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

Hello ladies! Just spent ages reading your feed, it's great to have people to share the experience with. After three years of trying, (clomed x 3 and ovarian drilling) I have just started taking the pill, then il be on the short protocol as I have PCOS and high risk of OHSS.
I hope you don't mind me being part of this feed, I haven't told many people at all and great to get guidance and experience from people who understand. I never thought it would get to the stage of IVF.. The thought scares but excites me as taken so long to get here! X

Hmmm non So today's bloodtest gave a reading of 9000 so they've reduced my gonal-f - tonight to 100 and tomorrow to 87.5 and then rescan and bloods on Friday. The nurse doesn't seem worried at all and she knows that OHSS is the only thing I'm worried about. So I'm trusting her and trying not to google myself worried.. And drinking LOADS of water and now more milk. Apparently my ovaries are the size of satsumas now. I like the fruit comparisons but massively hoping I don't get to watermelon :-)

blue hoping for some good news for you tomorrow!

newby32 Welcome!! I've only just joined and was pretty scared about posting on here for fear of sounding really dumb but it's a great relief to be able to talk about things that no-one else really understands and help out if you can. This is my 1st IVF round too (short protocol) and I have PCOS (about 15 eggs on each ovary) and am being monitored for OHSS but the short protocol is apparently much better for it. One thing I wasn't told though is to drink LOTS of water once the injections start. How long do you have to be on the pill for?

Thanks for your message! I'm in a similar position to you re PCOS... I'm only on day 2 of the pill.. I just want to fast forward the next three weeks!!
What stage are you at now? I'm sorry, I don't know how to post to your name- I really am new to all this!

Hello Frankie and Newby and welcome to both of you. I know it feels as if there's a long wait for each stage of IVF, but you'll find that time does funny things and it's either racing or dragging, there's no normal!

(Newby, just put asterisks round a name to make it bold - if you scroll down to just below "preview message, post message", there's a list of smileys and emphases and how to do them).

Blue - hooray! That's a great result. Hope they respond well to the ICSI too. Keeping everything crossed for you.

How are you doing, Shellster?

Welcome Frankie and Newby. I was self-funded so can't give any help on nhs timescales, sorry.

Blue that's a good number of eggs, hoping for a good fertilisation rate tomorrow.

Purple are you down-regging? I've lost track.

Argh! I made a mistake 3 rows back, I'm not taking back nearly 600 stitches, a fudge will have to do.

Shellster I'm hoping for another AF-free day for you today, Fx

Frankie, I live in Australia so no idea about the NHS, but I have noticed on these threads as Non says, that it seems to vary from one individual to another depending on their area. Feel free to join us and rant away here. It really does help. Same for you Newby :)

heli, what a good crop of follicles!

Non I'm 11 hours ahead here so I'll be fast asleep Thu night as you wake up Thu am for your egg collection. I'll check in when I wake up to see how you got on... which is what I am doing now for blue knowing that she had EC while I slept...

Congrats on 6 eggs blue! Amazed at such a drop in sperm count - really does show how stress affects fertility. IVF seems to like to throw these extra stress factors at us along the way.

CD 30 and another AF free day here. I normally wake up to my period so I'm safe until tomorrow morning. Always feel panicked when I first wake up and too scared to check toilet paper after first toilet visit of the morning! Aside from my one day of being panic stricken and teary and feeling like stopping progesterone to see if AF arrives and get torture over with, I have actually been very sane. Unlike most who just expect to get to ET as part of ICSI process, this is only my 4th ET out of 11 IVF attempts. So I am just excited to get this far and trying to enjoy my brief time of hope.

Shellster I'm so pleased to wake up to news of another good day for you. Do you think you will be tempted to POAS or are you going to hold out until OTD on Tuesday?

Non hope it all goes well at your EC today. I was also really bloated by then, and was for the two days of EC collection/following EC, so do rest up and take it easy.

I had no idea that sperm count could vary so much Blue. So all of us whose OH has had a high sperm count - we really have no idea whether it is the same as this every month. That could explain a lot.

Heli that sounds like you're cooking up a really good crop of follicles. Great news.

I think the kitten is having a massive growth spurt, I've just woken up and feel exhausted again already.

