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 😊

@Novavee hope the menopur works it’s magic for you but even so next week is not long.. that may mean you’ll be PUPO only the week after next ☺️ Have they said if you need to make the injections etc up the same?

@dogmam yes they do at the clinic I’ve been at and will hopefully be the last time I need to be there for a while!
I definitely had effects from progesterone pretty quick (sore boobs,bloating) so I ignored most of my early ones. I think I implanted about 4dpt, maybe 5dpt based on when my Fitbit RHR dropped off and I took watch off. I was near falling asleep during day and generally felt a bit off 5dpt. I probably would have tested 6dpt but it was OHs birthday and didn’t want to be in a mood if it was negative but again was very tired and felt off. 7dpt is when I tested and got a clear line and that’s when the nausea started while I was in bed and it nudged me to test. Honestly don’t drive yourself mad though (can not judge as I did!) I was convinced I would have IB but didn’t even have a speck in the end! I also think if I hadn’t been pregnant before and knew my “symptoms” I’m not sure id have known so early. I can see why some women don’t know until a few weeks in. I would encourage you to spoil and rest yourself up as much as possible to let the embaby settle in nicely.

@Bryterlayter1 my anxiety is getting the better of me but trying to keep positive! There’s a few things I want to sort getting but I’m holding off until Friday not to jinx it. I’ve taken the afternoon off and OH has so we can celebrate afterwards though ☺️

@dogmam they've been great so far with scans and blood tests every other day. They are tailoring everything to my response to get the best results but still keep and eye out for potential OHSS due to my number of follicules. It is very reassuring.

@Bryterlayter1 I am generally feeling ok on the stimms, the worst seems to be the first injection of each new medication but by the second it's as if my body has gotten used to it. Even cetrotide, I'm getting less stinging and the redness disappears faster. That being said, I hope my follicules have a growth spurt like yours did and I'm ready to trigger on Monday. I am running out of places where I haven't injected yet and I bruise like a peach.

@LS2020 thanks, I think the visualisation helps. I need to keep my mind on the goal. With all the waiting and delays before, one more week it's really nothing and at least while I'm stimming I'm doing something. And you were right, so far the waiting to start has been the worst.
The menopur is actually quite easy. It's similar to the cetrotide but i had to make all the doses at once and i just draw each day the amount I need from one vial instead of reconstituting a new one every day.

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

@Novavee fingers crossed that your follicles have grown a lot over weekend. Glad it's all going well.

Those of you on progesterone. Did you continue with the meds after a BFP? I'm on SOOOO much 3 x pessaries a day and 2 x lubion injections. Just wondering if I can expect this to carry on if we're successful.

@Novavee yes positive mindset.. your EC will be this week! So exciting 🥰 glad the new injections aren’t too tricky.

@Bryterlayter1 I’m only on two pessaries at night but yes I’m continuing them for the whole 12 weeks I believe

@Bryterlayter1 also on the progesterone pessaries until 12 weeks. That part sort of seems like standard protocol, so I would expect it. How are you holding up?

@dogmam just checking in. How are you feeling?

@Novavee sounds like all is going well! Good to hear you're being watched so closely. Fingers crossed you get to trigger today. The follicles will grow a bit more after the trigger. Big week for you! Wishing you all the best.

@hopingfor so sorry about your horrible news. What a loss. I hope this pregnancy brings you and your family such joy. x

Hi All!

I've really enjoyed reading this thread, thank you for contributing.

I'm currently in 2ww, due to test on Sunday. First IVF round. Thought I was calm but getting more anxious as the day gets closer. @LS2020 have you experienced any spotting? This is my 3rd day, it's v.light & brown so hoping all is good.

Thanks!

@Ally0400 thanks, lovely. No such luck. Again there is progress but I am not ready for the trigger just yet.

I am actually freaking out a bit. I had a different sonographer today and she measured less follicles than before with the smallest at 10mm and the largest at 18mm. It's like I lost half my follicles over the weekend!

I spoke with one of the nurses over the phone just now and she said they could be hidden by the largest ones or it could be that different people see different things, so I'll have to wait until Wednesday and a new scan. I might go slowly mad in the meantime. Not sure how I'll be able to focus on work.

The nurse also mentioned my oestradiol levels have risen nicely so the change of medication was a good thing (disappearing follicles notwithstanding).

