Anyone starting IVF soon? Join me (2)

[purplemeggie]

I see we've filled up the thread and thought I'd better start another one. How's everyone doing?

Oh no feeling dreadful with chest infection and head cold. Please go away before Thursday!! Good for weight loss though . Sorry I just seem to moan all the time!

Poor you, Annie - ds has the chesty thing that's doing the rounds and it's really nasty. I managed to see mine off with pregnancy vitamins and added berocca...(there was no way I was going to avoid catching it, after I had to spend a night sharing a bed with ds because he felt so rotten, and he then spent the whole night clinging to me and coughing in my face!!) - I got the cold bit, but it was relatively mild. Hope you get rid of it in time xxx

I've been doing the 5:2 diet and I've lost 2 lbs this week, making 10 since Christmas. I was inspired by my niece, who has completely transformed herself this year and is looking fantastic and it seems to suit me, too.

10lbs since Christmas is fantastic. Well done Purple.

I really don't want DH to get this, he volunteered to sleep in the spare room last night which is wise. He needs to keep away!

I'm going to stay inside in the warmth until Monday. Next week is so important, I really need to prioritise it.

Just fired off an email to my line manager asking if it's ok to swap days next week. I dropped the bomb that I'm getting a flight back after ivf transfer so I can attend a meeting the next morning. It's stressful! Feel sooo much better that I've told him and someone knows if I'm not "right" in the meeting on Friday and can stand up for me. I'm usually good at keeping it together at work but just incase things don't go to plan it's good to warn the boss!

Good for you - I'm so glad you've told him to take a bit of pressure off - there's enough stress without worrying about what work will think as well. Sounds as if he was supportive? Hope so.

Thinking about you, lovely Annie and sending lots of good vibes for next week and your little frosty x

Shellster - you had an important appointment this week, didn't you? How did it go?

How's everyone else? x

Hi all - I also saw the IVF doc last night....I blubbed! I felt very sorry for the woman who only got one egg. Poor thing. I thought the sperm donors all seemed lovely, very sensible and honest. Does anyone know if this is part of a series? Would be great to see a few more programmes like this on the box.

Purple well done for losing 10lbs, that's amazing! Almost a stone. I've heard the 5:2 diet is very good, especially for people who 'don't do diets'. I'm impressed. Annie, it must be a relief to not have to worry about your boss. Hopefully you'll feel better soon.

Not much going on with me....OPK tells me I'm ovulating so I'm planning to seduce DH this evening. I know the likelihood of us conceiving naturally is slim to none but maybe something miraculous might happen. Drugs are being delivered tomorrow ready to get started with next IVF cycle around the 16th Feb.

Shellster, any news any news? Don't keep us in suspense! :)

Blue if you google "Viking sperm donors" you can't find a Radio 4 programme. I think the documentary developed from that.

Yes - Go for it! You never know.

I mean you "can" find!

Annie, 10.1 lining really is perfect. I know it's your embryo quality that is your main concern but at least this is one less thing to worry about.

I don't quite understand Sunrise why you need to down reg twice to make sure a theatre slot is available for EC. Anyway, you sound like you're going with it. I have read that taking OCP for a month before IVF can be over-suppresive for poor responders but you are just doing a week so it doesn't sound nearly as much.

I am usually jealous of BFP's on this thread but instead today I am quite jealous of your weight loss Purple! I would be shocking at the 5:2 diet as I find when I try to fast, I want food all the more then end up splurging. I did have a perfect BMI but have put on a whopping 5kg. I am an emotional eater and this last IVF really got to me. Anyway, I am now getting back to my healthy eating so the weight should drop again. Had my Dr appt yesterday so needing to focus forward and be positive about next IVF. I can eat so perfect and healthy all day but in the evening is when I seem to cave. Does anyone else find this? Some tips on how to stop that night time junk food monster coming out in me would be very welcomed!

So my IVF Dr appt.

