Infertility investigations/IVF in Scotland - thread 3

[itsmschanandlerbong]

A thread for those of us undergoing infertility investigations or treatment in Scotland.

Thread 1 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/3742246-infertility-investigations-ivf-in-scotland

Thread 2 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/4138992-Infertility-investigations-IVF-in-Scotland-thread-2

@itsmschanandlerbong Put down the tests, it sounds like this is a strong one! No call yet from clinic, but on my patient portal they've updated my treatment diary to show me continuing to take stims over weekend and come in for another scan on Monday. It'll be the first time in what is my 6th go of stims that I've ever continued to stim until a second scan, so I think it looks like they're going to sacrifice big ones for the small ones. They did say they'd try pushing me for longer this time to see if they could get more eggs out of me, just hoping the gamble pays off. Going to need to go buy more animal protein!

@Kamiros Oddly my headaches have eased last few days, so hopefully you're body adjusts too. Good luck for scan on Monday!

@2mumlife Hopefully you'll get a call soon. I think they update all the portal stuff then do calls. Really great news, even the small ones look like they're doing ok. What are you having protein wise - I really struggle to get enough.

@Kamiros They changed portal again and got call. I've to do trigger on Sunday evening, egg collection Tuesday afternoon. Which is when my sister is getting married. I'd told her there was a chance this would happen, but I thought it the collection did end up being on Tuesday it would be in the morning and I'd still be able to manage to go. So lots of awkward conversations to have as no one but my sister knows we're TTC so I don't know quite what to say to parents who are actually going to be the issue (just called me sister and she was lovely about it)

@2mumlife Oh I remember you saying that might happen. Typical it would land on that afternoon, I'm sorry. Are you going to give a reason? Great your sister was lovely about it, she'll understand.

@2mumlife aaah I remember you were talking about that, is it definitely going to be then? Do they still want you in for another scan before then?

@Kamiros @itsmschanandlerbong Yup definitely Tuesday afternoon, have my trigger instructions etc etc and when nurse called said unfortunately they couldn't move it to the morning session (GCRM by the way are now doing 25 egg collections a week she said!)

Spoke to parents, went fine. Told them I didn't really want to discuss it and they've agreed they'll wait now until if and when we have something we want to tell them

Wish I could have a gin!

@2mumlife wow! I guess they must be busy with the nhs clinics running so far behind. Glad it went ok with your parents. Just typical bad timing but you can't do anything about that!

@itsmschanandlerbong Yup, bloody typical. No additional scans now until collection.

@Kamiros Sorry I missed bit about protein! So I'm trying to have 60g protein a day, but what actually seems to be more important is your protein to carb ratio. So, no bread, no pasta etc and I'm trying to maintain as high protein low carb as I can. We don't do cow's milk, but have bought pea milk from Tesco which has 8g protein in a glass. Been having a lot of omlettes (with cheese for more protein), greek feta is your friend (make Greek salad with home grown tomatoes and Greek olives - olives aren't too bad on the protein to carb ratio either). Lots of seeds and nuts (but avoid cashews, they have bad protein to carb ratio). Smoked salmon is a great way to increase protein - I've been buying the cheaper trimmings and throwing it in omlettes, salads etc. Prawns work well, and work for lunch as a salad with avacado (avo is high on carbs but research suggests good fats and consumption can help IVF so I balance it out with protein). Greek yogurt (topped with seeds, nuts, but of natural honey if I need something sweet). Had quite a lot of chicken legs. I don't eat red meat so I'm really getting the protein from dairy, fish and chicken.

@2mumlife Glad the conversation went ok. Just unfortunate that you'll miss it. Thanks that's really helpful. Endocrinologist already has me on limited carbs and gluten so I'm probably not too far away. I struggle a little to hit the ratio, I don't eat eggs, so always looking for ideas of what else to include. I'll look into the pea milk as I'm not keen on cows milk.

Congratulations @itsmschanandlerbong, very exciting. @2mumlife glad your conversation went well with missing the wedding and hope the egg collection goes well.

Can I ask those of you who've had accupunture how you felt afterwards? I'm feeling a bit nauseous after my session yesterday but it might be coincidence. I've had 2 sessions now at Albany Street in Edinburgh, one with Rachel and the one yesterday with Charlotte. I enjoyed Charlotte's session more to be honest as I felt she explained things a bit more. Just wondering what others experience is?

@LouScot I was in with Charlotte yesterday too- you must have been there just before me. I also prefer her sessions to Rachel's- although they are both lovely. I felt like I connected with her more and she uses more needles which I find work better for me. I usually just feel very relaxed for a few days after. I had been having a little cramping yesterday and thats lifted now. Havent had any nausea.

