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!)

@Kiza thank you- because I don’t have my own car DH would need to drive me into hospital, so would be the same issue with his work and I’d also need time off my work. My back up plan is to ask my mum to do it but she’s not in my household so wouldn’t be ideal for social distancing. Just so wish I could do it myself. I fainted after my laparoscopy when I saw the blood at my wound site so I’m just not good with any medical things unfortunately!

@Kiza at my first appointment they checked BMI and a lung test to show you don’t smoke, maybe they’ll just ask you those things?

Then there was a health questionnaire and I think an AMH blood test but I know not all clinics do that. You could ask if they will check your AMH.

I think it was the next one they gave me my protocol and we signed the consent forms but I might be getting mixed up.

Do you have all your other results?

Depending on how it goes I would ask about timescales, when you will get your protocol- will it be short or long, whether you’ll be doing IVF or ICSI, check you have the right numbers if you need to phone them, will you be on the pill for scheduling purposes, can your partner come with you to appointments, is there anything else you should do to get ready for IVF starting. I always plan to ask lots of questions but my mind goes blank when I’m there, I suggest writing down what you want to ask.

I'm having a bit of a wobble today. I stopped norethisterone last Thursday, my cycle is usually quite short, so expected to come on fairly quickly. On Saturday morning I had some bleeding after sex (sorry TMI!) but nothing since then, only some brown whilst wiping. It reminded me of a post recently which had similar symptoms, then ended up being out for this month. I hadn't considered that the down reg might not work!!!

I also am feeling some side effects presumably from the buserelin - sore boobs, tired, some sleeping issues, and a bit edgy. So not now sure if I'm just overthinking everything!!!

Argh, never wanted my period just to start so much!!!

@West2401I had a similar question over the weekend. From answers here, and some research, it seems light exercise is ok. The risk is ovarian torsion during stimulation stage. So jogging/martial arts/ swimming 'flips', gymnastics etc should be avoided.

@Raggity19 Sorry to hear you're having a rough time. I've found the mindful IVF app has really helped me manage my mind around this process.

@nextweek welcome to the process - good luck!!!

@kikisparks this sounds so stressful and overwhelming. Maybe worth calling your clinic again to see if they can help find any other options?

@kiza Congrats on getting the call finally!! If you've had all the investigations etc done, I guess this will be a lot of conversations re timescales and expectations. Our follow up consultations were fairly brief - short vs long protocol, how many embies to transfer, confirm that dummy embryo transfer is done (or schedule if not I guess). When we restarted after covid, there was a long convo about covid risks, and talking through the changes to the process with new restrictions (i.e. I won't get put under a general for the egg collection!! Which freaked me out a little...)

At my clinic, it's the nurse that talks through the protocol specifics, and side effects etc. That's where a lot of my questions were.

Speaking of clinics, is anyone else at UCLH? (I haven't seen much mention of clinic specifics in the thread, so not sure if that's against s forum guideline?? )

@Lepatz thanks, DH phoned his boss and can work 9-5 this week so he can do the injections. I’m going to try icing the area tomorrow too so that I might feel it going in less.

That’s so stressful about your period not coming yet but I understand that after norithisterone 3- 5 days for a period to come is most common but it can take longer (my clinic said up to 7). Hopefully your period will arrive today or tomorrow. Waiting for things is the worst part.

@Lepatz @kikisparks thanks both for replying, have added your queries to my list of upteen questions for them! It's mind boggling trying to get me head around and understand all of yours conversations with all the different medications, scans and stages. I genuinely didn't know it was this complex!
Sorry I'm not yet able to add to this thread much as I don't understand a lot of what you're all talking about! 😆

@Kiza great news that you have your appointment. I totally agree with all the comments above, make sure you write all your questions down and don't feel like you can't ask. There is so much information to take in so I also audio-recorded appointments on my phone just so I could listen back to the info I was given and try and make sense of it all. Especially when it was scan appointments with numbers and test results etc.. my acupuncturist wanted as much info as I could give him! Just ask them to talk you through all your test results so they can explain why they have chosen short/long protocol and IVF/ICSI. Good luck

@Kiza I get you on the mind boggling thing, it took a bit of time to get my head around all the different options and terminology. I’ve found this site does quite a good, simple breakdown of the IVF process written in a very down to earth way theduff.co.uk/

Ooooh The Duff is awesome - thanks @kikisparks and good luck with the ice! Great news about the work flexibility for your husband too :)

A few folks have mentioned acupuncture - is this recommended?!

Hi all, hope it’s ok if I join you. I’m currently waiting for my period to start so I can start a hormone regulated FET, I should be due around Friday but my cycles can be a bit all over the place!

This is my first FET, I’ve had two fresh cycles (four years ago now) the first one was a bfn but my second was successful and I have a three year old. Getting started again is very odd!

@Lepatz I had acupuncture last time, I found it quite relaxing and my therapist was very knowledgable about IVF which was helpful

Im having my first FET on Monday! Anyone have suggestions...im excited but also extremely nervous too. Feels unreal that the transfer day is finally here. In also worried for starting progesterone shots this week. Those things look huge.

@kikisparks really good news about your husband's schedule, hopefully that takes a pressure off a bit.

@Kiza You'll pick up so much information along the way, no one knows about it all to begin with. It's such a school-y thing to say but there are no stupid questions!

@Custardandcream Welcome! Hope your period starts soon.

@Lepatz I hope your period shows up soon too! I had acupuncture last year and found it helped settle my cycle and was also a lovely experience. The woman who did it was really nice and very nurturing. I think for fertility treatment it's only worth it if you enjoy it though. I wouldn't put yourself through it if it's an ordeal. Plus I don't know about other places but in Reading it wasn't cheap 😂

I'm in the waiting for my period club as well. I've got really bad cramps today although I'm not due on until Friday/Saturday. Never usually get cramps either, think it may be an after effect of having the saline ultrasound. Part of me hoping that it shows up early and I can get this show on the road. It's the anticipation which is getting to me at the moment.

