Assisted Conception (and the bits in between) Volume 5

[Bumpless]

Thought I'd set us up a new home! kettle's on and choc tin open.

This is a lucky start to our new thread: 2 BFPs and a fantastic fertilisation rate from Dueling!

Boobs and biscuits to everyone

Hello everyone.

Well done BB. good luck for tomorrow. Are they transferring one or more blasts? Fingers crossed for you on this.

Congrats to Poppy and penquin. Really truly well done both of you. Keep well and calm. That first scan will soon be here and put your minds at rest.

Good luck cerubina. you're on the yellow brick road to ICSI. I've been on that road and it's not so bad really. Anything you need to ask just give me a shout.

I've bought the ovulation predictor kits even though i'd given up on them a couple of years ago. It can't hurt me - other than in my pocket.

Has anyone heard of hair pulling (like an OCD syptom)?

KC11 I have, yes. Trichotillomania it's called I believe - not just hair pulling but picking skin, biting lips, biting nails etc. Why do you ask?

As well as starting downregging today, I've started jury service. I have been selected for a 3-week case, which I think should work OK for coinciding with all this, but it will be quite a lot to juggle - we are also coming to a head with our house renovations so trying to coordinate moving house, jury service and ICSI! I know this is a huge amount of stuff to deal with all at once so please don't make me worry any more about it than I already am, but bear with me if I sound a bit stressy in the next few weeks! I hope I can be lucky with a totally not-by-the-book approach like Penguin was...

cerubina I've noticed that I keep touching my hair and if one comes out I examine it for its colour and length and any imperfections. Am I going mad? I do have a habit of picking skin around my nails too. I better find out more about this.

That doesn't sound too OCD to me - sounds as though you are waiting for the hair to come out first at least! But I think there are lots of ways it can manifest itself and a huge range of degrees of compulsion so unless you feel anxious with it I wouldn't worry too much, I think it's not at all uncommon.

Big congrats, Penguin! Really pleased for you.

Hey Penguin!!! Massive congrats for your positive standings - wow, that's awesome!

Sorry I've been away so long, I had a little battle with gall stones sliding into my pancreas and me landing in the hospital for 5 weeks and in critical condition in an induced coma for just under 3 weeks. But... I'm 97% back to normal now, and starting to dream of babes once again. I still have to get clearance from the doctors, so perhaps the next round of IVF as early as August?!? We shall see.

Lovely to come back to such good news, black-and-white one!

aloha

Isle!!!! How fab to hear from you and what a crappy time you've had - I was wondering what was up with you. The ILs are off to Hawaii shortly, be nice to them!

Any progress on why things didn't work before? Not sure if I've asked you before, but have you had any immunological testing?

Thanks everyone for the good wishes. I'm 20 days post-fertilisation today and the Clearblue showed 3+ in about 30 seconds, so I'm taking that as a good sign that the hormones are increasing as they should. Hoping for a scan in the next week or so just in case this is all in my head!

To all going through a cycle at the moment, I cannot recommend the 'Bugger Zita' regime highly enough!

MM, what progress?

BB - ooh, your H putting in the pessaries (that is actually a nausea emoticon rather than envy!). Ish, that's a bit too up close and personal for me! Good luck with the blasts.

Cerubina, jury service will be great - far less stressful than work! Although I didn't actually get called on to a single case during my 2 weeks - just sat in the waiting room in Southwark and ate cake!

Hello everyone, and a big aloha again to Isle!

We will take good care of them - not to worry! It's been a relatively cool summer here thus far, and always beautiful.

As for me and my non-stick factors, no they don't really know why the embs are not sticking. I'm tempted to go through IVF again and go with a surrogate. But docs aren't suggesting that yet. That's just me, thinking.

So glad your hormones seem to be progressing as intended. Sorry I missed it, was this part of a FET cycle or just lucky natural?? Still so happy for you!

Thanks for thinking of me while I was "away".

FET cycle - 2 blasts went back and I'm waiting to find out how many are in there for now. Had completely written the cycle off with stress and ishoos, but shows what I know!

If you haven't had immune tests, I'd really consider it, given the history. At least then you'd have some idea whether to keep throwing money at it or find an alternative route!

Just another very quick one to say welcome back to Isle and very sorry you've been having such an awful time of it lately!

And BabyB how did the ET go today?

As for me, I'm trying to stay calm and patient. Test day is Sunday, so not long to go now.

