IVF July/August 2018

[Sunny1984]

Hey,

So like the title says really is anyone about to start an IVF cycle in July or August?

This is my first cycle and I’m excited/petrified!!! I would love to have some cycle buddies to chat to and for support. It’s all self funded as due to the postcode lottery we get no NHS cycles.

Just a little background. I’m 34, have been TTC for 2 and a bit years now, initial diagnosis PCOS and I had 7 cycles of Clomid which resulted in me falling pregnant in December but sadly I had a MMC at 11 weeks. I have since been diagnosed with endometriosis following an unexpectedly low AMH result. My right ovary is has a significant cyst.

I have an endometrial scratch on Monday and will begin down reg on Monday night. I’m a nurse so have no fear of needles but not sure how I’ll manage with injecting myself.

Really hope to have some company on this journey xxx

[Springb0ks]

@sunny1984 Keeping my fingers crossed for your scan and that you get to start stims. I'll hopefully not be too far behind you as I have another baseline on Wednesday and if all is okay then Thursday will be when I start. I'm really lucky that as a teacher I've got the next few weeks off to relax/recover/worry... delete as appropriate!

[Elaydee]

The nurse gave me my first injection today! Is there anyone else starting today who wants to buddy up with me? Am terrified of doing my first needle solo tomorrow evening!

[Springb0ks]

@elaydee, I can promise you 100% that you will find it so easy! I'm on my 29th injection and it's as easy as brushing my teeth welcome to the group and good luck on your journey.

[Elaydee]

Thank you @Springb0ks! Can I ask a reeeaaalllly silly question since you’ve done 29 of them... how much pressure/force/speed do I need to use? I saw the nurse do it today and she went in on an angle but it happened so fast I can’t remember... haha!

[35counting]

Welcome @Elaydee, I was also terrified of doing my own but have managed it. It’s a bit like an outer body experience for me. You just push until the needle is in and then don’t apply any further pressure. You will be fine.

They’re both evening @Sunny1984, both same side. Becoming difficult to find somewhere we haven’t injected, I’m like a pin cushion!

Headache has ramped back up this afternoon and I feel generally rubbish. Was contemplating going home sick but I’d have to make excuses to my team then so have stuck it out. Anyone else whose problem is on the male fertility side feeling a little hard done by? It’s frustrating that women have to go through all this regardless!

[Springb0ks]

@elaydee, because you're doing it on yourself you'll be able to judge the perfect amount of pressure. It's a slight bit to get it through the top layer of skin which I find is a bit tough but then it just slides in and back out. I found the build-up to them worse than the actual doing of it? I do them at 7am each morning and used to wake up at 4/5am in a cold sweat, now that I've done so many I'm like, why did I do that?!!
@35counting, although our fertility issues fall into the "unexplained" category, I fully sympathise with feeling hard done by. At times I've felt so angry that some people manage to fall pregnant without having to endure IVF, and that for the male species- they don't have to do a thing in all of this!

[bjonesreborn]

Hi ladies,
Do you mind if I jump on and join you?
I’m 41 and we have unexplained fertility (oh’s swimmers are totally fine though)
This is my 3rd and final attempt at ivf. I had fresh in April 17, fresh in April 18. Got none to freeze on either and got so very close both times (i.e. bled 24 and 48hrs before test date respectively) so here I go again! I’ve been taking pregnacare, dhea, coq10 and baby aspirin. Also up my protein and liquid levels (not alcohol sadly!!) and downing a pint of milk a day.
This time i’m Doing acupuncture too which i’m Slightly sceptical about, but given last try i’ll Give anything a go!
I had the scratch on my second cycle and this one too.
Both my last cycles I did down regging but this time i’m On short protocol so straight to stimms tonight. All seems rather quick to me!!
Good luck to everyone, whatever stage you’re at. I have found these threads really helpful before, if only to know there are other people going through it “with you”

[35counting]

Hi @bjonesreborn and welcome, sorry to hear you’ve been unsuccessful previously, will keep everything crossed for you this time. Our friends conceived on what they’d decided would be their final attempt last year and now have a bouncing baby girl!

What’s baby aspirin? I’ve not heard of that one before.

[bjonesreborn]

Hi 35counting thanks for welcome, it’s rubbish that any of us are here.
The clinic decided for us it’s our last attempt really, I have low amh so when our cycle failed in April he said that if we wanted to try again they would support us through one more cycle but after that no more. Which is pretty honest of them seeing as we’re self funded.
Baby aspirin is 75mg aspirin - the theory is it increases blood flow to the uterus making the lining more receptive to embryos- who knows?!
This is your first cycle isn’t it - what stage are you at now?

[35counting]

@bjonesreborn yes, complete novice! I’m on day 4 of stims and not feeling great, splitting headache which makes me feel sick, thought it was getting better but it’s back with a vengeance today! I’m anxious about EC but posts from others on here have really helped.

[bjonesreborn]

EC is fine honestly, i’ve Had one under local and one under general and both were fine.

[Sunny1984]

Welcome @bjonesreborn I’m starting stimming tonight as well.

@Elaydee the injections are honestly fine, I hardly feel the needle going in and then I just inject the drug fairly slowly. Are you starting down reg or stims?

@35counting I’m the issue with us and I still get fed up with whole thing so must be even worse if it’s MFI when all they still have to do is produce a sample!! It’s just shit we are all in the position.

@Springb0ks hopefully you’ll be about to relax a bit over the 6 weeks, have you got anything nice planned to keep you occupied?

