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!

[carriebella]

Glad to hear your injections are going well Shellster, I hope the ultrasound went ok today?
I don't qualify for nhs as i have a 9yr old son already who i conceived naturally after 2 years trying so I am one of the lucky ones, its a shame i can't have nhs treatment but its right that those without children should come first.
So, i'm impatiently still waiting to start, 2 more weeks to go! I shall be following you through your treatment to help pass the time! Funny how your period has gone down to 1 1/2 days of bleeding, mine has got lighter but stretches out for around 10 days, I was hoping the ivf would sort out my hormones, we shall see.
Hi Dreamy, thanks for the positivity towards crgw, hows the suprecur going? Any side effects?

[Shellster52]

Its hard carrie when the deep desire to have a baby has to be hindered limited by the size our of wallets. This is my 4th IVF and I wonder how much more $ I should waste. Glad you will follow me to help pass your time as I also need a person to type and vent to! Yes, my injections are going well but unfortunately the scan did not. It showed only 5 follicles. Hoping that there are a few more there that will have grown by my next scan on Friday to give me some hope, but with my history and poor response, it is not likely.

At least by following me, it will make your IVF seem like you are a super egg producer in comparison! Just have to count down the hours and minutes until Friday morning when I will really know if I am going to get more eggs or it is going to be yet another dismal failure.

[carriebella]

I cannot begin to imagine how hard to bear 4 ivf cycles could be, both emotionally and financially, I really hope this is the one that makes it all worthwhile for you. I guess you have thought about donor eggs if it came to it? Although I know this is not for everyone. Fingers crossed, you have a few days to boost those follies, keep eating lots of protein.

[BuddyNu]

Can I ask about the time lines for procedure. I am down regulating for the last 11 days. I got my period 2 days ago and have baseline scan next week which will be day 11 and I guess I will start stimming on day 12. Approximately how long after that is egg collection ?

[Shellster52]

Yep, you're right carriebella - it's a struggle. If IVF was free, I would be willing to face the emotions and go over and over again - surely after 10 IVF cycles the odds have to be high that they would find one good egg and one good protocol that produces good egg quality for me. But when you are paying big $$$$ each time, I have to wonder how much more in debt I put me and my husband. Don't feel that donor eggs is an option for me. As I read your post about high protein, I am feeling guilty for the delicious bread and butter pudding that I couldn't resist last night. But other than that, have been near perfect with the high protein so thanks for the timely reminder. No more pudding tonight until tomorrows scan reveals all!

BuddyNu. I have never done the down regging. I always start stimming on day 2-3 of a cycle and always have egg collection when I would normally ovulate around day 14 or 15. But I guess even if you start stimming mid cycle, it still takes the same time for follicles to grow and you could expect egg collection 11-13 days after starting stims. Anyone else here done down regging to confirm this for Buddy?

[carriebella]

Just dropping in for your update Shellster, hope it has gone well today, been thinking about you.
If only money was no object for me too, I would feel so much more relaxed going into my first cycle with more funds behind me, as it is, i'm so nervous, my whole future depends on these measly 2 chances.
The odds have got to be good for you now though, you've done the 3 it generally takes..
BuddyNu, I think its around 2 weeks? I have my baseline scan on 14th April and they have provisionally booked my egg collection for the week commencing 28th.

[purplemeggie]

Hi Buddy - we seem to be on a similar protocol - I'm a few days behind you. So, started down-reg on day 21, got AF day 28 (which was Thursday), have my scan on 28th, start stimms the next day, probably for 11 days, but with scans on days 7, 10 and 12. Depending on how those scans show I'm progressing, they may adjust the time for stimms. EC is pencilled in for day 14. Hope that helps.

How are you doing, Shellster? You sound a bit down...hope it's going okay....

I have a friend who finally caught that magic egg on her 11th IVF. I definitely won't be keeping going that long. I think we can justify a couple of goes, financially and emotionally, I think that'll be me done, too....I wasn't sure about trying IVF, but DH really really wanted to feel we'd tried everything we could. And my DS (aged 6) keeps reminding me that he really would like a little sister, if I don't mind.

I'm feeling much more zen-like than I thought I would....I was terrified of the hormones (pregnancy turned me into a witch) and terrified that we'd throw all our savings at rubbish odds and it wouldn't work. Now we're committed I'm feeling much more optimistic - maybe naivity because it's my first go - but at least I feel we're doing something. And Carrie I'm finding the Suprecur fine, no side effects one week in. I was also really worried about injecting, too, but that's fine as well.

