Anyone waiting to start IVF/FET in 2020?

[Lemongrass1]

As it says on the title really! Wondering if anyone else twiddling their thumbs and wanted to keep each other company?
Me- 40, was TTC for 4 years (unexplained infertility)- short protocol in 2018- fresh transfer resulted in an ectopic pregnancy followed by a successful FET later in the year. We have 8 frosties which we hope to use in another FET starting Feb/March 2020. First consultation next month. Feels so daunting to be starting the process again! X

Hi all, can I join this thread too? I am due to start meds for IVF in two weeks (first time at IVF) and would love to link up with people going through it at around the same time - and of course any tips always greatly appreciated! We are very fortunate to have a DD (age 3) who was conceived naturally after 3 years of TTC (we just had “unexplained infertility” at that stage) - we have now been trying for over 18 months - had to wait a while before trying as DD was born by emergency C section..... now I also have low AMH so we are trying IVF. I will be on short protocol, and not sure what to expect really. I have been trying to follow low carb, high protein diet on and off for around a year -more properly over the last 4 months or so (although less so over Xmas). Consultant we saw yesterday was very dismissive about the effects of diet, supplements and stress. I read the ‘it starts with the egg‘ book which seemed to show it was possible to improve egg quality with diet etc. Just wondered what everyone else’s experiences were on this and what your consultants all said. Fingers crossed for 2020 all! Xxx

@Minster2012 can understand..just take one day at a time.. try to distract yourself by pursuing some hobby eg. painting, reading, anything which u love doing..
my scan is on 17.01.2020..lets see what doc will say.. :)

@Owlz wowie... do you have a tentative collection date yet? That does sound uncomfortable, I really hope you get many good quality embies though!

@Minster2012 and @BOBBS same question, do you know more or less when collection will be?

I’m just getting excited for you all and keeping you in my thoughts x

@Tryin4no2, I’m also due to start short protocol in about 2 weeks, so is @Fredsgirl19. As for the egg health eating plan issue- my current consultants and the ones at the previous clinic said that my diet won’t really have an effect on anything as long as I eat balanced meals and “everything in moderation” even smoking and alcohol! Won’t be doing those two at all although I did drink 🍷 during my previous ivf (not a lot, and not after ET, but did get a little tipsy the day after EC lol) and the few drinks didn’t affect me I had a healthy boy. Having said that: except for alcohol I did everything Dr Google said the previous time round. Followed Harvard fertility diet mostly and only organic meat. Plus supplements.
This time round I said at first I’m not going to go too crazy but here I am again, Mediterranean eating plan, less red meat, no alcohol this time because I have some liver issues, pregnacare conception supplements for me and DH, extra co-q 10, extra l-arginine,salmon oil, exercising . After all, we are all investing so much in this process, I think eating healthy can only help PLUS it’s the only thing we CAN control! I think the important thing is to be well nourished and not stress so much about a “diet” that it contributes to your general ivf stress levels.

Oh and I’m also making DH eat healthy- lots of fruit & veg, whole grains, protein, no alcohol until after sperm collection, pregnacare wellman supplements haha he is accepting it meekly!

Thanks Mischali, as you say it’s kind of hard not to in a way find it hard not to, especially as I am a total control freak! Although you sound like you have a bit of balance to it which seems sensible. Well done with your DH! I have turned into a total nut/ supplement pusher with my DH (he reluctantly accepts some of it- although his sperm seems ok so prob less of an issue...) Worry I may be taking too much, vits C, D, zinc, iron, magnesium, selenium, Arginine, ubiquinol, Maca, Agnes castus, bee pollen... I basically rattle.... What is your view on exercise? Have heard so many conflicting things. Trying to increase my water intake as I am totally rubbish at that and know v important especially for Stim phase....

@tryin4no2 welcome!! You can join me and @Mischali as we are all due to staff in a few weeks (hopefully)!

I’m trying to eat low carb and I rattle like a pill box due to my supplements but I have heard that the most important time for diet is during stimms. Cut sugar completely as it effects egg quality and up proteins to avoid OHSS!

