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?

Hi girls, I wish all of you good luck in this process!!
I was reading your posts because I am in my 2ww. I got curious about purple comment not to do housing work for at least 6 months after ET? Including cooking? To be honest I haven't doing anything else apart of cooking, but I was thinking also avoid clean the bathroom and toilet due to the cleaning materials and also no hoover, but doing some other bits and pieces and cooking. Will this be ok? Thank you and fingers crossed for all of us!!

Ooh, good luck, gcerron. It's okay, it wasn't serious. Just something that my consultant said at the transfer...but I think you're right to be cautious about cleaning materials. My clinic said to take it easy for a day or two and then to resume normality. I took 5 days off work after each of my transfers, but that was more to step away from any stressful situations and have a complete unwind, than anything else.

I can't laugh at the early testing because I've been guilty of that myself in the past Annie!

CD3 for me here. Counting down to CD20 when I start estrogen tablets and it feels like things are finally kicking off again. Time seems to be going slower now that I have a date to work towards and I am slowly counting down the days!

Where are you at in your cycle Blue. Do you know exactly when you get started? What protocol/meds are you doing this time?

Looking forward to hearing how you get on Purple. I'm not asking too many questions because I don't know a lot about the donor cycle or the emotions of it so I don't want to ask any stupid or annoying questions. But I am wanting the best for you so really interested to hear what's going on.

bless you, Shellster - I really don't mind questions - I'm quite at peace with the donor egg thing - we see it as our best possible hope of having a baby given my age.

I'm just waiting to hear when I should stop taking the pill to sync with our donor. And then it's down-regulating in the next cycle. I'm getting a bit impatient now! x

Interesting points about activity after egg collection/transfer. We are planning to go camping the weekend after egg collection, but if I am stimming for a bit more than they anticipate (possible after previous cycles where it's taken a while to get going) then I might have egg collection the day before we go. I'm guessing that might not be a good idea? I'm not going to have lots of follies.

Personally I wouldn't go camping the day after egg collection. That's just me though!

As long as you're warm, near enough to the clinic and mobile phone reception then there's no physical reason not to.

I wanted to be cosseted away during those days though. Needed time to myself to be private and cope with any shocks that might come my way from the embryologist. If I'd been devastated I wouldn't want to be in a tent.

Hi second in my humble opinion I wouldn't do camping either, our body needs rest and some walking, this is what my doctor advised.
Thank you so much for replying purple I don't know why but the most I am advanced in this process the most nervous I am. I am waiting now for the result of my blood test

Personally I wouldn't worry too much about doing stuff between EC and ET, so long as you feel up to it - we have a tent the size of a castle and it's a bit of an effort putting it up, and I was pretty sore after my last EC, so I'm not sure I'd be up for the physical work - but so far as camping itself is concerned, I think I'd be fine. I have always been far more cautious after ET though. Not completely sure from your post if the camping would be between the two or after ET, if you stimmed for the least amount of time?

Personally I wouldn't worry too much about doing stuff between EC and ET, so long as you feel up to it - we have a tent the size of a castle and it's a bit of an effort putting it up, and I was pretty sore after my last EC, so I'm not sure I'd be up for the physical work - but so far as camping itself is concerned, I think I'd be fine. I have always been far more cautious after ET though. Not completely sure from your post if the camping would be between the two or after ET, if you stimmed for the least amount of time?

Purple, sounds like we might perhaps be on a similar timeline then? My IVF cycle will start around 5th March (depending on my cycle that always varies in length). I totally understand the impatience. I haven't had this long between IVF cycles before - a whole 3 cycles this time! Hoping the break has been good for my body but mentally I just want to get on with things already.

Second, I remember staying up to midnight cleaning the night after EC. My mind was on overdrive waiting to hear how my few eggs were getting on. So mentally, perhaps camping would keep me occupied mentally. On the other hand, if your having even the slightest concern that it might not be a good idea physically to be asking the question, perhaps it's not. If you got some pain because it was physically too much then your embryo didn't implant, would you regret camping thinking that you should have allowed yourself to recover? I tell myself I won't do anything that will leave me wondering 'what if... ' if it doesn't work out.

Hi all - here's my highly uneducated tuppence-worth on the 'activity after EC' thing - I think everyone should just do whatever they feel like doing. If you feel like chilling out, do that. If you feel like going camping, do that too. It makes me sad to read all the conflicting advice on the various forums about bedrest, taking it easy and/or going back to work. It really stresses women out. I've consulted a few doctors and they all say it makes no difference what you do. Personally I wouldn't go camping because the campsite may not have wifi, and how are you going to Google obsessively without wifi?!

Annie, any signs or symptoms thus far? When is your official test date?

I'm on CD21 at the moment and just waiting for AF to arrive so I can get started. Should be any day now as I have quite short cycles. In fact, my monthly 'AF zit' arrived this morning (on my chin, if you were wondering) so I reckon I'll be at the clinic for my scan on Sat or Sun.

Shellster this time I'll be doing a short protocol again but using Menopur only instead of Gonal F/Menopur combo. Planning to use clexane, steroids and all the same stuff as last time. I'm feeling a bit nervous about my scan as last time my AF count was pretty low....hopefully I'll have a few more this time around.

Purple, do you have any idea of when you'll get the call? Will it be this month?

No symptoms or sing here Blue. Official test date is Saturday but need to phone GP and book a blood test for Monday and will do a FRER on Saturday.

Shellster - oh, I do hope so - was lovely cycling with Annie last time and Blue the time before....I do like to have an IVF buddy to trade angst and reassurance with .

I should know my schedule in the next couple of days. AF would normally be due tomorrow, so my cycle is now officially altered.

