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

Hi ladies, hope it's OK if I join you all? 👋🏻 Been waiting for ages for a Dec/Jan thread and just spotted you! 🎉

We're primary unexplained and have decided to go self-funded NHS. We qualified for NHS funding, but the waiting list is so epic in our area that'd it'd be another year from now and I'd be over 40 by then and we just don't want to wait! Was due to start IVF in November but EC/ET would have fallen slap bang in the 2 week lab shutdown for Christmas just my bloody luck! I ov'd yesterday so I'm now in the TWW to start down-regging the week commencing the 9th of December... Finally feel like we're getting there!

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend and looking forward to hearing all about your journeys over the next couple of months 😊

Hi @BambiOnIce80 ! The more the merrier 😊. AF arrived today and it feels weird that this is my last natural cycle before IVF. We keep joking this is our last chance to save £5k😂. Got to laugh or I'll go mad! Xx

@BambiOnIce80 We're in a similar to you - self funding because waiting list too long at our age!

Wouldn't it be awesome to save that £5k @Chooklass ! 😂 Sounds like you're about 2 weeks behind me then, which I'm pretty sure makes us almost-IVF-cycle-buddies! 😄 My gut tells me this is my last au natural cycle though, and I'm feeling surprisingly zen about that 🧘‍♀️ Just made DP watch that 'making babies' documentary on iplayer with me this evening and I found that refreshingly honest - think it's helped us galvanise our "prepare for the worst, but hope for the best" IVF ethos going forward 💪

... Having watched all those injections though, I'm definitely going to be begging the consultant to let me have the pill for the first 2 weeks of down-regging! 💉😳 They might not let me have it because I've previously suffered from focal migraines (but not for 10 years! 🙄), but ever since the clinic said it's their preferred approach to down-regging I've been keeping everything crossed that they'll let me have it 🤞🏻💊🤞🏻🤞🏻💊 Does anyone else's clinic go with the pill for the first 2 weeks to try and keep the injection stress down? I'd not heard of it before 🤔

Hi ladies, hoping to join. I start my down regulation on the 9th December and this is my first cycle. @BambiOnIce80 we’ll be starting the same day. I don’t know if I’m excited or nervous at the minute 😊

Oooh, I'm finding it strangely comforting that there'll be 2 of us going through the same thing at the same time that week @Nmvasey ! I think I'm mostly excited about getting this IVF show on the road. It's been a long time coming - started TTC with the XH in 2010 for 3.5 years, then got divorced, rebuilt life, met DP and we've been TTC for just under 2 years so it's not been the most straightforward of journeys so far! 😏 Starting IVF feels like taking a teeny bit of control in a situation I have no control over, if that makes sense?

I think the next 2 weeks are going to take a looonnng time though! Trying to keep busy and stop wishing my life away!😣

I’m feeling the same, I’ve picked up my prescription so it’s a little bit annoying not being able to just start : ) must be patient! Hoping it will fly over with it being Christmas etc or at least a bit of a distraction. The next 2 weeks as you say I think will draaaaggggg!

It absolutely makes sense, that is such a long time. We’ve been trying for just under 2 years with no joy. Feels like everyone around me is falling pregnant but I’m trying to stay positive! Good things come to those who wait and hopefully not long for the both of us.

@BambiOnIce80 @Nmvasey Hello Ladies, i start down reg on 10th dec🤞🤞 for my 2nd frozen cycle ( fresh cancelled due to OHSS and 1 FET resulted in bfn)..: guess i can be your cycle buddy too 😊...really nervous this time and it took me a long time to recover mentally and physically from last cycle failures .. what are you all doing in terms of lifestyle change and food habits to increase the chances ?

Hi @duckhouse of course ☺️ I’m not doing anything really, I probably should 😬. I’m taking vitamins but that’s about all. My friend has had 4 cycles in total and the 2 times she’s just acted as normal (drank alcohol until treatment etc) her treatment was a success both times. I generally eat fairly healthily so just continuing as I am for now. Is anyone else doing anything I probably should? The clinic has really gave me any advice.

Hello to you too @duckhouse and love your name (I have a big thing for ducks!🦆 😍) 👋 Not sure if I'll be starting the down-regging on the 9th or 10th yet as AF is due on Friday the 6th and I need to ring the clinic and they'll make me an appointment for the week commencing the 9th to come in to get my meds and do the first practice transfer (my clinic does 3 practices before the real thing, apparently - oddly comforting!).

Like @Nmvasey I'm not doing too much different for the cycle (and good to know about your friends success whilst carrying on as normal @Nmvasey 🙂). My clinic is big on pointing out the research that says success rates are higher in patients who are happy, so I'm planning on using that medical advice to spoil myself rotten during December! 😂 Been taking the usual vitamins since forever and we've been reducing the amount of meat we eat, but that's purely to help DP lose some weight! 😳 I have to admit though, I'm going to miss my beloved G&T's and wine over Christmas 🍸🍷🚫😩

@BambiOnIce80 what will they do in the practice transfer? They showed me how to administer the Injection, printed my script and sent me packing 😂 spoiling yourself rotten sounds like a plan. I do have my eye on a new bag 😉

@BambiOnIce80 sounds like a plan to spoil yourself 😀 you have all the reasons to do so..
Wondering if you have any thoughts about acupuncture which helps destress as i have heard.. but i am not sure if its worth it ?

I have had one session of reflexology, it was nice and relaxing if nothing else.

