July/August IVF/ICSI/FET

[TinyPaws]

Hi everyone,

Thought I'd start a thread for those of us undergoing fertility treatment in July/August.

I'm (hopefully) having a FET late July/early August, anyone else want to hop on this thread for the ride?

@Dlpdep good luck to you with your FET. Take some time out to spoil yourself. We’re self funding as we already have a child so NHS won’t find any IVF, which I completely understand to be honest.

So I am the former caityprice btw. I changed my user name just because I felt paranoid as it was vaguely connected to (but not) my real name and my DH was like: why does everyone else have anonymous names and yours seems like a real one! So I freaked out. :)

@TinyPaws - don’t give up hope yet! Have you told your clinic about the bleeding? Also that’s awful about your CCG writing out same sex couples. Are they allowed to that?! Could you complain to your MP?

@Brambles7 - great that trigger is done! Fingers crossed for a smooth egg collection and a good number of good quality ones.

@Dlpdep @Peanut1980 @elleceedee - hope you’re all doing okay.

@Onisa7 - I wouldn’t stress just yet. I was worried too about ovulating early, and it can happen, but it seems to be very, very rare (although I think someone in this thread had it once). But they really do know what they’re doing with that stuff, and everyone’s symptoms are different. Stay strong until your scan!

@Marmite83 did I see you on the babies due in April thread? I read through a lot of it but felt too weird to join. In this group I’ve always felt like I belong, but I felt weird and out of place amongst all the ‘normal’ pregnant people. I don’t know if it’s because it’s too early to feel like it’s really worked, or if it’s just they all seem so different because they haven’t been on this journey.

I guess I was expecting after a BFP that I would fit with regular pregnant people, but I really feel like I don’t. (Not that I am complaining AT ALL - no complaints from me ever given how lucky I feel to have the BFP). Just a really weird place to be in. Maybe will be better after a scan.

@TinyPaws thanks, I am doing much better! Back to my cautiously optimistic self. I think I felt like I had a lot more drugs somehow on this past (failed) FET cycle than I did on my first fresh (successful) one and I think it contributed to my stress. It just felt quite heavy on my body. That's not to say that that is the reason it didn't work but just that if I were to feel comfortable enough to continue, it should be addressed and my consultant did so, so my next cycle will be a natural one with some progesterone supplementation after ET. I don't know if it's the right way to go, and perhaps I need more drugs than less! But it would def make me feel calmer and it's something I think.

Also my consultant suggested we don't do steroids yet and try one more time without and see. A bit torn about this too.. tough decisions!

We have 5 good/average quality embryos in the freeze so we could have a few goes in theory. It would be mostly up to whether We can take it to keep trying. Mentally and financially. Honestly I don't know.

And how rubbish same sex couples are not getting help where you are! Unacceptable.
Re: bubble, Hang in there! I think you are doing all the right things and you're in with every chance. I have a good feeling for you!

Goodness I wrote an essay. Sorry!

I’m very disappointed that you are not the real Katie Price! But probably unlikely with all the plastic surgery!

@dlpdep - 😂😂😂 Except doesn’t she also have like ten kids with slightly weird names?

@sometimesalways glad to hear you’re doing a bit better, and at least you have the five Frosties to give you some options. Big hugs.

@sometimesalways gives us essays, we love to read them.

@Passionfruit20 the other day I tried to explain to a good friend of mine who is pregnant how the feeling could be different when you conceive naturally or in an assisted way and she couldn't really get it. But it must be hard for someone that hasn't gone through this to understand the costs (emotionally, psychologically, financially, etc etc) so I don't take it in the wrong way (same as you I'm sure).

So, the scan happened and I have 6 follicles growing (out of 12) which left me a bit sad and worried and only 1 is of good size (18mm) so I'm gonna carry on with injections for another 2 days and go back Friday to see.
What I found weird is that they are not doing any blood tests to control hormonal levels. Has anyone done any throughout your treatments?

@onisa7 I had blood tests every time I went for a scan. Not sure about everyone else? What clinic are you with?

6 isn’t loads, but remember the often-repeated “it only takes one” mantra. Some people have ended up with loads of eggs but barely any/none fertilised or grew well, so you never can say what’s better. Fingers crossed a few more grow well for Friday.

Will catch up properly later as at work at the moment but wanted to ask - has anyone had any issues getting their progynova prescription?

I had my follow up following my bfn with the clinic this morning and they’ve suggested doing a natural cycle next time not because of any reason other than there’s a progynova shortage across the UK apparently?!

I feel very nervous indeed about changing things - I’ve only ever done medicated FETs!

@elleceedee that does seem a bit of a random reason! Would it be worth waiting a cycle in case the issue is solved, if you know you would prefer medicated?

