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

sorry - a me me me post but I am worried. I ate a whole fresh pineapple over 5 days or so straight after transfer because I read it was a good thing to do, but now someone on another forum I use has said to avoid fresh pineapple! Arrgghhh!

Possibly, yet again, I am worrying about nothing but what do you think? Have I done a really stupid thing?

Dueling I found this, 'Pineapple is considered to be a labor-inducing food, however there is no research that supports this method beyond women's own stories.' It is at . Personally, I would still avoid pineapple but I am not sure how it works and how much you would need to eat and also when! I have only heard of it in relation to bringing on labour and not in terms of stopping implantation etc! Another site at says it might cause diarrhoea - anyway, I think it is inconclusive so DON'T worry. You are a bit like me, you read something and worry (I think). Please stop! It is so tiring for you! Just chillax, if you possibly can. Just avoid those pineapples and try not to Google around too much! Just my advice!

moomaker welcome. You are most welcome. Re clinic visit I would make a list of all the questions you want to ask and what you might hope to get out of your first appointment. Then you can refer to them and even make brief notes if you wish too. Make sure DH come with you for the appointment as, in this case, two heads are better than one. Yes, yes, yes (in When Harry met Sally style) to all Cerubina's fab questions. If you are going private and need to get HIV/Aids and other tests, see if you can get them free from your GP, some will some won't.

Idreaminlindtchocolatebun... Good to hear you were suitable medicated with the two 'r's - roast dinner and rice pudding for the appointment! I'm thinking of you. Oooh that sounds a bit spooky, like I'm watching you, if you say it the wrong way! I mean it the right way!

Cerubina DD has been brilliant and has really left my tummy alone since I said I was having a tummy op, I would definitely recommend this approach to other people who have very physical kids! Please stay Cerubina we don't want you to be homeless ? all welcome!

sgibbo We are going to Minehead but we have been to Skeggie once, actually it is almost a decade since we got married (well next year) and we went before we got married and then just once after we got married. We found it very hard to go as booking was difficult, it was just so popular. But now New Wine has come along (in the summer) it seems as if it is easier to book onto. We also went to New Wine one year, I'll tell you about my thinking I was going into labour in the shower block if it interest you! Are you currently involved in a church, if you don't mind me asking?

sgibbo I really wish you well on the two week wait. I have actually found it to be quite easy so far. In fact I almost want to wait until later to test because until I know I'm not pregnant, I don?t know, if that makes sense? So please enjoy your time of not decorating! Who says you have to watch DH do the decorating, get upstairs with a few chocs and Zita West CD and rest, rest, rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When else can you pull the old too fragile to help card!

3G - wow, tomorrow, all the best. I am NOT working for Zita BUT I can recommend her, great to fall asleep to! All the very best. I hope the OHSS does not materialise.

fionab41 thanks for your kind words.

Londonlottie thanks for your popping in, it is always nice to hear from you. I am so glad the girls are being as adorable as we know them capable of being! If that convoluted sentence makes sense!

Me, I am feeling good, not sure what is happening inside my tummy but inside my head it is all fine!

Just wanted to pop on and say good luck IGH and DF for your 2ww's didnt realise you were at that stage now - must have missed a page out on the thread somewhere!
I personally had no symptoms whatsoever,and thought that was a bad thing! hope you are both feeling ok

Cerubina - It is just a seasonal name change, although to be honest I do dream in Lindt chocolate bunnies pretty much all year round, except at Christmas when I dream of Lindt chocolate reindeers?. Please don?t go anywhere ? stay here and play with us! I?ve been hanging out here for months and I only started my treatment yesterday!

Hi moomaker (fab name!!), sorry you?re having to join us on this thread but it?s the best place to be! I think we?re all in agreement here on this thread that SWI sucks (not literally, there would be no point to that!). Have you read Zita West?s IVF book? Her stuff is pretty informative and easy to read.

