Starting IVF/ICSI this month - anyone want to join the journey?

[Rumplestrumpet]

After over 2.5 years TTC, we're FINALLY about to start our fertility treatment this month (ICSI). My nurse and husband forbade me from chats and forums, but after following MN threads over recent years I think it would be a great help to share the experience with those going through the same thing.

Anyone else want to share the joys/terrors of belly injections, hormonal madness and a series of medical professionals poking around your nether regions?! And, of course, hopefully a BFP at the end of it all

let me know what find out. I use a lot of olive oil to cook. I think it was ok to use a bit here and there but I def need to cut down.

those are v interesting statistics. I'm going to monitor the protein vs carbs this week and see what it looks like.

Great food advice Lildottie and Shell - only problem is I'm now REALLY hungry, and it's a long way til lunchtime! I think the wholegrain is a good plan, and I've tried to cut out white rice and replace it with wholegrain - and only have a small portion. The only problem is that it takes twice as long to cook, so you have to change your usual cooking methods or else the sauce will be ready way before the rice. I think I found that putting myself under too much pressure wasn't helpful, so I focused on having only healthy snacks (fruit, natural yoghurt), no processed foods, and reducing, but not illiminating my carbs. But I can't do without a little fresh white bread toasted with melting butter on top every now and then!

Good luck today to Hen for your EC, hope all goes well. And Leopard I hope you get some progress on your follicles. I don't know anything about the different stims available, but Shelster raises a good point on the different options, maybe worth asking the clinic? You're paying them enough, so they should be happy to explain it all to you!

Wishing everyone else a happy week - including Nutty who I think tests on Wednesday? Best of luck!!!

rumple I've discovered Tilda microwave brown rice, tastes yummy and only takes 2 min and is a good way to have whole grain quickly.

hen fx EC goes well today hopefully you will get a good haul

Thanks rumple but I think it may be over. I woke up this morning with really bad period pains and backache.
I'm testing Thursday but not sure I will get that far.
I'm sat in work, trying not to cry

Oh nutty I really feel for you definitely the last thing you want to feel in the 2ww but try and stay positive it ain't over to the fat lady sings. It's horrible though being at work when you feel like that. Do they know you are doing IVF?

Oh Nutty I'm so so sorry to hear that. But, as I've said before, even cramps you're sure are AF could well be something else, so don't give up hope yet. I'm really hoping that you're wrong.

Thanks whittle - I assume it's pre-cooked, so you're just re-heating it in the microwave? I'll have a look out for it.

Sorry nuty123. It's torture. Those cramps. Wouldn't it be easier if we felt nothing. Hope it's not your period x

rumples yes it is should find it in he rice aisle. They do different flavours as well I swear by it. It's made me so lazy now though never cook normal rice anymore

Thanks everyone for your support. No-one at work knows except for my boss.
I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed!!!

nutty fx its not AF. your not out until you're out

Hi everyone. Thank you for your thoughts, I think it's paid off! I now have numerous follicles on both sides (I lost track as the nurse was reading out the sizes!) ranging from 10-15mm Back again on Wednesday morning. Phew! Hope everyone's well

Sorry nutty just seen you're posts, my page hadn't updated for some reason. So sorry you think it's the end but stay hopeful until the last possible moment

Well done leopard that's excellent news. Hope Wednesday goes ok. Fx

Thanks for the good wishes, no AF yet, but still not feeling hopeful.

Mine's only just updated too. Good news leopard.
Sorry to hear about the pains Nutty. Hopefully they are to do with your embryo making itself at home rather than pre-AF. Fingers crossed for no spotting.

I've just looked at my period tracker app for the cycle after my first IVF round. I'd forgotten, but that cycle I spotted from the day after ovulation until my period (which happened as normal on day 31). Now I am worrying about heading straight into FET because surely spotting from ovulation wouldn't indicate the best cycle to try a non-medicated FET? Not that I'd necessarily have the same thing happen after this round of course, but as ever it's given me something to be anxious about. If I don't go ahead with it now though, I will have to wait until thecend of feb, by which time any benefit from endo scratch is likely to be over. Am supposed to be getting to speak to my doctor tomorrow, so I guess I'd better raise it.

smidge I can't offer you any help im afraid, but if you have any concerns, then I would definitely raise them with your doctor. No point in going ahead, if you are not 100%
However, waiting until feb is also harsh as well

Smidge, let us know how you get on with your appt and what you decide. It does sound logical not to go ahead if your history shows you will bleed after the FET until your period. Then again, the thought of waiting until end of Feb must seem forever away when you want this journey over with now! (Of course, if you cancel, it won't happen again this cycle!)

Leopard, sounds like you now have too many follicles to keep track!!!! Perhaps that's why they were slower growers - there was not just 5-6 receiving the medication so it had to be distributed between 20 or so follicles.

Nutty, I've been through 8 IVF's and know the emotional torture; and that there is nothing I can say to help. But my thoughts are with you.

Thank you shellster

Smidge - could you not do it in January? While I understand that you want to go on as quickly as possible, maybe giving your body a month to recover would be better? But yes, definitely speak to your doctor and see what she has to say.

Nutty - got everything crossed for you that AF doesn't rear her evil head today.... are you tempted to test early? I don't necessarily recommend it (you'll remember my back and forth over this 10 days ago). It's so so hard.

Great news on the follies Leopard - as Shellster says, your body just needed time. Better late than never!

I hope Hen's EC went well. Let us know how you got on.

smidge I can't remember if you always spot between ovulation and period? I have no advice really, except I'd ask the clinic if the spotting has any affect on the lining of the womb, because that is the most important thing isn't it? I'm in the same situation (but I don't spot) and I think we did our fresh cycles around the same time. I'm tempted to do a natural FET for the next cycle coming, meaning I have only had a once cycle break. Clinic thinks I should wait another month, but i don't feel any different really. I feel like the drugs left my system really quickly after bfn and had normal period (just it bloody hurt).

Nutty hope you haven't started bleeding. When is your actual test date. I would thoroughly recommend holding off until then for sanity.

waves to everyone else. x

Hi all just popping my head it having a bit of a down day today just feeling tired and emotional. Still have my scan on Thursday to check how the stimming is going so fingers crossed for lots of follicles.

all chat and smidge are you self funding I can't remember? I know that if this cycle fails I have to wait 3 months before we can try again regardless as we are funded which I know will kill me

whittle. we have to pay unfortunately because we already have DD (6)

Sorry you are down. It's only natural to feel a bit shitty and sorry for yourself. Fingers crossed for scan x

I know I have been so proud of myself for being positive so far but can't manage it today feeling very ratty grrr. Think I need a big cry and get it out of my system lol

whittle I find it helps to employ a bit of mindfulness when I get like that. try and push the negative thoughts out and focus on what you do have and what makes you happy. hope you feel better soon. x

Oh dear. I know. I think I was ok, then at the last scan before EC I was kept waiting for over an hour and I started to feel really sorry for myself. I even had a argument with DH on the night he was giving my hcg shot and he bloody went to bed so i had to give it to myself and he'd done all the injections up until then! I was not happy. I think it all puts stresses on us.

You are nearly there though. Keep plugging and think of something nice you can have for dinner tonight

Thanks guys, I know you are right. You become so single minded and focussed on the process that you forget to be grateful for all the things you do have. I think as I get closer to egg collection the more real it all gets and I realise how much I really want this to work