Anyone starting IVF soon? Join me (3)

[purplemeggie]

Ha! I was just about to post the last message in the old thread linking to this, but I'm too late, we've already filled it up! I'll do the same as last time and send PMs to everyone who's been on the thread recently, but everyone's welcome

Hi all - bit of good news from me this morning. My AMH blood results are back and I'm still 8.6! I was 8.6 almost a year ago so I'm pleased that the level hasn't gone down. Sad really...8.6 is a pants AMH but I'm still quite chuffed. In usual paranoid IVF style I've been imagining my egg reserve plummeting as every day passes. Shellster hopefully this will give you some comfort too. Perhaps creeping towards 38 isn't quite as bad as we thought.

....and don't worry about your carb blowout. One day won't make any difference. If it makes you feel any better I was out dancing until 1.00am this morning and had 3 and a half glasses of wine. Yikes. I've decided to pretend it didn't happen. Sitting bleary eyed at my desk now, I'm not used to having fun/staying out/drinking anymore. IVF has a lot to answer for!

Bedouin the progesterone always keeps my AF at bay but I'm usually on quite a high dose. Progesterone is evil and creates AF AND pregnancy-like symptoms, so it's basically impossible to know what's going on until you test. Stay strong!

Purple you sound a bit more positive/cheerful. Good to hear. Regarding immune tests, I had the basic ones but we passed on the NK tests etc. My doctor doesn't believe in those tests BUT he agreed to the prednisolone. I have an auto-immune disease (Crohn's) so it made sense for me. Robert Winston has some useful info on his blog about immune testing if you're interested.

8.6 is amazing blue. You must have lots of follicles on your ovaries this cycle since AMH is just a substance that the follicles secrete and hence more follicles = higher AMH. I wonder if the DHEA is taking effect. I read of a woman in early 40's doing IVF who got 1 egg first cycle but the number kept increasing with subsequent cycles until her final cycle where she got 16 eggs and the dose had to be reduced. I've upped my dose of DHEA this cycle in a last ditch effort for more follicles next cycle. I'm hoping you'll be pleasantly surprised by your next day 2 scan... you deserve some good news... when are you starting again?

My IVF cycle will finish just before I turn 38 so I plan on getting a BFP so that I don't have to worry about being another year older! Hope you enjoyed your wild night. I was just reading about blood thinning alternatives for when I stop Aspirin during the IVF cycle but still want to get more blood flow (and hence more FSH drugs) to my ovaries with poor blood supply... wine was in the list of natural blood thinners! Mmm, sounds tempting to be wiped for the whole of my IVF cycle...

That's great news on your AMH blue! Hope you get lots of follicles. Shell, I am going to be on clexane injections as well as aspirin this time for blood thinning, maybe that's something you could try.

Hi everyone (Wave to Shell)

Please can I join this thread? I'm starting my first IVF soon, begin down regulation meds on 22nd June, endo scratch following day, EC and ET mid July-ish. Feels very surreal at the moment.

It would be nice to go through it with others who are having treatment at similar time as do not know anybody in real life who's had IVF.

I'm 35, DH 38, ttc 2 years unexplained subfertility. 3 x failed IUIs, AMH 9.4, antral follicle count 9.

Started drinking even more loads of water today and upping protein as I need to get as many good follicles as possible as I know I have a lower amount for my age. Quick question to those in the know, how much water do you aim to drink during your cycle? I've tried for 3 litres today and hope it's not more as I don't think my bladder will cope?

Hi Nonconformist - yes, of course you can join us!
I used to aim for 2 litres of water and 1 of milk during the stims stage - 2 litres of water before that. But 3 is probably about right if it's as hot where you are as it was here today.

Congratulations, Blue - that is impressive. I think Shellster's probably right about the DHEA - I was advised (before getting embroiled in all this IVF malarky) that it could boost AMH levels.

So, I got my blood results and it was as expected . I've emailed the clinic to ask their advice about doing another cycle and whether we should have more immunology done first. I'm also going to ask about blood thinners, because my gp had me on aspirin (and I was taking it the last time I conceived) - and the UK clinic had me on aspirin AND heparin, so I'm thinking that might be good to throw back into the mix.

