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?

Bubble is now safely installed in the new clinic. I've driven about 500 miles today and I'm cream crackered!

Started oestrogen and prednisolone today, feeling miles better than I did when I was just on the buserelin (although I already began to feel better as soon as my bleed started on Monday.

Got another scan next Wednesday to check on womb lining and then all being well transfer will be 31st July, 1st August or 2nd August.

How's everyone else doing?

Jumping on here, although think I'm a bit behind everyone! Look fwd to seeing how everyone gets on. I'm about to start my first cycle next week/in 10 days. I'll be put on short protocol with gonal f at high dose (I think anyway - 450?) Reading between the lines I think I'm expected to be a poor responder - I'm only 36 but with a history of endo, ovarian surgery, AMH 7.2 (pmol). Anyone got any stories that can give me hope?!

One thing I'm wondering if anyone else knows anything about... although I start drugs end of July, so would have EC I guess around 8th August, I will then be waiting until middle of next cycle for the ET. They'll be frozen I guess meantime (assuming we get any...) I don't think this is normal but my doc is adamant that her high success rates are down to this so I'm going with it for now!

@TinyPaws glad you had a safe journey with bubble!

I’m not doing so well. Transfer tomorrow and I’ve got an upset tummy and the runs! 😫 phones clinic and they said it could just be nervous. Feeling pretty rubbish which is not what I need

@applecrumbl3 welcome x

Oh well done @TinyPaws and how exciting!
Our dates are indeed similar. I think my ET will be somewhere between 29-31st July if all goes well. I am getting a bit nervous!
And agreed, taking Estrogen has been by far better than the buserelin and norethisterone days...

@TinyPaws that's great news about bubble, sounds like quite a day though make sure you have a good rest tonight.

@applecrumbl3 welcome. I am also on the 450 of gonal F. I'm 38 (yesterday) and my AMH is only 4.9. No other issues apart from that's Been on it for a week today and my first progress scan is Friday morning.hopefully there is something there, though im not expecting a bounty, but keep telling myself that we only need one!

@whatelsecouldibecalled and @confused107 thanks for the welcome, good to be here.

@confused107 - nice to know I'm not the only one on the extra strength formula :) and glad you are finding it ok! Are you also doing short protocol? Good luck with the scan!

I am only now reading all the responses properly, a belated happy birthday @confused107 !

And welcome @applecrumbl3

@applecrumbl3 I'm on long protocol and I'm about 3 weeks in now. If all goes well egg collection next week I think. Injections have been fine. I'm looking a bit bruised on the belly and the only side effects I've had really are moodiness, tiredness and hunger. Which I can deal with! I did get really dehydrated at first on the burselin, but my symptoms massively improved when I upped the water

@applecrumbl3 Hello and welcome! I think we've got a few people waiting to start, they're just a bit quieter than the rest of us at the moment. My AMH was 8.2 before my fresh cycle, the clinic said normally with that AMH they would go for a dose of 450 but because I'm smallish and youngish and responded fine to IUI stims they put me on 300 instead.

@Whatelsecouldibecalled Sorry you're feeling poorly, fingers crossed it's just a touch of nerves. Hope everything goes smoothly for your transfer tomorrow!

@sometimesalways Our timelines are looking similar. It's getting close now!

@confused107 Good luck for the scan tomorrow, hope they see lots of follicles developing nicely.

I'm chilling this evening and catching up with some chores. Treated myself to a glass of tap water with ice and lemon. Isn't fertility treatment glamorous?!

@applecrumbl3 hi welcome!
I’m starting my cycle next week as well, but I’m on long protocol so don’t expect to get to EC until the middle of August.

@TinyPaws hope you can get some good rest tonight knowing your embryo is safe in the new clinic!

@confused107 good luck with the scan tomorrow!

@Whatelsecouldibecalled sorry to hear you’re feeling so rubbish! Doesn’t help you to relax does it?! I hope you are taking it easy and that the transfer goes ahead tomorrow. Be kind to yourself, this process is so gruelling and challenging but you can do it.

Hi guys, first injection of menopur last night. Feel like I'm finally off the starting blocks! Even though I've no scans until next week I have to go into the hospital today to get stitches looked at - had a lump out of my neck and don't think it's closing properly 😞 Feel like there is no escape from medical facilities!!

Hi all, had my baseline scan this morning, she counted 19 follicles so that sounds positive. First Ovaleap injection tonight and first progress scan on Tuesday. Still can't quite believe we're actually doing this!

Hope your neck's ok @orangefolly

Good luck for your scan tomorrow @confused107

Welcome @applecrumbl3. I'm also just starting my first round of IVF (short protocol), have endo and PCOS, I had a laparoscopy in Jan to remove endometriomas. Fingers crossed IVF is the answer to our prayers.

