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 😊

Oops should say 5 were abnormal fertilisations, never mind my poor maths skills.

@Bryterlayter1 fab news! Hope they all do really well so you have a few options ❤️ Really good news on feeling better post EC too. Are you on progesterone now? I found they made me quite constipated and that put pressure on my ovaries/uterus making them sore so make sure you stock up on fibre supplements 😊

Yep on the good old suppositories. So far so good, but I've only used 2, may get harder as the days go one. I forgot to say @LS2020 congrats on your official BFP!

@Girlwholifts fab news about funding. Must take just a bit of the pressure off. I

@Bryterlayter1 amazing news about your egg collection, and so pleased you're feeling much better. How are you feeling about a possible fresh transfer?

@LS2020 aww bet you were so pleased to see that digital conformation! Happy days!!

Progestorone pessaries started yestersay, so far so good although felt a bit dizzy today but could just be a coincidence. For those with a bfp, are you having to stay on progestorone until 12 weeks?
If we get a bfp (please please please) I've got to continue those and eastrogen up to 12 weeks.

@Bryterlayter1 fantastic news! I have everything crossed for your 5 embies. It's great that your feeling better post EC and that fresh transfer might be an option.

@LS2020 i think i'm quickly getting to that unfased stage. I had to take doses from 2 different pens today as the one I was using did not have enough for a full dose. The instructions said I should set it as usual and the number on the screen when i stopped would be the amount left to be taken with a second pen. It should have said 50iu but for some reason it said 12.5. I am sure i setup the right amount every time, so i just ignored it and setup 50 in the second pen. Worse case scenario, I took a bit more than I should have at some point. It's still early days, so how bad could that be?

I have my first scan on Monday, so here's hopping a good number of follicles are responding.

Had my day 3 update and all 5 embryos are still in the game! One is a little bit slow, but they are still keeping their eye on it. What a relief! Although, I know that statistically only 50% of those will make it to day 5, I'm pleased that a good number are still going.

@Bryterlayter1 aw that's amazing! You must be so relieved! Still on for a fresh transfer then?

@Novavee good luck for your scan today!

Great news @Bryterlayter1. I am so pleased for you.

@LS2020 Thanks. The scan went well today. Nothing very exciting happening yet, but they seemed pleased with it. All follies still under 10mm, but all bunched together and none taking the lead. Next scan Wednesday.

How is everyone doing?

Thanks @Bryterlayter1 and what fab news from you! Hope they all keep going and you have a lovely couple of choices ❤️

@dogmam yes I’m on progesterone for the whole 12 weeks (I think, waiting for it to turn up!) how are you finding them?

@Novavee glad your scan went well! That’s good and you want as many to grow equally as possible so they can collect the most ☺️ When do they reckon your EC will be?

@Novavee good news about the scan. Developing evenly is a good sign isn't it? Hopefully more follicles maturing at the same time?

@dogmam. I'm in to the clinic on Wednesday for a fresh transfer. They will scan me first though and if ovaries look swollen they will freeze all.
I'm having the same issue with the progesterone. Quite dizzy and a bit nauseous for the first couple of hours after a dose.

@LS2020 @Bryterlayter1 yes, that's what they said, better all together growing in a cluster than one or two running away with all the oestrogen and the rest being left behind.

I got a call this afternoon. My oestrogen levels are relatively low so they want me to up my dose and see what the follies look like on Wednesday. Also starting cetrotide tomorrow. Should be fun...

@LS2020 initially EC was provisionally booked for next Thursday, but then i started a day earlier than initially planned. Now they are not sure. They will see on Friday if I'm ready for EC or if I need a couple more days on stimms.

@Bryterlayter1 will they give you any more updates or will you be told how many made it when you get there? Keeping everything crossed for you.

@dogmam thanks and sorry, i completely missed your message earlier. Looks like Wednesday will be a busy day for this thread.

Sending everyone lots of baby dust!

