Assisted Conception and the bits inbetween

[soosy]

Welcome to the new thread I only hope I can link it to the old one

rattling I am due for egg collection on Tuesday and if successful embryo transfer Friday.

This is my first cycle, but from what our clinic recommend I would definitely cancel your meeting on Thursday. From what I understand all the follicle will fill up with fluid once the eggs are removed, so it is like ovulation pain multiplied by no of follicles. We are told to take the day off after egg collection and rest after embryo transfer too.

So after Sunday night no more needles hooray!!! Unfortunately roll on the pessaries. You should have seen my DHs face yesterday when I showed them too him. he said "where does that go?" and I just gave him a withering look at which point he went "oohh that is WORSE than needles"

I am guessing it is going to be similar to a tampon. Any experienced ones out there got any words of wisdom? Other than get in loads of panty liners (sorry if TMI).

Nappy
The cylogest are not v pleasant... panty liners required as you say! I was advised if poss to try to lie down for 10-15 after you put one in. Then the progesterone will hopefully be absorbed, and anything you see will just be the carrier stuff (if that makes sense).
HTH
Good luck!

Good evening ladies

nappyvalley & rattling I'm pleased to hear things are progressing well for both of you, and that you are gearing up for egg collection. I'm learning a lot from you both, so i've got an idea of what's to come shortly! I'm not too thrilled either at the thought of the pessaries - i thought you could insert them rectally as well, and that's not so messy?? Good luck for next week.

londonlottie Wow, that's great that everything is happening so quick for you.

Swerve I hope you are felling wel. I have everything crossed for you over the coming weeks.

Sticki Thinking of you with all the difficult decisions ahead.

rahrah I'm afraid i don't have any words of wisdom, i wish i did. The ivf cycle you spoke about starting - will that be your first? Sorry, i am still working out where everyone is with treatment etc.

Just wanted to ask what everyone does about drinking / not drinking. i have not been given any advice from the clinic on it yet. We don't drink that much at all, and generally only at weekends. I am quite prepared to stop totally (and assume it's pretty essential after ET) but do i need to stop right now whilst i'm just on the pill? (I could really do with that Friday evening G&T )

Well those eggies are a growing and getting a bit twinggy if I sit the wrong way. I have just 1 most injection to go, which is the trigger injection tonight. that phase seems all over very quickly. I can't believe that one way or the other it will all be over by the end of next week.

MOB I stopped drinking on tuesday as my eggies are growing nicely and don't want to slow them down. If we are lucky I will start again after 13 weeks, and even then only occasionally and only a v little.

lottie I have always found FF message boards really confusing and hard to find stuff on. I did once find a great group called "Sisters of the short LP" but then I couldn't find it again! Glad you are finding ti helpful over there though.

Nappy Valley, suggest you use cyclogest rectally, if your clinic will let you, esp during day as they don't leak and although you have really relax when you put them in you don't have to worry about the goo!

I saw consultant on friday and had long chat, ( i have a really nice Dr) . Asked about steroid treatment and he said he had been to many conferences and meetings etc about steroid treatment, but there was no solid evidence that it works, and in his words "you may as well chew gum". I really believe he would prescribe steroids if he really thought they would help me get pregnant, as he said I was more determined than most to have a family. I have made tentative plan to have another cycle of IVF (it would be my 16th cycle) next year, probably Easter hols as I have DS and I can't now make it to London in a morning while he is at nursery and get back to pick him up. We'll see how I feel in the New year about it all, as my treatment is now starting to affect DS's life and that is not fair.

Sticki, yes we made the move, we are in a tiny rented house and looking frantically for somewhere bigger to live. Not very keen on keeping the proceeds from the sale of our London House in the bank at the moment! But there is nothing to buy, Saw a house yesterday, DH V Keen I am more cautious, I think the owner is not desperate to sell at a discount and it is overpriced at the moment.

OAP how are you doing?

Rah Rah, I am sorry to hear things are not going well, but if you have a condition where your blood does not clot normally, I would be surprised if you were prescribed heparin, which is an anti-coagulant and used to prevent clotting. Do not take aspirin either until you have spoken to your consultant.

