Anyone starting IVF soon? Join me.

[Shellster52]

After 3 full failed IVF's last year, I am about to embark on my second last attempt. I started an IVF thread during my last IVF, and everyone got pregnant but me. So I swore I wouldn't do that again this time. But I find myself wanting to chat with people going through what I am, so I am starting the thread again. Join me as I seem to be a BFP magnet!

Hi Shellster, none frozen, unfortunately, but the one we got back was 'grade excellent' according to the embryologist, which is great! I suppose it only takes one, so fingers crossed! And fingers crossed for you, too, for Friday. I completely agree with not getting too focused on the number; it's the quality that counts. That saying, I really hope you get heaps to chose from!

Mini, I had only 6 follicles ready at our second scan but they collected 11 eggs in the end, so hopefully you'll have the same or more!

Happily, that's amazing!!! Well done, you must be thrilled. I hope they make it to full blastocyst.

Thanks for the reassurance, purple. We didn't receive any advice on what to expect after the transfer, that I remember. I was busting for a pee, so I may not have been listening too closely at that stage!

Hi Rach, I can't help much re: City Fertility, but did want to put in that my best friend is currently on her first natural IVF cycle, as she has long, irregular cycles as well and is wary of being on excessive hormones. Have you definitely ruled it out, or do you think you'll enquire further at the appointment? The drugs/hormones, as Liquorice says, aren't nearly as bad as they seem at first.

Rach, have you already discussed this with your GP? If not can you say it has been 3 years? That might help qualify you. I haven't found the drugs that bad to be honest. I'm very uncomfortable today but EC is tomorrow so that's understandable .. The rest you just do to try and get a good outcome.

Bit of advice needed...

Were people in a lot of pain after egg collection. I've been relaxing all day but I'm in so much pain I can hardly walk and my stomach is so swollen. I'm worried there's something wrong! I've got a blood test tommorow so I can talk to them then but just wondered x

I had some pain after my last one. Some was wind, some was the feeling of fluid returning to my ovaries (after all the follicles had been drained). I would suggest you drink lots of water in case of any constipation and only take paracetamol, no aspirin or Neurofen. Hopefully they'll have some answers for you tomorrow x

Hello Rach. I'd echo what the other ladies have said: I was a really reluctant IVF-er - in fact, I only went along with it because my husband really wanted to feel we'd given this our best shot and I didn't feel I could refuse to do something that might make a difference. Actually, it was fine and I wish we'd taken the plungea couple of years ago.

Happily, I start down reg for the FET on 10th June.

Hope they can set your mind at rest tomorrow.

Hello Rach. I'd echo what the other ladies have said: I was a really reluctant IVF-er - in fact, I only went along with it because my husband really wanted to feel we'd given this our best shot and I didn't feel I could refuse to do something that might make a difference. Actually, it was fine and I wish we'd taken the plungea couple of years ago.

Happily, I start down reg for the FET on 10th June.

Hope they can set your mind at rest tomorrow.

Weclome RachGo1. I get so much support on here so I hope you find it helpful too. It's just nice to chat with others who understand. I too have low AMH so can relate to that too - and OHSS is definitely not a problem for us so no need to worry. I'm an Aussie so not familiar with your system but having to wait 3 years for NHS funding is ridiculous!

Welcome back Purple :)

... Oops, hit the post button accidentally

Also wanted to say a big congrats to Happily. I wasn't in pain after EC, but the most I ever got was 6 eggs so perhaps that's the difference.

And welcome minibmw2010. I am currently doing my 6th IVF attempt and the most mature eggs every collected was a measly 4. So I totally get your disappoinment. Looking forward to hearing from you on the other side of egg collection and fingers crossed for you.

Happily, yes, and do I ever feel for you! My ovaries were fine until that night and then became really painfully swollen. I haven't liked the progesterone pessaries, as it seems to make it worse (especially at night), but my ACU recommended taking 2 paracetamols 3 times per day to relieve the inflammation and that's worked a treat.

