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 😬

Thank you @MrsC2018 I'm having a really emotional day and basically cried all morning on my dh. I just don't know. Last time I had lots of af type cramps early on, but as dh reminded me, I had a chemical pregnancy so maybe it's a good thing it's not the same this time.
The earliest I've ever had a bfp is 11dpo, so the equivalent of today and my anxiety in that pregnancy was horrendous. I've been pregnant 5 times and each time was so different, so maybe I just need to focus on that. I'd definitely feel more comfortable with a later test day.
Terrified of being pregnant and all that entails after so many losses but scared we won't get the chance... 😢
When's you Otd? X

My heart goes out to you @VenusStarr I really hope you can find some peace in the next few days either way.

I'm on day 3 stims so a little while before I have to confront my pregnancy test fears again!
Your husband is quite wise there (I imagine it was a fluke!) everyone's pregnancy symptoms are different, plus each person gets different symptoms with different pregnancies- my two were entirely different throughout, then added in the IVF meds messing around with everything I just don't think we can rely on symptoms meaning anything at all.
Have you tried the mindful IVF app? He has such a hypnotic voice, I think it's wonderful!
I also understand what you mean about being scared of actually being pregnant too. And yet here we are, hope overriding experience!

@KAnneH I am no expert, my first cycle was only in august, if there is anything I can help with I am happy to, as I'm sure all the lovely people are here, it's so nice everyone is so kind and supportive here, I wish I had joined in for my fresh round rather than watching from a distance lol.
As for my clients, I was actually very lucky, my clinic made me isolate, so wasn't able to go into the salon (we own it, so was tricky as had to rely on staff running it for 3 weeks). But I told clients in advance I was going on holiday and wouldn't be available. They know that's unlike me, especially for that long in peak summer season, but I played on what a hard couple of years it had been and that I needed a break. Some of my clients have turned into good friends and I was honest with them, but not many. This was great at the time, but bit me on bum when I came back after it had failed, as everyone wanted to know about an non existent holiday lol. Was a very hard few weeks. You may find it easier as you will be able to book clients around your appointments and meds, egg collection recovery was much easier than I expected, in fact I think I was very lucky really, the whole process wasn't too bad, by far the worst part was the waiting to hear how many had fertilised, then the dreaded 2 week wait, although I managed 5 days lol.

@MrsC2018 I wish my clinic as good as yours, their communication is awful. I hope you feel better soon, does the meds your on make you sickie all the way through?

Massive congratulations @Holskey I'm hoping this group is an all positive group, seems to be going great so far :) how long before your first scan? Today is the first day I have been able to feel semi normal, without having to run to the toilet every hour. I'm hoping this maybe the turning point physically, I can deal with 5 weeks of meds if I can get past the upset belly part! I am hoping you're right and that this long arse torture will be worth it all.

Stay strong @VenusStarr you've got this! I order and IVF diary last cycle, and I have a FET diary this time- I love writing and it relaxes me, anyway when my diary came it had a motivational card that I now use as a book mark..... keep going, you didn't come this far to come this far. I really like it, and enjoy rereading it every time I open my diary :)

Sending positive thoughts to everyone x

Ladies!!

Transfer tomorrow… just completed a 7 day working week so ordered a McDonald’s (lazy, I know!). I ended up getting it delivered and when we opened the bags there was extra fries.

I pray to the IVF gods that this is a sign 😂🍟

@IVFhadenough wishing you all the best for tomorrow, that defo sounds like a positive sign :) x

@IVFhadenough if that isn't a sign, I don't know what is! 🤣

Thank you @VenusStarr, @MrsC2018, @Exhaustedpigeon1988 ❤ not there yet of course, but I'm so grateful for the promising step.

@Exhaustedpigeon I'm not sure when the scan will be. I won't call the clinic until OTD which is Friday (an actual age away!) I'm glad you're feeling better and really hope it is a turning point. Also loving "keep going, you didn't come this far to come this far" 🙂

@VenusStarr I had no idea you'd had 5 losses. I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how stressful this whole process is for you. I find the tww the absolute worst but I can see why the worst bit for you comes after. Still hoping that this week brings a bfp with all its potential for you.

