Anyone starting IVF? Join me (5)

[waitingimpatient]

I don't think anyone has started the new thread yet? Apologies if so and ignore this one if its already been done

I'm hoping by the end of this thread I'll be waiting and impatient for a new arrival fingers crossed

Wanted to ask some opinions on this as I'm not sure what to do....
We have 2 day 2 embryos frozen. Doing FET this month

Did FET with a day 3 top quality embryo last October. Lining was great, TSH level perfect, all looked great but it failed. I'm 34 and not sure whether to ask for both embryos to be put back or just do one and if it fails the other next month?
What do you think? I keep changing my mind as to whether to ask the consultant at my appointment?? I just dont know what's best. Both embryos are not top quality so really not sure if it's better to just put both back in

Clinic will not culture them once thawed either so has to be a day 2 transfer....just not sure if we should transfer one or both

Waiting my Dr had said twins were to be avoided given all my health issues - but we agreed that whilst two blasts would be unthinkable we would definitely put two day 3-ers back, as the likelihood of twins was so much smaller, and at day 3 there was no way to pick the front runner. That's just me though - you have to do what feels right to you. Xx

Ever the moods just seemed to steadily get worse as the days went on!

Hi waiting and other ladies.

I'm not sure what the stats are with a three day embie but I was told not to have two (blasts) back in as 1) it only raised the chances by a few % 2) multiple births were risky.

I'd use them seperatly but you have to do what your head says and of course your consultant ! X

cleen I was told the same about blasts. If I had wanted to transfer two blasts my clinic would have made me sign a waiver saying I was doing so against medical advice and understood the risks (as the likelihood of pregnancy doesn't - counterintuitively - go up more than a few percent, but the risk of twins if you do get pregnant is one in two). However my Dr said almost no one ever did eSET for day 3 embryos because the chances of twins - whilst not absent - are so so much lower. There is so much drop off between day 3 and 5 that at day 2 or 3 you have no way of knowing which is the front runner. So I absolutely only transferred one blast but definitely would have transferred two day 3-ers. And definitely two day 2-ers.

Dh is quite against transferring both our day 2 embryos. He said this evening that he's worried we will quite literally be putting all our eggs in one basket and thinks if one is going to work better to do a cycle or two back to back rather than both together.
He said he is worried that if I am ill or get an infection again or something like tripping over and I will think that's why it didn't work if it fails. I can sort of see his point but if it was down to me I would put both back as I think the odds are better. I'm feeling quite down still about the fact they are not brilliant quality day 2 embryos so I feel the chances are very low anyway.

Also, I won't lie. The thought of the process dragging on gets me down. In a way I'd like to just get it over and done with in one go and see what happens then have a month or two off and start a fresh cycle. It seems to be going on forever this way

All very compelling reasons! There simply aren’t any right or wrong answers in any of this process, and whatever decisions we make I think we always wonder ‘what if?’ we’d done something different. Realise this is desperately unhelpful - what do Create say? Is there a reason they won’t culture them to see which one is the front runner? Then you could confidently transfer one if it had self selected itself? What do they recommend about single or double transfer of your embryos?

Initially they said we would go for blast transfer (this was just over a year ago at first appt) but we haven't got to blast stage so transferred a single day 3 last oct
They have just said to us to do a day two transfer and I think we will transfer both. It's hard like you say as will always be what ifs but I have it in my mind that transferring both is better and I need to be positive. There are quite a few success stories for day two transfers out there so fingers crossed

Lining was good today so that's good too

Makes total sense. The only benefit of extended culture is to narrow down to select the best one. If you're going to put both back (which is what I would do too, at day 2) then that selection process will happen inside you instead of in a dish. Sounds like a great plan! Xx

I found you waiting! Glad to hear AF finally arrived and will wait to hear how your next scan goes.

Patch, your name sounds familiar - like we chatted on here but perhaps a long time ago? Have you been at this infertility saga for a while perhaps?

Tap, I think your attitude is a perfectly normal response to protecting yourself through such a hard time. I had 11 attempts at fresh IVF to finally produce my current BFP so you can imagine how negative I felt towards it all after failure upon failure. I was the most stressed in the last cycle because I had got a credit card to fund it and knew that by the time I paid it back and saved again, I would be 40 and so that cycle would be the last I could afford. Yet it was the one that worked. banana too can probably back up the negative attitude as she too didn't want to get her hopes up, yet it didn't stop her success. Hope that provides some reassurance xox

Hi shellster ! My next scan is Friday they want me to start opk tomorrow but will keep an eye with scans more than last cycle. There was what think was a dominant follicle today but so early in a long cycle they said it's hard to tell so fingers crossed !

Hope everyone is well

I've spent all day reading up on thyroid issues and associated nk cells and deliberating if I should have aspirin and progesterone like last time or aspirin, clexane, prednisolone and progesterone...... Not proven that I have nk cels but my thyroid antibodies and FET failure in October has meant I'm recommended to have full immune support but I'm not sure..... Looks like an evening of more research !

waves can I post here?

I've just started buserelin today, planning on having a frozen embryo replaced.. We had some frozen 5 years () ago from our first ivf cycle. We were incredibly lucky that it worked first time and we have 4 year old DS.

Feeling really sore with period type pain but it must be a coincidence!

waiting with your immune history are the clinic recommending the steroids and clexane? what about intralipids? Makes a lot of sense to treat empirically to give yourself the best chance. I guess the question is, if you decided not to, would you look back and think ‘if only’?

