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

Lildottie - my fresh IVF/ICSI cycle was a short (mild) protocol I didn't down reg I was out in a mild protocol because of the risk of getting OHSS so I'm surprised you've been told you have the same risk but are on a long protocol.

I'm now doing a medicated Frozen cycke but there is no stimming involved as I won't be having EC they are just preparing me for ET but need to put me into menopause in order to control the cycle.

Happy to hand hold as best I can!!

Just a quick update just spoken to the clinic and unbelieveably it's a BFP!!! I cannot believe it just keep saying omg over and over was convinced I was out. Just goes to show it really does only take one as that's all we had. Keep faith ladies, hope everyone is doing ok?

Just checked in to see this great news! So happy for you Whittle. Amazing!! Give yourself the weekend to take it all in - it's so hard to believe when you were so sure it hadn't work. I'm so pleased you were wrong !!

Thanks rumple I still can't believe it and keep thinking I heard her wrong. It's very strange

Congratulations whittle.
Fabulous news

congrats whittle fab news! so that's 6 bfps out of 9 ladies on this thread now. I think there is 6 of us left to go.

Incredible whittle!

Wow, 6 out of 9 ain't bad stats. I am more than happy to be no. 7 please! Once week to go in the 2ww.

Thanks all. shell how you finding it?

Are you going to test early shell?

faroz I don't know why but I thought long protocol was norm and short was used for poor responders but no idea where I got that from. what drugs/doses were you in?

Wow whittle congratulations! You must be thrilled! (I presume it's actually sunk in by now!). What a lovely result.

It's given me food for thought too as I normally get spotting way before test date (and always a bfn) so it's good to hear that brown cm/gel deposits don't necessarily indicate bad news.

I had a chat with the nurses at my FC a couple of days ago as I think my AF is going to come early this month (typical), which might have meant I'd miss out on starting the down reg process. (Currently back in England for Christmas hols, and FC is in Aus). The nurses have said that if AF comes before the 18th then I can start taking the pill, that way I won't need to be back in time for day 23 blood test. Instead I can simply overlap lucrin 3 days with the pill. If AF turns up after 18th Dec then I'll be back in aus in time for my day 23 bloods (to prove I've ovulated) and can start lucrin when they give me the go ahead.

Given hubby dearest isn't here with me, for once it doesn't bother me at all to go on the pill for a few weeks as I won't be thinking 'what if we got a natural BFP this month'!

Lildottie - short/mild cycles are normally for people that would over respond due to having high AMH levels (like I've said mine was 62).

I was on Gonal F 150mg (which is a low dose) and then cetrotide all in a normal cycle so it was over and done within 2 weeks.

I'm finding it okay thanks whittle although I've heard some on here say the last few days drag the longest.

I don't think I'm going to test early nutty. Right now I actually have a glimmer of hope and a home BFN will take that away from me. Today is day 24 of my cycle. My periods are usually short-between 24 to 26 days-so it could arrive any time from tomorrow on. I usually wake up to my period so every morning from tomorrow onwards that I don't will be a relief and then then a long wait til the next morning! Of course, it could just be the progesterone delaying things to cruelly get my hopes up. I am booked for a blood test on day 32/next Monday, but I think I will do a home test on day 29/this Friday as I will feel confident if my period hasn't arrived by then, and I shouldn't get a false negative then.

Smidge, sounds like things will work out well and you are your next IVF isn't going to be delayed regardless of when your period arrives. Did the clinic ever give you any advice/reassurance about your early spotting? That occurs in every cycle from memory, right? Not just the IVF cycles?

Yup, every cycle Shell. My FC Dr didn't seem worried, particularly after having the laparoscopy which came out pretty clear. I guess just a peculiarity to me. My prog levels seemed good enough (and in fact still get the spotting even when on the pessaries).

SO did something really funny this morning, I POAS. I know that seems mad after it's confirmed but actually seeing it for myself made it more real, no just have to keep fx the scan is all good.

Hang in there shell the last days are the worst I found but if it helps your anxiety then test earlier if it will put you mind at rest. I knew I wouldn't fully trust the result so waited.

smidge I feel for being so far from home having to wait esp without DH for support. Hopefully you are with people who can support if needed x

Hope everyone else is doing ok?

Glad that you've mentioned it Smidge and don't sem worried as you know that your prog levels are fine, your lap was (pretty?) clear. Now it's just the count down to start IVF again. I am near the end of the 2ww and actually found the wait you are now doing the worst part. Hopefully Christmas and your holiday will distract you and speed things up for you.

whittle, if I am pregnant, I plan to pee on about 10 of those things - even after getting confirmation from the blood test! I've seen so many with a big empty space where a pink line should be, telling me 'you're not pregnant yet again sucker' so I can't tell you how much I'm going to enjoy buying a bunch of them and watching those lines get darker every day. So I don't think you're funny at all.

