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?

[Maggie9000]

@AliciaWhiskers I'm sorry to hear the scan didn't go as you hoped. However, they are really good sizes, and it only takes one - appreciate that's a bit shit when you feel deflated...are they amending your meds? Do you go back on Friday?

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 how did you get on today?

[AliciaWhiskers]

@Maggie9000 no there was no talk of upping meds or anything. Just a further scan on Friday. Have you got your next scan tomorrow?

Wondering if I have done stuff wrong, if I could have done something different, what I might do next cycle. I haven’t even got half way through this one yet and in my head I’ve written it off. I need to try and get some positivity back, because I feel a bit crap about it all today. Anyway, all I can do is keep going and see what happens.

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 hope all ok with you.

[Namechangerextraordinaire1]

@AliciaWhiskers I'm sorry your scan wasn't as you had hoped. It really can be quality over quantity, please don't feel bad. I can understand it's disappointing though. Also it's nothing you have done so don't beat yourself up! It was your first scan wasn't it? They might make some changes on the second.
Also, for me, I don't drink tea or coffee, but I do drink diet coke (tons of it, but I have cut right back!) I have one caffeinated one a day and 1 caffeine free one. The rest of the time I'm drinking water. I read on a thread somewhere that someone swore by milk to help the nausea, so I have started drinking that too. I'm absolutely sick of water but still getting my 2 litres a day in like a good girl. I also dont think one glass of fizz will be a problem so don't worry.

@Maggie9000 I feel so similar, I feel so full and gross. So, so sick. I'm so done with this nausea. Trying to make the most of the few times during the day I feel normal! Hope your bloods were ok today.

My scan today was all right. I personally didn't think I had very many larger follies, still have loads but most are under 12mm - I have 35 altogether but maybe only 8 or 9 are over 13mm, the rest are below. So lots going on but I'm not convinced there will be many decent ones! As soon as the nurse got my ovaries on the screen earlier she said "my goodness you have a lot going on in here!" You're not wrong my friend, and I feel awful for it. Anyway. Again, they said I could well be at risk for OHSS, so I have dropped to 75iu menopur today than back to 150 tomorrow and then a scan on Friday to see the plan of action. Egg collection most likely Monday (thank god!). Bit worried I will get OHSS though, then I will feel even worse. Sorry for being a downer too, we are a right happy bunch today aren't we lol. This is hard though, I think we are allowed to have a moan!

[AliciaWhiskers]

Oh FFS I’ve just injected on the same side as I did the last injection on. Gah. I’m off to bed - hoping tomorrow will be a better day!

@namechangerextraordinaire1 You poor love feeling so rough, really hope things settle down with the lower dose and you start to feel better. Yes, this is hard (a lot harder than I was expecting). But everything crossed the end outcome is worth every moment of this!

[Maggie9000]

@AliciaWhiskers please please don't be hard on yourself. I believe the alternating sides is more to save your abdomen skin rather than evening up drug distribution or anything like that. If it's any consolation, this is my 4th cycle of ICSI and I'd much much prefer a lower number of follies to large numbers as in theory the egg quality is better with lower numbers. Don't write it off yet, there's still a way to go and much could change.

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 my 2nd cycle I nearly got OHSS, similar numbers to you and quite poor quality embryos, I was poorly and everything was against me but it resulted in my little boy. (Nausea stayed!)

I guess my point is, there are so many variables involved in this and nothing means more than anything else if that makes sense? There isn't a more important variable that equals instant fail if it isn't what Google says it should be...
Not sure that makes sense but you're both still very much on the right track, just keep plugging away because it's totally worth it.

[Namechangerextraordinaire1]

@AliciaWhiskers sounds like you had a really tough day yesterday, hoping today is better for you! I think Maggie is right, the alternating is only to be easier on your skin rather than anything to do with the drug.

@Maggie9000 thanks for your success story. I also totally understand what you mean. It's so easy to think "oh no! So and so has better numbers/better quality embryo etc etc, it's bound to not work now" but it doesn't always follow. It's also so tenpting to try and analyse everything, but ultimately there's a 50/50 chance. It either works, or it doesn't! I suppose all we can do is try and relax and take each day as it comes. Thanks x

[AliciaWhiskers]

Thanks @Maggie9000 and @namechangerextraordinaire1. Feeling slightly better today, although so so tired. Feel like I could sleep for a week, but instead I need to tidy the house as I’ve got a house inspection tomorrow.

Thanks for the positivity. I know that there are so many variables and I just need to accept what I’ve got and hope for the best. That’s all any of us can do I guess!

Have you got a scan today @Maggie9000?

[Maggie9000]

Morning both, scan today showed kissing ovaries (every time!) - biggest follicles 14 - 17mm and smaller ones 12mm. Oestrogen levels checked again due to OHSS risk (sound familiar @Namechangerextraordinaire1?!) Back for another scan tomorrow, I'll have to take my lad with me as he has an inset day and grandparents are all on holiday . EC Monday by the looks of it.

