IVF March/April

[Noirberry19]

Is anyone starting ivf in March/April?
Have had confirmation today I will be starting treatment in March. Been prescribed norethisterone, which I have to take CD21 of my next period (due next week).

Hi All,

I just had my first appointment at BWH, they were really lovely. The lady said DH needs a repeat SA as they need 2 within 3 months. So i should have that in a few weeks. I also need a pelvic scan which should also be next month. After that we will have our 2nd appointment in which they will tell us what treatment is best. The current wait time to start ivf is roughly 6 months from the 2nd appointment. Also you are allowed private tests to speed up the process a little.

She also said at the moment we should be eligible for nhs funding.

This is exciting!

@PurpleUnicorn01 thats amazing news! I am so excited for you! Thank you for keeping us updated on your journey :).

@granddesigns I am keeping everything crossed for you!

Thank you @IVFbabyF how are you getting on?

@PurpleUnicorn01 exciting times!!

@granddesigns brilliant news, fingers crossed 🤞🏻🤞🏻

@beachbum85 thanks for reaching out. Sorry I've not been getting notifications for some reason so keep missing so many comments!

Really glad to see everyone progressing through..

We started our stims on Sunday and I've been quite poorly since (terrible headaches and feeling quite dazed!) has anyone else experienced this before? I'm trying to drink lots of water!

@PurpleUnicorn01 it feels like we are progressing. I started day 1 of AF at the weekend and called the hospital yesterday and I start norethisterone on day 21. We should also receive our appointment dates over the next 7-10 days. Starting to feel excited and nervous now.

Following everyone’s stories on here is keeping my hopes up though, everyone is so strong and positive!

Hi @Donimo, egg collection was a bit disappointing, it all went well but out of the 11 they only got 3 eggs, but on the plus side they just called to say 2 have fertilised so I’m still in the race!!

The actual procedure was fine but I had a very rough night last night with extreme pain and vomiting through the night but thats potentially because I was a bit silly and only took paracetamol during the day as it wasn’t too painful and I was worried about getting constipated if I took Co-Dydramol, but I guess the full effects of the anaesthetic and painkillers from the procedure wore off when I went to bed and it was very unpleasant and had to wait until I could take the strong painkillers, so all you ladies please learn from me and take the strong painkillers whether you feel ok or not! Lactulose can be your friend
Feeling better today just very sore and very tired, but hopeful the two will hang in in there and make it to implantation on day 5 Saturday.
Good luck to everyone...everyone’s journey is different and remember it only takes one xxx

@IVFbabyF, that sounds like great progress, your right it is nerve-wracking for sure. You have to stay positive, everything else is so stressful

@PurpleUnicorn01 hi again. We paid to have the pelvic scan privately through ultrasound direct. Really good website too for booking cost £135 but got the ball rolling for us. The HSG on the other hand seemed expensive privately but there wasn't a delay for this. Just seemed to be a delay with ultrasounds.

@6543336787gesgvjhg everything is ok with me apart from getting bad headaches. Hope your period arrives on time... this month was the first time ever I have been a week late! Hoping March 2021 is an even better month for you!

@RedFaerieBoots hope your injections go ok, how are you feeling? Yes we are going to self isolate from starting stims till post transfer, our clinic state that I have to isolate from 3 days prior to EC when they do a covid swab till post ET (but going to isolate prior too so I don't test positive). I have managed to take some leave from work to do this and taking my daughter out of nursery.

@Itsjustme2021 have you heard from the clinic with a date for your base scan? Glad the injections are going ok. I am just in a routine with it now... until I add in the second injection next week hopefully

@granddesigns congratulations on your fertilised embryos. Hoping they grow and develop well over this week

@PurpleUnicorn01 glad your appointment went well and good news you can get NHS funding.

@TTCbabyH sorry to hear you are struggling, take it easy and hope it eases soon for you

@Margwit I am sorry you didn't get as many eggs as you hoped for. Hope these 2 hold on and develop well for you, as you only need 1! Whats your history by the way, were you expecting not to get many eggs. I am expecting that as I have a low AMH. Thank you for the advice following egg collection as well. Glad you are feeling better now.

@Donimo - Thank you. I have had a few headaches last week post the prostap injection. Felt super cold like my bones were freezing. Felt like period was imminent from day after & was raging at the silliest thing. Felt bleed was a bit heavier - so 3 heavy instead of 2 then getting a bit lighter.

Since starting stimms I've just been really tired.

My clinic wanted me to shield throughout treatment and my work bless them have allowed me to work from home. I swear the ever increasing equipment is taking over the dinning table . Bit weird not seeing people everyday though.

Hope your headaches ease up soon.

@6543336787gesgvjhg

Thank you so much. Will look into that, that is useful to know.

How are you all doing?

just to update everyone, my period finally came so will start stimulants tomorrow (225 menopur). I was getting worried it would be a no show. Is anyone else on this dose? Im still not really sure why we all get prescribed different medication. Im sure they must have their reasoning. The Clinic have booked the first scan to check in on things on Monday which will be day 7 of my cycle and after 5 days of menopur. Hopefully there will be some life at that stage but as i havnt ovulated for nearly ten years (from both the pill and my condition) they said it may take me longer than usual to respond. We will see.

@granddesigns glad you are feeling better and wishing you all the best.

