Jan/Feb IVF/ICSI/FET here we go...

[sometimesalways]

Hello, starting a new thread for those of us starting a new cycle after the holidays.

My background: one successful round of ivf a few years back resulted in my lovely DS and now trying for a second. We are about to go for round 3, following 1 bfn and 1 mc.

At the moment I am waiting for af to appear. Seem to be about to ovulate according to opk. So guessing should expect af in about 2 weeks time.

Going for natural FET with progesterone support. The question for me is whether to add steroids too. A little scared of long terms risks so we will see...

@Russkispy @itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted @Christabelle89
I remember from previous threads you were doing, or thinking of doing another round in Jan?

Everybody welcome to join, wherever you are on your journey. It's a tough business, keeping company helps. Good luck!

Congratulations on being PUPO 🎉 @sometimesalways @Hatawa83

Sorry @sometimesalways what's GDS?

@BettySwoll0cks I've been wondering this I'm NHS so expect a total brush off but I'm going to go armed with a list to discuss. I don't mind paying for some extras, don't want to do exactly the same as last time with my final precious embryo.

ERA
Scratch
Embryo glue
Redo bloods- thyroid, vit D etc
Asprin
Steroids
Weight loss
MTHFR folic acid/folate
I was already PGS so not relevant for me

Anything else anyone can think of gratefully received!

Doh sorry @Hufflepuff1 I meant genetic testing (PGS?) and got my acronyms mixed up

@sometimesalways congratulations on PUPO! Hope you sail through tww. And no early testing

@BettySwoll0cks the only thing they changed this cycle and after 3 MCs is adding steroids and increasing progesterone. My consultant has just told me to reduce steroids from 25mg to 15mg because I’ve been having pretty bad side effects but he’s insisted I stay on them another week then we might look to wean off them. Tbh they just think it’s the embryos that aren’t perfect. They really don’t know why despite 1 healthy pregnancy I keep miscarrying. Baffles me too!

@sometimesalways yay!!! Hope we can both stay sane!!! I will be testing next wed or thurs as I’ve always had a result on day 8. Don’t see the point in waiting until the official test day which is the Friday 6th but that’s just me 😂 I wonder why your OTD is so much later if we had ET on the same date?

So here's a strange one. I just had some brown spotting. Small stuff. But I have never had implantation bleeding before (in either failed or successful tries) and anyway it feels waaaaay to soon- I am just 1dp5dt!

Could it be from the transfer procedure or anything? Although I don't remember hurting at the time (beyond the usual discomfort)
Should i call the clinic you think? Has this happened to anyone before?

@Hatawa83 my clinic always has ridiculous tww periods, longest than anybody else I've known! I don't know why. I try not to test early though if I can! It's tricky

@sometimesalways hmm there's conflicting evidence as far as I've read (which is a lot). Most articles/stories I've read state that with a FET, implantation occurs quicker however some say it takes longer than a fresh.
It's too early to be AF God forbid so I would say it might be implantation. My clinic said not to worry re spotting or bleeding unless it's proper red in colour, I would give you're clinic a call and see what they say. 🤞🤞

@sometimesalways I had a bit of very light brown spotting yesterday and this morning which they told me to expect as it’s very common aftee ET. Nothing to worry about. I would think Its a touch too early for implantation X

That's what I thought @Hatawa83 but I never had it before which I thought was weird. Also never ever had implantation bleeding in my life- not even with my son - so I had just assumed I am one of those people who don't get it. I might give my clinic a call just in case.

@Hufflepuff1 I have read that frozen embryos take longer to implant too. All very confusing.

Thanks for all the suggestions re tweaks to the protocol. There are several things I can look into there, steroids, aspirin etc. Will consider PGS if none of my 4 from this round take. Review appt has been brought forward to next Fri.

