WANTED- cycle buddies who are ttc#1 and planning a FET in April/May

[RoseBud2016]

I'm in need of some buddies!

A long story short is that I have been ttc#1 for 19 months now. I have severe PCOS and don't ov or cycle naturally.
Last year I was told that DH and I would only have a chance of conceiving through IVF, after numerous other fertility treatments failed.

In February this year we had our first ISCI IVF cycle at Reprofit in the Czech Republic (DH has 2 DDs so we are not eligible for treatment on the NHS) We got 12 eggs, 8 fertilised and 6 made it to blasts! We had one transferred and fell pregnant! But at 4+4 blood tests confirmed that the pregnancy wasn't viable and at 5 weeks we had a very early mc (I hate the phrase CP as I think it trivialises it)

The last few weeks have been such a struggle physically and mentally but we are keen to try again so are planning another trip to Reprofit to be reunited with one of our Frosties!

Scared and excited in equal measures and would love some buddies to share in this new and unknown part of the 'journey' with. X

grumpel away. I feel bad about saying it on here because I know it is a very "privileged" situation to be in -I guess I'm #winningatinfertility until the PGS comes back and they are all chromosomally normal which is ridiculous.

If it makes you feel any better I am currently looking more like a sphere than a human shaped person so it definitely has its downsides. Oh, and the fact of the matter is IT ONLY TAKES ONE. A 4bb will be just fine tucked in tight.

Am so jealous of your hols! I am dying for some sun. You will have a fab time.

Ps do you have any symptoms re thyroid? I am wondering if I should be tested as I am a psycho before a FET just to double check

Stealth If your a psycho, so am I! Went to the GP yesterday and he agreed to test for vitamin D defiency and thyroid issues prior to FET. Had the blood test done there and then so will know by early next week. Personally I think it's worth getting checked! And is easily rectified if there's a problem
I'm also going to look at NK cells testing too if I find the time before our hols. But I think this has to be done privately.

No, stealth have never had any underactive thyroid symptoms at all (obvs other than infertilty and latterly a mc ). Was only ever slightly off to be gong with but at my one year not-upduffed dr appointment where All these things were checked she was brilliantly proactive and straightaway put me on thyroxine to give it a boost. Since then it's yo-yo'd a bit and have upped dose twice but have always felt fine.

I would DEFINITELY ask to get thyroid and Vit D checked as part of the level 1s a GP can do. Knowledge is power.

Also, please don't be silly about being shy re your frostie count! God knows any little positive thing is amazing during this process! X

rose sorry to butt in but have lurked as I may be joining you for a FET in may. Or if I have my way another fresh cycle with PGS.

But just wanted to chip in on NK cells as it's something I'm thinking of. On the NK cells there are three different tests

I can recommend the fertility friends immunes faq for the explanation between the difference

www.fertilityfriends.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=242395.msg3904731#msg3904731

The real ones are the Chicago tests which only a few clinics offer as they have to go to the RFU lab in Chicago for processing

We are likely to be adding an immunes protocol into my next cycle but my Dr doesn't find the tests reliable and treats empirically for implantation failure. The treatments he uses are the same whether you get the tests done or not - Reprofit do issue prescriptions for them so you could add immunes in to your protocol without spending the £2000 or so on the Chicago tests

The typical immunes protocol for potential NK cells issues is prednisolone, intralipids, clexane and baby aspirin. Plus possibly Gestone injections for increased progesterone.

Possibly worth speaking to the clinic about?

Xxxx

Hello my lovely Banana Been thinking of you a lot today but didn't want you to feel 'hounded' Just know I'm thinking of you xxx

Thank you for that- very useful. So are you saying I can be treated for NK cells even without knowing I have a problem? Is that what people do? I feel so under educated with this side of stuff! Just as you feel you have a handle on what is going on, your research uncovers another aspect to consider.

Hmmm ok I'll check my thyroid then! That's scary that you don't know. Ffs how does anyone get prego naturally?!

I've never had a prob with vit d, I've been taking supplements for years and I always test very well (much to the surprise of the doctors who are so used to people in the UK being deficient!). But thyroid I don't think I've ever had looked at.

Rose - safety in numbers!

I know, re pregnancy and HOW it ever happens to people. It seems so ridiculous that people can casually bonk once or twice and then literally have a baby.

I do sometimes wonder if maybe everyone else is in on a massive worldwide joke and actually pregnancy occurs from poking each others' belly buttons or something. And they're all sniggering behind our backs that us losers think you get pregnant from having sex and have been gullibly trying it for so long

I possibly need an early night.

Ha ha! Yes. We're doing it wrong!

Btw my phone just converted etc to egg. So it's not just you!

