Assisted conception (and the bits in between!) - part 4 - all welcome

[mummycat1]

Starting new thread with massive congratulations to Nanoo I reckon the old man can wait till he gets home! But of course - it's up to you really xxx

Nurse rang earlier to say carry on with same dose of Gonal - F! I said that I was concerned and that 41 follies seemed rather extreme - had also been looking at scary horrible facts about OHSS on internet. She said, "Yes I know" and I could tell that she was speaking through gritted teeth and didn't agree with the chief consultant. So she got him to ring and he back tracked somewhat and said that now that he had spoken to me he thought that I should halve my dose and go for another scan on Friday - we are now aiming for 6 follies of a decent size apparently. Nurse then rang back to say keep on taking the down regs and started the conversation with, "Well you did better than me at managing to convince him!"

Bloddy Hell! I'm high risk OHSS now and we won't know if I get it or not until EC which may be Mon. If it develops then embies will be frozen until I am able to take them. Feeling rather bloated, but guess we just have to wait and see what happens now...

Massive congrats to Nanoo . Am delighted to hear your news - sending you sticky sticky baby vibes!

Mummycat at your consultant, as the risks of OHSS should really be handled (my clinic was paranoid about it). Lots of water for you and fingers crossed Friday brings good news (ps I'm assuming they're also doing bloods for your oestradiol, so that may be why he was happy for you to continue).

congrats nanoo!!!!!!!! mummycat I had mild OHSS during an egg donation cycle 10 years ago (no ET). I had 20 eggs, but I don't recall how many follies. (Which is why I was put on 150 this time even though I'm over the dreaded 35). The bloated feeling is horrible, but will improve briefly after EC (although mine came back afterwards, as the follies fill back up).

Re the dose, I can't believe your consultant isn't worried at 40 folles, and very glad you talked him down. In my mild OHSS cycle, they told me to maintain the dose, but I dropped it a bit anyway (naughty me!). It's better to start high and lower the dose, my consultant told me when we were talking about the risks of OHSS. This doesn't have to develop into OHSS, so don't panic. The advice I had was lots and lots and lots of water, and high protein diet (milk, fish, meat etc). And to avoid strenuous exercise.

Good luck, and I hope they continue to monitor you very closely.

Thanks Caitni, mummycat and LL for being so happy for me - will report back on proper test tomorrow.

On the subject of feeling bloated, my tummy has expanded in such an odd way. I look like I've swallowed a beach ball. Throughout the treatment I've been on a really extreme diet, eating heaps of the "right" fat (like fish oil, sunflower seeds etc..), so I'm not surprised I've put on weight. But why would my stomach grow like that? I'm not sure about ectopic pregnancy, but it doesn't feel quite right....

Mummycat can't believe you had to convince the consultant!! My DH has always complained that this whole thing isn't an exact science. But still

Thank you MamaChris - hope you're feeling Ok today and not too upset about what happened (Hugs)

Just logged on to check on news from you nanoo. I'm so delighted for you!!! I have to admit I had a good feeling about this, your AF staying away for so long. Have you rang your clinic to schedule a blood test yet? would your dh not remember that today is testing day and call you about it?

Glad you talked to your consultant mummycat, really hope the OHSS stays away from you. I'm not surprised you're feeling bloated with 41 follies, you have an egg factory inside you!

oh mamachris, I couldn't believe what happened. You must have been so shocked. I am glad you can see the positive side of it and I agree with you, it is definitely a good sign for the future. Have you talked to your clinic about it?

Great news about your scan sootie, 3 follies is a good start. I so so hope this will be working out for you. Sorry to hear that you're feeling rubbish, make sure you take good care of yourself. I know what you mean about me being an unlikely candidate, I never really thought this was going to work, just had another go so I wouldn't be wondering about what could have been. But if I learned anything from this it was that as long as there is at least one egg there is a chance.

Your dh is amazing lottie, the best that mine can do is cheese on toast . Sounds like you really needed this to cheer you up though. Hope the iron tablets will do the trick and you won't need another canula. Great to hear your little girls are already so big you're obviously doing a fantastic job. a friend of mine just had a baby 5 weeks early and he was 1.8 kg, so not that much more and he is tiny but well and thriving.

