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

Kez & Custard great numbers, well done!

Hope that's good, yes you will get used to it.

AFM, I'm staying in the same dose after all. The doctor I saw was going to speak to my consultant and decided to keep it slow and steady. Hope things are looking good at the scan tomorrow.

Kez & custard - fan numbers - you both must be really pleased - fingers crossed it all keeps going well in next few days!
Can I ask a question about injections?
I start Buserlin tomorrow, and I'm getting nervous... I know this sounds mad, but I'm not actually that worried about the actual injecting bit, but (I don't know if everyone has the same?) but it's the whole rigmarole to prepare it that I'm worried about...? Am I being daft?
I don't know if other places give you pre-prepared shots, but Edinburgh have given me a vial of the buserlin, which I have to suck up with one needle, then take that off, then put other needle on for injecting, all the while not spilling etc, then prime it, then inject... I wish it was just something I could just take out a packet and inject as I'm scared I'll get it wrong!

Hobbes yes the preparation can be more nerve wracking than the actual injection. My advice is to take it v slowly the first few times, watch a YouTube video if that helps, and don't rush. It doesn't matter so much if you mess up the first one as you're just starting out (you won't mess up, but thinking that it's ok might take the pressure off). I had Buserelin already mixed in a bottle and just had to draw the right amount with the syringe, but I did have to mix Menopur in exactly the way you just described. After the first couple, it becomes much easier. Good luck xx

Kez and custard - hey, combining your names sound like a lovely pudding ha! Excellent results ladies clearly your eggs were looking hot!
Ekam - I felt the same had a couple of days dizziness too plus super sad for days, then all of a sudden it lifted.
Hobbes - yes try YouTube sounds fiddly. Injections will be fine.
As for the election ... Brexit was bad enough - women for trump? Fuckwits...

Thanks for the well wishes ladies - hopefully all 7 hold out ok! I get another call tomorrow morning and then decide if they're going to be a 3 or 5 day transfer!

Blue I was kept on the same dose of menopur all the way through, I was supposed to drop to 4 ampoules on day 7 and they kept me at 6 from days 1-12.
Hope the scan goes ok tomorrow!

Hobbes it's so nervewracking and daunting to begin with. I was only on menopur but had to mix it the exact same way as you've described. I watched the tutorial about 4 times before attempting it and had it on all the way through prepping the syringe.
Must admit my OH always mixed the drugs and gave me the needle, it was his way of being involved and he liked playing scientist for 10 minutes!
As blue has said, after a couple of days you will be absolutely fine!

custard and kez, great numbers!!! Well done. Keeping everything crossed for a smooth and successful ET in a few days.

blue good luck with the scan

sara I know, those shy voters were the biggest shock.

I don't know why I'm still lingering here I'm not gonna have another cycle (if at all) for a while guess just want to see you all with a big BFP

Blue good luck with your scan tomorrow

Hobbes it is nerve wracking to start with, my advice is to get everything out your going to need and have your instructions close so you can refer back to them as often as you need. If it helps it's fairly hard to spill the drugs!

Hope I was nervous for the first two days then it was a lot easier

ekam stay and chat if that's what you want to do, there are a few of us, myself included who have been through a failed cycle and I'm always happy to chat x

blue all the best for your scan tomorrow x

hobbes sorry i cant help with the mixing of the drugs as mine is in a pre-filled pen but take your time with it and im sure u will do great! All the best with your first one tomorrow x

I've just done my second injection and already felt more comfortable doing it, crazy how quickly things become normal!

kez and custard hope u are both recovering well xx

ekam its lovely to still have u here, stay as long as u like u are always welcome x

Hi guys!

Great numbers from Kez & Custard!

Glad you are both relaxing too. How are you feeling? And are you still on medication?

Sorry, i haven't looked passed EC coz I don't want to disappoint myself when I haven't even started yet

Good luck with the scan tomorrow Blue

Hobbes I'll be doing all that faffing around too with merional. When the nurse showed me I was completely overwhelmed and did not know what to say. I think I will have to watch a few videos many times before plucking up the courage.

Can I also ask, whats the difference between Gonal and Merional? Why do different clinics use different ones? Is there a higher success rate with either of those?

Sorry for bombarding with questions again. Beginning to get myself a bit of a rep lol.

kez and custard - it's so nice to watch you guys go through this. I'm watching your progress with so much hope!

hobbes hope it gets easier to mix. Can't believe the variance between clinics and how they dispense the meds. Don't see why you need two needles for the Buserlin

Gonna keep watching this post and reading about how you are doing. Best of luck buddies! Trying to transition over to a Pregnant board, but still feel like a bit of a fraud.

When you guys get on to the 2WW - feel free to give me a shout! Happy to talk nonsense with you as a distraction x

Ekam it's nice to see you, please stay as long as you like, the chat is always good . Did you manage to book yourself some time away?

Hope how are you finding the injections? Do you have a scan soon!

