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

ging sorry to hear your scan didn't go quite as hoped either! It's an emotional roller coaster! DH was on hand today to lift my spirits as it really knocked me too! So silly as nothing is technically wrong! They keep saying it's not a race!

I hope your next scan goes well (& maybe that you have a different Sonographer too)!

I feel exactly the same as you icedgem. I feel deflated. Every thing had been going so well and I was mentally hugging the idea of over 20 follicles. I feel like I had taken steps back. My lining was also back up to 12 once she could read it but felt knocked by the experience.

We were supposed to go out but after this and a busy afternoon at work I didn't feel up to it so we got Chinese take away and watched a movie instead.

It is such an emotional roller coaster. Your DH sounds fab.

I shared this with a friend who has been through it and she assured me it would be different next week... just remember that over the weekend. Our consultants obvious aren't too worried as the hsve upped our dosages.

I hope the rest of your weekend goes well and Monday is better too. Xx

I'm on the same low dose due to my PCOS as my follicles could go a bit mad at any point (I just wanted that to be yesterday!)

Fingers crossed for Monday ging xx

Hi ladies, sorry for the slight delay - yesterday was a bit of a whirlwind!

Had my scan before stimulation yesterday - all went well, except I had to have a dilapan fitted, which was actually quite distressing - I did not prepare myself for how uncomfortable it would be (they had to use a local anaesthetic to help) - has anyone had a similar experience? That being said, I started on a low dose of stimming medication yesterday Menour/merional - 150g (due to my PCOS). Rather exciting, but trying not to get too optimistic - hubby is doing a really good job of administering the injections. I have noticed I have been really tired once he does them, but no other symptoms otherwise. I am a little anxious about how I handle the appointments next week with work - I do not feel comfortable sharing details with my team.

Hope every is doing okay - Icedgem124 and ging crossing my fingers for you for Monday - Scotslass01, hope you're feeling a bit better too today.

xxx

Glad injecting is going well emma - I just had to google dilapan to see what it is and it doesn't sound pleasant! I haven't heard of anyone else having them but I don't know many too people who have had IVF except for this thread!

I also have PCOS im on alternate 75 and 150 doses - I find the bigger dose more uncomfortable but on the whole not too bad!

Happy stimming this weekend everyone! X

Ging yes, total rollercoaster. Hope you are having a calm weekend and found some time to do something nice for yourself. Everything crossed for your scan tomorrow.

Dannica yes, I've felt excited too and quite nervous that it won't work. Trying to stay positive and hopeful, though. Sounds like good news that your DH's sperm count is up! Will you start DR now before the baseline scan?

Fem Sorry your scan wasn't what you'd hoped but fab to have 17 follicles and a healthy lining. Fingers crossed tomorrow's results will be better. What size are they meant to be?

Scots glad your headache is clearing and AF is on the way. Hope you're feeling better every day and AF shows soon.

Emma glad your first injection went well and without sid effects. Why did you need a dilapan for the stims? I haven't told my work yet either, not sure how I will sort it when/if we get to EC/ET.

AFM, just one more day of stims before scan to check folllicles (and lining?) I haven't noticed feeling particularly bloated or swollen or heavy, I hope this doesn't mean that my ovaries aren't responding I'm also struggling with balancing my nerves. Trying to remain realistic but not get too low, and also keep some PMA! I of course want to have a baby at the end of this, but am trying to temper my dreams a bit, and feel if we have one fresh and two frozen embryos, that I would be thrilled. More of course would be brill and if we have just one, I will hope it is the lucky one. I will be gutted if we aren't able to collect any eggs or if none fertilise. DH has a slightly low sperm count, my clinic said they would likely do ICSI. Is anyone else having that as well? Makes me a bit nervous (I somehow imagine it will hurt the poor little egg!) and I think a bit about 'natural selection' and it makes me a bit nervous as it seems so odd to think of someone in a lab picking an individual sperm

Oops, gem everything crossed for you for Monday!! xx

meadow we are probably having ICSI too. I've decided there's nothing natural about this whole process so I'm not as worried about ICSI as I was. Good luck for your scan tomorrow too xx

meadowlark3 - the dilapan was not connected with the stimming meds - it was because I previously had a problem with my dummy embryo transfer, and so I had to have the dilapan so that there are no problems with the transfer on the day. We will also likely be having ICSI - due to the speed of my hubby's sperm - I am hoping that helps to increase our chances for success first time...!

Hello girls,
Ging- sorry about your scan results, but hopefully you've had relaxing weekend and fingers crossed for your next scan!
Emma- that's great that you are not having any crazy side effects.
I have just been for my blood tests, and they called already to say that I have to remain on the same dose. Tomorrow adding morning injections of Cetrotide to the current pm Gonal F injections. Next scan and blood test on Tuesday. No idea how I will get out of work, as I have training planned on that day 😳
Is anybody on Cetrotide? Is says that you push the needle in, pull back plunger and then inject... what does pull back mean?

Gem you're right, nothing about it is natural! I suppose I'm just finding it strange for a needle to go in the little egg
Emma Good ICSI PMA and hope that the dilapan improves your chances for the ET! If you don't mind my asking what trouble did you have with the dummy transfer? It was quite difficult to pass the tube for my hycosy, wonder if I need something to open me up

Fox Good luck on Tuesday, have you got any sick time you can take? I'm not on cetrotide but I think pull back means that after you push the needle in, pull back a wee bit to check if any blood flushes into the chamber of the drug, to make sure you are not injecting into a vein? Is it a bit longer needle than the Gonal F pens?

Hi ladies

Hope all of your weekends have gone well. Took it super easy this weekend and tried to catch up on my sleep in preparation for scans and ec next week. I've been so tired.