My scan went ok and my ovaries are quiet. Bit disappointed as still only have 8/10 follicles which the consultant said wasn’t great!! Had a bit of wobble this afternoon but trying to pull myself back together ready for work tomorrow 😢

[Sunny1984]

When did/does everyone have their first scan after starting Stims? Mine isn’t for a week which seemed too long to me when I’m on max dose and they don’t know how I’ll respond as it’s my first cycle!

[Elaydee]

Thanks everyone! I’ve gone back to stare at the needles a few times and it looks so tiny that I’m slowly convincing myself it will be ok!

@Sunny1984 No, I have PCOS so I’m straight to stimms. First scan and needle was done today by the nurse then night needles starting tomorrow until my first scan on Friday. I think they’re worried about me overstimulating so they’re being cautious! Nice to see someone else starting today also

[35counting]

Don’t be disheartened @Sunny1984, 10 is good compared to a lot of people. Remeber that it’s quality and not quantity, all you need is one good egg! My first scan is Friday so after a full week too. They then see if they need to tweak the dose before another scan on the Monday. Try and take it easy this week just in case you are over stimulated!

[Sunny1984]

@Elaydee what drug are you on? Does it come in a pen or do you draw it up? I used the pen for the first time tonight and it was easier than I expected!

@35counting thank you. I think I was more like 8 and I said something about who it was half compared to last year and she said well it might be 10 but 8 definitely! I need to stop worrying, I just really don’t want to react to quickly to the meds and then have the cycle cancelled (I don’t know it that is even possible!) but the thought of having already spent nearly a £1k on these drugs to have it cancelled would be awful!!

[Cobblestones]

A warm welcome to all those joining recently and all the very best of luck to those starting stimms tonight.

@sunny stick to the Lubion when you get to it. I’m absolutely hating the prontogest. I have pain in my legs, numbness in my hips and a sore bum. I’m going into the hospital tomorrow to see the nurses hoping they transfer me onto the lubion.

@ginger looks like you’re doing well at keeping busy. You go girl!

[bjonesreborn]

sunny 10 is a good number, try not to worry. And a week between baseline and 1st scan is pretty normal. My next scan is next Monday.
elaydee sure you will be fine with first injection, good luck!
My first injection went fine - must admit that oh does them for me though!
Hi to everyone else, am slowly catching up with where everyone is!

[PostiveThinkingRainbow]

Hello Ladies,

We are hoping to start our IVF journey in August, been TTC for 3 years had a good few annoying complications, I have PCOS, had cervical cancer a couple of years ago which was removed fingers crossed clear smears ever since, had Endometrial Hyperplasia with Aytpia last year so had a have a coil for six months to let my womb lining return to normal, did 6 rounds of Clomid no success. Paying privately.

So IVF here we come!!!

Think I am going to be on short protocol, would love any tips you ladies have? Anyone eating or doing anything crazy to improve our chances?

I am trying to stay positive, after all we have been through we all could do with some positive news to reach our dreams of becoming mums.

What is everyone doing about medication? Are you buying it direct from your clinic or buying else where?

I read that ASDA pharmacy sell them at cost price?

[35counting]

Hi @Positivethinkingrainbow and welcome, sounds like you’ve really been through the mill, I really hope this works out for you!

If you look back to page 2 of the feed we had a discussion re diets/supplements, think we’re all doing similar.

There are some ladies on short protocol on here too. I’m on long and nhs so can’t help re drugs I’m afraid but have also heard Asda is cheap. Best of luck!

[PostiveThinkingRainbow]

@35counting, many thanks will have a read back!

I know we are all on a stressful journey but sharing helps so much, look forward to hearing and sharing xxxx

[CupcakeVampire]

Morning all

Hello to all the new members that have appeared since I last posted. Sorry I haven't been around much lately. I have been on the longest cleaning binge ever. It took me forever and a day, but the upside is that my house is looking the tidiest it's been in years.

@Sunny1984, 8-10 sounds like a good amount. If you've just started stimming then you've a ways to go yet and it is surprising how things can change between scans. I wouldn't be too concerned at this point.

I was a little apprehensive about injecting myself at first. I think everybody probably is. I'm lucky that I'm not scared of needles, but DH is, so he has to leave the room while I'm stabbing away at myself. It just nips a wee bit when you first stick it in. You quickly get desensitised to it. It helps to remember it's for a good cause.

Just puttering away here till I can start downregging on Thursday. We're going away this weekend and I need to try and keep the buserelin cool somehow while it's out of the fridge. Of course I booked all this before we knew that I would have to go on a long protocol cycle.

[Springb0ks]

@sunny1984, my plan are just to relax really. We did have a holiday booked for after treatment which we had to cancel went down regging got extended. Nightmare!

[Springb0ks]

Ladies, a quick question if you don't mind. I have another baseline scan tomorrow and I started DR on cycle day 2. I haven't yet had a proper bleed other than a tiny bit of spotting. Has this happened to any of you?

[Elaydee]

@PositiveThinkingRainbow I’m on short protocol thanks to PCOS but I only started yesterday so don’t have much feedback for you right now.

I have been pregnant four times before this and had two ectopics so no functioning tubes, so I’m a bit more relaxed with my approach. This is my first IVF try. I’m still having one coffee in the morning (one normal and one decaf nespresso pod in one coffee) then decaf tea the rest of the day and lots of water. I plan to have a glass of wine this weekend at a friends for dinner but am designated driver so that stops me having more :-)

I might go look back at page 2 for the tips mentioned!