Page 7 | Starting IVF December 2022- looking for a tribe!

mrsmw132 · 2022-11-20T19:18:16+00:00

Hello fellow IVF buddies (hopefully), My wife and I will be starting our first round of IVF in December/ January. I will be carrying. We lost a baby this time last year with a missed miscarriage at 9 weeks. So this is a charged time of year for us. We are excited and nervous. We have had our initial consultation- AMH and egg reserve looked good. We have our nurses appointment this week. I am always terrified of being weighed- I’m always sitting in the 29 category- I would love to be lower but struggle with weight loss. How many times and when were you weighed during your cycles? Looking for others who are going through IVF at this time to swap anxieties and stories with a keep each other going. I confide in my wife also, but sometimes it’s nice to talk to the stranger friends you make here to keep you going!! thanks Mrs M-w

MRSLMF · 03/02/2023 08:45

They can do some kind of genetic testing on the embryo which gives them a more accurate gauge on quality supposedly. From what I've read they grade them under a microscope but then with genetic testing some of the ones that have been graded high quality under a microscope could actually have problems and the lower graded ones actually be better quality. I've only read about it on Google so that's about the extent of my knowledge lol I'll ask the consultant at our appt if he feels it's worth trying and what the cost is

Lauralozzle · 03/02/2023 09:04

mrsmw132 · 03/02/2023 07:34

I'll be so hopeful tomorrow that you have me embaby there to greet you. I was so frustrated on the morning of transfer because I thought someone phoned before so that you knew everything was ok. But they didn't. So anxious wait till we were in the transfer suite before there was an embryo update.
We are 3dp5dt today.
Stick baby stick ❤️

Show quote history

That is a nightmare scenario for me. Getting there, changing into the gown, to then be told it’s a no go. Luckily, the message on the portal says I’ll get a call at 9:10 to say how they are, and then transfer at 10:20 if there’s something to transfer. Part of me wishes I had a 3 day transfer, but, if they don’t make it to blast then it probably wouldn’t have made it regardless of a day 3 transfer!

Today is going to be a long day!

Nk11 · 03/02/2023 15:36

@Lauralozzle Hi just wanted to jump on and say that I did have a day3 transfer as I only had 2 progressing embryos and mine did not work. Thankfully the other embryo went on to a blastocyst by day 6 and I am having a FET next week with this.

I personally wish they would have let me have the choice but their protocol was that if there are less than 4 viable embryos then you have to have a day 3 transfer even though the embryologists have since told me that even those that look fantastic at day3 can arrest by day 5 as there are a lot of development stages they need to get through. So it seems likely that my day 3 transfer never made it to blastocyst as I never had any glimmer of being pregnant. For me I would rather have had the call that none made it to day 5 than have the 2WW and pessaries to find out that it probably never made it to day 5.

I suppose there is the theory that the embryo might do better in it's natural environment but I think if it is meant to be it will survive in the lab.
Good luck hope it works out for you x

Original poster

mrsmw132 · 03/02/2023 17:43

Nk11 · 03/02/2023 15:36

@Lauralozzle Hi just wanted to jump on and say that I did have a day3 transfer as I only had 2 progressing embryos and mine did not work. Thankfully the other embryo went on to a blastocyst by day 6 and I am having a FET next week with this.

I personally wish they would have let me have the choice but their protocol was that if there are less than 4 viable embryos then you have to have a day 3 transfer even though the embryologists have since told me that even those that look fantastic at day3 can arrest by day 5 as there are a lot of development stages they need to get through. So it seems likely that my day 3 transfer never made it to blastocyst as I never had any glimmer of being pregnant. For me I would rather have had the call that none made it to day 5 than have the 2WW and pessaries to find out that it probably never made it to day 5.

I suppose there is the theory that the embryo might do better in it's natural environment but I think if it is meant to be it will survive in the lab.
Good luck hope it works out for you x

That sounds so tough.
I'm finding the lack of control in the whole situation the most challenging. So the 3 day vs 5day makes that even more so. Keep us updated on your journey.

OP posts:

Nk11 · 03/02/2023 18:59

@mrsmw132 Thank you. Yes it was very hard as it was also 2 days before Christmas finding out it hadn't worked. I assumed that all clinics had this protocol but I have since learned many people have day 5 transfers when they had less than 4 embryos. I am with ABC IVF though and I think because they boast higher success rates they don't want to take the gamble of getting to day 5 and having nothing left as that would automatically go against their results. Made me feel very guinea pig like. Their reasoning was well you would have said the opposite if we had waited until day 5 and you had nothing to transfer, which I disagreed with.

After this frozen transfer if I do need to go again I'll certainly be looking elsewhere but this being my first time I just trusted what they were telling me. It also hasn't worked out much cheaper as the FET had to be paid for in addition to the cycle where I know others will include any FET in the cycle price.

