Assisted conception (and the bits in between!) - part 3 - all welcome

[Caitni]

Right ladies, time for a new thread.

And a big welcome to everyone . Here's to many more success stories and healthy pregnancies!

Duplo congratulations! Great news about the beta levels . Will continue to keep my fingers crossed for you but for what it's worth, I had precisely no symptoms (bar sore boobs from the progesterone pessaries) until about 8 weeks so don't fret about lack of symptoms. And also please try to put worries about "duff" eggs from your mind. I mean, how can they actually tell what your egg quality is? Having a low response does not automatically mean poor quality eggs and I think getting pregnant means your eggs must be pretty eggscellent (sorry, couldn't resist the bad pun ).

Waves to everyone else. Isle, Lottie we've having a grey rainy Monday morning here so I hope you two are faring better with the weather!

Just a quickie cos at work - just wanted to say I'm over the moon Duplo , fantastic result, well done! I'm sure you won't be able to stop worrying till you've got some real tangible proof (Like holding your new-born baby) but we're all rooting for it, and you!!!!!

Feeling SO happy now - Duplo well done :-) and thank you (selfishly) for giving us all hope.

Also, a big thank you to Isle for giving your opinion about the lifting post ET. I've been getting really stressed about what to do - DS is almost (embarrassingly) 3st (that's 40lbs to you!), and being only 22 months needs lifting constantly. I mentioned it to a doc at the clinic who just said I could sit on the floor with him if he needs a cuddle (fine I thought, but what about high-chairs, cots, baths, car seats etc..!). Looks like I'm gonna have to ask my Mum a BIG 2 week favour!

Congrats Duplo. Really glad to hear those levels are doubling as they should. Such a big achievement to get this far. Well done you.

nanoo - definitely no heavy lifting. Nothing heavier than a kettle. Ask your mum to help out for those two weeks. Sadly even though I did virtually nothing except walk, eat, sit at office desk and sleep during my two week wait, I did not conceive/implant. Take really good care not to lift anything. My clinic's advice said no hoovering, no lifting, no exercise (walking ok though). Obviously, don't take any tablets or use any unnecessary chemicals, even cleaning chemicals, they are so bad for you. I had bad gnat bites but would not use the gel with witch hazel/tea treet oil in it as I wanted to be certain I'd not poisoned my body/womb. Silly I know. good luck with the egg collection and transfer. We're rooting for you.

woohoo for duplo

nanoo - I was told by my clinic "life as normal, but avoid hang gliding". when I conceived ds, I was commuting daily to work by bicycle (60 mins a day) and swimming twice a week, though I did stop running, as I thought all that jiggling about might dislodge something. this time I have a 20 month old too, and while I tried to lift him a bit less, it just wasn't possible (he got ill and clingy). reading up on it, I could find no evidence linking lifting or lack or it with pregnancy rates. However, I did feel like I should make some effort. I read the days to be most careful are 6-9dpo (when implantation is expected to occur) so I focused on these. good luck!

Hmm, on my 2ww I ended up cycling up a big hill to work most days as it coincided with my car being off the road - went v gently but probably wasn't advisable! And I didn't get pregnant (possibly not just because of the cycling tho!)

OMG, just had big shock. Have been happily looking forward to appt with Create on Sat, to find out whether a mild cycle was an option for us. Got a call today at work, confirming the appt, and asking if she could take payment of over £400 now. Eek! I was expecting to pay somewhere between 0 and £150, different clinics seem to have different approaches for an initial consultation, but Create want to do a scan to check loads of things I've already had scans for and could tell her the answer right now. Don't mind paying if we're really going to do a cycle, but I know I'm so borderline that I really wanted an informed opinion first and can't really go chucking that sort of dosh around. Especially if she just tells me what I already know, ie: it probably won't work but you can have a go if you really want to - don't need to pay £400 to be told that! oof, that's better.

Still thrilled at your progress Duplo , we all really need this to work for you!

Duplo thats fantastic news! so happy for you. Take it easy now, wishing you and your little bean all the best

Bumpless that is odd, Ive always paid for scans after I have them there. They take the money at the end of your appointment not before. Did they give a reason for money upfront request?

