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

[Hope2409]

Glass thats great news that there has been some growth, fingers crossed there's more friday!

I am with u there Custard and Kez it is very boring all this waiting, yr always on count down to the next bit then more waiting!

Sounds like yr a very busy bee Kez!
Xxx

[liberte12]

Tell me about it! I feel like I've been waiting an eternity for AF to arrive when really it's been too days.

[kezmarie]

Hope hopefully all the waiting we are all doing with be worth it

Yes yes very busy. My grandad always used to say I've got ants in my pants because I literally cannot sit still!

[Ekam]

Hi all,

I'm brand new here (been following this thread though), and thought I'd join the discussion. This is our first IVF, I'm 34 - we started treatment back at the end of September and things have been moving so fast. I thought I could handle it and just browse your stories to work up the courage here and there, but now I'm slightly freaking out. My egg collection day is on Friday.... In 2 hr I'll do my last injection and that's it. We decided we will just try this once, and if it doesn't work then we'll adopt. So really this is our only chance... I'm alot calmer than I thought I'd be through out the whole thing, but now it's the make or break moment. I haven't told anyone, just the two of us in this together... (And my manager who knows I'm going through IVF but don't know the details, she's been very understanding with my days off). Sending good vibes to you all.

(Sorry I'm so new to this so don't know all the acronyms that you guys use 😂)

[Blueroses99]

Welcome ekam! How've you been getting on so far? Good luck with the trigger shot tonight! We will provide whatever support we can, I know it can be a lonely time but feel free to share.

Glass that's good news. Up the protein intake if you can, it might give the follicles an extra boost. Good luck for Friday.



No advice on the boredom I'm afraid, fertility treatment requires patience...! It will all be worth it.

I had acupuncture this evening, counselling yesterday and I've got my endometrial scratch on Friday. Tomorrow we've accepted a dinner invitation from some neighbours that I took a parcel in for last week! I think they're newish to the area and being friendly. But it is a bit random.

[Hope2409]

Welcome Ekam good luck with your trigger shot!

It has been a busy week for u Blue with acupuncture, councelling etc... maybe your random dinner invite will be a nice distraction for the evening!!! Hope they r good cooks

[Custardandcream]

Hi Ekam and good luck with your last injection.

I have an accupucture appointment tomorrow which was timed to be during AF which has yet to show up this is the first time in a while I've wanted it to show up!

Hope you enjoy your random dinner Blue

[Ekam]

Hi ladies,

Thank you for the warm welcome. Trigger shot went down smoothly but feeling very stiff and exhausted today. Any advise for ER day? I'm trying to drink lots of water. Meeting a friend tonight for dinner but I really don't feel up for it, just want to focus on what's happening tomorrow and get it done.

Blue hope the random dinner turn out nice.

Custard hope the acupuncture is going well. What's AF if you don't mind me asking?

Hope Hello :) Thanks for the welcome

[Custardandcream]

Hi Ekam af - Auntie Flo (period)

Personally I got increasingly uncomfortable the day after my trigger shot so if your not feeling up to it it might be an idea to cancel your dinner. On the other hand it might be a nice distraction for you.

For tomorrow try to relax before the procedure and plan to spend the rest of the day on the sofa, good luck x

[Blueroses99]

Hi Ekam, echoing Custard's comments. I was also quite uncomfortable before EC (my ovaries felt so heavy!) so needed a restful evening the night before. My advice is to read the instructions from the clinic v carefully and follow them to the letter - eg they may have given you times to stop eating/drinking, take meds etc. I felt v bloated after EC and constipated for 3-4 days afterwards (sorry TMI). It stopped just before ET. You may feel differently afterwards but be prepared for these or other side effects. I know some people go back to work in between but I've always felt too ill and glad that I took the time off (as I'll be doing this time). Good luck, let us know how you get on. Fingers crossed for a good crop!

