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 😊

Had my scan this morning. My follicles aren't growing very quickly (DR noted this on the day 8 scan too). Back in tomorrow for another scan, planning for EC thursday. I can't help but feel a bit deflated 10 days of stimms and most follicles are 11-14. We will see what comes EC day. If I have another round I forsee a much higher dossage of stimms ugh!

@dogmam excited but trying not to get my hopes up too much after my mc 🙈 I’m feeling v tired and nauseous all the time so think will be a long 8 more weeks if everything is okay!
How long do you have until FET day?

@Bryterlayter1 maybe a longer protocol might be better or sometimes even just a change in drug can make a difference. Have they upped your dosage? Still a lot of time til Thursday and as I’ve shown - you do only need 1 🤞🏻

Update from me. Had scan today and follicles still not ready, back in tomorrow EC maybe Friday.

I made a big mistake yesterday. Hormone levels very high and dr had actually reduced my dosage but I didn't see the dosage change in my treatment email. So took 300 iu rather than 150 iu. Completely my fault. Doc has tried to mitigate and may need to add another hormone suppressant into the mix tonight. I will await my treatment email and will read it very carefully.

I truly feel awful. Just had a 30.min cry in the car with DP. My body hates these hormones. They are affecting my sleep (averaging about 3- 4 hours), I feel wired all the time like I've had 10 cups of coffee. I look terrible. Oestradiol now in the high risk zone and follicles are still growing very slowly, although now I have several at 16mm so all is not lost. I don't know if this is a normal reaction to stimms (I don't think it is). Soŕry to complain, I know I shouldn't but honestly just want this to be over.

@Bryterlayter1 oh I’m so sorry you’re having a tough time of it lovely. Probably why they shouldn’t email changes over without confirmation so would 100% say that’s hospitals fault. Mine had a schedule that they wouldn’t fill the dose in until it had been agreed at scan for that reason.

I didn’t really have any reactions to the stims so I don’t think is totally normal. Does that mean you’re at OHSS risk? Really hoping it’s not much longer on these drugs for you ❤️ Can you take some sick leave from work to get some sleep?

@LS2020 huge congratulations to you!!! That's fantastic news!

@Novavee so pleased for you that it's nearly your time to get cracking. Extra points for your patience. Late in replying, but I found taking the day of EC off was enough. But depends what you do for work and whether you can do it from home. If you can take an extra day without stressing about the time away, no reason not to!

@Bryterlayter1 I'm so sorry. It is hard and exhausting and you can complain if you want. I'm glad you're being monitored so closely. Sounds like they're trying to time it all just right. Fingers crossed you're not stimming for much longer. Try not to be so hard on yourself. It's hard enough.

Hey ladies.
Lovely to read so much positive news 💛

Huge congratulations @LS2020 am I right in thinking this is your 2nd round? I wish this pregnancy all the best 💐

@Novavee @dogmam @Bryterlayter1 hang in there ladies the end result will be so worth the wait! You may not feel it now but you and your bodies are amazing 💛

So little update from me. I started bleeding this morning which happened way quicker than I expected. After speaking with my clinic they advised that this is good news and I have a follow up and consultation in 2 weeks for what we do next. Obviously this is not what I had in mind but if any of you have suffered a MC and are on your 2nd/3rd round any advice would be highly appreciated ❤️

@Ally0400 thank you! How are you doing?

@Girlwholifts thank you lovely, it’s my first round of IVF but second pregnancy as had a MMC before.
I don’t really have any advice to give as I was so early on. I do understand from talking to other women that it is good news as the other options are much less pleasant if you don’t start to bleed. But I do remember the pain of going to the bathroom and not wanting to pee as it was awful seeing the blood and my heart aches for you. I think there’s various threads around for losses. I’m on an early MC one from my time and it helps to reach out for that support so please do ❤️

Hi all, I stepped away from this chat for a while..so I’m just catching up. The chat moves so quickly! So we have finally started treatment - short protocol (on Menopur and Ganerelix). Started on Saturday and am back for a scan next Saturday…feeling a little ‘hazy and headachey’ also super bloated but otherwise not that bad. Has anyone else been in the same treatment? Any words of wisdom?!!xxx

@Girlwholifts I'm glad you have a consultation soon, I hope it will be helpful to know your next steps. I hope you've had a restful few days and have been cared for by those around you.

@Eiremogra glad you have been able to start. Hope you continue to feel ok with all the meds.

