IVF March/April

[Hopingforbabyd]

Hi ladies
I’m hoping to find a cycle buddy or anyone who has been through IVF before. We are due to have our appointment for our plan at the end of next week and I just wanted to hear any stories/advice anyone may have as my mind is very busy with questions.
A little background from me, I’m 28 and been trying to conceive for 3 years now. Last year I was diagnosed with severe endometriosis which sadly affected both of my tubes. I’ve had them removed in November and all endo has been removed. We have been told the chances of conception are against us due to the severity of my condition but I’m holding onto hope. Are there any ladies who have similar stories who can give me a little encouragement? I’m quite nervous to start IVF but excited at the idea this could be our chance!
Thanks 😊💛 xx

Anybody know if it's worth taking pregnacare conception vitamins and folic acid while undergoing treatment?

@sl85 my clinic just said folic acid and vitamin d

@Wesstywoo good luck with your baseline tomorrow! I can't have caffeine or milk anyway, I'll be eating pineapple after EC though

Good luck with the EC this week, let me know how you get on @Chester6 and @Thund4rcat

@sl85 yes you should take one or the other (pregnacare has the daily dose of folic acid in it)

Thanks @DaisyMay25

Thanks @DaisyMay25 and @Wesstywoo

Why the pineapple after EC? Is it meant to help?

@wearenotacodfish I hope you're right , I was just hoping to see some follicles at least, didn't look like there was much there.

@Hopingforbabyd Thanks for the positivity, hoping your birthday will bring you much happiness and will also prove to be a good day for us! :) :)

Thanks ladies, its really uplifting to see how much we all support each other, I always get upset with poor hubby even though he is mega supportive but I guess they don't feel the same way we do about this whole process because we are physically having to go through it. I want to have a discussion about it sometimes but he just tells me not to overthink it. Personally I feel better having talked about it so this is where you guys come in! thanks again!

@sl85 I've been reading a lot of blogs by fertility experts and quite a few of them said that Pregnacare is just over hyped so they can charge a lot of £££ for pre-conception meds. The main things to take are as @DaisyMay25 said:

-400ug Folic Acid
-Vitamin D

They also recommended:

-Cod Liver Oil (for omega 3)
-CoQ10 100ug (for good egg health and promoting regeneration of cells for more follicles)

I'm taking all of these, hope that helps everyone!

Also, there are mixed reviews about the whole pineapple thing after EC- in Chinese medicine Pineapple is considered "cold" so I've been told to avoid it by acupuncturist and a Chinese colleague. But there is no scientific evidence for this so... !!!

I’ve had my date to start norethisterone 😁 starting on 9th until the 13th April then when af arrives stims will begin. I can’t beliefs April is next week!
Hoping you’re all feeling okay and good luck @chester6 and @thund4rcat for your EC this week and good luck for baseline scan @wesstywoo
I agree with the other ladies about pregnacare, it’s quite pricey for the dose required. I’ve always taken it and I think because I’m used to it I’m happy to stick with it I get them from amazon as they’re usually half the price and come with the men’s wellbeing tablets too. But either way they all do the same thing.
Stopping caffeine really does have such an affect on your body, I have been sleeping through the night as usually I get up but it’s made a huge difference 😊 x

Thanks guys. My egg collection has been pushed back until Friday. Will be glad to have that bit done.
I am having acupuncture and they told me similar...to eat lots of warm foods rather than anything cold. x

@Hopingforbabyd yes I agree too and also we can try all these supplements and tips etc to help implantation but the embryo has to be viable and there really is no way of knowing whether it is or not, it's a complete lottery.

Exciting that you have your dates, the 9th will be here in no time! xx

Definitely @wesstywoo I say we should all just go for whatever makes us feel happy 😊 happy body, happy mind is always the best recipe x

I've done reflexology, acupuncture, gone super careful on my diet and gave up alcohol for six months on various cycles on the one where I got pregnant and miscarried I did none of these things. My hospital say whatever will give me no regrets is the best course of action.