Fantastic news Duplo. Also, can you tell me why your Dr recommended GIFT for low responders? I have had a bit of a google but can't find anything definate.

Bumpless I had a consultation with Geeta N before I left the UK. I was very impressed with her and am following pretty much her protocol over here in Oz (my Dr was of the same view). I would definately have gone ahead with her if we'd stayed in the UK, and her rates for over 40's and low responders are really very good. Hope that helps.

Girls, just wanted to say a big thank you to all who helped with my "lifting post ET" stress (Isle, KC11, Bumpless Mamachris). Reading your posts has helped big time. Am now realising how amazing the support is on this thread (sorry, that's a bit cheesy for MN isn't it?!) - thank you all so much. Have just received the ZW book from Amazon - also a great recommendation from Bluebell, thank you.

Had my Day 9 scan today - lining is 5.7mm...which is great (for me anyway, lining always been a bit of an issue). And quite a few follies on each side. Fingers crossed for more growth :-)

Hello and thanks so much for all your kind messages. I'm so glad that my good news has been giving you hope. The drs told me that it would be difficult for me to get pg with my own eggs, and there you go. Obviously it's still early days but I got further than ever before. So please don't give up hope when you get bad news at the clinic. I had so many bad news over the last 9 months since I went down the AC route, I have lost track of the number of times I left the clinic in tears - I was getting quite convinced that DE would be the only way to go for me. I'm so hoping that this will work out now. Luckily I have two birthdays to organise this week (dd and dp) and I'm busy at work, so I don't have too much time to worry about the scan.

sooty, I too was searching the internet after the clinic recommended GIFT to me, and all I could find were articles saying it was old fashioned and only used by strict catholics these days (because it's less interfering with nature I guess). Anyway, what the dr told me that the laboratory is quite a harsh environment for an embrio and that in their experience fertilisation and embrio survival rates are better in utero and therefore they recommend it for women who only produce a few eggs or where egg quality is poor. It is fairly invasive - I still have stitches - and afterwards I said I wouldn't do it again, but now given what's happened I have changed my mind and think it was obviously totally worth it.

Great news about your scan nanoo, that sounds very positive.

Sooty and Bluebell , many thanks for your messages about how good Create is - I'd gone into a panic and you calmed me down. The upshot is that the admin lady I'd been speaking to called me back and said she'd made a mistake, we only needed to pay for the consultation now and we'd do the scan and all the rest of it if we were recommended to go ahead with mild IVF. Feel better!

Although this prompted me to look more into the prices of everything, and it looks like the only real difference between mild IVF and conventional IVF is the cost of the drugs. Silly me - I'd been thinking that mild IVF would be a cheaper alternative, so still might not be able to go back for another hit

Duplo when I was opening the thread, by chance I landed on your message back in July when you'd just had your nasty meeting with your doctor who said your eggs might not be up to scratch, leaving you very upset - how lovely the way things have turned out! Can I ask, did you have an AMH done - sorry if you've already said and I don't remember!

Nanoo very glad to hear that your follies and lining are making good progress - grow grow grow!

bumpless the natural ivf they do there is cheaper, by quite a bit. Obviously only one egg though and the risk is you dont get one thats viable....

Hello guys - just popping into your tread, I have been ttc for the last 4 years with 1 MC. I am due to start first consultation in Novemember, just wondering if any of you had any advice or any experience of this???

Whoops meant to put that the consultation is for IUI

Bumpless I hope you go ahead with seeing Nargund. Re costs, yes there's not much in it. But if you are a low responder (as I am) the drugs have proved irrelevant, whether I take a small, less invasive dose or a mega one I get the same result! Also, you don't have to downreg which takes a lot of the misery out of the process. On very small doses of FSH I have had between one and ten follicles but only ever two eggs. On the maximum dose - same result. To my mind the reason to do mild IVF is when the conventional process isn't working anyway . . . I can't remember where you stand with this. It is frustrating to be going through all this for only one or two eggs but then I went through drug hell for the same result (or worse) as well, so that's the motivation. It does keep you a bit saner not to downregg - that was the worst bit for me, and one time it just sent me into menopause and I didn't ovulate for three months . . . so anyway, that's why I do it despite it not being essentially any cheaper.

poppy there are a few of us in here that have had IUI. Everything seems nerve wracking when you start, but the injections and procedure aren't that bad. Just take it one step at a time. Several women here have also done diet, excercise and acupuncture.

