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

Karou! congratulations! (There are tears streaming down my face - you have these hormones to look forward to ). When you said you were so tired, I suspected, but didn't want to jinx anything. Fingers x for a sticky bean .

Bedouin and ranch I'm still hoping for you. It ain't over till it's over in my book, evertheoptimist!

Karou

Bedouin - sending big hugs. It's not over yet, lovely xxx

Chin up Ranch - frozen ovary lady hasn't used up the luck. I think that Cat has turned the tables on this thread and that all you lovely ladies are going to get your BFPs.

Looks like I'm going to Prague on Monday!

Karou I saw your post this morning as I was stuck on a train to my clinic so couldn't do the hip hip hooray! My goodness, what absolutely fantastic news!! I am so thrilled and excited for you. Do keep us posted.

Bedouin I've been there, like many of us have, but you haven't reached test day yet so there is still hope. It's good to cry and I certainly did my own crying today in clinic, but that's another story. Pleased you have the support of your Mum and DH. Hope work sorts itself out, sounds a pain in the backside.

Ranch keeping fingers crossed for you also. Friday will soon be here.

Waves to everyone.

What's up Choc (she says, trying to sound concerned and sympathetic, but sounding a bit like Bugs Bunny at the same time)...

Thanks for ur advice re abstaining girls. Appreicate it.
Also congrats on the Bfps x

karou brilliant news!!!

purple sounds like you have a good plan, and I agree about getting the tests done by the Dr who ordered them it makes much more sense and saves on any confusion reading a report from somebody else

I think AF is going to arrive later or tomorrow, had some spotting although I had the same a couple of weeks ago and it didn't really progress much. I have my progynova tablets and I just don't know what to do-go ahead this month (if AF does make an appearance) or to wait like do thinks we should. His reasoning is that I've been so run down I need a few weeks to relax and feel better but I just want to get on with it! What would you all do I feel torn between being ultra sensible and waiting or just going for it.

purple or should that be Bugs just one of those seriously crap cycles and not what I expected, so very hard to get my head around what's happened or how to proceed. First cycle - 10 follicles, 8 eggs (April) - now for my second cycle, 9 follicles on Monday and today's scan showed 8, with approx half being small and another that's shrunk. Not one is above 18mm. The small ones aren't bloody growing either, they're stuck at 9mm.
Today was my second scan and I asked whether I ought to cancel and save over £4000. I was advised not to and to await scan results this Fri, with the proviso that if the follicles aren't progressing to opt for IUI so all is not lost. But IUI is less likely to work. The nurse explained that the results today really fit my AMH level and that the follicles during my first cycle were much better than expected so perhaps it was a fluke.
I can't help but wonder whether it's because I changed DHEA brands, though that said I only started the stuff about 10 days before my first IVF cycle and changed to an alternative approx 3 weeks ago. My diet (high in protein) has been excellent. Maybe it's because I've been ill...who knows! But upshot is I feel like my chances are zilch!

IVF at 41 (now pushing 42) doesn't yield great results - think we all know that - but medicated IUI - is even less successful.

Oh Choc, how frustrating that must be. But as Shell keeps telling us, you only need one. Let's hope there's a good one there.

Purple those pom-poms are doing well! Let's hope they'll be used some more. Glad your plan is coming together and hope you have a good trip next week.

Waiting it sounds like you have a difficult decision to make, but I'd say if your gut is giving you real problems, it's a sign that your body' severe stressed, and a rest would do you some good. You had a really tough cycle...

Bedouin work sounds tough. If only you could mentally f* the job even if you can't actually do it...

Purple, I meant to ask...did you mention that there had been a micro bleed during transfer? I'm sure I've read in a few places that a bleed reduces implantation success. Just a thought.

I'm sorry Choc - that is miserable.

Waiting - I know patience isn't your strong point, but it's got to be worth sitting this cycle out to give yourself the best chance, hasn't it? You've been so poorly. One month won't make a difference, especially when you're looking at a FET. That'd be my take, anyway.

Karou - I bet you didn't absorb much from your meeting after betting that BFP.

bedouin, I am so so sorry. I wish there was more I could say to help but there just isn't. I've had 10 attempts at IVF and I know how heartbreaking it is.

ranch I haven't heard of frozen ovary lady! She had it frozen to maintain her fertility and then used it to have a baby at a later stage??

waiting, I am desperate too and understand just wanting to get on with things, but I am about to turn 38 and had an AMH result of 2.5 back when I was 34. I am not sure how old you are and if time is of the essence in case this FET does not work and and you plan to do another fresh cycle, but if it's not then I guess it makes sense to wait another month (and I am assuming you are younger than me with your AMH of 63.5!) I have really found that mental attitude has a whole lot to do with it and on the days I feel positive about it all, I am much better than the doom and gloom days even though the work business is the same. So if you do wait a month, perhaps use it to do some meditation and find some good in every day. Out of curiosity, why are you taking Progynova during the luteal phase of this cycle?

