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!

Hi and Congratulations all round!! Fantastic news about your scan issy, how exciting to finally see that heartbeat!

And lottie, OMG!! Twins, that's great. I can see why you are feeling a bit scared but I'm sure you'll get the hang of it and you will never have to go through all that crap again to give them a sibling.

Your follicles appear to be doing great Caitni, even if not all of them contain mature eggs you will still have way more than you need.

Welcome Ailz, we seem to be in the same boat, have dd 2.7 yrs and desperate for another. It's so hard keeping up a 'happy mummy' front for the little one when you've had a rubbish day isn't it, I'm not very good at it at all and I'm sure I've upset her a few times by being grumpy.

Wave to everyone else who's on the 2ww. I'm 9 days dpo and have no symptoms whatsoever. my boobs are killing me, nipples feel like someone's chewed them (sorry for the graphic description) but have felt like this ever since started taking the progesterone so unfortunately not a pg symptom. have been in a foul mood the last two days as I'm absolutely certain it hasn't worked. It's gonna be a rubbish end for a rubbish cycle. Sorry to be moaning so much but I'm just so tired of being disappointed month after month after month. will need to test on saturday as will be flying on sunday and might postpone flight otherwise, but maybe af is gonna catch me before then anyway, my lf is normally quite short.

Hi Duplo

Sorry you're feeling so sh*t. Feel free to moan away. I know exactly what you mean about just having enough of the dissapointment. Desperately trying to control your optimism/pessimism/excitement/nervousness/fear/hope/dissapointment month after month after month just gets so bloody exhausting and tedious doesn't it?

You're not alone. xx

I know I know I'm bad but I tested. Negative . . . . Still hanging on to scrap of hope that it's too early, but I had my 'pre-period sleepless night' last night which happens on the sleep before the sleep before my period arrives (penultimate?) so I am losing hope fast . . . . . Really thought it might happen this time .

Issy yay for your good news! I'm delighted for you and glad to hear that beanie's little heart is thumping away .

Sooty sorry to hear of the BFN - always horrible to get one - but it is too early to test. EMZIB recently tested negative before her positive result and a RL work friend who had IVF also tested negative until 10 days past a blast trasfer (so 15 days past EC) and now has a baby girl. Hope that the same is true for you but big (((hugs))) in the meantime

Duplo also sorry to hear you're feeling so rotten. Don't worry about moaning - you've got to have an outlet for it, especially when you're keeping up the happy front for your DD. Are you off anywhere nice on Sunday?

Summer I cannot believe what your consultant said about relaxing. I would have been fuming!! "Oh, relaxation? Right...could you just do me a prescription for some?". Really infuriates me as I think it lays the blame on women...like seeking medical help (in our cases) or just charting/tracking your ovulation (for lots of women) is somehow wrong and we just all lightened up about everything we'd fall at the drop of a hat . But to hear it from a consultant when you've just had ovarian drilling is probably the most infuriating case of just-relax-itis I've ever heard of!

Ailz hope you had a good co-ord app for the IVF. Do you know when you're due to start?

Lottie thanks for the reminder that it's quality not quantity and no, no one has actually told me that fast growing follicles are more likely to have no good eggs...I (rather sheepishly) must say that I managed to invent that on the spot when the sonographer said my follicles were larger than normal at this stage . Both the sonographer and the nurse tried to reassure me that they'd never heard of that but I still managed to stress out about it .

Not much going on with me - estradiol levels yesterday were 3222 (not sure of the unit). Which is on the high side but tallies with the number of large follicles I have so there was no need to reduce my menopur. I've now kind of mentally prepared for EC on Monday but won't know for sure until tomorrow.

So in the meantime I continue to drink so much water I feel like I'm turning into a barrel - my tum is definitely bigger and starting to feel quite bloated - and am a bit hormonal (cried at both Springwatch and the 10 o'clock news last night ).

Hello ladies,

Issy & Lottie- congratulations again - are you both still floating?

Sooty - it is very early - don't give up yet (you know it's too early to throw the towel in yet)

Duplo & Bumpless - fingers crossed for you both (and Sooty of course)!

Summer - your consultant sounds like an arse and should clearly know better!

Caitni - I remember the stage you are at well - feels like your on a knife edge waiting doesn't it - hope all goes well for Monday

Hello and welcome to Aliz!

Sorry that is my blatant attempt at badly catching up so I can update you - apologies if I've rudely missed anyone!

