A month in, how are feeling?

[ChatWithMe]

To all the ladies desperate to be pregnant but aren't.

It's now been one month of lockdown. I'm finding every day feels like the last. Like groundhog day.

Been trying to keep busy, be productive, get out daily for sunshine, do my hobbies. I find I was snacking on chocolate and biscuits more than usual so now I'm trying to be good.

Feeling sad I'm not pregnant and may never be again. Noticing how prominent my wrinkles and spider veins are getting which highlight my progressing age (almost 39). Feeling anxious the IVF clinics won't be opening any time soon.

How are you all feeling - infertility and lockdown, one month in? x

Thanks for sharing @VenusStarr, the HFEA seem very eager to get things going again and it's good to finally have some news after what feels like weeks of radio silence.

That's really positive @CritterTamer. Trying not to get my hopes up too much though!

I'll have your drink @ChatWithMe 🍷 :)

I think the radio silence has contributed to my mood @AlwaysWaitingIVF even though nothing has actually changed, just knowing they're thinking about it and communicating with us helps a lot.

Great news @CritterTamer 🤞 next month!

@venusstarr that's encouraging isnt it. I mean mildly.

It is @thefishthatcouldwish I've seen some negativity on Instagram about it. But just to know that they are making plans is helpful to me. I know no-one can say for definite when things will resume, it's given me a glimmer of hope, which I really needed.

Drinking to yhat ladies positive thinking today xxx

How are you all doing today? Beautiful sunshine after initial morning chill. I went for a run and it was refreshing (albeit hard as always). DH starting a petty argument kinda spoiled it but ciest la vie. Trying to stay positive. I'm looking forward to Friday cause it's the start of May which I'm guessing is when some clinics might open? Lockdown only confirmed until the following Thursday May 7th when we get to hear from the government about whether lockdown will start to wind down. I'm guessing they will let most businesses open and have a start date for schools to open but some businesses like pubs and cafes will be shut or only take away service. What you you all think will happen May 7th??

@ChatWithMe

This week has seen b&q and Homebase reopen, my DH work has started up click and collect again and loads of construction sites are reopening so I think this trend will continue - it's seems like since the government has refused to release a formal plan of getting us out of lockdown then businesses are taking the matter into their own hands. I was supposed to be furloughed until end of June but a client has now said they want a project doing which they suspended a month ago so looks like I'll be going back to work (from home) from next week.

I think May 7th/11th they'll say that if businesses have a plan for social distancing then they can reopen. Mass gathering events will still be closed though. 99% of pubs also serve food so they'll reopen too if they can put space between tables.

There has been quite a lot of negative press and social media in the last few days about whole wards of doctors/nurses etc doing nothing as they aren't qualified to treat virus patients and no other treatment is going on - the new temp hospitals are also largely empty so they'll also lift restrictions on elective treatment so hopefully clinics will follow suit at least by the end of May 🤞🤞🤞🤞

Yes ivfgottostaypositive happy b&q open as DH has various DIY projects to do. I hadn't heard about professionals refusing to treat patients! Yikes. Very strange. Yes hopefully they can start booking elective treatments soon as there are poor folk aside from the infertile that need things to relieve pain and enhance quality of life. I feel for all those people already on long waiting lists having things cancelled like hip replacements and stuff. It will actually be quite a treat to go out to eat when it's safe and allowed.

I'm lying in the sunshine looking at my period tracker. I'm due a period 24th May which I'm thinking would be best case If clinic reopens mid May, failing that next one is 21st June (my cycles are like clockwork 🤣) which I think is probably most likely to start final egg collection cycle and get to transfer? With a lot of businesses reopening just in the last few days can't see they would demand clinics close past June 🤞🤞

Can you tell I'm a control freak and planner 🤣🤣 I need things to plan to stay sane!

@AlwaysWaitingIVF sounds lovely being in the sun. I spent most of the day tidying up.

I know if clinics re open I need to attend group session before consent signing.

Sometimes I'm ok with it all then other times I feel like we will never get to IVF.

Hope you enjoy the sunshine today and tomorrow thefishthatcouldwish as forecast shows a week of rain from Tuesday. I love things tidy so I'm constantly tidying! Interesting your clinic does group consultations as it's not private and patients don't like to raise personal concerns in that situation I reckon. Is that with the doctor and then the next appointment is the nurse appointment?