Thanks @Fredsgirl19! Great tips! It’s nice to be going through it together (although sorry you are having to go through it at all). Best of luck for it all.

@Mischali mines a frozen transfer so I’m not having EC, my egg collection was 3 years ago for one where we got 2 day 3 embryos & transferred one frozen 1 6 months later to my best friend as a surrogate & got our son. Another round of EC 8 months later & we have 3 more embryos now which are day 5 and we will be transferring one day 5 to me this time. So my date should be 29th jam or thereabouts for transfer, I have scan on 22nd to see if this date is possible if my womb is ready!

Mind if I join you ladies? We are just begining our ivf journey, have an appointment with fertility clinic on Thurs, we've been referred from local hospital. TTC for just over 2 years, through testing privately we learned that my AMH level is low - 0.227ng/ml.

Nervous, excited, scared, happy - all the emotions going on this week.

@Minster2012 sorry I knew that, it slipped my mind somehow hope time flies till the 29th!

@trying4no2 on exercise- Previous ivf I did moderate exercise but reduced it to only walking just before stims to avoid ovarian torsion and whatnot. I walked about 3km every day up until the day before I delivered. This time- I actually got a hemorrhaged L4/L5 disk mid November so I haven’t been able to go to gym, only started back this week and I have to take it slowly so that I don’t hurt my back again . I’m planning on doing cycling, fast walking, light arm weights, pilates, squats, lunges, planking... basically everything that keeps my back straight... until stims. Then I will stick to light arm weights & walking until about 2/3 weeks post transfer- nothing that can hurt my ovaries, but enough to keep my circulation going. Will see my personal trainer if I do get pregnant, she specializes in prenatal training.
I’m not a gym bunny at all lol but exercise helps my mood and stress levels soooo much! And I’ve struggled with my weight since my previous pregnancy, want to be a bit fitter this time around if I can.

Hi @lori2019

@Mischali - sorry to hear you hurt your back- hope the gym etc goes well and it is totally better soon. That sounds v impressive on the exercise front! I’m doing nowhere near that, just a few runs a week - but do find it helps with stress as you say. Consultant said may hurt to run during stim, so we’ll see. Is the general view to do less in 2 week wait? I know what you mean re finding it hard to lose weight post baby, I did but it took a long time and happened when my husband was in hospital and almost died... so definitely not ideal. Sounds like you are doing great though!

@lori2019 I know what you mean re a whole range of emotions... from excited to be actually doing anything, to nervous about what the outcome may be... the consultant was averagely optimistic (said 50/50) but the nurse then told us a depressing story about someone “in a very similar situation” to us apparently who had nothing to transfer and had to give up - definitely not uplifting! I’m sure there are lots of both positive and negative stories out there. Fingers crossed we all have positive ones!

@Mischali you are so right! I’m going to see CRGH this morning and they are supposed to be good for over 40’s according to HFEA results.
Still trying naturally alongside this. I’ve been using OPKs but had a bit of a funny result this month. I’m on day 7 of flashing smileys at cd21 of a 28 day cycle. Either way, I think I’m going to use my FET next cycle. Which vitamins and supplements is everyone taking alongside treatment? I’m also going to acupuncture.

Hi @lori2019

Think i might be at the same stage as you, we were referred by hospital in September and have our first app at the IVF clinic in 3 weeks time. My emotions are all over the place.

We have been TTC for just over 2 years now. I am 31 and desperate to start a family. I had an ectopic pregnancy when i was 19 which resulted in me losing a tube but never been pregnant since.

It would be good to keep in contact with you :)

@Mischali Take care of your back..m really impressed by your exercise routine..My EC was done on 30 Nov 2019..will be going for FET this cycle after a gap of one cycle in between..tentatively my FET should be around 25/26 jan ..appointment wd doc is on 17 Jan 2020..final date will be known later ..keeping my finger crossed for lining health n all.. :)

@BOBSS good luck with your scan tomorrow! Are you transferring a day 3 or day 5 embie? And how many embies are you planning on transferring? Just a few more weeks!

