IVF Cycle buddies November/December

[Cityzen74]

I'm due to start the Short Protocol when AF arrives next week and I wondered whether anyone else was in the same situation and would like to join me? I'm pretty nervous about everything so would love to offer some support to others in the same situation and get some advice and support as well. You don't have to be on the Short Protocol of course - any other protocols welcome too!

To introduce myself am 41, been ttc for over 2.5 years and in that time had at least 1 chemical pregnancy and a miscarriage at 6 weeks. We get one chance on the NHS where we live and don't know if we'll be able to afford another go if this doesn't work so am feeling the pressure!

Thanks Goodthings. I'm on a short flare protocol and started stims last night. Same protocol as last time but they've just put me on a higher dose (which hurts more!). I'm nervous because I've heard that the flare protocol can put you at more risk of dominant follicles because of the flare part, even if you take higher doses, but we are trusting the clinic and giving it a try.

Sorry your last one didn't work out. Got my fingers crossed for your cycle this time round. Are you doing the same protocol?

Hello to everyone else too

Sorry is the flare protocol the same as the short protocol? I am trying short this time but did long previously and my drugs seem to have changed so that may help things along hopefully!

I'm not sure of my dosage yet but assume I will be on the same as before (maximum dosage ).

When is your first scan to see how you're getting on with drugs? Xx

Next scan on weds - wish it was a bit sooner! DK the difference between short and flare but I started taking buserelin on day 3 then started menopur on day 4. I think at the start the low dose of buserelin actually stimulates FSH before then suppressing so you get a flare effect from using both the drugs.

When do you start stimming? I'm glad we will all be getting one in before Christmas. I'm lining up the champagne preferably for a tiny sip celebration but otherwise for a several glass commiseration!

Oh ok thanks for information. Take lady contraceptive pill tomorrow then hopefully middle of next week AF will show and I can start.

Exactly my thoughts regarding champagne at Christmas! Xx

Welcome Mrs Crabtree. Sorry to hear your last cycle was cancelled. That must have been hard. Hope this cycle goes well and you get a positive result. I think that's a good plan with the champagne. Might borrow that idea myself!

Goodthings no AF yet but loads of twinges and stuff. Prob will come on tomorrow and somehow 3 days early doesn't seem so bad as 4!

So drugs arrived yesterday alongside loads of needles! Becoming more real now.

Hope everyone has a good weekend

Hi All, hope everyone had a nice weekend.

Quick question for you if anyone be could help, I took last contraceptive pill this morning and have had some brown spotting this afternoon with some cramps. Could this be AF already? If I wasn't on the pill for last 21 days I would of been due on Tuesday.

How are you all getting on? Xx

Don't think I can really help goodthings. It seems a bit early because your body doesn't know that you aren't going to take another pill 24 hours later, so maybe just some breakthrough spotting. But bodies do weird things so who knows? Keep us updated.

Thanks for your message Cityzen. You know it really helps to have you all acknowledge a cancelled cycle was hard. I have a friend who basically just said oh that's a shame when's the next one? They don't get it...

Hope everyone ok for a rainy Monday morning

Morning everyone! It is so rainy this morning isn't it and it's really cold in my office even though I've got the heating on. It will probably be warm enough later on today when I have to leave for a different office!!!

Mrs Crabtree - that must have been difficult when your friend didn't understand how hard a cancelled cycle is. You're right - people who haven't been in our position don't get it do they? I haven't told too many people about ttc or our treatment. Those I have told have been very nice but the most understanding is a girl at work who has been through it and offered very practical advice such as what to ask at my appointments and how to handle work. Other people have said things like - why don't you just relax and it will happen or why don't you overhaul your diet or just forget about it and you'll get pregnant! I know they mean well but it's hard especially because I am trying really hard to be healthy/relax etc and it doesn't seem to be making any difference.

Sorry - rant over. I know you girls understand!

