November IVF/FET

[BambiOnIce80]

... Too soon?! 😁😉

Been waiting on a FET since we were put on July's list and I've heard from our clinic this week that I've to call them when AF rocks up in October for a November FET. We had our fresh cycle in January, had a BFP, but found there was no heartbeat at the 11 week scan in March (MMC) - it's been a bit of a roller-coaster so far this year (as if covid craziness wasn't enough!).

Found having a thread to go through it all with a massive emotional support, so looking for some MN buddies to do it all again with. Good luck ladies and looking forward to 'meeting' you 🍀🙂

@MGee123 we'll done on jumping that hurdle! 💪🏻 my side effects have been slightly different every time. It was on Gonal f that I felt the best so 🤞🏻it's not too bad.

@granddesigns im sorry to hear that. Good luck for December, I hope we can both graduate the infertility boards in 2020!

@TheGlitterFairy I hope everything went well for you today. 🙏🏻I also thought my pain was just standard period pain 😬. It got so much worse after coming off the pill to ttc. There were a couple of days before my surgery where the pain floored me and stopped me from doing anything. The surgery hasn't complete resolved things but it is a bit better. I had painful ovulation on the left before the endometrioma was aspirated. It's still a bit achey but nowhere near as bad. Shame it didn't solve the bloody infertility! X

@Birdladybird welcome! It certainly helps to talk to others going through the same. 😊 I've never heard anybody get as many as 4 rounds funded before, is it to avoid a genetic co durian by any chance? 🤞🏻 you only need this 1 x

Thanks @BambiOnIce80 😊 I love it when a fellow ivf warrior gets good news too! I've always been a little bit jealous of people getting to do fet but this thread is proving it's not as easy as it sounds! X

As for me I am all good and have just been keeping busy with work. No news from the clinic is good news but I am soooo nervous for our next update tomorrow morning! 🤞🏻🙏🏻🤞🏻🙏🏻 I re read the info on lubion to refresh myself before injecting last night and have found new found respect for those of you who do im progesterone e injections as it says you need to use the big needle used for drawing up 🙈 you guys are super tough💪🏻💪🏻.

Happy Friday everyone! 🥳 xx

Sorry @Birdladybird co durian isn't mystical ivf language it should say condition! 🙈

Thanks for the welcome ladies!

@SpyroC i'm in France, its very different to the uk, everyone gets funding for 4 rounds if you are under 43. Even if you have a child you can carry on again afterwards! I realise how very lucky we are. In the UK we wouldn't have been able to afford it and as my DH has 2 DCs in their 20's wouldn't have got funding. My medication bill was €2.69 for this round.

Sorry i havent tagged everyone, i need to figure out how to keep going back without losing what i'm writing!!

Morning all and thanks for the good wishes yesterday @BambiOnIce80 and @BonTon 🙏

So!! What a day - the GOOD NEWS is that we have one hatching embryo onboard!!! Hurrah!! 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌 Apparently this is an excellent sign and looked perfect!! The procedure itself was a bit uncomfortable but not painful and we’re just very relieved to have been able to transfer one!!

Unfortunately, our plan to transfer two didn’t work out. We received the dreaded call from the clinic late morning as the second wasn’t looking too great after the thaw, and they said it had a 5% chance of success. They wanted to know if a) we wanted to go ahead with both as they were with the caveat of the above; b) if we wanted to transfer one or c) if we wanted them to thaw the third and final embryo to try and transfer two. Argh!!

We opted to transfer both as they were and give the other one a chance but when we got into the transfer room and chatted to the consultant and embryologist about it all, the consultant was adamant to ONLY transfer the good one so we give it the maximum chance for success. He advised that if we did both then it may be detrimental to the good one and neither work.

So here we are with one and one still on ice. A bit surprised that a blast didn’t survive the thaw but as the consultant says, it’s a good test of its strength and whether it would have a chance or not anyway.

