September/October IVF

[WineWinner]

Hey,

I've had my appointment through finally to start my first round of IVF. Our consultation is September and hoping if we start on CD21 (no idea if we will, just what I'm presuming from research) then we will be good to start just after the middle of the month. Anyone else the tentatively waiting for a September start?

@critterTamer sorry to hear you are feeling low, remember it won't last forever and hopefully it will all be worth it. Spirulina is the worst isn't it?! I tried it once and never went back!
I don't think your alone in getting frustrated with the husband that keeps on drinking, I'm worried that DH is secretly smoking but he promises he isn't 🤷🏻‍♀️

If anyone wants to let off steam about this never ending expectation to be positive through it all, take a read of this great article, published by a mumsnetter:
medium.com/@katylindemann/infertility-and-the-tyranny-of-positivity-79b7a96597cb

Thanks ladies for your lovely supportive messages - it’s so great to have people who know what you’re going through to talk to - especially when DH is no help 😊 @Botanica - great link thank you!

Feeling better and more positive today - hope everyone else is doing ok xxx

Hi everyone, I hope you don't mind if I join you.

I live in the sticks in the East Midlands, not a single clinic within a 50 mile radius and the CCG doesn't fund any IVF so we're having treatment in London. I work in London quite a lot anyway so most of the time it's fine (although pretty expensive!). The postcode lottery of it all annoys me, and I know that we're really lucky to be able to afford it.

I'm back on the IVF rollercoaster, but only for a FET, not for the whole cycle. I had EC on Easter Monday back in April, but had pretty bad OHSS so had to go to freeze all and it took me quite a while to recover. Eventually did a FET at the beginning of July, with a BFP.

Unfortunately I had a MMC at 9 weeks - heartbeat had stopped the day after my 8 week scan.

We returned to the clinic for a follow up this week, and the doctor first said that I'd have to wait at least one natural cycle to try again, but after a scan he changed his mind and said that if I was up to it we could try again straight away. We were lucky enough to be able to freeze some blasts, so I'm just waiting for AF, then we'll do another FET.

I've found acupuncture really helpful, so am starting to go back weekly. A bit of a caffeine fiend, so just have decaf beans in the machine now.

I really wish I wasn't here again, but really glad that there's a thread for everyone going through the same

Welcome ginandtonic. Wow what a journey and sorry to hear about the MC, lets hope you get better news this time.

I am waiting for AF so hopefully 17/18th and will find out my protocol next week. Hopefully wr gets aome good blasts this time round and then will return in November for FET

hey @ginandtonicformeplease - I remember you form the June-July thread - so sorry to hear about your MC xx

also really wish I didn't have to pop up on this thread again but, at least, as you can say we are fortunate enough to be able try again

@AniSL - thanks for all your advice (from another thread, I can't remember which one now - mind porous at the minute) but good luck for next week! I start down regging next saturday 22nd -can't wait to just start now!

xx to everyone, whatever stage you are at xx

So it appears the downregging is affecting my mood. Knew it was happening today and also knew it was a matter of time before the tears. My son throwing a pen at my face sent me over the edge and I sobbed uncontrollably 🙈 I’m reminding myself this is chemically enduced from all the injections. It’s only short term. I’m only just a week in on injections. I’ll go the gym tomorrow and I’m sure that will pick me up. In the meantime I’ll lather up in lavender oil tonight in hope it will work some miracles 🙏

My period was due today. I’m usually very regular so a little surprised it’s not here but know the downregging can affect all that.

How’s everyone else getting on? Xxx

Hey guys, I’m back for round 2 ICSI :( hope you’re all doing well. I recognise some familiar members from May/June group - sorry we’re here again but hopeful for better news this time (everything crossed).

I’m now with care Northampton and in 2nd week of down regulation. My stimulation protocol has changed to the following:
days 1-7: 300iu gonal f

day 8+: 225iu gonal f and 25iu menopur
Stimulation with gonasi

I responded quite well last time with 11 mature eggs from 14 retrieved but only 3 fertilised. So unsure how the protocol will improve fertilisation rates but have paid for the following add ons:
caremaps (time lapse imaging) of embryo
Embryogen (culture medium supporting implantation)
Artificial oocyte activation (addition of calcium to help fertilisation)

Having the extra technology makes me feel hopeful but this time I’m just mainly petrified. DH is trying to be positive but can see he’s scared too. Anyhow, just have to suck it up, be brave and keep putting one step in front of the other.

Good luck @dia12 x

Hi everyone, hope you've had a relaxing weekend.

I'm six days in to stimulation and going for my scan tomorrow to see how things are responding. Feeling quite bloated so I think something's happening in there!