[Shellster52]

Thanks for having me in your thoughts carrie and purple. Last IVF I took Aspirin for two cycles before and started with 15 follicles. This time, I only took it for 10 days before and only started with 6 follicles, of which only 3 were growing. If I had of kept going, my odds were low with 3 eggs and then I would have to wait months to recover so I can try again. I thought better to cancel, continue the Aspirin and then hopefully I have more follicles next cycle to start IVF again in just 3 weeks time.

So I think if I start IVF next cycle (a bit less than 3 weeks), that will mean we are all doing stims and egg collection around the same time.

That's funny purple being requested for a sibling for DS if you don't mind - no pressure there!

[purplemeggie]

Oh, Shellster - must be a bit disappointing, when you've got yourself geared up for the off again, but it sounds like you've made the right decision to give yourself the best chance. Fingers crossed that you brew lots of good ones for the next cycle.
What does the aspirin do? My GP recommended I take aspirin when we were ttc naturally, as she said it can help with implantation, but nobody's mentioned taking it in conjunction with IVF. I started off just taking a fertility multi-vit , as that was all my consultant recommended and vitamin D as I knew mine was a bit low, but gradually I've added in vit E and zinc, plus male fertility, zinc, Vits D and E and folic acid for DH (the female fertility vits contain folic acid, but the men's ones don't). It's probably a bit late to add anything into my regime to make a difference this time, but I've been making mental notes about co-enzyme Q10 and DHEA for the future...
So when is the scan when they tell you how many follicles are developing?

[carriebella]

Sorry to hear that Shellster, good you have a plan in place for a better outcome next time and its only 3 weeks, not too long to wait. That will put you at a similar stimming time to me which is nice too!

Good to know that you arent having any side effects Purple, ive heard it is pot luck, hopefully I am in your camp. How do you get on having to drink so much water? I really struggle to drink as I don't get thirsty
and when I do I have a really weak bladder so know im gonna be on the loo constantly!

[Shellster52]

purple, one study showed aspirin to increase your follicle count and the amount of eggs retrieved in IVF. Of course just to confuse matters, other studies show this not to be the case and some sites even say that aspirin interferes with follicle growth. But I am desperate to have more eggs next cycle and so am giving it a try. Don't know about it helping with implantation. So you're still down regging now?

carrie, will be nice to have someone doing IVF at the same time as me. Just anxiously counting down until day 2 of my next cycle to see if the Aspirin has done it's job and I have a good amount of follicles to go ahead this time!

[purplemeggie]

Hi Shellster - yes, down-regging until next Saturday (29th) when I start the stims. So, when do you expect to start stims? Thinking good thoughts for lots of big round healthy eggs for you
[Carrie] - the water is a bit of an effort, isn't it? I'm fine when I'm at work because I just have a large bottle on my desk all the time and keep filling up my glass - also easier to know how much I'm drinking. But when I'm at home it all goes out the window!

[Shellster52]

I will start stimming on day 2 of my next cycle which will be around 10th April - my cycle always varies by 2-3 days so I don't know exactly. Thinking of you too and looking forward to you starting stimming instead of all this downregging and waiting!

Is drinking lots of water supposed to help something for IVF?

[purplemeggie]

Shellster - I think it's more important during stimming that during down reg, but I'm trying to get into the habit early and I've found I'm quite thirsty. My clinic explained that the follicles contain a lot of fluid and it gets refreshed continually by osmosis, so drinking lots of water can help the quality of the eggs. They said 2 litres a day was a minimum - I don't normally drink that much (I know I should!) so I'm trying to get into the habit now.

[carriebella]

I was told that it helps with the side effects of all the drugs, like headaches, but purples explanation sounds more interesting! I am going to really struggle with 2-3 litres a day, going to buy myself a 2l bottle so I can monitor my intake too.
I received my drugs today, so i'm all ready to start DR on sunday, one step closer..

[Liquoriceallsort]

Can I join please? I started a thread on conception before finding this board. I had my first appt yesterday, had a call today to say I can come in tomorrow (cd1) to potentially have it this month!

[purplemeggie]

Ah...nobody said that about the side effects. I've had a shocker of a headache all day .
Hi Liquorice and welcome. That's quite exciting, getting straight on with it! Are you doing down regulation, or straight into the stims?