Perhaps the last few days were the worst for you whittle but I actually haven't found it that bad. I think because this is my 9th IVF, not my 1st. Your 1st, you are desperately hoping that IVF is finally the answer. But this being my 9th of which 5 were this year and yet this is the 1st time this year I have made it to transfer, I am actually enjoying having a glimmer of hope with just the possibility that I am pregnant.

Day 25 of my cycle here. Plan to get a blood test on day 29 if period has not shown up before. Not long to go...

Hi girls

Got my SIS and Pipelle tomorrow morning. I do not think I am but are you sedated for this (cannot find it anywhere in my paperwork) and does the 'scratch' hurt? Were you all ok to go into work afterwards?

Any information would be greatly received!

Great news Whittle SO pleased for you! Gives us all hope!

Like you update Lildottie 6 ladies with BFPs out of 9 Yay!

Just popping in.
Whittle !!!! whoop whoop. Bet you are walking on air.
shell still crossing everything for you. Hope every morning you wake the witch has stayed away.
I know they are only stats, but it makes me feel really shit knowing I'm in the minority.
BTW. Stopped spotting on thurs in the end and had loads of egg white this morning so i reckon I'm ovulating or just going through the motions. I read it's common to have anovulatory cycle after mc. Great. We only dtd on Sat night though. Will try again tonight, but we haven't had the normal run up we normally have. God I can't believe after all this time, I'm back to trying to time it all! So shit!
x

Sorry to hear you are still havin a tough time allchat thinking of you

allchat, can understand totally. I started an IVF thread for my Dec 13 cycle. 3-4 other girls joined who were IVFing for the 1st time. Meanwhile it was my 4th attempt and I had done the research, was taking all the right supplements and doing the high protein/low carb IVF diet. They knew nothing of this. So I felt like I was in with the best chance and wouldn't have BFP's shoved in my face. Turned out everyone got a BFP but me!!!! Really made me feel like it could never happen for me. But you are right - it is only stats - and 6 out of 9 is unusually high and not representitive of the general IVF stats. And yep, timing everything is crap. Really has taken the love out of our relationship.

Anroga, not sure what SIS is? But I did have the Pipelle. For me, I wouldn't say it hurt at all. Perhaps a mild amount of an uncomfy feeling while the tubing was in my uterus and she sucked in some of my lining... but definitely no pain. The mild uncomfortableness went away as soon as it was removed and absolutely normal afterwards.

Well, today is day 26 of my cycle here. I am actually thinking that I might be pregnant now. Had some period type cramping yesterday and the day before. Was scared it could be my period as cycles are normally short. But my period has still not arrived so now I am guessing it was the embryo burrowing in. Also, my cervix was hanging low yesterday and the day before which is how it normally stays before my period. But I have read that it moves up high when pregnancy occurs and this morning it is up high. But still to scared to test - worried it could be all in my head and I am just going to come crashing down harder.

shell. High and closed cervix is definitely positive. The fact you've actually written that you think you may be pregnant, makes me think you have to be?!!! You'd never write that if you didn't feel positive. I would be f**ing over the moon for you. Trying to stay away from MN a bit but I'll defo keep coming back to check on you. Come on!!! I want this so bad for you. x

whittle sorry hon. I honestly didn't mean to take away from your wonderful news. It's just that 'why me' thing that runs through your head. You know how it is. x

Had a christmas card from a friend that signed off 'and bump' (14 weeks). Bloody heck. Another one. At least it's in a card though and I didn't have to hear it face to face. I know she's been trying and she did have a mc in the summer, so it is lovely news. She only has one tube though1 Bloody heck!

x

allchat don't worry it about it at all it's completely understandable and I would be exactly the same in your position so no need to apologise at all

A couple more days to go shell
You sound so much more positive and I've got everything crossed for you

allchat, that's so very lovely of you to be wishing me well despite your own sagas that you've been through. I too know someone who conceived with one tube and I thought 'bloody heck'. Another couple on hubbys side of family eat crap and both smoke so when they started TTC I thought no way it would happen for them and I am eating perfect yet it's not happening for me. Yet it did! They both don't work and I have found it very difficult to be nice towards them. Here I am working my butt off to save money for my repeated IVF when they couldn't afford it if they were in our shoes. Yet because they can conceive for free and choose not to work, they system says I have to give away money in tax from my wage to raise their child instead of being able to save it for IVF for my own. It felt so unfair. And now they are pregnant with number 2! Grr, I think the resentment towards them is going to stay with me even if this turns out to be a BFP.

Anyway, it's 3am here and I woke up to go to the toilet. Despite the light being bright for my just woken up eyes, I turned it on and squinted at the toilet paper to make sure still no blood! I was going to get a blood test to reassure myself after yesterdays neg home test, but I am now being back in the land of remotely hopeful with no blood today so have changed my mind and I am going to continue in this naive land of hope instead of having a blood test that might take that away from me.

shell I have EVERYTHING crossed for you. it really is your time.

totally get the why us thing. but turn it on its head- why not us? we are able to save and pay for the ivf, we are solid in our relationship to get through this, we are strong determined women. we can do this, whatever the path we are taken.

allchat hope you're OK. do you have any plans for another ivf?