3G and Ginger - lots and lots of good luck chocolate for you both for tomorrow. I?ll be thinking about you xxxx

Oh Dueling, you sound so stressed out. Ditto everything Italian said ? please try to chill and STOP GOOGLING. Now go have a chocolate bunny xxxxx

Italian - I do think you?re a little bit bonkers!! I do imagine that little Italian Greyhound puppy (the one I posted a few weeks ago ? here for those of you who missed it) as a Harry Potter style patronus sometimes! I had a good old kip to Zita on the train on the way to work this morning! I?m glad you?re feeling good and positive ? stay strong, little miss Italian. MercenaryMom - grrrr to waiting for your period ? I know exactly how you feel there (although mine started 30 days ago and it?s still going!!!). I don?t think there?s muchI can say to stop you going out of your mind, but it WILL start (probably when it?s really inconvenient as well!!). Just take out (assassin-stylee) a colleague (or come to my office and take out one of mine) if you need to release any frustration!!

My DH (Idreaminhoumous) has decided that he wants to do all my injections. I thought that it was because he wanted to be involved in the process (he said he was going to ?inject? me one way or another !!) but it turns out he just wanted to play at being a doctor and see what it was like to inject someone!! He did tonight?s injection and he made a pretty good stab at it (ha ha?). It hurt a little more than when the nurse did it yesterday (which didn?t hurt at all), but so far I seem to have avoided any bruising. I have my next scan on Friday and the nurse said that if all goes well we could be on for EC next Thursday ? that?s so soon!!

Hi to all ladies xxx

Rosie You?re the poster girl for low resonders!

Fiona huge sympathies and hugs. You?ve been down a very tough road. I?m currently 7 weeks upduffed with a donor baby so there is light. It would be worth double-checking with your clinic about whether the age limit will apply with a known donor like your sister ? I have a feeling that it just applies to anonymous donors, and you assume the risk if you choose a known one. Very very good luck.

Italian I?m so thrilled that you have Emerald and Laurel on board. Fantastic result, fantastic names, and I?m so excited for you! I hope you?ve managed to come to terms with your third emby not making it and are able to focus on the two you have, but I know it can be very hard when you?ve invested so much. You asked how I felt on my 2WW. I actually felt strangely calm and fatalistic. I think on some level I knew it had worked but couldn?t let myself know, IUSWIM. I had tickling, then aching, then cramping, but nothing bad. But mostly I was just glad the cycle was over and we?d done everything we could, so I think I relaxed. But everyone?s different and you might have a completely different experience. And you?re officially Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise!

Horton I loved Dr Nargund too ? she was the one who helped me finally make the jump to DE, by being honest about my chances. Sounds like you?re getting perfect care and the best possible chance with your next cycle. Thanks for your wise words too on the emotional journey, that helps a lot.

Gingerwine go go go the 3 follie muscateers for tomorrow! I?ll have everything crossed for 3 fantastic strong eggs! And GGG good luck! Hope you manage to hit the perfect balance between avoiding OHSS and having a wealth of eggies!

Idream ( to the name!) wonderful that it?s all falling into place. You?ll feel so much better now you?ve started the stims! I?m a big fan of DH?s doing the injections ? less responsibility for you and a job for him.

Moomaker welcome. I think you win the prize for the most unusual fertility issue!

Yay LondonLottie ! So lovely to hear from you and that the girlies are a) being a joy and b) letting you get some sleep (both equally important!) And thank you xx

Now Dueling sweetie, you?re nearly there and you?ve done so well. Why not make a list of positive (calming, destracting) things and do one a day from now till Saturday? How about: buying some really lovely flowers and arranging them in a big vase where you?ll see them every day, getting DH to take you out for dinner or a film (or both), sitting in a café with a novel and a hot chocolate with whipped cream on top for at least an hour, or phoning a friend you haven?t spoken to for ages? Or something that?s more like your feelgood list than mine!

Belated happy Easter everyone - and here's a little present for Idreaminlindtchocolatebunnies

Mojangles Thanks for your kind words. I feel Ok about my embie that didn't make it. It does pass very quickly. I think one thing that helps is not to stifle how we feel. It seems a huge miracle when we get that BPF. I hope that it will be the same for all of us, it is a miracle and I?m just waiting now, I know more than ever, that getting my dd was so wonderful, I was lucky, it took just two IUIs costing only £300 each! Quite a bargain!

I felt a bit sad tonight and have just had a mini meltdown tonight!

Dueling Listen to Mojangles she knows what she is talking about! I think the idea of the flowers were great - why not make them orange (good positive fertility colour) I am just about to eat some cheese with cranberries, kind of orange!

