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!

Scottish I know I got asked yesterday by a friend If j have considered a surrogate. I actually have haha I was looking into it last week, I’ve also signed up for an adoption event evening and I am pregnant (for now) so covering all my bases 🤣. I’m 6 weeks on mon/tues. had a scan yesterday at A&E after my bleed, still no fetal poles and have hcg levels and another scan today at my private clinic so I will see what they say. I had a scan with them on Friday and all looked fine and 24 hours later it wasn’t so I’m on an hour by hour basis for as long as this goes! Where are you at now? Xx

Let me know what they say today FX all is well Im on a diet. I need to lose weight for my next FET to go ahead. I had gained so much weight before my MC. Its my own fault really i was so sure that it was going to work and raided the fridge every 2 mins. Now im just fat, traumatised and dissapointed.... But it just was not ment to be and fingers crossed i will have better luck next time. xx

@ttc everything crossed for you

@scottish some people are so damn insensitive. I've got so fed up of people asking when we're thinking of starting a family that I just tell them in my sweetest voice that they'll be the very 1st to know. Kinda rude, but shuts them up pretty quickly We're heading to New York, never been before so mega excited

@scottish, btw I have some slides from a fertility network workshop we went to. If you think they might be helpful I could pm them to you

Hi everyone, really hope your scan goes well today Ttc. I'm now 12 days post IUI and got the faintest lines on a FRER test and a sainsburys own brand (not sure they're v good) this morning. Really not getting my hopes up as I also have on and off ache like period. I'm also bit overweight and feel like weight is a never ending battle - I definitely comfort eat. Hope you're all having a good weekend. Will try and post pics of these phantom lines but haven't done a pic before on here so may not work. Feel free to scoff :-)

Thanks scottish private clinic (same one who couldn’t see any clot on Friday!) couldn’t really see one today so either her machine is crap or it’s reabsorbing/ come out. Still on serious knicker watch every ten mins!! Weirdly there was another girl there who had EC/ET same days as me and her scan on Friday and I asked how it went and she said all good but that she has a massive bleed yesterday too! Very odd! One of mine had a fetal pole today and the other is smaller/ at risk. Just got to take each day as it comes and never get my hopes up.
Sorry to hear about the weight gain, are you going to the gym? I was before EC (I am slim anyway tbh but not fit ) BUT I found it amazing mentally! It gave me a focus and I felt so much better in myself.

angel I got engaged in NEW York! Loved it!!!! It gets very hot there so check the forecast for outfits if you plan on walking around a lot! Xxx

I'm pleased for you TTC. I hope all stays well and it was just a little blip. Wow 2! That would be my dream. It's still early for a heartbeat so just try stay positive and take it easy. It's so hard to not look into every little thing as a sign of a MC. I'm keeping everything crossed for you. X

Lizzy when is your test date?

I had IUI on Friday and all went ok. I had quite bad cramping because of the scar tissue on cervix from cancer treatments. So it's the 2ww for me now. I'm back on 6th July for test. I'm glad it's only 1 week left till the holidays. I'm knackered and losing patience. X

Ah FX Chochaw!! I bet! At least you get time off, luckily I have been signed off this week for a few days, can’t imaging commuting in this heat worrying about myself. IUI does work so I’ll be 🤞🏻 For you xx

Meant to test on Tuesday - just done another one like a crazy lady and it's maybe a bit darker. Not sure. I do hope this cycle is meant to be for you Chochaw

@lizzy, I can def see a line in your last photo (couldn't in the 1st photos), pretty good I think, esp considering it's not fmu. Fx for Tues.

@choc almost there, hang in there!!

@ttc I know, it's going to be shorts tees & trainers all the way, stylish huh??

I can see line too lizzy! Congrats!!

ttc glad there hasn't been any more bleeding. After going through fertility treatment I'm not sure how anyone can relax throughout pregnancy.

chocaw fx for you. Not too long now!

angel I start acupuncture on tues night! Looking forward to trying something new.

scottish I'm also trying to lose weight. I've been doing intermittent fasting (16:8) and I've lost half a stone without too much effort. You eat what you want (within reason) for an 8 hour window then fast for 16. I've been eating 10:45-6:45. It's made me cut out any morning or evening snacking which has made the world of difference.

I've been back to the doctor to get my thyroid tested. I need it under 2.5 for 12 weeks before I do ivf again. Last test 6 weeks ago I was 2.6 so they doubled my medication dose. Friday my TSH was 2.9. So with more medication it went up.
I now have to increase and the clock starts over. I've been on meds for 12 weeks and none of it counts. I'm at least 18 weeks away from another cycle and feeling very low about it. Doesn't help I'm on my weekend away with babyfied friends. I'm ready to go home.

@Lizzy I can definitely see a line there! Fx for Tuesday. I was just catching up on the previous chat about sperm count and you have given me extra hope. My job and had 37.7million after washing on Friday so I hope at least 1 makes it.