Lots of love to everyone else

S x

Rah Rah, I'm at the Lister. There are only a few clinics in the UK that currently use this treatment line as (as far as I'm aware) clinical trial data has not yet been published for the use of IVIG and steroids. It is controversial (remember the scandal that broke last year (?) over Taranissi's clinic: one of the criticisms was that it was too keen to offer this treatment in early rounds of IVF treatment, when it is expensive and unproven, though many experts feel it will prove to be an widely accepted support treatment in the future. I've been amazed how the science and understanding improves every year as new techniques are tried and developments made..

Natural killer cells are a fundamental part of everyone's immune system and their activity is / may be connected to failed ivf / miscarriage. Their level is tested for by a blood test.

Having said that, I am now pregnant for the second time in my life. Is it this treatment, luck or some other factor - I can't say.

Through all of this, it's really important to have a dr you trust and helps you with the choice you have to make and to understand the recommendations they make. Yes, push and ask and push some more - but at the end of the day you must trust their medical and clinical decisions.

Sticki, good to hear from you. Yes, I laughed at the idea of planning a July baby! It's a different planet! We had PGS (genetic screening) on earlier rounds and had an unusually high failure rate. We didn't have PGS this round as there were only 2 embryos in the dish. as for donor - I have 2 good friends who've gone to spain for egg donors and had success. One is pregnant, the other has a glorious dc (1yr). Exploring your options is so important to know what the right decision are for your family.

Thanks everyone, for all your kind messages. I'm still going with the gestone jabs (vile vile vile) and all the rest. Scan booked on Wednesday. I'm so nervous about it - every day it keeps going is like crossing another hurdle.

Hi Swerve, great to hear you on the web now you are actually one of the 'positives'. Don't worry too much about the scan's/tests. I think the process of IVF makes us all fault/worry about our body's functioning. I have felt almost a fear of becoming pregnant - because of all the things that can go wrong at the next step. But it is irrational, just because conception was the problem there is no reason to think that pregnancy / birth is. And after all, you've been there before.

Soosy, glad to hear your sale went through, though I can understand what you mean about savings in the bank. As one of the many first-time buyers who never got on the ladder due to the boom I have been splitting my deposit over several banks. But I heard someone on TV the other night saying that by nationalising Norther Rock, the government has implicitly said that all savings are safe, by practice if not in word. You'll be allright.

Emailed my Dr today to see if I can start a cycle in end Oct. Am hoping they can fit me in - but I don't want to downregg, so they might push me back to late Nov. I hope not, I am really keen to get going again after my abandoned one.

Also Londonlottie, good news about your NHS rounds. Pity the trip to Norway is wasted, but it's not like the weather would be any better . .. .

xx sooty

Hi everyone, thanks for your advise.

soosy - I thought this about the blood thinners as my platelets are low and the von willibands is low. But when I was pregnant with the baby I lost at 24 weeks I bleed and bleed but also produced lots of clots. So the doctor still thinks its about preventing the clots. I am more inclined to say its about preventing the bleeding in the first place, but he does not seem to have an answer for this. I'm so confused... I have an appointment with my GP on Thursday to get her advice and whether a second opinion is required. However he did say he was getting a second opinion from a hematologist and an clinical immunologist as my Iga is low in regards to my immune system and he wanted to double check the use of blood thinners and if there is anything else that is suggested. However I went to see the hematologist in August and he said my platelets were only marginally below normal and the use of aspirin would be fine.

My consultant also had similar views on the steroid treatment and said lot of stuff had not been proven and something about suppressing the renal glands... Also he is concerned in my case as I have a low IGa, so he felt steroids would not be right, but is checking with a clinical immunologist to make a decision as I was really pushing for them.

Good luck house hunting, where have you moved too?

Thanks swerve for all the info- I think I have decided to have the blood test, as we have been going at this for 4 years and just can't handle anymore M/C and threatened M/C etc... so it would be good to rule it in or out. I know they have come up with this blood thing now, but that does not explain the infertility and some aspects of how I feel in pregnancy.
Wishing you a perfect scan on Wednesday and lots of love..

NappyValley - OMG, it has gone quickly... happy last pricking

londonlottie - I'm just waiting for my period probably next 2-3 weeks and then day 21 can start my nasals again... So we might be IVF buddies... WOOOOHOOO

Madoldbird - I started my first in August, started the nasals spray for two weeks and then found out I was pregnant, so obviously did not need the IVF. Then M/C at 6 weeks but have been assured by the consultant that it was not due to the nasal spray and would of happened anyway. I drank right up until I started my nasal spray and then stopped totally and was not going to drink through out my IVF. My husband was meant to follow suit but that lasted about 1 night as we were in Italy on holiday. .. typical man!