RosieBeagle thanks, good to know no symptom is a good sign. I've gone off tea but I think it is psychosomatic - or the fact I have switched tea brand!

Idream Was starting to get mentally stroppy at the idea that I am crazy - after all it was you posting pictures of puppies, then realised it was me who had implied I was a bit crazy! Oh well, maybe I am!

I have no idea what a 'Harry Potter style patronus' is and when I tried Googling it, I just won a holiday! Actually, I think I won two!

WOW or rather WOWH for next week (that is the sound not an anagram!) for the collection. How exciting. Do keep us posted. I will have to get on line at Spring Harvest. I think I will be in the pub a lot!

I think DH giving you the injections is a great idea, make him responsible! Mine was! A few bits of advice - get him to wash his hands in warm water first (hygiene and also warmth!). My dh always washed in cold water and made me jump. Second bit of advice is not to tense up when you know the injection will be coming, try and relax, eyes closed and get dh to surprise you! Last bit of advice is be a brave chocolate bunny. I know you will.

Fiona I agree with MoJangles that a clinic somewhere would allow you to use your sis?s eggs - and that this would be quicker and cheaper than getting an unknown donor. I can't swear to it but I am sure some London clinics would and so I would try them all soon locally and in big cities and get the picture clear (assuming that this is something you would like). Donor eggs from an unknown donor do often involve either a higher cost or a wait or perhaps both and if you can avoid this, it would make life easier (I think). If you would be willing to use a clinic overseas you may find they would also accept your sis and even if you paid her flights etc you would probably still find it a lot cheaper but please do the research first. I can't say for sure, as I did not have a known donor to look into this option with. (Well, I did, one very dear friend in her late forties, who offered me eggs and I had to tell her that was too old for donor but your sis is very close to the limit so it is not the same!) As Mojangles says you would assume any risk associated with a slightly older donor.)

Just ate Moussaka and I am mega full! If those embies are still in there they are jostling for position alongside a ton of aubergine, lamb mince and potatoes!

Had a bit of a meltdown tonight, just all getting on top of me! Will be fine tomorrow. Off to polish off diner with a bit of cheese! No I am not in the USA I am just a night owl!

Waves and choccies (and orange flowers ) to all

Hello everyone, hope you all had a lovely Easter! Just checking in to catch up on the news.

Mo and KK, hope you're both being laid low by morning sickness, in the nicest possible way!

DF, IG, best of luck for you both. I had no words of wisdom but fingers crossed you can join the preggo gang shortly!

Gingerwine good luck to you too, hope it goes well today!

No news here - looking to start the FET cycle next month, but it takes bloody ages! 3 weeks of pill, 2 weeks of DR and then all the building of the lining - not much shorter in the end than the full ICSI cycle. I'm sure I'll be back once things get going again!

Hi ladies. Just a quick one as a bit tired from the anaesthetic. All went ok. We got 2 nice looking eggs apparently. Still going for quality rather than quality here as it's the only thing keeping me positive!! I always burst into tears after waking up from the anaesthetic - they must dread me coming in!! Plus I am raring to get up and get home as quick as possible so I am an awful patient!! Home now and planning on doin very little. DH just making me some lunch and then going to watch TV. Will check in later.

I would like to drop by and thank all the lovely, inspirational ladies on this thread for being so open and honest on this assisted conception malarkey!

I have been a secret lurker who has gained so much knowledge on here - more than any self help book could give.

I had ET on Saturday morning and have 9 more sleeps until he magic test date.

Wishing everyone every best wish possible
xxx

MoJ - OMG, I laughed SO much at that!!! Thank you very much!

Italian I have been a brave little chocolate bunny Unfortunately the novelty of doing my injections has worn off already and DH has had to work late this evening so I was left to my own devices - of course I promptly severed (well, not quite) my little finger, but I did manage to inject relatively painlessly. So far I'm not having any side effects although yesterday afternoon I had a blinding headache but I think that was because I went cold turkey on caffeine (not that I drank that much before). I'm drinking so much water at the moment and eating / drinking / taking lots of protein - I'm gonna grow those little eggs!

I hope you're feeling better after your mini-meltdown last night. Are you getting enough sleep, it was a very late post last night? I know I find things tougher when I'm tired.

