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

[spook]

Hi everyone.
New thread starts here....

Hi everyone,
please accept my apologies for a short post, I don't have much battery here and the stoopid wifi involves sitting in the garden to get reception.
Issy good luck for EC!
Lottie, is it lotto and letti or lilo and loofah you are currently looking after?
My doctor isn't bomarding me with info, I think they expect patients to know very little here in Hungary. He says I have nine follicles, four are large and five are not large, but not sure what they are exactly. Whatever!
He is making me take cloripheme or something to make the bigger ones slow down (sit down and put their feet up) and let the little ones (shorter legs) catch up.
He said the bigger ones were 18mm yesterday and today is my last injection of stuff.
Tonight I have to inject ovitrel (sp?) and then take tomorrow off then go for EC on Wednesday at 10am.
It's nice here, sunny, but not too hot (not keen on hot cities), with a pleasant breeze and we are totally in the hills, it's very hilly - very!
Hope everyone is well!
Big hug to everyone!

Hi everyone,
please accept my apologies for a short post, I don't have much battery here and the stoopid wifi involves sitting in the garden to get reception.
Issy good luck for EC!
Lottie, is it lotto and letti or lilo and loofah you are currently looking after?
My doctor isn't bomarding me with info, I think they expect patients to know very little here in Hungary. He says I have nine follicles, four are large and five are not large, but not sure what they are exactly. Whatever!
He is making me take cloripheme or something to make the bigger ones slow down (sit down and put their feet up) and let the little ones (shorter legs) catch up.
He said the bigger ones were 18mm yesterday and today is my last injection of stuff.
Tonight I have to inject ovitrel (sp?) and then take tomorrow off then go for EC on Wednesday at 10am.
It's nice here, sunny, but not too hot (not keen on hot cities), with a pleasant breeze and we are totally in the hills, it's very hilly - very!
Hope everyone is well!
Big hug to everyone!

Hi everyone,
please accept my apologies for a short post, I don't have much battery here and the stoopid wifi involves sitting in the garden to get reception.
Issy good luck for EC!
Lottie, is it lotto and letti or lilo and loofah you are currently looking after?
My doctor isn't bomarding me with info, I think they expect patients to know very little here in Hungary. He says I have nine follicles, four are large and five are not large, but not sure what they are exactly. Whatever!
He is making me take cloripheme or something to make the bigger ones slow down (sit down and put their feet up) and let the little ones (shorter legs) catch up.
He said the bigger ones were 18mm yesterday and today is my last injection of stuff.
Tonight I have to inject ovitrel (sp?) and then take tomorrow off then go for EC on Wednesday at 10am.
It's nice here, sunny, but not too hot (not keen on hot cities), with a pleasant breeze and we are totally in the hills, it's very hilly - very!
Hope everyone is well!
Big hug to everyone!

Just checking in quickly to say that I got 12 eggies, and they expect 80% to fertilise and 60% of those to cleave, so that leaves 5 or 6. Keeping my fingers crossed for that phone call tomorrow.

Good luck for Wednesday RB.

Issy great news about your eggies. Good luck for tomorrow.

RB good luck on your Hungary adventure. Enjoy the warm weather.

flibbertywidget and lottie thanks for keeping your fingers crossed. The clinic is actually pretty good. It's inside a hospital and it was the hospital's big lab that had the problems.

I'm still bleeding and still trying to spend most of the day in bed with my legs up. I think it's lighter than the last few days...but I'm scared to say/think that in case the other shoe drops -- or maybe that should be the fourth shoe? Considering how many ups and downs we've had this past week. Anyway, hopefully the bleeding will disappear, the blood tests will be wonderful and they'll be able to do an u/s soon and give me some more assurances than "it doesn't look good but let's wait and see."

Thanks again all for the support
cheers

Hi all. especially gilly I so know how you feel. When will it our turn to make the wonderful announcement? DH and I have not been talking since late Sat night. Trivial disagreement but I am not over the disappointment yet and I know he just doesn't get how I feel. On Sat during the day I was 99% ok. But woke up Sunday morning and felt awfully low and depressed. Took the whole day to get the down feeling to shift a little. Still not talking to DH. Obviously would not be babydancing if we're not even on speaking terms. On saturday I walked to the local shopping centre with my dad and had acouple of hours distraction and i really was ok. Then on Sunday I felt as if the whole thing had crashed around my ears. I felt so tearful that i turned down two invitations from my mum to meet her in the local shopping centre as I just could not stop crying long enough to wash my face and put any make up on. I worked in my garden, cutting the lawn and pulling up weeds and unwanted bluebells (not the protected English ones, just the comoon old garden European unprotected ones) just in case anyone out there is a wildlife fan!!! I worked like a horse for 6 hours. the garden does look lovely and the first thing I did this monrig was look out at my neatly manicured lawn and thought how proud of myself I am. Have received the three second-hand books on Fertility from Amazon today. Ordered them last weds and it seems to have taken an age for them to arrive. I will be reading them tonight to block out the silence coming from DH's direction. I know I'm being a moody cow but it's my prerogative with all these hormones still swimming around inside me.

