TTC for 18 months or more. Moving onto iui/ivf/icsi.

[lucieloos]

We have relocated from the conception board where we were previously chatting under the thread 'ttc for 10 months or more'. A lot of us are now long term ttc-ers and are going through infertility treatment or looking to take steps in this direction so we feel this might be a more suitable home for us!

Feel free to stop by and say hi and hopefully we can share the journey together and make it a little easier along the way!

maple I wondered the same re: all the messing around with you banana - it might have mixed things up a bit and it might be a weird result!

I should practice what I preach re: dr Google too though because re: my DHs SA - I think the normal motility is only 4% and the others and not moving or moving backwards - so I don't stand much chance with dodgy shaped sperm who need swimming lessons! Roll on second SA and getting ICSI started!

*are not moving or moving backwards

Hi everyone. It seems like some of you ladies have really been through the works. I'm on a thread over on conception, but it doesn't really seem to fit anymore. Can I join you?

I'm 30, DH is 32
Ttc #1 for 21 months no BFPs ever
DH has moderate low sperm count
I don't ovulate regularly

We are beginning IVF with ICSI in Feb unless there is a cancellation in Jan. I have to ring on the 3-5th to see if there has been a cancellation but AF will likely start the 6th, so if no cancellations by then we have to wait till Feb.

Blue sorry you find yourself over here. We are quite a small crew but newbs are always welcome here!

I'm not due to start IVF until April at the earliest unfortunately but currently waiting on doing extra tests and on the waiting list.

Do you know what protocol you will be on?

Hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas - looking forward to New Years so I can wave goodbye to 2016 quite frankly!

Hello - wondering if I can join too please! I'm 33, DH is 29 and we have been TTC for 2.5 years - 2 BFPs which both ended in early miscarriage.

We have our nurse consultation 4th Jan with a view to having IVF in Feb. Not sure how I feel about it all!! I'm guessing it's pretty normal to feel unsure about the whole thing?!

Thanks for the welcome maple. I'm on the antagonist protocol.

Hi tea. I'm also feeling very unsure about it. When I think about the injections I go a little woozy. But more than that I'm so sad that this will be the way I have to (hopefully) get a baby. I'm still mourning the dream of just popping open a bottle of wine and waking up 2 weeks later to 2 beautiful pink lines.

Hi Blue. Yep, I inow just what you mean!! Would be great if it was that easy . Good luck!!

Welcome blue and tea sorry you find yourselves here but we are glad to have you!

It is very normal to feel unsure about it all and to be sad at the realisation that this is what it has come to.
It is also scary how quickly it all becomes part of your 'normal' life once you start your protocols with injections etc....each step becomes a means of getting to the next bit and in between is the good old waiting that we all become so accustomed to!

I am due to start my second round of ICSI in Feb so will be on similar time frames to you guys.

Maple i'm with you on looking forward to seeing the back of 2016, hoping 2017 brings us all what we are dreaming of x

Thanks hope. Will be great to be amongst others who are going through the same thing. It's so difficult to talk about IRL. Looking forward to sharing stories and support.

Still lurking and cheering you all on!

Blue and Tea, I just wanted to say that I felt the same. I felt cheated that I wasn't just going to have sex with my husband and fall pregnant, and really sad that it was going to take doctors and drugs to (possibly) get me my baby. From the other side I can tell you that you honestly won't care how you conceive your baby if the miracle has happened. Lots of strength to you both, and everyone else here. Xx

Blue and Tea, I also remember feeling absolutely the same at the beginning of all this and so sad that this is what it had come to and how we wouldn't be like everyone else and get pregnant naturally but like Sammy said once we got the ball rolling I said to DH as soon as we get pregnant it really won't matter how it has happened we will be just like everybody else and it's true. Yes we needed some help but I'm pregnant now and this baby is so so wanted. We have really struggled and toiled for this baby but now we are going through the same as any other new parents to be and we honestly haven't once sat back and thought yes but isn't it sad it didn't happen naturally. Once you get over the initial shock of it all and actually begin the treatment it is easier to accept.

Congratulations lucie that's fab news! I hope everything goes well for you. Heres to a fantastic 2017!!

Happy new year everyone, i hope everyone gets their wish in 2017 xxx

Thanks everyone. It's such a relief to talk to people who actually understand. I'm lucky in that I do have 1 friend in RL that has a 7 month old that was conceived through ICSI. I feel like I've joined a secret club for ladies who need help conceiving. Not something I would have chosen but at least the company is lovely.

Happy New Years!

Happy New Year to all you lovely lot! Welcome to all the new people to the group!
Here's hoping for a fertility filled 2017!

I have a quick question, does anyone take CoQ10?
I currently take and have done for bloody years now the pregnacare conception vitamins but i feel for my second cycle like i should be doing something more or changing tactics. I've read about other stuff but not really sure!
Xx

Just popping in to say Happy New Year and I hope 2017 brings everyone BFPs!

