Cycle buddies April/May

[Summerloving17]

Hi ladies, just wondered if anyone wants to hold hands as we go through a cycle?

After a failed fresh cycle earlier this year, I’m starting my progynova today with a planned FET for May.

Would love some company x

@Sissi81 try not to overthink the injections too much. My OH offered to do them for me but I wanted to be in control of everything. The first one is a bit scary but you'll soon get used to it. Sending lots of positive thoughts.

@bangsaklove, I stopped drinking caffeine when we first started our cycle - not because any doctors told me to but because my SIL did when she went through IVF, I've found it difficult to not do everything she did! I've found it really good though and after the first week actually now have more energy!

@Summerloving17 thanks for that, I've been recommended to use rectally, the nurse described it as a cat flap which I just can't picture! I've not heard of Lubion, it sounds nasty. Best of luck to you.

@banksalove I'm down to one cup of coffee a day and they will need to pry that from my cold dead hands.

How did the trigger shot make you all feel? I've got another scan tomorrow and then my trigger will be scheduled afterwards.

It's so hot in CR, it's nearly 9pm and it's still 25C, I'm feeling awful after traveling today. I nearly killed several people in Stansted. 😯

Hi everyone

What a busy and lovely thread!

@cobblestones - there is some evidence acupuncture works, especially before and after a transfer. As I am in my 40s I'm trying everything!

@bangsaklove - i tried cutting out caffeine completely and got horrid headache so then cut out coffee but still had 2 cups of tea a day for a week, then 1 cup for a week and the last couple of days no cups! The pregnancy guidelines are 200mg a day which does allow for a cuppa! so you could check out what green tea is? I have managed to give up alcohol and almost caffeine but sugar is another matter even though I know it's bad.

@sissi81 - I am so sorry you've had the cycle cancelled but it is a lot to go through both physically and financially so makes sense they want to set you up as well as possible for success!

@pickles- I have been really tired since ec, I don't know if it's the procedure, the stress or the progesterone pessaries as know drowsiness can be a side effect of progesterone. I've literally had an hour's sleep every afternoon Mon, Tue, Wed this week.

@Summerloving17 - so glad you started this thread and really glad to hear transfer went well

@southernbella - I am in my 40s too and only learnt about PGS testing after my cycle had started. I'm self-funding but with an NHS clinic and not sure if they offer it. I am going to inquire. It was great to hear you got 8 eggs. Assuming this cycle is not successful, I am hoping for more eggs from a next cycle when i'm on the full meds.

Good luck to everyone. xx

Glad to hear from some fellow oldies! I’m 40 in the summer, only been married 6 months so it’s been a busy old 12 months

@Si1ver you crack me up! Cold dead hands
Yes l meant to say the green tea is in addition to the cappuccino and multiple teas! Pre IVF i was 2 cups of tea morning 1 costa or similar then 2-3 green teas or just herbal dependant on mood!
Currently switched to redbush tea but have to keep the morning coffee at work to survive the day, my commute and work are pretty stressful. Xx
Maybe I can reintroduce the green tea by sounds of it or basically chill the hell out and stop over analysing LOL

@Sissi81, I’m sorry to hear about the cancelled cycle. Hopefully time will go by quickly & you can start again. Take good care of yourself. 💐

@Summeloving17, that’s excellent! I’m so glad your transfer went well! 😊 Your OTD will be here before you know it! Mine isn’t until 15 May and think I’ll wait until then, just to be sure. But let’s see if my willpower holds! 😬

@HappyHedgehog247, good luck for your transfer tomorrow. 🍀

Welcome @CiroDiMarzio, hopefully you’ll find this chat is full of good advice, support & positive energy!😊

Hurrah for the 40 year olds plus! Let’s hope we defy the odds! 💪

I've been drinking decaf tea since we started having fertility treatment over 4 years ago.

I've never drunk alcohol but I do have a lot of sugar in my diet.

I've had my ovitrelle shot today ready for ec on Friday. I've got a day off tomorrow so I'll be relaxing at home.

Hope you all had a good day and looking forward to hearing everyone's progress over the next few days.

@Sissi81 that's dreadful, a gargantuan cock up, hopefully you went awol on them, and made an official complaint. Speak to their PALs department, I used to work for nhs so know that's the right department for complaints.

@CiroDiMarzio welcome to the thread. That's a lot of eggs, fingers crossed for you 🤞. Sounds like you've got a good support network. We haven't told anyone except my immediate family , and you're right, no-one can possibly imagine what this is like unless they've been through it!

@bangsaklove I've totally cut caffeine out for the time being. It had occurred to me should or shouldn't I have it with doing ivf and after a bit of googling I found a few articles that suggested a negative result, so that was enough for me. Generally I'm a bit of a believer in everything in moderation, but at the minute it's a small price to pay. I've noticed an almost immediate headache from the drugs straight after injections so it's not caffeine withdrawal for me

@Si1ver bless ya, traveling makes me cranky at the best of times. You were just down the road from me at stansted! Are you local? I'm from Cambridge.

@HappyHedgehog247 likewise self finding through nhs. What is the PGS test?