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 Thank you. Oh I didn't think about the repercussions of telling people you're going on holiday and not actually going anywhere 🤦🏼‍♀️ I have told people I'm taking some time off for personal reasons, I have told a couple of clients because people kept asking when we were going to have a baby (don't you just hate that question 😫) so I told them almost to make them feel awkward lol!! I do intend on working as much as I can, I have a waiting list for people wanting appointments so will contact them if and when!
I haven't been told to self isolate but part of me feels like I should, don't really want to catch covid mid stim, that would be a right pain!

@KAnneH it's hard because you do talk loads with your clients, and it's very awkward having the baby conversation too isn't it. During stims I had a lady in throwing a baby shower for her daughter that had IVF at the same clinic i was with. The first day back at work one of my clients asked why I didn't have children.... that was mega hard, as I was back at work the day after my negative test (my egg collection was brought forward so my rota wasn't ideal). Just go easy on yourself, work shouldn't be a priority during something like this. I would, if you can 100% recommend taking time off before collection, not because of feeling ill or anything, but you have so many meds, so many appointments, and it's nice to be able to focus on you. Plus back in august when I was on stims our town was at peak covid levels so I was super paranoid. I was so grateful to get out of the salon and be at home x

Morning everyone

@VenusStarr I always hold out until OTD too, I find I'm willing the time away to get there faster and then when OTD arrives I almost don't want to test! After 5 losses (so sorry) it must be so hard to know how to read your body.

@MrsC2018 I think we are tracking exactly the same, yesterday was day 3 of stims for me, too! I am back on Friday for my first scan, is it the same for you?

@IVFhadenough lots of luck for today!

@Holskey early congrats to you, I hope the time to OTD speeds by for you.

I always tell my colleagues, I'm a nurse in a small team so only need to tell 4 others but it's helpful for when I need to swap shifts short notice for EC or scans etc. Don't tell another soul beyond my best friend. Just mysteriously say "women's problems" and people back away 😂
@lucymills1234 congrats on day 4 stims today! 🤩 how are you feeling? I'm fab this morning, usually start feeling sick in an afternoon. I'm on 225 Menopur, which is the highest dose I've had so far, but it's reducing to 150 tomorrow. Yes have scan on Friday morning, I've always triggered by day 10 so not expecting to go beyond Sunday but hopefully not before as I've previously had immature eggs when they've triggered me too early.

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 I'm on long protocol and I started buserelin on day 19 (short cycles). I've now been on it over 3 weeks. I agree it makes you feel horrific. Headaches are brutal - are you drinking plenty? As that helps. I've been going to acupuncture and I walked in with a headache last week and I did leave without one! I think since I started stims though it's calmed down a bit anyway? Some people seem to be reducing the buserelin then, but I've been told to stay on the same dose? I was hoping not to!
@theotherfossilsister sorry you are ill. I've got the same issue. Absolutely awful cold and aching all over. And I was panicking its not ideal with the extra strain on my body right now? DH also has it and so I'm worried about sluggish sperm. 🤣
@Holskey congratulations!
@VenusStarr I understand the dread. That must be really difficult.
@TheSnufflet how are you getting on with stims?

I went for my first follicle scan today. They call later with a proper update and tell you what next, but she said everything looked as it should. I'm hoping my stinking cold has gone by my next appointment! It wasn't very pleasant.
Does anyone else find the menopur needles horrid to use? Like they aren't sharp enough? The ovaleap and buserelin ones are ok. It's just those!

Hi @MrsC2018 sounds like so far, so good on your end!

This is my third round and I've been on 300 ovaleap for each, which I think is because of my age (was 41 for first two rounds, now 42). First time I stimmed for 13 days then got 12 eggs, second time 11 days and 18 eggs so we'll see how it goes this time! I seem to get good egg numbers for my age and the fact I only have one ovary which is something, I guess.

@paintfairy I'm also on long protocol and my Buserelin dose is the same throughout. The headaches aren't fun but sounds like you're having a rough time with a cold too. Feel better soon.

@paintfairy I'm doing a frozen transfer, and to be honest I haven't a clue what anything is that I'm taking, I don't understand any of the drugs, and the nurses couldn't give a F either! I'm on buserelin from 19th October til 23rd November, progynova from 9th November til test day, and cyclogest from 23rd November til test day. I have had the cyclogest before on my fresh transfer, I was mega depressed, but think some of that was stress and anxiety anyway. I lower my buserelin from 500 to 200 on 9th November, hoping that may reduce headaches, also have 3 or 4 sessions of acupuncture booked before transfer on 29th November. It's just so long winded and I'm fed up with it already. But yesterday and today I have felt slightly better, I'm prone to headaches anyway, so not too worried about them although not particularly pleasant! X

@lucymills1234 yeah getting ill was terrible timing! Like the buserelin didn't make me feel bad enough. Headaches, hot waves, no energy, and it constipated me too.
@ExhaustedPigeon1988 the buserelin turns your ovaries off. I guess they don't let you ovulate on your own at the same time as having the transfer? The cyclogest actually also gives me headaches (i had it with iui). And the trigger shots give me really bad stomach pains so I'm dreading that. What a delight all of this is!

