IVF August/September cycle buddies

[foodiefil]

Starting this thread early!

We've just booked for our second round to start August 2nd with egg collection September 8th.

I was on the Jan/Feb thread earlier this year.

Come join me :)

Hi all, can I join? This will be my second ivf after two failed iui last Nov & Dec and one failed ivf in April. DH (44) and I (42) have been married 18 years but only started ttc about 4 years ago. All the COVID stuff massively delayed our fertility investigations and treatments, as we started investigations in 2019. We were only eligible for one round of ivf on nhs so we have just started with a private clinic. We had our initial consultation over zoom, then I had a scan and mock ET (something about measuring the correct distance in cervix to release the embryo) a few days ago.

First ivf they retrieved 5 eggs, all fertilised (icsi), 3 made it to embryo stage, then 2 transferred at day 3, but didn't stick. The 3rd didn't make it to freeze. This time they are upping my meds to try to get more eggs, as time is not on my side. We have the nurse consultation on Monday asking with the consent forms. I'm also supposed to start suprecur injections from Monday (down reg?), then my period is due the following week, at which point we will start short protocol.

Can I join? This will be my 5th cycle.

My third have me my gorgeous baby who turns one this month and we're now trying for a sibling.

This time I'll be doing a double trigger, on the highest dose of Menopur and moving over to progesterone injections. I'll also be on a short protocol, the long one last time was horrendous, seemed to go on for ages and really took it out of me 😢

On my last cycle we got three eggs, two fertilised and got to day 5 and we transferred one but it didn't stick. The other one wasn't good enough to freeze (sadly I've never had any good enough to freeze on day 5!).

Feel like an old veteran at all of this now but it never gets easier tbh, even with a baby.

Time isn't on my side as I've recently turned 38 but the doc says we have a reasonable chance so I'm keeping that in mind 🤞🏻

Wishing everyone a calm ride and lots of positive thoughts despite the massive ups and downs we'll all be going through 🦋

Just thought I'd say hi ladies, hope you are all doing ok.

Hi @Bluebonnet3, I am 41 and covid massively delayed our first cycle as well by way over a year. Started our investigations in 2019 and was meant to have our first cycle in Feb/March 2020, it ended up being March/April this year instead. Hope your first jab went ok today.

Hi @FingersXssd83 best of luck with this cycle. I am sure no matter how many times you do it, it is just as stressful. This will be my second and I swing from being excited to just wanting it to be over so I know the result, to wondering why I'm even bothering trying it again x

Hi again everyone and welcome to everyone who's new! Sorry you find yourselves here too, but glad we have each other for support xx

@Etonmess20 thank you so much! I hope this is our time now :)

@Goldilocks2528 I'm so glad that you have a meet-up with your friend and her family coming up! That is a long, long time to be apart... But even appier for you that you had a start date - that is very exciting!!

@KatRee thanks! I started reading IT Starts With The Egg a couple of months ago too, and sometimes read through some chapters, but I can get a bit OCD with things so I'm trying not to go overboard with the advice... If it doesn't work this time, I think I'll be following it religiously though...

@Hansoo I'm sorry that the vaginismus is making things harder for you and I'm afraid I have no advice or first-hand experience of Entonox, but my partner has had to use it many times for recurrent dislocations and he swears by it. I've seen the difference between the extreme pain he'd be in and the relief with the Entonox, so I'm sure it will be a huge help. My only suggestion would be to definitely take it for the transfer as well if you can xx

@Bluebonnet3 I hope your nurse consultation went well today. I hope your first injection went well :) I'm also on Buserelin at the moment with my period due soon, but I'll be on it for another couple of weeks at least

Best of luck to all xx

Hi all, hope everyone is ok! My nurse consultation went ok yesterday. Loads of consent forms! Also a bit confusing and overwhelming with all the info they give you and pricing options and possible timelines. 2nd injection today of buserelin went ok, mainly because I get DH to do it. Apparently I'm on a kind of hybrid long/short protocol, where I'm on buserelin for a week before my period is due. Then call on day 1 to arrange a baseline scan and blood tests, possibly the same day or within a day or 2. Continue taking buserelin in the mornings and add FSH in the evenings. (Higher dose than last time to try to get more eggs.) Then monitoring scans at the end of the week, then every 2-3 days up to about day 12 or so. They mentioned a double trigger and then egg collection possibly between 20-25 Aug. My meds are being delivered tomorrow, and it looks like I'll be on an interesting cocktail of buserelin, meriofert, cetrotide, fostimon, gonasi trigger, and cyclogest. Some of them are different to my first round, so I'm not quite sure what/when they are for, even after reading their leaflets online. It's interesting and confusing -- and getting real!

