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

Thanks rumple. I'm feeling a little more positive today, everything happens for a reason and all that. It's just hard to build yourself up then be knocked down again. I'll just have to see what the hospital say tomorrow.

My day will be a busy one, being a teacher means I spend most of Sunday marking! Not too bad though as it takes my mind off things.

Hope the stimming is going well and you're not too hormonal!

Hope you've got plenty of treats to make the marking a little sweeter Leopard I rarely have to work on a Sunday but will also prob have to do a little this evening, so have some tasty chocs to look forward to

My swimming is going well, no sign of craziness yet. And injections still way easier than I imagined. How about you, Moo ? And Seb have you started yet?

Hello ladies, gosh it sounds like you're all doing really well. Hurrah.

I've been a bit quiet for a few days as I've been suffering some side effects, boo... belly is swollen, walking is uncomfortable, and generally feel like my body's trying to do a year's work in a week, which I suppose it pretty much is. I've had to take time off work while the clinic decided whether to cancel the cycle or not... they've decided not to so far, which is good, but (sigh) leaves me in the delightful position of having to take unpaid time off work because I can't commute or sit at an office chair. (Can't actually do my trousers up, so am hobbling around the house looking like a loon, but never mind.) So I'm both madly hormonal, in steady discomfort AND really bored... which is a dreadful combo.

On the plus side they are hopeful that when I go for my third check-in tomorrow things might be far enough ahead to book in the extraction, eek. The thought of not having to take paracetomol every 6 hours is getting more and more appealing.

It sounds like everyone's being brilliant about the injections. Though anyone who is still finding them a bit scary, it turns out you can get numbing cream over the counter at Boots, so you barely feel anything at all. Wish I'd found that days ago! ;)

Those who have started the check-ins, how are you doing?

Oh, totally random, but if anyone else is finding the symptoms a bit horrid, I'm finding that lots of water and protein really help. Eat steak = feel better, at least for a bit. Don't know if that's a real thing or if it's just me, but thought I'd pass it on. It's not all suffering ;)

Oh Tail I'm so sorry to hear that you're having such a hard time! It sounds really tough. Being bloated and swolllen is bad enough, but with the hormones AND pain to boot that's just horrible. I hope your work aren't giving you a hard time about the time off, though of course it's really crappy if you're also losing pay. Are you able to give yourself an easy time, just lounge on the sofa and watch your favourite TV or the movies you've been meaning to watch? I hope your OH is taking good care and spoiling you. Exciting that you're nearly there - let us know how you get on at the clinic today. Fingers crossed they see plenty of healthy follicles growing top quality eggs for you.

And thanks for the pointer on the water and protein - I'm trying to get more of both at the moment, as I read somewhere that extra protein is particularly important during fertility treatment, and of course hydration is always important. But it's hard to get the extra protein as I hardly ever eat meat. Might have to indulge in a steak this evening....

Moomoo I think I've caught your cold, hope you've managed to get rid of yours. I hope it doesn't develop into anything worse and I don't get too run down, as probably can't be taking any real medicines at the moment.

I hope everyone else is doing ok today? Nutty hope you're ok with the nasal spray? Seb I think you're starting stimms this week? Leopard good luck with the clinic planning your protocol. Lildottie hope all is well!

Hi girls

We had our first IVF consultation on Friday which went well, ALOT to take in so my head is still swimming a bit with all the information that was given to us but we start at the end of November.

The consultant has told us that they will perform ICSI rather than IVF. I will be put on the pill for two weeks and then start long protocal injections after that, after egg collection they will not transfer the eggs until day 5 (think this is due to my PCOS and my age?!)

Has anyone else had ICSI instead of IVF?

Any other information would help girls as I am still trying to get my head round it all!

xxx

Thanks Rumple - had latest check up this morning and they can see lots of follicles, but only one at right size so far. Probably Fri for extraction, so a few more injections to go, but getting there. OH is being lovely.

Good luck getting rid of your cold, that's the last thing you need!

Anroga, I'm afraid I'm IVF rather than ICSI so can't answer your questions, but really good luck. Thinking of you!

Plenty of follicles, that sounds like a good sign Tail (not that I'm in any way a pro on this!). I hope you're not too uncomfortable for the next few days. Great that your OH is giving you the support you deserve - of course it SHOULD go without saying, given that we tend to bear the heavier load in this game, but I know it's not always the case.

