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?

[Peanut1980]

@fingersxssd83 I’ve got a really positive feeling for you and the embabies. Eagerly awaiting your update tomorrow. Will keep you in my thoughts 😘🙏🤞🥰

@nv42 ahh thanks for your kind words 😘 Let us know how you get on with your baseline scan tomorrow. I never had the nasal spray so can’t advise on that I’m afraid.

@intrigued2018 I’ve never had the endometrial scratch but I’ve read positive things about it. What’s making you worry?

@boboelephant thank you 😘 accupuncture is amazing for clearing up headaches and ailments isn’t it? It would clear my sore throats, headaches, fatigue and any complaint.

[intrigued2018]

@Peanut1980 - thanks, I'm not sure why I'm worried, guess it's the first part of the process other than taking the pill and the start of the unknown. I have quite a few health things so my clinic aren't taking any chances which I'm pleased about but feeling overwhelmed and emotional about it all tonight. The box of meds has made things hit home how much of a journey this next month and half will be!
Has anyone spotted on the pill? If so did it delay timings. This is normal for me, I have pcos and have issue with my progesterone levels / hormone levels balancing just hoping the clinic aren't too concerned when I call them tomorrow xxx

[Justwaitingforaline]

intrigued I spotted on the pill! Didn’t delay anything for me, but everything was pushed forward by two days because I started bleeding straight away after stopping ( eg I took the last pill Monday, started bleeding Tuesday lunchtime and started stimms Wednesday afternoon after baseline scan)

[FingersXssd83]

Unsure if you'll be similar @intrigued2018, but I found the build up to IVF so much worse than when I was in it on both occasions. Once you start, there's so much to think about that it concentrates your mind. I really hope that happens to you and I totally understand the worry. You will be well looked after by your expert medical team. Have you tried the mindful IVF app? I'd highly recommend it. It's really helped me with this cycle.

We had some good news today, we're having a day four transfer tomorrow as our embabies have grown and increased in quality over night:

2 cells is 7 cells and still grade 2
4 & 6 cells are now 9 cells
The 6 cell is now grade 2
The 4 cell is still grade 2-3

They're supposed to be between 6-10 cells so pleased that they're all within the range.

Delighted with their progress. It's a shame we can't go to day five with the clinic being closed but grateful that we're moving along an extra day.

We might not transfer two anymore, depending on how they get along.

Have a good day everyone 😊 xxx

[Peanut1980]

@intrigued2018 I agree with what @fingersxssd83 has said. Once the process starts you do relax a little. Best of luck to you 😘🤞🙏

@fingersxssd83 of my goodness that’s so exciting!! Ahh your embabies will be back inside you tomorrow. What a great feeling that is 😍 remember PUPO (pregnant until proven otherwise). Good luck 😘😘😘😘

[Peanut1980]

Cramping started today so guessing AF is on her way. I don’t know why but I decided to do a pregnancy test just in case there was a miracle and I’d fallen naturally. BFN which is what I expected but would have liked to have been surprised. I’m due on Monday so will just have to wait until AF starts. Hope it’s going to be a nice heavy one (never said that before! 🤣) x

[Boboelephant]

@Peanut1980 yes i love acupuncture! It really makes me feel amazing. My lady does it with shiatsu too and I find the combination so good. I also find myself fantasizing about if I managed to fall naturally. Highly unlikely after the last 2 years but find myself torn between wanting period to arrive early so I can crack on with the stims and also hoping it never turns up!
@NV42 did you get an answer from the clinic? I'm on the same nasal spray but only day 8 today so haven't experienced it yet as period isn't due until next Tuesday. I did read something about how it can sometimes not be like a proper period but more like a breakthrough bleed.
@FingerXssd83 good luck for tomorrow!!!
@Intrigued2018 hope it goes ok.

[NV42]

Hello all

Baseline scan today went well and they gave me the Go ahead to start the Goral-F injections today. Information worth sharing:

1. Regarding the light period no one seemed to worry. It seems that when you take the nasal spray, many things may differ with your next period, as it is not a normal period.
   
