Assisted Conception and the bits inbetween

[soosy]

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

So. . . the clinic says I can start downregging on the pill tomorrow - but there was some confusion which I am sure someone will know the answer to . . . .

The nurse seemed to think that I take the pill for 21 days, then wait for my period to start and then start on the suprefact/menopur protocol. But the Dr gave me two packets of the pill and my understanding was that I stay on it until they can schedule me in (like they did when I was taking suprefact), continuing with it up until the first day of the growing cycle. Anyway, they are going to double check and we have 21 days to sort it out but I was wondering if anyone had any advice on this. Have I just got it wrong?

Anyway, pleased to be starting again, this should mean an EG in early August . . . when do you kick off Mowmi?

Hi Sooty, Sorry can't be any use to you...I'm way too new to this game to be of any use on this one!
Buserelin (not too sure of the spelling and don't have the energy to go downstairs and check!) is down regging injection...taking this for 15 days (i think?) then scan to make sure it's done what it's supposed to and then gonal f pen thing for 8-12 days. If all goes to plan we'll be having the EC / ET early August too. Start the injections on Monday - I'm so scared of getting my hopes up but not sure convincing myself it's not going to work is particularly useful either!!
Feeling really bad because I've drank so much wine over the last week or so....hardly the detox I planed!

Sooty - when I have downregged using the pill I've taken pills from the first day of my period until told to stop - once 23 pills/days, the next time about 40 pills/days. I then had a period, and had my baseline scan 6 days after stopping the pill, then started the stims the day after the baseline scan. So I think you are right, as the length of time on the pill is entirely determined by when they can schedule me in.

Mowmi and Sooty, suprefact and buserelin are one and the same. It is a downregging drug, and was developed not for IVF but for prostrate cancer. What it does is give the clinic a blank cnvas to inject and control hormones. They are using teh pill in a similar way to time cycles and to be able to monitor hormone levels and their effect.

Mowmi You are feeling completely normal, but once you start injecting, esp the Menopur/FSH, you will feel as though you are doing something. Don't feel bad about the wine, it probably made you relax, which is far more important at the moment.

Good Luck swerve with your investigations. Day off form house hunting, still no joy I will be in the local B and B if we are not careful!

Happy weekend everybody.

S x

Thanks OAP I think I got confused because they said to take it for 21 days - which is my regular cycle anyway, so I don't know why I am bothering - but I guess that may just have been coincidence. I think I just got one of the nurses that wasn't a great communicator.

Hey mowmi, it looks like we are going to be cycle buddies. I wouldn't worry about the wine, from what I have read the only influence on conception(for women) is that it can mess with your hormones - but hell, the Dr's are fully in charge of that department at the moment.

As for convincing yourself it won't work, I think this is quite sane. They say that people who reguarly take risks in life - business people, performers, sportspeople - often have a good ability to imagine the worst possible outcome. And somehow imagining 'losing' and coming to terms with that helps them to cope with taking the risk. I have been thinking about this myself as I seem to start thinking about adoption when I do treatment. . . . so I thinks its just a way of preparing mentally. And as for the 'positive thinking' mantra, they have just done an extensive study on cancer sufferers and found that the patient's attitude made no difference to the outcome . . . .

Get through it any way you can I reckon ! This time I am going to make myself take it easy after EG, that was my worst time last time as I was too Gung-ho about it.

Good luck with the house-hunting soosy . . . think of it this way, if you take a bad rental, it will motivate you to find a nice one to buy!

Anyone here?

Sooty, Mowmi, how are you doing? Are you both downregging yet?

Soosy, any luck on the househunting front?

Just had a few painful days - I forgot how the first ovulation after IVF can be so painful - I felt like I was due for another egg collection any time now. And I am also incredibly spotty (and at 38 years old, am way too old for this), so am feeling very glam and attractive as you can imagine. Plus am having lots of work done on the cottage we live in - plastering, patio building etc, which effectively makes the downstairs and front garden out of bounds for me and DD. I know it will be lovely when done, and we are extremely lucky with the workmen, but I do wish it were next week! I would like my house back and to be able to bend over without wincing.

Anyway, my clinic has said to start downregging again in Sept, so 2 months to go. Not that I am counting the days or anything silly like that, oh no not me...

Yes I have started downregging, on the pill though this time. . .OAP I also felt pretty out there from the residue drugs on the first two weeks after the IVF cycle, very emotional and extreme, but I have to say I had some fantastic orgasms . . . anyone else notice this? First good side effect so far . . .

