October 2019 cycle Buddies

[Pigeon84]

Hi all

There was already a thread for people cycling in October that i wanted to join but canny find it anywhere.

Im about to do my 6th (jeez) cycle of ICSI.
I already have a 4 year old DS from cycle number 4 and we decided we would try for a sibling.

Im currently just about to ovulate (getting the flashy smiley face on OPK) then i will start stimming on my next period at the start of October.

I had an awful cycle last November (my 5th) where i only got 2 mature eggs and non fertilised. This was because the wrong dose of drugs were given at the start of stimming.
So, with this slightly in the back of my mind, im still optimistic for a better cycle this time

@fool11 what is a harmony test?

@41trying so pleased to hear you are progressing! Keeping everything crossed for you.

Good luck @fool11 my midwife appointment took over 2 hours but he was really nice.

I am okay but had a moderate sized bleed on 17th December, I was losing it but a private and an NHS scan within the next couple of days confirmed everything was on track and we got to hear the heart for the first time! They don't know why I had the bleed. I had a little more on and off for a few days and then some spotting but haven't had anything for over a week now so hoping it stays that way.
Got my 12 weeks scan on Tuesday, fingers crossed all the screening comes back low risk x

Glad to hear you are ok @LucyLucyT, hope all goes well on Tuesday x

The long protocol seems take forever..I only did the short one, was so happy when the jabs were over... Harmony is a blood test, has to be done privately, to test the chromosomal abnormalities. “The Harmony test analyzes cell free DNA in maternal blood and gives a strong indication of whether the fetus is at high or low risk of having trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) or trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome).
The test identifies 99%, but not all, of the fetuses with trisomy 21, 97% of fetuses with trisomy 18 and 92% of fetuses with trisomy 13. “

I had it done with my daughter when I was 40; as first thing which came through the post from nhs when I was pregnant was a brochure how old I am and high risk a Downs etc..I was so worried. Best £400 I’ve spent, clinic does a package which includes 10w scan, harmony test and 12w scan. You can also find out from this test the gender, if you want to. We didn’t do the pgs testing of the embryo, so will do again the harmony test, as at my age the risk is high. It’s not 100%, but it will help me mentally...it’s also not invasive like other tests they can do if the results of 12w are not good..
Hope all goes well for you tomorrow.

How did it go @41trying? Was your lining good? Are you starting your jabs today?

@Fool11 Hey! It was all good, start tomorrow then scans on 6th 8th,10th with provisional EC 13th, will still seem like forever but at least I have a timeline now

That’s great news! Wow, you have lots of scans scheduled, is that what they do during the long protocol? I only had a scan at the beginning and then on d9..on short protocol. Good luck with the jabs, hope they are not horrid.

That's great @41trying I'm really pleased things are able to get going. I think I had scans 5 days after starting stims and then every 3 days after that until EC. It's probably good given the issues you've had that they keep a close eye and can hopefully titrate meds if needed. Fingers crossed those ovaries respond nicely for you!

Thanks both. The nurse did say from next scan and bloods they will know a little more. If I respond quick EC could be 10th, so it's a wait and see game. So I will have 2 injections from tomorrow.
The DR meds have made me really moody, so hoping it will lift a little

How was your scan @LucyLucyT? Hope all went well.

Wish you all Happy New Year! Hope it will be a good one for all of us x

Hey, scan was good thanks, he or she is so wriggly! Got a good view of fingers and toes which was lovely. Although most of my colleagues and closer friends already knew, we've started to let more people know now.
They said to stop to progesterone at 12 weeks, I'm nervous about it but the research implies that you can basically stop after a positive pregnancy test, I've decided to drop to one a day for a few days then stop hehe.
Happy New Year! Yes it's going to be a busy one! How are you?

That’s lovely, glad all is progressing well for you. I’m good thank you. Can’t wait for Monday to be over, 10w scan, then 12w if all goes well..always something to worry about...I’ve stopped my progesterone at 8w as told by my consultant..I was really happy to stop them and did stop immediately when I could, they were really messing me up, was horribly constipated and bloated. I’m just taking folic acid now , vit d and 75mg of aspirin every evening , told to take it by my consultant, it apparently helps with the blood flow between placenta and baby..they give it to everyone over 39.
Happy New Year!

Ahh that's reassuring about the progesterone, I know I'm being a bit silly but I think it's because of the bleed a couple of weeks ago, I've had one a day for 3 days so think I'll stop it now. Hope some of my symptoms improve.
Yeah I've heard a lot of people are on aspirin but I haven't been put on that.
It's so easy to worry, I want to be happier and excited as this is what we wanted but still feeling a bit rough, no doubt I'd also be worried if I didn't though!
I know you have to be careful with them but we had a Doppler already (my boyfriend is a gadgety type and I got it for him some years back) we found the heartbeat just now and it's so lovely to hear :-D
Good luck with your scan, I'm sure it'll be fine!

My clinic apparently put women over 39 on aspirin to improve blood flow from placenta..older mum I guess harder the body has to work..I’m a geriatric mum to be in terms of age 😬.

My symptoms improved a lot since I stopped progesterone , took a while to get it out of the system I think, it’s been nearly two weeks now and I feel much better.

I went to see midwife for the booking appointment this week and interestingly she specifically asked, stressed not to get a Doppler. I’ve asked why and she said that recently there’s been increase in women getting it from amazon etc, which is not as high tech , sensitive as the hospital ones, and they had increased number of incidents when things went wrong..as women experienced changes in baby movements , patterns etc and used Doppler at home which gave them false reassurance , many didnt recognise that they could hear they own heartbeat instead of baby’s so didn’t go for a check up to hospital. I’m not trying to scare you , just found it Interesting that she warned me not to get one. Maybe you are medically trained, I’m not, although I wasn’t going to get one anyway. Being old mum there are some extra screening scans, so if all goes well I’ll also have a scan at 26,28,32 and 36w. Which will be good to see if things progressing well. But one step at the time, have to get through 10w scan first and harmony test..

