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!

Well in past cycles smidge brown spotting has been a really bad sign for me too. Its the beginning of the end. I've had it once and it was creamy CM tinted brown (sorry) when usually it is very dark. Although I'm very sure its just the beginning of it. I feel really numb and crampy like I'm already on the heaviest part of my period which is really strange.
Tomorrow will be 7dp3dt so still too early to test? I don't think there'd be enough hcg in my system unless i have twins? I'm too scared to take the heartache.

Wow lildottie you lucky bean you! I think we'll be stuck here for a little while until IVF/the wedding is out of the way and DP gets the pay rise he's waiting for! I'm stuck where I am, over qualified until I have a baby

We've said we will go to Greece for our private cycle so I've been researching Serum tonight to give me something to think about incase the worst does happen tomorrow!

Phoenix, I know there's nothing I can say to change whatever happens so all I can say is you are welcome to vent here if the worst happens. You sound like me - I always like to have a plan B ready in case the current plan fails so I have a glimmer of hope for the future instead of focusing on the pain of failure.

My MIL came over for dinner last night... only to go on and on about my husbands brother and his partner who have just had a baby. I don't want to say anything negative because this infertility is my issue and I might regret it once this is over, so I sat there and took it. But very depressing. And then my period shows up today to confirm another month of me trying has failed. Alas, at least now I can count down to day 20 of this cycle when I can start estrogen tablets as part of my IVF protocol in preparation for IVF next cycle. Just still not quite sure how I'm going to fund it yet.

As you say Smidge, I don't think my request for my long service leave to be cahsed out will be approved as my research says it isn't legal - even though a ladies hubby on another thread just had his same request approved by his company for their IVF. I've spoken to the bank about a personal loan and I think I might just go ahead with it and set it up so I can stop worrying about the money side of things. I hate paying interest but if I were to save for 6 months instead, then my eggs would be 6 months older so I'd rather pay and extra bit in interest than try IVF with older eggs.

Sorry for the long vent. Just need to get it out. Blah to all of this crap.

phoenix hopefully things are not over!! did you talk with your clinic? I am keeping praying and praying for all of us. This is not easy but we cannot lose hope.

I hope everyone is ok

It's pretty much over we think. I've been spotting brown all day with a few heavy times when I go to the toilet. DP came home from his night out last night and we cried and shouted and hugged. We've stayed in bed all day today together watching tv, talking about our options and supporting each other. I love him so much!

The sad thing is that it's my mums birthday today and was meant to be going for lunch! We had a big family meal Friday for her though so it's not too bad. She understands.

I think we're thinking about all options now, a cycle abroad, surrogacy and adoption so if anyone has any info or stories I'd love to hear them.

I haven't spoken to the clinic gcerron. Our nurse is on holiday and I can't imagine many people will be there today. The clinic is closing down next month. This is the fourth time that exactly the same has happened and they don't do or say much! We just have to ride it out

shellster I can completely sympathise with the MIL thing. We went to visit DPs brother and his 6 month old son yesterday and had the best time. It was the first time we actually felt like what it would be like to be a family and what happened an hour later? ..... Spotting. The universe must really hate us

Hi Phoenix, I haven't really posted here since I started the thread a while back as I'm not going to be starting my ivf until March / April now but I have been following you all and just wanted to say how sorry I am that you think your current cycle hasn't worked.

The reason for the delay in me starting my treatment (was going to be this month) was that I was concerned about the price of private treatment and then I looked into the option of going abroad to have it done and this is now what we have decided to do so we are waiting until we have more annual leave at the end of March / beginning April.

