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

[spook]

Hi everyone.
New thread starts here....

Apologies for driveby post but feeling like crap...

Had another scan today and saw good strong heartbeat again. Scan estimated 7w5d
looks like going to carry on with injections at least another 2 weeks...my poor bum is so full of greenish bruises the nurse keeps apologising everytime she comes near me.

I've also felt like crap for past 4 or 5 days which is good sign...I have morning sickness about 20 out of 24 hours and bad dizziness and feeling really weak -- which is exactly how i felt with DD for more than 2 months straight so bring it on. With DD I lost 11 pounds those gross months and didn't throw up once...but the constant morning sickness meant I couldn't eat. Of course, if there is an hour or two when I don't feel like crap I start knicker checking and stressing. 3 years ago I felt crap for about a month and then woke up one morning feeling normal and the next day the docs told me I'd m/c and had to have a d&c. So yeah...slightly obsessed over here

I'm so chuffed for everyone who has had good news we seem to have had quite a run of good luck. Hopefully it's catchy and we can all start a new thread something about keeping in touch once we're all busy moms

Off to lie on the bed and groan

duplomania
We posted at same time -- just wanted to reply quick...
sorry you're feeling bad. I know the "one is all you need" is probably not what you want to hear...so let me just say that nothing is over until it's over...don't count yourself out of anything!!
And with regards to drugs and doses...my doc told me that this is not physics...it's biology which I took to mean since we're all different sometimes they need to play around with stuff and what won't work one month might suddenly work the next...they often just don't know not reassuring, I know...but you just gotta hang in there.
Sending good thoughts your way

Hello can i join this thread. Am in need of support, help, advice, anything! Im 36 and have been diagnosed with POF as FSH was 27 and LH 15. I guess this means donor egg treatment is the only way to go and im hoping someone out there will have some advice for me. Im currently on a 2 year waiting list (that is if i qualify for treatment), but wondered is there anything i can do in the meantime? My partner is 10 years younger than me so this has hit us really hard and i really dont know what to do

duplo - please don't lose total hope...something similar happened to me on my first cycle. After down reg my ovaries didn't wake properly (very few small follicles) so we stopped the cycle (stab at iui would have been preferable!) next cycle we did antagonist protocol (no down reg) and I had a much better response. Fingers crossed all is well on wednesday and you don't need this advice!

Bullkitten - I'm so sorry - what a massive blow for you both! I don't know a lot about it so I'm not going to try but someone on here will and I'm sure they'll be along shortly.

Hugs to both of you x

PS Panic has really set in today - bit of a wreck if I'm honest. Thought I saw a speck of blood when I went to the loo and went in to total meltdown! Going to GP tomorrow so will what support they can offer. So scared of a 2nd mc

Duplo - hang in there everyone has offered some sound advice.Am keeping fingers crossed for you

Heid9 great news on your scan and feeling uggggh. I found the firs 16 wks of this 2nd PG absolute hell and at about 18/19wks started to feel myself again.sending you lots of sticky dust

Mowmi --- HUGS BABE xxxxxxx keep us updated. Really have a good feeling for you, but you are bound to be nervous for sometime to come. We are here for you xxxx

Bullkitten I am on my 2nd PG with donor eggs (same donor) due to Ovarian Cancer at age 27 (10 yrs ago). I know everything (I think) there is to know about this route and if you have any questions, you can ask me on here or email me at sam dot bramwell at hotmail dot com. Suffice to say, it is a major shock when this happens. I had NO choice, but I know a lot of women with POF want to keep giving it one last shot. I have a friend in a similar situation who recently decided to go down the ED route and is delighted with having finally made that decision. I have a 2yr old daughter and am 26wks pg with my 2nd pregnancy all through IVF ED. it is an emotional journey, but never for a second have I ever not felt that my little girl is mine. I grew her from an embryo, my blood and body nurtured her in my womb and i birthed her and breastfed her. I adore her to bits. Anyway, wont take up anymore precious space on here, pls feel free to email me, also take a look at the donor conceptions network - this is an ace resource for anyone contemplating this route. huge hugs to you

Hope everyone else is ok???

