IVF Cycle buddies March/April

[Hobbes39]

I know we are only partway through February, but I'm down to start our 2nd round of IVF once my period starts at the end of this month, so thought I'd start a cycle buddies thread now as I gear up..!
Our history is that we have a 3.5yo DS, naturally conceived, but have been trying for a sibling for 2 years now... we had an ectopic pregnancy just over a year ago, but after that nothing... so as I'll be 40 next month, we decided there wasn't time to waste anymore and had all the tests last year but we are 'unexplained'... so we had a cycle of IVF in November/December but sadly was unsuccessful as ended in a chemical pregnancy. So here we go again - fingers crossed it's 2nd time lucky...! If anyone else is starting soon then would be great to have the support! Xx

Another good book to read is 'Get a Life his and hers survival guide to IVF' its a great read! X

Hi guys - I've been offered free entry to my hospital's PIP study (endometrial pipelle sampling) the month before I start treatment. I'm up for it, but conscious I've heard it's painful and that I'd probably be up for anything at this stage. Anyone else had experience?

Hi Annab welcome! & sorry you are here.... I was on buserelin for down regulation last time, but did Bemfola as stim - and just to let you know Bemfola was pretty easy as it comes premeasured in pen form, so no faffing around with measuring or needle changing etc, so once you get past the first injection, you'll be fine x
Green eggs that sounds interesting, I haven't been involved or heard of a trial like that, so can't help, sorry - but I know I'd be like you - up for it if it might help, but scared! Hopefully someone else might be able to help more xx

So that's my spotting started - I usually spot for a day or two pre AF so I know that that means the v unlikely miracle baby I was hoping for to stop us needing to kick off on IVF round 2 hasn't happened... oh well.
I am feeling a jangle of nerves all of a sudden - mixture of excitement to get going (must be feeling optimistic today!) and trepidation about going through it all again... anyone else kicking off this week? X

for you Hobbes. I too am hoping for a miracle to avoid needing to cycle....it's never happened in all the years I've been TTC though so doubt it will now, but can't stop hoping. Glutton for punishment here clearly

Welcome to everyone who's joined over the last week. I've been quiet here of late, nothing really to report, just waiting for AF to start down regging. Another pregnancy announcement here today made me log on for some judgement free complaining about the unfairness of it all. My friend was married pre Christmas and is now 6 weeks pregnant...gah! And how do people feel safe enough to announce so early?

Thanks Silver - it's crazy isn't it, 2 years of trying but I still hope...I guess we have to remain slightly optimistic or we wouldn't be able to keep trying...
Sorry you've had the baby bombs too - it's so hard when it comes so easily for some and not for everyone.
I think it's just naivety from people when they announce these things in not so sensitive ways - I've had to unfollow a friend on fb as EVERY post is about her growing bump...she's excited so I get it, but I just don't need it in my feed every day!

Hey guys - only thing I tell myself about the baby bombs is I didn't want that one. I want our one. And silver your friend who announced at 6 weeks is just... well let's say she is unaware of a huge danger and I hope she doesn't ever become aware of it.

I'm starting 5 days of the pill (as AF has stubbornly refused to show up). Had to do a test last night (insisted on by docs) and just seeing that little "no" didn't feel like a great start. But sod it. We all only need on yes. Sending those yes-vibes to everyone.

Hi everyone, I'm new to Mumsnet and new to IVF. My boyfriend and I have been TTC for 2 years now, I've just turned 35. Both had all the tests and nothing apparently wrong with either of us, so I'm finding it very frustrating that it hasn't happened naturally. So we're now starting IVF, AF is due next week. I have no idea what to expect, I've been taken through the process but it all sounds quite a lot to take in and deal with, it doesn't sound like the most pleasant experience either. I'm finding it all very hard to cope with, especially as all of my friends seem to be falling pregnant and it's making me bitter.

Anyway I can't really talk to any of them about it so I thought I'd come on here so I can talk to people who are going through the same thing and will understand.

Jumping in if no-one minds, as I'm on a Feb/March thread but everyone's a bit ahead of me (which is really useful!) as I'm only just nasal spraying at the moment so March will be the big month.

Feel a bit weird as I've never taken nasal sprays before, it doesn't really feel like I'm taking them properly as I inhale and squirt at the same time and don't hear a tsssst sound as I do when I press it outside of my nose! But about 10 mins later I taste it down the back of my throat.

