IVF/ICSI June/July 2018

[cannonball8726]

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!

Good luck everyone either having egg collection today/this week and starting injections! Please keep us updated!

How do you feel after egg collection? We have to go to London and stay over two nights. Will I feel up to being a tourist and going out for lunch?

So I think this week will drag as hopefully starting Friday! I took my last pill last night so really hope my period comes okay. I think it will come Thursday but not sure that’s soon enough for a scan Friday morning?

I also have a polycystic ovary and I’m scared they will be cautious and my good ovary won’t be stimulated enough!!

Hi @physicskate. I had 100 dose GonalF for 7 days and 200 GonalF for 4 days after that. Last dose was 100 again and that was on Saturday just gone. Nothing on Sunday, EC today!

I opted for mild IVF.

Hope this helps x

Will post my update after I've eaten!

Oooh @IvoryCloud the suspense is killing me! I hope you're ok! 🤞🏼 xxx

@Ginandtonic31 @physicskate
Same for me, there was a ? As to whether I do have pco(s) and so they did a mild ivf although as you've probably read, I wasn't stimulated enough really and Im looking at only 2 at EC tomorrow. They said that in hindsight they could've gone more from the start but it was just too risky. Ended up on going from 112.5 to a whopping 300 towards the end but it was a little to late.
Still in with a shit though!
Apparently with mild IVF esp. with PCOS the total focus is quality not quantity and not getting OHSS so that's why they are sometimes totally over cautious. It's better than not getting any and having to cancel.

I'm off to London in a minute to stay over as I have to be at clinic for 8am and the thought of a 4am wake up and 3 hr drive and stressing over parking wasn't an option!
I was fine all through stimms, a bit uncomfortable today but I've still been out and about

Xxx

I'm pretty sure I'm NOT on mild IVF? I didn't want mild IVF. This is my one and only NHS cycle... I am 34 and my FSH last year was 6.2.

I guess I will just have to wait and see!

Good luck @windmill1828!

Hi @physicskate I am on 450 of Gonal F a night. Very high dosage. Have low egg reserve.

On my way to scan to find out if egg Coll is Wed. 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Good luck @Windmill1828!!

Need all the details when you're up to it @IvoryCloud!!

@physicskate everyone responds differently. I've done a lot of reading and there is such an array of doses! I think to be honestly it's a bit of trial and error. They will monitor you and see what's happening - they can always up your dose 😄 I feel your pain as I was in the same boat only two weeks ago. You don't want to risk cancellation xx

Hi OP
Like you I am starting my IVF this month, this will be our fourth attempt although attempts 2&3 were ballsed up by our previous clinic so we hope to reach transfer this time!
Your vitamins sound great, although I am also taking amino supplements, probiotics and magnesium. Simply because I know that down regulation makes me very sluggish and bloated and I want to stay ‘regular’.
I cannot state enough how important it will be for you to have support around you. I wouldn’t suggest telling all and sundry but I would suggest telling a couple of people who you are close to and a manager or HR at work. The drugs make you feel pretty rough and emotional and for me personally I found the flexibility to finish earlier some days, take leave at late notice or work from home invaluable... as it transpired it wasn’t always needed but it reduced some stress to know these options were available to me. Dates are likely to change and you’ll find that you need to take time off and late notice so again it would be good to share this with your manager. I put together a proposal to my boss outlining what would be happening (roughly) and when and I think this was really useful for her to get a gauge of where I was at each point as some people don’t feel comfortable asking.

Otherwise I would say keep your diary pretty clear for anything non essential and ensure that any plans you make can be cancelled or you can leave early, I had to take my injections in the evening and a few weeks in I got into the swing of it and even took my needle and solution out with me but to start you may find you want to be at home.

Otherwise I found total support from setting up a separate IVF Instagram account, it’s packed to the brim with lovely ladies (and a couple of gents!) who offer so much support, guidance and much needed humour at this time.

Feel free to PM me and I can help in anyway I can xx

Hey all.. Hope everything went well this morning @ivorycloud, and good luck for tomorrow @windmill!

