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

@Prayingforabubba I'm glad you found it helpful! I didn't go for ICSI, just the basic IVF. We did get 5 blastocysts from 5 follicles so no complaints!

@kittyfantastico21 I'm thinking the same. Probably won't take any time off for the TWW either. I work from home so I should be able to get on with things but definitely a good idea to use work as a distraction. Aww your DW is sweet. I can guarantee my DH will NOT be injecting me, I asked him to help me prick my finger with a lancet to do a at-home blood test and he ran away and said he didn't want to hurt me 🙄 but at least your DW is willing to try 💕

@Hoping4baby21 I completely get wanting to relax before embarking on IVF. Tracking your cycles and DTD at the right time is another stress in itself, so it probably helps to just do nothing to get yourself in the right headspace. That's cute, sounds like he was really friendly. I have one well behaved rabbit and one whose mission it is to annoy me. He does it on purpose. He knows exactly where he's not supposed to go and when he thinks we're not looking, he'll creep to the forbidden areas and run away quickly when we look at him. Such a little terror. How was your consultation today?

@Aimes2021 we're here for you whenever you're ready 💕 Still keeping my fingers crossed for good news.

@Icsi2021 Such a lovely nurse! Hopefully all the good luck everyone has sent your way has helped! How did things go today?

@pileapetals Thanks lovely ❤️ That's quite a good improvement for your DH! Even if we didn't conceive naturally, it'd definitely help with the IVF process. I'd have to ask him again and maybe not give him a choice this time 😂😂 Wooow! Such good odds! If you don't mind sharing, what was your DH's SA like? My DH apparently has good quality sperm but just not a lot of them, so I'm hoping for good quality embryos. Did you freeze your remaining embryos?

@unCliche For his report, the density was 10 so below the normal range (which starts at 15). Motility and progressive motility were both safely within normal range. The key change was the morphology which as you know went up to 4%.

Side note: my acupuncturist made an interesting comment about how back in the day, a 4% morphology would have been considered low as the norm was in the 10% range, but for whatever reason one may choose to blame this on, there has been a noticeable decrease in morphology and recent times.

The other major thing we did as part of our IVF journey was read that hugely popular book "It Starts with The Egg" by Rebecca Fett. Really liked that it was evidence-based and offered a balanced approach to things we could change in our lifestyle. We really did follow through with a lot of her advice, including replacing all plastic containers (even BPA-free ones) in our pantry with glassware. No idea if that helped with the results but certainly didn't hurt.

And yep, we froze all the remaining embryos.

@pileapetals thank you! That's really similar to my DH's. Density was 10.5m. Mobility 64% and morphology 4%. I suppose in a way it confirms IVF is the right choice for us unless MFI isn't the only reason you pursued IVF? If you don't mind me asking, how long were you trying for? I'm still stupidly holding out hope that it could happen naturally for us. Yes, I've also read that fertility is declining in men, it doesn't help that mine is obese but even men who are normal weight are having issues. Lifestyles have changed and isn't as healthy as what it used to be I suppose. I have heard of the book and apparently it's helped a lot of women. So I'll have to invest in a copy then! Maybe we'll be able to find some good advice that would help us. Thanks again!

@unCliche Happy to help! Oh I think your DH's mobility is well higher than mine so you're looking better across the board :) All my medical checks came back clean and AFC and everything was excellent so IVF decision made at the time was simply down to subpar readings on his side/MFI. However, we did discover one possible issue on my end during the IVF process. I'll PM you on that x

Thank you everyone for you well wishes, i didnt want to update until i knew for sure. We had 10 eggs, 8 mature eggs, hubbys fresh sample was no good today but the frozen survived thaw and we have 8 ICSI eggs in the incubator 💕💕 xx

@Icsi2021 that is wonderful news! Congratulations. Hope things continue to go well. 💕

Thank you @Icsi2021, @Hoping4baby21, @unCliche and @Prayingforabubba for your support and lovely messages. I had some good news today too. I am all clear to go ahead and start with af in the next couple of days!

@Aimes2021 awesome news and good luck 💗 x

@unCliche haha he had his moments! He didn't like being handled especially not picked up but when he was in the mood for head rubs he would nudge away until you got on the floor to pet him. He was VERY determined once he found a little cubby hole he liked to hide in had to go through a lot of effort to keep him out. We once found him under the kitchen cabinet we thought he was a rat!

