August IVF

[Mseddy]

Had a quick look through but can't find an existing thread. Anyone due to cycle in August after a bit of moral support?

We are due to start our 2nd cycle of icsi for male azoospermia and my premature ovarian aging (full house for us!)

Hi, is it ok if I join here? (Long time watcher, first time poster). Not massively familiar with all the terms but I'll try my best! Unexplained infertility.
Started second IVF cycle this week - made it to transfer on first round but didn't work out. Now on day 3 of injections for round two.

Hi @Izniz and @claireabell10

@CardboardCat sorry to hear that, does sound very frustrating and worrying, hope he feels better soon!

Hi @Izniz @claireabell10 welcome.

We are away this weekend for a pre cycle chill out. All we have talked about is our upcoming cycle haha. So much for taking our mind off it! The place we are staying we stayed in back in 2018 when we had been trying for 6 months. I remember being unsure about whether to use the hot tub as I was in the TWW and symptom spotting like mad! Hindsight is a wonderful thing! If only I knew back then we has zero chances! Being back here has made us reflect on how far we have come since then, but also on just how long we've been trying too. I don't think I can face another Christmas not pregnant! I feel like that is going to be here in no time at all!

@Bruce2 You hit the nail on the head- frustrated and then sad and a bit guilty. Thanks @Eggling and @kikisparks Good news is he seems to be doing a bit better. We're just taking it one day at a time and we will see where we are next week. My randomly delayed ovulation this month may actually be a blessing as it's buying us a bit more time.

@Izniz and @claireabell10 hi there and welcome

@Mseddy Know what you mean about thinking back and looking ahead. I feel like the time is slipping by so fast and yet we've been waiting for a really long time. Also- infertility and Christmas is horrible mix. Hope you both enjoy your chill out time. You must be starting pretty soon?

@CardboardCat I hope he feels better soon. AF is due 7th so I'll start then, but I'm pretty sure I ovulated early this month so it might be earlier

@CardboardCat I hope your dh feels better. I hope your late ovulation means it does all work out for you.

Welcome to the new ladies.

I stopped norethisterone on Thursday and my period arrived this morning, so on schedule for my baseline scan on Tuesday.

Does everyone's clinic insist on norethisterone (or similar)? I just hate wasting a month of natural trying, because I have had two natural pregnancies in the past so it's not impossible for that to be 'the month'. I've missed many months (maybe 8) with various tests and treatments over the past 2 1/2 years.

What are people doing health wise during their cycle? Mine is a FET. I'm a chocoholic with polycystic ovaries (am on metaformin). I think my BMI is probably just over 25. I am a bit of a stressed and miserable cow without a bit of chocolate. My doctor says I shouldn't eat many carbs, even carrots, and eat no sugary things at all. I just think that sounds overboard to me. What are other people doing?

@seven201 that seems a bit extreme! I'm currently tucking into a bag of malteasers buttons 😂 my bmi is on the higher side. I'll keep carbs low during my cycle because I know from previous temping days that less carbs gave me a much smoother graph.

No norhisterone for me. I'm on short protocol, so I just start stims on the first day of my natural period. I think it's because I used to suffer from migraines so I'm not allowed certain hormones

@Mseddy oh that makes me feel better! I love malteasers. That's interesting about your graph and the carbs.

Sorry to hear about your migraines. I'm short protocol too. I suspect it's just a case of scheduling for my clinic. They tried to tell me it sort of gives you a clear out/good fresh start, but I think scheduling is their mine driver. I think next time (hopefully won't be a next time!) I will push to start when my period arrives naturally. I can't stand the waiting generally and 'wasted' months.

@seven201 I’ve been eating a whole foods plant based diet with nearly no gluten, refined carbs or refined sugar and no caffeine, for a couple of months now to see if it helps other health issues I’m having, it’s not purely or even mostly for fertility reasons. It has been hard because I love food and I used to eat quite a lot of junk to be honest, but I’ve been experimenting and making meals that are pretty tasty and filling and I’ve lost a bit of weight. This will probably not be a permanent thing but I think I’m going to give it a couple more months. I don’t drink due to the consultant at the clinic telling me not to a few years ago. I definitely eat carrots, quite a lot!

All that being said I’ve never heard of cutting sugar being a pre requisite for IVF? I thought the recommendation was just to cut down or stop alcohol, cut down caffeine and maybe eat a bit more veg and extra protein. I would not have thought diet would play a big role as long as it was fairly healthy and balanced. Most people I have heard of being successful with IVF have just gone on mostly as normal with maybe small tweaks in their diet at the most. In fact perhaps it might not be a good idea to make big changes during IVF, could that mess with hormones? Who knows. Also if restrictive eating stresses someone out you would think that would not be helpful either. It’s up to you but your BMI sounds fine and I’d probably have a bit of chocolate in your shoes.

I wasn’t meant to be on norethisterone when my IVF cycle was due to take place in Spring but since that was cancelled and rescheduled I’ve been told to take it this time just for scheduling reasons. 2 more days of it to go! My worst side effect this time round is that I’m really short tempered, my poor DH!