• I had 7 mature follicles but only 3 mature eggs due to trigger injection stuff up (at least that's what I think). Dr response: I have Synarel left over when I used it for down-regging in a previous cycle. Apparently it can also be used as a trigger. So on top of my Pregnyl, I can take 4 sniffs of this stuff to purge my own hormones from my pituitary gland to induce ovulation.
• I am repeating the same protocol as last time as the 3 mature eggs produced 2 good quality embryos. And if I get 7 mature follicles again and the trigger goes better, that will mean more of these lovely embryos (well one can dream!)
• I am repeating the scratch again since I am adamant implantation occurred (but embryo wasn't genetically normal?) and would like the same uterine conditions.
• I asked about taking estrogen during the luteal phase along with the progesterone. Some studies show significantly higher pregnancy success. Dr said she has worked with Monash IVF for most of her career and this is not part of their protocol. If it's something I want to try, she is happy for me to try it. She gave me a script for it in case I want to buy it. I wish she had of given me a definite confident response one way or the other. Now I will be Googling all about it and deciding back and forth right up until EC when I will have to make a final decision!

Hi Shellster, sounds like you're appointment went well. Sticking to the same protocol as last time is a good idea, it seems like that was your best cycle. The estrogen thing is still a bit of a mystery then... I will definitely ask my doctor about it when I see him. In the meantime, let me know if you find any useful info online! I don't think it's widely used over here in the UK, I haven't seen much discussion of it on the forums. In the US it seems more commonplace. Anyway, as you say, you just wish your doctor would give you a definitive answer in these situations!

So when will you start, then? Next month?

Good stuff, Shellster - I'm thinking that all sounds positive, too.

Can you answer me a question about Synarel? I thought my clinic told me to keep it in the fridge, but then I googled and it said not to - there was a bit of a language issue with the person who handed over my drugs in Prague - do you or don't you?!

5:2 hasn't been as much of an effort as I thought it would be. I thought I'd be starving the whole time, but actually, I think it makes you want less food on the "normal" days. On my fast days, I have grapefruit for breakfast, vegetable juice and a hard-boiled egg for lunch and then I've got calories to have a reasonable supper. My niece told me that she motivated herself to keep going by taking a photo each month from the front, the back and the side so that when she felt like falling off the wagon, she could see how much progress she'd made and stick to it. My photos made me realise how much I need to do this! Front and back are okay, as I have quite a small waist, but side pictures show how much my tummy sticks out!!!

Hey everyone, I've been lurking for weeks as I haven't really felt like I've got much to contribute we had an appointment with our consultant mid-month and he told us that it would be pointless to do ovulation induction or any of the other non-IVF options because it wouldn't be any more of a guarantee that we'd get pregnant than if we continued to try on our own, so we're holding off till June in the hopes it miraculously works but I was reading your post, blue, about taking 600mg of COQ10 per day and wondered if the amount was prescribed. I've been taking 100mg per day and haven't noticed nearly the same sort of lovely side effects, but I wonder if that's because the dosage is so low.

Shellster, sounds like a great appointment! Your last cycle was your best or near-best, am I remembering that rightly? If so, sticking to the same protocol, with a boost, seems like the best option!

Annie, I was heartbroken to read how upset you were over the weight issue. I've been lucky insofar as it's not a contributing factor, but I've watched my sister battle against my mum about it for years. My sister's about 3 stone overweight for her height and it's a constant source of conflict between her and our mum. I try not to get in the middle of it, but I know how hurtful 'helpful' comments can be (and how blind my mum is to how her words affect my sister) and I hope you don't let them get you down.

Purple, how's the donor egg coming? Will you get to meet her? Please, please keep the updates coming! And well done for getting the 5:2 to work for you! Like Shellster I am TERRIBLE at fasting. It makes me bitter and stabby.

Sunrise, that seems really weird that you would have to do two down-reg cycles. Why can't you just start a month later and only do the one? If I were you and starting the month early, I'd be tempted to insist they make space for me in their schedule. It doesn't seem fair.

Anyway, hope you're all keeping your chin up! My bestie in Germany has been on the phone twice this week with people springing baby surprises at her -- she's in the same boat as all of us here and it's just so sh!tty. Bleurgh. Fortunately it seems like most of the people I know in the UK have managed to have their two children (in the time we've been trying) and don't seem likely to go for a third. I swear though, if I have to start going through it all again with people celebrating Baby 3, I am running away to an Internetless island in the sun and staying there.

