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

Oh Tail I know exactly what you mean! I have been sleeping badly, tossing and turning a lot, and incredible bloating too (DH got terrified when he saw me changing the other day, as my tummy had swollen to look like a 5-month pregnancy belly! It was only gas and, er, released itself later ).
Also feeling emotional, confused, scared, hopeful one minute, pessimisitc the next.... I'm only 9days post 5dt and still have ages to go before I can test, I'm so impressed you haven't managed to poas yet!

Breasts are sore too, but I know all of this can be put down to the progestegone supplements, so I'm trying not to let myself believe it could be pregnancy symptoms but secretly indulging in believing it

Has anyone lurking had a bfn and bfp with IVF, and is able to tell us what they found different?

Any news Tail ?! I've got everything crossed for you!

And how's everyone else today?

hi all. I'm still waiting in the wings here. really hoping to see some bfps here soon.

I'm in my final 2ww before starting bcp.now. secretly hoping for a miracle but don't expect I'll get one. app seems to think I ovulated on "right" day to get within clinic dates so fx the witch at least has the courtesy to show up at the right time.

got an exam today and results will come out around the time of my ec! yikes!

Hi guys, just an update from me... Had my transfer of day 5 blast on Sunday just gone. All went well. It was very straightforward.
So I'm in my 2ww. Although it's only 11 days from transfer to testing. As my clinic have said 16 days post egg collection and you'll get very accurate result. So I'll be testing next Wednesday, which doesn't seem too far away.
Stupidly been looking online again and have read that you can test positive from 4-5 days post transfer!! So now I'm debating whether to test early! It's so tempting. But I think, if I can bear it, I'll wait. I want a definate answer, not a 'is it' 'isn't 'it' not sure.
Really hope this thread gets some positives soon! :)

Tail..... Been thinking of you. Keep checking to see if you've been back with news. So hope it's good news!

Oh Seb I've been looking at exactly the same thing!! I saw one website that basically said you can test a week after a 5day blast transfer... DH doesn't buy it though, he wants to wait until he's back from his trip at the weekend. But now I've just read your post, and today I am 15 days post egg collection, 10 days post transfer so I am VERY tempted to do the test now...

Except that I'm also terrified, because I really don't feel in any way pregnant, and I would be so heartbroken to know for sure it hasn't worked. This probably sounds really silly, but this is the closest I've ever been to being pregnant after years of dreaming and trying - knowing there's an actual embryo inside me, imagining it growing into a baby... As much as the torture of not knowing for certain if I'm pregnant is killing me, there is also some comfort in this limbo, a bit like I'm allowed to have a make-believe pregnancy... having to turn down dodgy seafood or smelly cheese, cutting out coffee (I miss it so much!), feeling like I'm doing it for our baby.... And DH putting his hand on my tummy and giving me a little kiss, it's just so beautfiul...
If I take the test, and find out I'm not pregnant after all, I'll come crashing back to reality with a thud.

I probably sound like a lunatic. I'm usually very level headed. Nothing quite prepares you for it, does it?!

Hi all,
Went for my EC today. Not too bad and was home by the afternoon. They managed to only get 5 eggs, which I suppose is good for me. Now just have to wait for the phone call tomorrow.
Did anyone else bleed after EC? I'm paranoid it's my period starting!! It's not too heavy and they told me to expect some bleeding but I didn't think it would be this much!!
Thinking of everyone else x

hiya, 5 is fine! mantra - it only takes one.
I bled a little, but nothing more than a pantyliner. I wouldn't worry. If it's kind of tampon heavy bleeding, maybe call the nurses though.

Thanks allchat I shall wait and see what it's like tomorrow.
And yes, I'm saying the mantra.. It only takes one, it only takes one!!!

Rumble; gosh 10 days post transfer you'd get a pretty accurate result. But I totally understand where your coming from in almost wanting to stay in limbo. Because at least limbo isn't as bad as the pain of a negative test.
Did you get any twinges or pain in lower tummy in the few days post transfer? I'm getting some minor twinges and wondered if that's a good sign or not!?

I totally get what you mean rumples - and tail too on the sort of want to test, sort of don't.... At least when you haven't tested, there's still the possibility Of being pregnant. However I didn't even really get to that stage last time as I had my usual pre AF spotting so I didn't make it very far through the 2ww before crashing down spectacularly into a pile of self pity.

