IVF - May

[TheSnufflet]

Couldn't see a thread for May so I thought I'd start one!

Anyone else doing their cycle in May? I just got my calendar through and all the injections look extremely Not Fun (this is my first time doing it) 😕

Thanks @Crazydoglady123, @VenusStarr and @TinyPaws!

VenusStarr you mentioned earlier about timings around transfer for acupuncture - my lovely lady has been seeing me weekly since January, and she’s said she would usually see a client the day of transfer (before) and then the day after. I find it fascinating they could detect a pregnancy through a pulse; I’m so sorry for your loss 💓

@Georgie87B yeah I did it myself, felt better to have control. The pen was fine in the end, I just followed the video step by step.

@KayReeves sounds like you've really been through it. Wishing you so much luck and positivity for this cycle 🤍

@DoctorBambino ahh well done I think I will be the same and hearing you had a good experience does make me think I can do it too 💪

@KayReeves I'm so sorry you are feeling so low at the moment. I can only imagine how draining 4 cycles must be physically and mentally. I really hope this box of meds leads to your happy ever after ❤️ stay strong xx

Thanks @Georgie87B and @DoctorBambino just needed to put it out there really, wishing you all the best with your treatment 😘

@DoctorBambino thanks for the welcome and Im glad your first injection went well! No set protocol from ABC but Create suggested 1 round of mild stimulation IVF. As hubby's sperm is fine no ICSI needed.

@Georgie87B gosh I can imagine once the med arrives and you see the schedule it really does get real. I'm probably just running on logic, somewhat detached at the moment "it's a means to an end". Trying to stay positive. I have a good feeling so I'm just riding that wave for as long as I can before the anxiety sets in!

I think you mentioned your stims start on Saturday did AF show? Did you contact the clinic to double check? Best of luck with your cycle 🙂

@VenusStarr would love to know how acupuncture is for you during the cycle of you don't mind sharing. I did it at 8 months of ttc for a few months but no luck. I'm strongly considering a few sessions during my cycle and especially the pre and post transfer just need to find someone close because my other person is outer London.

Will let you all know how consultation goes tomorrow and what and when we will be proceeding with.

Hey everyone,

Hope you don't mind if I join in?
Starting IVF ICSI short protocol around 10th May when my next cycle starts, all things going well 🤞🏻
First time so not sure what to expect but excited to begin after waiting for so long.

How are you all?

Hey @Jms28

I'm new to IVF too so no advice but welcome and good luck 🙂

I've done a lot of reading through threads which has helped me understand the process a little more. I found that helpful. Also helped me gather some questions to ask the consultants as well - so if you haven't done that already might be worth a shot.

I'm hoping to start on May 17th 🤞🏽

@2mumlife I know how you feel! Can’t wait to finally get started. I decided to sit out this cycle as was getting my 2nd dose of vaccine, so it is now creeping by reeeally slowly! I also have everything resting on the one PGS normal embie. If this doesn’t work, I have a few non tested ones left but I have already had 4 unsuccessful transfers from that batch so am a bit reluctant to try them. I also think I can’t face another cycle after this one, so that will bénit for us. So much pressure on poor little 4AC, as I now call him.

@Hoping4baby21 Yea supposed to start stims on Saturday but AF still hasn't arrived so will ring clinic today to see what it means if it doesn't arrive before Saturday...

Welcome @Jms28! I am also doing IVF and ICSI due to MF issues and is also my first time. Wishing you the best of luck with your cycle! So far I have found this group so helpful! hope you do too 😊

@VenusStarr exciting for the meds to arrive! I bought this box off Amazon for mine www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01ICO5UQY?psc=1&ref=ppxpopmobbasin_image

@TinyPaws that's such an amazing sign about your elephant charm!

Thank you @2mumlife. Try to stay positive. It doesn't seem no two cycles are the same when it comes to IVF.

Welcome @Hoping4baby21

@DoctorBambino I forgot to get mine out of the fridge before hand yesterday so injected cold and wasn't bad at all.

@KayReeves I can understand how draining and consuming it must have been. Try and stay positive lovely. Everything crossed this is your time

@TeaAndCrumpets1 my acupuncture lady says it's within 45 mins before transfer and within 45 mins after. My clinic has their own acupuncturist so I'm going to book with him today. I think he charges £150 for it but I've been having regular acupuncture since end of Jan so I'd hate to not do it after putting so much faith into it.

Welcome @Jms28! I am also down for ICSI unless anything changes on the day (ie the swimmers have improved!)

