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

@Elaydee

We go in on Friday for our big appointment when we go through all our meds and they teach you all you need to know.

They advised at our last appointment we would be on short protocol, I think its a PCOS thing.

I will be on day 21 of my cycle that day so I am not sure when I need to start taking meds etc, I think it will be very soon as we were supposed to go in last week but we were on a holiday we booked ages ago.

This is my second cycle on norethisterone to regulate my periods.

Have they given you any sense of a time line at all?
I work full time and was thinking about booking sometime off as I would prefer to keep things private from work for now.

xxx

@PositiveThinkingRainbow I started mine on day 3, but could have on day 2 but they were closed haha. They had to scan me before starting to make sure my ovaries were ‘asleep’. They should give you your timeline yes. For example, I have my first monitoring scan this Friday and monitoring every other day and eventually EC on 10th if all is ok and hopefully transfer on the 15th... so you should be able to get some dates to book off work. I’m like you and haven’t told work... they had to let me have two weeks off for each ectopic so I’m not ready to share this yet.

Hi ladies,
Wow this thread moves fast.
cupcake you sure you have to keep buserelin in the fridge? When I had it my first 2 cycles it wasn’t a fridge requirement.
positive short protocol is super short...I had baseline yesterday and ec provisionally booked for a week on Friday - obviously subject to change depending on what happens.
You should definitely take ec day off - especially if done under general.
Hope everyone else ok, on my phone quickly whilst at work so can’t see everything.

I DID IT!!!! My first needle! That wasn’t bad at all and I barely felt it! Oh god, so relieved!

Well done elaydee

@Elaydee looks like we are on very similar timeline. Scan yesterday went fine so nurse did my first jab and DH will be doing the next tonight before bed, think he is more nervous than me lol, well done for doing yours yourself, I don't think I could! So far no side effects other than very mild cramping, fingers crossed it stays that way.

@sunny1984 I started Gonal F injections yesterday, then will add cetratide around day 8 and then cyclogest pessaries from transfer. Is that the same as you? My next scan isn't til Friday but that seemed the norm, said I would probably have scans mon, wed & Fri next week with potential collection on 10th Aug and transfer on 15th. They didn't tell me how many follicles and I didn't think to ask, at the baseline scan a few weeks ago they said it was 19 but don;t know if it changes and have no idea if that is good.

Well done @Elaydee!

@CupcakeVampire I brought a special insulin wallet from Amazon called FRIO, it seems really good. It’s not as cold as a fridge but from what I can read about the Suprecur and the wallet it keeps it called enough. You just soak it in cold water so it’s easy!

@PostiveThinkingRainbow I have brought all of meds from Asda. It’s more hassle than from the clinic but it has saved me over a £1000 just on stimulation drugs as I’m max dose. I just asked the clinic for needles, syringes and sharps bin I think they are meant to charge but didn’t. A lot of the stim drugs are pens I think you might only need the pen and the drug then comes with needles if that makes sense!

@KatieMcnic 19 sounds really good! What dose Gonal-F are you on? They are leaving me a full week before a scan. I worried all night but spoke to the nurse today and she said because of low AMH and follicle count they wouldn’t see anything sooner. I have EC provisionally booked for the 13th but hoping for a miracle and it will be brought forward.

@Cobblestones how are you doing with the prontogest? My clinic said that the Lubion which is SC is just as effective and most people opt for that now as the IM is really painful as it’s an oil. I have a friend who had IM and after about day 4/5 she was in agony struggling to sit down and a parent at work said she still had lumps and really sore bits 20 weeks after stopping 😕.
Did you call the clinic?

Hello to all the new ladies! Good luck with starting your rounds. I was on short protocol so those of you talking about how quick it all seems - I’m with you there!

Well done @Elaydee! First step, smashed!

Hi @Cobblestones, how are you doing?

I am indeed keeping busy. Loads of work to catch up on before going off again soon. Helping keep my mind occupied too. Sounds like you’re doing all the stuff I did last week to keep busy! I also did leisurely walks to the nice pubs for lunch and sat out reading, visiting non-working/PT friends who I normally only see when rushed/tired in evening, which was lovely. Are you having a nice time and managing to keep your mind off it all?

My stomach cramps are pretty much every day but can be many hours apart - quite a sharp pain across lower abdomen, still get some milder, again sporadic, pain in ovary area but most of my bloat has literally just started going down, so hopefully this will ease off. Also at night if I sleep on my side, I wake up with ‘ovary pain’ and have to roll over. Are you getting anything similar?

Looking forward to/dreading Thursday in equal measure. While we we don’t test it’s like Schrodingers baby Trying v.hard not to symptom spot!!! It’s weird - after all the drugs etc., my instinct is that I just want things back to normal but the reality is that’s the last thing I want!
Sending good vibes your way and including you in my finger crossing! X

Morning ladies, for some reason my notifications turned off and I thought you’d just all gone quiet! It’s taken me 10 mins to catch up.