Thanks for your thoughts on swineflu Caitni and lottie. I think my risk of catching it is fairly high seeing as dd is in nursery and I catch a crowded tube to work in a big open plan office. I definitely won't consider it in the first trimester (they won't vaccinate anyone before 15 weeks in Austria) but will have another think after that. difficult decision. Sounds like you have a good immune system Caitni if you did not catch it from your dh when he had it.

6 more days to go until my next scan, I'm actually quite scared...

nanoo I've been looking pregnant ever since EC, I think it may be the follicles filling up with fluid, at the 6 weeks scan the dr said they were still enlarged.

Nanoo! Huge congratulations!!! Now the sticking part - fingers double crossed! I couldn't hold it from DH if I was in your shoes, because mine has been on the rollercoaster as much as I have been (oh, and mine would have been calling me at 4am asking if I had done the test yet, didya? didya?)

Duplo so glad to see you back, and I'm sure you will do fine at your scan, but I know how you feel - I have just a routine one today myself and I'm nervous about it (and I'm not even updiffed yet!)

So who exactly are on our graduates list then? Seems like we have a good group starting.

LondonLottie
Caitni
Duplomania
Nanoo

Who am I missing? Not sure if I should count Horton or not...

LL Thank you for asking, but I'm totally ignoring how I'm feeling. In fact, I've been out of the house for three nights in a row busying myself with other things, DH is starting to raise an eyebrow, but all will be well!

RE: the other thread I started, just a misunderstanding because I didn't communicate very well, maybe it's hyperbole or excitement in my "voice" over everything or something else I wrote - but I meant to start a thread much like Bumpless did - Life after IVF, only it didn't come out that way. No matter, she did an excellent job so I don't have to dwell on my blunder

BTW - this "sweeping" thing is NOT in my nature, but I have found it to be very powerful recently, in getting through tough times or tough spots in a relationship (friend of mine, not DH). Sometimes silence does wonders instead of ferreting/digging out every little issue and thought and hard feeling. I heard once long ago about a boxer and his trainer who kept telling him to starve the bad thoughts and feed the good thoughts. That's what I'm trying to do with my thoughts and emotions.

MamaChris I'm still pulling for you. It's shit, what you've just been through - glad you can see a ray of hope, but even if you can't it's understandable.

Wow what a busy day for postings, a new thread and a BFP. Fantastic.

Huge huge congratulations to you nanoo. I have been wondering how you were getting on. Don't know what I'd say about your DH. Of course you have both been through a very stressful process and we all do and say things we shouldn't at these times. (Not excusing him for making you cry by the way, just trying to think rationally about it). The most important thing at the moment is that you have the best possible news at this stage and you have managed to create that together. I hope whenever you decide to tell him you can both move on from last week and things are better for you.

mummycat - Well I'm not surpised you are feeling bloated. I am and there's only 6 in my tummy!! Glad you got some sense out of your consultant, although can't believe he seemed so relaxed about potential OHSS. I hope things go ok for you over the next few days. Keep drinking lots of water and take it easy. Just ring your clinic if you have any worries but hopefully things will stabilise for you. mamachris has some good advice from her own experience. Hope you are not too uncomfortable.

mamachris - I'm glad you saw your GP and you seem to be in a really positive frame of mind. What are your next plans?

lottie - I'm very impressed about your meals on wheels service. Of course you will be expecting that regularly for the duration of your stay now!! Hope all is well with you in Switzerland.

Hi Duplo - Don't worry. You are bound to feel anxious as each scan approaches at first. The reality of early pregnancy is that it's a bit like an extended 2WW in my experience. All you can do is look after yourself and try and keep occupied. You have done so well to get this far. Keep smiling.