I love little signs like your elephant @TinyPaws I hope it is a sign 🤞

Glad the injection went well @DoctorBambino

Sending you a hug @KayReeves it's really bloody hard ❤️

Thank you @TeaAndCrumpets1 💙

Hi @Hoping4baby21 I tried acupuncture in my first year of ttc, seeing a Chinese fertility practitioner but it didn't have much of an effect. I tried it for 6 months. Fast forward to last summer and after 3 losses my anxiety was sky high, so I found a new practitioner. I did conceive whilst seeing her but not sure if it was to do with the acupuncture though. I like going as it's just an hour to spend relaxing and I get on well with the practitioner, we have a good chat before treatment, so it's a bit of therapy too.
@Crazydoglady123 blimey, that's expensive!! Mine is £50 per session. I won't be able to go on the day of transfer as its no where near my clinic.
Thanks for sharing the link - that's similar to what I've been looking at.

Hi @Jms28 welcome, this is my first time doing ivf too. I'm hopefully starting next week :)

@VenusStarr no, my usual lady is £40 a session but the guy at my IVF clinic charges £150 for transfer acupuncture which is a session before and after ET. My lady is like therapy too but doesn't work weekends so I'll have to book the IVF clinics guy

Welcome new people , the thread is getting busy now, so exciting to see people’s (hopefully successful) journeys unfold.

@KayReeves it’s fine to be feeling negative and down about it all, let it out but try not to give too much life to it. I go through bouts of feeling really great about It and then all the doubts creep in. Trying to keep a balance as non stop optimism feels a bit unnatural too.

@Crazydoglady123 I haven’t got ivf insta but just normal insta. PM me or post your insta page?

My acupuncturist is suggesting the day before and the day after which I will probably do, unless it’s falls on a Sunday when he’s not open

@TinyPaws I love your elephant charm thing. I’m not adverse to a bit of woo myself, wearing fertility stones bracelets everyday atm. Hoping you get your wish this cycle x

@DoctorBambino glad the first one went smoothly for you!

@2mumlife good to know about the meds, thank you! Makes me feel slightly more confident x

@mowglika Great tip on the icing before the injections I am going to head over to Amazon today to get the pretty ice packs x

@Crazydoglady123 can you follow me on Instagram so I can follow you back? @chrissypeeks I will have a look around there for more insta accounts

@DoctorBambino and @TheSnufflet on YouTube I think I only watched the positive ones where I saw they had positive results. Which thinking about it is not the smartest thing to do! I spend time I should be working watching YouTube's and then stressing I haven't got my work done 😂

@TinyPaws I love the elephant anklet story 💕

@KayReeves sending you my love x

@Jms28 and @Hoping4baby21 I am on my first IVF ICIS this month too.

I had my final blood tests yesterday and me and my bf signed what seemed like 100 forms. Meds ordered and I need to call them on day 1 and go in on day 2 to have a scan and be shown how to inject. And internal scan on my period sounds unpleasant for all involved 😂. I am estimating EC will be around 13th.

How do you all manage to get out of work for these appointments? I really don't want to tell my boss, but the appointments are a 3hour round trip and that's just the travel so I'm finding covering up my absence stressful.

Also how long did it take for your meds to arrive? Mine are coming from Fertility2U, worried I won't get them before AF comes. I'm one of life's worriers and I really need to tone it down during this process x x

Thank you @mowglika @VenusStarr and @Crazydoglady123 I hauled myself out of bed for an early morning run today as that does help me, and trying hard to stay on an even keel.

❤️❤️

Hi @StrongEagle, it sounds like we are due egg collection on the same day 😁 (providing AF arrives by Saturday) it's really strange as I feel like I have been left to just get on with it all the past month. Have only been to the clinic twice since starting this whole process... 1st time for fertility test and then for virology blood tests everything else has been done via online forms and tutorial videos.
So that's really good that they are going to talk you through everything face to face to explain injections.etc
With the whole work thing so far I think I only have 2 tracking scans scheduled and I am very lucky to live 10 mins from the clinic so going to use the doctors appointment excuse as am currently working from home. Then booked a weeks holiday between egg collection and transfer.
Are you able to just give a vague excuse of a hospital referral appointments and due to waiting times it maybe a few hours?
Also my meds were also from fertility2u and when they were ordered I got an email to choose a specific delivery day and they gave me a 2 hour time slot on the say of delivery. It seemed all pretty well managed. I have had my fridge full of injections staring at me for a few weeks now just to remind me what's to come Hahaha!

Wishing to the best of luck with everything 🤞

@Georgie87B exciting we could be on the same day. If AF arrives for you on Saturday do you start injections on Sunday?