So I'm very hopeful for you both if neither of you have started spotting - my clinic also tests 11 days post 5dt, which seems quite late vs a normal cycle (though actually mine is longer so probably closer for me).

I don't seem to be feeling anything at all this time. I know I'm only 2dp5dt but last time I felt quite bloated and a bit sore - maybe it was just the different drugs. Though stupidly I quite liked feeling like that as it was different from normal IYSWIM.

Seb I didn't bleed much after EC - I wore a panty liner for the day of EC and the next day but didn't really need it that second day. It wasn't heavy - my post operative guidance notes said bleeding is common for a couple of days but I would ring the nurses if it's heavy.

I'm glad I'm not the only one in two minds over testing (or at least you're reassuring me that I haven't totally lost it!). DH and I talked about it last night and decided to wait until the recommended test day (Saturday). I just know that if I get a negative now I would be distraught, but also still have that tiny ray of hope, and only go through it all again at the weekend. Silly, I know, but that's us humans for you!

Nutty great news on the EC. I think 5 is really good - I recall you had low ovarian reserves, right? Well I only got 7 eggs with very high AMH levels, so I think 5 is a really good number. Plus, yes, that mantra really is true. Fingers crossed for plenty of fertilisation.... keep us posted! On the bleeding, I think I just had a tiny bit of spotting, pantyliner for one day and even then only really needed it for a couple of hours after the EC. Advice above to contact nurses if it's heavy seems very sensible to me.

Seb I don't remember any twinges or pain, was looking out for it, but just seemed to have lots of gas! .

Smidge - really hope you keep that spotting at bay, although of course I've heard read on other threads that you can get spotting and still be pregnant. It's such a nightmare isn't it?!

Anyway, loads of work to do so I'd better get on. Waiting for news from Tail and hoping that silence is because she's busy celebrating her BFP... And I think Leopard had her scan yesterday, hope those follies are growing well... And it seems Moo had the sense to stay offline for the 2ww, hope all is well!

Wishing everyone a happy day, and a nice easy recovery from EC for Nutty

Hi all,
rumple yes I have low ovarian reserve which is why I was happy to get 5 eggs. Not long to go to Saturday. I have everything crossed for you.
smidge good luck for your 2ww.

Thanks for the advice regarding the bleeding. It completely disappeared overnight!! Really weird.
The clinic phoned me and all 5 eggs have fertilised! I was so relieved. Now to wait until Friday to see about the transfer.

Well done Nutty, great news that all 5 fertilised. Are you aiming for a day 3 or day 5 transfer? (Apologies if you've already mentioned this, I'm losing track).

all 5 nutty that's great! fx they all keep on keeping on!

Smidge I'm leaving it to the professionals to decide!! I'm so chuffed I have got this far with an AMH (I think this is what it is called) level of 5 last year!! I truly didn't expect to get any eggs, let alone fertilised ones, on my first go. So I am doing whatever my clinic decide. They will phone me on Friday to let me know. I just hope some last until then!!

Thank you lildottie I hope so too!!

Hope your exam went ok?

Woohoo! 5/5 that's fab! Fingers crossed for Friday!

yeah I think I did enough to pass.. just glad it's over. results due out week before ec between all my scans!!

Cheers rumple - three days for you to go!!!

lildottie I guarantee you will want something else to think of, apart from scans!!!

haha nutty but if I find out I've failed I'll go into stress mode on hormones!! poor dh!!

Poor DH for all of this I say. I'm realising that, though they don't have any physical stuff to go through, this whole thing can be pretty tough on them too. I know my DH finds it hard seeing me so upset and all over the place.

I feel the pangs of period pains and fear I might not make it until Saturday to test... I just have to keep in mind the mantra that we ARE going to have a family, we ARE going to be parents, we just don't quite know when.

Plus I have a massive chocolate stash on standby if the witch raises her ugly head, ha ha ha. Sad cliché I know, but needs must!

Oh no rumple. You sure it's period pain? God I hope it isn't. Thinking of you

I'm so sorry for the silence ladies, I was meant to test on Weds but turned out I've been harbouring an EMPTY pack of tests! But I have now tested - and it's a BFP. I don't think I've really taken it on yet, think I may be a bit in shock. Many tears, much freaking out.

Rumple, I really hope your pains aren't what you think. Thinking of you.

congratulations tail the first of many on here I hope. fx for a happy and healthy and uneventful 9months!