IVF Cycle Buddies August/September?

[meadowlark3]

Anyone starting a cycle this month? I know there's a July/August thread, but seems that they've mostly all started on their cycles. I'm due to start DR tomorrow and if all goes well will have EC at the beginning of September.

Have not shared our IVF journey with too many people in IRL so would love to have a bit of company here. This will be our first go at IVF, so quite nervous at the mo!

xx

Zarya just wanted to add that I also only had one mature oocyte las round, but the review with the consultant was really reassuring. She said that the first time they can only guess how you will react to the stimulation but the second time they can use that information. My protocol the second time round is completely different.

Zarya - I'm prescribed Gonal F for stimming too. I can't remember my dose last time but this time around it's 300. Good luck for your egg - the closest we've got to a bfp was with IUI (chemical pregnancy). Fingers crossed for you!

Had check-up this morning, looks like 9 follicles are developing which is better than last time so far... My dr loves a random metaphor, today he described the state of my fertility as a car running out of petrol with the warning light on

zarya, sorry things haven't gone quite as you hoped so far, but very best of luck with with iui. One egg is all you need! Keep positive.

Thanks all for the welcome! I see lots of us are coffee dependent/migraine sufferers! I've caffeine free about 150 days now and think I've completely adjusted, the first month was like hell but after that it was fine.

james i used to use coffee to stop migraines too! I think that's why I struggled so much giving it up, it must have had the opposite effect on my brain.

gamberra yep, anxiety really does suck. I've been trying hard to keep calm during this process but it is tough. I'm not surprised you've been struggling on the motorway - if it's any consolation, I've never had more than a few driving lessons due to anxiety so I understand! Glad to hear your follicles are coming along nicely.

I got the official go ahead to start this cycle so just waiting for AF to show up over the weekend! Spent last night trying to get my head round the various drugs I've got - got gonal F for stimming, then cetrotide which I am a bit scared of as I think I have to mix it myself, eep.

Hope everyone is doing OK.

Snork, I also have one I have to mix myself. It was a challenge the first time but not too bad after that.

snork yes, going off coffee was the worst. Still have an occasional cup of tea now, will stop completely once next AF starts & my transfer is set.
As james said, making up the drugs is easy once you start, dont worry.
gamberra your drs' metaphor!!! Got to laugh, or you will cry!
Had my scrach yesterday. DH got late due to tube problems, so was on my own. Horrid, but its only 3 seconds, thank goodness! Now to continue downreg till AF.

Hi all, can't keep up with this thread, been a busy week at work! Welcome to all the newcomers!

Behere how did your FET go, how are you getting on? No stress tips from me, I'm afraid, just trying to live as normal and strangely feeling a bit relieved to not be on the TTC treadmill. Almost felt like our goal-oriented shagging every month was more stressful than the IVF medications so far!

Auchan I'm 35 and told I was geriatric too! Sorry about the baby bomb at work, impressed with your handling of it. I dread what my face must look like when I learn of anyone's pregnancy. How are you getting on with the estrogen and aspiring, any side effects? Does your clinic know your sister suffered from clots?

Gamberra Congrats on nine follicles, at your doctor's comment and sorry to hear about your panic! I have also given up alcohol and most caffeine (allowing myself a latte or two per week) but felt I couldn't go too mad or I'd make myself more anxious. Also looked up some of the research on caffeine and IVF success and it said women who drank FIVE or more cups per day had lower success...I'm nowhere near that much so feel alright with my cup or two per week.
How are you finding the care in Spain? Have you gotten to start your stims yet? How are the medications plus the heatwave? I've got hot flashes on down reg with in the UK, can't imagine how it would be in 30-40 degrees!

Apples, welcome! Sorry your DH is having a rough time. Has he got any support? Will you do ICSI or donor sperm? I'm quite new to all of this, but I think you needn't worry about heavy periods with IVF. I think that it works by taking over your own hormone system so it sort of neutralises it, IYSWIM. I also suffer from awful PMS and have found DR fairly easy so far, easier than my usual periods! Will you be cycling in the UK?