Your sunny island sounds lovely Emma. I'll meet you there! So your hoping for a little miracle before June when you'll then do another IVF if I understand right?

I would love to hear what your Dr says about the estrogen after EC blue when you ask. The fact that some studies show a significantly increased pregnancy rate with women taking the estrogen definitely shows that there must be other reasons why the embryo doesn't implant that just 'genetic issues'. One study on mice showed that a low dose of estrogen post embryo transfer extended the length of time the uterus was at the receptive embryo stage to four days while a high dose shortened it to less than 24 hours. So it seems to be about helping the uterus be at the right phase for implantation when the embryo is ready to implant. The trouble is different studies show different doses to give higher pregnancy rates so which one do I believe. And do we really need it anyway if it's about having the uterus at the right stage for implantation since your embryo is obviously implanting and I am convinced my embryo(s) implanted last cycle too????

Purple, I was given my Synarel in March of 2014 so I can't recall the exact instructions I was given. Although I do know that I have had it on the shelf ever since getting it home and never in the fridge so I assume I have it there because that is what I was told to do. I think a 'fat' photo of me would be more depressing than motivating! I am trying not to use the scales as this also is depressing if I think I've been good and haven't lost weight. I am not obese or anything like that so I am just going to TRY and eat healthy between now and IVF and whatever weight I am from that is what my body is supposed to be.

Speaking of eating healthy, blue, I keep meaning to ask what your general day consists of eating. Your embryos always survive to day 5 and I would like to give my embryos that opportunity too in case there is a genetically viable one amongst them. Before my last IVF I used to do lots of protein bars and shakes based on the IVF high protein diet study, but am now thinking that a more natural diet with fruit and veg with vitamins rather than a protein bar with fake sugars and numbers would be better. If you could give me a run down of your general diet, I would love to know.

Hi Emma lovely to hear from you. And yes, I'm up for the sunny island too - although if the three of us are there together, we're going to end up talking IVF aren't we, and disrupting our serenity!

I have a draft schedule for the DE cycle - not buttoned down on dates yet, because they're waiting to confirm where the donor is in her cycle. I'm on the pill and I will continue to take it continuously until I hear that our donor has got AF, at which point I stop - and hopefully get mine too. Then it's more or less the same as a FET cycle - I take drugs to thicken my lining, we do the transfer and you know the rest!

Blue - I hadn't spotted the dosage for your CQ10 until Emma commented on it, so I've upped mine to 600 in two doses. I've been feeling quite nauseous since then - did you feel that way? Wondering if I should have increased it more slowly?

Annie - how are you feeling? Hope you're feeling much better x

Hello to everyone else x

Purple, Shellster, join me! I was going to say no shop-talk allowed, but perhaps we could just have a dedicated corner for research and weeping.

Shellster, you have it right indeed. Our consultant told us to forgo ovulation kits or temperature taking or tracking CM and to just have sex every two to three days between day 10-20. So far, we are on schedule (if not a little ahead), haha! If we manage to crack this on our own by June I will be delighted, not least because we really want to go away for a couple of months, which will be much easier if we don't have an IVF schedule looming.

Purple, I've gone up to 200mg per day and so far feeling fine. I'd only have enough for two days if I went the full 600! I hadn't realised the donor cycle would be like an FET cycle -- so much better! I've only realised retrospectively how much I really disliked my IVF cycle. It was great for just allowing science to work its magic, but the drugs! Bleugh.

Can I just say how disheartening it is to have moved to an area heavily populated by babies having babies? There are about four of them that I see regularly who have to be under 22, just dripping with toddlers. It almost makes me regret how very responsible I've been in waiting for the right time. If you'd known in your early twenties how difficult it would be ten, fifteen years later, would you have just gone for it?

I have the consolation of knowing that if I'd "just gone for it", it would have been with very much the wrong man, so no regrets on that front! xxx

I didn't answer your other question, Emma - we aren't allowed to meet our donor, which is a bit sad, but that's the law in CZ.

Purple, I started taking CoQ10 in two 300mg doses daily when I first read about it's benefits many IVF's ago. I didn't start it gradually and have had no ill effects. I thought though that the reason for me taking it was to provide the egg cells with energy for when they develop as an embryo which if I am right, means you wouldn't have to worry in your situation if you cut back a little. Let's see what Blue says.

