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?

@Weenumpty sorry you are feeling blue-I’m also a teacher so I totally get it -you have to be on top form all the time -the kids never let up! I’m feeling super stressed -like there is so much to sort before half term!

@Booksandstuff congrats on being PUPO-hope the time flies for you.

I just had my baseline scan which was ok-not great. Lining shed ok-but they saw a cyst. The nurse explained that 90 percent of the time they are not a problem but sent me for a blood test to check it’s not giving hormones. The clinic then calls me to tell me if I have to go ahead to start oestrogen tonight. Really praying -I will be so crushed -particular after the disappointment of an unexpected freeze all. The worst thing is -the queue for bloods -30 people in front of me! Really need to get back to work -have so much to do! Balancing work and ivf is a nightmare isn’t it!

Hope everyone else is feeling calmer. Fingers crossed by 5 tonight I will find out all is ok and get the go ahead.

Good luck @KittyKatSmile! I hope the side effects aren't too bad for you. Had my appt today and feel much better and reassured with timings ans what to expect. Start down regging next week and EC will be the end of June all being well.

Thank you @Booksandstuff that's helpful especially about the injections. My husband has now been given the injections job and I think that will save stress for me. I will just take this one step at a time. What are you doing in your 2ww? Work or having some time off? I was told today to not do anything that willraise my temperature so exercise, baths sauna and even use anything wil strong smells like going to the petrol station, painting, bleach etc. Good luck!

@TwistofFate yes that's what was said at my appointment. I think with my AMH they are expecting not too many eggs but ones of a good quality due to my age but obviously we won't know until I start stims.

@Cauliflower82 I will echo what everyone has said. Not had EC before but I have had a GA and it was a lovely sleep! I am actually looking forwarsd to the EC part for that reason!

@Weenumpty I am so sorry to hear you are feeling rubbish...I am a teacher too and someetimes it is just too hard to put on the front. At least we have a week off now! Are work supportive or have you managed to keep it quiet?

@Weenumpty Sorry to hear you're feeling so down. I think it's important to listen to your body and if you need rest, to take it.

@RRoonilWazlib no they didn't say, but I googled and I think it's something to do with implantation...

@FinallytakingtheplungewithIVF that is frustrating. I hope it goes quickly.

@mouse1234567 Yep work and IVF is full on. I started a new job literally the same week I started IVF. It's been a good distraction though. I hope it's good news from the clinic for you.

@zest great, I hope it helps! Not much planned in the 2ww. Work, taking it easy and probably watching a lot of TV. I was told the same - no baths, rigorous exercise, sex and avoid certain foods.

Happy Friday everyone.

Happy Friday everyone, I went for my lining check scan this afternoon and everything is going well so I’m pleased about that. My donor was also due for her scan this afternoon and I was told to expect her ec to be next Thursday/Friday but the clinic have just called and it’s now been brought forward to Tuesday, eeeek this now feels so real. It was a big step for us to decided to use DE but so far the whole process has been so smooth. I feel so grateful that some amazing person is doing this to give us a chance of parenthood.

Have a great bank holiday weekend everyone

@SpongeBob79 great news about the EC date -not long now!

Good news -I got the call saying the cyst isn’t g it any nasty hormones so I’m good to go with prognova-back in the clinic next Friday to check lining.

Happy bank hol from me too!

5dp5dt today and I'm struggling. I've got to the point where I just don't think it's worked. I have had no symptoms at all. I'm going to do an early test tomorrow I think so at least I can start coming to terms with it.

@TwistofFate how are you feeling?

@mouse1234567 great news about the cyst, glad you can get on with things.

@Spongebob79 how exciting!!! It's scary isn't it when things start becoming real. Sorry if I've forgotten - is this your first DE cycle?

@Booksandstuff - congrats on your transfer!

@Mouse1234567 that’s good news about your cyst, tbh I never knew that some could emit hormones?

@Jemimafuddleduck the wait is always so hard, having no symptoms isn’t necessarily a bad thing though, for the 2 ivf bfp’s that I’ve had I didn’t have any symptoms at all and where both real surprises. Yes this is my first DE cycle it feels very different and I’m definitely more relaxed.

Thanks @Spongebob79 , that's reassuring.

@KittyKatSmile Thanks, that's good advice. We've been invited to a wedding in a couple of weeks so at least I'll be able to have a glass of champagne, and a short break to unwind is a great idea. Spent some time pottering in the garden yesterday too, which was a good distraction.

