IVF / ICSI in April / May

[orangefolly]

Hi all, I'm starting a thread for anyone expecting to start a new IVF cycle in April or May. I've been keeping an eye out for one, but realised I could just start it myself!

I'm 37 and about to start my second stimming cycle. I've had two FETs from my last cycle, both of which sadly ended in miscarriage, so we'll be PGS testing this batch if we hopefully get some good enough to test and freeze. On higher doses this time around, so a bit worried about side effects. Found it fine last time though (except the interminable waiting).

Anyway, please come and introduce yourself if you're in a similar boat

@orangefolly how did your scan go?

It went well thanks @lillyleaf - number of good sized follicles had shot up to 22! But when I got home they rang and said looking at my bloods I'm now at risk of OHSS so I had to go back in for a different trigger shot - suprecur. I have taken that tonight and have to go in for a blood test again in the morning to see if it worked. So still not entirely sure if we're on for EC on Thurs 😞 Also my progesterone is now too high so we def can't do a fresh transfer. Shouldn't be a big issue since we are planning to test and freeze anyway, it was just an insurance policy in case we didn't get good embryos. It's been quite a stressful day!

@orangefolly that's so stressful, hopefully EC will go ahead, I can't imagine them delaying it further, wouldn't that make the OHSS worse? I don't know much about it, I never had that many follicles.

I've started googling! I've been reading really old threads were no one gives the outcomes to the situation. I'm not feeling very hopeful today, I'm sure I felt more last time at this stage.

@orangefolly Sorry to hear about your last minute snags. Sounds frustrating that they only discovered your OHSS risk right at the last minute.

I'm on the same schedule, so also booked for EC on Thursday (had been hoping for Weds but they asked me to continue stimming one more day). Had my own stress yesterday when waiting for a call from the clinic for my trigger shot time, and still hadn't heard back 15mins before the clinic closed! And of course, in IVF land, no one seems to answer phone calls, it's all voicemail. Anyway call received finally, and trigger done last night and today working from home due to fatigue and discomfort, and wishing I'd just booked this whole bloody week off... Anyone else get lots of weird twinges around their body during the stimming phase? I keep thinking I'm coming down with something, but probably just the hormones I suppose.

@lillyleaf - today is a hard day. I have had a bad headache since yesterday and a fuzzy head overall. Right side twinges still going on...
how are you getting on?

@Hunter14 just the odd mild cramp here and there just fells like AF is coming but milder. I think I really need to start preparing myself for a bfn, I know this is not positive thinking but it's just to protect myself. But the thought of having to do this all again is awful. When will you test?

@LennyFitz oh yay - exciting we are getting EC the same day!! Clinic didn't ring, so it looks like we are on for tomorrow at last!!! I am so ready to get these eggs sucked out of me, I feel like a blimp! I'm totally with you on wishing I'd booked the week off, it's so tough with work isn't it?

@Lillyleaf totally understandable that you are not feeling as positive with everything you have been through... it doesn't mean it won't be good news though.

@Hunter14 twinges sound like a good sign!

@janey15 how are you getting on with IUI? When's the big day?

@orangefolly thank you & next of luck tomorrow. I will be thinking of you 😊.

@lillyleaf - my test date is next Wednesday but I’m sure I will test before. ESP if I can’t shift this headache 🤕 .

@orangefolly and @LennyFitz good luck with EC today, fingers crossed it goes well and hopefully you'll feel a bit less bloated afterwards.

Hi guys just a update I went to the hospital yesterday for a scan and blood was day 7 of injections to see if my folicals are big enough for egg collection some aren’t quite there just yet carrying on with the injections and back on Saturday for another scan and blood test anyone had to take the needles longer than 7 days for there follicals?

@JLW14 I had to stim for longer but can't remember how many days, I also had an additional hormone inject to help the follicles along.

@LillyLeaf, it will be day ten of injecting on Saturday when I go back I just hope there big enough some are there but some are still at like 12 and 13 she said my left ovary has done more than my right but said that’s fine

Hey guys EC all done. Bit of an unexpectedly bad result from me - I had 22 follicles, but they only got 6 eggs. I'm gutted, not sure if we'll even end up with any after the 5 day wait and then genetic testing. We really needed the numbers to get a normal one Just hoping we have a little winner in the six we do have. At home now and chilling. Already feeling a lot less bloated.

@Lillyleaf - Thanks for your comment

@orangefolly - Sorry about your egg count. That does sound like quite an unexpected drop. Are you still at risk of OHSS? I think I got the egg number expected from follicles, which ended up being 15, but apparently that's also meant I'm now at risk of OHSS (which was quite a surprise as I'm 41 and thought that was much more likely if younger), so I have to go in for an earlier scan on Monday and depending how that goes, there's a possibility I go freeze-all. Which, tbh, I wouldn't mind as feel I could do with a break between stimming and the next step, but everything is played by ear now I suppose. Still, preparing myself for a massive drop off of numbers over next few days. It's our first cycle so definitely keeping my optimism on the low side, just in case!

@JLW14 - That sounds fairly standard at 7 days I think. I didn't have any follicles over 12 at day 8, and ended up stimming for 12 days in total. I think the typical length of time is 10-12 days.

It will be day ten of injections when I go back Saturday so fingers crossed they are big enough for them to do egg collection on Monday

@orangefolly sorry it wasn't the number you wanted but everything crossed for them for the next few days.

@LennyFitz the waiting to hear about the embryos progress is awful, you feel so helpless.

@Hunter14 how's it got today? The waiting is awful.

So gutted - only two of them have fertilized today. Hoping desperately for them but I know it's looking likely we'll get nothing out of this round

Oh @orangefolly I'm so sorry but forget about the others and focus these 2, they can both still make it.

@orangefolly - holding thumbs for your two embies!

@lillyleaf - this wait is driving me nuts. I have mould cramp / twinge / tightness on my right side, i have had heart palpitations today and still mild headache but nothing not related to meds. How are you? When are you resting?

@Hunter14 that's sounds promising. I was tempted to test this morning as I've learnt from Google that some people get an accurate result at 8dp5dt but I'm glad I didn't. I'll test tomorrow morning, I'm really not hopefully anymore, I don't feel much, just mild cramps now and again. Last time I had twinges and pulling and was very tired on the evenings by now. I'm dreading testing tomorrow, I actually feel sick everytime I think about it. I hope you manage to get through another day.

@lilyleaf - I’m not feeling to confident to be honest. I’ve had two previous BFN & I’m almost convinced this will be the same. Spent the day trying to prepare myself a bit but also spent time with Mum. All my symptoms are likely meds.
I am wishing you all the best for tomorrow & sending you loads of luck. Fingers crossed 🤞

@Hunter14 do you know when you'll test?

@lillyleaf - probably Monday : Tuesday. Blood test Wednesday I think.

@Hunter14 this is so awful, I'm feeling very sorry for myself tonight.... Why me? hopefully it will all be over tomorrow.

@lillyleaf - sending you strength & hope...