IVF/ICSI May/June

[Cauliflower82]

Hi everyone

I’m creating a new thread with the hope of finding people with similar dates to me. I am due to start medication on May 13th with the hope egg collection will be June 19th. I’m 34, female factor fertility.

Anyone else out there with similar dates?

@Booksandstuff good luck for tomorrow. And 6?! Have you been listening to the BFN podcast? I can't get enough of it. They had a huge debate on 'pessaries: front or back door'?! What do people think?

Lovely lovely ladies ❤️💕❤️. I cannot tell you how helpful you all were last night and again at 2am this morning when I woke up in a panic and reread all your reassurances. Thank you for all your kind words. What on earth did people do before there were groups like this?

As expected you were all bloody right. I fell asleep with the drugs. Woke up feeling fine and went home. Anaesthetist said I was chatting for most of it, not that I remember. Apparently asked him where the nearest bank was so can't have been too distressed?? What a waste of anxiety!!

Anyway now i'm feeling less self absorbed I have managed to catch up on everyone.

Good luck @mouse1234567 and @booksandstuff and @weenumpty tomorrow 🤞

@jemimafuddleduck What does 2dlp5dt stand for? I tried to Google
'2dlp5dt short for'. It brings up a single search result (how often does that happen?!) and it is someone's research paper on quantum physics...!

@Cauliflower82 You asked about the trigger pen. It's not complex once you've done it but it's just a totally different mechanism from your normal injection. The nurse showed me but I didn't actually try it myself. I should have practised with her model stuff though (in fact probably twice I reckon), just because it's such an important step.

@Dlpdep Interesting about twins. Obviously medical advice will be important for your physical health so that would take priority in my book. If it's totally 50:50 though, then I guess in 5 years time would you be more disappointed to have no baby or more disappointed to have twins?

Lots of love and thanks to you all today xx

@KittyKatSmile Yep, three in the morning and three in the evening. Always in the front! I hate them, but think I'll be doing them until I test....joy.

Haven't listened to the podcast but read about it. Should I listen from the start?

@Booksandstuff I think you should definitely listen from the start. I feel like they're my best friends now. Others may feel differently.

@LittleOne3 I think there may have been an extra rogue letter in there! 2dp5dt is 2 days post 5 day transfer (I had to ask my IVF friend what it meant when I first joined a group like this!) Where was the nearest bank?! Reminds me of a story my mum told me about when she was consciously sedated years ago and really fancied the surgeon and she was really worried she might have blurted that out whilst sedated!!

@LittleOne3 fantastic news your EC went well. Will you find out tomorrow how many you got or today?

Yes - a typo sorry (although sometimes this all feels like science and physics!). It means 2 days past 5 day transfer. So I'm currently 3dp5dt now and am trying not to obsess.

@KittyKatSmile @Booksandstuff I absolutely love BFN. They're so funny and down to earth. But definitely worth listening from the start. The Infertile Mafia is also pretty good (it's like the American equivalent) but they've been going longer so I didn't bother going right back to the start with them.

It is so interesting to read everyone's experiences...thank you all for being so open.

I feel really really down at the moment. I am just gutted it's got this far (like everyone I guess). I have my nurse appt tomorrow and start down regging on Weds. I have no idea what drugs I will be taking but I will find out tomorrow.

Does anyone have any idea of what a good reaponse to IVF is? E.g. how many eggs retrieved, how many eggs fertilise and how many make it to blast?

Literally no idea how I am going to cope over the next 8 weeks or so. I struggle with anxiety at the best of times!

Hi all
great to hear all the updates for everyone.
Yesterday and today I've felt really teary, so hoping that ups and sods off soon!
@Dlpdep - in my area they tend to do 2 embryos for ladies whom are over 38 year old. The 3 that I know of that had IVF with 2 embryos, one has twins, one has one child and the other has none. So it is really a gamble. You could have twins even with one embryos

@LittleOne3 I'm so pleased to hear that EC went well and I love that you asked about the bank!! The collection is my biggest fear of the whole process (apart from it not working)

Really struggling with pain today, but I'm hopeful that the constant grumbling is follicles growing!

Really glad your egg collection went better than you thought @LittleOne3

Xxx

@Zest11 welcome to the club no-one wants to be in! You're in great company.

Numbers is a really funny one. When I froze my eggs a few years ago, my clinic flatly refused to give a target or a 'good' number. I tend to agree really because of the risk of totally disheartening people. There can be very high attrition rates between eggs and embryos anyway. As an example, one of the girls on the podcast got 27 eggs and ended up with 4 (I think) embryos in the freezer. And the big thing to remember is that it only takes ONE to work!

Sorry for the brain dump. That's my concern at the moment, that I go through all of this and my aged ovaries don't chuck anything out at all. PMA eh?! Chin up and hope you feel more positive and happy soon x

@weenumpty Thanks! Yes EC was hands down my terror point. Glad it's done and I would happily do it again for another cycle. Oh and yes pain for me was the sign that my follicles were shooting up. I got really uncomfortable 48hrs before they told me to trigger so fingers crossed🤞

@jemimafuddleduck Yes we got a good number of eggs (25 from 31 follicles) so just waiting to hear tomorrow morning how many fertilise. I've already started panicking about that and am firmly convinced that my eggs are going to reject DH sperms just to spite me. Feels like IVF max's out your positivity bank sometimes!

@KittyKatSmile I love BFN but only on episode 8 at the moment. What was their answer to front door back door?! I need to choose a door by Saturday 😂😂

Thankyou for replying @KittyKatSmile, I know you are right. And I think whatever I get will make me worry, I might ask to not know!! Hopefully I will feel a bit better tomorrow once we have been through everything. Where are you ip to at the moment? When is you EC due?