Update from me. Lead follicles are now 20mm and EC on Friday. I'm so relieved. Looks like they will need to do a freeze all cycle though, as hormones are through the roof and Dr concerned about OHSS. I feel fine about this actually. I've not felt well on these hormones and giving my body a rest seems like a good idea. Overall way more positive today, it helps that I only had a very small dose of menopur last night so body feeling a wee bit better than I was during the hormonal tornado that was yesterday! Thanks all for being so wonderfully supportive yesterday.

I've got to say, I have such a good consultant. He's been monitoring me like hawk I've been in for blood tests and scans every day this week, even the bank holiday.

@Bryterlayter1 Aw I'm so Pleased your follicles have done their thing ready for Friday. Other than than the wait for a frozen transfer, I deffinetly feel like a freeze all cycle is a good route to go. For me, I couldn't have imagined having a fresh transfer the way I felt after collection, but for me the last 6 weeks or so I've just been able to finally switch off a bit from ttc so it's been really great, I hope you find the same. Having said that I am soo ready for FET now!!

@Eiremogra hello! I was on short protocol but different drugs, first week of stims I was fine but bloating was awful later on hence freeze all. Hot water bottle really helped! Good luck for Saturday's scan.

@Girlwholifts hi lovely, hope you're doing ok under the circumstances. How are you feeling about your follow up? Early days but are you swaying towards starting another cycle straight away or having a little break?

@Ally0400 thank you lovely, yes can't wait to get started now! How are you doing?

@Novavee how's it going for you now you've officially started?

@LS2020 are you home from your holiday now? Assume daily testing is happening?!

Thankyou @dogmam…the bloating is horrific! Not helped by a badly placed mirror in the bathroom..glimpsing a big bloated belly every time I’m in the shower is not pleasant! 🤮
Did anyone experience pain/discomfort during treatment? I’m getting a lot of odd stabbing pains..is that normal?!xx

@Eiremogra glad to hear you’re getting on okay! Different drugs for me, I actually didn’t find them too bad, bit bloated but that was it and hot water bottle helped. I’ve reacted really bad to the progesterone and that is making me so bloated and constipated at the moment which I am not enjoying so can sympathise on the bloat!

@Bryterlayter1 fab news about the follicles and glad you’re reacting better to the lower dose. Fx for you for Friday, have you got any lucky socks aside?

@dogmam yes I am home and testing daily. FRERs are really strong but not seeing a progression so a bit confusing. Control and test line about the same strength so don’t know what to make of it? I’m going to try a digital Friday as I’m over half way through week 4 at that point and hope it goes up to 2-3 weeks!

@LS2020 i can imagine your OTD being the same days of your MMS is quite the headf#$ but it's great that your test line is as dark as the control and holding. I am keeping everything crossed for a sticky bean for you this time around.

@dogmam how are you doing with the tablets? Am I correct that you have a scan soon?

@Bryterlayter1 I am sorry to read you were having such a hard time with the hormones but i'm pleased for you that your consultant was so hands-on and they were keeping a close eye on you. Such good news that your EC is booked for Friday. Enjoy your injection free day tomorrow!

@Ally0400 thanks. I guess I'll just have to wait and see before deciding how long to take after EC. I have this tendency to try and project manage everything but ivf is definitely something that follows its own rules and no matter how much I try to fit every step into neat little boxes with timelines and plan around it, it will just do its own thing...
How are you doing?

@Girlwholifts thank you for the lovely words and sentiment. I am in awe of your strength and positivity ❤ we are all here for you.

@Eiremogra sorry I can't help about side effects as I have literally just started but hopefully the bloating will ease soon. Good luck for your scan on Saturday.

As for me... I can't believe I have finally started. I swear I spent the last couple of months following your journeys and feeling such a fraud. All I did was wait and wait and nothing was happening on my end. Well, first injection done earlier this evening. I am so silly, my hands were actually shaking while I was preparing the pen. When I removed the needle, there was a tiny drop in the tip and another tiny drop leaked out of my stomach. Not sure if this is normal or if I should have waited longer. Let's see how it goes tomorrow.

I had my lining scan today, it was 7.6mm and 3 layered which they were happy with. FET booked in for Wednesday! I start pessaries from tomorrow and continue eastrogen tablets too. Can't believe it's happening!! On another note, it was the first scan my partner has been allowed into which was nice, usually it's just the consultation bits at the end he comes through, the clinic said they're starting to relax covid measures.

