ABC IVF thread continued

[StarryHannah]

Our other thread is now full so thought I would start this one to continue the chat.

@Beaglemum91 I'm waiting for my period so I can start meds for FET so that is really helpful information about the embryo transfer process. Thank you. Did you have your partner on Facetime or anything for it?

@Icsi2021 so excited for you xxx

@kittyfantastico21 I recall asking about this in the consultation and they will do the scans when your body needs them. I can't imagine them just leaving it. In any case they would be open bank holiday Monday. I know they are open on Saturday mornings as well so that is an option. When I booked my first scan they booked all of them at the same time, I'm guessing that didn't happen for you?

When I last checked whether looked better from Wednesday but this is England and it can change at the drop of a hat as we know too well.

Still no call yet, not enjoying the limbo but I'm sure it will be fine, they know what they are doing. I'm starting to feel how I feel really close to ovulation so I know I'm very close to being ready. I kind of want them to tell me to trigger tomorrow but I'm sure whatever they decide will be the right thing.

Hi all, thanks for your well wishes - I've had my transfer! I was getting worried they wouldn't go ahead, because I've been feeling a bit rubbish - pretty bad bloat for the past 3 days, and much reduced appetite (i.e. classic symptoms of mild OHSS). I was honest about it and they said they weren't too concerned if it wasn't worsening day by day - they also checked on the ultrasound, they could see a bit of free fluid in the abdomen but not enough to cancel. Phew.

However, news is a bit less positive on the actual embryos. We have 5 that have made it to blastocyst, but only one that was suitable to transfer today - and that was a 3CC grade, which is fairly poor. I know I shouldn't, but I've been googling and looks like chance of success is 10-15%. So feeling a little deflated and not really expecting it to work. The other 4 are a bit slow growing, so they will culture them for another day and freeze any acceptable ones tomorrow. I have my fingers crossed that at least one of those will turn out a higher grade and be a good back-up, but obviously no guarantees on that. Still, I appreciate I'm lucky to have made it to this stage and to have this chance - I guess they wouldn't have put one in if they thought it was completely futile!

@kittyfantastico21 great to hear that your vaccine went well, and also that you're getting hang of the injections. Good on you for braving it yourself, I had a similar experience and was fine after the first one! Just to further reassure, I had a little drop of blood come out a few times, and also a little liquid from the syringe - and it didn't affect anything. Also to reassure on the scan timings, hoping4baby is right that they will be open bank holiday Monday - and they will have been through that situation before of having to make decisions around the weekend. They will assess carefully on Friday and make a plan, don't worry

@Hoping4baby21that all sounds really promising, hope you get your call soon! My distribution was quite similar to that on trigger day, but with the leading ones just a few mm more, so it sounds quite possible that it could end up being tomorrow. Keep us posted!

@unCliche fantastic news, so happy for you that you can go ahead. I was with Oxford too (with the procedures in Bristol) and have had a great experience so far. In case it helps, knowing it's the same clinic, my treatment consultation was 2 weeks after my initial one - and they said that was standard. I did miss out on starting that month as a result, and there was nowhere they could squeeze me in, but in the end I was ok with that because it all felt less rushed and I wasn't stressing about whether the meds would arrive on time and so-on. Just depends how booked up they are, they might well fit you in but perhaps plan for it more likely being the following cycle. Have my fingers crossed for you!

@Jh2019 congrats on your transfer! I'm glad you were able to go ahead, and I hope the mild OHSS symptoms subside soon. That must have been disappointing news on the embryos - but I have all my fingers crossed for you that the others will catch up tomorrow and be suitable for freezing. Just try to focus on the one that did make it - I don't know much about grading, but as you said, it must have some chance or they wouldn't have transferred it. Wishing you a calm and positive TWW - when is your test day?

@Hoping4baby21 @Jh2019 thanks for the reassurance on the tiny bit of blood and the bank holiday scan. They did say in my consultation that if EC/ET was on the bank holiday it would be at St Paul's but hopefully scans are different and they can do that at Wimbledon (also, I will go to St Paul's if need be to make sure I get a scan on the right day!).

