IVF&FET June/July cycle buddies

[Lemongrass1]

Hi, we are starting a FET this month after a bit of back and forth with the clinic. Start downreg on Fri with ET hopefully first week of July. Wondering if anyone else cycling around the same time? X

@Heart4 I had to have my polyp taken out in hospital, it would apparently have been quite a long wait on the nhs so I paid £2,000 to have it done at a private hospital instead. They do it as part of a hysteroscopy. It will be up to your clinic to decide if they think it needs to be removed at all, they might not be worried.

Random question from me now: has anyone down regulating found their boobs get a lot smaller? I've never been that busty and I feel like they've all but disappeared!

Ooh I'm sure I've mainly heard about bigger boobs @RosettaR I'd be happy to go smaller though!
Did you get your icy drugs sorted?

I've had my meds delivered so ready to go. I'm NHS but this time I've got a none nhs progesterone, the said it was about £7 So no problem, didn't realise that was per dose and there's all these admin fees so I've now a few hundred lighter! Totally appreciate that's nothing compared with what many spend though so I won't complain!

Next step this week is a covid test, anyone else having to do this?

@Parkandride I had to do the COVID test. Bloods confirmed no signs of the virus in last 6m so had to do the swab test. Was so worried about it, but it’s absolutely fine. All done and dusted in 10 seconds and no discomfort whatsoever. All came back fine.

Quick Q for you all .. I’m 6dp5dt .. does anyone know if I’m okay to have a (not hot, but warm) bath? I’ve read so many different tips in articles I thought it would just be easier for anyone who has already been there to answer :)

@Parkandride I guess the bigger boobs come later! I'm going to the clinic tomorrow for my down reg scan so I'll ask them about the icy ovitrelle then.

That's bad about the progesterone that they didn't make the pricing clear! Had they run out of the normal progesterone or something?

I've not been told I have to do a covid test, they are just taking our temperature and asking about symptoms before they let us in.

@Just1MoreThing I can't help with the bath question I'm afraid, my clinic hasn't mentioned it but I'm in the early stages.

@RosettaR good luck with scan tomorrow, hope we can both progress!

@Just1MoreThing I pulled out the instructions I had post ET from 2 years ago. Our clinic says OK for bath or shower but sounds like different clinics advise different things.

@Parkandride I have a Covid swab tomorrow when I got for down reg scan x

Hi ladies, hope you don't mind me crashing your chat.
I'm currently on daily injections and 3 tablets a day on lead up to 2nd FET.

Interesting to read about the changes to protocol with Covid. I work in a school so was recommended to work from home from this point until transfer, as wouldn't be able to delay or progress further with cycle if positive test and can't guarantee social distancing with small children. Luckily my Head is brilliant and I'm part of the management team so have lots of work to do from home. But still feels more real than last cycle with having to take extra precautions earlier on.
Have my fingers crossed all goes well with scans and bloods Thursday, and can then get date for transfer.
How is everyone else getting on today?

Hello ladies,

Can I join too? I'm starting my first FET protocol tomorrow morning. We were delayed a couple of months due to the Covid stuff.

I have 2 embryos that were frozen back in 2018. I had 2 IVF cycles back then which resulted in my daughter so I realise I am already very lucky.

No experience of FET tho.

I was on a couple of threads when I did IVF before and it was invaluable. I've even met up with a couple of the ladies IRL since!!!

Wishing you all lots of love and luck.

@Just1MoreThing glad the covid test isn't uncomfortable, I had some v mild symptoms a few months ago so I'd love an antibody test but I think they just do the swab

@RosettaR my first transfer failed and that was pessaries so they recommended the injections this time (yay more jabs!) But they're not on the nhs for some reason. Hope yours and @Lemongrass1 scans go well today

Welcome @Bestofyou1982 I'm on 2nd FET too, was your first transfer unsuccessful? Glad your work are beig understanding. I've a new boss this time and she's had ivf which is so helpful

Hi @Janefx40 fingers crossed for you, I think it's amazing to build a family from the same ivf cycle, if one ever pulls the I'm the eldest/youngest so I get xyz you can be like nope your original cells are actually exactly the same age

Good luck with your scan @Lemongrass1. Fingers crossed we can start the next stage together.

