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!

Hooray - Walter - that's amazing news, absolutely delighted for you. And great that your clinic helped out with the early scan. I was wondering the other day what had happened to all the lovely ladies early on in the thread, so it's fab to hear from you. The transfer went really well, thank you - at least, the embryo went in and stayed in this time! (Apparently it's only about once in six months that it sticks to the catheter, which is what happened last time!)

How many, Shellster many. Think positive - I know it's hard when you're in a bad place, but it really helps. Sending you a big hug. I know what you mean about the milk - I only drink organic, so it shouldn't be full of artificial hormones, at least. Unlike me, at the moment!!!

I dreamed I was pregnant last night and woke up feeling all content. Just hoping... x

Shellster it was a total shock but when I spoke to the Assisted Conception unit, the nurse said that it's not unusual for this to happen. Usually the cycle after IVF but this was the second one after, not that I'm complaining!!

Thanks Purple I think the best bit for me was that I was totally oblivious to it all as we've got a lot going on. I totally missed the dreaded TWW!! When was your transfer? Pregnant dreams are a good sign. Keep a positive attitude too.

Happily was the scan an internal? Mine will be at 7 weeks, kind of scared but excited. Apart from being dizzy all the time & tired, I'd say I don't feel very different. What happened at the booking appt? I was offered a midwife appt this tuesday but the unit said wait until they have seen me. When is your EDD?

Congratulations Walter! What an amazing surprise. I know a couple of other people who conceived naturally right after a failed IVF cycle. I guess your body is full of fertility hormones, so it makes sense. (Note to self - have lots of sex this month).

I'm glad someone mentioned milk. I avoid dairy products usually (partly because of the hormone issue and also because I have Crohn's Disease). I wonder if milk really helps with IVF? Has there been any proper research on this? I would definitely drink milk if I knew it would make a difference, despite my problems with it. I wonder if soya milk has the same effect?

Huge congrats to you Walter, miracles do happen! Would you mind reminding me what your issues were to begin with? Its so nice to hear positive news on here, in real life you hear positive news and its like a kick in the stomach but on here I get warm and fuzzy!

I tend to avoid milk too Blue, ive read its really not good for endometriosis so i cut it out about a year ago and I do get a lot less pain and less other allergic symptoms too. Am thinking of going organic though after hearing conflicting stories but I cant decide/ don't know if it will still affect the endo. I think I read somewhere that soy is bad for fertility? Its not something I have so maybe research a bit before trying soya milk?

Hope the wait is going quickly for you Purple, you sound very chilled and relaxed!

Hi Shellster, another scan for you tomorrow, i'm sending positive thoughts across the ocean, you seem to be doing everything you can to help so with just a bit of luck thrown in too there should be plenty of follies.

AFM Ive at least now started! On day 5 of down reg and now have to wait until 4th August for my baseline scan. I also had the scratch again but they used a different technique. Instead of going up and down they twist it? It was so much less uncomfortable than last time I wondered if it would have the same affect but was assured it would so fingers crossed anyway.

Hello to anyone ive missed, wishing you all lots of luck

Carrie, both your scratch methods sound different to mine. My Dr inserted what I can only describe as a very long thin and flexible syringe. She pulled on the plunger to 'suck up' the endometrium which she then sent for biopsy to ensure all was normal. Either way, hope they work for both of us. Must feel good to get the ball rolling again instead of waiting.

I am still uncertain on the whole milk and IVF thing. I have read research showing it is bad for male fertility, so if it's bad for sperm, wouldn't it be bad for eggs too? Is it recommended purely because of it's protein content and could we seek an alternative, or is there research showing milk in particular is good?

Anyway, back from my day 10 scan and feeling a bit deflated. Started with 19 follies at day 3, but from what I read on the screen as she scanned today, I had a 15, 15, 13, 13 and 11. I saw the nurse after the scan to get the official results and the handwritten note only read 15, 15, 13 and 11. What happened to the 2nd 13mm follie? Not sure if I read the screen wrong or if the ultrasound lady missed it when she wrote the results down for the nurse. There were 11 more but they were all at 8mm or less and so they don't bother measuring. Have to wait for Friday for another scan but not feeling too hopeful that the smaller ones will catch up. So only 5 if I read the screen right, or perhaps even only 4 if the note was right. And then not all will fertilise, and then a couple will die while growing to blast and I will be left with nothing! Wish I could have a wine right now.

Don't be deflated, Shellster - remember me saying that the sonographer told me that she'd rather see five follicles that size rather than 20 2mm ones? And then I was told that on average, only half fertilise, but all of mine did, so I think this really IS a case where size matters. Think fat thoughts, keep positive, we're all willing them on.

