IVF September/October 2017

[Filipinam]

Hi Ladies! Finally I will have my first IVF treatment as soon as my next cycle starts which I expect it to be more or less end of September/beginning of October. My periods are very irregular so I never know exactly. My consultant suggested antagonist protocol which I will receive in post soon. I am extremely excited but then realistic about the fact that it might not be successful first time.

How are you feeling ladies? When are you due to start your Ivf Journey? Fingers crossed for all of us fighters;-)

Morning

Welcome Nordic mum :) it must be good to know you can start soon, but I appreciate how your feeling. This whole things does make your head spin a bit. We have all been there/are there :)

Hello goodluck and welcome. I've only just started ivf so at a much earlier stage than you, so not too sure what ec is like. I hear it's not too bad. Or maybe that's what I'm just telling myself! On the twins front, I'm with you entirely. I don't really want twins, but I also really don't want triplets, or worse still quads! That happened to someone i worked with and didn't looks like much fun!

Our doctor said there is no increased chance of pregnancy with two, just an increased chance of more babies. Not sure what the stats are, but that put me off doing it!

When I get to that stage, I'm just having one put in (which could still divide and become twins) and if that doesn't work, I'll hopefully have some in the freezer to go back and do it again. Xx

Hi Goodluck welcome! On the stats we were told with 2 embies it was 25% risk of twins and we have also been told the same as rose that if you have good quality embryos it doesn't really make the chances of a pregnancy higher (in fact there was a study in march showing a higher quality embryo & a lower quality one put in will reduce the chance of the higher quality one sticking)

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/science/2017/jan/05/ivf-pregnancy-less-successful-with-two-embryos-study-finds

But it will always increase your risk of a multiple birth, again as rose says then it could be more than twins.

We would love twins but we only have 2 embryos & they are good quality & can 'go again' if it fails so we didn't want to risk putting them both in and being back at square one, we'd rather put one in then have another one to have another go (& we have to consider the health of my friend in multiple births). In your situation seeing as you really don't want twins, if you can afford to go again I would do the same. But it's down to everybody's situation, don't forget the cost of raising twins is massive compared to the cost of trying IVF again.

If you look back up thread there are people who have recently done EC so can read how it was for them

Morning everyone,

First of all, I'm so sorry for my pity party lately!!

Scots, Minster, Rose, Sunshine... you are all so lovely, thank you for the positive messages! I have put my big girl pants on and am feeling better today!

Fili I had orgalutran rather than cetrocide, but yes, it made me nauseous!! It also stung more than the stims. But mine was only for 3 days, hope yours isn't too long?

Sunshine How are you doing? You're so brave going to work! I think I'd have called in sick. I think a meeting with the Drs is a really good idea, as is a second opinion! The more research I do, the more I realise that there are subtle differences between clinics and you never know what might be the magic trick for you. Do you have options nearby?

Nordic Welcome! Another amazing example of surrogacy, I think it's incredibly uplifting that there are such people in the world. Do you live in the states? Or just travel there? Sorry if too personal, I am interested how it all works. I get really nervous about it all too, it's totally understandable. I kind of just let it all happen TO me, which has pros and cons, but feeling like I was being carried along helped me deal with some of the decision anxiety.

Goodluck I was completely petrified of my EC. As Minster said, a few of us wrote about it a few pages back, and it was totally totally fine. I had conscious sedation and was really out for the count, when I was awake it was like being a nice-warm-drunk, if that makes sense?! The bloating was a bugger, but I drank lots of water and ate small healthy meals and by ET day the bloating was mostly gone. You will be grand honey!

I think I've got everyone... but I'm only on my first cup of tea! Sorry if I've missed anyone.

As for me, the ET went well yesterday. We got a picture! I had no idea they did this. Also got to see the embryo under a microscope - they projected it onto a screen. It was already hatching so looked like a little diamond ring. Really amazing science. The other embryo is in the freezer. Just got to sit and wait now!

I'm feeling much better today - had a phone session with my therapist and she helped me put my thoughts in order. I have a massive issue with expectations, if someone says X will happen, it is set in stone that X will happen, then if it doesn't my brain just can't process it. Kind of like the eggs - with our 23 the embryologist said we could be looking at 9 embryos. So when we got 2, although that's great, I was a bit shocked!

