Infertility general chat/support thread

[Roo45]

Not sure if this exists already, but I wondered if people fancied a thread just to vent and/or talk about things that have happened in their day that have either caused them to get upset or think a certain way due to fertility issues, regardless of where you are in the journey.

I feel like my friends who haven't got through this could never understand how infertility affects pretty much every part of my life now!

For example today I attempted to cook something complicated for some family members, it's quite rare that I cook for others even before the pandemic and I only make simple meals for myself. Anyway everything that could go wrong did and what I managed to salvage was largely uneaten.
I told my DH maybe the universe thinks I shouldn't have children because I'm so undomestic and can't cook for other people!

Good luck to all those starting their cycles! Take things one day at a time at the moment I think, I know easier said than done x

@CurbsideProphet yeah, we just need to have an appointment with the clinic on Wednesday and wait for my period to start. I’m ok but I’m anxious in general so anything new worries me. I did start having panic attacks a few times in early jan but felt better when the drugs came.

Fingers crossed for today. Remind me what happened with your scans and bloods last time?

I’m waiting for some bloods to come back that I’m nervous about. Prolactin, liver, kidneys, please be ok tests so that I can start the ivf 😬

@ChocolatePotCafe fingers crossed you can start soon. What day are you expecting to start?

Thanks @Roo45 x

I might try doing some yoga throughout this process.

@thislittlebird it's great you've got your drugs. A big rush to get the prescription sorted in time seems quite common, but you've got everything ready to start. It's mad isn't it that blood tests become so emotional when pre IVF I wouldn't have thought twice about blood tests, let alone cried about the wait for results

Had my lining scan and it is 7.5mm. Waiting for the blood results. Last time they hadn't prescribed enough estrogen, so my body went into its natural cycle and started producing progesterone ready for my period. It's all so complicated I really struggle to understand, but that's the bare bones of it.

I don't think the psychological impact of all this is really addressed. We've used our free counselling sessions so that's it now, no one is interested if we're coping.

@Roo45 hope you're ok💐

@CurbsideProphet I have to say I was impressed by Fertility2U. They had a system linked up with Guys, and they sent me the order when I wanted it. I didn’t want a last minute dash because I was worried some things might be wrong with the order but it’s fine. Other than my trigger might change so I’m not really sure why they sent me one at all.

Honestly not quite sure what to do about the bloods. If my prolactin is high again I’m not even sure if my clinic will let me go ahead, or they won’t care etc. It’s confusing and no one really tells you. I’ll have to start calling tomorrow to see if any results are back.

Good news on the lining. What cycle day are you having your transfer? I haven’t got to grips with this side of things yet. My lining is usually very good, my progesterone less so. If they give me estrogen before a FET my lining might go crazy, it was 10mm by day 10 without drugs, I don’t know how long they leave it for.

I had no idea the counselling was limited until recently, I’ll be honest. I was a little shocked that it was.

Thanks ladies. I’ll have a go at some meditation. Am enjoying listening to Audible too while I potter about.

@CurbsideProphet I was due to start taking Clomid tomorrow but AF hasn’t appeared as yet - never been so keen for it to arrive!

Ooh sorry - I meant to tag @thislittlebird

@ChocolatePotCafe I’m a bit worried my AF will be late too tbh. If it would start tomorrow it would save me another trip back to the clinic straight after our Wednesday trip but we shall see :/

@thislittlebird I think they aim for between day 21 - 28, however the Consultant has already said that for a medicated FET it is more flexible because so long as the body is ready that's the most important thing.

I've probably already recommended it but the Mindful IVF app is great and reasonably priced.

So my period didn’t start today and we went for blood tests at the ACU but that was all. I then rang my GP surgery to get blood test results and it sounds like my prolactin and thyroid might be abnormal. Can’t be sure until I’ve spoken to the GP but the admin person was very forthcoming with the other results on the phone. Sigh.

I have to ring my GP surgery first thing and ask to talk to a doctor urgently tomorrow because in typical fashion my period has now started and I’m supposed to tell the clinic. I’m so tired of all this and we haven’t even started ivf yet.

I just want to know what I’m doing. If abnormal thyroid means no ivf this month then so be it, but I hate the limbo of not knowing what’s going to happen.

Hey ladies

Who has had a frozen embryo transfer on a natural cycle without medication?
Has anyone gone through this process before?
Main question was around how they calculate gestation and how many weeks?
Previously had a successful ivf a few years ago but that was medicated and also Fet
Are things calculated differently without the medication and during a material ovulation etc?
Thanks 🙏

@thislittlebird oh there are so many factors that have to come together at the right time for IVF. It's exhausting. I really feel for you. Have you been able to speak to your IVF clinic to see if they can request the blood results and make their decision?

@user1472246543 you're probably best starting a new thread for this. There will definitely be mumsnet posters who have done an un medicated FET, but in here we're either starting for the first time or not having success. Alternatively call your previous IVF clinic and ask, as they should be able to talk you through the process. Best of luck with it 🍀

@CurbsideProphet I’ve now spoken to the doctor and the results were all fine!!!! Panicked me for nothing. But of course things can’t simply go to plan. My period is now being weird and light (it’s done this in the past and acupuncture helped it go back to normal). I had to call the nurses to explain my body isn’t playing ball. Will be going for a scan on Saturday to see if everything is ok in there or not. It’s exhausting. People who hasn’t had fertility treatment have no fucking idea.

I just used mindful ivf for the first time, was not coping well this morning with all this crap.

*haven’t

@thislittlebird people have absolutely no idea what we go through, quite literally a minute by minute roller-coaster of ups and downs. It's so hard being this reliant on other people- doctors, nurses, clinic staff etc - and having to wait for them to call / process something / check results. There's that constant project management thought process "are they doing their job right / do I need to remind them about this / should I check about that".

Did you feel a smidgey bit more calm after listening to Gordon? I find his voice very soothing and not patronising at all.

Ugh nothing can ever go to plan with IVF! Hope things get resolved soon! Xx

@CurbsideProphet that’s really accurate. It just feels so weird that we can’t control any of it.

Thanks @Roo45! It all got back on track in the end DH just did the first injection for me. The ice pack is a godsend tbh, thank god we have them. No bleeding and pain, the only time I had blood or a tiny bruise was the time I didn’t ice the trigger shot area.

@thislittlebird are you getting on ok with your injections?

Hope you're ok @ChocolatePotCafe and got started with your clomid.

Thanks @CurbsideProphet how are you getting on?

I’ve done my Clomid, now just doing the fun part and hoping I don’t catch covid so can go to the clinic for my scan next week. Finding it hard to have patience and trust in the process.

@CurbsideProphet yeah ok, they’re fine but they have caused me to have thrush which is very annoying. Otherwise fine though.

I’m very tired of drinking all this water though lol

Good luck all it is hard to be calm during the process been there! I tried to watch funny shows on Netflix to help, as others have said there is mindful IVF app too I only found this after my cycles though! xx

We're booked for FET on Thursday. That horrible voice in my head keeps saying the embryo won't thaw properly so it's all pointless. Horrible voice 😩 I did my cyclogest 1 hour late tonight and have fretted myself to the extreme. I'm on 1 at night and 1 progesterone injection in the morning.

I've got The Gilded Age to distract myself. Christine Baranski is just perfection. It's probably all entirely historically inaccurate, however the houses are glorious and the costumes are beautiful. New York 1882 is perfect escapism 🙂

@CurbsideProphet I visited some of the Newport mansions on a trip to America a few years ago! I've heard of this show but haven't watched it yet. Good luck for Thursday xxx