@LittleOne3 I have been reading your posts, I am glad uou are feeling better and glad you had a great number of eggs.

@LittleOne3 they haven't got a consensus on doors. For me, it's back door all the way! Far less mess, ironically!

@Zest11 I am only on day 4 of buserelin to down regulate me on long protocol. With any luck starting stimms on 31st May with EC 10-14 days after that. Let us know once you know your timing. Good luck.

I'm having an intralipids infusion tomorrow as I've got high natural killer cells and am a recurrent miscarriage risk (4 in the last year). (The girls on BFN are talking about intralipids right now and how silly they are!)

@KittyKatSmile Great news on the EC. Fingers crossed.

@Zest11 I struggle with anxiety too, and was really concerned about that (haha, irony not lost on me) but have been surprised at how I've coped. I think being hangover free for a few months and generally trying to be healthy has helped. I am also breaking it all down in to smaller stages. Trying not to think ahead too much, as I find the pressure can be overwhelming and I get carried away with the what ifs. Focus on each step and celebrate every victory, no matter how small it may seem. I also asked my partner to take care of all injections - some don't feel comfortable doing this I know, but for me it was one less thing to think about. He's got the times, how much etc...just trying to offload where I can has helped!

Sorry have waffled!

Morning all, trying to catch up

@littleone3 well done on ec how many did you get I couldn’t see if you’d put anywhere?
@zest I think everyone is different in the amount of eggs you get so it’s hard to compare and like kitty said it only takes one!!

I am on day 13 of buserelin for my fet and I thought af had shown yesterday had a light bleed but then so far today nothing but do feel crampy!! I have my fist scan this morning so hopefully that will tell me something!! Dd has given me and stinking cold soa not feeling well at all!! Need to find out if I can take anything other then just paracetamol as it’s not really doing anything for this!!
Hope everyone else is ok x

@littleone3 that’s amazing! Excellent number - no wonder you weren’t feeling too great. Best of luck for today - I’m praying that loads fertilise for you.

I’ve decided back door too . My nurse has warned me about the mess and thrush.

Day 11 on buserelin for me. Ironically I’m starting to feel much better now. Still got forever to go before first scan and I am bloated and heavier BUT I feel okay. I’m feeling pretty positive tbh.

@booksandstuff I’m a big believer in one step at a time too. It helps so much. When I think of egg collection day, I start to sweat - despite all the reassurances it’s fine.

@Cauliflower82 egg collection is just a lovely sleep. It's honestly the best sleep you'll ever have and it sort of takes you by surprise so it's even more lovely. And then once the antibiotics have worn off, you can have a lovely glass of wine (as recommended on the BFN podcast by one of the experts!)

Happy Friday lovely ladies. @jemimafuddleduck enjoy your last day in 'paradise'!!

@Zest11 I think we all get a bit hung up on numbers because more eggs seems like more chances to get pregnant, but unfortunately quantity is no guarantee of quality.

@Cauliflower82 I thought I was going to throw up or faint when the nurse explained the egg collection procedure, but like KittyKatSmile said it was just going into a very deep sleep very quickly and the worst bit for me was getting the canula put in.

I've been feeling a bit blue the last few days, have gone from feeling cautiously optimistic to convincing myself that it hasn't worked and now I'm dreading my test date.

@Cauliflower82 Agree with the others - it's a lovely sleep! I was just a bit bloated afterwards, but otherwise felt ok. Try not to think too much about it. Take each day as it comes.

Just had the FET. All very surreal and emotional. Blood test will be on 3 June.

Was told not to eat banana or papaya! Anyone else had that?

@Booksandstuff congratulations. Now for the waiting; have you got anything planned for the tww?

@TwistofFate that's called defensive pessimism and isn't such a bad approach although sorry that you're feeling low. Maybe plan what you'd like to do if you get a BFN; take a trip, drink a load of cocktails? And don't worry about not feeling optimistic; it will make no difference either way. Thinking of you

@Booksandstuff that's really exciting!!! Did they say why not to eat those??

I've just done my last fyremadel injection, woohoo! I'm sure my body knew it was my last because it was the worst one I've done!! I've got to up to 2 evorel patches tomorrow!

How is everyone today?

Xx

Hi everyone, not having a great day here on my way home from work as I just couldn't manage. Had my scan at 9, painful and just so weepy today- not conducive for teaching! I hate being off but I feel like my body and mind are telling me to rest so hopefully after the weekend I'll feel a bit better. I've got 7 follicles now and as somebody else said (sorry can't remember who) it's quality not quantity that's important but I'm still feeling a bit deflated and emotional and wishing I had more!
Hope everyone else is having a better Friday

@Weenumpty sorry to hear you're feeling rubbish. Can you get out into the sunshine today (I'm assuming there's sun where you are!); it might make just that little bit of difference.

I've been for a thyroid blood test follow up this morning followed by 3,000 calories of intralipids being pumped into my other arm and now just waiting to have my counselling session to see if I'm sane enough to be a single mother through choice.

I'm pretending to be a lady who lunches. I will indeed then lunch with a friend whose last day at work pre mat leave it is and then see a friend and toddler this afternoon

Hope you start feeling better soon.

@weenumpty sorry your feeling down! How much longer before you trigger? If makes you feel better on my last scan before trigger I only had 9 follicles in the running so was disappointed considering I’ve got 33 follicles in total but at ec they managed to get 16 eggs and 13 were mature so don’t give up hope!!

I had my scan and my consultant was surprised I haven’t had af yet I thought it had started yesterday but then nothing today so now I’ve got to take some tablets for 5 to bring it on to then book another scan so it’s added at least another week of injections on!! That along with my cold I’m feeling rather sorry for myself today zx