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.

@Reevalyneete can I ask which day you are with your stims? Do you know how many follicles you have? Sorry if you have already said and iv missed it.

Just had 3rd stimms scan. They’ve decided to wait til Wednesday for EC as though I have a few follicles almost there, the majority are still medium sized and they want as many as possible to get bigger. Another scan Monday to confirm.

Any news from you yet @Kitttycatt?

Anyone else looking at EC next week?

@Blessing12 I am on day 10 of stims today on the lowest dose 2 powders. I have 30 follicles on the right ovary and 25 on the left I have PCOS. I thought they might up my dose as nothing has really changed from my scan on Monday. The Dr said if they up my dose there is change of OHSS but I'm staring to blame myself now is there anything I could be doing eating wise or exercising? I cant see much changing over the weekend no either before my scan Monday.

@Reevalyneete Do not blame yourself, believe me I know its so hard not to. Have you been eating protein iv heard its good to grow the follicles, im actually drinking a protein shake atm, weather it works or not i dont actually know but iv read alot about protein to boost them with growth.
You have a great amount of follicles and I can get that actually because you don't need anymore follicles you just want them little babies to grow.
I spoke with another lady on here whos eating a protein bar every day, maybe give that try.
Please stay positive and dont stress to much.

@CLP20 good luck with EC Wednesday exciting.

@CLP20 I have my second scan tomorrow and they will confirm egg collection then. At the moment it's looking like it will be Tuesday as planned. Are you having private treatment? I'm nhs and I only get two scans. How are you feeling? I'm still so bloated, my acupuncturist said when she put the needles in around my stomach she could feel the pressure!

@Reevalyneete don't worry, I think any supplements take 3 months to kick in and there is no real evidence that they would work anyway. Best thing you can do is try to take it easy and look after yourself. I've heard lots of protein is good and baths/ hot water bottles on stomach.

Afternoon everyone, lots of activity!
@39andabit thanks for tip on beer, I will try it. I had alcohol free wine which was disgusting but I do have the odd vino here & there anyway (purely medicinal to relieve stress). A friend of mine who is 39 smokes & drinks daily, alongside her husband & she just found out shes pregnant on her first attempt. Lifes not fair....
@Mrbay Ive had 2 hot baths this week! for that reason!
@ThePurpleFairy re progesterone, I think it was mentioned above but surely they could take your bloods to ascertain if you are low?
@Alexm06 I would be inclined to listen to the clinic, maybe ask to speak to another nurse if you don't have full confidence in her?
@CLP20 exciting times re EC next week! Im hoping to have mine around 22nd Feb but will have a clear idea next week.

@Kitttycatt I’m NHS too (31 and MFI). Are you long protocol? I think I have more scans because I’m on short protocol? I’m still bloated and getting lots of uncomfortable twinges. Also seem to feel hot a lot of the time. I’m opening windows everywhere and hubby who lives in shorts is now wearing jumpers! Let us know how your scan tomorrow goes.

@Reevalyneete I also read protein is good for follicle and lining growth so I’m eating lots of it. Don’t blame yourself, so much of this is out of our control.

@GingerBrummie I feel for you, really sucks when your friends all get pregnant really easily. Sounds like you aren’t far behind. Good luck for next week.

Lots of updates!

A consultant recommended a friend eats/drinks around 70g of protein per day, plus lots of water. I know you are frustrated @reevalyneete it's good that your clinic isn't just upping the dose and they are looking after you first. Remember follicles grow 1-2mm per day, and they just want them all to grow on an even keel.

@Kitttycatt - I'm NHS, on long protocol I had a down reg scan and then one to check growth after a stimms and if ready to trigger that was it. I'm sure if you need a 3rd, they will do it.

@GingerBrummie - I think I'm living in the bath at the mo! Hot bath and the window wide open, bliss!

@CLP20 yes I'm long Protocol (seems like I've been on this forever). I'm 35 and we have MFI too.

@Mrbay thanks for confirming. I've had one down reg scan and will have two monitor scans before trigger. I think every clinic seems to do things differently even if they are all NHS.

@Blessing12 Thanks for the advice going to go and get some protein shakes now and drink plenty of water!

@Kitttycatt Thanks I love a hot bath and I'm such a cold person anyway so the hot water bottle is perfect for me ! Good luck with your scan tomorrow let us know how you get on. Can I ask about the acupuncture do you get that done private or nhs? All the services have stopped in the hospital due to COVID are outside clinics aloud to open?

@CLP20 So true it is out of our control and I need to stay focused on keeping relaxed (so much easier said than done right?)

I'll be going into valentines weekend slightly different this year protein shake in hand instead of a glass of wine!

I must say this scan felt different this morning knowing that I am not going through this alone and we are all feeling the same is very reassuring! I started to live in a bubble where it feels like everyone around me is sneezing and getting pregnant!