Great to hear from you PenguinDreams! Are you coming back to join us full time in the lead up to your FET cycle? I think I can speak for all thread ladies when I say we've missed you xxx

Well done on your 2 big fat eggs gingerwine! How are you feeling now?

3G How did your EC go?

Hello PenfoldsGlasses (fab name!), so glad you finally came to join us! I hope that the 2WW isn't driving you too mad - we're all here to deflect the madness should you need us!

P.S. Harry Potter Patronus link for Italian

Just a quick one as got to rest. I got a mammoth 24 eggs. I'm astonished there were so many. Hope I don't get OHSS as this puts me at high risk but they are monitoring me closely.

Anxious for that call tomorrow about how many have fertilised.

Sorry not to do personals.

hi all, would you mind if i sneaked in and asked for a bit of advise?

i am currently undergoing tests for recurrent miscarriage (4 in last 2 years) i have 2 dc from previous relationship, dp hasn't any.

nhs cons sent us for sperm analysis, these have shown that he has a fairly low count, motility and poor morphology. 1st test was only 1%, 2nd test showed 2%

urologist and consultant have now advised that we will probably only have a baby if we have IUI or ICSI. preferably icsi.

in the meantime i have paid to see a consultant (for miscarriage, not ivf) privately and he has said there is no evidence to suggest that poor morph can cause mc.

i just dont know what to think!

are any of you aware of ivf/iui/icsi being used as a treatment for rm?

i have absolutely no problem with going down that route but i need to be sure it is the right treatment for us.

thanks in advance and sorry for the gatecrash.

Evening all. Just a quick one as I had to cancel a girls' night out tonight in order to bring work home... How unfair! Coat hangers all round at the office tomorrow since it was a lazy colleague who has put me in this situation!

Congrats to 3G and Gingerwine on your successful ECs and fingers crossed for lots of fertilisation and cell division!

Welcome to PenfoldsGlasses - glad you decided to join us. And welcome back Penguin!

Cerubina don't you dare leave us!

Still waiting for AF - although hoping the tummy ache and the terrible spots mean it is finally on its way.

Bit of background on what's happening with me, since I think I've been a bit vague of late... After the MC, we saw the consultant for a review. Since we lost so many embryos during thawing in our FET cycle, he recommended a fresh round of ICSI rather than trying another FET with our remaining low grade embryo, since the odds of it even surviving the thaw are low.

However, since it has been 3 years since my last ICSI cycle, they want to carry out some tests to judge my egg reserve. However, they can only do the tests between days 2-8 of my cycle, hence the impatient wait for AF.

To make matters worse, I've been keeping a little secret... DH has been offered a job in Australia and we're going to take it! Will mean 2+ year relocation to Brisbane. Hurrah!

However, it kind of puts the pressure on me time-wise. I want to do the ICSI cycle before we go... I haven't resigned my job yet (waiting for paperwork to be finalised before I believe its really happening) and have a 3 month notice period, so technically I've got time... But already starting to worry. Don't want to have to deal with an ET and movers at the same time! Or worse, have to try to find an IVF clinic in Brisbane. Or even worse yet to have to worry about shipping our very limited and precious sperm reserves half-way across the world (DH had cancer treatment, so no more swimmers in the pool).

Right, this has turned into a full-scale rant, so I'll shut up about myself now!

Waves to all!!!! I couldn't survive without you!!!

Hi Everyone

Well, I had a day 5 scan today.

This month I have a cyst on one ovary ? which may/may not have contributed to last month?s results, but for sure means nothing is conclusive this month.

My bloods came back ? FSH is 13 (lower than last time, but not great), LH which should be flat on day 5 was at 28 and oestrogen (sp??) is 822 ? which with a cyst could be about right (much much higher than last time). In general, the bloods are inconclusive too although Freda thinks with my high FSH it?s still not a good result. They want me to have another blood test between day 1 and day 3 next cycle to be sure.

I explained about my issue with the frozen sperm I have at the clinic and said I was looking for a donor too. (I?ve posted on a couple of forums ? nothing yet but who knows.) We did get to talk about donor eggs a bit, and they?re starting to run donor cycles (or shared cycles) at the clinic now. She?s keeping me in mind for that, even without next month?s blood test.

So again, nothing firm. And for sure, no progress this month since a cyst means the 2 follicles I do have probably won?t grow.

