Anyone starting IUI soon?

[aaLaa]

I have a clinic appointment tomorrow, I think to start injections, feeling a bit nervous about the whole thing, looking for others experiences and general chat/support.

This is the first cycle, anyone else in a similar position??

Hi Clarey,

My cycles used to be very short too and my gyno thought that my short luteal phase could indicate low progesterone/luteal phase defect.

Cyclogest is really helping with that though, my cycles are now 28 days. But yes, it does make me feel tired and generally gives me pregnancy symptoms, such as sore, swollen boobs...

Personally, I try not to test until 14 dpiui because a bfn is dissapointing but not enough to get rid of the last glimmer of hope ('maybe I tested early) and a bfp could be traces of the trigger shot?

I am having my second IUI tomorrow so a bit nervous! If it's any consolation, my husband travels lots for work, so I'll be home alone at testing time too (and if things work out - do I dare to hope? - for both the 6 and 9 week scans! Gaaaaaaaah)

Good luck everyone!

Hi Clarey

My clinic told me to test at 16dpiui.

Fingers crossed for you!

Hi

Erica - yes cyclogest helped with my luteal phase last month as well, though I was still spotting & had cramps on day 23! Hmm I have sore boobs too - good to know they're part of the cyclogest - it's so easy to symptom spot & get over excited! Best of luck with tomorrow. I think I remember you saying you were trying to get day off work - hope you manage to have a relaxing day either way (as much as it's possible!). And at least we can tell each other what's going on when the partners are working away!!

Thanks worried - I'll try hold out till 14 dpiui I think (but we'll see if that works!). Good luck with your next iui (and enjoy a glass of wine in the meantime! That'll be my consolation if I get a BFN!)

Off away for a few days but best of luck to everyone

Xx

Best if luck for today ericaj hope it goes ok??

Let us know how your get on??

L

Hello!

Thanks for the good wishes!

I think everything went ok - 3 follies, sperm sample was ok (after 'being prepared' though, when they saw it 'au naturel' they seemed pretty dubious... maybe there is another issue there? Who knows?).

We've been away for the week end which has been really lovely: quality time with the husband and lots of naps and relaxing times.

Let the 2ww mindf*ck begin ! :) I test on the 4th of April!

How is everyone?

Hi

Erica glad to hear you had a relaxing weekend after iui. 3 follies is great, and if there are any probs with the 'au naturel' swimmers then hopefully the wash has got the best ones raring to go!

I've also had nice relaxing weekend - then this morning the period pains started... I'm on day 23 of cycle, (11 dpiui) which is when I would normally (ie without cyclogest) get AF. I've got all the usual signs so I'm fairly sure it will be a bfn when I test on Wednesday :(

Am trying to be positive about it - only first iui so we have 2 more go's, and I have lots of other great things going on for me at the moment, but it's pretty disappointing...(and the pmt hormones don't help the 'keeping things in perspective' plan either!)

The hospital said ages ago when I first saw them that they normally do month on / month off with the iui. In some ways that's no bad thing as it might gives poor brain a rest! But at the same time I wouldn't mind just getting on with it. Guess I'll find out when I call in with my results on Wednesday.

And Erica - I think the 2ww should be rebranded the 2wmf!!

X

Hi Clarey,

Sorry that it feels like AF is on the way. I hate that feeling of being quite sure that it hasn't worked this time but still having to wait a few more days to know for sure. It may as well be a few more years!

That said, both times I've been (briefly) pg, I totally thought AF was on the way, I felt exactly the same as when I have PMS , so who knows? Everything crossed for you!

I know what you mean about wanting to try IUI every month until it works. I feel exactly the same but then again, I will have to take a break in April, June and July simply because either me or my husband will be out of the country around the 'crucial time'.

If it doesn't work this time (our second time) or in May, that it will be our 3 attempts covered by our health insurance gone. We will have to sit down and have a think if we should keep on trying IUI and pay for it ourselves or we should start considering IVF...

