Anyone doing ivf at 40+

[lucieloos]

We're considering doing a couple more rounds of ivf at 40.5 years old. We have 2 children already but still feel someone is missing.

Is anyone else starting or already having treatment at 40+ and would like to share the journey?

@IPokeBadgers it is a very stressful process especially when you're trying for your first and it's all you want and can think about. I hope your review appt and counselling can bring some clarity for you on the way forward.

@Badgerismyname how did your early blasts do on day 6?

@lucieloos Afternoon! I haven’t actually heard from my Coordinator but I’ve had an email from the Finance dept asking me to pay another €170 for storage so I guess that meant they were able to freeze them! So good news, tho I read blastocysts that don’t make it til day 6 are less likely to be normal, but obviously great to have in the wings.

Feeling quite despondent today after feeling positive at the weekend, I guess is just how it goes. The massive highs and lows of the 2WW. Trying not to eat everything in sight (my usual default).

How goes you? Just more waiting for you now?

@Badgerismyname that's great news if they've been able to. Always good to have more even if they aren't all as good as each other. You never really know which will work.

I know how you feel. I hate the 2ww although I always test after 4-5 days so not much of a 2ww for me but I can't be doing with it anymore. I've had chemicals and ectopic inbetween my children and I just don't like the wait which is another reason I've had this one tested as I just don't want to go through that process again. I hope you're hanging in there though. Are you an early tester or will you wait the full time?

Just waiting here too. I will check in with them early next week as that's when I've had the results previously. I think I know deep down it won't be normal. I don't know how I'm going to bring myself to open that email 😬

@lucieloos oh the wait, endless wait. Just desperate for the week to end, not managing work very well. I won’t wait til the Clinic’s 14 day OTD but I’ll probably go to day 10 as it should be definite by then, and I’m working from home that day. I never test early, can’t bring myself to. Can’t bear the thought of a chemical and getting a positive and it turning to a neg. So cruel. You sound like you’ve had your fair share of that, so hard.

Yep, that’ll be a hard email to open. You just never know though...

@IPokeBadgers I also hope the appointment has brought you clarity. Only you know what your limits are and when enough is enough, but 42 isn’t old, if this is something you really want to try for again don’t let that put you off.

@Badgerismyname ohhh the wait is hard! Have you had any symptoms? Well done for waiting until day 10 though that's really good going! I'm the complete opposite. I would love to be able to wait but for some strange reason if I see a bfn and it's early it kind of eases me into the possibility it might not have worked but we still have a bit of a chance. Ive never been able to face it being a definite no and then it's all over straight away. I know that doesn't make any sense at all. I've had 2 chemicals and 1 ectopic altogether. They are all hard but I'm kind of glad that I knew about them. I think I've had something like 10 transfers and even more egg collections. I've lost track now. Hope it's good news for us both next week.

@lucieloos there’s no right or wrong way when it comes to testing, it just depends on what your coping strategy is. It will have absolutely no effect on the outcome whichever way you do it. I just don’t want to be given any hope if there is none! After the no of TWWs you’ve done not surprised you’re over them.

No symptoms here but I never had any symptoms the time it was successful so I know not to read anything into that.

Everything crossed for good news for both of us next week. C’mon!

How's everyone doing? @ACAL have you started now? @Badgerismyname hope you're surviving the wait!

I'm hoping this week is the week we get our results but I'm starting to feel a little nervous. It's really hitting me that I do really want another baby but I think it's always been the case for me that I normally only end up with one embryo to blast even when I used to get 7-8 eggs collected and 100% fertilised it was only on the rare odd occasion I would have anymore and while back then I got lucky as I was only mid 30s and it worked out now I feel like it's going to take a miracle. Even though I really want it we literally don't have much if anymore money we can keep throwing at this so I'm worried this week that whilst my feelings are growing in wanting another baby that I may have to try and face the fact it's not going to happen.

Can I join? I’m 39, so not quite 40... but, someone is certainly missing!

