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

@loulamay This was my first fresh cycle, so no previous experience to share. But looking to next steps, I'm planning to go straight into the next FET as soon as I can. (Partly because my age has been yapping round my heels for the three years I've been waiting for this...) I have 2 frozen embryos. I haven't fully decided, but I feel like I may have one more fresh round in me - if neither of those work. So don't want to delay any further as it's only increasing the risk of abnormal embys. Me and OH decided to only do single transfer as we felt that the twin risk outweighed the having to do multiple rounds risk. Having now gone through it all, I may have reconsidered this tbh!!

@Lepatz I think I also have another fresh round in me. As long as we can afford it. My issue doesn't seem to be egg production. We got 24 last retrieval. Think I over stimulated . My problem is getting the damn things to stick. It's 5pm here and sunny and I am having fuck-you-ivf wine.

[quote loulamay]@Lepatz I think I also have another fresh round in me. As long as we can afford it. My issue doesn't seem to be egg production. We got 24 last retrieval. Think I over stimulated . My problem is getting the damn things to stick. It's 5pm here and sunny and I am having fuck-you-ivf wine. [/quote]
That looks like an amazing glass of wine!!
Enjoy. You deserve it
And yes, fuck IVF, it really does suck most of the time.

@loulamay that looks like a good glass of wine!

I think I'm going to go with a FET as soon as my clinic allow. I just want to be pregnant again ASAP! We took time between our first and second cycles, then covid hit and our wait suddenly doubles and became mandatory!! So given the situation is looking a bit sketchy again I don't want to mess around. I've put on a good few pounds during that last cycle and a holiday recovering!! So I'm going to focus on getting fitter and healthier over the next few weeks and then get my little frostie on board! I've never done a FET before so not really sure what to expect. I was only allowed short protocol becuase of migraines and not being allowed the pill so I'm not sure if that affects protocol for FET or not.

@loulamay Ha! Love it. Cheers.

I’ve started on my drugs for my 3rd round (First FET) now so the journey begins again after my BFN in August.
If this round fails then I think there will be a wait till after Christmas for the next FET anyway so will probably have a break till the new year.

I’ve never done a FET either @Mseddy. I’m just hoping the bloating isn’t as bad as it was last fresh cycle. I also put on a few pounds in the last cycle. 😬 Off to the gym now!

Well done @loulamay that wine looks amazing, as do your beautiful nails!! x

@loulamay thank you very much for all of this info. Sounds like Clexane and aspirin are both a good shout. Glad you’re feeling ok and quite right to have a few days off, both for the physical and the emotional side.

I’ve had a good chat to DH about next steps. We haven’t seen a doctor or been able to discuss any tests but we do know we’ll get progesterone for longer next time so we’ve decided to just go ahead and transfer our frozen 5BB embryo as soon as the clinic will let us, and hope that the progesterone was the issue last time and we’ll have better luck this time if we get a BFP. I’ve had mixed info from my clinic on if I can book in with the period at the end of this month or the end of next month. They’re usually fully booked when I phone and move me to the next month anyway, so I’m kind of expecting to be starting the FET process at the end of November. So it will probably work out at a couple of months off anyway. A big factor for me pushing forward is that we’ve been TTC nearly 4 years now, IVF was delayed firstly by my laparoscopy, then by a failure by the clinic to put me on the waiting list (I’ve had a lot of problems with the clinic but that was the huge one!) and then by coronavirus. Age is a factor for me as I started TTC in my late 20s and am now in my mid 30s, which I know is not old at all and I don’t want to be insensitive to anyone but just personally for me I wanted to have our child in my early 30s so I don’t want to wait any longer. It’s very personal though, there is nothing wrong with taking time off if you physically or mentally want it, and my clinic is especially slow so if yours isn’t then that might not be such a big factor. Hope you enjoyed your wine!

