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

@huffleclaw I did all mine myself and it was honestly fine. A had a sting from a couple when they went in but that was it.....some I didnt even feel at all. You'll be absolutely fine. ❤

@MapleSpice I'm so sorry to hear your feeling low. I know what you mean about getting information. Sometimes it can feel like they are rushing you through and they can talk as though you should already know what everything means.. maybe write down a list of any questions you have between now and your next appointment that way you wont forget or get sidetracked whilst you are at you next appointment?
Sounds like you definitely on the short protocol.
You said you had until the 4th for AF to show up, is that right. Hopefully in the next few days, will keep everything crossed for you.

Took both trigger shots last night. Am so ready to get them out now. Am beyond uncomfortable!!

@MapleSpice Sorry to hear that!! Make sure you do something nice today to try and take your mind off it (because it's just that easy! 🙄). You still have a few more days until the 4th.

It sounds like you are on the short protocol same as me. Glad this thread is giving you some support I have found it very useful. I know exactly what you mean about wanting to know everything. I am the same. Our hospital gave us some information sheets...happy to upload photos if you don't have something similar.

@Hopefully84 thank you for the reassurance! I am sure I will manage it!!

What time do you have to go in tomorrow? I have everything crossed for lots of healthy eggs for you!! Have they given you any indication of how many follicles are developing etc?

@MapleSpice at our clinic we had to go to a mandatory information evening with about 18 other couples. There was a talk from a consultant, embryologist and a military which was really useful. Like @huffleclaw I have lots of info sheets if you’re after some bedtime reading x

That was a nurse 👆 the army would be a bit extreme ha 😂

Afternoon everyone. Just a quick update.
I went in this morning and they got 11 eggs. There were more follicles but they didnt contain any eggs....Doctor said it was just one of those things.
Happy with the 11 though.
Now we just have to wait for daily phone calls with updates on how they are progressing.
We will go in on either Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday for a 2, 3 or 5 day transfer.
If it's a 2 or 3 day they are talking about putting 2 back in which is making me a little anxious but I'll listen to whatever they think is best.
Hope everyone is well.

Great news @Hopefully84!

11 is a good number to get started with. Hope lots of them develop for you now! My clinic said they tended not to implant more than 1 for a first cycle, but I suppose it is to maximise chances if they are only day 2/3. Hopefully you'll have some to freeze as well.

How is everyone else doing?

I'm 3 days into my caffeine cut down and it hasn't been too bad so far. Got my usual coffee advent calendar so I am just having the one 'special' coffee a day. Tried some decaf beans on the weekend and they were better than I was expecting so fingers crossed!

@Nmvasey that information evening sounds great...really useful and supportive! It always surprises me how much things vary between clinics and areas.

Hi all,
I have been on Nov Dec thread but I start down regging on Sunday, so think this maybe better. This will be 4 cycle at new clinic on long protocol.
How is everyone doing?

Congratulations on your EC @Hopefully84! 🤩 Sending positive vibes your way that they turn into healthy little embies 💓

My DP has his coffee advent calendar too @huffleclaw ☕ The clinic said he could have one cup a day, so he's really savouring it in the morning 😄

Sorry to hear that AF is playing hard to get @MapleSpice 💐 Do you temp? I'm 12dpo and watching mine like a hawk because AF usually shows on 14dpo and I'd really, really like to start our cycle this week! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Welcome @41trying 👋 AF should be here for me at some point between Wednesday and Friday, so I might be on a similar time line to you 🙂

I knew this last bit was going to drag, but I'm doing my own head in now! 🤯 I'm going to be soooo disappointed if I don't see a temp drop tomorrow morning 😩 I just want to get the hell on with it now!!

Welcome @41trying! I hope this thread is useful :-). Not long until you start now. I'm doing short protocol so don't know much about the long one.

@BambiOnIce80 fingers crossed your period makes an appearance tomorrow. Would be great to get started before Christmas. :-D. I'm not surprised you're getting fed up. There is nothing worse than having to just wait for something that is completely out of your control.

I am trying to make my one coffee a day feel like a treat...so it feels less like I'm missing out on my usual coffee!

That's exactly how my DP is treating it @huffleclaw - the look of pure bliss on his face this morning when he was sat there with his shot of 'Kazaar' was priceless! ☕ 😊😄

My temp has indeed dropped today (praise be to the gods of AF! 🙏), so I'm tentatively hopeful that AF should be here either tomorrow or Thursday 🤞🤞🤞 DP has even booked annual leave for Friday in the hope we can do the clinic appointment and then some Christmas shopping... it's so not going to pan out that way, is it?! 🤦‍♀️

That’s good news that your temp has dropped. When will you be likely to start? Did you say you were on the short protocol? I start Monday and now counting down the days... : )

Hi ladies can I join? I'm currently On 2ww, day 8 of a 5 day transfer, I'm 36 we had one embryo put back in and another one in the freezer. We had icsi as my husband's sperm was frozen last year before chemotherapy treatment for bowel cancer, its been one hell of a year. Now we are hoping for a little miracle. Anybody else in the 2ww with me? I'm very bloated, felt a few twinges day 2/3 post the transfer but most of this can be explained away by the lovely progesterone pessaries. Would love to hear from people in the same boat. Wishing everyone tonnes of luck on this crazy amazing, if a bid weird journey xx

Hello Girls, hope you don't mind me joining as well! So happy to have found others gearing up for January IVF, we had our bloods taken last Monday and are now waiting for the results to come back. Were told it will take up to 3weeks so now I am in a different kind of TWW, when you are watching the postman like a hawk every day :)
Once we have the results (HIV, HEP B, C and my AMH) then they will send out the meds and I can start with my January cycle. I am terrified Xmas will delay my schedule as the results should be here by the 16th then within 2weeks the meds come... soo exactly bang on the festive period when good old Royal mail is resting. We'll see.
Fun fact the before mentioned "Making Babies" documentary was filmed at the clinic I am having IVF, it was strange seeing all the staff and places on TV :)
We are funded by NHS, so have been waiting for ages, I am 34 and DH is 32, we have borderline reduced motility, so might end up having ICSI.
Good luck for us all!

