Continued chat of all things IVF, FET & to feel sane...cycle buddies August/September -

[Bluemeadowbaby]

Hey ladies ☺️

A new thread to continue the one we've maxed out from the FET cycle buddies May/June. Anyone wishing to join no matter what stage you're at we're here to support you along the way.

A little background around me - I have a little boy who's 16mo from my second IVF round in 2019. I'm just embarking (restarting after covid setback) on my first FET cycle with the embryos I have in storage in the hope for baby #2 🤞🏼
I have severe endometriosis, hydrosalpinx tubes which have been removed so my only hope is for IVF to work again. It's been a long old journey but if I can give any hope, faith and a tonne of support to anyone who needs it I'm happy to share my story, updates on my cycle and be there to have a general chin wag ☺️

We've got this! ✨ x

@Bluemeadowbaby I just wanted to say thanks again for getting me to be more positive. I ordered some CB weeks indicators (just a 2 pack) that arrived today, and got a 2-3 week result using my afternoon pee, so feeling really reassured. Mace myself do a wee reality check and promise to myself to keep thinking positive! I think I've just realised how much 2 years on this journey has taken out of me.

@2mumlife really pleased for you! Glad your still going strong, I’m sure this one will stick all the way this time xx
I have my consultant appointment on Thursday about our frozen cycle so hoping we can start the ball rolling feb/ March. Just waiting on a my AF to start this week but secretly hoping it doesn’t as usual. been feeling very tired today. Hope everyone is having a good start to the week x

@2mumlife
I am so pleased to read that everything is going in the right direction!!!!
Well done!!!! xx

@2mumlife this sounds just 😍 I'm so pleased for you! You're absolutely right, when it's happening it doesn't feel that way so I think we go into a slight bit of panic and denial...but that is okay! We're in a world at the moment as well that is friggin weird so I'm totally with you on the not feeling easy until you get some answers but everything sounds great! How are you feeling today? Did you speak to the clinic? X

I called the clinic today and they want me to start norethisterone on day 21 this cycle which is next Thursday!! 🥴 I had a slight "oh wait...oh holy hell!" Moment as that was a lot quicker than I expected! I'm expecting to get a call to say it's wrong and that I need to wait but for now I'll just go with it. Also they're doing a delivery of meds to me which I'm so thankful for, honestly a 60 mile trip just to get some bloody pills which my dr could give me but won't is a piss take! I know it's worth it but the pick up of meds has always frustrated me the most 😄
Feeling a lot better this time round I feel excited for once! X

I’m feeling very upset today, have lost all hope

@Jags87 oh lovely 😔 I know this is all so very frustrating and the process is so damn hard. Would you like to chat about it a bit more with us? X

@Jags87 This journey is absolutely a rollercoaster. Always feel free to rant away on here - we've all felt it too.

@Bluemeadowbaby That's exciting! How come you normally have to go to clinic for meds? The only time I've had to do that is when they can't arrange a delivery very quickly, otherwise my clinic has always sent meds through Stork. Are they downregging you for FET? It's great you can get going so quickly! I'm sat in clinic carpark waiting to go in for HCG blood test just to confirm pregnancy and check my levels are within normal range. Symptoms are weird, I'm definitely tired, and my nipples are sore, and I'm more thirsty and they have been consistent, but I felt mild nausea some days but not at all other days, and hadn't felt it for a few days, but it's back a bit this morning. I might be a bit more teary (I listened to the Week 4 meditation on the Mindful IVF app yesterday as Ive found it useful but hadn't been using it yet this cycle, and in the meditation he starts off by telling you to say out loud that you're pregnant and I just started crying at that). My utrogestan plunger came out with a tiny tiny bit of pinkish discoloration last night, but the suppository gunk is back to white this morning. I think I'll just feel better once bloods are back and we hopefully have a date for first scan. I'm also going to keep doing the mindfulness too.

Clinic did my blood hcg today (15dp5dt) to confirm pregnancy and it came back as 5947, so things are definitely going in the right direction! Booked in for viability scan on the 24th 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Can I ask, did those of you who have baby #1 let your GP know or did you wait until after viability scan? I've seen booking appointments are meant to be done around Week 8?