Good luck for today @Dogmam @Bryterlayter1

Update from me, they did the transfer. I had 2 blasts (one top quality, one lesser didn't get grading) and they transfered both. Pretty standard to transfer 2 for the over 40s and I was expecting this.

There is one final embryo that is still growing but hasn't turned into a blast they are going to leave it for another day, and if it is any good they will freeze.

I've got to say clinic were amazing, they suggested I call DP whilst in theatre and she was on the phone through the whole thing! Really wonderful of them.

The wait begins, test day is 20th.

Oops Forgot. @novavee hope scan went well today.

I have officially transferred and have our little embryo on board! Got the call this morning to say our first embryo thawed and could I come in for transfer, so we still have one frozen. Our clinic doesn't grade but said this was great quality. Got to take a little picture on our phone as they showed us our embryo on the screen before it was transferred so obviously just obsessing over that now ha.

@Bryterlayter1 so pleased you have also transferred today! We can go crazy together over the next two weeks!! Great you have had two transferred and especially one that is top quality! Hopfully you get one to freeze too, will they ring you tomorrow about that? My test day is earlier than yours, the 17th for me!

@Novavee thank you! And how was your scan today? How are you finding Cetrotide? I had that and started feeling quite bloated with it but it done it's job which us the main thing.

I hope everyone is ok and enjoying the last day of sun!

@dogmam I didn't realise you were having a transfer today too! Yay! As for the test day, they said they normally test at 10 days which is a Saturday so they went for Monday 20th rather than Friday 17th. So I will have an extra few days to wait. I'm sure I will manage.

@Bryterlayter1 @dogmam so exciting that you have your embies on board. Congratulations on being PUPO!

@Bryterlayter1 How do you feel about the possibility of twins? The mere thought leaves my DW petrified 😄 not that my clinic would let me transfer two.

The scan went well. Increasing my Gonal F was definitely the right move, as there was some progress. They are still moving as a cluster but we now have several on both sides above 10mm. The rest is still too small to be measured or not visible during the scan.

It seems they are slow growers so I am curious about what progress they will make in the next couple of days. Next scan on Friday.

@dogmam I am not a fan of cetrotide at all. I looked like I had been stung by a bee and it took a couple of hours to stop stinging. Also gave me a bit of a headache. I am definitely bloated. I have been chosing my loosest tops for work but I'm starting to feel a bit uncomfortable sitting down. Can't imagine how it will feel closer to EC.
But as you said, as long as it will get us the result we want, I'll take whatever is needed for as long as they tell me too!

@Novavee I'm sure we will manage if both take, but realistically it is very unlikely because of my age. But hey, you never know!

Update from clinic about final embryo. It did make it through, but quite poor quality. They said it was a borderline, any worse and they definitely would not freeze, it was 4BC (but a poor BC at day 6) and so they left it up to me. They warned that there was a high likelyhood it wouldn't survive a freeze and thaw. I made the decision not to freeze. Which may sound odd, but I have a multi-cycle plan which means I have another IVF fresh cycle option already paid for. However, you can't progress to a fresh cycle until you used all embryos, so I would have had to go through a FET (where the embryo might not thaw) first. Trying to minimise my stress through the whole thing. DP and I have drawn a line under the 2 cycles. If it doesn't work, then we will find our happiness in other ways (I see more cats on our horizon!), all I suppose part and parcel of waiting to start a family in our late 30s (now 40s) also lost a year due to Covid.

Anyway, shouldn't be too gloomy they said the embryos used yesterday were a 4AA and a 4BC (but a better quality BC) so maybe I'll get lucky and have a BFP the first time.

Congrats to @dogmam and @Bryterlayter1 on your transfers! So exciting. I hope the 2ww is kind to you both. Crossing everything for good news.

@Novavee sounds like things are progressing well! Like you, my follicles were a bit slow-growing. But that's what these scans are for. My clinic had me stim one extra day which helped! Have then given you a sense of when to expect EC?

@LS2020 hope you're feeling alright. When's your scan?!

