Mild Stimulation IVF, round one

[primrosechill]

I wonder if anyone else here is doing the Mild Stimulation protocol? It's my first round, started injections four days ago and going for my first scan tomorrow. Would love some buddies with a similar experience! 🥰

I felt a bit overwhelmed earlier @primrosechill but feeling quite excited. We've had a bit of a journey to get here (ttc for 3.5 years and had 4 losses), so I feel ready to try a new approach :)

@VenusStarr 4 losses sound horrible, I'm so sorry that this has been your experience so far - hoping this is a turning point for you ❤️

Do you mind me asking if there are any underlying issues for the losses/infertility or is it just bad luck?

Thank you @primrosechill, we initially couldn't conceive, so started the fertility tests but did get pregnant after 16 months. But then miscarried and then seemed to be OK with conceiving as managed within 2/3 cycles each time. All my nhs tests revealed nothing, so we were told it's bad luck (my last baby was tested as chromosomally normal) so we knew something else was happening. I had private immune tests and I do have aggressive nk cells that active in pregnancy. But I've been on on hydroxychloroquine, prednisolone and intralipid infusions for 6 months and we just can't conceive now. With ivf I'll have clexane added. All the meds feel quite overwhelming, but if it helps us bring home our baby, then I don't mind 🙏

Hi ladies,

I'm wondering if I can join this thread?

I'm also with Create and having mild stimulation. I went for my first scan today - day 6 and was told to up my meds (Bemfola) as the follicles need to develop more. My dr wasn't very helpful or chatty and I always take time to process; thinking of questions later 

This is my first cycle and trying not to over think things, stay positive etc but I'm feeling quite overwhelmed. It's nice to talk to ppl that are experiencing the same thing.

@primrosechill congratulations on your EC! 
Those numbers sound amazing!
@VenusStarr Sorry about your loss. It can all be so overwhelming but end goal definitely seems worth it all

@VenusStarr wow, it must have been so overwhelming to be going through multiple losses and yet not getting the answers you so desperately needed - I'm really pleased for you that you were able to get the diagnosis by going private, even if it does mean that you're having to take so many meds now. I have everything crossed for you that ivf will work out for you 🍀

@Geejacko of course you can join, hello! I completely hear you re being slightly overwhelmed. I have to say what initially put me off about the process at Create is how many people you're dealing with: always seeing a new doctor, speaking to someone else on the phone, being pinged about medicine and forms and everything - I'm pretty sure it's like that in most places but I just felt like I wanted to have one doctor that really knnew my case and felt invested in me as an individual. In the end I sort of decided to just go with it and trust they know what they're doing - I have to say that everyone has been very kind. I am dealing with vaginismus which makes physical checkups stressful but they've allowed me to take my time, and always made me feel in control. After the EC they also give you calls to check in on you and all that, which is a lovely touch. Perhaps you can write down your questions, so that you can bring them with you ask them in your next apt? Good luck, keep us posted on how things are progressing 🤞🏼

Hi everyone, I hope that you all had a good day.

Thanks @primrosechill I think that's a brilliant idea and I'll do that tomorrow. How are things going?

For all the ladies at Create - how do you find your Patient Coordinators? Mine is not good at all! I send emails and get a reply days later. I've never received a call to just check up on me. I'm not impressed.

@Geejacko have you had your day 8 scan today? Hope you were able to get all the answers you were lacking last time!

I have to say I echo your sentiment re the patient coordinator at Create: the doctors and nurses are lovely and everyone's kind when you're there but the phone calls are all super rushed, I never seem to speak to the same person twice, and my coordinator missed one or two emails I sent before...

Hey @primrosechill ! They honestly need to do better. Apart from the cost, it's a very stressful process and they should understand that we need a little reassurance now and then. That's my main gripe with them, the service can seem a bit clinical.

Yes, I had my scan today. My follicles have responded well to the higher dosage . My bloods also confirmed that I am not overstimulating so I'm going to stay on the higher dosage until my next scan on Saturday. I have to start the cetrotide tomorrow. The dr today was amazing! Very warm and reassuring. She gave me a follow up call and was a complete contrast to the strict headmaster that I had on Tuesday! How are things with you? You must be super excited about Saturday!! 💃💃💃💃

@Geejacko lovely that you got to speak to a kinder doctor today and that your follicles are responding well. Let me share the same advice that @PPPPPP gave me here re Cetrotide: give it at least 30mins out of the fridge and make sure you use the right needle (don't inject with the mixing needle 😬)! It's a flimsy bugger but you get used to it ☺️

Yes, I am really looking forward to Saturday - hopefully it gets me one step closer to my dream! Isn't it amazing that right now in a lab somewhere there are six little embryo chances at future pregnancy for me? It really is so wonderful when you think about it.