@Weenumpty sorry to hear you feel down. IVF is such an intense, emotional and stressful process, take good care of yourself.

@Booksandstuff I didn't get any dietary advice but did get told not to do anything that would raise my body temp (baths, hot tubs, etc) and not to wear perfume at any stage.

@Jemimafuddleduck Same here, no symptoms so I've convinced myself it hasn't worked. Feeling pretty glum about it too.

@TwistofFate @jemimafuddleduck I don't think we are necessarily likely to get symptoms because of all the drugs we've been taking. Don't forget how much we've overridden our natural systems in order to just get here.

@jemimafuddleduck when is your OTD? I'm sure I'll definitely test early but you have to weigh up how crushingly disappointed you might feel when in reality it was just too early (I sometimes spy on the April/May thread and it happened to someone there!)

Thinking of you all and hoping you've all got lovely plans for the long weekend. I messed mine up somehow and wasn't sure how I'd feel (fine!) so I'm here on my tod

My OTD is Thursday, and they want me to do a blood test which will cost £140. No chance I'm doing that if it's negative!

Last time I waited like a good girl all the way til OTD and was totally crushed and devastated. So now I think it's better to test early, so I can start getting over it quicker if it is negative. If it is negative I'll keep testing just in case it turns into a positive - which can only be a good thing!

@TwistofFate sorry to hear you're feeling the same x

@Jemimafuddleduck I'm waiting because I don't think I could cope with multiple negatives.

So much to catch up on!

@Weenumpty I completely get feeling down. I did my first cycle in June last year and I've felt so down ever since! Nothing makes me happy and I cry a lot. I think the drugs and the whole experience does this to us.

I've done 4 days of Buserelin so far in prep for FET. I'm not really thinking about it so haven't noticed feeling any different. Other than needing the loo for a no. 2 more and wind which I've read is normal. Still trying to lose around 8lb at least before transfer.

Regarding testing i don't know what to do when the time comes. On day 9 I have to go to the clinic for a blood test. Do I wait for that or test the day before so I'm prepared?!

So I've just started my Menopur this morning - and already messed up with my first dose. My clinic talked us through how to give it and I took notes on my phone, but this morning preparing my first dose I forgot that the liquid gets stuck in the bell shaped top of the vial. So I only mixed 0.4ml of liquid with the powders instead of 1ml. I'm hoping as it is day 1 that this won't matter too much and that it will rectify itself if I ensure 1ml is included from tomorrow. I'm an experienced lab scientist used to measuring liquids/samples etc and can not believe I got this wrong 😳.... Really hoping this hasn't messed up this entire cycle though as I have to have EC in theatre at hospital rather than as standard in the clinic.

@Helene2019 how stressful did you-but hopefully it will be fine as you got the right amount of the menopur. Like you say it’s not the first dose too. Try not to worry.

I think I’m rather lucky -on day 11 of buserelin and feel fine symptoms wise -maybe the odd night sweat -but actually its been much hotter so could be down to that. Day 2 of oestrogen and again I’m feeling fine at the moment-though early days I know. Hopefully this continues. It seems a bit strange with a frozen cycle having so many fewer appointments with the clinic and just being left to your own devices more. It’s good really -but so different to my experience during the fresh cycle. Anyone else on a frozen cycle notice that?

@Ginandtonic31 interesting what you say re testing. I just don’t know what I will do. I don’t get a blood test but I know my clinic tells you to wait 14 days after a day 5 transfer -seems a long time! I have always been an early tester and was with IUIs but IVF seems quite different. I think I will want to test early but my DH will try to stop me. In some ways early testing stops you building up hope -but then again you don’t always know if it’s accurate?! And if you do get a positive -you then have to wait a really long time till your week 7 scan and I would prob just try and test everyday which would be stressful! I also would def do it at a weekend as I couldn’t go to work after a negative.

@TwistofFate and @jemimafuddleduck try not to worry about no symptoms -my acupuncturist says you really can tell nothing with symptoms or no symptoms-you just have to wait. So frustrating!! Remember loads of people that get pregnant don’t even know they are pregnant for quite a few weeks -symptoms often don’t seem to kick in till 5-6 weeks or so.