How are you going with the burselin Mowmi? are you injecting this?

I am feeling really naseous and tired, I am wondering if this is due to the pill - I am on Microgynon 30. Any ideas?

I was on the pill in my early 20's (can't remember which one) and I didn't experience any side effects . . . so it seems a bit strange but it is becoming rather persistent . . .

I am sorry you are not reacting well to the pill. I have to say I hated it and only used it for six months, I had break through bleeding at the time my period should have been, and I cried the whole time. ( I didn't have any mood swings when I was pg.) But Sooty as the pill mimics being pg perhaps this is what you are in for!

Hi OAP, sorry to hear you are having a bad time. I have spots too (af, though)! I had a 28 day cycle last month after FET argh, can never time these things right. Good to get all the building work out of the way before your next attempt in Sept! DB starts his new school that week so I shall be thinking of you.

We are waiting to hear if our offer has been accepted on a house. It is driving me nuts. At the moment I don't know if we will be able to afford anymore treatment until next year. I think I'll have to see how expensive the move is.

I should book an appointment at the Lister though.

Sx

good evening, thought i'd pop in before i head to bed.

yes, started the buserelin last night...just had 2nd injection (was really dreading the injecting bit but DH is very good and so far so good)

Sooty - how long have you been taking the pill? sorry you're feeling crappy - hopefully it'll settle down?

OAP - sounds like you've had a bad few days...I had no idea about the pain ovulation following IVF ?

Soosy - I'm under Geeta Nargund at create in raynes park (think they have a centre on harley st too?) their whole ethos is affordable treatment - it's our first shot but I've been really impressed by them so far and their success rates seem good. We came across Geeta when we were under the NHS for investigations - she heads things up over at St Georges so we followed her to her private clinic when we told we'd need to wait 2.5 years on NHS...sorry this is my long winded way of saying the costs are a lot lower and her success rates are up there so if money is bit tight this year they might be worth considering? (hope you don't mind me suggesting?)

anyway off to bed now got an early start tomorrow x

Interested to hear you are with Nargund Mowmi, as I have read about her work with 'natural' IVF . . . I didn't get a great reaction from the IVF drugs on my last attempt - only 2 eggs - and I have heard that that is quite common in older women and that 'natural' IVF where they only develop one egg is having good success.

I have one more free go with the NHS and then have to start paying so was thinking of moving to this method if this cycle fails to produce a greater number of eggs. No/minimal drugs sounds like a good idea and when I did IUI on tiny amounts of drugs I did get a good sized follicle each time so we shall see . .

Haven't taken my pill yet this morning, am going to try taking it with my main meal at lunch - see if that helps. Got stuck into the ginger tea last night and felt a bit better . . .

Has your offer been accepted Soosy? I hope it was a cheeky one in this current climate . . . .

sorry ladies i am lurking I noticed that mowmi is with Geeta Nargund. We owe a great deal to this wonderful lady, and certainly wouldn't have our precious daughter ellie without her. She is kind, hard working consultant who is very generous with her time & truely cares about the people involved. Good luck with your treatment mowmi Sorry for hijacking

EHM good to hear from you, hope you are well and enjoying this wet summer. Thanks for the tip about Nargund, I always respond very well to drugs, (too well sometimes), so maybe this would be a better way to go. In all honesty I am tempted to go for IUI as there is actually no reason, that they can find, why i shouldn't conceive this way, except the success rates are lower. If I do have immunity issues then surely the steroid treatment can be given during an IUI cycle just as well as during IVF.

Sooty it sounds like you are suffering morning sickness on the pill! poor you, but perhaps this is a good sign.

Mowmi, glad to hear you are on your way, how long before hormone injections?

Have a lovely wet wednesday, DS's last day at his Nursery school today, I cried, I feel really sad he won't be joining his friends in the big class in Sept, but now is the best time to move before he starts proper school. In sept he is going to an all boys school and he can stay until he is 13. I think am more bothered about it all than he is.

Still waiting to hear about the offer, I am starting to get a little bit jittery!

Sx

Hi

Have been told that only chance to have child is IVF using an egg donor.

Need to do it anonymously and waiting list in UK is too long so need to look at abroad.

I know there are websites with loads of info in about all different countries/clinics etc but it just seems like so much info to plough through and I don't know where to start.

Has anyone any recommendations as to the best places in europe for this type of treatment (that don't cost a small fortue)?

