IVF Egg collection July 2020

[Sazzle1000]

Hi everyone, we got the call today to start our first round of IVF. We’ll be starting drugs in a couple of weeks and injections late June - anybody with me???

Hi!

I'm also starting injections around the 3rd week of June and egg collection in July hopefully!

Feeling excited, nervous, anxious and over whelmed!

Thanks for replying 😊 my husband and I have been trying for a couple of years so feeling happy it’s all starting up again after the lockdown - think I’m due to start tablets on Monday 😁

Yes I am so pleased, they are starting again! It was so uncertain during lockdown.

So could I ask what your background is?

I'm 35, we have one son who just turned 4 (concieved naturally) and we have been diagnosed with secondary infertility due to one blocked tube.

Really praying and hoping for a sibling for our little boy!

How are you feeling about starting tablets? I don't have any tablets, we are going straight to injections which are slightly terrifying!

Sure, I’m 38 and this will be our first hopefully. They haven’t found anything wrong specifically with either of us apart from I have a small amount endometriosis so that might be affecting it and my age too I guess.

Yeah I’m trying to block out the injection thing at the moment (will probably end up getting hubby to do it 😂)

We have an appointment on Thursday so will hopefully find out a bit more then 😊

Good luck for Thursday!!

Which clinic are you with?

I have already sent my hubby the youtube links to the medication. I won't be able to do it myself 😜

It is so nice to find a cycle buddy. IVF is so lonely. Even my husband doesn't want to talk it about 24/7 but I think I need too!

Hello, may I join? Got the call yesterday to say prescriptions are on their way for egg collecting. Am terrified but excited!
Any tips on injecting?

Hi irisnotadaff :)

Wow thats exciting. I've had my prescription sent off and waiting for a phonecall to say they are on their way.

Sorry I don't have any tips - this is my first time!

When do you start injecting?

Hi Irisnotdaff, thanks for joining us 😊

My medication is all arriving on Friday (injections & tablets) but I’ve never injected before either so no idea how it’s gonna go 🙈 first time for me too - nice to have other people in the same boat!!

What is your story Irisnotdaff?

Honestly, the injections really aren't that bad. Mine didn't hurt at all, I got DH to do them as I found it hard to insert a needle in to myself but it didn't hurt and I'm quite sensitive. The biggest tip I have is not to do the injection slowly - I'm not sure what the correct terminology is but when it comes to pushing down the plunger, do it fast, if you do it slowly, it'll start to sting. If it does hurt you, other women recommend numbing the area with ice but I never needed to do that. Picky a fleshy part of the belly and just go for it.

Best of luck to all of you

Think I’m starting short protocol in July but they want to put me on the pill first x excited to get started 😊

Thank you for the advice @pinktruffle 😊 how long ago did you have your treatment?

Welcome @JandL2020

You're welcome! I had short protocol, I had my treatment in February/March, I had my transfer on 9th March just before all the Covid craziness hit so I was very lucky. I was doubly lucky in being successful first time.

I’m having short too - any tips? What are the timescales roughly? Congrats also xx

Thank you! I really didn't find it that bad. I don't know if I had built it up a lot in my head but I found it surprisingly manageable. My main side effect was feeling tired a lot of the time so make sure you get lots of rest where you can and keep well hydrated.
Time wise, I was initially doing injections for 10 days, this was extended by 5 days as the eggs weren't at at correct size by the time I got to day 10 so all in all I did about 2 weeks of injections. Egg collection and transfer were ok, I did both under general anaesthetic. Transfer isn't usually done under GA but I requested it as I struggle with smear tests and that's what the clinic likened it to, they were happy to oblige.
I was a little sore after collection and had the day off work the next day, I was glad to have that time. After transfer I took two weeks off as my job is particularly stressful and I really wanted to take it easy so I wouldn't wonder 'what if' in the future if it didn't work.

Eggs wise, they collected 14, 12 fertilised, 9 made it to Day 5. One was transferred. My hospital only freeze top quality blastocysts so not all of the other 8 made it, I have 3 eggs frozen to use in the future hopefully for a sibling.

