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

Verney I felt exactly the same after my second scan. I have 5 on each side but had expected more. they seemed surprised I didn't have more but said they were looking for quality more than quantity.

I seem to be on higher dose of stimms than all of you. I hope that's not a bad thing!

sorry verkey my phone keeps auto correcting your name!

Oh Phoenix, I didn't mean to upset you when I asked if your clinic thought your first IVF protocol was no good to be having you do a fresh cycle while you still have frosties. I felt awful when I saw your reply 'that really hit home when you put it like that :(". I am so sorry. I can't imagine how the clinic could go too far wrong even being NHS. It's all the same drugs being used and your embryos were fantastic quality to get 8 blasts from 11 fertilised! That's really incredible results. I produce 4-5 mature eggs and am lucky to get 1 to transfer. I think it's just my method of coping from 9 failed IVF's to try to take the emotion out of it and be practical. So I was just applying that to your case and trying to analyze what your issue is since it is obviously not an embryo quality one, so I assumed the clinic diagnosed your first protocol to be an issue. Have you ever been given any diagnosis as to why it is not happening naturally?

gcerron, that must be very reassuring to get your surge that morning and then a scan that same day to confirm. So Sunday is it! How many frosties do you have again?

And Verkey, I hope you are feeling better by the time you read this. I too have one ovary smaller than the other. And even though you already know this from your lap, I can imagine it was a shock to see first hand that this one does not perform as well as the left. 9 follicles is an amazing response still. You actually don't want many more than that as it causes your estrogen levels to be sky high and this reduces the ability of the embryo to implant which is why some people have better luck with an FET from the same batch. The first IVF can be quite stressful as you discover these things but I hope you are filled with more optimism in just a few days time when you hear about them fertilising and growing in the lab.

verkey I feel your pain when you said you felt for the first time it might not work. I have ups and downs too but on a positive note, on my first cycle I went in expecting to collect 8 and got 15. You never know.

Treatments I would have extra if I could would be the endometrial scratch which I've had before but apparently they shouldn't have let me part pay, injectable progesterone, immunity tests and genetic diagnosis on the embryos. There are so many reasons to ivf not working and feel that the nhs could save themselves money on paying for more cycles if they do tests on people and solve the issue!

shellster don't worry about me, I know you didn't mean any harm it's just difficult isn't it. I have no idea why it's not working and no one seems to want to find out why! I have PCOS which seems to be the reason it wasn't happening naturally but IVF cancels that out so who knows!

This time I am more relaxed, having acupuncture, doing yoga, taking 2 weeks off away from stress, starting on low dose aspirin and taking each day as it comes! I'm generally strong, it's just that some days it hits me x

Hi all,

Just wanted to add a quite note on the quality vs quantity discussion. I remember at my first scan back in October they told me I had 5 follicles in total - I was gutted as I'd envisaged having at least a dozen. In the end they collected 7, 6 of which fertilised and 2 made it to blast. One is currently about 11cm long, head to bum, and is pressing on my bladder. Can't wait to meet him/her in 6 months time. The other is a little frostie in the freezer, hoping to become the little sibling and not get too beaten up.

I know IVF doesn't work first time for everyone and we are incredibly blessed. But it does work, even with few follicles, and you all deserve it just as much as me.

Wishing you all a healthy baby by the end of 2015!

Phoenix, I can totally understand you wanting immunity testing since implantation seems to be your issue and you would like to find out why. I didn't realise these were not performed on the NHS! I am in Australia so not familiar with your system but as you say it's absolutely crazy the NHS will do repeated IVF cycles when these things could solve issues and repeated IVF failures... and even more crazy that you are not even allowed to pay for them. Did you start the Aspirin at the start of this IVF cycle and plan to continue it right through? Just curious to see what you are trying new and how it goes for you to learn from others experience while I patiently wait til March to try again. I truly hope it is the solution for you and will be right here by your cyber side as you go through this IVF.

Rumples, you have had the perfect IVF cycle that other couples dream of- one that worked first time and if your second goes on to become a sibling, then you have your family complete. I am so happy for you. I know IVF does work, but after 9 failed IVF attempts, I am a bit more pessimistic than you! I must still have some hope or I wouldn't be planning number 10 in March. Now it's a waiting game...

shell I have 2 frosties finger cross they will make it the thaw process!! And at the moment I am in bed because I got cold!! fortunately I don't work on Fridays and if the transfer goes ahead on Sunday I will be off on Monday.
The 10th is the winner shell for now relax and treat yourself
Again good luck to all of you who are on board xxxxx

Gate crashing....

