anyone having 1st round of IVF this month

[misspz]

Hi,

Just trying to find someone who is at the same stage as myself. We have been ttc for almost 3 years now and after a lot of tests and back and forth, haven't found anything wrong, but for one reason or another we're still as childless as when we first started. And now we're finally at the stage of IVF.

Never thought we'd get here and now I'm actually getting a bit scared. I've got another 5 days of the pill. So injections will start on the 11th. So want this to go right. However not a big fan of needles, so about them too.

Anyone else who is going trough the same stage?

Just really hope 2016 is finally our year!

[keepitgoing]

Hi everyone, I'm on day 4 of stimms, short protocol. We are unexplained though turns out my amh is lowish for my age, and dh has borderline morphology issues so we'll see about icsi on the day sure they'll push it as it's ££more.. This is my second fresh cycle, the first worked and my DD is 2, I've since had two bfns from FETs.

[keepitgoing]

Hi pink why was your first cycle abandoned? How frustrating. I think you're right about the hardest part being managing expectations. Oh, and fitting it all round work!

[dessydee]

Hi ladies, hope you are all having a good week so far?
I just had a phone call from the clinic to tell me I've down regulated so will start my first injection this evening. Bricking it as both me and my partner went queazy just doing the practice injection in the clinic yesterday!
Does anyone know where I can find out what the hell all the abbreviations mean that everyone is using in these posts? I am confused.com! X

[keepitgoing]

Hi dessy good luck tonight - will you do it, or your partner? Just ask about the abbreviations!

[bananafish81]

Hi ladies, may I join you? I’m starting my second IVF cycle this week, although the first cycle hasn’t technically failed yet, as it was a freeze-all cycle. I have v low AMH / high FSH, and responded much better than expected to stims; however my lining regressed and was unable to have a fresh transfer - and unfortunately in a double whammy, my DH was unwell on EC day and we had issues with a fresh sample, so the eggs had to go straight into the freezer unfertilised. The plan is to batch together whatever we get this time with the thawed eggs from last time, and hopefully get more embryos to work with - and if my lining plays ball, to have my first transfer and first 2ww. Oh, and we have several hundred million of DH’s finest swimmers in the freezer as an insurance policy for EC day this time - I cannot recommend strongly enough that it’s worth doing a sperm freeze in advance, just in case!

I’m on a high stims short protocol, same as last time. Wishing you all tonnes of luck and hope we get some BFPs xxx

[keepitgoing]

Hi banana here's hoping you get plenty of embryos (for a sibling...). What dose are you on?

I can feel my ovaries. Have only done 4 stimms so far, surely that's too early. Panicking already. Scan on Friday..

[Rifa12]

This is so cool! Knowing other people going through the same thing you are makes me feel so much calmer! I somehow don't feel comfortable discussing this with just friends and family so this is great!!

[bananafish81]

keepitgoing god that would be amazing, pigs might fly, but I’d love to be surprised! Because of my low AMH I don’t produce many eggs - last time we got 7 eggs (of which 6 were mature and went straight in the freezer). So it’s unlikely we’ll end up with lots of embryos - if we could get enough to go to blastocyst I would be over the moon, if we could get a BFP from our first transfer I would be ecstatic, and if we got something for the freezer - well, can’t even let myself dream that could ever be an option. A girl can dream though, eh?!

I’m on a sledgehammer dose of stims because of my crappy AMH - did my first Gonal-F injection this evening, a whopping 450iu.

My meds bill alone for this cycle (we’re self funding) is £2,000 - and that’s on top of the actual IVF!!

Good luck for your scan on Friday - I was massively bloated after just 4 days of stims last time, but that was due to the whopping dose, rather than because I was a salmon swollen with eggs. Keeping everything crossed for you!

Rifa it is amazing how many women go through IVF - I can’t tell you how many friends I have who have or are going through it. Many of whom now have gorgeous kids!

[Rifa12]

I know banana. But somehow it's not something that is open talk! I wish people would be more aware. Some people (including my mom) have never heard of it! Gosh I had to explain to her every detail!

[Pinkheels]

Keepitgoing- our first cycle ended up being abandoned because the downregging didn't work and my lining wouldn't co-operate. That's why the second cycle was a short protocol and the third one will be too. It really helps to know that other people are going through the same thing- find it really difficult to explain the whole process to others who keep telling me to 'relax and it'll happen"!

I've not mentioned anything to my work colleagues and debating whether to tell my manager... Will keep you all updated on how I get on.