Wow :-) well if mine works out then the odds are surely in your favour :-)

Hello! Newbie here. Stopped contraception 18 months ago but properly TTC for 10 months.

My age: 35
MFI confirmed so been told we will have to do ICSI.
I suspect I have endometriosis due to such terrible period pains always, but had fertility clinic consultation on NHS a couple of weeks ago and they said as we will be having ICSI it doesn't make a difference to success rate if I have endometriosis or not.

All my tests and ultrasound came back normal so far but had to re-do my bloods because doctor did them on the wrong day of my cycle the first time.

Partner just done second SA to check first wasn't a random bad sample. Awaiting results.

Feeling very shit because lots of friends on second baby already... Two closest friends just gave birth in recent months. And sister-in-law just announced she is pregnant with her third.

Apprehensive and annoyed about all the IVF drugs, no idea what the NHS wait list is yet, partner still optimistic it will happen naturally which I feel is unrealistic. And can't talk to my friends because partner doesn't want anyone to know :(

We all feel your pain thund4rcat I guess it’s hard when MFI too as they are embarrassed whereas mine is unexplained which is easier to explain but hard to deal with as we have no idea what the problem is! Hopefully all they need to to do is the ICSI and you will have w much better chance!
I got referred on the NHS for ivf in March, they approval was approved in April but still no news on it, I’ve simce gone private as I feel I need more specialised care anyway due to my recurrent early miscarriages.
Wishing you all the best!

Afm, no heartbeat at 6 weeks yesterday and one twin sac looking “very unhealthy” I think it’s all over for me again! Scan tomorrow and then I think they will know either way. At least I have got further this time than before in terms of progress and hopefully this is bad luck but for both babies to fail is making me realise we may never get there!

Aw ttc I'm gutted for you. Fx for you. The heartbeatight still come!

Lizzy how did you get on with test today? X

Hi, I really wish everyone could be pregnant as easily as it comes for some. I can't believe I'm saying this but I got a pregnant message on my digital test today. It's bittersweet in a way knowing other people may not have got there yet. All I can say is I really thought it wouldn't happen for us in the past - I'm also obviously very early days but there is hope for everyone x

Thanks @chochaw

Aw brilliant news Lizzy. That's all I hope for soon. I had a little bit of spotting yesterday. I'm not sure when I'm due AF though cause I normally have a 32 day cycle but I think IUI might change this as I triggered on day 9 and IUI day 11. X

Sorry it wasn't better news @ttc How did things go today?

@blue I know it doesn't seem like it right now, but you are heading in the right direction. The thyroid is a pesky little bugger that can play all kinds of havoc with your hormones, so best it's properly under control before you start any more treatment. I came across a video on social media recently about thyroid issues by a local nutritionist. If I can find the link I could send it into you if you like?

Fab news @lizzie, how are you feeling?

Welcome @thund4rcat (cool name btw). I feel like I could almost have written your post - diagnosis of mfi, awful periods & pms, very little tests done on me, a dh who doesn't want to tell anyone, & sis, sis in law & friends who seem to pop out babies like they're going out of fashion. Couple of years down the line & my cycles are 110% better, I've shared our story with my close friends & family. Dh still hasn't told anyone, but I did persuade him to do some acupuncture sessions, & to go to fertility workshop - baby steps

Hey TTC, How dow things go? I've been thinking of you today.

Hey chochaw. So I had my scan and one twin had basically been absorbed! Gone! As had the bleed! And I had one heartbeat!! Still getting cramps all the time somnot feeling hopeful! But furthest I have got so far! X

I'm sorry to hear this. Keep positive if you can. It's the hardest time in the world just now.x

Welcome thund4cat. We have MFI too so have done ICSI for our 3 rounds. My dh is still optimistic that it could happen naturally after 39 months of no luck. When he got his SA results back he had misunderstood them and bought the count was ok but we found out at our appointment that it's too low to expect to get pregnant on our own. But you always hear stories and think 'maybe I'll be a lucky one...'

angel that would be great if you could find the thyroid link. I know it's logical to get it sorted first, and I will, but I'm not feeling very patient!

ttc I'm sorry about your twin. if you've had a heartbeat with the other one I think you have reason to be positive. We'll all keep our fx for you.

chocaw when are you testing?

I've been to fertility acupuncture this week. It was ok...I'm just really awkward in these situations. I couldn't properly relax. I kept replaying the scene from sex and the city in my head where Charlotte goes to acupuncture bc of fertility problems and comes waddling out into the waiting room with a million needles in screaming 'I'm not relaxed!' I'm going to go weekly so I'm hoping that I do better next time!

Unfortunately I lost my hope yesterday when I had a big bleed, had a scan at hospital - my hcg came back at 17 so it's been washed away. Life can be really tough.
Really hope your heartbeat stays strong Ttc.