So!! Mightily relieved that we have one on board; trying to to symptom spot already and failing massively 😂😂😂😂😂😂 and official test day is 17th - seems an age away!!!!

Progesterone blood test results came back too and are 211 so way over the threshold of 30 (that I read on Mumsnet!!!) so I guess the ass injections are working 💪💉🍑

Thanks again for everyone rooting for us - fingers are firmly crossed 🤞 Will catch up on others progress later on 🙏🙏👍👍 🤩🤩

Arrrggghh!!! 😫 You know when you type out a massive reply to everyone and then MN does that weird flitty thing and you lose it all? Yep. That just happened! 😤

Crikey, it sounds like you had a roller coaster of a day @TheGlitterFairy ! Soooooo pleased that you have one safely on board ❤️ I read a few papers that concur with what your consultant said about a 'not so good' embryo hampering the implantation chances if transferred with a 'good' embryo, so excellent call on that one 👍 Marvellous news that the ass injections are paying off too 🍑 💉 Is it a blood test or a home test that you'll be doing? I can confirm that the 17th is definitely a million years away - that's my lining scan date! 😂 We can try and keep each other sane until then 😉

Urgh, time is definitely going in reverse @BonTon! I'm lucky that work has been keeping me busy (which is a pleasant surprise because I thought working from home might start to drag after the first week), but the FET still feels like miles away 🙄 I hope AF comes when or before she's supposed to for you 🤞

Ooooh, a new house is a very exciting distraction @ChicaXS! 😃 We're renovating the living room at the moment and that has been a welcome distraction to give me something else to focus on apart from the FET... although I'm still driving myself crazy regardless! 🤪 I'm very jealous of your CD12 scan 😏 Mine will be on day 18 of progynova and CD21... I have a feeling I'm going to cave and call the clinic on Monday to see if they haven't made a mistake! 😬 Day 14 of progynova would be Friday the 13th (although I'm not desperate to go in on that date! 🙈), but the Tuesday after feels a bit late 🤔 Does anyone else question if what their clinic is doing is right or am I just that patient?! Lining wise, I think @TheGlitterFairy said about eating sunflower seeds is supposed to help - can't help to try, right?

I've been keeping everything crossed for your update today @SpyroC 🍀🍀🍀

4 rounds sounds like you've hit the jackpot @Birdladybird! 😄 We get 3 rounds in Scotland, but only 1 if you're over 40 (like me 😏). They're paying for all my FET's though in lieu of taking my fresh cycle, so I'm very grateful for that. Prescriptions are free here, so that's a big help.

Right, I'm off out for a run 🏃🏻‍♀️ Have a lovely weekend everyone.x

@BambiOnIce80 if it's your first FET I wouldn't worry too much about the thickness. My clinic said the standard dose of progynova works for 96% of ladies, it's just my luck that I'm in the 4% that doesn't respond to it! Are you on one tablet three times a day? Sssh don't jinx Fri 13th that's my scan date 😂 I have questioned the clinics dates on this cycle, they wanted to book my first scan for day 19 of oestrogen, but my history shows I usually need to up the dose (although I'm on the max dose this time!) so I questioned it and they changed me to day 12 as I might need to introduce patches along side the tablets. My very first FET attempt I had a day 15 scan, so they sometimes are a bit later

@SpyroC good luck for transfer tomorrow!

@MGee123 how is the gonal-f going?

@PineappleC yes I've found metformin okay, it's always best to take it with food and split the tablets through the day with your meals. The gradually increase sounds sensible

@granddesigns sorry to hear that! My last two FETs I didn't down reg for, straight on progynova on day 1 so hopefully you can do a similar protocol 🤞🏼

@Birdladybird great news on 4 cycles funded but hopefully you will only need 1!

