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

Thanks guys. Got a call this morning that none are suitable for freezing. So have been having a good cry. To go through all this, and I’ve one transferred in that I don’t even have a grade on and the rest aren’t strong enough for freezing. Though she did say all were still growing but really that doesnt change the price of fish does it.
Thanks for all the nice messages yesterday xx

@kittyfantastico21 I get it must be so hard to not to analyse everything, I’m sure I’ll be the same over the next few days. But I’m more than certain your day out yesterday won’t have done any harm x

@Hoping4baby21 keeping everything crossed for you x

@Hopeful1234567 yep it was fresh yesterday. So I’m in the exact same boat as your friend. God I hope I’m as lucky though 😅

Welcome newbies, best of luck!!! 💕

@Clapham4 I’m sorry to hear this and what you are going through. Can’t stress enough how my friend thought the odds were against her and how she went on to show it just takes one egg and one sperm! Have all my fingers crossed for you💓💓.

Hi all. I've been keeping up the last couple of days but waiting until I was on my laptop to reply as the mobile app doesn't auto tag which is super annoying.

@Clapham4 I'm so sorry to hear your news. I totally get why you would be so upset. Cross fingers you will be in the same position as @Hopeful1234567 friend! I am also feeling a bit rubbish today. I had my first scan this morning and although there is a good number of follicles (15) they are all tiny, mostly 6/7mm or below. They have just called and asked me to increase my bemfola dose to 150. I have another scan on Monday morning and I have to take my cetrotide with me. The scan is also with a Dr which is freaking me out slightly....

@kittyfantastico21 sounds like we are all feeling a bit wobbly at the moment! Like Clapham I am sure your day out didn't do any harm and there is a lot to be said for the mental pick up from seeing all of your colleagues, I think.

Thank goodness it's the weekend. I feel like I need to lie on the sofa with a blanket, the cat, netflix, chocolate and tea!

@Clapham4 really sorry to hear your news, sending you hugs and really hoping your little embryo sticks. They wouldn't have transferred it if it didn't have some chance of working.

@lawandgin sorry your first scan was disappointing. But 15 is a great number and hopefully the increased dose will push them all on further. It's still early days so lots of time for them to grow! I had my second scan with a doctor too. I didn't get the impression that it was because there was anything of concern, more that it was busy and he was who was available. So I'm sure it's nothing to worry about! That sounds like an ideal weekend plan - and just what I need too (if only I had a cat!).

@kittyfantastico21 thank you, you are right. I think I am just tired and emotional. I wasn't expecting to feel so run over at the stims stage!

Not to derail the thread but here is my weekend snuggle buddy :-)

@lawandgin what a perfect cat! Enjoy your cuddles!

@clapham4 sorry to hear about your embryos and finger crossed for the one you transferred.

I had a chat with ABC nurse early today and for my cycle I will 99% move to create. They are more expensive but also more flexible and caring when it comes to treatment. What happened to me is very rare and ABC can't give the attentions and the protocol I might need in the future. E.g I might need more than 3 scans, even over the weekend, and potentially daily blood test to monitor my hormonal level.

After the call today I understood why they say they have a shoes box approach: they have a standard protocol with medication and, even if they can adapt it and tweak, they can't do major changes with drugs and dosage. Hence why the nurse suggested me to think about going to create. Has any of you been at create before?

Hi all I had my first cetrotide yesterday and i was not good at screwing the big needle on. I watched the guidance video as I did it but the plastic bit from the top of the injection plunger just popped off. Anyone else have any problems or tips?

@lawandgin how's your weekend going, I hope everyone's having a lovely weekend.

Hi @Becky105 good thanks, pretty much to plan with the cat and the sofa! I am very nervous about my scan tomorrow, been drinking lots of water and eating loads of protein. Just hope that and the increased bemfola dose has been enough to get my follicles growing! I will find out tomorrow if I need to start my cetrotide x

Hello everyone.

I put this message on another talk page, but I might as well type this here on the abc page too, I need answers from people, it will be greatly appreciated.

So I have a pituitary tumour, found out in 3rd trimester. In some people prolactin hormone levels become a problem with this tumour, therefore they call it prolactinoma. I don't know if I have the prolactinoma specifically. All I know is I have a tumour on the pituitary gland.

The thing is, I was never screened for my prolactin levels by anyone at create or abc when TTC, I feel angry and sad, why was I not screened at any appointment? . Did any of you get your prolactin automatically tested as part of the normal testing? Or is it only tested for special reasons?

I need to know. This issue keeps going round and round in my head.

@dreamingdream my prolactin levels were not checked by ABC, but I did have them done privately a few months ago and mine were fine. I don't think it is something they regularly screen for.

So very sorry to hear that @dreamingdream I haven’t been tested for prolactin levels either.

By the look of things, it seems prolactin is not routinely tested. Thanks everyone for letting me know. I was just a little curious to know if this is routinely done because I am on a treatment plan for my pituitary tumour and knowing the prolactin levels can help the medical team.

Hi @dreamingdream I'm not always sure about all the medical terminology but I know that abc are sending me to get my luteinising hormone and oestradiol tested as part of my treatment. I'm not sure exactly what these look at but I think it's my oestrogen levels (they didn't mention prolactin).