Slightly nervous after the last cycle where I had four super fast responders and the rest of my lovely little follicles were left in their wake which meant they couldn't collect from them as they were too far behind. It was all a bit of disaster so I'm hoping tomorrow things are looking a little better...

Hoping to get a better idea when EC might be. Fingers crossed early next week but in all previous cycles it's turned out to be sooner than was expected so we'll see...

@Peanut1980 I've cried at least five times this weekend that I can remember (so probably more!). Two because I was happy / thankful and the rest over stupid stuff. So yes, the hormones have definitely got to my moods too.

Thankfully my partner had been pretty understanding this cycle which has really helped this time round.

Previously when I've been down, or had concerns, he could only talk about 'being positive' (with the best intent), but sometimes it's just not what you want to hear.

Hi all.

Joining in after lurking for a while and finding time to read all of the thread so far. I recognise a few names here: @Peanut1980 @Dia12 @NotLateInTheMorning @AniSL @ginandtonicformeplease @CritterTamer @kelou75. Sorry you're all still here but glad to have the company and some understanding from people who know how this feels.

@ginandtonicformeplease so so sorry to hear about your mc. I remember you from the June/July IVF/ICSI threads and was so happy to hear some good news on there. At least you are back in the saddle, so to speak, and ready for another go.

@Peanut1980 I remember you from the conception boards, trying to conceive number 2! I was on those threads for nearly a year!! And saw so many people come, get pregnant and go. Felt so left behind. Now we meet again here....we're the same age and with one child already; also MFI. Always felt we were in a similar situation.

I'm 38, have a three year old and have been trying for number 2 for 2 years, although haven't used contraception since the birth of my son. We found out we have MFI In May after lots of tests and the only way forward was ICSI. Had one round in June which failed - very disappointing results. No embryos made it to blast. One was transferred anyhow but unsurprisingly no luck. Now they think we have an egg quality issue too, because of low fertilisation rate and poor embryo growth, which will be down to my age. All my tests were fine and cycles and regular and problem free.

Going for another round of ICSI mid-October. I'll be on short cycle again so it's all over very fast.

We're self funded - and I am paying it all myself from my savings - so financially as well as emotionally and physically this is becoming a huge strain.

Trying to remain positive but I don't have much faith left and feel I'm just going through the motions in having another cycle. I know most don't work first time and it's more than normal to need three or more rounds, especially at my age, but I am so disheartened after the disaster of round one; plus so many in the June/July group seemed to fall first time. Now I realise that there were just as many of us that didn't, but we just slipped off quietly to lick our wounds. Of course I am overjoyed for everyone that did get pregnant first time - even one round of ivf is hard to go through, and all the pain and uncertainty of infertility that preceded it, so they massively deserved it - but it made me so sad that again, just like on the conception boards, I was left behind.

Well, this has turned into a tome! Sorry! Hope to support and be supported by you all soon as we go through this (again) soon xxx

@botanica it’s good your husband is being understanding. My hubby is being pretty understanding so far. Let us know how you get on with your scan today 🤞🤞🤞😘

@lopeylopez there you are! I was wondering if you were still on here. Sorry to here you are 😢 Sending you a big hug. I find it quite hard to speak to people about ivf/icsi because they seem to think it’s always a BFP straight away where as I’m pretty realistic about it. Of course I really want a BFP but I feel like I’m going through the motions and it’s only our first cycle. We’re self funding too. We only plan on doing 2 cycles and if it doesn’t happen then I think we’ll just have to leave it there. My son so desperately wants a sibling which breaks my heart. Just never thought we’d end up down this route... Wishing you lots of luck for your cycle this time. I’m on long protocol and just over a week in on down regs. Scan tomorrow to see what’s happening x

@botanica it’s good your husband is being understanding. My hubby is being pretty understanding so far. Let us know how you get on with your scan today 🤞🤞🤞😘

@lopeylopez there you are! I was wondering if you were still on here. Sorry to here you are 😢 Sending you a big hug. I find it quite hard to speak to people about ivf/icsi because they seem to think it’s always a BFP straight away where as I’m pretty realistic about it. Of course I really want a BFP but I feel like I’m going through the motions and it’s only our first cycle. We’re self funding too. We only plan on doing 2 cycles and if it doesn’t happen then I think we’ll just have to leave it there. My son so desperately wants a sibling which breaks my heart. Just never thought we’d end up down this route... Wishing you lots of luck for your cycle this time. I’m on long protocol and just over a week in on down regs. Scan tomorrow to see what’s happening x

hello all,

just a quick one as I am on a break and wanted to share. just spoke with a colleague who had 8 rounds of ivf. On her successful one had been a course of Vitamin D to correct a deficiency.

the fertility consultant for my present round of ivf also said we needed to rectify my vit D deficiency because it is an important factor in conception...last round nobody checked...

anyway, not sure if it is all as simple topping up vit d - but worth being aware it is a factor - i didn't in round one

wishing everyone a good Monday xx

Thanks @NotLateInTheMorning, that's really interesting to hear how she went on to have success after changing that one thing.
I guess you never know whether it was in fact that that made the difference but I'm all for trying to cover all bases.