Hi islegrin, hope you're feeling more cheerful and optimistic again. I have to admit I was feeling similar with my 3rd iui, you just get to the point where you think why should it work when it didn't work before - but then why shouldn't it? often it just takes a few attempts and this could be the one.

All the best for your ec today, Issy!!

Hi lottie, great to hear that the transfer went well and you have to good embryos. Hope you're taking it easy and time isn't moving all to slowly for you. I'm glad the consultant responded to your luteal phase concern and prescribed more progesterone. Please don't self medicate though, that sounds very dangerous to me.
My dp is the same as yours, I constantly babble on to him about all sorts of ivf intricacies and he just nods politely. I'm sure he thinks I have turned into a complete bore - and he's probably right.

gilly, sorry you're feeling low, but of course it will take time to get over the disappointment. I think it's a really good idea doing these immune tests are they do do with killer cells etc? have heard of them but don't really know much about it. But it would be a good way to use the time while waiting for the next cycle, I know being proactive always makes me feel better, I have tried so many things during this ttc, mainly just so I'm doing SOMETHING rather than just sit and wait for things to happen.

Gilly and lottie, I do get very jealous of other pg people too , and then feel really ashamed about it especially if they're good friends. What makes me even more ashamed is that I already have dd so really I should be more grateful . But whenever I hear that someone is pg with their second child (especially if they have a small age gap, I have become obsessed with age gaps) I find it quite hard to be pleased for them. it's terrible when people are so smug about getting pg easily, especially men keep going on about their super sperm like it makes them some kind of superman! I mean nobody's smug about not being blind after all (not quite the same I know but hope I am making sense somehow).

Heidi, poor you, can't believe the clinic have stressed you out so much. But great news about your hcg going up so much. Please look after yourself and try to rest as much as possible until your next appointment. all the best!

HI rowingboat, sounds like your follies are doing a good job. only two days til EC, wow! Weather in hungary sounds great, you'll be coming back with a tan! How long will you be staying out there?

I have just sabotaged my living healthily plan with an obscene amount of chocolate - had massive cravings and unfortunately had a big bar hidden in my sweets drawer. washed it down with a few haribos .
Also couldn't do my weekly run last weekend because I got terrible blisters from my new shoes.

I started my progesterone tablets last week and now feel really premenstrual, stomach cramps and sore boobs. How weird, I thought progesterone is meant to help with pms, also am only on cd 17 today.

wow I can't keep up with you guys..

issy, 12 eggs that's fantastic!! Fingers crossed they all fertilize like crazy! Hope you're feeling ok after the ec.

Sorry about how you're feeling KC11. Fertility problems put a terrible strain on couples relationships and for some reason most men and women seem to deal with it in completely different ways. my dp really doesn't understand what all the fuss is about and is convinced everything is gonna be ok eventually. I don't want it to be ok eventually, I want it to be ok now!! Maybe your dh is the same I don't know. I really don't understand how he cannot get why you're feeling so down, it's completely normal after what happened. But I hope you can sort out your differences soon, you need him to be supportive now, not to add further to your stresses. i'm glad the gardening made you feel better, it's always good to have a project to take your mind of things. Have you heard anything back about the waiting list for your next cycle? I think this is the one thing that would really help me, moving on to the next attempt. Sorry I cannot help you more, I would make a rubbish councellor I know.

Thanks duplo. You'd make a wonderful counsellor. No, i've not heard anything from Barts. They said I might have to wait two months for the letter. It is impossible to get through on the 'phone. I am going to wait until Weds next week and then start hassling them by email.

I have fogotten where you are at currently. Give me a quick update. I've been off the site a lot lately and have lost where everyone is.

Yay!!!! Heidi Good news for you. I am really pleased for you. Forgive me but I've forgotten are you being a surrogate for your sister or S-I-L? I should read back but it's getting late.

