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

Hi ladies,

Hope everyone is keeping well. The insensitive stories made me flinch. I'm personally pretty good at pretending to be deaf/blind with the Asian family kept asking me when's the baby coming with every chance they have, then point at one of my cousins saying look she has two. ..I knooow for fk sake Granddad...

I spent the weekend in Bath with DH's family which was a nice distraction. I got so bloated even walking becomes a task, and going for number 2 is just pure hell (sorry TMI).

I gave in a googled the stats just for a little bit, then I read someone said they had 20 something eggs collected and more than half fertiles I shut it down. Now just reading about optimum condish for egg transfer and learning about lining + cervix angle etc. Funny how noone ever tell you these things e eveb though they were supposed to be consultants. I work in client leadership/consultancy so the lack of 101 communication really pisses me off. I now realised I have triple lining (over heard when I had the scans) with no idea about thickness or if my cervix/uterus is abnomal and may hinder my chance.

Hi Hope.
Yes all good here, had a busy weekend at work and off shopping tomorrow with my sister for holiday supplies! Definitely keeping busy on the run up to my baseline scan!

No comment on the down reg sorry sweet as I never had to do it!
X

Sorry about the mistakes/typos in my post :). I'm on the train and this phone hates my fat thumbs.

Hope what's regging? I have uber sensitive (and big) nippleons ever since the trigger shot

Ok thanks anyway Kez holiday shopping sounds lovely, good way to keep busy too! Have fun xx

Ekam glad u had a nice weekend, Bath is a lovely place to visit! Not so great about the bloating bless u! Knew u would give in and google but well done for turning it off. It is wrong they havent told u about yr lining etc... shouldnt they have to keep u up to date with that info? I was told the angle of my cervix when i had an examination but nothing said about lining or anything but i guess thats as im not at that stage yet.

Down regging is down regulation! Xx

ekam thanks for the EC story, useful as I've got mine tomorrow!

hope yes, yes, yes! I had to buy a bigger bra!

Hope everyone is getting on well x

Glass I'm glad your follies have grown enough for EC tomorrow!
How exciting!!
Please let us know how you get on. X

glass all the best with EC tomorrow x

hope. No-one explained anything to me here, unless I ask then they do a pretty good job explaining. But the norm is to just tell us what to do. Not sure if it's the time pressure or just standard practice. I'm going through NHS, so it's not a private clinic, just in and out off you go really

Thanks Glass glad it's not just me! All the best for EC tomorrow glad yr follies grew for u!

I am going through NHS too Ekam . I suppose at least they explain when you ask but u shouldnt really have to ask all the time. Maybe as they do it everyday they just dont think about it as its so normal for them, not that that makes it right.
Think i might do a little research for when i go for my scans etc... so i know what to ask incase they dont offer the information willingly!

Xxx

Agreed on NHS...I've found the just presume I know more, or that someone else has already told me.

Whilst I love and appreciate the idea of the NHS, and the nurses have been lovely, I definitely think there's a gap in continuation of care; well at the centre I'm at, anyway.

Hi ladies,

I've had a nice quiet day, spent the afternoon with family, it's not been a good day for healthy eating though!

Hope no boob pain here on down reg, I'm just exhausted and really hoping I'm down regged enough on Wed to start the sims.

Good luck with the EC Glass

Hope I've never had sore boobs while down regging sorry.

Ekam I'm part of a large Asian family in the middle of a baby boom and over the years kept getting reminders that we've been married so many years and should get a move on.

Glass best of luck for EC tomorrow.

I agree the continuity of care is rubbish on the NHS but to be honest isn't much better privately. You still see different doctors / nurses at each appointment but at least they have read the notes in advance unlike in my NHS experience. I also agree that you need to ask lots of questions and information generally isn't volunteered. It is a good idea to do some research before each appointment, but still can be hard to know what to ask. They seem to operate on a 'by exception' basis, ie not tell you lining thickness unless it's not thick enough, or uterus shape only if it's unusual.

Glass, good luck for tomorrow. Thinking follie growth thoughts for you.

Ekam, googling is so terrible! If it helps, one of my friends had 2 eggs, 1 fertilized and made it to a poor quality Day 3 transfer, and it worked. It really only takes one.

