August 2020 IVF - continued

[Lepatz]

Morning ladies!

We hit our 1000 limit on the original thread! That’s 1000 messages of support and advice, celebrating every happy milestone, and being there for uncertainty and bad news too. Thanks @Mseddy for setting up our little cohort :)

Will try to tag the regulars, apologies if I miss anyone. @Custardandcream @nextweek @kikisparks @StayingPositive8 @Bruce2 @CardboardCat @MrsT36 @loulamay @MsNoons17 Argh, my phone is refusing to autocomplete properly - I hope that works.

Wishing everyone heath and happiness - whatever stage of the journey you're on xx

@Lepatz

Morning ladies, just been catching up. Great to see the continuing support in here. We were all so closely in sync for a while there, but even though our journeys are taking different turns, we're all still here :)

@MsNoons17 So sorry to hear about the BFN after the positive test. But it does seem like implantation happened, which is more info for the clinic xx

@loulamay wow, that was a long cycle - just another wait in the series of waits we have to deal with in this process!!

@nextweek Your wobble post was heart-wrenching, I hope you're feeling better now x

To those waiting for periods or clinic confirmations, good luck.

I am on day 12 of norethisterone, and day 5 of buserelin - and feeling a bit of an emotional wreck. It doesn't quite feel real right now. Work has been super hectic for the last two weeks, and then between the increasing restrictions, and the grey damp weather, it's hard to remain cheerful. ET is due in about 3 weeks - I'm crossing everything that it doesn't get cancelled.

What a year!!

I love this thread, everyone so supportive

I can see why you're feeling a bit uneasy. The weather is miserable, the news in media is miserable...just a bit rubbish and to top it off you're putting your body through another round so can only imagine what you're going through

Best of luck with ET in a few weeks time!

Hope everyone is doing well and treatments are doing what they're supposed to :)

xxx

Hi all I haven’t been here for a while just caught up with everyone’s news. I’m still just waiting for this appointment next month to discuss the miscarriage testing, it seems to be taking forever to come round. I’m scared of how long the testing will take and back and forth on if we’re doing the right thing or should go for another FET. But I’d kick myself if we did that and miscarried again when there might be something going on we could have fixed.

I’m up and down a lot, mostly I’m WFH but I had to go into the office the other day and there was a card out with pictures on it of someone’s new baby and everyone was talking about their kids at home and they asked me about working from home and I was like oh it’s just me DH and the cat, I was just on the verge of tears all day it was awful. I had PMS at the time too though so that may be why! DH is finding it hard too as his boss (who knows about the miscarriage) is constantly talking and complaining about her pregnancy. I’m honestly so glad to be mostly working from home just now. Hope everyone is hanging in there.

@kikisparks

Hi all I haven’t been here for a while just caught up with everyone’s news. I’m still just waiting for this appointment next month to discuss the miscarriage testing, it seems to be taking forever to come round. I’m scared of how long the testing will take and back and forth on if we’re doing the right thing or should go for another FET. But I’d kick myself if we did that and miscarried again when there might be something going on we could have fixed.

I’m up and down a lot, mostly I’m WFH but I had to go into the office the other day and there was a card out with pictures on it of someone’s new baby and everyone was talking about their kids at home and they asked me about working from home and I was like oh it’s just me DH and the cat, I was just on the verge of tears all day it was awful. I had PMS at the time too though so that may be why! DH is finding it hard too as his boss (who knows about the miscarriage) is constantly talking and complaining about her pregnancy. I’m honestly so glad to be mostly working from home just now. Hope everyone is hanging in there.

Ah that's rubbish to hear people aren't being very empathetic towards your situation. I know it's not malicious and or intentional but it still hurts. Sending lots of love Hope the appointment comes around quickly and you get the answers you're waiting for xxx

@Letpatz thank you, I'm feeling much better now. All the lovely responses I got on this board were so appreciated. Hope you're feeling a bit better to and wising you lots of luck for this round.
@kikisparks it's so hard when people aren't sensitive to your situation, wfh definitely has it's advantages at the moment.

Hope everyone is doing ok and those of you that are going into full lockdown again aren't too adversely affected. I'm in Scotland so we've started the new tiered system today, fingers crossed we can avoid a full lockdown.
No progress with me, still waiting to get a date for our next appointment with the consultant and I'm still waiting for AF to arrive after my miscarriage. It's only been 4 weeks since the miscarriage started so I'm not too worried yet, but hoping I don't take too long to get back to normal.

Glad you're feeling better @nextweek. There's always someone with unsolicited supplement anecdotes (sorry!) - but my best friend was advised to take maca root after a couple of irregular post-miscarriage cycles, and it sorted her out almost right away.