Hope everyone else is doing ok and coping with the waiting... ⏰

[kezmarie]

Hi Ekam & welcome!
Thanks for joining us. Egg collection tomorrow is it? Please let us know how you get on!
I start my injections on Tuesday, egg collection w/c 7th November so it's looming!

Blue & Custard thanks for sharing how you felt after EC, Kind of gives me something to go off about how I may feel etc!
I'm due to go back to work the day after for 6 days, then a day off. is that advisable?!

Oh and Ekam don't worry about the abbreviations - took me a while to get used to it too!
So far I know
AF - aunt flow (period)
EC - egg collection
ET - embryo transfer
TTC - trying to conceive
DH/DP - dear husband/partner
OH - other half
DC/DS/DD - dear children, son, daughter

There's a few more I don't yet know!

[Blueroses99]

Kez you're planning to go back to work the day after egg collection for 6 days and then a day off for embryo transfer? Plenty of people do that. I went back to work 2 days after ET though, I wouldn't have liked to go back earlier. Also each morning I got a call from the embryologists to tell me how they were doing, and some days it wasn't looking good and I'd feel upset all day and then next day would be ok etc so the rollercoaster of emotion doesn't stop.

[kezmarie]

Blue - that's the plan yes. Though I realise I haven't left myself a day for ET - is that where the 3 day, 5 day thing comes into it?
I must admit that's the part that confuses me. And I need to ask the ladies when I go on Tuesday. 3 day or 5 day transfer - is that 3-5 days after EC? Or do they incubate for 6 days first then 3-5 days after that?
I must sound so stupid !!
Work are so understanding with me having time off, I could have time off whenever I want. I just didn't want to be off and driving myself mad but as you said, the embryologist Calls every morning with an update so I'd like to be at home when they do that and not at work!!

[Hope2409]

Hi everyone,

Kez its not stupid it is very confusing! my understanding is that a 3 day or 5 day transfer is 3 or 5 days after egg collection theres no additional incubation as far as i know. I have been advised to take the day of egg collection off and at least the following day and to see how i feel from there but i guess it does depend on the individual and how u feel!

Glass good luck for your scan tomorrow, fingers crossed for even more growth.

Ekam really hope your EC goes well tomorrow, plenty of rest afterwards!

Blue hope your endometrial scratch goes well tomorrow and that your random dinner went well!

Hope everyone else is well!

[kezmarie]

Hope thank you for that!
I think I've been doing much research from my IVF pack, on here and other online sources. I read 'up to six day incubation' and then 3-5 day transfer and got myself all confused!
That's great then, at least I've got a better idea on a time scale!!
The hospital haven't given me an embryo transfer date - is that right? I guess there is no certain date depending on a 3 or 5 day transfer.
Will they give us a choice?
During research 5 day blasts look to be more sticky then 3 day. Are 3 days no good then? - I think I'm worrying over nothing here I think!

[kmmr]

Hi,
Can I sneak in a join you late. I'm doing a FET (frozen embryo transfer ) this month and he or she is already on board, so I'm in my two week wait. I'm 40, but this embryo was concieved almost 4 years ago, so it's only 36!
I had sucess in 2014, so I've got a beautiful 2 year old, but praying for a little brother or sister for him. We started TTC in about 2010, so it was a long journey first time too.

I'm feeling very anxious this time around. We had a fail in June, and it just seems impossible. I had 2 more frozen embryos, so fingers crossed even if this doesn't work its not my last shot.

[kmmr]

*have 2 more frozen embryos.

[kmmr]

Kezmarie, the doctors will advise whether to go day 3 or 5. Normally if there are lots of growinh embryos at day 3 they will advise you wait until day 5 to see which one is the best, as embryo selection is really crucial for success. If there are only 1 or 2, or a clear leader at day 3 they may advise you transfer then.
So don't stress about making the decision. Trust the embryologist, this is their bread and butter, they are the experts. Day 3 is better if they advise that it is. Waiting to day 5 when you have a clear best embryo wont inprove the chances.