Feeling very crampy last couple of days and had a tiny bit of pink on tuesday. Woke up this morning thinking I needed to see GP because I had nobody medically taking care of my impending mc (also feeling incredibly emotional and wanting to hide under the duvet)
Dr was amazingly lovely and was quite insistent that EPAU see me today.
Just got back from appointment where I told them all about my history and what happened last week, told them I would cry but not to worry because wasn't expecting a miracle!!
She was quiet for a moment and then said I had written the pregnancy off way to early - there on the screen was a yolk sac and a heart beat!
I'm beyond happy and am in total shock - I thought I was going to get a ERPC sorted so sure I didn't even tell DH where I was going until on my way because I didn't want him coming out of work!
Scan dates me as 6+2 which makes sense of last weeks only dating me 5+3 ish

Mowmi that's wonderful news - I'm so very happy for you and your DH. I'm actually crying at my desk () but after all you've been through it's just such happy news. Congrats on seeing your baby's hb .

Mowmi I'm completely over the moon for you and Minimowmi, this is wonderful and am wiping away a little tear myself! (these darn hormones). Completely fantastic and inspiring news and a reason for all of us to keep hanging in there just a little longer. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Seems like yesterday was the low day for all us 2WW gang. Group hug ((( Sooty and Duplo ))). Sooty, one of the listed side effects I've been getting with the cyclogest is trouble sleeping. I know you're not on that, but I wonder whether the injections could be having a similar effect - worth a check? Everything crossed for a better result on Sat. Sat's testing day for all of us, isn't it - we'll need some major good vibes!

Caitni great that you're on course for EC on Monday, those follies are going to be super duper healthy and perfectly ripe...

Thanks Ailz for the hot water and lemon tip - I'll add it to the arsenal (geddit? ) of bowel therapies!

Had an acupuncture session before work today and feel much better, less grumpy and ratty, no more pregnant than before unfortunately but at least better able to cope with it all.

Hello ladies,

I dont quiet know if my story will be of any use to any of you going through the (I hate to say the word rollercoaster but it is)rollercoaster that is assisted conception.

I have PCOS but was undiagnosed for near 3 years because I dont have the typical symptoms. Was being told leaft right and centre by HCP's that I was young and too young to be worried about fertility issues. Started TTC aged 21, by the time I was 23 had been prescribed Clomid. The Clomid did regulate my periods but other than that was unsuccessful TBH. After 2 years on clomid I was referred to ACS unit at my local hospital who did all the tests and confirmed DX of PCOS. It was a relief to know that there was a problem as I had always been told that I had unexplained infertility. I look back now and realise I should have pushed for a DX sooner.

Anyway, I started a course of IUI and by day 9 on injections I had 23 follicles so obviously cycle was cancelled and warned of risk of unprotected sex etc.

I took unwell and had to put next cycle off for a year but was still TTC naturally.

My next cycle of IUI started in Nov 2007, my injection dosage was halved and all was going well. Scan on day 10 showed 17 follicles! Again cycle cancelled, but to be honest I would have asked for it to be cancelled anyway as my Gran passed away the day before my scan.

The team looking after me decided that as I responded so well to medication, IVF would be the best possible route. We were scheduled to sign IVF consent forms in Feb 2008. I was asked to telephone on day 2 of my next period to book in for bloods etc. After my period was late for 3 weeks, which for me is not unusual, I decided to go get a home pregnancy kit as I knew my GP would ask if I had done one because I was wanting to see her because I felt so damn rotten.

The test was positive! I had fallen pregnant naturally and was a few days pregnant when I had signed the IVF consent.
My beautiful DS is now 29 weeks old! 8 years after starting TTC, never thought we would get there but it was worth all the waiting and procedures.

I suppose I just want to say that I know how hard it is to have assisted conception, people dont understand how it can take over your life. But I want you all to know that there is hope and hope that this can help in some way. I dont know if it will but wanted to share a positive story with you all.

I didnt tell many people I was having problems conceiving because I didnt want them to feel sorry for us or to have to answer loads of "has it worked" questions. My reson for this was that my cousin had problems too and told everyone about her having IUI and she regretted it. The questioning was relentless and the stress showed, She eventually had IUI triplets though!

So just want to send you all hugs and I will have my fingers crossed for you all. I hope you dont mind me hijacking your thread.

Good luck to everyone.

xxx

Forgot to say, I hope we have another child one day but if we dont then at least we can say we gave it a damned good try.

Well if we weren't all crying at Mowmi's AMAZING news then I can bet we all are now.

THanks so much for taking the time to write your story. I'm so glad that it all worked out for you and that all your dreams came true. It's always great to hear the good news stories and there are just loads of them on this thread at the minute.

Mowmi - I knew it I knew it I knew it. That's exactly what happened to my friend. I am so so delighted for you. CONGRATULATIONS xxxxxxxxx

Sooty - hang on in there. It's not over till it's over.

Sending you, Duplo and Bumpless masses of positive vibes for Saturday.

