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!

Thanks ladies....more excited than nervous at the moment...probably the blind optimism of a first-timer!
My AF was heavier when I was down-regging, too - think it must be the drugs. Fingers crossed that it's the last one for all of us, that Shellster gets one more proper one and then no more for nine months and all for the right reasons!
I seem to have put on weight...I noticed my face looked rounder this morning. Wondering whether to blame the drugs, the litre of full cream milk per day, or am I just eating too much?!

I'm actually in Australia Walter and no mention of embryoscope over here. So this new technology means you can go to lab and view your embryo whenever it suits you??

Purple - so today is egg retrieval day! When I started my March IVF at my new clinic, the nurse asked if I had put on weight from my previous IVF's - so it's definitely a side effect. Not that a litre of milk a day will be helping!! Okay, will sit patiently and wait to hear how things went for you.

Good luck today Purple Hope it's pain free & all goes well.

Sorry Shellster I did go back and read you were in Australia after I asked! How are you doing?

My understanding of Embryoscope is more so that the embryologists get a time lapse photo every ten minutes instead of only checking once a day. It is meant to help show abnormalities so they can pick the best embryos to put back.

Thinking of you Purple, I wonder if youve had it yet... I have heard ivf can cause weight gain, which is fine if it works, not so fine otherwise.

Walter, my baseline scan is on monday, it cant come soon enough! My AF is still really heavy, actually I think its worse, be surprised if I have any lining left! Hope that means I'll be ready to go come monday. Whens yours?

All went well. They managed to collect all five follicles and I wait to hear tomorrow how many have fertilised. Feeling absolutely fine....no more sore than when the follicles were developing. Bit sleepy, but that could be due to the lovely pub lunch by the canal in the sunshine that dh treated me to on the way home!
I didn't realise that they only expect a 60% fertilisation rate....one of those bits of information that didn't sink in!

Glad it went well Purple Fingers crossed for extra good fertilization success!

Carrie my scan is first thing in the morning. AF has near enough gone, but they said they'd scan either way! I have a mock transfer as well due to tilted cervix, that'll be fun! Hey ho.

Good luck today Walter

Just had the call from the clinic to say all five have fertilised. Sooooo relieved. Could be tomorrow, or Monday now for transfer. Off to spend the day with my best friend to celebrate her 40th. Take care everyone x

Ooh fab purple. Have a nice day, its all moving so quickly for you now. We'll have our first pupo lady here soon!
Good luck today walter, hope the mock transfer goes smoothly.

Thanks coconutty.

Fab news Purple, so pleased for you. Will they update you each day on progress? Have a lovely day.

Carrie All good with the scan & mock transfer. Down regged and ready to go. Start Gonal F in the morning and next scan is booked for Wednesday. Time is flying...............

Thanks Coconutty

How are you doing Shellster?

I am doing okay thank you sincerely SO MUCH for your concern Walter. It's been a rough road; 3 rounds of Clomid, 1 HSG, 1 Laparoscopy, abnormal sperm diagnosis, 1st round of IVF - only 2 mature follicles and Dr fogets to take egg from one side! 4 more IVF's inc two cancelled cycles...

I am currently a phlebotomist and considering doing 3 year nursing degree (online, so I can work and study). Not sure I will go ahead with course (lots of money and commitment), but have booked in for entrance exam which I have been busy studying for and found to be a welcome distraction from all this hell.

But definitely still thinking of you all on here. Purple, when will you next get an update? How do they decide if transfer is Friday or Monday? Is it based on embryo quality or clinic schedule?

Had an amazing day yesterday - my best friend's dp had booked lunch for us in a Tudor castle and we had a fabulous time, forgetting all about IVF! Could have done without having a (very minor) prang in the car on the way down...not enough sleep just recently, I fear! but other than that, all good.
Had a lovely call from the clinic today to say that all our eggs have made it this far, four are at the 4-cell stage and one is at the 2-cell stage, so we're going to chance it and leave them to blastocyst stage and hope and pray that we have some left to transfer on Monday. We have to call this afternoon to find out what time they've scheduled the transfer for Monday, but otherwise, we're going to have to manage without any updates until Monday as they don't call over the weekends. My lovely acupuncturist, however, has offered to give me a pre-transfer treatment on Sunday, which is a bit above and beyond, I thought!
Time does do weird things at times like this, doesn't it, Walter - feels like it's zooming past at the moment. Glad the scan and mock transfer went well - what was that like? And how are you feeling on the first day of stims? Hoping you get away without too many side-effects.
Thanks Coconutty :-)
You okay, Shellster? x

I'm glad you're still here with us Shellster. I really don't know how you've managed to stay strong after everything you've been through. I guess you never give up, and although this is my first go, if it doesn't work out, I'll try & remember that I'm not the only one and I can grow & learn from it.

