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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

Anyone starting IVF? Join me (5)

505 replies

waitingimpatient · 10/02/2016 21:11

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 Smile fingers crossed

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waitingimpatient · 26/05/2016 13:29

Well I've had a bad day and made an absolute idiot of myself in public

Had an appt at hospital (unrelated to fertility) and my taxi home was held up so I waited by the cafe/entrance which is adjacent to maternity... I don't know what came over me but I think after the third tiny baby was carried past in a car seat I felt overwhelmed, then too hot ten that was it I couldnt control the urge to cry. Horrible horrible huge hot tears and people were looking at me.

I don't know what came over me. It was horrible :(

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Elbbob · 26/05/2016 20:43

oh waiting that sounds awful. I completely understand that response, sometimes I see families with little babies or kids I get choked up. Someone bought a baby into work recently and I had to sob in the loo.

Hope you are feeling a little better now?

I spoke to my clinic. My hcg was 494 so I had misheard but not by much. They aren't telling me anything - just do another test next week, go to A&E if you get stabbing pain etc. I guess they have no idea so it's 'wait and see'.

waitingimpatient · 26/05/2016 21:13

I'm ok now thanks, it just took me by surprise. I felt really drained when I finally got home. I feel that in a way I had almost sort of forgotten what the end goal was and I've been focusing on getting to June, getting the cycle done, getting good eggs and some embryos to freeze. All my appts reflexology etc but suddenly it was all right in front of me. Beautiful tiny babies and their proud parents and it hit me and I couldn't stop crying. I have been a bit over emotional lately but it really took me by surprise

Hopefully all will be well and your next blood test will be even higher. I'm sure I read that once hcg is over 1000 you should see a gestational sac on ultrasound

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bananafish81 · 27/05/2016 21:06

Oh waiting massive hugs. It's so so so tough - you're totally entitled and it's completely understandable to have a meltdown ; tbh I'd say you wouldn't be human if you didn't. Tonnes of hugs and hope you and DH can plan some nice treats for the bank holiday weekend Flowers

ellbob - well that all certainly seems encouraging and pointing in the right direction, everything crossed for you. And hope that you're able to have a lovely holiday to take your mind off everything (easier said than done I realise!)

Well EC on Thu went well - got a bumper haul of 28 eggs Shock Got THE CALL this morning to say that 22 were mature, of which 19 had fertilised overnight. Loooong way to go before day 5 but absolutely overjoyed to have surpassed all expectations thus far.

waitingimpatient · 27/05/2016 22:13

Wow banana those numbers are great-28 eggs!!! And 19 fertilised is amazing! Fingers crossed they all keep on developing well!!!

I'm ok today. Unusually exhausted but ok. I think yesterday just completely drained me and it's had a knock on effect today. I've decided I just have to pick myself up and carry on and stop moping about as it doesn't help anything.
This weekend we are going to do some DIY and spring cleaning as I have the urge to get the house all perfect before cycle begins.

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TapDancingPimp · 29/05/2016 08:53

Banana that's amazing, all your research into egg quality has definitely paid off by the look of things. Best of luck for the coming weeks Flowers

I've ordered my CoQ10 but fear I may have left it a little late to make a difference (haven't started cycle yet but doubt it'll be more than 3 months away)...oh well Blush

bessie84 · 31/05/2016 17:52

banana wow wee, you go girl!!! good luck.

waiting sending you hugs chick.

vixx how are you? we cycled together last october.

shellster congratulations on your baby boy (shocked face at castor oil) hope your all doing ok.

afm - now 34 weeks pgnt, anxiety is here after having previous stillbirth, hate this time of pregnancy, such a worry. got a c-section booked for less than 4 weeks time. i hope you all get your much deserved bfps soon. xxx keep going girls. xxx

waitingimpatient · 01/06/2016 21:54

Bessie !!! So lovely to hear from you again! Wow 34 weeks!!! Not long now and I'll keep everything crossed and hope and pray for everything to go well for you x

banana hope you're doing ok? How are your embryos doing? What day are we now? Hope you got lots for the freezer!

Hope everyone else is ok too
I have to say it....its JUNE!!!! I've been waiting so long and now it's here I can't wait to get started. Have a scan and bloods next week just to check all is ok/no cysts etc then when AF arrives I'll be starting stimms! Iam so excited. Finally I'll be doing something to get closer to a bfp and I'm feeling really positive after all the preparation !