Snork, welcome! Sorry that you've had such a fright but glad you've been cleared to go ahead. How is your dad getting on? Do you start stims when your AF arrives, or do you have to DR as well?

James, welcome! I remember you from the July/Aug thread. I also stepped away from that as everyone else was starting much earlier than me and seemed to heighten my anxiety. I'm also a coffee-migraine sufferer and have given up the sauce for a few months and doing alrigt. Any idea when you'll be doing your trigger and EC? Any side effects from the extra drugs this cycle?

Ging I've heard so many people on these boards praising acupuncture. How are you finding it? I've been interested to try as it sounds relaxing but I'm quite scared of needles

Zarya sorry to hear about your disappointing experience but it sounds that your doctor is reassuring. Will you be doing a triggered IUI? I am new to this but hear that it is quality over quantity so fingers crossed for you and this egg. I also have gonal F but have not begun it yet.

Hope I haven't missed anyone, glad to have so many lovely ladies along for this journey.

AFM, have another week of DR before my scan to check if I can move on to stims. I suffer from wretched PMS (depression and mood symptoms) so have been happy I've mostly felt normal so far. Only side effects for me are extreme exhaustion (falling asleep after dinner!) and the occasional hot flash. I'm sniffing the buserelin so I hope this means I"m doing it correctly! DH has been great and supportive and taking his vitamins (we've got mild MFI) but not wearing any crystals so I'm feeling positive. I've got a fair amount of anxiety generally and am finding it almost a relief to have this cycle out of our hands, as opposed to the goal-oriented shagging of many months. Hoping everyone has a relaxed and stress-free weekend.

Mxx

decaf What's a scratch? I hear about a few people having it but I have no idea what it is? It sounds painful though! Hope it went ok and all is going to plan!

zarya good luck with your IUI - it definitely only takes one!

Hope everyone else is ok! So many people to catch up with! I'm not that good with it just yet!

AFM - my DH was taught how to do injections as I'm not sure I can inject myself! We will soon see though! It was a bit entertaining! I thinking of buying a book to help manage some of my anxiety about everything! Although wondering if it would be a bit late to start reading things! Sending loads of positive thoughts to everyone! X

iced a scratch is endometrial scratching. Basically a thin tube is inserted into the uterus and the lining of the uterus is scraped. Its done one cycle before transfer. Can give a better lining on the next (transfer) cycle. I've heard some women dont find it too painful. Not me unfortunately but, silver lining, its only 3 seconds of actual scratching. Even i can bear that!

Hi. It's impossible to reply to everyone, isn't it? Looks like all cycles are coming along well. Hope everyone is feeling ok.

meadow I had the injection to shut down my system. And it felt like it escalated my pms symptoms. So glad they have started now. I couldn't even eat my tea last night. It's just tasted disgusting to me! Wondering if that was the hormones. Due to start the tablets.
Good luck for your scan! I started to feel better once stimming. Just very tired.

Auchan how are you feeling with the tablets? I'm due to start them. I need to phone the hospital to double check when. Hope all is ok.

decaf well done for getting through the scratch. My hospital doesn't offer it. But I would def try it, if offered.

Zarya That's a bugger, i'm sorry to hear, i'm not going to lie, i'm sure it's devastating. How did your IUI go? Like others have said, all it takes is 1 egg. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Did your doctor advise what happened, and was is that your dosage too low to stim?

I'm on Gonal-F, my dosage was initially 150, and he doubled it to 300, he was considering tripling it to 450 but when I went back on Friday, he thought I was responding well to the 300, so didn't need to up it. My guess, is your doctor will need to increase your dosage.

Auchan lol...AF, makes sense, thanks!