Anyhoo. Enough rambling. Hope you all have a good day. It's a crisp autumn day here so I'm going to get out for a wander :)

Thank you Minister, that has convinced me to go with just one.

God, feeling very apprehensive. EC is tomorrow. So stressful as had assumed it would be Sunday and have no childcare and need to take DS1 to see a new school. Is 9 follicles at this point of/good or too early to tell? I know that not all 9 may contain eggs.

Also, what happens after EC? My treatment plan only takes me up until EC. When do I start progesterone? I think I will still be on antibiotics but are there any other drugs needed?

I feel fine now as I always do around ovulation but worried my hormones levels will plummet once they take the eggs out!

Glad you're feeling better about things Dinks. Beautiful day here too. Gorgeous blue sky. Enjoy your walk :)

Goodluck Has your clinic not given you a 'what to expect' brochure?
Mine did, so even though my plan only went up to EC, we knew the rough outline for the rest of treatment. Anyhoo, after EC, the nurse came and gave us details of what to do next. For me, I am on injections rather than pessaries, and I took my first injection the same night, after EC, and then every evening since then.

I had IV antibiotics on the day, and nothing else. Other than folic acid and Vit D I haven't taken anything else since EC. But everyone is different! Can you call one of the nurses to ask? It's a bit weird they haven't given you any info!

No problem goodluck don't forget there's still the fertilisation stage to go so plans can change see how your eggs fertilise & how many get on & quality & talk to your clinic but I think if you get 2 or more singletons are best if you don't want twins. 9 follicles is good!

Hey dinks pleased you are feeling good & the chat with the therapist helped, i totally agree with the expectations thing I think that's what I'm trying to say to ppl here, don't get hung up on early scan numbers because we had rubbish results on scans all way through & my eggs were low numbers & were told to brace for bad news yet we had 2 good quality embryos at the end. If I were told I'd have 2 good quality Frosties at the start rather than all the crap in the middle I'd have been overjoyed! So it's about the end goal (but realistically we all overanalyse so easier said than done I know) but if I are feeling down try to focus on that ladies!!

Just catching up, this thread moves quick! Welcome to all the newbies!
I am going to EC on Monday and am getting nervous. I’m feeling much better these last 2 days maybe my body is finally getting used to all the hormones getting pumped into it. I’ve been on 3 injections a day and tomorrow will be 4 total with the trigger included! Excited to get the ball rolling

Hi what kind of sedation is the best for EC? I will have my EC next Thursday and still have not decided...

Morning all,

Sorry I haven't been on much I'm trying to keep myself kind of busy so I'm not thinking too much about the 2ww.

Welcome to all you new ladies, it's nice to have you all.

Goodluck all the best with EC today.

Dinks how are you feeling hunny?

Elizabeth you will do great.

I'm feeling ok. As I said trying not to focus on the wait. Easier said than done though.
I'm hyper analysing everything. It's so hard to stay positive.
The toilet situation is not great. I'm still struggling and I'm so scared to do it (crazy I know). My skin has all broke out now like it does before my period. I'm hoping it's all the progesterone.

PMA to all. X

Morning all!!

Minster You have some wise wise words!! I will try and remember them as we go through this, I’ve got as good a chance as any now so just waiting and seeing!!

Fili What are your options? I had midazolam. It was ace!! I get really bad side effects from general, and got none from this. Woke up a bit groggy but as if I’d had a really good dream.

Scots I had similar issues :/ I took dulcoease three times a day, then a half dose of dulcolax at bedtime. By the morning the problem was sorted. I also have a massive breakout. I think you’re right about the projesterone. I’m trying to remind myself that it’s for a good reason!

Goodluck Good luck today for your EC!

Elizabeth Glad you’re feeling better! You seem to have been stimming for ages, hope it goes ok on Monday!

What are everyone’s weekend plans? I’m planning on ripping up some flooring....

Goodluck hope all goes well today!