@ChicaXS I can reel off a list of things I've been trying, although they haven't made any difference for my two previous cancelled cycles but it makes me feel better that I'm at least trying to help it get thicker. Lots of protein and green leafy veg, my fridge is currently full of spinach and broccoli! A glass of pomegranate juice each day. I've been doing acupuncture on and off when I've been able to get appointments (currently closed due to welsh lockdown). Fertility yoga, vitamin E and l'arginine supplements. This cycle I'm adding sunflower seeds and trying to be more strict with exercise, I'm VERY lazy normally, but I'm doing a 5km walk every other day. Despite all that, I wouldn't put too much pressure on yourself though, it puts me in more of a mindset that I'm in control of something which I why I've continued even though they haven't got me to the magic 7mm in the past. Are you on 6mg at the moment?

@TheGlitterFairy yeyy for one embryo on board!! I've also read about not mixing different quality embryos so definitely best decision to stick with just the good one

I woke up this morning to a red swollen nipple and I can feel a pea sized lump underneath 😧 sorry TMI but squeezing it (yes it bloody hurt 😂) I got a good amount of puss out but I'm phoning the GP and probably the clinic as well first thing Monday. I'm hoping it's a sign of high oestrogen and that I might actually be absorbing the tablets properly this cycle 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Wow that was an essay 😂

Oh my goodness, so much to catch up on in just a few days!

Hi @Birdladybird 👋 this is my first round too, I struggled a bit with the terminology at the beginning but am getting my head round it all now. How are you finding your cycle so far?

@ChicaXS I don't envy you doing a house move as well!! Make sure you take time for yourself in amongst all your busy-ness 😊

@TheGlitterFairy so glad you've got an embryo on board! It sounds like the day was a real rollercoaster (in amongst the general big rollercoaster of IVF!). 🤞🤞🤞

Ouch @ivfjourney5! That sounds sore! I had a blocked Montgomery tubercle (bump on your nipple) which got really big and sore a few years back - I was told to squeeze it in the shower. It made me feel pretty 🤢😂 hopefully it is a good sign for you!

Not much to report here. Gonal-F going fine, I don't feel any different so far. I have my next scan on Monday so am looking forward to seeing what they say then. I'm already doing 375 units of Gonal-F each shot so not sure how much more it can go up if I'm not responding?!

Went for a lovely run this morning and have done quite a bit of tidying in the garden as well. It really is good for the soul! Im feeling good today 😊 hope you are all having a good weekend too 👍

Congratulations on being pupo @TheGlitterFairy 🙌🏻 it's crazy how things change so quickly in the last few hours when there's so much waiting in the rest of the process.

@Birdladybird that's great! That's how it should be here in England too. We got one round funded and we didn't have anything to freeze but if we had of that wouldn't have been funded where we live.

@ChicaXS ive been doing some of the stuff @MGee123 has been doing to try to give my lining a boost. Although, if I'm honest my diet has slipped post egg collection as i see it as a narrow window of time to enjoy the foods I cut to improve egg quality🙌🏻. I have still kept inflammatory foods to a minimum and take l'argenine (post ec only) and vitamin E. Probably not worth it on a fresh cycle but hey, why not! Can't hurt 🤷🏻‍♀️

@ivfjourney5 🙈why do these things happen to us. It's probably ivf related but it's good your double checking as better safe than sorry! I noticed a new freckle when I started injecting but it coincides with my short pregnancy which is a known cause of new moles and freckles. I do need to get it checked though just in case!

@MGee123 the max dose of gonal f is 450 iu (I know because unfortunately, I'm a max dose girl) hopefully you won't need it!

Thanks for the good wishes everyone. My update was good news as both are still progressing 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 so transfer is scheduled for tomorrow morning. There is obviously a chance they could still arrest but the embryologist said it didn't look likely. I'm just conscious that on previous rounds we've had quite a drop off between day 3 & 5 (I'm not sure why we had a day 4 update instead of 3 this time, perhaps due to there being only 2 and therefore there's a higher risk 🤷🏻‍♀️) My left ovary has been twinging a bit today, is that normal 4 days after collection? I normally don't have any pain at all. That being said I bled at egg collection this time and I haven't before so perhaps it's the flushing. 🤷🏻‍♀️The nurse said it wasn't much blood compared to what she sees but it looked a lot to me who is to nothing!

