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

[spook]

Hi everyone.
New thread starts here....

Hi Lottie, I'm glad to hear the course was so good. I thought it must be good because you weren't on here. We missed you this weekend though.
I know how you feel about the impatience, I share that vice, but on the other hand rushing could mean your body isn't ready and that would be a bit of a waste of time.
Remember I didn't have my DS until I was 38 and I had no problems carrying him whatsoever.
TBH your FSH was very good IIRC, I can't imagine it being out of the normal range 13 months later.
This probably MC is mucking up my cycles too and I really hear you when you are talking about how long it takes to even get started.
This morning I took DS to nursery and instead of doing frenetic housework I have been doing breathing and having a cup of chamomile, really need to slow down and take a breath for myself.
It sounds really challenging - the course, particularly the long silences, would find them very unnerving. Good job you have this week to assimilate and prepare for next weekend.
OAP how are you doing?

Thanks for all your messages ladies

I'm back in bed now, tucked up with a mug of tea and some Cadbury's minieggs as a treat. EC was fine this morning - though early at 8am, so we had to leave here at 6 as this is one thing you just can't be late for. They managed to collect 8 eggs, of which hopefully 5 or 6 are mature and will fertilise overnight. I'll get a call tomorrow morning letting me know how things went

I'm a bit sore now the painkillers are wearing off...have taken paracetamol and a OK if I don't move around.

Lottie, I love the sound of your course, though I agree it seems as though all the signs are telling you to wait another cycle before starting again. Ignore if I'm being too nosy, but why does your DH want you to wait? Does he think you are doing too much? Maybe sit and drink virtual chamomile tea with Rowingboat!

Hi Lottie. Your course sounds really amazing. I don't think I could open myself up like that to a room full of strangers. It takes a very special kind of person!
I can TOTALLY understand your need to hurry things along. When mine was put back from October after that mc I was absolutely devastated. But also, like you I knew it was the right thing to do. I don't think we can underestimate what we put our bodies through with this blardy IVF, and if it didn't work for us we'd always be thinking "what if we had just left it that extra month"
And you need to get some decent shags in first

OAP-that such great news!!! I can just picture them badgering away in their little petri dish as I type...making lots of OAP embies. Is it very sore?? Hope the paracetamol are working and you're resting.

I've been getting some quite sharp pains in my tummy. Must be follicles growing rapidly-I hope!
Hi RB-tbh anything sounds better than frenetic housework but well done on getting some r and r. (~whispers~ no chocolate? )

OAP glad you are having some quiet time. Keep taking the paracetamol or cocodamol. It can hurt a bit more once the follicles refill with fluid. My clinic advised me (and I agree) that sitting with your knees up with a cushion under them is the most comfortable.
Great harvest though. Fingers crossed for those eggies.

Lottie I know it is frustrating having to wait, but I believe it is statistically less likely to work on a subsequent cycle if you don't let your body rest in between. Think of it as preparing your body for the baby that is coming your way in 13 weeks!!!!

Spook Not sure if it helps, but my first injections swelled up and we really red and hot. Try pushing the fluid in really slowly. That seemed to help hugely (although I am not supper skinny and have a nice tummy bulge - thanks to DS1 and a lack of enthusiasm for situps - to shove the needles into) Mexican sounded nice thou.

Hi all, and thanks for the words of wisdom. I've now called the two London clinics which I've heard are good for people of my extreme old age, and neither have called me back! getting frustrated, grrr... My FSH was 15 when it was measured back last June, but I was a super-stressed bunny so I'm hoping it's come down to a sensible level now, or it doesn't matter whether any clinics want me or not ! Think I'll check out some clinics abroad too...

OAP, you deserve fantastic embryos after your horrible day rushing round after needles, surely karma will come to your aid

OAP that's great news, come on eggs! Hope your tummy feels better soon.
Mowmi, hope tomorrow goes well and you can relax.
Lottie, your DP is obviously slightly spooked by the crazed look that women like us develop in our eyes.
I did a walk today as a precursor to starting the couch to 5K thing next week. Now very tired. Oh and had a big delivery of vitamins, including co-enzyme Q10 and wheat/barley grass thingmys. I'm going to have a rambo baby.
The bleeding has stopped pretty much, but I can't get through to make the appointment for the scan, it's permanantly engaged!
Spook, your poor tum! The slow injection thing sounds a good plan. I have memories of a nice dentist who would only put in half the anaesthetic then wait to put in the other half, so that you didn't get a huge vein.

Hi ladies, just dropping in to see how everyone is doing. Hope you don't mind

Bumpless welcome to the thread and good luck for your journey
spook - hope you managed to find some selection boxes or explain yourself away. Hope the jab went ok too?

OAP - what a nightmare day, having had similar in the past, I am really glad it got sorted out for you. Tis true, an IVF ticklist is needed. How many times have the pharmacy forgotten to give me needles, enough syringes (too many to mention)Mind you the houseboat sounds awesome! I hope EC went well today and you are not too uncomfortable

RB - how are you sweetie, how are you feeling, any news on your bloods?