Does anyone know if having private treatment then voids your eligibility for NHS funding? Still waiting on my initial doctors consultation with the NHS clinic so was unsure whether I would still be eligible when it comes around.

Original poster

mrsmw132 · 03/02/2023 20:15

Nk11 · 03/02/2023 18:59

@mrsmw132 Thank you. Yes it was very hard as it was also 2 days before Christmas finding out it hadn't worked. I assumed that all clinics had this protocol but I have since learned many people have day 5 transfers when they had less than 4 embryos. I am with ABC IVF though and I think because they boast higher success rates they don't want to take the gamble of getting to day 5 and having nothing left as that would automatically go against their results. Made me feel very guinea pig like. Their reasoning was well you would have said the opposite if we had waited until day 5 and you had nothing to transfer, which I disagreed with.

After this frozen transfer if I do need to go again I'll certainly be looking elsewhere but this being my first time I just trusted what they were telling me. It also hasn't worked out much cheaper as the FET had to be paid for in addition to the cycle where I know others will include any FET in the cycle price.

Does anyone know if having private treatment then voids your eligibility for NHS funding? Still waiting on my initial doctors consultation with the NHS clinic so was unsure whether I would still be eligible when it comes around.

I don't know if it voids, but if you have any embryos left privately, as far as I'm aware you have to use them before starting NHS.

It's def worth phoning your local NHS fertility clinic. People pay to be private patients at our nhs clinic.
I actually cannot fault the service that we have received NhS. They have been so wonderful with us.
It was a 7months wait for the initial appointment after our iui procedures.

OP posts:

Original poster

mrsmw132 · 04/02/2023 08:15

Well ladies- I think I'm on a winning streak!
4dp5dt

We had a super faint yesterday but my first FRER, so couldn't be sure it wasn't still trigger.
But todays is much darker and not even a squinter.

Keep your fingers crossed that it keeps getting darker. Beta on Thursday ❤️

Starting IVF December 2022- looking for a tribe!

OP posts:

Lauralozzle · 04/02/2023 08:42

@mrsmw132 I see it!

Original poster

mrsmw132 · 04/02/2023 16:19

@Lauralozzle how was today? I've been thinking of you x

OP posts:

Lauralozzle · 04/02/2023 17:11

@mrsmw132 Thank you, today was good.

Got a call at 9:00, I had one blast and the other one was a bit behind so they were leaving it a day. Quality isn’t great, but it’s better than nothing making it!

Transfer all done. Couldn’t sleep last night at all so I’ve spent all afternoon asleep.

How are you?

Original poster

mrsmw132 · 04/02/2023 17:43

Lauralozzle · 04/02/2023 17:11

@mrsmw132 Thank you, today was good.

Got a call at 9:00, I had one blast and the other one was a bit behind so they were leaving it a day. Quality isn’t great, but it’s better than nothing making it!

Transfer all done. Couldn’t sleep last night at all so I’ve spent all afternoon asleep.

How are you?

I'm delighted they both made it to day 5 and there may even be one to freeze. I'm good. It's been a weird day! Pregnancy after loss is a new thing for me. Just need to take it one nauseous step at a time ❤️

OP posts:

Lauralozzle · 05/02/2023 09:03

@mrsmw132 Is the nausea bad already? I imagine this must be such a difficult process after a loss.

I’ve never had a BFP so I’ve never had that hope/excitement for it to go. It must be a massive mind fuck. Thinking of you!

I knew my blast was poor but I’ve spent all night comparing my blast to pictures of good blasts. Probably shouldn’t have done that! Mine looks so different!

Official test day is 17th Feb. Not sure I can hold out that long! Might test on the 11th, that’ll be 14 days post trigger, 7dp5dt, trigger should be out by then.

Lauralozzle · 05/02/2023 09:13

Nk11 · 03/02/2023 15:36

@Lauralozzle Hi just wanted to jump on and say that I did have a day3 transfer as I only had 2 progressing embryos and mine did not work. Thankfully the other embryo went on to a blastocyst by day 6 and I am having a FET next week with this.

I personally wish they would have let me have the choice but their protocol was that if there are less than 4 viable embryos then you have to have a day 3 transfer even though the embryologists have since told me that even those that look fantastic at day3 can arrest by day 5 as there are a lot of development stages they need to get through. So it seems likely that my day 3 transfer never made it to blastocyst as I never had any glimmer of being pregnant. For me I would rather have had the call that none made it to day 5 than have the 2WW and pessaries to find out that it probably never made it to day 5.

I suppose there is the theory that the embryo might do better in it's natural environment but I think if it is meant to be it will survive in the lab.
Good luck hope it works out for you x

I’m sorry to hear your day 3 didn’t work. I hope your FET goes well.

I suppose now I’ve got to day 5, and there was a blast to transfer, I’m ok not having a day 3 transfer. I think it’s risky when you don’t have many eggs though!