I just had a call from Fertility2U and the meds are coming tomorrow. The lady on the phone read through them and I have no idea what any of them are.
As I have to worry about everything, instead of worrying about my meds not arriving on time, I'm now worried that my fridge is going to be too cold and ruin all my jabs 😂 I need to get cracking with mindfulness ASAP.

@DoctorBambino thank you! Consultation went well we meet their criteria so we can proceed. Just need to redo my TSH blood test as it was taken a while ago, and send them proof of my normal smear and MMR vaccine. Also need to have my treatment consultation that might be the only thing that delays us so I am hoping they can fit us in or we can get a cancellation.

I called my GP to get the TSH test but they are saying they need a letter requesting the test! I don't get why you can't just ask for the blood test and get it.

glad your injection went well. let us know how they keep going and if you do need ice after a few days. Hopefully not.

@Georgie87B patient is not my strong point I will admit! but I will try my best. Fingers crossed your AF arrives when you need it to.

@strongeagle I'm also worrying about managing work. I've got my scans booked in now and one of them falls on the bank Holiday so that's not a problem but the other 2 I should technically be at work. Like you my clinic is a drive away, just over an hour each way and the earliest time I could get was 9am so I'll miss a big chunk of the morning. I've just blocked out my online diary with a generic appointment for now which I could probably get away with but I really should tell my line manager. I just don't want the additional pressure of her knowing its for ivf. Hmmm in writing this I've convinced myself I should just tell her I have medical appointments at those times. I'm planning to book egg collection day as annual leave as soon as I know when it is!

@StrongEagle snap! Had the same call and meds coming tomorrow. Starting down reg on the 5th. I've bought the pill box that @Crazydoglady123 suggested. Think that might've been on our other thread though.

Also I'm feeling really weird about having injected myself and literally not feeling any different today.. I feel like I should have some symptom or sign as the injection works its magic but I feel nothing haha very strange

@DoctorBambino I've told my boss so that I don't have to take leave for my scans, but then she's a friend as well so perhaps a different relationship to what you have with yours. It's a tough one when you don't want them to know. Do you think you would feel pressure? If so, don't tell them and just say medical appointments as you say. I don't think they're allowed to ask what for.

@DoctorBambino interested to hear from others on that front as well, as I'll be starting my first ever ones next week.

@Hoping4baby21 Welcome to the team no one wants to join! I did IUI 4 times before moving to IVF (no fertility issues, jsut same sex couple needing donor sperm), and I kind of wish we just went to IVF looking back. IVF does take a big physical and emotional toll though, so just be kind to yourself and look after yourself during this process would be my advice, and best of luck! Same to you @Jms28 best of luck and just look after your wellbeing

@DoctorBambino @Crazydoglady123 Yes, I'm an overthinker sometimes, but you're right, what has been has been, and what will be will be. I am releived this cycle is totally different meds and things from last time.

@Georgie87B Yup cyclogost is every 12 hours. Gel sounds better if you only have to do that once a day! Do you have the same backdoor/frontdoor decision with gel, or is that just frontdoor all the way?

@KayReeves I find focussing on other things tough too. Ive actually gone to work at a friends today, which I found has helped, since I find it harder concentrating on work when I'm home alone at the moment.

@Tarsette We've not done PGS testing, so no idea how this frostie is. Consultant says the biggest likelihood other embie didn't take was because it wasn't viable. Could you get the other frosties tested at this stage? 4AC is probably a better nickname than 'ugly duckling' I call mine (becasue it was funny looking then emerged into a beautiful swan). I just keep hoping it defrosts ok, as we don't have any more to fall back on if there's a problem.

@StrongEagle I live 30-45 min drive from my clinic. I'm working from home and have flexible work patterns. I took EC off as medical leave day due to sedation (I took the approach if I'm being told I can't sign legal documents that day, I shouldn't be at work). I ended up telling me boss last cycle after everthing went wrong after last transfer, as I wasn't emotionally fit to work for a week after. Its actually made it easier, as now I feel I can at least just say 'FYI I'm trying again, so I'm going to be taking some random points out of work', instead of trying to talk around the issue without just spelling it out.

@DoctorBambino and @StrongEagle I was thinking about this also and I intent to let my line manager know that I will be having medical treatment in the coming month or so which will mean a number of appointments. So she has a heads up. I am currently part time as well so minimises the potential for major clashes. I don't plan to tell them that I am having IVF - no way! My manager likes to gossip so it will likely get around the entire team!

Legally you are entitled to have time off for medical appointments so it shouldn't be an issue but we all know workplaces can be tricky sometimes.

I also plan to take sick day on my collection day and then also have a few days off immediately after transfer. Depending on the day max days of work will be 3. Some other forums also said that there GP was more than happy to write a sick note for a week or two and they don't have to write IVF on it.