Finally AF arrived for me this morning so I’m all set for baseline scan and to begin injecting tomorrow - now I’m pretty nervous. That’s a kind offer @MrsK1087, might take you up on it at some point!

I think when I have my scan on Friday I will say I’m a bit concerned that they will choose to under stim me because of my dodgy ovary and see what they say... I guess we have to trust them though.

Is anyone under Guys?

@ivorycloud hope it's all gone ok.
Wave to all the other lovely ladies sorry to hear some of you have had a hard time with the stimming phase. I've another few days down regging and then I start stims on Fri.
@physickate I bet you're glad to finally get started.
Good luck to all and especially those about to start.

Hi @physicskate
150 isn’t that low. I did 112 on my first attempt as I have a high AMH. Did only get 6 eggs, hoping to get more this time with the 150 x

Hi everyone! EC this morning was straightforward and absolutely painless - I felt nothing, was knocked out by the 'conscious' sedation (!) and came round when it was all over, thinking it was yet to start!

Absolutely nothing to worry about!

And I've had no pain/cramps/bleeding or discomfort since so I'm happy. Bit surprised that it went so easily.

Sedation left me feeling a bit drowsy and wobbly on my feet for about an hour afterwards, but fine after that.

The embryologist told us they had retrieved 3 eggs from our 6 follicles and, of course, we have to wait for a phone call tomorrow morning to see whether any have fertilised.

We're hoping for 1, because that's all we need! For me, it's quality that's important - impossible to determine before EC as it is - and I'm not especially bothered about quantity. That's why we went for mild IVF.

A waiting game now!

@Ivorycloud - glad it went well and wasn’t too traumatic - that’s reassuring for us newbies to hear 😊 fingers crossed for a good fertilisation result tomorrow xxx

Excellent news @IvoryCloud, pleased to hear it went smoothly , sending lots of fertile vibes to the 3 eggs. Are you planning any extra time off work? As @crittertamer says, it’s reassuring for the rest of us to hear experiences that have gone well.

Ah that sounds positive @IvoryCloud!

The number of eggs worries me as the reason we are doing it is for genetic reasons. So once we have embryos we then lose the ones with the genetic condition so it scares me if we only get one. People on my genetic Facebook group seem to get on the 20s!! I’m really worried.

@IvoryCloud that sounds really positive. Glad you didn't feel anything and there is little discomfort. This whole process is such a waiting game isn't it 😔

Good luck for that phone call from the embryologist tomorrow. Crossing everything for you xxx

@IvoryCloud I'm soooo glad you're ok! 😄
And you've totally put my mind at ease as I've just checked in and now totally sh&ittin it!!! 🙈

I'm so excited for your call tomorrow!! Do they know what time you'll get your call? Xxx

Thanks @CritterTamer, @Dia12 and @moleeye.
I am feeling positive!

@Dia12 I have tomorrow off from work to recover and then back in on Wednesday.

Think I got a bit too cocky earlier. I had been sitting / reclining since we got home but had been feeling fine, so decided to do a bit of sorting and tidying... mistake. Started cramping and feeling uncomfortable, so took paracetamol and returned to sitting still

At least I will have dinner cooked for me

Hi @Windmill! Thanks!

And please stop sh*ttin!

A bit of anxiety about the unknown is understandable, but please don't worry about tomorrow; you'll surprise yourself with how well you get through it. GOOD LUCK 😉

I don't know when exactly I'll get the call, morning sometime... of course I won't be able to concentrate on anything until then (and possibly afterwards, too!) so it's a good thing I'm not going anywhere tomorrow!

Thinking of you xx

@Windmill1828 thinking of you for tomorrow!! It's all go go go now 😊😊

Let us know how you eat on and hope you manage to get some sleep tonight. I know I'll be up with the lark on Weds morning fretting!!! 🙈
Xx

*get on!!

Yes @Windmill! Let us know how you get on!

@moleeye, is your EC going ahead on Wednesday? xx