FX for everyone in the 2ww!! Btw I took the attitude with early testing that it's my body and I could have a sneak peek if I wanted to! Fully armed with the understanding of course that things could change any time xxx

@BettySwoll0cks let us know what they suggest. Yes I’m the same. I never take a day 8p5dt test as definitive but it allows me to get an indication and possibly prepare myself for disappointment. Like you, I think I put myself through enough that I have the right to get a peek in advance x

Well I did it! I took a sneak peak and for the moment it's a BFP!! 7dp5dt, I didn't have any trigger shots so it can't be that. I can't believe it due to the lack of symptoms I thought I was out. Fingers crossed 🤞 it sticks and gets stronger and stronger 🤞🤞🤞🍀🍀🍀💜💜😭😭😭🙏

Brilliant @Hufflepuff1 !!! They always say you should try and stay positive - hopefully that's given you a super boost!!! xx

@Hufflepuff1
Yay!!! Tentative congratulations!

Remind me how many you transferred and what grade? X

Thank you both! Being cautious but also positive and hoping that spreads to embie sticking and getting stronger 🤞🤞

@itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted it was frozen as a 4BA at day 5.
Upon thawing I don't know how in tact it was, I did ask but they just said yes it's looking well and wouldn't divulge % or anything. However I asked the nurse again after I'd freed my bladder because of the whole drama of waiting for the doctor I was worried I didn't pay enough attention during the transfer and she checked my notes and said it looks like the embryologist re graded it when it was being thawed and it went from a 4BA to a 5BA so this meant it had started to hatch during the thawing process.

It's worth noting I also paid for embryo glue and in the cycle where the eggs were collected etc we also paid for TLA (I think that's what it is) its when they put the embryos in the incubator and there's a camera to monitor them rather than having to take them out and take them in and out of that environment. It cost around £850 as far as I remember. And the embryo glue I'm not sure how much that was sorry, but those two were the extras I thought were worth going for in my situation.

Hope that helps 💜🍀🤞

@Hufflepuff1 tentative congratulations! That's fantastic news!
I had a trigger on 14/02 and transfer on the same day as you. My OTD is on 5/03 but will be testing on 4/03 as arranged HCG and progesterone at my local EPU same day. If it's positive I'll go 🤞🏻🤞🏻and then repeat 48 hours later. Well, let's hope it's a BFP! My frozen embryo is 5AB and we also used the glue. Next week will tell us everything 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Thanks @Russkispy fingers crossed for you next week 💜💜 I'm going to call my GP and see if they can fit me in for some bloods x

Oh I just saw this, tentative congratulations @Hufflepuff1 ! That's lovely news. Keep going little embryo! xx

@Hufflepuff1 thank you!
@sometimesalways hope you're doing well?

@Russkispy thanks, I am alright. Work is a little crazy at the moment down to Coronavirus for various reasons (sorry to be the first one to bring this up!) so it's been super busy and kept my mind off things. No more spotting so that was prob cause of the transfer. Hanging in there and trying to keep things as normal as possible. Hope you re ok too?

Argh so I went from that spotting, and some pulling, tingling and niggles that felt like they were in my vagina actually (weird!) on the first/second day after transfer, to nothing. Just the annoying bloating and gas (sorry!) from the progesterone.
How's everybody doing?
@Russkispy your OTD must be close!

@sometimesalways OTD is on Thursday but I'll test on Wednesday morning as booked beta at our local EPU and if it's positive I'll go and also repeat it 48 hours later. 🤞🏻🤞🏻 never symptom spotted as I know progesterone causes most of of them. So I'm just sailing through and hoping for the best! And the same for you! 🤞🏻🤞🏻

@Hufflepuff1 how are you? Tested again?

@Hatawa83 how are you feeling? And @itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted ?

Hey! No not tested again, I will again next week. Yesterday gave me reassurance that things were going in the right direction so what will be will be now. Just remaining positive and hoping everything goes well. I couldn't cope before due to lack of symptoms so I'm so glad I did test.

@sometimesalways I didn't get any symptoms seriously. I had literally one twinge that caused me to go "argh' for like one second and that was the night before I tested so 6dp5dt. Apart from that just had bloating from the progesterone.

Fingers crossed for you all 💜

@Russkispy you're an inspiration and although I caved in I haven't felt the need to test every day or go crazy lol that's down to your calmness lol