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!

mini, it's just so frustrating to have a perfect day 5 embryo put back and all it has to do is implant but it doesn't happen! Why? So frustrating. I can't recall what your issues were that you require IVF? You sound like you have a beautiful hubby... and a lovely new ring! Did you have a plan B in mind?

Our hope had been to do one fresh and potentially one frozen (if needed) so we managed to put the money aside for that, but we didn't get any frosties so that has scuppered that. We are off on holiday this weekend so we'll have a chat about what happens next I guess. Our issues were sperm related (but prob also age related I guess as I'm now 41).

Happily, amazing news! That's fantastic.

Mini, I'm so sorry. It really sucks. Do make sure you take extra iron. I really suffer if I'm not on it every day. Weirdly, my period after IVF was completely abnormal (for me) and really light and sporadic. How are you holding up? I think I cried for about a week! Congratulations on your anniversary. I hope your holiday will help you to relax and just get away from everything.

Blue, that's where I've asked my GP to refer me, because you mentioned how good they were before. Hopefully it'll work for me there, too!

Hi everyone!

I am due to start taking Supercur on 28th June so not long! Just wondering what you were all told about alcohol consumption in the weeks leading up to starting IVF? To drink or not to drink? I don't mean wine by the bottle till I fall in a heap but a couple of glasses of wine with a meal!

Our clinic has suggested that both my partner and I should not be drinking in these last few weeks. Something which I don't think he was expecting! World Cup time and no beers!! The nurse however did also say the odd drink wouldn't harm. So now I don't know what to do! They said don't drink but if you do it won't matter! Does that mean I can or I cant?! I almost wish they had said in no uncertain terms complete ban on booze from now!

What have all you lovely ladies been told / decided to do?

Good luck to everyone on their journeys xxx

Hi Welsh and welcome.
DH had a few more abnormal sperm than we were expecting in the SA at the outset of our IVF journey. We had both given up drinking after New Year, knowing that we were about to do IVF and the SA was about 6 weeks later, and about 6 weeks before he needed to provide swimmers for the IVF. There was a big improvement - we had been expecting ICSI, but they were good enough to go with IVF (and saving £1350 was a good incentive!)

I had a glass or two of wine between EC and ET - on the basis that for once I KNEW I wasn't pg (as opposed to hoping and being wrong) and now we're gearing up for a FET, I have an occasional glass of something on the basis that we've already made the frosty, so it can't really hurt.

World Cup is really inconvenient for that though, isn't it? Perhaps we could get it postponed a few weeks?

Sending a hug, Mini - hope you have a lovely holiday xx

How's it going Blue and Happily?

Shellster - if the drugs do their thing and Frosty makes it out of the chiller in one piece, FET will be 16 July. How are you doing, lovely?

xx

I'm doing ok just waiting for my scan so I know that everything is ok, defo the scariest and most stressful part so far!

I drank the odd glass of wine if I felt like it up until ET and just got bfp! Fertility clinic also said it would be fine.

How is everyone else? X

Emma great to hear you might give Guy's a go. Our experience with them has been really good so far.

Everything is ok with me.....just worried to frigging death about the first scan, happening on 1st July! Does the worrying ever stop?! I'm in Chicago on a work trip at the moment which hasn't helped (spent a frantic few hours googling 'long haul flight first trimester miscarrage' before I got on the plane). I really don't have any symptoms aside from feeling knackered and stressed but I felt like that before the BFP anyway....for the last 2 years actually. Haha.

Also, my progesterone 'fanny bullets' melted in my luggage. So, erm, they aren't bullet shaped anymore. Having a fun time every morning/evening trying to prise them apart and insert them where they are supposed to go!

Hope everyone is doing ok x

Welsh I had a glass of wine here and there in the run up to egg collection. My husband didn't really cut back at all. Not sure you'll win that battle against beer and the world cup unfortunately.

Oh Blue! I shouldn't laugh, but I do confess to a quick chortle about that! I thought the bullets were the worst bit of IVF...

Thanks everyone! A glass here and there can't hurt! I also think this will avoid the dreaded questions from people "are you pregnant?!" I don't want to be telling anymore people than I need to until we actually have some news to tell!