Fili I don't remember being given any options, whatever I had I was half awake for about 15 mins then don't remember anything which was good!! They took ages to find a vein in me (not unusual I only have 1 arm ppl are allowed to use & they wouldn't take my advice on which vein to use) & they said "oh we need to make sure it's really working & this one isn't, u really don't want to feel this!!" Which wasn't what I wasn't to hear right before the procedure

scots if a breakout is what it takes then we'll take it!! my skin got really bad when I had the hormones (tbh I blamed everything on hormones!) keep busy busy!!

And thanks dinks hopefully all of our support helps, it does for me!

This weekend DH & I are on house jobs, things we've put off that need sorting before Xmas, I've t cutted our bath, he's sorted out a log store (we have a newly renovated house & a log burner but no where to put logs outside so can't use it yet!), he's also measured up for garden gate, mowed lawn, & we've both rewaxed bits of wooden floor which have been scraped by moving in/around furniture, oh and walked dogs!!

I'm onto thinking about hosting Christmas now!

Ps Elizabeth that's a lot of injections! Mine were combined drawing up 2 lots of merinol (I think it was) into one needle so avoiding 2 injections, you're a real trooper!

I hope everyone is having a nice weekend!

45 mins till I pull da trigger!

I am already thinking about the 2ww after transfer... does anyone know on what day you can do a sneaky early test from? I will probably be the girl who can’t wait 2 weeks. I feel like if I do it early and it doesn’t show then it kinda sets me up to not get too excited. Uhg I dunno!

Also - for the progesterone tablets where should I put them? Is one better over the other? I hear you get bad CM or if it’s in the back you get constipated. No winning ever amiright lol!

X

Elizabeth 15 to go til trigger!

Myself & my friend & DH have already thought ahead to testing as we are obsessed as it gives us something to think about and because we are members of a surrogacy forum ppl test there post tests from about 5 days which show faint positives, by day 8 they are strong positives. We thought the same, we won't be able to wait. We were going to test on day 8 based on these but 2 things recently made us change our minds- someone recently did a test after a week &got a good positive but then a week later (by the time it was test day) was bleeding & got a negative) so probably had lost it. Also on day 8 is our nephew's bday with family party & we couldn't face a family party if we thought it hadn't worked. So we figure we're better to wait, go to party not knowing & keep busy & test on the right day & know for sure. The other person getting a positive then negative scared us .

I don't know about the progesterone as my friend has the details

Thanks for that @Minster2012 ... something to think about for sure. When is test day for you? X

I’ve pulled the ovitrelle trigger and now I’m feeling twinges in my ovaries. Maybe it’s gas LOL but something is going on that feels weird!! I clue in to all niggly wiggly feelings I’m pretty in tune with my body and something is def going on

Elizabeth testing for us is mid November 🤣🤣

I said we had prepared for it!!!

We have to talk about everything because she will get all those nightly feelings you are getting from now on if it works and she is the one down regulating & with patches on now not me so we have to talk about it so I can feel involved (god knows what I'll be like if she's pregnant and I want to know what's going on because I can't get that pregnancy feeling, it will be so hard but all in a good cause) but I don't remember any weird feelings but we did think we'd messed it up so we're a bit all over the place by that stage ok DH & I!!

Oh yes I would be the same @Minster2012 .
I’m sure she understands you will want to know every single detail and movement and what’s going on and how she’s feeling etc to make sure you are most involved. Such exciting times! X

Elizabeth - in my last 2ww I did test 7days after transfer with the first response test nd showed positive nd we had FET of 5day hatching one xx 9 day for me, for ma first injection then waiting 2 weeks nd go to try build the lining awww, how u girls going tru the transfer wid all this full badder, for me dat just a nytmare am not gd wid keeping full bladder... BT the most scary for me it's to go for blood test nd den ring them to find out if it's worked or not...

Atik do you mean blood test & phone call to find out if pregnant? My clinic don't do that, they just tell you to do a test after 2 weeks & what the result is is right cos they found getting people in for blood tests was unecessary & stressful when it gives sane results. Which I think is good as it stops that horrible waiting around

Minster - yh that's the one they always make me app for blood test at 8am then abt 12 a need ring for results... U ryt that soo stressful...