Hoping everyone is having a nice Monday morning! x

I wonder if anyone could help with a couple of questions:

• I have been given Progynova (2mg, 3 times a day) to help thicken the lining of the endometrium, which apparently was 'on the thin side' when I last got scanned. The list of possible side effects is pretty scary and I'm feeling slightly nauseous since starting taking it. Anyone any experience on this?

• How 'pregnant' do you behave during the 2ww? I am not talking about going on a jaegerbomb fuelled bender or bungee jumping, more like: do you have a couple of glasses of wine a couple of times a week? How about exercise? Caffeine? Would you eat sushi or a rare steak? My doctor said no drinking, no smoking, no exercise and relax as much as possible, which is fine but I feel like behaving pregnant half the time while TTC may not be that great for the ol' mental health.

I mean, how are you meant not to obsess about TTC and manage your expectations etc if you behave as if you were already pregnant, but may not be, month after month after month? What do you guys think?

I would also know the science behind things like 'not exercising' - Exercising is a very important stress management tool for me. Fine to do without if it could actually hinder implantation but annoying to give it up 'just in case'.

Gosh, that was long! :)

Thank ladies!

Hey ladies,

How is everyone?

erica Great topic of convo! For iui cycle 1 I rested from exercise,well running, I swam but only from 3 days post iui, hardly drank, only at social occasions and things that I couldn't be seen not to drink at. HOWEVER I feel this was hellish, felt like a whale from less exercise (also great stress reliever for me)

This time round I plan to again only drink when out with people, and no shots etc!! I think I will exercise maybe slightly less intense but I feel like acting preggers is worse for mental state.

I am just about to enter a half marathon for May as something to keep like going as normal, can't put everything on hold!!

Been thinking loads about the what if no kids appear!! I just wish I knew either way, obvs desperate for children but feel that if I knew it wasn't going to happen then I could make plans and change my life accordingly.

So I started my jags today!! Blood test fir, scan next mon and iui next week hopefully!!

Hope everyone is ok. (Sorry for v long post)

L

I don't have any answers but I agree that exercise is so important for our health and you need to be healthy to conceive. I think it's different for IVF since that's a different process altogether.

My clinic says you should do what you normally do, exercise wise, but I think very high impact still feels a bit mmm.

I don't drink as much though when ttc as there is evidence that damages the egg. Whereas the evidence around exercise is more sketchy.

Good luck everyone x

Meant to add - what was your womb lining? Mine was always thin second time around - almost too thin. Clinic wasn't bothered and neither was DC2. I obsessed about whether to take something and in the end didn't. - mainly as my clinic said there wasn't much evidence the drugs worked (but would not cause harm either).

Hi aala!

I do exactly the same: only have a couple of drinks on social occasions. I have also parked the spinning and power yoga for walking & swimming. It's ok but not sure it's that great for the mental state, as you say.

Well done with the marathon! I am also making plans for the summer assuming I won't be pregnant (say, lots of traveling and boozy breaks with the girls). TTC has taken enough of my life as it is.

As per panicky thoughts re : what if kids never arrive... I feel exactly the same. It would devastating of it doesn't happen but this uncertainty is soul destroying. Everyone keeps saying to stay positive but it's impossible not to wonder 'what if...' sometimes.

I am crossing everything for you!

X

oh daddy, I also feel a bit mmmhhh about high impact exercise...

I can't remenber how thin the linen was. Could it be 7mm? Does that make sense? I freaked out a bit when I saw the side effects associated to Progynova so I double checked with the gyno that he thought it was important that I took it and he recommended that I do.

By the way, remember I said I felt nauseous? I have diharrea and generally feel like crap today (tmi) but it feels more like a stomach bug so maybe Progynova is not the culprit! (Sorry Progy)

Take care everyone! I am off to read the whole internet to find out if a runny stomach has any effect on implantation! FML.

