IVF - egg collection June (starting down regulation in May)

[Luz192]

Hi ladies, would be great to chat to anyone who is about to start down regulation, in prep for stims later in the month and egg collection early June.

I start Norethisterone tomorrow. Will be at UCLH/CRGH, first ever IVF. We have MFI.

Mostly terrified of the needles! I have this irrational fear that I could puncture an organ - someone tell me that's not possible?! lol

@ivf2021 hang in there hun....your follies are getting there slowly but surely, a bit like mine. Alot of growing can happen in 4 days, so hopefully your ready for Wednesday.
I think my Wednesday egg collection will be moved to Thursday or Friday.
So glad I joined a forum, my sisters and a close friend just don't get the process and I can't be bothered to keep explaining, though thry mean well

@Aim2912 thank you 🙏🏻 the doctor did say sometimes slowly is better so holding out hope for us both! Feel much more positive than the 3 on Tuesday! Is ur next scan Monday too?? I've switched to full fat milk, low calorie pom juice and been putting a hot water bottle on my belly every night (even in this weather 🥵) since Tuesday so it might be all in my head but hoping that give them a boost! So gunna a carry that on until Monday 🤞🏻Atleast we will all get an extra shot of vitamin D today ☀️ makes isolation easier in the garden were going to have some low calorie mocktails and chill xx

@Aim2912 I know what u mean about this forum I was just saying to my partner last night it's lovely to have people to talk to who know what ur going through and it's even better we're all similar times! My friend (& boss) has just been through ivf so used to talk to her but she's just had a really early miscarriage so don't want to bother her with my concerns when she's going through that xx

@ivf2021 glad your feelling more positive, I've not tried the hot water bottle so might use it tonight.

had a scan today, which showed one steaming ahead at 18mm, then there were 5 between 16mm and 14mm. So hope they they will catch up. The rest are 13mm and below but as i have one 18mm, they may not be able delay my egg collection. Have another scan tomorrow...now banking on quality of the few they do collect. 🤞

Good luck from your Monday scans @ivf2021 @Coops0406

@Ofpalestsilver good luck for Monday...Hope it goes well for you.

@Aim2912 thank you! The ones you have over 14 are likely to be in a good place by Wednesday with some more of the others on the way. And yep the quality yet quantity thing is most important to remember. I’ve had to keep reminding myself of that.

@ivf2021are you doing an nhs cycle? My private clinic never recommended isolation at all. I’ve done my PCR test so hopefully all clear.

@Ofpalestsilver great milestone - best of luck for EC on Monday!

@Aim2912 yours look at a good size - have they said when they think they'll trigger you - is it likely to be after your scan tomorrow?

I had the call from clinic today - 20 of the 28 collected were mature, and then 13 fertilised with ICSI. I was a bit disappointed with the drop and how many didn't fertilise, but it's 65%, which the clinic said was normal. Long few days ahead now, but staying positive! :)

@Aim2912 they sound like fab numbers! When is ur egg collection booked in for again Wednesday? Ur getting loads of scans it's amazing they seem to be keeping a good eye on them!
@Ofpalestsilver yeah nhs funded. Had to go to drive through test on Thursday as egg collection was provisionally booked in for Monday (now pushed back to hopefully Wednesday or Friday at the latest). Then it's household isolation until after transfer! Luckily I've took a career break from work but my partners work weren't too happy when we learnt he had to isolate for all that time too xx

@Luz192 13 eggs is amazing! I know it seems like a drop but feels like there’s loads of good opportunities to get good embryos. I’m feeling positive for you. Woohoo! I think I’ll be lucky to collect 8 eggs in total but have everything crossed!

@ivf2021 that must make things difficult having to isolate but I hope everything works out first time so that it’ll all be worth it!

@Luz192 wow!! 13 is amazing! The drop out is the scary part isn't it but luckily u had all them lovely eggs! Are u getting fresh transfer? Hope ur resting and getting ur OH to run around after u today xx

@Ofpalestsilver thank you! Yeah it's my first time so decided to just take the time out from work and try and get my head around everything! Good luck for egg collection on Monday ❤️🙏🏻 x

@Aim2912 thank you 😊 the sizes seem really good and from what I'm gathering the smaller ones will catch up. So good that they are checking on you so well...when I rang to ask more info about my day 6 scan they didn't give me anything but said they don't normally do the day 6 scan so not to worry about anything...they only do it if your AMH is high to check all is okay. I'm definitely hoping for more info at the scan on Monday!

@Luz192 13 fertilised sounds like a great number and although it may seem like a big drop to you, it's great that you started off with so many to get 13 fertilised...fingers crossed for a good amount making it through to day 5 🤞🏾

@ivf2021 we're isolating too, since the first day of injections. OH is isolating too as he doesn't want to risk anything stopping this cycle! Great weather for us all to isolate though so it could be worse!

@Luz192 that's fantastic... 13 is a good number. Now the embryologist need to work their magic!!!

@Coops0406 it will depend how they grow but should have at least 5 or 6 to collect. Not sure about the rest

@ivf2021 my ec is pencilled in for Wednesday but may change. They havent confirmed yet. Its good you had the opportunity to just focus on the ivf.

I'm self isolating exceot for when going to appointment but i work from home so a bit easy for me, and work have been quite flexible with my appointments which really helps. I have get the tube for my appointments but try to super carefully.