Issy Hope EC went well for you today. Hope you recover from the anaesthetic quickly. Did they give you antibiotics to take for 4/5 days after? What clinic are you under? Did they give you Cyclogest pessaries? My clinic gave me Crinone vaginal gel. No-one else on this thread seems to have heard of it. I wonder why my clinic use this and not Cyclogest. I like the sound of your clinic doing loads of scans. I would rather go to the clinic every other day the whole way through if it were allowed. That way they can closely monitor you and i wouldn't feel like my ovaries could get too carried away! I was borderline with OHSS. I apparently had 20 follicles which they said might be too many. I wonder what would have happened if i'd had 21? Would they have abandoned the whole cycle? Does anyone have experience of this?

For anyone on their 2ww, my best advice is line up loads of tasks to do and do whatever relaxes you. I did not do it at the time but I have now started seeing a fertility reflexologist. Saw her last Tues for the first time and seeing her again tomorrow evening after work. I think it helps me as she explained that the hormones can be gently persuaded to balance themselves as nature intended. I am willing to give it a try and i much prefer it to acupuncture.

Tonight I have been shopping for my friend's birthday present at Lakeside, Thurrock. It's open until 10pm and as I'mnot talking to DH at the moment it gave me space to be on my own and wander around the shops. OK so retail therapy sometines hits the spot. What did I buy? My friend's birthday present( a top and some white linen trousers) and for me? 5 cheap summer tops, a pair of shorts, some hair clips, some birthday cards and some T shirts for my cousins twins boys who are 3 in just over a week. Quite a productive visit. I feel quite chuffed with myself to be buying the twin's presents so early.

Hey lottie. I hear what you're saying about the couple ahead of you on ET day. It makes you feel almost grateful that you've got as afar as you/we have doesn't it. On the day I had EC a couple opposite were apparently told (DH overheard) that the woman who was 35 (same as me) did not hjave any eggs in her follicles. She was devastated as I would have been too. I cam home thinking about them and how they must feel and i took my mind off how sick i felt from the anaesthetic. By the way, TMI I vomited on the tube on the way home from EC. Don't know how I'm going to get home when I next have EC?!? DH is a tube driver too!?!

Gilly The reality hit me yesterday full on. Up til then I had been quite calm about the failed attempt. It's funny but it creeps up on you when yu're not looking and BAM! You sob and shudder and have a good old cry. You will be powerless to stop it. It is now 14 days since I found out the cycle had failed I guess the drugs are wearing off and my body is taking up the strain of trying to make it's own FSH and LH and GNrH. I am feeling better today and hope you're ok too. Are you under Guys or The Hammersmith? What have they said to you since?

KC - I can so relate to the... BAM! and it hits you all over again. The loss of opportunity and the temporary (I stress: TEMPORARY) loss of hope is terrible. Wives typically have more emotional investiment in ttc, especially with assisted ttc. The husbands usually figure it will happen at some point, they get disappointed too, but usually not to the same level as we do - or at least they don't let on. Glad you went out and accomplished some gardening, that can be very therapeutic. Just let yourself ride the waves of emotion, without putting too much stress on yourself. You will heal and hope will return, it's going to happen on it's own timetable. (((HUGS)))

RB 18mm and 9 total follies - wowie!!! Can't wait to hear the results of EC day - best of luck.

Issy more wows - 12 eggies! You must be beaming, you have a good shot for ET. I forget, are you going to blasts? Fingers crossed!

Duplo thanks for the encouragement - I'm happy again, but I'm keeping my expectations low or nonexistant. TBH - I've even forgotten what my CD is, and can barely be bothered to count it out. Today, I was thinking about the tww in terms of when I can start my next cycle of fertility medications... I think keeping my expectations in check will reduce the sadness I will feel if it doesn't turn out the way we'd like. Of course I'll be elated if this is THE cycle, but I'm not counting on it at all. My DH asked for mercy yesterday on the BD front... so I've given him a small repreive, but just for a day or two!

LOL- at obscene amount of chocolate chased by Haribos!
:O

LL hoping those little guys are growing attached to you!

RB - good luck for tomorrow. Hope those little one's have caught up for you.
Heidi - my fingers are crossed for you too. Hope the bleeding stops and keep those feet up.
KC11 - Sorry you're having a hard time with DH. Hope you kiss and make-up soon. I didn't get given antibiotics, but have to start Cyclogest pessaries tomorrow - two per day at 400 whatever units. My clinic is NURTURE in Nottingham. Hope the reflexology works for you.
Duplo - I've never heard of progesterone tablets - rather have those than pessaries. Lol at your chocolate and haribo feast. Jelly sweets are one of things I miss most, but Sainsbury's have brought back their Fizzy Fangs which are veggie, so I'm enjoying those.
Lottie - that yoga weekend away sounds great and just what you need to make those embies relaxed.