Because ivf is not a straightforward business, it seems my testosterone levels are higher than they would have liked. They will check again on Wednesday but it might mean a freeze all, as stimming for so long might make us miss the implantation window and there is no point in wasting a perfectly good embryo (🤞) if my endometrium is no longer receptive.

Anyone had anything like this happen (both disappearing follicles and high testosterone)?

@LS2020 this might mean no pupo for me next week...

How's everyone doing?

@Novavee ah just when you thought you might be triggering. That is annoying but honestly they sound like they're doing a fab job. Yeah I remember in one of my scans they mentioned bigger follicles can hide smaller ones so dont think it's anything to worry about. A freeze all won't be a bad thing for you after all this stimming, plus it gives you sometime to recover mentally aswell, knowing you have safe embryos frozen.

@Jkjellyhead welcome! How many days post transfer are you? Maybe it could be implantation bleeding? I'm 5dpt today!

@Ally0400 thank you for checking in. I'm ok physically, although wish I wasn't, I'm desperate for huge obvious symptoms to hit me! But I feel kind of fine. Back to work today so full of busy.

@LS2020 thank you for that! I suppose with you experiencing pregnancy before you kind of new what to look out for. I've got no sore boobs, no feeling sick, nothing really. Very slight cramping now and then but only because I'm looking for it, I also feel kind of 'spacy' today if you know what I mean? But I didn't sleep well last night so probably just off that.

@Girlwholifts hope you're ok. Any news on your follow up apt?

Test day is Friday and I really need to go and buy a test or 10. I've heard the FRERs from Amazon haven't been very good maybe a dodgy batch so not sure what to order.

Hi @dogmam. How exciting for you! I had my embryo transfer last Tuesday so if that's day 1, then I'm day 7. You mentioned your testing on Friday so that would make you 9dpt is that right? Wonder why I have to wait so long!

Hey @dogmam.
So I have the hospital tomorrow for my check up and then have my consultation apt next week with our plan moving forward. I’ve actually felt way better than I expected, obviously have bad days but just trying to stay positive. I haven’t been on here much as feel like a fraud but will catch up over the next few days.

I hope you’re doing ok though and all you other ladies are remaining positive still. Sending baby dust to you all ✨

@Jkjellyhead how exciting! No, I'm 5dpt, I had my transfer on Wednesday last week and day 1 is classed as Thursday. My clinic advise to wait 9dpt to test so a little quicker than some, the reason is that the embryo was 5 days old when it was transferred so then 9 more days equate to the full two weeks of embryo growth. How are you feeling? Will you be testing early? I'll wait until Friday because i want to remain in the hope zone for as long as possible!
@Girlwholifts aw bless you, you're not a fraud at all. I hope everything goes ok with both appointments, I'm sure it will. The bad are understandable and probably needed to let things out but hopfully you will feel even brighter after your appointment next week x

Interesting. I also had a 5 day old embryo put in so they’re asking me to wait until day 12… now you’re making me want to test on Thursday which would be the same time frame as you . I’m feeling pretty okay.. had early cramping which has subsided, light spotting, knackered all the time. And then a whole mixture of excited/ nervous/ giddy . How are you feeling?

Welcome @Jkjellyhead! No I didn’t have any spotting and was convinced I would. That’s an exciting development though, hope it’s a good sign! I was the same my OTD was two weeks after transfer so embryo was basically 18 days old at that point. I got my BFP one week to the day of transfer and was quite symptomatic. It’s odd the different levels of testing but I guess the longer testing times rule out any chemical pregnancies.

@Novavee ah what a frustrating update! Can’t help as I was NHS so didn’t get anything beyond two scans and no blood tests. It sounds like just a bad scan but definitely frustrating. A freeze all isn’t the worst, it was deffo uncomfortable doing the ET so soon after EC. Don’t know how women do a day 3 transfer!!

@dogmam can you get some FRERs from boots or similar? Honestly the differences in women between pregnancies is so hard to tell what’s normal and what’s not because it’s different per woman. I was googling panicked yesterday that I didn’t feel very pregnant and hadn’t been having overly bad MS, was this a bad sign, and then this morning I turned around too quickly and was vomiting about 5 seconds later and now miss not feeling sick 😥

@Girlwholifts oh love, you’re always welcome here, any thoughts or feelings you want to let out are valid. Mines not the same at all but I was surprised after my early MMC how quickly I was ready to try again. I think to the point I even tried two weeks after my bleed in the hope of catching something so never feel guilty for that and you’re doing the right thing for you now. I hope the appointment tomorrow goes well and update us after your consultant meeting, will be thinking of you ❤️

@Novavee they will get there. As others have said freeze all isn't a bad outcome. There is some evidence that FET following freeze all have a better success rate because your body has a chance to recover before the FET.

