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

@BaileyBadger4 I've also got severe MFI, ~ 400 000 per ml.. we did icsi twice and 1 FET, going to do another FET this January. Don't be concerned with my results though, a lot of people get successful first time!

First session at the acupuncturist was fab. There for an hour and a half, most of which was giving a history and talking about my body, cycles and my anxiety. She might be my new favourite person! .

She also gave me lots of advise about diet and lifestyle...and gave me a kick up the bum about cutting my caffeine intake. Which was needed as I am trying to be healthier but not managing it too well so far!!

Will be going back every week...she said it was good to go back and start getting things sorted before treatment.

Have done LOTS of research on it and there does seem to be some actual evidence of increased chances! But even if not...an hour a week of therapy and relaxation with someone who now knows everything about me will be useful!!

Oooh, really pleased that the acupuncturist turned out to be a nice experience @huffleclaw 😊 I take it you didn't have a problem the needles?!📍 I'm really scientific with my approach to things and when it comes to acupuncture, the world health organisation advice together with the relaxation and mini counselling session! 🙊 I get from it is enough to keep me going for the moment 🙂

I've swapped to the caffeine free green tea bags too... Just the gin to kiss goodbye to now once AF arrives! 🍸🚫😥

Diet Coke is my vice but I don’t drink tea or coffee. I’m going to try stop drinking it when treatment starts - arghhh it will all be worth it 🙌😊. They’ve not factored my meds start date around my cycle, does that sound strange? They told me a date when to start which is timed to achieve egg Collection during the 2nd week in January..(All being well) my period didn’t factor into this.

@Viletta Thankyou for your comments Would you mind me asking if you have any fertility issues yourself or is it just male factor you're dealing with?

Also, I've not really been given any advice from the clinic regarding dos & donts with food, drink, exercise etc. Are there any in particular?

Our doc recommended I take Vitamin D and Folic Acid daily and my partner is to take 1000mg Vit C daily but he said anything other than that is unnecessary 🤷‍♀️
Any other recommendations, do's or dont's for me guys? With only having the 1 free go on the nhs I naturally want to give us the best chance possible! But also don't wanna stress too much about it if that makes sense 🙄 lol

There's no way I could give up the diet coke either @Nmvasey but I've been on the caffeine free stuff since 2011 when I was TTC with my XH - didn't really notice much difference in taste so just never swapped back to the normal stuff! 😄 I guess no matter at what stage of your cycle you start taking the pill, it'll begin to stop your cycle, so it's not really odd that they aren't waiting for your AF. I think at my clinic it's just a case of it being so busy that they stagger women through IVF by waiting until the start of AF (and they do the AFC again, which ideally should be done between CD1 & 5) 👍

@BaileyBadger4 my clinic said to stop drinking booze and caffeine once treatment starts and to avoid exercise/anything strenuous when stimming, but not much more than that. I've been taking a general conception vitamin (just for the folic acid, really), extra vitamin D (something like 90% of the British population are deficient - not surprising with our glorious weather! ☔😂) and then coenzyme Q10 and omega fish oil to try and improve egg quality... every little helps 💊 😉

@BaileyBadger4 only issue we have is MFI, my tests are all normal. We went to see Mr Ramsey, male fertility expert who did extended tests like DNA fragmentation and gave recommendations, we then were referenced to nutritionist Mel Brown and got a meal plan and a ton of pricey supplements for DH. It paid off, our second icsi all 9 eggs got fertilized and we got 3 blasts, as opposed to 3 eggs fertilized out of 9 and only 1 okay looking embryo by day 3..

I had my consultation with ABC and feeling really excited about it all now! It was really good and feel in good hands. Slightly terrified of the needles though, anyone who has been through the stims before, are the needles bearable?
I have been told I need to try and put on 4kg by January, which seems like a lot. Not sure how I am going to manage that and eat healthily. 😕
Is anyone taking coq10? The consultant said to stop taking it as there is no evidence, but on MN there is a definitely coq10 pre ivf following.

@huffleclaw I am glad the acupuncture was good! I swear all acupuncturists are so multi-talented. Mine is also really knowledgable about nutrition and also doubles as a therapist! 😂

Hi ladies, can I join you?

Just going back through the thread it looks like you might all be a little more informed than me, but we have just got our letter through today and have our IVF consultation early January - slightly earlier than we were expecting .

I have PCOS but also evidence of at least partially blocked fallopian tubes from my inferility HSG - and hubbie has sub-optimal sperm! Therefore we've been referred straight to IVF rather than going through all the Clomid type medications (though I'm taking that in the meantime).

No idea which protocol we'd need or what our chances are, but we have 2 NHS rounds to try and are now trying to work out how far out savings will stretch beyond that.

Lovely to meet you all!

I'm also intrigued about why people may need to put on weight for IVF? My BMI is around 22 but I have cut out all of the usual culprits for my PCOS and could probably quite easily lose some more weight before then!

Hi everyone. Hope your all doing well.
So I have been doing my stims for the last week and a half. Scan today showed that i responded well.....they can see 10 on one side and at least 8 on the other....all of good size.
So egg collection is booked in for Monday morning....🤞
@FlapJackered I'm a massive wimp when it comes to needles but they are honestly fine....esp after the first few once you feel more confident on how to administer them.