We have chosen a clinic called reprofit in the Czech Republic which has excellent reviews and better success rates than a lot of places in the UK. We need icsi as well because of low motility on
Dhs side but this comes included as standard in the treatment in Czech. We are thinking of it as a little holiday as well and in total with all the treatment, medication, freezing if necessary, flights and accommodation we are only looking at paying £2500 which is a lot more affordable for us compared to £5-6k in the UK and would mean we could afford to have a few tries if needed. Don't know if it's any use to you but just thought I would mention it incase it helps

Sorry just realised this isn't the thread I was thinking I had started, this is rumples thread so ignore that bit

Sorry Phoenix. I'm so glad your DP is so supportive and considering all options with you though, but what horrible timing for the spotting to start. Sometimes the world really seems to like to rub our faces in it doesn't it . Still, we can't let it get us down for too long. My DP doesn't seem to want to discuss the idea of donor eggs/ surrogacy/ adoption at all. In fact, after being so much more supportive on this round of IVF, a complete star in fact, he spent the whole of Sunday all quiet and distant and when we went to bed made some comment about how crazy it is going through all this surgery, injections, tablets and pessaries. . I hope he was just having a wobble, as I'm not ready to consider life without children yet.

I've been given progesterone tablets to insert this time. Endometrin 100. 3 times a day. Has anyone else used this? I've always used crinone before and I can't understand why I've been given these this time. I've asked the nurses but just get given a standard comment that my doc thinks these are best for my protocol. But I found a study that compares the two and for women over 35 the crinone seems to be better than endometrin. I'll be able to ask my doctor on Wednesday at ET (all going well) but just wondered about any of your experiences?
I'm presuming the tablet dissolves inside me, as about 4 hours after inserting it a bunch of watery stuff pours out!! (TMI!) I found the crinone stayed in me way better and am nervous that I won't be absorbing much progesterone if this keeps happening (which it does - even when lying down!).

I have cyclogest pessaries 400mg twice a day smidge and the casing pours out after about 20mins but I've read its all absorbed by then. and I got a very very very feint line this morning on an ic so I'm hoping for a proper bfp on Wednesday. I would definitely question drs at et. and I'd eben go as far as to ask "will it hurt to have more" and when they say no you can say "well you won't mind giving me another prescription to go and buy then will you!" that was my plan if they'd tried to stop them too early after a bfp but I've found out my clinic keep you on them until 12 weeks.

Thanks lildottie, and congratulations!!! A faint line on an IC you must be thrilled! Good luck for your official test on Wednesday but it sounds as if you have it in the bag!

Yes I will def ask my doc on weds, and in fact mention the watery stuff to the nurses tomorrow when I go for another blood test (one to check my hormones are ok for Egg Transfer). I don't want to find the progesterone isn't being absorbed. Though I must say this watery stuff - though annoying, is far less gross than the crinone clumpy leftovers!

Smidge, I normally use Crinone. But I had some Endometrin from a friend in USA who sent it to me (like you, I want extra in case my clinic stops my supply too early).

I actually used the Endometrin the cycle BEFORE my IVF cycle (a theory that a strong cycle prior to IVF will give me more starting antral follicles for IVF cycle. I usually have a 25-26 day cycle and even with the Crinone it isn't really extended. But the one time I used the Endometrin, my cycle got to 27 days and I thought it must be that the Endometrin progesterone must be getting absorbed so much better to keep my cycle at bay. So at day 27 I decided to stop the Endometrin so I could get on with IVF and finally at day 29 my period came on.

So I was personally more impressed with the Endometrin and would actually prefer to use it if my clinic supplied it. Hope that provides you some reassurance.

And lil, love the way you casually mention you got a BFP this morning. I would be shouting it from the rooftops. You won't have to read on here about my BFP, you'll physically hear it! You must be thrilled!

Thanks for that info Shellster.
Unfortunately though now I think this will actually give me more anxiety over the tww, as I'm so used to getting spotting for about 5 days prior to the test date and then my BFN (even on the crinone). So if the spotting suddenly vanishes because of the endometrin I'm going to be so devastated if I don't then get a BFP! aargh!

oh Phoenix I wish I could give you a hug. If it's any consolation, I too have backup plans upon backup plans for all this, and Greece definitely looks like the place to go. There is someone on the TTC 10+ Months thread who just got back from Serum and is currently 16 weeks pregnant, and I know another person on fertilityfriends who is actually still in Athens and has literally tested +ve this morning. It really seems like a good clinic that will really look into what your issues might be is what you need. You seem to have some lovely embies still in the freezer so it can't be a fertilisation problem! Could you even have your frosties shipped over there so they can try with them, but a better treatment plan?