@Bluemeadowbaby - awwww its so nice to hear you are getting excited. Its gonna be our year!!!!! What do you know about your little frosty?! Was it graded on freeze?
@Jags87 ... dont lose hope!! I hope you are feeling better today
@2mumlife ... you must be buzzing!! Its all sounding amazing!! I didn't register my pregnancy with NHS until after a private 10 week scan.
I am desperately nervous about starting my flare protocol :( my DP is flying to Prague on Friday to buy £1000 of meds as its a couple of hundred quid cheaper to buy from my clinic. We have decided we cant start stimms until February cycle as if I do January I would likely have to be in Prague for my sons 5th birthday. We have pretty much decided that financially, we cannot do anymore than this last attempt as I dont feel its fair on the two bubbas we have ... but I will be devastated to have to give up cos of money xx

@2mumlife wooo hoooo!! Now this is what I like to hear 😍🙌🏻 go small bean!! Stick with your clinic for now, I know everything may feel like woah okay what do we do?! But the clinic will have you under their care until your 8 week scan, you then will be passed to NHS care after the viability scan. You then confirm with your community midwife a "booking in" appointment (I think I called mine literally on day we knew all was okay and they saw us around 10 weeks) - which is where you are asked lots of questions about history - diabetes in family etc. bloods and urine samples taken, they will then get you your green book sorted which is given usually at your 12 week scan, this appointment they will book you in for your 12 week scan too and talk to you about vaccines to take during pregnancy like whooping cough and flu jab...make sure you take this everywhere with you like you would your phone or purse! I got told off a couple times for not doing this 🙈 you can contact your GP but they just refer you to your community midwife they don't see you anymore. However your clinic will pass on the message you're pregnant and no longer under their care. Keep us posted! So exciting!!! 🥳 x

@firefly37 That's quite the commitment to need to fly to Prague just to pick up meds! Fingers crossed this protocol works for you. And happy 5th birthday when it comes :)

@Bluemeadowbaby @firefly37 Thanks for advice. I was feeling very like I want to do things 1 step at a time. I'm feeling like I want clinic scan done first, but it was just when I realised the timings I didn't know if I should be saying things to GP. Good to know I can just focus on the clinic just now :) I never looked into this next stage of things lol

@Bluemeadowbaby You ready for starting northethistone?

@2mumlife such a beautiful news to start finish (and start) the year. Very happy for you!

I hope 2022 brings me some luck. I have really struggled in the last few weeks as it seems like everyone around me is expecting. During the Xmas holidays 2 people told me they are expecting, 10 minutes after the other and their babies are due the same week. I was quite upset after.

Today I have my second visit with the NHS and I will find out when I can start my cycle. I am so nervous cause I am terrified about my eggs being immature again but I want to keep it positive.

On another note I potentially going to stay in my current job. My company wants to offer me a new role and, although I have accepted the offer, I am currently considering if I should stay. I don't want to add more stress to my life and if they counteroffer there is not point to leave!
Ahhhh! So complicated!!!

@Francesmalin Ouuff having to deal with pregnancy annoucnements twice in 10 minutes is rough. Hopefully though, that will be you soon :) Hope you get some answers and that your apointment today gives you confidence things will be different next cycle.

Its hard with work things isn't it? I gave notice at one of my jobs before christmas, to go take up a new position at other job (I work 2 part time at the moment). I'm seeking it as short term stress for long-term better work-life balance.

Hi guys, just new to this and saw this thread is buzzing with great news. Wondered if I can join
I have a FET coming up next month. Spoke with my consultant today who was optimistic about our remaining embryos and said she was happy to transfer 2 this time and said we can pay a bit extra for embryo glue to help them stick better?! Wanted to know what you think. We are with nhs funded cycle but the add on will cost £250 which is not bad considering and I was a bit worried last time about the implantation bit. Would be good to know done the best for them in that sense. She also said that my progesterone could have been higher last time so this time is giving me Lubion injections and cyclogest suppositories. Anyone had experience with this?