Darkchoc, That really doesn't sound all that bad a scan result to me to have 8 follicles growing. Remember they measure in mm which is the smallest increment and it can vary depending on which way they put the line across the screen to measure the follicle so it's not an exact science. You say the smallest was 9mm - how big were the larger ones? I hope you are pleasantly surprised at Friday's scan

purple, can't believe how quickly that the examination is going ahead. Will wait to hear what they say. And I'll wait to hear more details in your PM about your cesearian - whenever you get time. I just want to know in case I need to add anything to my birth plan that I started after my first experience was such a disaster. But obviously I have to get pregnant first so no hurry for you to PM me!

Shell this link has the story of frozen ovary lady. She had an ovary frozen as a child before an operation that carried a risk of infertility. She's just given birth...

Sorry it's working out so hard for you Bedouin. Good that you had your mum to hand for support. I'm still resolutely hoping that tomorrow brings a pleasant surprise. Will keep my thoughts positive for you.

Ranch, have you and your husband planned anything to keep you busy tomorrow whilst waiting for your result?

Cat - do the hormones replace the tiredness? Please don't tell me it's in addition!

How are you feeling, Waiting? As much as your heart most likely wants to go straight ahead, do you feel strong enough to embark on another cycle now? It does sound more sensible to wait, but that also sounds like the hardest choice to make.

Sorry your follicles aren't behaving, Choc. Mine were slow in getting to full size. If the clinic are saying that there may be a benefit in continuing then it sounds like it might be worth holding on a bit longer. As Cat says; our good ol' t-shirt slogan is 'you only need one'.

Prague on Monday sounds wonderfully soon Purple - must feel good to know that you might have a better explanation soon.

Shell - barely made it through work yesterday; my head was all over the place. Am slightly more with it today though. How are things with you? Was it last week you had your scratch? I didn't really do my reading on that; were does it sit in the timeline of things?

Bedouin - I'm sorry to hear your news. You must be terribly disappointed, it's a such a horrible feeling. As shellster says, it's impossible not to get your hopes up (even if you're trying your best not to). Don't give up, it can happen for you - and for all of us. It's good that you've got your mum, I wish my mum lived a bit nearer so I could have a shoulder to cry on with all this stuff! Mums are great in this situation, even better than DH in my experience.

Sending you a hug.

My medication arrived yesterday so I'm ready to get back on the bus at the end of this month. Heading to Chicago tomorrow for a 2 week work trip - this time last year I was pregnant (for a very short time) and miscarried in Chicago. Horrible experience, at least I won't have to go through that this time around. I'll still be online of course - looking forward to hearing your result Ranch. Good luck in CZ Purple!

Oh and Choc, I just read your message. What a horrible situation. My only advice is please don't feel bullied/coerced into doing something you don't feel happy with. If you would prefer to cancel and NOT do IUI then maybe you should do that. Obviously it's a different story if you can't recoup any of the cost, but if you can, then maybe you should. Sometimes clinics want to do whatever is easiest for them, rather than what is really the best for the patient. Is your nurse the best person to advise on this? Maybe you can get a second opinion.

Just my tuppence worth, whatever you decide to do - good luck - we are all rooting for you x

Shellster, I was told that PCO could be due to diet ie high sugar levels. I thought that I was a fairly healthy eater but once I started paying attention I realised I was eating much more sugar than I should be. Also I was a real grazer, constantly snacking and apparently this isn't great for your sugar levels so I was told to eat three balanced main meals and if I snack to make sure it is protein. Will be interesting to see how many follicles I have on Monday and whether the diet has made any difference, though I guess the aspirin may cancel out the diet changes

Purple, I absolutely love reflexology and my reflexologist is so lovely it's a bit like a counselling session too. Great that things are moving nice and quickly for you.

Bluekarou, congratulations, fantastic news!!! Enjoy your camping trip this weekend

Bed, how are you today? So sorry you had such an awful day yesterday. I am really hoping that you are going to be one of those ladies who has bleeding but gets her BFP. Will be thinking of you and Ranch in the morning.

Took my last norethisterone last night and am awaiting AF then it is all systems go on Monday- eek!

Thanks ladies. Still pregnant without proof so there's everything to play for...

We're going out for the day - anywhere. I have builders round the house and my Dad project manages (well, he interferes!) so we're just going to potter round Ikea and go for a pub lunch. Hopefully by lunch it will be one and dusted. Blood test is at 8:15 so at least we can get one with it early.