Remember the stats reflect thousands of women in wildly different situations. Focus on you, on your body and your baby. You only need it to work once. :)

(Remind me of this in a weeks time when I'm googling every stat under the sun re implantation! )

[Hope2409]

Yes that is right Kez the hospital won't give u an embryo transfer date because it depends on your embryos and how they are doing. I think if at day 3 you dont have many or they have slowed down then they put them back then as they have a better chance being back inside where they belong.
They will leave them to day 5 if u have lots or they seem very strong/good quality as by then they will be blastocysts so are a bit stronger so when put back in they are strong and stand a good chance. It doesnt mean theres anything wrong with having a day 3 transfer as once the embryos are back in their proper environment they might florish well. If left out they may not have survived.
In an ideal world everyone would aim for a day 5 blastocyst but there is no guarentee just because its made it to that stage that it would implant, a day 3 could do just as well.
So i really wouldnt worry at the moment i think the main thing is hoping you get some good quality ones and then take it from there, the hospital should give u daily updates on how they are doing after EC and will advise on the best course of action based on how your embryo's are doing.
You may not get much notice about transfer as if they feel for example that a day 3 is best u might get a phone call the afternoon before or even that morning to say go in!

[Hope2409]

Welcome Kmmr of course u can sneak in, u are always welcome here! Good luck with your two week wait!

Sorry for all the waffle Kez, Kmmr wrote it so much better!!!
I don't like not being in control so have read lots of books to prepare, my mind is full of info i never realised i remembered so much!!

[Blueroses99]

Hi kmmr, welcome. How exciting for you! When is your official test date?

kez as an example, I had EC on a Monday and then was on standby to go back for ET on the Thursday (day 3) or Saturday (day 5). Incubation can be done up to day 6 but that is rare. The first cycle I actually went in on Thursday to be told that the embies were doing better than expected and to return on Saturday. The second cycle I was similar but they called on Thursday morning and said not to come in as they recommended a day 5 transfer. Agree with kmmr that it's best to take the embryologists advice - but it means you have to be available both days.

Hope aka encyclopaedia...

The random dinner was fun! Lovely couple just moved into the area. Husband works at the company I used to work for when I moved into our street (coincidentally the company name is also in our postcode). Friendly but also genuinely interesting people. Nice to get a break from all the treatment talk and other stuff going on in our lives! But we didn't mention that we will be moving soon... 😳

[kmmr]

I don't have an OTD now you mention it. I think they were supposed to call me yesterday too to confirm my meds. Hmmm. Just enough time to call tonight I think (I should mention I live in the future! I'm in Sydney).
I am trying to decide if I'll early test and test everyday, or hold out. I've always held out in the last 2 tries, but I get so anxious.

Lots of weird pains today. 2 days post transfer. Let the mind games commence!

[kezmarie]

Morning ladies.
Welcome kmmr
Hope you get the BFP you're looking for! Good luck!!

Also big thanks to kmmr, hope & blue for clearing up my confusion about transfer! . For something that should be relatively simple, I didn't half confuse myself!
I understand now.

[Blueroses99]

Hello in the future kmmr! My clinic calculates OTD as 16 days from EC, regardless of 3 or 5 day transfer. I have never been tempted to test early... for me a BFN would be too confusing wondering if I'm actually not pregnant or if it's just too early for a home pregnancy test to detect. (Remind me of that if I get angsty before my OTD!)

Glass good luck with the scan today.

Ekam good luck with EC.

[Custardandcream]

Welcome Kmmr and good luck with the 2ww!

Kez like Blue I wouldn't have wanted to go to work the day after EC, I was still quite sore. If work are being good with you could you say you'll see how you feel the day after? You might feel fine.

Glass good luck with the scan, fingers crossed for you

Ekam hope all goes well with EC

Blue glad you had a nice dinner, hope the scratch is ok. Did you have one last time? I asked about it but my consultant said she wouldn't recommend it for me at this stage.