@AliciaWhiskers glad you're feeling a bit better today

[Namechangerextraordinaire1]

What day of stims are you @Maggie9000. Yes that does sound familiar indeed least they're keeping an eye on you! I have a scan tomorrow too. Luckily not having to take my daughter! How old is your boy?

[Maggie9000]

I'm on day 8. I've always responded quickly so it's not come as a surprise.
My lad is 7, he'll find it really interesting that he was made in the building we're going to - and thankfully it won't be a long winded appt else boredom will set in! We've chosen an early morning appt so we can get on and take him out for the day.
So we're all being scanned tomorrow!!

[AliciaWhiskers]

@Maggie9000 are kissing ovaries when they are touching? Is that because they are so big atm? I’ve never heard of that before. Cute that your son is so interested in where he was “made”, hope the scan goes well tomorrow. Lovely that you get a day together after you have had the scan.

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 another one having a scan tomorrow! How old is your daughter?

I am wondering if I don’t have PCOS at all?! I was diagnosed 10 years ago when TYC my first, but they scanned me not long after I had stopped taking the pill, and I have read that long term pill use can make ovaries appear polycystic. I had a scan about 2 years ago which showed no cysts at all, and none of these scans have showed my ovaries to look polycystic either. Wonder if I actually need a higher dose of meds?! Will ask tomorrow.

[AliciaWhiskers]

Random question. How is everyone’s partners doing/feeling about the IVF? Do you talk about it a lot? My partner had 4 failed rounds of IVF with his ex, and is very quiet about how he is feeling at the moment. (It doesn’t help that he is working away for the 4 weeks of the ivf cycle! He will come and meet me at the clinic for EC/to do his semen sample, but otherwise he is not around, which I find hard and disconnecting anyway). So I’m feeling a bit alone on this and wondering how other partners are being?

[Namechangerextraordinaire1]

@Maggie9000 that will be quite cool for him then, does he know all about how he was made? And does he know you're trying for a sibling? What do you have planned for the day afterwards?
@AliciaWhiskers my daughter just turned 10, it was her birthday on Tuesday in fact! Did they diagnose your pcos based purely on ultrasounds? Theres a list of criteria online that I believe doctors use and you have to meet a certain number of them to be classed as having pcos. Dont remember it all off the top of my head, but I think it goes on hormone blood test results, polycystic ovaries on a scan, absent and/or irregular periods, excessive hair and probably some other stuff I forget. I dont have excessive hair really, but I have the other 3 on the list.
In terms of how my partner is doing, he is all right. In the lead up to it I found him quite frustrating at times as he just didn't seem interested in it and I asked him countless times if he even wanted to do it. Now we are in the thick of it he has been really good, although has never been much of a talker to be fair.
It must be tough for you being apart for the cycle, I can see that would make it difficult for both of you.

How is everyone feeling today. I've not felt so bad today, which is good, but then I think "hold up, WHY don't I feel as bad?" Just not happy either way, am I? Lol. I actually think it's possibly skmething to do with only having 75iu of menopur last night instead of 150. Im back up to 150 tonight. Im a bit concerned as my follies dont seem to be growing that fast, I just have a lot of them. Wondering if dropping it for a day will have slowed them down wven more

[Maggie9000]

Evening! We've just got back from an evening on Minehead beach.
@AliciaWhiskers kissing ovaries is where they are so big they're touching. Can certainly feel it too!!! I have Polycystic Ovaries, but not the syndrome so no weight gain or excess hair, even my periods are fairly regular. Regards to DP's this cycle of ICSI was his idea so he's keen as mustard but on the flip I'm worried he'll have his hopes all pinned on this one round as there won't be anymore. Must be really hard doing the bulk of it alone?

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 glad to see you're feeling a bit brighter, have your clinic taken bloods to check E2 levels? My lad doesn't really understand where he came from (my tummy) so tomorrow may well just be like another hospital appt to him. Are everyone's scans early?

[AliciaWhiskers]

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 it was so long ago I’ve sort of forgotten! I def had a raised LH (and I still do), ovaries looked polycystic in scanning, and after I stopped the pill I didn’t have any periods. That’s how I got diagnosed. I’m not overweight, none of the hair etc. But now, other than the raised LH, I don’t have any of the other things. My periods are really regular and my ovaries look normal. So who knows! As far as I know it doesn’t just get better, so maybe I was misdiagnosed in the first place? The clinic were worried about OHSS because of the diagnosis, but no chance of that! I have a 10 year old too (and a 7 year old). Was your 10 year old an IVF baby too?

@Maggie9000 lush day for an evening on the beach! I’ve not been to minehead before - would you recommend?

As for partners, my DP isn’t much of a talker either. He always seems to take things in his stride and not be worried about anything. I’m quite jealous of that trait as I worry about everything! I had no idea before we started what to expect, or how I would feel, and so when this job came up for him we talked it through and I said I was ok for him to do it. If I had my time over again, I might do it differently. Just for him to be around a bit more and for us to talk about how it’s all going. It’s hard via text, and he has no phone signal once he leaves work, so we don’t get a chance to talk in the evenings either :( It’s only for a short time but it’s just shit timing! I worry he is finding it hard (because of what he went through with his ex) and he’s just not telling me. Or maybe he really is ok about it?!

