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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

IVF/ICSI June/July 2018

999 replies

cannonball8726 · 06/05/2018 14:05

Hey, all! We are starting ICSI hopefully in June for MFI. I'm 32. Been TTC for around 14 months. Starting treatment privately as we wait for NHS investigations/referrals. Keen to get started but nervous - especially about getting the time off work during treatment - and about how much all of this is going to cost. Trying to prime my body for fertility treatment. Generally eat pretty well and exercise regularly (cardio, strength train, Pilates, walk a lot on my commute)- but could improve my diet. Consultant advised me to increase my protein intake so I'm working on it! Luckily the weather is looking up so a bit easier to stick to healthy lifestyle :) Have cut out alcohol and coffee (still on tea - but will limit myself to one cup/ day). Supplements wise, I'm on Omega 3, CoQ10, Pregnacare. Doubt any of this will make any difference in time for first cycle though...

Would be great to hear from others due to have treatment in June/July 2018!

OP posts:
windy2909 · 30/05/2018 06:41

@moleeye - no embryo glue for me. Interestingly one of the nurses at my clinic said that they very rarely use it. Not sure why this is.

@crittertamer - it’s a lot to get your head round isn’t it? Lots of people do seem to have varying drugs etc. Think it depends on the protocol chosen for you and maybe the clinics having a preference for certain meds??? What will you be using?

Windmill1828 · 30/05/2018 08:03

@moleeye no glue for me either. I like the sound of it but doesn't seem to be offered in a lot of clinics - if it was amazing, I'm sure it would be so I'm not overtly bothered!

Just on my way to London again (my new second home) for a blood test and another scan, hopefully see some bigger follies after my upped dose. I hope so, tomorrow is my last day of stimms. 😬

How's everyone getting on? Xx

Windmill1828 · 30/05/2018 08:04

@IvoryCloud sorry you can't sleep, I wander why? I'm the total opposite, apart from having to get up to wee more often, I'm knackered xx

Gavinmaxine1 · 30/05/2018 09:07

Starting our 2nd round of ivf on Monday. Last one failed on nhs. Parents have paid for this cycle so feeling the pressure I just pray it works this time round. Roll on 20th July to know either way. My husband took some persuading to do it again as it was so emotional when it failed last year. Couldn’t reach my right ovary so only got 3ast time. This time around I will be sedated so they can prod around as much as they like to get to both ovaries. Was quite traumatic EC with no sedation. Tablets start Monday then injection start on
21st June .. EC hopefully around beginning of July 🙏🏻🙏🏼🙏🏼

Windmill1828 · 30/05/2018 09:36

@Gavinmaxine1 good luck! I hope it all goes much better this time! 🤞🏼 x

moleeye · 30/05/2018 09:38

So I seem to be feeling quite heavy in my ovaries today with some aches. A bit like an early period pain. Wonder if things are starting to kick up a notch or two...

@IvoryCloud booo to your bad sleep! I'm feeling semi positive. Just want Fridays scan to show rapid growth and then get a date!

Hi @Gavinmaxine1 hope this round works out for you x

moleeye · 30/05/2018 09:39

@Windmill1828 good luck for scan. Hope everything is moving along nicely x

Windmill1828 · 30/05/2018 09:47

@moleeye thank you! Weirdly I feel less heavy down there today! 🙈 I'll update you after 12🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

Beherenow32 · 30/05/2018 10:58

@Gavinmaxine1 no sedation?!? I can’t imagine ne going through that. I’m so glad you’re getting sedation next time. It’s the best sleep that I’ve ever had!

@Windmill1828 good luck for you 🤞

Windmill1828 · 30/05/2018 11:41

Update from me.. nothing really changed. Still small follies, lots at 6,7,8 a couple at 12 and one massive one at 19!
They're going to check my blood and consider upping my dose - I hope they do, I feel they are being overly cautious but I'm not the expert!

She didn't seem overly concerned at only three as she said it's quality over quantity and I get that, but THREE??
We were hoping to freeze some too this time 😢

moleeye · 30/05/2018 12:28

@Windmill1828 I feel your frustration. Glad all is moving in the right direction, I know how slowly it feels everything is moving along.

Hopefully they will up your dosage now. That is a serious whopper there!! Fingers crossed more grow so you have some to freeze.

It's just a horrible waiting game isn't it xx

Windmill1828 · 30/05/2018 12:33

@moleeye it's awful. And I only have today and tomorrow in the fridge! If they do up my dose I'll be on double what I've been on but only for the last two days. I hope this doesn't affect the quality but I do hope it increases the quantity!
I'm so disappointed 😔

Does anyone have any experience of continuing after your normal ten days? Or do you think they'll just go with what I've got after Friday? Xx

moleeye · 30/05/2018 12:52

@Windmill1828 oh love I do completely understand. It's really is disheartening Thanks

Do they hand the meds out there and then? Mine only give me enough to get to the next scan when the meds and dosage is re-evaluated and then dispensed. How does yours work?