Hi ladies

Good news that your jabs are going ok @Bluebonnet3. I start buserelin on the 18th, but I take it the whole way through to the end, with Gonal F for the last 10 days and norethisterone tablets for the first 7 days as well. had a scheduling call yesterday, start 18th Aug and go in for final scan 13 Sept. If it all goes well I think I'll have EC on the 15 Sept, but obviously so much can go wrong between now and then.

The clinic wanted me to try meriofert and fostimon instead of Gonal F for this cycle, but we said no. Obviously everybody is different but Gonal F worked for me last time, and because I have diminished ovarian reserve anyway and they couldn't say that it would give us more eggs this time we stuck to what we knew. I know I was OK on the previous drugs, and I know they worked because I ended up pregnant, so don't want to mess with it.

It is definitely interesting and confusing! I'm sure you'll be fine though x

Hi everyone,

Sorry I’ve been quiet since starting the thread. Had a lot going on!

Started round 2 yesterday. Doing injections at 8pm instead of 8am this time and think I prefer it - but having to pack the gear in my make up bag for tomorrow night as going out for a meal.

How’s everyone doing?

We are private round 2 ivf with icsi. MFI.

First round ended in a chem pregnancy.

Sending love and hand holds to anyone who needs it xxx

Hi @foodiefil
Sorry to hear your first round ended like that. It is very difficult isn't it. Good luck for this cycle.
We are also on round 2, also private with ICSI. First round I miscarried at 10.5 weeks. Start injecting on the 18th... the countdown is on.

Good morning everyone,

Hope its okay to join in, I have just started my 1st round. I have to Google all the abbreviations you guys write I'm very new and dont really know anyone that is going through this. I have done lots of reading though.

My close friends and family know about our journey, I'm 35 and got bored of trying to talk around the subject when friends and family asked so we just told them we were having issues...that usually stopped a conversation!

I started my long protocol, 1st round on Saturday just gone. Started with Buserelin, and yesterday was my first injection by myself, the DH has been doing them over the weekend.

I know the statistics of catching on round 1 but I'm just happy to have finally started after a long wait and interrupted investigations due to Covid!

Cant wait to follow other peoples journeys, and good luck to everyone

Morning!

It's so interesting to see all the different protocols people are on...it's honestly a minefield!

I'm going for a scan today, I think a baseline scan and to see what my AFC is. I never had this on my first cycle and a bit freaked out at going for a scan whilst AF is around! Does anyone know what this will tell me? I already have my protocol so could that change depending on this scan?

@foodiefil so sorry to hear about your chemical pregnancy, ivf really is a hard journey! Hoping this round works for you 🤞🏾

I'm due to start norithisterone on the 17th august then injections on 1st September with provisional EC on 13th September. Will be on 450mg ovaleap as 225 meriofert didn't work for me, even with a high AMH (I got 2 eggs only).

Look forward to hearing more about everyone's journeys 🥰

@Coops0406 I still don't understand half of what i read on here!

@Goldilocks2528 I am so so sorry to hear that. I can't imagine how that must have been for you xxx

Good morning everyone!

@Coops0406 good luck with your scan today! Let us know... I've never had a scan with AF around... I hope that's not too unpleasant but I'm sure those guys are used to everything!! My clinic mentioned that they usually base the dose of the stims on the number of follicles seen at the baseline scan, so maybe that could be it? I'll start Gonal F on 17 Aug so it's the next date for me as well :)

Welcome @Nerdalert! It's our second round but quite similar here... 35, long protocol, started Buserelin last Wed, telling friends and family when it comes up :) best of luck! how was your first injection alone today?

Hi again @foodiefil - glad to hear you've started! Are you down regulating or have you started stims already? Evening injections sound a lot better either way! Enjoy your dinner tonight :)

@Goldilocks2528 great to hear that your clinic took your preferences into account and you're sticking to Gonal F! Why change something that worked, right?!

@Bluebonnet3 good to hear your consultation went well! So much info and always something new to learn, but I'm sure everything will fall into place bit by bit :)

Lots of love to all xx

Hey, @beachbum85

Solo one was last night and I rewarded myself with a Domino's 🤣

My mum sent me a little pineapple ice pack so I use that to numb the area a bit first, it really helps, I also use it after the jab! I have needle marks but little bruising which is good!

I'm on the down regs, start gonal mid August, EC end of August if all things are on track! Not looking forward to the 2WW...how do you stay sane waiting for that test? X

@Nerdalert pizza sounds like the perfect reward!! yummm
The ice pack sounds like a good idea... I haven't used one but I've got a couple of small bruises that I didn't have last time round, so maybe I should start!
The short answer is: I didn't stay sane in the 2ww :( I couldn't think of anything else and I had a couple of meltdowns and my partner said he's never seen my mental health that low before... so I'm not a great source of advice but I have a couple of plans for this time round... I'm going to keep up the acupuncture because I feel really relaxed afterwards, and I'll probably book a session with the counsellor that the clinic has said is available. Now that restrictions are lifted, we'll probably plan a day trip or 1 night away or something like that for the weekend to have something else to think about. I think knowing that I've been through a failed cycle and survived OK even though it was really hard is helping me this time... for now at least :)

@beachbum85 I'm sorry to hear about the outcome of your last cycle, I honestly can't imagine! Its good to have a plan, I might do the same with a weekend away. Get a few new books to get my head in.