I went for my scan today. 6 big follies all looking ready so EC is on Friday. I have done my last injections. Hooray!!! As we thought might happen we have a childcare issue! We are taking DSs with us! The nurses have all been really helpful and suggested how we handle this. As soon as my DH has done his bit, he is taking them (the DSs not the nurses or his sperm!!) to have breakfast in the hospital restaurant and then out to a local park and wildlife centre. Actually this could be a good distraction for DH as he is a bit of a worrier. We are going to tell the DCs something vague about mummy being checked out by the doctor or maybe having a small cyst drained. Any ideas? My room will be separate from the fertility centre so they won't be able to read anything that would give the game away!

Sorry Isle - cross posted. Hello to you too. Hope your scan is ok. I understood your other thread. Just didn't post cos I don't know that I'm quite in that place yet if you know what I mean. I think it's a good idea though, although I really hope you get your much deserved BFP this time. Keep starving those bad thoughts. I might try that too when I need too. GW

I've just realised I've read this new thread backwards as my browser usually 'flips' it automatically - a bit confusing !

First of all congrats Nanoo, hope your DH melts all over the floor at your feet with relief and joy . . .

mmummycat good on you for talking some sense into your consultant . . . be careful your health is the most important part of this. And I wouldn't be too worried about using frozen embryos - the success rates are quite high, apparently the womb is better suited to implantation without all the drugs from stimmulation running around - one of the reasons that donor egg success rates are good.

I LOL Islegrin at the idea of posting my drugged teaching on "youtube". The students would love it . .. but no way. BTW I am doing a local not general anesthetic - which is standard in OZ and MUCH MUCH MUCH better. If you have the choice definately go this way as I found the general to be quite traumatic and overwhelming. As for your 'thread', dont' feel bad, it's just that it seemed a little bit premature for you . .. but we're all entitled to our doomsday days . . . I've had my share.

Hey LL it is funny that you are watching Mad Men, I've just finished the second series on DVD and was going to recommend it to you - then thought, oh how do I know what she'd like? If you are still looking for entertainment check out "UNIT ONE", it's a Danish cop series that's really good - it stars my idol Mads Mikleson in his first role out of acting school.

Feeling much better today - after ten days of headaches and resisting the cold, it seems an afternoon in bed with it raging has pushed me over to the other side. . . lets hope . . .

sooty I'm so glad you got a chuckle out of that! I had a mild general last time and it was great, no sickness at all, I was back to normal in mere minutes. But this time with FET I don't think they will do any of that, just a little valium and I'm off and running.

gingerwine I'm so happy for you and your follies, well done! Sorry I have no brilliant ideas on what to tell your kids, my guess would be the simpler the better. We tend to overthink things, they probably just want to know that you are ok.

Had my scan today and even though I was dreading bad news, everything is fine and on schedule. I have a final scan on Monday and then transfer next Friday. I just am scared to get too hopeful. I want this still to work out, but now I don't have confidence that it will - which down deep, I always had before.

I'm OK with where I am, because it's the best I can do for now.

Just delurking to say a massive congrats to nanoo - so delighted to see another BFP on this thread and I am sending sticky vibes too. And general good wishes to all you ladies, you're all helping me get my head round what to expect if we do end up on IVF as I suspect, so I hope you don't mind me knocking around.

[Slips away into the background again]

Thanks for all the advice and support girls. I am taking it all on board - the advice you gave MamaChris is really helpful. One likes to be proactive you know! Hope you are shaping up ok

Sooty thanks for the positives about FET. I'm a teacher too BTW

Caitini what you said made sense too about the bloods - they do do them every time.

Can't helping thinking about this whole confident MALE consultant thing. It seems that these men just make decisions with a kind of arrogant confidence. However, they are just dealing with facts and figures on bits of paper - whereas the nurses and scanners are dealing with human beings!

I'm off out for the day with a friend today complete with booking at Michelin starred restaurant - hopefully. So I'll be eating plenty of meat and fish

Have a good day everyone

You're all SO lovely. Thank you for being supportive and all those lovely congratulations. It makes it a bit more real (esp as you are still the only ones I've told!). I got up at 5.30am to do a proper clearblue test and got in a total mess when the test failed. Wasn't til I noticed the "control" window also failed and I waited a couple more hours to re-do the test that I could breathe again. I'm such a numpty. Gingerwine you are so right in saying the first 12 weeks are like being permanently on the 2ww - esp for those of us with a history of mc. Ugh. Would it be OK if I stayed here for a while? I'd really like to see how you all get on. Please be honest if any of you find it hard having someone with a BFP around.