LL - hope the counselling course went well. I think those types of courses are wonderful and give you great insight into people

mowmi - thinking of you for tomorrow

We are all good here. Managed to have a very chill weekend, no one came to bother us and I just slobbed around in PJ's for most of it, no wonder DH has chosen to sleep in the spare room(actually, I forced him cos of his snoring of late!)

Woke up to find a flipping mouse running around the kitchen, courtesy of one of our cats. The poor thing was being chased by two cats and the dog. fortunately it was alive, but you have never seen someone jump so sodding fast when it climbed on my foot. I was running around the kitchen with my butt hanging out of my night dress, doing full moons to the neighbourhood.Tis a glamourous life I lead.

I am surprised the mouse didn't take fright and do a runner!!! Anyway hopefully said mouse is now safely ensconced in a nice warm bed right now.

Off to do some work and write a document that no one is ever going to read.... great use of my time!

hugs all xxxxxxx

Am such a tit - just realised that for some reason I only saw sunday's posts and not today's!

OAP - good for you 8 eggs is a great number, hoping they fertilise well and make sure you rest up

LL - I too think the extra month is agood thing for your body to right itself after so many hormones and stress.

right off to bed now xxxxx

Congrats OAP on your harvest.

LL I would definatly wait another month, maybe two until you have a proper period. I think this was the route of all my problems (long time on drugs - 20 days, first two follicles, then five, then no eggs) on my last failed IVF cycle.

In fact I don't think I have actually had a normal cycle since my first abandoned cycle in August. Right now I have said to myself that I am not doing another IVF until I have had two normal cycles . . . .

Up until August I was having the odd annovulatory cycle, but pretty much like clockwork 95% of the time, so these drugs can mess with your system big time. . . I think also stress has been playing a part. I'm not a big believer in the stress as cause of all evil in health, but I think in this case it can be because if I look at any irregularities in my history it is always around stressful times (travelling in India, making a film, exams etc). So if you do wait a month or so, try and be zen about it otherwise you may compound the problem . . . I am trying to follow this advice too so I know how ridiculous it can sound . . .

Mowmi-lots of love and luck for today xxx

Right, had 5 eggs fertilised overnight and will go to the clinic tomorrow afternoon to have the best 2 embryos put back. Am really pleased - this is usually what happens on my cycles, and it is so good to know we have fertilised eggs at this stage

I'm actually feeling OK today - rattling from the paracetamol, vitamins, antibiotics and cyclogest I took this morning - and looking forward to going home tomorrow after ET. I love being on the houseboat, but after 10 days it'll be lovely to go home to my normal bed, with a garden for the dogs, and a cot DD can't climb out of!

I am determined to try and rest as much as possible over the next 10 days, but I do find this so difficult - am I alone in this?

Mowmi, thinking of you today

Spook - that'll be your ovaries aching away, and expanding to fit in all the follicles. When is your first scan?

Hope everyone else is well and light of spirit (love this phrase so much I'm going to steal it!)

Wow! Thats absolutely fantastic news OAP. I've been checking all day for news from you and Mowmi. And good to hear you sounding so positive too. Will you freeze any if they're up to scratch?
I can imagine how lush it'll be to get back to your own bed. I really love being away but I really love coming home too. It is terribly romantic though I have to say-sleeping on a house boat. Is home for you still in London?

My tummy pains are really kicking in today. I've been stimming for 6 days now. My next scan is tomorrow morning. It'll be nice to know if its working as it should!
I'm off to accupuncture now. Just wanted to say well done

Hi to everyone else. Mowmi-big hugs...Lottie-I'm presuming you're out running
RB-have you managed to get through to the clinic yet? I hope so.
Flibberty-lovely to hear from you. Your mouse story cheered me up although I have heard it said that contact with small rodents should be kept to a minimum whilst pregnant (as should showing your bottom to all the neighbours)

Afternoon ladies, OAP - Fantastic news! Take it easy...yes the wait is the worst bit for me.

Just got back from clinic... sac has grown and there did appear to be something in there (possibly yolk sac) so we've got to have another scan in a week! Geeta wants to stay involved so we're going to have to wait until Thursday week. She said it was behind according to EC / ET dates but it appears to be still going...she gave us odds of 60/40?!! I'm truly confused! Bless it - it's certainly trying!

Lottie - glad you've decided to take the break - it's hard but much better to wait until you're properly recovered.

Spook - I'm a bit lost - when do you think EC will be.

I'm a bit behind with where everyone is up to but will try to catch up!

Thanks to everyone for you lovely messages - they really did help.

Lots of love all x

Mowmi - good news (I think!) and I am really pleased it is better odds than last week. How on earth are you going to contain yourself for the next 10 days though?

Have just come back from a little shopping spree in Canary Wharf - nothing like a new bag to pass the afternoon away! We normally live in North Yorkshire (v pretty but rather muddy and brown this time of year TBH) and keep the houseboat moored in a little marina by Canary Wharf for DH to live on the weeks he works in London. Very handy for our old clinic in Essex - we used to live near Colchester in the olden days when I still worked.

