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 😬

How's everyone doing today? X

Hey, I actually got an in person GP appointment, Al most unheard of nowadays and am currently on amoxicillin after she listened to my chest. I feel ok I think but struggling to know if I'm reacting to the Ivf meds or just feeling awful because I'm quite sick.

I really wanted to be super healthy this cycle and instead I'm in bed drinking gallons of lucozade and reading fantasy novels written for teenagers.

Hi all

@VenusStarr how are you feeling after your FET? And you @Holskey?

I totally get what several of you have said about treatment - I am private, I have been all along, but treatment at my clinic is nurse-led and I have been really frustrated at times because what I want is medical opinion on my individual case and not a more generic 'that's normal' response. When I go into the clinic the nurses are all nice but I do feel part of a machine. I think it can be a misconception (especially if you listen to things like BFN podcast!) that private means you get all this fancy, bespoke care - maybe in some places but I haven't found that!

On a brighter note, I had my baseline scan yesterday and all looked good so I can start stims today. Endometrium was 3mm and they did a quick follicle count and saw 11 (they said there's likely more hiding in the shadows that will be visible once I am stimming). I was pleased with that as I am 42 and only have one ovary and my big fear was that my numbers would've taken a dive since my last EC in Feb. Finally on to the next stage!

Only downside was that there's confusion over exactly what treatment I'm doing and that's stress I could definitely do without...

Hi @lucymills1234. I'm obsessed. Pointlessly symptom spotting and thinking of nothing else. To be expected, I guess.

I know what you mean about being part of a machine. When I went in for my FET, nobody properly spoke to me except to direct me to do something or go somewhere. I was out within 20 minutes. It's very impersonal. I haven't minded too much because everything has been straightforward for me so far (touching wood), but if I had questions or concerns, it would annoy me, especially with the big price tag.

Your scan sounds very positive though 🙂 How many eggs did you get last time?

I'd also like to know how you're doing @VenusStarr. Are you going crazy with impatience/hope/fear too?!

Oh @Holskey ❤️❤️ thanks for asking after me. I'm doing OK mostly. I have been quite busy as work so that's been a good distraction and I've been trying to walk everyday - although I've just come back from a walk and not feeling too well and I'm a bit worried, tmi but just a bit of an upset tummy randomly.
I've literally got not symptoms, so can't spot anything. If I wasn't there at the transfer, I'd swear it never happened. I feel normal. Other than having to do my injections (lubion and clexane) and take my meds, it's like normal. I did allow myself a Google yesterday of 3dp5dt no symptoms but limited my time.
Are you testing at home @Holskey, my beta blood test is next Wednesday and I'm scared, it's coming too quickly. I don't want to know yet. I'm not testing early. Do you have any inkling?!

@lucymills1234 good news on your scan, fingers crossed for those follicles 🤞 is your treatment plan sorted now?!

I'm sorry to hear you're unwell @theotherfossilsister get well soon ❤️

Thank you @TheSnufflet ill find out next Wednesday 😬 glad all is on track for you.

We're staying at a friend's Halloween weekend, so I'll either be making an excuse not to drink or having lots of wine to commiserate. Hope it's the former 🤞 ❤️

@VenusStarr, it sounds like you're doing well. I also have a little bit of an upset tummy, but of course, I'm wondering if it's a symptom! Other than that, feeling petty normal here too.

I haven't tested yet. I've been googling when people get their bfps but not been daft enough to do it myself. Yet. No beta for me and OTD a week today! I'll know before then because AF would be due Tuesday (natural FET so no meds to mess with it). I will test before. I would not want AF to be the first I'm hearing about a failed FET!

I'm planning to be at friends' the following weekend. Let's hope we both have to start planning our non-drinking excuses soon! 🤞🤞🤞

Hi all! Is it ok if I join in on this thread?

I didn't want to join any threads sooner as I didn't want to get hopes up an FET could be happening for me in November- I still don't know if it is but there is at least a chance, as we got embryos out of this freeze-all cycle and are waiting for PGT-A results to find out if any will be transferrable. If there are any to transfer based on results, would be looking at early/mid November! Every day is totally dragging by waiting for results, its utter torture!

@tulipsandsnow welcome to the thread, fingers crossed all will go ahead for you, out of interest how long have you been told your FET will take? After reading so many people on here say about their cycles I don't know why mine is so long, I started meds 5 days ago, and my transfer isn't until 29th November, has anyone else had such long med cycles for. Frozen transfer? Also, I'm so sorry ladies this is far too much info, but I really need some advise. I started suprecur Tuesday night, and since then I have had a horrendously bloated belly, and am back and forth to the toilet about 10 times a day! I'm a beautician, and it's really affecting my work, I'm so embarrassed about my growling belly, and needing to rush off to the toilet all the time, please tell me this passes?

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 thank you!
I'm afraid I can't be much help about length or medication, as mine is going to be a natural FET- so it will be timed completely with my normal cycle, 5 days after LH surge/ovulation! And so also no medication (unless my estradiol or progesterone levels are not ok naturally, in which case I would need something!)
I can relate however as the IVF stim meds themselves gave me tummy trouble and it was a very stressful time in terms of having to rush off and not know when it would strike :(

Thanks @tulipsandsnow I asked for natural but was told it wasn't convenient to the clinic so ended up with medicated. No idea how I am surviving another 5 weeks if it's this bad all the way through x

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 I have a friend who is also at Bourn Hall and she goes through weeks and weeks on end of Buserelin. It makes no sense to me (I’m sure there’s a reason) but my clinic is buserelin CD2 for approx 14 days and that’s the lot!