@Hopefully84 that is great! You must be really happy with that! Fingers crossed for you!
Thanks for the reassurance with the injections. Did you get your partner to administer them or did you do them yourself?

Hi @Chichz bmi of 22 sounds perfect! I wouldn't be worried about that. I am 18 I think so I need to try and get up to 20. I have always found it hard to put on weight. Apparently there less chance success under 20 or over 30?

@FlapJackered Thank you for the reassurance! Yes me too actually. Will try make sure I stay where I am. Strangely enough, eating a balanced diet and exercise can help weight gain, I've always found.

@Hopefully84 That all sounds very positive! Best of luck for Monday. X

Hey all, I'm due to start mine too. I'm waiting for the call for my co ordination appt in the next few days!!!

@Chichz there has been many studies suggesting healthy way is best when going through IVF as your hormones are then at best balance and also I think when taking estrogen and progesterone it's concentration in blood depends on how much fat there is in the body, both too little or too much is not great.

@Viletta Thank you!

@FlapJackered I did them myself. I had every intention of making my husband do them but when it came down to it I preferred to be in control. I hate the anticipation of when its going to happen.
My ovaries are swollen beyond belief. Has anyone else felt that? It's so uncomfortable....though completely normal I'm sure.
@jess1T good luck with your appointment.
Anyone else managing to sneak in before the Christmas cut off?

Hi, can I join please? My husband had leukaemia eight years ago and he has frozen sperm from before the radiotherapy, he's had sperm tests since showing no sperm production but last year he had five motile sperm so they recommended ICSI with a fresh sample and then the frozen is there as a back up.

We started the referral process in September and it's gone so fast, I was not expecting to start to quickly! I'm just waiting for my period (due tomorrow) and we will be starting this cycle providing my period rocks up before 4th December as our clinic closes for two weeks over Christmas. I'm trying so hard to not stress about it but I am constantly hoping it's come early, I don't think I have ever been so excited for AF to come!!

We had injection training on Wednesday, I'm actually feeling a little nervous now. It's so reassuring that we're all around similar stages!

@Hopefully84 got my phone call today appt not until 23/01 so gutted I have to wait until then!! Got the short protocol. Can't wait to get the ball rolling!!! Roll on 23/01! Good luck to all of you who are starting this month! Xx

@jess1T that's fab news, it will fly round. With Christmas to distract you a little too. Also on the short protocol. Are you NHS or private? Exciting times.
@MapleSpice welcome to the thread. Fingers crossed AF plays ball and arrives on time, am sure it will. Are you also on the short protocol? Injections are fine once you get the hang of them.
Had a rough day with the hormones today....am hoping husband doesn't move out before we complete the cycle 🙈

@Hopefully84 I hope it flys by hehe. We are on the NHS. What about yourself?

@jess1T we are private but have funded through access fertility.
We have unlimited rounds for 2 years. This is our first go. Trigger injection tonight ready for collection on Monday, I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Hi, can I join? Having an exciting day today. Starting our first IVF/ICSI round in December. The appointment calendar came through today, on long protocol so start down regulating on the 17th and then stims/scans kick off in January!
Everyone who is doing accupuncture how many sessions and how often are you going?

Welcome @UnicornPuff! Very exciting that it is all happening for you. I am going to go once a week for about an hour (first session was 1 1/2 hours as it was a lot of history taking)

@Hopefully84 how exciting that you're on the day for your trigger shot!! Hope it goes well...and all is ok on Monday at collection.

It's the effect of the hormones I'm worried most about...clomifene was bad enough! 🤪

I'm gonna have to do my injections myself because my husband works evenings...hoping that not having him there to panic at will make me braver (I'm really NOT good with needles). But if all else fails my auntie is a nurse and lives just up the road!

@jess1T the time will absolutely fly with Christmas in the way too. I don't know when I will start...my periods are so irregular it's just a case of waiting and seeing. First period after 27th Dec I'm in, but I have absolutely no way of predicting when that will be!

@MapleSpice welcome and good luck!! I have everything crossed your period arrives on time. It's great that they have options if the ICSI doesn't work. I am constantly impressed by the science behind it all.

@FlapJackered I know! Acupuncturists are like super human! It's not something I really knew anything about before but I was fascinated. Looking forward to my weekly sessions!

@Chichz welcome and good luck! There is so much information out there...I'm sure you will pick everything up really quickly. This thread has been fab already with lots of information and support! I'm glad it's going through quickly for you! Everything seems to have suddenly speeded up with us too.

@BambiOnIce80 no!! The needles were actually ok. I told her I was nervous about needles so she showed me one and they don't look like needles at all, they're even bendy! I have also done ALOT of reading around and am happy with the science behind it. Plus, as you say, weekly therapy!!

@Hopefully84 @huffleclaw thank you, still no sign of AF so I'm a bit grumpy today last month it came on day 32 and I usually have a 26/27 day cycle so I've no idea what's changed. The one month I'm actually waiting for it and it decides to disappear!
I'm not sure about protocol, I'm not taking anything prior to starting the follicle stimulating injections and I just have to go for a scan and blood test on day two of my period ready to start injections on the 3rd day. Feeling a bit lost to be honest, the team are lovely at our hospital but I just want to know absolutely everything, I'm the queen of googling things but because of our circumstances I can never find anything that matches our experience. It's lovely to feel a little less lonely on here though, I'm a bit emotional at the moment