Dec/ Jan IVF support

[Chooklass]

Hi all,

I can't see a thread for Dec/ Jan yet - maybe because a lot of clinics shut over the holidays - but mine doesn't! Anyone else out there starting in December and want to support each other? This will be my first round so I'm pretty nervous! X

OMG yes @Meganlouise1988!! 😂 The bloating is pretty uncomfortable this evening and I've been shuffling around whilst gingerly rubbing my lower abdo! 🤣 And it's ridiculously comforting to know that it's not just me who's developed the irrational fear of baths during IVF!🛀 🚫 Showers it'll have to be! 🚿 😁

@BambiOnIce80 yes our clinic specifically says no hot baths after ET that’s one thing they are clear on. Fine until then but for a week or so no hot baths as it’s an infection risk. And no swimming. Also no perfumed deodorant or shower gel when coming to clinic as it can kill embryos!!

@Meganlouise1988 no I wasn’t put to sleep in that case yeah you’ll need 2 days off, just local anaesthetic but the second one was fine no rummaging! Mock transfer they go in like a scan but with a probe & measure to the top of your womb so they know where they are putting it on the day so actually you feel a bit more & I felt nothing! Weird!

And thank you again @rainbow178 - I hadn't heard about the perfume thing! 😯 Do you know if that includes deodorant?! Think I'm going to have to have one last bath the night before EC with the full works - sanctuary bubble bath, candles and an alcohol free erdinger 🛀🕯🍺 Goodbye baths, hello 2 weeks of showers! 😏

@BambiOnIce80 no worries! I literally take it mega seriously and use nothing on egg day or embryo day! So probably smell a bit but needs must!! 😉

@FlapJackered i have a day 5 scan on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I think i am on mild ivf too, because my dose for gonal f (150iu) is really low i think. i was told if things go well egg collection might be the 10th or 13th.

@BambiOnIce80 if you don't mind me asking because i work for the NHS, were u given paid time off for your appointment's? i don't want to tell my Matron as the whole unit will know about it. i have tried managing appointments by swapping shifts to start by 12, though i have not found anyone to swap next Wednesday with.

Cross-posted @Minster2012. Thanks for clearing up the deodorant thing! 😯 Just told my DP and his eyebrows hit the ceiling! 😂

Your and my dates definitely sound like they might line up @Rovera12 🙂 I've got my day 6 scan on Tuesday and 9 scan on Friday and if everything is doing what it should be doing then EC might be Saturday or Monday 🔮

Swapping shifts is an excellent way to manage the appointments too 👍 If the appointments are first thing, then I've been going in late and that's been fine with my boss. If it's in the middle of the day, then I've been able to work from home ( I appreciate that's not really possible on a ward though, sadly 😔). You're matron shouldn't be telling the whole unit though about why you've got a hospital appointment - that'd be a breach of confidentiality and facing a disciplinary where I work! My boss has even been asking what the cover story is everytime I'm in late so that he doesn't contradict me! 😄

@BambiOnIce80 actually its not her fault, she's a band 8 who is mostly in the office and don't work on the floor. she has to inform Band 7 managers as they run the floor, the managers are my problems as they cant keep their mouth shut all 3 of them. A colleague who had a baby few months ago had to move to another ward during her IVF because when she was signed of sick, other colleagues complained saying going through IVF or pregnancy is not an illness(btw they are all mothers). i wish they knew the stress that comes with it.
I have two days annual leave left for the year and found out Friday i was given two days in march. I will go to her when next i am in to cancel and use it for egg collection. I will be getting a sick note for the TWW.

@Rovera12 I am also planning on getting a sick note for the 2WW. I know most people like to be distracted by working during this time but I honestly don't think I could concentrate properly 😂

Also ladies, may I ask what could probably be a really daft question? Lol
What do you mean when you say day 6 scan or day 9 scan etc? What do the numbers relate to? Is it CD numbers? Xx

I'm on day 12 of buserilin and have my first scan on the 7th to check my lining is thin enough (is this the DR scan?) and that scan falls on day 12 of my cycle 🤔 xx

@BaileyBadger4 i have to be off work because i work in a very busy unit,which involves a lot like a lot of moving and lifting. it does not really matter what band you are,sometimes the matron has to do a band 2 job.