Well done @Elaydee, first one is always the hardest so you will be fine now. I haven’t mustered the courage to do the pen myself yet as it seems an odd angle to do yourself. We had an incident yesterday as DH managed to prick his finger (Cinderella style) when putting the cap back on the pen before throwing in the sharps bin, he is fine injecting me but terrible with his own blood so nearly passed out! At least it gave us something to laugh about as I’m still struggling with the stims and headaches. How are you getting on @Sunny1984 (thanks for the FRIO tip, will have to invest)?

@Cobblestones that sounds horrible, hope they move you onto something less painful soon.

@Springb0ks I had the opposite problem, am still bleeding slightly which makes it over 3 weeks now!

Keeping everything crossed for you @gingergnome, all sounds pretty positive, the early cramps were how I knew I was pregnant, uterus stretching apparently.

Oh and random question, anyone any suggestions as to where to buy a nightdress for hospital? I only have little silk babydoll types which are wholly inappropriate and all the ones I’ve seen are either too sexy or very old lady, there doesn’t seem to be any inbetween?

@35counting sorry but that story did make me giggle a bit. My husband can’t even be in the same room as me in fear of passing out eyeroll

It seems lots of people have a pen, which I assume I’d prefer. I’m just straight up needle. I guess that different drugs have different, um, vehicles?

Hi @Elaydee, I have one of each, blocker is in a proper needle and stims in a pen and I much prefer the proper needle as it’s finer and shorter and easier to administer. The pen is a bit clunky and always results in DH pressing too hard!

He is such a wimp normally, I’m amazed he’s actually managing to do my injections. At least he got a (minute) taste of what we have to go through!

@35counting - I picked up a t-shirt type nighty at ASDA, but TBH never had a chance to wear it at the hospital, I was straight into my gown.

I think we might pick up some ice packs or something from the supermarket and put it in my lunch box as it's insulated. It's only for one night anyway. My clinic keeps all of their drugs in fridges and told me to do the same.

At EC and ET I went from clothes straight into hospital gown so didn't need a nightie, but maybe it's different for other clinics. Primark usually has a good selection of PJs.

So, second baseline scan this morning and I'm all set to graduate to stims. Starting the first one tomorrow morning! I'm on menopur, is anyone taking this too?

@Elaydee Thanks for the information on timings really helpful, blimey it really is a short window. After taking so long to get to this point I think I am always expecting things to take longer, how exciting!!!
Hope the needles are getting easier and the meds are treating your kindly!

@Sunny1984 Great to hear that you saved so much money using ASDA, the drugs are so eye wateringly expensive its great to try and save money where we can. I live an hour away from our clinic and there is an ASDA 2mins away from it so will be able to use that one.
I thought I had read somewhere that Boots will price match but I have look in to that.

@Bjonesreborn I am amazed at the info from yourself and Elaydee Short protocol really is SHORT. So exciting how quickly it all happens, I can not wait to find out plan of action. I believe short protocol works out slightly cheaper as you do not have so many drugs.

All this glorious weather and talking to you lovely ladies is making feel so positive and calm, I have everything crossed for all of us that this is our time xXx

@35Counting I would try Matalan or even Sainsburys. Although being a private hospital you will hopefully just change straight in to your gown as there should not be any waiting around.

Also... loved the husband story ;)

@gingergnome Glad to hear you are using your time wisley whilst you wait. Sending positive vibes your way xxx

Thanks for the recommendations all. @Positivethinkingrainbow I am nhs (one of the few on here that is I think) and my guidance says to bring a nightdress. Not sure whether I will need it but I had better take one just in case. I am a PJs girl so don’t own a nightie!

@35counting I am the same, love a pair of PJs!!! Best get one just in case, better to be on the safe side! When do you go in for you Egg Collection? xx

@KatieMcnic good luck for your first tonight! It really wasn’t bad at all doing it myself! I think my husband would freak me out more by freaking out himself haha! I took a minute or two, wiped my sweaty palms twice, had one false start of backing out mid air jab and then just did it on the count of three. If someone else was doing it for me, I wouldn’t even know it was in! It was only the pressure of the fluid that I could feel.

@Elaydee You have clearly nailed it, you should be proud of yourself!! x

@Positivethinkingrainbow compared to the wait to get here, it’s crazy! I have my first scan in two mornings! No side effects yet apart from a headache like I’ve been clenching my jaw all night, but it’s still early days ;-)

@Elaydee Thats how I feel, I think its taken so long to get here its amazing how fast the actual IVF process part takes!
So pleased your not feeling too unwell on the meds, long may it last :) xx

@PositiveThinkingRainbow it’s planned for next Wednesday all being well.

@Elaydee I’m still getting the headaches too, only real side effect of the stims that I’ve had though. They come and go, tend to come on in the afternoon, think ones just starting actually.