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!

I'll be thinking of you and willing that embie to be the one!

I only found out on Thursday so whilst trying to be relaxed about it I know this is only one hurdle. I do think there is some truth in that you are so much healthier during a frozen cycle with no stims that the chances are just as good if not better...

Sadly, that embryo had died when they checked it this morning before my transfer. I guess if it was going to happen, better in the petri dish so I can move on, than it being inside me and dying now, while I have my hopes up for two weeks. Planning on trying again because I don't feel ready to say goodbye to this dream but it is really wiping me out financially.

I read something about fresh IVF cycles all having defective luteal phases - it was very scientific so I can't quote the exact details. So perhaps the embryo has a better chance in a FET with a natural cycle. This time I made 8 mature eggs but due to trigger stuff up, only one was mature. Hopefully next time I will have some frozen myself!

Shellster - don't know what to say, other than I'm here, and I know your pain and I wish it could be different. Sending big hugs from across the world xxx. Interesting about the different instructions for the trigger shot - I wasn't told to do anything different and injected my trigger shot the same way as all my others.

Great news from you, Liquorice - congratulations and good luck xxx

Shellster I'm so sorry. Feel like I write 'I'm so sorry' every week on this forum. You must be terribly disappointed. I'm disappointed for you - I feel like we're all going through this together and I really wanted this to work out for you. Awful news. It's early but do you think you're going to have another go? Whatever you decide, please take some time to look after yourself and feel better.

Licorice congratulations, it's lovely to hear a good news story for a change. I wish you the best of luck with the next few days/weeks/months. Stay positive!

Im sorry Shellster. Very sad to hear your news. x

So very sorry to hear that shellster x

Thanks all. With all my IVF's combined, I have had 6 out of 14 mature eggs fertilise. Not one of those 6 made it to blast. A couple of others on here get 4 or 5 eggs, yet still make it to blast.

One study shows that diet of more than 25% protein and less than 40% carbs increases blast rate from 30% to 50%. Well right now my blast rate is 0% so I have become a member of the 'Calorie King' website, where I can enter my food intake and ensure I meet this protein and carb requirement for better success next time. I've put on 6 kilos with IVF so I am going to lose that too.

So Blue, I guess that answers your question that yes, I plan to have another go. I pay less for subsequent cycles in the same year so I will see this cycle out, have a one or two cycle break, then go again. Seeing my IVF Dr on 1st Oct to plant details for next IVF so I can move forward instead of dwelling on this one.

When are you going again Blue. And Purple, your IVF won't be far away now?

Yup. Just waiting for AF and then go - I'm due tomorrow, but not feeling as if it's happening...the one time you want AF to show up. Short protocol this time.
This will be the last full cycle for us, I think. We always said we'd do two full cycles...

So refresh my memory Purple.
What is the difference between last cycle and this cycle?
Yes, the one time you want AF to show up!
Your turn on the IVF insanity wheel then eh.

Sorry to hear your news Shellster. Thinking of you.

Shellster, I'm so sorry. I really thought it was going to work for you this time. How are you coping?

Licorice, congratulations! What amazing news, you must be delighted!

Purple, good luck for this round!

AF started yesterday and it is NOT very pleasant. Fine during day, but last night was right back to the old pattern of having to get up virtually every hour to change. ARG! I'm so frustrated by all this. I've decided to chart this month to make sure if I am actually ovulating, but ever since the IVF cycle, I've just felt so out of whack. I've been regular in terms of timing, but CM and CP don't seem to change throughout the cycle, which makes me really worried that I've just had two anovulary cycles. Maybe this one will be better.

Has anyone had any experience with this side effect? That is, waiting for the natural cycle to normalise following a failed IVF cycle? How long does it take?

Shellster - we did one fresh cycle, long protocol (full down-reg, 10 weeks from AF to test) in April, got 2 good blastocysts, transferred one fresh and one FET in July BFN both times. This time it's short protocol (is this same as you? start stims soon after AF, have EC around mid-cycle?, hopefully ET 5 days later, test at end of cycle?)

AF arrived today, but I didn't manage to speak to the right person at the clinic today. Expect I shall have a baseline scan tomorrow or Thursday.

Emma - my cycle seems to go back to normal immediately. I was always like clockwork. Cycles were a bit weird following c-section, but after I had surgery last year to fix all the adhesions they left me with it went back to being super regular. IVF hasn't messed that up....yet!

Purple glad to hear you are (almost) ready to get started. I haven't done a short protocol before but it sounds appealing - fewer injections, over faster!

Emma I think irregular periods are pretty common after an IVF cycle. I've been bleeding on and off for the last 2 weeks, not sure what is going on but it seems like 'old' blood (sorry TMI). I think the clinic can give you medication to regulate your period if you need it - hopefully not necessary in your case. Blimming IVF...when you want your period it doesn't come, and when you don't want it, it won't go away!!

Shellster good to hear you have an action plan. Please don't be too tough on yourself, though - sounds like a pretty intense diet. I think you deserve a couple of weeks off at least!

Hmm. Just reading back - is RaLG still something you're wanting to do, Shellster, or should I be quiet. Not a nag, just a reaffirmation x

Thanks Emma. I am coping better than I thought. Expected to get home from cancelled transfer and sob uncontrollably, but I was okay. I guess because the trigger just went wrong, so I still have faith for next IVF. The failure was not because something happened that means IVF will never work for me. So there is hope for next time. Oh, and I remember after one IVF cycle last year, I had a cyst on my ovary at day 2 scan for about 3 cycles in a row afterwards which made my cycles all unusual lengths. So IVF did mess with my cycles too.

