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

Really glad it went well rose and that you felt looked after. And Italy sounds like just the tonic - great weather, stunning food and most importantly some time to heal and enjoy with DH. You will be back on the IVF train before you know it so enjoy your holiday. Will you do any investigations before the next transfer?

Am hoping DH's results come back soon! Mine took 9 days so if his take the same time it'll be Tuesday afternoon. We actually have a consultant appointment & 16w scan on weds so perhaps they'll hold them until then - either way, hopefully they're back by then!

Grumpel Hope you're having a lovely relaxing time in Portugal! How long are you there for? Is it nice and hot?
I don't know what they must have done to my legs in the operating theatre but my god my thighs are so achey today- like I've done a lot of running! Definitely muscle ache rather than anything sinister but it's making me wonder just how much they pulled my legs around
Physically I'm not feeling too bad today- the bleeding has already stopped and I now just have very minimal brown spotting. My abdomen is a bit achey but it's my thighs that ache more! Hopefully I will feel back to normal physically by the beginning of next week.

Stealth 16 week scan next wk is total madness!!! Time feels like it's flown by (although I'm sure you don't feel quite the same way!)

I'm really not sure about what to do next if I'm honest. I have a few things in mind but won't hear back from Reprofit with their suggestions until next week.

Here's what I'm thinking:

I need to work out if this is a problem with me or the embryos. The embryos are frozen and I'm pretty certain that Reprofit won't freeze, test and refreeze embryos so that's not an option.
So either we do what Grumpel did and just try another FET in the hope that we've just been deeply unlucky (2 transfers, 2 mcs, 2 dud embryos) Although I would insist that they added immunes meds to my protocol if we did this just to be sure, OR we do some investigations to check that I'm not causing these pregnancies to fail first (hidden infections tests at Serum, hysteroscopy, DNA fragmentation test for DH) OR we start from scratch and do a new fresh cycle with PGS.

I'm leaning towards investigations first; DH wants to do another FET with immunes added. Stealth give me your wisdom- what do you think? X

Ouch - your poor legs! There are lots of connections between the pelvic floor and deep core muscles and your leg muscles which is why you probs feel sore. Take care of yourself!

In terms of next steps - hmmm it's a tough one. You still have 4 frosties, right? My first port of call would be double checking on PGS. I recently checked whether, if DH tests positive to the CF carrier gene, we could thaw my frosties and rebiopsy and do PGD and was told it was possible - but it had only vey recently been proven to be possible & safe (like in the last few months). I know banana also had her January round re thawed and PGSed on recently too. So in theory if you wanted to go down that route it should be doable - and it's probably where I'd start. The main reason not to would be cost, I think.

In terms of other things - on the bright side you have definitely been able to implant, so it's either an immunes issue or something extremely esoteric to do with lining. How long before you could cycle again and would doing a eg hysto delay that timetable? I'd be tempted to schedule the next FET (definitely with full immunes support) and do as many investigations as you can in the meantime but without delaying.

I think the problem is that any expert you go and see about whether it's you that is a problem may tend to the "well you've just had 2 dud embies" line of thought. Which is entirely possible - with the 6 embies you got last time, you'd expect 3 of them to be normal so you may have just been unlucky. (This might also be a reason to do a 3rd FET without PGS - in theory you MUST have some good ones in there.)

So, hmmm. I don't know. It's a tough one! I think if it was me I'd be tempted to do PGS + another FET with immunes + whatever investigations you can before then. Throw the kitchen sink at it all!

Stealth Thank you! That is actually very helpful. What your suggesting is basically doing a combination of what DH and I both want- so do some investigations to start ruling things out but get a schedule for another FET together at the same time.

I'm going to phone the GP tomoz and ask for my TSH to be retested (I didn't take the thyroxine last time in the end but still have the prescription so plan to start taking it once my blood result is back) I also want the GP to test for thrombophilia.
Then I want Reprofit to add full immunes to my protocol, and while I'm at it I'll double check about PGS testing on frozen embryos. The cost is per embryo with them so that helps cost wise if it is possible! We would just test one at a time.

Thank you again- sometimes it takes someone else saying it for it to make sense and form a picture in my head. I hope GP and Reprofit are ready for my demands tomorrow! X

Good on you! Yes definitely do the thrombophilia etc - that is all really straightforward and you want to rule it out. And good idea about checking the thyroid too.