Hi @Marmite83 - fingers crossed indeed! I'm also an '83 bday :) It's a bit tricky to know how much of a problem the endo is likely to be I find... I had always assumed I'd be fine regardless, but at that point didn't know we had male factor issues as well, doh. Look fwd to seeing how you get on, good luck! I'm just waiting now until I can start the jabs this time next week or thereabouts, would rather just get on with it!

Going into this process and with the unspoken implications of the fact that I'm going straight on to such a high dose, I am annoyed with myself for not keeping a better eye on my AMH after my endo diagnosis, I was told ages ago it was 'good for age' so I relaxed about it but I think it has been lowish for ages since the reference ranges they give you are very wide. How are you feeling about all of that @Marmite83? With the PCOS I guess the issues might be completely different.

Has anyone else had any experience with pre-existing endo / surgery / etc?

@marmite83 sounds like a good number!

Today has been an absolute rollercoaster. Got the call at 10am to say our first embryo didn’t survive the thaw process 😢 apparently only happens in 5% of cases.

They then thawed another one and luckily that made it so had transfer today. Feeling hugely emotional.

Hi @applecrumbl3, we had trouble conceiving my dd but we did get there naturally after 18 months and one mmc. It's so frustrating knowing that we managed it once but now my body doesn't seem to want to co-operate at all. My AMH levels dropped a bit after my surgery but are still a pretty good level thankfully, I think it's mainly a result of the PCOS though. Don't be too hard on yourself re. your AMH level, I don't think there's anything you could have done to influence it. We've had one good and one bad semen analysis result for my dh so we'll find out on the day if we need to do ICSI or not.

Sorry to hear about the first embryo @Whatelsecouldibecalled, thank goodness the second one was ok. Congrats on your transfer, I hope this is the one for you!

@orangefolly Congrats on your first injection!

@Marmite83 Glad you are getting started! 19 antral follicles sounds good.

@Whatelsecouldibecalled Sorry your first embryo didn't survive the thaw but glad your second one is safely on board.

TBH our embryo not surviving the thaw is my biggest fear. We only have one so if it doesn't make it this whole cycle will have been for nothing. (My second biggest fear is another miscarriage).

How's everyone feeling today?

@Whatelsecouldibecalled sorry to about the first embryo, but pleased to hear you now have one safely onboard

@Marmite83 sounds like an amazing number!

I went for my progress scan this morning and they counted 11 follicles which is more than I was expecting. Of them two or 3 are at 17, so looks like we could be on for egg collection the second half of next week. They did say that pending on my blood results I may have to go in for a scan tomorrow which I'm kind of hoping doesn't happen as my mom has brought tickets for the Victoria exhibition at Kensington Palace for tomorrow, which could be awkward as I haven't told her that I am having ivf (she is desperate to be a grandma and I can't mentally take the weight of her expectations) so fingers crossed!

Here's to a fun filled weekend of injections and iced water! Enjoy everyone x

I started my first Gonal F injection last night and getting ready to go again now tonight. Scan next Thursday.

@confused107 sounds like a good number! Fingers crossed for the next stage.

Trying to keep shit in my stride. Went to cinema tonight but had to divert back home when we were en route as I forgot to pack pessaries to do at 9pm 🤦‍♀️😂

Oh @Whatelsecouldibecalled I'm actually dreading those, but one step at a time! Hope you had a lovely evening

@confused107 not as bad as I thought if I’m honest. Everyone has prepared me for the ‘mess’ but nothing a panty liner can’t solve x

@confused107 good numbers of follicles! Hope they continue to grow well for you. Were your blood results okay in the end?
Hope you are able to enjoy your weekend plans with your mum.

@Whatelsecouldibecalled well done for remembering on route! I found the mess from the pessaries wasn’t too bad in the end, just bought some cheap pants to wear. My clinic didn’t warn me about it though, only through helpful blogs and sites like this that I got the heads up!

@Whatelsecouldibecalled sorry to hear about the first embryo but oooh second is now on board, how exciting! Congrats and good luck! How are you feeling?

@TinyPaws I fear miscarriage too. But I think that's a fear that every mum to be shares, ivf or not... how are you feeling today?
I am good (considering), but (sorry if TMI!) has a tiny bit of a bleed with the progy that last couple of days. Just a v little amount when wiping mostly, but still strange. I called my clinic and they didn't seem worried. I don't remember having this on my first round of ivf though... trying not to overthink it

Other than that, I am just going through my 8-9 reminders for medication daily and waiting for Monday's scan.

Happy Saturday everyone