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

I'm doing ok. Just took my trigger injection ovitrelle for a collection on Sat. One rogue follicle was 27mm yesterday at my scan! We are ignoring that one and hopefully will have others that are the right size. Fingers crossed my bowel doesn't get in the way like last collection. We missed 2 follicles that time. How is everyone else going?

Good luck @Mseddy hope you feel okay with them.
@Violet180 hope the egg collection goes well, let us know!
I had mine on Monday, got 15 eggs, 12 were mature and 9 fertilised which is much better than last time!
Got a call yesterday (day 3), 8 have progressed, varying degrees of quality but 4 definitely looking good so I have my ET tomorrow! Really hoping that I have a couple to freeze as well.
Been feeling a bit anxious, particularly when waiting for updates on the embryos. This time I've signed myself off work, feel a bit of a fraud as never ever off sick but my job can be quite stressful, got GP appt Tuesday to see if they'll sign my off for TWW, but get nervous about that too in case they say no! Silly me

@LucyLucyT Wow, wish I could get signed off for 2ww but I think I would drive myself crazy.

@Mseddy what meds are you taking? I found the cetrotide particularly hard this time. Even though I have done 2 cycles previously.

I worry that I am kidding myself that any of this will work this time. Trying to be positive but cant find many positive stories for 41 year old IVF...no previous pregnancies or even pregnancy scares. Been with my husband since 18 yrs old and havent used protection for soooooo many years.

@Violet180 I know how you feel, I've never been pregnant, been with my partner since I was 20, and found out early on about his fertility as he has CF, so like you, not used protection for years. You start to wonder if your body would even know how to be pregnant. I think it's natural to worry, but lots of people in our position have been successful so we have to hold on to that!

You might be right about going mad while being signed off, the fertility counselor suggested it but said I need to make sure I make plans each day, so need to get on with sorting that. The problem is last time I was really struggling to concentrate at work especially in the second week and I'm a nurse so would hate to make a mistake.

@violet180 it's such a hard process but try not to doubt yourself too much. Id love to say ignore all the stats you see online but I know I'm the same, and I have to know everything! I've got everything crossed for you for egg collection on Saturday!

@LucyLucyT that's a really good amount of eggs! Good luck for implantation and I hope you have some frosties left over.

I'm getting signed off for my TWW. I'm a nurse too and it's far too stressful and manually exhausting to be worrying about tww as well as work. Plus the days where I don't get a drink of water let alone my lunch until its gone dark outside, I'm totally not up for taking risks like that! I am a little worried ill go stir crazy! But I'm planning on lots of nice walks and meeting up with friends.
My first injection last night was fine. I think my DH was a little nervous but he was so gentle bless him.

Afternoon all, I hope you dont mind if I join.
I'm 41 with 3 children. I have been with my now husband for 12 years and have mo children together. I was sterlized a long time ago, so doing mild IVF. Frist cycle abandoned 2nd didnt fertilise. Start next on Tuesday, so fingers all crossed.

Welcome @41trying fingers crossed this is your cycle!

@Mseddy glad I'm not alone in wanting the time off, I just think my anxiety is higher on this go as it failed last time. Just hope the GP agrees to it. I guess I'm lucky that I can get paid time off.

Welcome @41trying sounds like you've had a bit of a time of it, so really hope this is the one for you!

I'm psyching myself up for my ET tomorrow 😱

@LucyLucyT good luck for ET today. Fingers crossed for you. I don't see why your GP wouldn't allow you a sick note. There are aspects of my job I'm not allowed to do pregnant (I'm sure yours is the same) so I'm going to use that as my reasoning if the GP doesn't say yes straight away. From a mental wellbeing pov you don't want people to assume you are pregnant if you shift certain responsibilities and then find out it hasn't worked because that would make things worse. So being off is a better alternative

@Mseddy I agree, although I've been a bit rubbish and most of my colleagues know what's going on! I wear my heart on my sleeve a bit hehe.
Just got back from my ET, had one good quality blast transferred. Got one other that should be good for freezing and 2-3 that are nearly there so we'll find out tomorrow if they are freezable.
Now got the wait until OTD on 6th Nov 😱
Hope everyone else is doing okay x

@LucyLucyT that's fab news! Congrats. Fingers crossed for all the frosties too. 6th November isn't a million miles away, but I know it'll feel like a life time. Yeah I'm the same, my whole team know. It's easier for me that way, but my gp doesn't know that! Haha. Although I did have one of our new registrars congratulate me the other day because I refused to stay in the room for an xray even with a lead on (becuase I don't want to take any risks to this batch of eggs in the oven!). I was really matter of fact with him it being to protect me for IVF not for pregnancy, I don't see the point in trying to hide it.

Can you not self certify enough sick days? C

@Mseddy I'm not on the wards these days so minimal risk in terms of x-rays at least, but good on you for looking after those precious eggs!

@impatientlyinfertile you can self certify for 7 calendar days, I did that from my egg collection so would need fit note for anything beyond that. In theory I could go back for a couple of days and then go off again self certified but that would make my sick record worse than one continuous episode. Mind you I'm never off sick (last time was one day about 4 years ago) normally so wouldn't really be a problem .

