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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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IVFers thread

839 replies

TheMNPeacekeepingForce · 23/12/2007 18:51

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!

OP posts:
bambilocket · 20/04/2008 09:24

Hi Startingnow! I don't know that much about ICSI but do have a friend doing it right now so could try and tap her knowledge maybe.... I'm 40 too! There are lots of knowledgeable people on mumsnet, I'm sure someone will be able to answer your questions.

swerve · 20/04/2008 19:15

hi guys. I hope you all had a happy weekend. Bambi, how are you getting on? have you taken up knitting to pass the time?

Starting, welcome. Ask away! i've had 5 icsi cycles with extras (otherwise known as can I super-size that?). Icsi is more and more widely used, as far as i can tell.

sorry its such revolting weather over there. Not a week to be on a boat or anywhere else. More snow?

I've been hiding for a while. it all gets too much between cycles. and then a friend who did a cycle at the same time when we both got pregnant told me that she was pregnant naturally!! And what a hassle it would be to have 2 under 18 months!!! I'm really delighted for her but does she not get it? I really thought i would be calmer and more rational this time round...

now waiting for AF (due early May) so we can plan the icicle round.

bambilocket · 21/04/2008 14:01

Hey Swerve, I know what you mean about it all getting too much sometimes. I really didn't think I'd get this obsessive 2nd time around - but I am! You're friend obviously didn't engage brain, to think that someone who had done IVF could be some stoopid, makes me cross. Anyway, no, I'm not knitting - apart from my brows - did hpt today, 14 dpo, BFN, BUGGER! very low this am but no looking into alternative clinics, at my age I want to throw everything at this issue and fast! Anyone been to the Lister?

swerve · 21/04/2008 14:43

bambi, i'm sorry! . i'm with the lister. (do i sound like a bad bank ad??)

bambilocket · 21/04/2008 16:13

Hey swerve, I've hit the jackpot on 2 out of 3 fresh cycles so I shouldn't complain really (even if in fact I've actually only got one baby out of it). Can you say what you think of the Lister? I've made an appt to go and talk to them on May 8th. They seem to be quoting very high success rates?

swerve · 21/04/2008 16:38

who are you seeing? I have found them excellent and very supportive. They are methodical about working through the problems (which was a little frustrating at the time) but their advice has always been very well reasoned. I have ended up on a regimen of steriods, IVIg, progesterone shots with DH on a mixture of supplements (including arginine and cartinine) to make the wrigglers more wriggly. You need to talk to them about your specific history to get a more accurate assessment of your chances. I was put at something around 25% when i started there. I don't have any experience of other clinics, but the friends I knew having treatment there last time have all since had babies.

soosy · 21/04/2008 18:26

Hi everyone, No, Nomore I was just fishing in threads, its just that I am stupid and cannot read! I am on my fourth knitted teddy, for a friend having a baby in six weeks, I am very , esp as she conceived on the first cycle of icsi, she has a ds same age as mine, which was discovered to be a miracle due to male factors!

Had scan today (natural FET) lining too thin, I am still spotting v slightly (af) don't know what to do, if it is not thicker by wed we will wait til next month, which is difficult as I am all worked up to do this cycle! But better to delay than ... well you know what I mean. Having acupuncture tomorrow and am listening to hypnotherapy cd but any other suggestions to thicken up lining would be fantastic.

Swerve I am wondering whether get some treatment/tests at Lister and then do the rest of treatment at C&W where I am now...... Is it possible.

Bambi sorry to hear BFN But 2 out of 3 is really good. I think i am going to visit Lister too how long to get your appointment?

Lots of love to the rest of you.

S x

nomoremagnolia · 22/04/2008 07:46

soosy could this be an option?
I so hope you take that in good humour!!!

soosy · 22/04/2008 10:29

PMSL NoMore !!!!Yes especially if it can support an embryo! My god you really can knit anything,

sootykalucy · 22/04/2008 18:21

Hello . .

Thanks nomoremagnolia for pointing me towards this thread.

I have been on Suprefact injections now for three weeks and about to start (hopefully) on Menopur next week. Thought I'd try this chat stuff as I seem to get so little information from the Dr's & Nurses and it is quite frustrating at times - never really knowing what is next . . . it's like they only tell you on a need to know basis, where 'need' seems to be defined as far as getting the dose right - not what they do or what side effects (or effects) to expect.

soosy · 22/04/2008 19:47

Hi Sootykalucy wow, sounds like you are doing a long protocol. Hopefully you will actually feel a bit better once you start the menopur, I used to hate downregging and am pleased it is no longer necessary! Are you trying for your first? I am trying to have a sibling for DS (10th attempt) and we are now on 15th attempt Part II (FET) I have to tell you so far we haven't been the most successful thread, but that has to change soon. Where are you having treatment? Please feel free to ask any questions, we have between us had most treatments on offer and some of us quite a lot of treatment. The only advice I can give you is don't give up! Good Luck

Hello to everyone else, it is v quiet here, perhaps you are all enjoying the beautiful weather. Scan 3 tomorrow to see whether we go ahead or not, but good news have stopped spotting, my acupuncturist thinks I am just getting over last IVF cycle, and would prefer me to wait another month, I just think I am getting old....

