IVF - A supportive group of ladies at various stages of the ivf journey.

[Dbear35]

A super group of women supporting each other and sharing their personal journeys and experiences during the IVF processs. All are welcome !

Ginandtonic31 Hi 👋🏼 wow 3 years?! Not sure I understand why is it taking so long 🤔 but it’s sypper annoying when they don’t ring u. I am expecting call today but I bet they b... off on holiday too 😤😤 welcome anyway 😅

Hello everyone & welcome ginandtonic yeah 3 years that’s a long time!! Things like being closed frustrate me so much!!

Aliona did you get your shopping done? When are you flying back home then? Yes I meant take your needles in hand luggage but I still usually take a letter just in case.

So yesterday went well, my CT scan showed tumours still in remission, - area being watched but no growth which is awesome & im being weaned off these steroids over 3 months which means I can’t have my treatment for that long anyway so my consultant said it’s the perfect time to try for more Embryo trying & freezing so I might be back on the wagon!! Telling my lovely female consultant & research nurses about my friend being pregnant was quite emotional as they have been with me for my cancer journey from the start & meeting DH & they were so happy!!

We had 9 week scan then & all good so all systems go!! We are still worried things can go wrong & it’s so weird not feeling it but it’s the way it has to be & we are so excited now to share it

Hope everyone else is ok, star are you still chilled? And atik feeling ok & does your DH get much time off over Xmas & new year or manic because of taxis?

dbear how are you darling, did you ask what you wanted??

Welcome ginandtonic! :)

Minster i''m so pleased about your results. Awesome to hear that the tumours are still in remission. And then it is also such great news that all is well at your scan. Double celebration :)

We had our 8.5 week scan yesterday. Our little baby looks like a turtle, with the beginnings of arms and legs, with a strong heartbeat and was quite wriggly. So nice to see it on the screen :)

x

Minster yay! I think u should stop being like me and chill for a moment bcoz right this second everything is going your way.

Shopping is done, just need to get some food for next week 😅 as for needles, no one even phoned me back yet 😤😤 and I mean I don’t want my hand luggage, I want to put them in hold luggage, they one u don’t carry on the plane. Still need a letter?! I am not flying to Russia actually, I am going to Belarus as that’s where my mum was born so Nan is there. She was unwell so I get my mum to travel to Belarus instead and meet them there 😬 but it’s only for 2 evenings 😩 12-14 jan. still good. I can plan my holiday after I find a job for spring/summer. Just need to see fam after a year.

Where is Star gone?!
It’s getting quiet here towards xmas 😂😂 I am gonna miss you all 😢😢

Ah rose yes that’s awesome sorry for forgetting, you must have had a better scanner than us, our guy said “it just looks like a blob at this stage, & obviously things can still go wrong, all the way up to 20 weeks really is danger” we were like “DON’T SAY THAT TO A COUPLE WHO CLEARLY HAVE PROBLEMS!!” Pah try not to think about it, each day passing is a day out of danger we say!!

Poor Aliona that’s rubbish, your clinic & ginandtonics need to buckle up really. Where is Belarus? My geography is rubbish 🙄🤣

dinks how’s things with you too??

Minster 😅😅😅 see attached photo
And I seriously not sure what to do. Says they gonna call back within 48 hours which runs out today. And then what?! Very annoying.

Minster i think our consultant did some serious zooming in to get a good image, and had a good old rummage around with the camera (which is always a joy!).

your doctor wasn't helpful saying that about being in danger until 20 weeks! I think sometimes these people just don't think before they speak!

having said that, I'm not sure I'll properly relax for a few more months - if ever! :)

Hope you're friend is keepign well? i can't wait to hear how your big reveal goes! xx

Sorry I probably didn't make our journey clear. We are having PGD (pre-implantation genetic diagnosis) because my husband carries a rare genetic disorder. We first got referred 3 years ago to start the journey! We've never tried to get pregnant naturally due to the high risk.

Ginandtonic Thid PGD is it a long process or what? Or it’s a long waiting list? What did they manage to do 3 years inside? Feels like forever ☹️

Hello ladies,

Everybody seems very busy! I had a bit of scare again on Wednesday from 7am to 7pm but it was spotting. Rested all week and feeling great! To make sure that all is ok I am having another scan next Thursday the 28th at 6W 3 D and hopefully they are both well snuggled in 😁. I have read so much about this and although it is not normal it would s common particularly when doing an IVF/ICSI and twins! I couldn't believe the amount of women and the stories!!! I will be happy to share the main link with you if you are interested, but to cut the story short it helped me a great deal! I felt sick yesterday after lunch until evening and feel nausea now as I am writing to you... happy days!!!

Aliona so chuffed you got your passport back and booked to go to see your family, even though it is got 2 days !!! So you will be taking your stims?? How exciting sweetie it is all happening Yippiee!!! When are you going?