Good luck! xx

Hi everyone

Well I got a BFN which wasn't really a surprise as AF arrived yesterday (despite it being the last day of the cyclogest). Actually feeling not too bad - been struggling so much with the whole thing over the last few months I suddenly feel I've turned a corner with it and am feeling a tad more philosophical about it - it'll happen when it happens... For now anyway!!!

Re fear of it never happening - I do think about that a lot. We have a plan B in that we would adopt if that is the case. My goddaughters are adopted so I've learnt so much about it. It's not for everyone but luckily DP feels the same so if it comes to it, we will pursue that option. Still I shouldn't think about that too much as I'm just at the beginning of the assisted conception route and obvs desperately hoping this works out and we can have our own. I don't want my thoughts on adoption to somehow prevent this whole thing happening...! So many people talk about the mental side of it all - how people are trying for years, give up, go to adopt then get preg. Weird. But not sure how you prevent that??!

Re womb lining, we didn't go ahead with my first iui as the lining of the womb was only 6mm. They told me the optimum is 8-10mm, they wouldn't do the iui if it was below 6, so they gave us the choice & we figured it wasn't worth using up a cycle if all the elements weren't in their optimum state. They said one of the side effects of clomid is that it thins the lining which isn't very helpful! So I had menopur for this iui.

Agree with you all re trying to keep to relatively normal life while ttc. We enjoy a fair amount of wine normally, so cutting it out alltogether was quite a challenge! I ended up having a couple of glasses about twice during the 2ww, but also read somewhere else on mumsnet that it's around the time of ov that you should lay off it... Either way we are both planning to cut down a lot in general, hoping that might put us in better stead for next iui.

Off to call the clinic with my bfn...

Take care & fingers crossed everyone (and sorry for super long post again!) xx

Hi Clarey,

Sorry to hear about your BFN. Glad you are feeling quite zen about it. I also have the 'turned a corner' feeling. It's just been too long a journey by now...

If we can't have a children, I would be happy to adopt (I would probably be happy to adopt anyway) but my husband is not up for it, for personal history reasons. I see where he comes from but it does make me anxious since I can't imagine not having children at all. He says that if we absolutely couldn't have our own he'll reconsider and maybe change his mind but I know that would be another 'battle' full of hurdles and I am not sure I have that much fight left in me!

Now, I'm sounding really positive, aren't I? :)

Thanks for the feedback on the womb lining... 7mm is not great then so let's hope that the Progynova works!

Talking about 'trying to encourage implantation' lifestyle choices... anyone else here eating pineapple core in the mornings and a crazy amount of brazil nuts? :) xx

Thanks Erica. Hoping this zen thing lasts!!

Guess we all just need to take one step at a time (sooo easier said than done!!), and cross that bridge when we come to it. You have a few more treatment options left before thinking about adoption, so fingers crossed its a conversation you won't need to have. And who knows how your husband will feel towards the time, he might well change his mind and be happy to adopt. But like I say, one step at a time - hopefully we'll all be getting BFP's in the next few months!

Have also been eating pineapple (the horrible hard bit!) and Brazil nuts - (but just a couple - should I be eating loads?!!) I have no idea what they do (help implantation?) but I read it on here somewhere so thought there's no harm!

Also not been having hot baths during 2ww - and was annoyed not to be able to take advantage of spa facilities at a hotel recently!! Are hot showers also banned? is there anything fun we can do?!

Oh and I think 7mm is okay for lining - I would have gone ahead with iui if it was at 7mm, and clinic said I could go ahead with 6mm so it can't be that bad, I just decided to wait till next time till it was thicker.

I'm in my 2WW and due to test on April 4th, our first cycle of unmedicated IUI. Trying to stay stress free but am having the occasional melt downs, I'm also doing night shifts so feel very tired, next week I'm off so looking forward to better sleep.

My clinic said to treat like already pregnant eg no soft cheeses, no alcohol, no heavy lifting. I've been doing a couple of half hour walks per day and trying to eat healthy. Wish there was some sign of whats happening inside I go from been very positive to the opposite.

Good luck on the fertility journey.

Clarey300 Yay to positive thinking!