And good luck for you on Thursday @Bestofyou1982. Sounds like you might be moving quite quickly if all goes well!

@Janefx40 that's great you had ivf success and some frosties last time, truly the dream ivf scenario. Best of luck with current transfer too!

Oh so at least there's a reason you had to pay @Parkandride. I've heard of women asking for a progesterone test the day of transfer to check they're absorbing the pessaries so I'm wondering about that.

My scan was fine, although one of my ovaries was "hiding" so it took a bit of time and me holding my legs at all kinds of weird angles to confirm that! So I start injecting on Thursday, which I'm now a bit nervous about.

Looking at the leaflet they gave me, it talks about needing to see tiny droplets on the needle before you inject. The nurse didn't mention this when she showed me. Is this something you need to do, those of you who have injected before? It's the only bit that sounds a bit complex.

Hi @RosettaR yes if memory serves you slowly push the plunger until a tiny drop appears. This just ensures there is no air left in the syringe. It will probably all make more sense once you have the drugs in front of you.

Thank you everyone for the welcome. I can remember when I was doing this before that it could feel a bit strange when there were women there who already had a child so doubly thank you for including me.

My clinic blindsided me a bit today. I went in for initial bloods and scans and they asked me if I'm having a hysteroscopy. If so I need to do it tomorrow or Thursday?! I did do it previously on my first IVF cycle but they've not mentioned it in my FET consultations. Have you done this as part of FET?

@Bestofyou1982 good luck for your scan on Thurs!

@RosettaR great news on the scan, good luck for starting stims. As PP said it’s to make sure you’ve pushed all the air out of the syringe.

@Janefx40 welcome and good luck with the FET! They are usually much less intense than the fresh cycles. Are you down regging first or on short protocol? I had to have a hysteroscopy before the ICSI but that was because I had a uterine polyp seen on a scan. They are not usually a standard test before FET. I did have a saline scan before I could start this FET though as I had a c-section last year. X

AFM scan was ok today and just started the oestrogen. Going back end of next week to check lining and hopefully get a date for transfer if I’m lucky 🤞

@Janefx40 ah thanks that makes sense about removing any air.

I was going to say the exact same thing as Lemongrass about the hysteroscopy. I think they're normally only done if there's a reason - I also had one for a polyp. They are not cheap. So I'd definitely ask the clinic why they think you need one before you book. Possibly it's an error.

Glad to hear your scan worked out OK too @Lemongrass1.

@RosettaR re the progesterone test: my clinic does one 2 days after transfer and it has proven quite useful, as my dosage of progesterone was adapted once (up) when the blood test showed it was a bit on the low side (I was getting pessaries).

@Janefx40 welcome! FET’s are def less intense than IVF, even if it is a medicated FET because you skip the egg collection step (which is still a little operation) and also the nerve wracking wait for updates on how your embryos are doing! As a result, the almost 7 days between trigger shot and transfer feel like an eternity!

Hi, Hope you don't mind me gatecrashing. Due to start down the on 9th July. 1 failed cycle and another cancelled mid way though due to COVID. Hoping for 3rd time lucky 🙏 hope you're all doing well xx

Hi ladies?

Hey @RosettaR I am on Nhs too and I told them to check my progesterone a day before transfer which dey agreed to in a way, but it never happened as they explained it was not done with the NHS cycle. Anyways that circle failed ☹️

This time I am paying privately to get my progesterone tested and also I went to see a private doctor who is going to prescribe the progesterone in oil for me.

My Nhs clinic only use pessary.

@all please can I join your thread I've had my transfer I'm waiting the dreaded 2WW I had a frozen transfer.. last time I had a chemical pregnancy. Haven't had anything ivf wise for 2 years
Not sure if I'm ok to join or wrong stages etc

Thank you

Hi @RosettaR when you get the progesterone in oil try to get the one that can be injected subcutaneously if possible (ie in the tummy like most of the other drugs) rather than intramuscular.

@everylittlehope welcome. I'm new too. Good luck with the 2WW. It's a tough period!