@Hoping4baby2021 fingers crossed you'll get the call soon!

@Jh2019 congrats on a successful transfer!! It only takes one and like you said they wouldn't put an embryo in they didn't think could make it. Focus on this embryo making itself right at home! I wish you a smooth and fast TWW! Hope you OHSS symptoms subside quickly aswell!

@kittyfantastico21 glad we could provide some reassurance. It will all work out the wouldn't mess the whole cycle up over being closed on one day plus they have multiple clinics!

Got the call! Trigger is tomorrow as I suspected. So I have my ovaleap today and tomorrow evening aswelll as cetrotide in the morning. Then ovitrelle late evening! I'm so glad that is happening it feels like the right time. In the waiting room for acupuncture so hopefully this can also help give my follicles the extra little push they need 🙂

@Hoping4baby21 good luck for your trigger this evening! How exciting to be at the end of the injection phase and on to the next step!

I have my first scan tomorrow. I'm excited about it but also nervous. It all feels a bit surreal - I've had no side effects from bemfola, which seems normal, but it feels like nothing is happening so I'm worried I'll go to my scan and find out my follicles haven't grown at all. Also doing the daily injections feels so disconnected from hoping to get pregnant, I guess because there is such a long way to go still, so I kind of still feel like I'm not actually 'doing IVF' yet. Hopefully it'll feel more real once I find out follicle numbers tomorrow.

@Hoping4baby21 Thanks! Looks like things moved pretty quickly for you, so I'll just hope for June start but expect July, and like @Jh2019 said, it might be better for it not to feel rushed.
Let us know how you get on with the trigger! The exciting part is coming soon!

Jh2019 Congrats on the transfer. How are you feeling?

@kittyfantastico21 Good luck with tomorrow's scan. I'm sure your follicles are doing fine and you have some big juicy ones already growing. How you feel is probably normal and once you see all those follicles that could potentially become a baby, how you feel might change.

@kittyfantastico21 I think how you feel is normal. I had points where I thought is this really what I have to do to get a baby and it felt so surreal. It's also nerve wracking before scan 1 because like you said you feel ok, I had no side effects either by first scan. But most people I spoke to said the same so I wouldn't worry. Let us know how your scan goes!

I will also say we got to this stage quite quickly so it will feel like not much is happening and then bam it's time for trigger shot.

Hope tomorrow's scan provides you with some comfort and reassurance moving forward 🙂

Thanks @kittyfantastico21 @Hoping4baby21 @unCliche - trying my best to stay positive! Did get a knock back today though, found out that none of the others are good enough for freezing Seems surprising after starting out with good numbers, but I guess this is just how it goes sometimes and there isn't always rhyme or reason. I'm still feeling quite bad with the OHSS, I look very pregnant which is a bit ironic and annoying! It seems to be staying at about the same level - part of me is looking out for it worsening slightly as a sign of implantation but that's a bit silly...

My official test day is 4 June (next Friday), I'm going to do a home test on Thursday though and will have the confirmation blood test the following Monday instead because I'm on holiday next week.

@kittyfantastico21 that sounds exactly how I felt, it's disconcerting not being able to see or feel any effects but just have to trust it is all going on in those ovaries! Best of luck with your scan, I'm sure it will put your mind at rest

@hoping4baby21 good luck with your trigger tonight, exciting times! Enjoy the day off injections tomorrow.

Thanks for the reassurance everyone! I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

@Jh2019 sorry to hear none of the others made it to the freezer. But here’s hoping the one that was transferred will stick! The OHSS symptoms sound tough, sorry to hear you’re experiencing that. Hope you feel better soon.

@Hoping4baby21 how was your trigger? Hope it went well and that you're enjoying an injection-free day today!