@Horton & Gingerwine, re your comments re Dr Nargund & being at Create Health - are/were you in their London clinic or the Wimbledon one? I'm at Wimbledon and have to say I've had a totally different experience to you .... almost like I'm just in the way!

Still Ladies, thanks for listening. Appreciated, as always,
Fiona

gingerwine this time to represent ginger eggs not boobs. May they be as fantastic as the lady who produced them.

gleegeekgleek I think you will excuse me not typing 24 biscuits for your eggs. What an amazing haul. Are you supplying the whole of the west of England! Good luck for your eggs.

For both our girls we want good eggs, lots of sticky vibes and what was that other stuff, of yes, chocolate! (I mean sp*rm of course!)

Seriously, all best wishes for it all to be safe, everyone to be OK and a nice healthy BFP all round, please. I don?t even need to say it now, I am praying for us all, I do really want us all to get there to have our BFPs, but whatever happens, may you feel blessed too.

MM oh my jolly gosh! Off to Oz, can we all come and stay for a barbie, no shrimps for us if we are all preggers! Yikes, what can I say, what do you want to hear. You know if I were you I would just go for it all, as much as you can do in the next three months, I'd say give me FET, give me ICSI, give me the works. Much better to have that baby in your tummy than trying to transport those swimmers to Oz! but I am not a doctor so you do whatever they recommend and unless you really are working for the gov please make sure that dastardly job is bottom of your list of priorities now you are leaving (what is it you do, Angelina?). Anyway, do what you like but keep in touch, the Internet reaches even to Brisbane, so I hear!

Penguindreams Good luck for FET cycle, keep us posted and happy, sweet, chocolate dreams! and yes choco is right, you were missed!

PenfoldsGlasses Nine more sleeps, almost as many as me. All the very best and welcome.

mumatron welcome. I am afraid I can't help with that. There is a miscarriage thread here too on mumsnet. I don't know where you are based but Queen Mary Hospital Paddington seems to be one of the places that can do great work with women who suffer reacuurent miscarriages. I think as well as getting the evidence from here you could speak to a number of fertility clinics and try and get an idea if any have specialised information or experience in this.

A quick Google around does seem to indicate that in some cases some problems with sperm might be a cause of some kinds of miscarriage, but I have gotten this from 5 minutes of looking on the Internet! I would suggest a good clinic could advise you much better. Maybe one would be better than another, I mean one might have had more specific experience of certain problems. Were all your miscarriages with your current hubby/partner? Can I ask how old you are? Anyway, you don't really need to tell me as I can't say what it all means but I do tend to trust the docs and not the Internet! The Internet has so much on it that can?t really be traced or verified, so better to find a clinic you can trust and see what they can tell you (you can still Google around too!). All the best.

Idreaminlindtchocolatebun... hope the finger does not fall off, harder to open chocolate wrappers with injured paw. Thanks for your kind words. Grow those eggs. Woo - Potter, spooky, it leaves me cold! I know everyone loves it but I think I am more of a Willy Wonka fan than a Potter! I once read an interesting article comparing the two stories and how the main heroes are named after princes, but also the main heroes are boys! Where are the positive role models for our girls! OK, rant over before it got started! OOH and there is a website there for dating called geek 2 geek! How cute. Yes, I am married, so not looking!

fionab41 'In the way' at your clinic, that sounds terrible! Do you have to stay there? Is it private or is it NHS? I think I would just be as tough as you can to get whatever you need and try hard to ignore any negative vibes, or even complain if you feel it is necessary. Sorry, I am full of advice today for some reason! But really 'in the way', that is what the clinic is there for - the patient! Hope it gets better. Keep us posted. All best wishes for tests etc.

Cerubina Hugs and chocolate waves. How are you?

Horton, Lurking Rosie, londonlottie and any others,

Idream and IG, thank you for missing me! Much of my spare time of late has been taken up with the ridiculous and highly amusing TSA thread in Adult Fiction but if I can spare time between reading fanfic I will try to come back!

Seriously, found it a Godsend not to be thinking about TTC. I have laughed and laughed, which has been a really nice change. Feeling quite sanguine about the FET cycle, long may that last!

You both sound like things are going well, long may that last too!