Anroga we're going for ICSI, but are just starting the first attempt, so don't have any experience to share yet. A couple of other women on here are also doing ICSI, so you'll be able to see our stories develop and hopefully see some BFPs in the months ahead! As far as I can tell it's not really hugely different to IVF - it's really just the effort in the lab which is different, and that doesn't really affect me. And Lildottie is due to start around the same time as you. I understand that PCOS can complicate things, but I think as long as the doctors know this they are just careful to prevent overstimulating the ovaries.

So best of luck, and hang around to share your story!

hi all, just back from a long weekend away with my friend. feeling nakered!

angora I start bcp in mid November but I'll be on it for a bit longer than you. I start injections 28th December. also doing icsi here. only difference is they inject a sperm into the egg to fertilise it rather than put them all together in a dish to get on with it for normal ivf. fx and gl to you.

glad to see things are moving forward for people. very exciting!

Thanks Tailfeathers, lots of luck for you x

Hi Rumplestrumpet, good to hear you are having ICSI aswell, I can follow your journey before I start end of Nov! As you say from what I understood on Friday it is more or less the same as IVF except they inject the egg with the sperm.

Yes I feel reassured that they monitor you all the way through due to the PCOS in case of hypostimulation.

I am feeling very positive today about it all, I have to be as we certainly could not afford to pay for treatment again if this does not work. They explained that unless there are any eggs left to be frozen we would have to pay more or less £6k again for a second try!

xxx

Glad you had a nice break lil, and hope you get to catch up on sleep!

Anroga I think we all have to stay positive, though I'm sure the feeling that you have to get it right first time only adds unnecessary stress. Even though we'll get up to three rounds funded, it doesn't make me relaxed about the idea of it not working first time! I'm trying to maintain a healthy balance of positivity on the one hand and realism on the other, to protect against disappointment. Or at least that's what I tell myself - to be honest there's very little realism in there, and I can't help imagine how nice it will be to announce a pregnancy in the new year... to have a summer baby...

But then I feel like I've spent the last few years working out "if I get pregnant THIS month then the baby will be born in...."

I should have learned my lesson by now!

Hi everyone, hope you're all well.

Well, I went to my appointment this afternoon as normal (tried to ring clinic this morning but no answer) and the upshot is I start down regg tonight! I'm on total shock! Thought they would postpone me but nurse said starting on day 3 is fine apparently. I know they're the experts but can't help worrying! I next go back in 2 1/2 weeks for first scan. They've put me on buserelin, is this what you lovely ladies are on/due to be on?

And anroga I too am on ICSI so any questions ask away, not that I'll know all the answers though!

Hope those of you under the weather feel better soon

Hey everyone.

Great news leopard I've never had buserelin. I had normal contraceptive pill day one to six then started on Meronial which I've taken for five days so far and tonight I've started on Orgalutran which I'm not sure how long I'll take for but have a scan on Wednesday so they should let me know then providing things are going to plan. Can't help but start to get nervous now eeek.

Has anyone else had or due to have orgalutran? It's odd. It has an air bubble in the syringe that has to stay. It felt really peculiar a bit like a trump under the skin! I wasn't keen tbh.

Welcome angora we are also having icsi so I'll try to help if you have any questions.

Just a bit of positivity for you all. One of my friends has a 20 week old little boy who is a first round success from IVF/ICSI and he is stunning

I'm feeling much better sorry to hear you caught my cold rumples it's rubbish when you can't take anything significant to relieve it, it took three days to get shut of a headache.

I'm actually surprised how not crazy I've been so far, like someone said earlier in the thread I was a lunatic when taking Clomid so am quite relieved.

tail that's good news about lots of follicles. They'll be big and juicy by Friday the water and protein make sense I was told to up both of those things at our nurse consultation oh and dairy too. I'm really struggling with the protein I'm not keen on protein rich foods I don't eat a lot of meat (not veggie just not keen) the water is driving me nuts too lol. Ah well shouldn't moan haha

Thanks moo. I've not heard about your drugs before, funny how each trust does things different. I've just had first injection & I've now got a lovely red, itchy lump at the injection site. Means to an end though hopefully. That's wonderful news about your friend, little sparkles of positivity make all the difference! I too hope I'm not too crazy on these mega hormones, clomid definitely gave me the rage too!

Morning ladies,

Seems like it's all go at the moment! Hope you're getting plenty of rest and not in too much discomfort Tail. Only a few more days to go!

