IVF in May/JUNE 2017..cycle buddies!

[toffeepuddin]

Hi

I noticed there's a IVF thread for March/April and now June - but no May.

My egg collection is scheduled week commencing the 15th May. On my next period (due around 3rd April) I have to go down for my bloods.
Anyone else?

[Lily35]

Hi maplebaby I'll be Down Regging from 9 May all being well. So bit of a wait yet

[chivintassle]

I've been thinking of acupuncture but been put off by not knowing where to go, who is good etc. I'm up for trying anything to help this work. Any recommends? (I'm London based mid week)
Feels like doing own acu now! First time injecting this morning, although not as scary as thought would be. Dr laughed at me when I said getting eyebrows threaded was more painful.

[flirtygertiefromnumber30]

Thanks moggle and lily, I won't feel too guilty about giving it up then. We're going privately for our treatment and part of me wondered if they just recommended it as a way of earning more!

I would rather spend the money on something nice and relaxing like you say, I think it would be more beneficial! Will look in to reflexology.

Hope you are all doing well and lots of luck everyone

[Lily35]

Are you taking any vitamins or anything else Flirty? I'm trying to drink 2L water a day and taking my usual prenatal but that's it. I've added avocados into my diet, trying to eat more eggs and given up alcohol completely. Got a couple of hen dos coming up though so going to struggle!!
If anyone else has any other tips?

[chivintassle]

Lily, I drink a berocca a day. Pop it in a pint of water and kill 2 birds with 1 stone! I asked the doc if needed to take anything else and he said no.
I've also given up alcohol. Easiest excuse is being the designated driver!

[flirtygertiefromnumber30]

Hi Lily, yes I am - recommended by the clinic I am taking a prenatal vitamin, 600mg CoQ10, 1500mg Omega 3, 2000mg Vitamin D (this is a high dose but a blood test showed my levels were low and apparently it is v. important for conception) and 4g myo-inositol daily. My husband is also taking a conception multi-vitamin, a resveratrol supplement and a vitamin 'boost' drink (like Berocca I think except it apparently tastes revolting!). I do sometimes have a Berocca as well.

We had a nutritionist appointment as part of our treatment and she recommended each meal should be 25% protein, 25% complex carbs (things like quinoa, brown rice, oats etc), but not starchy carbs, 50% fresh veg and fruit (at least nine portions a day, mostly veg). She also said full fat dairy and good fats (like avocados) were beneficial, as well as not too much alcohol, not too much sugar and not too much caffeine. I've given up alcohol completely but I don't stress if I fancy chocolate or some cake or whatever, the nutritionist said being relaxed and happy was important too!

She gave us loads of information which I have at home, I can DM some more info if you'd find it useful?

[broodynmoody]

flirty the nurse said something similar to me today about the diet, lots of protein veg and full fat milk. I'm off alcohol now and it's killing me already!
I got my meds today and I start with the Buserelin injections on Saturday. Nervous and excited for things to finally move forward. Trying not to get my hopes up but it's hard!

[fluffygreenmonsterhoody]

Hi everyone, can I hop in?

One failed cycle in December and we're back on the merry go round again now. Got some embryos frozen from last time so skipping egg collection.

Going in on Monday for scan to check womb thickness then hopefully transfer start of May.

[flirtygertiefromnumber30]

broodynmoody ha, I've never really been a big drinker so I'm not finding it too bad but I do tend to eat a lot of sugar so I am struggling cutting that down!

[Lily35]

Yes please Flirty! That would be useful :) lots of good info there. I'm a massive believer in being relaxed and happy too so everything in moderation. It's hard enough without making myself miserable through diet.
Do you think I need to cut down on my cups of tea? I have 4 - 5 cups of normal tea a day and reading up on it apparently only 2 is recommended. Oh I've answered my own question! Anyhow, that's my struggle. I just love tea!

[Lily35]

Hi Fluffy, sorry to hear about your failed cycle and lots of luck for your FET!

[Lily35]

Good luck Broody - are you long or short? Sorry I've not caught up on all messages

[broodynmoody]

Lily I'm long protocol so hopefully my EC will be around 15-20th May. I'm playing everything by ear so far, it's just waiting til Aunt Flo comes

[maplebaby]

Chivin my eyes always water when I get my brows done!