Thanks everyone for the good wishes. My anaesthetic-addled mind wasn't listening properly. It's 80% of eggs will be mature, 60-70% of those will fertilise and 90-95% will cleave. I got 12 eggs, 8 were mature and all 8 have fertilised, so they've recommended taking them to blast. Scary wait until Saturday now to see if any survive. I thought they'd check on them every day and bring you in sooner if necessary, but they said that disturbs them too much, so had to make the decision today. Embryologist said 30-50% survive to blast but not sure if that was of the 8 fertilised or of those which cleave. Either way that leaves 2 and they only need one, so fingers crossed. They're going to call me Thursday afternoon with a progress report as they have to do something to them on Thursday anyway. Best get back to being socialable now, neglecting my friend again.

Sociable even

Hi

Issy I know we usually chat on the clomid thread but I've been checking up on your progress on here and just wanted to let you know I've got everything crossed for you. Looks like things are going perfectly so far.

Can't wait for further updates.

xxx

Hi issy, 8 fertilised eggs, that's fantastic! i'd definitely try and go to blast with that many.

Good luck with your EC tomorrow Rowingboat!!

what a nice idea to go away on a yoga weekend during your 2ww, lottie. did you plan it that way or was it coincidence? sounds like a good way to take your mind off things (at least temporarily). You seem to be doing a lot of yoga, are you one of those really bendy people? I am a permanent beginner (only manage to do about 2-3 sessions per month) and it always amazes me what some people can do with their bodies. Interesting that you too get pms from progesterone, so it's not just me making this up.

I am taking the progesterone tabs before downregging, to prevent cysts from forming I believe, seems to be standard procedure for my clinic. They are harmful during pregnancy though (that's why they give us pessaries and not tablets after et) which means I am actually using contraception this month . Seems quite ridiculous really but it would be just like me to fall pregnant the one time I'm not supposed to. somehow it is a real relief not to be ttc for once, no cycle watching or symptom spotting - and I can eat sushi, soft cheese and rare steaks whenever I feel like it - yum!

So I will start downregging this thursday. I hope I won't get loads of nasty side effects, am going away with friends this weekend and don't want to be the resident grump (they don't know what I'm up to).

I'm doing such a good job of staying away from MN, aren't I??? LOL

LL When do you get to test? It might be in the same million days that I do! I just figured out it's mothers day weekend, when I get to test. Technically, the Friday before... but still. Hoping a good one sticks!

Issy wonderful news! 8 embryos and taking them to blasts, you'll have to distract yourself a lot over the next day or two to make it through. Best of luck on ET day. (I'm sure your friend understands, afterall she's (or he's?) there to support you for IVF!

duplo I've heard of not eating sushi when pg, but soft cheese? Does that include cream cheese and cottage cheese or just brie? OMG- DH and I've been fighting over the cottage cheese lately! Can't keep enough of it in the house. I do love sushi... especially living in Hawaii, it's hard for me to imagine letting that go for 9-10 months, but I'll be strong. I can still have avacado maki rolls!

Hi duplo. Have a wonderful time this weekend. Where are you going? abroad or local? My advice about the downregging is that you will probably get headaches within 10 minutes of taking the down reg injection. Just drink plenty of water after and you'll feel the headache leave you really quickly. Are you going to have to do your injection senakily away from prying eyes? Don't balance any needles anywhere that isn't flat. You don't want to give yourself away! Is this your first IVF cycle? Good luck my friend and welcome to the IVF Club. There are lots of members but every so often a member graduates into the PG Club. I am still waiting to be allowed back in the IVF Club. Hopefully this will be early July.

I had a relaxing reflexology this evening. the woman is very calm and collected and instantly makes me feel calm. The aromatherpy oil melting in the room was Geranium and was really soothing. Just what I needed. She doesn't need to see me again for 2/3 weeks (i.e.until after my next period). So I am intending to motivate myself to join the local sports centre and take a weekly spinning class or something. It will help me to have distrctions.

Who out there does regular exercise? What do you do? What is NOT safe to do when trying TTC?

Hi Isle. It must be heavenly to live in Hawaii. Were you born there? Do you work? I would imagine that all Hawaiians just stroll around all day enjoying the sun and the fresh ocean breeze. Am I wrong?

don't worry islegrin, it's only stuff like brie and blue cheese you can't have, cottage cheese and cream cheese is totaly fine. I love sushi too, we have a fantastic sushi place close to where I live and are good customers.
Lucky you living in hawaii!! have you lived there for long?