I am also on the pineapple and the brazil nuts (you are not supposed to eat lots, I'm just greedy). Though not this month because of the stomach flu from hell. Not sure the no-food-for-two-days diet is very good for implantation but not much I could do about it. I did try to stay relatively hydrated, even though even keeping water down was challenge...

No, sorry. There is nothing fun we can do!

(But surely, surely, hot showers are allowed?? What is this? A concentration camp???)

MrsWishy I am also testing on the 4th. Also find very frustrating to have no idea what, if anything, is going on. The idea that maybe the eggy didn't even get fertilised so I was unknowingly out of the run from day one drives me CRAZZZYYYY!

Hi

Erica you poor thing - hope you're feeling better...

Good luck to you and wishywashy for the 4th! Hope you both manage to relax in the few days pre-test.....(easier said than done I know!!!)

X

Hi ladies,

How is everyone doing? Thankfully my stomach has settled now and I'm back to eating cakes! I mean, pineapple and nuts of course! :)

I have a question re: testing. My gyno told me to go for a blood test on Thursday (ie 14 dpiui). I asked if I could test at home and he said he recommends that I don't since an urine test could give me a false negative, since it takes longer to show. Blood is obviously 100% accurate, gives you the HCG levels etc. Since we realised that my second preg wasn't going to work based on low and then decreasing hcg levels, I am very keen on getting all the blood work done to see if everything (if anything ) is as it should be.

So far, so logical.

The problem is that last month I HATED waiting for the results, calling the clinic, getting the bad news on the phone and then having to call my husband at work to let him know. It may sound stupid but it felt shitty.(shittier than getting a negative stick in my own bathroom with my husband waiting outside, for some reason).

So my question is: is it true that 14 dpiui may be too early to test? I thought that would be ok? Why would it show later for iui than a 'natural' pregnancy? I was planning to test in the morning and then go for the blood test anyway but at least then husband and I could get the news together and be prepared for the confirmation on the blood test?

I have the feeling that I am starting to panic with test day approaching and therefore totally overthinking this so please feel free to tell me I'm doing so!

Thanks!

My clinic only relies on the urine test on the morning of the 14th day after IUI, so 4/4 for me. The next step if positive would be a scan three weeks after to check all is ok. I did have a unmedicated cycle so do wonder that if it was medicated that they might do blood tests.

I'd say go ahead and do urine test and see what happens. And then results could be backed up by blood test.

I'm not sure how I'll get through this week as I'm not working and the days are going to be long. I'm tempted to get a test and do it earlier but I know that its too early and if its negative then I will be dissapointed. I don't really feel any different still some cramps and feel a bit foggy and tired however I've just done seven weeks of night shifts so my body might be trying to catch up.

Hi Wishy,

Thanks! I think I'll test on Thursday morning - if it's neg, I get the blood test to confirm it (also to confirm that it's not another cp). And if the blood confirms otherwise, well, that would be a lovely surprise!. If it's BFP, then I will also do the blood to confirm the levels.

I think there is a worry with medicated that Ovitrelle could leave traces of HCG and you could also get a false positive. However, my last blood test on day 14 dpiui came back zero, so I doubt I need to worry about that...

I know what you mean about long days. I am normally ok(ish) the first 10 days or so and then I start really panicking.

Can you try to distract yourself with some movies, books, TV series? I've been watching The Killing and the Bridge and they are quite gripping, they really help take my mind off things for at least a few hours.

I also feel totally normal. Then, I always feel normal, didn't get any symptoms when preg and don't get PMS either.

Good luck!!

Hi erica. I don't think you are over thinking it at all. I totally understand how you feel as if you do a urine test yourself it puts you back in control as to when you receive the news.

My understanding is that a trigger should be completely out your system by 14dpo, probably sooner.

It's so hard. I second distraction as a means to cope.

Very best of luck xx

Thanks oodaddy !

Yes! That's exactly how I feel. I want to be in control on how we receive the news!

How is everything with you? xx