IVF/ICSI June/ July 2018 (Part 2)

[Tigerlily99]

Hello ladies, I think we reached the maximum no of posts on last thread so I opened a new one. Hope you are Ok with this OP (@cannonball)? X

Ok... wtf! CRGH say no swimming anywhere until 12 weeks! Where I come from pregnant women swim in the ocean. It has immeasurable healing qualities. I can't see how it would harm the baby. It's not like water goes into the uterus anyway! Crazy. The amount of rules during this process. All the women in my family drank warm milk fresh from the cow, they had 15 kids with no issues. Anyway rant over. I won't go to the beach 😒

@HJ82 I go on holiday next week and when I asked my clinic they said I’d be fine to swim by then - did they say what the concern was? Don’t think I’ll survive 2 weeks abroad without getting in the sea or pool!

@cannonball8726 I hope that everything went well with your transfer today-now all 3 of us are in with a chance 😀

@Maiarindell1 it's truly bizarre. They said it's just their policy. Now I'm wondering if all those baths I've had during 2ww over the past year might have be detrimental 😒 most clinics say it's fine after a week. I honestly don't see how it would hurt.

That sucks @HJ82. IVF rules are annoying- but feel too guilty to not comply :(

@Maiarindell are you going anywhere nice?

ET done. They said OTD is 6th August so earlier than expected. So I'm joining you both!

@cannonball8726 yay! So we are all testing on this 6th 😬 eeeeiiiik

@HJ82 yes! We have to keep each other sane until then 😂

Oh wow 6th August it is!! We’re off to Greece - I’ll test on our 2nd day there so will be drinking my weight in wine if it’s negative! And limiting my pool time if it’s positive 😂
@cannonball8726 How are you feeling post transfer? Hope you have a chilled evening

Hehe good idea @maiarindell! Greece sounds amazing. Brilliantly timed holiday! Had you intended for it to fall so nicely at this time? Feeling fine post ET - was very quick. I've decided if BFN on 6th August, I'm having red wine, a flat white, pizza and indulgent dessert that day. I'm happy to take any other suggestions 😂Then I'm going to work out like crazy that week just because I can (unless I'm immobilised by heavy period). I am trying to train my brain into thinking this is at least a three cycle approach and not to be devastated if it doesn't work out this cycle. If negative, we have a holiday booked in October and will start again when we are back.

Just to get this far is so lucky as I know all manner of things can go wrong in getting here. I am grateful for that.

Is anyone using Mindful IVF app? I've used it a bit leading up to EC -will use over 2WW!

No timings were a complete fluke, I work in a school and still can’t believe my treatment fell on 1st day of school holidays. I was due to start in May but I didn’t respond well to flare protocol so it was cancelled. I’m so glad I’m testing at the beginning of the holiday rather than the end! Is this your first cycle then @cannonball8726? I’m trying to also think of it as the 1st of a potential 3 but we are self funding so 1st or 2nd time would be amazing! I think your negative plan sounds brilliant but keep listening to the app to align your fertile mind with you fertile body 😀 (yes I’ve been using the app too!)

@Maiarindell1 flukes are great! Nice to see things fit into place occasionally 😊 yes it's our first cycle. We went private as waiting for NHS IVF referral at Barts. Received appointment letter from Barts today for end of August although I think their waiting list for IVF is a bit long. Current private clinic is good so ideally we would just stay there but it's expensive, so we will see.

Is flare protocol the same as short protocol?

Have a lovely evening, ladies! And don't forget your progesterone 😁

Hi everyone, I’m so jealous that you are all testing at the same time! I want to test on the 06 July too now but will only be 7dp5dt then - possibly a bit too early... Hope to see lots of positive results! @cannonball8726 I think flare and short protocol are the different names for the same thing. Essentially a cycle without downreg. Had my last buserelin this am and am soooo happy to be done with it! Onto the progesterone from tomorrow. Have also been cautioned on the swimming but it’s to do with my oestrogen patches. They said they may come off if I immerse them in water so a quick dip only. That said, there’s no way I’m going to not swim on holiday- will take some spares, cover them in waterproof dressings, time my swimming close to patch change where possible and have bought some swimming costumes to hide them. (Not that I’m advocating my lack of compliance!). X

the swimming situation from CRGH point of view is that they go through out cervix and want to avoid any chance of infection in there because of the trauma. I get it. It's just annoying!!

Yayyy @tigerlily99! Buserelin done. You're joining our progesterone club 😁 we are mega fans of it (not). Are you going to be on the pessaries? Awesome that you have a holiday planned in the 2WW!

@tigerlily99 Congrats on finishing the buserilin 🎉 and good luck starting the grand mess that is progesterone! @cannonball8726 yes think short and flare mean the same thing, really didn’t work for me - on day 3 my ovaries were all different sizes and all the nurse could say was “well this is rather unusual”!

Ah okay! So did they go for long protocol @maiarindell?

Has everyone's bloating improved? Mine is better but not gone completely. I feel pretty bloated after eating and get back pain. It's bizarre. I'm not eating more than I normally do!