@Rubyredwren I posted on the supplements DH and I am taking, just a few posts back 😁

So I haven’t heard anything final from the new job yet, they keep postponing and saying “they’ll let me know” so I’m going to assume I didn’t get it and go big on advertising my own business. It’s weird that they are dragging their feet, I didn’t even apply, they headhunted me but if this is the way they treat future employees I am not going to bend over backwards for them. My business and study plans are in place, with space for a baby, and I don’t need this stress during ivf, right.

@JenniferRo28 we had our appointment this morning, we've decided to go with March cycle. Have to do a month on the pill once my period starts in a fortnight. Hope all goes well at your appointment.

@BOBSS how have you been finding the injections? I start mine tonight & im pleased I get to make progress and do something positive but I’m having to go to a meeting across the road then nip home at 8 if it’s not finished to make sure they are at similar time each night

@Mischali that’s so annoying 😬try stay strong

@Mischali thank u so much for wishing..we are planning for day 05 transfer..regarding no. of embies to transfer..doc will decide after scanning ..depending upon my lining and other factors..
dun u worry about job..whatever happens..happens for good....u have a good plan to keep yourself occupied..just stay stress free..

@Minster2012 m on 1/2 ml lupride till date (coz of endometriosis )..as my DH is surgeon so he is d one looking after injection part..but for me being needle phobic..taking injections is always painful..
after today's scan will get to know about further injections.. stay strong with your injection part.. :)

Wishing babydust everyone..keep smiling :)

@Mischali got it re supplements.

I’m taking pregnacare, 400mg of coq10, collagen, E, B complex, magnesium, zinc, and also been recommended myo-insitol which I’ve started taking.
My acupuncturist says I need to get onto daily bone broth and floradix.

Interestingly CRGH recommended FET as best course of action. They also discussed genetic testing but I’m not convinced.
I’m going to go for my FET which is still under NHS next cycle so Feb implantation before I commit to CRGH.

I'm emotional today... in 5 weeks we should know if ivf worked or not (IF the short protocol goes to plan and we have a blastocyst to transfer) it just feels like forever to wait... I know everyone here hates the wait! I just want to know the results already so that I can handle whatever happens. A bit teary today and sending everyone good wishes as we are all going through the same thing xx

@mischali here's a hand hold from me XXX these emotional days are frequent and difficult when doing IVF. Just think that five weeks is really nothing considering how long you've already waited! I'm having a teary day too, although for different reasons.I stopped breastfeeding my twins and was really looking forward to doing FET in may, but since I stopped BFing I've had two cycles, both with just a 4 day luteal phase. I'm so upset and angry at my body - I don't even know if the clinic will be able to work with that - we managed to lengthen my normal 10 day LP enough with progesterone pessaries last time, but can't see that working on a 4 day LP. Feeling like I should just accept that I will never have another and just be grateful for my twins (which I absolutely am!)

@Mischali sounds like you have your focus exactly right - try to put it out of your mind if you can (easier said than done I know)

@CritterTamer -BFing can really mess up your cycles but they do come back to normal - I BF my DD for 2 years (not planned she was just very boob obsessed) and it took about four or five months for them to totally settle down, but they have. I now have other issues (unconnected). It’s hard when waiting for your body to catch up with what you want. It may just take a little time - wishing your cycles make a speedy return. Xxx

@tryin4no2 thanks! I'd feel better if the cycles had been irregular, but the fact that they've both been exactly the same (ov day 14, four day LP) is scaring me that this is the new normal. Having just turned 42 panic is setting in! When I came off the pill at 38 cycles returned like clockwork immediately, but the combination of IVF, pregnancy and breastfeeding seems to have messed everything up completely.

@CritterTamer - it’s so hard trying to guess what is going on isn’t it. I think mine did stick
for a little while - rather than returning gradually. I did start taking Agnus Castus (Vitex) which is said to help lengthen cycles - appreciate with IVF the consultant may say you shouldn’t take it but may be worth looking into.