Good luck for your baseline scan on Tuesday!

I'm on day 3 of injections on a short protocol as I also suffer from migraines and having a milder round of IVF, so can't comment on norethisterone..

With my diet, I'm just trying to up my protein intake and eating more veg, which is all my clinic suggested (apart from reducing caffeine and alcohol). I know some people change everything and some change very little, I think just go with how you feel within reason!

Hello ladies

I hope you don’t mind me joining on

We are currently on our first IVF cycle, first was abruptly cancelled due to covid. I’m on day 5 of stims, looking at egg collection possibly this week and fingers crossed for transfer early August 🤞🏽🤞🏽

@seven201
Heathwise our doc didn’t recommend too much apart from exercising and eating healthily. We eat healthily as it is, with the exception of me with lots of Choccie- I have the BIGGEST sweet tooth ever so can’t resist.
I’m also having acupuncture too- thought I’d give it a shot. Deffo helps to relax me.

Also with the Northerisone- our clinic insisted on it. It made me absolutely crazily hormonal. Unsure if anyone else found this?

Hope everything is going well for you all :) xx

@LizTay80 welcome. I had a FET started and then cancelled part way through due to lockdown. It's quite a mental battering having to go through that so well done! Exciting about your egg collection being soon.

Thanks for the diet tips everyone. I think it's to do with polycystic ovaries that I shouldn't have the sugar etc during ttc/ivf. Although I'm on metformin to control that so I think it's probably ok to not be as strict as the doctor said. It's a balance of stress and diet! I'm going to up the protein and veg and reduce the sugary treats, but not go mad with it I think.

Wow @kikisparks I'm very impressed. I tried a similar diet for my egg collection cycle and I found it really stressful as I just did not know what to cook/buy. If it's working for you then it's definitely worth sticking with, especially if it helps in other ways other than fertility.

@seven201
Thank you :)

Aw I’m sorry to hear you had yours cancelled too. It was a massive blow, especially as you mentally and physically gear yourself up for this. Respect it must of been tough for a lot of ladies in the same boat.

Are any of you self isolating or been advised to during your cycles? And if so, how are you finding it?

I’ve taken two weeks off work before my egg collection, as advised by one of the fertility doctors. It’s been really beneficial to getting myself in a better headspace for this treatment. My work is super stressful at the best of times. I work on one of the wards in a hospital so I’d only be constantly worried about contracting covid!
X

@LizTay80 I'm a teacher so started summer hols on Wednesday afternoon. I begged my clinic to let me do August instead of September. I have no idea what I'll do if I need another round (would be egg collection next time). I hope my school would let me have the time off. My clinic rules are your cycle gets cancelled if you come into contact with someone with covid symptoms - I can't remember the exact small print. I'll have 30 teenagers all facing me without masks on from sept 1st. I just worry my school will tell me to try and do it over xmas or something, but I'm going to be 38 next month so I'm not keen on any delays.

I'm so pleased your work have been so good about it. Must take a weight off. Great for the stress levels too I'm sure.

@seven201
That’s fantastic your clinic agreed to do it in August instead of September. Must be a massive relief to focus on your FET without work stresses being in the way and not worrying about being in contact with tonnes of teenagers!
It is very challenging trying to juggle work and Fertility treatments. I’ve been quite lucky really as my boss has been very understanding.
Do you also get tested for covid prior to your FET?

Hi ladies,
I'm just having my first cycle treatment (stopped in March thanks to rona!) and im feeling a little overwhelmed.
Due to start ovaleap on the 12th, currently on a contraceptive to force a bleed as I have PCOS and no periods. Hormones are already going crazy having mad panic attacks and anxiety....does not bode well for when injections start! I am on a progesterone pill as my level is currently at 0 (why I don't ovulate) so I think my body is just struggling with the sudden influx.
We're not really telling anyone about the treatment as it was such a disappointment when everything got cancelled and I can't really cope with all the questions. I've had to tell one friend as I was supposed to be her bridesmaid the first week in September and it's my transfer week! As the wedding was so uncertain when I got the call she told me to go ahead (so understanding) but she's got so much going on I don't really feel like I can as for her support.
I'm feeling so scared and anxious and don't really think I've got anyone to turn to. I'm pretty sure my husbands already struggling with my mood and we're only 11 days in! I just feel a little numb.
Anyone else feeling overwhelmed? If anyone's been through this before any advice would be much appreciated.
Hope everyone else is doing well! xxx

@LizTay80 good luck for your first ivf cycle! It’s my first too. Norithisterone has definitely made me pretty hormonal, like PMS but lasting much longer!

The clinic haven’t said anything about self isolating. I’m lucky to be working from home but I feel that could change mid way through the cycle- I’m planning on taking day of and day after egg collection off and same again with embryo transfer.