Thanks

soosy Enjoying the 'summer' dd started preschool 5 weeks ago 2 afternoons per week, which is settling into. So you could say we both started preschool 5 weeks ago. I am hoping come sept it will become easier. Its not compulsary so time will tell. I am sure ds will be fine at his new school, I always think is worse for mummies. good luck with what ever you decide regards to treatment & with your house move[smile.x

hi all!

eleveld, I have 2 friends who have gone to Spain for donor eggs. i think fertilityfriends.co.uk has chat boards where you will be able to find out more about individual clinics and chat to people in the same position.

I had the hysteroscopy on monday. some cleaning up, nothing major. not my most entertaining day, all in all. But it's done with a dvd for tonight's entertainment.... errrr. We'll call it swerves bits, the drs cut.

Now I'm waiting to hear from the lister as to when I can start again. Maybe September, I hope.

Those of you involved in the donor part of IVF might be interested in this article from Australia. My sister who is considering a donor egg sent it to me.

www.smh.com.au/news/parenting/assisted-fertility-not-an-issue/2008/07/06/12152826348 63.html

Feeling slightly better after having taken the pill with food this morning. I spoke to the clinic and I am definately starting on my next cycle - I just go confused because I am taking the pill for 21 days which means that my period will arrive exactly when it is due! Frustrating that they wanted me to take it - and now it's too late to stop so lets hope the desire to throw up lessons. Never thought I'd miss those suprefact injections !

The DVD sounds great Swerve, perhaps you could put in on youtube!

Sooty, sorry but cannot get to your article, even when I type it in. Please could you check address as would love to read it. Sooty, I know you will probably start treatment when your af would ordinarily arrive, but sometimes things go awry esp when doing stressful things like IVF!

Swerve, I hope they got your best side!

Sx

I don't know why the link isn't working - but the general webpage is www.smh.com.au - the Sydney Morning Herald. Then on the top of the page (on the border) click on "Life & Style" and then "Parenting" and you will find it listed.

Yes, I know what you mean about the pill, but honestly I can count the times on my fingers that my period hasn't worked like clockwork . . . but as the nausea was much better today I am okay with it. I think my body was just a juggernaut in my 20's - I took the pill for 10 years without flinching . . . oh, the ageing process, it is full of surprises !

article from SMH - had to search in parenting section for "assisted conception"

good to see you are still lurking nomore - and more tech savvy than me !

Thanks No more! Glad to see you are still around too. Had a hard week this week, DB finished at his nursery on Wednesday, in Sept he will start in his new School, in the Nursery class. But it is the start of all the goodbyes here before we leave, I am not entirely sure whether I will be able to have more treatment when we go so I feel like this may be goodbye to anymore children, I watched DB's old videos yesterday and it was all a bit emotional. Today our offer on our house was rejected, they wanted more money, even though their agent told them it was a really good offer and they should accept it. I am hoping they don't get a better offer and that they will be back, I am a patient lady!

Hope the injections are going well Mowmi, and the pill, Sooty, is not causing so many problems.

Love to you all

Sx

Hang in there soosy, show them some IVF patience . . . and remember, according to channel 4 news tonight we are heading for a major crash - so lets hope they watched it and get the jitters ! As for changing clinics, I do sympathise. If this cycle fails I will probably change - either to natural IVF or more drastically in moving to Australia where it is cheaper (I am dual citizen). I would rather stay where I am because I feel that keeping the personal connection, involving the staff on your journey in some way is part of what makes it seem less desperate and more rewarding. I dk, I guess I do feel like at a certain point they really want you to succeed too . . but then that can also feel bad because you feel like you have failed them . . . . see what I mean about IVF patience and perserverance?

Hi

Wonder if any of you can help

3 months ago my FSH level was 15.7.

Today it is 12.

They won't do IVF on me unless it is under 10 - so I have got to have the same test next month to see if it is under 10 otherwise they won't go ahead.

Real long shot I know but is there ANYTHING that I can do in the next month to give me the best chance of it being lower? anything I can take, do etc?

Am desperate!

Thanks

Dear eleveld this is tough - my sister had very high FSH and she was told to cut out all alcohol, coffee and stimulants of any kind, and to lose weight. She did all these things and her FSH didn't change - but this was the advice that was given her by the doctors . . . good luck . .

I seem to be reacting very badly to the pill, today I had the shakes so badly I had to use a fork instead of chopsticks at lunch ! And I feel like I have suddenly become very unfit, I live up four flights and I usually bound up them - not this week . . . feeling like a very old lady . . .