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.

@granddesigns I'm so sorry to hear it's not a positive outcome for you and hope your appointment in a couple of weeks time helps give some clearer direction for the next steps. It's hard enough getting a bfn but at this time of year it feels an even bigger sting.

@Lindyloolou happy birthday 🥳 hope you have a lovely day.

Today we decided to try and inject into my thigh.... oh what a mess!! Firstly I accidentally jabbed the needle into my thumb when taking the cap off, then DP struggled to get the angle right in my thigh and then we got bubbling under the skin and lots of blood 🤦🏼‍♀️ safe to say we shall stick to the tummy and only use the thigh if desperate! 😁

@starkid what time is your scan on Friday? Minse at 8.30 which I'm pleased about to have it first thing. Now that I've bled I'm pretty hopeful we will start stimming on Friday. Looks like we're gonna be cycle buddies ☺️

@Kiza ouch! I've had blood a couple of times too, but in both abdomen and thighs!
My appointment is 9.30am and we've both got to do blood tests again as well, then according to my plan should be looking to start stims next Sunday, so yes definitely looking like cycle buddies if all goes well

Thanks @Kiza I caved in (again) and did a test this morning. Now as dark as the marker line so that’s good.

Now, no more testing for me now - hoping I can get to the hospital tomorrow for bloods.

I don’t know how you ladies let your OHs do your jabs. I have to do it myself for sanity! You’ll get there once you find your mojo/what works for you. X

@Lindyloolou this is fantastic news and hopefully can reassure you a bit on your birthday. Roll on the bloods tomorrow.

I prefer my own injections too. Thighs are definitely worse than tummies. After my c section I had to inject blood thinners into my thigh - not nice.

But overall injections into tummy really is fine. Remember your pain receptors are in the surface of your skin so once you break through that it is fine. I sometimes do a slight twist of the needle as I put it in which eases that slight pain.

Xxx

@lindyloolou that's really good news. Everything crossed for you and happy birthday!

My clinic just rang to book me in for my 7 week scan in 17 days time. It still doesnt feel real and I can't see me making it that far at this point! My symptoms have gone again except for cramping which isn't filling me with a huge amount of hope! I wish I could just fast forward the next 2 weeks!

Are you on any other meds other than progesterone @Mseddy ? I have seen it’s normal for symptoms to come and go so fingers crossed you’re still good! I also know lots of people who didn’t even know they were pregnant at this stage and things kicked in around 6 weeks-ish. Also if you’re on steroids, that can mask symptoms apparently (I’m on prednisone). If you’re having cramps you can always go to your clinic/EPU and see if they’ll do a blood test?

I don’t have any symptoms still other than insomnia (but that’s likely the progesterone) and my nips are now huge but that’s it. The dull ache comes and goes. Did a long dog walk today with the OH which was a good distraction - made me feel loads better so would recommend that. X

@Lindyloolou did you manage to get your bloods done today?
How have you ladies gotten on with weight gain? I've tried to keep exercising (which is hard when the gyms closed a week ago) and diet remains the same but I can already feel heavier and stomach is looking a tad big and bloated. Most of my clothes are tight fitting and didn't expect to feel this heavy and bloated after only 13 days...

@kiza - I've been lucky so far too only have hot flushes on the down reg drugs! Not noticed any weight change so far...

Does anyone based in England know if, if you're already in the middle of IVF treatment, they would cancel it due to the new lockdown, or will we definitely be able to go ahead with the rest (presuming all is fine health-wise)? 😬

@starkid they're classed as medical so can stay open in the new lockdown. But obv there's a risk of doctors being pulled away if they work in the NHS too and staff sickness

@starkid yeah overall I feel quite lucky as no other side effects. Hope the weight gain doesn't increase, I remember when I was on the pill years ago I put on weight so my body must just react this way with hormones.
I'm in England NHS cycle (and I work for frontline nhs). I also read the Hfea website, all indicate that where possible fertility treatment continues. In localised areas they may have to temporarily close or not take on new referrals if there is strain on local services.

@Kiza I darent go near the scales, but I feel like a whale!! I've found this FET much harder on my body than a fresh. The bloating hasn't really gone away!

@lindyloolou I'm on Progynova, cyclogest and lubion. Going to be on them to 12 weeks if I make it that far!

@kiza @bells3032 thank you!

Hey @Kiza thanks for checking in. I got bloods yesterday. My hcg is 569 (4wks 3 days). I actually cried as I was convinced it’d be low (from previous experiences). Doesn’t mean anything really though if it doesn’t double. Another test tomorrow.

