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

@41trying potentially silly question could you have either swapped the needle or still used it bent?
I managed to bend a needle at the hilt when doing my buserelin babysitting. I could still draw it up so the metal hadn't snapped and hadn't brought spare needles so just powered on at a funny angle!

Here's what my acupuncturist gave me @duckhouse 📍 It's for long protocol, but as it's broken down into phases it'll hopefully give you the gist.

I feel your pain @41trying 😩 I realised this morning that I was 25IU short on the dose I gave myself at the clinic yesterday (because the bloody research nurse came in part way through me doing it and started talking at me and I didn't realise I hadn't managed to release the full dose!) 😣 Then managed to make the same balls up at 6.30 this morning 🤦‍♀️ My brain kicked in shortly afterwards and I decided (rightly or wrongly 😬) to give myself the 25 IU I messed up this morning and yesterday's missing 25IU at the same time - means I should be back on track tomorrow 🤞🏻So much for the pre-filled pens being foolproof! Did you manage to fix your dose in the end?

My clinic just told us to use protection @BaileyBadger4 , but not much else 🤷‍♀️ I've told DP to, ahem, "look after himself" because DTD is the last thing I'm interested in right now! 😂

Sending positive vibes to everyone who has scans today 💓

Thanyou for sharing the info@UnicornPuff @BambiOnIce80

Just had my second progress scan. At the first there was talk of maybe having EC early on Friday rather than the planned Monday, but we seem to be back to Monday now. My follicles were mostly 14-17mm. Now I'm worried that Monday will be too late and they will have gone past their best! I'm sure the clinic knows what they're doing, but does anyone know what the ideal follicle size is?

Had my first stim scan this morning and have 7 follicles, a few are a good size but a couple are lagging behind. Dosage upped.. whilst I know it could be worse I can’t help but feel a bit deflated.

@misshoney85 how many do you have? I think they ideally need them to be about 18. Sounds like you’re well on track.

@MissHoney85 my EC was a few years ago but I seem to remember 19-21 so all sounds good, they are the experts sounds like your body is doing amazing 🥰

From the follicle size info that @Nmvasey @Minster2012 have there @MissHoney85 it sounds like yours are coming along beautifully! 😊 I know it's annoying when the the EC date changes on you though 😏 As you say, the clinic will absolutely know what they are doing 👍

Sorry you're feeling a bit deflated @Nmvasey 💐 I was feeling pretty similar yesterday, but I'm trying to stay positive and hope that a few of the teeny ones make an effort to catch up 🤞🏻When's your next scan?

@bambionice80 I’m back on Monday with provisional EC Wednesday or Friday. How many did you have at last scan again and what size were they at? Did they up your meds in the end? They said I may get some new ones after upping the drugs but they’ll never catch up now, my best chance is with the 7 already in progress.

I had my scan and have 12 follicles which seem to be doing their thing, which I am happy with. They are only 8mm but she seemed to think this is fine going by my lining and blood test and because they have only just upped my meds. I have another scan on Friday and then again on Monday with EC looking like next Wednesday.

@Nmvasey it looks like we are at a similar stage, it is so nerve wracking with all the scans though isn't it!

@MissHoney85 my clinic mentioned today they use 17 as a kind of average for where they want the follicles to be, some will be over and some will be under and that is ok.It is hard not to worry whatever the size, I feel like I would rather not know at this stage!

Great, thanks for the reassurance all! So many things to worry about at every stage... I agree that sometimes less information is better! I have had 10 follicles on the first scan and 11 today, one a bit smaller though. 🤞

Hi all. Just had another scan (day 9 stimms, CD10) and they are cancelling my cycle 😞o have one follicle that is huge (22) and another at 16, with the other lagging behind. They can’t carry on stimulating because it can cause the big one to ovulate which basically overrides the drugs and causes all the follicles to ovulate early. So my options were to go ahead with two follicles (which she said is less than my AMH/AFC suggests I could get), or to convert to IUI and try again with IVF on another cycle where they will start me on higher meds. They recommended the latter, also because I can preserve my only funded NHS cycle rather than using it on this round.
Feeling really disappointed 😞

@FlapJackered we are on a very similar schedule, down to scan timing and egg collection day! My scan results are similar, 11 follicles ranging from 8-12mm - she thinks there are 7 decent ones.

Unfortunately it looks like we need to freeze this cycle as I’ve developed a hydrosalpinx which is annoying but it is what it is.

Has anyone noticed their sense of smell is elevated with the stimm drugs? I was convinced my brand new top stunk of cooked food after eating eggs on toast at a coffee shop on Monday (unlikely) and everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) smells on the tube.

@LottSE20 I’m sorry to hear your cycle hasn’t worked but fingers crossed the IUI or the next cycle works.