IG - Hermione is actually a great role model for girls in HP I think. She's the smartest kid in the school, she always comes through for her friends, she's utterly loyal and brave, and she gets to end up with her BF, not too shabby! Certainly a far better role model than Bella in Twilight - I'd much rather a daughter of mine was obsessing about HP.

Fingers crossed for all of you starting on, riding, or coming to the end of this rollercoaster!

MM, how exciting, Brisbane! Whatever happens, you will be having a fantastic new start with your family, that can only be a good thing.

Wow, 3G, 24 eggs is epic! You must have been there all day! Take it easy and be on the alert for any signs of OHSS but hopefully you will bypass it. Well done and good luck for the phone call today - let us know the results.

Ginger what about you? How did it go with fertilisation? I hope both those eggs were tip top quality and dividing like good ?uns. Let us know how you are and please stay positive ? although you may have egg envy compared with 3G you know that you have done everything you can and I?m sure your eggs are super-strong.

Nice to see you back on here again Penguin, you have definitely been missed. It?s great you have decided to tackle FET and that you feel quite relaxed about it. It can be so hard to find distractions from TTC when it gets as long-term and hard work as it is for all of us, it sort of feels as though you don?t get any downtime. If fanfic works for you then go for it! Do keep dropping in and chatting with us as you get ready.

Idream keep on munching the protein, drinking the water and growing those eggs. Don't lose any more fingers please. Surely rocket science requires a full compliment of digits as well as chocolate munching does!

Mumatron I'm very sorry to hear about your recurrent miscarriages. It must be awfully hard to deal with them. I have had two so know a bit about it. It is interesting that you have conceived 4 times with results like that as it does suggest your OH's sperm are managing to meet the egg and fertilise it, so I am a bit surprised the specialists think IVF/ICSI are needed. What I mean is it would suggest to me that it's not a problem with fertilisation (which is why you'd need ICSI) but with development once the embryo has implanted. I presume they are aware of your m/cs?

I don't know whether morphology has any relationship with miscarriages (my OH has poor results too - around the 6-7% mark) but it would seem plausible as an explanation. I am speaking as a non-doctor of course. If your m/c specialist didn't think it was morphology problems causing your m/cs, did he say what he thought it was? What test results did you get? (Also, may I ask his name? I am due to see Raj Rai in a week's time so would be interested if that is who you've seen and whether you have any thoughts on him and what to expect). I certainly wouldn?t be bounced into having IVF/ICSI without being sure it is necessary for you, but it sounds as though you haven?t really been given joined-up care yet. If it came to a decision between following the advice of the urologist and the m/c specialist, I would go with the latter as this issue seems to be the more acute one.

Not sure if that helps but hope it does.

Hi again MM and thanks for the catch-up on where you?re at at the moment. Wow, a move to Australia! How exciting. It sounds as though you really want to do that so I would absolutely throw yourself into it, and try to get as much as possible of your treatment done here before you go. It does sound like a lot of stressful things to have going on simultaneously (moving country, moving jobs, doing IVF) BUT personally I don?t believe having lots of balls in the air need be a negative thing and that you absolutely have to clear the decks for IVF. However, if you?re the kind of person who doesn?t find organisation skills come easily and/or you get easily stressed, perhaps you should try to separate the tasks as much as possible. And definitely get lots of help from others ? friends, family, husband - you don?t want to be stressing and doing it all single-handed. To-do lists and favours from other people are the way forward! In the meantime, a message to AF - get a flipping move on!

Fiona that sounds like a mixed bag at the scan yesterday. You must be disappointed that the cyst is mucking things up. Do they propose to do anything about it, or is it just one of those things and will go away? Good luck with the donor egg enquiries and I agree don?t let them feel you are getting in the way at the clinic, remember that you are very much worth their time and attention and give them a prod now and again if you need to. I?m sure they wouldn?t have wanted you to feel neglected but it doesn?t hurt to remind them how their attitude impacts you.

How are you getting on Italian? You sound chirpy so I hope the meldown was a blip. But you are carrying quite a lot of stress at the moment so take it easy, listen to Zita and catch as many zzzs as you can (I know you are a night greyhound). Are you testing while you are away at Spring Harvest? If you can possibly get a chance to let us know the result please do or we will be wondering all week. Sending all possible sticky, chocolatey, biscuity vibes that it is good news for you.

How are MoJangles and Kiwi getting on with their cargos?

Hi to anyone I?ve missed.