Duplo, sorry to hear that, and here's hoping that your ovaries get a surge in the next couple of days. I had the same problem - only 2 follicles on the highest dosage of Gonal F, and so we stopped the cycle 5 days out from estimated EC. Next cycle I am going to be on the short (aka flare) protocol, which apparently is very successful, so we'll see. It was a real shock to me that I didn't respond as I should have to the stimming drugs, =it just seemed so out of the blue (of all the problems I envisaged this just hadn't been one of them) and I was extremely pessimistic about the whole thing for a couple of days. Best wishes, though, and a hug for you from me.

Hello everyone

Hope you don't mind me butting in on your thread. Feels like turning up half way through a party you haven't been invited through.

I've never posted on here before but I chat with Issy on a tiny little thread and read your thread a lot as I'm having a last ditch attempt at trying for second baby naturally (have 3yr old DS) after a laparoscopy and ovarian drilling before going on to IUI or IVF in August.

I just wanted to say that I find the support you give each other on here really touching (I actually got quite emotional reading your messages this evening) and I think that it's lovely that something so stressful and often heartbreaking can be turned in to something so positive. Hooray horray for women I say.

Duplomania - I know like Heidi says you don't want to hear the one is all you need argument but that's what all those lucky people that never encounter any problems ttc get each month. Maybe your body has put all its efforts in to producing one super egg that will be invincible.

Rowingboat - have been thinking of you and hope you are ok.

Lottie and Mowmi - huge congratulations on your BFPs. Mowmi - hope you're feeling a little less panicky now and that you haven't had any more spotting.

xxx

Sorry - that should read "invited to" not "invited though " - unless it's a party in a corridor.

Thanks Lottie.

Ovaries were drilled a week last Friday. Thought it was a bit far fetched that making a few holes in my ovaries would suddenly spring them in to action but started doing OPKs on the Wendesday just to monitor what's going on and to my surprise got a strong and slighly weaker line followed by two very strong lines on the Thursday.

DP went to America for a week in the early hours of Thursday so only got chance to bd twice on the Wednesday night. Then got bloody cystitis so whatever swimmers their were were probably massacred by that.

Oh well. Apparenently have good 3/4 month window now as tubes were clear - though am slightly cautious as took clomid for three months and didn't get pregnant despite definately ovulating. Just have to wait and see.

Oh Duplo sending you a big hug as I'm so sorry to hear about your first scan . While my rational brain tells me that the first cycle is hit or miss, I still know that this must be such a massive shock to you. It sounds like you're doing all you can to stay healthy and calm, so I really hope that things are just taking a little longer to respond. Those tiny follicles could still grow...Fingers firmly crossed that tomorrow's scan brings better news.

Flibberty I love your posts - what you've written about your daugher is beautiful and powerful

Bullkitten sorry to hear of your news - it must be an awful thing to deal with. I don't know anything about this but there was another thread about this on here recently: see here.

Lottie I'm glad that you're being positive about the likelihood of a healthy pregancy. It's very easy to freak yourself out based on the huge range of experiences on MN, but the one thing you can (attempt to) control is your state of mind. Though sorry to hear how stressful things are for your DH out in Zurich - sounds like the best option for the moment is a short term let of the "bachelor pad" (you must have communed with your your inner estate agent when coming up with that euphemistic description!). Your symptoms are promising btw . And yes, v odd about all the recommendations about Ian on MN at the moment (nuttynanny just posted what she posted on the thread she started - basically, Ian is amazing and now I'm pregant - here's his contact details - was glad MN towers deleted it as it was just strange!). I'm going to be sniffing for the whole time of stimming btw - I'm just glad that I won't have weeks of sniffing before hand. Not sure what FSH injections I'll be on yet. Guess I'll find out next week!

NPA roll on your AF (that must be the first time on MN that I've wished someone's AF to arrive ). It sounds like your clinic have a good plan for your next cycle. I've read good things about the flare protocol (and of course Mowmi's been through it). Thanks for the tip re upper thigh - I'm going to ask my clinic about it (as I'm "blessed" with both a well upholstered stomach and thighs so could be spoilt for choice )

Mowmi it's perfectly natural to feel panicky after what you've been through but please try and stay calm (easier said than done, I know...). Like Flibberty I've got a good feeling for you and am sending you shedloads of sticky vibes. I hope the GP today was helpful?