Liberte feeling ok to be honest, a little sore down there but that's to be expected when my ovaries felt like they were the size of beach balls!
Just on the progesterone pessaries now which will continue until after the 2ww.
Good idea for not looking ahead, (in a way). It's good to know what to expect but I drove myself (and my OH mad) by always asking 'what's next?' Just take it one day at a time because so much goes on and you need time to take it in!
Can't answer your question on the meds sorry. I was only on menopur.
It's good to educate yourself though

Glass how are you feeling? Do you have a scan soon?
I'll be here updating as much as I can. As soon as I get some news or a phone call I always think 'right ring my OH then pop on here & tell you guys )
I bet it'll be weird heading over to the pregnancy board but stay here as long as you like!

Hobbes hope you've spent the evening going over & over injection tutorial videos

Custard hope you had a nice afternoon at your mums. How are you feeling now? Did you say it's Saturday now before you get another update on your embryos?

Feeling fine Kez, if not as anxious as others. My first scan is 2nd December but thinking of going for a private one for reassurance.

Bloated is not the word - looks 6 months, not 5 weeks x

Finding the injections ok thanks kez thought it would hurt when the needle goes in but it doesnt really! Little soreness at the injection site afterwards but no other effects yet, i have only done 2 so far tho!
My next scan isnt till weds next week which feels like ages away but then i have one weds and fri then all being well should be my turn for EC, scary!!!

Glass that's great that you're doing ok. Good idea to go for a private scan just to put your mind at ease.
I take it you're off the pessaries now? Quick question, did you gain weight with them? Or was it just all the bloating?
I'm a slimming world member and this week with all the menopur & start of the progesterone pessaries, I weighed in at 5lb heavier!!
Now even on my binge weeks (birthday week - 2 meals out, cocktails, birthday cake, takeaway, chocolate) I only gained 2lb this week!
& ive been an angel this week during the meds, plenty of protein, leafy greens and cut down loads on sugary stuff.
I just hope it's the meds playing havoc with my weight!!

Hope that's great that you're getting used to the injections. I guess Wednesday does feel a while away, but as you said you'll have 2 scans in 2 days then you'll be getting yourself ready for EC! It all happens so fast.
This time last week I was waiting for my final follicle count scan. Now I'm waiting to see how my embryos are doing! It's so surreal.

kez I've to keep them going for foreseeable future . I've put on about 4lb, but I'm translating that to much more. Pre treatment I was working out 5 days a week and building loads of muscle. I feel like that's all gone to fat and bloat. Easy 5cm on my hips.

I really miss the gym - I need to start moving to loads of walks or similar to minimise!

Will you keep SW up?

Glass thanks for that, I was driving myself mad thinking where had the weight come from?!
I thought the pessaries stopped till you got a positive result - obviously I'm wrong
I know what you mean about the gym, I've got a membership at mine and never used it religiously. 1-2 times a week if that. But if I could feel myself getting a bit podgey or just needed a boost I'd head down there - can't do that now!!
Will have to start these Autumn walks everyone's on about

Yes will definitely keep SW up, enjoying the healthier lifestyle and it's really taught me how to cook! And I can still enjoy my treats in smaller doses without feeling guilty! (special occasions not included!)
Just didn't want to gain weight before anything else happened if you get my drift..

Kez pessaries need to be taken until the body can produce its own progesterone after IVF, usually around 9-12 weeks of pregnancy

Thank you for that blue.
I've only got enough pessaries to last me till 2 weeks on Monday which should be 2 weeks after ET that's why I thought that was it!
I'm guessing I'll get more though providing I get a positive result

Glass just remember that if you have a scan too early, you might not be able too see anything and that can be the opposite of reassuring. You can see a foetal sac around 6 weeks and hear a heartbeat at 7 weeks (that's worth waiting for 😊). (I mean pregnancy weeks, which starts 2wks before ovulation, not actual time that you've been pregnant- they are different, you'll have to get used to it!)

Ekam I've been through an unsuccessful cycle too, please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Kez yes I had a nice afternoon thank you. I'm still sore and tired.

I trying to avoid weighing myself, last time I didn't gain very much but I seem to be huge ATM. I'm hoping it's just bloating but I'm normally very active and have cut down during the last two weeks, which I didn't do last time.

Glass private scan might put your mind at ease

Hi all, just to say did first injection just now - was all a shaking fumble, but managed and it didn't hurt at all, just a bit stingy afterwards... one thing tho, I had a little bit of leakage from
The injection - is that normal or am I doing something wrong..? I'm worried I will have ended up with less that the required dose..! Anyway, one day down, approx 17 more to go....!

Hope it's good news today for those developing embryos xxx

Hobbes well done on your first stab!
There was a couple of times where I had a tiny bit of leakage only because I was holding my tummy fat and my OH injected me and I was still squeezing afterwards so a tiny bit came out.
Don't worry about it though I'm sure it's fine

Custard good luck with your call today, hope all 8 are still going strong.

Blue hope all goes well at the scan today

Hobbes well done with your first injection. My info lists slight leakage as a possible side effect and that "the amount is minimal and will not effect your dose"

Kez good luck with your call today, I have to wait until tomorrow for an update.