IVF February/March 2021

[Alexm06]

Hi

I’m due to start IVF mid February depending on when my period in January starts.
Had a fresh cycle end of august which sadly ended in a missed miscarriage in October.
I only had that one embryo so will be starting a new fresh cycle.

Would love to chat to any ladies starting then as I found the chats really helpful during my first round.

Hey guys.
Have been a bit quiet on here as I haven’t had much going on.
I just had my scan and she found a massive cyst as she said. Said to carry on the provera until Saturday even though that’s what she thinks might have made it that big. But have to go in for another scan when my period starts to see if it’s gone down. If it hasn’t then that’s this cycle cancelled. It’s so frustrating she seems pretty sure it will but there is a chance that it won’t.
Hope others scans went better then mine!

@babysusie on my first cycle they gave me all the meds and showed me how and what to do on the same day I went in for my scan. This cycle the meds got delivered to me but if you haven’t heard anything I would say they would give them to you when you go in. Haha

@babysusie sorry didn’t t end to write haha my partner started talking to me and I got distracted on what I was writing haha sorry! I’m easily distracted

Morning all & welcome @babysusie, sorry to hear you’re going through a difficult situation, wishing you all the best for this cycle.
@RichmondLady1981 great news that you can start stimming. I started stimming 2 days ago & already wishing the next week away.
@Blessing12 I was told to keep my Gonal in the fridge until I opened it & once opened it be kept in room temp (under 25deg) or back in fridge, my choice!
@Alexm06 sorry to hear about the cyst. I hope it manages to clear up, I used to get cysts regularly & they always seemed to disappear, but keep us posted. Is it a NHS or private cycle? Im assuming it wont count as a cycle if it gets cancelled so early?

@GingerBrummie yeah I’ve had a cyst every time I’ve had a scan whilst I’ve been on my period but they aren’t there when I’m not on my period. I had one when I started my first cycle last time which was 2cm they just did a blood test to see if it was producing hormones which it’s wasn’t so I could start. This time it’s 6cm which must be the provera because I’ve never had one that big so yeah I’m pretty positive it’s going to be cancelled. It my 2nd and last NHS cycle but yeah i would assume it wouldn’t count as they haven’t actually done anything and i still have all my meds.
Did they tell you the sizes of your cysts? I’m worried even if it does go down it may take to long as at the moment it’s taking up my whole left ovary

@Alexm06 sorry to hear you have a pesky cyst. I've had two before on left ovary and they were both 3cm.

Hi @Alexm06 I don't know the size sorry but it always went after my period. Keep us posted, I hope it clears up asap either way.

@Mrbay thank you- that’s really reassuring. May I ask your age and AMH? Sorry if that’s rude of me to ask.

Sorry about this morning- hopefully tomorrow will be better. Not sure how my injections will go! Always go a bit faint around needles so could be interesting. Shame we can’t have a stiff drink beforehand. Haha! 🍷

Had my first scan this morning. I finished provera on Monday but no period as of this morning. Was due to start stims on Saturday but now have to wait for a call from the clinic.

Hi @babysusie that feels really stressful for you and something you don't want to be feeling right now, maybe they want to assess you first do you think? And then start on meds on your next cycle because I know I had to have scans and bloods etc before my cycle.

@Alexm06 I feel your frustration, I had a scan Wednesday with a 12mm cyst and feel devasted and so deflated, but they did my bloods and its not producing any hormones so I was given the go ahead to start stims, please stay hopeful I know easy said than done, I was in such a bad mood and emotional right up until they called me.

@GingerBrummie yes thank you I did call the clinic and they said to keep it out of the fridge one started.

@hopefulhel good luck hope you get to start stims.

Guys I feel like long protocol is so much more intense than a short protocol, if your body doesn't do what it needs to its like what's wrong your brain try to tell the body, strange thinking i know.

I did stims yesterday and my head is pounding

@Blessing12 I think Im glad that Ive only done long protocol so I cant compare it otherwise I imagine it would be really annoying! You can take paracetamols if you get headaches.

Welcome @babysusie and @Reevalyneete sorry to hear you’ve had such a hard time with this. I’m also in the 39 and stressing club! I can also relate to the irregular/non existent periods.

@RichmondLady1981 it’s always hard not to panic and imagine the worst even though 6 is still good, you’ve made it to the next stage and there may well be 1 or more top class eggs in there but I totally understand your anxiety, my consultant said to expect 8 eggs at the very most.

@Alexm06 sorry to hear about the cyst. Must be so stressful. Keeping everything crossed for you.

@Blessing12 glad you’re on to the next stage! I relate to the worrying I will forget to inject even though IVF is dominating all my thoughts so there’s no chance!

Have you all got a plan B? I’ve always only thought about the next option once I’m on the current one, so while I was on Clomid/Letrozole I researched and saved for IVF and we decided we’d do 1 cycle and see. Now I’m in the thick of it I do wonder about trying again as the money is a struggle and I’m getting older - wondering if we should consider egg donor or adoption or get a dog and a wine cellar and accept childlessness? I guess it’s best to wait until you hopefully get past transfer to think about it so you know how you’ve responded but I think it might help with the TWW if I have a plan B...

@39andabit I agree it takes over your whole life what ever you think or do its revolves around ivf.

