IVF first timers - June 2021 Protocol

[Luan82]

Hello 👋🏼!! About to embark on the absolutely terrifying process of IVF in June (once my next cycle finishes) and though it might be nice to get chatting to some people going through the same? Meds due tomorrow and bloods booked in for Saturday - Let me know if you are in the same boat would be great to get some support from some fellow infertility warriors ❤️x

@Kemqueen it is anxiety inducing but hopefully it’s also really positive for you as well!

@Kemqueen definitely bound to feel anxious but as @Ofpalestsilver says, it's really positive too. When are you likely to start your meds?

Am looking forward to hopefully first week in June when period comes. It seems far but trying to live life as normal so as not to think too much of it. I hope period comes as normal 😁. Can’t wait to start! @Ofpalestsilver thanks for your encouraging words!

@Ofpalestsilver hope all goes well tomorrow. Let us know how you get on. Sorry to hear about your miscarriage. It never gets easier does it! My best friend recently gave birth to a little girl who was due the same week as me. That was a tough one to swallow. I think it's natural to be hopeful about things. Positive vibes all round!!

@Luan82 I've heard other recommend acupuncture. Have you had it before? What does it feel like? Ah cool, anywhere between day 3 and 5 seems to be around average. You might be right about the lockdown boredom. I bet there's been a boom! They'll be coming up with a name for covid babies soon!! 🤣

@Coops0406 it really is everywhere. We've had 2 pregnancy announcements in work recently too just to rub salt in the wound! 🙈 I am thrilled for them but fingers crossed it's our turn next ladies! 🤞🏻🤞🏻 Amazing news about AF!! Finally on your way ☺️

@Kemqueen June will be here before you know it! I'm feeling more anxious as the days go by but hopefully it'll all be fine. 🤞🏻

@Kemqueen -welcome to the chat! We're all in the same boat here - it's can be a little bit overwhelming, exciting but daunting !! I felt exactly the same !!
@Cat028 it's really relaxing especially when she pops the heat lamp on! It hurts a tiny bit sometimes when she inserts the needles into certain areas but I think that's because of the blood flow just for a split second then it's gone. I'm very lucky as there is a lady who specialises in fertility who works just up the road from me literally about five mins
We went out for a meal at our local Italian last night, as I'm readying myself for isolating for the rest of the month - there was a pregnant lady sat on the table next to us and every single part of their conversation revolved around what she couldn't eat and the baby even my other half said 'what are the chances!!'
12dpo and BFN for me today. So now it's a waiting game for AF to arrive - really hope it's on time tomorrow otherwise I'll have to take the contraceptive pill and I'm not sure for how long but I'm not keen, it took so long to get the pill out of my system the first time round !! Positive vibes ladies - going to need it !! 🤞🏼🌈❤️xx

@Luan82 fingers crossed for it arriving on time for you 🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾

I'm struggling today with awful pains from AF! Struggling to stomach and food either...wish I could just sleep the rest of the day off then wake up tomorrow without any pains and ready for injections 😍

@Kemqueen it will creep up upon you in no time!! Honestly, I had my telephone appointment to talk me through the meds on 29th April and it seemed like everything was so far away...but it just suddenly arrived at the date!

@Amanda001 🙋🏻‍♀️ welcome! Though I do have experience with blocked tubes I'm afraid I don't have any experience of treatment abroad but I'm pretty sure that there are some ladies on these chats considering it, especially due to the cost - wishing you all the best with treatment though !! ❤️x

@Luan82 it sounds nice when you explain it like that. I've always been so terrified of needles I hadn't even considered it. I just have massages and cannot wait for my one tomorrow! 🙌🏻 That's lovely. Did you enjoy your meal? Make the most of it while you can. Aw it's gutting to see the blank test. Hopefully this is the start of a positive cycle for you. 🤞🏻AF shows up.

@Coops0406 sorry to hear you're feeling uncomfortable today. That's so exciting to be starting. How are you feeling now it's here?

@Amanda001 Hi, I can't help with the clinic either I'm afraid. Hopefully you'll find someone who can give you some advice soon. Have you tried on the main infertility forum?

@Cat028 a little bit excited! Got it all out and lined up ready for tomorrow! Now to wake up my snoring other half to watch the video with me so he knows what we're doing in the morning!! I'm half wishing the night away and half terrified!

@Amanda001 I'm sorry I have no experience or knowledge of places abroad but I'm sure I have read in other threads about places abroad...it may be worthwhile setting up a new thread about it then hopefully people with some experience or knowledge of it can help.

@Luan82 hoping AF shows up for you, when are you expecting it?

@Luan82 why would you need to take the pill if AF doesn’t come? Hope it arrives soon.

I had a scan tonight. One dominant follicle and the rest very small. Not a lot in total even, around 12. The nurse did prepare me for the possibility that we might have to abandon the cycle and try again with a different balance of drugs. Which put me in a downer. Increased meds - now 300 Menopur and 150 gonal-f a day. Do your thing please! Still not many side effects although putting in the Menopur made me feel like I was filling full of liquid!