@Francesmalin I'm glad ABC were honest about the limitations of what they offer. I don't know much about how Create is different from ABC I'm afraid. I think for the EC/ET procedures it would be the same clinical staff but you'd see different staff for scans, and would maybe have more scans/blood tests etc? I'd suggest giving Create a call and asking them to outline how their process is different from ABC.

@Becky105 I found it really difficult to get the cetrotide needle caps off the needles once they were screwed on to the syringe and I have to confess we did most of them taking the needle cap off first and then very carefully screwing the needle on. I don't think I experienced trouble with the top of the needle plunger though. I hope your second one was easier!

@lawandgin hope your scan goes well today!

@dreamingdream my prolactin level wasn't tested either. Wishing you all the best with your pregnancy, I really hope things are okay with your pituitary tumour.

@Clapham4 hope you're doing okay in the TWW! It's so hard. I had such an up and down weekend.

@Hoping4baby21 wishing you so much luck for your test today, I really hope you get a positive!

I hope everyone had a good weekend. I have so many symptoms now (tiredness, sore boobs, very mild cramps occasionally, I think I'm feeling more thirsty than normal) but they could all be caused by the progesterone so everything is meaningless!

Thanks @kittyfantastico21 it did go well.
On Friday I had: seven at

Hi all,
I had my second treatment scan today and all looking good. 17 follicles on each side and some getting quite big, I think when she counted she said 12 might be ready for collection on Friday. So she has given me buserelin to bring home and depending on the results of my oestrogen blood test I'll probably trigger tonight with either ovetrelle or buserelin. I'm hoping I don't get OHSS but that is still on the table and I was so happy to hear loads of follicles might be ready but my consultant advised that if they get over 15 follicles, they would choose to freeze all due to OHSS risk.

I was surprised that they grew so much in the last couple of days and I'm trying to keep myself in check but for the first time i feel really excited. I know there's still loads of hurdles but I can't help myself.

I'm not sure what happened with my last post - the full thing is showing on the website but not the app...so for those that use the app, basically my follicles have grown "a good amount" but EC unlikely to be this week. I have another scan on Wednesday and starting cetrotide tomorrow. I think EC will be next Monday at the earliest. Feels like forever!

@Becky105 that's great news and wow, super quick! Fingers crossed there's no OHSS and you get to have a fresh transfer xx

@lawandgin that's great progress! Wow, that is a long time to be on stims though. I'm not surprised you're feeling impatient! My test day is Thursday, so only two more days to get through. Part of me is hopeful because I have all these symptoms, but the other part is already looking ahead to when the next cycle might be if this one doesn't work.

@Becky105 wow, that's a great number! Did you get your blood test results yet? Fingers crossed you can avoid the freeze all and don't get OHSS. Glad you're feeling excited about it!

@lawandgin that's great news that they have all grown a decent amount, you'll be a bemfola pro! I didn't love the cetrotide ones but on the second day i made sure i'd already taken the cap of the bottom of my needles so that I wasn't faffing about with that whilst balancing the syringe etc. I also wipes the needle with the alcohol wipe and it wasn't too stingy.

@kittyfantastico21 only 2 days, you've got this. I've got everything crossed for you.

I had an email to say my bloods were fine, they didn't want me to have oestrogen levels over 7000 and mine were 5696 so she said i can use the ovitrelle (not the buserelin) and I've got the chance to have a fresh transfer. So full steam ahead trigger at 00:15 tonight. Eeeeek I'm buzzing now

It's a BFN for me so I'm out and taking a break for a bit. Best of luck to those still in.

Oh @Hoping4baby21 I’m so sorry to hear that. I really hope you’re alright (or will be soon) it’s really so unfair. Take care lovely xxx

@Becky105 great news about how well the drugs are working for you. And exciting the retrieval will be soon!!

@kittyfantastico21 best of luck for Thursday! Are you testing at home or holding out for the bloods? Tell me all the symptoms you have?!
My test day is Sunday, but bloods booked for Monday as they’ll be closed. So I’ll do an at home on Sunday. Feeling okay, thanks for asking. Had the odd twinge in my stomach but really wishful thinking I think, if it was another time of the month I wouldn’t even notice I don’t think.

@lawandgin lovely progress for you too and all the folicles!! Not sure if you remember my stims stage, but I did 2 extra days of bemfola because my follicles needed the extra push. But you have way more than I did anyways so I’m sure you’ll get a nice amount of mature! Xx

@Hoping4baby21 I'm so sorry to hear your news. This whole process can be so cruel. Sending you all the love and hugs in the world.

@Hoping4baby21 I am so sorry to hear this. My heart is really breaking for you. It is such an awful process that seems to unfair. Thinking of you xxx

@Hoping4baby21 I'm so, so sorry. This process is so unfair. Take good care of yourself and I hope taking a break will give you some good space and time away from thinking about IVF stuff all the time. Sending hugs xx

@Becky105 great news on your oestrogen level! I hope the trigger went well and enjoy your injection free day today!

@Clapham4 My symptoms are: extreme tiredness, sore boobs, very thirsty, some mild cramping occasionally, yesterday I started to get breathless going up stairs/for a walk. All of these can be caused by the progesterone though so I'm trying not to get my hopes up. I've read loads of things about people having no symptoms and getting a positive, so I think nothing means anything at this stage really! I'm going to hold out for test day, but I'll do a home pregnancy test in the morning before the blood test so that my wife and I can find out together instead of waiting for the phone call.