S x

sootykalucy · 22/04/2008 19:54

Hi Soosy,

I am at Homerton hospital, on the NHS in the UK. Where are you? Why do you say it - downreggin? - is no longer necessary? and Yup, I am an IVF virgin . . .

nomoremagnolia · 22/04/2008 20:03

Hi sootykalucy I'm a first-timer too - am starting the downregging nasal spray tomorrow morning. Am really nervous with an overwhelming feeling of "oh my god this is really happening..."

sootykalucy · 22/04/2008 20:09

Hey nomore,

The spray was what the clinic was using before, but for some reason (again no explanation) they have gone to injections . .. so I am covered in bruises! Already . . . Still my injecting skills are getting better . . . are you in the UK/NHS too?

soosy · 22/04/2008 20:22

I am at Chelsea & Westminster and I do a protocol, which m you start on d3 with FSH until follicles reach about 15mm then you inject to stop ovulation. Downregging is like having the menopause they stop all hormones so that the injected hormones take over. I understand that if you sniff you have to do it several times a day, whereas a jab is only once. don't worry about the bruises I still bruise myself the first couple of times each cycle. OAP (who is on this thread also) dowregs on the pill which sounds quite good as well.

Am also on NHS but am self funding as I had my one funded cycle way back in the last century! and also now have child so do not qualify for free treatment.

Good luck to you both!

nomoremagnolia · 22/04/2008 20:29

I'm UK and NHS funded for this first cycle - if we need more we have to pay (we're already saving - if we hit the jackpot first time then we'll have lots of lovely money for spending on baby things ) I'm downregging on Synarel - I have to do two sniffs am and two sniffs eve (12hrs apart) for 3 weeks then have blood test to check I'm 'switched off' Are your injections downregging ones? I don't know the names of the drugs you mention.

sootykalucy · 22/04/2008 21:06

Hi,

Golly, I am lucky, my trust gives me two free cycles - who'd have though living in Hackney- the poorest borough in the UK - would have such perks!

I think I'd rather sniff than prick but I guess they have their reasons. It seems funny we are all on the NHS and doing different things. . .

sootykalucy · 22/04/2008 21:09

And thanks guy's I sort of understand the downregging idea more now . . . I have my blood test tomorrow, and scan thursday

nomoremagnolia · 22/04/2008 21:20

Fingers crossed for you tomorrow then

sootykalucy · 22/04/2008 21:31

Ta

swerve · 23/04/2008 06:27

morning all! I hope you're all feeling well and those hormones are doing what they should be.

Nomore, i'm excited for you! I felt so much better when I started the process as I found the waiting agony. It's like starting on a journey that you've been thinking about and planning for. I hope it all agrees with you.

Soosy, why not go and ask the lister? Is there any harm in getting another opinion?

Are any of your dh's on supplements? my dh has low and lazy wrigglers and we were advised that there were supplements that helped. This was after we'd done a couple of cycles, so were were a little frustrated not to have been told earlier in the process.

I'm still on the waiting game, for AF. Soosy - May will be a great month for the frosties. It will! it will!!

nomoremagnolia · 23/04/2008 11:22

Had a massive meltdown last night but having actually started the drugs this morning I feel much better. Fear of the unknown is so much worse than actually doing whatever it is you're scared of. (and yes, I know that's the advice I was dishing out on here a couple of weeks ago)

soosy · 23/04/2008 13:28

Hello Nomore Glad to hear you are feeling better now you have started. I remember just being in floods of tears my first cycle.

Swerve Waiting for your af, and for some reason its always not when you're expecting it, just to throw you off balance! Shows that stress really affects your body.

Had scan today lining still a bit thin, so have decided to abandon this FET cycle, Will try again next month in May, so maybe we will be together Swerve. DS is also going through a bit of a phase and I think that plus the trying to move is all taking its toll. Roll on May!

sootykalucy · 23/04/2008 15:00

Hi,

Maybe last night was the night for meltdowns! I decided to start reading 'A child Against all Odds" by R Winston at 11o'clock last night, and the brain just went into overdrive and I was awake until 4am ! Not the smartest sleeping remedy . . . and I understand what you are saying nomore about getting started . . . the anticipation is probably the worst. I did four cycles of IUI and I found them okay because you were always going into the clinic and talking to the nurses etc. The wait to start IVF, then the three weeks of downregging, it all starts to build up . . I can't imagine what the final two weeks are going to be like! Good luck Swerve!

nomoremagnolia · 23/04/2008 17:33

Hi sooty I've got that book too, can't quite seem to get round to properly reading it though, it's more there as a reference if I need it!