First cycle of IVF - buddies please!

[LS2020]

Hi everyone,

Been on the conception boards a fair bit but this is first time on the infertility section.
Bit of background - 28 and been TTC for two years for first child. Had one miscarriage about 10 months ago at 5 weeks. Had all our fertility checks and no major issues have been identified. Consultant suggested IVF for us so we are currently in that process.
Nurse consultation is 2nd July and then hoping it’s not long after then!

Looking for some buddies to keep me going through it all as hate all kinds of hospital things and to stop me over thinking about!

Thanks for taking the time to read 😊

@LS2020 oh god haha! I didn’t monitor anything during the 2ww I just kept myself busy. I was the total opposite, I knew I wouldn’t test early as I was shitting myself for the result 🤣
What test are you using?

Im doing really good thanks. It is strange through as you’re so used to having all the appointments, injections, scan etc and then when you get to this point (which you will, positive vibes) its all calm and very odd. We are so used to being 100mph through IVF that the other side feels very strange.

@Girlwholifts haha I’m the same but I’d rather know so I can be less upset if it’s negative 😂 I’ve got some FRERs so will use them.
I can imagine, especially when it’s pre the 12 week mark so you’re just waiting to get through and be able to start enjoy second trimester and planning stuff. How many weeks are you now?

@hopingfor congratulations lovely! Amazing news!! How are you feeling?!

This thread has been so lucky!!

@Novavee good luck for your appointment day! Just remember to get sharps box etc from the clinic. Exciting that it's all happening!

@LS2020 on a scale of 1 to 10 how crazy are you going so far?! Your test date seems quite far away? If you had a 5 day transfer then is it not 9 days after transfer that you test?

@Bryterlayter1 pleases injections are going well! We build ourselves up and it's just a 5 minute job so a bit underwhelming isn't it haha when's your first scan?

So I started spotting last night (AF is 10 days late which I'm putting down to the aftermath of IVF drugs etc) so I've rang the clinic to get booked in for FET but I have to do a pregnancy test(!!) and call back tomorrow. They've provisionally booked me in but will feel better once they confirm I can start with the oestrogen tablets.

@LS2020 we will all be keeping our fingers and toes crossed for you!! You’ll have to let us all know when you do decide to test, try not to crumble to early 🤣

I’m only 8-9 weeks so long way to go yet! Getting used to this waiting game now 🤣

@dogmam @Novavee @Girlwholifts thank you so much ladies! This waiting game never ends now it's the scan appt wait to see if all okay not sure if anyone tested any more after there 11dpt? Should I?

Hey all, sorry been quiet just trying to keep busy the 2WW is awful! Worst part so far of the process. Today I started bleeding and just completely deflated and feel utterly lost. They said it’s not bad news but things don’t seem great at the moment.
Anyone else suffered this and how can I cope?

@CatMarina when are you due to test? X

I’m due to test on Friday.
I’m day 9 of a 4day embryo. They transferred 2 embryos.
Taking cyclogest pessaries too.

@dogmam I’m a solid 4, maybe pushing a 5. I’m some neurotic but know I can be worse 😂 our clinic just says two weeks 🤷‍♀️ Will probably cave by bank hol as I’ll be 9dpt at that point. My RHR is shooting up like crazy and feeling nervous about that. feels too early. But also if it wasn’t going up, I’d be stressed it wasn’t so 🤷‍♀️
Hope AF shows and you can get on with your cycle 🤞🏻

@hopingfor you could do a clearblue digital a few of days apart to make sure your HCG is increasing? If you want some reassurance but if you’re happy I would leave

@CatMarina how nerve wracking lovely, has it eased up at all over night?

Thanks @Girlwholifts @LS2020 @dogmam
The appointment went really well yesterday. Thin lining, not a polyp in sight and good number of antral folicles, so it's all systems go for next week.
The nurse was lovely and got me a gonal f pen to practice with, so I had a go at it and was pleasantly surprised it didn't hurt at all. I know you all said it wouldn't, but it's one of those things you have to try for yourself. Got a massive bag full of meds, a sharps box and the first three scans already scheduled for the week of 6/09.
Now just one more wait to next week to get started, but it's so busy at work and I have so much to catch up after my holiday that time will definitely fly by.

@CatMarina oh, lovely, I hope you're feeling better and the bleeding has stopped.

@LS2020 no easing as of yet, if anything it’s proper red now. I have called the clinic and they said to keep going until test day Friday. Feeling pretty lost and trying to get my head around going for round 2. Hope you’re doing well? X
@Novavee bleeding still going strong so things don’t seem great but I can’t do anything about it. Desperately trying to keep my mind busy but dreading the wait to get started on round 2. Hope you’re doing well? Not long now for you 😊🤞🏼

Hi everyone! Hope you don't mind me joining on to this thread? I've just had my first IVF cycle and am currently 2dp5dt. I can't help symptom spot already and it's driving me insane!
Cyclogest pessaries aren't helping distinguish between the two, but on our way home from ET I felt what can only be described as a pushing sensation, and then a pop on my right-side. I've never felt anything like it, very strange sensation. After this, we stopped off in Wagamamas for a bite to eat and I when I went to the loo, I had pink mucus when I wiped. Would you say that could have been implantation or a scratch from the catheter during transfer? We had a 5 day old hatching blastocyst transferred.
Also, today I'm feeling muscle ache in my upper abdomen, as if I've done a load of sit ups - which I haven't. Has anyone else experienced any of these symptoms? If not, what symptoms have you felt so far?
OTD for me is on 3/9

Just catching up with the thread. @hopingfor congrats! Wonderful news for you.

