Join us here for the TMI IVF March/April/May thread

[AliceAbsolum]

New March/April IVF thread.

I'm Alice, 34, TTC1 for 3 years 4 months. Currently 4 days into a short ivf protocol with max dose of stims as my AMH ran away last year. Its my only NHS funded cycle and my last chance to have a child that's genetically mine. /fingers crossed/

@phreedam that sounds so scary!! Hoping you’re okay now. When is EC for you? Yes starting my cycle on Sunday and then when period comes a few days later I’ll be starting stims from around 16th June 😁 really looking forward to starting again but it has come around so quickly! Is timing okay for you with the in-laws now? So excited to be buddying again! Fingers crossed this is our turn this time round x

@Hopingforbabyd Ah I think I'll be done by the time you start then because at my first scan yesterday (day 5 of stims) the nurse said the follicles already looked like they were growing well so I probably wont have to stim as much as last cycle which was 18 days EEK!
Not sure about EC yet, it all depends on how the follys are growing...will have a better picture by Friday I'm hoping... this is whizzing by again! What dosage have they put you on for this cycle?

@phreedam my bloods confirmed miscarriage and were dropping so that’s good really. Sad but good I can move on. Still bleeding but it is lighter. I have had some time off work which has been restorative. Going to go back Thursday. So glad our follicles are looking better this time! Sounds like they have adapted the protocol well!

Getting quite anxious and bit obsessed with all this ivf business -it’s so hard not to let it take over isn’t it? My very best friend in all the world is about to have a c section any minute. I’m over the moon for her and she is such a supportive wonderful friend-but it always reminds you that you are not in the place where you wish you were.

My follow up is 22nd July -not too long really -just hate not knowing exactly when our next FET will be.

Hope everyone is ok.

@phreedam I find out when I pick my meds up on Tuesday about dosage so I’m not too sure yet. The letter I got from clinic to have my dr just said 3 ampoules 🤔 that’s brilliant that you’re already getting there I agree 18 days is a long time I think I was around 15 days and it was too much x

How is everyone getting on? X

@Hopingforbabyd I’m getting on ok-went back to work today after a few days off for the miscarriage and actually had quite a good day. Keen to get back to normality. I’m treating myself to loads of tasty food and drink which is making me happier!!

Hope everyone is well.

@mouse1234567 I’m so pleased today went well for you and I’m glad you took some time for yourself because it’s so important. I’m doing okay, I can’t believe my next cycle is about to start. I too have been indulging in tasty food caffeine and my first glug of alcohol since Christmas! It’s been nice to just switch off for a bit. I congratulated a lady from a place I used to work yesterday, we went on a conference together a few years back and I knew she was struggling although I didn’t know anything about ivf back then, never dreamed I’d be doing it - I was in the midst of the “relax and it’ll happen” stage 😄🙄 anyway, she has just gone on maternity leave so I just sent a quick hello and wished her well. She came back to me with a full story of her luck with ivf! She was told she will NEVER be able to have children due to severe endometriosis, poor egg quality and an inhabitable uterus. She was looking at adopting and said she just couldn’t not give it a try, no free nhs rounds due to diagnosis so she paid a whopping 13k and it worked! It made me feel so proud! We are all warriors and through my own experience I have stumbled across you ladies and about 5 ladies close to home who are going through this and the most have been successful. It makes me feel positive knowing that no matter how long the wait, we WILL all get there. Stay strong x

A few quotes that have kept me going throughout the year, I hope they help someone too 💛

A couple more 💛

And the last one from my little book 💛

Soooooo....
No sign of AF....
I’m exhausted....
I’m constipated....
My resting heart rate is creeping up....
We are categorised as being infertile....
.....but could we?
Going to wait until Monday and if still no AF (28days post d&c), i’ll do a pregnancy test.

@Hopingforbabyd thanks for those quotes -they are great!

@Pleaseletitbeme I would love so much if you were! Keep us posted! Have you ever had a natural preg? It’s the dream isn’t it?!