Sticki - thanks for the info and the book details... I will have a look at that... I have ordered a million books for Amazon.. especially on TTC>>> GRRR

rattling - Fantastic news on your scan... WOOOHOOO Good luck on Wednesday... I would blow your meeting off on Thursday.. Sod work! Tell they your making a baby!

Hello to everyone else.... Lots of love Rah Xxx

Swerve - hope your scan is good on weds and you see that flickering bean with a heart beat. Fingers crossed.
I agree the gestone is horrible! 2 weeks after stopping I still have sore bum/love handles where the injections went. Wierdly my DH liked doing them though! (Said it was the most involved he felt)

Nappy - Hope your EC went well today. Fingers crossed. Hope you dont feel too sore - put your feet up and RELAX!

Have a good week everyone.

Hi All:

Trigger injection was a nightmare involving broken glass, cut fingers etc etc, but managed to get the stuff in 15 minutes late!

Egg collection was find today. I was totally out of it and came round in the recovery room about 40 minutes later.

we got 8 eggs (apparently I asked that question several times while coming round)

The pethadine has taken most of the day to wear off actually, and I do feel a little sore. Apparently I will feel worse tomorrow morning. Still it has been a good day.

Good luck for tomorrow Rattling.

Nappy - WOOOOHOOOO 8 EGG's woooohoooo...You must be EGGSTATIC!!!!

Lottie, I think you will be a little ahead of me, I'm on day 21 since the M/C but she said it could be up to 6 weeks before my period.. GRRR.. Temp is not up yet and been getting loads of ewcm but had that for about 6 days which is really strange.. hubbie has declared no sex between Mon-Fri as he is too tired from work... so getting very little action So will just have to keep trying to lure him into bed if not ovulated yet.

Hello to everyone else... XX

Rah I am sure you can be very persuasive!!!

EGGWATCH update from the south coast. of my 8 little eggies 6 fertilised which is fab, I know we might lose a few more before Friday, but I am still proud of my little team.

Feeling quite sore today, but have not had any paracetamol since 8am which I think is good, although I am picking the demon destroyer up from nursery in a couple of hours, so might have to boost myself up in preparation.

Rattling hope things went ok for you today.

rattling how are you any news????

Nappy - sounds like everything is going well with you. I was worried about the ampules, but in the end had a pre-filled syringe so it was easy.

I had 9 eggs collected yesterday, 6 were suitable for ICSI and 5 fertilised. I've to phone again tomorrow to see how they are doing and decide whether to put 2 back on Saturday (day 3) or wait and put one back on Monday (day 5 blast). Ideally I'd like to wait till Monday, but I think 5 is too few to start with to get to that point.

Made it to my meeting this morning, don't feel too bad, more insanely still planning to have a riding lesson this evening. Felt like I had been kicked in the stomach by a bull yesterday but had to pretend otherwise as my mum was staying with me and was worried enough as it was. Some people go through this 10 times or more I hear? Almost thankful we can't afford that.

Rah - good luck with the luring

hi all.

Nappy & Rattling, I'm so pleased to hear you both had good harvests. It only takes one good one, afterall....

I had the scan on wednesday. it was wonderful to see that flickering heartbeat. And Dh was very relieved that there was only one heartbeat. I also had another IVIG (a great way to spend a couple of hours). Back home now and feeling fine.

Lottie, how was your Guy's evening? How do you feel about it now?

xx

Hi all. Rattling that sounds like a good number of fertilised eggs to proceed.

I have not heard any more so will find out today what the situation is.

This is probably the most nervous I have been through the whole affair, but we are off to soft play in half an hour for lunch. Implantation is this afternoon.

Being kicked in the stomach by a bull is a good analogy. yesterday I felt better but I had such terrible indigestion and trapped wind pain caused by all the swelling inside. It was like being pregnant again!!!

Good luck with your decision rattling. Thinking of you.

Nappy - you don't hear anything between egg collection and transfer? Presumably you get told if the news is bad? Best of luck for this afternoon.