Yes, welcome back Isle! Sorry to hear you had a bad spell with your health, that sounds very heavy all round and I hope you are out of the woods now. Let your OH pamper you and wrap you in cotton wool!

MM you sound reasonably calm, or is that misleading? Are you buggering Zita or being a full-on exemplary acolyte? Hope the time is not dragging too much and that there is a mini-MM burrowing in there right now.

Penguin that was what I thought would happen to me, but I think almost everyone has been picked for a case by now where I am (Croydon). Sitting there for two weeks with nothing to do must have been a bit of a drag, even if it is time off work. Apparently there is a 5-week case starting as well which I am definitely glad I swerved. 3 weeks will be plenty but we did get going today at least and I think it might well be a nice distraction from drugs and all that.

Good news that the Clearblue is showing such a strong positive. How would you feel if it turned out to be twins? Just in case.

Horton, where are you off to on your hols? Make us all jealous!

Have a good evening everyone.

Good grief, isle, that sounds awful. Hope you are well and truly on the mend now.

I'm off to SW France, Cerubina. We have nearly three weeks of sun and nice food and a pool to look forward to. I'll try and post some pics to my profile if I get a chance!

Penguin dreams whoop, whoop, whoop. I remember when you felt so down last time after it did not work and now it has. A complete and happy change. I picture you like a tiny furry penguin with your lovely little penguin chick. So happy for you.

Isle welcome back!! So sorry to hear about your health problems; I do hope you are recovered and wish you all the best for the treatment in August.

Poppy Hope all is well.

Cerubina I know when I got my box it was huge and when I unpacked it - it was like the size of a lunchbox worth of actually stuff inside a box that could have housed a medium-sized TV! Sorry your nosy colleagues all got an eye full. You should have just said it was a microwave!

KC11 I have had OCD like symptoms in the past. Your do not sound too bad at all but my advice is try not to give in to the temptation to do it and seek help if you can from the doc. I am sure it is nothing but I was checking doors etc as a teenager and washing my hands a lot and the more you do it the more you want to do it. It is a really annoying habit but it is a compulsion so I guess the question is do you feel you need to do it? If you do then is it a compulsion? If so you can get some advice to break it. I wonder if some of these things are like habits, the more you do it the more you just think you need to.

As I told someone on the other thread, I am half and half clinging onto the dream of having another baby and half feel it is a nightmare! I must admit the more I look into the Spanish clinic thing the more I am thinking I am ready to move on and look adoption. If my DH were completely behind me and money were no object and time were on my side blah blah blah, then I would be thinking lets go for it. Yesterday I emailed some Spanish clinics but I am also thinking I am just not sure I can go through it all again. But I think if I can put this behind me and go for adoption the DH and I have a real chance that we can complete our family and move on. Already having a DD does make it much easier to contemplate stopping and I would always say to anyone it has to be their own choice, no one else can tell you when it is time to stop! Unless for medical reasons etc!

I am currently reading ?Seriously Funny? By Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucus.

Just watched the sex and the city movie, quite good. Love the bit where she bashes him with the bouquet and the bridge bit!

Feeling so much better. These pesky periods are such a pain but now it is here I feel fine.

Got all the info from Spanish clinics but beginning to feel more and more comfortable with adoption. I have been looking into fertility treatment for so long and now sure I want to be doing it anymore! But as I said to rowing, if I were younger/richer and had a hubby who was mega keen I know I would be too ? but I don?t so I need to work with what I?ve got!

Greetings, and God bless to one and all.

I may have found a Christian publication to do some writing for. I think I am unlikely to get paid! How can I find out without sounding greedy! I need the experience so even if it is for free I want to do it!!

So it looks like I am now ready to move on to adoption but watch this space it may all change by tomorrow. I am very changeable these days!

Hiya - i'm lurking around.

Well done Babybarrister. Keep the faith. Good luck for those two that have been transferred. I know it's disappointing not having anything to freeze. I've been there. But on a positive note you got the two embies inside you now and they obviously have what it takes. The rest comes down to stickiness and a bit of good luck. You have a brilliant chance now you've got to this stage. Congratulate you and DH.

My DH wouldn't do the injections nor the progesterone gel (i didn't get given pessaries).

Isle - OMG - you have been through it. Glad you are now out of hospital and I wish you a speedy recovery. God bless you.

Hi to all (waving at you).