My scan was good! I have 19 follicles, 5 front-runners that are 12mm and then a bunch a little bit behind. Hopefully some of those will catch up. The nurse said my lining looked good too. Just done my first Cetrotide which was a bit of a nightmare. So difficult! I really think that one should come with a practice set so you can get all the screwing on and mixing powder etc right without the high stakes of messing up a dose. We just about managed it - almost looking forward to bemfola tonight after that! Hopefully it'll go better tomorrow.

Others who have started cetrotide mid-morning after a scan, did you then switch it to an earlier time for the rest of them? My clinic said it's fine to do that from tomorrow as my next scan will clash with cetrotide time - but they also said it has to be at the same time each day.

Hey ladies!

Trigger was fine I was actually so glad for injections to be done and enjoying my injection free day today for sure. My follicles must have grown some more if I sit down for too long it starts to feel uncomfortable.

@kittyfantastico21 that's a great start! Argh disliked cetrotide so much and yes I was like give me ovaleap any day! It does get easier though. Was it a little itchy after? Mine was and once it was a little raised.

I had to take my first at 12pm then switched to 8am as planned. They said it was fine, so I wouldn't worry!

@Jh2019 sorry to hear you don't have any for the freezer but best of luck with your transferred embryo! Your OTD will be here in no time.

@Hoping4baby21 yes, it was itchy and red afterwards but that went away after about an hour. Really not looking forward to doing more of them! Thanks for the reassurance on the timing - I did mine at about 10.15-10.30 so if I switch to 8.30 that's not too bad an overlap hopefully.

Sending you so much luck and good wishes for your EC tomorrow! How are you feeling about it?

@kittyfantastico21 so pleased to hear the good news from your scan, all sounds promising! Yep totally agree about cetrotide, such a pain compared to bemfola and a practice kit would definitely have been helpful so that we didn’t waste our first one! Well done on getting it started and hope all goes well with it today.

@Hoping4baby21 sending you all best wishes for the collection today, thinking of you and let us know how it goes

I’m feeling a lot better, bloat has gone down a fair bit and doing better with my positive mindset. Just over a week of waiting to go!

@Jh2019 glad your feeling better and more positive. Not long to go all until test date.

Egg collection is done! Got 7 eggs so basically my front runners no others caught up I'm assuming. Get a call tomorrow with an update. Not feeling too bad but still got pain killers in my system. Will keep you guys updated.

Hope everyone is doing ok!

@Jh2019 glad to hear you're feeling better and keeping a positive mindset! Hope your holiday can help keep that going!

@Hoping4baby21 well done! Fingers crossed for a good update on fertilisation tomorrow. Glad you're not feeling too bad and I hope that lasts even when the painkillers wear off! Get lots of rest and relaxation over the next few days.

@Hoping4baby21 brilliant, so pleased to hear all went well! Hope you’re recovering nicely and I have my fingers crossed for your update tomorrow.

Is it another scan for you tomorrow @kittyfantastico21? Hope it goes well if so!

Today's scan was a bit of a mixed bag. Apparently everything looks good but it seems to me that my follicles haven't grown that much since Wednesday. The biggest one was 14mm and then a few around 13/12mm. The doctor wasn't very forthcoming with information when I tried to ask how many etc. Anyway, because they're growing a bit slowly I have to do an extra day of bemfola and cetrotide. Next scan on Monday (day 11) and probably trigger that evening for EC on Wednesday (day 13). Obviously I want to do what's best for follicle growth but I can't help feeling a bit grumpy about it because I'm soooo ready to stop injections (mentally) and now I have to do two more! And it also means that ET (if I get that far) will now probably be on the same day as I have to be part of a work conference session, which will be really difficult to get out of if I need to. It's at the end of the day so I'm hoping ET can be in the morning and I can get away with it. But I suppose that's still a long way off in this process!

@Hoping4baby21 hope you're recovering well and that you get good news today!

My oestrogen levels came back high so my bemfola dose has been decreased and now it looks like I'll be having a freeze-all. I guess that solves the work issue. But means MORE waiting and more being in the treatment cycle with scans and drugs (and more money, of course, not that that's the main thing). Sigh.

