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.

@Bells3032 thanks, yeah we're only 2 days in down reg. same as you condoms give me thrush so we don't use them... don't want to abstain from sex after 2 years of timetabled sex we'd like a few weeks of feeling 'free' 😂. Maybe we should call the clinic and ask?

So my cycle has started. My clinic does scans on day 2 but it's closed tomorrow so hope they can do Monday. But it means having retrival I think on the 7th and we are moving house that day. My in laws have offered to be around thr house for the removal company.

I have low amh and my last cycle was 8 weeks ago. Am I insane to do this now??

@Kiza I was advised no un-protected sex throughout

@Bells3032 You want the least amount of stress possible (it’s pretty stressful as it is) but I get wanting to crack on ASAP. Perhaps write down and weigh up the pros and cons for both scenarios?

I’m 4dp5dt - convinced myself it hasn’t worked. Stupidly didn’t anticipate this part would be as nerve wracking as it is, as I get pregnant quickly naturally (they just don’t stick around past 7 weeks) but now I’m convinced I’ve not even made the pregnancy hurdle!

Had a sore throat day 1, headache day 2, felt a bit heavy yesterday down there (faint period heavy feel - but I could also be convincing myself of this), had a bit of discharge yesterday and today - can’t tell if it’s clear or white - it has dried white (sorry if that’s TMI). No idea if that’s good or bad. And I’m bloated.

Trying to remember what my symptoms were for previous 4/5 pregnancies - namely insomnia, sore throat.

I’m doing a natural FET cycle but am on progesterone, clexane, asprin, folate, steroids so these will also be impacting maybe.

On the whole I feel totally normal. Insane, worrying about every slight twinge/convincing myself I am or I’m not pregnant, but otherwise, normal.

Anyone shed any light? I think I’m just torturing myself here aren’t i? One thing is I have no desire to test yet as I know it’s early. Another five or so days though and I think I’ll want to be put out of my misery...

Anyone experienced the same or in the same boat? I only have this one PGS tested embryo. Already worrying about having to start again from scratch (I know I’m losing the plot!).

So I've been down-regging for the last 23 days. AF came fairly on schedule around day 32 of my cycle and lasted for 5 days, quite normal, crampy/bit heavy.
Then 3 days after it had finished, I've had another AF for 4-5 days, a bit lighter but still definitely not spotting, I need a pad.
Is this normal, to have 2 periods when down-regging? I haven't got my baseline scan until 8th January so not really sure what's going on...

So the clinic won't let me start anyway. They're closed tomorrow and thjnk I'll be better starting on day 2 than 3. Hopefully I'll get my next cycle in 4 weeks and can start once settled in the house

@Bells3032 sounds like that may work for you better but how do you feel about that?

@starkid I'm sorry I can't shed any light as have never down regged. Hopefully someone else can help

@Lindyloolou it's so hard not to go crazy during the 2WW. I do personally get some light cramping that I think could be implantation at 3-4dp5dt but then I also get that in a normal month so who knows for sure?!!

The way I saw it, the embryo doesn't even implant for 3-4 days post 5 day transfer anyway and then it needs to produce enough hcg for you to have symptoms. Maybe in a natural pregnancy your progesterone levels would be different as the embryo implants but with IVF all the extra progesterone we take masks that. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't personally think it's possible to feel any pregnancy "symptoms" at all until at least 5dp5dt because there's not enough Hcg. And even after that my experience of being pregnant through IVF/FET is that it feels almost identical to getting a period! So there's really no way to tell - which makes things even tougher emotionally!! Also FYI I got pink spotting the cycle I took Clexane and aspirin - it wasn't a bad sign as I was pregnant but it freaked me out - probably just connected to the blood thinners.

@janetfx40 a bit all over the place to be honest. I know it's probably a blessing in disguise. Just hope my cycle starts in 4 weeks again not another 8.

@starkid Sorry I don’t have any experience with down regging either so can’t shed any light on this I’m afraid. I guess all these drugs can potentially alter our bodies. One to ask the Dr I think though for peace of mind?

@Janefx40 thanks for your note - puts things into perspective which is often needed in this hideously crazy circumstance x

@Lindyloolou I'm the same. I become 100% obsessed during the 2WW and then if I get pregnant beyond that. I think it's impossible not to so maybe the best thing is just to accept it and not be hard on yourself. I tend to throw myself into Mumsnet at times like that so that I'm still focused on being pregnant but I'm also supporting/following other peoples' journeys as well as my own!