And go get em at reprofit! PGS is such a rapidly evolving area you just need to be firm I think. Great you can test per embryo too. Rose on the march!

Xx

Excellent to be forming a plan of action, rose. I reckon all of what you're thinking is very sensible. I'd definitely have gone down the PGS route if I'd had more than the one lonely frostie, it felt like such Russian roulette - but I did ask to have pred and Clexane empirically prescribed. It can't hurt. Brilliant that you can test one blast at a time if needed as well.

Good to hear that the bleeding has stopped too. Fingers crossed you'll recover fast and be ready to go again once you've decided on the next steps.

How's everyone else doing? Stealth -16 weeks! Hope scan goes well and DH's results come back quickly and, most importantly, are good news.
Vixx hope you've started feeling less rough and you're resting up.

We're back home now and full of the joys of laundry and unpacking. Still pretty symptomless other than stomach feeling v heavy in the evenings and the occasional aversion. DH had some guacamole last night and I nearly divorced him. God, the man stank...
Next scan is on 19th. Putting it out of mind as much as poss!

Just got DH's cystic fibrosis results back and he is negative. Am SO relieved.

Brilliant news stealth hope that's lifted a huge weight off your shoulders. Good luck for your scan tomorrow.

Rose I hope you are bearing up ok x

Grumpel not long to go until your scan! We definitely all understand your anxiety.

I'm still feeling awful and off from work. Will be 12 weeks on Thursday. Bar going for my booking in appointment and to the doctors and hospital I havent left the house. I'm getting a bit down about it, then feel guilty. I can't imagine going back to work.

I have my scan next week when I will be 13 weeks. Usual scaniexty

Don't feel guilty vixx, you're unwell. Rest up and it will eventually pass. Scanxiety is the worst. Everything crossed you have a successful scan, am sure you will!

Thanks stealth. I hope so!

Stealth so pleased to hear that! It must be such a relief! Enjoy seeing Stealthini again tomorrow X

Grumpel guacamole and garlic offend me at the best of times so I'm not surprised it is upsetting your super sensitive preggo senses! Even now with HCG (hopefully) falling my sense of smell is ridiculous. Everything stinks.
Your next scan will be whilst I'm away so good luck with that. X

Vixx Definitely do not feel guilty! You are doing what's best for you and baby Vixx and you would be no use at work as you are feeling now anyway. You can't help that you are so ill.
Did you go back to the GP? What did they say? X

AFM- POAS and absolutely crazily dark test line, barely any control line...... Great Looks like I'm going to be waiting for that to decrease for quite a while!
I sent off some menstrual blood (-sick not envy) to Serum in Athens today to be tested for a whole range of "hidden" infections. Waiting for GP to contact me and let me know what they can offer me tests wise, and Reprofit so far are saying no to immunes cos I have had embryos implant both times so I don't need them - that was from my coordinator rather than the consultant though, so I'm waiting for the doctor to email me directly.

I leave from my hols tomorrow so I hope your scans all go well in the coming days- I look forward to reading all of your news once I'm back.

Take care x

Rose it took me about 3 weeks to stop having positive tests. It's awful.
How long will the Serum results take to come back?
Do they usually only offer immunes when there are implantation issues?
Hope you have a fantastic holiday and get some relaxation.

I'm no good at work but I have had messages today saying they will be making decisions for my pay based on my sick note and length of service.

Rose I'm also a bit about Reprofit not letting you do immunes, mine were prescribed empirically after the one mc as you know, with the thinking 'you never know if the extra support is needed and it can do no harm if not'. Hope you get some more info back from the consultant on their decision making around this. What a pain.
Sorry to hear about the strong bfps as well, it's so cruel going from being delighted to see them to desperately sad. Hope you're holding up ok and you both have a fab holiday in the sun with much gelato.

Great news on test results, stealth! One weight off your shoulders... Hope you get another good look at stealthini tomorrow as well. You should get a great visual at 16 weeks, no?