@TTCbabyH sorry to hear the stimulants are making you feel rubbish. Im worried about this a bit so hoping it improves and yes i hear drinking lots of water can help!

@Margwit that does not sound a pleasant night! Glad you felt ok by the morning and looking forward to seeing how your two develop :)

@RedFaerieBoots we are not shielding per se but we rarely leave our house apart from the occasional walk as there is nothing to do and can both work from home. They covid tested us on our baseline scan on day 21 of my last cycle and i was super worried somehow it would come back positive (an added stress). They will covid test us again on the day of our egg collection and if negative we can proceed with the fresh transfer all going well and my partner will be allowed in. If positive we have to freeze.

@Donimo my AMH was 9 which they told me was good for my age, and the scan showed 11 follicles but I was hoping for 8 out of the 11 instead I got 3 but that’s better than none.
Hope your headaches clear up, remember to be kind to yourself this is pretty rough on our bodies (and minds) so perfect excuse to relax take it easy and treat yourself x

Hi everyone, just catching up... many messages today!

@Margwit I'm sorry your egg collection was disappointing but it sounds like a great fertilization rate. I hope they both keep doing well until Saturday - cheering them on from here :) like @Donimo I have a low AMH so I'm expecting smaller numbers but, as you say, it really only takes 1! And thanks for the advice about the painkillers, I'll definitely be taking my codeine or whatever they instruct me to take after hearing that!

@granddesigns I'm really sorry about your miscarriage (and @Lou8319 as well, sorry I missed that before). That's an amazing amount of eggs collected and fertilized - you must be so happy :) so exciting that you're transferring on Sat too! We'll be here for support in the run up to that and in the 2ww especially

@ZoZoeee123 I'm glad all is fine to continue with egg collection. Good luck!! The COVID swabs are really a pain and our clinic doesn't even communicate negative results, they said they'll just call if either one is positive to come up with a new plan... very nerve-wrecking

@Itsjustme2021 great that you have no side effects and your period arrived! Buserelin is just the routine now, but I still get a bit nervous every day, even though I know it's fine.. where's the logic in that?!

@TTCbabyH @Donimo @RedFaerieBoots I'm sorry you haven't been feeling great ladies - hope you feel better soon!
Our notes say we should be self-isolating from last Fri's COVID swab, but we have another next Wed so I think that's when we'll be extra careful. We both work from home and have very limited interaction with people, so I'm not overly worried but it is an extra stress on top of everything else!

@PurpleUnicorn01 very exciting that you have a plan and funding! I'm so glad for you :) Like @6543336787gesgvjhg we also did some tests privately, but it was before our referral, last July and there was a huge COVID backlog, so maybe you won't need to do that now.
@IVFbabyF really glad you know you can start soon!

@Peachthepiglet I hope your withdrawal bleed shows soon! Can total understand the impatience...

I had my baseline scan today and all was fine. They could see the thin lining they were looking for, and a total of 11 tiny follicles that we'll be working on, so I start stims tonight with Gonal F - really excited to start the next step! I was told to focus on a protein-rich diet and to drink lots of water, and they'll scan me again in 8 days to see how that's going :)

Oh @Peachthepiglet I had missed your previous message - I'm glad your period came and you're starting stims tomorrow. I'm on 300 of Gonal F but they didn't explain why. I'm sure they know what they're doing and I hope it's effective for all of us!

@Ganiyatou how was your scan?

@Peachthepiglet I should of been on 450 menopur which is the max dose you can have. I was told this was because it is likely I won't respond well due to my low AMH. But when the nurse saw this high dose she has actually given me Bemfola instead as apparently with a high dose the bemfola is easier to take! Although I have read a little and they are different drugs. So I have queried this again with the nurse to be reassured they both work the same!! Is this your first cycle?

@beachbum85 glad your scan went well and you can start your stimulation injections today. Hope they go ok

@Margwit well it definitely only takes 1, so fingers crossed for you. How are you feeling today? I am not 100% sure if its the medication or the 2 year old tantrums off my daughter causing the headaches (probably a mix of both). I actually had a nap this afternoon when I put her to bed for her nap (although she never slept, but I did!!)

Yes :) I heard back today. Got an appointment for my baseline in the 24th. I also start my stimulation inj same evening...
I’m also going on 300 gonal f and buserelin from 50 to 20. I think the dose prescribed has to do with level of amh.

@Donimo thanks!
I'm glad you managed to have a nap. The nurse asked if I had any side effects from the Buserelin and I mentioned headaches as I had a couple last week and she said it's very normal to get them... so it could definitely be the medication but I'm sure the tantrums don't help. I hope they pass soon! x

Thanks for all the well wishes! I’m headed to the clinic now for EC. Feeling a hit nervous as I really hate operations (ok, who likes them...). @ZoZoeee123 I ‘m also a bit worried about OHSS. I had it mildly when I last had eggs collected but that was several years ago and I had many, many follicles. I was given an agonist trigger shot to reduce the risk though so should be ok. At my last scan, there were 14 eggs that seemed to be a reasonable size (over 14mm). Good luck with your EC today as well!!

@Tarsette thank you. I will be going in tomorrow morning. Good luck with egg collection too! Xx

Apologies I haven't read through everyone's posts yet but hope you are all doing ok xx

Good luck @Tarsette and @ZoZoeee123 - thinking of you both and wishing you well xx

Yes good luck @Tarsette and @ZoZoeee123 let us know how you get on x