Cycle buddies Oct/Nov 16

[Hope2409]

Hello,

Is anyone else about to start a cycle?
I start down regulating on Sunday, estimated embryo transfer week beginning 21st Nov, this will be my first round of IVF/ICSI after 3.5 years trying to concieve.

Mixture of emotions, excited to be starting after waiting so long to get here, nervous about side effects of drugs and injecting and terrified it wont work! The joys of infertility!

Xxx

So, AF is here. Fresh and all. Couldn't even wait for 2 weeks. I tested earlier because what the heck, obviously negative. I don't know if I'm even bothered with the pessaries until Sunday.

I'm so sorry ekam, how disappointing. Take care of yourself

Kez just make sure the anaesthetist knows, they ask about fillings and crowns, presumably as they present a choking hazard, and a tongue bar probably falls into the same category.

So sorry to hear that ekam, will there be anyone you can speak to at the clinic tomorrow? They'll be able to advise on the pessaries. Take care of yourself

So sorry Ekam. Sending big hugs to you.

Blue

Sorry I pressed send too early.
Blue thanks for that, I will remember to ask the nurse on Monday. I've been digging though and others have managed to keep their tongue bars so hopefully that's the case!

I'm so sorry to hear that ekam look after yrself, sending big hugs xx

Sorry Ekam ❤️

ekam so sorry to hear. Take care of yourself. Drop me a message if you want to talk more x

Hello ladies,
I'm on 2nd cycle after failed one in august. 10 days into downregging and feeling truly crap today. Just read this thread from page 1 so think am up to date with you all!
ekam sorry to hear that, when I got AF, I felt gutted and then really low for a while. It takes its toll physically and emotionally. Look after yourself.
Best wishes to all cycling, waiting, stabbing etc!

Thank you all. I stopped the pessaries today. AF is on full swing, weirdly no cramps. I was expecting massive pain. Feel abit lost and don't know what's next. Try another time or just go with adoption. I don't even know how much it would cost if I go private, or if NHS can fund another round. On their website it says up to three cycles in my age range but not sure what the criterias are. Does anyone know?

I'm planning an escape trip to make me feel better

Ekam hope you're feeling ok.
My clinic only funds 2 cycles but not sure if that varies on area. Also they said private IVF can cost up to £7,000 depending on where you go.
I've missed the part if you had any frozen embryos at ET? Because in my info pack it says the NHS charge around £1,500 to go through another cycle and obviously miss out the EC part.
But yes a break will do you good, get away for a while and clear your head.

Sara welcome, looking forward to hearing about your journey.
Sorry to hear you're having a rough time down regging!
I'm on day 12 of my first cycle, another scan on Monday then EC on Wednesday!

ekam it's natural to feel a bit lost at the moment and no need to make any big decisions now. NHS funding for cycles depends on where you live unfortunately, the NICE guidelines are for 3 cycles but not all authorities provide that. From what I remember from my NHS discussions a cycle is classed as all fresh and frozen embryos so if you had any frozen embryos these can be transferred as part of that cycle, a new cycle only starts with a new corse of drugs. If a cycle was successful and there were some remaining frozen embryos there would then be a cost for using these. But your local authority might be different.

An escape trip sounds like a great idea.

Hi Sara downregging is not fun, when are you due to start stims? I felt a lot better once they had started.

Ekam take your time before making decisions but have your WTF appointment with the hospital to see what they think. Sadly first attempts at IVF are often unsuccessful because there is an element of trial and error, and subsequent cycles are much better informed with regards to meds, dosages, protocols etc. It's worth confirming with your CCG how many attempts they will fund. If they say 3 cycles, that's great! (I only had one, and then the private clinic took all the notes and used them to get me pregnant) Adoption is admirable and an equally valid way to become a parent, but if you do adopt you may no longer be eligible for any NHS treatment. You may have some up and downs (well, downs) while the drugs get out of your system over the next few days, just be warned. Take it easy. An escape sounds like a fab idea.

Welcome sara. When are you next being seen by the clinic?

I had my blood test today, day 5 of stims. The consultant seems to be happy and is keeping me on the same doses and booked me in for a scan on Wednesday. EC possibly Saturday or the following Monday, depending on how it goes over the next few days.

I also went to the Fertility Show today. I feel so much better prepared than this time last year! Got some useful info but didn't feel overwhelmed.

ekam where I live it is two NHS cycles with only 1 embryo transferred each time. Intralipids or sperm fragmentation tests we'd have to self fund. Any frozen blasts have to be used first but not counted as a cycle. It's so different where you live though. Good friend of mine who lives 10 miles from me has discovered there is zero NHS ivf anymore - for anyone in her area... Nightmare.
kez glad things are moving swiftly for you now. I was nervous about ec but found it absolutely fine.
custard due to start stimming Friday if scan fine on Thursday. Hate these last days of DR - where are you at?
blue hope scan goes well with good Follys. Thinking of you all x

Hi all,
Welcome Sara, sounds like we are on similar timings, i've been DR for 3 weeks, got a scan Weds and all things being well will start stimming then. DR has not been fun, been feeling pretty crappy too! Just want to get to the next bit now!

