October ICSI/IVF

[NS05]

Hi all,

I have never written a post on here but thought it may be nice to get a thread going for anyone about to start ICSI/IVF. I am 28 and have been ttc for almost a year and have recently found out my husband has a very low sperm count (2 million) and ICSI is our only option. I was sure for so long something must be wrong with me so to find out it was him was a complete shock and I think we are both still adjusting. Fortunately we are able to go private and have my appointment to get the ball rolling on Wednesday. I have had a (all clear) and all of the bloods already so hoping we can get cracking next month so I am eager to get started. Everything is apparently fine with me apart from very mild pcos which I have been told shouldn’t effect my chances! I am still very anxious about the whole situation and just praying that the process will be successful.

If anyone has any tips or is in the same boat feel free to join!

It's put the pics the wrong way round, carpet pic is Weds, table pic is this morning!

No call from clinic. Which means no Frosties and I guess they’ve just destroyed the remaining embryos that weren’t progressing. Feel quite sad actually after being so full of hope after egg collection. Then again, I need to focus on the two that are (hopefully still!) inside me! I also think progesterone could be contributing to my low mood, especially since I doubled the dose from transfer yesterday.

@lucylucyT those both look like good, strong BFP lines!!! How many days post transfer are you now?

Yes @Youngatheart00 keep positive! I had a scan today lining was over 8mm and I have my transfer booked for Friday! Just did my first progesterone pessarie- I think it's the worst bit don't know how I'll do this everyday 🙈

@Youngatheart00 thats a shame but you have two little troopers that we are all routing for!

@LucyLucyT thats a good looking positive ! Super chuffed for you! I was bloated and sore but ok on the first day but feeling pretty rubbish now, like swollen, exhausted, nauseous, light headed and havent had a solid poo since before the EC (sorry TMI!). They gave me antibiotics after the difficulty trying to get at one of my ovaries so im hoping these symptoms are due to that?! Or is this normal?

Im booked in for ET tomorrow afternoon but they will call tomorrow morning with an update and if things are looking positive they will reschedule it for wednesday. Keeping everything crossed for good news.

@NS05 yay! Thats so exciting getting your transfer booked! Hoping it all goes well

@LucyLucyT congratulations!! Those tests are so lovely to see!!
@Youngatheart00 keeping my fingers crossed that the ones they transferred are "the ones" and you don't have to go through all this again!!
Hope everyone else is doing Ok? I'm still waiting to come on, 5 days late now...typical eh?

@Youngatheart00 sorry to hear that, the emotional rollercoaster of this is so hard to navigate sometimes. Like you say try and focus on the positives and those two embryos you're looking after now. I'm 15dp5dt now.

@PotatoJam, I would say it might be the antibiotics, happens to a lot of people. I kind of envy you, I'm the other way at the moment, slightly painful! I think just a nice normal poo (!) would be nice for both of us though 😂

Thanks to everyone for the good wishes :-)

@LucyLucyT i guess i would rather be this way than the opposite!! hope it starts moving for you soon!!!

Yay @LucyLucyT they look good! Congrats 😁
I see you're still suffering on the 💩 front, I took a single senakot tablet lastnight, sorted me right out. I worked out I hadn't been since tuesday, despite trying to eat more fruit and veggies and drinking loads of water, so needs must!

@NS05 I can't wait to finish the pessaries, I'm not bothered about inserting them, but the waxy residue is horrible and I'm sure they're definitely adding to my feeling so tired/sick/constipated etc! I've got one more week of them to go, not long now!

@PotatoJam hopefully you'll start to feel a bit better soon. Keep us posted about your ET tomorrow or weds, that's a nice easy process after your EC! I loved seeing the embryo being placed on the ultrasound.

Really torn whether to do accupunture before transfer- does anyone think it makes a difference?

@NS05 acupuncture is not something I would have considered but I think you have to do what feels right. Is there much evidence for it? I can't see it doing any harm!

@siananigans I have taken senna as well, but might take some lactulose instead. Need to increase the green veg I think! Probably doesn't help that all I want is carbs!

@LucyLucyT there is such mixed evidence- I feel like maybe it's stressing me out more thinking about it and I should just leave it in g-ds hands!

I’d read about acupuncture increasing blood flow to the area and also some people find it relaxing. Me - I felt I’d had enough of needles (even though I know these are very different!!!)

Do you have a good practitioner near you?

Having one last hibernation day today before back to work (been off for a week since egg collection - which now seems a lifetime ago!)

Trying to distract myself with a rubbish Christmas film on ch5!!!

@Youngatheart00 yes there are so many conflicting studies I don't even know if it's worth it and it's an extra £200 for two sessions so I may just leave it! I guess whatever's meant to be- 4 more days until transfer I can't wait to get it over with!! When is your test day?

@Youngatheart00 I'm loving all the cheesy Xmas films on channel 5 at the moment, they are usual terribly acted but an easy watch!

@NS05 if it's stressing you out then maybe leave it, or give yourself a time limit to make a decision, if you haven't decided then don't do it. Then you can focus on the transfer instead x

Yes exactly @LucyLucyT thank you! Xx

Got a call earlier to say 6 of the embryos are still looking good so rebooked for ET on wednesday (day 5)

@potatojam brilliant you’re all set for a day five!!

Amazing @PotatoJam !!!

@PotatoJam that's good news fingers
Crossed!
@NS05 I didn't do acupuncture but had a full body massage before EC, a lot cheaper and very relaxing. Check with your doctor first though xx

Did anyone get really bad back pain from the progesterone injections? On day two and it's super sore and so is the area where I inject it?

@NS05 I’m on the progesterone suppositories rather than injections (not sure what’s worse!!) and the only symptoms I’ve had so far are low mood and anxiety but hard to distinguish that from the 2WW or the side effects! Hope your back improves soon, I think it is one of those drugs where side effects can be many and varied

@Youngatheart00 I'm on injections in morn and pessaries in eve! The injections are super painful my stomach is sore all day- don't think the progesterone is effecting me very well but hopefully I'll get used to it! Hope your 2WW isn't going too slowly!

Sorry @NS05 I just have pessaries/suppositories and don't think I've had that side effect. Hope it settles for you though.

@LucyLucyT I may ask to switch to just pessaries as I don't think I can bear the pain! Hope you are doing well xxx