[purplemeggie]

Ladies, I was thinking about the fact that we have been told different things about water intake, so I wondered if we might also have been given different tips about things to eat or drink to help with IVF.
So - have any of you been advised to drink milk? My acupuncturist told me that another patient of his was advised to drink a pint of milk a day during stims. My clinic didn't mention it, so I asked, and they said that they used to recommend it because some research had linked milk intake with an improvement in egg quality, but that lots of their patients got stressed about it because they didn't like milk, and they didn't think there was enough research to make it a must. But they said "If you like milk, then build in additional milk or yoghurt to your diet when you are taking stims".
The other piece of advice they have given me is to eat a low carb, high protein diet. My consultant recommended this to me when I was still ttc naturally, because my insulin tolerance test came back a bit dodgy -he also persuaded me to start eating a little meat (after 27 years!) because apparently glucose insulin tolerance issues are more common in veggies and non-meat eaters. (Although I haven't found anything to verify this, so possibly a bugbear of my consultant?). Once I started the IVF, the clinic also recommended the low-carb, high protein approach - high protein breakfast, protein and salad for lunch and a normal supper.
Have you guys had similar recommendations? Any others to share?

[Liquoriceallsort]

Thank you Purple! Straight to stimms. I wasn't expecting such a quick turnaround so am frantically trying to read up on it!

[Liquoriceallsort]

*stims

[Shellster52]

Welcome Licorice. It's all systems go for you then! Have you been given any diagnosis as to why it hasn't happened naturally? Did you have a scan at your appointment to count your follicles or any other preliminary tests?

Purple. Thanks so much for the info on water intake; didn't know that. Will definitely make sure I keep up the water intake now.

My second IVF produced 2 mediocre embryos. I then read about the high protein/low carb diet improving embryo quality. I too am vego but started eating fish daily and doing high protein/low carb diet. 3rd IVF produced one high quality embryo that nearly stuck around so am continuing on with this diet.

As for any other ideas to share, don't have any other food ideas but am on a host of supplements. Aspirin, CoQ10, DHEA, Fish Oil, L-Arginine, Pre-Natal Pycogenol, Vit C, Vit D, Vit E.

BuddyNu, is all okay for you? Haven't heard from you in a while.

Shout out to carrie - hope we can start stims around same time. When will you next get monitored after you start downregging?

[purplemeggie]

Shellster - thank you - good to hear some verification for the diet - I was a bit worried that I was compromising on my principles without good reason, but that's made me feel better about it. I'm familiar with most of your supplements, but I don't know L-Arginine - what's that for? All these questions...I hope you don't mind me adopting you as my IVF mentor!!
Liquorice - we'll be on similar timings as tomorrow is my last day of down-reg, I have my baseline scan scheduled for Friday and hopefully start stims on Saturday. I read this, which I found really helpful. It's written by an IVF medical specialist, rather than "someone who's been through it" - I get that bit from Mumsnet! It's written by an American, so some things may not apply at your clinic - for example, there's a chapter on chromosomal screening, which is only available in the UK at a tiny number of specially licensed clinics - but it's a really good explanation of what's happening, with useful photographs.

[Liquoriceallsort]

That is a great recommendation thank you, I will get the kindle version so I can read it today.

Our issue has been diagnosed as male factor (I have pcos but no indication it affects me in any way- af regular as clockwork etc.). DH has a very low sperm count. I went through all the NHS tests and the private clinic just did a HIV, Hep B and C (I think) plus the AMH (?) test which checks ovarian reserve.

I feel like I am too late to join the recommended diets, do you think it's worth starting now?

[WalterAndTheAstronauts]

Mind if I join you ladies?

Scan and first down regging injection this morning of first IVF cycle on NHS. A bit clueless however much I've read up!

[carriebella]

Hi everyone

Liquorice - hi, think I commented on your other thread. I dont think its ever to late for the fertility diet. Clinics recommend high protein etc during stims etc so must be helpful all way through.

Purple - The only things my clinic have suggested are the protein and water , I might ask them though when I go in next week. As for milk I actually stopped drinking it completely about 6 months ago as had been reading about treatment for Endometriosis and it says to cut out dairy and wheat. Something unrelated happened , I had a severe dust allergy before and since quitting it has 80% gone, so no way will I be going back to drinking it.That is just me though im sure it could be good for others.

Shellster, I next go to the clinic on Tuesday for my endo scratch but aftwr that I am not seen until my baseline scan on the 14th when hopefully I will be ready to move to stims. You will start around then to won't you? Seems ages away but pnly a couple of weeks!

Hi Walter. You are a few days ahead of me then, I start downreg sunday. How did you find your first injection? You said you did it this morning, ive been told to do it at night, I wonder why that is. Im itching to get my first one in now.