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!

I know I need to step away from the tests for a few days but I couldn't resist doing a cheapie this afternoon. I know that the exact same test was stark white two days ago so wanted to see if there was a hint of anything that might suggest it's not a clearblue anomaly on the other one.

It's super faint again and couldn't get a photo to show it well so have become a person who turns up the contrast on a picture to show it! It is something though, and as I say, there was nothing on the same brand two days ago.

Hoping this contents me enough to wait a couple of days now.

Especially in the afternoon @RunningOnHope as they often say first wee of the day xx you need to give yourself a little break from the tests if you can; final hurdle for us now

@CR7 you are definitely an inspiration for how you handle all of this with such composure. So glad you're sharing the journey.

@RunningOnHope I promise it's not composure xx

It's self preservation. I would rather keep happy and hopeful. Otherwise I get into a negative spiral which is no good for me and the 🥚.

I have also had two negative transfers so would also rather not know yet if it's bad news yet xx

@RunningOnHope I see it I see it! Oh my god so exciting :D

Hi all!

@RunningOnHope I 100% see that! How exciting for you. I will keep everything crossed that the tests get darker for you over the next few days.

Little update from me.. we have our little 8 cell 3 day embryo on board! 🎉 But it was a real dramatic day 😅 the doctor couldn't get to my cervix, it was too high up and at a funny angle. She tried so hard and for about 45mins-1hour using all different speculums. I had to have gas and air as it was uncomfortable at times. I'm quite tall so it normally is quite high up but today proved almost impossible to get access.

In the end she said we will have to do a freeze all, freeze both our day 3 embryos and then I will have to stop this cycle, have a bleed then start a frozen cycle and have it done at a different clinic under general anaesthetic.

Me and DH were in shock. I asked if they could just sedate me there and then. She told us to go away for an hour and have some fresh air and a change of scene. I think whilst we did this the nurses had some lunch and the doctor rang some other clinics for advice. All the while I was BUSTING for a wee. I had to let out 5 seconds worth so I didn't pee my pants but I couldn't let out too much pee as they told me not to drink anymore incase I needed sedating. So that was pressure to let out just enough pee that my bladder was still full but I didn't wet myself 🤣

We came back and this time we had more nurses in the room. She said we would try it in a different position. If that didn't work they would sedate me. And if that didn't work we'd have to freeze all and I'd need a general anaesthetic on a different day.

The new position was me sat almost totally upright. It was uncomfortable as my bladder was so full. With the first speculum she couldn't see the cervix but with the second speculum... she said hoorah I've found the cervix!!!! And everybody in the room (the doctor, three nurses, the embryologist and my husband) all clapped and cheered LOL. Then it only took a few mins to get the embryo inside of me.

So that is the story of my first embryo transfer 🙃

We decided in the end we are going to keep our second embryo developing and prey it gets to day 5 to freeze. So we are hoping for the one inside me and the one still in the lab 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Oh my goodness @lemons44, what an ordeal for you!

Well done for advocating for yourself when they suggested a freeze all and you wanted to get on with it. I'm glad they listened to you and found a way. It sounds awful and difficult, and I am absolutely crossing everything that it proves to be all worthwhile and your little embryo settles in nicely!

Hope you're having a really relaxing evening to recover, you deserve it.

@lemons44 you're a bloody warrior queen!!!!!)))

@lemons44 Bloody hell 😳

Wow @lemons44 that sounds like a really stressful ET - I’m so glad you got your little one back with you though! Hope you can have a relaxing evening - and congrats on being PUPO!

Thanks all. And I know! Totally not the transfer we was expecting. I've never had major issues with my smears so this took us by surprise.

It wasn't very sentimental. By the time we finally got access to the cervix and the nurse started scanning to show us the transfer I was just like 'JUST GET IT UP THERE' 🤣 I was exhausted by this point lol. So we didn't see it get implanted as the doctor just did it super swiftly but we did get a picture after.

Hope you are all ok this evening and thanks for the messages of support today xx

@lemons44 Congrats on being PUPO! Sorry it was such an ordeal ☹️

@lemons44 oh my god!!! You did absolutely amazing to hold that pee in!! I can only imagine how bloody hard that would have been!! Geez not as straightforward as it was meant to be! IVF forever throws up surprises! Fingers crossed for you now xx

Woke up to brown blood this morning...

I know it can be normal but it could also be a very short lived positive...! Will test again when my wife is up - she's being doing all the nights and early morning shifts with our toddler since I had the embryo transfer and I really want to give her a lie in today, but also just want to know what's going on.

@RunningOnHope I had similar around 11dpt. It was implantation spotting. Although it is possible to bleed through progesterone, it's very rare. I'm still hopeful for you xx

Thanks @SarahShorty that's good to hear.

I've been having some pain on one side too, on and off since I got up this morning, and I'm a bit concerned about ectopic. If I call the clinic, would it too early for them to see anything at this stage?

@RunningOnHope I hope you get to test soon. Wake up, wife! 😬

@RunningOnHope Cross posted! Sorry about the pain. I had a bit of that in my last pregnancy which turned our to be coming from the corpus luteum. Definitely call the clinic if you're nervous but I think it's unlikely they'd be able to see anything yet :/

Thanks @TheBirdintheCave. Test this morning is even fainter than yesterday I think. I can barely see it. Wife thinks it's the same as yesterday. But it's not looking good.

Never mind.

I'm sorry @RunningOnHope that sounds very stressful - I have heard lots of women say they bled a bit whilst pregnant - but I'm sure your clinic will be able to give you some answers. Hopefully your wife is awake by now so you don't have to worry alone xx

Good morning @lemons44 ! How are you feeling today xx

Also meant to say @Triselly thank you for the yoga link xx

@RunningOnHope Sorry :( Will your clinic do bloods for you to see what's going on?

I had my second scan an hour ago. 44 follicles now so it will 100% be a freeze all cycle 🤦🏻‍♀️🙄 Still, at least with that many I can be sure we'll get at least a few good embryos to use so that's the only silver lining here.

Egg collection will be Tuesday morning at 10.30 with trigger shot(s 🙄) on Sunday night 😬

@TheBirdintheCave 44?! That's quite the collection!

@SarahShorty Yep! My favourite number too so we laughed when he said it 😂