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!

Morning @CR7
Thanks I believe buserelin has not long been back in stock so I was lucky with my timing. Are you needing down reg too?

I honestly had the BEST sleep last night. The burserelin makes my whole body ache and feel heavy about an hour after I take it.. it isn't pleasant but did mean I dropped into the deepest sleep. Silver lining and all that 😂

I don't feel too bad this morning 😊 how are you?

Hello everyone, all good and just waiting for AF to arrive and start stims - hopefully tomorrow or friday. How are you @CR7 ?

Speaking of bedsocks, how do you ladies feel about all the funny bits of advice you hear? Here are a few of the ones I’ve heard - are you all planning on following any of them?

Eating the grim middle bit of a pineapple
Wearing thick socks at all hours to avoid cold feet
Eating McDonald’s chips directly after an embryo transfer
Taking CQ10 supplements
Watching a comedy/being made to laugh directly after an embryo transfer
Avoiding all strong smells - including food smells and perfumes etc

It’s like being in some kind of very controlling cult 😂

@Triselly yes to the socks. Basically it's doing everything you can to ensure maximum blood flow to your endometrium after the transfer. Wearing socks will mean that you do this. I bought thick socks especially. My acupuncturist also said no spicy food and no ice cold drinks. My doctor laughed at the cold drinks bit. I was glad because the only way I can drink all this water is if it's cold. I didn't buy jazzy ivf socks but they are all over Amazon. Pineapple some people say yes and others no.
Cq10 I've been taking for ages and is a yes. I was advised to take vita west gold top and silver top (can't remember the names) and also vitamin d.

Vital no perfume on embryo transfer day. It specifically said it in my paperwork xx

Do you know what the reason is behind no perfume?

Morning all!!
I stopped wearing perfume from before my cycle, as well as no perfumed fabric softner, no deodorant, make up etc etc
i read that book ‘it starts with the egg’ which is good but basically scares you in to not having an toxins anywhere near you, including anything perfumed. Can’t say if it actually made a difference but I figured I’d give anything a try 🤷🏼‍♀️
Even if it did also mean me spending over £200 on supplements too 🫣

Also did know about the socks thing! I’ll have to look that up - and I’ve seen on a few threads about the McDonald’s fries but no idea what the reason behind that is lol

I've actively avoided that book so far as it sounds really demanding (and quite frightening) in terms of what you can and can't do 😕

@TheBirdintheCave Yeah I understand that.
I definitively think you have to read it with an open mind and not take it as gospel, some things in there are just unrealistic or even impossible as it’s American and not all of the supplements are available in the UK, but I took which supplements I could and did the things that weren’t so much of an upheaval like stopping with make up / perfume etc but I didn’t do the things like taking all plastic out of my house and completely changing my diet as it just seemed a bit much.
But I can definitely see how people could become obsessed with following it which would be pretty unhealthy!

We did the pineapple thing when my wife conceived our daughter (not IVF, artificial insemination at home) so I'm definitely intending on doing that! Keeping good blood flow makes sense - but would that include some exercise rather than rest? I have terrible circulation so I will be in socks and gloves for sure!

we were told by the clinic not to wear perfume/scents for embryo transfer!
something about because they can remain in the air and make contact with the embryos which can be harmful to them.

perfumes can stay in the air and make contact with the embryos which can be harmful to them.

we were told by the clinic not to wear anything scented for embryo transfer.
I took preconception vitamins.
i didn’t try anything else other than trying to keep fit and healthy, but I didn’t know about any of the other tips!

I was told light exercise is fine after transfer. Just not anything too high impact. Sadly for my job I couldn't stop wearing makeup etc but I think as long as you're conscious of the choices you are making, you can only do so much or you would go crazy.

I also have acupuncture and massages as a pampering treat and I try to book a couple of nights away in the TWW xx

@Triselly this made me chuckle! Are you excited now? I was excited when I was waiting for AF and knew stims was coming.

I read the book it starts with the egg and at first I was a bit obsessed. We have changed some things,

I bought new Kettle as ours was plastic and I work from home and drink a lot of coffee / green teas.

I stopped drinking so much coffee and switched to more water / green teas without caffeine

We've saved a fortune by having less takeaways and eating better, and more clean home cooked food.

Me and hubby are both taking a lot more vitamins - especially coq10 to help with egg and sperm health. This was expensive but the £ saved from takeaways helped here!

I also read about perfume and smells and will be sticking to this. I've bought some in scented products for transfer day(s)

@CR7 Ive been having fertility Accupuncture too and I’ve gotta be honest I really don’t like it 😂 I definitely don’t find it pampering 😬 but I’ve read such good things about it and even my consultant suggested it so I’ve been going but as soon as I (hopefully) get that BFP I’ll be happy to go back to normal massages lol

@HopefulHead it's defo down to the person doing it. Maybe try someone else if you're not getting the right feelings. I find it really good but it is expensive xx

I was an April 2012 ivf cycle, and now mum to my beautiful 10yo miracle.

Wishing all of you on here the best of luck for your cycles - fingers crossed this is the one for you all!!!x

@cr7 yeah it’s definitely not cheap! I just hate needles, don’t think I’ll ever enjoy having them stuck in me for any reason! 🫣

Congratulations 🤍 thanks for your wishes 🥰

@HopefulHead @CR7

I've heard a lot about acupuncture for IVF I must be honest it really doesn't appeal! I think it's because they're needles!

That's interesting your consultant recommended it @HopefulHead. How is it supposed to help?

@charja100 I was also recommended it by my consultant. Relaxation and improved blood flow xx

Hi all.
We had our first trip to the clinic yesterday - just for some bloods, internal scan and DP gave a sample of the good stuff 😄
The place looks good, everyone lovely. Scan was fine although she had to use a lot of pressure as she couldn't find everything, but we got there in the end.
Next appointment is 21st April with the consultant - hopefully it comes round quick!!
In regards to the "tips" people talk about - the McDonald's fries is to do with salt apparently - but not sure how that helps.
The perfume and smellies is because it can impact the embrio on transfer day, its literally just as they are inserting it there is a tiny risk it could pick up chemicals, but once its inside you it's fine.
Personally, I wear minimal make up, I can't not or I'd have no eyebrows 🤣 and I still dye my hair. I'll probably time that so I don't need to once we start meds etc.

I've started having reflexology too, which is amazing. No idea if it will help but its such a lovely experience I'm making the most of it!!

I might look into it. But have I missed the boat already this cycle do you think?

That’s great news @SaraSS , glad to hear everything is moving forward.

@HopefulHead I’ve been doing acupuncture too, I completely agree! It’s like the most uncomfortable relaxation method I’ve ever experienced! Mine comes with a really brutal Chinese massage too, I am honestly not sure whether it’s doing anything useful but the Chinese therapist lady is very convincing when I’m there 😂. I’ve been going to the nearby sauna afterwards just to have something genuinely relaxing afterwards, which really works, but will have to cut that out soon as well.

How are the injections going, @charja100 and anyone else who’s started? Any side effects you’re finding?

@charja100 What cr7 said, and it is also meant to increase fertility hormones due to where they put the needles.
you definitely haven’t missed the boat, the most beneficial time to have it is just before & after implantation due to increasing the blood flow to your lining 🙌🏼

Thanks for the info re the McDonald’s chips - I was wondering where it came from haha.
I have reflexology too with my acupuncture, found it most useful when I was waiting for AF and she was able to tell me how close she was to making an appearance 😆

Glad you’re happy with your clinic and it’s all go now 😃😃