Lily I'm trying to drink more water but find t really hard - I could go a day without drinking any. I've started drinking decaf tea too - the Yorkshire ones aren't that bad and I'm used to them now. Also trying to cut down alcohol but I'll have the odd glass once every 2 weeks or so!

Flirty thanks for the nutritional tips! I love avocado so happy to add more of it in - also will try and eat more eggs and chicken. I'm a sugar addict though so that will be tough!

Broody i start buserelin on Tuesday!

Welcome fluffy sorry to hear about the failed cycle - good luck on Monday! Start of May is not long at all!

[Lily35]

I've got some Berrocas so going to have one of them a day like Chivin says - 2 in 1 :)
I'll try the Yorkshire decaf. I've tried Tetleys ones and they are ok but I can tell the difference :(
Thanks for the tips ladies x

[Lily35]

I had bloods and scan today - uterus is retroverted and hides apparently. Ovaries look ok and all ready to start meds 9 May. Just waiting on the drug call now!

[maplebaby]

I wasn't keen on tetleys either lily. Great about being able to start soon! Not long to wait although I know it feels like ages away!

[broodynmoody]

Is antibiotics normal part of treatment? Myself and partner are said to take them around egg collection time..I understand why I have to take them but not my partner

[maplebaby]

I'm not sure broody I've been given a weeks course of antibiotics before EC and then more for I guess after but none for DH! Did he have a semen culture?

[chivintassle]

I'm starting to worry that you all seem to be getting more info than me etc. No scan, no blood test, to talk of antibiotics, no meal plans, no vitamin advice. Just straight onto injections! I'm nervous that as this is first round I haven't asked the right questions and as it's nhs (1 free cycle) they want me back next time but paying?! Any advice that you all have??

[Lily35]

Chivin I do think there is some difference between NHS rounds and private. I've had to do lots of reading up and only know some things from a friend who had both NHS and private, and my cousin who is now onto a private round. NHS doesn't seem to offer a huge amount of advice on diet, supplements etc. That's why I find these chats great too as get lots of tips from people at different clinics.
My bloods were the standard checks for HIV, syphliis etc so I'm sure you will have had them at some point as it's a must have as stated by HFEA. The scan I had was to check I was ready ok to start on my cd21 but other than that - I'm in at the deepend with injections. Just hoping a bit more info at the teach as I have no idea what I'm doing! Apparently on Gonal f 150 IU - but I've had to research that myself as well. Seems like the lowest dose to start. I'm saving up my questions for the teaching appointment!

[chivintassle]

Thanks lily, yes had those bloods done ages ago now!! Had first appointment Jan 2016 and taken this long for sign off etc! My teach in for the injection was leg or stomach, he did the first one then let me go! I asked some stupid questions, e.g bottles self seal (didn't know!) First self do was scary, and I still don't look!
I was reading something yest that said what you ate/did 3m ago will effect current egg, let's hope that's right and not 4m (xmas /ny!)

[blackcherries]

I'm at a private clinic who do the scans etc but the ET and EC were at an NHS hospital (I just had to pay...)
I didn't get any info really apart from bloods initially when trying to diagnose the problem (which I paid for) and a 'virology' blood test for me and DH which checks for STDs etc and is required before any IVF treatment. Didn't really get any advice on diet, supplements etc apart from suggesting DH takes pre-conception vits. Don't think either of us had antibiotics either!

My clinic seems 'laid-back' to say the least and I have had to chase a lot for basic info, so it's not just you.
I'm starting buserelin again today. They put the price up by £12 a bottle since I first had it a few months ago!

[maplebaby]

Don't worry chivin I didn't have any advice on diet or vitamins either! The only blood test I've done recently is an updated HIV one and I haven't had a scan since they did the updated AFC and dummy transfer. I won't get a scan till I get a bleed when I finish norethisterone and I don't know what dose of menopur I'll be on until then either!

Like lily all my info has been from here / frantic googling!

[broodynmoody]

I've had the basics told but that's about it, most of it I've learned off these sites. I wouldn't like to think I hadn't read up on anything first hand. That's what I would definitely advise, is to read up on process, what the scans and hormones are called etc. Makes things so much easier and clear