Consultation was good. The nurse consultant was really nice went through everything in more details. Got details of my meds, treatment plan. Made the payment and meds should get delivered early next week ready for AF and start date. Feeling really real now. My husband was like he feeling a little overwhelmed now, I shouldn't laugh but he doesn't half take a long time to realise sh*t is happening.

Side note: those lancets are the damn devil! I never want to do another one of those more scared of those than needles lol!

@Icsi2021 how sweet of the nurse, I hope it went well for you today and your not feeling to bloated or uncomfortable or anything 🙂

@kittyfantastico21 I got some more clarity on dates after my treatment consultation and although things can change I should be having EC that bank holiday weekend as well. Which will be nice in regards to recovery time. The nurse in my treatment consultation stressed to have a few days off afterwards to recover. We WFH as well but will probably take a day or two. Then another few days after transfer, hoping we can do a little staycation in the TWW to break it up a bit 🤞🏽.

@pileapetals I have been reading about this two, my DH sperm is 6% and they say it's normal but if you research it, it says that it will likely result in reduced time to conception, so a bit conflicting for sure. Also worrying that it is all trending downwards.

@Icsi2021 just saw your update! How great such a good number and fertilisation rate. All the best for the next few days ☺️

@Aimes2021 such good news on this thread today! So glad you can proceed. Hope they explained everything to you, what a rollercoaster of emotions for you. Most important is, it's all good to go now 🙂

@Hoping4baby21 thank you soo much 💕 x

@unCliche she is very sweet, though I think she's probably relieved that I definitely don't want her to do the injecting! It's also sweet in a way that your husband didn't want to hurt you!

@Icsi2021 great news! I'm so glad it went well and I hope you recover quickly. Fingers crossed for a good update on fertilisation!

@Aimes2021 brilliant news! Good luck for getting started!

@Hoping4baby21 glad your consultation went well and you've got meds organised already. I'm still waiting for the clinic to call me to take payment but hopefully they'll do that soon so the meds can be delivered with lots of contingency time. A TWW staycation sounds lovely, hopefully you can plan some nice activities to take your mind off it all.

Awww such wonderful news today! I'm so happy for you all!! Congratulations ladies!!

@Hoping4baby21 ugh don't get me started on lancets. My finger was bruised for days! Where you thinking for your staycation?

@Icsi2021 congratulations! That's a great number. Fingers crossed for a great report tomorrow x

@Hoping4baby21 Truly, not a good sign it's all trending downwards and more and more people need to resort to IVF. Probably at least partly to do with modern lifestyles since the what and how we consume has changed a lot. Just yesterday I learned from a lecture clip that Mcdonald's insists on buying only blemish-free Russet Burbank potatoes to make their famous fries, so they'll reject all the ones with unwanted spots/lines that stick out from the spud (ie. a condition known as Net Necrosis caused by aphids). So to eliminate this condition farmers use a strong pesticide called methamidophos which is “so toxic that the farmers who grow these potatoes in Idaho won’t venture outside and into their fields for five days after they spray.”

It definitely made me rethink my plans to get their fries after that...

@unCliche ahaha!

initially we looked at Lake District but it's quite a drive and our preferred Airbnb went. So now it is looking like Bath, a better drive for us and should there be any need to get home quickly it is somewhat doable. Wanted to wait till I had a better idea on dates before booking something!

Will you be going anywhere this year? We usually go abroad but not planning on that this year 😔

Thanks everyone, excited to get started now, feels very real indeed. Btw the meds take up nearly a whole fridge drawer! Good excuse to get takeaways I think!

@Hoping4baby21, so pleased that consultation went well and you're all set to start in a week or so. We're going a staycation too during the tww, we were supposed to go to Sardinia in June but will be very happy in Kent instead. Bath is so lovely, great for a little getaway and with everything opening up again will be a great distraction to get away.

@pileapetals, congrats on your pregnancy. My hubby found a podcast about the decline in sperm function. 'Today in focus' it's really quite scary.

@Aimes2021 yaaay I'm so excited for you! My meds get delivered on Friday and af is due on Sunday! Excited and eager to get started and so glad that you have a similar timeline to me. Have you been given a timetable with possible appointments, expected collection/transfer etc. ?