Rose great news sweetie yeah he!!!

Minster so glad for you on the 3 accounts!!! Remission, the scan and more eggs collected! This is fabulous!!!

Dbear how was your appointment sweetie?

Dinks how are you feeling?

Janetfx yes they did offer PGD to me too. Hope you will know where you stand soon it terms of appointment, soon enough it will be all system go so you might as well enjoy the Christmas holidays! 😬 How are you feeling?

Atik how are you sweetie? Still feeling sick?

Love to all,
XXX

Welcome Ginandtonic sorry got confused with Janet!!!! Looking forward to hear about your progress 😁

Aliona I went to Minsk and loved it!!! People are so nice in Belarus !!! The white Russia 😍

Hello,

Welcome @Ginandtonic31 I am new too! Sorry about the clinic. Frustrating when things don't hurry along. My GP took ages to get my NHS referral in and you just feel desperate don't you?!

@Aliona19 have an amazing time with your Mum and Nan in Belarus.

@RoseWrites must be exciting to have a scan and see your little turtle!

Hope everyone else is enjoying the run up to Christmas. I can't wait to finish work at 5:30! Tho am actually at acupuncture now - long lunch break! X

Lol Star. Mum is from “white Russia” so all my family from her side there. Spend in Belarus every single summer for as long as I can remember myself. So I am at least half of that nice people 😂 Don’t know when u been there, have u noticed how clean the streets are?! 😅 I am going 12-14. Just 2 evening, but do need to see them. Clinic rang me, so will be starting on 9 of january and first scan 1 of feb. Finally feels like I am doing something. And thank you, very happy passport back, finally have my identity back.
Stop disappearing like this 😅 make me nervous 😘😘 really hope all this spotting stops for you, to be on the edge all the time, that’s rubbish 😒

Thanks Janefx40. Still 3 weeks till my mini break, but I am looking forward to it. What’s happening with you? Have you started injections?

Got a midwife, nd last Tuesday a had stomach bug BT am okay a dnt fink so a hv any symptoms cz even ma boobiese stop hurt.. Nd today it's 7th week.. Ma OH soo busy we not c eachother much cz nw it's rly busy for taxis...

Thanks for the welcome everyone. It's taken us a while as we knew my husband had something he had passed to his son from a previous relationship, but my husband doesn't have the condition. His brother does though too. So we knew it was something genetic. The things is, there's very little known about the disease and it can be very different in every case, so not always in the same gene etc. So we first had to see the GP then wait for a referral, then we got referred to a genetic counsellor. At the time, PGD wasn't an option for the disorder as the gene couldn't be pinpointed, but because of the family tree showing it was genetic for OH's family, our geneticist managed to get funding to identify the gene in our family tree. So the first step was to take blood from different members of the family to analyse the DNA and see if they could recognise the mutated gene. Luckily, after several months they were confident they had found it and in the meantime the condition had been licensed for PGD too, so we were then able to move on and be referred to PGD. We were referred around 10 months ago now and had to have several tests to check fertility, etc.

Our next step now is to meet with geneticist and ACU to have our clinic appointment (which is what we hoped would be in December and wasn't, now waiting to see if it will be in January) and then we will await a date from Guys St Thomas' for collection. If we have enough viable embryos they will then spend around 6 months building the test, which they will then use to test the embryos and identify if any have the gene. Hopefully there will be some 'good' ones and we'll then arrange to have them transferred.

It is taking forever and is frustrating, but also we have been incredibly lucky to have all this on the NHS and make such a breakthrough in the condition.

We now know if we tried naturally there's a 50% chance the baby would have the gene and then around a 30% chance it would be born with the condition.

Hope that helps explain our, very different, journey a little bit :)

Ma boobiese started to hurt again lol so a fink dat all symptoms cumin nd going BT from morning a started hv lyk on nd off weird feeling in ma cervix... It's not rly hurt bt it's not a comfy feeling lyk a tingling nd pulling sensation... Isit normal?

Wow! Pleased to hear some updates, star keep resting and I hope the bleeding holds off, you’re right it seems common & it’s good u have another scan next week

gin wow what an incredible journey, like me then you’ve never TTC & we were told it would have been a bit pointless so kinda good that through the testing & stuff hopefully the chances of ending up with a healthy baby in what could actually end up being a similar time scale is actually feasible through this amazing testing & assistance. So it’s frustrating but the help can lead to the right result in the same time?? That’s the way we tried to think about it??

atik I think symptoms come and go & are so different for different ppl it’s hard to be general but yiu’re Doing well. It’s a shame OH is busy but he’s working for bubba too

aliona 9 th Jan!! 😁😁😍💕that’s not far!! And you can get your stuff & go to Belarus & chill a bit woooo so pleased you know before Christmas xxxx

janet so are you waiting for FET? Remind me sorry!!