Hi,

Gingerwine - any news? It's nervewracking waiting for the call from the embryologists isn't it.

Idream - hope all is well.

Penguin - very wise to have distractions from treatment. Forgive me but what is TSA?

Wow MM at moving to Aus. Sounds fantastic.

Mumatron - welcome. Lesley Regan is the key professor at St Mary's and meant to be amazing for mc treatment.

IG what is Spring Harvest? Is it a festival?

AFM all but two of the embies fertilised. I was like this after the call. I can't believe we have so many and weare really lucky. Last time we did a fresh cycle (the one which resulted in ds) we had 12 eggs and a lot fertilised and went to blast, so if we had the same proportions I think we'd have a ridiculous 17 blasts! That said we are over five years older now so maybe the quality won't be the same and I'd be happy with just a few. Can't be greedy!

Hi to everyone I've missed. Am rubbish at including everybody.

3G, I'm embarrassed to say that it's the name of a long running thread in Adult Fiction which originally stood for Twisluts Anonymous (until we got scolded about the name!) for otherwise mature and sensible people who are addicted to the fanfiction that is loosely based on the Twilight series. Pop over and have a look - it's always entertaining (and utterly addictive)!

Fantastic news on your amazing embryos!

Hi everyone. Sorry I've had a busyish day trying to do things I won't want to do after ET and I haven't had time to check in!

Well we have one embryo doing exactly what it should and one that doesn't look promising but that they won't write off completely until they look again tomorrow. I am back in for ET in the morning and all being well I will be on my 2WW. Assuming it goes ok I know we've done all that we can. Quietly pleased with my little egg.

3G - That's amazing. When are you back for ET? I assume you are going for blasts with that number to play with. Well done. That certainly bodes well. Glad your clinic is monitoring you for OHSS. Drink and rest.

Italian Thankyou for your kind words and prayers. Hope you are feeling ok after your blip the other evening. It is all such an emotional rollercoaster. There are bound to be moments of highs and lows. Go with it, talk to us and look after yourself. Enjoy Spring Harvest. That sounds like a great way to distract yourself from the last of the 2WW. When is your test day?

Welcome Penfoldsglasses and all the best for your 2WW. I hope to join you tomorrow.

Hello too to Mumatron and I'm sorry you have ahd to deal with recurrent miscarriages. I'm afraid I don't know any specific advice but I wish you all the best.

Finoab Sorry to hear about the cyst. It all sounds very complex for you at the moment. Shared cycles might be good though and if they do it at your clinic at least you would not have to get to know a new clinic or travel abroad etc.. Not me that went to Create though, but sorry they weren't good for you. Keep posting here. There's always someone around when you need them.

Moomaker Welcome and I hope your clinic appointments are helpful. I think the others have given you lots of sensible advice so not a lot more to add. Definately make a list of questions and take some notes. This thread has been a great support to me through both my cycles and early on before we got started.

Penguin When are you planning your FET? I don't blame you for taking a break from even thinking about TTC. I know I felt like that after my first cycle.

MercenaryMom Congrats to your DH on his job. What an exciting prospect. Are you on the long or short protocol? I only ask because with the short one you could easily fit in a cycle before you go down under. I don't blame you for not wanting to ship the precious sperm halfway round the world! Have you asked about the feasiblity of doing that? If you end up needing a clinic in Australia there was definately someone who was in Australia posting on one of the previous threads. Her nickname was sootykalucy. I don't know if she was in Brisbane though.

Cerubina Thank you for thinking of me. Yes I am being as positive as I can. After all it only takes one and we only need one. Even though I would have liked more follicles I knew we were unlikely to have left overs to freeze and so just getting to ET is probably enough for me. My DH is lovely and just keeps saying 'If it doesn't work it will all be fine. At least we have the lovely boys' As they are not his biological children it means a lot to hear him say that. He certainly does a good proportion of the parenting and I know he feels like a dad to them. It's just that to have one together would be the icing on the cake. Still at least we have the cake!! Hope you are doing ok. What is the next plan for you?

Idream How's the injections going? Do you have a scan soon? Hope you are ok and your finger has recovered. I sliced into one of mine last cycle but managed to avoid it this time. Grow grow grow follies!

A big hello to Mojangles, Kiwi, Rosie, Lottie, and everyone else I have forgotten. I must go now and give the DS's some tea!!