If you have any specific questions, just let me know, I've been through it 5 times, but with bad tubes, it didn't work for me.

Duplo thinking of you and hope your Beta is continuing to RISE!

Well all - I'm starting lupron inj today for our FET. I'm still on the bc pills for another week, but the lupron is supposed to help with the lining... so here goes, again!

Sorry Poppy I can't help you on IUI - but the girls on this thread are v v kind with support and advice (wow Isle - 5 times - that's v brave).

And great Isle you've found the strength to hop back on the rollercoaster again - this could be your time :-)

Well, my scan this morning went OK (about 12 folls, although quite a spread of size - the smallest 11mm which I guess won't mature, but the biggest 19mm). My real excitement was a lining of 11mm. Not sure if that's normal with IVF (it's my first full IVF cycle), but it beats anything I've had before. So I have everything crossed with EC on Monday. Crazy and irrational, I know, but I feel SO excited. Is that normal?! I'm building myself up for such a fall, aren't I

Would love to keep chatting to you all about it - even if there aren't any cycle buddies at the mo...x

Was directed here by LondonLottie and Caitni and have spent the past 3 hours reading this thread.
Didn't seem right to then go away without saying hello and wishing you all the best of luck.

I have a DD already and am considering assisted conception for a second DC. Have found this thread immensely useful in giving me an idea of what to expect if we do go down the assisted conception route, so thank you!

Anyway, sending you all good vibes for BFPs

WorstWitch glad you have found the thread to be helpful, best of luck to you and if you do pursue AC, don't be a stranger. This group is pretty saavy when it comes to everything involved, if it can be done - chances are there is at least one of us who has tried it!

nanoo great results! Those that are 16mm and above should have a good shot at being mature by Monday. EC is soooo exciting and a bit scary. I heard everyone say it was really no big deal, but until you actually go through it yourself you won't think so. I was given anesthesia (just an IV) so I was out for about an hour and bingo it was done! It was sore to sit, laugh, cough or sneeze for two days, but tylenol was enough to help. Then you will find out 24 hours later how many fertilized! very exciting, then even more ET!!! Are you going day 3 or blasts? and yes, if it doesn't work you are in for a big fall, but that's anytime we try this AC thing, so for now ENJOY THE UPSWING! Besides, if it works, it will be fantastic!

Best to all

Thanks so much Isle - the consultant said to go for Blasts, but from his description it seemed like the eggs/embryos have to be v strong to last that long. I'm 38 so am not expecting anything spectacular. I guess if they don't last to be blasts they just pop them back in anyway. Thanks for all your support :-) am indeed loving the upswing!!!

sorry have been off this thread for a couple of weeks, coming to terms with last cycle.

nanoo good luck with the EC Monday! It's uncomfortable, and a bit embarrassing, but not truly awful. I had no painkillers, just a very nice nurse holding my hand, and was fine

islegrin very good luck with the FET cycle. can you start a FET cycle quite quickly after the IVF? my clinic want me to wait 3 months between cycles.

well we've decided to step back onto the rollercoaster for one more ride (the last we can afford). and I have a dilemma... blasts or day 3s? we are going for single embryo transfer (don't want twins, almost as much as we do want a baby!) so blasts make sense, but this cycle only 1 of the 9 day 3 embryos made it to blast, so it sounds really risky - we could go through this final cycle and never gt to transfer. otoh, if we put back just 1 day 3, and froze the other 8, and it didn't work, I don't think I could stop knowing I had 8 maybe-babies in the freezer. and a potential 8 rounds of FET sounds impossible (emotionally and financially...)

I've never enjoyed gambling and this seems one of the biggest ever.