@Jkjellyhead ooh sounds like good signs. I was told at the clinic that brown blood is old blood and potentially a good sign. Fingers crossed for you!

@dogmam I know what you mean about symptom spotting. My boobs are very sore, but I noticed that after my lubion injection they get even more sore, so I think it's just a side effect of the progesterone. Plus you hear of loads of BFP where people had no symptoms whatsoever. Hope you are managing to keep yourself busy.

@Girlwholifts you utter lovely person, I really value you being here. I am so pleased you have your appointment to decide how to move forward. I'm sending positive thoughts your way!!!

Gah! I am seriously tempted to test at home. I know I probably shouldn't but I have tests and it's hard to resist.

@Novavee how did your scan go today?

@Bryterlayter1 how many days past transfer are you?

@LS2020 7dp5dt

Hi everyone

I've been trying to post for a while but I've been having some wi-fi issues aparently.

I had my last scan today and I am happy to report that (pending a covid test result thst should tomorrow morning) I have my EC booked for Friday!

I also had a very good scan with a different sonographer and all the missing follicles were there. My estradiol levels, however, are through the roof, so we are definitely a freeze all.

@dogmam @LS2020 @Bryterlayter1 at this point I am so uncomfortable, I just want them out. It actually hurts to walk. I am soooo ready for EC. It will be good to have a little break and rest.

@Girlwholifts i hope your appointment went well and as others have said, you're always welcome.

@jkjellyhead welcome and good luck!

@Bryterlayter1 i can imagine the urge to test must be terrible! Hang in there!

How is everyone else doing?

@Bryterlayter1 oof that’s a tough one, that’s when I cracked for mine. I will be the devil and say go for it because I’m a serial tester but I do also believe that a negative is going to get you more down than waiting two days and seeing a positive so that’s my warning!

@Novavee fab news that your EC is booked in but really sorry to hear you’re in such pain. Yes you’ll feel better after the EC and last injection and hopefully you can rest before you start your FET ☺️

@Novavee that must be a relief! I remember that feeling well. You will feel so much better after the EC, I promise.

Hi, just about to start IVF for the first time this month. Wondering how people worked IVF appointments around work, as I can’t tell work or have holidays off (during term time). Also how long did you need to take off after egg retrieval?

@reeny122 I'm also work in education. Each clinic is different, I had quite a few scans during my cycle day 1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13 which required me to attend the clinic in the morning for bloods and scan. But others will tell you they had maybe 1 or 2 scans before egg collection, if it's an NHS funded cycle you will probably have fewer scans.

I was advised 2 days off for egg collection, but minimum is 1 as you won't be able to do much after the proceedure (no driving for example) there's also embryo transfer.

I know you say you can't tell your employer, but if you work in a school (or do you work in HE?) you might find they have an IVF policy which allows you to take time off. My employer does and I took of a day for EC (it was on a Friday) and a day for transfer. Luckily, I had the 2 weeks I was undergoing scans off so, I didn't need to negotiate anything. It's medical treatment so your employer shouldn't prevent you from going into the clinic for treatment.

Clinic tend to open early so you could always ask for the first appointment of the day for your scans during treatment.

@Novavee good luck for tomorrow! How are you feeling? Freeze all is a great option, let's you have a month or two to fully recover and also just switch off from all things ttc.

@Bryterlayter1 how are you feeling?! You'll be 8dpt same as me. Are you having any symptoms? Other than the odd twinge I've had pretty much nothing still. Maybe a little bit dizzy now and then too. Have you tested or are you holding out? My official test day is tomorrow!!

@Reeny122 I would say 1 day after EC minimum physically but more if you can as it's a really tough week emotionally (finding out how many eggs fertilize, make it to day 3 then 5). Scans only take 10 mins or so. Transfer only takes 20 mins but may want the day off to celebrate.

@dogmam good luck for tomorrow! How exciting x

@dogmam, yes we are at the same stage. However, clinic only test after 10 days (which is a Saturday) so my blood test is booked in for Monday. They advise not to test at home first. Will of course update everyone, whatever outcome on Monday. Good luck to you tomorrow.

@Novavee hope all goes well tomorrow for EC.