I’m also lucky to work from home so not coming into a lot of contact with people thankfully. Will be very careful over the next week as well. Want to give this every chance of success! But yes this sunshine makes staying at home while this is happening a nice experience!

Definitely the weather has been lovely! Makes it much easier, nice to have my OH home to as he normally works 6 days a week! I work in fashion retail so thought it's just not worth the risk with all the staff and customers. My boss has just been through ivf so she agreed that I could have as much time off as I needed so less stress! How exciting we've had one really positive EC already and hopefully we will have 4 more positive ones this week 🤞🏻 x

@ivf2021 that makes sense. You’re exposed to a lot of people so that would be stressful. But also (we’ll from my experience!) feeling bloated and heavy is not something you want to do in front of other people!

I chose my clinic because it’s 5 mins from my place of work and of course by the time we got started I’m working from home ha! But that’s worked out on in the end because I’m glad not to be commuting or having to see my colleagues. I’m on so many drugs I feel they’d defo be able to yell.

@Ofpalestsilver typical isn't it! But working from home sounds like the best scenario so no worry of catching covid. I'm definitely starting to feel bloated and feel like I'm holding loads of water no matter how much water I drink to flush through. I've put a few pound on to not sure if it's injections or because I've switched from quite a strict diet too lots of protein and full fat dairy. Is this your first round or have u had previous?? X

@ivf2021 my first IVF but I did 3 cycles of IUI that involved injections and stuff. I’ve put on 3lb which I assume is water weight as well. I was fine for the first week then on day 8 I went up like a balloon haha

How are you ladies all doing?
I woke up in quite bad pain at 5am, and had a pre-scheduled scan at the hospital, so headed to that a bit later in the morning. Turns out I have developed OHSS. It is horrendous, to say the least. Excruciating pain. They said it's moderate OHSS and it will have to be a freeze all now. Not much to do except stop taking the meds, and ride it out.

@Ofpalestsilver haha I'm the same my stomach feels huge! Hope today went well ❤️

@Luz192 bless u! How are u feeling? Hope u feel better soon! What happens now? Do you go on to a frozen cycle next month?

@Aim2912 @Coops0406 how did ur scans go today? Mine went ok egg collection booked in for Wednesday 🙏🏻

X

@ivf2021 my scan was pretty rubbish, only 3-4 follicles over 16mm. She says I haven't responded how they would expect for someone with polycycstic ovaries and high AMH. Then says that my ovaries don't look polycycstic to her so potential misdiagnosis! I feel like my only NHS cycle has been a waste!
Still got egg retrieval on Wednesday as they needed a minimum of 3 follicles over 16mm but I'm just gutted and frustrated ☹️

@Luz192 I hope you are okay! Can you take any tablets for the pain? A bit gutting but at least they can be frozen for when your body has recovered

@Luz192 ...oh no sounds awful. the things our bodies go through with all these hormones is crazy. :( , are you allowed to have baths now? you mentioned you do acupuncture, i think that also helps ease ohss. have you been given an update on your embryos?

@ivf2021 im scheduled to have collection on Wednesday like you have 6 over 16mm, less then my first round but hoping/ praying my others some how grow, as there are loads of small ones. how did your scan go?

@Coops0406 pco sometimes shows and sometimes it doesnt, as i was told i had pcos since i was 18, then when i had fertility issues i was told i didnt have pcos, now 3 years on i was told i have pco but not pcos. also pco appearance of ovaries can reduce with age too. are any of yours close to 16mm that might grow in the next 2 days?

@Ofpalestsilver, hope it went well today, and your feeling ok. x

@Aim2912 ahh right, so maybe at the time my scan did actually show as polycycstic whereas now it could appear differently. She said there was a couple under 8mm but they won't do anything. My fear is that there may not be any eggs in the follicles and if there are then with the drop off we'll be left with nothing. I know I need to stay positive but so difficult when my expectations (and I think theirs) were a lot higher. They seemed a bit confused as to my low numbers with my AMH.
Are you doing your trigger tonight?

@Coops0406 why do you only get one nhs cycle? Hopefully it's quality over quantity. Remember it only takes one 🙏🏻

@Aim2912 6 is a fab number! How many did you get last time? Mine went ok thank you! He was shouting loads of numbers out! Think I had about 14 but some of them were 20+, some were 16-19 and some were still 12-15 so unsure what number Wednesday will bring!

What time u both in? I've got to arrive at 8:45 and procedure at 9:00. I'm really nervous I've never been sedated before! I'm trigger shot tonight or u both too??

X

@ivf2021@Coops0406 yep my trigger is scheduled for 8.30pm today.

They said they will text me the details of when they need me to arrive etc.

Try to not get too nervous...the sedation for ec is lighter then other surgerys I've had so actually felt like I was just sleeping when I woke up. Not groggy or dazed at all. Hopefully you guys will be the same. X

@Luz192 how soon after EC did you get OHSS? I thought it turned up straight away, didn’t realise it could take a day or two. Hope you’re being well taken care of.

I had EC today. 11 eggs collected. I’m pleased. I expected fewer. But I’m hoping that those 11 are all ready to do their thang and do it well. Send good thoughts to them!

@ivf2021 sedation is honestly nothing to worry about. It will feel a bit scary in anticipation but it’s so quick at sending you to sleep & afterwards you just feel groggy but all fine! Just tell them you’re feeling anxious and they’ll be so reassuring. You got this!