Do you do yoga? Before I started taking paracetamol, I found gentle hip-opening exercises were the only thing that helped me sleep. If you wanted to try it out, these worked best:

www.yogajournal.com/poses/486
www.yogajournal.com/poses/690 (mostly the variations)
www.myyogaonline.com/poses/hip-openers/frog-pose-mandukasana

I've kept these exercises up even though I'm now taking painkillers, and I've been feeling so much better. I hope it goes away soon!

Hello all, we had a good egg collection this morning. 9 eggs collected, 5 off one side with 4 off the other. So pleased. I emphasised how it had hurt slightly the last time and I really didn't want to remember much so they gave me a LOT of sedation. Straight to bed when I got home at 11.30 and just woken up really. Stomach is really sore but that's understandable I guess. Have told DH I'm staying in bed Now waiting for the phone call tomorrow to find out what happens re transfer xx

yes started treatment yesterday, had the scratch and started injections, i'm using donor sperm and eggs is anyone else in the same boat?? all advise would be welcome, thanks

HappilyMarried, how are you feeling today? I have to admit after my advice to you yday I feel dreadful today!! My EC was at 10am, home by 11.30 and I've been asleep on and off since then. Had some more paracetamol but my stomach is so sore. Part of me thinks a lot of it is wind which I'm sure when give will help, but ouch ouch ouch !!!!

Well done on your egg collection today!

I'm feeling better now, was awful last night!! Went to the hospital today and had blood test, they said I'm at risk of ohss so to drink more water (which is so hard when your st

Posted to soon!

So hard when your stomache is so swollen!! She also said to keep mobile. I was abit naive about this whole egg collection thing and really thought id be running around by now!!!

Hope your feeling better soon x

Good news from Clinic. Out of 9 eggs, 7 were mature and 6 fertilised overnight. So we are looking at Monday transfer all being well. There is potential for them to start disintegrating and if that happens they'll call us in either tomorrow afternoon or Sat morning for transfer but they seemed hopeful that wouldn't be a problem x

Just wanted to check in and say hello again. It's really exciting to read these positive posts - gives me hope...

I'm trying to build up the mental strength needed for 2 or 3 goes at IVF. Time seems to be moving at super-slow speed. Our test results from chromosome tests come back on 19th June and our initial consultation at IVF clinic is now beginning of July.

Learning from your experiences is a great help in the meantime ...

Have you heard anything yet, Happily? Keeping my fingers crossed they all fertilised!

Mini, that's a great record! I hope they hold out till Monday. We did a 5-day transfer and as it turns out the one that they would have given me if we'd chosen to do a 3-day transfer is not the one they ended up using at ET. It's that bit that makes me so glad we've gone through it all. Even if it doesn't work: science.

That's great news mini!!! Well done :) you must be so pleased. It's so nerve wracking waiting for that phone call isn't it!!

Hi Emma. 13 fertilized which was great news and he said he would call on Friday to sort out time for 5 day transfer on Saturday so I presume everything is continuing to go ok otherwise they would have called me sooner. I an eager to know how many have made it to day 5 though, I know that it usually not that many and I really want a couple for freezing! X

Just came back from scan. Decided I didn't want to get stressed out by how many little follicles were growing and just asked to be told yes or no if there are at least 5 growing that are likely to produce an egg so I can make a decision if the cost of EC is worthwhile. She did the scan then said 'Well it seems you have a decision to make then...' My heart sunk. Obviously that means there are less than 5. Turns out my five largest are: 14, 13, 12, 9 and 8. There are 9 more but they are all smaller and she didn't even bother to measure because she said they will not be ready at the time my largest ones are. Even now, there is no guarantee the 8mm will catch up to the 14mm one in time for egg collection. Just have to hope my body is doing what it is designed to do and naturally selecting the best eggs and that its quality over quantity. minibmw, your story gives me hope that you thought there would be 6 and ended up with 9.

Going for review scan on Monday. Decided I'm not even going to ask about the follicles progress on Monday. Nor am I going to ask how many eggs after collection. Why get stressed if there is 4 instead of 9. As long as there is one good egg sperm combo! Going to be blissfully ignorant from now on rather than stress about numbers.