I have to have my transfer under sedation because I suffer from vaginismus and the procedure is a bit much for me without it - I have to say the general anaesthesia is oddly (or maybe not oddly? Maybe that's normal?) the bit I'm always most anxious about despite having been put under a few times in my life now!

Hi @primrosechill I hope that you had a good day 😊 I think that nerves are totally understandable. The good thing is that you won't remember any of it and when you wake up it'll all be done! Everything will be fine tomorrow, I'm excited for you and will be thinking of you 😁
Thanks for the cetrotide tip 👍 I watched the video a few times and followed your advice - thank God it worked out ok. I'm off for another scan tomorrow 🙏 I'm feeling really bloated today and trusting that's a good thing. 🙌

Hi @Geejacko - everything we t well today and I currently have a little embryo hopefully making itself comfortable and deciding to stay for a while! The nerve wracking wait begins... Hcg blood test scheduled for May 4th.

How are you? How are your follies responding to stims? You must be getting close to knowing your EX date soon? X

Sorry - so many typos! I meant EC* date :)

Get @primrosechill that's amazing! I'm so happy that everything went well for you today! 💃 I am rooting for you and wish you the absolute best!! 😊 just try to take it easy and keep busy.... I can imagine how long 2 weeks will feel! You've got this! 👍😊

My follicles are growing but still not quite there - just a few mm's to go. The dr didn't seem concerned and said to stay on the bemfola until Monday 😩 I'll go for another scan and bloods. I have to do what I have to do I guess 🤷‍♀️ I can't wait to finish this part! It feels like it's been going on for a very long time!

Hello everyone, sorry for the radio silence, had a lot on this week. @primrosechill keeping my fingers crossed for you! Your EC numbers sounded amazing!

Found out that my one little embie made it to 3 days, so they've frozen that one. Due to start another round in a week or so. Had a bit of a downer yesterday where I was going through the whole 'what if this never works etc, how am I going to cope' but I guess I have to stay positive.

Oh and just to echo what other people have said about the admin side! It hasn't been great at Create to be honest. I ended up getting a phone call 2 days after my egg collection to book in an ' early pregnancy scan' even though I wasn't pregnant - just felt this was so insensitive given I'd already had a failed transfer. She wasn't even apologetic on the phone. Ended up having to make a complaint and to be fair the manager was very nice and apologetic. There have been other little admin errors along the way, but the clinical team including the nurses have been fab.

@PPPPPP I'm sorry that you've been feeling a bit low - I get these sudden moments of anxiety too when I just worry it's not meant to be and that dread really takes over for a while. Take care of yourself and treat yourself to something nice before the next cycle begins! Are you hoping for a transfer in this one or are you still egg banking?

@Geejacko how did the scan go today? Are you getting closer to the EC? I didn't even mind stims that much in the first half of the cycle, it's the constant trips to get the scans and bloods done that were utterly exhausting.

I had a somewhat anticlimactic reaction in the last two days: after a very successful cycle (one FET and 3 embryos frozen), I found myself suddenly really emotional, down and just exhausted. I think it's a combination of hormones, work burnout, the sheer length of my ttc and one too many photos og babies on instagram, but I just couldnt stop crying! Feeling better now and hoping this little marble inside me makes themselves comfortable and decides to stick around xx

I'm going nuts in the TWW - trying my best to resist the urge to test ahead of the official blood test... Anyone entertain me, please?

Hey everyone! Hope it's ok for me to join. I'm currently deciding between ABCIVF and Create their approach to mild IVF and their stats are what drew me in. I have my consultation with ABC tomorrow and then we will be making our decision.

For you ladies at create @PPPPPP and @primrosechill (might be more but struggling to keep track so if you are also at create or ABC feel free to chime in) did you go to ABC as well to straight to create?

My thinking is if I meet the criteria and will get same/similar level of care as create why not do it for less. But I'm also a believer that cheaper isn't always better so stuck a little. Also with ABC doing multiple rounds will be a tad more comfortable for us, so that is a big draw as I know it might take a few tries.

A bit worrying about the communication but perhaps due to covid they are busier than normal? My patient coordinator at create has been quite responsive by they don't have my money yet so that might be why!

My husband and I are unexplained all my scans look good and clear my AFC is 25 which they said is on the higher end for my age. My husbands SA is all good except for 6% morphology but due to his count and other factors being in the high end they don't seem to worried about it.

I'm hoping we start on my next cycle which is due 17th May. Hoping this group will still be around.

Hi @Hoping4baby21 I went straight for Create but that's only because I'm incredibly privileged to work for a company that offers fertility benefit that paid majority of the cost. They only partner with a few clinics and Create is one of them so I just went for it - would have definitely done more research if it was all coming out of my pocket!

