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!

So here's something weird... nurse called back with my blood test results last night... I have a hcg of 60. Still negative urine test though. Still bleeding. She thinks it's another chemical preg, I'm going back in Monday for a follow up beta. I'm reading online though that for some women, this number can turn out to be a viable pregnancy, even with bleeding?

Anyway, who knows. Not getting my goes up, bleeding is heavy and definitely doesn't seem 'right'. I'm going to keep taking the prog though.

Thanks for all the tips ladies, got lots to ask the consultant when I see him. I was wondering about baby aspirin too, def seems worth a try.

Djasmin - I've got some Progynova - I've just sent you a PM.

Blue - keeping everything crossed. Hope you're managing to stay sane through all of this xxx

Emma - the aspiring is for the foreseeable - my consultant said it's safe during pregnancy at those levels. I took it for quite a while pre-IVF, because my GP also recommended it for implantation issues and I was taking it when I conceived last time (2011, MC 10 wks)

Wondering how happylass and threebee are getting on? You still out there?

Oh Blue, two chemical pregnancies in a row. Really makes it seem like there is a specific issue causing this. When is your follow up appointment? Really hope you get some answers. Did you ever get an official infertility diagnosis other than your fibroids? So heartbreaking to get so close yet so far. Thinking of you.

So the general consensus on here seems to be that I should go for it-less eggs = better quality. I thought it was more a case of less meds = better quality. But I'm actually on a high dose. Anyway, I have now had time to accept 4 measly eggs and kinda agree with you guys to go with it. Mostly because I want this infertility pain over with.

I have a follow up scan Monday and have to make sure all 4 are still growing consistently to produce a mature egg. If one has stopped and I have 3 mature, I will pull the plug.

Good luck tomorrow Shellster. It's a tough decision but hopefully you'll be able to make a more informed choice tomorrow, when you've got the latest info.

I'm having another beta blood test tomorrow morning. I'm getting positive home pregnancy tests now but I'm 99% sure this is another chemical pregnancy. I'll know by tomorrow afternoon hopefully.

Shellster the reason for my infertility is blocked tubes (one completely, one partially) due to scar tissue. When I go for my follow up appointment with the consultant I need to find out what we can do to try to prevent this happening again. Perhaps something physical (additional fibroid removal or maybe even attempt to remove some of the scar tissue?) or something biochemical (immunity issues, blood clotting issues, FH levels etc). Everything else looks fine - my lining is good, estrogen/progesterone levels good, etc.

Yes, sanity is my main issue Purple.....why is nothing ever simple?! Trying to stay relaxed and not let this get to me too much. Sorry for the long rant everyone x

Purple, how much are you on -- is it half per day? I've tried looking, but there are too many messages at this point on this thread to do that scanning! I'm definitely going to give it a go.

Shellster, I think your current plan (to green-light four but nix three) is a sound one. I've got all things crossed for you.

Blue, the BFPs from other women who bled gave me hope I could be one of them, and although it didn't work out for me I've got all things crossed for you, too. It would be amazing and wonderful. Sanity is the real issue, no? Staying sane has never been more complicated.

My very pregnant SIL is coming over for a birthday meal tonight. I'm really looking forward to seeing her but it's going to be hard to see her bump.

Blue, that's bizarre that your home preg tests were negative, but now they are coming up positive after heavy bleeding. You sound like you have the right questions ready, asking about fibroids and immunity issues. It would kinda be good if they did blood tests and found something. At least you could take the correct medication and feel confident that it will work next time instead of worrying you will have another repeat chemical.

Emma, sounds like a tough night ahead. Is that the SIL who understood your situation and said you didn't have to attend her baby shower. My DS is very pregnant, but when someone told her about a fertility acupuncturist, she gave me all the info and her thoughtfulness towards me kinda made me feel a bit better about facing her.

Okay, going to get ready for my scan. Feeling a sense of dread about it. I think I just don't need it shoved in my face anymore that my ovaries are old and I produced 4 measly eggs.

Hoping it went well, Shellster - thinking big fat thoughts your way x
Emma - it's so hard, isn't it? I keep reminding myself that other people didn't nick my place in the deli queue and the fact that they are pregnant and I am not is unrelated. Doesn't always work, but I sometimes achieve the serenity I'm after! Aspirin is one 75mg tablet per day.
Still keeping everything crossed for you, Blue x

Thanks so much Purple. Well my scan showed I have 9 follicles with the largest 8 follicles at:
20, 15, 14, 14, 12, 12, 7

I have created the EGR chart if anyone is interested and would like me to plot their numbers and see what result I get.

Hello ladies
I'm still following you all and rooting for you. .

I'm just back from the clinic with my bundle of Buserelin, Menopur and needles to keep me going for the next couple of weeks.

The Consultant said I was almost down regulated from the pill and my lining was nice and thin.