Mummycat enjoy your day with your friend - sounds wonderful :-) (I ate SO much fish during treatment I worried I was starting to smell like one! - maybe that's why DH went off me )

Hello Cerubina please please do stay around - the girls on this thread are so supportive and a wonderful source of inspiration!! (that's way too cheesy for MN, sorry)

Isle you gotta get more positive honey! There's NO reason to be negative. Like you said, everything is on schedule, with a final scan on Mon, feeling positive is so important just now. Whatever works for you - the ZW visualisation or doing some acupuncture. Or just going out and having a laugh. You're so good at being positive for the rest of us....

My Mum is about to visit. I've got to keep it from her (v hard as we are v close) - as it would be so unfair to tell her and not DH first. I thought I'd tell DH when he's back in the UK (next Wed!)...if it's still positive by then.....

Hello....can anyone answer a quick question for me?

You are meant to have a normal period when down regging aren't you? Started Suprecur on day 22 and started bleeding today on day 29.

Only did this in the Summer and already forgotton!

Just a quick one. Please stay around nanoo. It's great to have BFPs around. It keeps me going. So glad it's still positive and sorry to hear about the duff test. Not what you needed right now. Good luck keeping it from your mum! Have a good day.

Isle - Hope you are ok. You are not sounding at all like your chirpy self. For now things are going to plan. One step at a time.

Cerubina - Hi. Feel free to join us. It's very friendly here and really helpful. It's great to know that there is always someone here to listen who will understand. With fertility problems that's hard to find in real life.

BeehiveBaby - Welcome. I'm afraid I don't know as I am on the short protocol so did not down reg. I'm sure someone who knows will be here soon.

sooty - glad you are feeling better. Don't know what to suggest about EC and work, although without a general I guess you may be able to manage. It's not great timing though is it. I will be having a general tomorrow as that is standard at my clinic and not really looking forward to it (understatement). Can you do all the planning well before and get your students to do something that involves minimum intervention from you. Sorry if this is impractical, but I have no idea how old students are or what you teach!

Like the sound of your lunch mummycat. It was just beans on toast here.

Hi to everyone else, mamachris, duplo, caitni, lottie and anyone else I've forgotten.

gingerwine Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I'm so happy for you, it's really great to get to the next step! I'm sending huge fertile vibes your way, the cool thing is you will have news tomorrow and even more the next day. Progress is good for hope!

nanoo please stay!!! We need all of the success stories we can have around here! I've often said how much I appreciate LL willingness to still talk to us "freshmen" when she became a "cool graduate". You bring a perspective that is looking back on all of the stuff the rest of us are going through with the positive outcome, really there is nothing better! I'm amazed at your will power - but I def understand wanting to tell DH in person, and for him to be THE FIRST.

Cerubina - Welcome! Cloak or de-cloak anytime you'd like, someone will be here to help or at least cheer you on!

BeehiveBaby - I can't say anything about your particular cycle or medication because I'm not familiar with that - but I can say that in downregging in general, women have periods or sometimes not - either way is acceptable, mostly it depends on how thick the lining was to determine whether or not a period actually occurs. Hope that helps a little.

mummycat I really hope this turns out with a load of good eggs to fertilize and no OHSS, that's the best case scenario and I think you have a shot at that. I'm glad you were able to talk some sense into your doctor.

sooty - somewhere I heard that you are Superwoman a sane woman, so I'm sure you can figure out how to delegate and work around this scheduling thing, remember to be a little bit easy on yourself here, take good care.

Waves to everyone else!