I haven't been sent anything or even properly told how to take take the meds . I will have to YouTube it I think! X

Just been catching up on all your updates, it's so lovely to see everyone's journeys and not feeling alone with the highs and lows of this process. I was supposed to start on 19th May but my TSH levels are high and I need my Dr to help me get my level down before I can start. I also need to select donor sperm which has proved more stressful than I assumed it would be.

If any of you don't mind sharing, what were your TSH levels? I had never been tested before so I don't know anything about it.

I also know some of you have spoken of the tests you needed before starting I feel like I'm missing the hepatitis ones... Are these optional or have you all had them before starting?

@Becky105 welcome! I agree, it’s so nice to be able to chat to others going through the same process.

I have hypothyroidism so I’ve been on thyroxine for a couple of years. When I was tested in March my TSH was 1.85 - I think ABC want it to be under 2.5 before treatment. I think thyroxine usually takes a few weeks to have an effect on your TSH level. One upside of being on thyroxine is it entitles you to free prescriptions on the NHS!

I had the hepatitis test last week, just a couple of days before my treatment consultation, I don’t think it’s optional but maybe you just haven’t reached that stage yet?

I also found the donor sperm process a lot more difficult and stressful than I’d anticipated but we did find a good one in the end!

@Prayingforabubba, thank you! So excited for you too, now the wait for af begins. I've never looked forward to my period before! I got a treatment schedule with possible appt timings after my treatment consultation, maybe email them if you haven't received one? Happy to email you mine, if you need. For the injections the videos are on the consent portal thing, I had a look at one and it looked quite helpful. Did you get the numbing cream in the end?

@Becky105, welcome! I have found this thread incredibly helpful and that's before even starting. My TSH was 1.28 and with respect to the hepatitis screen you can do that when you get started. The only things that you need beforehand are up to date smear and the TSH. Can imagine that finding a donor would be very stressful, hope the process goes as smoothly as possible for you. Good luck!

@pileapetals erm that is sooo concerning! Honestly what these companies will do for profit. We watched dark water a few months back and I won't buy or use non stick pans or oven dishes again!

@Aimes2021 argh Sardinia is lush we went a few years back would 100% go again. I've not been to Kent but I'm sure you will have a lovely time. Yes will book it this week everything is getting snapped up.

Good point on the fridge space! I hadn't thought of that will have to shop little and often DH is intermittently "sulking" at the dietary changes I've put in place lol.

@Prayingforabubba ooo so close! I got a timeline but it mainly includes med schedule and scan dates. Then just information about when an EC and ET might be but no solid date. I guess because it is changeable. I plotted it all on a calendar to get a better idea. Did they not even send you that?

They sent me videos and in the treatment consultation she ran through it but no live demonstration.

@Becky105 welcome! My TSH was recently done and it was 1.48. They said they like it below 2.5 for pregnancy and TTC. Before (Aug 2020) it was 2.16 and that was a little concerning for them so they got me to redo it. Hep and screening bloods can be done once you've started but if you have never had it down I would get GP to do it so no surprises.

Best of luck on your journey 🙂

Thank you all for letting me know your TSH levels. Mine is 5.67 at the moment so I guess that is comparatively high. My GP is calling me on Friday to discuss what I can do to bring it down.

I've had the blood tests that I was told to get done by abc at my own gp. The only ones I was asked to get were rubella, TSH and CMV. That's why I'm a bit worried that there are other tests I need but I haven't been asked to get.

I've already had two lots of blood tests because my rubella came back as 'equivocal' which just means no definite answer so a repeat test was needed.

Given that I'm booked in for my treatment consultation on the 19th May (although might need to delay it until TSH level is sorted) I'm concerned that they will suddenly request more blood tests and cause another delay. I might be panicking over nothing but my contact at abc Harley St hasn't been very organised so far so I wouldn't be surprised if they've missed steps in my advice.

They are lovely to speak to but just not at all proactive. I emailed my results from my first blood test with a note that I had looked at them and thought I needed another rubella test and asked if my TSH was high. I marked it as urgent and asked for their advice. Over a week later I called the clinic and was told the documents had been added to my file, they would have been reviewed when added so I didn't need to worry... I reiterated my questions and they got my contract to call me later... They just confirmed everything I had suspected and said they'd discuss me at their Thursday department meeting and advise me from there. That was for last Thursday but I heard nothing so I had to call them today and they didn't have an update.

It's just making me feel less and less like I'm being guided and more and more like I am lost in all the new lingo and processes.