I suppose at day 3 they could have transferred the embryo that is behind, and probably won’t make it. So knowing we had one blast, at the right time, even if the quality of it is poor is better in a way.

I’ve had so many emotions through this cycle, it’s been a massive rollercoaster.

Best of luck 🤞

stephyybhy · 05/02/2023 09:56

mrsmw132 · 04/02/2023 08:15

Well ladies- I think I'm on a winning streak!
4dp5dt

We had a super faint yesterday but my first FRER, so couldn't be sure it wasn't still trigger.
But todays is much darker and not even a squinter.

Keep your fingers crossed that it keeps getting darker. Beta on Thursday ❤️

Amazing! 💕

Original poster

mrsmw132 · 05/02/2023 13:16

Yes nausea already. But I think it's a side effect of the progesterone. I'm so so tired though. I'm going back to work tomorrow so will need to devise a plan for feeding myself all day 😂
Our test said 'Pregnant' today. Such a good feeling. Nervous 😬

OP posts:

Original poster

mrsmw132 · 07/02/2023 17:28

Lauralozzle · 04/02/2023 17:11

@mrsmw132 Thank you, today was good.

Got a call at 9:00, I had one blast and the other one was a bit behind so they were leaving it a day. Quality isn’t great, but it’s better than nothing making it!

Transfer all done. Couldn’t sleep last night at all so I’ve spent all afternoon asleep.

How are you?

How are you doing ? Are you feeling ok!
Hope you are resting up.
I'm back to work, struggling a bit.

OP posts:

Lauralozzle · 07/02/2023 19:02

@mrsmw132 I missed your last post sorry! I’m glad your test said pregnant!

Are work able to put any adjustments in place for you?

Im ok. The other one didn’t make it so just the transferred blast in the running.

I’m ok, went back to work last week on Wednesday. I’m feeling fine, progesterone is a bit of a nightmare though.

TheBirdintheCave · 08/02/2023 10:31

Can I join? I was hoping we wouldn't have to do IVF but I'm now out of time. We gave it a year trying for number two and have unfortunately had two missed miscarriages in that time.

I'm so depressed, the thought of the pain of having to stab myself daily, the risk of OHSS (due to PCO) and the expense are making me so miserable.

I've just emailed the clinic we had our consultation with to say we want to go ahead and to arrange another appointment,

Lauralozzle · 08/02/2023 10:53

@TheBirdintheCave Hello! I’m sorry to hear about your missed miscarriages. That’s tough 😢

What are the next steps with your clinic? Blood work and scan?

TheBirdintheCave · 08/02/2023 10:58

@Lauralozzle The said we have to have another consultation (last one was a scan, AMH, sperm test and results consultation) to I guess confirm our choice and then find out what happens next. I'm a bit miffed that it will cost us £200 to basically say 'Yes we want to do IVF' but I guess I have no choice.

Where are you up to in your IVF journey?

Original poster

mrsmw132 · 08/02/2023 11:02

TheBirdintheCave · 08/02/2023 10:58

@Lauralozzle The said we have to have another consultation (last one was a scan, AMH, sperm test and results consultation) to I guess confirm our choice and then find out what happens next. I'm a bit miffed that it will cost us £200 to basically say 'Yes we want to do IVF' but I guess I have no choice.

Where are you up to in your IVF journey?

Hi @TheBirdintheCave
I'm so sorry to hear about your miscarriages, that must have been awful for you.
Making the decision to start is so hard. I had 6!iui and a miscarriage and chemical. It was really difficult. I have endo, so have been pleasantly surprised at how my body has coped and really supported me.

I have my beta tomorrow but all is still looking positive. Long May it continue.

OP posts:

TheBirdintheCave · 08/02/2023 11:06

Aww congratulations @mrsmw132 :D Those are some cracking lines!

Lauralozzle · 08/02/2023 11:09

@TheBirdintheCave Oh, that’s a bit rubbish!

I’m in the 2WW of our single NHS round. It’s not looking great, only had 6 mature eggs, two fertilised and only one made it to blast which was transferred on Saturday Not great quality.

If this doesn’t work, I’ll be looking at private which is making me a bit nervous cost wise. Think we’ll have to get a loan for a multi cycle package or something. We’re doing ICSI which is another cost, because unexplained infertility for 3.5 years with no BFP ever. I’m guessing my shocking fertilisation rate might explain the unexplained though…

The injections aren’t that bad. My DH did them, I used an ice cube to numb the area.

Lauralozzle · 08/02/2023 11:10

@mrsmw132 Those lines look beautiful 🤩

TheBirdintheCave · 08/02/2023 11:27

@Lauralozzle Fingers crossed for the one they transferred. I'm sorry none of the others made it though :( That's a good tip about the ice cube, I'll remember that one. My husband has a needle phobia so it will definitely be me jabbing myself 😂

Have you looked into any clinics (just in case) yet? We're with King's Denmark Hill and are just going for the one cycle I think.