I think male and female fertility are quite different - I wouldn't try to extrapolate from one to the other. I'm not sure why they think milk is good - I was told that the research was quite recent and needs replicating, but as I say, my eggs grew big and fat and all of them fertilised, so I'd definitely do all the same things again!

My scratch was like Carrie's twisty one - but since I'd never had one before, I just took it at face value and didn't think there might be other ways to do it.

xxx

Hi ladies, is it okay if I crash your thread with a question for you experts? I'll plough ahead. I've been for my ivf consultation. I live in glasgow but can get treatment 4-5 months earlier if I go to edinburgh (about an hour driving if traffic is nice). I'm 38 so time is a factor. I'm unsure how many trips will be involved & therefore if doing it in another city is do-able? I'd rather not tell my work. Any feedback is massively appreciated and sorry for jumping in. Thanks!

shellster it only takes one! Stay positive! Your doing everything you physically can and I really have a good feeling for you this time.

ginger you need to be pretty close to the hospital really, I had to go in for four scans in the middle if work days and then in for ec, et etc...it differs though and you may be called for more scans. I think I would have found it quite stressful if I was on a time limit. Good luck :)

walter it was internal for 7 weeks and a normal scan for 10 which I was super excited about! Booking in appointment was straight forward, met midwife, had blood and urine test and discussed things such as healthy eating, medical history etc...

Good luck to everyone else that is halfway through x

Thanks so much happily, really don't know what to do so any feedback is useful!

Welcome Ginger. During my treatment, I had a day 3, 6 and 10 scan so far. Going back for one more scan, and then egg collection and hopefully after that, embryo transfer. So that's six appointments I have needed time off work for. That might be difficult if you would rather not tell your work, but I totally get you wanting to start sooner rather than later as you are right that time is a factor. Good luck whatever you decide.

Thanks for your reassuring words purple and Happily. Glad that you have a good feeling for me from your objective viewpoint Happily as I am just freaking out right now. Just realized clinic booked next scan for Friday - day 13. That means I won't be having EC Saturday because I need to take trigger 36 hours before. Sunday the clinic is closed, so EC will be delayed until Monday - day 16. I had day 16 EC last year and my estrogen levels dropped and my progesterone rose on day 15 (research shows both these things bad for outcome and obviously I got a BFN).

Worried the clinic is delaying until Monday for their convenience of not doing many EC's on Saturday. Left a message for the nurse and am anxiously waiting for a call back. In the meantime, all I can do is rant so thanks for putting up with me. Emotions are high right now.

Shellster I do feel for you - the multiple cycles must really have taken a toll on your nerves. You know too much! I'm quite oblivious to most of things that need to go right. It must be very stressful to know exactly what you need and want, and then have things go awry. Hopefully the clinic will understand this and move your appointment to Saturday, given your previous history. If not, perhaps there is something they can do to keep your levels balanced until Monday.

Sending you my best wishes. I think everyone on here wants this to work out for you - you're doing absolutely everything you can to make it happen.

Ginger is the Edinburgh clinic open late/at weekends? If so, you might be able to schedule some appointments around work. That's what I did (my clinic is open Saturday and Sunday). An hour isn't too bad, and I'm not sure I could wait another 4-5 months!

Hi Ginger. I've just checked back to my schedule for our fresh cycle earlier this year and we had one introduction meeting a couple of months before it all kicked off, implications meeting (this is quite a long one - we were there 2 hours - where they talk you through the entire treatment, teach you/dh how to inject, etc) at the beginning of the actual treatment and then four scans before EC. I took the week off following my transfer, but I think you'd be fine with a day or two if time were tight (I was lucky - it was in the Easter holidays, so I just said I needed time off with my 6yo ds).

We're just doing a frozen cycle now and that's a much lighter touch - we had implications, baseline scan, scan to check lining thickness and transfer. All my appointments were really early in the morning. Oh, and I chose to have an endometrial scratch this time, but that was voluntary.

Our clinic is half an hour away usually, but I always have to leave an hour because traffic can be bad. It has worked for me, but it is in the right direction for work so I can get there quite quickly. I'm also lucky enough to have a super-supportive line manager, so I told her what was going on, but I know plenty of people who have chosen not to, and got away with saying it was "gynae issues" - as that seems to embarrass most people into not asking any questions! Good luck!

Shellster - I think you need to stamp your foot a bit if it looks as if they're avoiding a Saturday for their own convenience - you've been round the block too many times for it to be fair to take chances with your treatment. Good luck, lovely girl xxx

I had a bit of a wobble yesterday, slightly lost the calm optimism I've been holding onto. But I think I had good reason: my lovely Dad had heart surgery (he's fine) and my SIL gave birth to their daughter...dh and I had a good "very happy for them, but when will it be our turn?" heart to heart last night. Knitting baby stuff again, but still not for mine

Hope you've had your call back shellster, i'm confused by your worry though, being a bit of a novice. Why is a progesterone rise a problem? I thought high progesterone was good in second half of cycle? Does everyone else get blood tests throughout treatment? As I had lots before I started but none during? I hope you have managed to talk them into Saturday ec Shellster for your peace of mind.

