TTC for 18+ months and feeling low!

[Natty2]

I'm fairly new at this forum and decided to join after TTC since the start of 2022
We discovered earlier this year that my DH morphology was low, although all other results were normal. He implemented life style changes straight away, and even went through a varicocele embolisation a few months ago, so we're waiting to see if that's helped.

Having gone through the rest of the year undergoing tests everything seems normal, so the NHS are not letting us even get on the IVF list until 2024. It's been such a long, physical and emotional journey and there seems to be no end in sight.

Anyone else going through similar things? I feel like I live life in 2 week cycles and it's so hard to try and not think about it all!!
Any tips?!

@Emz09 on my first round I think I had a scan on day 6 and second time they checked me day 1 (just to make sure I was ok to go for another round that quickly after first) and then I asked for day 6 again so they could adjust the medication if necessary.
I would call them and ask for sooner if you are concerned!

@Natty2 @LucyLoopyLu thanks girls! I have messaged them. After all the nurse who called me today to arrange scan was like what medication did you start...I thought have you not looked at my protocol? So after that and your encouragement I've messaged them on the app.

Also what I wrong with me tonight I couldn't stop laughing during the injection. 😂

@Emz09 better laughing than crying 😂

@LucyLoopyLu I thought this, bust hubby was not happy haha made his job more difficult haha

@Emz09 haha yeah fair enough! My husband did my injections for me too, I'm still very grateful as not sure I would have managed to do my own! It will all fly by now you've started 🤞

@Emz09 definitely better to be laughing!! Im glad you're getting on ok with it and also reached out to them. Hope they can book you in earlier for reassurance!

Hi ladies! All is going well and I hope you are too?

Day 5 today so tonight we start to add in cetrotide which is nervous about cause I see this one seems to sometimes cause burning or hives.

Did any of you take a stool softener during stims, if so do you recommend one as I feel like I'm going to need it. Sorry TMI!

@Emz09 yeah I found the cetrotide stang quite a lot after injecting but it didn't last long. You're in the swing of things now though so don't worry, it'll be fine! I think some people put ice on afterwards so you could try that.

Sorry not sure about a stool softener - might be worth getting a pregnancy safe one though in case you need it in the 2ww

Hope all is going well x

@Emz09 day 5 already! I had a couple of days of stinging with the second injections and a rash/ burning but it did go down after about half an hour. After a few days my body got used to it. Hope you got on ok!

I was just recommended having a high fibre diet, which is helpful when you are on progesterone for transfer!

I've been having quite a bit of pain since the weekend, so ended up seeing the gp on Monday who booked me in for a scan yesterday. Baby is doing well which is a relief, so most likely growing pains. Also have an anterior placenta so may not feel movement for a while and we found out we're having a boy 🩵

Hope everyone is doing ok on here!

@Natty2 ahhh a baby boy!!! How exciting! How many weeks are you now?

@Emz09 I was prescribed lactulose during pregnancy and fybogel tablets I think it’s called you can get from shop are safe too

@missmoosh just over 16 weeks now and I feel like the last month seems to have flown by! Started to be able to enjoy the pregnancy now which is nice. I'm huge already! I've been surprised at how bold people have been at commenting. A few people have seriously questioned whether I'm having twins and one woman this week said oh you're not as far along as I thought!
I'm quite petite so it's got no where else to go!!

How are you getting on?

@Natty2 oh honestly people are the worst!Why they think it’s anpprop to comment on someone’s size 🤔
I always got comments saying I wasn’t that big, which stressed me out that she wasn’t growing properly! She was just a tiny baby but is now 50th percentile at 7 weeks (tomorrow).
gosh that has gone so quickly! Nearly half way there!

We are getting on well, little one has been rather fussy this last week but has started smiling! We have an evening witching hour (hours) every day which is tough but it’s worth it to see those smiles!

@missmoosh @LucyLoopyLu @Natty2

The app didn't tell me you all responded!
Thanks all for your replies 🤍

So glad everything is going well with your pregnancy @Natty2 and a baby boy! How wonderful and exciting! It's crazy what people say, I've noticed it even now. My manager at work when I said I was worried about second jab stinging, I had the response you wait till you're pregnant....honestly.