Wow, nursing takes some dedication. It's not something I could do but I have the greatest respect for nurses. I hope it will take your mind off things, even if it's a slight distraction.

Purple great news on the embryos. How exciting. Monday can't come quick enough. Has acupuncture helped? It was something I was considering but I have needles issues!

The mock transfer was ok ish, but she managed it so all must be ok down there. I found out it was because I'd had Lletz to remove some abnormal cells and it leaves scar tissue which then makes it slightly harder to insert the catheter! Anyway, all good. Day one on stims seems to be going ok.

Did you get very bloated with the stims? I've read that our ovaries are usually walnut size but grow to orange size during stims! Ouch!!!

Carrie how are you getting on?

oh, that's weird: when I posted my message this morning, I couldn't see yours, Shellster, but it's just popped up now and it was earlier than mine. Glad to see you're still here...I was worried when you went quiet.

I didn't feel too bad with the stims - apparently drinking lots of water helps with the bloating.

I've had acupuncture on and off for years and I swear by it. The needles are really fine and go in quite shallowly - and you don't see them going in, because you're lying down. It doesn't feel anything like a needle going in in any other situation.

How are you doing with your injections? Is dh still doing them for you?

It's going to feel like a long weekend, isn't it?!

I spoke to the clinic today....my transfer's been scheduled for 7.45 in the morning!

Good luck purple!! 10 minutes!

I've been keeping up with drinking around 3 litres a day, but now I'm actually more thirsty.

I think I'm a bit late for accupuncture this time but maybe try it in the future if need be.

Yes, DP is still doing the injections. I had a go once, I was being awkward, and I wasn't keen. Makes him feel involved.

Do you have far to travel for the transfer? We go to a different place for EC & ET.

Shellster - I'm guessing you're not too bothered about the needle-bit of all this then! New challenges sound exciting...when's your exam?

Walter - I'm in awe of 3 litres a day...I've never managed more than 2 of water. The acupunture could still be helpful in this cycle - it's thought to make the most difference either side of transfer. I guess you just have to weigh up whether that's the right time to add something in something that makes you anxious....maybe better to try for the first time at a point when you're a bit more relaxed!

We go to the same place for the transfer - it's about half an hour away at that time in the morning, so not too bad. I've already been told which consultant is doing my transfer, and it's the one who looked after a friend of mine who now has a gorgeous dc, so I'm hoping it's a good omen!

How are you getting on with your meds, Liquorice? And Carrie - you must be starting stims soon?

Good luck & all the best for tomorrow Purple

Carrie Hope your scan goes well too!

Hi all. Im a bit concerned as today I have aching back and legs which I get normally before I ovulate. Surely the suprecur should have stopped this, nervous how this is going to pan out tomorrow now at my scan.

Good luck tomorrow Purple, bet you cant wait.

Hows stims going walter? Whens your next scan?

Hi shellster. When is your entrance exam? Good luck with that. Its always good to have distractions, stops you going mad. I do a load a volunteering which helps for me, a nursing degree sounds very full on!

Metformin is making my appetite non existent but apart from that all good thanks purple. Is it a check up for you tomorrow?

Carrie what dose is your Buserelin? Mine was 300 iu but they've dropped it to 112.5 now. Stims have, so far, been quite a bit better than down regging. I'm feeling more normal! Next scan is Wednesday, then Friday.

Liquorice hand over some Metaformin, I could seriously do with stitching my mouth up! Are you on track to still start at the end of the month??

Carrie - hope you see this before you go to bed as it may help you get a better night's sleep! I was absolutely convinced I'd ovulated before my second scan, because I had lots of ovulation symptoms. Apparently that's normal and the clinic said it would be "very surprising" to ovulate when on the stims. You'll be fine....look forward to hearing how you get on.

Liquorice - tomorrow's D day - day 5 transfer. Hoping they've made it through the weekend!

Got a bellyful of butterflies tonight...hoping I can find a way to unwind and sleep.

Ah sorry I thought it was yesterday. Sleep tight, exciting day tomorrow! Best of luck!

Yes still on track, I just need to phone on cd1 to book in for my baseline scan.

The only problem with handing over the Metformin is you HAVE to eat three times a day to take them so it's like forcing yourself to eat when you are ill, not nice! And they bloat you so I look bigger than before, hopefully that will die down next week....