Hey ladies

Had baseline scan today and home with all the injections to start tomorrow. They counted my foliciles and I have 17 on each ovary so 34 total. They seemed to want to keep an eye on this so have booked me in for an extra scan so I'm back again next Friday morning for them to check

Has anyway else had experience with this? Because it's so high already does this mean I will likely be an OHSS risk and then need frozen cycle?

Hope everyone else is doing okay!

@willithappen I had 42 follicles but had a fresh transfer. I imagine the risk will be the reason for monitoring you more, but they will in my experience also keep an eye on your oestrogen. Mine didn’t rise much so they said I wasn’t an OHSS risk.

@Reevalyneete I pay privately for acupuncture. As I'm going through medical treatment (ivf) at the moment they are allowed to offer the service. I think they had to close during the first lockdown though so I'm lucky. I know what you mean about everyone getting pregnant. I had 4 announcements in a week at the start of the year, while I was there waiting to start IVF!!

@Alexm06 oh that’s a bit tricky. You could call and see if they can ask your consultant? Is there a duty nurse? It’s always a bit awkward but I think it’s ok to question it.
@Reevalyneete I agree re water, protein and rest. It’s hard to stay positive when you get (more) bad news. I allow myself a certain amount of time to cry and be sad and think the worst then I try and focus on something else or distract myself as well as trying to be positive - easier said than done though.
@ThePurpleFairy I’m sure the consultant mentioned we could get a progesterone blood test if needed. Mine is always low so I was worried about it.
Happy Friday everyone.

@kitttycatt how are you finding acupuncture?
I had a session on Wednesday and I felt so relaxed after and still do, iv booked in for Monday and Sunday next week.
Have you been having it long?

Thanks @Mancbear88 ! That's reassuring. I know I could be different but at least it's good to know that it hasn't completed ruled me out a fresh!

@Blessing12 I’m starting meds when my period starts so roughly 20th Feb and aiming for transfer sometime w/c 15th March. I phoned today and my covid swab was negative so it’s all go when my period comes! I bet it will be late now!

@MrTumbleTumble @39andabit thanks I will ask them but because I’m NHS there’s no bells and whistles, I’ve seen others complain their progesterone was never checked. I would like to avoid the stress of additional needles ideally so maybe I’ll ask if I can pay for them to check those levels. It’s my first ever FET, I’ve never transferred before so I’ve no idea what my levels are like or how I react to the meds. I’m so very torn on what to do!

Got a call from the clinic this afternoon. My bloods were fine and as my period arrived I can't stims tomorrow. I was prescribed luveris originally but was told today I don't need to take it. So all systems go for tomorrow

@hopefulhel great news :)

Hi all, just had my first injection tonight of my fresh cycle and got my first scan on Monday. This is my first cycle so still quite confused about all your protocols and what different treatments everyone is on.

Does anyone know what I should be hoping for in my scan, how much should my follicles develop after 3 injections?

@hopefulhel great news you can get started.

So I just did my first ever injections! I had planned to inject at 8pm after putting my son down. I allowed my husband to do all the pen and syringe prep which was good. I just couldn’t put that flipping needle in initially! I would go ahead and count down (from 20 😂) then last second I’d chicken out and walk away. It’s feel so weird and wrong.

I got annoyed with myself in the end and just did it... finally at 830pm The Ovaleap pen was fine, but I found the Menopur a bit stingy and more uncomfortable. I’m sure I won’t even notice after a few days. Feel all fluttery and unsteady. I know... I’m such a wimp but god it’s weird.

Can anyone tell me when they felt too uncomfortable to exercise? Feel like I need my daily run but know I will have to stop soon. Will it feel obvious when I have to stop?

Thanks everyone! Have a lovely weekend.

@RichmondLady1981 well done on your injections! You don’t necessarily feel too uncomfortable... strangely I was waiting to feel uncomfortable like people described and I didn’t feel much different at all, I felt fine! Toward the end I felt slightly heavy inside but it wasn’t that noticeable. So you might get lucky I would definitely keep any exercise light though

@ThePurpleFairy good luck, its always the way when you wish for it lol.

@hopefulhel fab,good luck for tomorrow.

@Nix49816 thats really good 3 days after stims having a scan I have to wait 8 days, in anticipation and a nervous wreck.
I'm sure you will see your follicles and the amount you have in each ovary. Good luck.

@RichmondLady1981 the counting down and chickening out made me chuckle, im also on the Menopur and Ovaleap, iv just realised tonight as im on 375iu and I have 900iu capsules, on my 3rd injection im having to do 3 injections that night instead of 2 🙈 because iv had to use the 150iu left in the pen and then changing the capsule and do another injection of 225iu it was brutal tonight for me, i struggle injected myself and then having to do another one.... ouch!!!!! And in the morning 0.25 buserlin..... My husband ses woman are so much stronger than men... Very true!

Thank you @ThePurpleFairy - that’s promising. I’m sitting here waiting for something to happen... a headache or a twinge or something. Nothing yet! 😂.

@Blessing12 haha! In such a wimp. That sounds brutal! You’re doing well to be getting on with that! Well done for being brave. When’s your next scan?