I think we've generated enough positive thoughts on this thread so let' bring on the BFPs tomorrow

Karou oh the hormones are in addition to the tiredness, and the nausea, and the heartburn, ooooooh it's lovely! So you think your head's going to stop spinning round? Ha, mine still hasn't and I just can't concentrate on anything .

I had my MW booking in appointment today - one and a half hours! "Are you ok for us to take some bloods?" "Absolutely fine Love, just stick that needle, in there have been hundreds before it"

Ranch, Bedouin and Waiting thinking of you and the tough days....hang in there. X

Purple and Trixie sounds like you both have big days on Monday, hope it all goes well.

I'm 33, not taking progynova at the moment, I just picked up my prescription so that I have them ready and waiting as I keep changing my mind about waiting this cycle or not.

Karou your life is about to change in the most amazing and crazy ways so prepare yourself for lots of head spins . I love camping, especially in the wild, usually up a mountain. Preparing for a little trip myself with my DC.

Blue hope you have lots of in-flight entertainment. Sorry about the horrid experience last year in Chicago, simply beyond words! Good to hear your meds have arrived for jumping back on the crazy bus of IVF. You are right about not being bullied or pushed into a direction I don't wish to go should my scan be pants tomorrow morning. Sadly, it's a different nurse every single time and when I tried to engage the sonographer about what was going on it was clear she just wanted to see the next patient. My clinic may have excellent results, but it's a revolving door of organised madness and staff racing around. Not the most patient focused. I have the option of seeing the consultant tomorrow, but I'll be charged another £180!

Shellster kind words, but follicles just aren't growing like last cycle. The largest was 16 and another at 14, the rest are pretty naff so they better grow before tomorrow or I'm in the mire. I actually feel different this cycle, can't put my finger on it, but I can feel something isn't right. My estrogen is much lower too so maybe that is it. Anyhow, time to think positively.

Trixie good luck for all systems go Monday. These weeks are just flying on by.

Waiting such decisions are tough. We can take advice from others but the final decision is our own. Hope you instinctively know what's right for you and your body.

Ranch loving the sound of your Friday and I'm keeping fingers crossed for both you and Bedouin

Cat so pleased you are keeping us all updated with your pregnancy journey, such a lovely joy to read! Keep it coming please.

Thanks Choc, I'm never sure whether it helps you all to hear about pregnancy stuff or whether it hurts... Hope those follies get a bit jollier over the next few days.

Purple I'm sure your pompoms are lucky. Maybe you need to get some purple ones?

Ranch sorry if you've mentioned this already, when will you get your blood test results? I'll be thinking of you at 8.15....

Choc, having had 11 IVF attempts, I have seen that even on the exact same protocol and drug dosages, my ovaries behave differently. I found an article online about 'estrogen growth rate' (EGR) during fertility treatment. It's a complicated formula, but basically you put in your estrogen results and a result of .31 to .41 correlates with top quality embryos and higher pregnancy rates. So obviously how quickly or slowly your follicles grow and hence your estrogen rises, affects the quality of the eggs. It helped me to decide to go ahead with EC 3 cycles ago when I only had 3 mature eggs because the EGR was in range. I had 2 top quality embryos on day 3 and an early miscarriage. Two cycles ago, my EGR was out of range, so again with only 3 mature follicles, I cancelled the cycle. I find it helpful to have something factual to base my decision on and in the case when I went ahead despite few mature eggs, I really did have good quality embryos so the formula proved correct in my case if you are interested in getting your estrogen results and calculating yours. It's hard to know what to do. Obviously you're disappointed with the scan results, but then with time not on our side, it's a tough call to cancel. I hope Fridays scan brings better happier news.

ranch, I'm thinking the lack of period symptoms must be a good sign for you? I always got my period before the test date. I'll be nervous for you the next time I log in!

Can't sleep!

Hubby is snoring away but my mind is already racing. AF due yesterday but still not here...
I think Cat that they ring a couple of hours later...
Karou Bedouin Its been a long two weeks, but it's here.

Shellster thanks ever so much for that info! Yes, me too, I prefer to base decisions - particularly those with significant human implication - upon solid facts. Do you have that article to hand? I'm just preparing to leave for the train, so am posting and running, but could check on the train.

Sorry you can't sleep ranchgirl, not long to go now x

On my way to London for a day of meetings, so I'll be out of comms for a bit, but I wanted to check in with you and say I'm thinking of you Ranch and Bedouin.

Do you have an official test too Karou? I think it must be nice to see the numbers going up :-)

I'll pop back for news when I can x