Then when they're in bed I will listen to Zita to prepare myself.

GW

Hey all. Not been in the mood to post because I was in a bit of a funk and convinced that this hasn?t worked so didn?t want to bring anyone down. Feeling better now so have been catching up on everyone?s news.

GingerWine Congratulations on Collection and am crossing my finger that the one which is doing what it?s supposed to is all ready for transfer tomorrow and that the other has a turnaround too.

gleegeekgleek WOW ? that?s an amazing number of eggs and a great fertilization rate. When do you have transfer? Keep drinking water.

MM A move to Australia?! But what decisions you have to make. I really hope you can sort it all out in time and without having to work out the logistics of transporting your husband?s sperm.

Idream hope everything is going well with the injections, I ate so many eggs (Unfortunately not chocolate ones) that I started to resemble one!

Cerubina You are certainly not an interloper, I hope that the treatment cycle comes quickly for you and that maybe in the meantime you do become one of those lucky bitches who conceives without help you never know.

Hi to MoJangles and thank you and everyone else for your relaxing words, hope everything is good with you? I have spent most of the last two weeks wearing red and orange and have a big bunch of orange flowers here but still the stress gets to me. I?ve tried to abandon myself to all kinds of mythical and wonderful stuff which is supposed to work but am probably just a realist pessimist at heart.

Italian hope you are taking it easy and not stressing out as much as I have been. I think the second week is harder than the first but I am finally 2 sleeps away from testing and I feel so pleased with myself for not testing early. I too have told far too many people, My DH has a huge circle of friends (mostly female and pregnant!) and it?s common knowledge among them all that I am having problems (Or should that be we?) so everyone is going to want to know the result this weekend which I am finding more difficult as it gets closer. I guess I will have to suck it up. I just hope I have good news rather than bad.

sgibbo how is the 2WW going for you? Is your back any better and have you resisted testing?

Waves and welcomes to Fiona, PenfoldsGlasses, Mumatron, Amberc penguin and anyone else I have missed.

I am still more or less symptomless though my do throb sometimes. The first week after transfer I flinched every time my DH bumped them or when the cat trod on them but they are not so painful now so I think it was all the medication, now I think the throbbing comes from the progesterone. Have had a couple of moments were I think my sense of smell is heightened or that I can taste metal in my mouth but really it?s not that frequent and so I can?t really be that sure I am not imagining it. First day back at work today and my workmate commented on the size of my ! She is convinced I am pregnant but then again she also thinks I look better with a fringe so what does she know! I joked that if anyone asks me why I have been away so long I can always tell them I was having a boob job.

Hi Ladies,

Just a short one tonight as I'm really tired. Not sure why as I've been getting quite a lot of sleep (and last night I was even dreaming about making my own profiteroles - I put the chocolate sauce inside the balls!), but I've been a bit headachey - I've had to take migraleve twice this week. I need it to get rid of my headaches but I do worry that it might be impairing my little follies and eggs. I'm still drinking tons of water and peppermint tea. Also feel a little bit down this evening, no reason - my injection hurt a bit today - and I suppose I'm a bit apprehensive about my scan tomorrow morning.

3G - you are my follicle inspiration! I hope I "do a gleegeekgleek" tomorrow!!

gingerwine - congratulations on your big strong egg. Good luck with your ET tomorrow (I'll be thinking of you lying there prone whilst I'm there with my legs up in the air!!).

Dueling - glad to hear that you're feeling better - I was also going to use "boob job" as a cover story at work, but I doubt anyone would believe me as I'm a 32HH to start with!!

Italian - geek 2 geek? DH's university professor is single and looking for lurve - I might send him a link to that site (all my single friends have rejected him for being too geeky!!)

Right girls, I'm off to eat moussaka-ka-ka (ispired by Italian's late night antics the other day) xxxxxx

Idream I know I dreaded my scans in case things were not going well. You are doing everything you can so try and relax. I will be thinking of you too. I had awful headaches with my last headaches. The huge amounts of water seemed to help eventually. I don't think an occasional migraleve will harm the follies. Don't worry!! I also had all sorts of odd dreams when injecting (while asleep not actually during injections!!). All these hormones have some funny effects. Catch up with you tomorrow and you can let us know how you've got on.