@Meganlouise1988 noo. I have said to my oh don't get buying tickets for away matches yet too. I don't mind him going but for him it's an hours drive either side.. He does that straight after work on a week day match but if I need him at the moment I'm going to put my foot down lol small world though that you were there too. Just had my pomegranate juice and Brazil nut with my breakfast lol so tomorrow you will have your scan? Fingers crossed for you

@BaileyBadger4 meaning. Days on stims. To check follicle progress

Thankyou @Kellyprt1! That makes sense xx

I start stims (all being well 🤞) on the 8th of Jan. I've been told my next scan date after starting stims is on the 15th. So would that be a day 8 scan? 🤔 xx

I have a scan to check lining on the 7th - is this what's called a DR scan? I start stims on the 8th. Then I have another scan on the 15th and another on the 17th and then my EC is provisionally booked for 20th. I seem to be having less scans than some of you. Different clinics I suppose?! 🤔 xx

@BaileyBadger4 I thought that as I don't have one on day 8 of stims. Mine is the 10th day first one and then will ec would be 4 days after so doubt I will have many scans in between. Not long until your DR scan :) I honestly feel fine on stims don't feel like anything Is happening I want to feel bad haha

@Kellyprt1 oh good just checking! Yes 8:15 tomorrow, feel like I’m wishing my life away waiting for these scans 🤷‍♀️ Also nervous for how uncomfortable it will be with this bloat! I think a lot of people seem to have no symptoms on stims too, so don’t worry about nothing happening, I’m sure it is! I guess everyone reacts differently.

@BaileyBadger4 yes that is DR scan to check lining and follicles. I also have 2 before EC, seems low doesn’t it? I had to have a blood test on NYE to check my level of hormone too which is when they upped my dose. Good luck for starting stims!

@Meganlouise1988 on my DR scan she didn't measure any follicles or count she said there all small so can't be counted she didn't seem alarmed by this so can only assume that's what DR does. She just said yeh lining is thin.
I was looking forward to seeing how many I was starting with but didn't get to know.
Yeh maybe I am on day 5 of stims, well tonight will be my 5th.

@Rovera12 @BambiOnIce80 it looks like we are on the same schedule! It is good to have some company 😊
@Rovera12 that is tough with getting the time off, and really unfair what some of your colleagues said about ivf, if only they could spend a day in our shoes and realise how hard it is!
Could you pretend it's some other ailment and get the time off that way?

Ah @Rovera12 , so it's the 7's that need to have a disciplinary then?! 😉 Joking aside, that's so harsh that such a private thing is being made public - I get that your job has a huge amount of moving and handling, but still no excuse to breach confidentiality. One of my team came and told me she was doing IVF and insisted she was coming in after ET because she wanted to carry on as normal because she would drive herself nuts sitting at home (🤷‍♀️). I told the 7's that she'd pulled a muscle in her back and couldn't do any moving and handling for a couple of weeks, but was fine to do everything else. No one batted an eyelid. I don't think they even twigged when she announced that she was pregnant! 😄 We're not ward based though, so I get that it's more difficult to avoid with your job. I hope they can rearrange your shifts to fit with your appointments and you don't have to use the last of your leave.x

@BaileyBadger4 it sounds like your scan on the 7th will be your DR scan and then the other 2 will be your stims scans on days 8 & 13 of stims 👍 Not long to wait now! 🤩

Absolutely lovely to have some company @FlapJackered! ❤️ Did you used to be on the 'TTC first baby' threads way back? Your name kind of looks familiar, but apologies if it wasn't you! I was on the mega thread and maybe 4 or 5 after that, so it's ages ago and now here we are 🔮

Another one here who should only have 2 stims scans before EC, unless I need longer on the stims of course. I'm feeling normal this morning, so now wondering if all the bloating and twinges were in my head or if it's a coming and going kind of thing 🤔 I'm still going to avoid any housework today, just in case I pull something... Following medical advice and all that, right?! 😉

@BambiOnIce80 no mine comes and goes aswell!! I’m glad you said that because it’s made me wonder if it’s in my head and I’m just wishing for symptoms..I don’t look bloated but I feel so much ‘pressure’ down there. Well acupuncture lady said absolutely NO hoovering (from egg transfer but I haven’t passed that bit on to OH) x

Oooh thanks @Meganlouise1988 - now I don't feel like a symptom spotting psycho! 😂 That's exactly how I feel with the pressure/tautness where I guess my ovaries must be 🤔 I did just get the dust pan and brush out and when I stood back up something twinged in my lower right abdo, so told DP he's in charge of tidying for the next 3-4 weeks dear god help us! 😜

My clinic said not to do anything strenuous (exercise/housework) whilst on stims because it's really easy to rupture an ovary... doesn't sound terrifying at all!! 😰

For those of you who are now on to stimulating - how many days was AF delayed, if at all?

Mine was 5 days early @Dia12, but I was on the pill for 17 days first and stopping it and moving onto buserelin seemed to trigger it. Think it really depends on what DR protocol you're on.