Rumples IVF/ICSI thread continued

[lildottie]

Our thread was originally started by Rumples who now has her bfp, as have a few other ladies along the way. Here's hoping the next thread holds a few more bfps!

I am so glad for you that you finally got an appointment date lil.

I too was bad on Monday. I have no idea why we sabotage ourselves. One would think that if the study shows high protein diet ups IVF success to 60% and also reducing carbs ups rate to 80%, if we really want IVF to work, logically we would follow this advice. All I can say is that it is very reassuring to hear that you do the same thing. When I hear you say it, I think 'don't be so hard on yourself lil. You've been through so much. Of course it's okay to enjoy something naughty once in a while. But when I do it to myself, I am so much harsher and so annoyed with myself, feeling like I'm sabotaging my IVF baby dream.

After my naughty Monday, I was perfect Tuesday Wednesday and today (so far!) and I have noticed that it only takes one or two days of being back on track to forget about the bad day and feel good about how healthy you are being. So choose tomorrow to eat healthy for one day, and I really think you will feel better about yourself again.

Must be hard to stay motivated when the future is uncertain. For me, I know that IVF is in 7 weeks time and that the two months before (ie. now!) is the crucial time to be healthy. Hopefully, your appointment will give you a timeline to work towards to give you some new incentive and motivation.

Sorry you did say but I can't recall. Was that your one funded IVF? Do you plan on arranging a 2nd privately funded IVF at your appointment?

Thanks shellster, sounds like you've had a lot of undeserved bad luck. They don't know what's wrong with his sperm. One testicle is blocked but the other isn't even making any decent ones. His testosterone is low and fsh high. All his bloods for cystic fibrosis and other genetic probs were fine. Complete mystery. My scan showed I had 5 follicles on one ovary and 6 on the other. From what I've found on line I think 6-10 is normal?

Frustrating that the sperm issue is a mystery and there's no known way to rectify the issue. Hopefully ICSI is the way!

I am not sure what's a 'normal' follicle count. Don't worry about comparing yourself to others as it only stresses you if they have more. You will have 11 (roughly - varies cycle to cycle) lovely follicles that have the potential to produce your miracle baby in your upcoming IVF cycle and you just have to focus on putting your energy into them.

Do you have any idea when you will be getting started with IVF?

Not sure what the timeline is really. Doc said 'by the summer' so doesn't sound like too long a wait. Just had day 3 bloods, need to have day 21 bloods then consultation. Does everyone need to have their ovarys hyperstimulated with injections cos that sounds a bit scary!?

Hi everyone, I'm a newbie here! You seem like a very knowledgable, friendly bunch so hoping I can learn from you.

I'm 34, DH 38, ttc 22 months, unexplained infertility.

I've just had our 3rd failed round of IUI on NHS, sending IVF referral tomorrow which I've been told I'll be contacted in a few weeks. Our first round will be NHS funded and we've selected our chosen clinic.

I just have a few questions, when I go to the IVF clinic, do they repeat all the bloods and sperm analysis if it's been done recently?

Also, with a private clinic has anyone had experience of having evening appointments for baseline scans etc. instead of morning ones?

hi non, guuted for you that the final iui didn't work. I went straight to ivf so not sure in repeat tests. I'd imagine they won't redi them as you are following on from iui though.

shell how's the diet going? I've well and truly fallen off the wagon. I'm 30 on Thursday and had a birthday party yesterday (afternoon tea) followed by a posh meal out. we now have so much cake its unreal!

Laura its all about the numbers but the aim is to super(?) stimulate, not hyper stimulate. but the needles are a doddle. the first few are odd but that's mainly because you are hesitant. by day 3 I was stabbing myself confidently. I learnt that if touching the needle on my skin hurt a bit too much that was a bad place to stab so I moved to a different patch if skin to inject. measuring the drugs is a bit of a faff but again you get used to and quite good at it quite quickly.

Laua, my IVF cycle starts late May - would be nice if we were going through it together. Having your ovaries hyper/super stimulated might sound a scary term. But it just means that instead of the usual one follicle growing to produce one mature egg as it does in a natural cycle, a few follicles will grow to produce a few mature eggs, and up your chance that one will produce your miracle baby.

