IVF April 2023 - looking for buddies!

[Triselly]

Anyone out there starting/continuing IVF treatment next month (April 2023)?

I’m 36, first time everything, and due to start stims early April. Wondering if there are others who might like a thread to chat/vent?

If you’re out there and in a similar position, let me know!

Good luck today @Triselly

@pongom hope the transfer went ok

@TheBirdintheCave how exciting you will be starting! I would ask your clinic if there's anything you can do to try and reduce OHSS. I mentioned this before but I've been told to eat high protein, 2 litres of water a day and 500ml of milk a day. I don't think I am classed as high risk though so the advice for you could be different. On days where I don't think I've had enough protein my DH has been making me a protein shake (which I hate 😖). No idea if any of this is making a difference lol.

Not much to update here. I'm on day 7 of stims today. I have my second scan tomorrow.

Hope everybody is ok xx

@TheBirdintheCave ive been told im high risk OHSS and they have advised they would give me an" antagonist " trigger shot instead of the other one which i think most people have. Im not sure if there are any downsides to that shot but she assured me she wont let me get OHSS with a lot of confidence with this shot. I think no matter what day u have your scan they will monitor and up or down ur dose accordingly so hopefully that will help avoid u getting it.
I also did my first ever injection today which was blood thinner as im way behind everyone else and not even stimming yet and i have to say the relief of finally doing it is unreal! Good luck!

@Flowerlover010 That's exciting that you did your first one! Well done :D I have to wait until 8pm for mine. So I'll be getting in from Zumba and then going upstairs to get cracking. I'm really excited now to finally start.

I do hope this isn't triggering for anyone but this is a screenshot of the video my husband took from the embryo transfer. I quite like to look at it once a day but apart from that I am trying to get on with life as much as I can.

Can I just say to all the ladies @TheBirdintheCave @WholeZebra @charja100 @SarahShorty @RunningOnHope @lemons44 @Triselly @pongom @Flowerlover010 and anyone else I have missed how very proud I am of our sisterhood in this thread throughout this rollercoaster of a journey. Everyone is here with positivity, kindness and support and it means a lot to me.

@CR7 We are a very supportive bunch indeed :) Also, I see the wee one! Gosh it's so incredible that something so tiny can be visible on a screen. How amazing 😬

Each time I've transferred I've felt the magic. Even though it's not worked twice so far it is an incredible thing to be a part of and to see.

If this was us twenty years ago very few of us would have any of the support or science behind us that we have now.

Whilst ivf will not work for us all, it's amazing that it WILL work for some of us xx

@CR7 it's beautiful to see. I still have the photo of my first transfer. We've got all the paperwork for it in a folder at home. There was a life put in me in a puff of white on the monitor, although it wasn't good enough to grow into a baby, there was a life in me from that moment. I really hope this is your miracle baby xx

@SarahShorty lovely, lovely words thank you xx

Sending good luck to all of the April IVF ladies!!! Still check back here from time to time as it will always be a part of my life... our journey worked in the end after 6 years and 6 cycles... just at the point I was losing hope. Will be thinking of you all. Stay strong xx lots of love to you all as you support one another xx

@flowergirl2020 Nice to hear a happy ending story :D I'm glad you got your miracle after all those years!

I love that last line @CR7. What a beautiful perspective.

Oh it didn't quote. It was the line about how amazing it will work for some of us.

@RunningOnHope I got ya xx

Eurgh the googling has started, 3 days past transfer. I have come out in a weird rash all over my torso and now spread to arms and neck.

Now I had this a couple of weeks ago after having a bit of a cold and cough which I put down to viral rash like my toddler gets. And last Friday-Sunday we were all feeling pretty rough - would have thought we had covid if we hadn't tested negative - so logically I guess it's just that again although I've been fine since Monday. Not sure why I'd be getting viral rashes now when I never have before.