If anything goes wrong I'll get a call early on in the morning. So another evening of 🙏🏻🤞🏻

I hope everyone's having a lovely Saturday xx

Ladies can anyone help. I've just done my Bemfola injection but whilst it was in my leg and i was pushing the plunger some of it ran down my thigh. The needle was all the way in so i dont know what happened??? I'm on full dose of 300 so there was none left in the syringe. I dont think it was a lot but i'm still worried

@Birdladybird a little looks like a lot, I'm sure it was only a tiny amount and it won't make any difference. Just mention it to the nurses during your scan on Monday, but I wouldn't think they would be worried. Worst case scenario you might have an extra day of injections before egg collection but a lot of people are kept on for an extra day anyway to get the correct size follicles x

@MGee123 thanks so much for that! It sounds exactly like a blocked/inflamed montgomery gland! I purposely didn't Google it before (first time ever not consulting Dr Google) because I knew searching lump under nipple would probably just give results about cancer!

Thanks @MGee123 - given the journey we’ve had so far it didn’t surprise me at all that there was a curve ball to contend with last minute!! We don’t seem to do anything the easy way!! Really pleased we were able to move forward with one! Feels a bit odd having waited for so long but a happy one!!

Thanks SpyroC 🙏 and good luck for tomorrow too.....!! Will be thinking of you!!

@BambiOnIce80 thanks 🙏 and for the info on the research too. I’d also read the same somewhere and so was surprised when the embryologist said it was fine to do that - we’d planned to speak to the consultant before we agreed / signed the paperwork but he said that when we first arrived!! Seems it’s the right thing to have done so pleased with that!!
Yes!! You’re the 17th too! Ha - well we can def keep each other company until then.....I’m not one for wishing my life away but time is going backwards at the moment!!!

@BambiOnIce80 forgot to add, yes- it was the sunflower seeds I started to take about 2 weeks ago to see if it would help build the lining. They’re high in vit E which is apparently good for this.....I’ve not tried them before but the lining was 9.1mm on my scan a week ago and a week after taking the estradiol pills, so I guess it may have helped!

@Birdladybird and @ChicaXS hello 👋

@ivfjourney5 thanks for the good vibes!! Good to hear re the transferring of one vs a couple 🙏

Think I need to look at this thread on a laptop as have to keep flicking back and forth 😂😂😂🙈

So much to catch up on!

Amazing news @TheGlitterFairy... hope the next 9 days or so go quickly for you. Sounds like the consultant was really positive 👍🏻👍🏻

Hi @Birdladybird... 4 cycles is so lucky, although hope you don’t need them. It’s really unfair here in England - I’m not sure why fertility services suffer so much with under funding given it’s such a common and traumatic issue 🤷🏼‍♀️.. on the accident with the injections, I had something similar the last day before egg collection and called the emergency line but the nurse was very reassuring - you’re taking so much of the stuff that it shouldn’t make a material difference was her view.

@ivfjourney5 sorry about the nipple thing, as if you need anything else at this point!! 😂 as you say, 🤞🏻 Good news for the oestrogen absorption.

So much luck today @SpyroC 🙏🙏🙏

@ChicaXS, we bought a house the Friday before last lockdown so I can empathise! We went into lockdown with no oven or fridge so spent a number of hours frantically begging John Lewis on the phone 😂... hope you’re settling in xx

@TheGlitterFairy hello back! How is it being in the TWW? We’re all hoping we will join you soon! Why are our FET pregnancy test days much shorter then usual ? We test 10 days post transfer right? Hope your not going to crazy waiting! I think I will!
@BambiOnIce80 hey hun I would call your clinic as it does seem a bit far away? My projected transfer day is day 17 but I’ll have to start taking progesterone for 5 days before hand which is why my scan on Tuesday will confirm that? When do you start taking progesterone? If my lining doesn’t thicken they say that I keep going in for scans to monitor so I can start taking the injections.