Glad to hear your scans went well @Lemongrass1 and @RosettaR that's always a relief. Nice to get off to a good start.

Welcome to @Bestofyou1982 @Janefx40 @Nmvasey and @everylittlehope I just joined a few days ago too and I'm feeling better already. Like @UncleBrynsfishingtrip says, we are all here to support each other.

Is anyone else on here 40?
I'm starting my 2nd cycle of Natural Modified next week so I'm not really on the same schedule as the rest of you. Mine is a shorter protocol and milder dose. That said, if I'm lucky enough to get any embryos, they will be going in the freezer as reserves, until my 3rd cycle which will be fresh transfer hopefully.

It's exciting reading about your transfers on here. I hope that's me soon too.

@RosettaR, @Lemongrass1 My polyp is less than 5mm so they think it's ok to leave and keep an eye, but I'm already putting things in place to have it removed privately if it grows, as I imaging I'll be waiting a long time on the NHS with the current situation.

I had a chat with a friend of mine who had success at 39 with IVF. She was told by her clinic to drink litres of full fat milk during stimms. Anybody know about this? I love milk so no problems there.
xx

@Tarsette, @Rovera12 @Janefx40 thanks for the tips about progesterone. I will ask my clinic if I can have a test.

Welcome @Nmvasey do you know if you are doing long or short protocol? I'm doing long and aiming for EC the week of 6 July.

Welcome @everylittlehope and good luck!

@Heart4 That's great that your polyp doesn't have to be removed. It was very quick and straightforward getting mine removed privately, so don't worry if it does grow. It's just the cost really.

I have also heard that some clinics tell you to drink huge quantities of full fat milk. My clinic has given very little in the way of lifestyle advice so I don't really know. I'm trying to drink some but nowhere near 1 litre which I think is the amount I've read.

I've tested every day from day 2 lol.. but hubby doesn't know.. I'm going out of my kind.. as last time was a chemical pregnancy.. I'm in major pain with stomach cramps etc..

I need to catch up the thread..

Do you ladies know if there is a cut off point for AMH levels and IVF as the nurse couldn't tell me on the phone. My FSH is 8.8 and AMH is 5.9, she just said it's on the border but as she doesn't work for the IVF clinic she wasn't able to tell me about cut off points to be able to proceed with IVF and still waiting on our IVF appointment.

@Kiza do you know if they measured your AMH in pmol/L or ng/ML ?

I'm not sure about cut off levels for AMH and FSH, but I think it has a lot to do with age.

When I tried on the NHS they mostly went by age. In my area they accept anyone under 42 but when I actually went to Guys hospital they didn't want to know me because I'm 40. They actually said that they normally wouldn't take a 40 year old but my catchment area meant they had to. So he got rid of me by being really unhelpful instead.

I think if you are going private they might be more open in terms of levels and age.

@Heart4 we can't afford private so can have 1 cycle on the nhs before I turn 40 in Oct, so just waiting for that appointment. I'll try and do some research on AMH and chances of pregnancy. She didn't tell me what the measured it in as it was the fertility nurse on the phone rather than our consultant and have now said they've discharged me due to the IVF referral.
Sorry to hear you had such a rude doctor managing your case, so unfair then they have that attitude.

Hi @Kiza how stressful for you. Not a very helpful comment for the receptionist to leave you with. I think it depends on the clinic and/or area if you are NHS funded. The area I lived in when I had my NHS cycle had no cut off but my friend's area cut off at 5.4 (which would still be ok for you). Some clinics may also have lower limits but there are others that specialise in women with low AMH.

@Heart4 I had to drink a lot of milk for the first clinic I attended. It made me feel a bit funny so I switched to lactose free!! I think it is the protein that they think helps egg development but then other clinics would say that is rubbish!! There is so much conflicting evidence but if you like milk anyway I reckon go for it. I doubt it can do any harm.

When I had IVF before I was 41 and had my daughter when I was nearly 42. I am even older now clearly but don't like admitting it. Focusing too much on my age just gets scary - but I am the age I am, can't get any younger!!! My username reflects how old I was when I first joined Mumsnet!!!