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?

[AliciaWhiskers]

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 wow 47 eggs! Sorry to hear you are feeling a bit rough after EC, I reckon you have done exactly the right thing by putting on your PJs and hanging out on the sofa. Hopefully you've got some crap TV to binge watch and nice food to eat (given how hungry you were before!). Are you on a freeze all too?

I feel like the next 48 hours are going to drag SO MUCH!

Trigger tonight at 10.30pm. Eeeek!

[AliciaWhiskers]

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 are they progesterone injections? My stomach is so full of bruises, I look terrible! Hope you still have some room to inject somewhere!

[Nan0second]

Just wanted to say Hi and join you if that’s ok...
I’m on day 3 into a frozen embryo transfer.
I had a miscarriage 5 years ago with a fresh icsi cycle and then a frozen embryo pregnancy with my DD(4).
I’m feeling very emotional. This new cycle has brought back all the awful feelings of first time round.
I’m fairly ambivalent about the outcome. I feel we have a great life as we are but my DH is very broody and we are not coping having 2 embryos left in the freezer so have decided to go for it (although it will be elective single transfer).
Thanks for listening x

[AliciaWhiskers]

Hi @Nan0second, welcome! Are you on day 3 of your cycle, or day 3 post transfer? I haven't been through this before, but have found it to be much more emotionally challenging than I thought. Fingers crossed you have a positive outcome :)

[Namechangerextraordinaire1]

Hi @Nan0second, I bet all the old feelings are coming back and bringing back all sorts of feelings.

@AliciaWhiskers I'm not sure what they are, but you and @Maggie9000 have mentioned them before - fyremandel or something like that. I've only managed one slice of bread so far, have felt really sick and dizzy today 😞
Interested to hear how many fertilised tomorrow. Trying to keep my expectations low. I know that probably sounds negative but I'd rather think the worst and be pleasantly surprised than think fab numbers and be disappointed!

[AliciaWhiskers]

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 ah, the fyremadel are to stop ovulation. Maybe it's because there are still a lot of small follicles, they don't want them to develop and for you to ovulate? That's my best guess anyway. I think I have a similar outlook in that I'll expect the worst and be happy for anything better than that! Hope you feel better soon. Keep drinking loads, it's meant to be good for OHSS

[AliciaWhiskers]

Morning ladies, how are you all doing today?

Hope you are both feeling ok after EC. Mine is tomorrow morning. We have to travel to Cardiff for it (based in Bristol) so will make sure we've got a sick bucket in the car just in case. I'm a bit terrified of being sick, so I'm a bit worried about that tomorrow. I was really sick after I gave birth to my first (even though I'd had an anti sickness injection) and I've never had a sedation/anaesthetic before so no idea what I'll be like with those drugs. Argh, I am always worrying about something!

[Nan0second]

Hi
Yes, Now day 4 since my period started so on oestradiol.
Feeling very hormonal already and it’s barely started!
At least FET is much easier than a fresh cycle - hopefully only one scan and then the transfer day.

Thinking of those waiting to hear re fertilisation and development.
The waiting is awful.

[Namechangerextraordinaire1]

@AliciaWhiskers I have a sickness phobia so I'm really struggling with all this nausea! You'll hoprfully be fine though! I hadn't been sedated since I was a child and I wasn't ill after that, just bad luck yesterday I think.
I'm feeling pretty rough still, I actually felt fine all morning then had a nap and woke up feeling rubbish again :( Good luck for tomorrow, keep us updated.

@Nan0second bless you, at least like you say a FET is easier than a fresh cycle. I'm in no rush for another fresh cycle, I don't know how people can do 3 in a year. I feel like I won't wanna go again for at least a year lol. Hope you feel less hormonal soon. When are you pencilled in for transfer, or don't you know yet?

I had the update to say that out of 47 eggs, 36 were mature and of those, 28 fertilised. Realy good numbers, I'm hoping that a good few of them develop well. I know numbers will drop off through the next few days, but I really hope we get at least a couple of strong embies.
I genuinely feel awful still. Slightly better than yesterday thankfully, but still gross. I'm so worried about ohss. Also, my daughter has dance show rehearsals this week as well as the actual show at the weekend. I just don't have the energy to sort all her stuff out, so I'm stressing!

[AliciaWhiskers]

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 I sympathise, I have emetophobia too and it’s awful. I completely shut down when I’m feeling sick so I am really worried about tomorrow. At least DP will be there and can manage the kids if I’m feeling really bad because often I just can’t function at all. I really hope you feel better soon. Super news about all those embryos! That’s amazing!

