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?

Back to work tomorrow. I thought my bloating was gone but I've just tried my work clothes on for tomorrow and my trousers still feel like they're really tight. Maybe I've just gained weight in general? How's everyone else feeling weight wise?!

Hi everyone, mind if I join you?

Was on the board at the end of last year, Nov/Dec ICSI, but had a BFN fresh cycle, then had a BFN Frozen cycle at the end of February too.
Had our final 2 Frozen 5 day blasts transferred on Friday 28th June and have been driving myself potty ever since, obsessing about everything!!!!
Have actually had BFPs of varying strengths every day since 4dp5dt, but I’m in full scale panic mode. My official test day isn’t til Thursday, so I can’t tell the clinic, husband doesn’t want to acknowledge it until clinic verifies it, and there isn’t another soul on earth who knows what we’re doing!!
Is anybody at a Care clinic? Do you know if they do beta tests? Feel like I need some kind of reassurance that I’m not just imagining everything ...plus as I’m getting on a bit I can’t help googling miscarriage statistics and getting myself even more wound up.
Sorry for rambling on - feel like I’ve got it all pent up inside 😬

Ooooh huge congratulations!!!! I am with Care northampton, which one are you with? I don't believe they do beta tests, it was never mentioned to me, but I haven't actually that far

I’m at Manchester.
Thinking of phoning tomorrow, but fear I may just get in trouble for the early testing.

Hi @Cantrip, I don't think you'll very in trouble for testing early, we all do it and clinics are well aware of that! I do however think you'll be asked to wait until your official test day before they'll offer additional testing though. Congratulations :)
@Namechangerextraordinaire1 I'm so so bloaty, I'm actually really keen to see af for once!! I've also got continuous dull aching/ period pain which isn't going and is becoming quite exhausting. It's not so painful that I can't do anything, we're playing squash later, but it's there you know?
@AliciaWhiskers very best of luck today, slightly jealous that you get your transfer today! Really really rooting for you x

No really update from me, I'm desperate to have a decent poo (gall bladder issues don't help) and for AF to come (although not due for a week) - we ended up with 4 blasts to freeze in the end so chuffed to bits.

@Maggie9000 and @Namechangerextraordinaire1
So pleased about the frozen stores. That’s such good news.
@Cantrip I have been with care Nottingham for a fresh and a frozen cycle. They have never done a beta hcg, just booked a scan at 8 weeks post lmp. I never tested early but positive is positive so it’s just a waiting game and keeping going with progesterone... good luck.

I had my day 10 scan this morning. Endometrium only 6mm so had a blood test and will need MDT and another scan at minimum. Really fucked off with my body to be honest. This too will pass, I realise but I can’t be bothered with it all.

@Maggie9000 oh I hope the pain passes. I had it really bad the last couple of days but actually got af this morning which was a surprise as only 7 days past collection. Seems very early but not a biggie, I guess it just means fet is a tiny bit closer lol.
@Nan0second I'm sorry your body isn't behaving. It's so frustrating when it just won't cooperate isn't it

Yes I’m very annoyed.
There are adding 2 more oestradiol vaginally on top of the three orally 🙄
Repeat scan Thursday
I don’t think it’s going to thicken up to be honest. My periods have been very light since I had an emergency Caesarean section followed by an embedded mirena that has left scarring on the posterior wall and I think we will find that it’s permanent damage.
I may, of course, be overthinking things and have run 25 steps ahead - it’s just a gut feeling at present. I’m not too worried though - I’m just annoyed(!)

@Cantrip did you give the clinic a call? I'm sure they won't tell you off for testing early. Fingers crossed all goes well for you!

@Maggie9000 excellent news about your 5 blasts - that's great! How did the squash go? I am still walking sooooooooooo slowly!! I had to run across the road earlier to avoid getting run over and that was hard enough, let alone a game of squash! You asked earlier upthread about whether it's still possible to get pregnant naturally on an IVF cycle. My understanding is that you can - you might still ovulate before/after EC, so it's possible. There was a lady somewhere who ended up with triplets - identical twins and a singleton - because they had sex during IVF and got pregnant naturally and had one blast put back which split to become the identical twins! Something like that anyway! Is your aching central, or to one side? I've still got pain in my left ovary - the one that did all the work!

@Nan0second - sorry to hear your body isn't behaving, hope the drugs do their thing and the scan on Thursday shows some improvement.

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 how are you doing? How's the bloating today? My weight hasn't gone up, but my stomach looks massive. I'm glad it's summer and I can wear floaty dresses!

ET happened today, and we got one for the freezer :) Beyond happy given the low numbers we had. Now in the dreaded 2ww!!!

@AliciaWhiskers congratulations on making it to the 2ww
One for the freezer too is great. Good luck

@AliciaWhiskers - no I didn’t call, I kind of assume they’ll just tell me to test again on Thursday.

Have now tested everyday since last Tuesday. Think I’ve tried every test there is 🙄
Today I got 2-3 weeks on a digi, which is hopefully a good sign. I’m now 10dp5dt.
Have never felt so impatient about anything! Have you guys told anyone other than partner about your treatment? I’ve nearly blurted it out so many times today 😬

@AliciaWhiskers omg!!! Huge congrats on being pupo AND one in the freezer, that's great news. Really really pleased for you.
I'm even more bloated today since af arrived. I also have pmt x10000. I'm so mad. And so sad. I nearly cried twice at work today. I also tried some new bras on as mine are far too small and my stomach in the mirror looked so huge I nearly cried again. Need to pull myself together really!!