Weight - well I have no symptoms other than the bloat and I do feel I’ve put on a bit. But I had lost a stone from all the grieving, stress etc over the past year so it kind of evens out 🤪 We can always lose it at a later date I say!

@Mseddy Glad you’re doing ok. You’re on lots of meds so it’s so hard to distinguish what’s the cause of all the different aches and pains. Nurse told me yesterday not to worry (always easier said though!).

So, still a long way to go here. Keeping everything crossed for us all. Xx

@Kiza everything should be carrying on as normal. Nurses told me the first lockdown saw anyone having started meds continue their protocol. This time, medical stuff as it stands goes on 🤞

The only thing as someone else mentioned is if they are deployed to help the NHS. Hopefully it won’t come to that though x

Sorry @starkid above aimed at you x

@Lindyloolou - thank you, so presume going ahead except in cases due to staff shortage etc., got it :)

Is it weird I'm excited to start stims (hopefully) this weekend? It'll feel all more real doing those and having my body start producing stuff (aside from hot flushes haha)

@Lindyloolou that's great news about your Hcg. I know the wait until the next test is a tough one - we call it "Hcg hell" at our clinic. I think it's good to allow yourself to celebrate the milestones even though we are all hyper aware that things can change. For today that is the best result you could hope for.

@starkid I think as others have said that it just depends on the clinic and whether their staff are getting pulled elsewhere. Clinics are definitely allowed to stay open but I know a handful of the London NHS ones have closed. Others and the London private ones are currently still open with no intention of closing. In the last lockdown clinics that closed continued with people who had already started cycles. Hopefully all will be fine for you. Whereabouts are you based?

@Kiza I was worried about gaining weight on the diet I'm on but DP said I would gain weight anyway if I got pregnant and we have to see this as part of the process. After I had DD I didn't lose the weight for over a year but it came off eventually and I got back to my normal size (albeit with a different shape tummy!).

Xxx

@Janefx40 - i'm south-west so think I'll be ok, especially if they're at least finishing off those who have already started and maybe not taking on more from the waiting list just yet

@Lindyloolou - I missed your message about bloods coming back - very exciting!! Fingers crossed it's sticky xx

@Lindyloolou that sounds promising, fingers crossed for the coming days.
@Janefx40 yeah I keep on thinking to myself 'well I'll be putting on weight when I fall pregnant so not to worry'. Thanks fully working from home mostly allows me to wear joggers most days! The bloat gets worse as the day wears on!

Oh man so our donor was due to start everything again on 16th jan - but has told the clinic she can't now until schools go back after lockdown - really upset today.
I know she's doing an amazing thing for us but this is twice now something has stopped us progressing.
It keeps getting pushed further and further out :-(
Hope you are all ok ladies x

@Pingupp so sorry to hear that. The IVF waiting game is so painful as it is without the added stress and delay thanks to Covid. You’ve every right to feel disappointed but also remember you’re ready and set... you’ve got this far and an extra month or so with fly by. Hopefully by then lots of people will be vaccinated too so an all-round safer environment. X

Hi

Do you mind me asking whst drug your hubby was given for his sperm to increase?
I was told there isnt anything thry can give for this.

Thanks hun
x

@Mrs32 my partner took zinc, vit E and lycopene. His numbers shot up after taking these for 3 months. He also abstained from caffeine, and bought baggy boxers.

@Pingupp so sorry to hear this, ivf feels like such a long and bumpy journey. Allow yourself a moment to scream, shout, cry and then try to focus on what @Lindyloolou suggested that you are all set up for the next cycle.

Our clinic just rang us to confirm they are still operating as normal which was reassuring to hear. Hope everyone else's is too.

@Mrs32 Proxceed plus. Worth checking out nutritionist Melanie Brown too. She has a sperm egg salad she raves about and can give you a proper plan. Watercress, walnuts, eggs. My OH ended up with direct sperm retrieval which saw a 100% improvement - turns out there was some issue once the sperm released the usual way. Dr Jonathan Ramsay is the best in the business when it comes to male issues.

Update from me - my second HCG was 1217 so more than doubled in 48hrs so feeling somewhat relieved (am now 4 weeks 5 days). Still a looooong way to go yet but I feel like I can relax (a tad!) now and take each day as it comes until scan day in two weeks. Stretchy cramps today, otherwise feel normal. Fingers crossed for everyone here - I hope journeys can move as quickly, smoothly and as successfully as possible. Sending lots of virtual hugs xxx