James Got it, thanks! Think i'm on short then. Crazy how many different versions there are, but completely get it cause we are all wired so differently.

Snork I'm on gonal-F and cetrotide also. I find the needles more nerve wrecking than the mixing of it. How is your cycle coming along? How are you finding the treatment in Spain?

Gamberra Great news on the follicles!

Meadow Glad to hear it's going well, stay strong! Lol...i'm with you on the goal-orientated shagging

iced My DH helps with my injections also. I don't mind the injections, i just hate the needles, and can't comprehend how people can inject themselves. My DH was away today/tomorrow, so the nurse kindly offered that if I drop in to the clinic she would help do it for me. Which was a complete relief.

Sorry if i missed anyone off, it's just so hard to keep up, however, i hope all is going well.

AFM - At my last check up my doctor says some follicles are growing at different rates to others, mainly cause my initial dosage was too low, but as he has now upped it, I should be on track. I'm back at the clinic tomorrow for the nurse to help me with my injections, and for a blood test. Then i'm back in on Wednesday for a scan with the dr. The nurse said today I should expect to stop my injections on Thursday, as i'm expected to do my EC on Saturday, if all goes to plan.

I'm on cetrotide to stop my ovulation, does anyone know why I would stop the injections on Thursday if my EC is on Saturday? I'll ask my doctor when I see him next, but just curious if anyone knows?

TickTock it's normal to stop the stimulation at that point. My last injection was yesterday, Monday, and the EC will be Thursday. Trigger shot is tonight. I'm guessing that you can't stimulate and induce ovulation at the same time? Also, the stimulation medication must hang around in your system for a while.
icedgem my other half is a Dr so I thought that I would let her take care of the inejctions but in the end I preferred the control of doing them myself (thankfully, because after a couple of days she had to go away unexpectedly, so I had to do it alone). It really doesn't hurt at all at the beginning (towards the end I get burning under the skin but by that point I had a lot of practice).
AFM I'm on day 9. I had an ultrasound on Sunday and there were only 5 follicles, which was disappointing because I has 9 last time on a lower dose) and the doctor seemed surprised (but it wasn't my doctor as it was a Sunday). However, he sent me for a blood test yesterday, oestradiol and progsterone, and I had another ultrasound today. I was not expecting much but apparently the blood test shows that all 5 follicles are mature and they are all the same size (last time they were all different). So I'm in two minds — to go from 9 follicles to one mature oocyte and one embryo last time was such a let down because I could have had the same with no stimulation at all! I can't believe that I'll have better results this time, yet the Doctor seemed optimistic. So we'll see.
The side effects from 3 medications have been zero so far. Not looking forward to the progesterone pessaries though.
For now I'm just looking forward to the post sedation afternoon nap and to not injecting anything for a while.

Hope everyone's hanging in there!

Iced - my OH does my injections too! Although last night he was away so had to do it myself. Was SO nervous beforehand but it was totally fine...actually I think it hurt less than when OH does it! (Won't be telling him that, he's v proud of his needle skills, seems to think he's missed a calling ha ha)

Meadowlark yep it's boiling here in Spain, fortunately I don't think I had any hot flushes during DR...or maybe I was already so hot I didn't notice! I'm happy with the care here, we're at a private clinic because the waiting list on Spanish nhs was so long I would have lost valuable years. There were only a couple of clinics to choose from in my city, maybe it's easier that way! Glad to hear your PMS hasn't been too bad...I normally get crippling period pain but had nothing at all when AF came so those DR drugs definitely have their positives. I asked my dr about caffeine again last week...he said you can have up to two cups a day. So I'm sticking to one (and making it at home where it's weaker than in the cafés here!)

TickTock we're on the same dose of Gonal F, how have you been feeling? I've had achey ovaries the past few days which is a new one for me, but am wary of googling it in case I read something that's going to worry me!