So my vitamin D tests and thyroid tests all came back as normal, and my clinic won't treat me for NK cells yet. They want me to try another transfer first. So now it's just a case of getting AF out of the way and getting on with the next transfer!

Stealth How are you feeling now? Any better?

Grumpel how are you doing this week?

Ps Grumpel I tried the belly button thing and it doesn't work either!

That's great news, rose! All systems go.

I'm off on hols tomorrow, yay! Natch having the pre-hol work panic first though. FFS.

Yay rose! Glad it all came back normal. I just go and do that next week. Yes am feeling better although definitely not fully recovered yet. Am going to spend another v quiet weekend catching up on work and resting!

When are you due AF?

grumpel have a fab time on hols. Soak up that sun!

Have a fab holiday Grumpel It's around 30c at the mo.... Perfect temp!

Stealth I'm due AF in about a 10days Slap bang in the middle of our hols So meds will be coming with me just in case but knowing my body, AF probably won't show up for months! I have Provera at the ready if need be.
Glad you're on the mend. It must be a relief- have a lovely relaxing weekend X

Have an amazing holiday grumpel!

Ooh rose exciting that AF is maybe coming. It's such a lottery isn't it?? You must be so keen to get started again. How does a FET work at reprofit? Do you go for a scan in UK to check the lining is ready before you fly? Or just go out there at a certain time? Sounds like our cycle timings might line up too!

Stealth I have to have lining scans in the UK on CD10 & 12. Then fly out on CD18 approx for a transfer between CD19-21. It all depends on lining as to which day they choose.
I'm so ready to get going now!

I can imagine! The waiting around is a killer. Especially for us with erratic AFs. Great that you can do most of it here, that makes it really easy.

Am really looking forward to doing something that doesn't involve injections!

Your holidays sound ace!

Seeing the consultant in 3 weeks to discuss next steps. He will probably try and persuade us to do a FET with one of our frosties before doing another fresh cycle (projecting wildly and based on nothing other than a hunch), but after finding out I had been carrying around a dead baby unbeknownst to me, I just really don't want to play Russian Roulette with our frosties. We were talked out of PGS at the time, and at the time it was the right decision but obvs now with the benefit of hindsight yada yada

Will see what the karotyping says as to whether the embryo just wasn't viable or not (the more likely option) or if there's something else going on

I'm definitely going to insist on a hysteroscopy before we put anything else back as if nothing else I want to know what state the uterine environment is after the ERPC, as well as checking if there are any abnormalities

We already had all the thrombophilia tests and level 1 immunes done and they were clear. My Dr doesn't find the Chicago tests reliable so won't be doing that. I've also got a full thyroid and vitamin D panel ordered from Blue horizon so I can take that in with me to our follow up consult. We checked my thyroid and prolactin back in July but for peace of mind I'd like to know if anything has changed.

I'll probably vacillate about FET or fresh about a gazillion times between now and the follow up!!

Well my AF arrived this morning. Gulp! Will see the doctor this week and I guess he'll give me estrogen so we can get going on a FET.

Also booked in level 1 immunes and a thyroid panel, so thanks for the encouragement ladies. Need to actually go and do the blood tests which I should be able to do tomorrow. Then I'm guessing it will be end of next week before they're back. Which should work out to be good timing.

Fab news about AF Stealth! Does that mean you are doing a FET this cycle or next?
Reprofit have agreed to prescribe me a progesterone injectible for my FET (called Agolutin) so have just ordered it from our Czech Pharmacy ready for next cycle. DH is excited cos gets to inject me in the ass each day

Rose did they tell you what the procedure is going to be?

This cycle I hope rose! Will depend on what state my poor old ovaries are in, I'm guessing, & whether I'm judged to have recovered sufficiently from ohss. Am seeing my doctor tomorrow night, so fingers crossed!

Ass jabbing...it's every husband's dream! Mine would FREAK if he had to do something like that. Is there a specific reason you wanted this inject?

Vixx I have to take Estrofem orally 3 times a day from CD3 then have a scan on CD10 and 12. Then depending on the lining thickness I will start the Agolutin injections after that, until OTD.

I'm assuming I won't need to take the pessaries as the injections will be in replacement of them but have emailed the clinic to double check.

Have you been prescribed the pessaries or injections?

Ooh stealth how awesome if you can crack on this cycle. Hope you're feeling ok overall and they deem you ready to go.
Also feeling a bit about the arse injections! You're a brave soul, rose!! You won't have to start them on hols, will you?

My understanding is that the Agolutin is in ampules that you draw into a syringe yourself (very similar to Menopur) and then inject deep into your muscle in your bottom.