@Maggie9000 how are you doing? Hope all is ok with you

@Nan0second keep in keeping on lovely. Hope the next few days fly by for you - it’ll be transfer day before you know it!

[AliciaWhiskers]

Sorry for typos - typing whilst walking!

[Maggie9000]

Hi all,
@Namechangerextraordinaire1 I'm right there with you with the pain :( I'm functioning better today but still in lots of pain. Really hope yours eases soon, amazing news about your embryos though! That's a pretty good fertilisation rate!

@AliciaWhiskers all the best for tomorrow, it'll be fine, try and relax - they're so so good at their job and will make sure you're comfortable.

Hi @Nan0second, will be keeping an eye on your progress with your FET. I've only ever done fresh cycles but now this one has been deferred I'll be joining the FET club which is all new to me! I don't think I'm going to be on any drugs though?

I'm still in pain, but functioning and getting on with things. I'll be getting my phone call tomorrow about how many embryos we have and their likely development. I'm actually kind of relieved of the little break before we have it transferred, my body has gone through more than I probably realised.

[Namechangerextraordinaire1]

@Maggie9000 do you have much nausea? I'm feeling so sick on and off I'm really struggling to function. In one way I'm lucky that I'm no longer with dd's dad, as he is taking her for a few days and I can concentrate on feeling better.
@AliciaWhiskers ah, a fellow emetophobe! I'm usually far more bothered about someone else being sick, but turns out I'm actually freaking out a lot about me now. Usually I only freak out if dd is ill, I'm absolutely useless with her when she's sick, poor kid. Luckily she doesn't get sick often! I'm keeping everything down so far, but I feel like it's beena close call a couple of times

[Namechangerextraordinaire1]

Oh and @Maggie9000 I'm 100% with you on the break for the body, I think we've pushed them really far and need to recognise that and take a step back to recover

[Maggie9000]

I don't have any nausea, I actually feel ok apart from the pain. I don't suffer from period pain or any tummy pain generally so it's kicking my ass a bit :(

[Namechangerextraordinaire1]

@Maggie9000 oh no, I hope it eases off soon. I feel a little better today, but then I thought that yesterday morning and then it came back to bite me on the butt!! Id just like to be able to eat and drink without feeling ill! My pain is less today too, hopefully that stays the same. Ive been hobbling everywhere hunched over because it hurts so much!
@AliciaWhiskers good luck for your collection today, let us know how it goes

[AliciaWhiskers]

EC this morning. Feeling a bit freaked out by it all. We’re you given antibiotics to take? They have given me a 5 day course to take to avoid infection - is that normal?

[Namechangerextraordinaire1]

I didn't have antibiotics but I have read on other forums that it's quite common. Keep us updated!

[Maggie9000]

@AliciaWhiskers how are you feeling? Do you know how many eggs they got? Take it easy the next few days.

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 have you had an update on your embryos?? Glad you're feeling a bit better :)

So we have 13 embryos, some top quality. They'll call again tomorrow with another update. I've just had a call from hospital to arrange to take my gallbladder out on 18th July....which is keyhole. I don't want to tell the clinic I'm having it done as I'm worried it'll put us back another month but DP thinks we should say something....

[AliciaWhiskers]

Hello all. Survived EC, but felt terrible all day (really nauseous despite an anti sickness injection) and I’ve just spent the whole day asleep. Feeling slightly better now.

Very few eggs collected, which is really disappointing, although it’s kind of what I expected as I think some of them would have been too big by the time I got to collection. Got to keep everything crossed now that they manage to fertilise them.

How are you doing @Namechangerextraordinaire1 and @Maggie9000? Are you feeling better yet with the sickness and pain? @Maggie9000 I completely understand your reluctance about telling the clinic about your gall bladder op, but I would be honest and let them give you their opinion as to the best thing to do. You’ve come all this way, and you need your body to be ready to receive that little embryo. I know it’s frustrating, but a small delay I think would be better than having an ET too soon if you are having an op. Does keyhole still require a general anaesthetic?

@Nan0second hope you are doing ok too.

[Namechangerextraordinaire1]

@AliciaWhiskers sorry you've been feeling rough all day. I was exactly the same, it's not pleasant is it. Fingers crossed you get some good quality embies at least.
@Maggie9000 that's fab news about 13 embies!! Way to go. Hope you're feeling better today? I would also mention it to the clinic. You're having a freeze all too aren't you? So I guess the op wil be over and done with before you have them transferred, or would it push the transfer back even further? I'm not sure if it affects anything, but I would say something too. Better safe than sorry!