Ahhh bless you, there's no need for plan B it will work just keep saying it and a little pray every night, im not a religious person I have to many nationalities in me, but the night before my stims info from the clinic I said a pray, and I will continue to do so every night.
And i will be mentioning use all on here in my pray as you never know.

@RichmondLady1981 6 is a good starting point, im expecting similar as I only got 6 eggs when I had egg freezing at 35 and I'm now 39. However, all 6 were mature and that's the key, I've seen on other threads people have loads of eggs but very few mature ones so often you end up in the same place. Try not to worry.

My baseline scan is tomorrow morning, hoping all is good to start stims on Saturday. I'm still very lightly bleeding, was anyone else when they had their scan? Im hoping it won't cause any issues!

@39andabit I've planned to do at least 3 cycles to give us our best shot, I just turned 39 so im in the same boat. Im lucky as I have younger frozen eggs to fall back on so could almost be my own egg doner. I haven't wanted to think about what we do if it never works for us to be honest, but I see your point.

@Motherofkittens28 I was still bleeding when I had my scan this morning. Quite full flow. They didn’t even blink... they see it all the time. Lots of paper on the seats. 😆 Thanks for your worlds of wisdom. Really appreciate it.

@39andabit thank you. Just one good one is all we want! 🙏🏼. It’s in the hands of the gods.

@Motherofkittens28 thanks! Good to hear you have some in the ‘bank’ and really reassuring you had a good outcome from 6 follicles. Good luck with your scan. Fingers crossed for you.

I don’t think I’ll get a bleed so just hoping the lining is thin at my scan next week.

@Blessing12 loving your positivity! I am pretty optimistic but my partner is trying to manage my expectations, think he’s worried I won’t handle the bad news and wants to protect me.

@RichmondLady1981 I’m hoping for good news for you. You’re on to stage 2 now so hopefully the drugs will do their work and you’re a step closer.

@Motherofkittens28 Good luck for the baseline scan tomorrow. I was still spotting when I had mine, its fine. Fortunately its now stopped anyway.
@Blessing12 lovely message & thank you for sending thoughts our way too. Im also not religious but I haven been praying this past year.
@39andabit sorry i forget your circumstances? Do you have unexplained infertility? Do you have option of NHS funded IVF? My husband asked me same question yesterday what our plan b is.... I said lets just try & stay positive & think about the present. The reality is I cannot accept it not happening, I dont think I could ever give up trying but what helps me is being realistic & not looking at IVF as a quick fix as such but more of a course of treatments. So Im fully expecting to do 3 cycles to see a result if Im lucky. It helps because Im not putting so much pressure on myself to succeed first time (& less stress helps) ☺️

@GingerBrummie I have hypothalamic amenorrhea so basically don’t ovulate, should be reversible but I seem to be in the minority where I haven’t recovered and clomid/letroze didn’t work and time is running out, I also had a referral for infertility at 32 with my ex partner after 18months of trying so maybe there’s other issues too.
My CCG only fund IVF for under 35s. It’s my first round of IVF (no children, never been pregnant) my partner was less keen on IVF as the odds are poor but maybe we would have got a better ‘deal’ on the 3 cycles so wish we’d considered this now although the money worries me too. Sounds like you did the right thing thinking long game but hopefully you won’t need another round, we’ll maybe for number 2.

@Blessing12 that's a lovely message thank you!

I have my scan tomorrow hopefully some of my follicles have grown. More experienced ladies what size are they expected to be for the egg collection?

@39andabit I try to not think of a plan B and it not working more just the task in hand and taking it day by day and staying positive

@Reevalyneete from memory they like them to be 16+ i think but not bigger than 20. Im sure others have more recent experience though

@39andabit it really is a postcode lottery, 35 seems very young to cut funding off especially as some boroughs are up to 42. Sorry to hear its complicated but it sounds like IVF will be your best bet, I really hope you get some success.
@Reevalyneete good luck for your scan tomorrow.

@39andabit and @gingerBrummie, its 35 where I live also, but 42 in the next county, which is 5 miles away! Its disgraceful really, the NHS should offer the same treatment to all.

Changing subjects slightly, Ive given up alcohol for this cycle, but Im assuming alcohol free beer is still fine, its got lots of carbs unfortunately but not much sugar.

@Motherofkittens28 it’s the same here it’s 40 in the 2 neighbouring areas and I was referred at 38 so would have been ok.

@GingerBrummie I have to admit it’s only 2 weeks but I do miss a wine on a Friday night! I think alcohol free is fine it’s not like you’ll drink loads, Brew Dog Nanny State is nice, there isn’t really any good non alcoholic wine according to my mum friends! I’m lucky as I don’t really like sweet food so the odd drink is my main sugar hit.

Every now and then I get a bit sad that most of my friends just ate and drank what they liked had sex a lot (or once) and were pregnant but we’re changing anything and everything just to be in with a chance of an IVF cycle to work!

Starting to feel a bit anxious about my baseline scan tomorrow, no idea why! Just worried that somehow the buserelin will have meant I have even fewer follicles than normal! Its all just becoming a bit more real and no matter how I tell myself that this is just the first round and that I don't really expect this one to work im getting really nervous and imagining how upset ill be if I don't get any embryos! Also think im starting to get some buserelin side effects, my ovaries feel odd and I've had a headache for two days, probably not helping!