Blue 8.6 is certainly something to cheer about and I hope you have lots of follicles and good quality eggs. Dancing until 1am has probably done you the world of good, don't you know it constitutes exercise. A touch of wine, is good for relaxing too!

Bedouin the side effects of progesterone are plain lousy aren't they, not the type of hormone to make a woman feel fabulous and sexy. My only experience has been with cylogest and my af arrived early, 5 days post transfer, possibly due to low progesterone levels. I did find that the symptoms are very close to those of pregnancy too.

Karou I'm using the ESB too. I have 3 ampules left. I ordered in bulk as the first clinic I was with told me that they would use 2 ampules per cycle, unnecessary expensive nonsense as I have since discovered. Let's hope we both get a positive and go one to have a ''Viking'' baby.

Shellster just wondering how your scratch went today? I too am taking DHEA 75mg per day. I started about 2 weeks before my first cycle. To answer your q, 8 eggs were retrieved from 10 follicles, but some were small. Only 4 fertilised and made it to day 5. 2 Blastocysts were transferred. The bit I don't understand is why the clinic waited until day 6 to see if the remaining 2 were suitable for freezing...both perished on day 6, so none for FET.

Welcome on board Nonconformist sorry to hear about the 3 failed IUIs, but good luck for the IVF, lots of support here to go around.

Purple my words undoubtedly can't comfort, but I think it helps a little if we were expecting a neg result, cushions the blow, although we often cling onto hope. Just personal experience speaking. Hope you get some answers and support from your clinic.

Not much happening at my side...except for daily sniffs and nightly injections of merional. Lots of prep for my DC birthday in a few days and whilst I am incredibly happy, it's also laced with real sadness as I very much want to provide a sibling (or two), which I thought would have been achievable by now. Strange to say, but the 'birthday' is also a painful reminder of my DC's birth and his babyhood, which were beautiful, but I'm beginning to doubt I'll experience those magical things again with another child. Anyhow, time to cheer up. Injection to do and follicles to grown.

I hope the Clexane and Aspirin do their job for you lucie. I take Aspirin in the lead up to my IVF and it usually works. I had 16 instead of the usual 5-6 and I figured if it works in the lead up, it'll work during the stim phase too. But only 3 of 16 responded which the Dr thought was unusally low so she cancelled my cycle. I then read that Aspirin inhibits follicle growth. So that's the reason I only take it in the lead up and am looking for alternatives during the actual IVF cycle.

Welcome non!. I don't know the official ruling on water but I too aim for 3 litres a day.

Darkchoc, my scratch was absolutely fine - no pain at all. Although from what others describe on here, I am thinking my procedure is a bit different to the one done in UK so perhaps check with locals on here if you're planning on having it done. I know exactly what you mean about DC's birthday. Mine just turned 4 and I felt exactly the same way. It took a while to get him so we started TTC no 2 soon after he was born and b/fing went pear shaped. So it's a reminder of another year passed and still he's alone.

While I know you already knew in your gut that it was negatie purple, I am sure that hearing the words of the result must have still felt like the final dagger in the heart. Makes sense about the blood thinning if you took it when you conceived before... will your email reply be in proper English or does that too present a language barrier?

Oh and Darkchoc, not sure if that was actually a q to me about whey they waited until day 6 before freezing? I don't actually know the answer. Did you get any answers from your clinic?

Morning ladies, been back at work for 2 days so I've been busy at least during the 2ww. Definitely tried to be zen like but that has been challenged on several occasions...

Boobs have been really tender but I know that could just be those vile pessaries. Yuck. Not really any other symptoms apart from my mind playing tricks on me making me think I 'just feel pregnant'.

Less than a week to go Blue & Bedouin. Fully preparing myself for a BFP in the hope I'll be pleasantly surprised!

choc my clinic also waited until day 6 to freeze. They transfer the best embryos on day 5 so I guess they wait an additional day to see if any of the others improve enough to freeze. I guess it's one less day of the 2ww on the other end?!

Purple I was also on Clexane and aspirin. Clexane is cheap and easy so hopefully they'll agree to add it to the mix on your next go. Do you know if your last donor had produced 'successful' eggs in the past, ie, been pregnant or donated eggs to someone else that worked? Is this something you can request next time?