As for me I am feeling a lot better today thanks. First day since Monday that I haven't slept most of the day away. I've also got dressed today and taken the dog for a very slow amble round the block. No further updates until tomorrow on the embryos, had 28 fertilised so be interesting to see how they have fared onto day 3 tomorrow. Hopefully we get a few decent ones to freeze otherwise I will be beyond devastated, not going to lie!

[Meganlouise1988]

Hi guys, I’m new to the forum and about to start IVF and just needed somewhere to chat and find out what to expect!! Sorry I don’t know how to tag usernames...it’s been really interesting to read your experiences so thank you for sharing!!! Ive read old threads but there’s something comforting knowing people are at a similar time to us

We were trying to conceive for around 2 years. I had various tests (automatically assumed it was me) and all was ok (although my FSH is 9.1 and AMH 12, I thought these pointed to slightly low ovarian reserve but I’m not sure if this is the case). My partner was tested and it came back with no sperm at all. To cut a long story short, we now know he carries a cystic fibrosis gene which means he cannot ejaculate sperm. We have our next appointment next Friday 12th July, in which we will discuss booking my partners operation to retrieve sperm and then start IVF with ICSI. Any idea on how quickly it happens after this app? We’re in Leicester.

I’m just a little anxious about what to expect and how I can prepare myself? How many eggs would people expect to retrieve?

Unsure if people would be interested but I have just had my second session of acupuncture and I can’t believe how much it’s helping already. It’s definitely helped me to relax and has somehow just induced a period - she said my womb was stagnated and did some work to get things moving. I feel like it’s too good to be true but trying to be positive! My friend had unexplained infertility and conceived after her second session!

Apologies for the long post, I don’t really know the protocol with forums! But any advice would be much appreciated. Sending you all lots of luck and hope you all receive positive results. Xxx

[Nan0second]

Thanks I am doing ok. Day 10 scan for endometrial thickness on Monday. Transfer should be either day 19 or hopefully 20 as I have to work on day 19. I may have to go alone if DH can’t get out of work. I also have no childcare so it’s all going to be very difficult.
Medicated FET is relatively easy physically fortunately though :)

Hoping for good fertilisation and growth rates for you all who are at that stage.

Good luck with your Leicester appointment @meganlouise1988

[Namechangerextraordinaire1]

Hi @Meganlouise1988! I'm not sure on the timings I'm afraid, I guess so much depends on your area and how busy they are etc. Really hope they can give you more info on the 12th and that your wait isn't too long! As for what to expect....for me, I think it was a mixed bag. Injecting myself every day was fine, but I did feel horribly sick and extremely bloated through much of the treatment (then again, I did retrieve 47 eggs so that's not a surprise!!). I found egg collection pretty unpleasant too, but I was expecting it to be horrible and the procedure itself was better than expected, but recovery worse. And now I'm just waiting to see if I develop OHSS, otherwise I am feeling fine at the moment (really hoping I didn't just jinx myself!) Having said that, everyone is different! Some people sail through it with no issues and others find it very difficult. As for number of eggs, my doctor said the average is between 8 and 12. Feel free to ask questions - I don't want to tell you you will feel x, y and z because we are all so different!!! Also this is only my first cycle, so I'm no expert!
@Nan0second I hope that Monday goes well for you and that you get a day 20 transfer. What sort of drugs etc are you on for a FET? And what sort of timeline did you have, if you don't mind me asking? I'm intrigued by what we will need for it. Also, I was expecting drugs for a fresh cycle to cost very little as I have pcos and probabky would respind really well....but we spent near on £1500 as we had to buy a different trigger and more injections for after egg collection etc! I'm seriously hoping (and expecting) fet costs to be way lower. Do you still need progesterone pessaries? We already have those!
I'm waiting for a day 3 update on our embies. So very nervous. We had a great figure fertilised but no guarantees for good quality!

[AliciaWhiskers]

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 really glad to hear you are starting to feel better. Fingers crossed for a good update on your embryos today.

@Meganlouise1988 welcome :) I'm sorry that they have picked up an issue with your partner's sperm, but at least they know what it is now and can make a plan to move forward. I would imagine that the IVF could happen quite quickly after the sperm retrieval operation, but it's difficult to know how busy difference clinics are. We are paying privately - will you be on the NHS? Good luck on your journey, it's good to have some support on here from people who are going through something similar.

@Maggie9000 how are you doing?

Embryologist has called and we have some embryos! Whoop! Not many, but I was really worried he would call and say we had none, so it's good news from here. Keeping everything crossed that they develop ok.