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.

@lindyloolou I've woken up with all my symptoms gone and last cycle I started loosing it at the equivalent of some point in the next 48 hours. I'm petrified. I just want to know either way :( it's such bad timing that we can't even get private bloods done online because of bank Holidays. I feel like I'm stuck in limbo and it's awful

Sorry to hear things don't feel right @Mseddy and @Lindyloolou - a pre Christmas transfer felt so hopeful when it might all work out but the days have been long and the usual support isn't just there at the end of the phone if things don't work out in the same way. Thinking of you both and sending strength and positive vibes your way. We have our consultants call booked in for second week of January so can hopefully discuss the 2020 treatments and plan for 2021.

@RichmondLady1981 I did short protocol, I had no idea what to expect, this thread has been so helpful!

@granddesigns sorry to hear your suspicion was correct :(

@Lindyloolou and @Mseddy sending you both lots of love and positive thoughts

Hi @elsaesmeralda thanks for the welcome and the reassurance- glad it’s not too long. I’ve done research here and there and know what it involves but I have absolutely no idea what to expect at the same time! Sure it will be fine but can see from reading these posts that’s ive got a huge emotional rollercoaster coming my way!

@granddesigns thank you and so sorry to hear about the BFN. Hopefully you’ll learn something from this cycle to improve the next one.

@Lindyloolou @Mseddy everything crossed for you both!

Morning ladies. Not due to start injecting until end of JAN but keep waking up in the night thinking about it. I don’t like needles (i know pathetic). Even at my first acupuncture this week my palms were practically dripping with sweat. Does anyone have any reassuring words of wisdom. Will I just get used to it? How do I know how far to push the needle in? Sorry this must seem really silly but it’s on my mind all the time. Thanks ladies. X

(I have my nurses appointment this Thursday)

Thanks everyone for all the well wishes. Same situ at the moment, slightly darker line yesterday but still don’t feel anything. AF pains have subsided which is perhaps good, but I’m on progesterone so this could delay any bleeding I think.

I am also on steroids and read this could mask symptoms but who knows - anyone with any experience with this? Perhaps kidding myself a little here but I’m going with it. Don’t think I’ll test again now - hopefully I can hold out and get an official blood test Mon/Tues, plus it’s my birthday tomorrow.

@Mseddy sorry to hear you feel your symptoms have disappeared. If not in pain though and no bleed, hopefully this is all still normal. Have read symptoms can come and go? Any updates? Think you’re one day ahead of me. Sending a big virtual hug. X

@RichmondLady1981 I know it’s easier said but try not to worry. They nurse will take you through it and if you feel you need a refresher before you administer, there are lots of videos on YouTube (a Mnetter pointed this out to me). I too am scared of needles but once you do day one, it’s a breeze. I now have no phobia given the amount of injections and blood tests I’ve had over these past two years! You’ve got this!!!

@RichmondLady1981 I was exactly the same and hate needles. Luckily my partner does most of my injections but I've managed to do a couple myself. I'd advised taking your phone into the injection lesson and videoing it, and go prepared with all your questions such as how far in, how fast to inject the liquid etc.
Our nurse was lovely and let us practise with water drawing up the syringe and pressing down on the syringe back into the cup of water to get used to the pressure etc.

@lindyloolou so glad thst your line has gotten darker! Got everything crossed! My boobs started being tender again yesterday and I woke up at 5am needing gaviscon for the 5th day in a row! So I'm trying to be positive. I havent tested since the day before yesterday, I plan to do it today but amazon changed the delivery day on my pee sticks! So I need to pop to a pharmacy and get one. Today is the day on my last cycle that my test was light and I started to bleed, so today was always going to be hard. OTD is tomorrow but if I test today and the line is strong then I'm going to stop testing at that point I think!

