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

Sorry you're so uncomfortable @findingmyfeet12 - take it easy!! Do you mind me asking where your sister is in her journey now? Hopefully your 10 eggs are good ones - I found form EC onwards the hardest! Much worse than all the injections.

Thanks @HappyHedgehog247 And @SouthernBella74 Hope your 2ww's are going to fly by!

@rainylake as you say at least you have been blessed with one. Sounds like you've given so much energy to trying, it definitely becomes all consuming. I'm having early mornings to deal with rather than late nights, it's making me super cranky. I'm using a wheat sack a lot of the time. Didn't realise baths were unadvisable, but don't really have them anyway

@findingmyfeet12 that's a good number, think mine will be less. Relax this weekend. Omg I've got terrible wind too, smells like something crawled up in me and died 🤣 do you think yours is from the progesterone?

@AniSL thanks for the info. Hoping I won't need to look again!

@HappyHedgehog247 me too. Just wanna eat everything in sight, and sleep, have an unusual sweet tooth

AFM had a nightmare morning. My cetrotide syringe was faulty. Tried to transfer saline into the powder and lost loads, then on the way back into the syringe it spouted everywhere again. To say I had a sense of humour failure at 6 am would be an understatement to say the least. After a spectacular meltdown with enough swearing to make a sailor blush, I decided to be on the safe side and use a new one. Made dash to clinic today to get a replacement for the faulty one

Feeling zombified and slightly unhinged today. OH has promised me a nice date day tomorrow though

Good luck to everyone with scans or starting injections

Enjoy the sun everyone xx

Thanks for the support everyone.

Hoping she's starting stims next month for her next cycle. She's on maximum doses and for some reason her ovaries take ages to start responding but when they do she has a good number of follicles. The eggs are poor quality though and the embryos don't last long. The clinic hasn't suggested donor eggs. They've just told her to have another go. She's paying privately so it's all adding up.

Pickles I've no idea what's causing the wind but I've only had it since the ec and it's agony as I'm so sore anyway.

Happy Bank holiday team! Hope everyone is enjoying the ☀️ makes everything seem better!

@findingmyfeet congratulations 10 is great! Fingers crossed for fertilisation, hope you’re not too sore!

@happyhedgehog I’m in self preservation mode I think too. My chances should be high but I just can’t hope too much as have had so much disappointment and am already planning what to do if this fails (basically move clinics as I think they’ve missed something!) I will be testing early, it seems most people get a BFP by 7dp5dt, with earliest being 5 days post transfer. I just want to know rather than be in limbo so I can either celebrate or get on with the next step.

@Southernbella, I know what you mean! You sound like you are doing an amazing job of staying calm so far!

@hoping2018 oh I’m so sorry you’re so uncomfortable again, what a nightmare on a different dose as well. Got everything crossed for you you’ve got some super stars in there and things ease up soon.

Apologies to anyone with news I’ve missed, I hope you’re all doing ok and not obsessively googling things like me 🙈 😂 xx

@pickles that sounds like a stressful morning I’m so sorry! You handled it like a superwoman though so definitely deserve a lovely date night!! I actually think it’s so ironic as I don’t usually drink much but now I think I need a drink more than ever 😂.

The progesterone definitely messes with my digestion too, feel extremely bloated as soon as I started cyclogest

@findingmyfeet12 rest up, your body has worked hard, make sure you get lots of attention during this time. I'm hoping for EC next week 🤞. Hopefully your wind issue clears up soon!

@Summerloving17 🤣🤣 handled it more like devil woman I think! I'm just blaming it on hormones 👌. Tbf I enjoy a good drink or three, missing it badly, but have stocked up on 'mummy juice'. Today I'm having M&S apple, cherry and pink peppercorn, it's quite nice!

Today I've had a nice pedicure and nails done. And persuaded the OH to clean the bathroom, I mean breathing in cleaning products can't be good for me, right? 😜

@SouthernBella74 I am thanks, I’ve had a lovely day in the sun today which has helped. We got the call this morning to say all six embryos are still doing well with four “front runners” they expect to go to blasts so fingers crossed that stays the same come Monday. We’re going in early in the morning for transfer.

@picklesandpetals @findingmyfeet12 I’ve got the bad wind too! I’m definitely blaming it on the progesterone, it seems to be worst a couple of hours after insertion 😂

I’m dreading the 2WW - sending lots of positive thoughts to those of you going through it right now. My hubby is going away for the weekend on the day of what I think will be our OTD so imagine we will do an early test too. I know I shouldn’t because if it’s a BFN I’ll be crushed but also still slightly hopeful that it’s wrong but what can you do?! I am definitely not known for my patience!