I’m currently awake at 01:30am, feeling nauseous and hot during stim.
This is my third ICSI cycle. First, I was 31, but mc. Second, I was 32 and had my amazing DS. Decided I was lucky to have him and not wanting this (torturous) process again but wanting another was always there, so we left it to ‘what will be, will be’. Until I entered my 38yr and the ‘you’re not getting any younger’ niggle turned into a very loud ‘it’s now or never’ distraction and so here I am: Day 10 of stim.
Day 8 scan was promising: 8 medium and 3 small on one and 1 large and 10 small on other. Not had nausea at night with stim before but this time my dose went from 150 to 225

I have read through the entire thread and it’s lovely to see these still here supporting one another through this process. I know for for sure it helped me both times before!

Hello everyone. Lovely to meet you. I shall send my love and best wishes to you all and hope that this thread continues to be as positive at it reads!

Oh gosh, heaven knows what I was thinking when I was 31 and choosing my user name!

Looks like I’m rusty on the formatting too.

Hi everyone! @lucieloos - you are so close now. I totally understand you wanting to prepare yourself for if it doesn’t turn out well. I am a total diehard optimist but find myself slipping into “prepare for the worst” territory so it doesn’t come as an awful shock. Sending you and @Badgerismyname the very best of luck and have everything crossed for you both.

I’m on day 5 stims and they are hammering me with the dosage. So a bit behind you @AngelFairy! I’ve never had nausea but horrendous headaches - had forgotten this bit. Scan yesterday showed 3 follicles on either side but who knows whether they progress or get joined by more over the next bit.

Hang on in everyone!

Ah, nice messages to wake up to on this Monday morn. Im at the stage now of just needing to know so I can move on with my life. Am expecting it to be negative, don’t feel in any way pregnant, but either way I just need to know so I can put this cycle behind me. I would’ve done the test today but realised I don’t actually have any FRER tests, so had to quickly amazon prime some so can do it tom. I‘m also a terrible comfort eater in times of stress so have put on at least half a stone during this cycle which doesn’t help the feelings of despair!

@lucieloos I know exactly what you mean, feels like luck is not on our side and just hoping for a miracle. Self preservation and all that. I’m trying not to think about how I’ll actually feel about the result as don’t want to remind myself how much I want it.

@ACAL and @AngelFairy best of luck!! I’m a bad sleeper and night sweater at the best of times so not sure I notice effects of the injections! Is nice to finish them though, to state the obvious. I only had 7 follicles on day 10 but still managed to get 5 eggs to blastocyst so there’s always hope.

And @AngelFairy welcome. It’s now or never, but at least you’re still the right side of 40!! Everything crossed for us all.

@Badgerismyname good luck for tomorrow. Really hope it works out for you. Last time I did the pgs testing i got the results by tomorrow. I don't think I will chase them tomorrow though will try and wait until Wednesday and if I haven't heard by then will drop them an email. Even if we could afford to go again I'm unsure what will happen with travelling now with all the coronavirus stuff. What are your thoughts on going again if you needed to?

@ACAL sorry to hear of the headaches. Hope they ease off soon. 3 follicles each side is pretty good for that early in your cycle. Keep us posted when you have your next scan. Hope you get lots of nice eggs.

@AngelFairy welcome! Your scan sounds promising. Hopefully you will get a good few eggs from that lot. Wishing you lots of luck.

@lucieloos I really had forgotten how horrendous the TWW is. Not sure I can do this again! But of course I will. Feel sick at the thought of doing the test.

Tbh today is the first time Ive thought about the impact of Corona on a FET. Bit stupid really as it’s all I’m talking about at work atm! I will want to do it ASAP if unsuccessful, April ideally or May if not. God what a pain. I obv don’t know what’s going to happen re how much it spreads but most likely I’ll risk it for the greater good. I would count this as almost essential travel... tho would leave DH and DS at home of course.

They’re pretty efficient at Reprofit aren’t they so quite likely you’ll hear from them first.

@Badgerismyname are you on the reprofit Facebook group? Some women have discussed it with the doctors there who have advised not to travel because of the quarantine risk and picking something up through airport / plane. They also aren't treating anyone from countries such as China, Italy etc with epidemics so all depends how it pans out here over next few weeks I guess. If I were to go back I would want to do it ASAP because of age but just seems like everything is stacked against us at the moment!