This is my first IVF cycle so don't really know how to feel about it all.

How usual is it to get frosties to use in a future cycle? Does that make it a lot cheaper? (I have one DS so having to pay private clinic)

Hi ladies, can I butt in?
I'm a month out, my egg collection is 15th may and I start the drugs on 31st March, long protocol, my first go.
I know on the first day on my period approx 31st March I go in for blood tests, do they give me my medication/injections for the 6 weeks on that day?

Hi musha, sorry you find yourself in this position - it's so frustrating. We are unexplained secondary infertility, trying 2 years, so I know where you are coming from. I know I'm v lucky we have our wee boy, but it's so frustrating to have nothing obviously wrong with us, but still no baby. We had an unsuccessful round in November/Dec, which was our first, and I remember feeling just like you do - it gets easier once you start, it's the unknown that's hard - once you get over the hurdle of the first injection etc it's physically not that bad (or st least it wasn't for me) - it's just emotionally draining. I found the folks on here invaluable when going through the first cycle, so you've come to the right place! I did also find it helpful to tell a couple of close friends IRL, and while one of them was a bit naive in things she said, as I don't think she had any concept of how low the odds are for my age, they both did their best to be practical help.
Black cherries - seems there are so many permutations on drugs... I didn't do nasal sprays, so can't help there. Re Frosties, I think that depends on so many different things its impossible to predict....age, amh, how you respond etc. I have a friend who did 2 rounds of ivf - didn't get ANY embryos first time, so was huge disappointment... but 2nd time she got 4 - one put back, which was successful, and the other 3 made it to being frozen - she now has her 2nd DC from one of those Frosties, so it can vary hugely from cycle to cycle.
Toffee - it depends on what your hospital do - mine gives me each set of drugs as I need them. Where are you cycling? Im amazed they have given you an egg collection date already...!
Good luck everyone xx

Nice to meet the new people. And yes, shellster I prob need to fill you in.

My failed IVF cycle was in Nov/Dec along with the lovely Hope and Hobbes . It was on the NHS and they would fund another 2 FET, but we had no frosties. Had 2 embryos implanted but they didn't stick . So now we are going private. We are doing ICSI as its male factor. We didn't know it when we started IVF but it was actually testicular cancer that was causing OH's low numbers. So we had a failed IVF cycle just before Christmas and a cancer op to deal with just after Christmas.... fun times....

OH's op was very successful, so no chemo (I'll take that as a silver lining). And last week we decided to o commit to another round of IVF in March. I think making the decision just made me catch up on all the emotions of the last few months, hence feeling a bit down (to answer your question greeneggs - though I appreciate that you along with many other women on here have been through total shitness. I can't imagine that kind of loss).

Here's hoping this is a lucky thread for all of us!

Hi all, can I join your thread? I posted on the Feb/Mar one but we have only just started and everyone there is further into their cycle.

We are a same-sex couple on our first cycle of reciprocal IVF, so her egg with me carrying. I had a Gonapeptyl Depot injection yesterday to start down regging. The clinic said I'd be unlikely to experience side effects but online forums seem to have lists of lots of side effects - so I'm a bit nervous.

LoPI we are doing ICSI for male factor too. You've obviously been through quite a lot. Can I ask how you found out it was testicular cancer? Obv I'm slightly concerned as to the reason for his low count as we conceived on first cycle with DS, three years ago.

Hi Wanda - welcome! I didn't really have side effects on my first cycle (save swollen tummy when near EC) - but I was on short protocol last time with Gonal F pen injections, so I think a bit different to you.

Blackcherries - OH got referred to the urologist for a more detailed exam given a slight variation in size between testes coupled with low numbers. No lump was detected by him or the first doctors we saw. It was only the more detailed exam by the urologist (where usually tenderness in one testes was noted) plus the scans that led us to the cancer diagnosis.

