January/ February IVF/ICSI

[Justwaitingforaline]

Starting a new thread for all of us going through IVF/ICSI in January/February!

First round of ICSI for us. I’m on the last week of my birth control pill before starting Gonal F injections on the 18th Jan, with the hope of egg collection on the 30th and transfer on the 4th Feb! I’m egg sharing so have been on the pill a while to sync my cycle with the woman recovering half of my eggs .

Is anyone else at a simile stage?

I've had my follicle scan today (techically it is day 8, but as I'm injecting in the evening I've only had 7 sets of injections so far) and they are growing well.

My largest is at 16mm at the moment and I have 7 follicles over 10mm and 26 under! I just need to keep going as I am and have my next scan on Friday and they think I may be ready to trigger then and hopefully collect Monday unless they end up bringing if forward.

I'm glad I am on a really low dose as goodness knows how many would be in there if I was on a normal dose!

Hope everyone else is okay and good luck to those still stimming or in the tww.

@intrigued2018

It is difficult with work (noticing the irony of being on Mumsnet while I am at work but this is the only thing keeping me sane!).

My secretary knows, but I have not told anyone else at work as they are a complete bunch of gossips and I don't trust it not to spread (and I don't want awkward conversations if it doesn't work).

I am lucky in that I can go under the radar a bit as long as I get the work done. I was planning to say I had a routine check up at the doctors for my scans (I'm getting them done nearby rather than the clinic because it is too far away). I have had two scans so far, just walked out of the office for both and no-one has actually noticed yet! Not sure whether I should be impressed with how stealthy I am or a bit worried no-one can even tell I am gone. They have both been around lunchtime though.

For EC I have just booked the week off work as it was that or tell and I just don't want to tell everyone yet. It was also the easiest way as no-one will book in appointments for me knowing I am off whereas otherwise I would have to keep coming up with excuses and I can't think of enough!

@intrigued2018 I completely understand. I’ve worked for many a small company. I can understand feeling guilty but in this instance you have to put yourself first. Try not to worry about it and best of luck to you with your cycle x

@cornishmaid1 that’s great news about your scan! Oh it’s so exciting 😁

Hi all!

Scan today went well. Also day 8 but after 7 days of injections. I have 12 follicles between 10mm and 16mm, most around 14-15. She didn't count the smaller ones properly but pointed out about 7. She said everything looks brilliant and my lining looks good too. They have brought my Friday scan forward to Thursday and said I'll most likely have EC on Saturday. 😀

@ParksAndRecreation good luck for your FET. That must have been so hard to have it stopped at the last minute. Hope you get the go ahead this week.

@Lionesscub I'm so sorry! What a disappointing result. I think it's terrible they didn't do a blood test with your scan, I thought that was standard. How upsetting.

@Peanut1980 hopefully it'll be go time soon!

@intrigued2018 good luck for starting Thursday. I'm lucky that I have an understanding boss and have also caught up on admin from home.

@Cornishmaid1 great result!! Yes it sounds like a very good idea that you are on a low dose! Fx for Friday!

@Boboelephant And @CornishMaid1 - great news on your scans! Hopefully not long until EC for you both. Good luck x

Thanks everyone - I'm lucky with work that I can work at home a day or so a week, I normally can control my own diary but it seems that some big meetings with my client have come up that I'd be expected go. It's Sod's law. I'm hoping no more come up as not sure if I can't make anymore excuses. I was thinking of booking a week off but again Sod's law work is hectic with some major deadlines that it'd look strange to book time off so last minute - so the only way was to say I have some tests coming up. Im being such a secret squirrel about the entire process I haven't even told my closest friends as I don't want the added pressure of them asking for updates/feeling like I let more people down if it doesn't work. My mum knows but otherwise it's between me and my DH.

X

Hi all,

Well what a day! I’ve been a complete mardy cow today 🤣🤣🤣 on train home now to stress over first injection!

@intrigued congrats for Thursday! My AF came early or we would have been the same on dates! I too am struggling at work. So I told my boss ( not HR) and now he is being difficult. So sat him down and read him the riot act this afternoon! He’s not sure how he’s gonna cope when I’m hormonal 🤣🤣

@boboelephant that great news! My clinic doesn’t do EC at weekends apparently even though they suggested they were 24 hours! I’m really hoping I stims quickly just to get it over with !

Ok delayed response home now first one done! I couldn’t do it! DH was great !

@Realitysucks - oh god hormonal days are never fun! I hope you pick up soon. I don't know how I'd cope if my manager started being difficult, I didn't even think of that side of things. Hopefully reading him the riot act has taught him not to mess with you and he stops being difficult. Well done with your injection and to your DH, the first injection is the scariest. I cant wait to get on with the injections Thursday, the clinic have said all things being well EC is 13-14days from Thursday. It all feels real now xxx

@intrigued2018 I was such a whimp! It didn’t hurt that much but I can’t hold, squeeze and put the needle in all at the same time as trying not to look! DH was amazing and completely calm about it 🤣🤣🤣 I think he quite enjoyed it 🤦‍♀️ I know I feel better I’ve started though. Next scan Friday for me. I’m just taking it a few days at a time or I’m not gonna cope 🤣

Thanks @Realitysucks and @intrigued2018!

@Realitysucks good job on the first jab. Or good job Mr Reality! 😉 I think it's a bit crap clinics not opening on weekends, it is one of the reasons I chose the Lister. They do EC on Sat and Sunday. Hopefully your dates will end up with it not mattering for you.

@boboelephant That is a great scan result. Hope everything is well on the scan tomorrow and if so good luck on Friday.

@Realitysucks Well done on the first injection and at least that got the worst one out of the way.

