ICSI June/July

[Maggie9000]

Hi all, new to mumsnet but not to IVF or supporting forums!
I have a 7yr old son through ICSI, after 3 cycles. DP has a 3yr old daughter through ICSI and now we've decided we want one of our own....!

So short protocol is the order of the day, due to polycystic ovaries (not the syndrome) and AF is due next week so imminent.

Would love to chat to others in similar positions right now if there's anyone about?

Hi @IVFusername
Tbh I'm totally clueless.. Mi feel unprepared. People are saying things in this thread I've never heard of. I'm waiting for a phone call which will tell me to come in but I'm not sure what for!!! I guess hormones to control my cycle? I have an information sheet on Icsi but it doesn't give aloy of detail on all the small steps around the before the actual egg harvest

I cracked and took a test this morning (5dp5dt) - it was positive!

Oh @MLP123 I'm so sorry to hear that. That's shit. Sending love, take care of yourself over the next few weeks xx

@havelockvetinari congratulations! Lovely news! Was that the first day you've tested?

@FFOXGLOVE welcome, it's all a bit overwhelming isn't it! When you get your call ask any questions you want, I found that sometimes clinicians are really quick to whizz through this stuff assuming that we know as much as them, but if there's anything you don't understand you should always ask!

@BlueSarah welcome! Sorry to hear that your first two cycles didn't work out, definitely fingers crossed for a lucky third! Hope your cold clears up soon. My hayfever is horrendous at the minute so I've been feeling rotten and sorry for myself with that!

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 welcome! Sounds like you've had a long journey to get here, but how exciting that you start stims soon! I haven't started my first cycle yet so you'll have to share any injection tips you work out. Never thought I'd say this on a TTC forum but I hope AF turns up soon!

@IVFusername think we're going to have similar cycle dates as I've finally had my schedule through! Also the same with work, it's so busy in July & August and there are things I'm just having to say no to without giving much reason... it's so good to have supportive bosses though. I feel very lucky that my line manager is also a friend and the head of department has been really supportive.

So drug schedule arrived and have the baseline scan/injection teaching on 30th July and then start stims 4th August!! I sobbed when I got the email as it all just felt really overwhelming, but feeling a bit better about it now.

I think one of the hardest things is trying to remain optimistic but also temper your expectations? Like I swing from being really negative and it's never going to work to planning how we'll tell family and what rocking chair I want for feeding
Clearly need to have a word with myself! Anyone who has done cycles before, did you find any ways to control your feelings?

Hope everyone had a nice weekend xx

@ivf2019 yes, first day, I really wasn't expecting to see a line as the earliest I've seen one before was 8 days post transfer (DS) and 9 days post transfer (mc at 7 weeks). Squeeee! I really hope it's a sticky one.

The wildly swinging emotions are normal - the drugs will make them even worse! Don't worry about it, just keep on keeping on. If this cycle doesn't work then the next one or the one after will.

Hi all, can I join this thread? I was on the other May/June thread but everyone else is way ahead of me!

We are starting a short protocol ICSI cycle with my next period, which should be on Wednesday/Thursday this week. Got my injections all ready to start, feeling a but nervous about it all. We are also in the middle of trying to buy a house, so it's a lot of stress all at once.

Congratulations @HavelockVetinari! Hope it's a sticky one for you!

Waaaah! That'll teach me to not check up for a few days - so much to catch up on!!!

@ivf2019 amazing you have a schedule now, bet you're wishing July away now!!!

@MLP123 I'm so sorry to see your news :(

@namechanger, @aliciawhiskers & @BlueSarah sounds like we'll be cycling together, I have a planning appt with the nurses tomorrow and AF is due Thursday after which I'll start drugs (although I'm spotting now so may well be sooner :/ )

Congratulations to the lady with the strange name that I can't remember!!! I'm really sorry, I'm on the app on my phone and it won't bring up usernames like it does on the pooter - anyway that's really exciting news :)

Welcome to anyone else, I'm really sorry it's a crap post but it's hard work on the app!!!

@Maggie9000 how did your planning appointment go? What protocol are you on?

My period has started this morning so I will be starting injections tonight. Eeeek! What time do others do theirs? I work late on a Monday every week so I don’t know whether to always do them quite late (9pm) or earlier, and just do my one on a Monday at work.

Feeling an odd mix of excited and terrified!

@AliciaWhiskers I'm on short protocol with as low dose as possible for stimming as I hyper stimulate. Started AF yesterday just before the planning appt so I have my baseline scan tomorrow and start stims Friday!!! Then my day 6 scan is anticipated to be next Weds. Its all pretty speedy this time around, drugs are being delivered tomorrow.

@Maggie9000 how many rounds have you had before this one? What dose are you on? Does it matter when we start stims? I’m Day 1 today but they said I could start on day 1,2 or 3. Does it make a difference?!

This is my 4th round. I have a 7yr old son from previous ICSI.
I'm on 75/150 stims, alternate days - normally end up with a billion follicles and crappy quality embryos :/

I did wonder about whether it mattered when stims are started as BCRM start them on day 3/4 after a baseline scan (which checks the lining has shed properly and is nice and thin). I guess each clinic has a different process?

@Maggie9000 Ah, are you in Bristol too? Hope the reduced stims help for you this time, I’m on 300. I ended up having a scan on Monday with my period starting today, there was no talk of a scan to check the lining was shedding ok?! Yes I guess all clinics do different things! I also have a 7 year old and a 10 year old, from a previous relationship. I have PCOS (although recent scans haven’t detected this) and my 10 year old was conceived with clomid. My 7 yo was a natural conception

Phone call today confirmed I'm on long protocol. The lady on the phone couldn't tell me anything about timings as sh wasn't medically trained! and I'm trying to plan around a holiday booked long ago of possible. Can anyone tell me anything about when this process will start in my cycle? Thanks in advance! X

@FFOXGLOVE sorry I can't help about timings of the long protocol as I'm on the short one. Can you call the clinic again and ask to speak to the nurse?

