IVF in Feb/March 2020?

[waitingforarainbow]

Hello! I'm just wondering whether there are others starting their IVF journey in Feb/March 2020.

I am dealing with secondary infertility (male factor) and we have been TTC#2 for 16 months. We conceived naturally by some miracle back in July, but sadly had an early miscarriage (my third in total). We're now waiting to start ICSI IVF in early February.

Would love to hear from others doing the same. x

Great news about AA blast @itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted 🎉☺️ hope the last cycle goes smoothly for you.

Good luck with stimming @Yorkshirehope, it's my third cycle too - are you having ivf or ICSI?

Sorry to hear of your multiple miscarriages @Hatawa83 - almost impossible not to be stressed, my mind is my worst enemy, I have to keep myself totally distracted in order to stay calm 🤦🏻‍♀️ Is this your first cycle?

@PineappleC everyone at work knows and has been supportive. It might be a matter of getting signed off for the week around egg collection time. It is, however, particularly stressful in the department at the minute and I'm worried that'll reduce my chances.

@SpyroC still waiting on my supplements. I'll keep you updated! (At the risk of asking a stupid question, are you taking the melatonin at night?)

Hello all! A bit late to the party but great to read all the comments and see others journeys .:-) I will be starting Norethisterone on 19 Feb - finally we begin after a LONGGG wait. I have just downloaded the Mindful IVF meditation app to try to stay calm throughout - does anyone recommend that? Also considering acupuncture, but quite expensive...

To all those worried about missing work, I had similar thoughts with my first cycle and rationalised it with the fact that we are trying to create a life. Nothing is more important than that. In the years to come, what went on at work in a particular day or week will likely be completely irrelevant.

@Dia12 it’s my 3rd cycle. Think it’s my 6th day of stims so having a scan tonight. Fingers crossed!!! I did try meditating yesterday which seemed to help and have book myself reflexology. Anything to help with the stress levels!!! What stage are you at and is this your first?

I forgot who asked but yes, I had day 6 frozen too.

Hope everyone else is ok :) will update after my scan tonight x

@SpyroC thanks! And the same to you! It's ironic really because having wasted one of the injections by mixing it wrong I now have not enough meds but about 3 times too many needles 😅

@ValidUser I agree with @youngatheart00 this is the most important few weeks for you and as hard as it might be, you should think about yourself and be a little bit selfish. I know it must feel bad when you've got patients but this is the most important time to rely on colleagues to pick up any slack xx

I'm very lucky in that I work for myself now, from home. I've told all my clients I'm not doing meetings until mid-March because I can't travel (I genuinely think they think I'm dying) and have pushed back on other project requests. It means losing some income over the next month but I'm happy to sacrifice it if this works!

Slightly worried as I had a tiny bit of spotting and cramping last night. It's gone now, and can't really think how that would happen 3 days into stims, but hope it's just a one off 🤞

Thanks @PineappleC and @Youngatheart00! I'm strongly considering a week of annual leave and one of medical leave.

@ValidUser that sounds very sensible, take the pressure off. Does your employer have an IVF policy? It turned out mine did (despite not being very well publicised) and I was entitled to up to 15 days paid leave for treatment, with more at employer discretion. And this was treated separately from ‘sick’ leave.

I start stims tomorrow, actually quite nervous as it’s a different med this time (previously meriofert, this time Gonal F). Last time I had to mix up the drugs each day which was strangely therapeutic, and I could do them in the evening. This time it’s a premix pen, but I need to use the same one for 3 doses - I have a bit of anxiety about getting it all right first time, especially as the drugs are so expensive I really can’t afford any wastage. And also as my clinic have told me to stim in the morning and I’m definitely not at my best in the morning! First scan booked for next Tuesday.

Hi @Dia12 - I'm ICSI - we managed to to 5 and 6 eggs respectively on the last two cycles. Only one each time made it to blasto stage and transferred but sadly both didn't work. Have everything crossed.

For those talking about work - I think is best to be honest as you think you can be, and take the time if you can. I'm lucky that I can work from home ( sorry to those who are teachers) but have also booked extra days off. Last time I found out it didn't work in a hotel after a client meeting which just made me even more upset. This time I'm putting myself first! Good luck to all those a little further down the line. I'm just day four of jabs at the moment (short protocol).
x

@ValidUser yea I take the melatonin about an hour before bed as the clinic advised. I feel fine today so I may have just had a few bad nights without realising and automatically assumed it was related. (I have a tendency to over think )

Welcome @ninetynineredballoons I've never tried anything like that. Let us know if it works!

@Youngatheart00 good luck for tomorrow, I'm sure it will all be fine. I'm even worried about doing the nose spray right in the morning. I really hope I don't have to inject in the morning, I would find that really hard.

Had my scan this evening and I have 14 follicles growing so fingers crossed they will get to an adequate size as collection is estimated the 21st. I think a few of us will have transfers the last week of Feb. Fingers crossed!

Welcome @ninetynineredballoons :) I have never done acupuncture but found reflexology very relaxing. Anything that helps you feel calm is always good!

@SpyroC I know the feeling! This whole fertility business makes me obsessional.

@Hatawa83 hope everything goes fabulously!

I tried acupuncture and I didn't like it. I don't fall asleep without being on my front abs trying, so I was just lying uncomfortably for a long time. I love reflexology, but feel like I should add in the acupuncture. I'm normally such a skeptic, but this fertility business makes me strangely open minded...