Summermagic I was at the party in the corridor (visions of student parties coming back ). I really hope the lap and ovarian drilling works for you but if you do need to go down the assisted route this thread is full of support and advice. I'm glad to hear that the OPKs are looking good already. Fingers crossed for a natural BFP for you over the summer!

Heidi wonderful news about the scan! You must be so relieved. And while your poor derriere sounds like a pin cushion, your overall feeling of rotten-ness sounds positive .

EMZIB hope you're doing OK - have you tested again?

RB & Issy hope that you're both doing well

Waves to Gilly & OAP and anyone else I may have missed!

My parties always ended in the loo which for our particular dilemma is probably most apt... anyone joining for a bit of OCD knicker checking!!!????

LL hope you had a lovely time in Zurich

Summermagic -- all gatecrashers welcome here. Like LL I have very strange images when someone mentions ovarian drilling. Sounds more painful than I am sure it is. ?? - fingers crossed it works for you. xxx

Hope the rest of you ladies are doing ok?? I am off to have a bowl of ice cream with sugar sprinkles and chocolate sauce... well a girl's got to get her kicks from somewhere [grin}And right now the ol' BD is off the menu cos me ladybits are rather tender and swollen. I am rather hoping the elephantitis calms down as not sure this is a look I am going for LOL xxxx hugs xxxx

Hi Ladies,

Just a quick one from me (need to spend some time talking to DH!)

Saw GP today - she was very reassuring and told me she didn't want to do HCG tests because I'm showing no signs of mc and she wants me to go away and enjoy it (she was very nice) she also going to refer me to the hospital and ask them to see me early to reassure me.

Conception indicator went up to 2-3 weeks - yay!

Changed scan to 5th - want to be absolutely sure its late enough to defo see something - can't bear to hear any not sures like last time! Also the guy who was due to do it always, always gives me bad news so I'm not going to go somewhere else (I've found out he does all the EP scans)

Thanks for all you reassurances!

Sorry for selfish post - will catch up tomorrow - promise!

Hugs all x

Hi girls, thanks for all your supportive messages, it really means a lot to me! I have calmed down for the moment and decided to try and believe I'm just a late responder. Tomorrow's scan will shed some more light I just hope it's not too terrible news as I have to go to work afterwards. I guess at least now I'm prewarned and should not be as shocked as last time. funnily enough on my way to the scan yesterday I passed a guy who held up a sign saying "free hugs". I think if he had still been there afterwards I might have had to take advantage of the offer.
Anyway, I have had two sessions of acupuncture, eaten loads of protein, listened to my ivf companion cd, and tried to lie down and relax as much as is possible with a manic toddler in the house. I have also tried the hot water bottle on the tummy trick, and read somewhere that it helps to put your legs up against the wall for about 20 mins every day. will try that one later. If anyone has any other bonkers suggestions, am willing to try (almost) anything at the moment!!
Right, that's enough of me now, thanks for bearing with me!

Heidi that's excellent news about your scan you must be so relieved. Sorry to hear that your so sore from the jabs and suffering from morning sickness. But the whole sickness business is very reassuring too, isn't it so at least there's a positive side.

bullkitten, very sorry to hear about what your going through, unfortunately cannot contribute anything useful, but good luck to you!

NPA, it is so disappointing having to abandon a cycle, it feels like you're not even given a fair chance. I really hope the flare protocol will work for you, after reading round a bit it seems like that is the best solution for this scenario. Were you given the option to convert to an IUI or was that not really an option for you? When are you going to start your next cycle?

Welcome to the thread summermagic! Hope the drilling did the trick for you and you won't need to move on to ivf!

I need to go and do my jabs now, will hopefully get round to replying to everyone else afterwards, otherwise tomorrow, promise!

Hi all, it seems a long long time ago that I last posted - when I had just got back to Oz - frankly I was just feeling too depressed about the whole business.

