3rd or more time lucky - IVF cycle buddies October

[Hobbes39]

Hi Just wondering of there are folks on here who are about to go through their 3rd + time of IVF who want a cycle buddy? I dont mean it badly towards anyone who is starting their IVF journey for the first time, (i was there just this time last year after all) but I feel a bit like I cant be as optomistic about it as I was, so dont want to drag any first timers down? Hope that makes sense!
Anyway, just to explain about me:
TTC #2 for over 2.5 years now
Unexplained Secondary Infertility (have 4 year old DS)
Age 40.5
AMH: 15.4
2 failed fresh and 1 falied FET (with single frozen 3BB embryo we got from 2nd fresh round)
about to start 3rd fresh round when my period starts in approx 7-10 days, so will probably be late october EC.
anyone else a bit jaded, but still vaguely hopeful want to join me?
xx

Yeay Decaf! That's great news
Fingers crossed that nurse was just having a bad day!
I'm currently eating scrambled egg on toast for lunch as last fresh cycle went much better than the first one and the only thing I really did differently was eat a lot more protein... so am trying to ramp up my protein again now - anyone else done this? It probably didn't make any difference and was just luck, but you cling to these things don't you?! 🙄 x

hobbes i also thought increasing protein helped, especially in the stims phase. My clinic suggested moderate increase in protein, cut sugar down & eat whole grains. I got good number of eggs, so felt it helped. Though when the stress got to me, i might have added an occasional chocolate or two

Thanks decaf - will keep going with the egg eating! Am also snacking on nuts and trying to be reasonably good in not eating too many rubbish things, but choc is my downfall!
Lulah - any luck with blood test sign off? Xx

decaf thats great news about your blood test, fingers crossed for a nicer nurse tomorrow! Aside from the mean nurse your clinic sounds good, bloods then another appointment to discuss scan all within a few days of your bfp.

No bloods and no scan for me next week or even the week after, she said bluntly they dont do the first scan till your over 7 weeks at my clinic as theres nothing to see before that. So scan is 16th oct, i will be 7 + 4 by then and its bloody ages away.
I thought you could scan from 6 weeks and asked if they could see me early after last time and she just said no!
She told me to ring up today and get booked in with the midwife but last time i had to cancel it anyway so might just wait till i've had my scan.
Had a little meltdown after i had spoken to her, i feel completely sick with worry and just want to know if things are ok or not.
My DH said just try to keep busy and not think about it, i'm not bloody sure how i'm meant to do that with pessaries and tablets all day reminding me of my panic!!!
I feel awful as this is all i've wanted for so long i should be happyily enjoying it. I downloaded an app on my phone to try and help which is like a countdown with stages of development, size at each week etc... then felt silly for getting attached too early on!!! I'm a bloody nightmare

Yes decaf progesterone pessaries 3 x daily and progynova tablets 4 x daily until scan. My paperwork says you take it all till 12 weeks so not sure if they review it at the scan or its just 12 weeks regardless.

wanda i can definately see a line on both tests too so fingers crossed for you. It is for the best that your DP knows, although its hard its best you both know so you can be there for each other.

hobbes hope your enjoying your eggs! My clinic didnt say anything about protein but i think i remember reading something about it. If you think it helps then go for it, it certainly wont do any harm and will help you feel you are doing all you can xx

coco i am the same! I took a look at due date calculator today and immediately panicked that i am getting too attached! Its a shame they wont give you an early scan, especially after your experience last time.

Glad its not just me worried about getting too attached decaf !!!
I was a bit cross that they didnt even consider it she just said no! Then i asked if it could be the friday i get back off holiday and she just said no lets do the monday, i was like come on talk about making me wait!
But having thought about it and calmed down it probably is the best thing as early scans at 6 weeks or before can be misleading if no heartbeat is detected and that could cause more upset. At least at 7+4 it will be conclusive either way.
Its just the waiting! More waiting!!! X

Hi all, sorry I wasn't on the thread yesterday.

I'm so sorry you're having all this stress wanda - have you done another test today? It's unfortunate your DP found out about you testing from mumsnet but I'm sure she'll understand both why you tested early and why you were hesitant to tell her. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you guys that you have good news.

Sorry your nurse was so horrible decaf but great news on your blood tests results and hope the time between now and your scan goes quickly!

Hope the next couple of weeks also go quickly for you coco - I know how frustrating it is to have to wait but I think not having the scan till you're 7+ is definitely the best thing. Last cycle I had my scan at 6+4 and they found a heartbeat but it wasn't as strong as they wanted. They said it might be because the pregnancy wasn't viable or it ought just be because it was an early scan so the heartbeat had only just started. I had to come back for another scan the following week when they found no heartbeat. If I could go back, I'd just have had the first scan at 7+ weeks and be sure of whatever it showed rather than have that horrible week of being both hopeful and really stressed. I know what you mean about not being able to relax - my SIL (who's absolutely lovely and is always very positive about things!) said the other day that she's sure this FET will work and the scan will be fine and then I'll be able to relax and enjoy the pregnancy and I just said that I know I won't be able to enjoy it - having managed to be in the small percentages of (a) couples who suffer infertility, (b) women who have a mmc and (c) women have a mc with a chromosomally normal embryo, I'll always be worried that I'm going to hit other "small percentage risks".

I've heard that too about increasing protein in your diet hobbes - I'm also trying to eat a high protein diet as it's the best way for me to lose weight so I'm hoping to kill two birds with one stone!

Can I ask you ladies a question - why vitamin etc. supplements (if any) are you taking? Have been reading around it and am getting very confused - I want to increase my chances obviously but don't want to start taking something that might actually lower them!