Purple. Your cycle certainly is clockwork. 23rd was the date you predicted. Okay, so downreg last time but short protocol this time. Thanks for the refresher. For my IVF, I take estrogen 2mg twice daily from day 20 of the cycle prior to IVF, then start drugs on day 2 of next cycle. And don't worry, certainly don't think you are nagging.

Sounds ironic, but despite the strict diet, I am still trying to RaLG. In total now, I have had 6 embryos fertilize and not one make it to blast. Others on here have less eggs and 2-3 at blast. So doing this diet will help me relax during IVF cycle I know the stats say that then 50% of my embryos will make it to blast based on my diet. I find that IVF is on my mind often anyway, so this way I am doing something to make me feel positive about IVF rather than stress.

Blue, I have never had bleeding for that long after my IVF. But I guess the fact that the embryo/s implanted despite sadly not sticking around makes a difference.

Actually, that makes perfect sense - you fix the things that you can fix, and then it's easier to RaLG. It's a bit like that lovely prayer isn't it: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

I spoke to the clinic today, they told me to come in this afternoon for my baseline scan and I've just done my first injection. Talk about whirlwind! Gonal-F this time, for the first 5 days and then back to Menopur.

I forgot to ask about the anticoagulants...there was talk about heparin last time I saw the consultant, but no mention today, so I'm guessing they must have ruled it out.

Exciting times Purple! I've had Gonal F both times, worked ok for me. Did everything look ok at your baseline?

That's interesting Purple that they switched your meds. Did they give you any reason why?? Just very curious as I start with 15-19 follicles yet only have 3-5 mature eggs. I have since read a study showing that Menopur promotes dominant follicles and wondered if this is the reason. I am planning to ask my Dr if I can start of FSH alone this time instead of the usual Menopur/FSH combination because of this. Or if she thinks LH will help quality - to add it to the mix later once the follicles are growing - just as you are doing now. So I hope this works out for you too!

And even more reassuring that Blue uses Gonal F and has top quality embryos that make it to blast each time - although I wish I could have your age as well Blue as that's probably helping! When will you actually see the specialist Blue to see what ideas he has about what's going on in your situation?

Hi Shellster, I think we're the same age actually... fine vintage 37, right?!

I saw my gastroenterologist this week, I wanted to see if there is anything crohns disease related that causes early miscarriage. He said no... I'm fit and well from a bowel disease point of view and he thinks it's just bad luck. Fair enough! Oh, and he said there is really nothing that can be done about the scar tissue to 'unblock' my tubes.

Anyway I suppose it's good news in a roundabout kind of way. We're seeing the ivf consultant next Tuesday, hopefully I'll be back on the bus next month. I'm the meantime I've started taking aspirin and supplements to see if that helps. Most doctors really do seem to think it's a 'numbers game' in my case, which is both good and frustrating at the same time ...

Oh, somehow I thought you were 31/32 blue. Really do think my eggs are prematurely aged then since I have had 14 mature eggs and 0 make it to blast while you have had less eggs yet 3 blasts transferred... although sadly no help to you when it doesn't end in a sustainable pregnancy.

I see my IVF Dr Wed so we shall both report back then!

Hi all
I'm just back from Day 5 Menopur scan. I had 2 follicles on right ovary and 6 on the left all between 4-6mm. I didn't catch how many there were on the left there could have been more than 6. I'm hoping there were more. My lining is 4mm. Consultant said it's early days and to continue with the 2.25 Menopur and 0.5 Buserelin and taking the scan into account it is "unlikely anything will happen until next friday".

I haven't googled this yet to see what it means. I'm feeling positive though and doing the RaLG method alongside some of you!

Purple - things are moving fast for you, suddenly it's all go!

I just have a logistics question about timing and at what point the sperm (DH) is needed if anyone can help ..possibly not...I'm already ruminating!

We live on a scottish island an hours flight from the clinic. I'm staying in edinburgh for the duration but DH is at home working. The consultant said he can't see anything happening until Friday next week. Should DH be here for Friday or wait and see, maybe he won't be needed until the Monday or not at all so should stay at home. I don't want it to be a last minute panic.

Annie they will probably ask dh to provide his sample while you're having your eggs collected. We had ds with us (!) when I did my fresh cycle back in April because it was the Easter holidays so we had no other option, so dh went in first, leaving ds with me, and then took him away while I went into theatre.

You'll get a fair bit of warning, because you'll take your trigger shot 36 hours ahead of egg collection and once they tell you to do that, your timings are set in stone. Exciting times, huh?

Thanks purple, yes you're right. I am being bad trying to do the second guessing thing again rather than adhering to the RaLG plan! I'm also getting a bit excited about it which I haven't felt before so need to keep a lid on it to avoid disappointment. Fully expect this not to work, even had a panic that it would work and a moment of "omg my life is great right now, what the hell am I doing going through IVF at 41?!". But if it did work I would be so happy. But it won't because it hardly ever seems to happen first time for anyone and looking at the stats the probability is only 12%. Ah well enough of my ruminating for today, better go and set up my "jags" for the morning...