2. To be honest I am not sure what exactly they are checking at the baseline scan in order to give the go ahead.
   
3. The nurse noticed that I don't have a lot of fat at my stomach so she suggested that if I find it difficult injecting in my stomach, to inject in my thigh! Have they mentioned this to you?
   

The biggest concern I have right now is what do I do with the steroids.. I have heard that they have significant phychotic side effects especially for dosages above 20mg and I have been prescribed 25mg starting Day 7 from starting the Gonal-F. Apparently I need to take steroids as there are theories (nothing is proven medically) that state that women who have high thyroid antibodies like myself have to take steroids to ensure that the body will not reject the embryo implant. I suggested to my doctor to start the steroids after the egg collection to minimise the days I will take them (apparently I have to take them for the whole trimester as well)…

And the cherry on the cake is that since I started the nasal spray (although I am sure it is not related to the spray) I started having chest pains which we concluded with my GP and the gastroenterologist is acid reflux or something to do with the oesophagus/stomach so I am having an endoscopy next Friday (I was lucky enough to squeeze it before the egg collection).. The nurse tried to book a scan for that day and now they have to reschedule my scans around the endoscopy but I really want to do it before the egg collection just in case I get pregnant and I don't want to be going into sedation during pregnancy...

… to be continued after the Gonal-F injection at 19:00.. :-)

[CornishMaid1]

@NV42 That is exciting. I haven't been told that about thigh instead of stomach, but then with my stomach I don't think that will be a problem!!

Hope the injection isn't too bad as I know you were not looking forward to them.

[NV42]

Reading through your messages I find it so comforting and I am actually looking forward checking the thread every day to find out how you are all doing and of course the knowledge transfer...

@FingersXssd83 I am so glad for you... I too like @Peanut1980 have a good feeling about this cycle... Fingers crossed... 🤞🙏 I have to admit that I am not familiar with the cell sizes etc. Where could I read more about it? Also I recall you mentioning that it is better to do an embryo implantation 5 days post the egg collection? Apologies if I got it wrong..

All, I was wondering about the duration between EC and embryo transfer today actually as if all goes well I will be doing EC on Monday 21st Jan so the embryo transfer can not be 5 days later as it would fall over the weekend. What do they usually do in such circumstances? HOW IT SHOWS that it is my first time!! 🤣

@Peanut1980 I was also secretly hoping that I would get pregnant naturally over Christmas but my period did come a few days ago :-( I was a bit sad actually as I really would have loved to avoid all of this... and although I know that due to my partner's antisperm antibodies although I can conceive naturally, WE can't! :-( May I ask btw. Did you say that you are doing IVF without medication? If yes how does it work? Or what do one need to have to not take medication?

@intrigued2018 I have to admit that I procrastinated a lot at the beginning and taking the decision to do it. Once I went to the first clinic for information though and slowly I was gathering more information, I was seeing the places, it got a bit better.. Until the day I had my pre-assessment where it felt very overwhelming again with all the timings and drugs etc etc.. But again as I started the treatment, as long as I was on top of it and had good notes and post-its, it felt easier.. It also depends on what complications you have like in my case with the steroids.. Overall though the quicker you start talking to people and clinics, I think the easier it gets (as with anything with life I guess!!… I wish you GOOD LUCK.. and I too feel overwhelmed at times.. to be honest I haven't even told my friends as if it does not work I don't want to be talking about it..

[NV42]

@CornishMaid1 thank you.. I will let you know..

How is your hunger..? Still hungry? Hope the headaches have not come back... 🙏

[Boboelephant]

@NV42 glad your scan went well and good luck for your first injection tonight. Just wanted to reassure you about a few things.

1. I was also told that the stomach or the thigh are completely fine for injections.
   
2. My friend was put on steroids as she had 3 back to back miscarriages and she took them right through the first trimester too. She is doing well and about 27 weeks and didn't have any adverse side effects.
   
3. I was sure to ask about weekends as it was one of my main concerns and happy to report that the Lister will do a transfer on a Sunday if it's the best time so you don't need to worry.