I'm trying to organise an endo scratch, at the recommendation of the CZ clinic. I thought my old clinic would be prepared to do it as a one-off, but the person I spoke to on the phone was a bit sniffy and needed to go off and check with the manager.

Keep your chin up, Annie. I had no symptoms at all with ds, apart from very mild indigestiony hiccups, so I'm staying hopeful for you xxx

Shellster - oh, I do hope so - was lovely cycling with Annie last time and Blue the time before....I do like to have an IVF buddy to trade angst and reassurance with .

I should know my schedule in the next couple of days. AF would normally be due tomorrow, so my cycle is now officially altered.

I'm trying to organise an endo scratch, at the recommendation of the CZ clinic. I thought my old clinic would be prepared to do it as a one-off, but the person I spoke to on the phone was a bit sniffy and needed to go off and check with the manager.

Keep your chin up, Annie. I had no symptoms at all with ds, apart from very mild indigestiony hiccups, so I'm staying hopeful for you xxx

Sorry - don't know why my posts keep doubling up...

Staying hopeful here too Annie and gcerron. Hope you are both coping ok.

Thanks so much everyone for the input about activity. I could feasibly have had EC and ET before camping, or just EC. I've always had to stim longer than they expect so am getting a bit nervous about the clash with the Easter weekend, and hoping they don't schedule things to suit their opening/theatre times rather than what is the best outcome for me. Will ask about it. I was more worried about feeling sore after EC rather than jeopardising any embryo but it's good to hear everyone's view point.

I start stimming around the 18th March so should be chasing your tails Shellster and purple.

Oooh yes, I'd missed the significance of the blood test gcerron - hope it was good news x

Second, time must be going glacial slow for you too then since I start in the first week of March and that already feels forever away let alone the extra two weeks you have to wait. It can be down heartening on other threads to see women produce 10-15 eggs and have no idea about failed IVF, so it's so nice to have you on here as another 'poor responder' along with me and blue.

blue, when I read your comment about being a bit nervous about your scan, I recalled that nervous feeling I had in the days leading up to my first IVF scan waiting to see how many few follicles there were. I am anxious for you too as I wait to hear.

Any news back from your clinic re the endo scratch purple? I have mine booked for Fri 27th Feb. I had never heard of this until it was mentioned on here. I am so grateful for this thread. If my next IVF works, I will always think it may have been hubby that provided the sperm, but it was you guys for sure that got me pregnant.

Blue, I keep meaning to ask

• Did your Dr get back to you about taking antibiotics during your IVF cycle as per the suggestion from the lab in Greece
• Have you spoken to your Dr about taking estrogen after EC of your IVF cycle. I must do research on this so I can make a decision and stop worrying about it.

I've just received my drugs schedule for the cycle and ET is pencilled in for four weeks today! I choose to believe that it will be a very lucky Friday 13th for us . Down-reg (Synarel this time - never taken it before - any tips/thoughts welcome!) starts on Monday.

Wondering how Annie and Gcerrron are getting along. Sending all good wishes x

What Purple!!!! 4 weeks today! I was thinking that you would be down regging for about a month and then thickening your lining for two weeks while donor stims. So how does your protocol work. You stop the pill, wait for a period, then start the Synarel for two weeks, then take drugs to thicken your lining for two weeks while the donor stims? I took Synarel from day 2 of one IVF cycle along with my FSH meds to help purge my brain of FSH and give my ovaries an extra kick start. I got a whopping headache which the Dr said is a side effect from the Synarel - so perhaps lots of water would help with that?

At least it will be nice that you will be right alongside blue then since she expects her day 2 scan to be this weekend. How did you get on organising the endo scratch?

Hi girls! Fortunately good news purple I got Bfp!! I was scared because I didn't do any test before just for not to stress myself. I'm conscious that I am still in the battle because it's an early stage but it's a relief that one more step was achieved
shell , second and blue I haven't have many follicles, after read and read I concluded that our bodies answer in different way to this kind of treatments, that is why I decided not to stress myself each time I read girls saying that they produced 10,15,18 follicles. My first scan showed just one greater than 6mm and I ended up with 4 around 16mm-18mm I had EC after 3 days of the last scan. They collected 4 eggs and all of them fertilised. I had to stop the ET due to light bleeding when the doctor put the catheter for the ET. So I had to freeze my embryos but just 2 were fine to be frozen. Now I have just one embryon back because the other didn't make the thaw process.

I don't knowmaybe it's just the human natur. Sometimes I think maybe too many follicles don't let your body produce good quality, maybe few with quality is more important, at the end just one or 2 will be used and you will be happy with that!! Unless it doesn't work then you think I wish I could produce more follicles, then the vicious circle begin...
But we can not live like that, I found myself that the best thing is just let our body do what it needs to do but help it with healthy food and if you feel that you would like to try some relaxation, meditation, acupuncture or whatever activity that keeps you relaxed then do it. My job keeps me busy and I did acupuncture as well. I am like all of you still in the battle witha mixed of feelings but with faith.

I wish you all the best fingers crossed and with faith we will have our babies in our arms in the right moment xxxxx.

All the best for you purple everything crossed for this cycle, think that this cycle is the winner!!

You were amazingly lucky gcerron to have just 4 follicles and for all of them to fertilise and for one to go on to produce a BFP. I wish you all the best only good news from here on in.

I have a very different history where I have had 9 attempts at IVF to produce 16 mature eggs and not one of them has produced my baby. And while I do agree with quality over quantity in this game, unfortunately my 16 have obviously not had the quality either. Alas, I must still have an ounce of faith inside me somewhere or I would not be forking out for cycle 10 next month. Here's hoping...

Oh, how lovely to have some good news, Gcerron - wishing you all the very best for a peaceful, happy pregnancy.

Sending you a hug, Shellster and hoping 10 is your magical cycle xxx