Great that you've started already Leopard. They wouldn't get you to start unless they were confident the time was right - it's not in their interests to have a bad cycle (hassle for the team plus bad for the stats), so I'd be confident they're doing the right thing starting you now. I was orignally due to start meds on CD 25 of my Sept cycle but as AF turned up 3 weeks late they just skipped the end-cycle meds and I started on CD 3 instead. They seemed pretty relaxed about it.

As we're on a short protocol I'm not down-regging, so don't know about your meds. It seems like I'm on a similar protocol to Moo but our clinics have given us slightly different stimms. After a quick google, I see that our "gonaldotrophins" (real name for stimms apparently) have slightly different active ingredients. Your Meronial is a "Human menopausal gonadotrophin" (hMG) containing LH and FSH, where as I take Puregon, a "Follitropin" or recombinant FSH, which is pure FSH withough the LH. What does that mean in practice? No idea! My Puregon comes in a pen, which is pretty straightforward to use, and (so far) given me no side effects. To the point where I'm wondering if it's working.... Just like you, I have a check up tomorrow, so will hopefully know more then. I've also got the Orgalutran, which I think calms the ovaries down if they get tempted to release the eggs, but they should tell me tomorrow if I need to take it or not. I'm starting to get a bit nervous now too. Never had clomid but so grateful I'm not having more symptoms... though I wouldn't mind some sign that something is working?!

How are you all managing with work? I don't have any flexibility over annual leave, so am just trying to fix it all around work. But I'll obviously have to take one full day for the egg collection - and can't yet work out when it's going to be... I have meetings planned for next week, so I guess I'll have to either call in sick or announce I'm having minor surgery or something.... really don't feel like telling my boss or colleagues (I'm pretty new still and we're not very close). How are you managing it? Especially for teachers, Leopard that can't be easy!

Oh, and thanks so much for the positive story of your friend's IVF success, Moo. Hope you've got some cuddles in too - they are just soooo adorable at that age!

Hi everyone, probably a little late to join the thread but I was so nervous about reading other people's experiences in case they were bad, I completely kept away from google and here.

Anyway, got through it all (short cycle). Had transfer on Sat and in dreaded 2 week wait. I never look at the screen when they do scans and stuff but I did on sat and you could see the Embryo so clearly as a white dot. Wish I hadn't now!
Anyway, nice to read this thread. Hope everyone coping ok. X

Hi everyone. Feeling rotten this afternoon as AF has shown up. So I guess we are now in our last cycle before its out of our hands. I'm just so fed up of waiting now. I want a red itchy injection site! Lol. Looking forward to hearing how your scans go over the coming week.

You can't beat a red itchy injection site dottie! at least you're getting closer.

It's a bit of a nightmare rumple being a teacher but only with the stress. Work have been great and my bosses know the situation, I even got a good luck card from the deputy! I've told them I'll be off for two weeks after transfer (I'm sure my nurses said you get a two week sick note?) and as long as they know I'm trying to minimise time off they're fine, thankfully! I'm actually a biology teacher so know a bit about all the hormones involved but try and not do too much research, all the drugs do a similar thing with the same outcome hopefully.

allchat, welcome and good luck! I hope the tww goes as quick as it can for you and you get the outcome you want and deserve, I will be crossing everything for you.

Hope everybody else is well today

Thanks for coming back to me all of you.

Moomoo and Leopardspots glad to read you are doing ICSI aswell (even though I know there is not alot of difference between the two). I will be on the pill first and then on long protocal injections. How have you got on with the injections and any side effects? I am sure this applies to alot of you girls! The consultant just said I would experience hot flushes....just interested to know as I will be injecting over the Xmas period so want to know what I and my husband are in for!

xxxxx

Angora, sorry only did short protocol so not sure how the injections are different, but mine were fine. I think Google is actually a bit of an enemy in the ivf process, because the majority of posting from people on blogs etc are incredibly detailed and it's human nature to only talk about the bad things. I came a across more negative stuff than positive and I made myself stop going online. Everyone had so much knowledge I found it daunting and worrying. Everyone handles thing differently though I suppose and some prefer knowing everything to cope with everything - I'm the other way inclined.

I had a some queasiness on some days, but nothing I couldn't handle because I knew I wasn't going to actually throw up. i felt a bit tired on some days too, but that could have just been me and the daily trips to the hospital. But all in all, it was ok and I didn't allow myself to think about the hormones chasing around my body. I just kept thinking it was for a good cause and I tried to say to myself, that people who are very ill from things such as cancer have no choice but to take horrendous drugs to try and beat the disease, so an injection to help me have a baby can only be a positive thing…..