Fingers crossed for #2! We seem to be on a similar timeline! X

Hi @Coops0406 I have had a transvaginal scan whilst bleeding. It was fine, they said they were used to it and aside from it being a bit more embarrassing and messy than usual, it wasn't any different. The things we do eh?! Hope the scan goes ok. I start Norethisterone a day later than you on the 18th, when I also start the buserelin jabs. We can suffer together

Hi @Nerdalert, welcome and well done on doing the your first injection on your own. I've got a terrible fear of needles, and DH did them all for me last time. That's the plan for this cycle too, but I am going to try and see if I can do it myself at some stage, firstly to prove to myself that I can and secondly because if he has to go away for work I'll have no choice! Also, you never know. Round 1 worked for me , up until it didn't, but miracles do happen x

Hope you are feeling ok on the medication @beachbum85. Like you, I found the 2ww was just the hardest thing in the world. I thought I'd struggle with the medication and cope ok with the emotional stuff, but it was the other way around for me. Knocked me for 6, I wasn't expecting to cope so badly so I totally understand. You invest so much into it all, it is so all-consuming and it really takes over your every waking (and sleeping!) thought. I like your plans for this time around, having something to look forward to and take your mind off it a bit sounds great

@Nerdalert very similar timeline! Glad to be cycling together... the support is invaluable :)

Thanks @Goldilocks2528... it's terrible but quite consoling to know that I wasn't the only one losing my mind... and I was so confident that I would cope fine too! I think it's the lack of control that does my head in, but I'm hopeful it can be better this time :)
It must be really hard with a fear of needles but I'm cheering you on if you decide to try one yourself xx

@Goldilocks2528 so far so good with the medication btw... no side effects but still 2 weeks to go till baseline!

Just had my scan, which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be @beachbum85 @Goldilocks2528 ...luckily AF decided to chill for a bit so it was okay!

Not great news for my scan...on one ovary they saw 7 follicles and the other 5, which they said is low for my AMH. They also saw a cyst and having spoken to the consultant they have decided I need to wait another cycle before starting 😞 it's too small to operate on but may go away itself so they want to give it another month to see if it will. Pretty gutted as I'm 39 in just over a week and really wanted to get going on the 2nd round ASAP, but I know it's obviously to give us the best chance.

@Nerdalert I had to isolate through all my stims back in June which was great, then once our embryo was back in I worked during the 2WW...just to keep my mind off it all. I think next time I would plan some nice things to look forward to though!

@Bluebonnet3 your list of meds is huge, I bet it's so confusing!! Luckily I will just be on norithisterone tablets then my stims, I don't think my protocol involves down regulation

@beachbum85 @coops0406 @goldilocks2528

I haven't had a baseline scan? Does this matter? I went from day 1 contact to bloods then down regs on day 19! I know everyone's experience is different 🤔

@Nerdalert I don't really know, last time I didn't have one, this time I have and they found a cyst and delayed it 🤷🏾‍♀️ I think because of my very ooor response in my last cycle I wanted to see where I was starting from so asked for one

@Coops0406 oh, I'm so sorry you have to delay! I can imagine the furstration and disappointment :( here's hoping that cyst goes away by itself right away and ythis month flies by for you... sending you a big hug xx

@Nerdalert my baseline is after down reg, or after almost 3 weeks of Buserelin in my case... do you have a scan around when you're due to start with the stims? I think that would be the baseline as my clinic said they look at the AFC and confirm the correct dose then.

@beachbum85 ahhhh yes I do, its labelled as tracking scan on my schedule!

@Coops0406, fingers crossed the cyst goes away by itself and its only a short delay! Good things come to those who wait 😁 PMA x

Hello, hope it's ok to join. I'm about to start cycle 2 in the next few days (waiting for AF to arrive). I'll be on a short protocol. We have MFI. I have a decent AMH at 18. On round 1 we got 8 eggs but only 2 fertilised and only one was suitable for transfer, the other couldn't be frozen. We got a BFP with our wee 4CC embryo but unfortunately turned into a chemical pregnancy. The next round they're changing my medication and I'll also have a scan on the day I take the trigger shot, hopefully will get a better response this time.

Hi everyone. I'm back again from earlier pages of the thread! Results of my repeat AMH test and my period have aligned, so clinic has confirmed the 'green light' to get going again.

I'll be on an antagonist protocol (with a mandatory freeze all which sucks), starting Norethisterone on the 22nd of August, with stims planned from early September.

I'll try have a look back and catch up on news!