IVF Dec 2020-Jan 2021-anyone joining me?

[Kiza]

Hi,
After 2 years TTC #1 we are now eventually on the IVF bus! Should have started in June but Covid put a stop to that and after lots of back/forth with our NHS clinic we've got our treatment planning appointment on Friday and will be on the long protocol so probably starting mid- end of December!
Would love to have some ladies join me!
I've been creeping on other IVF threads but haven't been able to fully take part.

Sorry to hear this @Pingupp - it's a heck of a rollercoaster this whole IVF business whatever the personal route you end up taking. Soooo much waiting, delays, disappointment and uncertainty. Hoping that you can allow yourself some time to process and some Christmas distractions which might help the new cycle come round.

@Pingupp so sorry to hear that. it's such a stressful time and if you need to bawl your eyes out in the middle of a garden centre then go ahead and do that! I am sure the surrogate feels awful too. How very upsetting.

I think rest and recharge over the christmas holidays and please Gd may 2021 be a better year!!!

Hi Ladies can I join you? I'm due to start a fresh cycle around 29/30th December.

Just for background. I have a DD born after 2 fresh rounds. I also had an FET back in June which resulted in miscarriage at 9 weeks. Starting over sooner than planned as based on OPKs, I seem to be having a short cycle this month. Oh and that is an old user name to give you an idea of my advancing age!

Waiting to check my testerone levels (been on DHEA) and haven't got DPs sperm fragmentation test back yet either so all depends a bit on those too.

@Pingupp I'm so sorry. That must have been just beyond upsetting. I remember getting some awful news about one of my cycles once and I literally screamed! Not sure I have ever screamed like that before. Hope you're ok.

@granddesigns sounds like good news. Fingers crossed for those final results. We were on a thread together back in June/July. Nice to see you although obviously it would have been better if we'd both had success by now!

I haven't managed to catch up on this thread fully yet but will try to soon

Xxx

@Pingupp it's completely understandable to be emotional... this is a hell of a ride we're all on and it's better to let the emotions out then internalise them.

Welcome @Janefx40 I'm 40 also and this is my first time. Sorry to hear of your miscarriage

So for you ladies that are already injecting.. how the heck are you doing it? I'm needle phobic so got some spare needles to practise with, I just tried (after psyching myself up!) and I just pricked the skin and stopped as it stung so bad! My skin is now a bit red and the teeniest bit of blood.
I'm going to ask my partner to practise on himself so he is a bit confident before trying it out on me but how do you do it? It goes against every natural instinct to jab yourself?
I'm wondering if Emla cream may help?

@kiza I had my partner do it for a couple of days then just bit the bullet and did it. Some of them went in really easily and I didn't feel it and some hurt but I just pushed through and carried on! I think sometimes I probably blunt the needle on the rubber bits on the vials! Also if you look closely they have a sharper end so make sure you're using that bit and they should slide right in. Sorry no other useful advice other than just concentrate on what you're doing it for!

Welcome @Janefx40 - I recognise you from an earlier thread too -
Sadly that cycle also ended in miscarriage for us at the end of July so keeping everything crossed for this transfer on the swing of the year.

Sorry to hear you're worried about the injecting part @Kiza - once you start it does get easier. I tend to pinch the skin slightly and you can rub an ice cube over it first if that helps to numb it a bit. Also, once you've had the initial sting it doesn't tend to hurt much more than that - and as someone else said, use the sharp end/side of the needle! If getting dh to do it helps, go for it, but I am a control freak and dh is bothered by needles here and I think if you are in control it hurts me less - like pulling off a plaster or attacking an awful spot!

I found it hurt less on the top of the thigh, but then again for some reason it stings and other times I don't feel it go in, not sure why!

Update: so when the mister got home I insisted he jabbed a plum a couple of times, then watched him jab himself a few times then he jabbed me a couple of times (good job we had plenty of spare needles). It stung a bit but sooooo much easier letting him doing it.
Feel much more confident about the real thing next week now 🕺🏽

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

@Kiza years ago I did an acupuncture course and I remember them saying that the pain receptors are on the surface of the skin. So that's the painful bit - once you have got through the skin it doesn't hurt.

I also think it is easier to inject when it's the real thing. Very hard to practise I would think. I was freaked out but when I got the call to say "inject now" I just didn't have any choice but to just do it! Injecting stims isn't particularly painful it just takes getting used to. Good luck. It's worth it!!

Oh and by the way that is my user name from 3 years ago when I first joined Mumsnet. Significantly older now. I got pregnant with my DD at 41 so it can definitely happen!

Xxx

Ah we cross posted @Kiza Glad you are feeling better about it all x

@Kiza definitely easier having someone else do it, glad you're feeling better about it now.

@Pingupp so sorry to hear your update, sending love

@Janefx40 welcome!

