December/ January IVF&ICSI

[brighteye3986]

Hi everyone, so we saw the nurse earlier this week and our plan has been set. We are on long protocol and will be looking at starting on my December cycle meaning that I will be due to start buserelin around 6th jan with EC being end of Jan.

Anyone else looking at a December/ January cycle?

Thanks for the advise. One has bruised really badly, hubby thinks he picked an area which is to much muscle and not enough fat. As all the others further out on the leg have been fine, just small bruises. But again I do bruise very very easily!! And he has had enough practice as he used to inject his sister for years.

@rememberallball that's fantastic news! Got my fingers crossed for you.

@brighteye3986 I know how you feel, I've been getting all my symptoms last 2 days. On my count I was due Friday, hoping for monday/Tuesday.
Though the sex tip is a good one hadn't thought of that.

Hi ladies, my nurse protocol appointment is on thursday where they will be outlining my meds for downreg and stimulation.

I wanted to know from anyone that has been through the downreg cycle roughly how long it takes before you get a period. What has your experience been?

I'm also working during this time, I'm a teacher and can't really get time off at the moment. I tried planning it for the xmas hols but dates had to be changed unfortunately. How did you cope with work and IVF?

@mimi27 mine came about a week after starting buserelin (day 29). It should come at around the time you would normally expect it.

I haven't gone into details with work but just said I'll need some time off for gynaecological reasons and they're fine about it. I'm taking a combination of sick leave and holiday around egg collection, transfer and 2 week wait. I'm a project manager and work in an office but can imagine it's harder when you're a teacher. Best of luck to you x

@rememberallball-great news!

@ginger951 I've had a few bruises (3 in total). Not too bad! I'm not really sure what I did wrong those three times and what I have done right all the other times. I get the feeling that they are pretty normal-my nurse gave me a description of what to do if I was so bruised there was nowhere left on my stomach to inject (fortunately not necessary so far).

@brighteye3986 I'm sure its coming. As some people on here mentioned to me when I was waiting for mine, the buseralin (or presumably other down regging drugs) can make your cycle work a bit differently. Still frustrating waiting for the one period you actually desperately want to come.

@positivity86 good luck for your baseline scan!

@womaninkent thank you! How are you getting on with the Gonal F?

@positivity86 the Gonal F is fine so far. The needles are nowhere near as bad as they looked in the nurses office. Just had my first scan to see how i’m responding to the Gonal F and it all seems fine so far! Hope yours goes as well tomorrow.

Today's update is that, on day 3 post fertilisation, 10 embryo’s are developing very well and 3 are slightly slower. They are all grade A for quality and full grading will be done on Wednesday before ET. We will be told tomorrow what time we will be picked up to go to the clinic for the transfer - last time I think it was lunchtime for an afternoon transfer.

I have self injected the second dose of gestagen just now and, boy, does it hurt - also made me bleed a bit on removing the needle - possibly because it’s a large, green 21g needle (these are pretty big and not what we would use in the hospital I worked in for administering injections) and also because the synthetic progesterone is suspended in oil so it’s quite a thick solution to inject. I’m glad it’s only once every 3 days - though I don’t know how long I have to use them if we are successful this cycle!!

At the moment the weather is quite pleasant so, today, we’re relaxing on our balcony/in our room. Both of us have still got colds but at least my sore throat is better than it has been since we came out here. Hopefully I will be back to normal and rid of the rest of the cold by Wednesday!!

@CornishMaid1, I know you’re not having your treatment in Cornwall but wanted to know where you are planning on having your beta hCG blood tests done post ET? Our GP surgery have said that, with a written request from the clinic here, they will get a price from the local NHS lab (at Derriford I think) for them to do it privately. However, I want something in reserve in case they say no when it comes down to the wire!!

It may be academic in a way because there is a chance our consultant will arrange a blood test here for 7dp5dt so we could well know we are in or out but they may still want a test once we are back to ensure levels are rising satisfactorily.

@rememberallball I'm not sure about blood tests at the moment as the clinic hasn't mentioned what I need it when, so I may go to the clinic for it.

However I am having my monitoring scans at Treliske as they do them privately and I know they will do private blood tests too through Wheal Unity.

Since you are closer to the border it may be worth giving the Ocean Suite at Derriford a call as they do private IVF so may be able to do it for you if you don't want to head to Truro.

If not medichecks do one for £49 where you take a finger prick and send them the sample and get the result in 48 hours. I used them before and they were good.

@Rememberallball that's a great number!!

Had our transfer today and have a few going into the freezer! Just a waiting game now!

@rememberallball Great news, I hope it keeps on going well.

@Rememberallball such a good number! Hope your cold improves.

@Vikkid2007 great that you had some to freeze 😊 best of luck for the 2 week wait x

Fingers crossed for sticky beans, @vikkyd2007

Cold is improving but my nose is like a tap and you’d think I’d been sniffing pepper the amount I’ve been sneezing today, @positivity86!!

Thanks for the suggestions, @CornishMaid1, I’m really hoping the GP will do the rest as it’s a 2 minute walk from the house but, if not, at least I know we can go to Treliske or contact Derriford!!

Greats news @Rememberallball and @Vikkid2007!

I'm not having a good time at the moment. Feeling so down and just want to cry. Today I'm onto day 11 of buserelin and still no sign of AF... I rang the hospital yesterday and they said if it hasn't come by Friday to call them and they will scan me on Monday. Now I'm starting to worry they will cancel the cycle altogether. I even had a glass of wine last night as suggested by my nurse to try and help me relax. Now I feel more stressed and worried than before. Doesn't help that my hormones are all over the place either.

So this morning I think I will have a good old cry and get it all out of my system and then head off to work in the hope it will take my mind off things.

