TTC 18 months or more -moving on to IUI/IVF/ICSI part 3

[bluebird3]

We have relocated from the conception board where we were previously chatting under the thread 'ttc for 10 months or more'. A lot of us are now long term ttc-ers and are going through infertility treatment or looking to take steps in this direction so we feel this might be a more suitable home for us!

Feel free to stop by and say hi and hopefully we can share the journey together and make it a little easier along the way!

Hi chocaw
I’m just 30 and been trying about the same amount of time, got pregnant on my first cycle too and lost it at 6 weeks, have lost two more at 5.5 weeks. Have you had things like your progesterone checked? Mines always fine on the day 21 test but I always start spotting on 9DPO and get af on 12dpo and when I got pregnant last month it was low so maybe it could be something like that? With unexplained it’s so frustrating isn’t it, people are like “great you don’t have a problem” but I disagree, whilst everyone around us gets pregnant we don’t so it just seems there is a less obvious issue which some months we sort of overcome 🤷🏼‍♀️. We all know how shit it is, hang on in there xxx

Hi Chocaw,

Hang on in there - it is really rubbish and hard and so upsetting when it seems like all your friends need to do is look at one another to get pregnant. I think it feels like your life is on hold for two weeks every month, then when AF arrives it’s so disappointing and you have to dust yourself off ready to start again.

Such a shame that your IUI cycle was cancelled but you definitely want to do it safely and properly. Two follicles reduces success rate but also significantly reduces the twins/triplets/more rate and, as much as you want a baby, having three really poorly ones, or a late miscarriage, or really premature babies isn’t worth the risk in my opinion.

xxx

Welcome zeeby and chocaw.

I don't have any advice or inspiration but just want to say that you're amongst people who understand. You can't know what this is like unless you've been through it. I haven't had IUI but it's much less invasive so might be worth trying. The success rates are less than ivf but ivf isn't a guarantee either and the worst part of failed ivfs is that you feel like there is nothing left to try. For a long time I felt a real sense of urgency and wanted to keep doing cycles asap and any delay reduced me to tears too.

Looking back over my 3 failed cycles I'm learning to take a breath, have a break and I've accepted that having a bit of extra time to try and eat healthier or exercise more is not the end of the world. It's hard though. I get it.

Good idea blue. Do they know why they failed? Were they bfn or early Mc? I know what you mean, after this IVF then what :-/

Hey guys to anyone who dosent know yet it didnt go well . Im back and i hope you dont mind i dont want to talk about it. Taking a bit of time out just now to collect my thoughts and lose some weight before my next FET.

Hi to all the new people sorry that you have to join us over here

TTC1 So Sorry that it didnt work out

Choc We all understand the sense of urgency and the tears. Its really crap when things get postponed . Hopefully next cycle you have better luck

Thanks for the welcome bluebird3 and sorry to hear your ICSI hasn't worked, that too must be so tough to deal with. I hope you don't mind me asking, but when it fails do they look/investigate to give you a reason why?
I think you're right that the mental/emotional side is worse in any situation. DH and I decided to keep trying naturally until the end of the year and then if no luck do the ICSI. But I'm due my period in two days (also only have 10 day luteal phase which drives me insane) and getting period pains and turned into the biggest b**ch as it's getting me down so much. I just think I can't mentally do this for another six months, to me or DH. It's literally taking over my life, there isn't a day that I'm googling something, symptom spotting etc. I don't feel like I'm living at the minute, just existing and our life revolves around infertility.

Ttc1london thank's for your message and sorry about your losses too. I know exactly what you mean and can relate to everything you are saying. You're right too after the miscarriages I doubt everything and worry there are even bigger things wrong, like maybe we are compatible (chromosomes etc.) and it will never happen. It's probably me being completely ridiculous, but your mind just spirals with everything. Our referral was through the NHS, but we are private as have to pay for treatment (if that makes sense). We had our consent appointment booked for the beginning of May but cancelled it, after deciding we would wait until the end of the year to start the process fully. But with af due I'm not sure I can do this for another six months. I'm thinking of at least booking our consent appointment and having that so at least we are ready to go. I have heard that you can start your treatment at any time within 12 months after your consent appointment, is that right? I just feel so selfish and impatient if we start down the ICSI route when the consultant has suggested waiting until the end of the year. And I know you can't put a price on this, but having to pay I think if we did wait we might catch and would save thousands which we could then spend on being a family. But then the thought of getting to the end of the year and not catching and wasting all those months just to be in the same position!! I just can't get my head round catching twice in quick succession and then nothing for over a year, it just doesn't make sense to me. Anyway it's me waffling now-sorry!

zeeby welcome! It's horrible when everyone else is getting pregnant around you. I find it difficult what to say when people ask us. I don't want to be ashamed of our mc's or the fact that we are having fertility issues, but it's a bit of a conversation killer and then makes people feel uncomfortable! As for the relax thing, completely with you on that one. I love her and I know she only wants to help, but if my MIL says 'relax and it will happen' I may punch her in the face! Haha can you tell I've got PMS!

