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?

@ViolaD77 - good luck with the clinic and working out the next steps, it feels a never ending journey! At least you have a couple more Frosties. We only have 1 frostie so if this cycle doesn't work we are tempted to do a new fresh cycle.

@ginandtonicformeplease - how are you getting on? I'm starting to get nervous about tomorrow and have spent the morning googling symptoms (not that it's helped in the slightest), whilst I want to test I also don't as if it's a negative I'm happy living in my little naive bubble at the moment. Xxx

@intrigued2018 I'm doing ok, just put it to the back of my mind most of the time! I've still got sore boobs and aches and pains, which I keep getting convinced are signs that AF is arriving. I know what you mean about living in blissful ignorance though. When I saw my acupuncturist last weekend she said that I seemed a bit down, and I think this process is just an emotional rollercoaster. It's difficult to explain to anyone who hasn't gone through it as most people seem to think IVF = baby.

We're in a similar position to Viola in that we've got frosties left. However, this is our third attempt and tbh I'm not sure whether we'll have another go if this doesn't work. It's not something we've discussed yet though - I think we're both waiting with fingers crossed.

@ginandtonicplease fingers crossed for u third time lucky hun 🤞🤞🤞🤞 its very little comfort as this process is emotionally draining but I had my emotional day yesterday and today I'm thinking about work and a holiday and being optimistic as this time we have our frosties to fall back on. I know if none are successful we have to have the conversation of 'is it time to give up?' which sounds just crazy as I'm only 34 and OH is 31. There's nothing I can say to make us feel better but just knowing there's ladies out there who 'get it' and know what this is like is a comfort xxxx

@ginandtonicformeplease - that is one thing I haven't had sore boobs! Every now and then I've had a sharp pain, it was period pains but they have all stopped as has the brown CM. It's the funny taste in my mouth, headaches and tiredness that are getting me but these could all just progesterone! I think it'll be a sleepless night tonight. The IVF process is a massive emotional rollercoaster, I agree people do think IVF = baby but there is so much more to it! I just want to know now as feel in limbo land. I am missing my baths! X

@intrigued2018 As mine was a FET I had to be on a massive dose of oestrogen to get the lining thick enough for the transfer, so I suspect that's what is causing the sore boobs! As for the constipation, I think that's the large amount of progesterone I'm on. In other words, I don't trust my body to tell me anything one way or the other!

Hey girlies!

Can people let me know when they're testing please! Apologies if you've mentioned it in previous post but my phone is being a pain scrolling back. Want to pray and think positive thoughts for you guys!

I'm reading a lot of pregnancy symptoms

Hey @bunnieboo91, how are you?

I tested this morning, it' BFP!!!!!!!!! I am in complete shock as is DH even though he's gone back to sleep. I was expected to POAS, come back to bed and watch to see if the second line came up / try to interpret it however the pregnancy line came up before the control line 🥳

@ginandtonicformeplease - good luck this morning, thinking of you! Xxx

@intrigued2018 Oh goodness really!!! Congratulations  this is one lucky thread guys!

@ginandtonicformeplease Good luck this morning and please let us know x

@intrigued2018 Congratulations, that's fantastic!

For me it's a BFN.

@ginandtonicformeplease - so so sorry to hear this and upset for you! I hope you are okay 😘😘 x

@intrigued2018 I think I'd just allowed a bit of hope to get through this time, which makes it worse. There's a thread going in AIBU about accepting life without kids, and I might read that later.

I can't help but think that if it's not happened after three goes - when the only identifiable cause is MFI - then it's not going to happen.

@ginandtonicformeplease - don't give up! I know it's heartbreaking but fingers crossed you get there. I was speaking to my consultant (for a different medical reason) the other week and they said how their friends had 7 attempts at IVF before it worked. It's disheartening I get. are they putting you on any other treatment? Have you had any tests to see what your natural killer cells are etc? I'd start pushing your clinic to understand the reason why. Xxx

@ginandtonicformeplease I'm so sorry, I know how you feel, we are in the same boat. I am seeing my clinic today for the followup and have lots of questions. I think I'll be having these extra tests done re cells, lining etc which are no doubt going to cost an arm and a leg. Hubby and I have 3 FET in the pot, I don't know whether to do an FET or just use them on a surrogate. But will it 100% work? This is the tormenting thing.... I hope you are OK Xx

@ViolaD77 and @ginandtonicformeplease - it is definitely worth pushing for extra tests, I have a pre-existing immune system issue so before my clinic would start anything I had millions of tests done it did cost us about £2k in total for the bloods but it meant they could tailor the treatment to me. Xxx

I@intrigued2018 @ViolaD77 I had all the natural killer cells tests this time, the intralipids as treatment for it and then steroids, clexane and aspirin too. I think it's because I've had all these tests - I also had a load of others like thyroid - that I'm not sure what else there is to do. Our embryos are apparently good quality, they really have no clue why it isn't working. The only thing I can think is that the problem is me.

