Assisted conception and the bits inbetween Part Two!.......

[spook]

Hi everyone.
New thread starts here....

Sorry guys , "Ocean laps of my beach" is a bit grandiose, I seem to have left my British understatement behind in Old Blighty.

OAP I don't envy you the rabbit . . . I shampooed the family pooch (red setter) yesterday and he immeadiatley found a dead bird to rub himself in. HE thinks he now smells better!

I got horrible cramps last night, still no sign of AF though . . and 2 weeks late ? What is going on? Is is the drugs and IVF or some sort of early menopause disruption!!!

Good moaning everyone...crikey. We're a busy bunch aren't we??
Roseca-good luck today. I am keeping everything crossed for you that those blighters have blossomed. If not, try and look ahead and have a big fat glass of wine tonight. Thinking about you.

Sooty-I hope your cramps have either died down or they've developed into your AF. Its hard to know whats going on in your body after what we've put them through isn't it? I have absolutely no idea whether to expect an AF next week or not. Are you wilting away in your heatwave atm?

Nappy-thats AMAZING news about your FET! How fab to suddenly be 3 days away from ET without all the sniffing and jabbing and bloating!!

RB-it must be so frustrating for you waiting for an AF. I really wish someone could just answer all your questions...most annoying that no-one has been in touch.

Lovely to hear from you Mowmi. Well done for making that appointment. I have also been liberally administering Sauvignon Blanc this week. Definately helps

OAP-I'm still chuckling about your rabbit and smelly dogs. I've got two smelly hounds too and am developing trench foot from walking on our moor. I don't think I've removed my wellies since August (well, for internal scans maybe....)
Thats fantastic news about your official test result!! (not that we doubted it!)

Hey Lottie... I'm hoping everything goes according to your plan. Sounds like you'll be back on that IVF horse in no time! I'd love to be a cycle buddy but think thats being a bit optomistic really.
I have a dilema infact. You know I mentioned getting away with DH for a week over Easter. I really want to book something (impatient to have something to look forward to!) but I think it may be slap bang in the middle of tx if I have an AF relatively soon.I really don't want to miss the chance of a break though. We NEVER have opportunities like that (exh hardly ever takes DS's for that long)

DH starting to pick himself up a bit. Lol at "moderately poorlyness syndrome". OAP-tried the overloading technique yesterday and he bloody well went out in HIS CAR !! He was like a naughty schoolboy when I rumbled him. Such a stupid thing to do.
I am like Nurse Ratched but without squeaky shoes.
I am wondering when my ridiculous breasts are going to go down. I still can't roll over in bed without bloody wincing. I suppose its all the hcg still in my system? I'd love to wear a normal bra again. Will have to celebrate with another a glass of sauvignon blanc when they deflate I think.

Giilydaffodil-welcome to the gang. It sounds like you've really been through the mill. Here's hoping there's an end in sight for you. I'm with Lottie on the diet stuff really. I have massively reduced my caffeine and alcohol intake (though drank through downregging over Christmas and stopped completely for stimms) and just tried to eat a much healthier diet. Nothing radically different tbh.

Disclaimer: Just realised that I have made references to suavignon blanc no less than 3 times in that last post
I would like to point out that I am not a lush.....

spook I think we all need our closest friend when it comes to fertility treatment support (mine is called a cold bottle of beer!)

gilly what a ride you have been on. IVF/ICSI is a whirlwind of drugs, emotions and blood tests, not forgetting the week in the middle where you feel you have been kicked by a bull (don't worry nothing that a bit of rest and cocodamol can't fix). Hopefully at the end of it you will get that elusive BFP. We have had quite a few ups and downs on this thread over the last few months, so you are among good company! Ask questions, no question is silly, but ber in mind that each clinic has its own systems and advice. We have all had different advice on things like how much progesterone to take, which day to start and where to put it!! Good luck and make some room in the fridge for when the drugs arrive!!

OAP that is a very valid question. the pairs have 1 excellent and 1 not so excellent but still v v good blastocysts, so presumably they will try and use the better one if it defrosts.

I have to admit it all seems a bit surreal to be just popping in for an ET on Monday! I will be back at work on the Tuesday.