I can't ever say it was easy but I will say that it was no where near as bad as I thought it would be. Make sure you and your partner are talking all the way through it and you have a friend/someone you can offload to as it is an emotional rollercoaster. My DH found it emotionally very difficult, it helped having a friend to talk to when I was worried about DH.

Congratulations Pink Truffle!!! Lovely to have positivity on this thread!

What clinic were you with and what stims were you on?

Did they offer you a choice between long or short protocol?

Sorry I am full of questions - this is my first time for IVF!

Awwww @pinktruffle congratulations! How are you feeling?

Had our appointment today, they took bloods/swobs etc due to start injections on the 22nd and tablets on Sunday - all very weird but exciting! They told me I’d be fast asleep for egg collection too which I’m pretty happy about - thanks @pinktruffle for your advice 😊

Thanks for your advice PT - I’m going to be under sedation only but I’m okay with smears/Hycosy fingers crossed. I’m going to ask for 2 weeks off as well as I work in a hospital and worried risk of covid etc..I’m hoping the consultant will sign me off. He said he recommends I stay away but equally keep busy. How do you keep busy during this time without worrying?! My partner is pretty chilled - he just hates it when I’m upset 😢 which has been a lot recently. I have days where I just cry constantly. I have one friend I’ll tell she is very supportive and my parents will know. My sister isn’t so supportive so I won’t be telling her at all. Feel pretty positive after consultation yesterday - we thought we had male factor issues but as it turns out my parents sperm count has really improved since taking proxeed plus in November so we won’t need ICSI. I am really impressed with my clinic so far - they seem caring and understanding. We are officially unexplained - we have one more month of trying naturally. X

Thank you all for the congratulations. I am so so grateful to be pregnant but I am anxious at times and think I will stay that way until baby arrives and is safely in my arms!

I didn't have a choice of my protocol, I have PCOS so they put me straight on the short protocol as there is a high risk of OHSS for ladiesswith PCOS and long protocol was too risky. There is no down reg with short protocol so far far less injections.

I was on Menopur initially for 10 days but that was extended due to me needing longer for eggs to mature. From day 3 of the Menopur (which I injected in the evenings) I added in a morning injection of Cetrotide I totally for 7 days but again it was extended along with the Menopur and I triggered with Ovitrelle. After that it was Cyclogest pessaries for 3 weeks - I forgot to mention those, they are messy! Stock up on panyliners and keep to wearing your old pants whilst you are using them! I continued with Cyclogest until I reached 12 weeks pregnant.

My clinic was Birmingham Women's Hospital.

Anymore questions, feel free to ask!

Can I join in ... had the call today to say we can start in the next couple of weeks for EC in July. It's my 1st time so don't really have a clue about anything

Fingers crossed everything will go well for you. Take every day at a time. Thanks for the advice with the meds - were you put on the pill initially? The consultant is expecting I will be an expert with the injections as I work in healthcare but probably far from the truth 🤣 Xx

@JandL2020 No pill, I just called on the first day of my0 period and started injections on the 3rd day.

Welcome @bec656 😁 nice that everyone is in the same boat - think we’re all first timers! What is your story?

All my medication and injections arrived this morning! It’s getting very real!

Hey! Its so nice to meet others in the same boat. It is getting so real my medications are arriving next week! Feeling really apprehensive.

Is anyone taking additional supplements or making any life style changes?

Thanks @Sazzle1000, we've been trying just over a year, but after tests found out there are problems for both me and my husband so we are having ICSI. I've just had another call from the clinic, I should get everything delivered next week for estimated EC mid July!

@user1475505106 I've been having preganare for a while now, and started omega 3 and CoQ-10 about 6 weeks ago. I haven't really changed my diet and I've never been one for exercise!

How's everyone doing?

I had my baseline scan today and started on my tablets. My scan showed a lot of follicles and the nurse said if they all develop I'm going to turn into a freeze all round due to OHSS risk, which is a bit disappointing but obviously I need to get myself in the best health for transfer