@Nan0second it's funny you say that, i didn't have a c section but my periods hve been lighter since my daughter was born. Also, I did have the copper coil which they think was lodged somewhere it shouldn't be, before dislodging itself and falling out. I also now have a blocked fallopian tube. No way of proving it one way or another, but im convinced that the coil caused scar tissue there which blocked it. I hope your gut feeling is wrong and Thursday shows a nice thick lining for you

Oh and @Cantrip that's so exciting. It's all looking so promising for you, eeeek!!!! I have told a few friends and my close family. Nobody else knows but I keep almost letting things slip at work. I've deliberately not mentioned it to them, so have to catch myself just in time! I'm not surprised your finding it even harder right now with all the excitement

I really would want to keep it a secret for as long as possible. We have older kids and I wouldn’t want them knowing until I’ve seen a heartbeat at least. It’s been a nightmare keeping the treatment a secret from them!!
To say that people will be shocked if I tell them I’m pregnant again is a massive understatement... but it’s very difficult not to drop into conversation when it’s basically the ONLY thing on my mind!!

@Cantrip seeing 2-3 weeks on the test must be a great feeling :) Only a handful of people IRL know - 3 people at work, and 2 friends, one of whom had her own very long IVF journey before finally having her baby earlier this year so she’s been super helpful to talk to. I haven’t told family etc. It’s hard not saying stuff though. I’ve got to come up with a reason why I wasn’t at work today, as my team are bound to ask! How old are your children?

@Namechangerextraordinaire1 aw man that sounds like a hard day. Hope you are taking it easy tonight and doing something nice for yourself. I’m with you on the bloating - my stomach tonight is MASSIVE! Hope it settles for us both soon

@AliciaWhiskers - our kids are 14. 13, 11 & 9! The clinic say we’re a very unusual couple to treat, as we’ve been together 23 years and already have 4 kids, all conceived quickly and naturally!! I was coerced into having my tubes tied during my csection with number 4. I regretted it the same day, and have spent the last 9 years cursing myself for agreeing to it. This is the first time since then that we’ve had enough money to be able to afford treatment. I realise many people will judge our situation as odd!

@Cantrip wow, what a story :) It doesn’t matter what anybody thinks, it’s what is Right for you that matters. Best of luck to you and your DP

@Cantrip my mum has lots of children then decided no more. After 5 years she decided I want one more but didn't conceive naturally so she visited a fertility clinic. I had tagged along so it really doesn't matter how many you already have. What matters is that you want more. I see that people will keep telling you that you are so lucky and should just leave it. I think you should go for it, The more the merrier in a loving family.

Please let us know how you get on please x fingers crossed

I wanted to explain my situation. I just turned 40. low AMH. no other cause for low fertility.
1st: we had short protocol ivf - one embryo- BFN.
2nd: long protocol and a scratch one embryo- BFP and a healthy baby
3rd: long protocol- two embryos- BFN.
4th: long protocol- 3 embryos transferred - BFP chemical pregnancy.

I get low number of follicles each cycle and maximum eggs are 5 and max fertilise 3 with ICSI.

I really don't know why my dr advised ICSI because we have normal sperm count and shape etc!

I am keen to try again. Twin pregnancy isn't scary for us. We would love lots of kids if it happened naturally or with IVF.

I feel a little lost at the moment. My family advise me to try with a new clinic and new dr just for a fresh start.

I'm in london so i can in theory attend lots of clinics and I do like London bridge as a location as easy to get to and from on my way to work.

I heard some talk about mild IVF etc and about uterus blood flow scans- i'm not very sure what I'm asking

😔😔😔

Hi @facevalue, welcome! Has your current clinic said what they would plan to do next? I guess it depends if you are happy with their plan, or want to start again somewhere else. The clinic Create do mild ivf, but I don’t know much about it or even if it’s in London. They do open evenings though and have an online web chat so you could find out more from that?

Hi @facevalue. Sounds like you're at a bit of a crossroads. I looked into mild ivf as I have pcos and didn't really want to take loads of drugs, but in the end the higher success rates of conventionl ivf won me over. I do think there are some benefits to it though and if you never get many eggs it might help with quality? Ive heard people saying that they think the usual ivf drugs frazzle their eggs. I'm sure they do have a clinic in London, I want to say St Pauls (although could a) be wrong and b) thats the clinic name and not location!!). Could be worth looking into. Im hoping we have success nd have paid for 2 cycles but if they don't work ill probably either look abroad or try mild.

Do you have a strong feeling either way about whether to stay or go with a new clinic?

i don't mind taking the drugs to be honest I only care about true success rates. I didn't like the CREATE open evening - it felt like a money making process ( which ofcourse they are all after but it was too in your face for my sensitive heart) . it's not for me. but goodluck to the people registered with them x

Now you mention it, I think I have heard that before about them!! And I know what you mean, they're all in it to make a profit but some of them care nore than others about the patients!!!

Endometrium now finally over 8mm so transfer planned for late next week.
Day 5 blast to go back next Thursday afternoon if it survives defrosting...

@Nan0second congrats on having a nice thick endometrium! Why do they leave it another week before doing ET? (Sorry for ignorant question, don't know anything about FET cycles)