[NV42]

@Boboelephant thank you so much for this information. May I ask if your friend also took 25mg and whether she started Day 7 post Goral-F or after her egg collection day? As I am not sure if I should go ahead and do what the doctor said ie start Day-7 or postpone for after egg collection (which was my one idea :-))..

[Justwaitingforaline]

NV I also don’t have a lot of belly fat but I’ve found sitting down to administer is best - I pinch the skin, pop the needle in and then let go. I’m glad your appointment went well - you’ve got this!

[Boboelephant]

@NV42 ah she actually didn't do IVF. Just took them as soon as she got her bfp as advised by private doc. Sorry I don't know about the combo of steroids and ivf drugs. I just know she had a high dose and was worried about the same effects as you but all was fine. You have to do what feels right I guess and the best chance to have a healthy baby. Good luck.

[NV42]

@Justwaitingforaline and all, just reading the Goral-F instructions, any experiences with bubbles when you were using them?

I am a bit confused as they say that if you see bubbles, turn the dose to 25 and press the dose setting knob down but doesn't that mean that you just spent 25 ui of the pen (so if I have a 300ui pen and my dosage is 300, I will need to use a second pen to cover these 25 ui I used to clear the bubbles)… I have to admit the bubble section confused me and I had not read it before going for my scan.

[intrigued2018]

Thanks all, feeling a lot better today but scary thinking the amount of meds going in my body. Spoke to the clinic today and they said spotting is normal ml🎉
I have my scratch next tues then downreg with buserelin starts next Saturday 🙈 Il

@NV42 - good luck with your injection tonight, glad they've given you the go-ahead. I am also on steroids, I've been told to start 25mg from the day I start injecting gonal-f. I've been on 30mg before (for 2yrs!) and only side effects were feeling super hungry and water retention. I'd go with what the drs recommend as it is controlling things prior to egg collection/transfer so that the antibodies are suppressed to a level they are happy with for transfer. I'm also on daily aspirin, blood thinning injections and intralip infusions. 🙈

@FingersXssd83 - best of luck for transfer tomorrow! Fingers and toes crossed for you! X

[Justwaitingforaline]

NV it says only to remove the air bubble the first time you use it so I did it as instructed and got the drop of fluid after doing so!

I’m using the 900iu pens but have heard that both pens have more in them than they say so. If I were you, I’d remove the air and then set the dose as you need it, do the injection and see what happens. If it doesn’t go back to 0, the number shown is the dose you need to put onto a new pen to have had the whole dose ( eg dose of 300iu, 75iu showing on pen, do a dose of 75iu with new pen to have taken a total dose of 300iu)

[Realitysucks]

Hi ladies do you mind if I join.

I’m 40 ( 41 on sunday) have 1 DS who is 17 in three weeks and TTC2 with DH who has no children. He is also 40.

We have ttc for 6 months but had my AMH checked and it was low so decided to go for ICSI. I have a saline infusion and scratch booked for next Wednesday as part of pre cycle treatment. Starting stims around 4th Feb on short protocol so provisional EC 18th Feb all being well and AF plays ball this month. All had to be delayed as had a 32 day cycle last month 🙄 am bricking it to be honest especially self injecting!

[Nixwix]

Hi everyone,

Joining here after my Embryo Transfer today. I am feeling little cramps in the lower abdomen, nothing very painful. Is this normal? This is my first ivf. Also, any tips on what to do or eat in the 2ww?

Thanks in advance!

[FingersXssd83]

Thanks so much for your wishes @Peanut1980 @Boboelephant @NV42 intrigued2018 :)

We're currently double PUPO! Had two grade two embabies transferred and got to see the flash on the screen this time. The doctor was lovely, which made it a far better experience than with the grumpy doc and not seeing anything on the ultrasound! I'd drank too much water beforehand though and was in agony with a massively bloated stomach so had to let a bit out before the transfer. Its hard to gauge when the tank's 'full'...