Is it relevant how many andral follicles there are at this point? There were 4 + 5.

Shellster - sounds like you'll be ready to go very soon! Keeping my fingers crossed for you. Sounds like you have some good sized follicles there so hopefully this will be a good cycle for you.

The blog link was interesting. I'm not sure I really know what 'estradiol' is but I do know that my estrogen level was 140 at my baseline scan and 860 at EC. Not sure if that's good or bad. Hmm!!

Had another blood test this morning - my HCG is going down, confirming another chemical pregnancy. Frustrating but at least it wasn't a total failure (?). I need to keep reminding myself that there's only a 30% chance of any IVF cycle working. I'm not some special exception to the rule here...it's 30% every time, despite what I might be secretly hoping. I need to retain some perspective!

Anyway I shall be indulging in a large glass of red wine tonight.

Good luck everyone else - Anniehoo glad to hear you are almost ready to get going again.

Oh and by the way - I am totally doing the aspirin thing next cycle! Can't see any harm in it really.

Blue, I'm so sorry your suspicions are confirmed. I've never managed to have a BFP at home (despite the fact I've miscarried -- my mum didn't test positive till she was more than 8 weeks for both me and my sister, so perhaps it's genetic?), but I can completely empathise with what a roller coaster you're on right now. Perspective is good, but red wine strikes me as more useful at this stage.

Purple, I think that makes at least three of us on the aspirin wagon next cycle! I've just been to the pharmacy to see if they have aspirin in 75mg dosages. I've been crampy the last few days, which would indicate there is no pregnancy in these quarters this month, but let's see if it works for next cycle.

Anniehoo, the great pin-cushion phase begins! Good luck!

Shellster, those levels sound really promising! When are you next back in? From what you said not today, but can we assume Wednesday? Fingers crossed!

It was indeed my lovely SIL who was over last night. She's so excited about the arrival of her son but careful not to go complain about how much she really dislikes being pregnant when I'm in earshot, which is really sweet. She's had a miserable time of it, but she seems very conscious that at this stage I don't care how awful actual pregnancy can be if it means I am in fact pregnant.

Blue, I assume by your low estrogen numbers, you guys measure in pg... not the pmol we use in Aust. I have read that before EC, they like to see the levels of at least 500pmol (137pg) per mature follicle to indicate egg quality is good. You had 4 follicles so no problems there. Of course that is no help when it doesn't work anyway. When do you have a follow up appointment? You sound like an amazingly strong person pushing forward. Was just your first IVF NHS funded?

AnnieHoo, I've never done the down reg thing, so not sure if antral follicle count mid way through down regging is relevant? I assume since your body is not going to go through any more ovulation of menstrual cycle processes, it will not change and these will be the follicles that have the potential to produce an egg? Makes sense, as why else would they bother to count them. Hopefully someone else can answer with more certainty.

You guessed correct Emma. They booked me for another scan Wednesday morn. Assuming I will trigger Wednesday night for EC Friday morning. Still disappointed with the low numbers. I would love to have two transferred but that seems like a miracle now.

Hi guys,i just wanted to let you know that I have organised the medication from a private doctor and I managed to start the treatment on time.
Thank you to all of you who read my message and were really kind to offer help.
Best of luck to all and hope we will all meet here soon talking babies :-)
x

Hi all - thanks for the support. I don't feel particularly strong...just a bit annoyed and frustrated! Anyway no point in dwelling on it. I have a follow up appt with the consultant on 30th September, and hopefully my period will arrive properly at the beginning of Oct so I can get started again. Shellster I had one cycle funded by the NHS and one cycle 'free' due to the research trial. This will be the first one we'll have to pay for....for which we are very grateful.

I know I can make good quality blastocysts which is good news. I just need to see if there's anything the clinic can do to assist with implantation. I'm sure the consultant will have a few ideas.

Purple, when do you usually start taking aspirin? When you're downregging, or before the cycle starts?

The Lister Clinic (rather expensive London clinic) also recommends Co-Enzyme Q10. I'm usually not one for taking various vitamins and potions but I'm wondering if this might be worth a try. Has anyone taken COQ10? Two friends who are doctors think it's a waste of time, but in my humble opinion doctors usually think all vitamins are a waste of time so I'm taking their advice with a pinch of salt!

Thank you ladies.
I managed my first injection on my own this morning! Shellster yes I think your right those will be the follicles. I heard her say 4 + 4 but it was 4 + 5 in my notes. Let's hope I heard wrong.

I'm also on 75mg aspirin per day as advised by my ob/gyn after early miscarriages.

I take royal jelly capsules daily and Pregnacare Conception by choice. This month I'm going to order a tub of fresh royal jelly as a spoonful a day is meant to be good for egg quality but I just read that on a thread and don't actually have any evidence to back that up. It tastes gross, not like honey.