[keepitgoing]

banana 7 eggs is quite good I think! Last time I got 11, 7 fertilised, 1 put back successfully, 3 blasts (1 didn't defrost, 2bfns)

pink that must have been hard. I've been quite vague with my boss 'gynae treatment', he just doesn't want to know it's hard fitting it all round things isn't it? I'm lucky, my job is quite flexible, bit I have lots of things in my diary for next week, and it'll be EC one day! I'm planning to take EC as sick leave, then go back in, then take 3 days off for/after ET. What are others doing?

[Grumpelstiltskin]

Hi all. Nice to hear from everyone.
I'm on Day 4 of stimms now and so far feeling ok. Pretty tired, but that might just be from the first week back at work! I can feel a few ovary twinges though I think... I'm just aware of them, if that makes sense. They feel a bit like they do just pre-ov, sort of gearing up!

Know what you all mean about the whole work/ talking to people issue. I know NO ONE currently going through or a graduate of IVF. All Fertile Frannies my way

My old manager knew I was on the waiting list and having tests, but she left last year and since then I've been mostly boss-free and doing my own thing so sneaking out for appointments has been ok ;even if workload isn't!) It's the 'dentist' tomorrow for my first scan and am also planning on having a sick day for egg collection.

Keep, I should also be having EC next week- Fri or Sat I think. Let's hand-hold together!

[keepitgoing]

grump are you just going to call in sick on the day of EC? I've told them I'm having a 'procedure', which I don't know when it is, who knows what he might think! When's your next scan?

banana that's a huge bill! My drugs are nowhere near that and I'm on 300menopur

[dessydee]

Evening all! Day 2 of gonal 900, haven't been able to do it myself yet and I'm not afraid to say I cried like a baby before my partner did the first one last night. It's not really painful, just finding it upsetting that I'm actually at the stage of having to have IVF and I keep feeling faint when he gets the needles out the box - am such a wimp!
grump, keepitgoing and pink - It's really hard sorting out work / days off for the EC, especially as we know don't exactly what day it will be - I'm lucky as am my own boss but have a team of 10 so it's hard being vague about when I might be off with clients and staff.
Do you guys think you'll take a couple of days off for EC or just the day of?
I stupidly told a lot of people when we first started ttc a few years ago so people always ask how it's going - I swear if one more person says "How exciting!" when I say we're trying IVF, I'm going to scream!
Sorry rant over, am feeling sorry for myself this eve.
I really hope you're all doing ok lovely ladies. xxx

[keepitgoing]

dessy I think getting actually started is really hard. Up to that first injection ivf has been a backup, that you hope you'll never need, as you'll get lucky just in time. Now you're actually there it's hard. But I think gearing yourself up to start is really tough, and once you're going you don't have the indecision any more. Anyway at least for me I find it easier once I've started.

Oh, and I've never done my own injections, they are dh's job :)

I'm just taking the day of EC, I'd rather use my a/l post transfer when it might affect the outcome, but if I had a physical job I might feel different. I think last time I was fine even that afternoon, just a bit sore and tired.

Did first cetrotide this evening

[Grumpelstiltskin]

Well done on getting through the injection dessy, just remember what you're doing it for. Agree, it's a big
mental barrier. **

Keep, yes just going to call in sick for EC. As I currently have no manager, there's no one to really tell/ask about needing time off in advance unless I need to book hols and no one else knows I'm having IVF so would rather just fake a virus or something!
Hadn't thought about taking extra time off for ET though, the nurse said it should be fine to just have the day itself off then carry on as normal. Those of you who have gone through it before, would you recommend taking a few days?

[Grumpelstiltskin]

Oh and first scan tomorrow, Keep. Am an old pro at the legs-akimbo at this point, mind, had quite a few internal scans during tests.

[bananafish81]

dessy well done! I'm on day 2 of stims too, also on Gonal-F. Hoping our follies are starting to cook nicely!

keep it's obscene isn't it?! One 900iu Gonal-F pen is £350, which lasts me a grand total of two days on my starting dose. Menopur is shit tonnes cheaper, but my consultant wants me on an FSH only stim - and I did well on it last time. It's just so expensive cos I'm on such a whacking great dose, so it's a lot of pens, urgh. 

Good luck for the first scan (or as I call it 'a hot date with dildocam!') tomorrow grumpel

pink my down regging for this cycle also didn't work - I powered through the bloody buserelin. So after a month on the pill to quiet my ovaries I'm now on short protocol, as thank god Dr didn't want me to down reg any longer. I find listening to hypno / relaxation Mp3s at bedtime helps destress me a bit - agree 100% that the physical side of IVF is a doddle, it's the emotional side that's so bloody tough 

Warrior women the lot of us!