@NV42 your clinic will tell you what to expect on each day. Tried to find something online but can only see clinical reports. It's better to do a 5DT as embryos have proven themselves by not arresting. It also means that the embryologists can see more detail and decide which is the best one to transfer. They can't see which ones are chromosomally sound however...

OTD is 4th Feb so going to try and stay busy to stop me overthinking. So happy to have graduated to the TWW with you @Nixwix! They say to follow a pregnancy diet, they have all the info here - www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/healthy-pregnancy-diet/ And cramps are perfectly normal. Do you have any nice plans to occupy you?

x x x

[Peanut1980]

@nv42 Hope you’re well today and the injections are going well. They’re so tiny! Think I had a bruise from the first one but was then fine after that.

I’m having a non medicated cycle as I’m having a FET (frozen embryo transfer). I have one ‘on ice’ left over from my previous cycle. You can go a medicated or non medicated route. For the non medicated route they will scan me from day 8 along with me doing ovulation tests. When I naturally ovulate they’ll thaw my embryo and pop it back in me.

Don’t think it will go ahead for me this month. I got my period and again it’s very painful. It’s just not a normal painful period. I’m extremely light too. Majority of times nothing there is nothing even when I wipe. So I may have to wait until my next cycle. If that’s what’s needed then so be it. I guess I’ll see what they say when they scan but I very much doubt my lining will be thick enough. Don’t want to waste my little frozen embie though.

Welcome @realitysucks. Good luck to you in your cycle.

Welcome @nixwix. Oh that’s amazing that you had your transfer today. Well done and good luck. I’m on my 2nd attempt. Had a pregnancy with first but miscarried. I kept active after my transfer. Think I went and cleaned out my guinea pigs as soon as I got home 🤣 But I also got stuck into a series on Netflix. Keeping active is good. I also ate pineapple every day as read that’s good. Good luck for the 2ww xxx

@fingersxssd83 how did the transfer go today? Xxx

[Peanut1980]

Sorry @fingersxssd83 just read your update. That’s amazing news!!! Hope those embabies get nice and snug in there. Good luck 😘😘😘

[Nixwix]

@FingersXssd83
Thank you! And good luck to you too! Yes I have tried to arrange meet ups with friends to keep myself occupied. And trying to walk 30 mins outside everyday but it's too cold for my tropical body haha. Have you got plans yourself? I am trying to eat healthy and avoid spicy but I have a tendency of adding chillies to anything and everything. Is this your first ivf - hope everything went well for you!

@Peanut1980 thank you for the sweet welcome! Did you find out why you miscarried the first time? I hope everything works out for you this time round - fingers crossed! When is your EC/ET?

Sending good and happy vibes to everyone here.

[Rememberallball]

Good morning ladies, joining here though I’m also on December January thread. I’m like @Nixwix and @FingersXssd83 and now in my tww. I’m 4dp5dt x2 fresh embryo’s using donor eggs. We have a blood test scheduled for Wednesday morning which is 7dpt.

Our stats are
Me - 47
DH - 50
TTC #1 together - DH has 2 adult children I have none.
TTC since September 2014 and been investigated since March 2015. No obvious reason except my age. Advised to do ivf but not eligible for funded support due to age.

Chose to have treatment in Cyprus for cost reasons and length of time to access egg donors is much quicker than in the UK. First cycle in October/November 2017 resulted in 3x 5d embryos being transferred after 4 days frozen while my cycle caught up with embryos. Resulted in bfn at end of November.

Lots of family circumstances, including close relative bereavement, selling our home and moving to a new part of the country, got in the way of us doing a cycle in 2018. In the end we started this cycle on 29/12/18 got 15 eggs from donor, 13 fertilised and 10 were good at day 3. 5 made it to day 5 and we had 2 (a 4AB and a 5BA) transferred on Wednesday afternoon. As we didn’t have a trigger shot, using donor eggs you don’t need them, there is no risk of residual hCG being in my system so, if any is found, it’s due to implantation!!

Yesterday I had some crampy aches and pains on and off all day which I’ve read can be good. We are staying in Cyprus till Thursday then flying home. If the blood test on wednesday is negative then I will have another test at home on the 28th!!