Trying IVF again for baby #2

[FingersXssd83]

Took 4 years to have my first baby, including 4 rounds of IVF. She arrived last summer and hoping to get two rounds in this year. I'm breastfeeding atm so will be stopping that next month, trying naturally for a few months to appease DH (it'll never work), and cracking on with a round in before my birthday as I'll be turning 38 this year.

I found IVF a very tortuous slog the first time around. Kind of feels different now that we are a family and trying for a sibling. Have suffered with a bit of PND over be last few months so hoping IVF doesn't set me back but I feel super excited to get going tbh!

Going to contact Access Fertility soon to find out what packages they can offer us.

Be great to hear from ladies in a similar position! x

Told the clinic and said I'd like to shop around for mynext set of drugs as only enough until next Friday. Checked my invoice from before the cycle and being charged £110 per box of lubion inc needles when it appears you can get it for about £55-60 (without needles). Clinic are happy to give me prescription and will charge £50 quid for the privilege, but most pharmacies seem to want to see your prescription before they quote.

Anyone used supermarkets or the online companies and been able to get a quote without the actual prescription?

Yeah, call into an ASDA pharmacy and they'll give you a quote based on their prices that day. The have a policy to not profit from IVF drugs, but they weren't any cheaper than Stork when I looked into it last month.

Thanks @FingersXssd83 i will go into Asda.

So did Stork also give you prices without having uploaded the actual prescription?

I am also trying to ignore the fact I have one unopened box of 1200 menopur in the fridge at a cost of £382

So eye wateringly expensive isn't it @Herewegoagain83 😵

The clinic initially gave us the details
of what meds we needed that included Stork's prices so I used that to get the quote from ASDA.

The clinic charge approx £50 for writing an prescription if you were to go with another supplier and Stork's refrigerated free delivery was another factor why we went with them!

@FingersXssd83 you are Care too aren't you?

We are with Care London and got our cycle drugs from them, but now I've researched prices they seem to have massively inflated the Lubion at £110 per 7 vials.

Our delivery came from Homecare but I think that it is provided through Stork. There was a £20 script charge but no delivery fee.

Yes we are @Herewegoagain83 Good on you for browsing. Definitely worth doing if you can save some money.

I'm on day 9 of stims and day 23 on long protocol 😴

After my scan on Friday, they upped my dose to the max amount 450ui so we may need to get some more Gonal F from the clinic or a next day delivery depending on how my follicles have grown at my Monday scan.

Had a lot of anxiety on Friday, felt a little bit like the old days before DD 😬

Have 5 follicles over 11mm and a few just below. Really hoping for good growth and 5 eggs when we get to EC and 3-4 embryos like on our previous rounds.

I somehow talked myself into believing the long protocol would be a success and give us lots of eggs. Regretting that now xx

That does seem long!

I was on long protocol last time, but it didn't feel much different to this cycle which was short protocol because mentally the point I started norethisterone felt like I'd 'started'.

Last time I had suprecur/buserelin from day 21 then onto stims so it was only really 1 week longer than this time.
I had quite a few follicles catch up in last few days as from my one and only scan, it looked like only 3 or 4 were in the running.

I was on menopur but at the same dosage of 450 (if it's equivalent).

Have you been prescribed lubion for after?
I've found quite a few references to Stork being £8 a vial hence my confusion at the price I paid. Maybe i got given gold plated needles hence the extra cost

I know what you mean about not feeling it's started until you begin stims.

I was on Menopur previously and have had a look over my old scans and I had lots of follicles but they didn't end up with more than 5 or so mature eggs so was moved onto Gonal F. Don't think I'm capable of producing many more than that per cycle 🤷🏻‍♀️

Is Lubion progesterone support? I haven't had it before so can't help you, I'm afraid!

@FingersXssd83 yes lubion is progesterone, my first time on it.

I’m on Lubion but haven’t received invoice for it this time yet. I was prescribed it once before and remember it being £70 incl needles, but I think for only one box worth so maybe that’s less than you have. I’m hating it tbh - I don’t feel I’ve got the technique right to not get air bubbles and always feel like I’m leaving some in the vial. Never thought I’d say this but cyclogest, all is forgiven!

Transfer tomorrow, eek.

Good luck @whatcangowrong!

I leave the drawing up of lubion to DH, so no advice really as to technique I'm afraid.
How long would you have to take the lubion for?