Am so glad this thread is going, as much as we don't want anyone to have to be here it's good we are not alone! Thanks for the hints and welcome 😊 I am now on day 4 on Synarel nasal spray, it's disgusting when it hits the back of the throat! 🤢

So I'm having a v odd experience at the moment - my spotting started day before yesterday... and got heavier so I call hospital to tell them period had just started, so am booked in to go get drugs etc tomorrow am. The only thing is, my spotting has stopped..?! This has never happened to me before. I did a test this am just in case and it was negative, but I'm not sure what to do now as I don't currently have my period - I usually get it quite heavily, so it's not like I just get a small bleed... I'm v confused...! Should I call hospital and ask them if I should delay appointment or shall I just wait and see tomorrow? All I can think of is that the Chinese herbs that I tried this month have grown my system a bit (they did give me an upset stomach!)

Thanks LoPI and hi all. It's nice to have somewhere to talk about this as I haven't told anyone IRL that we are doing IVF - I just don't think I could face constant questions about how it's going.

Have fingers and toes crossed for everyone.

Hey to everyone - wow, this is gathering momentum as a thread!

LoPi though I can't imagine going through cancer too I can relate to all those feelings crashing down on you as you start a new IVF round. Exactly that has happened to me. Felt like I was dealing with MC fine, but when I started pill I just lost it a bit this week & had to take an hour to calm down. One day at a time eh?

Wanda I'd say it's actually worth finding just the right person to confide in IRL - mine turned out to be a mum at work, and she's just brilliant. Never asks me anything but will always talk about anything to do with my fertility journey. People honestly do surprise you, and it takes the pressure off in a way I can't quite pinpoint. Just my experience. Also I've only done 2 fresh cycles myself, but great advice is to drink LOADS of water. Then you know if your body needs to get rid of some medication it will.

(Loads of water being 2-3 litres a day - just before I cause trouble!)

Hi all, welcome musha, blackcherries, toffee and wanda and good luck with your journeys, glad to have you on our thread, we are getting busy now!

annab the synarel nasal spray tastes horrid when it hits the back of your throat doesnt it! I'm not looking forward to doing that again for 3.5 weeks!

blackcherries sounds like your doing your nasal spray right, i never seemed like it sprayed in much up my nose but like you 10 mins later you get that horrid taste so something has worked. Most of the spray gets absorbed into the blood stream via the top of your nose and i guess what we taste is the left over bit trickling down!

I second drinking loads of water green i was drinking 3 litres plus a day to keep nasty headaches at bay!

LoPI i'm glad to hear that your DH didnt need chemo in the end, i'm not suprised you feel down it has been an emotional few months for you, i think you are very brave to be commiting to you next cycle!
I can relate to the stress of your DH's op, mine went in for a check up a few years ago and 3 days later was being operated on after being rushed through urgently as a cancer referral, that was over Christmas too, scary times. They think that is the reason for our male factor infertility, we had only been trying a year at the time but nearly 4 years in still no luck so seems thats why!

hobbes i'm not really sure what to suggest, maybe wait till tomorrow and then call just to check, better to check than not be sure and find it delays things later on.

My drugs are arriving tomorrow morning, have cleared space in the fridge ready! Thought i was ok about it but have felt a bit out of sorts today, was strangly excited when my drugs arrived for my first cycle but having that fail has left me more nervous this time, more cautious somehow, so i dont get my hopes up too much i guess.

Xxx

Hi Hope - I know what you mean, I'm definitely more cautious this time too. I am now back from the hospital, they scanned me and lining is still thick so the bleed I had wasn't my period proper... so they took a blood test, which ill get back later this afternoon, just to check before starting the drugs. I'm 99% sure it won't be a miracle positive, and I think they are too as they sent me away with the pill and needles and buserelin all ready for when my period does come back - they reckon it might be stress... anyway, so that's me now waiting for period proper to show x

Thanks for the welcome :) Due to start period on Monday or Tuesday - since stopping the pill 3 1/2 years ago my cycle has never been totally regular so I'm never quite sure when it'll come, but it's usually within a couple of days. Apart from the really annoying months when it was 4-5 days late and got my hopes up :(
I see a lot of you are taking a nasal spray - I'm not familiar with all the different drugs people can take for ivf but I've been told I will be taking 4 pills every evening to start with from day 21.

Hi Musha - what pills are you taking? I've not heard of that before, It's amazing the variety of ways of doing IVF...! I'll be micogynon pill for 2-3 weeks, then buserelin injections then gonal F stim injections.
I'm def not pregnant, blood test came back negative, but no idea why I had a bleed then nothing more, and no sign yet... why does my period come every month when I don't want it to, but the one time I do... it goes awol!