Hi Ginger, I travel over an hour each time for my treatment, not found it much of a problem but I only work 2 days a week so quite easy to work around. I think its 2/3 weeks of intensity where you need to go in a lot around stims and egg collection/transfer.

Glad to hear your Dads ok Purple, must of been a worry even though hes fine, and your SIL giving birth, it always seems to happen at inconsiderate times! I hope you've got over your little wobble, after all it won't be long until its your turn - positive thinking.

Hi everyone & thanks for the welcome. I really appreciate the time you've all taken to help me with my dilemma! blue, that's an excellent point & a good question for me to ask.

Think I may be veering towards Dundee, it's 1.40hrs but, and this is a huge but, I'd have my first course of ivf this side of Xmas. I have time off from work I've been saving so could use some of that if they can give me an idea of rough schedule.

I've not read the whole thread but may lurk a bit of okay? Just wanted to say good luck to you all. Will be waiting to see the bfp's rolling in!

I read something interesting today. I was trying to work out when/if I should POAS. I know, I know. I only have to wait until Monday, but I am now symptom spotting and am desperate to try.

So, I consulted Dr Google and found this. So, my pregnancy test is scheduled for 17dpo, but according to their chart, 12.4% of pregnancies didn't show up on a test by 17dpo and 8.3% didn't show up by 21dpo. Now, this is based on the website's members submitting their results, so it doesn't control for sensitivity of test, but this has worried me a bit. I mean, in a natural pregnancy, it doesn't matter if the test doesn't show up for a bit, because your body is making the hormones to keep it there, but in an IVF pregnancy, if you don't get a BFP, you stop the drugs and that would mean you couldn't maintain a pregnancy that might be just lurking.

What do you think? I will have drugs for a couple of days beyond test day, so I might carry on taking them regardless of outcome....

If you have the drugs anyway, there seems no harm to keep taking them. Did your period arrive last time and that's when you stopped the drugs, or did you keep taking the drugs until you got a negative and that's when your period came? I can't recall. Just wondering if your period had arrived by this day last IVF and it is a good sign that it hasn't arrived this time. I just hope Purple that you do get a BFP and you don't have to worry about that thought! Will the clinic do a blood test on Monday as that seems much more sensitive, or are you told to POAS on Monday?

I spoke to nurse and she was happy for me to have scan a day early in case I was ready for Saturday. So that made me feel better that they are doing what they think is best for me and not based on what fits their schedule. So I went for a day 12 scan today. Results:

L ovary: 18mm, 13mm, 10mm. Three more little ones.
R ovary: 22mm, 15mm, 11mm, 8mm. Five more little ones.

Very disappointed. For my Sep 2013 IVF I tried EPP protocol for 1st time. I started with only 8 follicles, yet got 5 eggs. Lots of hard work and this time I start with 19 follicles-over double Sep IVF, did the same protocol, and now even less mature eggs. Why???? Now I agree with clinic to wait until Monday in the desparate hope the 13, 11 and maybe even 10mm grow in time, but by then the 22 will be over mature so I'll lose that one.

I know, I know. It only takes one. And I do sometimes see stories of women who get 2-3 eggs and get pregnant. But the usual story is that a few don't fertilise, then a few die off on the way to day 5 by which stage, I will have none left!

Last time I was spotting for two or three days before my BFN, I stopped the drugs after testing and got my period that day, with avengence. I'm not concerned that that was the wrong result, just fretting generally, I think. When I had ds, my BFP was really really faint, even on the day my period was due...

...and it's POAS at home, rather than a blood test in the clinic.

Go with your first instinct, Shellster - you've got at least four there that will be big enough by Saturday - remember it's quality not quantity - if you over-cook the ones that look the strongest for the sake of maybe having one or two more weaker ones, you'll have another "what-if" to deal with if things don't work out. Be brave, this bit is so hard xxx

Shellster last time I only got 2 eggs, and I think I had 5 follies in total. Both of my eggs fertilised and they transferred 1 x 5 day blasto, which turned into a BFP. I know you must be disappointed but try to stay positive. It's out of your hands now.

Purple I sympathise with your need to POAS but the longer you wait, the more satisfied you'll be with the result! If you do it too early you'll be frantically worrying if it's correct, and end up POAS'ing every morning and night until you know for sure. Maybe you need to hold on for a while longer? (I sound like my mum here)

Oh and Purple I don't think it's a big deal if you keep taking the progesterone for a while after you test. There's no harm in it and it might make you feel better if you do decide to test again after a few days?

