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

Liberte
Thanks for the list!! There's a couple on there that I'm not currently doing so I will be!
So far I'm on..
Pregnacare conception
Folic acid
2-3 litres water
Healthy diet
No caffeine, tobacco or alcohol for me or OH
Will definitely search for an acupuncturist though! Thanks!

Question?
Is a fertility acupuncturist different to a regular acupuncturist?

I ony take pregnacare conception, should i be taking additional folic acid too?

Xx

www.zitawest.com/network/ you will probably be able to find a fertility acupuncturist on the zita west website.

I was also told a D3 supplement is important along with 1 litre of milk a day in addition to the 2 litres of water.

Just googled about the pineapple after transfer thing, read a lot that goes in its favour eating a slice once a day after transfer for 5 days, might give it a go too! Thanks Liberte xx

kezmarie I don't think there is a difference but it's a good idea to go for one who assists people through ivf. I go to the Calverley and Rawdon clinic in Leeds, the acupuncturist name is Caroline Haigh so do some googling so you know what to look for.

Hope surely it can't hurt to take additional supplements? I haven't seen anyone say they are not getting pregnant due to taking too many vitamins/supplements so I can't see the harm. Folic acid is good for the baby so surely the more you have the better?

Sunshine what's D3? And I don't know if I can manage a litre of milk tbh.

No problem Hope what did you think about what you found? I'm still 50/50 coz pineapple core is also used to bring on labour so don't want it to bring on a miscarriage?

www.leedsacupuncture.co.uk

My acupuncturist if anyone wants to take a look

natural-fertility-info.com/bromelain-pineapple-for-implantation.html

Information about pineapple!

So much information out there and not always clear what to follow!

This is what I do:
NHP conception vitamins (his & hers)
NHP Omega 3
NHP vitamin c
Vitamin D & D3 drops
Zinc
Acupuncture
Lots of water
No caffeine or alcohol
3-4 pieces of fruit everyday with lots of veg with meals
I don't smoke, and I'm not trying to lose weight (BMI is 30 but consultant is ok with this) but trying not to put any more weight on.

The pineapple thing is new to me but I do like pineapple so that wouldn't be a hardship!

I found my acupuncturist on here www.acupuncture.org.uk. Definitely helpful to find one familiar with treating for IVF and fertility. My acupuncturist said she didn't register with Zita West because the registration was too expensive and she has a pretty full client list already! But it's definitely a good place to start.

I had a nutritional analysis done about a year ago and was deficient in zinc, omega 3, vitamin d3 and iodine, hence the extra supplements. Checked my zinc levels recently and they're normal so have cut down on zinc supplements. I was taking vitamin d & d3 drops but stopped over the summer as I was getting plenty of sun.

Just caught up with all the thread, and it seems everyone is so organised.

The only changes I've made in last few weeks is to cut alcohol back to half glass a week (red wine) and to stop the gym. I guess my diet is pretty healthy and rich in vitamins, but today was a sofa day, sponsored by Haribo. I take folic acid and that's it.

I wonder if my relax and it will work is maybe too relaxed?

bluerose where did you get your nutritional analysis done?

I had a sofa day too glass. Saw first 2 episodes of Game of Thrones (bit behind the times). Your approach sounds just fine

I went to the Marilyn Glenville clinic. I came across them at the fertility show last year and was quite impressed. NHP are their own brand supplements. DH also takes extra antioxidants and CoQ10. (He does it cos he was told to by someone other than me!) The Fertility Show is coming up again and I'm thinking of going even though I will be mid-cycle www.fertilityshow.co.uk

Yes might look in to taking some more vitamins and upping my folic acid, like u say cant hurt!

Well the pineapple thing seems like u must only eat it after transfer and for a few days, and i read only one slice a day is enough anymore is too much. So i'm thinking a little slice for a few days cant hurt?! Someone suggested roasting it as warm foods are good too thought that sounded nice! X

Thanks blue, will look in to the show!

Guess first scan tomorrow will show if I'm doing it right or wrong!

I think your approach sounds just fine too, you have to what feels right for you, going over the top and giving yrself to much to think about can just stress you out! I'm trying to find a happy middle ground!

Xxx

Thanks for the info Blue have you been before? How beneficial was it?

I don't want to overload myself with info, don't want to obsess too much so let's keep it simple. Acupuncture, vitamins, healthy eating, plenty of water and a bit of pineapple after the transfer. Let's remember to keep positive but realistic. Sounds like a plan let's hope I don't have a nervous breakdown any time soon.

That sounds like a good plan!

Glass and Liberte good luck for your scans tomorrow, let us know how you get on xxx

I wasn't doing much of what we've discussed here this time last year so I found the show very beneficial. Booked into quite a few seminars and found it useful meeting lots of experts. I was also looking for a new clinic (as our NHS hospital advised that we go somewhere with more advanced techniques than they have after the unsuccessful cycle) and it helped me narrow down to 2 clinics which we then visited. Meeting the consultants from each clinic was great as we had the chance to discuss what treatment that they would propose for us. One of the consultants that we met is now our consultant. (I know we are all beyond that stage now.)

Happy to take notes and report back if there is anything of particular interest.

I've been out today so just caught up on the thread.

I'm doing:
Superdrug pregnancy & fertility multi vitamins (it's fairly cheap and vegetarian)
No alcohol
No caffeine during the week, will stop drinking it at the weekend for the stim stage and 2 ww
Cutting down on sugar
My accupucturist recommended I up my protein intake so I'm trying to do that
I mentioned the organic milk thing to DH thinking I'd need to convince him but he went shopping earlier and there is now a bottle in the fridge, so I'll be doing that as well

I find accupucture really relaxing and it's really good to be able to talk to someone about it all.

Good luck for your scans tomorrow Glass & Liberte

Good morning ladies
& what a horrible, miserable morning it is!

Good luck today Glass & Liberte, will be thinking of you both. Let us know how you get on.

Xx

Thanks kez

Nursing a decaf in Nero - bloods dune but an hour and 45 minute wait for my scan time. This coffee shop will have had a small fortune from me by the time I'm finished!

liberte - hope all goes well!

X

Good luck with the scans Kez and Liberte.

Do Nero do a loyalty card? You might need one!

Not good news for me I'm afraid.

No real quality follicles as of yet and they're talking about cancelling the cycle.

Going to increase my gonal-f for two days and see if there's any movement, but I don't think it's going to be likely.

Only silver lining is that if they do cancel this won't count as a cycle under my NHS coverage...

Sorry to hear that Glass, fingers crossed increasing your dose will get them going. If not they will be able to look at how you reacted this time and adjust your meds accordingly for next time. Take care of yourself today.

Oh glass I'm so sorry to hear that you're not yet where they want you to be. Increased dose might help. Are there not enough follicles or not big enough follicles?

The silver lining is helpful (I was told as soon as I started stimming, that my NHS cycle had started). Before any decisions are made whether to cancel the cycle, you should ask what they would do differently if you started again. It sucks and it's frustrating I know. The very first time I had to abandon a cycle because I didn't down regulate properly, I had heavy bleeding and had developed a polyp which required surgery to remove before I could start again. I was then worried about down regulating in future but haven't had a problem since.

Take it easy today xx

PS I meant to send you good luck wishes above, rather than Kez who doesn't have a scan today, sorry

Sorry to hear that Glass xx

I know it's hard but try and keep positive, hopefully the higher dose will sort you out, if not at least the doctors know what to do next time. Your time will come xx

My apps not till late afternoon so il check in in the evening x