I started my injections yesterday. Went ok, got a scan booked for next wednesday.

How is everyone else doing?

Welcome @AliciaWhiskers, hope your first few days of injections are going well?

@FFOXGLOVE I'm doing short so probably not much help, but I think long protocol usually starts on CD1/2? Are you going anywhere nice on your holiday? I really want to get something booked in to look forward to but husband insists we clear the (not huge!) balance on my credit card first. I know he's probably right but really feel like we could use the break.
When will you hopefully be starting this cycle?

@Maggie9000 I hope the alternating doses don't result in overstimulating for you and fingers crossed for some good quality embryos! It does seem surprising how different clinics can be.

Feeling really crap this week and wishing the time away. Hope you all have nice weekend plans? At least the sun is out at last!

@FFOXGLOVE we have just started long protocol and i start bureslin injections on Sunday! Have downreg scan on 9th July! .

We have been ttc for 5 years and no underlying problems with me or my OH that they have found so far! So frustrating!

@AliciaWhiskers I started yesterday too, my scan is booked for Tuesday (and probably again Thursday) as they need to keep a close eye. How are you feeling?

@ivf2019 I hope you manage to pass the time productively, I always feel worse when other people are steaming ahead and I'm still waiting. We're allowed to be selfish

FOXGLOVE (sorry I can't tag your real name) I remember the long protocol starts on CD1 with the spray to shut everything down (although apparently they've invented an injection for it now!) And then stimming around CD7...it was 8 years ago mind and protocol changes so frequently.

Unfortunately I have a chest infection so have also started antibiotics today, thankfully they're safe throughout the process and it means I'll be fully fit for ET...

@ivf2019 injections are going ok so far thanks, although yesterday i managed to miss a few drops of the menopur in one of the vials, so I had to waste a needle drawing it up again. Will have to ask clinic for some spares when I go in next week! Not feeling anything as yet (although I've only done 2!). I'm also on the IVF May/June thread and lots of people on there are talking about feeling pretty uncomfortable once the ovaries are full of growing follicles, so I'm kind of wondering if/when that's going to happen. How are things with you? Am I right that you are starting at the end of July? I found the waiting to start pretty frustrating too. Have you got any nice plans over the next few weeks?

@hgdg2018 is this your first round? Hope all goes well with injections starting tomorrow. I keep meaning to read up the difference between the long and short protocols, but I flit between thinking I should read up everything about IVF so I feel I know a lot, and worrying that reading up a lot will just make me anxious! I haven't found a happy medium yet!

@Maggie9000 hey fellow cycle buddy :) Sorry to hear about the chest infection, that sounds miserable. Hope you are on the mend soon and having a chilled weekend to recover. How are your injections going?

Sorry everyone, I've been out of the loop this week so have missed out. I'm back now though, looking forward to seeing how everyone is doing

As for me, I am on day 5 of stims today which means I add in a second injection tonight. I've been using menopur, which has been ok. Stings a bit but it's not so bad. The idea of it was worse than doing it. I'm adding cetrotide tonight, which I am a bit nervous of as I have heard mixed reviews of it. A lot of people seem to get a rash and I have quite sensitive skin so I'm guessing I probably will, but who knows.

I have my first monitoring scan on Monday, be interesting to see if anything is actually happening in there

@AliciaWhiskers I feel like that too, ive done 4 days and feel no different really, although maybe a little tiny bit sensitive around the ovaries this morning but could just be in my head. I am worried nothing is actually happening at all!

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 I've always been prescribed Menopur and cetrotide - my advice for the cetrotide is use an ice cube to numb the area first and inject it as slowly as possible. Your instinct is to go fast to get it over with but that always stings for me. Hope it goes well for you xx

@IVFusername thanks for the tip. I will try that tomorrow! It wasn't as bad as I thought it might be, but I find they both sting. Still, sure it could be worse and hopefully it will be well worth it!!!

@ivf2019 just wanted to jump on and say I'm going through PGD at the moment and have a transfer on Wednesday. I'm on s different thread as I'm in front but happy to answer any questions. There's also a Guys PGD Facebook group if you're not already on it.

Morning all!
@namechanger - excited to hear the results of your scan tomorrow, can't believe how fast this week is going...do you feel any aches yet?
@AliciaWhiskers same to you have you had any aches yet?
I start cetrotide tomorrow morning, which I remember is when the aching starts as your body naturally wants to release the eggs as the follicles get bigger, I normally end up walking a bit funny from the heaviness as I'm only little yet create tons of follicles! My antibiotics have kicked in so starting to feel better

@Maggie9000 oh really? I guess it is like your body is fighting against it's natural urge! As far as aches go, as yesterday wore on I started feeling more pains in the general area of the ovaries, I got them on clomid too so I was quite happy about that, even though it's unpleasant, because itmeans something is happening. Today I feel nothing though, so not too sure what to make of that! My mind is running away with itself and saying I either ovulated really early, or nothing is happening. I'm hoping sure tomorrow will show me all is well though. I'm a bit dramatic sometimes 🙈

I just wrote a post but it hasn't posted, so apologies if 2 similar ones appear now! @Maggie9000 also glad your antibiotics have kicked in and you're feeling a bit better. What day of stims are you on now?