Emma I Googled dilapan too. Sounds painful. Hope it helps

Meadowlark I know what you mean about fresh and frozen embryos. That's the dream. At this point I really think if we had 2 good ones I'd like to do that. My consultant asked how many we want and was all for putting 2 back. We may have to do icsi too. My oh had major morphology problems... 0% in December. We had better readings after but may need to do icsI. It's all the same thing ultimately isn't it... just a little more help.

Fox I've been taking cetrotide for the past week or so. My oh injects me. I asked about pulling the plunger back and he doesn't. It's a little trickier to use than the menopur but we've had no massive problems.

Thank you so much ging and meadow! I have to do my injection before 6 tomorrow... what a way to start morning 😫 Nurse said it has to be within 2hour window, and as I start work at 6, it will have to be early.
Meadow, now it makes sense, why you should pull back, but not sure my DH will be able to do that, he is already struggling with the pen. Yes, the needle is bit longer, but the whole process is more fiddly.
Ging, as you are few step ahead of me, how long does it take from starting Cetrotide to EC if no problems? I will ask doc on Tuesday, just need to start planning "sick days"

fox I could have been having my EC tomorrow but my follicles aren't big enough. I started cetrotide last tuesday if that's any help? I guess it all depends on how your follicles grow so it's still not very easy to plan sick days - my clinic said work just have to be flexible & fortunately mine are x

Fox same as icedgem they had planned to do ec tomorrow or Wednesday but the follicles aren't big enough yet. They now plan to do it Wednesday or Friday. I started on Wednesday last week.

I'm so nervous for tomorrow! Time is going so slowly tonight!

Does anyone know what happens if the follicles aren't big enough after 2 weeks of stims?

Ging, I'm exhauusted also. Suppose it's good to catch up on sleep but trying to also stay active!

Gem, I'm nervous too! Trying to distract myself but keep popping on MN I think each clinic has a different protocol, and I"m not sure how long you can be on stims. But if they don't get big enough after a certain amount of time, I believe they cancel the collection and start over.

Fox, I looked at a couple of certrotide videos on Youtube, they were both in the US but neither said you had to pull back the plunger. I think you usually don't have to do it for skin injection, only if you are going into muscle? Good luck for your early morning jab, at least will have it out of the way

Hi

Hope everyone is good today.

Icedgem hope your scan went well.

Meadowlark did you have your baseline scan today?

My scan was a nightmare again. She pushed and poked and sighed and tutted the whole way through. She then said she couldn't see my left ovary today but it didn't matter. I got really upset and said that surely she needed to as they need to decide if ec is Wednesday or Friday. She asked me to empty my bladder again and tried again and found it.

As I left she said under her breath 'that was a nightmare'.

I have no idea how many follicles she counted and am sure she didn't see them all.

They gave me more menopur and cetrotide and told me to come for another scan Wednesday with the plan of doing ec Friday.

Am feeling really upset and not like I am in capable hands.

I've been on menopur since Saturday week and cetrotide since Wednesday. That's a lot. Will it make a difference? No one talked me through it really or tried to reassure me.

Hope your days are going better.

Ging

I'm out follicles aren't big enough!

ging I had stims for 12 days and 6 days worth of cetrotide. Not sure if that helps you?

Hope everyone is having a better day than me! Where's the wine?!

I am so sorry icedgem.

Did they give you any advice moving forward? Will you try again?

Xxx

We will try again. Not sure when though. If we went through with EC that would have classed as our NHS funded go. So we opted to leave it and to try again possibly with higher stimulation next time?

So upset and it was a really difficult decision. They said for my age even with PCOS they would have expected more of a response. 😔 Back to the drawing board! 😔

Oh Gem, I'm so so sorry to hear what has happened! I suppose big big glass of wine (or two) may help abit 🍷 I think I would have done the same as you, and opt out of this one to save another go on NHS with better chances. But to be totally honest, I can't imagine how you must feel. Have they advise when you can start again?
Ging- you are such a trooper, being faced with such incompetence! How can you not find ovary? That's just... bad! Last time I had a nurse who kept poking and poking, and I just can't believe how everybody see something diferent during the scan.
Gem, stay with us on this thread, but I would understand if taking a break would help. 💐
My next scan is tomorrow, so I'm hoping for some dates now.
Did Cetrotide yesterday for the first time, and I didn't pull the plunger back. It didn't hurt, but I felt so spaced out today... I just couldn't be asked to to anything.

Sorry to hear so much disappointing news.

Ging, that is so unprofessional of your sonographer! So sorry you had to suffer such incompetence. I believe you can be on stims for about two weeks before they cancel a cycle so I reckon you're alright if you've been on since Weds. Is there anyone to ask at your clinic? Or to complain to about your rubbish care?

Gem, sorry to hear you're out this cycle but at least you haven't lost your NHS go. I've forgotten if this was your first cycle? Did you have some follicles that were mature, or none at all?

Fox, glad the Cetrotide was alright. I've also felt spaced out since starting DR and stims. I've been layed up on the sofa whenever I have a mo. Fingers crossed for your scan tomorrow, do let us know how you get on.

I've got ten follicles, peeked at the notes and one was 16, a couple at 10-12, others smaller 8-9. Felt quite fobbed off by sonographer and nurse (Ging, maybe we had the same sonographer-no bedside manner and quite rude as well!) They wouldn't tell me anything else but to continue stims. I asked what would happen if the follicles didn't grow to the right size and nurse just said "they will" and shoved us out the door

to you all

I had one 19mm and one which was just about 18mm the rest didn't respond. It was our first NHS cycle - so we will try again.

Maybe I'll try acupuncture etc next time? I'm really not sure what to look at next. Never know what's for the best!

meadow ging fox fingers crossed for you all 👍🏼