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bananafish81 · 02/06/2016 12:30

Bessie !! How lovely to hear from you. Wow, 34 weeks, not long to go before you meet you bubba, so excited for you! I remember we all cycled together back in October, can’t believe how quickly it’s gone - although I bet it doesn’t seem like that for you. Everything crossed for you - I can’t remember if you said you knew whether you were having boy or girl flavour? Hope they’re safe in your arms before you know it xxx

Tap honestly, I don’t think the supplements made much difference. I didn’t take them while I was pregnant and then was only 6-8 weeks before this stims cycle, so I don’t think the supps were make or break. Dr said the difference in quality was down to a healthier ovarian environment with higher levels of oestrogen, following the cumulative effect of the stims (as I’d had v low oestrogen levels before). CoQ10 won’t hurt, but I really wouldn’t think it’ll be make or break - it’s the stims protocol that makes the biggest difference to egg quality (over and above the inherent quality of the oocytes determined by age)

waiting don’t be so hard on yourself lovey. You’re doing brilliantly. And, it is indeed JUNE! Hurray!! Everything crossed for scans and bloods next week, then you’re nearly ready to rock and roll!!!

So, after two nerve wracking days of waiting for calls, the final tally is in for our embryos

We have a grand total of 12 blasts for PGS testing!

From this fresh cycle, we ended up with 9 good blasts that were suitable for biopsy and freezing.

Of our 4 frosties, 3 of them were able to be biopsied. Although the fourth did thaw, it didn’t successfully re-expand and progress to hatching blast stage, and therefore wasn’t suitable for biopsy.

Although we won’t ever know for sure, the lab say in general that euploid embryos do generally survive the freeze / thaw process, and those that don’t are generally aneuploid - so it’s likely that this embryo was a dud and just weeded itself out

We’re thrilled with these numbers - now we just have to hope that in two weeks time (yes, another 2ww!) that there are some decent ones in there - and most of all, that there’s one that will be able to go the distance and become a person 9 months later. The FET is what terrifies me, as if we put a PGS tested embryo back and the cycle fails or I miscarry again, it’s all down to my body’s inability to sustain a pregnancy. Even if we get a good seed, if we can’t get the soil right, it’s all for naught. So just really really have to hope my body won’t let another healthy baby down…

LHReturns · 03/06/2016 06:16

It is the day of my wedding (at 5am woke up in a sweat) and I am delurking (again) to say GO BANANA!!!! GO WAITING!!!! CONGRATS SHELLSTER!!!

Since I have retreated to focus on wedding planning I have never stopped reading here. I am SO excited for you (and all others on the thread).

So I am getting married today and looks like we move house in July soooooo, August fresh IVF round here we come! Dying to join you all again with this.

Sounds like you all will be well and truly up the duff by then....DONT LEAVE ME!!!!! Banana do share some of those glorious eggs.

I miss you all, and love reading all the updates.

AFM:

I have been taking Uniquinol two months now and it has definitely lengthened my regular short cycle from 23 to 27 days, and made my period last a bit longer). Should I see this as a good sign? I see no other reason for longer cycle.

Will start DHEA again next week when wedding behind me.

The warmest very best of luck as you move to your next stages and speak very soon.

I gotta go get married...

waitingimpatient · 03/06/2016 10:27

Have a wonderful day LH !!!! How exciting I hope everything goes to plan and that the sun comes out for you ! Will be thinking of you x

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bananafish81 · 03/06/2016 10:39

Congratulations LH - have the most spectacular, wonderful, amazing day and honeymoon and new home - we're all thinking of you Flowers

Vixxfacee · 03/06/2016 14:34

Hi Bessie, I wondered how you were. We had our collection around the same time. I cannot believe you are 34 weeks already, congratulations!

I waited until May for my frozen transfer and am 6 weeks and a bit now. Had some problems with bleeding but taking one day as it comes. Can't believe you will be meeting your baby in 4 weeks. Do you know if you are having a boy or girl?

Vixxfacee · 03/06/2016 14:34

Congratulations LH hope you have a wonderful day!

Vixxfacee · 03/06/2016 14:35

Wow banana you have some great numbers. 9 blasts are amazing.
Hope the next part of your journey goes smoothy!

Elbbob · 10/06/2016 19:35

I posted and it disappeared. Anyway just updating to say my low HCG turned out to be an indicator of a non-viable pregnancy, but it wasn't etopic at least. I was advised to stop progesterone a few days ago and am now miscarrying. Just want to get it over with now. I feel so flat. Can't imagine how I am going to be able to try again.