That’s good news @Mseddy How many dpt are you now? I’m 11dp5dt. My official test day was 9dpt but know different clinics have different protocols. Feel a teeny bit nauseous atm and my nips are larger and darker but I have been here before so managing expectations. My natural cycle is 34 days so I’d be due AF tomorrow/Mon so next couple days are tricky mentally for me too. Fingers (and legs ;) ) crossed for us both x

@Mseddy @Lindyloolou Do you guys have a blood test booked in already at the clinic for post-egg transfer? My IVF planning sheet says I have one to test for pregnancy 2 weeks after transfer, so wondering if you guys have that too

I'm excited for my first scan next Friday finally!

No they said I need to call them when they open on Monday if I have a BFP hpt and then they arrange bloods - guess HCG levels via bloods will give a good indication of what’s happening. I’ve never had a good result to be honest - always had to go back to re check if doubles and then always ended by week 6/7 so I’m just trying to take each day and step as it comes. Praying this time is different but it’s hard to have faith.

Great news re your scan though @starkid where are you at currently dpt-wise?

@Lindyloolou - oh that's interesting that they do it that way, I guess I'll get more info about how it's fully done at the clinic nearer the time.
And I've been doing down-reg injections since December 3rd!

Good luck @starkid 🤞

@starkid my clinic don't do hcg bloods for some reason! So we just have to wait it out until scan now.

My otd is tomorrow but I get better results in an afternoon and I had to let the clinic know before 10am. So I've just done my otd now and it's a dye stealer! I've never ever had the test line darker than the control line so I'm starting to think this could actually work out! I'm also still petrified!!!

@Lindyloolou thank you so much. That’s made me feel so much better. I look forward to the day that I no longer have to look away and suffer with sweaty palms at needles. Your news is so exciting- hoping you get your blood tests early next week and you can start to enjoy your pregnancy. (If that’s at all possible- easier said than done I know!)

@Kiza that’s such great advice. I will definitely video with my phone and ask those questions. I think my consultant said something about practising on an orange??!! 🤷‍♀️

Listening to you ladies makes me so eager to get started. Got to wait for my husbands fragmentation test results to return before we begin though. There’s such a back log with everything at the moment isn’t there. 🙄

@RichmondLady1981 - I hate having blood tests etc. however the thing that makes me feel better about these injections is the needle is small, and it's not going into/near veins. I think the veins part of injections is what freaks me out the most! So if it's the same for you, you might also find it not so bad after a couple of goes :)

Good to see things are progressing @Lindyloolou and @Mseddy.

As others have said the initial worries about injections do wear off once you get started -I remember trembling the first one I did and definitely being a lot more blasé by the time I'd filled my 4th sharps box! Now the 5th one is looking at me and I'm counting down to starting to fill it again in the spring! Ice before the injection can help, pinching the skin gently as you inject and injecting the fluid steadily is good too. Once you've done the first few it does get much easier - although remembering the each needle has a sharp side and a blunter side helps too - the sharp one pierces the skin much easier! (Forgot this once and struggled!) good luck!

Hi all. @granddesigns I'm so sorry this wasn't your month. Hope you're doing ok.

@Mseddy @Lindyloolou such an anxious time but have everything crossed for you.

@RichmondLady1981 welcome. My first injection had to be done in about 30 seconds which really helped - I had no choice but to just stick it straight in. After that I was ok more or less. It's not the nicest thing in the world but you do get used to it. We're all the amazing - what we do for our babies xxx

Thanks @Janefx40.

@Mseddy That sounds soooo positive (literally!) Great news.

Still getting this nagging dull ache every now and then - like AF is coming but not quite as painful as that. In fact I think it’s greater impact when thinking/looking for it even. Keeps freaking me out. I’d like to do a test again tomorrow but it’s my birthday - could really ruin things and OH has sorted surprises out, but then I will just be wondering all day anyhow. I’ll see how I go.

@Lindyloolou I've had period-like but not actual-period cramps both times I was pregnant so you never know. Have a great birthday tomorrow xxx

That makes me feel a whole lot better @Janefx40 thank you so much x

@starkid @Janefx40 and @granddesigns thank you so much for taking the time to respond.

@Lindyloolou I def had crampy pains when I was pregnant first time with my now 20 month old son. Happy Birthday for tomorrow!