Mrs Crabtree - how are the injections going? Only 2 days til your scan now - hope you get good news from that.

LoPI - how are you getting on?

Goodthings - I'm sorry but I don't really know about your spotting either. If you are worried could you ring your clinic and ask them? As Mrs Crabtree says our bodies do weird things so hopefully it isn't anything to worry about and AF will be along in a couple of days so you can get started.

I am still waiting for AF. I am quite relieved that I won't be ridiculously early. I'll probably come on today and that will be fine because only 2 days early - I'll take the pill for 3 days and then start injections on Thursday. Exciting and scary too!

Hope you are all surviving the horrible weather!

Hi MrsCrab - yes, do join us! I'm pretty new to this forum stuff, but have found it a great help over the last couple of weeks. Let's hope this time the follies are just right for you!
Citizen - 4 days into injections, and going OK. These are easy pen ones though. Have to start the other ones Wed - must watch the DVD again!

Goodthings - sorry missed your message about spotting as I was typing. I'd phone the clinic if only for peace of mind.

Hello LoPI, I'm also about 4 days in. Cityzen - they're going ok thanks but really stinging and bruising more this time with the higher dose. The things we are having to put ourselves through... I am really worried my scan on Wednesday will be bad news again. I'm trying to be zen about it all .

LoPI not long still you start your other drugs, exciting. Any AF news Cityzen and Goodthings? Sending good vibes to you all.

Ps. How did your trip go LoPI?

LoPI - have you got a DVD of how to do your injections? That's really impressive! I was shown really quickly by the unsympathetic nurse and couldn't take it all in really! I do have a lot of written down instructions so hopefully that will be OK. Glad to hear they are going ok so far and good luck for Wednesday.
MrsCrabTree sorry your injections are stinging and you have a lot of bruising. I hope that calms down a bit soon. That's a good idea to stay Zen about your scan but I know is very hard isn't it? I really hope is good news for you tomorrow.

No sign of AF yet (well apart from all the twinges). After worrying about starting early I have now started wondering what would happen if AF was late! Last month though I had a 28 day cycle so I would imagine that is happening again and should come on tomorrow morning or later on today.

Goodthings - how is your spotting? Do you think it is the start of AF?

Hi Cityzen - yes, the nurse gave me DVDs for the injections which is just as well as she was really quick in the demo. I think there is some pretty good youtube vids out there also.
MrsCrab - do you have pens for the first lot of injections? Mine are pretty easy to use, but still have a couple of small bruises too. Yes, I'm starting the next set of injections tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.
goodthings - how are you getting on?

My trip to OH's parents went well. Thanks for asking. His dad is doing OK, all things considered and we managed to avoid alcohol/stash the meds in the fridge with no-one noticing!

Hi mrscrabtree and LoPI, glad you're well on your way now, wishing you luck for scan tomorrow mrscrabtree, LoPI when is your next scan?

Cityzen, I'm in the same position, still slightly spotting but think/hope AF will show tomorrow. I spoke to acupuncturist last night and she thinks spotting is fine.... just really want to get started now as the more time that ticks on the closer OTD will be to Christmas and if it's bad news again would rather know sooner than later and try to be as happy as can be at Christmas, although really going to try and stay positive and not symptom spot at all in 2ww. Really hoping the time of year will keep me too busy but I know that's wishful thinking! Xx

My next scan isn't until Saturday - 9 days after I've started the meds. I thought I'd have one in-between but apparently not. I'm trying to zen it out, and just tick along without over thinking it (ha!).

MrsCrab is your scan to see whether the follicles are growing enough?

I completely agree about Christmas timings. I'm also hoping that I'll be busy enough to be distracted in 2ww and have time to put on game face whatever test outcome.

Same here re being busy with Christmas - and my work is so busy atm it's actually a welcome distraction.

Yes exactly LoPI - they are checking 2 days earlier than last time (last time was 7 days after starting stims) to make sure they're growing properly. And no unfortunately they're not pen injections, just massive horrible needles!!