My scan is at 9. What about everyone else’s?

[Namechangerextraordinaire1]

@Maggie9000 how lovely, are you quite close to the beach? I'd love to live near enough to pop there, our nearest beach is a couple of hours away though! I haven't had my hormones checked yet - the nurse mentioned it after Wednesdays scan but said it wouldn't change their plan of action between wed and fri anyway so no real reason to do it. I do have one after today's scan though. My appointment is 8.10, nice and early :) so that's mine and alicia's early, what about you?
@AliciaWhiskers oh that's nice that you alresdy have children, I wasn't sure from your other posts! Are they boys or girls? Mine is a natural pregnancy with a previous partner. It's interesting what you say about pcos not getting better, as I was led to believe that you always have it and it doesn't just develop. Having said that, although my periods never used to be like clockwork I would always have a monthly cycle up til I was 29 when it just completely stopped and the only periods I have had in the past 4 years are ones induced by either provera or clomid. So if it can come on from nowhere, I don't see why it can't just disappear, surely?! It must be really hard doing the bulk of it alone, especially if he isn't even contactable at times. Where does he work? And when is he home?

[Maggie9000]

Morning both,
My scan is at 9.15 so we'll all be able to report back shortly! We're just driving up now.
@Namechangerextraordinaire1 we're an hour from the beaches either north or south of us so we spend a lot of time there, either just to mooch or to take the dinghy out.
@AliciaWhiskers definitely don't recommend Minehead!!! It seems to attract strange people and the beach is horrible but it suits us for a dog walk and an evening out.
Hope you both have good results from your scans, we've taken the day off work to take the small one out on the dinghy
I'm having to wear liners because of the extreme watery conditions down below never known anything like it! Everything is really spongy as well? These drugs have a lot to answer for...DP keeps getting 'excited' about it hahahaha!

[AliciaWhiskers]

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 hope scan has been ok today. I have 2 boys, also from a previous relationship. Eldest was conceived using clomid, as I had no cycles at all back then, and the youngest was a bit of a miracle! My current partner has male factor infertility, hence the ICSI this time. Yes I see what you mean about the PCOS symptoms suddenly starting, and maybe can go again. I’ll try and ask when I’m at my appointment!

[AliciaWhiskers]

@Maggie9000 lol about Minehead!! I have taken the boys to Brean splash once, which they loved, but haven’t been to minehead. I probably won’t either now given your write up of it! What sort of dog have you got? My partner has one, so I’m now a sort of step mum to her. She is very cute! She loves the beach! Also getting loads of EWCM today, and know what you mean about the wetness. Not sure what you mean by spongy though?! Hope your scan goes well too

[AliciaWhiskers]

Wonder what it means when the nurse has to go out of the room to telephone the doctor after the scan?!

[AliciaWhiskers]

Right ovary doing absolutely nothing. Fewer follicles in there than when she scanned me on Wednesday - no idea how that happens. EC likely to be on Wednesday. What happens then with ET? Would it either be 2 day or 5 day, because of the weekend? About 5 reasonable size follicles on the left.

[Maggie9000]

@@AliciaWhiskers the ET depends on how the embryos are developing. I've never had a 5 day transfer as my embryos are always poor quality and don't reach blast stage. They also do transfers on a Saturday so 3 day transfer isn't ruled out. Really interesting about your right ovary although not what you want to hear. Your left ovary is taking one for the team and doing all the work by the sounds of it!
EC for me is Monday, they've said if they manage to collect over 20 eggs they'll do a freeze all which I really don't want :( fingers crossed my E2 levels stay low today.

[Namechangerextraordinaire1]

Really quick update from me for now, will go into more detail later and catch up with everyone else. But of a crap scan earlier...I now have 60!!! Follicles and have been told no way can they do a fresh transfer so defo a freeze all for me. Been given medication to reduce risk of OHSS and theyve changed my trigger shot too to try and reduce it. Not sure how I feel. If I get embryos good enough to freeze I dont mind so much, although it is disappointing, but I'm conscious they might be crap quality and therefore not suitable for freezing and this will have all been for absolutely nothing

[AliciaWhiskers]

@Maggie9000 and @Namechangerextraordinaire1 big hugs for you both. It’s not been the best morning for news has it?!

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 hope you are feeling ok with so many follicles. 60 is just astonishing! I can constantly feel my left ovary with about 5 follies, goodness knows what you must be feeling like with so many! How long a gap do they leave it between EC and a transfer when it’s a freeze all cycle? Does it happen in the next cycle or do they wait a bit longer?

@Maggie9000 hope you have a super day on the boat and it takes your mind off things. If they do a freeze all it will be for your safety, and i would trust they know what they are doing. It’s still frustrating when it’s not what you want or thought would happen though.

[AliciaWhiskers]

I had no idea this would be such an emotional rollercoaster. I have also spent time this mornnng wondering if it’s all going to be for nothing. BUT it’s not over yet. I’m trying to stay positive and keep on keeping on. You with me?