LL has been urging me to post since I had a freak cycle but I have been holding back . . . but then I saw your post Duplo and NotPrinAn and thought you might need some inspiration.

Here's my history:

IUI - 4 attempts, only one follicle developed on each.
IVF No 1 - Long protocol, only 2 follicles developed despite taking 450 of FSH.
IVF No 2 - Atagonist. Abandoned Day 6 - no response
IVF No 3 - Atagonist. Stimming for 20 days (450), 3 follicles, then 5, then 2. Managed to ovulate despite taking ovulation suppressant (Cetrotide) as no eggs were found on EC.
IVF No 4 - Natural cycle, 150 FSH. 2 follicles, both grew too slowly before LH surge. Cycle abandoned.
IVF No 5 - Antagonist (using suppressants). 150 FSH only and there are 10 yes ladies 10 follicles! 4 have now reached optimum size(22,19, 17,16), 2 are possibilities (at 13mm), and going to Egg Collection on Friday.

DON'T LOSE HOPE!

As far as I can tell I am doing nothing different it just seems to be some sort of freak cycle. I had pretty much given up and my doctor had said basically do a few more cycles for peace of mind and we'll talk about donor. . .

Ofcourse I shouldn't get ahead of myself, I've had a few disapointments - going to EC and getting nada being the worst (and EC is still ahead of me) - but I thought you might like to know this story.

While I am here absolutely big congratulations to LL and Mowmi. And nice to see you lurking nomore and OAP. Glad to see this thread seems to have turned around.

Good luck with your scan Duplo but remember that if it is abandoned - every cycle is different!

LL - I had pink spotting in my pg with ds and bright red bleeding with this pg (heavy). It doesn't necessarily = bad news. The EPU told me that where there is bleeding there will invariably be cramping of some kind because that's what the uterus does when it bleeds. Not long to go til your scan. Scans can be useful to find out if there are any causes of spotting - with ds no cause was found, but this time a uterine haematoma was identified.

Hi Sooty, thanks a lot for sharing your story, you have had it so difficult it makes me feel like a wimp for even complaining, after all this is only my first ivf. Going to EC and not finding any eggs, poor you! that must have been truly terrible. Great news about the 10 follicles, I really hope that this time it's going to happen to you!

I'm glad your conception indicator went up after your scare mowmi, that's an excellent sign!

Sorry to hear about your spotting, ll, it is really nerve wracking but as a lot of people have said on here, quite a few people have bleeding during a perfectly normal pregnancy. Especially as you feel so nauseous and generally terrible, it's not fun but very reassuring.

Now, I went back for another scan this morning and it was different but not really better. They found 2 follicles this time at 16 and 11 mm, but no other ones, not even really tiny ones, so nothing there that could eventually catch up. Which means this is pretty much it. they are keeping me on the maximum dose until my next scan on friday, but I have been told that the cycle will be abandoned in all likelyhood or maybe I can convert to IUI. I hope since they have asked me to continue stimms they will suggest iui on friday, at least then I will have a bit of a chance. I felt in a real daze all day at work today, I'm not sure I got anything done at all. TBH I am really disappointed, I felt so positive about this cycle and tried to do everything right, I expected to have few eggs since my AFC is only 9, but I thought I could do better than 2!

Hi everyone

Really sorry to hear this cycle isn't going so well for you Duplo. Going to work afterwards must have been horrible. I'm surprised that you got anything done at all! Fingers crossed for a sucessful IUI. Can you do another IVF cycle straight after if you needed to?

LL- good news about the spotting. I remember asking my friend when I was a few weeks pregnant with my ds whether you stop worrying once you reach 12 weeks. She was about 7 months pregnant with her second child and she said "Not really. You'll worry now, you'll worry til you have the baby and then you'll worry about them for the rest of your life. It's what's being a mum is all about."

She was so bloody right. Guess it's what comes with wanting something and then loving someone so much. All the worry is going to be so so worth it though. I'm so excited for you.

Mowmi- great news about your mumbers going up too.