Hello everyone, I used to post on here what seems like years ago.....actually it probably was!! Jumping back on for some moral support if possible. Im half way through my first IUI and at the, scan to see how long they are, stage! Unfortunatly not much seems to be going to plan, my follicles have shrunk since the first scan so injection dose has been increased, twice, there has also been a little bleeding. Its a worry since my PCT only fund three IUI's. Poppy Im a newby to all this so am happy to talk to u about it from my perspective. I know some of u guys have been through this and could probably put a different perspective on things for me.
Cheers guys xx

Hi Viksam, I've done a number of IUI's and I must admit shrinking follicles doesn't sound good. On the positive side rememeber that each cycle is different, and our bodies react differently on each cycle. I myself have had very different responses on the same type of drugs and same dose. So even if this cycle is abandoned, try again. I've had an abandoned cycle and lots where I got a good sized follices.

mamachris always a tough gamble here in the AC world. If you take the risk going to blasts, then you have a better chance of being pg, as I understand and almost assured of having the singleton you want. Also, it depends a lot on the quality of the day 3 embies. On the last cycle were the majority of them 8 cells with the best quality grade or were they 3,4, 5 cells with medium to poor quality? It's further complicated by the fact that even if you freeze 8 cell embryos, if they are poorer quality they don't thaw out well.

I don't know about in the UK, but it may be similar to here - FET is only about 3000 USD versus 15,000 USD, so we could afford one or two cycles more than IVF.

Yep - I can jump right into the next cycle with FET. Of course there is still the downregging, (birth control pills for me) and I'll finish those on Thursday with a scan to make sure there aren't any new fols growing. Then continue on with lining building (Lupron in very small doses). ET expected around Nov 6th.

Re: the 3 month wait - it could be because you are going from IVF to IVF and I went from IVF to FET? My observations (purely anecdotal) from MN postings is that the UK clinics are a bit more conservative than the US ones, so perhaps that is why the 3 mo wait? OR Could be a bit of both? My doc told me at our last consult that she has a higher success rate with FET than direct IVF. She thinks it has to do with optimum estrogen levels being different for EC versus implantation. (e.g. my estrogen was 3300 for EC, which is necessary for good production and retrieval, and she says for implantation at FET they keep it to about 400.)

Welcome back viksam hope your first IUI does the trick for you!

Hi Gals!

MamaChris well done for rallying, and welcome back to the game... If you can bear it, it would probably be worth waiting the three months. IVF really takes it out of your body and a bit of time to recover can only be a good thing. FWIW, I think I went back in too fast for my 3rd cycle and not only had a very bad result, but there is some evidence that my ovaries are permenantly knocked back as a result - although we will never really know for sure. The month will feel like ages but it isn't really, im the scheme of things! As for blasts vs 3-days, I've heard you double your chances if you get to blasts so you have about the same chance putting 1 blast as 2 day 3's back. That's still only 40% on a good day (this is where stats get dangerous as it's different for everyone), so in theory you could even put 2 blasts back and have an 80% chance of having 1 baby. Not sure how far you can pursue this but I suspect it depends on how much you want to avoid twins, and whether you'd choose no baby at all.

Hope the EC went well Nanoo and attagirl for the FET Islegrin - you did so briliantly in the last cycle I'm sure those frosties are just raring to go!

I went to Create on Saturday and it was quite an experience. I'm joining Bluebell and Sooty in the Dr Nargund fan club, she was fantastic. So fantastic, in fact, that we came back for the full-on scan (after all that wriggling out of it last week, she must love doolally TTC ladies). To cut to the chase, her very thorough scan showed a completely inactive left ovary and one very tiny antral follicle on my right. In Dr N's words, 'there is no point at all in stimulating these ovaries'. Given that in April I had 8 antral follies, I wasn't expecting it to be this bad. It seems that having 3 high dose IVF rounds this year, the last two on off-the-scale 600 units/day, may have wiped out their functionality. Or it may have always been going to happen this year. Either way, basically, I'm out of the game. Haven't really reacted yet, in fact in some respects I'm feeling relief that it's all over and I can get off the endless TTC treadmill. I expect I'll stub my toe or drop a pencil or something soon and the world will end!

Hugs and waves to all