@LottSE20 sorry to hear that, I can imagine you’re really disappointed. I think you’ve done the right thing by taking their advice, especially given you’ve only got the one funded cycle. At least they’ll know how to benchmark the drugs on your next cycle x

My count was 10 measurable and 3-5 too small to measure @Nmvasey so I guess that means we'll be working with 10 or less 😏 The 10 varied in size between 18 and 5mm, so quite a bit of variation. The nurse did warn us that we may 'lose' the one at 18mm in order to give the smaller ones a chance to catch up... I'm just trying to not overthink it 🤯 They kept my dose of gonal-f at 225IU because they were happy with my oestrogen and how things were progressing, so I guess we'll see how that plays out in Fridays scan 🔮 Good luck for Monday 🍀

Also sounds like things are progressing nicely for you too @FlapJackered and that the extra dose is doing what it's supposed to 🤞🏻

It's beginning to look like EC is on the cards for a good few of us next week! 🤩 Has anyone else's clinic given them a heads-up about talking to the embryologist once EC is done and SA results are in? Ours has basically warned us (for want of a better word!) that DP needs to be fully briefed and on board with what my wishes are because I will be too smacked off my tits on fentanyl to make any informed decisions about IVF/ICSI that needs doing there and then! 🥴 My inner control freak was far from happy about this development, so I've drawn DP up a flow chart of the pertinent possible scenarios to follow whilst I'm not compos mentis! 🤓😬 I love DP to bits and his English is superb, but it still isn't his first language and I don't want our wishes to be misunderstood at a stressful and vital time... too much or understandable, given the circumstances?! 🤔

Cross-posted - so, so sorry to hear that @LottSE20 😔 Whilst it's massively upsetting, I think you're absolutely right to try and preserve that NHS funded cycle. They can tailor the drugs for you based on what they already know about how you have responded and get the best possible outcome ❤️

Sorry to hear about the hydrosalpinx too @jcurve 💐 From what I've read the odds for success are a tiny bit better from frozen.x

@LottSE20 thinking of you today hun as that's shit news and must be so frustrating for you. However, as everyone else is saying, they can now tailor the drugs to you and give you a more personal approach if that makes sense. Lots of love to you ❤️

@LottSE20 you still will have your NHS funding though for next time and they will alter the dose now they know how your respond. Will the nhs pay for iui if you decide to do that? Keep strong its journey and next time could be lots of follies x

@LottSE20 that’s shit but could be good because as the others have said you could get a more tailored funded cycle next time which could end in more eggs/embryos

Hi,

First time I’ve posted on here, but I seem to be at a similar stage to a lot of you. I’m on Gonal F stims and had my 3rd scan today - EC was planned for Friday but they’ve moved it back until Monday now. I think my biggest follicle was 15mm but I didn’t really take in the info so I can’t be 100% sure.

Just a few questions... regarding the perfume / deodorant thing, are you all just not using deodorant at all on EC day or do you know of an unscented brand?

Also a bath lover here - am I safe to have a hot bath before EC? I know they say don’t have one after ET but not sure about now? I like mine hot so won’t bother if it has to be luke warm!

And lastly, I’ve been getting some cm ... is this normal? If this was a regular cycle, I’d be thinking I was about to ovulate soon.... it concerned me a bit!! Thank you all and best of luck to any with scans today!

Hows everyone doing today? I had my scan today and they are happy with it. I have only 8 good sized follicles and 1 is too big about 22 or 24mm which is not counted, 24 small ones. I might be wrong but I am not happy I have only 8 good sized follicles.
My twin is going thru ivf(private) but on a higher dose of gonal f 225iu and had about 22 good sized follicles though only 9 fertilised and got 4 6AA blast in the freezer due to OHSS.
I am likely to have my egg collection on Monday.
I got a call now, to say I have to reduce my dose from 150iu to 125iu.

@LottSE20 I am sorry to hear you have to cancel your cycle. The clinic knows better and hopefully the next will result better .
@BambiOnIce80 nice your scan went well today. I am not using a fresh sperm for my treatment as DP had SSR due to azoospermia, we have 9 vials cooling away😁.
@jcurves sorry to hear about your hydrosalpinx. My sense of smell is something else too. Last night I felt so sick after DP had his shower, I politely told him I hated the smell of his cream it made me sick. He replied rudely saying mine smells bad too, I had to call his mum to report him as I started crying. 😁😁

Hi @user1470080905
Welcome! On the deodorant front our clinic is very clear, use only water to wash in the day of EC /ET no shower gel no deodorant just in case. That’s what we did last time, in fact we showered the night before just in case I don’t want to kill anyone’s embryos! It’s only one day.
On the bath ours said hot bath fine night before EC and ET as I’m the same but def no baths or swimming after as it’s a big infection risk it’s not necessarily the temp (But high temp also not good) it’s the water so no long showers either as tap water carries bacteria

@Minster2012 thank you... think I’m going to enjoy a long hot bath or two before Monday then! And I’ll do the same as you have done then and shower the night before... I’d rather smell than risk anything! Plus I’m sure they’ve smelt it all before lol does the perfume/deodorant thing count for the men too? It just says for me on my leaflet! Xx

P.s I changed my username as it had randomly generated me one before!

Hi guys, sounds like some really positive news with scans!! At my day 9 scan I had 7 at the right stage and a group smaller that they weren’t sure would catch up. Today I’ve got 11 between 15-18 and a few around 10mm so it shows just how much it can change in a short space of time. I’m triggering tonight and EC is Friday morning
@LottSE20 Im so sorry to hear that. I can imagine just how frustrating that is but I’m really glad they’ll preserve your nhs cycle. From what I’ve read so many first goes are such a trial and error as they just have no idea how you’ll respond.

@user1470080905 welcome!! We’re at a similar time! I’m just not going to wear deodorant (is that gross?!) I don’t want to risk anything!! Also with baths I’m steering clear too..I can’t imagine it would matter too much but I don’t want to risk that either. Re CM I’m in the same boat, I think it’s normal as I guess your body is preparing to ovulate? I’ve also come out in a lovely rash of red bumps all over my body which is great!! It also hurts to walk🙄. I did my last stims last night and my last buserelin this morning.

My lining is now at 10mm - does anyone know what is a good lining?? Xxx