@Nmvasey is reflexology any diff than acupuncture... forgive my ignorance 🙂

Good morning ladies 🌞

I do indeed do acupuncture @duckhouse 📍 The world health organisation says that even though they don't know how it does it, it does seem to help in some cases of infertility so I thought "sod it, can't hurt to try! My acupuncturist works out of a 'natural fertility clinic' and their stats say that 60% of their patients having IVF get a BFP, so I'm going to keep going with it through the cycle - I'll do anything to try and up our chances of success 🤞🏻

I've heard that most people find reflexology super relaxing @Nmvasey... just not me because I can't bear people touching my feet! 😂

60% I’m sold!! Won’t hurt to give it a whirl, does it hurt at all? I love my feet being tickled so reflexology is right up my street. @duckhouse apparently certain parts of your feet link to certain organs so they add pressure and massage those areas. She asked if I had any issues with my kidney, two people have now asked that, I don’t believe I have 🤷‍♀️

@BambiOnIce80 is there any specific acupuncture for ivf takers or just the general one ? I checked at a local acupuncture place and they dont have anything specific for ivf

I don't find that it hurts @Nmvasey - just a tiny scratch, really 📍 I'm taking the 60% success rate with a pinch of salt (I've no idea how many patients they're talking about - 100? 50? 5?!), but I'm still going to go with it because it is quite relaxing 💆‍♀️Talking to the acupuncturist is like a mini therapy session to get TTC stress off my chest too! Oh, and the practice transfers at my clinic are exactly that - a practice run of the whole ET procedure minus the embryo, of course! 😄 I think the clinic must have had a bad experience with a patient in the past that could have been avoided if they'd done a few practice runs beforehand (reading between the lines). That said, my clinic have also really bought into the "reducing stress/keeping happy leads to better IVF outcomes" research findings, so I also think the practices might be designed to reduce patient anxiety because we'll know what to expect when it's time for the real thing, iyswim?

Any acupuncturist should be able to do it @duckhouse, but I went with the fertility centre one after being to a general one that I didn't get on with 😏 The general guy seemed obsessed with other minor ailments and minimised any concerns I had about my cycle (couldn't help thinking that was because he was a bloke!), so that's when I decided to go with a centre that was fertility focused. The only thing to be aware of is that acupuncture isn't a regulated industry (so literally anyone can set up shop, even if they have no experience!), but there is a voluntary register in Britain online, so that's where I found all of mine 👍 If you're going to let a random stick pointy things in your skin, I think they need to meet at least some kind of recognised standard of proficiency! 😉

Just in case you need it @duckhouse , here's the link to help find an acupuncturist on the voluntary register:

www.acupuncture.org.uk/public-content/about-the-bacc/4115-acupuncture-practitioners-in-the-uk.html

Hi ladies first time jumping on a thread! We are due to have ICSI treatment (first round) in January, due to severe MFI.
I have been told to call the clinic on day 1 of my period and then I have to start taking the pill, which I already have prescribed waiting at home. I have to ring the clinic tomorrow as I just came on my period this evening (CD1)
Does anyone know what happens from here? Time frames etc? I'm sure I'm going to find out more tomorrow when I call them anyway but I'm working a nightshift tonight and just can't stop thinking about it lol
It's been a bit of a road to get here.. Been working on lowering my BMI for the last 2yrs but am now finally eligible for our 1 free go on the nhs So glad I found this thread. Look forward to reading more and the absolute best of luck to u all! Xx

Good luck @BaileyBadger4
Very exciting that it is all starting!! Welcome to the thread.

Thank you for that link @BambiOnIce80 ... I used it last night and found someone local to me with a masters in gynaecology and fertility related acupuncture. I'm going for my first session tonight!! (Just hope that my fear of needles doesn't get in the way!!)

How is everyone else feeling?

Welcome @BaileyBadger4 👋 Very exciting that you're hot to trot! 🤩 And poor you for having to make that phone call after a night shift! 😴 My clinic said that it should be about 2 weeks on the pill and then 1 week of down-reg injections, but it depends on our response as to whether we'd be taking the drugs for less time or longer (and whether we clash with the inopportune Christmas/New Year lab shutdown! 🙄).

Happy to help @huffleclaw 😊 Sounds like you've found a really good acupuncturist there 📍👍 I honestly don't really feel the needles going in, mostly just the little pinch she gives to position it (which doesn't hurt 😉). There's usually a funny little pulling feeling when they make sure the needle is in the right place, which again doesn't hurt and is completely normal (so don't worry if you feel it! 🙂). Hope your first session goes well tonight 🤞🏻🍀

@huffleclaw @BambiOnIce80 Thankyou!!

So I phoned the clinic today and was told to start taking the contraceptive pill as from tomorrow then wait for our protocol & drugs prescription to be sent out in the post. Exciting times!

Only thing I'm a bit worried about is my BMI I started this journey 2.5yrs ago with a BMI of 35 and have since gotten that down to 28.9 in order to be eligible for our 1 free nhs round.

Anyone else borderline BMI and getting a tad concerned about the Xmas period?!
Temptation is literally EVERYWHERE! It's killing me lol

Thankyou @BambiOnIce80 for sharing list of acupuncturists.. wondering if i should take some early session or wait till transfer time when its the most crucial😊

@BaileyBadger4 well done! You e got amazing results! I went up from BMI 25 to 28 during last year of IVF and it does concern me a lot.. I am reading about emotional eating because that's what happened to me. I look at my giant belly in the mirror thinking it might be the closest thing to pregnancy look I'll ever have. I am also having an appointment with a health lifestyle coach and hoping to lose at least something before January. Very tricky with all the festivities but also very possible! You can definitely do it and it's also okay to have a couple of days of indulging and getting back on track after.