IVF/ICSI (2) - A supportive group of ladies at various stages of the ivf/icsi journey

[Starlumiere]

Here is the next thread lovelies!

@gaia2018 it’s such an emotional rollercoaster & forums like this are such a huge help as you feel like you are all in it together! A few of my friends know about the IVF but having not gone through it I feel I can’t really have conversations with them about it. Being a nurse & going through this must be tough too - I’m struggling holding back from asking too many questions so goodness knows how you feel!

@mrsjones17 I’m not sure I’m afraid. We had conclusive tests that my DH was sub-fertile (motility 1st test and morphology 2nd). We had been ttc for 2 years so when we got those results we decided to go private straight away as I didn’t want to wait the year that was suggested as NHS waiting times. Ironically had a letter through the post last week about the referral so was only 6 months to hear in the end!

mrsjones if you have had all your tests and they are asking for a repeat of your husbands sperm then you are in the system. These are all things they do when you go in for your consultation. Have you had your tubes tested? Where they put the dye into you?
From seeing the first consultant in July/org time I had all that done. I had a lap and dye test in November. By the 2nd of January I was back in the hospital with my results and being told I was having IVF 6 days later got a letter telling me I was getting 2 rounds funded, the next phonecall I received was to go in, in February for my drug appointment and by the 3rd March I was injecting. This is Liverpool though and there was no waiting list for IVF. X

*aug not org. My head is swimming with the word “org changes” from work 😂😂

Thanks @beetroot01, @blondie84 and @liverpool19 for your replies.

I haven’t had my tubes tested. I thought that maybe they wouldn’t do that if Husbands tests came back low again as it wouldnt matter about tubes as would need ivf anyway or have I got that wrong?

Thanks for indications of timelines too that’s really helpful!

My consultant told me they would need to check mine incase there was any fluid that what effect the ivf. There wasn’t thankfully. Both of mine are blocked but unless they remove them they don’t know why. My consultant didn’t think removing them was necessary as there was no damage that he could see. Maybe ask about it when you next speak to someone. Xx

Ok thanks I’ll mention it at next appointment.

I've receive day appointment now, its 26th july. I can't wait. It's also taken a lot of the strain off my relationship with DH. He has said in the past that he felt pressured for sex and it was spoiling it for him :( however its been much more different sine i accepted we would need help conceiving.

As side note, i'm currently CD23 and i've had loads of watery CM which is not normal for me. I though AF had arrived early because of it sorry for tmi. Any ideas?

Not long to wait for you appointment now! Sorry I can’t help with your question.

Hope everyone is well. X

So I have been having my first period since MC and it has been going on for 11 days so far! Anyone else had a similar experience?!x

Sorry @Hoppy1985 I'm not really sure.

Hope everyone is doing well

AFM I am officially pregnant the levels came back at 698.
5 weeks today and the first scan next Wednesday!!!!! Still in shock!!!

Yay pony amazing news. Congrats!! Xx

@PonyPals hurrah! Huge congratulations to you xx

@PonyPals I will say congrats again on this group!!

@Hoppy1985 my bleed after my chemical was 9 days (and that was only at 5 weeks). Then my actual period didn't come for 60 days!!! I think it's normal to get some variety and for the cycle to be different.

X

@ponypals that is great news.

@jane when did you get a definitive answer with your chemical? I had my first scan today and gutted as it didn’t find any sac in my uterus. Just feel totally numb & confused as after the last bleed I was told hcg levels were increasing as expected for a “normal” pregnancy (I don’t know the exact results for that). Pregnancy test at the clinic still came back positive so they are now worried about ectopic. Had another blood test so I’m praying it comes back with a definitive drop so I can start to process the end of this round properly. Plus we’re meant to be going on holiday on Weds so if not i have to have more bloods weds which potentially means cancelling. Feel like I’ve been kicked in the guts & holding it together by a shoe string! Starting a new job when I’m back from hols too so had to pop in today to meet the exec team - helped to take my mind off it but I’m not exactly firing on all cylinders so they must be worrying what they’ve hired! Xx

@Blondie84 oh I'm so sorry, that is just devastating news. Don't worry about anything other than taking good care of yourself and DP. Let us know what the blood test says.

My chemical was rather different because my clinic only do bloods not urine tests - and my levels were super low (ie single figures) to start with - they rose but never enough to be viable. So I knew from the start that wasn't likely to be our baby. It was still hard but much easier for having that knowledge.