Thanks for your message allchat I really appreciate it :)

I think the main difference in short and long protocal is that yours is quicker than mine.

I know just what you mean about reading up on it all, everyone else seems so much more knowledgeable about it all that you do! At our first consultation last Friday I was furiously trying to jot down everything the consultant was saying and kept saying to him this will be explained again at our next appointment won't it????!! Which he re-assured me it would.

Glad to hear you handled the injections ok apart from a bit of queasiness and tiredness. I have thought the same as you that these injections etc are short term unlike some people that have to take drugs. have treatment all the time. You have to try and put it into perspective but it is hard sometimes as all of us know in this group.

You have got the waiting game now then, must be so hard, hopefully you have got lots of things planned to try and keep your mind of it. If you enjoy a boxset I have two recommendations that might help your mind drift away from the result (I know it sounds silly but we watch them and I do find for a while I am lost in it rather than thinking about IVF/ICSI/Babies! -

Breaking bad
Homeland

Wishing you so much luck xxx

Hello all, and welcome allchat. I think you're right about the negativity online, I guess for many people it can be a safe way to offload, so they share the positive thoughts with friends and family in RL and save the negative stuff for the internet. I've also found my injections perfectly fine so far, and not had any symptoms or side effects. My doctor told me that some women do have various discomforts (especially on the down-regging I believe, sorry anroga!) but that many women had no problems at all, and that i should stay positive.

Glad your work are so understanding Leopard, and relaxed about you taking time off. My clinic offered to give me all the sick notes I need, but I have a big deadline coming up and can't really afford to miss 2 weeks. Plus I'd probably go stir crazy sitting around, imagining pregnancy symptoms and wanting to pee on a stick every five minutes, so I think I'll stick to work. I'm not sure about Egg collection and Embryo Transfer days though - is anyone planning to work on those days? Can you share your extensive (ie more than us) knowledge, allchat - were you able to go to work after the ET? And do you think it's possible to go home on the bus afterwards, or is that just crazy talk?!

So I had my first scan since starting stimms and don't quite know what to make of it. I was so excited to see the follicles on the screen, but the technician (or Dr?) saw my excitement and told me there were only 4, which wasn't much I was devastated! I had imagined that I would be growing at least 10 healthy follies in there, though I have no idea where I got that idea from probably reading too much chat on Mumnet So now I'm worried that I'm not going to beat the odds and get lucky first time.

I swore I wouldn't be like this, but it seems I am allowing myself to be pulled all over the place on this rollercoaster. I need to put things in context but the tone in the technician's voice when she told me .... I felt like I was so silly to have hoped for more I'm usually such a sensible, unpathetic person, but something about this infertility journey just shakes you to the core, doesn't it?

moomoo I think you have your scan today too - hope it goes well and they're more encouraging!

Lildottie I hope you're able to curl up with a cuppa and some chocolate until AF goes away. How are you holding up Tail? Bored of daytime TV yet?!

Just my luck Rumple! Will find out more about the down-regging when I go on the 11/11 for our screening and for my drugs/injection tutorial!

Sorry to hear about the technicians reaction at your first scan. You need to try and remain positive and not read too much into the tone of the technicians voice (which I know we all do! I am terrible at it!).

I agree totally with how being on this infertility journey turns you into someone your not sometimes, you just have to ask my poor husband and he has got it all to come yet!

xxx

Hi all,
I'm starting my first stimms injection tonight. I can't wait to get started.

I had hell of a day yesterday....Consultant called to say she's going on holiday and won't be around for my treatment. She wanted me to postpone till next month! I was devastated! I said no that I wanted to continue. She tried to persuade me that I'll be without her expertise. Basically it will be the ivf nurses who do my care, with a cover consultant if things go wrong! But I can't wait! I've waited so long....drugs are all ready! I'm emotionally ready! I'm pissed off she would suggest cancelling the day before I am supposed to start! So I have paid extra for consultant care, her expertise and I won't be getting it. But I trust the nurses, they are experts too I hope. Apparently it's rare for consultants to do the routine care anyway and that they only tend to get involved if there's a problem.
So I hope I've made the right choice....
All I know if that postponing another month would have driven me other the edge.
So I'm doing first injection tonight; full of nerves and excitement.
It's been so nice reading everyone's posts, it makes me feel better to share all this.