Re: time off work, my consultant recommended the day of and day after EC, and one day for ET - last time I was glad of the day off after EC as I felt a bit sore the following day, and it was nice to lounge about on the sofa watching crap telly!! Couldn't tell you about ET and the 2ww as I didn't have one last time...!!

Hope you're all doing OK there ladies. Nearly the weekend!! Xx

[Annie0123]

Morning peeps!

My drugs have just arrived and I am in shock at the size of the delivery - yikes!! Made me realise how completely unprepared I am for this...

Can I just check with those going through it or who've been through it before how much time off work you had to have?

[keepitgoing]

Hi Annie yes there are a lot aren't there?? When will you start?

Re time off we were just discussing. You'll have maybe 3 scans, then EC and ET. I went back to work after my fet (it failed) so that doesn't take long either. It's a personal choice other than 1 or 2 days for EC

Good luck for your scan grump

[misspz]

Hi ladies,

Just catching up on all your posts. Been having some crazy days at work and just gone home straight to bed. But it's finally weekend.

Starting the injections in Monday, so great to see that most of you don't get too affected (although just the thought of putting that needle in myself makes me faint)

How did your first scan go Grumpel? Hope it's all going to plan.

I decided to just tell my boss straight as it is, so now she knows why and when I'll be needing days off. Very understanding as apparently her sister went trough the same thing.

I know exactly what you mean Annie, just looking at the amount of it is a bit daunting! As far as I know you'll need part of two days off for the scans and then full day off of EC and transfer. It's a fair amount, but I don't feel it's excessive all things considered. I thought I'd be on for February, so had 2 weeks booked off. But then I got put on starting a month earlier, not complaining, now I'll get two weeks just to relax

Feels great(in the not so great circumstances) to have others going trough the same, think we all need a bit of hand holding and maybe some sunshine stories when it feels very unfair to be in this situation! So best of luck to us!

[Grumpelstiltskin]

Welcome back misspz and good luck with starting the jabs next week! The thought of it is horrible but I honestly think the actual doing is ok. I have DH watching me in sort of fearful interest each time though which is by far the most off-putting thing! The blood tests for me are more painful so if you are ok with those then I'm sure you'll be fine.

Annie good luck with the heavyweight of drugs. They do look very serious and importantly medical, don't they!

Scan was ok today- always excellent to have dildocam first thing in the morning, no?! I have about 6-ish follies between 6-14mm in each ovary plus some smaller ones which I take it is neither good nor bad given my doc's quite meh reaction! Have a slightly upped dose of Gonal (200iu) till next scan on Sun. He did also want me to start Cetrotide IMMEDIATELY as in right that second too, so with the bloods it was more stab, stab, stab. Sigh.

Will hopefully have an EC plan/date next week though! Can't decide if I'm to be excited or stoically chugging through to the end at this point. I'm trying hard not to assume this will work first time and be realistic but as you all know you can't quite help yourself! Mostly I'm happy to be doing something productive.

Hope everyone's weekends are relaxing. We all deserve it!

[LittleBear01]

Hi all,

I've got my nurse/teach appointment this Monday is preparation for my 3rd fresh round of IVF. Numbers 1&2 were BFN, the third caused OHSS so couldn't have a fresh transfer. Went back for a FET and got a BFP, but unfortunately miscarried. So fingers crossed this will be our time!

I still have a gonal f pen in the fridge from last time. It goes out of date in April, so hoping the nurse will tell us on Monday that our IVF will be in Feb/March so I can use it!

Good luck everyone else

[FeeFeeLaFew]

Thanks for the welcome last week, I thought I had replied but it looks like it never posted.
Misspz, thanks for the info about appointments and time off work. I spoke to someone in the clinic last week and she said it would be scans every other day for 10-14 days (not weekends though) which will not be fun to try to fit in. All worth it if it means the process works though.
Dessy, everyone here has been through the mill but I am gutted for you that you had six months of clomid without knowing about the blocked tubes! I can't believe they didn't test that for you first.
I hope everyone's weeks have gone well. I'm going to carry on watching the thread, if that's ok, as I have a lot to learn about the process. I don't think I'll be starting stims until the end of Feb though.

[keepitgoing]

Hi grump how was your scan today? Mine on Friday I had 8 of 11-15 then some quite a bit smaller. Another scan tomorrow and EC will be wed or Thurs. Eek

bear good luck for this round, doesn't seem like you'll need much teaching... Sorry you had ohss, did you have loads of follies? More than previous rounds?