I really hate the 2ww too. At least you have been good I just torture myself with tests lol.

@lucieloos oh god, this could be disastrous! Must try not to panic. Yes am on the fb page, will have a look now.

@Badgerismyname at least you have embryos frozen so time doesn't really matter in terms of when they are used but I know you probably have personal timescales that you would like to work towards. For us I kind of said once I was 41 that would be it for us and that's the end of June so it's looking ropey.

@lucieloos I guess I’m thinking if none of the frozens work and I had to do another fresh round would need to be by the Autumn really, but yes could theoretically do them any time. And of course I want to get on with it all asap, don’t want to spend the next few years thinking about this, if it’s not going to happen need to enjoy the child I have.

So frustrating isn’t it, so you think you would go for one more round if no joy on this own? We just have to hope things will clear up. It’s hard to know whether to bide your time or to go for it sooner than later, impossible to know how things will pan out.

@Badgerismyname yes I know what you mean. Part of me thinks maybe if I rush out there quickly we could get a round in but realistically that would be early April by then and I imagine if this thing is going to take a hold then it would be a lot worse by then. Somebody said the U.K. now is how Italy was 2 weeks ago. I couldn't risk being stuck anywhere because of flight cancellations or quarantines etc as my youngest just can't manage the night without me. The last time we went he stayed away for the first time ever and my mum had to sit up all night with him in the lounge. She said you could see he just didn't know where he was or even who she was!

I really don't know what we will do having said that. It all comes down to money. We really can't afford to go again I know that. I've almost maxed out my credit card but I really want to go lol. If it wasn't for money I would just keep going until it worked. I mean I'm a little nervous now of the results but overall I've been quite chilled about it all as with only 2 follicles I didn't really have any expectations.

@Badgerismyname good luck today! Hope your tests turn up and it's good news.

Hello ladies,
Thank you for such a warm welcome and your best wishes x

@ACAL How’s things progressing with your stim? I hope your headaches have subsided some. I found I get super thirsty and my clinic recommend 2-3ltrs. If you’re not already, maybe more fluids would help.

I hope your test was positive @Badgerismyname. I’ve been thinking about you. I get super nervous and twist my brain into all kinds of torture. I want to know but then only if it’s positive, as I’d rather not know, and live in the possibility of a positive, until I have to confront a potential negative . It’s such a messed up part.

How are things with you @lucieloos? Have you had your results back? Fingers have been crossed that you get the green light for FET. Has there been any more development on travel for you?

Update from me:
Monday’s scan saw 11 follicles over 17mm.
EC today. 7 eggs collected. Praying for a successful night and a positive phone call tomorrow 🙏🏻

@AngelFairy that's brilliant news on your egg collection! So far so good! What clinic are you with?

Still no results here. I'm starting to get impatient now because I know it should be soon but I don't know exactly when. I think if the embryo is abnormal it's looking likely to be the end of the road for us. This coronavirus thing is taking off and one of the sister clinics to the one that I go to have announced they won't be treating anyone for the foreseeable future and will review again in April. I don't really have time to spare so maybe it's a sign that it's not meant to be and I need to move on.

Devastated.
6/7 mature, all had ICSI but only one fertilised.

@AngelFairy oh no I'm so sorry. Do you have a problem with sperm? I know it's no consolation but I more or less only had one in the running from day 1 and it made it to blast and off for testing but I know how disappointing it is when you expect more. Hang in there.

Thank you @lucieloos x You’re right, it just take the one and we both still have one right now.
I’m Just feeling quite sorry for myself. It’s just so hard when you’re still sore from EC and you realise that your efforts aren’t giving you what you’d hoped for.
Yes, we’ve had issues with morphology and this type of result happened on our first round. I had 10eggs, 9 mature and one fertilised. They put it back on day 2 and I miscarried, so I’m not doing that again! It’s too soul destroying. So it’s good grade blastocyst or nothing now. 🤞🏻

Hi guys, are you going supplements? And are you using dhea? Removing plastic from your diet and acupuncture. The first time doing ivf is stressful, but we know what we’re doing the second time, the fear of the unknown is gone. If this doesn’t work for me, I’m going to do mini Ivf and really hit the supplements.