Some extra info that from something you mentioned. You said you weren't told quality at EC. I don't think they ever do. Best case is you will find out is that some maybe weren't mature, but other than that they really have to wait until fertilisation, and then as they grow they grade them. I never got the grade for my one, as there was only 1 left at Day 5, and I decided knowing it's quality wasn't going to make any difference. Turns out he was a B grade blastocyst, but that made a perfect child. :)

The clinics never really tell you much, public or private to be honest. I got good continuity with my NHS cycle, as I was a 'challenge' and the doctor took my case personally. I had 2 private cycles (at the Lister) and one NHS at C&W. The NHS one worked! So private isn't necessarily any better.

Hope I down regged ages ago, and all I remember was how much better I felt once I started Stimming! Such a burst of energy and happiness. I was really depressed while down regging, and it just felt like a return of my old self. Like a brain fog cleared. I hope that happens for you too. Can't help with the boobs, mine seem to be painful randomly, regardless of what I'm up to.

As for me, I'm just symptom spotting all over the place. Sore boobs, some cramping, incredible fatigue, but could all be progesterone. The fatigue is the one that is most encouraging as I remember that from last time. Crippling tiredness, I had to go to bed at 9pm both nights on the weekend and slept like a log.

I mentioned that I have some cervix problems, actually I have no cervix from cervical cancer treatment, just a surgically created opening. And I also have had a lot of abdominal surgery as a result, plus the C-section. Anyway, that means I have 'adhesions'. That's when scar tissue causes your organs to get stuck together. So I'm pretty sure my bladder is stuck to something (as I get really sharp pains if my bladder is too full), and ovaries too as I get pain when ovulating.

So today, I can barely stand up for the pain sometimes. It's honestly like a stab in the lady bits suddenly, which makes me gasp. I'm hoping this is a good sign that something is going on down there...

I've booked for some acupunture at lunchtime. Probably a bit late now at 5dt6dt (5 days post 6 day transfer for Ekam), but might help with relaxing and good vibes.

Morning ladies.
Glass good luck for EC today!

I'm off shopping with my sister today.
Have a good day all

Hello everyone

Hope I can join in. Feel I should make the disclaimer that I have one 4yo DS (conceived on Clomid after 3yrs ttc). Now been ttc for 3.5yrs and self-funding IVF at Edinburgh.

Today I have my first 'proper' appointment as I'm day 4 of my cycle. The last nurse appointment was a bit of a blur and you know when you understand things at the time but can't remember then the minute you walk out the door... that's where I'm at!

Everyone else seems on top of all the terminology and I can't even remember exactly why I'm going there today. Hopefully all will be clear soon.

Look forward to hearing how you all get on and probably asking advice on what on earth is going on with me too!

Welcome fluffy. Good luck with your appointment today. There are lots of different 'protocols', and we all seem to be on slightly different plans but will help where we can!

Good morning ladies,

fluffy welcome. I'm sure everything will come to place, especially you've done it before. I'm still learning as I go and everyone here is so helpful.

kez enjoy holiday shopping.

kmmr wow you've gone through so much. keeping everything crossed for you and hoping you'll feel better. Have you tried yoga nidra (kind of like guided relaxation)? You can actually just google it and there will be videos on youtube that you can just play. It would just help with general good vibes and relaxation, which we can all do with some.

blue you're spot on with the "by exception". The embryologist called me this morning and I asked about my lining condition she said she assumed it was all normal because if there's anything abnormal they would have told her.

So yes, a bit of researching to go in and ask what you want to know would really help. Of course like you all said it's hard to know what to ask, but at least we won't come out kicking ourselves after having done some more research and went ... oh, I wonder what mine was.

As for me, the ET has been pushed to Wednesday. Out of 4 fertilised, one stopped growing, and the other 3 seem to be doing good. I asked about the grades (thanks google), and she said they don't do the grading system anymore but judging the development by 1) number of cells 2)degree of fragmentation and 3) if the cells are of the same size. I wonder if the dismissal of the grading system was dismissed just in my clinic or across the country.

So I currently have 2x 6 cell ones and 1x9 cell one. Hopefully they will get to blastocyst ... I've accepted that there's absolutely nothing I can do but wait. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst ...

Anyone knows why they never consider transfering on day4? I asked if they see the embryos are abit slow tomorrow would they consider calling me in and do it tomorrow instead of Wednesday but she basically said no. In my head it makes sense to try that rather than wait for day5 if nothing will get to day5.

