IVF Buddies: the next chapter

[RunningOnHope]

Hi everyone, thought I'd try making us a second thread now the old one is done -

Tagging @Triselly @lemons44 @CR7 @Flowerlover010 @pongom @WholeZebra @TheBirdintheCave @SarahShorty - will go back to the thread and see if there's anyone else to add in, but do tag those I've missed!

@lemons44 I'm so sorry sweetheart xx It's so awfully unfair. Sending you lots of love and thinking of you both.

So sorry @lemons44 its so cruel. I think the best thing is what you're doing focus on the next steps xx

Hope you’re feeling alright, @lemons44 , I think a lot of us can relate to not being able to stop crying when given really awful news during the cycle. The hormones just play havoc with you as well, it’s such a truly gut wrenching, heart breaking process. I would definitely keep on testing for a few days though, as a few of us didn’t get positive pregnancy tests until several days after our OTD.

The nurse wants me back for another blood test on Friday, and she thinks it’s too early to try to see anything on a scan. Both her and the dr are ‘very confused about what is going on’ very confidence inspiring 🙄but I feel fine and haven’t had any more bleeding so feeling tiny bit confident. And next week we can go for a scan and finally figure out where the little dot is.

I hope everyone else is doing ok, this week has been brutal to our little group. Thinking of you all and so glad that you are here xx

@lemons44 I'm so so sorry you're going through this. For me, both my negative cycles were negative on OTD and stayed negative. Once I stopped taking the drugs, a few days later my period came. It's just the worst after such a long process and all the waiting. We are all here for you xx

It's such a confusing time for you xx so you have now had three blood tests and the numbers are still going up but not as the drs would like? Have they sent you to epu or just expecting you to keep waiting. No more blood at least thanks goodness @Triselly you're so brave and strong xx

Thank you everybody for your support. So very grateful to have this group ❤️

I have started spotting now so think AF is arriving. I have to take the pessaries for two more days until my finger prick pregnancy test on Friday and then I can stop and give my body a rest from the hormones.

I think part of the reason I've felt so upset these past few days is i was so hopeful going into the first round and this is the first time I've actually thought 'shit... what if IVF doesn't actually end up working for us?'. Like a really big and scary realisation that feels like such a blow to my chest.

I also feel under a bit of pressure because we only have another 3 vials of my husbands sperm. We paid 6k privately for his sperm to be extracted as his testicles are damaged from a hydrocele operation when he was a teenager so his sperm is blocked from coming out naturally. If we run out of sperm (especially if they need more than one vial for the next round) then we may also need to redo his surgery too to get more sperm. Just adds another layer of complexity (and cost).

Sometimes it all feels so overwhelming I want to hide under my duvet!

I don't know if any of you have noticed but there's been loads of posts lately on mumsnet with people with strong opinions on things like IVF, donor sperm, surrogacy etc. There's so much hate and I just want to scream at all these people and say 'you have no idea how hard it is dealing with infertility!!!!'. Maybe I'm just sensitive at the minute.

@Triselly I am so so hoping and preying for you that this turns out the way you want it to 💗 you've been through such a rollercoaster x

@lemons44 I know exactly what you mean about the strong opinions crowd! We've just had a very unsuccessful second ICSI cycle, had a transfer last week with a v low quality embryo. We've decided if this transfer doesn't work we'll use donors. Want a baby more than our genetics. Guarantee if any of them were in our situation they would consider it too!

@lemons44 they have no idea. But there's also some crazy looking threads on here about crazy topics with crazy women showing ALLLL of their crazy to the world. Fck em xx

@lemons44 they haven't struggled like us, which is why they are so clueless. Everyone is fighting a battle unknown to others, which is where the #BeKind hashtag came from. Some people really are just thoughtless hacks when it comes to fertility struggles. Take no notice of them xx

@blankspace5 good luck with this transfer xx

@lemons44 so much love and sympathy. It is a really hard journey. People should absolutely keep their opinions to themselves and say nothing unless it's unequivocal support for those going through this.

@Triselly you're doing so well, keep plodding on, there will be answers soon! Are all your tests through your clinic? As soon as I called my GP and asked for a referral to EPU I was there being scanned within 24 hours, and that was at 5+2.