My clinic won't confirm any dates until I've had Fridays scan. But they have said that if it needs to be longer then so be it.

Oh and we fly out on holiday on 19th June!!!

Windmill1828 · 30/05/2018 12:58

@moleeye they gave me ten days worth which should have been enough but they've given me two more today in case I need to add to my dose later (that'll be three injections a day! 😳 - don't mind as much now I'm used to them!)
I just didn't know if they'd extend and try to make them bigger or just google for the few.
I just feel a bit frustrated as I've been on such a low dose for 9days and now it's clear it needs upping. I suppose they're only being careful 😕 xx

moleeye · 30/05/2018 14:01

@Windmill1828 ah, I see. Frustrating that they could have upped it before. But you're right they know best. When is your next scan? X

Gavinmaxine1 · 30/05/2018 14:12

They gave me drugs but Defo did not take away pain.. it was horrendous lol

Windmill1828 · 30/05/2018 14:30

@moleeye yeah - she's supposed to be ringing me this afternoon so I'll see what she says.

Everything crossed for scan on Friday!

To cheer myself up while I was in London I thought I'd buy something summery.. OMG! I'm normally a 10 but a 12/14 didn't fit! I've not really exercised since my ectopic in March but this was heartbreaking!! Is anyone else totally bloated by 2 dress sizes or am I just fat? 😂😂🙈🙈

windy2909 · 30/05/2018 16:13

@windmill1828 - my clinic never give a time line for stims. They say that everyone responds differently, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they do keep you stimming for a bit longer. I have heard of lots of cases where this has happened. You never know what will happen between now and Friday though. I had rapid growth in those last few days x

windy2909 · 30/05/2018 16:14

Also welcome @Gavinmaxine1. I hope this cycle is a success for you.

Beherenow32 · 30/05/2018 16:25

@Windmill1828 sorry to hear about your scan. Both cycles I had to do 2 weeks of down regg, and 2 weeks of stimming.
Hopefully they can up your dosage xx

IvoryCloud · 30/05/2018 16:55

Hi @Windmill, I wish I knew why I couldn't sleep, too! I'm exhausted in the day but come bedtime I can't get off to sleep. It's been v hot past few days though, muggy. That doesn't help.

At least the nausea and headaches have settled down! So could always be worse.

IvoryCloud · 30/05/2018 16:58

Good luck for your second cycle, @Gavinmaxine1

IvoryCloud · 30/05/2018 17:46

@Windmill, my experience yesterday sounds similar to yours. I had my first scan since stimming. Results were 3 larger follicles, 2 smaller and lots (don't know how many) smaller again. When I asked, nurse said 1x16mm, 1x13mm, 1x12mm, 1x10 and 1x9.

She spoke to me with an apologetic, pitying tone - even though I'm on mild IVF - and said that my chances of success were compromised by this response Confused. If she had a different tone, I would have felt more positive, as it was, I felt deflated.

After a word with the doctor, the decision was made to double my gonalF dose for the remaining 3 days before next scan on Friday. They're hoping this might encourage the two smaller follies to catch up and mature enough to increase our chances. Nurse said the other smaller ones were too small to be useful.

I was alone for this scan. It was horrible, like I'd been given the booby prize or something.

I asked what the cost would be for the extra drug - just enough until the next scan. £180!!! What?! I asked whether I could have a prescription, so I could order it elsewhere. I was told I could find it cheaper elsewhere, but that I would never get it in time because I needed it for the next day... so there was really no choice unless I decided to continue without and so I commented that they had me over a barrel, then.

I was late getting back to work as it was, so put it on a nother credit card and left. Felt a bit ripped off. I even asked whether they would cancel the cycle for a poor response - assured no. Thank goodness.

Having thought about it since, I don't think 3 good ones (potentially 5) is that bad - I opted for mild IVF for gawd's sake! I appreciate the point that upping the dosage might improve my chances. But I didn't like the way it was put, or the way the drug was strongly pushed - it felt like there was no alternative. Starting to feel a bit cynical about the expenses we're incurring here.

moleeye · 30/05/2018 18:13

Oh @IvoryCloud! That nurse does not sound like a pleasant woman. I get they need to keep it realistic but there are ways and means of saying something to people who are already emotionally fragile and desperately seeking a child. That is not on.
The drugs are SO expensive aren't they. It really is starting to mount up....

Windmill1828 · 30/05/2018 18:26

@IvoryCloud urgh.. that sounds so disappointing! And we are in the same boat but yours are much bigger than mine! Almost double! Most of mine are 6/7mm!
I'm hoping this extra 2 injections is going to do some good and give them that extra boost! Mines an all inc package which also worries me that they've cut down on the drugs to make it cheaper and I've not had the growth because of this. And also, will they keep me stimming longer as it's an extra cost!?
So many concerns and worries about this.
For you, I wouldn't worry, you have some good sizes there! Xxx