I wouldn't be too discouraged about comms - I think the admin side of these things are likely going to be a bit of a mill wherever you go but as someone else on here said my experiences with doctors and nurses have all been wonderful - I had particularly great ones for the collection and transfer which are obviously the most nerve wracking parts!

6% morphology I believe is well within the norm, I think standard is 4%? Which is where my hubby is but same as your partner he also has high volume and density - "we" were able to fertilise 6 out of our 8 eggs, and 4 of these developed properly - I had a fresh transfer and we froze other 3. All this to say, good luck to you and I have every faith you can have great success with it!!

Hi everyone! Hope you're all doing ok.

@primrosechill I can imagine how hard this is for you. I'm the most impatient person so I can totally understand. Not long now! How are you feeling? I know it's not good to symptom spot; so I won't encourage you. It must be literally impossible to think of anything but what's going in inside if you. You're doing great!

I'm finally taking my trigger shot tonight. This is day 13 of injections for me. I have many follicles and the process has been a lot. Thankfully, it's time for my egg collection - Saturday. I'm so excited! It's been feeling like Groundhog Day for me as I've been going to the clinic everyday for the past few days. I must say that I've been impressed by the Drs at Create, they've been very supportive and encouraging. My patient coordinator has been MIA as I haven't heard from her at all. Ah well, just trying to remain positive and do what I have to do 😊

@primrosechill oh that is so good of your workplace I wish more places were like that! We are paying out of pocket and whilst we can afford Create if it won't change our treatment plan I don't see any reason to pay more. I have my treatment plan from the Create consultation so will compare tomorrow. If meds and doses are same then I'll proceed with ABC.

Your right I don't thinks comms are DR strong point to be honest and as long as no major errors it should be ok will just need to be on top of it.

Yes he is in the normal range you are right. It's so irritating in some way being unexplained but what can you do! Sometimes it takes IVF to uncover other things but I'm hoping we have great success. Thank you for your well wishes!

Best of luck with your cycle as well and sending all the good vibes out there for good news 🙂

Sorry ladies I thought I responded on this thread and somehow posted it in a different one (mumsnet app is weird 😂) so apologies if you got notification about the random tag!

What I wrote:

@Geejacko that's exciting about your EC, I will be thinking about you on Saturday, let us know how it goes! Good luck with the injection tonight, not that you need it x

@Hoping4baby21 that totally makes sense about the other clinic, if it's cheaper but offers the same treatment then you should definitely go for it. Exciting stuff, let us know once you start your cycle.

Nothing major to update from me, I feel really weird: I normally symptom spot and obsess in tww but this time because it's after ivf and because chances are higher I'm actually doing it less??? I think perhaps because the chances are higer and it makes it more tangible, I am allowing myself to believe it less as a self preservation thing in case it doesn't work out? Dunno.

That said I'm mostly just distracted by work, I'm sure once the weekend comes I will struggle to resist the urge to pee on a stick and see if I can get a bfp before my Tuesday bloods 😂

How are you getting on @primrosechill? Not too long for your blood test now 🍀

Hope egg collection goes well today @Geejacko 🤞

I'm glad you have a little embie on ice @PPPPPP it's tough going straight back into things. When will you be starting again?

I had my meds delivered yesterday 🎉 then I work up really early panicking that I'd put the wrong meds in the fridge 😕 (I haven't). All being well, I should be starting in a few days, just waiting for af. I did track ovulation, so hoping she'll be here by Wednesday. Flitting between nervous excitement and petrified.

@VenusStarr yay for you embarking on this journey - and oscillating between nervousness and excitement makes complete sense. I felt the same. I find that, as with everything else in life, it becomes less overwhelming once you actually start going through the process! Keep us posted on how you get on.

@Geejacko thinking about you today and keeping everything crossed that they collect loads of good eggs that turn into great embryos 🤞🏼

So after promising I would stick it out until blood tests on Tuesday, I woke up today with a devilish desire to poas and I caved in 😂😂😂 I got a BFP but today being 14 days since the trigger injection, I wonder if it still could be that. I read loads about it and with ovitrelle's dose, I think the trigger hcg should have left my body about 3-4 days ago but there's no way of knowing. So I've given myself hope but still need to wait until Tuesday to see if this is viable!

Hope you all have a great bank holiday weekend x

@VenusStarr exciting you start so soon! The nerves make total sense we have a lot of hope riding on the process so don't want to do anything wrong. But you got this!

I did the same tracked my ovulation this month so I can be more certain when my AF will show. Decided to ovulate a day earlier than normal this month as well apparently!

@Geejacko good luck for EC today!

@primrosechill if the trigger takes a few days to leave seems your well past that. So I would be cautiously optimistic as you are! Is it premature to say congrats!