The clinic want me to go to them for the scan on Friday, so heading away for the weekend as we will then stay up near the clinic ready for collection which should be Monday, unless they bring it forward as they do work on the weekend at my clinic.

The only problem I have is that they think I will be having my final dose on Friday night and then the trigger, but if I'm away I have to do the injection myself (my Mum has done all the others). The actual mechanics of it I can do, but I am not relishing the part of stabbing it through my skin and having to watch it.

@CornishMaid1 thank you. This is all really new to me so I flit between believing it's a good result like she said and then worrying it's not!
If you trigger on Friday wouldn't your EC need to be on Sunday? Or are you thinking you'll trigger Saturday? Good luck with injecting yourself. Can DH not do it for you? I had to do my first two as DH was away and I found the old 'and go!' method helped. Just remember that the outcome is worth it!

@boboelephant I'm not too sure at the moment. I run out of meds after tomorrow's dose, so they said to get scanned at the clinic so they can give me an extra dose for Friday and I should then be fine to trigger. They also said I am on line for collection on Monday.

They do work weekends, so I think it will depend on Friday and if they say trigger Friday they will have to bring the collection forward or they may have to give me two doses to tide over until Monday collection.

I just want to get on with it now! I am the same and still flitting over the scan result, but I do feel a lot better knowing they are in there and growing.

I don't think DH could cope doing the injection. He had to do one on himself once and nearly passed out. I know I can do it, but it is so much easier to not look!

@Lionesscub I'm with Zita West. I would say they're pretty good and thorough, and I've never felt like they're upselling, which was one of my biggest worries. The holistic treatments do add up though. If you look on their website they have a network of acupuncturists around the UK - we're in the sticks but I've found a really good one local to me, and so only need to travel into London for scans and treatments.

One thing I would say about them is that it's a bit irritating that they don't do early morning scans - they start at 9am and not a minute before.

I've started on the steroids now. The list of potential side effects is scary, especially the one that states they may worsen epilepsy. Logically I know it's too much to ask for some kind of study on women with epilepsy who have IVF, but I'm still annoyed by the lack of research!

Luckily my current manager is pretty chilled about me taking half days here and there - I've got to use my holiday up by the end of March and I think he'd rather I do it this way than a whole big block. Next intralipids infusion on Tuesday morning as well as the day 12 scan to check my lining. Fingers crossed!🤞

So I went for my third scan today. Day 10 (9 nights of injections). The sonographer said all 12 of my follicles from Tuesday are still growing and are now measuring between 12-19mm. She said this was really good but thought they'd probably push my EC back until Monday with another scan Saturday to let them grow a bit bigger.
This was confirmed by the nurse who said we would do this unless it had to be brought forward depending on my blood result. My oestrogen level was 3600 on Tuesday and she said they'd like to see it double. She said if it was much higher they'd tell me to trigger tonight and EC Saturday.
SoI left and then got a call from the clinic saying the doctor has seen my blood results and wants me to come in for a scan tomorrow rather than Saturday. I'm a bit worried that my body is hurtling towards ovulation so we'll have to do the cycle with follicles that aren't big enough. Bit ridiculous really because naturally I have long cycles and have always hated my late ovulation! Although they can't be too high as they haven't booked in EC for Sat. I feel stuck in the middle!
Does this sound worrying or do you think they are just being thorough and I'm a bit anxious? It all seemed so positive and I'm so scared it might go wrong.

bobo sounds as though they’re just being thorough and checking where you’re at. Hope the scan goes well tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

Scan here today too and on the meds - 2 injections each eve then will start my 3rd injection (3 each day here) on Monday and another scan then too. Feels very real now having waited for a few months!

Hi All good luck those having scans today. I have. Scan too. First one and day 4 since base scan (3 injections later). Tummy is rock hard😬 feeling like bemfola side effects kicking in now. Had proper night sweat last night. Fingers crossed follicles are growing!

How are you getting on @nv42? Have you had the transfer? D x

@boboelephant how did you get on with your scan today? D x

Thanks @TheGlitterFairy, @Realitysucks and @Peanut1980. Hope your scans have gone well.

My scan and appointment today went well. I was worrying over nothing. My blood result is rising steadily but wasn't quite double so no concern for early ovulation. My 12 follicles are still all growing plus one more has grown bigger than 12mm so 13 good sized ones.
Egg collection booked for Monday, trigger shot tomorrow night. It's all happening!!

Hi ladies glad you have all had good news today.

I’m pretty upset and feeling awful. Night sweats last night and felt so sick all day. I’m on day 4 with next Bemfola injection tonight so only 3 days on injections so far. Base scan showed 9 follicles.

At the scan Today only one is 7mm the rest are too small to measure. I am so upset. Lining at base scan was 8mm but on second day of period. I’m still bleeding a bit and lining now 3.3mm. They have changed my meds to Meriofert from tomorrow night and Cetrotide from Sunday morning. Another scan on Tuesday and if no increase in follicles or lining then they will abandon cycle. I’m gutted 😞 can’t stop crying today.

@Realitysucks I'm so sorry. Hopefully it's just too early and the drug change will bring about much better results on Tuesday. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

@RealitySucks please don’t worry worry yet. At my last cycle I injected for a week and absolutely nothing happened. At all! They changed my dose and by the Monday (the last scan was Friday) they were growing. In the end I had about 13 good sized follicles. Unfortunately I only got 4 eggs but that was probably down to me that month.

@realitysucks I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling down. They can be many worrying stages of this process but usually the docs make a tweak and get it all back on track. Please don’t worry yet. Have faith in the change and the process and hope for the best 😘😘😘

@boboelephant that’s great news!! Good luck for Monday 😘😘😘