They've called though. Everything to carry on the same and I've my next scan Wednesday.

Thank you for all of the well wishes ❤️

One embryo now snuggling in nicely 🤞🏼❤️

Hope everyone’s having a happy Monday 🥰

@MrsC2018 and @lucymills1234 you two are on exactly the same time-frame as me and @paintfairy - it's day 4 of stims for me as well! I'm on 225 Gonal F and I may be overthinking it, but I do feel a bit more 'twingey' in my ovaries on this dose than I did in my last round where I was on 150IU. I have a scan on Wednesday so I'll find out if it's working well then. Really hope it doesn't take two and a half weeks like last time!

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 I can't believe they only gave you two paracetamol, that's crazy was this at Norwich? I had a similar thing RE timing in Cambridge where I was asked to attend at 10.30am but didn't go in until nearly 1pm - this was after reading that the timing of the trigger shot is SO VITAL and if you fuck up the timing then Bad Things Happen, but then they seemed pretty blasé about the timing of actually removing them I'm on long protocol again, although this cycle is shorter than my last cycle: my first round, I was on the pill for 5 weeks, then buserelin for SEVEN weeks, then stimmed for 17 days. I was beyond over it by the end (it lasted from March - June FFS!). This time is better as I didn't have to take the pill at the start, but it still involved just under 4 weeks of buserelin. Tbh, I don't find the buserelin too bad, it's just the horrible headaches that improve if you chug a shit-ton of water - the pill was by far more awful to take.

@IVFhadenough - I think Bourn Hall just really like making sure everything is hormonally switched off!

@paintfairy and @theotherfossilsister - so sorry to hear you've both got the lurgy - I've got the fear that I'm coming down with whatever my MIL was suffering with on Saturday. I really really hope it's not fucking COVID as that will fuck everything up. PCR test on Thursday should confirm or deny...

@TheSnufflet @theotherfossilsister that's the worry isn't it! I think mine is just a cold but I'm still concerned my body isn't exactly in the right place for all of this. Annoyingly none of us have had anything since before original lockdown and the one time it matters....

I think it's interesting how they all do drugs so differently. I'm on 225/187.5 ovaleap (alternate daily- no idea why) with 75 menopur. @lucymills1234 @TheSnufflet @MrsC2018
I also have similar concerns. I over reacted a bit to iui drugs and I don't want to end up being triggered early with this. As I do think the eggs aren't mature enough if that happens. I'm also old BTW. I'm nearing 39.

Hello ladies! I have been MIA and trying to catch up with all the messages.

@Holskey CONGRATULATIONS!!! What brilliant news 😀😀

@IVFhadenough congrats on being PUPO your post made me chuckle and I’m positive the extra fries was a sign from the IVF gods

@VenusStarr I admire your strong will, I would have given in ages go. Sorry to hear about your previous losses. It’s a tough old journey we’re on but we will get there.

@ExhaustedPigeon1988 your protocol does sound really long, I assumed it was because you needed to down regulate for longer. You started DR 5 days after me so doesn’t seem right that our potential transfer dates are so different. Also paracetamol for EC sounds brutal. Your experience with your clinic sounds frustrating. You pay good money and expect to get what you pay for. It’s a bit unacceptable that they’re refusing a natural transfer because it’s not convenient for them. At least try and gently discourage you rather than flat out refuse. Thankfully we can rant on this forum.

Is anyone doing any extras like embryo glue or a saline scan/wash.
My clinic discouraged me from using embryo glue because apparently there is no evidence it’s actually effective but I’m doing it anyway.

They did also say they see a disproportionately higher rate of success with women who’ve gad a saline scan in the 3-6 months before transfer. I didn’t go for that because they won’t keep me on contraception during the 3-6 months and I have stage iv endo which presents itself as huge chocolate cysts on my ovaries that are forever getting infected. But I found that information really interesting and wondered if anyone has heard the same thing.