@Lt2020 I'm no where near that stage yet so no advice but wanted to say good luck! I'm sure you'll rock the progesterone shots. xx

@Lt2020 I‘m not that far ahead yet but good luck! The BFN podcast episode of 9 April 2019 was one I listened to recently and it was about prepping for an embryo transfer, I’m going to listen to it again when I get to that stage.

@CardboardCat thank you! Today’s injection was better, I iced the area, put on calming music and tried saying the alphabet backwards to distract myself whilst he did it. I hope your period comes soon, even though I’m not enjoying the injections I definitely think I prefer to be doing something, waiting is the worst! I’m sure it will be here before you know it though.

Can I ask some advice, I'm meant to call my clinic when my period arrives, which should be today. I had some spotting yesterday and cramps last night, all normal for me to have just before it starts, I've had more spotting this morning and I definitely think it'll start 'properly' later today/this evening (years of ttc means i know the signs really well lol!) The problem is, I can only phone the clinic in the morning, so if it starts later today I'll need to wait for tomorrow to call. Should I call this morning since I'm 99.9% sure it'll start later, making today day 1 of my cycle, or just wait until tomorrow? I don't want to waste their time with a call if it's better to wait. Can you tell I'm ridiculously anxious with this being my first time haha!!

@kikisparks

I just read your comment about the BFN episode- I’ve got my transfer tomorrow hopefully so I’ll have a listen to that today. 🤞🏽

Thank you 😊
Can’t say I’m looking forward to having a ridiculously full bladder for the transfer
I wake up most mornings with a full bladder and if feels so uncomfortable following E.C

@Lt2020 Good luck for your transfer on Monday. I’ve been having acupuncture all the way through and plan on having a session before the transfer to help calm my nerves. Sorry I don’t have any suggestions to give you, it’s my first too. (Fresh)

Hope everyone else is doing ok x

So frustratingly I've now been told that our appointment on Monday is with the Gyne outpatients and we may have to have tests redone. I said this seems like a waste of time when we've had all the tests and investigations complete at another hospital and it's just delaying things and NHS money, she said because the tests were complete over 4 months ago it's up to the consultant we speak to on Monday. Grrr!

The ladies enquiring about acupuncture I had it last year to regulate periods and it worked really well and having it done again in prep for IVF. If you can afford it I'd recommend it. I currently go 5 days before O and 5 days after (just before implantation) and my acupuncturist said she will follow this patten for EG and ET.

Welcome to all the new people, good luck with your cycles! Well done to everyone who's made it through egg collection already and has some little embabies waiting for them, how exciting!

@nextweek I'm pretty sure most clinics like a full flow before lunchtime to class as CD 1 so I wouldn't rush it. My drugs can we started on day 1 or 2 so I wouldn't worry.

I'm also in the waiting for my period club, I'm spotty, tired and bloated so I'm guessing it'll be here in a day or 2 then I can finally get started!

@nextweek I would wait til it starts and then call and tell them the time it started at, but you could call them today and say it’s not come yet but you think it will and get their advice if you wanted to. Baseline is usually day 2 or day 3 so even if you get your period today and phone tomorrow they should get you in either later in the day tomorrow or the following day.

@LizTay80 good luck for your transfer tomorrow! Hope the podcast episode is helpful. I’m not keen on the full bladder thing either, I heard a tip someone said was go to the toilet at home and then drink water before you leave and take a bottle of water to drink on the journey so you’re not having to spend too long really needing to go to the loo!

@Mseddy @kikisparks thank you for your comments. I think I'll wait until tomorrow to phone as I'm sure it's going to start later today, I'll make a note of the time just in case it makes any difference for the clinic. I'm really lucky my job/manager is really flexible and knows i'm getting treatment so it wont be a problem to attend the clinic at short notice, i don't know how people with less flexible jobs manage it!

Who is having an embryo transfer done this week? @LizTay80 and @StayingPositive8 are yours both tomorrow?

I’m having mine on Thursday providing things go well, we have 6 embryos left so far at day 3.

@Ro198 I'm scheduled to have my transfer on Thursday too but will obviously be dependent on the next 36-48 hours. Our 3 embryo's are still holding on at day 3 but the embryologist call this morning wasn't as positive as we had hoped. I'm having a bit of a positivity wobble this afternoon as the embryo's haven't been dividing as quickly as they would hope. Plus the embryologist was speaking super fast so I actually couldn't understand if they have even graded them. I guess it's just the usual anxiety with another wait! How are you feeling?

Hope everyone is feeling ok today x

@StayingPositive8 sorry to hear you are having a wobble. I never used to take in what the embryologist was saying last time. I think I'm going to put it on speaker and record it this time so I can play it back to DH after work and actually remember! Fingers crossed for your little embryos

@kikisparks
Thanks for the tip! I’ll definitely give that a go. Hope they don’t delay me coming in as I’ll be dancing around wanting to wee 😂

@Ro198
Yes I’m hopefully having mine tomorrow afternoon. They have discussed about maybe leaving it until day 6 Blastocysts but I’ve never heard of day 6 transfers before?
Amazing you have 6- good luck for Thursday.

@StayingPositive8
I’m sorry to hear you’re having a wobble.
I must admit the whole weekend was one big wobble for me- I struggled so much worrying none of them would make it to day 3.
Our embryologist said some do take a bit longer to catch up. They might just need some time. A lot can change between now and tomorrow so try and stay positive.

I have everything crossed for you xx