I was due to phone this afternoon for an update, but got a call this morning instead. Not a good sign. Of 5 embryos only 2 are any good, so I went in this morning to have them transferred. Both grade 2, which isn't bad, but on day 2 it really is too early to say how they will proceed.

So feeling a bit low, which I know is wrong - we've made it past a lot of hurdles, there is still a chance.

Hi Rattling. WE did hear after the EC how many fertilised but not beyond that.

They put in the best 2 this afternoon, which for the record was not as painless as I had expected!!!

DH and DS came to watch and they gave us a scan picture too.

I am supposed to take it easy, no hot baths etc, no exercise, no sitting in the sun over the weekend and no alcohol (obviously). Did you get any advice?

I have been really weepy this afternoon and I am not sure if that is because

A) of the change in drugs i.e. "withdrawal" from the downregs and increase in progesterone (which I have to take vaginally apparently or if I want to do rectally I will need to take 3 a day instead of 2)

B) DH has not been as proactive at looking after DS and apparently could not take him shopping with him, as he did not want to go. I ended up at a neighbours in tears, which seemed rather an overreaction to me.

C) I feel really unsure that everything I do for the next couple of days could affect what happens. With the drugs it was out of my hands, now I feel very stressed.

I think I need to text my prayer team for some help and peace IYKWIM.

How do you feel?

Anyone who has been through this got any advice. I have been pretty calm about it all so far, but now I seem to be falling apart.

Final point I promise. As my preg test is supposed to be on my bday and am planning to go out in evening with friends, they have decided to do a blood test the day before to check for certain if the eggies have taken. they don't want to risk a false negative and me getting sloshed!! Which I thought was really nice and personal of them. Got to say I can't speak highly enough about my clinic even if it does not work.

Thanks for listening girls it means a lot. welling up again!!!

Hi everyone, in a rush but wanted to get my foot back in the door on this thread IYSWIM.

Rattling on my first cycle I had exactly the same as you - 2 grade 2 embryos on day 2, others not worth keeping or letting progress as it turned out. I felt like the whole thing had been a waste of time and money, yet the result is sleeping in her cot and will be 2 in a couple of weeks. Other cycles have always been the same, irrelevant of the number of follicles, I get around 5 fertilised eggs, and only 2 embryos worth implanting on day 2. Hope this helps - everyone says it only takes one, and it is true - but you really can't tell which one it is!

Soosy glad you have seen your lovely consultant and are thinking about treatment next Easter. Is easter early or late next year, does anyone know? And I have no idea about house prices anymore - we sold 18 months ago, and the buyer has just put it back on the market for 35% more than he paid for it. No major work done at all to the house. I just don't know anymore

I've finished taking the pill now, hope to have a withdrawal bleed next week and have my baseline scan on Thursday next week. Drugs arrived yesterday, so feel ready to start all over again.

Oh, and I saw my NCT group last weekend, with 2 new babies and another 2 pregnancies - I was worried about how it would go, but actually it was fine, I was genuinely pleased for all of them and delighted to see them again

Must dash, people staying for the weekend

NV Hope you're feeling a bit better today It's easy to say don't stress but hard to do it, look after yourself and tell DH how you feel and how you'd like him to help (tell him the exact things you want him to do so he can't gwt it wrong and upset you more - men need managing!)
soosy We might be cycling at the same time as we've worked out due to certain commitments we won't be doing a cycle til April.
HOe everyone else is well - rattling got everything crossed for you too, there's much more than a chance don't be so hard on yourself

nomoremag - I have done exactly that. After a difficult night with DS waking twice (v unusual) we all slept in and we still not out of bed til gone 8.30am !!! . Then at 10ish the boys head off to Paultons Park (local theme park) and did not come back until 4pm. I did take over at that point as DS was totally knackered and am about to put him to bed.

So I had a relaxing day catching up on my photo album of DS. Have made it up to his 1st bday - only 2 more years to go!!!! :0)

Even better is that the boys are off to MIL for weekend on thurs nite - WITHOUT ME!!!!

I am off to Blood Brothers on Fri and Opera with my dad on sat. V cultured I know!!

So D-day is oct 23rd folks.

Thanks for listening yesterday.

Glad you had a lie-in this monrning It makes everything seem more manageble somehow when you wake up when you wake up rather than being woken.