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

The lab just called to say 6 eggs fertilised. ET booked for Sunday morning. They said we won't hear from them again between now and then as they don't like to disturb the embryos by taking them in and out of the incubator unless absolutely necessary. Fingers crossed all goes well between now and Sunday.

Wow, Wanda - that's great! They must be looking good if they are happy to leave them to go to blast - I hope as many as possible make it to that stage so you can have some Frosties too potentially! 6 is a great number, so try to relax until this weekend - hope your DP is feeling ok after yesterday? X

Can I please ask a maybe very silly question? I wasn't sure whether to make a new post for this.

During DR do you need to keep feet and stomach area warm or is it during the stimms?

On day 4 of DR my heads so fuzzy and feeling tired..

Thanks

Feeling quite disappointed. Lab rang to say 2 eggs fertilised out of 7 eggs collected. Embryo transfer either Friday or Sunday. I'd hoped we would have had more take. Guess just shows why we've had the issue this far.

Congrats wanda
jody it only takes one remember that.
I've had a bit of spotting since Monday starting gonal-f, has anyone else had this? Worried something is going wrong Clearly I should Ring clinic but thought I'd ask on here first
crazy I don't know sorry but sure someone will be along soon that does

Aw, Jody - I'm sorry you have had disappointing news - it's hard, really hard - but bjones is right, it does only take one, but I know that's not much comfort at the moment. I only had 2 out of 5 fertilise last time and it feels so precarious when you are down to 2... it's good they are still considering Sunday as a transfer tho as they must be looking good - I had both my 2 transferred back on day 2 as they weren't looking great and they thought best place for them was in me, so fingers crossed the fact they might still go to blast means that they must think they are decent quality . Hang in there & good luck xx.
Jones - did you have a period type bleed before starting stims? Is the spotting just perhaps left over from that? I think it should stop in a couple of days, but def ask your clinic.
Crazy - I'm not sure but I think the theory is that you should keep them warm during stims as they want to encourage blood flow to the ovaries to help with the developing follicles x

Bjones - I'm cd11 and still spotting after my breakthrough bleed despite being on day 4 of stims. Hoping it's normal. Think I read somewhere it is common due to the buserlin we're continuing. Just hoping it doesn't make my lining thin :( let me know what your clinic say if you do ring.

Jody, I'm sorry you're feeling dispirited. I don't really understand much about the factors affecting fertilisation, and when we asked about the benefits of ICSI over IVF, our clinic didn't (in my view) explain it well enough either. Has yours been able to say what the reason for low fertilisation rate is? Anyway, as Jones and Hobbes have said, hopefully at least one of your two will go to blast.

Hobbes, DP is feeling quite achey and bloated still. Not sure if this is normal? I did ask the clinic if we should be looking out for symptoms of OHSS but they said she isn't at risk of it.

Hi Wanda - I definitely felt achey afterwards for a few days - I was v tender down there the day after transfer (transfer was 2 days after EC) and I don't think it was down to the transfer, pretty sure it was just down to some swelling from the EC. It did settle down by day 4/5 though. Hopefully your DP will feel a bit better soon. I'm surprised your clinic are so confident she won't get OHSS - while it may be unlikely, it's good to on look out as I've def heard of people with less eggs get it. X

wanda it took me about 4-5 days to feel normal. Keep an eye out for OHSS - I googled symptoms and mine were definitely 'mild' but made me feel quite crap.
Had my transfer yesterday (day 5)! suddenly felt very nervous and emotional beforehand. Hardly felt a thing though. I've been advised to keep an eye on any OHSS symptoms even now, as can still occur.
We also are lucky enough to have some to freeze, which sort of takes a bit of pressure off I think.
Before EC I was of the 'realistic' mindset which was to basically expect it not to work. Now after the EC I've felt much more desperate not to go through it all again!

Wow, blackcherries - congratulations on being PUPO! And on having some Frosties - I dream of having some, but I think it will remain just that for me if last time is anything to go by! Here's hoping those Frosties will be for much later and this one will take - when's your OTD? X

Wow blackcherries. Congratulations! Having Frosties is amazing - you are the 1 in 7!