Sorry you’re feeling down, @brighteye3986. Do you think it could be part of the hormonal response to the buserelin? Hopefully the scan on Monday won’t be necessary and AF puts in an appearance before Friday - you’ve still got a few days!! I also hope you enjoyed the glass of wine. I had a glass of red wine on Sunday as I was feeling so rough with this cold I’ve got - my first drink since NYE and one of only a handful since the start of my cycle at the end of November!!

Today I’m on tenterhooks wanting to know what time we have to be at the clinic tomorrow for ET. I know it’s academic that tomorrow is the day but I’m strangely excited about knowing what time we leave here!! Last time I went overboard on the instructions of how much water to drink in the 2 hours prior to arriving at the clinic and then, when I got there, they made me drink another litre so I’d had about 3 litres in 2 1/2 hours and was absolutely bursting for a pee when I went to the treatment room - and then I had to lie flat for an hour before I could use the toilet (I could have used a bedpan but I’ve never been able to pee lying down - probably a throwback to childhood fears of wetting the bed while dreaming that I was on the toilet!!). When I eventually made the short -15 foot journey across the hospital room to my en-suite bathroom you’d have thought they’d switched on the mains water pipe!!

Anyway, wishing everyone a good Tuesday whatever is on the agenda!!

@Rememberallball I'm sure it's all to do with side effects of the buserelin. I've spent my morning crying whilst getting ready for work and even woke up DH who has been on a night shift as I needed him! Luckily he is very supportive and doesn't mind!

Good luck tomorrow. I hope everything goes well.

@brighteye3986 so sorry to hear you’re feeling so down. I did see loads of people on the internet saying buserelin had messed with their cycles-i’m sure it’s nothing more than that. Plus it’s got nearly a week to come before you need to have a scan! If the clinic were worried i’m sure they’d be trying to book you in for a scan much sooner! It’s such difficult advice to “just relax”-it’s like saying just be happy. I always find breathing exercises and mindfulness help. Be gentle with yourself at work. Hope you don’t need the scan.

@rememberallball such exciting times-good luck!

@brighteye3986 i know exactly how you feel! AF was due 4 days ago for me. Feeling the need to randomly cry at times, but being saved by hubby who is currently in need of more support than me. Always a great distraction, plus he doesn't mind if I have no idea y I'm crying.
But it's the cramps! Last year my cramps have been getting worse, first two days sometimes day before it starts and first two days of then are viscous! But last three days I've been getting cramps now. The sort that stop u in your tracks and take your breath away, even woke me up overnight! Feels so close. Wish it would just hurry up now! Feels like once it comes things can start happened.

@Ginger951 I was like that last month. I had cramping at the end of last week and at the weekend but it seems to have stopped now. Yesterday and today have been the most emotional for me which is making me think that AF may be on her way! I know exactly how you feel about wanting it to just come so we can move on to the next step.

Thanks @womaninkent I know I'm stressing which is causing more delay to AF showing up but it is so difficult to relax when during this process it's one of the vital steps to keep things moving.

I have already decided that tonight after work I'm going to go home and have a nice hot shower (I don't own a bath otherwise I'd have a bath) and then am going to wrap myself up in a blanket and eat lots of food! I think I need to just have a day or 2 feeling sorry for myself to get it out of my system and then I will start to feel better. I'm trying to stay positive but it's hard when your body decides to do it's own thing....

@brighteye3986 Sorry to hear you are feeling so terrible. Stress can do awful things to our bodies and cycles and waiting is not helping. Hope you feel better soon.

@Vikkid2007 I'm glad your transfer went well. Fingers crossed.

@Rememberallball I hope you are feeling a bit better today and fingers crossed for your transfer.

I have now started my noresthisterone, so all being well will have AF around the end of next week and then can have my baseline scan and start the injections.

My af came on day 8/9 d on Buserelin just when I was starting to worry more about it not showing up so I’m sure yours is on it’s way Brighteye, like others said it could be later on this hormone . I’ve been so down too at times and wondering if it’s the shots or the situation prob a bit both . All I have to do is listen to a bit of sad music like right now sitting in Pret. Also I’m increasingly having flashbacks of doing it all years ago and the real hopelessness back then . I do try to remember to be very greatful for my existing children hardwon as DD was and I payed the price with my health . Now this all just seems so futile because of my age . My eggs are absolutely ancient that’s just a fact so I have pretty much zero belief in any of this but feel like I have to go through it in order to continue my life . If another miracle happens no one else will be more surprised than me .
Wishing you all the luck in the world in the 2ww Vikki ! Maybe it fly by I know how it’s the longest wait ever ...

I’ll have my baseline scan tomorrow and get my stim drugs etc .
Someone earlier mentioned huge progesterone shots ... I’m dreading them my doc mentioned them to me so I’m sure they’re coming . Buserelin needles have been a walk in the park so far my DH has been doing them as well so easy for me . The others ones definitely bruised me last time . The short protocol I’ve done before twice was definitely much more tolerable now this one seems to take forever !

@Nordicmom I'm feeling hopeful that it will arrive within the next 24 hours. Oh I'm an absolute mess today. I could easily just isolate myself and cry all day!

And it’s our 15 th Wedding Anniversary today . I’m having a quick lunch with DH later but that’s it for now because IVF is what I’ll have to put first after my kids this year or it really will be too late . I’m hoping they’ll just let me do a new round fairly quickly if this one fails . I’ve given myself max 3/4 rounds limit I can’t keep on doing this forever . It’s not fair on my kids or DH either . If there’s a chance in the summer school holidays we might then go on a trip without the kids somewhere fab . We do need something nice this year too to look forward too . Last 6 m has been so awful and I’m afraid I’m here setting myself again to go through much more suffering and heartbreak but feel like I don’t have another option since I can’t give it up either .