Bit of good news from me - the embryologist called to say that 5 out of 6 eggs were mature, and all 5 have fertilised. What a relief! I was a bit worried about the ICSI process but it turned out fine. We're provisionally booked in for ET on Monday (day 5), although they'll call if I need to go in earlier.

Have been feeling a bit sick all morning waiting for the phonecall so I'm relieved it's out of the way. Just hope those 5 little embryos stay strong for the next few days!

Shellster, glad to hear you are keeping grip of your sanity. It sounds like things are going well for you - when is your actual test date? I want to start cheering you on!

Good luck today non and hello to everyone else!

Hoping you're ok blue and you get a good call this morning for your fertilisation rate! And non that you can report in later with a good retrieval rate too!

Shellster are you working at the moment to take your mind off it at all ? Still keeping everything crossed.

Ah cat that feeling will carry on hitting you when you least expect it - it's a great reason to put your feet up anytime you can and get some well deserved help from OH!!

Am feeling bloated and tender today and started off feeling a bit nauseous. However a load of water though has helped. Just got 22 hours to go until my next scan and bloodtest...

Is it usual to feel a little bit like this as the follies are growing ??

That's fantastic news blue ! Do you get daily phone calls now with progress updates?

Hi everyone,
Thank you for your messages before. Still trying to come to terms with the fact it didn't work, have our follow up appointment on Monday. I know they won't be able to tell me why it didn't work but will be good to go through everything.
After four weeks in my little IVF bubble it feels weird to go back to reality, I actually really enjoyed the process as everyone at the clinic was so nice and it felt like we were taking control. I even miss all the meds.

Heli I felt increasingly bloated during my injections. My ovaries had reached orange size by the time of egg collection, ironically I looked pregnant.

Blue fantastic news, what a brilliant fertilisation rate! Good luck for Monday.

Shellster I am crossing everything for a BFP for you, have been checking in for your updates.

Non hope your EC went well.

Blue that is fantastic positive news. Now hoping they are quick, even little splitters

Heli DH has been doing everything for four months, and without a word of complaint. I'm beginning to think I married a saint. Managing to do a bit this week though.

I was totally bloated by the time I got to EC - I looked pregnant. Only slightly less pregnant than I do today - my bump has popped up and out! What a lovely feeling.

Oh crikey... I think that I look about 5 months pregnant at the moment! I'm starting to do a little waddle too as so uncomfy!! I'm hoping my satsumas aren't quite oranges when I get scanned tomorrow. I don't know how I'm fitting in all the water either - I only know that I have to as if I don't then I feel spaced out !

Trixie It'll be good to go through it all on Monday - you never know there might just be a little something that's popped up that might start explaining it. You should try and feed back to the clinic to say how well treated you feel - doing something positive will make someone's day!

Sounds like you've got a good'un there black. My DH is being really good too! Apart from when he went to watch the Ashes on Saturday (dressed as a girl no less!) and rolled home more than a bit tipsy .... That was Day 6 for me and after all the hoo-ha of messing up my 1st cetricide injection on Day 5 I was NOT happy with him to say the least. I was thinking of the damage he was potentially doing to those little spermies but then someone told me that they're made 90 days before anyhow so wouldn't have made any difference. But I blamed the drugs for making me shouty and cry-ey and he's surpassed himself since!!

Hi everyone, thanks for all of your kind consideration.

EC went really well this morning, they told me afterwards that we have 8 eggs from 10 follicles so really chuffed. They must have got some from the left lazy ovary after all which is good. Although it did misbehave today as it had tucked itself behind my uterus which made it really difficult for the consultant to get too. He said he had to do a lot of prodding and poking to get to it and avoid my major arteries (scary!) but got there in the end. As a result the pain afterwards on my left side has been excruciating so they topped me up with analgesia before I left. However I did puke up on the car journey home and as soon as I came in the door which was entertaining. DH has been amazing looking after me (although he's secretly excited to be off to watch The Ashes!)

So just awaiting the phone call tomorrow to see how many fertilised overnight, embryologist seemed confident it would be done via IVF as DH has a good soerm count of 134 million.

I'm exactly 1 day behind you blue as fingers crossed for our blastocyst transfer Tuesday. Great fertilisation rate by the way, must be a huge relief. I'm sure I'll be feeling nauseous like you awaiting the first phone call.

Shell well done on getting to day 30, each post you do sounds more promising. I don't know how you managed to not POAS!