The new tier system is a bit mad isn't it, but totally worth it if it means less damage in the long term. I got a call from my clinic today, to confirm my baseline scan. So relieved, as had been a bit stressed since the announcement on Saturday. Two cancelled cycles in one year would have been horrible. In saying that, AF was flowing this morning when I phoned the hospital, but dried up at lunch! So now I'm worried I'll need to reschedule the blooming scan, when I'm really keen to get cracking on.

@kikisparks It is so hard when people are insensitive. And it feels so unfair that we have to work so hard, just trying to get to where they are. I hope you get your answers soon so you can get on with whatever the next steps are x I hope your DH is doing ok too. What a time you've had of it xx

@Bruce2 thanks for the lovely message - how are you keeping these days?

@Lepatz
Yeh ok thank you for asking
I must be the only person slightly grateful for lockdown as it means I can keep in hiding a bit longer
We've still not told anyone about pregnancy, not even parents. Well I told my instructor at the gym but that was it...more out of necessity than anything.
We want to get the 20 week scan out of the way first, before saying anything, I just can't relax at all.
We got the results back saying low risk for Downs, Edwards & Pateau which was good news but will get better understanding at 20 week if everything looking ok so far.
I think because it was ICSI it carries that slightly higher risk as you take away mother nature's effect and have a embryologist chose the sperm and egg for you via microscope.

Luckily still in normal clothes so far so if I run into anyone it's not obvious yet!

@Lepatz It's worth a try, do you know what form your friend took it in? I've had a look on Holland & Barrett's website and they have it as a capsule or a power, but not sure if I'm looking at the right thing or not

Hi all - been so busy with house renovations and then did nothing yesterday apart from refresh the US election results hahaha. It's such a distraction!

@kikisparks - I'm so sorry lovely, it's so hard sometimes and all of this feel so massively unfair.

@Lepatz - not long until your transfer! Exciting

We finally got the go ahead to ICSI the rest of my frozen eggs. I take in the sperm sample on Monday and then it'll be a tense week of waiting to see how many embryos make it to day 5. Then they will send off the embryos alongside the 4 frosties to check for abnormalities. I'm terrified that we won't get any normal ones back and then I'll have to decide between doing another fresh round (I'm 41 in February and so I'm worried about the age factor) or look at another option like an egg donor. Which I actually feel ok about I think. Has anyone else ever considered the egg donation thing?

@loulamay That's great that you've got the go ahead. I can imagine that'll be a long week for you waiting for the results, will be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

thank you! Any sign of AF for you or news about how lockdown will affect your clinic?

@Bruce2 great to hear your test results have come back low risk! And I'd take any silver lining of lockdown going. One for me is not having to explain why I'm not drinking (and people doing the inevitable "pregnant?" question, which is always a but gutting)

@nextweek - it was capsule form. Taken in the morning on an empty stomach if I recall.

@loulamay Oh great that it's all happening. Fingers crossed for a good turn out at all the stages :) I haven't considered egg donation. I think I have another fresh round in me. Though at 41.5 years, who knows how many will be viable...

I had my baseline scan for the FET today, all looking good and start the Progynova tonight. I've had a bit of a blow up at work though - which looks like might need extra time and effort for the next 2-3 weeks, so doing lots of "thought management" about how I can stop it from raising my stress levels. Last time I was signed off for a month!! Though the FET seems less intense so far....

@loulamay I think my AF is about to start today, would be a relief to know everything is back to working as normal! I've not heard about lockdown affecting my clinic, but I'm in Scotland so it's just the tier system at the moment rather than full lockdown. It's likely I wont get my review appointment with the consultant until end November/start December due to the backlog so I don't think I'll get to start my next cycle before the end of the year.

@nextweek how are things, did AF come as expected?

@Bruce2 yes it did thanks, it started on Friday and its as it is normally so hopefully my cycle will last my usual 26 days.
How are you getting on?

[quote nextweek]@Bruce2 yes it did thanks, it started on Friday and its as it is normally so hopefully my cycle will last my usual 26 days.
How are you getting on?[/quote]
Yes ok thanks
My uncle passed away yesterday (he was old and quite unwell so not a total shock but still quite sudden)
Then Had a bleed yesterday late afternoon.
Called EPU and they said just to monitor it as it wasn't enough to soak a pad.
It seems to have stopped which is good but I am very worried again now.
Woke up this morning with incredibly swollen legs...I'm usually an average size 10
I'm 5 foot 5 roughly 9st 2/3 ish but my legs are so big my calf's are rubbing together when I walk!! Yes calf's...not thighs (those too!)
Hoping swelling goes down ASAP as I haven't told family I'm pregnant and now I need to fly to Scotland for a funeral next week! Was hoping to hide it until 20 week scan but I may be rumbled! Xx

@Bruce2 sorry about your uncle. Glad your bleed has stopped, the swelling sounds uncomfortable, hope it goes down soon, might be worth mentioning to your midwife.