Elbbob · 10/06/2016 19:38

Anyway congrats LH on getting married!
And good luck to waiting and Banana fingers crossed for you both xx

waitingimpatient · 12/06/2016 21:42

So so sorry elbbob :( that's terrible news. I hope you have plenty of support and we are all here for you too if you need to talk x

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bananafish81 · 12/06/2016 23:18

ellbob I am so very very sorry. Words seem so hollow, nothing we can say will relieve your pain, we're all thinking of you. I know how utterly devastating my experience of 6 weeks of miscarriage limbo was, my heart is going out to you Flowers xxx

Shellster52 · 13/06/2016 02:06

Oh Elbbob, it's just awful. After it took me 11 IVF cycles, which included 1 m/c myself, my heart breaks as I think of you m/cing and I re-live the pain as though it happened to me yesterday. It's just not fair.

banana, I am thrilled for you and your 12 embros available for biopsy. Although I realoise that after your last experience, you still feel you have a way to go. I don't think I felt safe until after 20 weeks... but even after he has been born, I was convinced at one stage my son was blind and convinced at another point he is autistic, so even now I don't believe it. Will the transfer take place your next cycle, allowing the hysteroscopy that served as an endo scratch to still have effect, or do you have to wait for hormones to settle after such a big haul of eggs?

waiting, how are you lovely. You've been waiting waiting ever so long and I can totally understand seeing parents of babies being too much. It was for me too and I had my first son, and even when I was pregnant the second time, I still couldn't stand going to my appointments and seeing other pregnant ladies who had no idea of what women like us go through. So I can only imagine how much harder it is for you just wanting your first child, let alone greedy people like me who would come on here and complain that they were struggling for a second.

AFM, I have been taking the high dose progesterone BCP along with prolactin tablets to try and trick my body into thinking it is pregnant and 'reset' my breasts for another go at breast feeding. So annoyed at myself for getting stressed at day 2 when things weren't going perfect and the stress shutting down my milk supply. Hope these tablets work. I take the last BCP this Sunday and then have to start pumping around the clock to mimic a newborn baby. The research shows that with this method, the maximum milk supply will be reached within 12 weeks, so at least it gives me a 12 week goal to work towards, unlike IVF where there was no end date and we aren't sure how much longer we can go on. So I will be busy pumping from Sunday on, but will find the time to check in as I want to know how banana" gets on with her biopsies and how waiting* gets on with her finally arriving IVF cycle.

Sara237 · 18/06/2016 10:16

Hi,
It's my first time on here and first time for ivf also for first possible baby. Lots of firsts! Been TTC for three years have unexplained infertility all tests show all to be well. I'm 39 now so it's a long shot. First appointment next week feel so much time's been lost. Feel like crying all the time since appointment came through know I should be pleased don't know why am such an emotional wreck all of a sudden! Reading about others experiences helps me feel more settled. Husband doesn't really know what to say! Would love to connect with others going through this.

Shellster52 · 18/06/2016 22:23

Hi Sara. I started this thread many moons ago and after 11 IVF attempts, I've finally got my baby who is now 10 weeks old. Others on here would have success while I was having failure after failure and it just made it feel all the more like it would never happen for me. So now I question if it is in everyone elses best interest if I stay on here as I totally get you thinking 'it's easy for her to say things like 'stay positive' when she already has her baby' as that is exactly what I used to think about others who had success and stayed on here offering advice to me. But there are a couple of ladies on here that I chatted to for a long time before my success and I want to see how they get on. So I hope you don't mind me popping in from time to time. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to pregnancy success of failure. I know what you mean about feeling glum with age and all the statistics against it. I was turning 38 during my last IVF cycle and it felt like another nail in the coffin. However in my 4 years of trying, I knew 3 people all 40 who were going to start trying for a baby and I thought they had no idea of the statistics and their low odds, yet they all fell pregnant easily. Meanwhile I was younger and struggling! You';re totally allowed to be an emotional wreck. All your hopes and dreams are pinned on this IVF cycle with no guarantees. I hope the appointment gives you some reassurance. I assume it's through the NHS when you say 'so much time has been lost'. Hope things move along quickly for you from here xox

Sara237 · 19/06/2016 21:37

Hi Shelster52
Of course you should share and support women on here if you had 11cycles, you know your stuff... it 's awesome you now have your baby. Boy or girl?thank god you never gave up. Yes NHS feel like they dragging their heels have had to keep chasing. Had to have op in Feb which turned out to be unnecessary and will be 40 in April eek! Thanks for sharing and I expect I'll have many stupid questions to ask you!

waitingimpatient · 19/06/2016 22:17

Hello everyone and welcome sara

Hope everyone is ok. I have no news whatsoever, plodding along still....waiting.....
AF hasn't arrived and I think stress has kept it away. Have also had a bit of a crisis so really not sure what on earth I'm doing currently as things have gone tits up for want of a better phrase

I'll update when I have some news/feel able to talk on here about what happened. It's all been a bit rubbish and I need to get my head straight but I will be back as soon as I've sorted out what we need to

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bananafish81 · 21/06/2016 03:14

Hi Sara, so very sorry you find yourself here, but you’re very very welcome - it’s a lovely bunch of women, with tonnes of shared knowledge, and hope that we can support you through your journey

Emotional rollercoaster doesn’t even begin to cover it! You mentioned your first appointment - is this the first appt to discuss getting referred, or the first appointment at the clinic to get the ball rolling?