As for me, I had a viability scan about 2 weeks ago which went well! After a bleeding episode I really didn't know what to expect. 9 weeks along now and feeling pretty horrendous but very grateful to be here.

@Bryterlayter1 congratulations on your PUPO! I think you have made a sensible decision for your own mental health first!

Hope everyone is okay! Great to read so much positivity and support!

Sorry I've been quiet lately, sadly soon after my official positive my father in law had suddenly past away been very tough on hubby. I feel gutted I wasn't able to share the news he was going to be a grandad...We are just taking it day by day. I had my viability scan yesterday size of embryo and yolk is all looking ok. 7 weeks tomorrow.

@Bryterlayter1 @dogmam congratulations on being PUPO! Hope you’re taking it easy and best of luck to the both of you 🥰

@Novavee good luck for your scan today, hope you’re ready for your EC 🤞🏻

@Ally0400 thank you! Got all my normal early pregnancy symptoms and did a test today and got 3+ on my digital so hoping all is well. My scan is a week today which has absolutely flown by. So glad everything is now okay with you and agree on the feeling horrendous but it will be worth it 🥰

@hopingfor sorry to hear about your father in law, what a tough time for you both. Hopefully your news in the future will be a lovely ray of light for the family in such a sad time. Fab news on your scan! I’m having mine at 6+4 and worried they won’t see much!

Happy Friday, everyone.

@Bryterlayter1 I am sending sticky toughts your way and hope you won't have to use your second cycle.

@Ally0400 so pleased that all was well on your viability scan. Can't believe you're 9 weeks already! Yeah, seems I'll be a little while longer on stims. For how long did you stim?

@hopingfor so sorry about your father in law, but great news about your viability scan.

@dogmam how are you feeling? Enjoying pupo bliss?

@LS2020 thanks, lovely, but it seems I am not there yet.

Day 10 of stims and there is growth and progress but the largest follicules are 14mm and the smallest measurable are 10mm still. My lining is 9mm and they are pleased with how it's looking, so there's that.
They changed my medication from gonal f to menopur, starting today, and I have another scan booked for Monday morning. They said the earliest EC would be is Wednesday but they believe it will likely be Thursday or Friday unless menopur works its magic over the weekend.

Has anyone been on multidose Menopur? Not sure what to expect. Now that I was happy to have conquered cetrotide, they go and up the challenge.

@Novavee your clinic really sounds like they're looking after and keeping a close eye on you and most importantly doing everything they can to get you where you need to be for collection. You've just got another week tops to get through x

@hopingfor it must be a really tough time for you and your partner right now. Amazing news that you're 7 weeks! When are you telling your family?

@LS2020 aw I bet you can't wait for your scan, not long now. Is it at your clinic? I remember you saying you had symptoms quite early on, how many dpt did you feel anything? I know it's super early days for me but can't help comparing!

@Ally0400 having a bleed must have been really scary but so pleased th at everything is ok with you and baby when's your next scan?

@Bryterlayter1 how are you feeling? Going crazy yet? Jist read your embryo update, that must have been such a hard final decision to make but i can absolutely see why you went with what you did. You can only go by the information you are told and by the sounds of it the embryologist heavily implied that it wouldn't have been viable so why put yourself through it, especially when you have another cycle. Having said that, let's hope you don't need that next cycle! Have you been keeping busy? I've been off work since transfer and hardly been in the house but having a chilled morning so far.

@hopingfor I am so sorry to hear about your FIL. Hoping the thought of your little one brings comfort to you, your partner and (eventually) family in Sad times.

@Novavee fingers crossed for you on Monday. For me the stimms were the worst bit. So fingers crossed not too much longer. Mine went from 14mm to 16mm in one day and then then next day the biggest were at 20mm so 2 days can make a huge difference.

@dogmam weirdly I'm quite calm about the wait. Work is sooo busy I don't have time to focus on much else.

@LS2020 you must be excited for the scan! First glimpse of the little one.

@Ally0400 9 weeks! That seems to have flow by! Glad you are doing well.