Welcome @ninteyredballons. I had acupuncture for the last month or so I was on clomid and carried it on through my first ivf cycle that wasn't successful. I've decided not to do it this time as I really didn't enjoy it. I found it the opposite to relaxing so it seems silly to spend money on something that stresses me out, though I have heard good things about it. I'm interested to find out about more the reflexology

Went for the endoscratch today. Was more painful than last time but worth it if it brings my killer cells down

Thank you @ninetynineredballoons :) lol I know what you mean! I’d do literally anything if I thought it might work. I may have even once done a Wiccan spell 😂

@confused107 I can imagine. I have a needle phobia (lol...not great for ivf. I have to shut my eyes while hubby injects me) so I definitely wouldn’t be relaxed during acupuncture! Reflexology is fab and they can target certain areas to promote relaxation and the reproductive organs etc. No idea if it really works but I find it so relaxing plus that’s all I did prior to the FET that gave us our daughter so I’m going to be superstitious and Dec stick with it 😂

Thanks for that @Hatawa83 I've just called a local reflexologist and she was lovely. Seemed very knowledgeable in the area. As well as reflexology she also recommended trying reiki, aromatherapy massages and the Emmitt technique. She can even make me shower gels and body lotions with essential oils that might help. Obviously I can't afford to do everything but it all sounds lovely! I'm going in next Thursday for a consultation to decide a course of treatment

@confused107 ooh sounds lovely. Let me know how you get on! Are you currently doing a round?

Hi all just wanted to jump in as have been reading the last few pages of this thread. I'm currently doing my first FET, fingers crossed for all.

I've had acupuncture and have found a lot of research into its aiding of ivf although nowadays you can find anything on the Internet I do know a lot of people who have tried ot amongst treatment and they have all been successful so definitely willing to give it a try.

Has anyone heard of mizan therapy? I also read that this is well known into aiding treatment too and I quote like a massage.

Baby dust to all 💜

Yes @Hatawa83 I'm currently on the down regs for long protocol. This is our second attempt. Can't see us having the emotional or financial resources for another go to be honest. Looks like you are a bit further on. Our collection is likely to be second week in March. 14 follicles is amazing though. Fingers crossed for you x

Hi,
I had my first scan yesterday, day 9 of stims, they said I had 10 good sized follicles, (trying to remind myself “quality over quantity”!!!) so 2nd scan on Saturday and likely egg collection Monday or Tuesday! Keeping up with the high protein diet and lots of water.

Fyremadel to the thigh is a stingy little fecker but otherwise the injections are going well. Feel bloated and some twinges in my abdomen but nothing too bad to report.

Apart from the damn hormones.....!!!!!
During the week I cried on the way to work because my colleague messaged me and said she wouldn’t make it in due to the floods, and was going to have a non clinical day at home and catch up on admin.
Did I cry because she had been flooded? ...No...
I cried because we have been so busy recently that I haven’t had time to even look at my emails and I wanted a day of non clinical work!!! 😂
I hope everything is going well for everyone else and you’re all not randomly crying at everything like me!
X

Hi @Embri 10 follicles is great. Last time I had 8 (I have low AMH) and they got 6 eggs, 2 were good enough to go back in but sadly not successful. From what I've read the numbers don't mean so much. I've read terrifying stories of 19 eggs being collected and nothing making it to blycoclast stage so it really does only take one. Be kind to yourself. These hormones do strange things to us. I'm ashamed to say my poor DH gets the brunt of mine. My last round was over my birthday and I was I obviously not drinking when we were out with my friends. My husband was offered a glass of wine and took it. I can't explain the tears and the rage that followed for two days afterwards. Poor guy ;-)

@Hufflepuff1 I have also heard good things about acupuncture. My acupuncturist told me that there were studies that said that acupuncture improved IVF success rates by up to 40% which is why I continued with a 12 week course. I just found it uncomfortable and by the end I was dreading it so I decided to not do it this time. I know others that love it and swear by it though

Happy Valentines all. Hope you all get spoilt today xx

@Embri
Definitely quality over quantity - I've had 4 collections - doesn't matter whether I've collected 14 eggs or 2 I always end up with 2 blastocysts but the cycles where I've had fewer eggs the blastocyst headings have been much higher

I've done acupuncture a few times - done them on cycles with and without ending in BFP so I'm in two minds whether to bother to have a post transfer session next month

I might try reflexology although I really don't like feet and that includes people touching my feet so not sure whether I'll like it! X

Hi all, things are getting moving now on this thread! Pleased to hear follicles are growing well for those already on stims!

I am due to go for a scan next Friday and then start Stims that evening. Picking up all my meds tonight. Luckily it’s a oharmacist friend of ours so he’s going to go through everything with us and we know we can call him any time we’ve a question which will be useful! I’m on over double the meds I was last time so I’m a bit scared!! Plus with my DH broken arm I’m going to have to do all injections. argh!

@confused107 I feel exactly the same as you re acupuncture. I did it for 12 weeks before my first cycle and all during it / after it for a month. I hated it. Once I was sitting in the car dreading it and not wanting to get out and realised that there was no point. Plus our first cycle was a disaster so I’m not doing it again.

I am now doing reflexology and love it so whether it helps or not the therapist is so nice and calm and I feel relaxed so that bound to help!

For our last cycle we were so disciplined with healthy foods no treats etc. This time we can’t get in the zone! So hoping it won’t be a disaster. We are taking our supplements religiously and no alcohol or caffeine (bar 1 a week for me!) since Jan but we haven’t managed to add in things like high protein. Can’t find the motivation!!

Is everyone else finding it ok to be good?

Oh and re time off I really urge everyone to just think Of themselves. I’m taking sick leave and annual leave. I want a few days of just being able to lie in, read a book, go for a walk. We are going through enough. Work will survive without us!