Decaf interesting to hear about the scratch, my clinic haven't mentioned anything about that to me. It's too late this time around but I'll ask about it if this cycle doesn't work... Do you know if it's fairly standard in the UK?

James glad to hear you have five mature follicles developing, hope you manage to collect eggs from all of them! If they're the same size it sounds positive. Good luck for your egg collection on Thursday.

We have a check-up tomorrow morning, fingers and toes are all firmly crossed the nine follicles are doing their stuff and are all growing!

James Thanks, yes I asked the nurse today, and hadn't realised there were trigger shots. It's good that your follicles are the same size, it makes it easier for the doctor, so whilst you have fewer eggs, you may have a more positive results, which is probably why the doctor was so optimistic.

Gamberra Thankfully, i've been feeling fine with absolutely no side affects. The doctor did say I would feel bloated, but i don't really notice it. Don't laugh, but sometimes when I run, I do think it's like a bag inside my stomach and they're jiggling inside me. LOL. Achy ovaries? Wow interesting? What's that like? I hope not painful. Yes, no google, i always feel less is best, especially anything related to this process. Good luck for tomorrow!!!

AFM - My timeline has now shifted forward, I had my blood tests this morning, then got several missed calls from the clinic and a WhatsApp, to say that my EC has to be now moved from Saturday to Thursday, with my trigger shots tonight. They said that some of my follicles are 31mm in size. From what I read online, although I have 10 follicles, it appears some may be over mature so it's likely i've lost them (ideal size is apparently 20-24mm). So as I have eggs all different sizes, i'm hoping not too many are under/over mature. I guess I find out on Thursday.

Love how this process completely turns things on it's head. I'm staying positive!

Hate the marks these injections have left, I'm so glad, the last of them are today.

Does anyone know how long I have to wait from the EC, to when I find out how many embryo's i have?

I'm treating myself to a coffee on Thursday after my EC.....Can't wait!!!! Not sure if it's the right thing, but I feel I deserve it!

Ahh thank you everyone for all the reassurance about the injections! I think I'm one of the later starters in this group! Just stopped taking the OCP so just waiting for AF & first scan (& injections) next week!

ticktock good luck for Thursday! Fingers crossed your follicles are storing a nice number of mature eggs! Enjoy that coffee Thursday night!

ticktock At my clinic they call the next morning and say how many fertilsed. I think this must be quite standard because they also tell you then whether it will be a 3 day or 5 day transfer. It's just a first indication of course because unfortunately they can stop growing at any time.

Hi everyone,
I'm new to this and thought I would add a quick post to see if anyone is similar in their IVF/ICSI cycle. I am today on day 3 of the Nasel Spray. I start my injections on the 1st September with planned egg collection for the 13th. First attempt been ttc for 2 years with no known cause. Anyone else similar in cycle xx

Ticktock good luck with EC today, fingers crossed for you! I can't wait to stop the injections too. Achey ovaries a bit of a weird one yes...seem to have these strange twinges... Maybe because almost all my follicles are developing on one side and it's feeling a bit 'full'!

We had a check-up yesterday and six of my follicles are growing at more or less the same size while four are flagging behind. Another slightly surreal appointment:

Me: What size do the follicles have grow to?
Dr: What age do children leave home?! (OK so he means 18mm...!)
Me: Okaaay... and what size does the endometrial lining need to be?
Dr: On what day did God rest after creating the world? (Riiight. 7mm)