Urgh Vixx that's shit and just not what you need right now! Presumably they know it's pregnancy related illness? Your rights as I (vaguely) understand employment law should be protected there - certainly in my company any necessary antenatal leave doesn't go on main sickness record, but appreciate that might not be the case everywhere. Hope you start feeling better soon in any case

grumpel yes I should get a good look. I feel like it's cheating a bit as I only saw him a week ago! Let's see how he's grown in that time.

rose urgh that is the pits. And boo at reprofit for not allowing immunes. If they're really firm on not allowing you could you see someone privately in the UK and supplement?

vixx urgh work being arseholes. I believe that whilst pregnancy related sickness cannot be counted for the purposes of assessing sickness for dismissal or otherwise, you "only" have to be paid for it in the same way as you would as if you were "normally" sick. So it will depend on your employers policy - sounds like they've got an enhanced policy if you have service otherwise it is SSP only. Fx it all works out for you.

Stealth how did the scan go?

All good. A jumping wriggling baby boy. Sucking his thumb and in full lotus position - he's definitely going to be a yogi based on his pre natal poses! A little fatty too - his abdomen was 93rd percentile. I didn't see the doctor after as he had to go to the hospital suddenly, but we'll speak by phone - I wouldn't be surprised if they want me to take a gestational diabetes test early as large abdominal circumference is one of the flags for GD and also I have been mainlining fruit since I've been pregnant so my sugar levels are probs all over the place

Aw great news! You're feeding him well
When will you take the glucose test. They have offered to me as well due to the pcos. Have they mentioned that to you?

Haven't spoken to doctor yet vixx am just speculating re GT. I continued on met for first tri as have been on it for awhile, but have come off it now which was doctor's suggestion.

rose just checking in to say I hope you are as ok as humanly possible, and that I'm thinking of you

vixx and grumpel hope you're doing well too

How are you doing stealth?

Thread is quiet these days. Grumpel hope you are well, you are coming up to 10 weeks now?

Rose I hope you are getting some rest and relaxation x

My sickness has gone down alot (yay) and I am back at work today. Having the usual worry about the sickness being not as bad but I will be 13 weeks on Thursday so hopefully that is why. Really worried about my scan Thursday.

Hiya Vixx, great to hear you're feeling better. Do hope that's the worst of the sickness over for you and that the mythical placenta-takeover is happening.

Ah, scanxiety though, never fails to creep in! When's your next one, again? Is it this week? I have my next reassurance one tomorrow, at 9+4, and of course am totally bricking it- this is the point we found out about the mmc last time so argh, argh. I AM feeling ranker than I did previously, where I was completely symptomless, but not by much. Walking downstairs is murder on the boobs at the mo though!

Rose how are you doing? Is all your testing underway with serum and gp or are you just relaxing in the sun for a few more days? Hope you're having/had a totally fab break.

Hope you're having a calmer week after the good dp test results, stealth. Feeling any stealthy stealthini movements yet??

I am currently on the world's hottest, most packed train attempting to get home. Apparently lots of trains don't work when it's slightly hotter than normal. Great. At least I have a seat and a bottle of water though! And MN

Doh sorry- you clearly said your scan is Thurs! Good luck xx

Glad the sickness is abating vixx. It's about time!

grumpel I think I actually might be starting to feel some movement. It's a bit hard to tell and I'm not expecting much yet given the anterior placenta, but I am feeling some odd things when I lie down at night. Stealthini is a massive giant baby so am guessing he's got a relatively powerful kick! Am feeling a bit calmer although now won't see a doctor again until 21w which feels a bit weird after so much attention to date!

Good luck to both of you for scans this week. Am really hoping it's great news for both of you. Sore boobs sound like a promising sign grumpel. And it's so hot tonight you probably wouldn't have slept much anyway!!

Good luck grumpel. Well actually you have probably had it already!

Stealth have you got a bump yet?

Yes my scan is Thursday!

Scan done. Little grump is in there, looking all baby-shaped with a heartbeat like a train and measuring 3 days ahead! Was a right sweaty, fear-stricken mess on the dildocouch beforehand but feeling more relieved now for approx 36 hours - though it still doesn't seem quite real.

Booking in appt is Thurs, and feeling grateful I don't have to depressingly cancel it like I did last time, then NHS dating scan 5th Aug at exactly 12wks. So officially adios IVF clinic (for now). Christ.

Hope everyone is doing well and not melting unattractively everywhere like me.