Buuuuuut obviously I googled implantation rash to see if there's any chance that could be a thing, and it turns out that it is, uncommon but not rare according to this one research paper I found on it, and in this tiny study, 2 out of the 4 people who got pregnant and had the implantation rash had miscarriages. So obviously now I'm a tiny bit worried that I'm having some kind of autoimmune response and it will all end in tears.

Tell me to step away from google?! But should I let the clinic know...?!

@RunningOnHope defo tell the clinic just to give yourself peace of mind. Ignore google. It will tell you anything it can find to freak you out xx

@RunningOnHope you may be able to get a blood test ordered to check for immune issues. Ask your clinic. And yes, ignore Dr Google. And don't use Dr ChatGPT. Right now you need to relax.

@TheBirdintheCave i have just got my treatment schedule and im also having my first scan on day 7 too despite being ohss risk
Hope that helps x

Thanks @SarahShorty and @CR7. Called the clinic and they were confused but unconcerned and said if I have a fever or anything to phone GP and just tell them I've had an embryo transferred. But they did have any obvious explanation for it, so back to relaxing 😎 which I'm clearly doing very successfully so far!

*didn't have

@RunningOnHope always better to be sure xxx

This page is making me well up! Thank you so much everyone for being here, I can’t explain how grateful I am to have such wonderful supportive friends in this thread, who completely understand and who I can celebrate and commiserate with.

Embryo is now on board, so joining those of you in the TWW ❤️ it was incredible seeing a tiny tiny 8-celled shadow smudge. Feel completely overwhelmed!

@RunningOnHope your rash couldn’t possibly be due to some random external factor like hay fever or a new cleaning product or lotion could it?

Thank you @CR7 and @Triselly

Had hubbies bday yesterday which was a good distraction. We had a take away, I got to eat prawns, and I ate chocolate cake. Although I fell asleep on the couch at 9:30 because I hadn't slept the night before. A good night sleep last night and I'm feeling normal self.

How was ET @Triselly! How are you feeling? TWW starts now, congrats on being PUPO.

@TheBirdintheCave yay! Injections start! I agree with @Triselly. It's great they are going to monitor you. Im sure they wouldn't leave it till then if there was anything to worry about.

@pongom congrats on being PUPO. Sorry there's no other for the freezer. Praying for a sticky bean for you.

@Flowerlover010 yay on first injection! You're not behind anymore. Some of us are out and starting all over again so now you're ahead 😀

@CR7 and @SarahShorty your attitude is amazing. I've hidden my embryo picture in a box. Can't bear to look at it. Maybe that will change in time when it's less raw.

And very true about 20 years ago: I'm adopted and my mum went through unsuccessful ivf and has said how different it is now. She barely even had any idea what they were doing to her at each point. She suspects it's because half the time they didn't know 40 years ago.

@flowergirl2020 your story gives us hope thank you.

So update... I went to the clinic today for HCG BETA, almost felt like a waste of time but I know there's some things they just have to do. Someone will call me at some point tomorrow and tell me something.

Congratulations @Triselly how did you transfer go? Welcome to the wait!

We're going away for the weekend with family, and by bank holiday Monday will be 7dp5dt which is equivalent to 12dpo... so I think we're going to take a test with us for Monday morning, if AF hasn't butted in by then. DW wants to test early so that if it's negative it's disappointment in stages rather than one stark moment, from maybe to probably not to definitely not.

I know it's not advised and feel free to judge 🤦‍♀️

Will be thinking of you tomorrow @charja100 when you get some news either way xx will be here if you need it

Well done for embryo transfer @Triselly !

Stim number one complete! My husband said I did it like a professional 😂 No hesitation, just straight in 👌🏻

We did freak out a bit beforehand as we couldn't see the little droplet on the end of the needle. Then I realised I hadn't twisted it on enough 🤦🏻‍♀️ I think I'll be better at it tomorrow as I know how much pressure to use when twisting now.

And now we have pizza! 😬