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!)

What have other people's clinics said about isolating during ivf, specifically FET. I'm now worrying. I had to fill in forms saying I don't have symptoms, haven't been with anyone with symptoms.

@seven201

What have other people's clinics said about isolating during ivf, specifically FET. I'm now worrying. I had to fill in forms saying I don't have symptoms, haven't been with anyone with symptoms.

My clinic are being very vague about it which is annoying as I work in nhs. I’ve told my boss and happy for me to work at home as feasible but it won’t always be possible x

@seven201 my clinic said to act as though shielding from the first appointment. I also work in the NHS as a child Psychotherapist so luckily I can continue offering video appointments, not the best but my boss has been amazingly supportive, even offering to do my injections for me!

@seven201 My clinic didn’t say anything about it. I’ve been to the in laws house for dinner and had my parents at my house, doing our best to social distance but our houses aren’t huge and the full 2m hasn’t always been possible. It would be such a nightmare to get sick now though. I work from home at the moment but DH doesn’t.

@CardboardCat
Thank you! Feeling a bit nervous about it all now. Just keeping everything crossed for some good healthy eggs! 🤞🏽

@seven201
We are currently in a fresh cycle and our clinic advised self isolating two weeks before my procedure (egg collection) then to still isolate up until transfer. I think it vary’s clinic to clinic. Unsure about FET, maybe they would recommend two weeks prior to the transfer? Some are covid testing patients too.

Thank you everyone for your responses. I'm having a freak out that I've been too lax. I'm a teacher so haven't been in work that recently so that's fine. But I've been taking my dd to the playground where she's played with friends and going in shops etc. Meant to be having SIL to stay tomorrow (will keep apart) but now thinking we shouldn't be. Aghhh.

My clinic haven't said to isolate in the run up to egg collection. We both work from home so that's better but we have seen a couple of people outside in the last couple of weeks. I've been in my clinic three times this week and been around way more people during that time than anywhere else ha ha!

My clinic have asked us to completly isolate from day 9 until after transfer. I'm working non clinical at work from now until day 9 (due for AF in about 6 days). From day 9 we won't even go out for food shopping, both me and DH are working from home. He will go back after transfer but I've been assigned to work from home until after my annual leave mid September. I guess every clinic varies.

Has anyone actually had a covid swab yet? First I got told I'd have one on the day of my baseline scan, but there was no mention of it when I went and now I'm worried because I've missed one they won't be happy! But also I know it's useless because a negative test is literally only valid when it's taken. I could contract covid minutes later! I'm going to ask the clinic when I ring on day 1 to book my day 9 scan, I'm guessing they will test me then ready for egg collection. I'm starting to get nervous with a few more local lockdowns on the cards

Phoned a friend tonight and she told me she is pregnant with baby no.2... we started trying for our first baby at the same time and she’s on number 2 whilst I’m still not a mum yet, it was hard to be told on the phone. Happy for her of course but if this cycle fails I might need some space.

Oh @kikisparks I'm sorry, it's so hard. I'm a bit distanced atm from a good friend who got pregnant as soon as she started trying earlier this year. I'm happy for her but it's been so hard. I hope your friend is as understanding as mine.

My clinic didn't say anything about distancing when I had my egg collection in June, though I had to sign every appointment to say I'd not had contact with anyone with Covid symptoms. They haven't said anything about this FET cycle either, I've seen close family a few times but not massively socialised, plus in GM so back in semi-lockdown now anyway!

I'm having a dilemma. I finished provera a week ago so my period was due from Tuesday. Since Wednesday, I've had spotting, but no flow. It's a mix of brown and red blood but only if I wipe, and not always then, or (TMI sorry) if I have a little rummage inside there is blood there but not much and still no flow. I've been waiting as need to let clinic know on day 1 and I expected a flow to kick in properly, but still no sign. I usually only spot for a day before my period. I'm going to see what happens today, but I'm fretting that I'm just having the worlds lightest period and I'm going to mess things up by not starting meds! I wish my body would just behave itself for once.

I didn't realise how different each clinics policy would be.