Ailz - I'm cd8 at the mo and having two more goes at DIY before trying first IVF in August. Accupuncturist told me to do it doggy style as my homework assignment yesterday which is certainly the most graphic piece of advice I'd ever been given by an accupuncturist!

Hello to everyone else. x

Duplo yes i find that I can be a bit stressed and short with dd poor thing, just on the days when i have an appointment or something. She knows i am distracted and she hates it so she deals with it like all 3 year olds and whinges! bit like us really actually! we all know and sympathise with the month after month thing. it is crap and it is very hard to imagine that this month will be any more successful than last month, but we have to say chin up, soldier on and all of that. you are not alone, we are all tougher than we look!
Caitni, appt went well, should start about sunday or monday, so feeling equally like that day will never come quick enough and that it is coming all too quickly! Now if you are going to start imagining and making up problems for yourself, you will have a very tough time!!!! i know what it is like though, whenever they (med type people) make any comments that are a bit ambiguous, we automatically imagine that we are complete freaks and everything that can go wrong has gone wrong!
Mowmi congratulations, really thrilled, best feeling ever to know everything is alright! I had similar experience with my dd when i was 6 weeks, bleeding etc, but all turned out fine. i will remember feeling forever. congrats again x
Bumpless yes i geddit, good one! you will have a lovely Arsenal by the end of it!Will read everyone elses post later, i am actually going to vote and then tidy my house and then cook my dinner and it is already after 7! ah!

Gilly, how immensely frustrating, I would have been utterly furious at them wasting my time like that

Mowmi I'm so so pleased to hear your wonderful news! Congratulations, you must be in a daze!

I had my FSH and AMH blood tests on Monday and am feeling very down about them at the moment, I have managed to convince myself that they'll be dire and will make it not worth continuing with IVF. This is mostly to do with the fact that I'm very tired and stressed due to work just now I think (I've been working very long hours for the last fortnight) but I'm definitely going through a low patch. I need to ring them up next week to make an appointment to discuss the results, and I'm dreading it.

Namechange thanks for the lovely inspirational story. it is nice to hear that these things actually happen to real people and they are not just urban myths.
Summermagic i have never heard anyone give such colourful advice for baby making! but we will try anything eh?! it is weird that starting ivf will mean baby making does not involve any sex at all!
i am really intrigued at how Bumpless bowels are doing?
Lottie yes i like the sea sickness ananlogy! When i was pg with dd i was so nauseous all the time i would wretch and cry in the shower! I have not forgotten the feeling one single bit. the hot weather was my enemy and the builders who were tearing up my house too.
oh gillydaffodil that story is just infuriating. there is nothing else to say, except it pays to complain and not just take it. well done.

NPA - sorry you're having a low patch. Crossed fingers your worries are to no avail but if not and they're not great, as Lottie says, there are loads of stories about women becoming mums against incredible odds.

Gilly - that is so f*cking annoying. Sometimes sorry just isn't bloody good enough is it?

Lottie - I hate to tell you this but you may well have to get used to it. My morning sickness didn't subside until 20 weeks and I was only carrying one. The most annoying thing is, in the brief periods when it did subside I would panic thinking there was something wrong until it bloody well came back. My advice is avoid eggs (made mine far worse) and always carry a packet of rich tea/digestives around with you. It's far better to have something in your stomach. And whenever you feel bad just think of it as your babies taking the stuff they need to grow big and healthy. And bloody hell - you've gone through so much to be able to moan about morning sickness so moan to your heart's content,

x

NPA - sorry you're having a low patch. Crossed fingers your worries are to no avail but if not and they're not great, as Lottie says, there are loads of stories about women becoming mums against incredible odds.

Gilly - that is so f*cking annoying. Sometimes sorry just isn't bloody good enough is it?

Lottie - I hate to tell you this but you may well have to get used to it. My morning sickness didn't subside until 20 weeks and I was only carrying one. The most annoying thing is, in the brief periods when it did subside I would panic thinking there was something wrong until it bloody well came back. My advice is avoid eggs (made mine far worse) and always carry a packet of rich tea/digestives around with you. It's far better to have something in your stomach. And whenever you feel bad just think of it as your babies taking the stuff they need to grow big and healthy. And bloody hell - you've gone through so much to be able to moan about morning sickness so moan to your heart's content,

x

Hia me again

Just sitting here sobbing on the sofa as another one of my friends has just text me to say she's pregnant. I'm so delighted for her but once I'd texted her to say how happy I am for her I just burst in to tears. It's the third in a week! I know I'm so lucky to have my beautiful ds and I'm really trying to suppress my envy every time someone tells me their pregnant but it all just gets a bit too much sometimes doesn't it? I'm just dreading spending the next few months being surrounded by bumps.

Sorry - just that I'm on my own and my screen was still open from my last post.

xxx