Emma, I work in pathology and regularly have young girls coming in for their pregnancy bloods. I just want to get them out the door as quickly as possible - I am jealous of their youthful fertility. That being said, I feel just as jealous when a lady my age walks in for her blood test too - I am jealous that if they can do it at my age, why can't I!

Hi Emma good to hear from you! I want to fly out to the sunny island too!

I took 600mg CQ10 for fresh cycle every morning. I'm not taking it this month - only because I ran out.

Hey purple my "mindfulness" book arrived today! It's sooo what I need almost like it's been written for me I'm cringing at how much I can identify with but happy and gripped

Thanks Shellster - just a coincidence that I'm feeling rubbish then!

Annie - I'm so pleased you like the book. It really resonated with me, too. I started making a list of things that made me happy and aiming to get ten things on my list each day. Just simple things, like seeing a V of migrating geese on my way to work, and I found that concentrating on the little positives meant that I ended the day feeling it had been good each day, rather than feeling down. xxx

Hi guys... Emma, great to hear from you again! Sorry for the delay with my reply, I'm in Paris for work today. Yep I take 600mg of Coq10 in 2 x 300mg doses, one AM one PM. 600mg seems to be the recommended dose for IVF (that's what my doctor recommended anyway). I haven't noticed any adverse side effects so I'm not sure if the increased dose would cause nausea... maybe just persevere for a few days and see how you get on?

Shellster wish I could tell you that I'm on some magical diet but I basically eat more or less the same thing every day... porridge for brekkie, blueberries, some sort of veg soup for lunch with oatcakes and cottage cheese, couple of oranges then fish, rice and something green (kale, sprouts, broccoli etc) for dinner. I drink loads of water and herbal tea. If I get hungry I have nuts or a biscuit. That's it... rather boring I'm afraid. I probably need to eat more protein, milk, all that stuff. In fact I probably need to eat a bit more in general, the doctor told me to increase my BMI slightly so I'm working on that. I'm not a very good food role model! I think avoiding processed foods is a good idea, those protein shakes are pretty nasty from a chemical POV.

... And I've also downloaded the mindfulness book! Haven't started it yet, looking forward to it.

There you go Purple. Blue didn't notice nausea either. Hopefully it's just a coincidence and has settled down now.

blue, thanks so much for giving me your food run-down. Based on your embryos always making it to day 5, I already assumed that you eat a very healthy diet. And you have confirmed it. Nutritious whole foods and nothing much processed. Really gives me incentive to cut out my night time monster that wants some junk if you don't eat it and get a blast from your few eggs each time. So thank you. I have a protein shake every morning with breakfast but it is a brand which is 100% pea protein. Doesn't taste fantastic so I add half a banana along with organic milk, maca, molasses and flaxseed. All sounds very healthy and I continue my healthiness during the day. But in the evening I just cave junk. Going to TRY and have dinner then nothing til breakky. If Purple can eating next to nothing for two whole days a week, surely I can eat nothing from 7pm til bed.

Hello lovely Annie!

Thigh versus tummy injections.

I keep meaning to ask this question. Previously I have always injected into my tummy but I am sure I have heard of some women on here having the option to inject into their thigh. I even think the ultrasound at my clinic mentioning that either was an option but they usually just say the tummy as it's easier for women to access rather than having to pull pants down. But when I asked Dr Hope if I can do my Pregnyl injection into my thigh (I have flabby stretch marked skin on my tummy thanks to DS) she said that the thigh is an intramuscular injection and untrained patients are only allowed to do subcutaneous injections which is the tummy. I have actually read a study showing that the hCG blood levels 12 hours after a trigger are twice as high after an intramuscular injection so now I am even more keen to inject in my thigh if the thigh is intramuscular. But I don't want to just 'trial it' and stuff up my Pregnyl for a third time so I would need some sound reassurance this is okay.

Has anyone on here done or been told they are allowed to inject into the thigh.

Hey Shellster. Yes - my clinic said either tummy or thigh. I only ever tried the thigh once - it hurt like mad and I never did it again. It sat there in a big hard lump! Didn't have any conversation about it being IM rather than SC....wish my legs were all muscle