IVF Nov/Dec cycle buddies - part 2

[BrandyM]

@ivfhope3
@MF1981
@81Poppy
@Jane1284
@lucymills1234
@Roo45
@dragonfly1978
@EasterBunny7
@Emmalouise11
@Gensola
@IslandStars
@Luludarty

Thanks @BrandyM! I just told my boss that I will need time off for EC and transfer. Don’t think he is very happy but he hasn’t been horrid or anything. I didn’t tell him it was for IVF specifically, I don’t really want many people to know we are doing this.
Can’t wait for next scan on Monday, such a waiting game.

@Rachae
@Ofpalestsilver
@ShiMo
@MrsF1989
@Sweets208
@Ellie42567
@hopeful182
@willithappen

@birdladybird
@kittycatt
@freya2015
@mancbear88
@rowan
@winnie3838
@mgee123

Right... I think that's everyone tagged now xxx

@lucymills1234
Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. Like you say, I’m hoping that the outcome is better than the expectation.

On the 80% collection point, to be honest the doctor said ‘collection rate is 80% across the clinic’ so it might be that he’s only referring to Oxford Fert clinic’s rate rather than general. Maybe they may not get eggs from every follicle if people have lots of them plus apparently some follicles may not have eggs in them. However, they drain all follicles and make every effort to retrieve all eggs.

They told me how many they collected the second I woke up so it’s not a long wait at all.

How are you feeling? Good luck with scan on Monday and hope all 8 follies are ready for collection middle of next week! Xx

@Gensola Did you use the words ‘EC and transfer’ whey you asked for time off or did you just say you’ll need time off in general? Xx

@Roo45 tell me about yo-yo-ing emotions! Hopefully the one they transferred is doing very well. When’s OTD?

@BrandyM thanks for starting new thread. Please try and stay positive hun, horrible feeling when everything is out of your control though. As others have said, they probably have to prepare you for worst case scenario.

I’m just meh thanks lol. I’m on day 6 of stims and had day 5 bloods yesterday. My clinic don’t do scans until day 9 which is not good for my anxiety! Bloods came back as ‘on track’ and I’ve not been advised to increase or decrease my dosage so continuing as I have been. So I don’t know how many follies I have right now, will have to wait till Tuesday 😩 I hope the fact my bloods are ok is good news but I can’t help worrying that my follies aren’t growing.

Anyone know much about E2 or Oestradiol levels and what is normal during the stimming phase? X

@BrandyM I just said I had to go to hospital for a gynaecologist procedure and then probably a follow up 3-5 days later. The look of horror on his face was quite funny!

Thanks @Rachae! Glad you haven’t stopped the pessaries! It’s not over until it’s over. Not long to go till OTD now. Hang in there hun xxx

@Gensola your boss sounds like mine! He’s nice enough and been supportive but gets sooooo uncomfortable and bright red at anything mildly woman-related 😂

@Jane1284 thanks a lot and happy trigger day! Another milestone eh? Good luck tonight! If it’s Ovitrelle, it’s exactly like Gonal-f (not too painful). Xxx

@Gensola Haha that cracked me up. Smart! Why didn’t I think of that? I told my boss everything and although he’s being super supportive, I can’t help but think he’s planning my maternity cover in the background (as he should!).

Thanks @BrandyM - I get to wake up at 1am to do my trigger But it is ovitrelle so should be very easy.
I have to admit everyone’s talk about numbers dropping off so much is making me feel so worried. I already knew it but hearing real examples when I only have 3 follicles makes me realise how unlikely I am to get a mature egg that fertilises, let alone a day 3 or 5 blast. I’m going to be so stressed next week!

@Jane1284 ok but what if it pans out like this?

As it’s only 3, they’ll make sure they collect all 3 (I think they struggle with 100% collection when people have like 20-40 follies).

Then the average fertilisation rate is around 60%. Hopefully that leaves you with 2.

Then the average from fertilisation to blast is around 50%. So that hopefully leaves you with 1? I think having 1 to transfer will be a fantastic outcome!

These are averages and yes yours can be lower or higher. The variable we don’t know yet is your egg quality (which makes the above averages better or worse). With the supplements you’ve been taking, you stand a good chance of achieving at least the average (if not more?).

So prepare yourself for the worst but hope that according to the averages, you’re still in this!

Despite my not so ideal conversation with the embryologist this morning, I’m telling myself I still have a good chance at this and so do you. Xxx

Hi @BrandyM it's all such a numbers game, isn't it... I think all you can really do now is relax as best you can so your body is ready for transfer if you get there, and I really hope you will.

@Jane1284 I can completely understand why it's making you anxious, I think it's human nature that we all try to work out likely scenarios but so much is out of our hands. You're doing everything that's in your own power and that's amazing as it is.

Thanks for new thread @BrandyM

@Jane1284 I think Brandy’s reasoning sounds solid so I hope that works for you.

I am still getting quite a lot of cramping. It feels like I’m having my period... cramping &... how to put it politely “loose stools”!!! Is that a possible progesterone side effect do you think? I keep expecting to see my period though am trying to tell myself it’s a wee embryo digging in for the long haul!!

Thanks @BrandyM . I really hope I can get one blast from my three. There is always hope. I appreciate your possible suggestion and really hope it happens that way. I guess I will know more on Monday after EC and can then go from there. I’m sorry about your conversation with the embryologist. Like the others have said, sounds like they may be preparing you for the worst but in reality your chances of a good blast are decent. When do you next get an update? Thinking of you.

@lucymills1234 thanks for your support too. This really is so much harder than I was expecting. I told myself the first round was unlikely to work but the stress of each step of the process and waiting for news really does build up. How are you feeling now?

@Ofpalestsilver I’ve never had progesterone so not personally experienced the symptoms but I believe it can cause all types of symptoms that are similar to both being pregnant and having your period. So it is really hard to know what is causing the symptom! Not ideal. Xx

Hi @Jane1284 I know, there's no time to recover from one bit of the process as you're straight onto the next. But you've come so far already and EC will be a huge step forward.

I'm feeling ok, thanks. On Thursday & Friday I felt a bit bloated but not today. Hopefully follicles are still growing even if I can't feel anything going on. Taking nothing for granted but after the possibility raised yesterday of follicles catching up I hope they don't slow down now...

I did the weekly grocery shopping earlier and got 2 pack free to use next week and of course caved and did one this evening 6 days early...nothing but then the faintest line 3-5 minutes in (I didn't time so not sure). It's so pale basically colourless and only visible from certain angles so I'm sure it must be an evaporated line...need to keep strong and not try to use my last one early! So annoyed at myself!

*Frer autocorrect

Easy to do @Roo45 you’re very early though so it would be hard to see anything. Can you hold off a couple of days and try again?

Really wanted to test this morning but managed to hold off. These last days are going to be so hard.

Hello everyone!
Can I join in? 🙏🏼
On Monday we have an apptm with the nurse at the fertility clinic and we are starting this Dec. We are having IVF ICSI.
I'm new to this... so no clue what to expect 🙈
Dr was very positive on our chat, but i've heard so many horror stories 😕
If you don't mind me joining, a bit of company of ladies who are going through the same is always good. I don't know anyone in this situation.
Xx

Welcome @Sungirl11 I am having isci too and in the same position not knowing anyone who's been through IVF!xx

Hi @Sungirl11 this is my first round of IVF too - we are having ICSI as my DH had a vasectomy so they had to surgically retrieve his sperm.
I am having a day 9 scan tomorrow to check on progress of eggs, hoping for egg collection on Weds!