I use a great little VitD spray from Zita West. Vitamin D is best absorbed with fats so it comes in a carrier oil and is for me a lot more palatable than adding another tablet to an increasingly growing plate of stuff to swallow every morning.

Notlateinthemorning my clinic told us that on our first cycle too, she said that beiny out in Greece when the weather was as nice as it was would do wonders for vit D levels which is important for conception and pregnancy.

Thanks @notlateinthemorning x

Hi again @Dia12, hope you’re doing ok and managing to stay positive about round 2 😊

I’m just back from having my endometrial scratch - wow that hurts!

I was also advised about sunshine/vit D - I now take the Zita West spray too.

Sorry, also meant to say hi again to you @Lopeylopez. 😊

Hi 👋 @CritterTamer and @Peanut1980.

Thanks @NotLateInTheMorning That's interesting. I guess anything that helps....

I was found to be low on vit D (as most people in the uk are) on some early doctor's tests but they didn't think to supplement me on it til I enquired much later after my acupuncturist mentioned it...so maybe time was wasted, I don't know. Anyhow I got these extra strong tablets on prescription and when they finished I carried on with another supplement (alongside all the other million things...!). I only started on the mega strength Drs pills maybe a month before the first ivf, so who knows....maybe that was partly the problem...? I doubt it's so clear-cut though.

It would be AMAZING if my total lack of good eggs/embryos was down to something as simple as vit D and this time everything is great because I'm no longer deficient in it!!

Has everyone told their work about time off etc? I haven't yet. It went smoother than I'd thought last time. I still have another natural bleed to go before start date so things could still change; all dates are still a bit sketchy.

Oh well. It was my son's birthday at the weekend and that was hard. Yet another of the mums was pregnant with another. All talking about their child's siblings....

Have a good Tuesday everyone x

Hi everyone. I went for my scan yesterday to check progress after six days on stimulation, and holy moly, things had gone crazy in there and I already have follicles over 20mm!
Sadly it means some of the smaller ones have got left behind a little and now likely won't mature in time, but I am thankful at least my body is listening and responding to the hormones.
So it now turns out I'm now going for egg collection on Friday and triggering tomorrow evening - a lot sooner than I expected!

Feeling better today about it all but yesterday was an overwhelmed emotional wreck.

Not only did I have to have some really tough conversations about leaving my job (it's overseas, very demanding, and sadly just not compatible with ivf), but when I arrived at the clinic I had a lady and her mum come and sit right down next to me with scan photos everywhere going on and on and on with little awareness of anyone else in the room. I only miscarried in April so it's still very raw and this just tipped me over the edge so I had to leave and stand in the corridor sobbing.

I recognise the excitement of seeing your future baby on scan pictures but FFS, it wouldn't hurt to have some tact and sensitivity for others. You're sat in a fertility clinic, so it's sort of obvious that not everyone is here to get good news... surely??? They sat right down next to me, spilled all the photos out, despite a practically empty room and then gave me the evils when I was obviously upset and had to leave.... I know I sound like a killjoy but it hurt so so much.

Oh no, sorry to hear that @botanica - sounds like you had a tough day yesterday. Glad to hear you have some follies that are growing well and things are moving in the right direction. Fingers crossed you get some healthy, good quality eggs on Friday.
As for the lady with the scans - well I’m not surprised you felt a little sensitive about it, they are in a fertility clinic after all and some compassion for fellow patients ought to be mandatory. But anyway, fingers crossed you have your own scans to look forward to xx

Hi @botanica that is so quick!I cant believe only with 6 days and you are almost ready.Good luck to you x

@botanica eeeekkk! I’m so excited for you!!!! That’s great news.

I had my first baseline scan today to see how the down reg stuff was going. Right ovary is behaving itself and doing well. Left ovary is a little low on activity. Not surprised though as I seem to get cysts on that ovary and it’s always performed a little less than my right. So COME ON MY RIGHT OVARY! 🤣 Start my stim injections on Thursday and back in for a scan on Monday x