About to start ICSI and feeling hugely stressed, any advice?

[leanandgreen]

I am about to start my ICSI journey for male factor, next week. It's all become so real now.

I am going through a stressful time at the moment with work etc. I'm worried about it failing due to stress.

Any advice would be so welcome. Do I cut my work hours down whilst I'm going through treatment or is it better to carry on as normal?

If you have anything that you can share that perhaps helped/is helping you go through similar, please share.

Ahh Raffles, hello. Thank you for asking.
So, I'm finishing the injejcetions tomorrow and I have my first scan in the morning.
I am starting to now go a little crazy tbh- like obsessing over everything. Did I drink too many glasses of wine on Xmas day? Was my withdrawal bleed heavy enough? Am I eating healthy enough? Etc.
DP and I have started arguing quite a bit now too (which I really did not want to happen). He's not looking after himself in my eyes. I feel like he'll only eat if I cook for him, he'll only drink water if I remind him - it's taking it's toll a little.
First of Jan back to work, that's been stressful, not sleeping properly etc.

Sorry for the rant. I suppose it can be quite a lonely journey for us.

How soon is EC after the first scan?

And- more importantly, how are you? Have you been getting many pregnancy symptoms? X

Any news leandandgreen? I keep wondering how you're doing. Hope all OK.

Ec varies depending on how you react to hormones. How quick eggs grow. How thick lining is. Usually somewhere between 10/14 days

Hence sometimes hard to predict when need time off work as ec and et date can change depending on the above

I took days off for ec (had 3 diff cycles) as personally ec was horrendous but some clinics give general (mine didn't) and stayed in bed feeling shit for 2/3 days

Et diff. Just like smear and although didn't go to work after - I chilled about

It doesn't matter what you do. It's what you feel happy with

Good luck

Thank you again Raffles for thinking of me. Xx

Thanks Blonde. I actually am petrified about EC. I really hate losing control. I couldn't sleep last night for worrying about it. I think I forgot that you have to be sedated for it. :s.

So I have just had my scan. A little concerned. Only 6 follicles :s. She said that three of them are ready for collection but the other three aren't - this worries me even more. So I have another scan booked for Monday morning.

Does anybody know if it is possible that the other three follicles could grow in time for Monday? I am worried about the other three being over-stimulated at the same time.

Sure your clinic know what they are doing. Follicles do grow differently - are they increasing drug dose?

Tho age depending 6 in total does seem low (sorry)

Will you have a general or just sedation (like my clinic did)

No idea - I hope they do. Because this is my first time, I'm learning and from what I can tell - this is not good and six is very low, I'm still in my 20's!

They have told me to continue with the menopur dose until Monday (at least). I will go in on Monday morning to be scanned again.

Sedation is what they've told me I will have.

Sure you will be fine. My ec experiences weren't great but many others in here say it was fine

Just ask for lots of drugs and obv make sure someone to drive you home

Hi LeanandGreen - sorry to hear you are stressed. My follicles were slow to grow, and it came out alright in the end. Hope everything went ok with the scan.

Don't worry about sedation - I hate losing control - and I didn't really notice it was happening until I woke up (not everyone falls asleep apparently, but evidently my body took the option of an extra rest ). Sorry you are falling out with husband - it is a very fraught time, so be easy on him and you, if you can.

I've been ok. At first scan (6 weeks and 3 days) the embryo was a little small (measuring 6 days) so I am back a week on Wednesday. It apparently had a good heartbeat though, so trying not to worry (with varying degrees of success). My boobs are ridiculous but apart from that I am pretty much OK.

Do let us know how your scan went. xxx

Thank you Blonde. I totally know that I'm overreacting about it. I know that once I've come round, I'll be wondering why I stressed so much!

Raffles - amazing. That must have been very anxiety inducing, having the first scan. A strong heart beat, just what you need to hear. I am so pleased for you. And, the more symptoms the better I say. Let that embryo drive you mad with symptoms! You'll know it's busy growing.

I'm having EC tomorrow. Apparently it actually is a general anaesthetic which frightens me still but I figure that it's going to be so early in the morning, I really won't care or be aware I think!

After the second scan, the nurse found eight follicles which made me feel a bit better. I'm hoping to get one that gets to blastocyst. We shall see. I can't wait for it to be over now. I am dreading this two week wait.

Do you have any tips on how to distract myself in the two weeks? I've decided to work part-time during this. Annoyingly, I have an interview for a contract on Tuesday! Which is really close to embryo transfer, I am assuming! Not good but that will distract me which probably is good.

Lean. If you have 5d transfer that will be on tue

And yah for general. Lucky you

Oh dear - I'm going to have to come up with an excuse and change this interview date aren't I! Thanks for that info Blonde. Hopefully this time tomorrow, I won't be too sore!