Can I join ?
Just had my transfer today . It was a bit of a miracle since due to my age there were only pathetic two follicles ever but those two had two mature eggs ,that they got out by GA in theatre which was another complication in the journey but went well ,and did ICSI on . One fertilised and was put in as a grade 1 today . I had one cancelled long protocol back in Jan due to a clinic mistake . This was a short one .I’ve done IVF twice before but it was 8 y ago ! And our 7 y DD was born through a US surrogate . We also have a 14y DS who was conceived and born before all my problems started . I have a history of countless unexplained MC and then ended up with with a chronic illness for life because of the treatment for them . This is why we had to use a gestational surrogate last time . I’ve always wondered if I could have succeeded with IVF myself so I’ve decided to do 3-4 full cycles and then try to move on since I’m old now in fertility terms using my own eggs at 43 soon 44. Next two weeks will be hard but I’ve been through them so many times before it’s nothing new . Halfterm next week so running around trying to entertain the kids and the week after it’s the usual school runs and activities so it’ll pass quickly . Will try not to go mental as I usually do and test early they warned about false positives with the ovitrelle I took . I’m on lots of extra progesterone so am wondering if it’ll make me feel bad . I’m always nauseous within days if I’m pregnant so that’s a question mark too since now with my condition I get nauseous if I’m struggling and need a steroid top up . I’m not expecting to succeed if ever then I think it’ll take several tries but here we go !

@Nordicmom welcome and good luck! Sounds like you have had a bit of a journey...!

I have caved and done a test this evening - BFN. I KNOW it's probably far too early (5dp5dt) and also should be testing in the morning but I couldn't help myself. Feeling a bit numb but at least if it is a negative I have time to get used to the idea.

Another negative this morning. Pretty sure I'm out. I know it's early but have been reading lots online and most people say if it's going to be a BFP it would have a line of some sorts by now.

I'm probably going to take a step back from this board now - wishing you all the very best of luck ❤️

@jemimafuddleduck I’m so sorry it’s a negative this morn. Completely understand that you need to back away from the thread. Wishing you the best of luck for the future. Sorry-this must be so hard for you.

@jemimafuddleduck so so sorry. Take the time you need. Wishing you lots of luck.

@jemimafuddleduck thinking of you and praying that all is not lost here.

I’m quite a bit behind and I haven’t been on the boards too much recently either. Day 13 of buserelin and feeling okay really. I feel good on a morning but become increasingly bloated at the day progresses. Not too much concern.

I’m just catching up on where everyone is right now. Thinking of you all and thanking you all for the reassurances regarding egg collection :).

Hope everyone is having a nice bank holiday weekend

@Jemimafuddleduck I'm so sorry. Take as long as you need and I hope you're taking care of yourself.

A couple we know have just had a baby and I'm happy for them but dreading going to see them because it's always a harsh reminder of something we desperately want but might not be able to have.

Thanks everyone for kind words, I retreated to bed on Friday and didn't leave until this morning, just waiting on scan just now and really hoping that I'll have an idea of when egg collection will be. I'm bad for just burying my head when I'm down but a weekend of rest and treats has helped my mood, unfortunately not the pain!

@jemimafuddleduck I am thinking of you and hoping it's just too early xx

Very jealous of half terms/long weekends, I'm in Scotland so don't have time off just now but only 6 weeks til summer holidays now. Just keep thinking of that and by then I'll either be pregnant or getting ready to go again.

Hope everyone is doing ok

Hi ladies!

I'm been reading your messages along the way as I've also had my first round of IVF a week ago.

Firstly, I'm so sorry @Jemimafuddleduck. Wishing you lots of strength!!

I've had my EC on Wednesday, and out of the 16 follicles they only found 4 eggs. I wasn't expecting that at all. I'm 33 y/o, perfect BMI, have been eating healthy, no alcohol for a month before starting, took vitamins, did acupuncture treatments and I managed to be quite stress free. Even my doctor said she was so sorry about this bad news... She couldn't tell why I only had 4 eggs.

Who has had a similar situation, is this quite common?

It's been one of my biggest fears actually, going into EC and them finding out I was producing 0 eggs. But I'm happy at least I had 4!!

The good news (my gosh I was SO relieved when I got the news) is that 3 were mature and got fertilised, and I have 2x day 2 embryos waiting for me in the freezer! I feel very lucky.

Now it's just waiting for me to get my period and will start the medication for FET right away - hoping to have a FET end of June.

@Claudie86 the exact same thing happened to me. It was a shock! I managed to get 1 to day 5 but unfortunately after PGD testing it was affected by a gene my husband carries. Hopefully you won't need another round but if you do, please know it doesn't mean another round will go the same way. I'm also preparing for a transfer now. Probably end of June transfer for me if all goes to plan.