Morning all spook i went to clinic yesterday and things have immproved slightly, my womb lining has thickened which nurse said thats good cause it means i have oestrogeon in my system, my two big follicles are getting bigger and the two smaller ones are growing albeit not as fast so they have decided to do another scan on monday to see how things have progressed and then we have to make the decision. If we abandon nurse said that we will try the flash protocol which means i inject with 450 units of Puregon from day one of next period but will discuss in more detail when i go on monday. She said that i wont go back to the bottom of the list but will be in the system waiting to be slotted back in, lets hope that monday brings good news eh!!!! hi to everyone else hope that everyone has a fantastic weekend. ps i did have a glass or two or wine last nite aswell to chill

welcome belgianbun thanks gilly

Hi girls:

Just wanted to say we are go for ET on Monday. It has all come round so very quickly I can hardly believe it. it was fun today to see the scan and see the difference with post-ovulation, as I have always seen the pre-OV and the whole follicle measuring bit. this time we were looking for a collapsed follicle and a "puddle" and the womb lining looks different too. Very interesting.

lottie I really feel your frustration with the sense of treading time that fertility issues cause. I think you expressed some of the challenges of IVF really well.

I know I am seriously hoping this one works, as I have already calculated my due date. I am so setting myself up for a fall.

Also NOW I realise why pessaries are the easiest option for progesterone. The injections have to go into your muscle rather than sub-cutaneous OUCH! (makes advice that someone posted earlier makes sense). I will stick with pessaries until end of 2ww and then think about it.

There is a chance that none of the blastocysts will defrost so fingers crossed girlies. It is really weird to be at this point without going through all the drugs and downregging etc.

Hi everyone. Welcome gilly and belgianbun.
Pinkie - sorry AF arrived for you but glad you can get straight on with IVF.
Spook - Hope those eggs have released and stopped causing you pain, you haven't murdered dh and AF plays ball so you can still go away at Easter.
Lottie - with you on the easier to keep it packed away - must be tough going through psychotherapy at the moment. Lol at poorlyness syndromes. Glad you got your temp rise. I will start DR in early April for tx at end of month.
Rattling - lovely to hear your success story.
NappyValley - lol at unionised ovaries. How was scan today? Good luck for Monday. Australia and Croatia both sound great. I don't get NHS funding as a single gal, the clinic is just full until April. I am on the waiting list for cancellation but there are others ahead of me, so they said unlikely.
Roseca - Glad eggs are growing and lining getting thicker. Hope there's good news for you on Monday.
Rowingboat - any sign of AF? Has clinic got back to you yet?
Sooty - your sister's wedding sounded lovely. Hope your cramps have gone and AF arrived.
Mowmi - well done on getting that appointment made. How long do you have to wait? Enjoy the sauv blanc in the meantime.
OAP - must be great to be official. Pmsl at your rabbit-dog-supportive dh story. I didn't know that spring/summer IVF cycles have better chance - wonder why that is.
Gilly - can our bodies really take that much liquid? I drink 1.5 litres of water at work most days, plus some at home, but hardly ever have milk. Hope my daily cheese intake makes up some of that protein.

Thanks for all your assurances that time will fly. Realised I can't go for IUI in meantime as clomid might interfere with antral follicle count scan, so that answers that decision. Guess I should use the time to get into an exercise routine because then I'll be allowed to carry on if pg. Been using the 'don't start any new exercise' excuse all year to not do anything more than my half-hour dance lesson.

Cross post NV - glad the scan went well and hope those blastocysts defrost well for you.

Ooh-Roseca. That sounds a bit more promising...alot can happen in 4 days. And if not, then fast protocol form next period??? Thats absolutely fantastic. No waiting around for you! Keeping everything crossed for tomorrow.
I'm up early making cakes for the Scouts Table Top Sale domestic goddess that I am.
But to be honest, once I'm awake atm my boobs get me up. Too sore to roll over still.
And....TMI alert......I had a massive dollop of EWCM yesterday. WTF is that all about???? Answers on a postcard please.
Nappy-wow wow wow!! Can't quite comprehend your news so goodness knows how you're handling it. Thats my kind of IVF (though obviously at some point in the past you had to go through all the horrid stuff to get the frosties!)
I hope they are defrosting beautifully and everything goes well tomorrow.
Hi Issy-how are you? April will come round quickly (she says as one who seems to be permanently waiting for the next treatment) Before you know it you'll be armed needle in hand
And in the meantime, you're right, use it as an opportunity to get your body in the best possible shape. Will you be having accupuncture? Because the sooner you can start that the better I would have thought.