@Bells3032 It is so hard. I'm not surprised you feel mixed about it. This might seem a bit random but I always compare my having a baby/IVF journey to the rugby World Cup in 2003 which we won. It was a tied game and England got the ball with like a minute left of the game. We're all screaming at the tv for the players to just kick it at the posts but they didn't - they did their usual routine, run, ruck, whatever (I don't even know what the moves are all called). The clock is ticking down and down and still they are preparing and doing manoeuvres, passing the ball and all the things they'd practised. In the last few seconds, when they were ready, when everything was right, they kick the ball and it flies through the posts and we won. That is my metaphor for this stuff. It feels like the clock is ticking and it's going to be too late but we have to make sure everything is right, all the pieces are in all the right places and then we "go,go,go".

Sorry that is a very long rambling story - it's what I tell myself. It helps me to think like that especially right when we have some pretty terrifying obstacles in front of us...

@janefx40 I get what you're saying. Just feel like every time I see the goal posts people keep moving them. We will get there eventually I'm sure

@starkid I'm down regging but only on day5 and it's my first time with IVF. Could just be a xtra bleeding? Our nurse said my period could be different to usual but anything's ok as long as the lining has shed and it's empty by the time we have our baseline scan (which is also the 8th Jan).
Maybe call the nurse advice line when they are back open?

Thanks everyone, it seems to have stopped now, looking at my Clue app I bled for 10 out of 12 days, but yeah I guess it's just the drugs making things go haywire! The lining should definitely be gone now at least

Hi everyone

I am a bit anxious because of this COVID situation i really hope treatments dont get cancelled

What do you guys think ?

@Freya2015 Hopefully not. Mine went ahead even with London in tier 4. That said the hospital at the time wasn’t helping the NHS at that time - they may step in if things get bad.

@Freya2015 yes I think it depends if they end up being redeployed to the hospitals. I wouldn't be suprised to be honest this time after all the Xmas mixing and this new variant. Let's everyone keep our fingers crossed 🤞🏻

@elsaesmeralda @Lindyloolou
I am supposed to be starting on the 4th January with my medication to bring on a bleed. I am soo scared I really hope IVF is not affected in anyway

@Freya2015 I was told before by my clinic that once treatment has started it will not stop regardless of lockdown. So my thoughts were to just make it to that date of starting medication!

@elsaesmeralda i am with NHS and he will be making a speech the 30th but when you go on the website of human fertilisation they said everything is running as normal. I really hope it doesn't get cancelled

@Freya2015 I'm with the NHS in Birmingham and I also work in the nhs. Our clinic has said they have no current plans to stop, in my nhs setting we have not been asked to consider redeployment (like we did back in summer) so I think the fertility clinics will be ok this time around.

@Kiza that is such a relief to hear making me feel at ease thank you

Hey. How is everyone getting on? Sorry I've been a bit quiet. My head is all over the place!

I tested positive yesterday at 6dp5dt with our frostie. The last 24 hours I flip from feeling so happy and excited to sick with nerves about having another chemical!! I'm not sure im cut out for this journey at the moment!! It's sooo hard! My boobs have been tender the last 48 hours which is what prompted me to test early as that was a sign in my last cycle, but this morning they dont feel anywhere near as tender and I'm telling myself my hcg is falling already. Its just so hard! Is anyone else in the tww?

@Mseddy Congrats! Try to enjoy it now - know it’s easier said. I’m due to test NYE - contemplated today but resisted. I don’t have any symptoms really so I don’t think it’s been a success - bit tired, and I have clear discharge but that’s it and to be honest, no idea what’s progesterone related, period or possible pregnancy. Went on a long walk today to clear my head. Not feeling hopeful at all and I’m worried how it’ll affect me when I see a BFN. My only frostie I had.

@Mseddy oh I'm so with you, when you've experienced loss before it's so hard. I remember seeing a quote that was something like 'when you're pregnant after fertility loss it's like holding your breath for 9 months'.
The only thing that's helped me in the past is keeping busy (which is so hard at this time of year and with restrictions).

@Kiza that quote definitely resonates having lost 5 (via natural conceptions inc twin boys in June).

Getting pregnant wasn’t my worry as we do so easily they just don’t stick. Not a worry until NOW! Going through this IvF process (and our only frostie) I’m convinced I’m not going to even get that BFP. Actually going mad! Googling like crazy 🤦🏽‍♀️

Guess what I’m trying to say is we need to try and take comfort from the good bits on this hideous journey. Maybe why I resisted testing today - don’t want PUPO to be over maybe 😏