May period sounds a bit hopeful ivfgottostaypositive given you need the doctor's appointment and nurse appointment before that. If doing an IVF cycle do you need a 18-21 day scan the cycle before or is it just the 5-8 day scan after starting stimming injections? My clinic did a day 20 scan then I had my period then day 1 I started Menopur and my egg collection was day 12 of my cycle I think.

My periods will be around May 3rd and June 3rd so hopefully I get to do the FET mid June. Fingers crossed!

@ChatWithMe

This is my 5th and final egg collection and I do natural modified IVF so I would start on cycle day 4 with stims, egg collection cycle day 12/13 and then transfer 5 days later - I've been with the clinic for all 5 rounds so I wouldn't need a nurse/doctor appointment. I usually have the first scan and blood test on cycle day 6 and then every other day after that until trigger - my protocol is over so quick which is a good thing!

Oh wow that's awesome ivfgottostaypositive. So quick. Another lady on here said she's with Create doing natural modified and doing three egg collections in a row before one final embryo transfer. Did you do embryo transfers after all your egg collections or was the plan 3 collections then transfer of best embryo from the group?

@chatwithme

The group session has 6-8 couples which is run by nurse and goes through all types of treatment before treatment. We have had private consultations etc before this point.

You then do consent signing where they give you the timetable etc.

I see thefishthatcouldwish. That seems ok. Just wish we could get on with these planning appointments already 😑

@ChatWithMe

That was probably me! My MN account strangely deleted so had to set it up again! (I was "itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted"!)

The plan was to do 3 back to back egg collections freezing all until the 3rd one when we would transfer but I had a weird cycle after the 2nd and couldn't start stims - cycle ended up being about 40 days and they said it was a sign the follicles that month were no good so said not to waste the final collection

I have a mix of day 3 and 5 frozen and they will do double transfers x

Oh funny!! Yes I was referring to you ivfgottostaypositive. I have my fingers crossed for you cause I knew it was your last go to get your daughter a sibling. Because you had previously mentioned Create mild/natural modified IVF with 3 collections and one transfer, I actually really tried selling it to my hubby. He said no he doesn't want to change clinics unless the success rates are amazing. He made a super spreadsheet with HFEA stats and we agreed to try CRGH in London (Centre for reproductive and genetic health). However their email reply to me was to say they might have to make us redo fertility tests we've already had and don't want to pay for again. Hence we're doing our final IVF cycle at current provider if FET doesn't work.

Period arrived today. Dh is at work and I’m feeling really fed up. It feels like a very long day alone here.

Gosh Herjbr26. I've not come across someone on here so young. I hope you're in a committed loving relationship. Irregular periods can be a sign of a problem but it may be just your body taking time to get back to normal. I'd love to reassure you but I do think you should discuss this with your GP. During lockdown you could probably get a telephone consultation. You never need to have blood tests or any invasive procedures without your consent so if the GP advises this you could decide at that stage what you'd like to do. I'm 38 and have been poked and prodded so many times for IVF that I'm actually used to it! I can understand your anxiety though. Please also tell your GP you'd like to get pregnant as they would not tell your parents without your consent anyway at your age and they can give you the advice you need. Just as an aside, I hope you and your partner have both been screened for STIs (sexually transmitted infections). I also hope you are eating healthy food like fruit and veg, getting regular exercise, avoiding smoking, and taking a daily prenatal vitamin with vitamin D and folic acid. Anyhow, best of luck in your journey x

I hope you take it easy and do something relaxing/entertaining today to pass the time PurpleDaisies. Last day of sunshine for a week so get out for a walk x

Thanks chat. I want to just sit on the sofa but I think forcing myself out is a better plan. There are some lovely walks around here so going to head out later. Currently waiting for painkillers to kick in.

Sorry to hear that @PurpleDaisies, my af arrived last week and my mood was awful. I've got a jigsaw on the go and that helps, it's quite a hard one and I'm not that good at them, so it keeps me distracted.

I'm supposed to be working, but procrastinating so far...

Feeling low today. Literally spent all day in work with a woman who is expecting her first grand child literally cooing over scan pictures and showing me all sorts.

Fed up with life at moment.

Sorry for negative post I know its self indulgent.

Yes we all need to keep busy and distracted!

Sorry you had to grin and bear it today thefishthatcouldwish. Too bad she doesn't know you're having trouble conceiving. We're you able to hide behind a face mask? I'm guessing there is social distancing at your work? I think I'd feel sad seeing scan pictures too. I hope you get to be the next one to show off your scan pictures this year. Try to indulge in comedy or a light hearted book which has nothing to do with baby making!