@Mseddy sorry I’ve not had that, both my chemicals involved a few days of heavy bleeding. I have heard of some people who get a heavier bleed on their period after the miscarriage though, maybe call your clinic?

@Lepatz I also don’t want twins but I am rethinking about putting 2 back as well! I’m definitely going for one if our 5BB from day 6 defrosts ok but if it doesn’t, or if it’s a BFN or miscarriage, I might want to put our last 2 in together. Our other 2 are also day 6 and only grade 4BC and 4CC so poor quality. DH is against it though from a health risk point of view as he doesn’t want my health put at risk by a multiple pregnancy.

@Lepatz @Mseddy @MrsT36 - I actually found the FET far less stressful and not as hard on my body compared to the fresh post-egg retrieval. I also did short protocol and just waited for my period and took Femara (Letrozole) in tablet form for a few days and then progesterone and estrogen later in my cycle. My lining thickens on its own so not sure if that meant I skipped anything. ZERO injections (bliss!) until trigger shot so we knew what day I ovulated. Only did Clexane injections on this latest round.

Onwards and upwards!

Btw, not sure if anyone has seen this, but this website is fab. She's also pretty funny

theduff.co.uk/category/the-ivf-process/

Yeah I’ve seen that site. Thought it was good.

Sorry @MsNoons17 tagged @MrsT36 by mistake!

No worries @loulamay! Still getting all the info. The protocol you are doing sounds similar to what I’m doing though I do have some injections leading up to transfer. Just on the 3 tablets a day for now & scan on Monday to see how I’m getting on.

@kikisparks - please don't worry about the age thing in terms of sensitivity! I think a big part of it as well, is not so much 'getting older' but the disappointment and change in expectation from how you imagined your life would turn out compared to what it looks like currently. I'm sure a lot of people start TTC in their twenties, like you, and don't even consider that they will have any issues getting pregnant. And then flash forward 4 years and you find yourself in such a different situation and it's so challenging to keep up your mental strength and cope with the mind-shift of where you are. I think I even went into IVF naively, thinking it would just work on the first try! That we would be those lucky ones. Now, the thought of getting a BFP on the next round doesn't bring me any real feeling of excitement, but that's just the new normal and I'll have to accept it. IVF and infertility is a bit of a joy-thief!

I'm happy to hear that everyone is gearing up for their next round! I'm not really one for inspirational quotes, but there's a German proverb that translates as; “Starting is easy, persistence is an art.”

Just got to keep going!

@loulamay I'm so in awe by your positive attitude. You're an inspiration as are the rest of the ladies who keep fighting month after month. Good think about this thread is that we all understand. We've all been through years of disappointment and we totally get it.
I hope that BFP is just round the corner for you all

Hope everyone looking forward to weekend
Those who can, hope you all have a nice bottle of wine chilling in the fridge and those who can't, hope there's some nice chocolates awaiting being opened.

@loulamay IVF is absolutely a joy thief! It akways feels like there's another wait, another hurdle to get through. I hope everyone is doing ok and have nice plans for the weekend!

@loulamay hope you are feeling ok

@kikisparks really hope you can get started again soon. I know what you mean about the age thing, I always wanted to have started a family before I turned 30, I remember being very down on my 30th as we’d been trying for a few years and a month previously I’d been told ivf was my best bet!

I’ve had a bit of a stressful week, I had a small bleed on Tuesday then another on Thursday. I spoke to the clinic who said I could have a blood test but I don’t drive, the clinic is an hour away and dh is snowed under at work so getting there twice 48 hours apart wasn’t really possible! So I ended up at the epu today, everything looks ok thankfully and they even saw a heartbeat. But it’s such early days so I’m still quite worried!

@Custardandcream
Glad everything's ok with baby
It's such a frightening time, can't relax or enjoy it at all.

Hope everyone is doing ok? Sorry, been off the site for a while as the counting of days of this pregnancy and googling everything was making me a bit crazy!