The IVF consultant insists on 2.5 litres of water a day and is v strict on that. No dietary or supplement advice from him though.

Blue sorry I posted too early. The hormonal changes really make you fragile emotionally. It's hard. I'm thinking of you, it's horrible and so unfair. I'm hoping it's third time lucky for you and me.

I took CQ10 for a couple of months but stopped a few weeks ago as it was keeping me awake at night. It's got peppers in it. It's weird! I don't believe it did anything for me.

Hi folks, hope it is okay if I join you in the crappy, crappy club of infertility.

I’m not actually doing a full fresh IVF cycle any time soon, but I have just started taking BC pills to down-reg for a medicated FET cycle with embryo transfer tentatively marked down for the last week of October.

DH and I have been TTC since January 2011, without even a hint of a BFP, so we finally started fertility tests and treatments in January of this year. Alas my eggs aren't good or plentiful, and DH’s sperm is sub-optimal.

I did my first IVF cycle in April/May this year. Long protocol with BC pills and then 10 units of Lupron to down-reg, then for 10 days I decreased Lupron to 5 units and stimmed lightly with 150 units of Bravelle (FSH) and also took 1mg dexamethasone daily for possible implantation issues.

Despite my dire expectations my cycle went pretty well, and my final ultrasound before EC showed 1 follicle at 21mm, 7 follicles at 19mm, 2 follicles at 18mm and 1 follicle at 17mm, plus a few smaller follicles which hadn't really grown.

11 eggs were retrieved.
10 were mature.
6 fertilised (with ICSI) and all made it to day three, so we decided to try for a day 5 transfer.
4 survived to day five, so we had two blasts frozen and two transferred.

I got a BFN

So here I am. Doing the FET thing

And with just the two embryos in the freezer I am completely and utterly terrified that neither of the little buggers will even defrost for the transfer, and I will have spent money and taken drugs and got hopeful again for nothing - and will only have to do the whole fresh cycle thing again in the new year.

I am trying so hard to appreciate that I am very lucky to even have two frosties and a chance at a FET as I know many people don’t even get anything to freeze. But am still driving myself insane.

So - trying to take my mind off the whole FET process - which weirdly actually has me more stressed than the original IVF what supplements did you all take for fresh cycles? Did I get them all? Is there anything I can add to my regime for next time if my FET fails? Last time I took DHEA, L-arginine, Ubiquinol, Melatonin and Myo Inositol. Is there anything you would add to that? (I'm convinced taking supplements until I rattled is the only reason I had such a decent egg harvest!)

Best of luck to everyone who is cycling right now, and and good luck next time to those who have been unlucky recently.

Hah, couple of new posts since I started typing.

I did Long protocol too Annie Hoo and after down-regging with BC pills was told 9+5 for my initial follicle count - and got 11 eggs from that. One of my SIL also used the same clinic as me a couple of years ago, and had just 3+1 at her initial scan. She was heart-broken and nearly convinced her husband that her 40 year old eggs were about done for and they should just adopt, but ended up with a daughter fresh from that cycle, and then a son too from the one frostie she got... the jammy cow

Just hoping I am half that fortunate!

I took Ubiquinol for months before my cycle (and am still taking it now) - which my doctor said was the more body-friendly version of the popular CoQ10. He practically insisted I take it - it was right up there with making sure I was popping enough folic acid.

Aw that's a good news story GoBigOrange ! I'll cling on to that for now. I'm 41 so I was just relieved that all was OK to go ahead. I'm expecting it not to work tbh but it's making me happy that I'm doing all I can for now before giving up next year.

Hmmm maybe I should get back on the CQ10! Here's a photo of the bottle I take and looks like Pregnacare has a lot of the nutrients you mentioned. Is it easy to find Ubiquinol? It may be that it's only the one I'm using has something that was keeping me awake at night.

IVF phone in on radio 4 now...

hi everybody.

My DD was conceived through IVF so just wanted to wish you all well. Here's hoping for lots of big fat positive news.

Thanks for the info Annie and welcome GoBig. Wow, that is a lot of supplements to compute. Annie, 600mg is a pretty massive dosage...maybe that's why they are keeping you up at night? Anyway, I don't like the sound of those very much! I might investigate the ubiquinol as an alternative.

Perhaps what I should really do is talk to my doctor first, like a sensible, obedient patient. Or perhaps I'll just start pill popping and hope for the best

Interesting to hear you were on steroids during your last cycle GoBig. I was wondering if this could be an option for me - my doctor friend advises against it though and pointed me in the direction of this article

Frankly I'm not sure what to do at this point. Aspirin sounds nice and easy and I can definitely do pregnacare!

Not sure what's going on - the last TWO posts I tried to put on here have failed to materialise. Going to check this works before typing any more!