Hmmm, intersting on the swimming thing. Looks like there is no consensus on this between clinics. Probably because there is no evidence either way! I suspect lack of evidence is also why everyone ends up with totally different lengths of their ‘2WW’, have seen from 9 days up to 16 days post transfer for OTD. I’ll let you all know how I’m doing after I start the dreaded progesterone pessaries. I already know am going to be useless at trying to take it three times a day! Sleep tight all X

@cannonball8726 yes long protocol this time, I think I might have had more eggs with short/flare but it just didn’t work for me. Were You on the long? @tigerlily99 3 times a day?? I thought 2 was enough trouble! I agree re swimming, nobody really knows. I avoid it in TWW but not after. Anyone else feeling exhausted today? Bloating seems to have subsided but I feel like I’ve had an intense workout at the gym!

@Maiarindell- yeah it’s a pain! The last one I had was twice a day but they’ve changed the type of pessary this time, dunno why. From first use it seems to cause far less mess though! (Sorry TMI). I can safely say that the applicators it comes with are pretty useless, have ditched them after one use. X

CRGH gave me a post-ET sheet advising no strenuous exercise for 2 weeks. Only walking and stairs. So I guess I won't return to cycling/ gym next week as I hoped. Would be gutting to not be able to swim in pool/sea on holiday.

Found out my TSH level has gone up so they want me to increase dose of thyroxine. Trying not to panic...! Progesterone levels were fine so thankfully don't have to increase the stuff. Still have to continue with the intramuscular progesterone but I don't find it too bad. My DH has been doing a really good job at it :)

Peppermint tea so good for progesterone cramps! I'm eating prunes every day. Constipation much better. Anyone taking fybogel or lactulose?

@Maiarindell not feeling exhausted. Just really hot!!!! Yes I was on long too. Previous clinic wanted to put me on short protocol but the clinic I cycled with opted for long.

@Tigerlily99 pessaries three times daily = not fun. Are you doing them vaginally/rectally?

@cannonball726- front way! They actually do seem much better than the cyclogest though- no messy residue and they don’t fall out. I have been super angry today. Raging about every little thing- I hope this settles down by tomorrow, blame the progesterone! X

Hi guys
I didn't get any notifications that you were posting, I'll chime in now...

How you all feeling today? I'm doing well. Still little bit bloated but not much actually. Got used to it. With my progesterone 5 times higher than usual with pms, it's weird I'm not angrier. I'm a bit sensitive but I'm coping. Pessaries tho! Still cramp badly in bum/tum if our back door and now stinging in my cervix if I put in the front door. 😒 the joys. I'm going to alternate days.

I'm not exercising yet. I'm getting my hair done tonight, I read that it's safe... 😬 I will tell her not to touch the root 🙂

I'm drinking weak tea, morning and afternoon. Is that allowed? NHS site says you can drink 6 cups a day!? Ur no!! I can't look at my PC beyond 3pm without a cuppa

I've had some cramps but I'm not gonna symptom spot !! Very mild. Not part of gas I don't think. Who knows. Also a tonne of mucus. 😬 oooh what the hell. (Not from pessaries) I'm putting everything unusual down to the drugs at this point. Prob from increased estrogen.

Hope you're all well!

@HJ82! I haven't done any exercise either. Really want to. Been eating so much over the last couple of days! Will just have to make sure I'm doing plenty of walking.

Feeling fine otherwise. Just bruised from the heparin injections!

I reduced caffeine intake to almost nil a few months ago. But had a coffee last weekend. Will just hold off during 2WW. Luckily it's been so hot that I haven't missed hot drinks too much! But do drink a couple of Pukka teas - peppermint tea and lemon/ginger/Manuka honey. My consultant advised trying to cut out caffeine altogether- if not, reduce to a coffee a day.

How are you all doing?

@cannonball8726 I've been eating gluten and carbs urgh! I gotta sort it out! From Monday back in low carb no gluten! Feeling frumpy as and so bloated. Ive also noticed my skin on my Face is breaking out and super dry. Even with my regular deep moisture routine. Horrible 😢 I stopped taking my collagen tablets as I'm not sure if I should continue. I think I see a massive difference. I'm not glowing anymore, dammit. I read that many women take it during pregnancy to help skin, preventing dryness and stretch marks etc. But of cause no medical research to say it's healthy. Presume there's no harm. It's just extracted from fish. Hmm. Confused 🤷🏼‍♀️

Hey ladies,
Pretty similar for me, quite emotional at times and I’ve had some mild cramps but thinking that could be progesterone. Really trying to just keep busy and not think about symptom spotting. @HJ82 I went in the sea yesterday.......only up to my shins though 😂 I’m only taking multi vitamin and folic acid at mo. Was taking omega 3 but like you read contraindicatory stuff online about it so decided to just eat salmon twice a week instead!
I’ve been off of caffeine for a few months and trying to stick to herbal teas. @cannonball8726 I’m desperate to get back to the gym as I know it would help with feeling stressed, like you I’ve just been forcing myself to go out for walks instead.

Hope you both have relaxing weekends ahead x

Hi @HJ82, I've been lurking on this thread for a while but posting on the July/August thread (I'm in 2WW OTD 2nd Aug). Just wanted to comment about the collagen tablets. I read recently on NHS website that you have to be careful when pregnant with fish liver oil supplements because of the vitamin A "(retinol)" (which I know is in a lot of anti-aging type skin care products), and I know that A is also linked somehow with collagen.

I don't know the ins and outs of this but personally I would check with your health care team about the collagen if I were you (and they'll probably tell you it's fine! [grins]).

Good luck with your 2WW.
I'm rooting for all of you on this thread! x