@Custardandcream how far along are you now? I have had two small bleeds so far and a trip to the EPU on Friday showed that everything is fine at the moment for us! But I'm not sure anyone that has been through losses/infertility/IVF ever relaxes into pregnancy!

@Custardandcream that must have given you quite a fright! That's fantastic that you saw the heartbeat though, a very positive sign.

My 7 week scan is a week away now and I'm getting really anxious about it, can't help but worry that we'll get bad news. However, I checked with them about my husband being allowed in for the scan and they said that he would be as long as the guidance about that doesn't change between now and then, so that's a big relief.

@Bruce2 I know it’s really hard to enjoy it when you’re just worrying about what could go wrong!

@StayingPositive8 I’m 6 weeks +2, how far along are you? Glad you’re trip to epu was ok, bleeding is just terrifying isn’t it? No I thought second time might be easier but I’m just as worried as I was first time!

@nextweek I think we all think the worst, really good news your husband can come in with you

@Custardandcream So good that you have seen the heartbeat already, do you then have your 7 week scan soon? I think the waiting between scans is really tough, I'm not sure how anyone copes with waiting until their 12w but I guess if you have no issues with loss or fertility, its easier. I'm currently 9w +4 but still pretty anxious as our last loss was between 10 and 11 weeks. But I'm having the NIPT test next week, so that's the next hurdle for us!

@Bruce2 hope the waiting isn't too stressful for you. Will be sending you lots of positive vibes next week

Thinking of you all ladies. It’s crap that we can’t enjoy the process as much as most can.

Hi lovely ladies. Been pretty busy this week, starting up house renovations that were put on hold thanks to COVID. Exciting to get going again. Not so exciting to live in a world of dust

I'm in a weird headspace at the moment that I can't quite explain. I've really enjoyed not thinking about IVF for the past week after the d&c, and have luckily not had much pain or side effects so quite a relief. Not sure what to expect from my cycles over the next couple of months but I have heard that we will have the results of the tests that they are doing on the... god, there's some terrible phrase for it... 'retained products of conception' (seriously) by the 29th Sep. in one way I'm hoping that it was an abnormal embryo so that maybe it's not my body that is the issue, and in another way if it was a normal embryo then maybe that will mean a change of protocol next time with the endometrial scratch, possibly steroids etc. I was also reading up on intralipids and might ask my Dr about that the next time I see him.

How is everyone doing? Any movement forwards with FETs for any of you?

Sending so much love and luck to the pregnant ladies for upcoming scans etc. we are all rooting for you!!

@loulamay

Please keep us posted on the outcome on 29th. What a terrible phrase indeed.
Glad you have a project to work on to keep you focussed on something other than IVF.

Thank you for the positive vibes. I'm now 9+2
Booking appointment next Tuesday to do bloods for chromosomal disorders etc.
I still don't feel pregnant. Apart from being tired and a bit nauseous I just don't feel much at all so it's a very strange feeling waiting for an appointment that might not result in anything...

[quote StayingPositive8]@Custardandcream So good that you have seen the heartbeat already, do you then have your 7 week scan soon? I think the waiting between scans is really tough, I'm not sure how anyone copes with waiting until their 12w but I guess if you have no issues with loss or fertility, its easier. I'm currently 9w +4 but still pretty anxious as our last loss was between 10 and 11 weeks. But I'm having the NIPT test next week, so that's the next hurdle for us!

@Bruce2 hope the waiting isn't too stressful for you. Will be sending you lots of positive vibes next week[/quote]
Thank you
I'll keep you posted on how everything goes.
Had initial call with midwife today.
She said given the IVF it'll be a consultant lead pregnancy and birth in a hospital rather than a midwife led unit.
Although I'm just praying I make it to that stage to have the luxury of choosing
Because we did ICSI I'm worried about embryo not being healthy as you kind of rule out Mother Nature and is very laboratory driven which only chooses the "best looking" sperm under a microscope rather than DNA components being perfect

Just have all these worries going through head right now