So first to cetrotide bled and bruised but all good now and I don't feel the jab, hubby has mastered it! Had my first monitoring scan today and lining is 12.3 which I thought sounded too thick haha and then have 30 follicles responding but some of them are below 10 so I don't think they'll catch up. Around 6 atm in right and 6 on left that are all about 12. So another scan Wednesday and they think egg collection this Friday....13th! Haha xx

@Emz09 sounds like it's all going well! Let us know how you get on. Egg collection will be all over before you know it! X

@Emz09 best of luck for egg collection today!

@missmoosh hope you are getting on ok and the last week has been better. I'm sure those smiles are 100% worth it!
I'm really looking forward to just being able to feel baby move, I've got an anterior placenta so it may be a while yet!

@LucyLoopyLu how are you doing? Are you around 25 weeks or so now?

@Natty2 hi, yes I'm 25 weeks now. Everything going ok so far (fingers crossed). Midwife appointment next week, then holiday, then gestational diabetes test. Not looking forward to that!

I'm mainly suffering with piles, indigestion, heartburn etc now. And trouble sleeping / feeling exhausted. I think these are all "normal" though so hopefully everything will still be ok for flying next week.

Still bought absolutely 0 for the baby so we really need to crack on in October.

How are you? How many weeks are you now? X

@Natty2 yes doing better, she’s starting to find a rough routine for herself! Though I disrupted it today and she was a right grump about it 😂😂 hope everything continues to go well for you and ahh shame about the anterior placenta delaying feeling baby, but you will be able to soon I’m sure ❤️

@LucyLoopyLu not long now for you! Recommend getting on top of the piles asap, I still have one nearly 8 weeks postpartum after another round of prescribed stuff for them and it’s very annoying! But all your symptoms sound totally normal, can confirm newborn sleep deprivation is still better for me at least than the shit sleep I got in the third trimester haha

@Emz09 hope collection went well!

@missmoosh it's so nice to hear you're doing well.
Thanks for the tip, I'm not sure what else I can do to get rid of the piles - or pile, as it's just one I think. I got it when I was in the thick of OHSS constipation and it keeps flaring back up. Can't seem to get it to heal completely even though I'm not constipated at all any more. I'm going to check if there's anything else I can do with the midwife next week but let me know if you have any ideas! I don't want it to get worse.

@Emz09 hope your EC went ahead and went brilliantly today 💞

I survived egg collection, I must say I really didn't/don't enjoy the after effects of the sedation. I'm not good when drunk so this made me feel dreadful but all done.

Freeze all cycle, but I'm kind of glad just based on how I feel now! Injections for 7 days to lower oestrogen to hopefully keep OHSS. I had around 36 follicles stimulated in the end so they switch my trigger shot to not be HCG. They collected 24 eggs so now I just pray for the next coming days that some make it to being froze 🤍🫶🏻.

Thanks all for your well wishes and I hope you are all well. Xxx

@Emz09 24 eggs is amazing! I had this on my second round, so got everything crossed that you end up with some frozen embryos 🥰 hope the next 5 days go well and hope you don't end up suffering too badly with the bloating! Heat pad was my saviour!

@LucyLoopyLu oh poor you, hope you're not suffering too much. Crazy what our bodies go through! Hope next week goes well and have a lovely time away.
I'm just over 17 weeks now. Been doing much better over the last few weeks, glad to have had more energy, before that goes again 😅

@missmoosh glad all has been better!

@Emz09 amazing news! Crossing my fingers you have lots to choose from!

@LucyLoopyLu i had to go to the GP and get prescribed stuff for mine, mine thrombosed and it was the worst pain! I still have a skin tag type thing left from that one! But 2 kiwis (skin on ones) helped me avoid the constipation alongside lactulose from GP. End of pregnancy is basically a game of avoid the constipation 😂

@Emz09 hope your day 5 update went well 🤞🤞

@Natty2 I was absolutely dreading the updated, purely because were unexplained and so far everything has almost gone too well. From our 19 fertilised I was really preparing for a huge drop off but I cannot believe I get to share that 15 made it to day 5 and have been frozen! We are extremely grateful and happy that we get 15 changes on our one round. I know this isn't always the case for everyone 🤍🥹

That's incredible news! So pleased for you 💛 let us know how you get on with your FET!

@Emz09 that is amazing news!! Do let us know when you do the FET, how long will you have to wait?