Hi, would it be ok to join? I have stated the IVF process today (also at Edinburgh fluffy! Probably sat opposite you this morning !)
We have a 3yo already, ttc no 2 for 2 years, unexplained infertility as all tests seem to be reasonably good.
Am a bit overwhelmed by the whole thing as it's a lot to take in and I've found the docs so far aren't that great at explaining stuff (the nurses are great though). Anyway, hope it's ok to join and good luck everyone x

ekam I asked about day 4 today - apparently they do a funny thing where they all collect together on day 4, so they try to avoid moving them on that day - she described it as looking like a blueberry. I have no idea if that info helps at all?

Welcome to the new peeps - great to know there's so many people going through this.

EC was this morning and went absolutely fine. Taken to theatre at 11 and I'm already home, had lunch and on the sofa watching Greys Anatomy. For those still to tho through it, it went really easy - no pain, except where they put the line in my hand. Nurses were all dead nice too.

And...I got 5!!! Lower than average (apparently that's nine), but we're sticking with the good ol' mantra of 'You only need 1'!!!

Welcome Hobbes! You're in the right place. How did the appointment today go?

Ekam that's good news. Neither of my two clinics used embryo grading, in my notes it's just number of cells each day. Up to day 3, the embryologists can count number of cells and after day 5, embryologists can grade the blastocysts but on day 4 the embryos are called morulas which are hundreds of cells and cannot be counted so there is no indication of quality. Therefore if the decision is made to go past day 3, it will be a day 5 transfer. There is a risk that none will go to blastocyst (it happened on my first cycle) but it is rare. If it does happen then it can give more information to use on the next cycle (which also is what happened with me). It is just a waiting game now but did you think about having acupuncture before or after ET? Might be relaxing and get the blood flowing.

Welcome Hoobes. You're definitely in the right place. Everyone has been so so helpful.

glass glad to hear the EC went well. I was in and out when I had mine done (hubby told me what I said when I was high on pain-killers, and how the nurse shouted at me to breathe because my breathing went really shallow - they let me breathe oxygen at the end - I absolutely don't remember any of that), but I do remember it was quite painful at some points, so it's really great it was an easy ride for you. Rooting for fertilisation!!! And yes you only need 1 is what I tell myself about 20 times a day :)

Oh yes, and thank you for the explanation about day 4. That makes alot of sense. Hubby just sent me photos of IVF embryos development he found on google. How amazing is nature! It looks incredible.

I haven't thought about acupuncture. I had lots of acupuncture as a kid (used to wet my bed every night, parents thought acu would help) so not so keen on it. I'm trying to keep up with my daily yoga practice and eat healthy. I'm also drinking lots of coconut water. Hopefully that'll help one way or another.

Hi glass - that's great to know that the EC can be relatively pain free - have fingers crossed that all 5 of your little eggs make it xxx thanks for the welcome too - blue - my appointment today went well I think - follicle count was much better than last time (can anyone explain to me how that is possible? I didn't think they varied that much, but it has literally doubled before starting any drugs?!) I'm amazed at all the different methods of IVF - I have 2 weeks of microgynon, followed by burselin (sp?) injections for 7 days, then ill start the stimms. Feels v strange to come home from hospital with massive bag of needles and drugs! X

hobbs - I done buserlin then Stims (Gonal-f). If you've any questions, feel free to ask

Afternoon ladies.
Welcome fluffy & Hobbes
*
Glass* glad EC went well!! And that you're home and relaxing already!!

I've just got back from shopping, bought a new dressing gown & slippers as the hospital letter said to bring my own gown and slippers for after EC while I recover?
How long were you ladies there for?

Baseline scan & blood test in the morning, and I start my first lot of menopur injections tomorrow evening!!
It's all feeling very real now X

kez - I done the same thing, but then took my old slippers as I liked the new ones too much to wear in case hospital was grubby!

I had to be there for 7.30am. Was put straight on the ward. Was 4th to go, at 10.30 (could hear in to other 4 cubicles) and we went at 30 min intervals. 3 of us got 5, and a lady who wasn't really expecting to get any got 2 :-)

20 min in surgery, then 15 in recovery bay. Back to the ward for tea and toast and some checks on blood pressure etc. As soon as I'd pee'd they let me get dressed and go. Was out by around 1 o'clock.

kez I was in around 10:30 and home by 12:30. My clinic made me wear their hospital gown, but let me wear my own socks. So I brought my fav pair of fluffy socks 😀. It shouldn't take too long. Hope the scan and bloodtest is going well tomorrow x