Thanks @SpyroC and @ivfjourney5 for the lining tips. I’m not on any vitamin e. I only have the standard conception seven sea vitamins- but I may grab some vitamin E today. I bought Brazil nuts for the transfer day though haha 🤲🏼

@BonTon thanks for your well wishes! We are thankfully living in our old flat still since we have had no furniture delivered and repairs are still on going. We were aiming to move in December but it’s most likely January because lockdown has screwed everything up and no one is delivering on time! I didn’t want the stress of living in barren cold walls in the new house during ivf so I’ve taken pleasure in online shopping. The only annoying thing is being there at delivery day! I swear I’m not planning this properly 🤣

@SpyroC best of luck today!! Xx

Thank you so much for the reassurance @ivfjourney5 🥰 I really needed it ❤️ I need to stop second guessing everything and stressing myself out. I think it's a hangover from the MMC - we were told that there was only a 2% chance of miscarriage after everything was normal after the 7 week viability scan and yet there we were with the MMC. I've just had the 'penny dropping' moment that it's made me go to the worst case scenario on absolutely everything IVF related 😣 It's my first FET, so I just need to appreciate that this is a test run and everything might not go smoothly. If it doesn't go smoothly, we'll know for next time. Thank you 🤗 I'm so sorry to hear about your nipple trauma!! I'm now trying to not take it as a bad sign that my progynova isn't doing its thing because my nipples aren't swollen and pussy! 😂 Getting quite a lot of sticky CM though - don't know if that's a progynova thing 🤔

Glad to hear the gonal-f is going fine @MGee123 👍 Good luck with your scan tomorrow 🍀

Yeeessssss @SpyroC!! 🤩 🥳 🤩 🥳 Delighted that your two are still going!! Are you transferring both or freezing 1? I bled quite a lot after EC and was twinging right up until ET (and still got a BFP), so please don't worry. Good luck for today 🍀🍀🍀

Like @ivfjourney5 says @Birdladybird a little feels like a lot, so try not to worry. I definitely had one instance of the same (I think I didn't stop squeezing/leave the needle in long enough after plunging that time), but it's a tiny amount compared to what will have gone in.

How's being 1dp5dt going @TheGlitterFairy?! 😉 I hope you're managing to keep yourself distracted.x

Your clinic sound super efficient @ChicaXS! Is it private? My (NHS) clinic did warn me that I needed to be on the progynova for at least 14 days before they scanned and that it's common for the scan to be after 14 days due to having to work around all of their patients schedules. I think I'm going to trust in the process this time and then learn from it for next time. I've got to take progesterone (utrogestan) for 5 days pre ET too, which hopefully means ET would be the week commencing the 23rd 🤞🔮 That would work really well for us (despite all my moaning about how long it's taking! 😂) because we've got the plasterers and decorators in the week before and I don't particularly fancy being saturated with paint fumes for the first week of the TWW! I think I'm just going to stop second guessing my clinics timeline and see how it pans out (and give them hell if it turns out they need to up my progynova dose because my lining is crap on the 17th!😝).

@BambiOnIce80 thanks for the reassurance. It did feel like a lot but I’m not panicking so much now. I have a scan tomorrow so I’ll mention it then. Good luck with tour FET, I hope the progynova is doing it’s thing! Xx

@BonTon yes I am super lucky. Also, If I have a baby and want to try again it’s resets to 4 more goes. They will even take it to 6 tries if they agree and think you have a chance. Thank you for the comforting words. X

@ivfjourney5 thank you for calming my nerves last night. I didn’t reply but I read it before I went to sleep and felt much better about the situation.