@LucyLucyT can an ivf clinic request a sick note on your behalf? I've heard of loads of people say they had time off sick for ivf x

@impatientlyinfertile I think some clinics do certificates, mine offer them for a week from egg collection but it worked out better for me to self certificate with the way my shifts fell.
I am not sure if they would ask the GP though. I've got a telephone appointment next week :-)

Just got the call from the clinic, only one embryo was suitable for freezing in the end, can't help but feel a bit disappointed, was hoping for a few more but will hope that the one I'm brewing does the trick!

@LucyLucyT I hope your embryo on board is the lucky embryo. One frozen is still good.

I Had egg collection on Saturday and got 6 eggs. I was hugely disappointed with this as I had 18 follicles and have always had around 8-10 eggs collected previously.
But things fluctuate days to day with IVF.
Had Day 1 call and she told me that all 6 fertilised which is a really good result. 2 previous round had 7 fertilised and 5 fertilised....so pretty much the usual response.
Fingers crossed No hurdles pop up.
Looking at a day 5 transfer on Thursday if things go well.....not sure if I would do 2 or one transferred given my history of no Euploid embryos.

@LucyLucyT fingers crossed for the one your cooking now! and one in the freezer is still a nice back up if need be.

@violet180 fingers crossed things carry on going well for transfer on thursday.

I'm day 4 of stims and starting to feel some symptoms today. I'm really tired and really hungry (more than usual!) and I can't stop peeing! Ive felt a few twinges in my stomach too, so I'm feeling positive that something is going on in my ovaries at least!

Thanks @Mseddy and @Violet180 I'm keeping everything crossed!

@Violet180 at least they all fertilised that's a great start, fingers crossed they do what they need to do for you. How are feeling after the collection?

@Mseddy I had similar symptoms, mostly the tiredness but I want sure if that was more because I wasn't sleeping well. My appetite has been difficult to manage too. I'm sure I've gained about a stone of the weight I lost to get NHS treatment, scared to weigh myself but I can see it, I'm trying not to give myself too hard a time about it but in a couple of weeks going to calorie count again and will hopefully be able to build the exercise back up again.
Like you say though hopefully good signs! Are you being scanned tomorrow?

@LucyLucyT tell me about it! I'm scared to weigh myself too! I can't stop eating chocolate!! No, I don't get scanned until day 9 which seems late from other people's journeys I've read about! Trying not to compare too much though

Yeah don't compare, there seem to be so many different regimes! Yes chocolate is always my weakness! 🍫🍫🍫

Morning all, I hope everyone is doing ok!
Clinic went well this morning, start meds this evening, fingers are all crossed.

@LucyLucyT chocolate is everything! Doesn't help that my DH keeps buying me chocolate because he thinks I should be wrapped in cotton will eating chocolate and watching TV right now and not doing much else! I think he would have liked me to take the whole month off work! How is your TWW going?

@41trying exciting. Good luck with your first meds tonight. What meds are you on?

I'm day 6 of stims today so I added in my second injection. Got one morning and one evening now. The morning one is a pre filled syringe and the needle was crap! So blunt it needed loads of pressure to pierce the skin. Still didn't hurt or bother me but I think it traumatised DH a little that it wasn't as quick and smooth as the evening one. I'm feeling quite "twingy" now, and I'm worrying myself that because they feel similar to ovulation pains all my eggs are popping out! I know it's an irrational thought but if I've learned anything on this ttc journey, it's that I'm completely capable of having the most rediculous and iratrional thoughts at all times!

@violet180 how are your embryos coming along?

@Mseddy I know how you feel about injections. One of my cetrotides this time was so painful I started crying.. my husband felt horrible about it.
Well my 6 are still progressing from yesterday's call. 4 good quality and 2 fair. So we are doing a day 5 transfer. I was waiting for a day 3 update as I have always gotten one before, but my clinic must have changed their process because the pamphlet now says they don't call day 3 or 4. All that is going through my mind is: one embryo?? Or 2 embryos?? 1 embryo??? Or 2??

@Mseddy are you on Fyremadel? I found the needle on that not as good, I made sure I tried to really pinch the skin so it is quite firm against the tip of the needle, once it was in a relaxed my pinch somewhat.
This time round I had a couple of injections that must've hit some bigger capillaries and I got a couple of nice bruises, in fact I managed to bleed on the floor of my clinic room one day!

TWW is a bit eurgh! I feel okay physically, the odd twinge here and there and still got some abdo discomfort at times. Doing the thing where I overanalyse every symptom. I have telephone appt with the GP at some time between 4-6 to ask to be signed off, I'm feeling quite nervous about it as somehow feel a bit cheeky to be asking for it but the thought of going back to work tomorrow fills me with dread! I think it's a locum GP so no idea what he'll be like. My test date is next weds so would quite like to be off until next Friday so I have a few days before going back, which will definitely be needed if it's BFN.
@Violet180 I hate that feeling of it being out of your control. I'm sure it'll be okay. Take the advice of the embryologist and your consultant about the number to transfer, see what the quality is like xx