@West2401 it can be very overwhelming at times, I start to worry about everything, I need to keep telling myself to take it one step at a time. Seems a few of us are hormonal on medication so far so good to know that it’s normal!

The only people I’ve told so far are my parents. One friend knows I was waiting for IVF but not that I’ve actually started.

@kikisparks
Thank you! Good luck to you too
Agreed, it was like PMS- lasting what felt a lifetime. Even my DH was shocked and how hormonal I was!
One day I got so angry about overcooking an egg I smashed it up and got it EVERYWHERE- all over the walls 😂 I was like a child having a tantrum! It’s laughable now but at the time I wanted to cry! Haha.

@West2401
That’s completely understandable for you to feel overwhelmed. It’s ok to feel those emotions, they’re completely natural during this process. I’ve had days when I’ve felt like that too, allow yourself those tears, even scream if it helps. But don’t allow those feelings to succumb you for too long.
I know I’m only new to this process too but here’s a few things I do to try and stay positive:

~Download The mindful ivf app- the guys voice on there is so gorgeously soothing. There’s a few short meditations on there that really helped.

~Write a journal. It felt great to get the awful Thoughts and feelings out of my head and onto paper.

~ Positive affirmations- I listened to some fertility ivf ones YouTube and repeated them out loud to myself this morning.

~ This works wonders for me- being outside in the great outdoors.

Yesterday I felt particularly low and blasted my favourite songs and decided to perform karaoke to my dog...! Call me crazy but just singing and dancing around like that, without anyone watching and a care in the world- really really helped!!

You’re stronger than what you think.
You can get through this xx

@LizTay80 sorry but I just really laughed about the egg 😂 I can massively relate. I think once I jumped up and down on the spot shouting like a child, stopped short of throwing myself on the floor.

@West2401 so sorry to hear you’re struggling with anxiety. It is a massively anxious time, especially as it’s your first as you don’t really know what to expect. Just be kind to yourself, do things that you enjoy, try and sleep when you can and eat well. And just try and remember why you’re doing this and let that keep you going xx

The hormones are beyond belief. For me I've never had pms symptoms but them stims....I spent a morning for a whole week waking up and bursting into tears for a good 20 mins. Horrid.

I wanted to get you ladies advice. I am going through IVF as a single lady and recently my friends (unaware of my journey) matched me with a mutual friend. I thought ok let's go on a date (it's been forever) and it was so amazing. I'm kinda in a quandary do I tell him? Do I put it on hold and explore? Not sure about anything (may be the estrogen giving me brain fog)

@kikisparks @Raggity19 @LizTay80 Thank you so much for your responses. I honestly already feel like I'm going crazy - I haven't had a period in two years so PMS symptoms are a distant memory and this is like PMS on steroids
I suffer with anxiety anyway and I'm a PT/fitness instructor so use exercise to help but obviously through treatment I know I'm going to need to slow down a little which makes the anxiety even higher! I'm trying to be kind to myself and listen to lots of podcasts and go for walks, it's just so tough for everyone and nice to know I'm not alone in this!
Where are you all at in your treatment? I hope you're managing a little better than me! xxx

@West2401 be kind to yourself. It's a really tough time. You've got to do what works for you. For one cycle I did fertility yoga and found that gave me something to feel like I was doing 'somethinf' helpful. Others focus on meditation or healthy eating. I've really got into sewing since lockdown and am making myself clothes as a distraction. I don't want to overthink it, although that goes against being on this thread . Last time I didn't want to join a thread. I'm rambling! Do what it's worth, ivf hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. Yes, it is hard and emotional and expensive. I don't know what I was expecting, but It's not been as bad as I thought.

@LizTay80 love the egg story! The hormones make you crazy!

@Sabz36 oh exciting and tricky! So, you're using donor sperm? Could you do a freeze all instead? You could freeze the eggs unfertilised? I don't know much about these things. How old are you? When do you need to decide by. What a spanner in the works! Hopefully he's a nice spanner.

@seven201 well I have 10
Embryos which were frozen because of Rona they finally opened back up and I'm currently doing estrogen awaiting time to implant and Mr 'sounds like could be right' decides to pop up. Great timing

@Raggity19 HaHa I’m glad you and so many others can relate to the egg story! I’m sure there will be plenty more along this hormonal rollercoaster 😂

@West2401
You’re certainly not alone in this and that’s why these threads and support groups help.
We all have days in which we find easier than others. Just take a step back and look after yourself. As @seven201 mentioned, it’s good to find another focus. I’m also having fertility acupuncture which has really helped.

One of my friends who has just given birth from her first round of ICSI told me to take every single stage as they come. Don’t get bogged down or too overwhelmed by the bigger picture. Just focus on the current stage you’re in.
I’ve got a scan due Wednesday prior to my egg collection. Currently day 7 of stims.
Where are you at?

@Sabz36
Wow that’s a really tough one. I guess you could still continue to see him whilst continuing treatment, just to see where it leads. For me personally, it would depend how far I was into the treatment and other factors to want to sacrifice it. X