Hello all! I'm on my 3rd day of stims (have injected twice and tonight will be the 3rd set). Ive had a small amount of blood when I wipe most of today, is this something to be concerned about?.

Hope everyone has been enjoying the sunshine.

I’ve been on my feet much more today because of not being at a desk, and I’ve found it helps with the swollen ovaries - pottering around the garden or walking (ridiculously slowly!) down to the shops I feel absolutely fine - so much so that I even had a moment of panic thinking the eggs must have all released, but then as soon as I sit down on the sofa I feel sore again. Does anyone else find that? I also have quite a beer belly now (fortunately the weather meant I could wear a loose sundress as I think even my baggy old trousers would be uncomfortable today. Also the hot water bottle was magic - can’t believe I didn’t think of that before last night!

@picklesandpetals I don’t really understand the bath thing. It isn’t to do with heat, but the nurse at the booking appointment told me I shouldn’t be submerged in water (so no swimming either) on the stims, because of something to do with absorbing the water. But it didn’t really make much sense to me because surely the cervix would stop it getting inside you. But since she told me I feel I have to obey the instruction even though I’m a bit sceptical of it. It’s a bit disconcerting when you look online and find out that the clinics all give slightly different guidance about what you should and shouldn’t do, and I guess they don’t really know what makes a difference and there’s a certain amount of guesswork. That sounds like a nightmare with your injection! I’m glad that mine are pretty foolproof (though there was a stressful moment a few days ago when the last bit wouldn’t come out of the pen and I was just sitting there thinking ‘what the hell do I do now?’)

Good luck to everyone waiting for news of their embryos over the weekend.

@CiroDiMarzio brilliant news on a possible six!! You having the transfer Monday? You must be so excited 🤗 I really don't know how i will feel if get to 2ww with regards to the test. I think I'll hold out til the day, having said that I'm ridiculously impatient 😬 think I'll be googling every symptom though. Sounds to me they need to invent rose smelling progesterone tablets 🤣🤣 we should name our group/thread the windy group at this rate

@rainylake totally get what your saying, I'm sooo bloated. Love my wheat sack, I put it on my tummy loads. Never realised about shouldn't have baths or swimming, we really do get differing info, or non at all about certain things. One thing that hasn't been mentioned at all is EWM, kinda thought maybe wouldn't get it to a large extent during stimming, but I have, not sure if that's normal. My OH reckons they allow a little margin for error on the meds so don't stress tooo much, ie if a little didn't come out you're probably ok. Obviously I'm not a doctor but try not to over worry and just mention it to consultant when you can. It happened to me too last week too. What's the next step for you? Can't remember how far you are into cycle. Are you about to start cetrotide?

AFM rather cruelly I actually look about 7 months pregnant, damn you bloating!!

@picklesandpetals I'm not taking cetrotide, carrying on with the synarel spray instead which I guess does the same job? Done my last gonal tonight, then trigger shot tomorrow, and then Monday I get to have a day with no drugs at all. We might be seeing friends tomorrow afternoon and DH is worried they will think I'm pregnant so I'll have to wear something really baggy!

Just had my second shot of cetrotide and I’m so grateful for the wealth of information here. Expecting it to sting A LOT and fearing the worst - I haven’t found it as bad as I had imagined. It does sting no doubt for atleast half an hour on and off but knowing what to anticipate has really helped. I also sip on some hot drink after the shots either peppermint or just hot water and lemon and I find that it helps.

Hope everyone is coping well and enjoying the sunshine. 🌞

I'm due to start end of the month. On the pill and stop on the 17th. Then sheet protocol so E/c sometime after 4th June I think. I'm having kittens and a major panic this evening though

I had my trigger shot last night and I'm wiped out! I'm going to spend most of today snoozing in the park i think.

@rainylake I was told I was fine to keep swimming up to egg transfer but to stop afterwards. I was also told luke warm baths we're fine. Everyone's clinics are so different!

Morning all!

@grimbles I really don’t know about that. I assume your clinic will have someone on call constantly? To be on the safe side I’d probably call just to check. I hope it’s nothing xxx

@rainylake I’m glad to hear you’ve found a way to be a bit more comfortable. Fortunately I didn’t bloat very much with the stims but now I’m on the progesterone I really am. We had lunch with my OH’s family yesterday. His SIL is pregnant and his dad was eying me up and hinting that I was too. I told them in no uncertain terms not to expect another grandchild anytime soon! If you’re taking your trigger that must mean EC this week! Good luck, I hope it all goes well for you.