OAP That is great exciting news. I have to admit the resting after the ET was really tough especially when you have a small person around who does not understand why mummy's tummy is sore and they can't jump on it!! My DH did a great job for about 48hrs and then was too tired to help. But I think the fact that at that point I was no longer in pain meant I felt OK to pick up the slack, but actually the 3rd day was more likely the implant day (I think it depends on where they transfer the egg to)

LL thanks for the hello. It made me feel loved and forgiven for not being as regular a contributer as I would like.

Bumpless my FSH was quite high, but they used a new anit-mullerian test to see what the egg supply was like instead. If that is any help. but it is annoying when they don't call back. I have heard good results about the Nuffield clinic in Woking, if that is any good to you.

Mowmi so pleased that something is cooking in there. Keep resting and try to stay sane (not sure how) during the wait!

Spook is your tummy hurting from the injections or the swelling follicles. If it is the latter your might be a bit too stimulated or else it could just be a bumper crop!! I do remember a friend describing my tummy as looking like a junkie's arm who can't find a clean vein!! SO it is probably that!!

Phew Mowmi. Thats sounds ALOT better doesn't it. The odds are in your favour now Next Thursday does seem like a hell of a long time to wait though. You'll have to take up knitting or something....
My EC is provisionally booked in for Tuesday.
Hello Nappy-my tummy is sharp pains like a stitch which I presume are the follies growing and growing!!
If I'm overstimulating then it will show up tomorrow morning I suppose. I am on the highest dose of puregon because of my ripe old age.
And yes-my tummy looks like a junkies too! My accupuncturist actually had a sharp intake of breath when she saw it today. Blown up like a barrage balloon and black and blue Actually quite revolting.
Actually-while I'm on....I have put on a HUGE aount of weight since I started treatment. Is this normal or is it just the selection boxes???

Hi Ladies
Mowmi -- I really hope that you just have a late bloomer and the scan next week shows the baby to have grown. I can't begin to imagine how stressful this must be for you and DH. God IVF is the world's longest waiting game! - sending you big squidgey hugs!

OAP - fab news about your fertilised eggs, keeping fingers crossed for Thursday . A new bag sounds ace and I still love your houseboat. I always, always wanted to live on one!! Take it easy after ET, if possible. my LO was 19 months for this IVF and didn't understand that I couldn't pick her up, so we had to just go with the flow.

LL - I agree with the other ladies about giving your body the chance to get itself back to "normal". I know it might mean extra waiting, but the mental and physical stress of IVF cannot be underestimated.

Spook - keeping fingers crossed for your scan tomorrow, I hope you aren't over stimming and the pain eases off. Your tummy probably looks like my bum. I have been sticking sodding 2 inch needles into the sides of my butt since 4 december and it has developed corners. I definitely think the drugs are responsible for the extra weight gain. I look like I ate all the pies. I wasn't slim to start with, but definitely have more tum.

RB - how are you doing, has your bleeding stopped?

Hi everyone,
Yay OAP and Mowmi - good news all round. Now you can relax a bit Mowmi, I'm so pleased.
OAP you must be very excited about tomorrow.
I, on the other hand, am not excited about tomorrow because I have to get up at 7 and drink 1.5 pints of liquid then not go to the loo until after the scan at ten past nine tomorrow morning. Ooo! I've got me legs crossed already, just thinking about it.
Spook, your poor tum, can you put ice on, or would that be bad for your follies? Can't wait to hear how your scan goes, it's so exciting, and Tuesday is no time (apart from for your tum).
Flibberty, good to hear you are managing to entertain the neighbours even when pregnant.
For me the bleeding is still going a little and I will know more tomorrow - I hope. The scan is first thing. It's still doesn't seem very real all this, such a surprise.
Lottie we are going on walk number two tomorrow , hope it doesn't rain. Have you scheduled a run yet? (nag nag )
Sooty - how's the weather there?
Nappy - Hi there, I was looking back to see where you were in your IVF journey, but I couldn't see what you had planned next. What are you plans?

Wow, Lottie! That's so cool! I wish I could run that far. I would be dying the next day.

Good news Mowmi, and remember that there must have been all sorts of strange pregnancies before we had the ability to monitor them so much and they often turned out all right. I had a friend that took about four pregnancy tests (with her GP) before going on a work trip to Algeria - all negative despite not having had her period for two months. So, reassured that it just must be stress, she goes off for two months, and comes back takes off her comfy clothes and can't fit into any of her party clothes . . . she's now eight months . . . so ?

Good news on the run LL. I was getting into a serious exercise routine here until I stubbed my TOE! It's ridiculous, but I can hardly walk! I can still swim though, and just because you asked rowingboat I will tell you (and try not to gloat) that it is currently a lovely 27 degrees out of the water and 22 in!

Good luck with ET OAP