Everyone else is moving along well on here. Keep us posted Happily and mini!

oh, also sideshowbob2, wanted to say there is a thread called Anyone remember me? Donor match! :) where Lauren is currently going through a donor egg cycle. You are most welcome here and I would love to hear how you get on, but you might find it night to chat to here if you want to find someone in similar circumstances to yourself. (Although perhaps I should be using donor eggs with my poor IVF responses but living in denial for a little longer thanks!)

Hi girls - thanks for the warm welcome! And also for the tips and advice, and reassurance about the meds.

Liquorice and Shellster, that's really interesting to know about low AMH and low OHSS. That's one good thing I guess!! Although probs means low reaction to the stimms, no?!

I have visited the clinic and I did like it. It's just that it's new so there are no live birth rates available yet which makes me a bit nervy. Spoke to HFEA and they said that even though it's been open for almost 2 years, their rates are a few years behind, which is why nothing is available yet. Which clinic are you at Liquorice if you don't mind me asking?

Emma, how's your best friend doing? Did she get a suitable egg on natural? Actually the original reason I was drawn to the clinic was to find out more about natural cycles from the Dr who now works at this clinic but after speaking with someone there I think a stimulated cycle is probably a better idea. How you feeling now? Not sure if I missed a message but I think you were having some pain, although your embryo was grade I - that's great! Any more news?

Mini 6 embryos is good stuff! And all this good news gives me hope too... My dr is really nice but she already knows it's been just over 2 years not 3. She tried to refer us but a letter came back saying it had to be 3 years, so I can't really ask her to lie. So annoing though because in the next borough 5 mins up the road it's only 2 years. So unfair.

Anyway, sounds like there's some positive stuff going on over the weekend so fingers crossed for good news all round!

Happily, that's great! Fingers crossed for Friday. Hopefully you'll have some for freezing, too!

Shellster, letting other people worry about numbers is ALWAYS a good thing! I hope this strategy works for you. I know I've been so much happier since I decided to just let worrying occupy other people's time and energy. Right now, the biggest concerns I'm allowing myself are whether I'm going to finish writing this chapter and when I can go swimming.

Rach, she's literally just started this cycle, so I've nothing to report there. I'll find out how she's getting on, though, and let you know (or tell her to sign up so she can report on it herself!). I'm doing much better, thank you! I'd cramped almost since the ET, but paracetamol and some exercise has really helped. Last night, however, I started spotting brown, thankfully, not bright red which is either the start of my period or the embryo settling in. I'm at 10 days past ET, and it's apparently pretty common at this stage, but I'm still worried about what it might mean. Here's hoping!

I'd be really worried about going to a clinic with no live births on record. Are you in North London? I know Chelsea (and Westminster?) has a good reputation, and King's has an excellent record. Both accept private clients, as far as I know.

Hi AnnieHoo, just wanted to say that once the ball gets rolling, it soon speeds up.

Try not to worry shellster (although I know that's the most annoying thing to hear!) our bodies do crazy things, my 8mm grew enough in time for egg collection plus as you say it's totally qualify over quantity. I remember doing my first iui and only having one follie, that was the one that actually worked!! It really does take one. I think your right in bit stressing about it. Keep us posted and I have everything crossed for you!

That's great news mini :) when are you having transfer?

Woohoo Mini and Happily - looking good for both of you
Shellster - sending lots of Big Fat Egg thoughts to you - make sure you OD on milk and water this weekend.

Annie - IVF has its own very special time warp thingy going on - time is either flying or dragging, never behaving normally!

Thanks to all the reassuring words - and for the timely reminder about the fluids purple

I am keeping your story in mind Happily about your 8mm doing some last minute growth, and mini's story about expecting 6 and getting 9 is also encouraging. Hopefully the few smaller ones come to the party. But am still going to TRY and stick to my original plan and ask not to be told anymore. It is what it is and me finding out the numbers and stressing isn't going to help.

As you say Happily, it's quality over quantity and I have been doing things that statistically increases % of embryos that reach blastocyst stage to 50%. So we shall see. I don't recall you doing IUI Happily. So your future baby that is now safely growing in a petri dish will be number two?