Trixie hope Monday goes well, so pleased that you've relatively enjoyed the experience. It is empowering to feel to be doing something constructive towards it all.

Big wave to cat, helibeli and newby

Eight eggs! WOw Non, I'm in awe. That's a great haul. Fx for fertilisation.

Wow - Non - that's great news. Here's hoping for an equally impressive fertilisation rate and then hopefully you'll be able to relax a bit, knowing there's a ready made Plan B/Sibling depending on whether your glass is half full or half empty at any given time . And ouch to having had someone fish around behind your uterus...hope you feel less sore soon.

Blue - hooray again! Fantastic news.

Helibeli - good luck for tomorrow.

Shellster - hope you wake up to another AF-free day....got everything crossed for you xxx

Cat - hooray for out-popping bumps - that's such a lovely feeling isn't it? - and Boo! to mistakes 600-stitches back. Hope you've managed to disguise it.

Hello everyone feels like I've been away from here for ages. Had to do a bit of catch up !

-shellster I've got everything cross able crossed for you!

cat so glad everything is going well

Hope everyone else is doing ok

I've had a busy few weeks of reflexology, acupuncture, special diet (and trying to keep the weight on!), lots of walking and just generally getting myself in the best shape possible for FET which should be mid August.
Acupuncture has been AMAZING I had a 30 day cycle when usually I'm around 35-40 days (last one was 42 days then stopped after a day and started again at 45 days very odd)
I've had ultrasound and endoscopy for my stomach problem and nothing was found at all so no idea what my pain previously was caused by.

I've got FET planned for when af next arrives and if it doesn't work we are going to go straight for another mild cycle afterwards so I feel like I've got a plan

Where's the "like" button on MN, Waiting - sounds like things are feeling a lot more positive than last time we heard from you. Here's hoping for a successful FET

I don't think I'll POAS cat. Only because I am sure I had an early preg after last transfer, then POAS and got a shock it was -ive, followed by deluge of blood / early m/c. So now I have a negative association with POAS and somehow think if I do it again, period will show up again - not that this reasoning makes any sense! Tomorrow is 14 days past EC and the date my heavy period / early m/c arrived after last transfer. So if I get through tomorrow without any blood, then I'll feel a glimmer of hope. Sounds like you've got a lovely hubby while you knit and nest and he cleans up.

To have all 5 fertilise is amazing blue! I never get 100% fertilisation rate. So from memory, you don't get a day by day update. Am I correct in remembering that you won't get any further update now until you go in Monday, unless the numbers drop and they call you to come in earlier? My OTD is Monday - hopefully a good day for both of us.

I am working heli, but definitely does not take my mind of things! I do pathology collection and often have an hour between patients where I have plenty of time to think and wonder - I'm actually at work right now. Lucky I have you guys to chat to for a distraction otherwise I would be so tempted to Dr Google. When is your next clinic appt? Is EC day booked?

Very sweet of you to be checking in for my updates Trixie amidst the emotional turmoil you are recovering from after your IVF didn't work. I gather you'll discuss and prepare your FET at your appt, so I hope that gives you a renewed sense of optimism as you start to focus on plan B.

Non, 8 is fantastic. I look forward to hearing your fertilisation rate tomorrow (and also because that's one more day over with for me!). As I wrote to cat at the start of this message, you can see why I've managed to avoid POAS.

Wave's to purple. You're always so cool, calm and collected and never have any rants in your post for me to think of things to reply too! But dont want to ignore so a big lovely hello instead :)

waiting, sounds comforting to have a plan B to take the pressure off you. Will they defrost all 3 to see which survive/look best, then refreeze?

Shellster - it's very early here, but I need to make an early start at work today, so I thought I'd quickly check in to see how things are with you. And hooray - another AF-free day, a little bit more reason to hope. I so want this to be your turn.

Nothing really for me to rant about...just hanging around, waiting for confirmation of the next cycle, but because I have to sync cycles with the donor, nothing will happen for a while anyway. In the meantime, I got confirmation from Serum yesterday that my sample had arrived for testing, so I whizzed the cash off to their Swiss Bank (not daft, are they?!) and hopefully I'll hear from them shortly.

Early for me too, but only through insomnia. Shellster I'm so pleased to hear about another day without AF turning up. I can totally understand your POAS aversion. I have my fingers crossed for you a little tighter each day.