Good luck everyone! X

Hello all, a definite BFN for us, official testing date is tomorrow but we were travelling on holiday today so I tested a day early. Have been very heavily bleeding for almost 5 days so it wasn't a surprise. On holiday now for 2 weeks so will try to relax and discuss our next steps (if any) at some stage while we enjoy time with our lovely 3 year old. So am going to step away for a little while, but huge thanks to everyone for their support and I truly hope you get the result that we couldn't. Much love x

Sorry, Mini - even if you know it's coming, it still feels rubbish. Sending you lots of love. Hope the holiday and time with dc and dh helps to mend things a bit...I found that time with mine was exactly what I needed after the disappointment of our BFN.

So 16th July Purple - must feel like forever away. I met a friend after she had her frosty die during 'un-freezeing'. I can only imagine how she felt now that I see all the drama and build up to your frosty cycle. If all goes to plan for me, I will be about a week into stims of yet another IVF at that time.

Blue - progesterone fanny bullets - love it!

Warning, here comes my self pity story that I want to get off my chest:
Period arrived this morning. Our IVF was cancelled this cycle with only 3 of 14 follicles responding, but I still tried naturally and being down today just shows how I still unrealistically got my hopes up that with 3 eggs and having taken Viagra so I had a nice thick lining, one of hubby's sperm would have more chance.

Supposed to do high protein low carb diet for my situation in the lead up to IVF but all I want to do is pig out on junk.

mini I'm really sorry. Enjoy your holiday and I hope with all my heart you have better luck next time.

blue I will have my scan on the 2nd July so just after you, the stress never ends does it and too be honest I'm dreading it after last time. But I'm trying to tell myself that it's more likely to be ok than not! Good luck!

purple how are you?

shellster I have everything crossed that you can start ivf on your next cycle. It's not silly to have hope we all do. Replying to you on the other thread, I would definitely ask about the scratch when I did my research it seemed that everyone that had it got a bfp. I'm sure there is definitely no harm in it!

Good luck to everyone :)

Pleased to read that, Happily - I had a scratch this time.
Keep positive, ladies...waiting for scans is horrid, isn't it, but once you've got through that it will all feel much easier.
Shellster - yes, I'm trying not to pin too many hopes on this for that very reason - apparently they lose 20-30% of frosties during the defrost process. When we went for our implications meeting, she kept on going on about the fact that we only had one - it felt very bleak, as when we were doing our fresh cycle, they kept saying how hardly anyone gets any frosties, and were really positive about the fact that we had one. We shall just have to wait and see.

Good luck purple... I guess it's the doctor's job to be cautious. You've still got a good chance though, so stay positive!

Did everyone notice the 'expert Q&A' happening on the 23rd? Should be interesting, I've lost count of all the things I'm supposed to be eating/drinking/doing/not doing to make IVF a success. Hopefully they can dispel some of the silly old wives tales.

Thanks, Blue. No - what's the Q&A?

I would love the scratch Happily. I don't have any fear of getting it done. My fear is that it is not done here. But I will ask. I read many success stories about it too which makes it more frustrating that I am sure it isn't an option for me here.

purple, wish I could say something to help increase your odds! All I can say is that I am thinking of you.

blue, I haven't noticed that Q&A either. Is that something on Mumsnet?

The Q&A is in mumsnet... I'll find a link on the desktop site and post it.

I have bad news. Hospital confirmed that I've miscarried.... I've had brown spotting since yesterday. I'm still in Chicago which makes it worse, although I'm glad I know now rather than waiting another 10 days for my first scan in London. Seems like it must have happened a while ago because my hcg is only 6 now. Awful news. Looks like we'll be back on the ivf bus again soon

So sorry, Blue - that's very sad news. Sending you a big hug....it's a horrible thing to happen. x

I got a shiver down my spine when I read your message blue. I just feel awful for you. You are super strong to have a glimmer of hope and be looking to the future thinking about your next IVF. I guess thats the only way to cope - to try to look forward - to save us drowning in the current sorrow.

Woke up thinking of you, Blue - how miserable for this to happen when you're away from home and having to put a work face on....when do you get home?

blue I'm so sorry :( when can you can home? Your not alone are you. Sending you loads of love x

Thanks all... the people at the hospital here were lovely and my work health insurance covered everything. My husband is coming over tomorrow, we had planned a holiday here anyway which is pretty lucky. Can't wait to see him. IVF is like the grand national isn't it.... all these fences to jump and you can fall at any moment. Well, we almost made it so we will try again. This time it just wasn't to be.

That's exactly as I explained it the other day, it's such a series of hurdles, it feels so good to get over one but then there's always another to negotiate! X