So just came from the clinic and we have 2 top quality embryos one is in the freezer and one in sitting in my tummy the 3rd one they are keeping untill tomorrow to see if it catches up but it’s not looking likely but I fill very lucky with what I have so not just have to wait until the 2nd of sept to test excited/nervous

@Lola124 good luck!! That's great news

That fab news @Lola124. I hope that envy gets nice and comfy in there. Good luck 🤞🙏😘

Great news @Lola124, good luck!

@elleceedee that does seem like a strange reason. Surely you could ring round to see if anyone has stock anyway. So annoying we can't return unopened meds, I have a whole box of Progynova at home because I didn't need them in the end.

Yes @Passionfruit20, I'm on that thread, I do feel a little out of place though. Don't think they'd be very impressed if I started talking about Crinone clear outs and medication side effects! We could always start a 'pregnancy after IVF' thread?

Amazing news @Lola124 ! Everything crossed for you and try and stay calm and distract yourself through the dreaded TWW :)

@marmite83 - can you imagine! I don’t think that thread would cope AT ALL . But yes, maybe we should start a separate thread :)

Thankyou ladies xx

@Passionfruit20 I'm at Guys Hospital ACU in London. I've always had my reservations about them because of the reviews I read online but we're doing through NHS at the moment so I don't know if the protocols are slightly different if it was in a private clinic. On Friday I'm definitely going to ask for a blood test.

@Lola124 that's amazing news!!! Now another waiting time but just distract yourself...Netflix and popcorn maybe? Best of luck!

@elleceedee I don't use that medication, sorry. But is there another one in the market that can mimic it? Maybe it's worth asking...

@onisa7 - that is super weird. Guys ACU is also my clinic, and as I said, I did bloods constantly. It could be because I have PCOS though, so was an OHSS risk. Maybe it means you’re actually in a better place? I would definitely ask though.

Ps. I HATE HATE HATE guys in terms of their awful admin, lack of communication and just never replying to you, ever. But medically they are good, and they got me a BFP, so here’s hoping they achieve the same for you.

@sometimesalways I’m glad you’re feeling a bit better and 5 is a good amount to have in the freezer! Is a hard hard process so you just have to do what’s best for you and as much as you can take.

@Lola124 that’s excellent news! Hope the 1 on board gets all snug in there and you have some nice treats planned for the next 2 weeks to help you through it

@Passionfruit20 I think having done ivf, a pregnancy is so special that it’s inevitable you’ll feel anxious and different to others for whom it wasn’t a struggle. You’ve been through experiences they can’t possibly imagine.

@Onisa7 my clinic hasn’t done many bloods on me at all either. They did a full blood count recently (because they were concerned I’d lost weight) but other than that they just have done scans.
Hope at your next scan the follicles have come along a bit more but it only takes one - at this stage you don’t know the quality and it’s quality you want.

I’m feeling surprisingly calm tonight - last time before collection I was an anxious wreck. I think it’s easier knowing what to expect tomorrow and I have more follicles growing this time.

@Brambles7 Good luck for tomorrow

@Onisa7 Glad you have some follicles growing and didn't ovulate early. I didn't have any bloods monitored at all in my fresh cycle, only scans.

@Peanut1980 Thank you for the good luck wishes!

@Passionfruit20 I also feel too weird to join the "regular" pregnancy threads, especially with my history of loss. I'm on pregnancy #4 now with no baby yet and I no longer have that sense of excitement and expectation that I will actually have a baby.

@sometimesalways Glad you are feeling more optimistic. I would have chosen a natural FET cycle if I wasn't worried about missing my LH surge - my clinic uses OPKs to time transfers on natural cycles and I've tried using OPKs before and on most occasions have missed the surge even though BBT shift and AF timing suggested I ovulated. If it was me I'd push for the steroids but the most important thing is that you feel happy with your treatment plan.

@elleceedee Yes I did have difficulties getting oestrogen pills as there's a shortage as you say. In the end Asda were able to fill the prescription although they had to use alternative suppliers and I ended up with a mixture of 2 different brands.

@Lola124 That's fab news! Good luck for your 2WW - do you have anything planned to help pass the time?

@TinyPaws I have been pregnant 4 times and have one child to show for it. I know exactly how you feel. My first loss was a MMC at 16 weeks. We had told everyone as we had passed that 12 week mark. Our local maternity unit didn’t scan until 20 weeks at that stage (it’s changed now to 12 week and 20 week).

All done from egg collection and home on the sofa now. I got 14 eggs this time, 5 more than the first go so am hoping at least 1 or 2 of those is good quality!

Hope everyone’s doing okay today.

Well done @brambles7. That’s a great number. Good luck for tomorrow’s call x

Thanks @Peanut1980!

Hi ladies just a quick one so as you know I had the egg transfer yesterday and this afternoon iv been getting really painful period pains ? Surly it’s to early for implantation I don’t know? just a little bit scared as it fills period is coming is it normal to have pains the day after ?