Sending you so much love xxx

Thanks @jane fingers crossed for a drop in hcg tomorrow. Holiday is hopefully a very well timed one to get some quiet time & recharge the batteries. Xx

Oh blondie sorry to hear this. Don’t worry about anything else and just take time to chill out for a while. Lots of love xx

Thanks ladies. Clinic confirmed hcg has dropped to 19, relieved I don’t need to worry about more tests & can focus on putting this round to bed now. X

Sorry to hear that you are going through such a tough time @Blondie84

@Blondie84 I'm so sorry that this hasn't worked out. Hopefully you can take time out to rest and relax a bit. This is just such a tough process

Lots of love xxx

@Blondie84 Hope you have an amazing holiday! Glad it didn't drag out any longer for you x

@PonyPals Congrats on your official result :) x

• Firstly: Had some great news, all 17 follicles matured had retreivable eggs, wooo!, then the following day 12 embryos fertilised with natural IVF (no need for ICSI), woo!, and then told again a couple of days later 5 of the 12 to be frozen and the rest still going strong, woo! And today found out that 3 more good embryo reached blastocyst stage, to be frozen, so 8 in total!!! WOOO!

Which leads me to the question, why the hell didn't we get pregnant naturally, grrrr! Implantation? Who the hell knows! (hmm).

• Secondly: ET on Tuesday cancelled. Had a follow up scan day before ET was expected, as large amount of eggs collected means greater risk of OHSS (was started the same day as EC on prophylatic meds for OHSS).

Have been keeping to myself this week (virtually and IRL-wise). As no-one really kept me in the loop with what the numbers all meant, expectations weren't managed that well. Even though I thought I was being philosophical. But found out that my estriadol (E2) levels were 1750+ (needs to be under 1500) and because of the 17 follicles now left empty... means I most likely have mild OHSS, that would explain the tight abdomen, feeling full, soreness, feeble feeling etc. I know it's the safest thing to do postpone the transfer BUT it means being patient AGAIN for ANOTHER 6 weeks before I start downreg AGAIN, ugh! Initially SOOO disappointed, started crying a little in with the doctor, then manged to hold it together until I got outside and then burst into proper ugly, red-faced crying. Can't really pretend to yourself then how ZEN you are after that, hahahahaha!

• The situation currently.....when they cancel ET you just stop all treatment apart from the stuff to prevent/treat OHSS and the prophylactic stuff for DVTs (aspirin and dalteparin), so now I realise that I might have been a bit down and have foggy brain over the last couple of days due to the withdrawal from all the bloomin hormones! Plus meant to get my period soon, the joy. Come on AF.
• Lastly has anyone else had issues with constipation??? Resolving now thankfully, thank you fibre and senna :P

Going to use this time to lose a few excess pounds and try and eat super healthy (most of the time).
Any exercise regimes/plans/classes anyone recommends?

Has anyone else read anything by Zita West? I bought her book on the IVF diet and bought her book on Conception and Fertility (from Oxfam ;P mostly up to date).

Been very self-involved these last couple of days and ready to interact with the world again :)

Hugs and positive vibes to you all xxx

gaia that’s brilliant news about the amounts. It’s better to be safe and wait another 6 weeks than to go ahead straight away. 6 weeks will fly by! I didn’t have a clue about levels or anything my clinic doesn’t give them, which I preferred. I’ve not read any books either. As for exercise I continued and still do classes, like insanity, body pump, and I do my own little circuit too. Tonight I done 300 skips, lunges, squats, weights and 10 minute walk on the treadmill. I didn’t read that book I just tended to follow slimming world recipes when I had the time and just ate healthy. I’m not one for following fad diets as the weight fly’s back on afterwards!

jane, star, swim, pony, aliona, dinks how you all doing? Xx

@Liverpool19 lol! Me either re fad diets... but did get conflicting advice from different clinicians re exercise. So got paranoid and pretty much stopped everything. But I think I'm going to follow your example and as soon as I feel up to it going to get stuck back in :)

During the whole injections I just felt bloated and fat so I just carried on. During my TWW i only went twice as the nurse who put my embryo back In said no heavy lifting or exercise. Now am doing 3 times a week some days is half an hour some is 45 minutes it just depends on how tired I am. Today’s tiredness has been unreal and at 14 weeks 4 days, I’ve finally popped out 😂. Good luck with your journey!! Xx

Hey Liverpool wow you’re 14 weeks!! Time has gone so quickly!! I cannot believe you’re still exercising, I lost literally any ability to exercise until about 18 weeks, and even then I had to be careful not to do anything that would make me throw up.... aaaaaand then I got SPD 😂 So I am super impressed with your regime!!

Would you believe I am now 37.5 weeks... it’s so surreal. I’ve finished work, and am scrabbling to get the last little bits of building work done. I won’t go on too much as I know some people have sadly had bad news lately.

I do keep watching and wishing and hoping for you all :)

Lots of love xxx