@kikisparks it's so tough isn't it. I spent the evening last night with my friend from my NCT group who is pregnant with her accidental third. I still haven't met one of my other friends baby because it's just too painful. She understands though. I've also started saying no to some group zoom nights 'out' as the chat is (understandably) mostly about newborns and pregnancy. It's taken me a long time to realise I can just tell people that it makes me fee shit but I still love them!

@Eggling I'd ring your clinic and see what they say. So annoying when our bodies do stuff like that to us!

Thanks @seven201 I've just called and waiting for a call back from the dr, they said might be worth having a scan or might just start the tablets so I'll see what they say! It's never straightforward somehow!

Hi everyone!

I’ve just had my first attempt at IVF and found out last week it was unsuccessful. We’ll be trying again soon. We’ve had a cry and picked ourselves up again.

As for the shielding/not going out during TWW and transfer time I carried on as normal as I needed to keep busy. Our mental health is sooooooo important so try to do something’s you’d normally do otherwise a week or two of isolation at such a weird, vulnerable time will not be good for you.
Garden meet ups, zoom, make yourself a close network of a few people who you will see. There calm words, cuppas and stories of their day will keep you zen like.

Be kind to yourselves ladies and enjoy the gorgeous weather today. We have lots of sun here ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ Xx xx

Hey everyone! Back online now after my holiday - I'm not good with forums on the phone (keep losing half written messages with an accidental thumb!)

Finished my norethisterone yesterday, so now just waiting for the bleed.

I've been told I'll have a C-19 swab on day 10 (so probably a couple of weeks). The cycle will be cancelled if positive, so I'm now shielding. But I wasn't given any specific advice about when/to what extent to isolate.

@UncleBrynsfishingtrip so sorry to hear about your unsuccessful cycle. Sounds like a good approach to mental health. This whole process is stressful enough - we should take as many (safe!) opportunities to reduce our cortisol as possible!

@LizTay80 Any news on the EC??

Hope everyone is enjoying the sun and soaking up that all important Vit D!!

@UncleBrynsfishingtrip
I’m so sorry to hear about your cycle. You should be proud of yourself for getting yourself through it, regardless of the outcome. It’s a physically and mentally demanding process, so important to have that cry then pick yourself up and start again.
Wishing you all the best for round two x

@Lepatz
Egg collection went well thank you. Currently feeling a little tender but it’s manageable. Such a surreal experience, I was on the gas and air and remember listening to Whitney! 😂 They managed to collect 14 eggs in total, really hoping there will be some good embryos out of those. 🤞🏽 I had a little cry to myself this afternoon about it all. Think I needed it.

Hope you had a lovely holiday and are feeling nice and relaxed. When’s your down reg scan due?

@LizTay80 that's a great number, well done!! Try to take it easy tonight and tomorrow if you can.

@UncleBrynsfishingtrip sorry it didn't work for you. Keep on swimming. Sounds like you have a very healthy approach to the mental health side of things.

@UncleBrynsfishingtrip so sorry about your first round not working out, well done for picking yourselves up again.

@LizTay80 glad it went well and that’s a fantastic number!

Thanks @Eggling and @seven201 for the support after my friend’s baby bomb, it’s still playing on my mind a bit but I’m trying just to focus on other things.

My period arrived today and it was nice to actually be happy about it coming, even with the debilitating pain, nausea and fatigue it brings due to my endometriosis. I’ve been wanting warm weather for so long but been so sick with my period I spent most of today’s sun time asleep inside. But I’m excited/ nervous that I’ve got my baseline scan booked for Sunday at 8.30am.

I’m getting a bit fed up with my clinic though, warning major rant ahead communication has just not been good. Firstly the doctor incorrectly didn’t put me on the waiting list back in May so getting started was delayed (should probably have been able to have finished a round pre covid but for their mistake), then when we went and signed consents they missed some so we had to go back, more recently when I phoned up to double check my norithisterone dose she started to tell me I wasn’t meant to be on it, when I’d already started it! Then checked and said no it’s fine take it. Then at our last appointment I asked which number to phone and if it was the booking line or the nurses line and she specifically said the nurses line, highlighted that number and said not the booking line you’re already booked. So I phoned the nurses line today and basically had to argue on the phone with the nurse who wanted me to phone the booking line! After putting me on hold for ages she came back and agreed that it was correct that I phone the nurses line and she sorted my appointment but these kinds of very minor issues become so stressful for me because I feel like the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing and I have to assert myself at every turn. It’s such a stressful process anyway and a smooth joined up approach would help so much.