I guess the DHEA might be starting to work in my case. Interesting what you say about 'serum' Shellster as my level was 8.6 around a year ago back when my AFC was smaller. Who knows? Let's just hope my lazy ovaries wake up around the 28 June.

Welcome Non and hello everyone else. Stay positive ranch!

ranch, surprised you and everyone else seems to hate 'those vile pessaries'. I think it's because I am a poor responder and am just grateful if I even make it to the embryo transfer stage of IVF to be inserting them in the first place.

Not quite sure what I said about the 'serum' blue?? I guess our day 2 scan is the real important factor. So 28th June hey... that is less than 2 weeks after I start. I am nervous about my day 2 scan and just want it over with - so of course it is taking forever.

Thanks ladies, I meant to say BFN but BFP came out - oh, another sign!!

I'm with you though Shellster. After transfer I kept being amazed that for 1st time in 40 years I knew I could actually BE pregnant at that very minute. I am constantly amazed but wary that we don't always get the dream we think everyone else has.

Hi nonconformist, welcome to the thread. My clinic always told me 2-3 litres per day of water, so that's what I've been aiming for, 2l minimum excluding anything extra like milkshakes or fruit tea. I'm camping tonight and will spend most of tomorrow outdoors at an event, so am taking two 1.5l bottles for tomorrow with the aim to finish one and make a good start on the other. I struggle as I don't particularly enjoy water, but the motivation keeps me going.

Darkchoc I was never told (and never asked) how much sperm to get, and to be frank the whole thing was just so surreal. I only got one, and that seems to have been enough for this cycle, but I don't think I ever really understood the risks of only getting one (if, indeed, there were risks!)

Glad your scratch was painless, Shell. I didn't go for it in mine. I think I said no to all the extra bits in the somewhat pessimistic thinking that the first cycle would be a test run, and then if there's a next time I'll start adding the bells and whistles.

Ranch - are you planning on testing early? I have a two pack of FRER, as well as some internet cheapies but don't know whether to use them. My rational brain says not to, but I'm not sure I'll stay rational all week!

I'm not seeing any real symptoms from the progesterone pessaries except just feeling tired. I got through yesterday keeping busy and not having an afternoon nap, and then found getting up this morning incredibly difficult. Otherwise nothing. No AF symptoms and nothing that could be pregnancy related. I know it'd all be down to the drugs anyway, so it's sort of a relief to have nothing messing with my mind. The only thing I don't like about the pessaries is the mess. As Bedouin said, I could try the back door - I was told to do that before the transfer, but I have a sensitive tummy, (IBS-like, but so minor as to not really be a real issue.) so it's a toss up as to what's worse - front or back. I think I'll start using the front door at night and the back in the morning.

As I said to the transfer consultant - I've pretty much lost my modesty throughout this process. More people have seen my fanjo, or discussed putting things inside me that I'm just not really phased by it anymore! I have no TMI filter.

Ranch - I passed a car the other day, parked in the village doctor's surgery, where the three letters on the numberplate were 'BFP'. I don't believe in 'sign's, but it did make me smile.

Right, I'm off to camp in a field in Uxbridge for a night, before a busy Sunday and then back to work next week after a fortnight off. Will have no time to worry about Friday's test what with the mountain of e-mails I'm sure to return to! Be back with y'all on Monday.

Hi Blue, no I'm staying away from POAS. I just see that process as a negative thing. I only associate negativity with them so I'm sticking with the blood tests in the hope I'll break the cycle.

Enjoy the camping!

Glad your AMH was a good level blue and glad your scratch went well shellster

Hope everyone else is doing ok. I haven't been on here much recently as have been feeling so unwell. My stomach pains have been intense and I had to see a gastroenterologist who is not sure I do have an ulcer and is going to organise a scan and endoscopy as despite omeprazole and ranitidine I've been in agony when I eat.
Really hoping to get it sorted soon as am waiting for AF to arrive in order to start my FET and I'm desperate to get going!

Choc - yes, I can relate to the bittersweetness of watching your child grow up - and wanting to be in the moment for them, but also not wanting time to pass because the gap is widening and their babyhood is further and further away. And yes, you completely understand the way I feel about needing to accept the bfn little by little.