@loulamay fingers crossed for lots of embryos for you!

@Lepatz glad things are moving on well, hopefully work will be a good distraction at least? Hope it’s not too stressful, I found FET a lot less stressful in itself

I’m trying to find out when I can have a smear as mine is due but they might want me to wait 12 weeks after the miscarriage which would be January, I’ve asked my gp but not heard back yet and I’m worried they will have a backlog anyway so that could delay my next cycle

Hi all!
Sorry haven’t been on in a while.
Thanks for all the well wishes.
Just trying to catch up but feels like I’ve missed loads.
@loulamay hope the icsi went well. Any news yet?
@Bruce2 sorry to hear about your uncle. Hope you’re ok. The swelling sounds very uncomfortable. Hope you’re feeling better.

Not long till ET @Lepatz how’s everything going?

Hope everyone else is good & lockdown is not affecting anyone or treatments too much.

I’ve tried to have a few weeks ivf free now for the first time in months & it’s been quite nice to feel a bit more like myself (body & head) for a bit if you know what I mean. I am however looking forward to my consultation next week to see when we can get going again.

Really glad to have this group who understand what each other are going through. X

Hi girls - hope those who are pregnant are feeling fine and more confident. Does it get easier as time goes on!? Here's hoping the rest of us can join you soon! @Bruce2 sounds like you've been in the wars you poor thing and I hope you're doing ok, both physically and emotionally!

@Lepatz how's the work situation? Hopefully not stressing you out too much.

@MsNoons17 nice to hear from you! I have also been enjoying a blissful time of not thinking too much about IVF so I totally get where you're coming from.

We are still doing house renovations so things are a bit chaotic here, then yesterday our poor sweet Golden Retriever managed to gash his side open on a metal slide in the park (health and safety in South Africa is not so hot and so we rushed to the vet yesterday morning with me holding the wound closed with my hands and OH driving. Our ICSI was pushed to today, so after a restless night of checking on the dog, I dangled a sample cup in front of poor OH about 9am this morning and he locked himself in our bedroom away from the builders to 'do it in a cup' as we call it. Good lord.

Long story short, the lab has our sample and should be defrosting my 14 eggs today for fertilisation. Not sure when I'll hear from them but to be honest the building work and injured dog are distracting me! Realistically I suppose we will know by Friday which ones have made it to day 3 and then by Monday which to day 5. Then the dreaded wait of sending off those for the genetic testing. I think that bit is going to be the worst.

Just heard from my clinic. We started with 14 eggs so this is the latest on day 3. Ugh the waiting is torture!

"You have 8 embryos that have divided with the following grades:

1x 8cell embryo
3x 6cell embryos
2x 4cell embryos
2x 2cell embryos

On day 3 of development, we expect the embryo to have between 6-8 cells. Therefore, 4 of your embryos are on target and 4 embryos are developing a bit slower.

You will receive your next update on Tuesday regarding the number of embryos biopsied."

@loulamay

Just heard from my clinic. We started with 14 eggs so this is the latest on day 3. Ugh the waiting is torture!

"You have 8 embryos that have divided with the following grades:

1x 8cell embryo
3x 6cell embryos
2x 4cell embryos
2x 2cell embryos

On day 3 of development, we expect the embryo to have between 6-8 cells. Therefore, 4 of your embryos are on target and 4 embryos are developing a bit slower.

You will receive your next update on Tuesday regarding the number of embryos biopsied."

Oh wow ok!! 4 is a fab number to get so far! Exciting news @loulamay Fingers crossed everything continues to develop really well Sending lots of love

4 is good @loulamay how you feeling about it? Waiting really is torture! Everything crossed for you for Tuesday!! X

@loulamay 4 is good for this stage, the waiting is awful I hope Tuesday comes round quickly for you!

Thanks guys!!! I am just so terrified that none of them will be normal and the reason for my miscarriages is that I produce shitty eggs. Is that even a thing? I produce loads of eggs and we have managed to get 5 days blasts, but I have no idea if either of those things are correlated to quality. I am on another thread about PGS testing and one woman had all her embryos tested when she was 36 and got none back that were normal. It seems to be such a lottery. Need to stop Googling (I am quite obviously not going to stop Googling).

@loulamay just catching up, good luck for the update today!

I have the doctors appointment today finally to discuss recurrent miscarriage testing, I have so many questions to ask but I always end up flustered and missing some even though they’re all written down. It’s a phone appointment, just hope there are no technical issues!

I also got my blood test results from GP and my thyroid looks ok, TSH is 1.4, and optimum is under 2.5, so that’s one more thing ruled out at least.