BUT I am getting treatment on the NHS which makes me so very very lucky and I know the nurses work very hard and I appreciate it all very much. I just think I deserve to be listened to and not always treated like I’m silly or I’ve gotten it wrong, on every occasion so far I have been right and not them!

Sorry I feel all I do is moan, I’m genuinely happy and lucky to be getting treatment, but it’s a hard process and I think venting is helpful!

@kikisparks sorry about the baby bomb. One of my best friends started trying the same time as us and got pregnant first month. She tried again a few weeks before my first round of IVF and got pregnant first month again so she has just given birth to her second. Sometimes I sit there totally baffled that she's made 2 whole babies and we made 2 dodgy embryos! I know we shouldn't compare ourselves but it's so hard!

@LizTay80 well done on the 14 eggs!!

@UncleBrynsfishingtrip love your name!! Sorry your first round didn't work out, I've been there so I know how shit you feel. But you sound like you have your head screwed on it terms of looking after yourself.

I had a little freak out earlier as the temperature in my house hit 30 degrees. My drugs need to be stored below 25! Luckily I managed to dig out our camping electric coolbox and get them back in range. I already know that if I don't respond well this cycle I'll Be blaming myself for not taking better care of the drugs!

@kikisparks that's very annoying. Doing ivf is a bit like having a second job at times. Which goes against the whole be all zen advice!

@Mseddy I have a box full of drugs I've not considered the heat for! Agh. Mines only FET but I have a lot of expensive lentogest vials for injecting as my progesterone drops too low (my period arrived 6 days after our first transfer). Maybe I'll get our cool bag out now. The things we stress about eh!

Good morning ladies
Hope you are all doing ok.

I’ve had a little scare this morning which has got my anxiety up. Those 14 eggs which I was a bit optimistic about yesterday are down to four ☹️ 6 didn’t survive the injection as were too sensitive and the others were immature. My partner keeps trying to reassure me it’s 4 good ones, but my mind has gone straight to the negative worrying those will just drop off and we’ll have none 😥

@kikisparks sorry to hear about your frustrations with your clinic. I’ve heard of similar issues. Ours weren’t the best during covid at keeping us in the loop and reassuring us about restarting. I even had a counsellor there incorrectly say it may be a year to wait to restart treatment. I know a lot of people changing clinics due to this reason.

X

@LizTay80 oh so sorry about your scare I would be feeling sad and worried too but it only takes one, crossing everything for your 4 embryos to make it to transfer stage.

@Eggling did you get a call back from the doctor?

@seven201 totally, I don’t understand how to not be stressed whilst going through ivf. Having to go to lots of appointments, get cold things shoved up you, stab yourself several times a day, deal with all the hormones, remember everything you were told by the clinic, assert yourself etc whilst holding down a job, I just don’t see how that could not be stressful! And I wouldn’t have thought about the heat as something else to think about either.

I was wondering anyone who has been through the baseline scan on day 3, maybe TMI but how is it getting scanned whilst having a period? I have really heavy bleeding with lots of clots etc and so I’m just hoping I don’t get blood everywhere.

@LizTay80 sorry you're having a rough morning. I hope your clinic were supportive. I know there is usually a big drop between collection and the next day or so, but I can't remember the averages at all.

@kikisparks there's a disposable mat down and then the paper sheet thing under that. My nurse left and told me to either leave it or to pop it in a certain bin myself. They'll have seen a lot of period blood so try not to worry.

@kikisparks I had my baseline scan when I was on my period and it wasn’t as bad as I expected, it was just on the wand thing they use. I only saw it because I looked to check how bad it was!