So very sweet of you purple to be checking in especially to see how I'm getting on when you are up early and have to go to work.

At least it feels like you're doing something practical while you wait purple. I will be interested in what the results say.

And thank you too cat. Just feel like I have to get through tomorrow as that's the day AF showed up after last transfer and I shall cross my fingers tighter too!

I don't think will ever forget you guys when all is done and dusted. No one else could understand this like you who have shared it with me.

Morning all, embryologist rang to tell me that 7 out of the 8 eggs were intact (one had a fractured outer shell) but all 7 fertilised!!!!! So chuffed :) She wants to put them in for blastocyst culture so start cyclogest tomorrow (DH calls them fanny bullets) and they'll ring me Sunday morning to let me know how they are going. I asked if I would be given their grades then but she said no as it takes time to individually grade them which means more time out if their controlled environment so they won't do it until morning of embryo transfer. I thanked her for looking after them for us, she was lovely.

Can't tell you how relieved we both are, now the next hurdle is to get them to bastocysts. It really is the cliche of ups and down of the emotional rollercoaster that is IVF.

Shell it's getting one day closer for you! You are doing so well, I too am crossing fingers tightly and thinking of you.

Purple feeling loads better today thanks as left side has settled down, phew! We're definitely glass is half full people so trying to see the positives in everything. Until know, never even contemplating having any spare embryos for freezing as i'm focused and happy to have just one for transfer. Hope you don't have to wait to long for your serum results.

Waves to everyone else.

wow nonconformist that's very exciting . Lots of positivity around here at the moment. Hoping that it translates into the positivity we're all long for x

Hello everyone, been days since I've logged in due to catching up with work etc, but my word, such amazing developments I see.

Shellster you are handling the 2ww with courage and I have to say I felt exactly the same way during my last cycle re: POAS. Try and stay away from Dr Google - it isn't good for our sanity. Keeping my fingers crossed for you, sounds like you had some fantastic embryo put back.

Blue I seem to have missed your egg collection and the ICSI. Great to see it all went well with fertilisation and I imagine you'll be counting down to a day 5 transfer? Not sure how many you'll be transferring but hope you have some for the freezer too.

Purple many thanks for the info on IVF in Czech and just remember all your hanging around and waiting to sync will be well worth it! It's so much easier to be engaging in the process, rather than just waiting isn't it. So very true too about having a plan b or c...I'm beginning to think IVF requires military precision.

Non wow, fantastic numbers! It's so nice to have been away from here for a week or so and then to return to see at least three of you ladies with really promising fertilisation rates.

Cat awwww, how very lovely, your baby tum has popped out . These are such magical days. Soon you'll be needing a new maternity wardrobe.

Heliberi I feel for you, I was massively bloated and uncomfortable during IVF and that was without over stimulation. Hang in there, it good to know you have a supportive husband whilst you're going through IVF.

Trixie this really is hell isn't it when it doesn't work. I'm a few weeks past my second neg result and it still hurts. Give yourself time to grieve and don't be too hard on yourself. I always felt as though I was doing something positive during an IVF cycle - there's lots of hope and potential - until we have that damn result confirmed. Quiz your consultant as much as possible during the follow-up appoint and don't be rushed.

Waiting nice to see you back and preparing for the next round.

Amid trying to catch up with work, dealing with another failed IVF, and trying to be a happy and cheery mummy to my DC, I've contacted clinics in the Czech Rep. and Spain. Spain much more expensive, almost on a par with the UK (seem very prof. though), so I think if I do board a plane to try IVF tourism, it'll be the Czech Rep. Reprofit have agreed to treat me but I feel as though I have been kicked in the knackers (I know I don't have any but....). Told after two failed IVFs at my age that I'm extremely unlikely to conceive with own eggs. My amh is 3.3 and fsh 8.9, not great, but could be far worse surely?? Nor sure if I am just in denial and ought to try again with own eggs or just jump straight to donor eggs and donor sperm. I had booked an edno scratch at my London clinic for next week in prep for my last try there, but debating whether I ought to just cancel and move overseas. F*k what horrendously difficult decisions we have to make!! If I do jump clinics and countries, my 2 remaining pots of donor sperm will go to waste and I also go form having a non-anonymous donor through the ESB to an anonymous sperm donor in the Czech Rep. So tricky! This calls for yet another and .

Wave to everyone