IVF/FET October/November 21

[2021babyhope]

I think I'm a bit early on some of the other threads so starting one for October/November 😊

1st fresh cycle in august ended in CP.

Booked for follow up consultation 30th September so hopefully I'll be able to transfer late October early November 🤞🏼

5 frozen blasts. Hoping to transfer 2 this time round but I'm not sure they'll let me 😬

Had my final scan today, wasn’t expecting it to be the final scan as stimmed for around 3.5 weeks last time. I’ve got 10+ follicles around 15mm on each ovary and quite a few a bit larger. So fingers crossed I can get something (had 42 last time and got 8 then 4 blasts).

As always my lining is just not playing ball and is only 5.7mm, so will be a freeze all unless it magically increases before Monday. Happy with a freeze all though, I was incredibly ill last time and hopefully this will give me recovery time.

I need to go back in and get bureslin instead of gonasi for the trigger as bloods are high.

@strawberrysummer19 I’m usually so sweet toothed but I cannot stop thinking about crisps!! Don’t fancy chocolate at all, must be the hormones.

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 @2021babyhope
Hi Both! Just jumping in!
I am also Bourne Hall, Norwich and whilst I am very early in the process (just about to start the pill for a month with EC scheduled for jan) I have also had the same frustration with lack of empathy and clarity on the whole thing. Makes me so mad. But it does certainly help to have each other to vent to.
I do wish you luck with everything! X

@Jazz234 hey, I'm norwich too, is this your first treatment? Shocking just how bad they are isn't it, and sad that we have to just put up with it too. When do you start the pills? Are you early or late January? Do you know their opening times over Christmas? Sorry for 20 questions, just thinking you may need to ask all questions before Christmas as have a feeling no one will be available for a couple of weeks over the festive season. Babies on hold, they need to have their turkey ;-) x

@Mancbear88 wow they are really high numbers, it's no wonder you were ill last time! Hopefully everything goes well this time x

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 Hey! Yes my first round...I was meant to start the pills in a few days and I had EC for 5th Jan but I get married on 29th December and can't think of anything worse than being on IVF medication on my wedding day so it's pushed back a month...taking pills early December and EC 28th Jan (subject to change!) So I shouldn't have too much to do with them over Christmas which I am fairly releived about.
My planning meeting was spent talking about long protocol and then realising I was on short and then spent 2 seconds on that so I had to Google it all! I then asked for my next step as all my blood tests were done etc and I had a really short email back saying check your consent portal! I was like ermm....the consent portal gives me no idea! So she begrudgingly typed out a couple of paragraphs for me. So far, Google and this forum has been my main source of info! X

@Jazz234 did you actually get to go into a meeting or was it over the phone? I appreciate covid etc, but somethings should be in person, ours was this august just gone, and everything was still over the phone! Ahhh makes sense to enjoy the wedding without the pressure of IVF on top of it, plus it's something else to focus on after all the wedding planning too :) I have always found their email responses short and unhelpful, especially as you have to wait for replies that then don't give you any answers. I have sometimes spent days ping pinging emails back and forth. I normal get fed up and request a call back, that seems to be more helpful x

@ExhaustedPigeon1988
Yeah ours was on the phone too and this was end of Sept! Could barely make out what was being said and was so rushed! Yes, the wedding will be a welcome break from all the IVF stuff and then we crack on for real in Jan. :) I will take a leaf out of your book and just ask for a call next time!! I am very excited (perhaps naively) to get started now! X

@Jazz234 I was exactly the same for my first, yea maybe a little naive, but don't let anyone take that excitement away... it really helped me through it all.... maybe that's why I'm struggling more this time as I'm just awaiting the disappointment lol. Our consultations sounds identical, rushed and a struggle, I came off the phone crying the first time, mainly from being so frustrated, but also mega disappointment from the lack of interest they had. Just repeating the form we had been told to fill in, very little information given at all! X

@paintfairy all the best for tomorrow !!!

Question re 5 day transfers - do the clinic call before regarding numbers or do they tell you at your transfer time ?

Mine is Sunday at 11 and they've told me to arrive 15 mins before

Just wondering because last time they called me before but it was bad news so if it's all good do clinics still call?

How has everyone prepped for transfer ? Xx

Hi everyone!
I am new here and happy to connect with other women going through the same thing :)

I am 35 years old and I live in Germany. I will start my 2nd ICSI round around mid-November. The main reason why we opted for ICSI was my husband's sperm quality. He has abnormal sperm morphology (shape).