I've really been struggling with the pessary especially since EC. I couldn't even get them in earlier sorry if this is tmi! Drunk like another 3litres of water and felt better. Feeling really constipated though. Is there anything safe to take? Was really panicking about the pessary especially had a complete emotional breakdown but think that's as much about the low egg fertilising I think

In case this reassures anyone (I know i found info online was scarce) I had spotting after starting injections, also after the trigger injection.. I got 11 eggs and 5 have fertilised so hasn't done any harm so far 🙂

Congrats blackcherries thats brilliant news
yes hobbes I had a period type bleed last week so hoping its left over from that. geeup glad (not in a horrible way!) you are spotting too. Time got away with me today but will ring clinic tomorrow and see what they say
Annab that is re-assuring, thank you.
jody poor you with the pessaries, think I'm dreading them more than I was injections
My tummy feels quite tender today, but I guess just from all the jabs going in.

Fingers crossed for you blackcherries.

Jody, with the pessaries, maybe you could try a little bit of lube on the pessary? That might help a bit.

Also my amh was bad for my age so docs were always pessimistic (which really got me down) and they were very surprised by the numbers! Goes to show predictions are not always right 🙂
Best of luck ladies! x

Thanks Annab - hoping I surprise the docs with my haul too!!

Spoke to a nurse this morning. She said it's not unusual to have spotting. If it gets any worse then I should call again. She said she was going to run it by the senior nurse but not to worry. Phew (though easier said than done!!)

BJones - that's good - I'm sure it's fine but it's hard not to worry about everything xx
I had my baseline scan this am - and while I prepared for disappointment after last cycle, I'm still gutted. Last cycle I had a follicle count of about 6-7 each side at the baseline scan - this time it was 3-4 each side... . This process just makes me feel SO old. The good news is that I've started stims today, as lining was thin (I'm still bleeding tho) but yes, my AFC was rubbish, which is just depressing and I totally can't get my head around how when I have a good (for my age) AMH. Oh well... Hope did you have a scan today too? Hope yours was more positive than mine! X

Hi guys still trying to work this chat out too me ages to figure out to get back in!

Hope all is going well for everybody.
I had my 5 day frozen blasto transferred yesterday resting in bed today! Praying this works!
Any tips from anyone of what to do during two week wait??... feeling weirdly calm about it all but have decided that if this one doesn't work will have to take a long break from it all but praying that's not the case! Xx

Hobbes is it necessarily the case that low number of follicles at baseline scan is indicative of what will happen during stims? This is only our first cycle but at her baseline scan DP had about 3 on one side and 7 on the other. By the end of stims (16 days) she had 21 overall, from which 9 eggs were collected. So the baseline indication wasn't really a reflection of what would happen. Hopefully once you start stims, your scans will show more.

Yes try not to worry Hobbes. Still everything to play for!!!

Thanks both - I think it's just that I started off with 14 possible last time, which only translated into 6 responding, and 5 eggs... so starting off at only 8 isn't a great sign - but hopefully the extra stims this time will make more of them respond... 🤞
Sorry I'm so negative, was naively optimistic last time and that didn't go so well..!

Hello everyone, so much news to catch up on! Glad to hear lots of you are progressing well, jody and wanda goodluck for your transfers, and blackcherries and hhno congrats on being pupo, i hope your 2ww goes by quickly!

hobbes sorry to hear your feeling disappointed, i can see why your upset but as i understand it each cycle is different and you just dont know what will happen once you've done your stims! As geeup said you still have everything to play for!

You just never know, people can have a brilliant cycle with a great supply of embryos and still not get a bfp, where as others might get only one or two not great embryos and get a bfp!
I know that doesnt make it any easier for you but try not to worry!
Are you on a higher does of stims than last time?

Yes i had my scan yesterday, went well, lining is nice and thin, ovaries etc... look good with no cysts or anything. My clinic dont tell me about follicles at this stage, my next scan is nxt weds when i will find out how many i have growing!
Did my first gonal f injection tonight, on a higher dose this time despite them telling me i responded well last time on 300iu they put me on 375iu this time, hope it means i get a better harvest at EC!
Best do as i have to do 2 injections every other night this time!

Xxx