Have you got your 20w scan booked already?

Yep 20w scan booked for 24th February, I'm seeing the consultant that day as well for the first time.
I've read the same about risks of using Doppler, I am a registered nurse but that doesn't really qualify me still, however my mum is a retired midwife so that helps. I also know that you can't just rely on the Doppler as it's easy to pick up placental flow or your own heartbeat. I'll be careful but it's still a nice treat now and then but I wouldn't say to buy one, it's just that we already had it hehe.

I think you are qualified enough as registered nurse and have mum who is retired midwife is great..but I understand midwifes being worried as it can do more harm if I’m wrong hands..hope all goes well on 24th..crazy how fast things are happening..

Yeah agreed, in my job a lot of my patients buy oxygen saturation meters and I'm always discouraging it as there are so many variables and just with Doppler can give false reassurance! Haha now I'm doing the same thing! Promise I'll be sensible hehe.
Yes time is flying we need to get some work done on our house so really need to pull my finger out! xx

Evening ladies!.

@fool11 how did you scan go?
@LucyLucyT hope all is well with you too

Hi @41trying, had 10w scan yesterday, it went well, was convinced the day before that it’s over as didn’t have any symptoms for the past week , even cried , was getting myself ready for the bad news, don’t mean to be negative, just feel we always have to fight for everything, it’s never an easy journey if you know what I mean, but the baby is still there and growing so another step closer. Had my bloods sent to the lab for the harmony test, so another 10d to wait, should know the results next Thursday during my 12w scan..so still nervous and anxious..

How are you getting on with your stims? Did you have any scans? Follicles growing? Any idea when you will have your EC? Hope you are well.

Hope you are well too @LucyLucyT

@fool11, that's some good news then, I am very happy for you.
Went for scan Monday and had 6 follicles. Then bloods came back wanting to up my dose to the highest.
My AFC was 11 right for age of 42, AMH was for 37 year old th4y said. But suppose I haven't responded as they had hoped for.
So increased dose tonight. Back at clinic tomorrow for another scan, then Friday, hoping for EC Monday.
Do you mind me asking what you may do if harmony test came back with something? I know it's not nice to think about. We haven't even got that far but hubby very nervous and I told him about the test. It's just very hard to think about a decision.

Hopefully your follicles will grow, yuh have another week..in only had 2good ones one day 9, others were behind so had to do another 3days of stims, then had a scan and it was looking much better..it’s just so unpredictable, fingers crossed it will be better tomorrow ..
It’s a difficult one, I had it done with my daughter and it was a good result, chances for trisomy less than 1 in 10 000..now 5y later I’m very worried as I’m sure my eggs are not great quality..will see, if it’s a bad news, I’ll prob have it double checked with amnio test, although I know there is a risk of miscarriage etc but would want to double check it. Don’t know if there are any other non invasive tests I could have if I’m honest.

Hi both, I'm okay thanks, still nauseous which is annoying and feeling very bloated which I'm finding is affecting my sleep as keep having to get up several times a night as I'm uncomfortable. I'm really hoping the nausea improves soon!
Went to the gym tonight and although it was hard going I'm pleased I went. Just signing up for an antenatal Pilates class, never done it before!

@41trying 6 follicles isn't too bad, and like fool11 said you've still got time and they have increased the meds, fingers crossed!

I haven't heard anything about the combined test for trisomy problems, I think that's a good sign, they say they telephone you within 3 days if you are high risk, otherwise it's a letter in the post. I think if I was higher risk I'd have to have amniocentesis so I knew more.

Hope everything continues in the right direction for everyone. Pleased your scan was good @fool11, so exciting to see the little wrigglers!

Did you have the trisomy test @LucyLucyT? I think they tell you during the 12w scan anyway if you are a higher risk..but you are much younger , risk is so much higher for over 40..
Hope your nausea will improve soon. It took about 2w after I’ve stopped the cyclogest for the bloatiness to settle, it was very uncomfortable..

@41trying just to let you know that the harmony test is a brand, they send the blood to the usa, few years ago the nhs developed own trisomy test, called safe test or NIPT test, many hospitals offer it privately..it’s the same thing , I go to Fetal med centre where they do harmony as I work close by so easier and they offer a package which includes 10w scan, test and 12w scan..but might be easier for you just go local centre or hospital if you’ll decide to go ahead. Also many hospitals offer it for free if they find during the 12w scan that something is not right so you can have that instead of going for the invasive test ..
hope you will hear some good news today.

Evening ladies, all follicles at a decent size today and lining was great, so the increased meds must have helped. On track for EC Monday, so another scan friday to check then see if I take one trigger or 2.
Hope your both ok?

@41trying that's great news I'm so pleased for you, fingers crossed for Monday and a good egg harvest!

@fool11 I've just had the usual combined test that the NHS offer, so the nuchal measurement on the scan was fine but they have to then compare that with the blood test on the day, they said I'd hear within a few days via telephone if high risk so thinking it's okay now 🤞

That’s great news @41trying, you must be relieved. Have my fingers crossed for you for Monday. Hope all goes well..I presume you will be fully sedated...

I remember now, they do a scan and combine it with the blood results...it must be all fine otherwise they would tell you then and there..hope your nausea is better.