Hi, hope you don’t mind me joining?! It was test day today for me and sadly it was negative 😔 this was my third round of IVF and I just feel so numb and like giving up. Just wondered if any of you ladies have gone passed 3rounds? Starting to give up hope xx

@LKSF welcome to the thread. Sorry you got a BFN today. I think a few people here have had several rounds. One of my closest friends had 5 rounds before she got her BFP at 41. I met her baby two weeks ago! please keep up hope xxx

@Bells3032 I am feeling more rational now. Going to try and enjoy Xmas and see what happens next year!!

@granddesigns yep you are so right about this being a rollercoaster! So many ups and downs. Praying it will all be worth it. Hope everything goes well for your transfer.

@Janefx40 got my head together now- i think!! Hope your tests come back soon. It's all the waiting around that frustrates me!!

@Kiza - hope injections are going ok? I was dreading mine but OH thinks he's a doctor and reckoned it would be fine ;-)

@onlyhereforthefood fingers crossed re your eggs- that's a good amount.

@LKSF sorry to hear your news - hope you are ok.

Hoping for positive news for us all soon ❤️

@Pingupp I'm so sorry to hear its all been cancelled. That must be so hard. I've sobbed in all sorts of places over this while process, I don't even get embarrassed anymore I just sob unashamedly! Fingers crossed for feb

@granddesigns yay for your lining, fingers crossed for everything going ahead!

@Kiza glad you are feeling better about the injections. They just become second nature eventually. I've injected myself in all sorts of places over the years. The highlights being in a toilet in a bar at a wedding.. In the que for wickerman at alton towers... And in a dodgey underground carpark very recently! It ends up just slotting in around your day rather than being the scary part of the day you are dreading.

@onlyhereforthefood that such an amazing amount of eggs! Well done! How are you feeling?

Nice to meet the new people. Fingers crossed for everyone.

Im on my way for my day 12 lining scan check and covid swab. I'm petrified! I've just got a feeling I haven't responded to the drugs and it's all going to get cancelled!

Hi all, please can I join? I had a fresh cycle in Nov but had the transfer cancelled due to OHSS and then had my FET cancelled yesterday as my period came a week early and my transfer would now fall in their Christmas closure period. So I’m due to start drugs on day 1 of my Jan period (mid Jan) and have an FET in late Jan/early Feb.
I’m 35 and this is my first round of IVF with DH due to his vasectomy when he was 41. We have two embryos frozen and if neither works we will have to start all over again.

Hi @Gensola seems like you're the same sort of timeline as me! Sorry your fet got cancelled you must be gutted! I've just started my withdrawal period (whatever they call it) from my egg collection and looking to transfer around mid-late Jan !

@Mseddy I kept thinking I hadn't responded to the drugs, it's so hard to envisage! Good luck!

We got our day 5 update today and have 5 embryos that are suitable for biopsy for the genetic testing,
we might get some more tomorrow as they let some culture on to day 6...I'm so happy, but also a little sad that more didn't make it based on how many fertilised, but I know we're still very fortunate.

I'm still struggling post retrieval though, so bloated and full of water and still in pain. I think it's normal, but I didn't expect to still feel this rubbish at this stage!

@onlyhereforthefood still a good amount there ! Congrats !
I had 17 eggs retrieved and was in so much pain with bloating and fluid for a good 4 days so you have my sympathy, and with the amount of eggs retrieved from you I'm not suprised you're still struggling !

@onlyhereforthefood and @elsaesmeralda going to jump on this conversation if you don't mind as I'm so relieved to hear others are having these symptoms.

I had EC yesterday morning. And have ballooned since. So uncomfortable. Hadn't expected it to be asttying as it is (dunno how women with kids manage it! I'm just parked on the sofa the last two days)

Have ye found anything that works? I have trapped gas as well...so uncomfortable! I'm lashing the liquids into me but I wonder would accupuncture bring some relief?

*as trying

@TTCandImpatient I've not found anything yet, I was seriously not prepared for how uncomfortable I'd feel! I literally slept the two days after my EC and thought by Monday I'd be leaping about! I have found sleeping propped upright more comfortable than laying flat but that's about it! And not staying in one position too long at work.

@TTCandImpatient I also found sleeping as upright as I could helped, if I lay flat it hurt so much more! And I had a hot water bottle strapped to me for about 3 days. Do you have any peppermint tea? Might help

Hoping I can butt in to this thread. Have had lots of natural pregnancies but all ended in MC (5 in two years including twins in June). Poor sperm and possible immune issues with me so I’m going down the controlled route of IVF. Partner had direct retrieval - had some spent tested and it was spot on (200pc better than normal way) - had 15 eggs fertilise, 6 make to day 5 but then did genetic testing and only 1 was ok so there’s a lot riding on this (I’m prettified!). Anyhow, thought I was going to miss the Xmas deadline but told today we are good to go for transfer next Tuesday. Can I ask, has everyone here done the PGS testing? So worried it still won’t work despite this (and definitely no guarantee). Also did anyone with a successful FET do anything in particular to prep? Any tips welcome. I do hope everyone gets the positive news they so well deserve soon. Xx

Welcome @Lindyloolou, we're doing PGS too and I'm terrified that none of our embryos will make it through!
Good luck for Tuesday! x