It’s SO overwhelming and there’s so much information out there, I found two books really helpful when I was starting out, which I can’t recommend enough:

Get A Life: His & Hers Survival Guide to IVF by Rosie Bray and Richard Mackney —> I CANNOT recommend this book enough. It’s a first person account written by a couple about their journey through infertility and IVF; it’s v funny, straight talking, tells it like it is, and for me it was so so helpful to read about the experience from the man’s POV.

The Complete Guide To Ivf: An inside view of fertility clinics and treatment by Kate Brian —> another first person POV, very thorough and takes you through the journey step by step.

I’ve got the most tremendous support from the MN community - don’t know how I’d have got through the last year without the amazing women on this (and other) threads

Shellster keeping everything crossed for your boobs!

Well, the PGS results for the biopsies came through unexpectedly quickly - we’d been told 2 weeks, but I got a call just 5 days later!

We had a total of 12 blasts biopsied for PGS testing

9 of these came from this most recent fresh cycle

Of our 4 frosties, 3 of them were able to be biopsied. Although the fourth did thaw, it didn’t successfully re-expand and progress to hatching blast stage, and therefore wasn’t suitable for biopsy.

Although we won’t ever know for sure, the lab say in general that euploid embryos do generally survive the freeze / thaw process, and those that don’t are generally aneuploid - so it’s likely that this embryo was a dud and just weeded itself out

Unbelievably, out of 12 tested, 6 came back as euploid!!

DH and I both wept and wept for joy

The really interesting thing is that NONE of the frosties from Cycle #2 were genetically normal. The only competent embryo from that cycle was the one we transferred (and miscarried) - which tissue testing subsequently identified as chromosomally normal.

The 6 euploid embryos all came from this 3rd cycle.

If we hadn’t had the frosties tested, we’d have had 4 failed FET or more miscarriages - and I don’t know if we would have had the emotional strength to carry on.

We don't know if any of our 6 euploid embryos will turn into a take home baby - but we do know our chances would have been nil if we hadn't done this third round. And that thanks to PGS, we are still very much in the game.

Unfortunately the transfer side is rather more tricky. We now know that the embryo we transferred last time was genetically normal - and that the miscarriage was due to the soil, not the seed.

We were hoping that because I’d grown all this fantastic lining, I’d have a proper period and a much needed clear out (as I hadn’t had a bleed since October, and hysteroscopy showed there was still some old blood from the pregnancy)

Unfortunately, nearly 3 weeks post EC and no period, my Dr got me in for bloods and a scan

Hormones were all normal, progesterone was low so basically the 2 days of black clots I had at 14/15 days post EC was my period. Scan showed no thickened lining, but visible 8mm old blood clot, so Dr is equally frustrated as my uterus just doesn't seem to want to give stuff up.

He thinks the lining I grew this cycle was probably not good quality, as he's concerned about the blood flow if I've only had a clotty bleed. So we're back to needing a good clear out first before we can start a FET

Sigh.

Plan A is a week of Provera to try and induce a bleed (last pill tomorrow, so Weds onwards I’ll be on knicker watch)

I’m booked in for a HyCoSy in a weeks time (which we will cancel if by some miracle the Provera works) to have a clearer look at the uterine cavity before we start

Plan B - a month of cyclo-progynova (ie an HRT cycle),where we build fresh lining up with oestrogen and then try to have a withdrawal bleed off that.

Plan C is another hysteroscopy, but he's keen to avoid another op.

It's just really sad. The uterine artery blood flow was terrific. The thrombophilia tests showed no evidence of any underlying clotting disorders. But we don't know why I'm just clotting and not having bleeds.

We have 6 perfect embryos but no idea when we might be able to even start a FET, as there’s no point putting anything back until we’re as confident as we can be in the quality of the endometrium

I’m just so so scared of miscarrying another healthy baby Sad

waiting big hugs, I know we’ve been chatting but just wanted to send you extra love and strength, we are all here for you and have everything crossable crossed for you