In the first ICSI, I injected 150mg Pergoveris per day, for 10 days and got 11 eggs in the retrival. 9 of them were matured. We got 4 embryos. I got two back at the fresh 3 days transfer. Unfortunately, it didn't work... Frozen transfer was not successful either...

Our fertility doctor told us that she was very happy about the egg count but was not very satisfied about the fertilization rate. She thinks it is mainly because of my husband's issue. So this time we will try two more things to increase the fertilization rate: PICSI and Calcium ionophore. I will also use slightly higher Pergoveris dosage (200mg) this time.

Meanwhile I got more test done even though I had everything good "on paper". However, after a uterine biopsy, we found out that I have slightly higher killer cell count (max value should be 300, I have 339). To suppress that, I will get Omegaven infusion.

I also got coagulation tests done. Even though I don't have Factor V Leiden etc., due to my genetic type (4G/4G), increased PAI-1 activity detected. So I am more likely to have thrombosis and miscarriage . So the dr prescribed me blood thinning medicine Clexane 40mg. I will start the injections with my new protocol. Hopefully, if everything goes well and I get pregnant, I have to use it during my pregnancy.

After this loooong introduction, I would like to ask you if any of you have experience in using Omegaven/Intralipid or blood thinners like Clexane?

@strawberrysummer19 mine will call me before. So I should find out just in time before leaving the house tomorrow.

I'll reply properly tomorrow. Had a terrible migraine tonight (yeah, worst night ever) which is not good! Definitely not drank enough now because I fell asleep. But I wanted to say that my appointments were by video and yes on your own with Google and MN pretty much sounds standard!

Welcome @Cayandsimit I'm sorry about your previous rounds.

I have overactive nk cells, so on a similar protocol. I have intralipids, so had one just before starting progesterone in my FET and one at 4 weeks. Will get them every 4 weeks to 16 weeks. I've never had an issue with it (was on it whilst ttc naturally too). I think it's made me gain weight though. But I am also on steroids as my nk cells are very aggressive and I've had multiple losses.

I'm also on clexane and started that on cd8 in my FET. I've got some pretty impressive bruises, currently sporting one shaped like a Christmas tree! 😂 I'm running out of room on my tummy and I'll be on it until 12 weeks (I think).

Hope your migraine has passed @paintfairy I often get them and was on the verge of one earlier in the week. Lots of love for today ❤️

@strawberrysummer19 my clinic didn't call before either transfer, they said they'd only call if it's bad news, so was holding my breath until we left both times 🤞 for you.

That's a lot @Mancbear88 I'm sorry about your lining. Hope you're not in too much discomfort 🤞 for you.

Hi @VenusStarr,

Thank you for sharing your experience. I am sorry for the bruises. But hey at least you got a festive one this time! 🎄🤣 I hope everything goes well for you this round and you have a healthy baby ❤️

@Mancbear88 I am sorry about your lining. My lining was not so great in my frozen transfer either. I had thyroid medicine overdose so my period, ovulation etc. were all weird that cycle, we had to trigger the ovulation with injections. I think my lining was about the same as your pre ovulation. It was around 7.5-8 mm even after I ovulated. So the dr prescribed me estrogen gel and progesterone injections (supposed to be more effective than vaginal pessaries) to get the lining thicker. Maybe you can discuss these options with your dr if you decide on fresh transfer. Also keep in mind that you have at least 4-5 days until the transfer. Sometimes body works so well it can go up to desired thickness on its own. Fingers crossed 🤞❤️

Had my update. Was literally shaking. I am not fully sure what he said. 🤣

So we have 3 at blastocyst stage. 1 that looks best which they'll look to transfer today. But they'll recheck before doing it. The other 2 they'll check later/ tomorrow to see if suitable for freezing. But then he said something about 2 again and I can't decide if he was referring to the 2 he'd just spoken about or the 2 that were left. I guess I'll find out later.....