Obviously I really don't want OHSS so I'll do what needs to be done. At least I can get a haircut soon without worrying quite as much about Covid?

Sorry to hear things haven't gone as you'd hoped @kittyfantastico21, totally understand the feeling of wanting injections to be over and to get on with it! But it will all be worth it to give those follicles the time they need and get the best outcome you can.

Must be tough facing the prospect of a freeze-all, it's so hard to have to wait again after all of this - but I guess you just have to focus on it being the best thing for your body, and your embryos too as they'll probably do better if you're not suffering from OHSS. I like your thinking, will be good to go out and do normal things like a haircut without being quite so worried Thinking of you and hoping all goes well at your next scan, keep us posted

Thanks @Jh2019. I was quite upset about it yesterday - it just feels like it isn’t going very well if my follicles need extra time to develop but I’m also at risk of OHSS, I would have thought it would be one or the other. But I’m trying not to dwell on it too much today, it’ll happen how it happens and there’s not much I can do to influence it at this stage. I’m quite worried about OHSS so hopefully the clinic will give me some guidance on what to do after EC to minimise that, and hopefully by reducing dosage now etc that will help reduce the risk.

Hope you’re feeling a bit better today @kittyfantastico21, and sending you all the best for your scan tomorrow. It’s very true, this whole process just happens how it happens and it’s so hard not to be able to control it in any way. How are you feeling physically? The tips I had for helping with the OHSS are to drink plenty of water, have a high-protein diet and take it easy. Mine was unpleasant but settled down after about 4 days - I’m sure the doctors will be keeping a close eye on you and it’s good they are spotting the risk early and adjusting your dosage, so try not to worry too much (easier said than done!)

Hope all ok with you @Hoping4baby21, thinking of you xx

@Jh2019 scan went pretty well thanks! Yesterday my abdomen felt quite full/heavy/bloated/not sure how to describe it really! And my boobs were sore. But I woke up in the middle of the night and all of that had gone and I felt totally back to pre-stims normal! So I was absolutely convinced that I’d ovulated and we weren’t even going to make it to EC. But my scan showed a good number of follicles and some good sizes and EC will be on Wednesday. My trigger got changed to buserelin as I’m at risk of OHSS and it will definitely be a FET. But after going in to the clinic convinced it was all over for this cycle I feel completely fine about having a freeze-all now! Hopefully blood results this afternoon won’t show anything to stop EC. How are you getting on? Hope you’re feeling okay. Not too long to go until test day now!

@Hoping4baby21 thinking of you and hoping you’re okay

Hey everyone!

Sorry for disappearing, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything and felt it best to take some time offline. We had our egg collection last week Thursday (I think I told you that) and we got 7 eggs, 4 of those fertilised and we have 2 x 4AA embryos. One will be fertilised and one is on board as of today!

They are watching our other two to see if they make it to blast by tomorrow. 🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽

Embryo transfer went well, it is like a smear as they say so a bit uncomfortable but manageable.

Anyway, I hope everyone is ok, I'm going to have a read through now and catch up on everyone progress!

Loving this sunshine we are having at the moment although I've been told not to sunbathe apparently 😞

I meant frozen not fertilised 🤦🏽‍♀️

@kittyfantastico21 what a rollercoaster! Glad it all worked out in the end and you didn't ovulate early. I also felt a little better after my trigger not sure what that is about. I'm glad your feeling good about your freeze all 🙂

Apparently the buserlin will do a lot to minimise the risk, but the other tips from JH are spot on. Make sure you take it easy, I went for a walk that was a little too long after EC and my ovaries let me know they weren't happy about it.

Good luck for your egg collection on Wednesday. I have been very well looked after and I'm sure you will be too.

@Jh2019 omg your OTD is so soon! All the luck to you! I feel like that has gone fast, how are you feeling?

My OTD is 10th June but I'll be away so have requested 11th June. I had to email them so haven't confirmed yet? Was the process the same for you?