Phoenix have you had a scan of pelvic blood flow to the womb? This can be a reason for failed implantation. i had this scan plus immunological testing and treatment for my 4 th cycle. I changed clinics as I wanted to throw everything at it. Was successful twins 4th time. My history:

1st cycle - chemical pg
2nd - poor quality eggs, no embryos to transfer
3rd - bfn
4th- immunological testing etc etc - twins

Good luck all

I know Shell and I hope I didn't sound complacent. I just wanted to reassure those who were worried about not getting enough eggs that it really was all about quality. You've done a lot to increase your quality so I really hope it's your time!

there are now 20eggs in there! 9 look like they'll be big enough at collection. waiting for clinic to phone to tell me if ec will be Mon or Tues. I'm hoping Tues so I can work Monday!

oh and liming now 10.4mm

Thanks Shellster that means a lot . My clinic have told me to start the aspirin as of transfer day although DP has read that I should have started it at the beginning? Weird! It is ridiculous that they just spend without finding a solution then refuse to allow for us to pay!

gcerron fingers crossed for your snow babies.

heels I have researched and research everything I could possibly have to help aid the IVF process but I've never come across the pelvic blood flow scan? I'm intrigued! If there was a problem with the flow wouldn't I have a thin lining? My lining is probably the most positive thing for me every cycle, they always comment on how great it is. Any info you have would be great! Thank you! And congrulations on your twins, that's fantastic.

Well done lildottie, I hope it all goes as planned

So I had my 3rd scan today and my follies are being a bit odd! I have around 10 on each side but they range from 9mm - 15mm. I would have eggs if they booked me in for Tuesday EC but they've decided to have me carry on stimming, another scan on Monday then EC Thursday if all well and good. My lining is 9.9mm but I think I'm estridols are on the low side too. I was hoping for it to be straight forward this time but it's being dragged out a little longer!

phoenix my smallest is 6 and largest 19 and they've delayed my ec by 1 day to Tuesday. I have about 6 sat at 15. no more scans in between. though.my lining was really thin on Monday so they put me on oestrogen tablets which I have to keep taking (3x 2mg pd) until they say otherwise.
they've also told me to buy "build ups" protein shakes and have 2pd as my ovaries are doing too well and can leak protein apparently. don't really understand it but am doing as I'm told. will be interesting to see how things change for you over the weekend. seems strange that there is such a difference between ec days for us when our measurements are quite similar. my liming is 10.1 not 10.4 so close to yours.

Well to be honest lildottie they only gave the option of Tuesday and Thursday, maybe because the consultants are only in on those days? Tuesday is too early so Thursday is the next option. I don't think they have to keep me going but have made the decision the get more I think? Clinics seem to differ so much!

my nurse doesn't measure the follicles under 9mm and calls them 'less thans'. The one thing that concerns me is that I had 5 'less thans' on one side and 12 on the other. 12! I'm worried with the extra 3/4 days of med they'll grow and I'll be hooge and uncomfortable at work. That'll be around 20 mature follicle in one ovary

I'm glad the tablets worked for you! Another difference in opinion with clinics, my doc told me not to have protein shakes but to eat lots of chickens and nuts instead. I wish people would be on the same page!

Ha! I just read my post and it made me look like I'll be chasing chickens around the garden to chow down on them! I meant chicken not chickens

Ha ha phoenix! I am imagining you chasing the chickens with a big knife and fork in each hand.

lildottie and phoenix I am surprised/interested to hear you are both not likely to have EC til as late as you are. I had read on an IVF uk website that once the leading follicle reaches 17-22mm they would administer the trigger, and do collection 36hrs later.

My clinic here in Aus always seems to get me to trigger on the earlier side of that range (pretty sure I've never measured over 20). And to be honest I've always felt we should hang in for another day ... (Not sure why really, but I suppose my thought is that because I tend to have one much bigger than the others I'd rather get the cluster of mid sized ones at the optimal size iyswim).

Anyway for both of you, if they grow the usual 1.5mm ish a day (I think that's the norm) you will both have much larger follies by the time you reach EC.

I really don't understand why our clinics all do things differently! It makes it very hard ever to stop trying doesn't it, when there are so many variables that all the clinics seem to set differently.