Hope everyone has a good weekend xxxxx

Hi flossy
Just quickly as I am at the gym, your 10 day LP would suggest to me (I have the same) low progesterone as embryos sometimes implant as late as day 12 and your lining has already gone? I had all the day 21 tests and al fine but mine and yours obviously plummets after?

Also just go along with the NHS that’s what we have done, had our referral in jan still no appointment so we’re going private in the mean time so by the time we hear back we could always use them for round 2 and if it happens first time private I don’t care how much it cost 🤷🏼‍♀️. Sending big hugs 🤗

Welcome back Scottish, no need to re talk about anything, hugs to you too and we’re all still here too so feel your pain! Xxxxxx

Hi Ttclondon,

Yes I had 21 tests and mine all came back fine too. I ovulate late too, usually day 16/17 so usually only have a 26 day cycle and have had the odd 24 day too! I brought this up with the consultant at our referral as was worried, but he just brushed it off. I know they see this day in day out as it's there job, but hate the way they make you feel sometimes. Made me feel like I was being silly, I know they are the medical experts and know best, but sometimes I just want reassurance and to feel like I'm not being a crazy hypochondriac in all of this! I'm like you and don't really care how much it costs, but like I say just feel selfish and impatient doing it rather than waiting. But after 18 months and 2 mc's just think mother nature is not playing ball! Hugs to you too xxx

Well if your LP is that short then I would assume lot s of months you are essentially shedding the lining before it can implant but maybe some months it implants early but the progesterone is low hence an early MC? I’m not a doctor but I would see that as an issue and if you have any private tests get it checked as they can give you pessaries etc I’ve taken them. The other thing to get checked is your immune system (killer cells etc) none of this is offered on NHS and for some people it’s the difference! X

As we have some newbies anyone who wants to can do a catch up...

I'm blue
32
Ttc #1 since April 2015
Feb 2017 - ICSI 1 -bfn
Jul 2017 - ICSI 2 - mc at 6 weeks
Dec 2027 - ICSI 3 -chemical

After each cycle we had a review appointment but they didn't know why it didn't work so kept me on the same protocol thinking it was bad luck. Then at our last review appt the doctor said looking at all 3 cycles together it looks like we have bad egg quality which leads to bad embryo quality (never have any to freeze). I had further tests done but the only thing amiss was a slightly hypo-thyroid so am on meds for 12 weeks then can try another cycle. If no improvement we will probably move on to donor eggs.

Do you know the name of the tests I should ask for regarding LPD and progesterone? I have also had recurrent miscarriage blood tests done, which I think included the immune system (well I hope so as I had to have 12 samples of blood taken!) and they all came back normal. x

With my two miscarriages, the first happened quite quickly and so i'm assuming was a chemical, the second wasn't discovered until I went for a scan at 10 weeks and it hadn't developed beyond the sac. No sign of fetal heartbeat and if I remember correctly not even a yoke sac? My hormone levels were still really high so in the end I had to have it surgically removed, as my body was showing no sign of doing it naturally. This is what is making me think there is more to it than 'just bad luck' as we have never fully developed or got past this stage x

Hi. Hope you don't mind if I join.
I'm Pony
36 soon to be 37

MFI for us
2015 - ICSI - BFP
2018 - FET - BFN
2018 - ICSI - having the EC tomorrow.
Wishing you the best of luck ladies.

Hi all, welcome to all the newbies.

I'm angel
36
Ttc #1 since August 2015 with MFI (anti-sperm antibodies). I also have underactive thyroid, but it's been pretty stable so I don't think it's having an impact
1 failed icsi cycle Nov 17 (only 1 immature egg collected)

Following our last cycle, we got further tests done & were advised that there's only a 10% chance of success in future cycles for us, based on my amh (6.4) & my poor response in the last cycle. Not great odds, but 10% is better than nothing, so we're planning another icsi cycle soon hopefully. Last time we were on long protocol, & it didn't seem to work for me, so we'll probably try flare protocol this time round.

@ttc1 sorry things didn't work out, fx the ivf goes better.

@blue how are you getting on with the thyroxine?

@scottish, hope things are ok with you. It's really shit at times, so you've just got to go with whatever gets you through.

Hi guys, thought I'd jump on too!

I'm 36, did our first cycle of ICSI last month but had to freeze the embryos and skip embryo transfer for that cycle as my progesterone levels got too high before egg collection. Managed to freeze 3 blastocysts.
Mild MFI / Unexplained for us.