Shellster - written English is usually okay - not least, because I communicate with the nurse or the treatment coordinator, both of whom speak excellent English. It's just the doctor (who is a bit older and therefore educated during the Czech/Soviet era, when English wasn't really taught) who struggles a bit with English. I'll ask the questions on email, the coordinator/nurse will talk to the doctor in Czech, and then they'll relay his recommendations to me in English. I hope!

Blue - thanks - not come across Clexane before. I'll ask about it. No, I won't get to find out if the donor has had successful donations/pregnancies before - under Czech law there is very little information accessible. The clinic does say that it tries to recruit donors who have had children and that many of its donors donate eggs while they are on maternity leave - I'm guessing it supplements their income.

Karou - I always found it helped me to test a day or so before OTD. In my case, it was always negative, and it helped to prepare myself for acceptance little by little - in a sort of "oh, it's negative but maybe its too early" sort of way. And if it was going to be positive, then of course I wanted to know as soon as possible! You seem to be doing very well and staying calm during your 2ww. And I'm also an advocate of back door progesterone! Much less messy!

You seem to be doing zen very well too, Ranch. Not long to go now - keeping everything crossed for you.

Sorry to hear you're still feeling so rotten, Waiting.

Thanks shell, I was only going to take the aspirin after transfer to get more blood flowing to the uterus although I will already be on Clexane for that so not sure how necessary it is.

Keeping my fingers crossed for your 2ww peeps...

Purple and I'm sending you some positive thoughts.

Waiting you have really gone through the mill. Stress can have a massive impact on your gut, and I'm sorry to hear you are in so much pain.

Karou I was determined not to test before my OTD, but like Purple, I wanted to be able to prepare myself - especially as DH was going to be away and I would have been on my own and needing to hold it together for work. I got my BFP but even then was glad of a couple of days to sort my head out before the end of the weekend. Everyone's different I suppose.

All is going well in the kittenry, just exhausted and rather nauseous and still in disbelief at my amazing luck.

It's hard not to get excited ranch when as you say, this cycle feels like the first real chance that you could be pregnant. . In my experience, it's upsetting to get a BFN no matter how much you tell yourself to expect it. I guess the embryos have either implanted or not by now and it has already been determined so now it's just a waiting game.

Hope you had a fun and distracting weekend Karou.

Waiting, you seem to be having a rough trot. The IVF had you in pain, and now it continues. Hoping the scan reveals something that can be treated so you can get on with your FET without fear of this affecting your cycle.

Any reply email yet purple? It's hard to be able to come to some logical conclusion about if you can pinpoint or eliminate donor as an issue this cycle with the little info. Logically, my head keeps saying that 4 young embryos have failed to implant then it must be a uterus issue. But you say you've been pregnant with those fibroids already there. Has your period changed since? gotten any heavier? to indicate the fibroids have become more of an since last time? Or is there nothing that can be done about them even if they were a potential issue?

Purple Clexane is a brand name for heparin - it is prescribed for IVF quite often. Hopefully your doctor will be willing to prescribe it for your next cycle, makes sense to encourage blood flow (especially if you have poor circulation, like me).

Shellster when are you having your day 2 scan? Is it soon? I'm going to Chicago on Friday but I will be sending you some PMA by express delivery from the US. I was in Chicago this time 12 months ago....i had my first miscarriage over there. Stressful and horrendous. At least this time I'll be 'between cycles' so won't have to worry about timing my medication doses etc.

Good luck ranch....I've forgotten when your OTD is but I guess it must be soon!!

Hi ladies,

Sorry I've been a bit AWOL, I did start preparing a post soon after my last post but then it needed updating and I wanted to wait until I had time to give it my full attention.

Karou, I hadn't really thought about it but yes in comparison to other clinics it looks like my clinic is small (It is part of the Gennet group though) It looks like most other clinics have several consultants and embryologists whereas ours has only two consultants and one embryologist....let's hope he doesn't come down with anything at the crucial time in my cycle!

Bed, my down regging is tablets, norethisterone which is basically artificial progesterone. Due to finish it on Wednesday and then should have a withdrawal bleed by Saturday, starting to worry that it may come early or late and mess up the dates..

The million dollar question, Shellster re forget and it may happen. So many people have said to me they know someone who stopped trying and then it happened....I don't buy it though, impossible not to think about it.