@novavee how exciting to be starting. I've been mixing my meds. Didn't realise there were pens, probably easier although I don"'t mind the syringes.

@dogmam thanks for asking about scans. I had one on day cd1, I'm just waiting outside the clinic now for scan at day cd6. The clinic I'm at will now want to scan every 2-3 days until EC. They do a lot of scanning and testing here but if it works I'm all for it.

Hope all on the 2ww are managing to keep themselves busy.

Welcome @LKJ1!

@Bryterlayter1 thank you! Scan booked in 8th Sept! Still doesn't feel real!

How are you getting on with injections? Hope no major side effects?

@Bryterlayter1 great that you're getting lots of scans, sounds like they're keeping a close eye on things to how how well you're responding. Hope today's went well!

@CatMarina Hope you're doing ok lovely.

I started my eastrogen tablets yesterday in prep for my FET! Had an absolutely banging headache last night so really hope it was just a one off and not a side effect. Scan booked for next Thursday to check lining!

@dogmam Excellent news about the upcoming FET!

@CatMarina I'm sorry it hasn't stopped. I hope you're well and taking care of yourself.

@Bryterlayter1 yeah, the pen is easier than i though. Just have to rotate the top to select the dose on a tiny screen and press to release the medication just like an actual pen. I'll start cetrotide from day 7, i think, so I'll need to be mixing that one. I'm glad to read you don't mind mixing your meds. Now that I've tried the pen the actual syringes look a bit more daunting. For some reason my brain is always looking for the next thing to worry about 🙄

@dogmam great news on starting the tablets. Hopefully the headache is not a side effect. How long will you be on them until your ET? Or will it depend on your lining?

Welcome @LKJ1. Sorry i can't help with your questions, i am way behind you on this journey.

For the ladies that went through EC, did you take a few days off to rest or were you back at work the next day? I'm trying to accomplish the impossible task of organising the next couple of weeks at work, even though the date for the EC will only be booked closer to the dates. With all the delays in starting it is obviously happening during one of our busiest periods when we are also short staffed. I told my line manager i would likely need two days but now I'm wondering if that would be enough or if it might actually be ok to be back in the office the next day...

@Novavee I would say if you're able to take the two days after EC, then take them. I slept literally all day when I got home after EC - the best sleep I've had in a looooong time! The following days I felt really crampy and achy as if AF was on her way. The only medication I was allowed to take was paracetamol which didn't touch the uncomfortable feeling.
Are you planning on taking time off after transfer? Maybe take a day after each if it's difficult to take time off at the moment? Hope this helps x

@LKJ1 welcome hope you doing ok, what u had was probably of transfer I got scratched during transfer. How you feeling now? Xx

@LS2020 how u feeling xx

@Novavee so excited that you’re starting soon! Sounds like you’re ready to go :)
I would take the two days off if you can. I got told it was one day but then when I was there they said it was actually 48 hours I needed off so deffo would ask. I was grateful at the time though to rest and heal and I was still bleeding a bit.

Welcome @LKJ1 - we have the same OTD! I’m slightly ahead as 5dpt today. I would think the blood would be from the process. Might have knocked a cut from the EC? They can’t implant in until they’re fully hatched which takes another 24 hours the doctor told me but I wouldn’t worry, it’s actually rare to get an implantation bleed so don’t worry if you’ve not seen anything since, I haven’t!

@Bryterlayter1 @dogmam very pleased you’re starting your cycles, hope all goes well ❤️

@tmc2021 I’m doing okay…. Feeling a bit disheartened today as I just feel nothing and think something should be happening?! My RHR has dropped off a bit but also on the first day of holiday so relaxing and also I don’t think would rise this early even if I was pregnant so I don’t know why I’m so concerned it’s dropped. When I think it through I have a lot of progesterone symptoms but my main one with my MC was my nausea and I don’t feel particularly nauseous but then I only felt that from like 12dpo so I’m still a few days behind that?! Deffo need to stop obsessing!!

@tmc2021 my OH has taken my Fitbit off me 🤣

@Novavee yes it's much easier with the pen isn't it! I had rekovelle which was just the clicky pen thing, then Cetrotide too, which had to be mixed, you'll be absolutely fine.
For the egg collection I had one planned day off afterwards then went back to work but ended up rining in sick (I've never done that in over 10 year) and was off for about a week, but I was at risk of OHSS, also though the main reason you should think about taking time off is because you'll be getting updates on how many embryos you get and what their progress is. So you'll need to be available to take the calls and obviously deal with the news (hopfully positive!). I think I've said before but during the whole IVF and TTC process in general, that for me has been the hardest part.

@LS2020 aw bless you, have a fab holiday, I think removing the fitbit is a good shout!

Morning ladies.

Little update from me with a heavy heart.

We had a private scan yesterday following advice from our clinic as baby measured small at confirmation scan and unfortunately there was no longer a heartbeat 😞 We were 7+5 & 11mm so it had only just happened.

Obviously, we are both feeing totally devastated and upset but both understand the embryo just wasn’t strong enough. We have an appointment next week with our clinic and local hospital for the next steps.

Sending huge positive vibes to you all ❤️

@girlwholifts I am so sorry. What a cruel thing to happen. I hope you have some space and time to look after yourself.