Welcome non, I'm in Australia so I'm not familiar with your system to answer your questions either. How frustrating to be 'unexplained' and extra frustrating that your IUI's didn't work. I've know one couple and have seen a few 'unexplained' stories where IVF has given insight into the causes of their problems because the eggs and sperm are outside the body to see what's going on, so hopefully it gives you some insight. And more important - hopefully it works!

I am doing very well on the diet lildottie In the last 14 days, I've had 2 days where I've fallen off the wagon. I weighed myself this morning and have lost 1 1/4 kilograms so the 12 good days have outweighed the 2 bad ones! Enjoy your cake if you can do that guilt free. Once your appointment comes around and you get a new plan in place with set dates, then you can eat healthy with a target date to work towards. I wish I was 30 again. I will turn 38 after this last IVF. If I was to get a BFN, I would be doing a lot worse than cake. But as I am eating perfect and taking all my supplements to have strong healthy eggs and get a BFP, I needn't worry (trying to convince myself to think positive here)!

Thanks for your help lildottie and shellster, will be nice to have an ivf bud :) Hello to nonconformist, sorry I've no idea how people tag names in so I just write them!
PS on the subject of diets I've just had half a tub of Ben and jerrys and it's 11am in the morning. Ooopsie.

laura put *'s before and after what you want to make bold

So what happens for you from here Laura. Are you waiting for an appointment date to arrange your IVF cycle? No idea what Ben and jerrys is? Obviously something yummy. You need something to keep you sane in all this and if you can enjoy it without feeling guilty, then enjoy away.

Because I have 10 failed IVF cycles behind me and this upcoming cycle is the last I can afford, I feel I have to be 99.9% perfect diet wise so I can feel like I have given this last attempt it's best chance and look back with no regrets. I eat one bad thing and just feel so guilty, so it's not worth it (but still doesn't stop me doing it from time to time!)

shell Ben and Jerry's is the worlds most amazing ice cream. especially the cookie dough one! probably good you don't know what it is or diet would be done for. I'm still off the wagon. too much chocolate to be eaten.
today I am 30.

Yep, good thing we don't have that ice cream in Australia. Although there's a few amazing ones here too. Mmm, cookie dough. My mouth is watering at the thought. Lucky I haven't bought any so I can't be tempted.

In ordinary circumstances, we should say happy birthday to you. But I know when my birthday comes around just after my last IVF, turning 38 will feel like the final nail in the coffin rather than a happy birthday. Your appointment isn't far away. Hopefully that will give you renewed faith that good things will happen in the year ahead. In the meantime, enjoy the chocolate.

shell thank you. its so nice that someone gets it! I know 30 isn't that old but in ttc terms it just feels like a reminder that I'm getting less fertile! if it wasn't for the ivf situation I'd be fine about being 30.

Well I fell off the wagon too last night. Crackers and dip, followed by chocolate. Hubby is such a bad influence. He sits on the couch late at night with all this stuff and last night I couldn't resist. He ate half a block of cheese, chocolate and then apple crumble dessert. And this is his regular nightly routine, after a day at work surrounded by junk food outlets that he frequently visits. No wonder he has dud sperm. So frustrating watching him eat this crap as it feels like it's destroying my last IVF. Will be hard not to feel resentment towards him if this doesn't work.

Trying to get my diet back on track today. I decided I'm going to stop recording everything. It felt so restrictive having to weigh my food and add everything in, instead of being able to eat like a normal person. I have a good idea now of how much food I can eat to reach my calorie limit, and of what types of foods to get my carb protein percentages right, so I'm going to just wing it and see if that helps me feel less restricted and wanting to cave.

shell have you told him that? my dh got a rocket up his arse when he wouldn't give up caffeine after his bad sa results and he eventually came around.

I have in the past lil but it only results in tension over here. I get the response 'There's people who eat a lot worse than me and have babies. There's nothing wrong with my sperm. I'm sick of everything being about IVF.' I don't know. Perhaps I could try saying 'This upcoming IVF is my last and could you please try to be reasonably healthy so I can feel we've given it our all and have peace'. That sounds quite reasonable doesn't it. Perhaps I'll try it and report back to you. But I am sure as reasonable as that sounds here, my husband will get his feathers all ruffled and come up with some reply that's going to annoy me.