I also know someone who has 2 little girls conceived in Spain but I don't know what clinic, I'll find out for you, I know the NHS were a bit rubbish with them and they were so pessimistic about the whole thing until they met their doctors and got the BFP first time!

Thanks for your info guys. I think Serum is the one for us. Although I am terrified of being over there for such a long time. DP wants to stay over there for a full month, 2 weeks IVF then the 2ww relaxing. We've done some research and Serum seems amazing although with it being in such a huge city I'm worried. Its different than going on holiday to a touristy place isn't it. Anyway, we can't go until July so its a waiting game!

Af still hasn't arrived. I get 'brown' morning and night, none in between so my thinking is that the pessaries are holding it off! Grrrr.

lildottie have you done another test yet? or waiting for wed?

hi all sorry for the silence. and sorry youre having a tough time phoenix

I was going to hold off until Wednesday but ic was darker this morning so I bought a frer tonight and got a very string line. still feeling nervous until Wednesday comes and goes but it looks like its worked.

really hoping you guys follow with some more bfps in the next few days.

phoenix is your testing day Friday as well? Got fingers crossed for you that it's not Af.

lildottie the lines sound very good news... Not long to go now!
How is everyone else doing?
Are any of you having symptoms or side effects of the drugs? The other day I got a cramps feeling that I normally get with AF so was very worried, I always describe it as if I have metal in side me and a magnet underneath, a really strong pulling feeling. I'm probably not describing it very well at all! Sorry! Anyway, no sign of anything though. I'm also getting so very cold in the evenings, sat in hood and wrapped in a huge blanket and still freezing everywhere, the coldest nose ever, feels like my bones are frozen. I get it later in the evening, so am starting to think it might be progesterone related as I do my crinone between 6 and 8. Anyone else got anything weird?

Oh and I have really struggled to sleep at night!! Shattered in the day, wide awake at night :( grrrrr

verkey progesterone would increase your body temp not lower it. when are you testing.

Verkey - I'm exactly the same as you. AF type cramps, but they don't last long, absolutely exhausted and I feel the temperature more. Not just the cold though, my office is boiling, so I'm usually boiling at work, then freezing at home. I do my progesterone in the mornings though do didn't think it could be that. My only other weird possible symptom is that I wake up pretty dehydrated every morning. I'm drinking lots throughout the day, and have a pint of water before bed which means I wake up in the night to pee, but every morning I've a dey mouth and pee is very dark. I don't know how I can make myself more hydrated when I'm asleep?!

Got my blood test!! I have to wait for the answer now, I didn't have the courage to test at home no way. the doctor will call my DH just in case, I will be in my job and nobody knows. Fingers crossed!! I felt a couple of times AF symptoms in this 2ww it's so scared I know. Fingers crossed for all us this week!!

lildottie my test day is Friday, I've done an IC yesterday and today then I think I'll leave it until Friday. The it's have a very clear red line and are basically negative... But I think I can see a really faint line.... But... I've had to wait for the general pink wet look of the tests to dry a bit... Could that just be an 'evaporation' line (good old Google)? I'm talking 5 minutes for today's and I can see it and I pulled yesterday's negative one out the drawer and I can see the line?

Now I think I want to test the next few days just to be able to see the differences! Hahaha I'm obsessing!

toes of your drinking enough which it sounds like you are, then probably not a lot you can do! I woke up with a dry mouth the last few days... Again maybe the hormones side effects or maybe....?!

toes do you feel the temperature or feel the wrong temperature if that makes sense? I'm not cold when it's cold, I just suddenly get freezing in the evenings, heating on, just cooked, wrapped up but freezing!! My oh thinks it's because my body's busy doing other stuff using the blood flow (he's very positive )

Good luck gc

one of my first symptoms was dry lips and feeling thirsty despite drinking 2l a day. wake up gagging for a drink in the morning.

as for ICS, all mine have only been clear once dry. do a frer! my frer was bloody beautiful! even this mornings ic didn't really have any colour to it.