TipBoov congrats on your DS - hope your frostie makes it two for two!

shellster can’t be long for you now - how are you doing?

tap as shelter said, I completely expected the worst, although obv hoped for the best. All that said, my prognosis was very poor, so I think my low expectations weren’t unwarranted! My consultant said negative thinking wouldn’t affect the outcome, it’s just about whatever you feel you need to get you through the cycle. For me, it was about planning ahead for what the next step would be if it failed. TBH I’m already doing that in case this one doesn’t stick, I’m mentally thinking whether I’d opt for a medically managed mc or ERPC, and when I could go for a FET. Which is possibly not the healthiest attitude to be taking - I guess it’s a defence mechanism. Wishing you all the luck in the world

Yes steroids and clexane and aspirin

Nobody has mentioned intralipids to me so don't think I'll have that. I've ordered a book recommended on another thread 'is your body baby ready' I think it's called. Got next day delivery so I can read it before my appt ! I do feel that I need the extra help for immune issues from what I've read online so far but it's a hard decision as I don't want to do anything wrong

Yes I've got that book. Dr Sher has a blog all about immune issues which is very digestible. Most people seem to treat with steroids and intralipids together for NK Cell issues but obv different clinics do different things. Good luck with your next appointment!

I've never heard mention of Intralipids or seen it on the clinic website although I know you can get them privately can't you ? I think I need to research that too !

I'm sure I've heard others at Create say they've had intralipids prescribed. Healthcare at home can come to your home and give you the infusion there. Deffo ask about them and see what they say xx

Hello all. I think I can join this post now!

Basic stats are that I am 38 (just turned on weds!) and been trying for around 5 years. Husband has a child from previous relationship so we don't qualify for NHS treatment. I had an unrelated MRI last year for back pain and they found a compressed disc but also a fibroid. Which set me on the path of seeing a gynea. This was all under my private healthcare. it's moved very quickly since then with all tests done and coming back clear bloods all good. Had endo and adeo removed and given clomid but still unsuccessful so now we are about to embark on IVF. Forms have been completed and sent off and we are waiting for our appointment with the ACU nurse. My consultant said no reason not to start next cycle.

My only massive concern is my BMI. I am at 36 but fit and healthy and well and although as I am a private patient they will do it regardless. I don't know if to postpone for another month and try and loose weight!

Sorry for such a long post!

Hi shellster

Yep we did chat a while ago. Our first ivf worked but ended far too early. Back starting again. Hopefully second time will stick a bit longer. 3 days of buserrlin done

How does everyone find the side effects from buserelin?

I feel a bit spaced out, ravenously hungry and bloated, but I'm only on day 3!

Last cycle was 5 years ago but I was a mess - nausea, vomiting every morning, diarrhoea, and I was really moody, but I can't remember how long is been injecting for before I felt like this.

Also the injections hurt a lot more this time, but then I didn't have stretch marks first time round!

Hello everyone

badleg I'm not sure about bmi being high, I'm sure it must affect in a similar way to bmi being too low so it may be better to get it within the ideal range. Mine was a bit low so I've had to put on and maintain weight and it seems to have helped a bit as I had a few more regular cycles

tipboov I only had buserilin as a trigger so didn't get any side effects but I'm assuming longer term use may cause some, hopefully not any troublesome ones but might be worth checking with your hospital/clinic. I only did short protocol so am a bit clueless about all the down regging etc but someone else should come along soon who knows more than me!

banana how are you? When is your scan date again? Must be soon, how exciting !

shellster hope you are doing ok, how many weeks are you now?

patch hope you are doing ok, is your cycle a down regging one too ? I think I remember you from a previous thread too. Fingers crossed things go well this time for you

I had my apt today, lining was perfect apparently but lead follicle only 12.5mm so going back Monday for another scan. They've said as opk so unreliable for me they will just trigger once the follicle is about 18mm. Does anyone know how much they grow each day? I'm trying to work out when possibly ET will be!
Went through all my medications too. I read the whole Dr Beer book last night and spoke with dh for hours about it and we decided it's def the right thing going with aspirin, clexane and steroids as well as progesterone. Fingers crossed it's the winning combination. Also having anti b before ET due to infection after last unsuccessful ET in October

Has anyone here had sedation for ET? We've booked for that as I had quite a nasty vasovagal type episode last ET and wanted to avoid it this time

Badleg I think I remember you from another thread, sorry to see that you’re in treatment but delihghted that you’re getting this show on the road. TBH although BMI does make a difference, I think it’s more in pregnancy, and based on no medical knowledge whatsoever I’d guess it’s more likely that age will have a greater bearing on the outcome of your cycle than a few pounds - i.e. the cons of waiting till you’ve dropped your BMI are likely to outweigh the gains. Good luck!

Tip I found buserelin just made me really really grumpy. My diplomacy filter was non existent! And then from grumpy to weepy. I was a barrel of laughs!

waiting brilliant news about dominant follie and being on track to ovulate this month. I think the rule of thumb is 1-2mm follicle growth per day (ish)? Given you have existing autoimmune history the steroids and clexane make a hell of a lot of sense. Hoping it’s the winning formula for you! Have you decided whether you’ll transfer one or both yet?

I’ve never had sedation for ET, but could they give you some oral valium?

shellster can’t be long now?! How are you doing?

Yes, scan for me on Tues, eeeeeeek! Will hopefully be 7+1 then. Not feeling any nausea and worrying that’s a bad sign. But then again I could have lots of symptoms and find it’s a blighted ovum or MMC, so doesn’t really tell you much either way. Just hoping for good news

We are going to transfer both. As they are day 2 embryos and 1 is grade 1 and the other grade 2 (not exactly sure what that means as there seem to be different ways of grading embryos I've heard of some graded with a number and letters??
We decided to use embryo glue again too so fingers crossed ! Scan again Monday and whenever follicle big enough they will trigger