I'm long protocol @Nmvasey , so I have to call when AF rocks up and they'll see me 2 days later to do more forms, AFC, first practice transfer and prescriptions... I'm kind of giving up on the idea of 'Christmas cheer' this year 🍸🚫😏 Not long to go for you now! How are you feeling about Monday?

Welcome @Roobles79 and @Lily999 👋 We're north of the border too @Lily999 , but not that clinic - 🤞for getting your results back on time and good luck for your TWW @Roobles79 🍀

Welcome everyone!

I’m just looking forward to starting after staring at them for the last couple of weeks. Not looking forward to administering the injection but I’m sure it will quickly become the norm. Did AF arrive or are you still eagerly awaiting her visit (@Bambi the tag won’t work)

I'm still eagerly awaiting her visit @Nmvasey! 😂 I can feel that she's just lurking around the corner, so it'd be nice if she could just rock up so that I can make the damn phone call! 📞 I'm usually a pretty patient person, but this is driving me nuts!! 🤪

It must be torture having the drugs right there in front of you - so close yet so far! Are you managing to keep busy until Monday?

Fingers crossed she won’t be long. This weekend I’m doing the Christmas trees etc so that should keep me busy and then the works Christmas party on Saturday for the final blow out for what could 🙏 be the last for 12 months.

I’m travelling quite a lot with work next week which will involve some overnight stays etc. Has anyone else had to juggle this? did you pack your sharps box?

Morning all.
So of the 11, 10 were viable and 6 fertilised.
Phone call from the clinic this morning to say that all eggs are doing well and progressing as they should and all are of good quality. So relieved!! They will call me tomorrow and If they are progressing as they have been it will be a 5 day transfer on Saturday.
@Roobles79 how are you holding up in the 2ww. Will you test early or hold on for official test day? Those pessaries are awful aren't they. 🤢 I'm on progesterone injections alongside them so no escaping the needles.
Good luck @bambi. Keeping everything crossed she shows up for you.
@Nmvasey that's so soon. Really excited for you.

@hopefully84 that is fantastic news! Roll on Saturday 🤞🏻

That is great news @Hopefully84 ! good luck and 🤞🏻 for Saturday.

Thank you @BambiOnIce80, good to have others from our area :) I don't think anyone can be patient really in this situation, I can't wait to have the blood results back, but I wish I was already waiting for the meds to arrive so I could start staring at them as well like @Nmvasey haha!
I had a lap surgery about a month ago as they thought I had hydrosalpinx and I was told they were going to remove one of my tubes, during the surgery turned out both of my tubes are perfectly fine open and happy. But for a week I had to inject myself in order to avoid having blood cloths and it was kind of a good practice run for IVF I think. The first one was very scary as I have always had a fear of needles, but once I got used to it really didn't feel like a big deal plus I was celebrated like a hero after every shot so felt invincible afterwards.
Great news @Hopefully84, I wish I was already there, so jealous! Having good quality eggs mean so much! They do say usually 60% fertilises and you are textbook spot on example :) Will they call you every morning till Saturday?

Hi @lily999.
Had the collection on Monday. They phoned me on Tuesday to let me know how many had fertilised. Then this morning to let me know how they were doing. They will phone me tomorrow to let me know how they are progressing and if they arent doing as well it will be day 3 transfer (tomorrow) or if they continue as they are it will be a day 5 (saturday). They said they wouldn't call Friday (day 4) as it's not necessary.
Then onto the dreaded 2 week wait.
I'm not holding out too much hope as it's our first round and dont want to be too disappointed but cant help but be a little wishful. It really would be the best Christmas present!!
They have already given me an official test date of the 18th. I doubt I'll be able to hold off testing until then, though my husband is adamant we should wait. He doesn't however know about the secret stash of internet cheapie tests I have from before we started the IVF. 😉

Oh, I see, so now on day 2 you still have 6 good quality going strong, that is wonderful! I was told these 5days are the most stressful ones from the entire IVF process, but if you have one that can be put back is concerned a victory, so you are doing extremely well.
I am hoping to have one that can be frozen just to have a back up in case as you say the first round doesn't work because luckily we do get 3 cycles on NHS, but based on what I heard an FET is a lot easier to handle than a whole new fresh cycle and start from scratch. Plus NHS won't cover treatment for a sibling (if we ever get to that point) so if we have one on ice we can hope for a little brother or sister one day. :)
You are lucky to have ET scheduled for the Saturday, then you can rest and have a me day on Sunday to make sure the little one can cosy up comfortably in there.
I also don't think I can wait until my official test date as these sensitive tests can show that line so much earlier. (even if it means breaking my heart I prefer knowing it.

@Lily999 I'm the same, would rather know so I can prepare myself by the official test date.
The Saturday transfer is actually a bit of a nightmare for us. We are foster carers so it will mean my husband cant come with me as he will have to stay at home and watch the kids.
I'm not complaining though as I know a 5 day gives them better odds of selecting the best one for transfer.
Also hoping to get a few to freeze. I dont know much about frozen cycles but am assuming I wont have to be on the stimming meds for those cycles. Which will be great as I was in quite a lot of pain during with my ovaries swelling and it really took it out of me.