Hope all's well with you gee.

Sorry for the massive post

Forgot to say - finally managed to get the blood test authorisation so have now had them done.

Hi Lulah - that's great you've had the blood tests - one step closer! Hope that you don't have to wait too long for results?
Re vitamins etc - I am not taking very much as I am a bit sceptical about various supplements generally, part of me wishes I wasn't as I think the placebo effect could help!
So I'm just on pregnacare conception vitamins and also decided to try COQ10 - as it won't do any harm. In a moment of desperation I actually ordered DHEA as well but am too scared to take it, as I don't actually think it is right for me - if I had a really low AMH then I think I would take it, but as mine is quite high (for my age) research I've read makes me think it could do more harm than good, so decided not to take it after all.
Wanda how are you this morning? X

Hi all. Haven't done another test this morning as was too worried. I read online that hcg should double every 48 hours, so as my first test was Monday afternoon, I thought that if I wait and do another test tomorrow morning, then either the line should have got obviously stronger, or faded more, and either way the answer would be clearer for us.

Sorry about your scan Coco. All the waiting around and worrying is just horrible. I hope you can enjoy your holiday all the same.

Lulahbelle I'm just taking the Pregnacare.

wanda 🤞you have a nice strong line tomorrow.
lulah When i moved to private from nhs, the clinic tested my bloods and said both my thyroid function and Vit D levels though not clinically low, were on the lower end of normal. This clinic gets better results if levels are higher. So in addition to pregnacare, i took Vit D (OTC) and they monitor my thyroid, adjusting dose to high end of normal. they test every 3 months. Its 150£ each time, but i did wonder if that was a difference between my dismaying NHS cycle which gave only 2 embryos & the private one, which gave 11! But i also had much higher drugs 2nd time around, so who knows.

Wanda - as decaf says - 🤞for tomorrow. Xx
Decaf - that's interesting re vitamin d and thyroid - do you remember what your levels were? I'm in Scotland so sometimes wonder how my vitamin D level is due to our rubbish weather! X

Thank you lulah i know your right about when to have the scan and i have felt a bit better about it all today, just going to take each day as it comes and try and focus on our holiday.
We havent told anyone this time and i'm actually finding it nice that its our secret at the moment!

wanda keeping everything crossed for tomorrows test xx

Hope everyone else has had a good day x

I forgot to say before a slightly amusing thing that happened at my scan - as I was lying awaiting the dildocam the doc (different doc from those I've had before) asked me to confirm my DOB (as usual) - I confirmed xx/xx/77 and she turned round and looked at me all shocked - looked at the notes and back again and then said "you don't look your age at all! You look half that!" Which was rather lovely of her, but given age is almost certainly the reason I'm there legs akimbo I replied lightheartedly "thanks! If only my ovaries were".... she then said "ahh but it's the outside that matters" ??!! 😳 er, no?!

hobbes i cant remember the exact levels, only that it was within normal range, but only just. Perhaps asking your clinic about it? Or your gp?
I got booked in for a scan, 11th Oct. eek! Just as we come back from holiday. Not sure if it is too early though.
When are you goong on holiday coco? I leave Saturday, going to do my best not to think about pregnancy and relax. But as you said hard to with all the medications!

Ha hobbes! Some people just dont think before speaking do they!

Thats great news about your scan decaf hopefully holiday will be a nice distraction. You will be 6+6 then wont u? I think that should be fine.

I phoned the midwife today and arranged my booking in appointment. My clinic said i should get on and book it rather than leaving it till after my scan.
So thats booked for the 19th Oct, and really hoping i dont have to cancel it this time.

We go on holiday next thursday for a week, really looking forward to getting away for a bit. Cant wait to get my pessaries out when we go through security checks at the airport

Thanks for all the info on vitamins - I've been taking pregnacare, vitamin d and COQ10 so it's sounds like we're all more or less taking the same things!

That is funny (and very flattering) hobbes, but a bit insensitive too!

Glad you've got your scan booked decaf and your booking in appointment booked coco - its lovely that you both have holidays coming up as hopefully it'll make the time before your scans go faster.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you tomorrow wanda - hope you and your DP are doing ok.

Night all. Hoping for a positive result tomorrow.

Night Wanda - good luck xx

Hi all
@1Wanda1 good luck this morning. Thinking of you.
@Decafplease and @Coco24 did you ask your clinic about flying and they don't worry about it? We had to move our FET back 3 months because of a long haul flight planned for November my clinic won't let us fly in the first three months. Always thought it was too conservative but we went with it.

Hi everyone. Sadly not good news for us this morning: no line on a FRER. More upset than I was last time when it was just a negative on test day. And DP is so upset as well. It’s just shit.

I'm so so sorry wanda IVF is such a stressful process anyway without the additional disappointment and upset of a CP. Make sure you and your DP take care of one another - will be thinking of you both.

I'm really sorry too @1Wanda1 - it's such a hard journey. The only comfort I found from my chemical on my second ivf was that at least something had tried to implant and my body had produced hcg for the first ever time. I'm hoping that means that with the right embryo and the right progesterone support, we're one step closer to a take home baby. It's awful and sad and frustrating and scary but be kind to yourself and be hopeful when you're ready.

Oh Wanda - I'm so sorry .
My chemical pregnancy was a bit different in that I'd been bleeding heavily by the time I'd tested, so was a shock, but initially I felt so angry and like my heart had been ripped out - to get so close but it all fade away is heartbreaking. That said, I now see it as a bittersweet positive - as Gee has said - I like to think that given the right embryo it means my body is still capable, i just have to hang in there..
Hugs to you - I'm so sorry, I know it feels so flipping raw at the mo, look after yourselves xx