh had a big row with me last night about my being negative during the cycle (and generally in life) and that if I don't have positive stuff to say I shouldn't say it.

I feel this is a little unreasonable as heck who'd choose to do this treatment lark.

He says we chose to do it and should be grateful we at least have this option.

It is not him taking all the drugs and feeling shite though is it.

Anyway, has anyone got any tips for me on how to stay positive during this as I don't feel very positive right now....