@Ofpalestsilver so sorry to hear that. Let's hope the increase in drugs does it's thing 🤞🏾 I have seen similar in other threads and then suddenly towards the last few days they get a hurry on...and they all always talk about quality rather than quantity...keeping everything crossed for you 🥰

@Cat028 thankyou! 😘
@Coops0406 that is so exciting! Fingers crossed I'll be doing that today if AF shows, temp gone down again but pulse rate gone up - few cramps this morning which are a good sign
@Ofpalestsilver well if it makes you feel any better my AFC count during a fertility scan was a measly 7!! So I think 12 sounds like a good number 🙂 try not to fret about the maturity just yet that's what the scans are for to adjust the meds accordingly, I'm in a group for low amh-ers and quite a few had slow growing follicles they caught back up towards EC - xx

@Luan82 just done first injection! All went well, lasted a little longer than I expected but I think other half was being extra slow at squeezing the plunger! I hope AF comes today and you can start too...will it be tonight if AF comes today?

@Coops0406 yay!! So I need to call the clinic as soon as I start to bleed and they will give me instructions over the phone but yes, according to my diary it's one injection this evening - did you find it painful? I'm currently wondering if I should do the injections myself or get OH to do them, I'm a HUGE control freak though ... 😂🤣x

@Luan82 fingers crossed it hurries up. I didn't really get any pms warning signs for mine though, just spotting the night before then arrived the next morning.
It was a bit more painful than I thought but I think he pushed on it it quite hard once it was in and it seemed quite a while with him squeezing the stuff in...I can't do them myself as I really struggle with things like that. I can have anyone inflict pain on me but I can't even pull a plaster off myself. I think it will be less painful tomorrow, it's only a tiny needle so basically a pin prick, we just need to master it! Dreading two of them at the same time!

@Luan82 I did do the mixing up though as I'm a bit of a control freak too!!! 🤣

@Coops0406 hehe I know a lot of ladies like us!! Well.... AF is here bang on time !! I just knew this morning when I woke up that it was coming, so it's first injection for me this eve!!! 🤗

@Luan82 yay!!! Fantastic news!!! Which injections are you on? Mine was meriofert (225) so had to mix up 3 powders, all done very easily. Excited for you 😁😁😁 I bet you are wishing the day away! I literally just wanted to go to bed last night and woke up at 2am then 5am in excitement!

@Coops0406 I'm glad you've felt excited about it and that it went well. ☺️ I'm the same with needles. I can't even look so DP will have to do it. I'm sure your DP will get the hang of it after the first few goes!

@Ofpalestsilver I'm sure that must have been disappointing but hopefully they are just letting you know worst case. Finger crossed the increase in meds will do what they need to. Do you have another scan booked in?

@Luan82 Fab!! Very exciting. Hopefully today doesn't drag too much for you. Have you got plans to take your mind off the wait? How you feeling about injections?

@Cat028 it won't be long now until you start the norithisterone...do you know how long you will be taking it for?
Yes, I'm sure he'll be a pro by the time we're finished on them 🤣

@Coops0406 img same!! the first injection I think for 5 days is meriofert just about to call the clinic and let them know, I got up at half six and went for a run!!
@Cat028 I was up early and it's beautiful here in York so I'm going to go out in the garden I think and do some weeding then housework - nothing too groundbreaking 😂 I'm ok about the injections I think.... will see how I get on this evening though !!

@Luan82 you are crazy running at that hour! It's ridiculously hot here today (preston) I took the dog for a very slow walk as I still can't get rid of this uncomfortable bloating and we ended up turning round sooner than anticipated!

I've read stuff about keeping running to a minimum during ivf, not sure how much of it is right, but worth just looking it up if you are a runner. I used to run a bit and hoping that once things happen eventually I can get back into it!

@Coops0406 you're absolutely right - I'm getting my last few runs in before I turn into a couch potato for a month !! 😂

I've just had a call from the clinic, seems that I spoke too soon as they have me on the pill till Wednesday and first injection is Thursday I think it's about timing my scan and egg collection, they also asked if I was nhs so think I've got to fit my appointment around the private patients which I totally understand just hope that the pill doesn't have a negative affect on my numbers it took me six months to regulate my hormones when I came off it!

@Coops0406 About a week and a half. I start a week tomorrow, meds are due to be delivered on Tues. 😁
It's great that you are keeping active. Hopefully that will help with the bloating. I've heard the same about running/exercising too heavily too. Got my last PT session on weds and then I'll drop the weights and just keep active through walking. Do you have any scans booked?

@Luan82 omg you are so much more motivated than me. I treated myself to a day off the gym yesterday but have been for a walk with DP around a lake this morning. It's really warm too here in South Wales. Gutted about your schedule being pushed back a bit. Like you say I'm sure it's so everything can run smoothly once you get started. They didn't specify the pill for me. They just said protected sex.