IVF January/February 2021? continued

[hopefully21]

I just set this up as we reached the limit in the other one.

Good news @foodiefil and @IVFat43 and good luck for tomorrow @Tarsette

For those who have mentioned headspace etc, I’ve been using Mindful IVF and can wholeheartedly recommend it - it’s got me out of some tough places in my mind.

@Gardenlady543 everyone has said everything really and also you know that it’s too early and there’s still a chance for you. I’m so sorry you feel this way and then having to work when you feel so bad is really hard. I had to take a couple of days off in the lead up to my transfer because I’d got myself into a state. You have great quality embryos in the freezer and there’s still loads more tests they could do to help you. Try to keep positive and calm and get some really good rest tonight. Thinking of you.

@Gardenlady543 I’m so sorry that you are feeling this way. IVF is such a rollercoaster of emotions and does mess with your head. Definitely try and get out for some fresh air today. And don’t rule yourself out just yet, it’s still early days and plenty of time until your official test date.

@IVFat43 That’s great news, fingers crossed you get lots that fertilise. Are you expecting a phonecall tomorrow?

My one follicle contained an egg so now all I need is for it to fertilise and keep developing....I know the odds are pretty stacked against this but I’ve had a pregnancy from 1 egg before so have some hope!

Has anyone else had a 3 day transfer before? I did previously and it was successful. As I only have one egg, I assumed this would be the case again. However, the consultant said it was their policy to only transfer on day 5. I just can’t see the sense when there’s only one embryo to choose from!

Just wanted to share- had the call from the clinic my hcg level is **296 (13 days post 3 day transfer). They said it is a really good number! It's slowly sinking in my head... I am in fact pregnant!

@Gardenlady543 so sorry to hear how you are feeling. Lack of sleep I always find makes things even harder, sounds like such a hard night. You don’t need to be a mum to be valuable, you are not fake, you are someone who is obviously working in a career that is helping people (as you say you have patients) and I bet you are so loved by your family and husband, and you have intrinsic value as a person. However how you are feeling is also very valid (I have felt it too) and you just need to take care of yourself and do anything that helps bring some light into your life. Is it maybe worth contacting the clinic for some counselling?

On a practical level, and if this is not helpful feel free not to read as sometimes when you feel rubbish the last thing you want is advice, but in case it helps, I don’t think having beautifully graded embryos necessarily tells you if they are euploid. Each case is individual but statistically in our mid 30s only around half of our embryos are likely to be euploid. Good looking embryos with high grades are more likely to be euploid than lower grades but they are still frequently (on average about 35% of the time) not euploid. So if this one doesn’t work out, it doesn’t necessarily mean there is anything in your body stopping implantation and the next one could work. All that being said I had the same concerns as you when I miscarried a “perfect” embryo last year. I had an anticoagulant test and checked my thyroid and both were fine so whilst it could be a problem with my body, nothing has been found yet, and there’s a good chance that the embryo was just one of the 35% that aren’t euploid. If none of my Frosties work though then that will be statistically strange and I might look at doing a hysteroscopy, NK cell testing or an ERA.

@Doremifasol fabulous, congrats!

@Whitestripes007 that’s great it had an egg! Hope the little one fertilises and hangs in there until day 5! I guess the logic of the clinic is that if it doesn’t make it to day 5 in vitro it probably wouldn’t make it in your body either? But I know my clinic with one embryo they transfer on day 3.

@foodiefil that’s so amazing about your DH, what a relief for you, good luck for EC tomorrow!

@Tarsette good luck for transfer tomorrow! Let us know how you get on.

@IVFat43 what an amazing number! Hope you don’t get OHSS.

@kikisparks how soon after 5 day transfer would you test? Or would you recommend waiting the full time allotted by the clinic?

@Gensola it’s a very personal thing but I think I personally would test somewhere between 6 and 8dpt- because according to some polls I’ve seen there’s a good chance a BFP will show by 8dpt- but that’s caveated with the fact that some people don’t get their BFPs until around 11dpt so I could be causing myself unnecessary heartache seeing a BFN on 8dpt which is actually a BFP. Anyone who chooses to wait until OTD are absolutely doing what’s right for them.

Also I would always use an FRER and FMU, and expect it to be faint/ a squinter before 8dpt.

When is your OTD?

@Gensola I lasted until 6dpt last time (and got a squinter that got stronger for a few days but miscarried at around 14dpt) but that was mainly because I like to test at the weekend and that was a Sunday. This time 8dpt will be a Saturday so I’ll hopefully hang on til then.

Not sure if this is helpful info but if anyone has to use Utrogestan pessaries 200mg they are £21 a pack of 21 capsules in Asda pharmacies. My clinic is charging £31🙄

Hi everyone, I got my beta result and it was 113 (10dp5dt). Obviously thrilled but can't help but worry it's low, despite the nurse saying nothing to suggest it was bad. What do you all think?

@kikisparks my OTD isn’t til 15th, 11 days after my transfer which was on the 4th. They said the embryo was hatching and really vigorous, so I was hoping it had a good chance.