This thread was an absolute lifeline to me when going through IVF (recently had success on 4th transfer but it is still very early days) It is definitely normal to feel unsure before hands, try and stay positive though. Bluebird, I am the most squeamish person ever and I was worried about the injections but they are absolutely fine, I actually started looking forward to doing them as every injection was one step closer.

Star, you must be well into the bcp by now and raring to go. And you must be married by now so congratulations!

Hope, I took CoQ10 for a while but found it made my cycles really long so stopped taking it. It is supposed to be really good for egg quality though. I get wanting to change tactics, I had an endometrial scratch before my last cycle, will never know if it helped or whether this was just our cycle regardless but could be worth looking into.

Happy new year everyone!

Welcome tea! Good luck with your consultation tomorrow. We are a small group but can offer hand holding, advice and encouragement!

Hope I don't take CoQ10 so can't help I'm afraid - just popping the pregnacare pills!

AFM I've had a weird period / spotting. I normally have brown spotting for at least 2/3 days before AF so when I started 5 days ago I wasn't surprised. But it's not got heavier it's now just stopped after 5 days AF due around now (apps have predicted AF today). I've had this before during a cancelled IUI cycle. Sigh, did a test anyway and it was bfn (not fmu). I'm quite pissed off as I wanted to get my dummy embryo transfer and 3DSIS this month but now I have to wait till a proper AF!

So nothing from me other than that - have my patient information session at the end of January.

Star you must have started now, are you on the pill at the moment?

Thanks Maple! I'm kind of excited about tomorrow and looking forward to getting started! I'm really keen not to tell work about what is happening - was anyone able to get through the whole process without having to let work know? That's my main worry at the moment!!
Good luck for the patient info session - hope it all goes ok.

don't worry bluebird about the injections - we can be squeamish together. I'm not sure I can bring myself to stab myself with a needle and my DH has just looked horrified when I told him he will have to do it

Thanks trixie and tea. My dh is an anesthetist so is fine stabbing me...but due to his work schedule he won't we home consistently when I need to give them! So it will have to be me at least some of the time. Getting more used to the idea.

Feeling disappointed today. I am currently in the USA and so got up at 2:30am local time to ring my clinic back in the UK to see if there have been any cancellations so we could get started this month. There haven't been any.

Oh well. This means that I could join a clinical trial where they give the edometrial scratch to first time IVFers. They know it helps on people who are on the 2nd or 3rd round, but have never tested it on first timers. Of course, I might get put into the control group and won't have it anyways. Think I better email the nurse to get signed up.

maple sorry I can't remember...what is your patient info night for?

Hope today went well tea! I've already told my bosses at work who are super supportive so not in your position. Was there a particular reason you didn't want to tell work (aside from it obviously being a private matter)? I heard you need to be quite flexible as you will need lots of scans and blood tests and would be in and out of the clinic / hospital?

Stabbing isn't that bad at all - not done ivf yet but was on medicated IUI's with menopur and i think the first time and build up is the worst! DH watched the first time and was horrified. I did it alone after that haha!

Blue i think the info session is just going over what it will entail and to raise any questions. I don't think there will be anything that I won't know or expect but l think they like you to go!

Sorry there were no cancellations but the scratch trial sounds worth it, I think they had posters / leaflets about it at my hospital too so if they are still doing it when I get round to starting I will ask too!

Hi maple. I'm just a really private person and don't like people knowing my business! I've also just started a new role (with same company) and feel like it might be frowned upon that I want to have a baby! They're a lovely, supportive company though so I'm sure my concerns are unfounded, I just don't want to be looked at differently/ pitied or have secret eye rolling that I need yet more time off ( I had a laparoscopy in July and 2 weeks off). I think I will see how it goes and tell them if I'm finding I can't juggle things.

Consultation went well thanks - will be starting IVF this cycle - so last week of Jan. Eeek!!!

blue I think the scratch trial is worth a go, I wanted to do it but the timings would have clashed with a holiday we have booked so would have delayed treatment until April and I don't want to wait longer than needed. Take the positive that you have the opportunity for something that might make all the difference iyswim. I hope you get selected for the scratch!

I know what you mean tea, but equally you don't want to be stressing about appointments and what people think when you are trying to cycle? Good plan with seeing how it goes, I guess you won't know until it starts how often they want you in either!

Hooray for the consultation and starting soon! I wish I could get started

Tea, just wanted to say I got through 8 rounds of ivf, 6 of which were abroad without telling a soul at work! I felt the same and am a very private person and just didn't want to involve work colleagues. I was happy to use my annual leave and luckily the clinic in the uk that did my scans for me wasn't very far from my office and I would often get early morning appts so could just start work a little later. It all worked out fine. I eventually got my bfp and no one is any the wiser!

tea that is so exciting. I should be starting around 6-8th Feb so will be a week or two behind you. What protocol are you on?

lucie wow...8 rounds. You are an IVF warrior. So happy you got your bfp. How far along are you?

I've told work that I will beginning IVF soon. Sometimes I wish I hadn't but as I work in a school there is no way around it really as I don't have annual leave I can take whenever or flexi time. They have said that IVF appts fall under the maternity umbrella so I get the time off without penalty...so that's nice at least.