@Novavee I always had a little bit of liquid on the needle and sometimes had a little pool on my skin, I mentioned it the the clinic and they said it was fine. Happy injecting!

Thanks @Novavee! Well I officially made it and have a progression on a digital so very excited 😊 starting to feel calmer now.
I’m the same with project managing I have a full Apple calendar set up with everything and would continuously change dates on!
I’m so proud of you for your first injection, that step is one of the worst bits so well done!! I had drops on my stomach after where it would come back out a bit and obviously wasn’t too detrimental for me.

@dogmam yay what exciting news! Hope it all goes well ❤️ That’s really good about the scans, I hope my OH can come to my first scan too.

@Bryterlayter1 good luck today!

Hey guys.
So nice to catch up on all the news. Congrats again @LS2020 seeing a digital result really does make it feel that little bit more real

@dogmam Yeh time is of the essence as they say so I'm keen to keep on track as best we can. We paid private for this round but Cambridge has just been granted 1 funded round so have a call today with my GP to see how quickly I can get that ball rolling however we are luckily in the position to have some savings so depending on times we might be able to afford private again.
How exciting you finally have a date and your OH was allowed in. It's the little things that make all the difference! So excited for you!

@Novavee We must all stay positive, It can and it will happen
Hope you are finding the injections ok, I found the hardest part was sticking to the routine haha.

@Eiremogra Why is it we all have a badly placed mirror and its the one we always look at. I think we all feel way worse than we actually look. I was on a short protocol but different drugs, I had headaches and sickness with mine but tried not to concentrate on it. Mention it at your scan, you may have you drug does changed? Good luck for tomorrow!

@dogmam exciting that you got a date and that your partner was allowed to go in with you. Does that mean he'll be in for the FET as well?

@LS2020 so happy for you! Seeing the digital makes it all even more real, does it not? Wishing you a happy and uneventful 9 months.

@Girlwholifts good news that you might get NHS funding. I always found this postcode lottery extremely unfair so I am pleased to read your CCG is finally funding iVF. I will take a page from your book. It will happen!

The injections are ok. No liquid on the needle yesterday but i manage to catch the tip on my skin and drew some blood. The tiniest drop of blood ever, but still. I can't seem to get the hang of this...
Finally started my withdrawal bleed, and it came with a vengeance, so i can't really tell if the bloating and cramping are because of it or the stimms.

@Bryterlayter1 I hope all goes well today.

Thanks all. Resting now. They got 11 eggs. I'm pleased about that given my age.

@Girlwholifts how are you getting on? Hope everything is feeling a bit easier. It’s good news on Cambridge funding but yeah the postcode lottery on it is is ridiculous. Imagine if they had that for like cancer treatment?!

@Novavee yes it does! Scan is booked in two weeks today which is exciting! I always either had the bit of liquid or the blood, it stops quickly though :) probably the hormones!

@Bryterlayter1 11 eggs is great! Enjoy your rest and take care of yourself this weekend. You deserve it.

@LS2020 why is the waiting always in two weeks increments? Very exciting that you'll have the scan so soon.
Oh, thanks for the reassurance. I was sure i was just completely inept at this. I probably just need to stop over analysing everything, like I always do.

@Bryterlayter1 ah I missed your post as I was writing mine! Fabulous news, hope you’re resting up well ☺️

@Novavee well I thought it would be three so it’s better than that at least!
Hahaha no you get used to it/you get so hormonal you don’t care any more and your body will take what it’s given 😂 when will be your first scan?

@Bryterlayter1 11 eggs is fantastic! Do you mind me asking how old you are…I only ask as I am 41 and feeling anxious about my scan results tomorrow. Have the dreaded feeling that the last week of injections won’t have been enough! 😢

@Eiremogra of course, I'm 40. If it's any consolation my follicles were developing really slowly I was triggered on day CD13 to give them time to grow. There was a while when I was concerned I would have any mature follicles.

*wouldn't have any mature follicles

Had an update from the embryologist. Of 11, 10 fertilised, but 4 were abnormal fertilisations. So I've got 5 embryos in the running. Will have another update on day 3.

I've got to say I feel great! I was in so much discomfort and pain before EC that the procedure was a relief. Hardly any pain at all afterwards! Dr is actually thinking they might be able still consider a fresh transfer because things are looking good any body is bouncing back well, but obviously they will need to scan me again to check ovaries on day 3 or 5 whenever transfer is going to be.