Purple I am so sorry, I don't know what to say. I am sure I read somewhere that fertility peaks in your mid 20's (when I was young free and single without a care in the world and a baby was the last thing on my mind!) it rang a bell when you mentioned the US Doctor. I hope you get a reply from your clinic soon.

Re immune testing. My clinic recommended three tests due to my Raynauds, quoted me approx. £180.00 to have them done there but I was lucky that my GP agreed to do them for me.

I've been quite bad recently, had McDonalds for lunch on Saturday and then pizza for dinner swore that I wouldn't drink in the lead up to IVF but was tempted by some white wine in the sun yesterday- hopefully my last taste of wine for a long time! Though if wine is a natural blood thinner....I'm also on aspirin and will be having heparin.

My meds arrived today and first scan is on Monday so into the final countdown!

Ranchgirl, how many days after your transfer was it you went back to work? I am trying to weigh up how much time to take. It is hard because on one hand the IVF completely comes first and accordingly I want to make sure I am off until 6 days after transfer (I think that is the latest the embryo would implant) but on the other hand going back in to a massive back log isn't an attractive prospect and I want to save plenty of holiday in case we need a second go...hmm. Sorry to hear that your zen like state has been challenged.

I've found it so helpful reading about your experiences of egg collection and transfer so thanks ladies.

Big day here on Friday then. Will be checking in hoping to see a hatrick of BFPs.

Hey guys I hope u don't mind me charging in and asking a question!

I'm in ivf cycle 1-egg collection on Thursday. We have sperm count of 4.8 million 6 morphology and 38 motility. Having Isci.
Should my DH abstain for 4.5 days or 2.5! We can't do 3 as collection day has changed to Thursday!
I suppose I'm Worried about fragmentation levels having had 3 previous miscarriahes but also don't want too low sperm counts!
Not sure it makes a huge difference but hard to worry about everything!
thAnks in advance
X

So sorry to hear you're still suffering, Waiting

Purple - I think I'm of a similar mindset to you - testing early and getting a less-definite BFN seems sort of like easing myself into it rather than going in cold on Friday. I've never POAS before, at least not like this, so this could be the precedent being set. I peed on a lot of ovulation sticks after my PCOS was diagnosed and got very used to their negative results.

How early did you test, Cat? Glad your kitten's doing well.

After some not-so-casual googling I found this forum post which has a timeline of post transfer development. This says to me that there's absolutely no point testing before Wednesday. That gives me two mornings to see whether or not I'm awake enough to consider testing before going to work.

I admire your sensible caution, Ranch. How are you feeling this week?

Sorry - left the reply window open for an hour or so before posting. Pesky work getting in the way!

Welcome back, Trixie - exciting that your drugs have arrived. For me that made it all feel undeniably real!

Re: time off. I went all out and took two weeks off. Egg collection was estimated to be the Monday of the first week, then ended up being pushed back to the Wednesday. Embryo transfer was then the following Monday. I reckon I could have been back at work on the Tuesday after Embryo transfer, but it was nice having all that time to relax. Not sure what I'll do if I need a second (or third) attempt. My holiday year doesn't reset until April 2016!

Hi Trying, afraid I can't help much on the sperm front; mine came through the post from Denmark! Hopefully someone will be along soon to advise. Sorry to hear about your previous losses.

Hi all. I'm on phone so can't really reply personally, but will do soon. Looks like lots of new beginnings (good luck!) and lots of waiting.
Forgive me but I'm going to have a bit of a moan and be glum before I hoik up my trews and get on with it.
Having a bit of a bum couple of days. Yesterday started a little cramping and light brown cm. in the middle of the night felt mild cramping for hours. Didn't sleep most of the night. Today I am super thirsty, have had a headache all day and watery brown cm. Tomorrow wd be the day I usually start AF, ( if counting days after O) so this is not looking good for me.
I thought that crampiness etc wd all be over by now, so this indicates a more unwelcome outcome.
Don't keep your eyes open when you read the next bit if you don't like a sweary mary...

Well freekinfucknuggets I deserve this. We ALL deserve this, so come on play ball, bastard body!!!
Phew.
Ok.
Feel a it better. That and some paracetamol might do the trick.
Sorry for upsetting the ladylike zen you all have going. Back to business, nothing to see here