Lottie-I too am making it my lifes work to a/ go on holiday and b/ be your cycle buddy.
I have BOOKED THE HOIDAY! Yay!! I just couldn't go through the whys and wherefores (sp) in my head any longer and DH said if I didn't book it yesterday he'd kill me so I did. I have worked out the timings and hopefully we can be either downregging or finished (yeah right) when we go. Its 9 weeks tomorrow we go. I know I'm rushing it but I'm 42 in March and just want to get on with it. We've been waiting for so long and had 2 false starts now.
Hi BelgianBun and welcome to the gang too. I think "nervous and excited" will pretty much stick with you now till the end of tx! It must be hard knowing you conceived DD naturally. Did they give you any reason why this is happening or just that horrible "unexplained infertility"?
Anyway-you've come to the right place, and 20th of Feb is soon!!
Any questions, ask away.

Hi Spook - impressed by your cake making.

Well so far I've managed not to do any exercise this weekend, so that's a great start . I'm not having acupuncture - tbh not really thought about it but it doesn't appeal to me at all. I also worry with these things about the possibility of getting someone who does more harm than good.

Exciting to have booked your holiday. Where are you going? I know what you mean about needing to get on with things. I dithered over paying the balance on my Glastonbury ticket last week in case I need a second IVF attempt, but in the end decided it was ridiculous not to go just in case and I'd only be sat at home feeling miserable if I didn't go.

hi ladies, sorry I've been a bit quiet - had a couple of traumatic days - I've been working like a mad women the last couple of weeks which has been kind of good because it's kept me busy. AF arrived on monday - was told the miscarriage would just be a heavy period but i was taken by surprise in the middle of a client meeting on Thursday! went to the loo in the middle of it and I had clearly just passed the sac - had to pull my self together and go back in. I'd had the most terrible pains leading up to it (gripping desk type pains!) That evening i felt something come away and splash in to the loo - it was pretty traumatic...i know it wasn't but it looked like chunk of placenta - must just have been a chunk of lining? was a bit taken back and really upset as I'd assumed I'd see nothing. Going to have a bit of a word when I go in - they should have warned me! anyway at least it's nearly over rather than waiting for it to come (came within a couple of days of stopping the progesterone)
I'll stop whittering now!

Issy - I didn't have to wait - I opted for the the 10th to give me a bit more time to recover.

Roseca - fingers crossed for you.

Belgianbun - I'm with mrs nargund - she is fantastic - i wish you all the best.

Hello everyone else x

Mowmi - so sorry you went through that, 1 of my mcs was exactly the same. you did amazing to continue with work massive ((hugs))

Issy - its a strange one really, i have a calm feeling now that we are on with it.

not sure what to expect yet as havent spoken to the nurse yet in regards to meds and how when what stuff. Just know am doing long protocol am cd5 today and start cd21. not sure what the time frame is between meds and egg collection and all that but guess one cycle takes you into 2 months??

Spook - you booked the hols, great where did you book. Do they only let you go away when you are downregging. Sorry for naive question but still new to this

Roseca - hope all ok with those eggs
Hi everyone else hope all had good weekend

Hello Ladies can I join you, I have been lurking for a while. I have been ttc for what seems like for ever over 4years now I think in that time I have had 2 ectopics pg 1 failed ivf ended up in hospital with an infection. I had my 2nd ivf attempt before xmas which was successful but found out last week I had a mmc at 11weeks. So all a bit pants really, but on the up side I have a gorgous 5 year old dd who is great most of the time! She was concieved with no probslems. I have a follow up appointment next weeek so hopefully be doing a frozen transfer soon.
You all sound a lovely lot, some seem to have gone through a really rough time lately. Mowmi sounds like you have had a really awful week you did so well to carry on with work. I am dreading going back to work.
Nappy Valley I was wondering are you doing a natural cycle with your frozen transfer?
Sorry if I have waffled on a bit.

Hi everyone - would love to join your thread.

Mowmi - really sorry about your mc - I had one last august too - but not nearly as bad as yours. YOu dealt with it amazingly.