@paintfairy that's brilliant!! A great update. So so pleased for you xx

@paintfairy congrats! Wish you all the best 🤞❤️🍀

@Cayandsimit thank you. I was actually hoping for a freeze all really so not upset on the lining. I was so ill after my first fresh that I couldn’t walk more than 5 minute without sitting down to rest for weeks. My lining scraped up to 6.9mm then and I had a missed miscarriage at 13 weeks. I do know that my lining can increase with a frozen cycle albeit with the most oestrogen I think anyone’s every been on (). With my last one it got to 9.9mm.
I’m just hoping for some good numbers next week. Then let my body fully recover and do a FET early next year.

@paintfairy good luck hope it all goes well!!!

I've had my update too; I'm on day 4 today and having my transfer today as the clinic is closed tomorrow. I'll have 2 early blasts being transferred today, which leaves 1 morola and 2 10 cells. So the 3 left will be returned to the incubator today and checked again Monday to see if there's anything to freeze.
Over the moon with that, can't believe all 5 are still in the running! I've got caremaps so need to ask what grading they all are maybe, but then im not even sure I want to know - the hope is hardest to cope with I guess

Officially PUPO!
So, my clinic experience was mixed. I think no one likes working Saturdays? The nurse was nice. But the theatre nurse needed work on her bedside manner and friendliness. The consultant wasn't much better. Firstly wanted to know if I'm wetting myself and if I'm not i need to drink more. I felt like I'd had enough and it's always a fine line for me and was stressing me. I also queried my progesterone levels (being they say mine are low naturally) and if they'll check, and they just make you feel stupid? 🤷‍♀️ But no they won't check.
When the embryologist rang this morning, DH took the piss saying why couldn't I understand what he said on the phone. Partly you are overwhelmed but also it was hard to hear him. But it was the same one when we got there, so I was wondering to myself if he realised that, or what was said. 🤣 And he did realise, and didn't hear. But basically the lead embryo had improved from this morning, the grading i don't understand, I think he said 2.2. The others (still no idea how many others there are, at least 2) will be checked again later/tomorrow and frozen if suitable. I'll get an update tomorrow on the portal so then it should make more sense. It went in all fine and we have photos! I'll take a pic of them actually. Which is why the insta thing is annoying. I might make a new one. Oh and I've had my McDonald's fries!

@MrsC2018 that sounds all positive? I'm care too but we don't have that. Do you understand their grade system? I'm clueless. Good luck with the transfer!

Hi everyone!

Just jumping in to say hey and see who else is in their TWW? I had my transfer on Monday, a perfect little embryo by all accounts! It was our first FET after our fresh transfer was abandoned back in August due to the consultant not being able to get the catheter to where it needed to be!

Not feeling any different other than a bit faint, headachey and dizzy. And a super dry mouth at night!

Anyone else at a similar point? Hope you're all doing okay! Xxx

@paintfairy @WightLady87 congrats on being PUPO 🤞 when are your test days then?

I had the 2 early blasts transferred this aft, and will get a call from the embryologist tomorrow morning apparently to tell me how the other 3 have faired getting to day 5 and whether they're good enough to freeze. Obviously hope for something to freeze, FETs are so much easier (and cheaper) than another fresh!

Just got to ignore all these twinges now. If you could all go ahead and remind me that my positive cycle felt exactly the same as the negative 5 before that would be great 😫😂

@MrsC2018 we can eagerly await our embryo update calls tomorrow. Lots happening. Good luck with your transfer @strawberrysummer19 I hope you get good news in the morning.
Good luck with your TWW @WightLady87

My official test day is 19 November. Seems ages?

@MrsC2018, @paintfairy Congratulations on getting to transfer, becoming PUPO and having some left still in the running! Hopefully you'll both have decent blasts for the freezer 🤞

I originally had 10 blasts in the freezer and I have no idea about their grades (also Care). They didn't tell me and I saw no advantage in knowing. When I'm done, I'm going to ask, but until then I'm going to assume they're the very best grade there could possibly be!

Fingers crossed for you too @WightLady87

@Holskey I never asked about grades either. I find it really odd they bother to tell you, when in actual fact you have no idea what it means. 🤣 But I suppose all you need to know is- its good enough to go in. 10 is loads! That's good going.

Thank you all!

@MrsC2018 My test day is the 13th so a week to go. Hope your transfer goes okay!

@paintfairy I hope the time goes quickly for you although I know that the days seem to drag!

@Holskey I find the grading so odd and different clinics do different things. I always remember saying that nobody who gets pregnant 'naturally' knows their grade so it's not really necessary info! We just got told ours was good and our other frostie 'good enough to freeze'.

Xxx