I don't think that sounds unreasonable shell. perhaps you could point out if there wasn't a problem with his sperm you wouldn't be doing ivf! and that perhaps he'd prefer you use donor sperm instead! sorry, unsupportive husbands fuffle my feathers! lol xx

*ruffle! stupid auto correct!

Thanks for the lovely welcome :)

Sounds like I'm in a similar situation diet wise as a lot of you. Have been on high protein, low carbs and trying to avoid processed foods since Xmas. My BMI is 26 but still trying to be good as I've always struggled with my weight. It's so hard to do all the time so I aim for 80% of the time. We've both been strictly no caffeine and alcohol too since Xmas and aim for 10 fruit and veg a day.

Just wanted to know what supplements you've been recommended in the run up to and over IVF?? We're both on pregnacare pre-conception and Maca, husband is on joint care tabs, I'm also on calcium and vit D. Have read a few articles that royal jelly and co-enzyme 10 help egg quality over 3 months. Is it really worth taking all these extras too??

non shell will be better versed than me on supplements but I can't push vitamin c enough. it sent dhs motility from 3% to 79%! I've read it can be good for egg quality too so I've started taking it since my mc too.

Having day 21 bloods soon to see if I'm even ovulating cos up until now it's all been tests for DH. I know what you mean about hubby looking after his sperm. Mine was so shocked at results and low testosterone that he stopped drinking and grew a beard!

Happy birthday lildottie for yesterday. I'm 31 so know how you feel.

shellster can't believe you don't have Ben and jerrys ice cream in auz. I had choc fudge brownie and finished it off later that day. Sometimes you just need something to make you happy, even if it's a quick fix. Bloody hope this works for you this time x

Yep lil unsupportive husbands ruffle my feathers too - well mine in particular. I'll try and pick the right time to say something and hope he doesn't give me a snarky response that leaves me more frustrated.

So you too have read that study about the high protein low carb nonconformist? The study certainly shows it significantly improves pregnancy rates. Here is the list of what supplements I personally take:
AM:
CoQ10300
DHEA 25mg
Fish Oil
Royal Jelly
Conceive Well

DAY:
Vitamin C
DHEA25mg
Vitamin D

PM:
CoQ10
DHEA25mg
Fish Oil
Melatonin
Aspirin

I only take Aspirin until day 20 prior to an IVF cycle as I am a poor responder and it increases my egg numbers from 2-3 to 6-8. But it also has controversial studies surround it and fertility so I don't recommend it unless you are in my situation with poor ovary blood supply.

Mmm, choc fudge brownie ice cream! Yum. Lucky I'm reading this in the morning when my will power is strong. If it was evening, just reading that would send me to the freezer to look at our ice cream stash. So a day 21 blood test laura. Then when is your consultant appointment date to get your results and get the IVF set up?

Thanks Shellster for that very informative list! You are definitely a wealth of information. Will be hitting the shops next week to stock up for sure.

Lil Will get DH some more Vit C. Luckily his sperm is pretty good. At our last IUI few weeks ago it was 99 million post wash with 80% motility but if we can boost it more I'm well up for it.

Just re-read that I put my age at 34 when I actually turned 35 last month, force of habit I suppose.

I was quite looking forward to a month off ttc since we started and not looking at dates I ovulate etc but DH wants to give it a go just in case. Will see how we go, I just fancied a bit of pressure off. We have finally just told our immediate family about our fertility issues and the IVF referral (as they don't live near us). My mum responded really well and positive and is not asking to many questions, phew!

I have seen a definite improvement in my embryo quality over the course of my IVF's Nonconformist, but I have done so many things - high protein low carb diet, acupuncture, supplements for hubby and me - so I can't attribute it to these supplements in particular. But since I am seeing improvement, I am just continuing on with everything.

While I can imagine it would be nice to have a break from all this crap, it does sound nice that you have a supportive husband who wants to have a family just as much as you and is jumping on board wanting to try to make it happen too.

I personally found that while I told my family about our fertility issues, I no longer tell them exact dates of IVF cycles. It just puts extra pressure on myself to have to report back to them with a result. Just thought I'd share in case it's something you want to consider.