Waiting impatiently to find out if we can start FET this month or if we have to wait!

Good luck with EC Pony!

Bluebird my consultant put me on levothyroxine, because slightly hypothyroid - he said it can help with both getting and staying pregnant. Wishing you luck.

Orange You must be really excited are you transfering one or two ?.

Pony Let us know how your egg collection goes. FX for you all goes well and you get lots of lovely blasts.

Flossy I worry because i cant get prego without medical intervension and i cant seem grow them either. 2 MC in and i had seen a heart beat on both and still rubbish luck. I recently seen a thread where a lady had 4 sac's (Quads!!!) but they did not develop beyond the sac. Its rubbish but it happens . I have my FX that you have better luck next time.

TTC1 Get ready to feel like this with your IVF !

The injections aint so bad

Angel Thats mad your only 36! Well i dearly hope that you are in the 10% and a bit of good luck is coming your way!

Blue Lets hope that your hard work produces lots of lovely healthy blasts! if not then donor eggs.. You will be a mum one day! . Do you have a weight loss plan or are you just winging it ?

Haha thanks scottish! Even on my natural cycles I was using clexane etc so I’m a pro at stabbing myself now. The cleXane made me look like I had been beaten up but suprefact seems to be ok! Been on down reg for 13 days now and not down regging I think my body is good at doing what it’s meant to in terms of ovulating etc it’s just the second part it can’t do! FX for us all :-)

Hello ladies,
The EC went well. They got 18 eggs, which was a huge shock.
I woke up and looked at my hands as my FS writes the number of eggs on there and it was lovely to see.
At my last scan I had 5 dominating follicles and 5 immature follicles so no idea where the rest came from.
Felt great straight after and even went out to lunch with DH. Now though feel pretty tender.
Hope you are all feeling well.

Welcome orange and pony!

flossy sorry I don't know what the lpd tests are called as I haven't had that one.

pony we'll done with your ec. 18 is fantastic and hopefully you will get lots of lovely embryos. Let us know how it goes!

orange I just was put on thyroxin a few weeks ago. I'm hopeful it will help for the next round!

angel I am only on a low dose of thyroxin but I do feel a bit brighter. I'm not sure if it's really that or the lighter/longer days as I always feel better in the sun. I find out later today what the results were of my most recent TSH so fx it's below 2.5 now. I'm not familiar with the flare protocol? When do you think you will start again?

scottish I'm starting (today) intermittent fasting 16:8. You fast for 16 hours and then eat for 8. I'm eating between 10:45-6:45. Hopefully this will cut down evening snacking for me. I'm also trying to eat a Mediterranean diet as there is a lot of evidence it's good for fertility. Hope you're hanging in there.

Thanks @bluebird3
I couldn't sleep last night and read your thread from start to finish. You are such a trooper!

@pony fantastic news on the ec

@scottish yeah I kinda feel that way too. Thing is, my amh isn't even very low for my age either, it's on the borderline between normal & low, so I think it's mostly based on my response last time.

@blue could be the thyroxine kicking in, or could be the brighter days, they're quite closely linked. For some reason, people with uat tend to need more vitamin d & are more likely to be vitamin d deficient. Both can cause issues with conceiving & mc. Gluten can play a huge part it in it too. Fx you're on the right path now. Flare protocol is a type of short protocol, so no down-regging. I felt pretty awful when down-regging last time, & it was quite a few months before I started oving again (same after coming off the pill), so I think it just doesn't agree with my body. It's worth a try anyway. I'm hoping to get started asap, but fc seem to be taking ages sending out info pack & getting appt booked in, so feeling very impatient & frustrated right now

Btw, I have some slides from a fertility nutrition workshop we attended, if anyone wants a copy just let me know

Hi all

Had my hysteroscopy today, all went well and also did cyst drain so today I start stimms, feel like I’ve graduated to the next level. Well done on EC pony! Amazing news! Let’s us know how they get on! X

pony thanks but I don't always feel like a trooper! I usually feel like I've been run over by a truck and am preparing to do it again bc the alternative is worse! I think most of us on this thread have been through some pretty tough times which is why it's so nice to have people to talk to who understand.

angel so annoying having to wait on clinic to get their act together. I find the pointless waiting really hard.

ttc glad it went well today and yay for stimming. It's the start of a new chance so fx for you.

I went back to the GP yesterday to review my recent TSH blood test after starting thyroxin. Unfortunately it's 2.6 so still slightly above the range they want so I have to double my dose. It needs to be under 2.5 for at least 12 weeks before I can cycle again so the clock starts again. I'm also going to have another scan and day 3 and 21 bloods done again to check everything out. I've been having bleeding for 10-12 days so think hormonally I am a bit all over the place. In my head I know it's better to get my body sorted before another round but I'm itching to start again.