Thanks so much for reminding me of your story bluemoon. That's right, you had one lone embryo survive all the way to day 5. Is it rude to ask how old you are? I am 37 so I worry my embryo quality might not be as good as someone younger and that's why I worry 3 eggs isn't enough to have a chance of finding one good egg. Just have to wait and see. As you say, it's out of my hands now. Wish I could knock myself out until day 5 transfer so I don't have to endure this torture.

Purple, were you spotting by this day during your IVF cycle? Although I realise your body has been put out of whack with all the hormones. You seem to be doing well so far and have resisted the urge to test. I agree with bluemoon that if you test too yearly, you'll be in a state of panic if it's negative. But on the other hand, if it's positive, would be nice to be out of this misery! If DS was only faint even after missed period, I guess it makes sense to hold out til Monday. Just a few more days. Then once you get your BFP, can you mail your serenity to me please! I admire how calm you have managed to stay throughout all this.

Oh and Purple, I meant to ask, did you drink a whole litre of milk every day during stims as the clinic advised? And was it organic? I only drank a 375ml bottle, but now since I only have 3 mature follicles at 37, and you got 5, makes sense to try next time.

I know it sounds like I have already planned for this one to fail. But I think it will just stop me falling in a heap if I can have a plan B to improve things for next time.

What exactly did your clinic say the research showed milk helps with? The number of eggs, or the quality?

Hi Shellster, I'm 37 on Sunday!

Hearing other peoples stories isn't necessarily very helpful but perhaps my experience will give you a bit of hope. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that things well again this time around, when I start on the 1st Aug.

Do you do any yoga/meditation/breathing exercises? Yoga really helps me when I'm feeling panic stricken or anxious. Maybe it would help you too (given that you can't have a bottle of wine at the moment!!)

Shellster - yes, I did drink the full litre every day (what with 2 litres a day of water, didn't exactly leave room for anything else and I'm a real tea belly in the normal scheme of things!) The clinic thought it helped with quality, rather than quantity. I've not been so diligent with the milk this time - mostly because I figure we already made the embryo, so is it really necessary, but also because it's REALLY hot here - and we Brits really aren't cut out for that - so I'm upping the water to silly amounts.

I let my serenity slip a little yesterday - I was having quite "bitey" pains around my left ovary and I had a little panic about ectopic pregnancy, but I got rid of a lot of wind and the pain went away! I also succumbed to my instinct to POAS, on the basis that if it was positive and I still had the pains, I really ought to go to hospital. It was negative - I'm not going to dignify it with a "BF", because it was early and therefore neither big nor fat! As I said the other day, none of my pregancies - not the one that resulted in ds nor the ones that ended in mc showed up until after AF was due.

I do understand the disappointment-management strategies...I use them myself...but hoping you won't need them xxx

I'm so nervous for you every time I click on this site Purple. So you're still in the running! If this were a natural cycle, when would you expect your period?

I am hopeful for you Blue that you obviously have quality eggs even though you don't have quantity. Yep, comparing stories sometimes just gets me down. Others are doing IVF at around 30 and get 10-15 eggs and I get 3 or 4 which makes me feel like I have no hope. I love this thread for that reason, as we're either 'maternally aged' or not great responders or have had hardship so on this thread, comparing stories is actually reassuring.

Tried yoga and wasn't really my thing. That said, I am feeling better. Sorry for the rant last time. My way of calming down is to let it all out. And since I have no one in RL who understands, having a big whinge here really does help.

But also feeling better as my nurse gave me some hope. I only expected the 3 largest follies to have mature eggs, but she said she expects 7 eggs and thinks my 4-7th follicle will also grow large enough between my last scan and the trigger tonight.

Doing everything within my power to get some last minute follicle growth - heat pack and orgasms for blood flow to ovaries (sorry, TMI but I mention it in case the idea is helpful to others). Will take trigger tonight and report back after Monday ER!

Shellster - no apology needed for ranting - we all need to from time to time and it was quite an innocuous rant in the grand scheme....it's not as if you were rude to anyone on the thread, or anything like that!

Yup - still in the running - not sure if I would have got my period if it was a natural cycle, because it's so far out from being a natural cycle....I was trying to work that out myself. Think I would be 15dpo normally, because 5 day transfer was on 16th, but who knows where I am, really!

It's a big week....T day on Monday, trying to complete the sale of a house, waiting to hear if I've been shortlisted in a writing competition and going on holiday! Not so calm now, but not sure what to attribute the butterflies to!!!

Hoping all your egg-fattening tricks are working. Lucky 7 would be great

Blue - I love yoga too - not got any in my life at the moment, but would like to organise some. The last time I conceived naturally, I was doing 2 yoga classes a week and I'm sure it helped - helped sort my head out if nothing else! And I was in great shape, too.

Anyone else out there? You've all disappeared again!