No news with me other than am day 8 post ovulation with slightly sore boobs which is a pretty sure sing that af is on it's way. Very happy today though as my son's check up for his arthritis went well. He's responded really well to his steroid injections up to now but started limping again a few days ago and I was worried that it had gone to another joint in his foot but the consultant said it was nothing much to worry about and his foot was probably getting a bit sore with all the racing around he does.

Has anyone heard from Issy? I hope she's ok.

Duplo I'm sorry you didn't have better news at yesterday's scan . It must have been terrible going back to work. An AFC of 9 isn't bad so it sounds like your body just doesn't like this long protocol. I really hope they give you the chance at IUI on Friday - you and your partner are in my thoughts ((hugs))

Lottie sorry to hear of the spotting but please stop rootling! I'm a fellow rootler (god, I feel like I should be standing up in a support group to say that!) as it's the only way I ever saw my pre-AF "spotting" pre-AF and the compulsion is a curse. Just think of how rotten you're feeling otherwise (and take heart from stories like Heidi's and Ladylush's). I also did 4 years of part-time study while working full time and there always comes a time when you just feel like you can't go on witn your course btw. Perfectly normal in my book...and getting through it just makes you feel better about your abilities. Hope the trip to zurich and flat move goes well this weekend (just keep repeating "this is only short term, this is only short term" ). And nothing like a bit Ikea to help tart things up

Sooty god, you've been through the mill but sounds like this cycle is going well so far [assumes fingers crossed position]. I'll be thinking of you on Friday for EC - sending you loads of eggy vibes . I find it so that different amounts of FSH can have such different results (and for your experience Lottie). I was re-reading my Zita West book last night and it reminded me (again!) how hit and miss the whole process is to an extent...still, you're right about not losing hope, it's what has got us all this far and has to keep us going.

Mowmi yay for the conception indicator going up!! And glad to hear GP was so reassuring. Roll on 5 June.

Flibberty hope things have calmed down with your lady bits!

Summer great news about your little boy's arthritis check up - sounds like the all clear for him to keep running you ragged . And sore boobs can also mean good news so fingers crossed

And big waves to everyone else.

Not much going on with me, still popping the pill and waiting for Sat morning so I can start sniffing. I dusted off my Zita West & Marilyn Glenville books last night, as DH went out for "a drink" with a colleague that turned into a bit of session (to be honest, I was happy to have the flat to myself!). I ended up getting really annoyed with the Marilyn Glenville one as she's quite negative about IVF in general and ICSI in particular (am tempted to write my first ever Amazon review to warn anyone who's doing the assisted route to not bother with it!). Anyway, since that made me all huffy I really enjoyed the Zita West one in comparison - I do find some of what she says a bit airy-fairy but over all she talks a lot of sense (just wish I'd dusted it off even earlier like Mowmi ).

Anyway, best be off as actually have lots of work to day (annoyingly).

Afternoon ladies
bank holiday starts here!!!!!- hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Naturally as the nice weather comes out, i have caught the office cold and am sniffling around generally feeling like a moose.

ll - sometimes ovarian cysts (common with IVF) can cause early pg bleeding. Or you could just be one of those likely to spot. Try not to do too much rootling. sounds like your PG symptoms are all increasing, hormonal, tiredness etc -- all perfectly normal. Summermagic is perfectly right, you never really stop worrying until they are here and then you don't ever stop worrying!

Sooty good to hear from you, keeping fingers crossed for you this week

Duplo- sending you hugs, I know how demoralising this can all be. keeping fingers crossed

Mowmi - your GP is right and good and reassuring. Totally understand you not wanting to see the same Sonographer. I would be the same. keeping fingers crossed for you.

Caitni & summermagic -- good luck with your DR & Stimms.

We had a growth scan for the baby on tuesday. Cos the NHS sonographer really worried me about this baby being small again and that it might be my placenta. Why tell me this and worry me for no reason? GRRRR - this was at 20wks. So at 26wks on tues, we had another private scan. Cost £100, but the sonographer is a consultant obstetrician at the hospital and baby is measuring perfectly, he said no problem with placenta and to just relax. So I am mightily relieved. But honestly I really just want to slap the NHS sonographer... GRRRRRRRR

Right rant over, I really need to listen to this conference call blah, blah, blah xxxxx love you all xxxxx