Nice to see there are some fellow + 40s in this group 🙅‍♀️💪. Cetrotide stung like a bitch this morning 😖, last night I had a mini meltdown crying for absolutely no real reason other than fed up with injections, lack of attention and alcohol withdrawal. Rather unkindly my stomach bloated last night and I looked about 7 months pregnant. On the plus side my OH said I still looked cute 🤗

Have a good day everyone. I've got my scan in the morning to see how my follies are doing. Looking forward to everyone's updates xx

@findingmyfeet12 have a super chilled day and hope tomorrow goes well. I'm hoping bank holiday doesn't get in the way of anything for us, will find out next steps tomorrow I guess

@picklesandpetals PGS is genetic screening that you can do on the embryos. Someone on this thread has had it done so will know more than me. I think it means you have to freeze the embryos as don't get the results in time but for those of us who are older it can help make sure you pick embryos with best chance of success and less risk of miscarriage and other issues. (I think).

It's transfer day for me! I've been up since 5 as woke up needing wee and my brain jumped awake. It's also my birthday and two embryos is the best birthday present I think I could have! X

@HappyHedgehog247, sending you positive thoughts for a successful transfer today.

Let us know how you get on.

@picklesandpetals best of luck, hopefully they’re nice and juicy! And don’t worry about the crying, we’re allowed to. This is a sucky situation and sometimes you just need to let out all of those emotions, it’s much healthier than holding them in. I imagine most clinics, like mine, will work through bank holidays if they have to. Timing is so important with these things that I’m sure it won’t hold anything up - all being well our transfer will either be Saturday (3 days) or BH Monday (blasts).

@happyhedgehog247 I hope it goes well! Sending you lots of sticky thoughts! X

sorry the bit about bank holidays should have been tagged for @findingmyfeet12

sorry again, I’m finding this very confusing! Can I blame yesterday’s sedation on my inability to keep track of who’s posting?!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY @happyhedgehog247 what an amazing way to spend your day. Xxx

@HappyHedgehog247 happy birthday 🎂 and fingers crossed for your transfer. Looking forward to your update later

@CiroDiMarzio I'm not one for holding back my emotions, it's not in my genetics, I pretty much say it how it is lol, my OH must really really love me putting up with my crankiness, he has been super supportive throughout all this. Yeah hopefully my clinic is open Monday, will take a look in a bit

Wow it's getting busy on here. Welcome to all the newcomers

@picklesandpetals good luck, hope it all goes well

I did my first Gonal last night. Was so worried after reading things. Honestly speaking, DH did the injecting, didn't hurt, didnt sting afterwards and no side effects yet other than a really good night's sleep. I'm beginning to wonder if we injected it wrong. I hope the next ones are the same. Sorry for those who experienced side effects and pain.

@AniSL generally speaking the gonal f ones are fine. It's the cetrotide, ouchy! I'm still stinging today 2 hours later and for first time today have swollen itchy skin 😏

@picklesandpetals, sorry I missed your post about PGS. I’ve had it done. 🙋‍♀️

@HappyHedgehog is right, it is a way to screen embryos for chromosomal abnormalities. I opted for it due to my age and knew I wouldn’t be able to have multiple cycles.

So, I had 2 back to back ICSI cycles to get enough embryos to test. My clinic grows the embryos to blastocyst as this is the best time to take the sample. Then the embryos are frozen as it takes up to 3 weeks for test results to come back.

I only had 2 embryos that made it to blastocyst stage, so I sent them for testing. And they both came back normal! 🎉 Found out on a rare sunny day in February & was so thrilled! 🤗

So, opted to have one put back as they are both good quality & normal & just praying that it sticks. 🙏

Good luck with your scan, @picklesandpetals.

Oooo, happy birthday, @HappyHedgehog247 🎂

Thanks for that picklesandpetals, start the cert on Saturday so will make sure I prepare for it. Luckily it a bank holiday so can keep away from people.

Happy birthday happyhedgehog247

Happy birthday @happyhedgehog247 I hope you get the best present possible.

I'm off to the clinic for another scan today. The weather here is gorgeous, which makes everything easier.

Hi @picklesandpetals, yeah we went up with the complaint and guys and st Thomas CEO got back to us apologising and saying that they will learn from their mistake and more training will be provided to their staff. 😤 = they couldn't care less!

But that's ok, I try to leave in peace 🙏🏻 after lot of research we picked our clinic and now when about to start they cancelled my first cycle... starting to believe that the universe is against us 😂😂

Can anyone based in London please recommend a place for acupuncture?

Thanks ladies and good luck to all of you!

@Happyhedgehog Happy Birthday 🎉🎉 hope all goes to plan and your embies stick around for the party and all future ones too😘😘

Sissi81 we had prettybmuch the same response when we put in a complaint to PALS. We apologise and more training will be provided blah blah blah. They did move us to another hospital and we received amazing care but couldn't be funded on NHS so our journey ended there with the NHS. The consultant did say he was happy to put a pack together for us and do all the tests needed and refer to a private clinic of our choosing.

We did lots of research too, found UK clinics to be too expensive with no where near the success rates for my age at European clinics. We opted for treatment in Europe, doubled it up with a holiday and off we go next Thursday.

The clinic was lovely, clean and friendly I'm happy with our choice. EC is scheduled for Monday with my trigger on Saturday night. Transfer will be next Saturday. I feel happier knowing what's going on now.

@SouthernBella74 thanks for the explanation. Fingers crossed for you 🤞

@AniSL sounds like a good plan. Must admit I don't feel much like being round people atm, tired, cranky and haven't the tolerance for fake smiley everything is ok persona lol

@Sissi81 pretty much what I guess you thought they'd say, sorry and lessons learnt, doesn't help really does it though. Onwards and upwards though. It's not good for us carrying stress so we have to let as much go as possible

I'm praying my treatment works but if not perhaps @Si1ver and @AniSL you could PM me the clinics you recommend in Europe as I class as one of those older ladies. Atm though I'm trying to not think anything negative