Hi , I am a sixth form student currently doing my A levels. There is an extra qualification I am doing called an EPQ which is a 5000 word essay on any chosen subject to help me get UCAS points to go to university. The subject that I have chosen is IVF on the NHS as I want to explore the aspects of it being close to a 'postcode lottery'. I understand that it is a very sensitive subject as my sister has gone through two cycles of IVF which brought my beautiful niece into this world and I know to some extent the emotional burden it can have on you. This is what inspired my topic. I was really just wondering if anyone was able to have IVF funded through the NHS and what their experience was like? Or even the process of what it was like trying to apply for IVF with your CCG? Any responses would be very helpful in my essay and it would all be anonymous to keep it private.
Many thanks

@ivfat43 21 is great, I bet you’re so please, I hope the scan goes well on Wednesday and that the OHSS signs resolve asap.

@tarsette I have everything crossed for the thaw and transfer tomorrow, that’s great they’re doing a double to give you the best chance

@foodiefil that’s great news about your husbands procedure, I bet you’re relieved to get such a good result! I hope the procedure goes well tomorrow!

@whitestripes007 I have absolutely everything crossed for you, I hope it’s a really lucky egg :)

That’s great news about the blood test @Doremifasol you must be so happy!

Thanks @kikisparks you always say such lovely things ❤️ you are completely right about aneuploid/euploid embryos, I was even thinking about sorting out PGT-A testing in this 2ww but I guess I should probably hold off and decide when I get to my OTD next week. I wondered if they could all be aneuploid, but my friend thinks it’s unlikely that I would have a very high rate as she doesn’t think I would have got 9 blasts from 12 eggs, she thinks more would have dropped off in the first 5 days. It’s one of the things I’m considering to increase chances, hopefully my clinic can advise about things that might help if there is an implantation issue too, others have mentioned the scratch and glue.

That’s great @cher1981 that sounds like a good result, I’m not sure what the cut off is but it seems well above it from when other people have mentioned getting borderline results. Others will likely know more about the range.

Thanks to everyone today for all the kind comments, I don’t know what has got me so upset today.

@Gardenlady543 A big squishy virtual hug from me. This process has, over the years, brought me to the darkest of dark places. It's emotionally exhausting and you're completely allowed to find it unfair, because it totally is. I have everything crossed for you x

Thanks @Gardenlady543 😘

How did everyone feel after EC, not sure if I do have OHSS but I’m really suffering, I’m in so much pain! 😩

Also, the clinic said that a container holds 12, and usually they dispose of the rest, with having 21 I can dispose of the 9 or I can pay for another container... has anyone had to make this decision before?

@cher1981 it's such a wide range for Hcg and the most important thing really is that it doubles within 48-72 hrs. If your nurse hasn't suggested repeated blood test it means they consider it nice strong hcg level!

@IVFat43 is that for the eggs that fertilize or the eggs themselves, as there can be a drop off at this stage. Not sure how much extra you’d have to pay, but even if it’s just for 1 extra embryo I would pay, they are so precious ❤️. I was feeling horrendous before the EC, I’m so much discomfort, I didn’t develop OHSS luckily but I have a AFC of 34, so it was very uncomfortable but I felt so much better by the next day.

@cher1981 thank you hun

@IVFat43 oh no is it cramping? 😢

@IVFat43 I was in so much pain after my EC last Monday, to the point where I could not even turn in bed or on the sofa. Luckily it did ease, and all I can say is how it effected me and how I managed, obviously people have different ways and different experiences.
Day 1 EC I was in pain as soon as the meds wore off!!! Day 2-3 it seemed to get worse, so rested and drank 2-3 ltrs water. Day 4-6 still in discomfort but definitely manageable. It is still kind of there now but much better.
I would recommend resting, drinking 2-3 ltrs water and moving as and when you can to get the blood flowing, but nothing vigorous.
Food wise I couldn't eat any meals, so snacked on babybel, tinned tuna, eggs that kind of thing, but nothing huge as I felt full, solid in the tummy and swollen!! Apparently protein helps.
However with all that said, if it is too much please contact the clinic or 111 to get proper advice.
Like I say this was my experience others have had it much worse.

@Gardenlady543 I’d say fertilised as they said we’d find out how many mature eggs fertilise tomorrow and then we have to make the decision if necessary to pay for another slide.. yes I think I will 🤔 I’ve just enquired about the price

@foodiefil I can hardly walk and it hurts to wee, it feels like a really heavy pressure all around the pelvis, lower stomach.. but I’ve been asleep most of the day and started taking even more water and paracetamols I’m hoping tomorrow I should feel better 🤞

@IVFat43 I felt exactly like this after EC and I ended up with OHSS. Drink tons of water and rest up. The water helps avoid OHSS.

I would 100% pay for the extra eggs to be stored. I had 24 eggs and only ended up with 2 embryos.

@IVFat43 I had 16 collected from 20-something follicles, 14 fertilised. 12 went into the embryo scope and the other 2 continued without. I ended up with 8 day-5 embryos, so one from the scope went back in fresh and the rest went in the freezer. I have a video of the one that went in, from a cell with 2 nuclei right through to a hatching blast, which is pretty cool! Sadly although it implanted there was no heartbeat when we got to a scan at about 7/8 weeks so it miscarried a few days later. Trying again as soon as I ovulate this cycle with a frosty or two.

You’ve got a fab number, I’m not surprised you feel sore! I found heat really helped, if you have a hot water bottle you can curl up with it’s worth a try.

@Whitestripes007 I had a day 3 transfer for my first cycle (which resulted in my daughter) because my 24 eggs only produced 2 good embryos and my doctor felt they had a better ch ace of sur I am in my body than outside. She was def right since I got pregnant from one of them. So I would def insist for a day 3 transfer. You want to give that little one the best possible chances of surviving!

• chance of surviving in my body