My DH has come in from his work Christmas do sooooo drunk he’s stumbling everywhere, put music on full blast & winding the dogs up making puppy hyper jumping around knocking drinks over, he’s being so annoying!! Neighbours will complain before Xmas 🙈🙈🙄

I just wanted to watch Paddington 🤣🙈😁

Wow ginandtonic that’s crazy. But how amazing that all this done and on top of that on nhs..not only for your family but for someone else in the future. Science is crazy. Hopefully not long now till you get your appointment and things will start moving faster

Minster lol I would be so cross with my oh, but then I imagine myself coming home but tipsy from girls night and he is just laughing.. But I would get super annoyed 😅 double standards
Went food shopping and couldn’t find parking space 😨 suddenly everyone is desperate for turkey or what😅 going now and google says shop still busy, so wish me luck. It will be a battle for Brussel sprouts 😅😅 wondering if there is anything left 🤔

Atik I agree with Minster, feelings come and go.. although it sucks when suddenly u feel ok, I totally understand u as been in your shoes ☹️ Let’s hope you just lucky not to get all this sickness 😘

@Ginandtonic31 wow - what a journey. It is a long road for you but as minster said, it can take some people a few years to conceive naturally anyway so you make have your baby in a similar timescale. The NHS are amazing really

@Minster2012 I am still on monitoring cycle so nothing started yet. They said if it all looks ok (and my test results are similar to those the GP did) we will probably start long protocol on 4th Jan. next appt is for scan on 28th Dec.

@Atikakck hope all ends up being ok and you just have a lovely symptom free pregnancy

@Aliona19 I misunderstood and thought you were going sooner. Great that you have a date to start your next round.

I'm just so excited to have finished work for Xmas!! Hooray.

Yay for finishing work janet and a week til you know more which is good, and it’s 🎄🎄🎄!!

We’re full on Christmas mode now, well me, DH has unsurprisingly terrible hangover!! I’ve put the turkey away for a spicy brining bath in a bucket a la nigella, we’ll see how that turns out, now I’m going to make sausagemeat chestnut & cranberry stuffing rolls & red cabbage all in advance (probably whilst enjoying some Christmas films & mulled wine!!) the joys of not carrying my own child! I also stayed up after DH crashes & made pheasant feather place settings for the table last night from pheasants I shot on Tuesday which are similar to at our wedding. Need to make centre pieces out of feathers & antlers we have too!!

All coming together, I hope everyone is having a lovely time & feeling good & seeing loved ones xx

Place settings!

Morning all!

Yesss it is officially the holiday and we are now in London for Christmas. OH's family are in London. I looked after like a princess, I am not really used to it. Can't seem to be able to eat anything without feeling sick after, but it is mild not terrible, hopefully it will stay this way 😬.

Ginandtonic OMG your story is fascinating! Thank you so much for sharing with us! What an education you gave us ! The reward for your wisdom, patience and hope is coming sweetie! Not long now before everything will start taking form. How exciting!

Janet I know the feeling of not having to work for a while what a blessing! Yippiee!!! It sounds like your are starting soon as wee 😁. How are you feeling about it?

Aliona you are in great spirit aren't you sweetie? It transpires through your writing!!! I can't believe you have waited until now to get your food! I'd rather order a curry then go out shopping in the next few days. No way JOSE!!! You are brave!!! Let us know what you find and who you had to punch to get any of it ha! 😜

Minster your story about your DH coming back drunk from his Christmas party did make me giggle yesterday evening! How did it all end? Did the neighbour complain?

Atik I am glad you are reassured. What s journey sweetie hey? 😘

Rose sweetie how are you getting on? Busy with the festive season?

Dbear are you ok sweetie? I am a bit concerned we haven't heard from you. I hope you are well 🙏🏻😘

Well I am surrounded by dogs do here they are! They even have a Russian one Aliona 😜

OMG Minster you shot pheasant? 😱😨😰 No judgement there it just brought tears to my eyes....on another note you are so organised and talented! 😘

Thank you everyone - I know it's a strange journey and it is taking it's toll a little how long it's taking, especially as my husband is 14 years older than me, I worry we're running out of time! I'll feel better if we can get on this January clinic! I also have PCOS in one ovary so hoping they will manage to get a fair few eggs from me. I don't really know what to tell work though! I was also worried as we are going to Florida in May and I thought if we couldn't get collection before May, they would make us wait 6 months after the holiday due to Zika, but having had a look it seems the risk has been lifted in Florida, so hoping it won't make any difference and we can get a date in June/July to start egg collection - which would work better as paranoid about weight gain from the drugs so not ideal before a holiday!

Lots of you have very interesting stories too - how nice that we're all strong for different reasons!

Christmas wise we have nothing to do! Out for my friend's birthday tomorrow and then to my parents on Monday! I only need some bacon and bread for Monday morning!

@Minster2012 well done with those table settings!