Hope everyone is doing ok xxx

Ekam - I'm so sorry, don't know what to say but am thinking of you xx

Morning ladies,

So i'm not sure if i am just being over sensitive and moody coz of the drugs but my sister in law has really got under my skin!
She asked how i was getting on, i said ok just feel tired, achy n crappy all the time. She said i know how u feel and that wont go away for ages once yr pregnant, think of this as practice like a test!
Firstly she has no idea how it bloody feels she has 3 children and hasn't even had to try for any of them just fallen pregnant first time.
Secondly why do people think that just coz yr having IVF u will automatically be pregnant, i dont want to be negative but it doesnt work like that, IVF doesnt guarentee u anything.
Thirdly a test! Really! I dont know who i troubled in a past life then to deserve this 'test'as she put it!
She said she has been reading up about it all, she must of been reading the sugar coated version of IVF and now thinks she knows it all.

I know i sound like a right cow and she was probably coming from a nice place but it has troubled me. She has no idea.
No one i know has been through anything like IVF and its so hard coz they just dont understand and they try and say nice things and relate to how yr feeling but they just cant and most of the time u then end up feeling worse!

Last week my mum asked what we are doing for Christmas i said im not sure coz we will find out mid December if this cycle has worked for us and if it hasnt we might just want to stay at home, she said oh im sure u will be fine n it will work, i never had any problems concieving u n yr brother i got pregnant straight away both times! I was like really thats so not helpful!

Sometimes i just wish we hadnt told anyone we were doing this to save the silly comments from people.

Gosh sorry for such a long ranty miserable post, i just needed to get that out, not sure my DH would have appreciated hearing me slate his sister lol!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend xxx

hope - I've had similar conversations!

I took the 'its like being pregnant' as a good thing - at least we will be prepared if/when it happens. Also, it may just be me.

My mother is the same with the - it will be fine chat too. She fell pregnant at the drop of a hat, no issues etc. Feels like she's pointing out in failing. However, I know the positive thoughts are just her way of dealing with it, and I need to recognise that's she's as desperate for me to be a Mum as I am.

In general, I'm trying to be patient with my immediate circle - I'm their first expert of IVF, so there's bout to be some foot in mouth minutes.

Hope you're definitely not being oversensitive. I hated when people didn't ask me how I was feeling or what I was going through and just projected their own perspective without trying to understand mine. The only way I could deal with it was to share less with those that I didn't feel helped me, not ignoring them but just saying "I'm fine" rather than the exact truth. Some other people have been great, not necessarily the people I would have predicted, where I open up more because I feel that they empathise.

I'm also keeping Christmas open until we find out what happens. Last year we escaped to a tropical paradise (but can't afford to do the same this year), I was so bah humbug about yet another childless Christmas 😢

Feel free to rant away, you're in good company xx

Hope you're not being over sensitive at all. I also have people who keep telling me it will happen, sometimes it gives me confidence and sometimes it really doesn't help. My councillor suggested I say it might happen or it might not when faced with someone who says it will happen.

I'm another not making plans for Christmas until I know, it's such a hard time of year.

Sara I have a scan tomorrow but looking at Wed for ec, this is my second cycle.

Hope you're not being over sensitive at all. Good thing with this group, you can come rant about it with all of us!
I get it all the time 'it will happen, you're next, keep faith blah blah'
As others have said, other women can get pregnant at the drop of a hat with no planning or preparing, and some don't even realise they're pregnant till last minute!!
I've spent all cycle and all the treatment before hand saying 'what will be will be, and there's always another chance' but it's almost like I can't handle anyone else saying it. Does that make sense?
Like my best friend for example, she's single and doesn't have any children, and whenever she asks me how's it going or what's happening etc, I'll tell her, and she'll come out with comments like 'oh well there's always next time if this one doesn't work'. Yes I do know that, but in my eyes that's it. As we really can't afford private IVF after our 2 nhs funded cycles. Not like I have years and years like other fertile women! Gah!!!

As for Christmas, I have no idea. I have lots of young nieces and nephews so I have to be the strong auntie Kez that they all know and love. It'll be my second nephews first Christmas, and my sisters due date with my new niece is actually on Christmas Day!!
Hopefully I'll be hiding my own baby secret on Xmas day!!!

Thanks ladies you have made me feel so much better! I knew this was the right place to come for support!

I'm so glad i'm not the only one that feels this way and it happens to u guys too, not that its nice that it happens to anyone.

Thats a good idea blue if anyone asks again that i think might anger me i will just say 'i'm fine' to try and save the comments!
kez that makes perfect sense u have hit the nail on the head there, i too have tried to think positively but also be realistic and aware that it may not but if someone else says things i cant handle it!!! Doesnt help that im not my sister in laws biggest fan either lol n if anyone is going to piss me off it will be her!
glass good to know your mum is the same with the positive vibes, bless them!

It isn't the best time of year is it unfortunately, i keep avoiding Christmas talk for now as i really just dont want to think about it yet!

Thanks everyone for helping and being here to listen xxx

Hope this is what we are here for don't worry!!
Ha I know that feeling with the sister in law rivalry - I have 2, the younger one has 2 kids and the older one (older than me) is childless - comes out with stupid childless remarks like 'I'm going to be a mum before you' or 'let's have a bet who's going to have a baby first'
Yes let's bet on the life of a child shall we!
She doesn't know me & her brother are going through IVF by the way so it's all a bit pointless.

So, what have we ladies got going on this week?
I know custard & myself have got EC on Wednesday - what about you other ladies??

I have a scan on Wednesday Kez.

EC might be Saturday or Monday depending on how it goes - but I've realised that if Saturday, OTD will be on DH's birthday so it could be the best or worst present ever

Hope yes you don't have to wear your heart on your sleeve all the time, say whatever will make YOU feel better, sometimes that's being open and honest, other times it's not.