Ooo, @Kamiros we must have just missed each other . She asked how I'd found out about the clinic and I mentioned an online ivf forum . Yes, I think the nausea is coincidence. I've got another session with her booked next week then think I might continue with her, I did feel more connected and that she "did" more. I liked that she gave me wee tips, like gently telling me off for not wearing socks and said its very important to keep feet warm for fertility. I bought cosy socks on the way home ha ha x

@LouScot Do ask her about the nausea though cos it might be connected and she can maybe alter the needle points. I love even just chatting with her about it all, I find friends and family either get bored of hearing about it or feel awkward, it's nice to have a really open chat.

Hey all.

I am on cycle 3 of clomid. Totally random question but I'm on CD28 due AF on Monday 12 DPO. Got a BFN this morning but done an OPK tonight no idea why lol just wanted to see and I've got A negative as expected but it's quite a dark line like just I get during the surge.

Is this normal at this point in the cycle?

@Kamiros Ah eggs have been a bit of a life saver for me as I don't really like meat. Definitely look into the pea milk (it's called Mighty Pea Mlk - I've only ever seen it being sold in Tesco). I also have powdered pea protein that you can add into smoothies or make protein bars with pea protein and peanut butter (a lot of protein bars in the shop have added sugar, sweeteners or high carbs so I've been making my own).

@LouScot Not experienced nausea with accupuncture. Interesting you mention socks, are you wearing those during the accupuncture? My accupuncturist uses points on my foot and ankle so I don't wear socks during. The number and placement of needles should vary depending on where you are in cycle. My accupuncturist has a few key areas she'll use nearly every time on the feet, wrists and between eyes on forehead (that ones a stress relief) but other needles on legs, stomach etc vary (I even get one on top of head during luteal phase). You need someone you can talk to - mine used extra points this week to help with headache from meds and been using extra points back of hand by thumbs for tension release

@J90A Sorry I have no experience with OPK so can't help!

@J90A in my experience some people peak for longer than others. I have visible lines on OPKs for a day, sometimes less, so I would count what you posted as my surge. Could you maybe have ovulated late?

@LouScot I also found acupuncture was more than just the practical part of it for me. It was time for myself, I could talk to the practitioner about what I was going through and she gave me some hints and tips. Mine also said to keep my feet warm!

@itsmschanandlerbong I had my surge already had a positive result at CD14/15 and had ov pains CD16. Then back to negative. I'm away at CD27 now. AF due tomorrow x

@2mumlife no, not wearing socks during the session but she'd noticed me come in on summery sandals with bare feet, and asked if I did that a lot - I do! - so she said it was important to keep them warm. During the session she put a heat lamp in my feet and honestly, it was amazing!!
I'm going to ask more what the different points are next time, I loved the forehead one. I couldn't tell where they all went, but mainly in feet/lower legs and near the webby bit of the thumb.

Also, 2mum and @Kamiros, you mention pea protein - gave you tried the green pack Birds Eye "chicken" - some of it is pea protein and really delicious!!

I've feel like I've missed the protein memo, does it help the whole process? I need to up my game with it then, thank you.

Sorry @2mumlife, I've just re-read your excellent post about protein. I'm going to get feta this evening for a feta omelette, yum x

@LouScot Ah see I'm a sock wearer my nature - in the winter I'm even a bed sock kinds girl. I did bedsocks earlier in the year too for transfer times. Heat lamp of feet sounds nice, my accupuncturist isn't that fancy! Not tried the birds eye stuff, as I'm limiting processed food as much as possible as well as everything else. Diet was the only thing I had left to change after multiple unsuccessful attempts. So I was following a Mediterranean diet which has been suggested to be good for fertility, right up until stims, where I'm doing a short term high protein low carb diet for the duration. Normal recommended protein intake for a woman is normally 40ish g so going up to 60g which is what some clinics recommend is a bit of work, but I've got nothing to lose, so I'm throwing everything I've got at this cycle as it's our last egg collection and our last egg collection was very disappointing (half follies no eggs, half my eggs not mature) so I'm trying to do anything I can to swing odds a bit, since I just done seem to respond well to stims and had such a poor response last time.

So thats my first scan done. Just the 2 follicles on the right again, nothing on the left. Seem to be growing slightly slower this time but otherwise very similar to last cycle. Keeping everything crossed there's a good egg in there.

@Kamiros fingers crossed!
Today is 4dp5dt and so far not too bad nerves wise. Curious to know what but happy to wait until Saturday when I think we will test at home (maybe Sunday, I am not sure hah). We have bought some pregnancy test FRER but they are away in a drawer and I'm happy for them to stay there. Back to work today so hopefully this will make the week go fast!

@GemmTryTTC You're doing so well. The waiting for every stage of this is torture 😂

@Kamiros On the outside I am doing not too bad, but on the inside is another story hah! I am trying to not symptom spot and to not cling to any outcome, enjoy this not-knowing days (hard!)