So we are going down the IVF route - totally new to me, but today is CD1, and having done our observing cycle last month - this is it!

I have had my FSH test today, have my scan tomorrow, at which point they will commence the drugs - help!

I think I am on the short protocol, although they will tell me everything tomorrow, including how to inject myself, I imagine - that's the bit I am most nervous about. I have acupuncture, and I can't even stomach the thinnest needles, so how I am going to inject myself, I really don't know!

Anyway, it's nice to know I am not on my own and it's great to hear your stories too!

Will come back tomorrow with all I have learnt!!

Mowmi - ((hug)) that must have been so tough for you. Am amazed you managed to handle that at work.

Pinkie - for some reason I have it in my head that it works approx with a 28-day cycle so EC 22 (8+14) days after starting drugs, but have no idea where I got that from or even if it's right.

Welcome cedar and dharma. Sorry you had ectopics and mcs. Hope you don't have to wait too long for your FET cedar and good luck with your scan tomorrow dharma.

Hi All

Good luck nappyValley for monday will be thinking of you. cheers issy spook and mowmi soz to hear mowmi my thoughts are wiv you too massive hug to you. been trying to keep myself busy today made a nice roast and baked a cake and some buns although couldnt ice them cause father in law went to deli counter instead of cheese counter on chilled side in supermarket so couldnt make my mascarpone icing with cocoa (sounds bizzare but is soooooo delic. thanks anthony worral thompson for receipe) ha. i just hope that i can get some sleep tonight and tomoro's scan will bring gud news and that hopefully we can go for EC and ET sometime vry soon if not back to drawing board........ Good luck to everyone this week and welcome cedar and Dharma* nite all off to watch rest of dancing on ice ha

Hi all, and hello to you newies Issy42 I cannot believe how you have managed to keep tabs on everyone . . . you must be keeping notes. . .

Well my AF arrived finally, after 3 mid-night attacks of period pain - not unlike the one's you were describing Mowmi. Also sorry to hear about miscarriage, it's funny isn't it how nothing really prepares us . . . I went into my last EC 'knowing' there were probably no eggs . . . the Dr made me sign an amended form to say so for god's sake . . . but yet it still took me be surprise and was traumatic . .

Anyway, glad to be on the up cycle of the hormones, my PMT was quite severe this week leading up to it (and I think DP is pleased too).

Morning all. I've just got back form a very hairy 2 HOUR journey to drop DH off at work. Not atall pleasant.
Welcome to the newbies.
Cedar-so sorry about your mmc. That must have been very painful after thinking your IVF had been successful
Dharma-good luck today. I'm sure it will all seem very daunting but you'll soon be an old pro like the rest of us.

Mowmi (((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))) Completely awful. You're right though. At least its nearly over now sweetheart.

Roseca-hope you're in the clinic now hearing some fab news. Fingers and toes are crossed.

And Nappy-hope it all went swimmingly today and those frosties are looking good. Take care of yourself and have some treats tonight.

Hi Sooty-glad your AF arrived. Mine did too The relief is amazing. I had terrible PMT this weekend but ofcourse didn't realise thats what it was. Feel a million times better this morning.
I'm going to phone the clinic and discuss my next cycle this afternoon. If I could get it in before this holiday I'll be over the moon. Pinkie-I couldn't go away whilst doing stimms because you have to have so many scans to check everythings growing.
I booked Sharm El Sheik. Never had any desire to go to Egypt but the hotel looked fab and the flights from Newcastle worked and THE SUN WILL BE SHINING!!!! Thats all I care about really.
Hey Lottie-hope your DH has dug out his high vis jacket and got plenty of bottled water I actually think you've got it worse than us for once. I'm supposed to be popping down to the Smoke for the night tomorrow to visit my bf but its not looking likely is it??? Gggrr. I was really looking forward to seeing her.
Lottie-I've not exactly been Mother Theresa with indulgences this past week either. Understandable. Went to see Glasvegas last night and drank copious amounts of shit wine from a plastic cup. Once I have a new date for tx I will become wholesome again. Honest.

BTW Lottie-what is heinously expensive for acupuncture in London?? I'm going to phone mine today and start again now AF has arrived. Oop North its £35 a session. Alot cheaper than yours I suspect.