I guess if nothing else the figures will probably stick in my mind this time around

ticktock hope things went well for you today! I think it's fine to go back on the caffeine one the oocytes are out of your body (I went to the retrieval today with a cold can of diet coke in my handbag. I will just try and not have caffeine at the same time each day so that it isn't so hard to give up again).
My EC went fine, 4 eggs from 5 follicles, so the same number as I had from 9 follicles before. Am hoping that more than one fertilises this time.
I was so looking forward to a couple of hours of drugged up sleep like the last cycle, but 30 mins after falling asleep I woke up writhing in agony and also found that I couldn't urinate at all. The clinic told me to come back in, and despite it being around the corner I had to take a taxi while trying to look like I wasn't about to throw up. Luckily just before they were going to put in a the catheter there were longer breaks in the pain waves and I could pee on my own. They gave me an ultrasound anyway and nothing amiss. I feel fine now.
Am wondering whether anything went wrong though, as the anaesthesia wore off before the end and they put me on a paracetamol drip without asking (the other time and with the other patients in the recovery room they always ask and offer tablets first). I had zero pain the first time round. Will try and find out more when I go back for the transfer, assuming that something fertilises.

A good collection girlcalledjamds but sorry to hear you had a few problems afterwards! Hope you are feeling better now!

ticktock hope your EC went well!

gamberra all sounds like it's going well! Your doctor sounds a bit strange but funny at the same time & I guess I would remember that too!

Welcome kerry I'm only on injections and don't start them until next week with a planned EC in 3 weeks time if all goes well! Everyone's protocol is slightly different!

Sending positive fertilising and embryo developing vibes to you all who have had their EC!

(Not much from me still waiting for AF! )

In the end only one of the four oocyctes was mature. It has fertilsed and it will be a 3 day transfer on Sunday, but I'm assuming it won't work again.

James I'm sorry to hear you had such a difficult EC. I hope you're feeling much better now and I'd definitely talk to them about what happened because it does sound unusual. I hope you're not too disappointed to have ended up with one fertilised embryo, fingers crossed this is the lucky one... In case you're not on here over the weekend, best of luck for the transfer on Sunday!

Fingers crossed this is the one james will be thinking of you this weekend!

I've got a really stupid question to ask - I'm still waiting for AF - I normally bleed for 5 days - my first scan and injections are Thursday next week? Will I have to wait longer until AF has been and gone? I have no clue what I'm doing!

Hi all, good to see so many updates.

James sorry about the difficult EC and fingers crossed for today. I've read heaps of posts here that it only takes one embryo, so sending lots of good thoughts to you. Please do post an update when you feel ready.

Ticktock Hope your EC went well and enjoyed your coffee! Let us know how you're getting on when you can.

Gamberra glad you and your consultant have got a good sense of humour, and good to have so many follicles! When is your EC due? Also, hope that you have not been affected by the tragedies in Spain this week.

Gem I have a scan and maybe start stims this week, too, eek. I think you need to wait until your AF to start to check that you're not pregnant and so that your uterine lining is at it's thinnest. (My clinic does the scan 10 days after your period starts.) I've forgotten, are you on buserelin? I read that can delay your cycle for a couple of days.

Kerry welcome. I'm on the nafarel spray too and hopefully using it correctly. How are you finding it? Sounds like I might be a week or so ahead of you. Is this your first cycle?

Behere have you started your tablets yet?

AFM, still sniffing away and feeling absolutely knackered but otherwise no strong side effects. AF arrived as scheduled and scan booked this week to check if alright to start stims. A bit nervous but trying to be relaxed and think positive thoughts.

Hope everyone has had a relaxing weekend and sending lots of positive energy. xx

Hi meadow and everyone else!
Yes, been on the tablets since Tuesday. Make me feel exhausted! But coping ok. Happy to have a wee holiday from work now.

Good luck with stims. I felt they were ok. But I was so tired. Fell asleep about 7pm every night, and didn't manage to eat my tea most of the time. So look after yourself

meadow I've been on the maexeni pill only so far. Then I start with bemfola injections which they said should be wed/thurs and cereotide injections after that. I haven't taken the pill in years - can't remember how long it takes to bleed after you've stopped it. I'm hoping I've had some signs tonight but I'm worried as AF normally lasts 5 days and I don't want to delay things - but I suppose if I have to I can't do much about it!

What tablets are you taking beherenow?

Hope all is going well with everyone's cycle!