Is it the stims you're about to start LoPI? Or something different?

Had acupuncture last night and some of the needles really hurt (not the practitioners fault, just weird body). Unsure whether to keep going but feel like if I stop now I'll blame that as the reason if the cycle doesn't work out. Silly old brain!

I really find it hard to imagine this working and actually having a baby. Does anyone else feel like that? Then I beat myself for not being positive. Damn it!

Mrscrabtree I feel exactly the same about not ever thinking this could work but maybe that's because our first cycles didn't work for one reason or another, I think I was so positive at the beginning of last cycle. Keep trying to bring myself back to positive thinking but also think maybe I'm trying to protect myself from getting so upset if it does fail again.

As for acupuncture, I've only been going a few weeks and find it's hurts too, exactly the same as you keep thinking about giving it up but would only kick myself and have all the "what ifs" if cycle failed after giving it up. I'm coming out in bruises on tummy and around ankles too , I asked her last night and she said that was ok so I just have to take her word for it! The joys hey! Xx

Morning, hope everyone is doing well? How are injections going?

Good luck with scan today mrscrabtree.

Cityzen, any sign of AF?

Mine finally came this morning after days of spotting which I never usually have. Am booked in for scan on Friday and then can get started (hopefully all being well). Xx

Goodthings - great that you are getting started!
Good luck with scan MrsCrab.
I started the centrocide injections this morning, and broke the needle while pulling off the protective cap - oops! Used one from another pack, so will have to tell nurse on Sat.

And also doing acupuncture on the basis that there is some evidence, and it can't hurt.... only two weeks in. Find it relaxing, but my right hand ached after it last week so I will have to tell her tomorrow.

LoPI sorry to hear about needle incident and pain after acupuncture.

With your acupuncture sessions what happens? I'm only asking as this is first time I've ever tried it so don't know what to expect but have heard different stories to what I'm experiencing. I basically go in there she asks where I am in cycle, puts needles in (approx 12) then leaves me for 30 - 40 minutes, comes back and takes them out. I don't find it relaxing, always bleed in at least a couple of places and have a bruised tummy and ankle at the mo from it!

Also on my last cycle I injected in the evenings and was wondering if it's better to do them in the mornings? Did your clinic advise if there is any difference in timings? Xx

Glad things are on the move for you Goodthings. Sorry to hear about the needle LoPI!! I'm sure they'll just replace it.

I was told to inject in the evenings - but not sure why?

Sounds like we're all having a rubbish time at acupuncture! I might not bother again if this cycle doesnt work. It's also so expensive.

My scan wasn't great today. They think they won't be able to access my left ovary for EC so automatically cuts chances in half. Have a few follies but they're smaller than expected. Unclear at this stage whether any will become dominant like last time, and if not then EC likely to be delayed - which is going to cause all kinds of problems with my work. I'm finding it so stressful. Sorry to be a whinge.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed you all have better luck!

Ps yes that's similar to my acupuncture although she checks my tongue and pulse too. I don't normally bruise thankfully? You can ask them to use the skinnier needles see if that helps?

Thanks for advice about acupuncture Mrs Crabtree and if I'm honest I'll doubt I'll use it again if this cycle doesn't work, especially at £100 at week ! But if it works it will be the best money I spent!

Sorry you're scan didn't go well, did they say why they could get to left ovary for EC? If it's any consolation ( probably not) some nurses on my last cycle could never find my left ovary but I'd didn't have any follicles anyway so I only had my right and managed to get 13 eggs, but only 5 or 6 fertilised. As I keep reading it only takes one good egg, so keeping everything crossed for you xxx

Sorry just an afterthought mrscrabtree (and probably just an old wives tale but it seemed to do the trick for me last cycle as I was a slow responder), I read that hot water bottles on tummy once a day and drinking milk helps follies grow and it did for he but that could just be a coincidence xx