Oh thank you Islegrin - You've just made me a little excited about EC. Up til now I've just been terrified! Will check in tomorrow and let you know how it's gone. Hope I will not feel too bad. It's 19 years since I had a general anaesthetic! Only remember being sick last time but that was wisdom teeth so may have been down to the op and not the anaesthetic. Time for deep breathing!!

Just to say good luck Gingerwine tomorrow - taking the DCs is a great idea for DH distraction! Don't worry about the anaesthetic - my experience (had about 3 in the last few years) is they get the dosage so right these days you end up having a lovely long deep sleep. Prob just what you need!! And a great excuse to chill out when you get home.....zzzzzzzz

Good luck tomorrow Gingerwine and I'm sorry if I put the hebbiejebbis up you about a General, you wont feel a thing! I just didn't like it because I am a control freak and like to know what is going on ALL the time. For me it was the worst because I was 'out' of it . . . always in the kitchen at the party . . .

BB from what I know having a period when you should after downregging is normal.

Sane Islegrin? Where on earth did you get that idea? Not from my posts I don't think . . . it will be fine. It's the last class of a Screenwriting subject and so it's more of a wrap up - telling them where to go for funding and relating 'war stories' of conflicts with film bodies/institutions etc. It's not like a serious lecture like early in the semester . . anyway have to do it because I'm only casual and need to get more work next semester - us writers have got to bring home the bacon somehow . . . anway . . .

Bad news is that my right side follice was only a cist (and hasnt'grown) so I am back down to one follicle (Again). After a little cry I realise I am almost relieved . . . after three months of acupunture and the new no drinking regime - exactly the same result as pretty much the last few years . . . not giving up hope completely, but it's serious reality check time.

sooty I feel like low-fiving you (think high-five but lower and less gleeful) but maybe a slap on the back is better. I know what you are going through (or some facimile of that) it's not great, but there are worse things, for certain.

We'll make it through, one way or another!!!

Hi Sooty wishing for two good eggs for you. Good luck with the Screenwriting class, but make sure you rest afterwards. You make me feel like such a wimp. I have already decided that I will not be going to work next week. I do Thurs and Fri every week in a secondary school. Am an English teacher. Love the kids, but they can be a little wild and it always exhausts me. Used to be full time before DD and am sure I will be again one day. at you being a writer and DH would definitely feel that way too. He's written two novels and a few plays and short stories and not really tried that hard to get them published to him.

Isle good to hear you sounding a little happier. You deserve this so much

Good luck [gingerwine] looking forward to hearing your news later - looks like I may end up with 6 or so eggs even with my massive follicle count. Your way is much safer

Yes stay nanoo. I'd love to hear how you get on

I had a really good chat with my friend yesterday, but ended up driving for two hours there and two hours back! This was on top of DD waking me at 5am - she hasn't quite caught up with the clocks going back. I decided to go straight to acupuncture, but had to stop off at a leisure center on the way for a wee. I was in agony with having to hold it. There isn't much room inside me now for anything other than my enlarged ovaries.

Arrived at acupuncture feeling terrible and rather sick. He started to put the needles in and when I told him about the follies he said, "look what they've done to you. They are putting this stuff into your body and you don't even need it." And he was shaking his head and saying how bad it was. Then he put a needle in my wrist and it sent agonising spasms down into my middle finger. i just burst into tears and said, "please take it out, take all the needles out. i want to go home."

So i left in a state. Had tiny tea at home and planned early night, but had yet another deep discussion with DH about his general dissatisfaction with life and ended up going to bed at 11, only to wake at 4am unable to sleep because of the stress that DH is causing me.

Scan this morning showed 54ish follies - I'm now only on a 75 dose of Gonal F and this is the result! The nurse said that she couldn't even fit all the details on the sheet that she was writing on. She suspects that I will be in theatre on Monday for EC, but that I will probably need to go in in the morning again for another scan. will know for sure when I get my phone call anytime now.

Out of all of these follies there are 5 on the right at 1.8/9 which are the ones that are likely to be the most successful. Then there are lots at 1.4+ which should/could also be ok. Am still terrified of OHSS and have been in bed all morning resting.

So fed up with DH being a tit. He's usually amazing. Honest!