Thanks any info much needed x

Just to put things in to context had a failed first fresh cycle November 2021 so this will be my first FET but after today am excited to go again fingers crossed xx we have 4 good ones to play with according to consultant but she did mention that around 87% survive the thaw? Which is another question I have for anyone with experience. Did anyone here have embryos which didn’t survive the thawing process

@2mumlife it's all very exciting and very daunting I feel like such a proud friend 🥰♥️ yup all ready to start next Thursday! 😳 I'm feeling excited but still a little uncertain as to be expected. Pinning my hopes on this last sweet embie 🤞🏼 x

@Bluehawaii29 hey!! Welcome to the board! Everyone is so supportive on here and I'm sure you'll get lots of love and support from us 💕 I have some experience with embryo glue, I've used it on 3 of my cycles - 2 fresh one which resulted in my little boy who is almost 2! God knows how that times flown by I still feel I'm dreaming! 🙈 I tried embryo glue on my FET cycle in nov which sadly was a chemical. I'm about to start again next week leading into next month and am toying with the glue myself. Having spoken to the clinic it mimics what would happen during a natural cycle and encourages a "natural" process so to speak. I think I'm just being tight 🤣 but from my experience it did me good with my boy so I think why not give it the best shot?... if you're comfortable with the payment I'd say go for it, there's no research it harms the embryo at all. I'm sorry to hear about your failed cycle I know how hard of a blow it is but also pleased to hear you're feeling excited for your FET and I wish you lots of luck! If it's of any comfort my FET transfer the embryo survived the thaw and had been frozen for 2 years grading of good. The grade was lower after thaw however this was just due to the way the embryos are almost raisin like/shrivelled so they just need time to expand again and was reassured not to go by numbers or grading after thaw, that they were good enough to freeze in the first place 🥰 x

@Bluemeadowbaby hi dear, thank you so much for that amazing advice. Makes me much more hopeful that it will stick this time. We don’t mind too much about the payment as still on time nhs funded cycles so this is just an add on but we are prepared to whatever it takes to maximise our chances and £250 is a small price to pay to achieve that this time. I did a bit of research and read somewhere that it’s not good for embryos that are hatching so have emailed consultant to clarify that bit but I’m assuming my 4BB won’t exactly be hatching after coming out of being frozen for the last 2 months! Considering your success story and others I’ve heard of we are thinking of giving it a go. Also going to go all in with the 2 embryos this round even if it means fewer will be left for future ones if needed. Didn’t feel too positive if im honest about going in to our first fresh cycle as I hadn’t come across too many stories of first time success and never been one to make it first time in most things but i’m hoping our 4BB embabies will make it all the way! Will let you know what our consultant says about the embryo glue and also she said we will have a discussion with the embryologist too before they do it so still time to get all the info I guess. My mind just feels like it’s racing away today as I start the process again but trying to take things one step at a time x

@Bluehawaii29 that's really interesting to know about the hatching stage! My little boy was a 5BA I believe 6 is hatching 🤔 this is very interesting and something I too will query with my clinic I think as a little in two minds for some reason this time around. I know what you mean about the feeling like your minds racing, mine feels like this too at the moment and I've done this many times. I feel like I've forgotten the process even though I did it less than 2 months ago 🤦🏻‍♀️ the thing I liked most about the FET cycle though was that it was not as tough as fresh, a lot less invasive.
Oh I meant to mention I use lubion and pessaries too to up my progesterone. It wasn't required with the extra progesterone given my situation however was told the clinic were now giving lubion as standard to all patients to increase chances. I think they were finding levels dropped quicker before test day and this just gave an extra boost/no bleeding before. Again I'm prepared to give anything a good go just so I can say I did my best x

@Bluemeadowbaby that’s good to know regarding FET being a bit easier than fresh. The fresh cycle I had was pretty intense and had to take a couple of weeks off work so am hoping I can carry on with life this time and just maybe take a few days off near transfer. Just so glad I don’t have to go through the EC bit, remember feeling out of it pretty much the whole day. Regarding the progesterone my consultant said she wanted it to be a bit higher as mine had been 33 on 10 DPT but then she said it was like the chicken and the egg, couldn’t tell if the low progesterone had caused me to bleed earlier than test day or whether it was no because nothing had happened. I did ask about Lubion injections on my first cycle but they said they don’t offer it usually If my hormone levels were looking ok which they did. I’ve heard with the embryo glue it works better if you use multiple embryos so that’s another reason I wanted to use it with 2. Thats reassuring to know it worked with your boy as I am pretty sure grade 5 means hatching and was told my 5AA on the first cycle was also hatching. Will let you know what consultant says though x

@Bluehawaii29 Hey welcome to the thread! I had 1 fresh transfer with a 5AA and bled super early (like 5 dpt), no embryo glue. After that experience to be honest I've found FET a lot easier and it just feels like it works better for me. My first FET I have a 4AA transferred (no glue) ended in a CP. This cycle I had a 5AA transferred and we used the glue. I'm private as same-sex couple, but my clinic doesn't charge extra for the glue. They also just don't believe it makes a difference. For this cycle we just thought "why the hell not" and ticked the box for it, and fingers crossed I'm 5+1 today (furthest we've ever got).