Had had big issues with DH so far this week. Over small issues but important to me at the moment. Not fertility related. Someone mentioned immunological testing. Can you provide any more details if you've had these tests done? I don;t know what to ask my clinic about why all three ICSIs have not resulted in a BFP let alone a live birth. I find the clinics' success rates a bit confusing really. I do want to carry on with IVF because I really want to be a mum. I guess I should just take one day at a time. I'm going to an acupuncturist at lunchtime today. I hope he or she can help me get pregnant naturally. Is it bad that i envy a close relative who sadly has had two early miscarriages in the last 14 months? She fell naturally both times. i know a miscarriage is awfully terrible but i'd like to be able to get one step further than i ever have before.

Hi from America!

BabyB and MM--I am soooo sending sticky vibes and positive thoughts your way.

Penguin and Poppy--SO excited for you!

Horton--Have an absolutely fabulous time on your holiday. Rest and relax and decompress.

Italian--Glad to hear you're feeling better. No matter what you decide, the most important thing is that you feel good about that decision.

Waves and hugs and kisses to everyone else.

Sweltering here in Philly...going up to 101 degrees today. Argh! I think I finally got my little friend...it is about four weeks since my ERPC. Not so great in the heat, but what can you do?

It's great visiting with my family and friends, and I've fallen madly in love with my eight and a half month old nephew, which makes me yearn all the more. Hopefully I'll be completely healed up from biopsy in the next couple of weeks, and I'll wait another cycle or two to get regulated.

Laters!

Waves and hugs to all.

BB Well done on two on board , you know it is quality that counts and I reckon your two are quality.

KC11 do you want to tell what annoys you about DH or not? I am just being nosy, feel free to say no!

Watched sex and the city the movie last night. T'was good. Quite surprised. Quite sad and clever in places. Has anyone seen it?

What a warm welcome! Thank you MMom Cerubina Horton BabyB ItalianGH and KC11 - it's so nice to be back!

Aloha Lissy - I'm also in the States. Sounds like you been through the wringer - and you are looking forward to the next attempt, I wish you the best.

KC11 I know what you mean about not even being able to get to the BFP stage! However, I often remind myself that I am/ We are very lucky to have never had the multiple miscarriages that so many of our counterparts have had. It's not only horribly saddening but it puts much more stress and strain on marriages. I know my husband would probably ask me to stop if we had a couple of miscarriages. I understand the feelings, I do - but it's good to be thankful for what we have, even if it's not what we want. You are an inspriation - I'm so glad you are still as dedicated as ever. I waiver a bit, wondering if it's just time to let it go - but then I just can't yet - so I struggle forward. (happily so, I might add!)

Much love,
Isle

Lissy, glad you're on the mend!

BB, bugger Zita for sure! I had the ET on the Mon (frozen blasts), came straight back to work, was up at 5 or before all that week, slept like crap, internet and email down at work so stress multiplying, trial in Manchester lugging enormous trolley etc etc, and showed up positive the following Monday! I should add that, in that week, I drank insane amounts of coffee and alcohol, took codeine, ate poorly and generally ignored the colour orange!

So whilst it still insanely early days, all that obviously did not affect whether the intruder/s implanted!

Good luck with your case.

Isle, have you read 'Is your body baby friendly'? If not, I'd give it a go. Glad you and the H are keeping ok!

Cerubina, yes, we knew twins was a possibility having 2 blasts put back but the H is, weirdly, all for it! I'll reserve counsel until we have the first scan - am terrified enough at the moment! Hope the trial is going ok.

And can I have a rant now?! Bloody Guy's still haven't called me 6 days after I reported the test results. I thought I was meant to get a scan in week 5, which I'm now midway through, or at least a couple of blood tests to check levels. Grr.

Sorry to all I've missed but best wishes to all!

Hi all it looks like ages since I really said hello to everyone so HELLO* EVERYONE I am rushing off so no time to name check but you all know who you are!

I am still keen on adoption but I think I was a bit exaggerating when I said I was ready to move on to adoption! I am still 50/50, 50% wanting to adopt and 50% wanting to rush off to Spain for treatment!

KC11 Really truly the miscarriage thing is not something to be envious of. I have only had one and recovered very quickly but my dear mum had a late miscarriage about 35 years ago and STILL gets sad when she talks about it. I think it adds an extra strain because even when you get your BFP you are not sure it will go anywhere, and prior to problems you probably do think it will be OK. I can only say this because I was never sure it would be Ok as I had bleeding with DH but was Ok and I had a very early MC, so I guess that both ways there are no guarantees, bleeding and you can still end up a healthy baby and BFP and you can still get an MC so please don't think about wanting at least to get that far. Hopefully once you do you will be able to relax and enjoy it. I can't speak for others who have had MCs but once you have it certainly does make you think more and perhaps be more cautious until you get to the stage you were at when you lost it but as I say I CAN'T speak for others so only really saying this to KC11 and not wanting to upset anyone who has MCed.