I've finally spoken to my clinic again and arranged next steps: call them when I next start a period to book FET and hopefully a debrief appointment in the meantime.

Does anyone now how the FET process goes? We've got an appointment booked on Weds with our clinic to talk about it but I'd rather go in armed with extra info! My 'AF' after egg collection started today. I wasn't expecting it this early so that was a bit of a surprise 😂

From what I remember they said after egg collection it's the next cycle they'll use for the FET so from the AF starting approx 20th of June. I'm scared they're going to want a scan around CD 23 again and we can't do that as we'll be out of the country 😕I will actually consider cancelling the holiday if that's the case. I am not waiting any longer.

@TheBirdintheCave explain what you mean by how it goes?

You will need to be in the country for scans etc to see how your endometrium is growing and to ensure no large follicles are growing.

So yes you'll either have to postpone your holiday or postpone the treatment

Hi @TheBirdintheCave can i ask how many days was it after EC that AF arrived? This has been a burning question on my mind. Thanks.

@Flowerlover010 I am seven days post EC today :)

@CR7 We go on holiday from the 7th of June to the 15th of June (CD 20-28 of this cycle). FET is planned for next cycle starting June 20th approx and we're not away at all during that one. I think my question was: will any scans be needed in the cycle preceding the one they do the FET in?

@TheBirdintheCave ah gotcha. No not at all. X

@CR7 Ah fabulous :D I can go to Italy and not worry about missing out now 😂

Also be aware your next cycle may be a bit longer (mine always was after an egg collection) as your body gets rid of all the drugs and hormones in your system.

@CR7 Ah ok. Irritatingly they're long anyway (around 33 days) but oh well, I've still got loads of ovulation tests so I'll keep a close eye on it.

@TheBirdintheCave mine got up to 39/40/41 respectively after each of my three collections. I just checked. But everyone is different.

Thank you @CR7 ❤️ I don’t think I’ve got anything on the bravery of you and a lot of the other ladies here! I’m back for my 5th blood test tomorrow morning. The number is going up very healthily now, but it started off very low and they don’t know why is was so low to start with - I think it might just be late implantation? Also I honestly have no idea about whether EPUs exist here?? Should probably look into this…😅

How are you doing? Are you getting any symptoms yet? Xx

@lemons44 Thinking of you today and hope you’re ok xx I can relate in that I have a similar situation with my husband and we also have 3 vials frozen, and will have to redo PESA/TESA if everything fails. It’s like another layer of medical intervention required to make this happen and I do understand it’s just more stress to add to your plate.

But just because it doesn’t work the first time absolutely is no indicator that it won’t work the next time, as I know so many ladies will tell you. I am sure you are not feeling like thinking about next steps rights now, but hope you are able to take some time for yourself and rest and recover. We are all here if you need or want to vent or anything at all ❤️

I hope everyone is doing alright, thinking of all of you in all our different stages. @RunningOnHope have you heard anything about your job application yet? Xx

@Triselly That's really exciting to hear your numbers are rising well :D

@Triselly absolutely sounds like it could just be a slow start, really hoping everything just progresses nice and positively for you!

Thanks for asking about the job - I'm nervously waiting to hear if I've been shortlisted. It's almost as bad as the 2WW! And a watched email inbox never seems to ping...

@Triselly apart from being hungry in the night and not hungry in the day, no symptoms at all. Bloods all looking ok. Just got to sit tight until my scan next week.

I have my fingers crossed for your blood work tomorrow xx

Thanks for your message @Triselly
It is actually kind of weird how similar our situations are. Both using our husbands frozen sperm (both have three vials left) and we both had an 8 cell day 3 transfer with no others to freeze. Was your husbands azoospermia obstructive? Was this your first IVF round?
I am routing for you so hard! I hope so much that the next blood test shows even higher numbers 💗 I'm mentally cheering on your little dot xx

Thank you again everybody for your lovely messages 💗 we have our follow up consultation on Monday. I am hoping I will get some reassurance from the doctor on what they can change so that we don't get 10 immature eggs again. I think that will then make me feel a bit better going forwards with a new plan of action xx