That all sounds positive!

Re interview and ET I was told to carry on as normal, felt able to and did (spent the afternoon on a horse after ET in the morning - Dr said it was fine). I know opinions and advice on this differ, however.

Re 2ww, I didn't even know it was a thing so had not prepared for it at all. As you'll recall, I came on here and whinged to distract myself. The other thing I did was something I adapted from when I had CBT for anxiety. One of the first things my therapist got me to do was institute "worry time". Basically if I was worrying about something I had to decide actively to put it to one side until, say, 6 pm, and then at 6 pm I had 15 minutes to think about all my worries - I could write down what they were analyse them and chase my own tail - but any time I was doing that in the day I had to make a decision to stop and put it back to later. It worked really well for me then, and I tried to do the same with thinking about whether or not ET had worked. I am doing the same now about whether or not the embryo has given up the ghost.

Probably not a perfect solution, but it might help. Good luck for tomorrow - keeping everything crossed for you. xxx

Good luck! I had FET from ICSI and my DS is nearly a year now. I was very stressed about it all but took a few days off work after the transfer and acted like I was sick. Ate chocolate, watched movies, lay on the sofa. I figured that if it wasn't going to work I was at least going to have a few 'me' days enjoying the time I had my little embryo on the inside.

I'm planning another FET and hope to do similar this time, although with a boisterous toddler to look after I'm not sure how much relaxing I'll manage!

Very very good luck to you

Hope ec goes well x

Thank you for that advice Raffles. I am going to do that too because I am such a worrier! You've also inspired me to just carry on as normal. I'm going try and forget about it once the transfer has happened.

Aw Secret, that's amazing. Thank you so much for sharing. I love to hear a success story - stops me being so negative. Good luck with your second FET. Xx

Thank you Blonde - all was totally fine as you said. The pain was incredibly intense when I woke up after a few hours but I'm just happy that: A) I didn't cry or kick up a fuss just before the anaesthetic and B) I have survived and it's all over!!
I had ten eggs collected which I am pleased about because it's more than 6!

Glad all went well. Hopefully over half will fertilise and you will get 3/4/5 good embryos by day 5

Yay - 10 is fantastic! Well done you!

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it - keeping my fingers crossed!! Xx

Hi ladies.
I'm at the point of thinking about ICSI and have been reading your success stories which is lovely, congrats all :)
May I ask how long you had all been ttc before getting to the ICSI stage? I have PCOS and my DH has antibodies in SA so we have been told that ICSI would be the route for us. NHS is having us wait forever and we are considering getting the first one privately while we wait for NHS to come through......would anyone have any advice or opinions on this?
Anything greatly appreciated :)

Hi Summer, sorry to hear about your infertility struggles.
My partner and I had been ttc for two years. We have male factor and my ovarian reserve is a little on the low side for my age.
We were very lucky with the NHS and from our doctors referral, it took three months and from there the whole process has really gone quick, almost too quick. I actually don't feel ready for it to be over yet!

Our consultant said that she would have made us carry on ttc for another year if it wasn't for my low ovarian reserve.

I think it really depends how you feel. I personally, wouldn't rush it and would wait for the NHS. But that's up to you, it's your journey. Wishing you luck with it. X

Just thought I'd give an update...5 day blastocyst transfer yesterday. Feeling incredibly calm surprisingly but still on edge a little!

My blast was already about to hatch, does anybody know if that makes a difference to preg. Rates at all?

Also, did anybody have any symptoms from the pessaries? I have regular cramps and sore boobs which will make it hard for me to symptom spot (probably a good thing! Haha).

Hi all

I'm on day 5 short protocol and will be having ICSI if all goes to plan. Scan this morning showing 7 follicles which is ok for my age at 41. Been ttc for 18 months and all tests showed no actual issues. I've really enjoyed catching up with your board. Great news for leanandgreen today x

My only stress is the women at work speculating about why I keep taking half days off!

Lean. Yah for yesterday. Did you do interview in the end?

Problem with ivf is that the drugs and hormones give the same symptoms and emotions as your period. So cramping tender bound etc could be coz your are preg or could be as af on the way

Think on cycle 1&2 af arrived 11 days :(

All in all ttc 10yrs. Was going to start ivf after 4yrs - ttc for a year. Aww gp. He said only young. Try for another 6mthe. Then finally on ivf waiting list and was for 18mths

then dh died. And got letter 2w later saying our turn :(

Met an incredible man who had kids in his 20's but happy to ttc. Told him I wouldn't get preg naturally - lost my 3nhs goes as he has kids

Saved and did private - 5th time worked and 30w preg