Love and chocolate boobs to all [bisuit]

What hope have I got of being a writer I can?t even spell biscuit!

Hi all it looks like ages since I really said hello to everyone so HELLO* EVERYONE I am rushing off so no time to name check but you all know who you are!

I do hope everyone is OK and getting where they need to get,

If you want great sex without intent, make sure your hubby goes away for three days, you watch Sex and the City three times and then wear a low cut top and knickers and no slanket!

Had a chat with the friend who upset me (she said I had got my answer about having another baby, or words to that affect; she knew it would but felt she should say it which is fine, I respect her and we can now out it behind us, I just needed her to know how much she had upset me by saying it mi8ght be time to move on. I know it well may be time to move on but sadly no one else can really tell you that except maybe your dh/dp/oh and maybe the doc if you really need to know the truth! I think the docs were right about me all those years ago (4 years ago) when they said I wouldn?t have another baby with my own eggs but there are probably a few women out there who were tod the same thing and have managed to so it is quite a gamble!

I am still keen on adoption but I think I was a bit exaggerating when I said on the other thread that I was ?... ready to move on to adoption!? I am still 50/50, 50% wanting to adopt and 50% wanting to rush off to Spain for treatment!

Sorry this is a bit me, me, me but I have given you my top sex tip so hope that is OK!

As we say on the assisted conception thread... Love and chocolate boobs to all

Whoops, I am mad; I have just posted my feisty and forty message into the assisted conception thread. You can see there is some sex talk there because those forty plus birds are always talking about swi - sex with intent! Anyway, it is not totally irrelevant as you may wish to know about my sex life! I doubt it! Apologies

PS a slanket is a kind of all encompassing blanket robe you can see on Amazon!

Hi all
[delurks] just wanted to pop on and say big congrats to penguin I will keep popping by to see how they progress!

Hi all!

Rosie lovely to hear from you. How are things going?

BabyB don't feel too bad about only getting two blasts in the end. I had 17 eggs and ended up in the same position. We froze 4 but they were already "falling behind" so I suspect they won't survive the deep freeze/thaw. Look on the positive - blasts have a higher success rate. So although you only have two, you've got two strong little fighters!

Penguin agree on Zita. IMHO, if its going to happen, its going to happen, whether you're wearing orange or not. The factors that actually decide the outcome of IVF are not things within our control, or we'd all be eating Brazil nuts, wearing orange, abstaining from sex and popping out babies at a furious rate!

As someone who did "go Zita" this cycle, I think her main value is to make you feel like you're a bit more in control by doing these things. You're not actually in control, but at least you can kind of fool yourself that you are...

That said, my acupuncturist wrote me out a long things that I must and must not do during my 2ww and it really irritated me! It made the rebel in me want to run out, do some strenuous exercise, knock back a few vodka and espresso shots and then have sex with wild abandon! Sadly, I politely thanked her and just binned the list when I got home instead!

As for your grumble about Guy's, I think most scans are at 6-7 weeks, aren't they? At any rate, worth calling them and demanding an appointment. We're all in suspense here!

Lissy glad to hear you're having a great time in Philadelphia!

Cerubina how's jury duty going?

KC11 I understand what you mean about a MC is one step closer to a baby than you've gotten so far. But don't be jealous of someone who has had one - they're incredibly sad and difficult in a different way. I agree wholeheartedly with Isle to be thankful for what you have - and I wish a real, healthy baby for you instead!

Italian it must be an incredibly difficult decision you're trying to make. No words of wisdom, but I have confidence you'll make the decision that is right for you and your family.

Horton have a fab holiday!

Isle glad to hear you're so positive! After all your health problems, how are you feeling?

As for me, the calm exterior is just a cover. Last time I spent my 2ww obsessing, Googling imagined symptoms and POAS repeatedly. This time, I'm trying not to think about it. No Googling. No POAS until my test date. Perhaps I've stopped following Zita and now following the way of Amazon - have ordered myself a shedload of books and DVDs (none of which have to do with babies) to keep me distracted! Its working a treat and I'm about to retire to the sofa with True Blood season 2!

Apologies to anyone I've missed and waves and chocolate to all!