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.

It amazes me @bananafish how much you have been through yet still bounce back and support others

I so hope you get your dream to be a mum 💐

Thanks for filling me in on your story blackcherries. Wish I was starting the drugs for ICSI this week along side you! I've just stopped breastfeeding so have to wait for my period to return. I found with IVF last time that the actual process of injecting drugs and having eggs collected was nothing compared with the emotional torment of desperately trying naturally each month and coming crashing down when it fails, as well as the emotional torment that goes along with each IVF cycle.

OK thanks for the warning! Time slows down when you're waiting for things to happen.

Yes time certainly does go glacial slow while waiting for the IVF cycle to begin blackcherries!!!! I used to think it was hard enough waiting for an IVF cycle to start when I was counting down and knew the date because I had regular cycles. It's really hard now when I just stopped breast feeding last week and have no idea when my period will return!?!?

Hey guys
I'm totally new to all this ICSI and didn't even know there were forums like this for support! I am so so glad I found you all- I'm due for EC tomorrow but at last scan was devastated to only have 3 big follicles. I'm hoping they all have eggs and there's one to pop back in! Please keep thinks crossed!
Your stories have all been so amazing to read and provided so much support just to know I'm not going through it alone so thank you all

Hope it went OK giggling. Let us all know how you are getting on!

Procedure went well- they got 4 eggs which is more than I thought.
Got the call this morning to say 1 was immature, 1 was abnormal, 1 is being slow and 1 looks good so hopefully it'll hold out for ET on Sunday.
I know the chances aren't good for a BFP from those numbers but grateful to get this far!

How's everyone else getting on?

Keeping everything crossed for you!

@giggling. Hope you get your 3day fet Sunday 💐

Good luck giggling! My fingers and toes are crossed for you.

Hello to everybody else.

@gigglingbiscuit - did you get your Sunday fet

Do hope so

Hello!
Yes I did :)
Now on day 5 of the dreaded 2WW. How's everyone else getting on? X

All crossed for you x

Yay - fingers and toes crossed for you giggling!

Hi all we've just been told we need IVF + ICSI for male factor. We started trying 15 months ago - it's been the hardest thing I've been through.

The consultant said he will refer us at our follow up appointment in three months - then the waiting list is 6-8 months

We are just about to buy our first home so all our savings are going on that. We will have to start saving again if we want to go private.

If anyone has any advise on overseas clinics and prices I'd be very grateful

Congratulations getting your BFP OP I hope everything is going well.

Eek that is a long time to wait London. Sorry to hear that and that you have to go through fertility treatment.

But ICSI is amazing, I am 9 weeks today, thank you for your kind worlds. It seems as though you have the same issue that my partner and I had/have.

Unfortunately I have no advice on overseas clinics and prices but I'm sure Blonde will be along soon to give you her advice on that.

Thanks for your reply. I'm wondering if we can get a cancellation before our three month appointment, which would speed things up a bit. DH and I have agreed that as soon as we've bought this house we start saving again and try at least one private cycle before the NHS IVF kicks in.

Especially if we can do it abroad and save some cash. I've been reading around and it sounds like Reprofit and Gennet are more affordable and recommended. Spain and Greece more expensive?

It's sinking in today but I'm feeling more optimistic. It's all so much to take in.

waddles in

i used ivi madrid

others on here have used

reprofit prague
serum athens
ivi barcelona

a friend is using gest, tho de

madrid was more exp then the first two i mentioned when comparing prices, but for us the convenience of a 2hr flight and there and back in a day balanced it out

It's a lot to take in Jam, I agree but be kind to yourself and stay positive. As soon as you get your bfp (which you will in the end) you will completely forget about the stress of everything you have been through in order to get it, not going to lie though you will have new stresses!

And you never know, you might still conceive naturally so keep on trying.

thanks girls xx

DH works in the aviation industry so we are very lucky to get discounted flights . That might help make the decision. I'm going to do some reading around and will be following / joining up infertility boards.

Not what I anticipated when we started trying, but hey we are certainly not the first couple to go through this and we are lucky to have options.

Delurking to wave at *shellster. How are you? Not sure if you'll remember me, but we've had lots of chats in the past about ivf/low amh and the like.