I think the no regrets thing is really important. I take the Zita West ivf supplement pack, it's a middle ground between nothing and spending too much money on things that are not evidence based, for me. Plus the vit D spray tastes really nice!

@daisymay25 I don’t have another appointment until 9 April. I’ll have been taking meds for 3.5 weeks by then. I’d like an appointment sooner than that to check the meds are actually doing something. I had side effects for the first 2 weeks and now feel completely normal, so I’m convinced the meds aren’t doing anything. I feel adrift.

Good luck for Thursday

What have you been prescribed for down reg @sorka I was on a down reg injection last year for my endo which is used in ivf cycles and when I first went on it it caused a “flare” effect for the first 3/4 weeks then it died off a bit. Hoping that gives you a little hope that things will hopefully be okay for you x

Thanks @hopingforbabyd

I’m on synarel. It’s a nasal spray and is also used to treat endo. Fingers crossed it’s working. I don’t have good odds and I’m worried about messing it up. I left one of the bottles out of the box on the side for a few days without realising the instructions say to protect it from light. I’m not sure how much light affects it. It was in a darkish corner, but I’m using the other bottle now to be sure.

Just realised I’ve gotten my dates mixed up and I’ve only been on it a week and a bit so far. Maybe it is affecting me

Hi all-it’s interesting how we all have such different downregs-I’m on day 6 of 12 of downregs with norethisterone. I know I don’t have long at all but really feels like it’s dragging as I know I will then have to wait for period -hopefully I won’t wait long! I should just make the most of not having to do any injections right now!

Trying to be quite healthy but then have random sugar binges-especially at weekends!

Anyone else find the norethisterone gives them spots?!

Hope everyone is getting on ok.

@mouse1234567 I finished norethisterone on Wednesday and I'm covered in spots! Period came 3 days after stopping. I also had a horrible headache yesterday which I had the last time I took it as well xx

@wesstywoo it’s not a pleasant side effect is it?! I also had to take head ache pills yesterday. Was a bit gassy (tmi) the first day or so but that has passed luckily! The clinic said my period should come 3/4 days after stopping next Monday -fingers crossed like you it will be 3 days. It can take up to a week too can’t it -and my friend at work worried me by saying hers took 2 and half weeks! Though she was using it to bring on a period as part of clomid rounds and has PCOS-although I too have PCO. Finger crossed!

It’s hard to focus on other stuff isn’t it.

Is your baseline soon? Hope it goes well.

@mouse1234567 how many tablets are you taking per day? When I read the leaflet it says take 3 but the clinic told me to take 2 - perhaps your friend was taking the full dose?!

Had my baseline this morning - all fine so I've started my medication. I'm doing FET so no injections for me this time, just tablets which I started there and then in the clinic! I've got another scan next Friday to check the lining and hopefully confirm the date for transfer which at the moment is 11 April.

Hope everyone else is ok this morning xx

@Wesstywoo I'm glad your baseline went well! Lucky you with no injections haha. Fingers crossed for 11 April, it'll come round quickly.

@Sorka it seems everyone's down regging time is different. Mines only for two weeks before baseline scan. I haven't had loads of side effects from mine mainly mood swings and hot flushes. I'm on buserelin injections though

Just had my egg collection this morning. They got 7 eggs which I am satisfied with despite it being less than last cycle when I had 11.

I had general anaesthetic and was totally asleep for the whole thing. So much better than the last time which I was awake for and was very painful during the procedure.

When I came around I was in a lot of pain so they gave me extra codeine and once that kicked in I was OK, but then I was sick when I got home. Now in bed with hot water bottle. Feel OK just a bit achey like mild period pain.

@Thund4rcat I'm glad it went well! 7 is a good result, they calling you tomorrow to let you know how many have fertilised?
Lots of rest for you then, I'm glad it wasn't as bad this time for you.

7 is a good number @Thund4rcat! Take it easy tonight xx

@DaisyMay25 yep will find out tomorrow.

@thund4rcat 7 is fab! Hoping you’re feeling okay now. Defs take it easy tonight, generals are icky bless you not nice you being sick.

I got my consent forms through today ladies 😁 2 weeks until we start! Hope you’re all well x