It baffles me how they are all so different and there’s no standardised care. I understand that there are different factors leading to fertility treatment, but the same situations have so many different approaches depending on where you are in the country.

So strange!!

@IVFhadenough I had to start it on day 21, and have 35 days of it, I'm really not sure I'm going to cope I have only managed 5 so far lol. I have tried asking the clinic to do a shorter version, they are just not interested :( I'm getting so frustrated with the clinic their patient care is bull!!! X

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 yep! That’s exactly what she had to do too! This round though, she’s following a similar protocol to me. You never know if you’re coming or going as others seem to have different protocols or ideas and when your clinic is a flat out no… it becomes very frustrating! ☹️

@IVFhadenough I get myself really worked up with it all too, I'm not good at being told what to do at the best of times, let alone when what I am being made to do doesn't suit my body, really am hoping if I sulk enough on the phone Monday they might listen, sorry you have had to deal with so much, I'm complaining on my first FET, no idea how people are strong enough to deal with this repeatedly! X

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 I hope you get some answers soon! Or they at least listen and empathise with you enough that you feel like you understand why they are doing what they are doing.

Fingers crossed for your first FET! 🤞🏼

@IVFhadenough thank you. Sending loads of baby dust. Now off to bed to sleep of this delightful headache.... shame it's not a wine headache, that might cheer me up a little😂x

I'm sorry you're having a rough time @ExhaustedPigeon1988 your FET protocol is very long. Hope the headache is gone today. Its awful that you've had to fit in with the clinic schedule rather than what would be better for you.

Nothing much to report from me, 6dp5dt and not really any symptoms. Quite thirsty all the time and my boobs are a tiny bit tender but I'm on 2 different types of progesterone. Still no desire to test and feeling quite calm, which is weird.
How are you getting on @Holskey? Completely understand why you will test and don't want to be blindsided by af. That happened to me in my fresh cycle, I didn't make it to test day before bleeding, but thrn I had a chemical so the whole thing was an upsetting and odd experience. Hoping for good news for you - will you test tomorrow?

Hope your results come through soon @tulipsandsnow and you can plan your FET.

How's everyone else getting on?

@VenusStarr I thought it was very long, but that bournhall all too get tbh 😔 the headaches come about 4pm and stay until bed. It's the upset belly I can't cope with, it's so bloated and hurts like crazy, plus I'm in the toilet atleast every hour, which is a nightmare while trying to be a beautician.... I'm hoping it settles asap. It's so good you are calm and not tempted to test, I was awful on my fresh cycle, I was literally testing every morning! Just driving myself crazy. But tbh I'm glad I did, it was better for me personally to be let down a little each day, I think it helped me accept it quicker. Hoping for a BFP for you! Can't wait to hear some good news x

I'm starting my first cycle in November 😬 feeling very anxious and scared!!

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 hi, I'm a beautician too, I'm self employed and work from my home salon. Can I ask how you managed your clients during your cycle?

Well I've started stims unexpectedly early on Friday evening as my period arrived on Thursday for the first time ever! Day 8 scan booked for Friday. I'm on a higher dose of Menopur than before and the sick feeling kicked in last night after the injection but I could just go to sleep and forget about it! Much prefer taking the injections at night so I don't spend all day feeling ill.
@ExhaustedPigeon1988 yes, I have a patient advisor that I just email and she either directs me to who I need to speak to or finds the answer for me. Very helpful! So I emailed her Thursday panicking as I needed to register the cycle but my medication wasn't being delivered until Friday but she just spoke to the med secs and booked my scan and told me to start meds Friday evening once delivered. Also checked that I knew what I was doing in case I wanted a nurse to call and go through anything. It's a fab service.
Also - for FETs there's definitely another way. For my FETs that we're under an NHS clinic btw were just oestrogen tablets 3x a day and progesterone suppositories. No injections at all and the treatment followed my natural cycle - so tablets started on CD1 and transfer was around CD14 depending on the scans. I've no idea why you have to go through all of this for yours - it's not good for you surely?? It's so bizarre how different clinics are

@VenusStarr I tested this morning on a frer and got a decent second line. 3+3 though so extremely early. I doubt I'd regret testing early if it doesn't work out though, because I'd always wonder whether it tried to implant anyway. I really, really hope you get a bfp too 🤞and I admire your restraint in not poas yet! 😂

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 I agree with everyone else, you're protocol seems awful and I'm sorry you're having such a bad experience I'm astounded they just told you that you couldn't have a natural FET if the only reason is their convenience and not based on your circumstances. That's really poor. I hope it turns out to be worth it.

Aw congratulations @Holskey 🙂

Ahh congratulations @Holskey now the real stress starts for you! Best of luck

@VenusStarr I'm the same, very rarely test before OTD and certainly on the last couple of transfers had to force myself to take a test on the test day. I wonder when I'd actually test if I didn't know the clinic was ringing!

Hoping I'm calm and not too stressed in the TWW this time - it's by far the worst part for me, I almost find the hope too much to cope with. Definitely from my experience, there's no difference in a TWW when pregnant versus when not so really hope that I can not symptom spot this time