Transfer all done this morning. Really hope this one works but if some of you guys can manage another full round then I’m sure I can too if required!

I guess the Lubion will be at least until test day and then if positive we will see what’s next. I was handed a couple of boxes of cyclogest at my appt today as my blood test on Friday suggested I’m not getting on as well with the utrogestan for the morning dose.

I’m going to try really hard to be good and not test too early this time. Does anyone else have an OTD in next few weeks? Mine is the 26th.

Happy Pupo @whatcangowrong!

I think there are two ways to test, you've either got to wait until Otd there or thereabouts, or do daily from 3dp to aim to see a progression (spending a fortune in the process!).
Keep busy and try to hold out if you can I did it the day before otd both times.

Congrats on being pupo @whatcangowrong! Good luck with not testing before OTD. Hope you have some nice plans to keep you busy!

I shouldn't be having my EC this week so expect I won't be too far behind you all being well 🤞🏻

*should

Exciting @FingersXssd83 hope it goes well for you. Are you at CARE London too or elsewhere? When was your last EC?

I like that you guys talk about Pupo - haven’t heard that for ages and it feels optimistic! I had quite a social weekend and the usual problem of hiding my not drinking. It seems like everyone I know is pregnant at the moment - I really want to join the gang ASAP so I can stop pretending and avoiding awkward questions!

@Herewegoagain83 yep, going to try the wait and see approach. Last time I did the worst of all worlds as waited about 5 days and then started testing manically, getting v faint positives but no way of knowing if trigger or baby, ugh! It was trigger :-(

@Herewegoagain83 I’m being a total nosey parker here so feel free not to answer but I’m curious as to why you needed ivf in the first place? It’s an incredible result to have 2/2 pregnancies from 2 fresh cycles!! Do you have lots of Frosties too?

@whatcangowrong We are in the unexplained category. Didn't respond as well to the ivf first time round, only ended up with 2 embryos in the running and one was very low quality, so both put back on day 3 so was gobsmacked when it worked.
This time we've been lucky enough to have 2 in the freezer which is a welcome relief after last time.

Slight male factor was only indicating factor, and consequently we've done ICSI both times. But his numbers weren't dire by any means and shouldn't have completely ruled out natural conception.

So who knows, genuinely have questioned whether we have sex wrong over the years lols

Grr i hate spending money when i don't need to but have essentially had my hand forced to go with Care for next 3 weeks worth of progesterone, despite getting quote this morning from Asda. They would have to post me the physical prescription, and so it would be a bit risky that I'd get the meds in time. Just bad timing with not being able to get anything from clinic over the weekend.
Oh well I'm due a refund on the embryo glue as they didn't use it in the end so that will offset it at least.

Amazing, good for you, although seems a bit of a mystery. As others on this thread have said, it blows my mind how easily other ppl get knocked up when we are here spending thousands for the pleasure. We have always been told it’s not impossible naturally but we gave it a good go and nothing. Must also be doing it wrong.

Thanks @whatcangowrong Looks like I have 6 follicles that are in with a chance and a few tiny ones that probably won't make it. I'd be ecstatic with 5 eggs. Back on Weds to check on them and potential EC on Friday or Saturday.

We're with Care Manchester and I think they're great. Can't fault them whatsoever.

Getting to PUPO is definitely a cause for a mini celebration. At one of our transfers Dr Poulson gave us a big congratulations and shook DHs hand which really lifted us and gave us a boost. Didn't work that one but was still a great way to end that stage of the process.

Are you having any symptoms?

Thats a good number @FingersXssd83!

I had several on a Monday scan that were small and at least 2 or 3 caught up by my Thursday EC.

That's reassuring to know, thanks @Herewegoagain83

From your user name I take it you're a 1983 baby like me?

The nurse was saying today at my age you only need one as the quality should be good. Loved hearing that as I've been getting a bit worried that my egg quality wouldn't be the best as I'm going into the 38-39 bracket but she reckoned that isn't too much of an issue until around 40 🥚

@FingersXssd83 yes i am, just snuck in the end of it.
That's good to hear too, so much is made of being over 35

Sounds positive @FingersXssd83 not long to go now!

I’m also 83, but at the beginning of it. So also a bit nervous that things could be very different to last time if I do need another egg collection. Or if I need one next year at 39 for my third child (joking but also not joking)

Ahh it's good that we're all the same
age (I'm mid year!). It means that when one of us gets our BFP it will give the others hope as we know it can happen 🤞🏻