Can I ask your age if you're transferring two high grade embryos? Seems really quite early in the journey for them to be puttibg you at risk of a multiple pregnancy (most clinics really try to steer you away from double transfers unless they are poorer graded embryos and you're older and had multiple non-successful transfers). I would consider it carefully going for a double transfer already, given the risks to your and babies if they both stick. Also your clinics thaw survival rate sounds a bit low. My clinic fluctuates between ~97-98% survival (it varies month by month) and most clinic have over 90% survival rate I think. It might be your clinic is just freezing some poorer quality embryos (my clinic won't freeze anything below a 3 for instance). I know my clinic they call morning of the planned FET to confirm if the thaw was successful, and your convo with the embryologist will probably also involve the conversation about whether you want them to keep defrosting other embryos if an embryo doesn't survive the thaw.

I did cyclogest fresh cycle, and by a fluke of luck my first FET I got put on utrogestan instead because of the global cyclogest shortage, and much, much preferred utrogestan, so I requested to stay on that for this cycle. I also had lubion injections for 6 days leading up to transfer.

@Bluemeadowbaby It's like riding a bike, you'll remember it all and get back I to the swing of things :) Sending lots of baby dust that this little embryo is the sticky one that's been waiting patiently for its perfect time!

Heyy @2mumlife thanks for your reply! Congrats on your current pregnancy good to hear you used the glue this time. I agree probably not massive increase in success with the glue but hoping it will be like a placebo effect for me, ie the magic glue haha. I was always really scared last time whether the embryo would ‘stick’ so I think it will help put my mind at ease knowing the embryos are in this medium. Regarding how far in to this I am, been with fertility clinic for over a year now so they probably are tired of us by now! The consultant put it all out there just on our second go which even I was surprised. Im 34 going on to 35 in a few months. I think she must have felt sorry for us and just trying to give us the best chance. Our logic of using 2 is not for twins but just hoping at least one will stick. Going from a 5AA which failed to 4BBs is still a fair drop in grade so we felt that 2 might be more useful to do this time and she said they allow this after one failed cycle. She also didn’t mention the glue last time but says they offer it after one failed cycle. That’s good to know you had Lubion injections, they do sound better than the cyclogest and last time I had a lot leaking even after 30 mins lying down. Any tips this time you did different for your successful cycle? x

@2mumlife regarding the thaw rate at our clinic I think it must be higher than that but she just gave us a figure off the top of her head. Possibly made it lower than it is to lower our expectations a bit? I.e we have 4 and she probably was just trying to make us understand that we necessarily might not have all 4 following the thaw process. Hopefully it won’t be like that for us and she did say that the successful thaw rates are much higher for my age group and that it is better when egg quality is better so apparently older women with lesser quality eggs might face them not surviving the thaw. So I guess the percentages are very individual

Hi @Bluemeadowbaby my consultant just emailed me back and said she has confirmed with the consultant Embryologist and there is no issue with hatching embryos and embryo glue. The medium is entirely non toxic to embryos.

@Bluehawaii29 Ah ok, you tried something else before IVF? We did 4 failed IUIs before moving to IVF. First registered with clinic 2 years ago, covid delayed everything when clinic had to close, so ~ 18 months of actually TTC (IVF is so painfully slow!)

Only thing we really did different this cycle is I relaxed. I stopped bothering to alter my diet (other than no alcohol and keeping caffeine very minimal), stopped bothering with accupunture, stopped bothering with mindfulness. I essentially got to the place is decided none of it made a damn bit of difference so I might as well stop bothering and try to pay as little attention as I could to the whole process. I also had to take a bucket of annual leave from work before I lost annual leave (my work is ridiculous and there is never a good time for a break) so I was actually mostly on leave for the week before transfer which was on the 21st and then off all of Christmas and New year. So really, actually reducing stress is the thing that worked for me!