Hey ho, the joy of playing the IVF lottery! Anyway, I shall watch your progress with interest and compare with what I'm told to do this round. I started stimming today so I'm not far behind.

Hi girls

Thought I would just check in, think I said transfer went ok last sat but as from we'd I went really down hill and felt awful, went back yo my clinic yesterday and my suspicions were right hyperstimulation.

The only good thing to come out of this is my consultant said he is optimistic that this means I am might be pregnant. Test on Monday if I can survive another two days feeling like this! X

Fingers crossed then anroga! Sorry to hear how rubbish you've been feeling though.

Oh gosh, that's sort of good and bad news in one! Won't it continue to get worse though with pregnancy or does it sort itself out. Bit bad that the nurse fobbed you off early in the week when you phoned. You think they'd be alert and more cautious of the condition.

Well hope today goes quickly for you and that you are getting lots of attention from DH! Breakfast in bed etc. milk it!

Let us know how you get on tomorrow.

Fingers crossed! X

Thanks you two x yes I thought that allchat I knew I wasn't right when I spoke to her, you know your own body don't you.

I don't think it gets worse but it can take longer to go if you are preganant.

Just got to get through it what else can you do horrible feeling though nothing makes you feel better.

Will keep you posted tomorrow it will all be worth it if it's a BFP! X

Thank you phoenix finally today was the day, the ET went ahead all good but just one snow baby survived the thaw process, the doctor said it's a good one so let's see the result in 11 days, fingers crossed .
Good luck tomorrow anroga. And for you as well with the implantation phoenix.

gcerron, the 10th is a winner eh, I'll go by that! Sorry to hear one embryo didn't make it. So do you have a blood test in 11 days or do a home test?

Rumples, yes I agree totally with quality over quantity of eggs. That being said, looks like the lovely ladies on here don't need that reassurance anyway... lildottie and phoenix are producing enough eggs to start a tribe!

Phoenix, if it's any reassurance, I take Aspirin for two cycles prior to the IVF cycles as it doubles my day 2 follicle count from 5-6 to 16-20. I have very light periods so I assume my ovaries get very little blood supply too and this helps dramatically. One cycle I theorised that if it gets extra blood to my ovaries in the lead up to IVF, then it makes sense to continue Aspirin while I stim to get extra of the medication filled blood to my ovaries and get more follicles growing. Worst result ever. I started with 16 follicles but only 3 grew! My Dr thought is was a bizzarely low result. I then confessed to taking Aspirin and it turns out Aspirin interferes with follicle growth! So now I stop the Aspirin on day 20 of the cycle before my IVF cycle so it's out of my system. So I truly think you did the right thing in not taking Aspirin while stimming. Wonder where your DH read otherwise? Very frustrating with all the contradictory info. Speaking of which, what's wrong with protein shakes??

Smidge, I agree totally that it's very hard to stop trying when there as so many different protocols and contradicting theories for the best IVF outcomes. I am living proof as here I am preparing for IVF round 10! I usually drink soy and eat soy foods from time to time but after reading a study showing it reduced fertility in mice and with me already being a poor responder, I have decided to give that up. Just feels like I need to try something new to have hope that I will get a different outcome (ie. a BFP!) this time around.

Today is CD12 and with IVF not happening til mid March, I am filling my time by giving the a la natural method one last hurrah. Drinking heaps of grapefruit juice which isn't good for the low carb diet I am trying to do for IVF, but it is supposed to help produce fertile mucus which I never make any of, so here's hoping. So OPKing today and dragging hubby into the bedroom lots of the next couple of days!

shell evening primrose oil is good for ewcm too. Not sure there is anything wrong with protein shakes. Mine have more sugar in them than protein though!

anroga sorry to hear they didn't cotton onto the ohss straight away. Can they do anything for you or do you just have to ride it out?

phoenix 20 in one ovary would be a bit uncomfortable I think! interesting that my clinic measure what they see and yours ignore some! It really is frustrating that there isnt more uniformity!

Well i've taken trigger shot tonight so no more injections! I have lots of work to get through tomorrow so hopefully the time will pass not too quickly and it will be Tuesday morning before I know it. Have to say I'm suddenly starting to feel a bit more nervous about this week now. I guess it's the feeling that there really isn't anything more I can do and it's completely out of our hands now.

Hi girls

Tested this morning and it's a BFP for me! I am still in shock! I never thought it could happen to me!

Long way to go yet I know though......x