@picklesandpetals I am feeling excited but seeing pregnant SIL yesterday did not help with the anxiety. I know it’s stupid but I feel like there’s almost competition there. This is their second (also with IVF) so there’s a lot of comparison.

@cobblestones sorry to hear that it hurts but I’m glad you’ve found a way to make it feel a bit better.

@si1ver sounds like your EC will be soon too! Best of luck, enjoy the drug free day!

I’ve been freaking myself out overnight googling “why does implantation fail” and the like. Starting to feel like the only thing that can go wrong is down to me now and driving myself crazy. I wish I was a man.

I've never been told to avoid baths (I'd read it online though so avoided them anyway).

Does anyone have advice for what to do to improve implantation chances?

I've always kept a hot water bottle on my feet in the past as I'd read it's a good idea to keep your feet nice and warm.

Ciro its really hard when other people are pregnant. My dh's niece is having a baby in July.

@Grimbles no that's a common side effect. I had some brownish discharge for the 5th and 6th days iirc, it stopped and the clinic said nothing to worry about.

Grimbles I have a little bit of blood when I inject too, clinic said not to worry if it's only a small amount as obviously we are piercing our skin.

Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine

My clinic never told me about the bath or swimming. Will need to consult Dr Google

Morning

My clinic gave me a list of things to do and avoid after egg transfer. It's like a list of my favourite things!!! Baths are on the list.

I hope everyone is well and able to rest their bloated bellies in this lovely sunshine. I've felt no implantation cramps/pains at all so far.

What else is on the list @HappyHedgehog247 ? Mine have no advice at all last time!!

@hoping I am at a friend's for the weekend so don't remember it perfectly but it included:
Limit physical exercise for first 24-48 hours
Eat a high protein diet
Drink 2-3L fluids a day, limit caffeine and fizzy drinks
No hot baths, sauna, steam room etc.
(Might have said swimming too)
No vigorous physical exercise and no sexual intercourse

@happyhedgehog, that’s really interesting, thanks for sharing! My clinic said that nothing you do post transfer will have a bearing on the outcome!! Do you mind me asking what clinic you’re with?

I caved and tested ridiculously early today at 4days post transfer as felt a bit sick this morning and got a BFN on first response. I think I was hoping for a ghost line as the tests are so sensitive but never mind. I still have a chance but if still negative by Thursday I’m out. I will change clinics as think they must be missing something. London ladies please can you let me know where you are and if you recommend? I’m thinking of moving to CRGH due to success rates but cheaper than ARGC (currently at Guys). Not going to test till Wednesday now and just hope something changes!!🤞

Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine 😘 xx

Hi @summerloving17

I'm self-funding at an NHS hospital in a region outside London. I can tell name it sorry as too outing. I picked it purely because it is close to home and meets the national average according to HFEA.

I have started looking at other options too purely because it's a small 'clinic' and less experience in my age category, doesn't offer PGS etc. I was looking in London as thought it would offer most choice but the only one I have found so far with better odds for 38+ is CRGH.

The ARGC one that seems to get a lot of focus on threads doesn't seem to have better outcomes but it might be unfair to compare as maybe people that go there are more difficult cases/substantially older than 38.

I haven't found a better way to create a shortlist than HFEA site but would love to hear any suggestions. I also haven't found a way to search the sites by success rate which means going into each clinic's data individually so also love to hear if anyone knows a better way of finding success stats.

I'm wondering if a foreign clinic is best bet but that is tricky for me for family reasons.

Thanks @happyhedgehog, hopefully we both won’t need to look elsewhere! I have only used the HFEA data and compared to individual quoted success rates, it is a pain though! It must be designed to make it harder to compare!!

@rainylake let me know how the trigger shot goes. Not much talk of it on here so guess peeps not having too much reaction apart from probably tiredness. I've been wearing baggy clothes for last week too to cover my bloatedness. Hopefully you had a nice afternoon

@Cobblestones that's great. Mine didn't hurt this morning at all, some days does some days doesn't. I might try hot water and lemon, given it's caffeine free 🤨

@CiroDiMarzio it's hard when people say something flippant like sure you're pregnant, if they had any idea of our struggle they would keep their mouths shut!! It's a throwaway comment but doesn't help. It's really tough being around pregnant people, must have been really difficult for you hun. Keep strong, stay positive. Everyone's journey is a different path xx