@TheGlitterFairy hello back 👋🏻

Anyone else suffer from headaches with the medication? Since I’ve started my Bemfola 300 jabs I have had a constant headache on my left temple. I had paracetamol but it’s not touching it. Does anyone have any other more natural solutions that might help me please x

@Birdladybird I gave up on not losing any menopur as it seemed impossible. Losing a few droplets hasn't made any difference so try not to worry. I had head aches this time around but not in my past 2 cycles. Paracetamol did work for me but I was reluctant to take it all the time. Sorry I do t have any other ideas but the head aches did ease off towards the end.

Thanks for the good wishes-they paid off as both made it to day 5 🙌🏻🙌🏻 🥳1 fair quality blastocyst and one a bit behind. Both are now back inside me. The worst round so far has given us the best embryo we've ever had! There's must be something in the quality o er quantity line, in my case at least. We are delighted and I am currently working n the nice newly pupo bubble. My otd is the 21st.

@TheGlitterFairy are you in work at the moment? What is everyone else planning on doing for their tww work wise? I'm asking because of covid. I go back to work, in a secondary school, tomorrow and am a bit apprehensive. However, there doesn't appear to be any issues in early pregnancy if you get covid.

@BambiOnIce80 sticky CM is a good sign 🙌🏼 I know with what's happened in the past you are bound to worry, and I'm not one to say 'be positive' because we all know how cliche and annoying that is! As you say, if (and a big if) it doesn't go smoothly with the lining this time rest assured that your little embryo will still be in the freezer waiting for you! I can tell you it is frustrating after two cancelled FETs but it's better for the lining to be as good as possible before a transfer. But hopefully you won't have any problems and at your scan you can move straight onto progesterone 🤞🏼 Haha no you definitely don't want pussy nipples they are really sore 🤣

@Birdladybird I'm so glad you went to bed feeling a bit better about it last night ☺️ we are all here to support each other

@SpyroC congrats on being PUPO! 🎉

@SpyroC i'm so excited for you!

Does anyone else find it difficult not to look at baby things online? I kind of get lost down the rabbit hole. I also know what I would call my baby . I know i shouldn't get my hopes up but its really difficult!!

@SpyroC congrats on your transfer today!! That’s wonderful news that both were strong and are back with you!! Amazing!!! Re work, I’m able to work from home and have been since March. When I’ve had previous rounds, I’ve not said anything to anyone at work other than a friend there who is very discreet - but that was outside of Covid times of course. I’ve not read of anything Covid related with early pregnancy but would it be worth checking with your consultant? Is it an option to take 2 weeks off / be signed off if you’re (understandably) apprehensive?

@BambiOnIce80 argh - I fear I may have be driven mad by the 17th, it’s awful waiting isn’t it. Trying to keep busy and distracted but it’s there in the back of my head all the time!!

Had a bit of an odd “episode” this morning in the form of feeling all hot and bothered and dizzy while eating breakfast. Only lasted for about 10/15 mins then disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. I’m not prone to things like this so odd. Reckon it’s either something to do with implantation or it’s my body rejecting the embryo. Hmmmmm. Time will tell I guess but was odd.

Argh - half my message has disappeared.

@BambiOnIce80 9 more sleeps and we’re at the 17th - we can do it! 💪 am pleased to be working again tomorrow in the hope that it’ll distract me!! 💪🤞🙈

@BonTon thanks! Consultant was v positive so really hoping he’s right!! When’s the next step for you?

@Birdladybird sorry you’re experiencing the headaches. Drinking lots of water / keeping well hydrated may help a bit? It could also be your body getting used to the meds too so will hopefully settle down.

@ChicaXS thanks! Being driven mad with it already and need to calm myself down I think!! 😂😂 hope your scan goes well on Tuesday 🤞

@MGee123 good luck for your scan tomorrow 🍀🤞

@ivfjourney5 ouch 😣!! Hope you’re ok now!!