@Hopingforbabyd your post about the lady in you spoke to really made me smile, you're right we will all eventually get there- even now while I'm doing my second round and responding better this time I still feel like I haven't achieved anything yet but we just have to keep going.
Thank you so much for all those lovely quotes, each one hits home so much.

I'm going for my next scan on Monday and I'm going to ask for my nurse Emma to scan me this time- she's great at answering all my questions and so approachable. She gives me time to write down my follicle sizes etc. It makes me feel more in control and confident with how we are doing... the nurse we had on Friday for the scan was so negative and got really irate when my husband asked her a couple a questions I came away feeling defeated from the appointment. I had her once on my first cycle too and I remember feeling the same way.

@Pleaseletitbeme hmm, maybe! Good luck hun! Wouldn't that be the best thing ever!!

@phreedam I’m glad it made you smile, it gave me lots of positive vibes. Have the faith, there is hope for sure!
It’s lovely when you find a nice nurse to assist you, I did the same first time round. The first lady was really rough with me and when I said it hurt she just looked at me like I was being dramatic. The second time round the other lady was so kind and gentle, she even said she could see a follicle but didn’t want to be too rough as she knew it hurt because of the endo. I asked during that appointment to have her again and I do think they write it on your notes. You go girl! This is your body and you need to do what’s right for you so you feel comfortable. I think some nurses unfortunately don’t have as compassionate bedside manner and whilst I understand that they do it every day, to most women this isn’t every day for them. Super proud of you! I can’t believe tomorrow I officially start my cycle! It has come round fast! On Tuesday I have consent signing where we will pick up our injections and then we will be good to go. So I think a week from now I’ll be on the ivf train again with stims. Feeling much more content this time round. I hope you are too xx

@Pleaseletitbeme I sure hope things are going to go the way we all hope it will for you, but just remember if it doesn’t we are still here and you will get to where you want to be xx

So BFN POAS.
I’m ok though.
Now I have to decide if I want to have a month off (horsey camp, maybe a well deserved holiday?) or do we go for FET as soon as possible and forgoe fun?

Nice doctors and nurses make all the difference don’t they?

@Pleaseletitbeme sorry to hear that but glad to see you are focusing on the next cycle. I think I will also be in the same position as you deciding whether to push on or have a break (although I haven’t had my follow up yet and may we’ll find I am forced to wait) it’s hard isn’t it -as fors and againsts for both. Are you doing fresh or frozen? Does your clinic let you start then after your first period? I’m trying to second guess if mine will! My tests are still coming back quite positive (they have faded but not loads) so off for a blood test later -just need be hcg to leave my body now so I can get my cycle back. My friend that had a miscarriage said she was still testing positive after the weeks!!

Good to see everyone moving forward. Every day is a day closer to having our babies in our arms.(I'm being positive atm!)

@Twiglet2353 how're you doing? How's the baby?xx

Hi @AliceAbsolum. I'm 18+2 now. Was diagnosed with low PAPP-A (hormone in blood) which means I'm at greater risk of placental insufficiency, growth restriction, pre-eclampsia and stillbirth.
Just added to the anxieties to be honest. Have my anatomy scan next week with a consultant sonographer, and then have 3-weekly growth scans starting at 28 weeks.
Had further pain and bleeding last week, but things appeared okay when I went to the Day Unit, just continuing to monitor.
I obviously am thrilled to be pregnant but so far don't feel able to enjoy it. I think when you've been through infertility and experienced your body letting you down, it's hard to suddenly have trust in it. Not sure when I'll start buying things, maybe once I've had this next scan and start to feel regular movements I may feel more relaxed.