@ginandtonicformeplease - it's good they did all the tests but sorry it hasn't worked out for you! Please don't blame yourself it could just be that egg wasn't a strong one in the end, make sure you book into for tour follow up appointment. I'm sorry I can't help much, thinking of you xxx

@ginandtonicformeplease Oh no I am so sorry I didn't happen this time but please don't lose hope! I know people who tried countless of times and it finally worked out! I want to give you a massive hug 🤗 xxxx

Hi ladies, had my follow up, sharing just incase info is helpful to anyone. I found out my lining at trigger shot was around 6mm which my clinic class as 'thin' lining. But at ET a week later it was 8.9mm with help of the progynova and doubling my dose of cyclogest. I also had a positive pregnancy test on day 11, a very faint line which as it failed I thought I was wrong and it was an evap line, not a positive. The Dr said because I had a blood test too, it showed it DID implant as I had hcg in my blood of '2' which is very low but she said had I tested earlier I would've had stronger lines on a positive test, it just unfortunately failed by day 12. She said that was an indication that it did implant and there are no issues with my lining. I'm so relieved! I really thought my lining was no good! Again like some of you she just can't tell us why it didn't work but she was very positive as it was so much better than my last cycle where I only had 1 quality egg and it didn't implant. I have 3 4BB eggs frozen and am starting a FET on the 1st April. Sending positive thoughts to everyone, I'm feeling alot better about this.. When I walked in the clinic a couple had popped in with their ivf baby.. I wanted to cry my eyes out xxx

@intrigued2018 not to be nosey, your immune system issue isn't colitis/crohns is it? As that's my issue... My immune system attacked my ovaries. I've only been in good health the past 10 Yrs since having my colon removed but crazy that irritable bowel can affect your ovaries! Have you tried this? www.naturesbest.co.uk/co-q10/co-q10/ubiquinol-100mg/ this has saved my immune system and helped so much with my second cycle xx

@ViolaD77 - I'm glad your follow up appointment went well, it sounds like the thickness of your lining had nothing to do with it. Could you push them to start trying to thicken it earlier next time for peace of mind? Best of luck with your FET, the blastocyst I had implanted was a 'C' that's all the clinic told me and they said providing it's between an A-C they are happy and has equal chance. Fingers and toes crossed for you I'm your next cycle. Great you have a plan to focus on.
Don't worry you aren't being nosey, My immune condition is Crohn's disease but then also PCOS and psoriasis. It is crazy that they are linked, the consultant explained it as if you have one immune system disorder then there is a strong likelihood there are other immune disorders which aren't known as the drugs to keep the crohns under control will suppress things. I'll have a look into those tablets - thank you so much! I've been lucky that I've avoided all surgery, it's been touch and go but my consultant is amazing trying to avoid it at all cost (except my life). Xxx

Hey ladies just caught up on posts omg @intigued2018 that’s amazing news I’m so pleased for you!!!!

Sorry girls who have had negative results, don’t give up though it only takes one !

AFM Ive had a pretty emotional few days. The drugs are affecting me way more this cycle but it seems they are pushing ahead . Had another scan yesterday and had 3 follicles at 13,11 and 10 and 3 between 4-7. This is way better than last time and doc says even if I only have two follicles at the end they still want to collect as I’m a poor responder. Back for a scan on Monday now, they changed my drug from Bemfola to Meriofert now and gave me cetrotide in clinic yesterday morning. Depending on scans it looks like egg collection with be next Friday or Monday.

Oh @intrigued2018 I have colitis and psoriasis and I have spondylolisthesis (achy bones due to my anti inflams I was on for years).. Bones, skin, immune, ibd all go hand in hand... Crazy that this is the case. I was told there is a 15% chance of infertility with having IBD, more so if you've had surgery which I think is to do with blocked tubes caused from scar tissue. Luckily my tubes are clear but I'm 34, there's no doubt in my mind the colitis has affected my infertility. These things are sent to try us hey 😣 xxx

@Realitysucks - thank you! I still can't believe it and doesn't feel real. Sorry to hear you are having a couple of down days, sounds like your clinic are doing all they can to help! How many days have you been on stims? It still sounds like you are responding and have a good number of follicles and look at the positive of getting to EC this cycle xxx

@ViolaD77 - ah yes the lovely bones as well 😀😀 I think they are all linked, my gastro consultant said they weren't but I'm like you and think they must be! Have your clinic put you on anything else to support the IVF process? X

@intrigied2018, I think part of it was DH was away skiing then back for a night on Monday and away with work Wednesday night so When he got back last night I just cried and cried( he looked worried) then told me I was a hormonal mess and to eat some 🍰 aww how I’ve missed him 🤣🤣🤣

Trying to be positive about EC, have been on stims for 5 days ( 6th tonight when I get in) so the size of the follicles are much bigger than last time at day 5, I had two and both were under 8mm. My only worry was she really struggled to see right ovary, so did the guy on Monday but he counted 4 and she did too so must be ok. The two big ones are on the left and last time I had nothing on the left side.