@Chrischross haha! Glad you got a chuckle. I am happy to admit to clutching at any kind of straw to get a positive sign 😂

Fingers crossed from here is plain sailing 🤞🏼❤️

@paintfairy it really is a delight isn't it, are we mad to put ourselves through all this? To be fair my fresh cycle was fairly easy going physically, it's mentally I struggle, I drive myself crazy with what ifs and Google searches, I just can't help myself, I could happily spend all day doing it! Glad your scan went well :) time flies and drags all at the same time doesn't it. I always find I count down to my next appointment and it seems forever away, and all the time actually times flying by and I feel I'm missing out on the real world lol. Like seriously how is it nearly Christmas? What's happened to this year? I feel like I have either been drugged or cried my way through this year lol x

@TheSnufflet yep that was norwich, literally 2 paracetamol about an hour before EC. I'm not going to lie I was starting to get a bit stroppy at the end of the wait, I was so bloody scared, and like you say the importance of the trigger was obviously playing in my mind too... omg your first round sounds horrendous! Why do they feel the need to drag these things out so long! No other clinic seems to be this bloody bad! The pills made me mega depressed, other than that I didn't really get any side effects on first round, but I wasn't on buserelin at all throughout that one. Now my stomach has finally settled I feel so much more human, yesterday and today I have felt almost myself, just headaches, but that really doesn't bother me too much. In all honesty I just feel lucky to be able to have IVF, and proud I have even braved it, we put it off for years as I didn't think I could handle it, wish we had started before, but grateful we are there now :)

@Chrischross when is your transfer due? I'm super impatient which I think is why it's annoying me so much, feel like it has been forever since last transfer! I had embryo glue last time (obviously didn't work), and I am having a double transfer with glue again this time. Now I have started I don't think I couldn't not have it, I feel I have to do everything possible, that was I can't feel like I could have done more, if that makes any sense at all lol. Not going to lie EC is the most pain I have felt in my life, on the plus side it was fairly quick. Apparently they couldn't reach my left ovary, so the nurse actually had to lean on my belly to push it down, honestly the whole experience was bizarre, nothing like I had expected, it felt very rushed too, with absolutely no care. I have an IV in one arm, and a blood pressure monitor squashing my other arm, so couldn't bend either properly, and she asked me to remove my mask from my face, I actually couldn't reach my own face and she just stood and watched me struggle, I feel like a right prat! X

Thanks @chrischross I had embryo glue 2 years ago for a successful FET. In between then and now, my clinic stopped using it for the same reasons your clinic gave: no evidence of its success. I was disappointed because I wanted everything to be the same for this FET, but the embryo implanted anyway. It certainly does no harm, so if you want to do it just in case it helps, why not. I've never heard of a saline scan, but part of the reason I ever came here is because I learn so much from everyone!

Bloody hell @exhaustedpigeon1988, the more I hear about your experience with your clinic the more shocked I am. They need to stop torturing you and get you your bfp already!

@Holskey I didn't realise it was as bad as it was until I have heard other peoples experiences.... BFP would be amazing, seems a little out of reach atm.

Sending love and positive thoughts to everyone :)

@IVFhadenough 🤞 for you!
@ExhaustedPigeon1988 Jesus. I mean some people moan a bit about clinics (mine seemed a bit useless with admin before I started, but actually going, the rest has been ok so far) but yeah I definitely think must of yours can't be the norm at all. They are meant to be professional places ffs.
As for time- yeah you are right. Lockdown maybe hasn't helped but the last 2 years of my life have just been the same thing. And it feels like it's going much quicker now I've got to scan stage. The downreg just felt never ending as there was no next appointment booked. Where as now its only ever days away. I'm dreading the EC mind. I've not even thought about Christmas! It's scarily close. How is it almost November? I honestly don't even know how I got here. The weather being OK maybe doesn't help as it doesn't really feel like winter is on its way. Not that I'm complaining.

Does anyone else have lots of dreams on drugs? I seem to be. And even i dream when I'm awake! You know when you wake up in the night? I almost start dreaming before I am fully back asleep. Its very odd.

Hello,

I've been reading this thread for a couple of weeks now. Thought I would pop in.

I am currently on my first IVF ICSI cycle and I have just come from my baseline scan ! I'm all good to start my menopur tonight !!! and have my first scan booked for next thursday and EC possibly 9th November ! It's all happening so fast! Any tips for anything going forward would be lovely :)