I hope you are all doing okay and I can see you're still supporting each other on here which is fantastic xxx

@hopingforbabyd thanks hun, yay I feel good now that I’ve spoken to a different nurse, I’ve also asked for her for tomorrows scan and she said its fine she can arrange that for me. How did everything go today? Have you signed all your forms and got the meds you need?
@pleaseletitbeme It really does make a difference, they make the ordeal a lot easier- I really applaud them for their positive attitude and patience when it comes to us worrying and asking them so many questions- bless the good few!
I’ve got 3 follicles now- yesterday they measured 22,13,12 and she initially said they want me to trigger that evening. I was really undecided and later on they called to say its best if we continue injections for another 2 days to allow the smaller follys to get to around 14-15mm so they are more likely to contain mature eggs (woohoo glad that happened). So back I go tomorrow for my final scan and then trigger tomorrow evening- EC ON FRIDAY!! Got the weekend to recover so all good I hope we get an embryo this time, last cycle they only got one egg and it fertilised but didn’t grow past day 2 . Very upsetting.

Anyway, onwards and upwards!

@Twiglet2353 all the best hun- you've achieved what we are all longing for- may you have a healthy pregnancy and your worries vanish!

@phreedam bless you for remembering 😘 all went well today, we had the nurse who did my scans! I was so glad to see her and she was so lovely. She said she remembered us and also remembered about us not getting our pic of the blast and apologised. She even noted down not to mess it up next time 😄 she was just in training to be doing consent and admin of meds today but I felt chuffed that she said she will look after me through scans too. This time round definitely feels different already. Our appointment was fairly quick as she was happy we knew how to do the injections, just had an increase on meriofert now 3 ampoules instead of 2 and stop taking norethisterone on Thursday. Period should arrive 3-5 days later then we are go go go! Estimated EC for end of July 🤞🏼 Treated ourselves to a f&b’s which went down very well. I felt like I went on a date today as I had to meet hubby at the clinic as he is working away and when we went separate ways I felt like I was 21 again....young love 😄
How are you getting on? X

@Twiglet2353 I was only thinking of you the other day! Glad to hear you are okay and it must be a worrying time but you have got this gal. It’s easier said as I know when it happens for us I will be always worrying (I too agree with when you’re used to your body failing you it doesn’t give you much hope) have the clinic still got a close eye on you or are you now at the hospital? Have you decided whether you’d like to know the sex of baba? I know you won’t be able to rest until they’re safe in your arms but you know I wish you all the love and a happy healthy pregnancy x

Thanks @phreedam @Hopingforbabyd. The IVF clinic wash their hands of you pretty quick tbh! Had my 8 week scan with them, was discharged and then when I had bleeding at 9weeks they wouldn't see me as they'd discharged me to routine maternity care. Cue a nice trip to A&E and a stay on the gynae ward.

Also they rely on people to send a questionnaire back with the outcome of their pregnancy - miscarriages, live births etc. They aren't actually allowed to access your records to find out the outcome, and therefore their statistics are based purely on client feedback. Didn't realise that when I started out and it's interesting to know xx

@twiglet2353 Oh goodness that must be anxiety provoking to say the least. I'm glad you're being well monitored, all you can do is take it week by week I guess. I think you're super brave. Keep us updated if you want, I'll always be interested :)

@Hopingforbabyd So pleased you're having a better experience, isn't it moving quickly! You'll be at ET before you know it.
It's good they are changing your med protocol, learning from the last round etc.

@phreedam Great numbers! Us with low AMH have to be pleased with what we can get and hopefully you'll have more than 1 egg this time. Huge fingers crossed for you.

It's SO weird that a lady in Czech is stimming while I'm running and drinking coffee. Can't get my head around it. We got her details this week. She's 25, similar height and the same hair colour, and university educated. She has green eyes, I have brown eyes, but I guess they can't match completely. EC (for her, scan for me) in exactly 2 weeks. Eeeep.

Oh no what's happened? I went in for my scan this morning hoping to trigger tonight. I've been stimming for 14 days... they cant find any of the large follicles I had two days ago ! I had a 22, 13 and 12 on Wednesday and now they can only see one at 13mm. I'm feeling so defeated, what on earth is happening- I'm sick of injections and now all of that was for nothing it seems like!

@phreedam How does that happen? Have they said what has happened?

@phreedam what did they recommend? Maybe rescan? One nurse couldn't see my whole right ovary day before retrieval and asked if I had it! All went well the day of retrieval though.. Hopefully everything will get sorted soon for you!