IVF/FET Jan/Feb 2022

[Juno231]

I know I'm a bit early but knowing that I get to start in January I think I'll go mad just twiddling my thumbs until then.

With Christmas clinic closures I think there's a fair few of us around waiting for Jan to start, so hopefully we can gather here for support in the mean time?

About me - 33 years old (although I turn 34 in Jan!), TTC#1 for two years with unexplained infertility. Am due to start my first ever round of IVF in January (NHS). I've been told I'll do short protocol and in terms of next steps I've got a trial embryo transfer in two weeks' time, and both OH and I have to get blood tests done in Dec. I can order my meds from the pharmacy in Dec as well so got that to look forward to ha.

I'm currently predicted to start my cycle on the 31st of Dec which would mean having to wait a whole cycle due to the new year bank holiday getting in the way. My cycle can vary by a few days though so I'm really hoping CD1 actually comes a day or two later!

@Bec18x that's good to hear .

Good luck with your treatment where're are you having it ?

Got my baseline 25th Jan

@Justawannabemam thank you and I'm at CRGH x

@Frenchiepupmama me too!!! I'm leaning towards sweets instead of actual food! Let us know how you get on 😊

@EasterBunny7 I've had the 2 jabs and booster, all Pfizer, and I don't think there was any difference...but I've also been on meds on and off so haven't paid too much notice either!

@Bec18x gutted you had covid but at least it is far enough away not to mess with your treatment thankfully! Hopefully you weren't too ill with it. My clinic ask for proof of LFTs rather than PCR test which is easier! Good luck for your first injection tonight, hope it goes okay 🤞🏾

So, had taken a break from it all and just enjoyed Christmas. Rang up to start the next round yesterday and my appointment for the first injection is on the 29th. I still have the estrogen tablets, so don't need to go in for those. Fingers crossed for this round.
I have a school board inspection to look forward to at the same time. Hope I don't need to go in on that day.

I'm preparing for a FET and am struggling with all of these drugs.

When we first had a consultation with our doctor about the whole process I didn't ask for details about drugs that need to be taken for an FET. The doctor just said they were lighter than the stimulation drugs and I left it at that. Fast forward to a Zoom consult for FET and a nurse tells me I need to take a protocol of drugs not just before the transfer but through the entire first trimester if we're lucky enough to have a successful transfer.

I completely realise things could be worse and in the larger scheme of things, the side effects of the drugs won't kill you.

During the stimulation, I hated every second of it but I just told myself to power through because it's only a couple of weeks. Three months is another story....

I'm taking:

• estrogen pills twice a day
• lubion injections once a day
• cyclogest pesseriaes twice a day
• after the transfer will start clexane injections and aspirin once a day

I feel braindead, foggy and anxious. Physically, I feel fatigued, bloated, fat, light nausea, I have to pee all the time, there's wax/oil everywhere from the cyclogest, my stomach is sore from the injections. I'm terrified of gaining weight (I'm lucky and have always had a slim figure, so letting go of having control of this because I'm taking hormones is difficult).

I know this is not the situation, but every time I run to the loo I feel like some sort of lab rat in an experiment.

I'm also scared of the long-term implications of taking these drugs, even though the doctor told me they're safe, it just seems wrong to be manipulating your body like this.

I don't know how one copes with drug side effects on top of pregnancy symptoms. I suppose people just adapt and deal with it, but that doesn't mean it's not unpleasant and unpractical. I feel like I'm semi-homebound other than when I go for a walk, I'm trying to get 15k steps per day.

I realise this route is the best if you want to maximise your chances of success, but it comes with challenges. Infertility/miscarriage is already a devastating process, layering on a course of unpleasant drugs along with numerous doctors appointments, invasive procedures is just, well, it's a lot.

I think I would have an easier time managing if transfer success rates were higher. Like if 90% of people got a live birth after one transfer it would be easier to process, but that's unfortunately, not the case.

Sorry to be such a downer. I'm hoping everyone here has success with their upcoming transfers. Any advice for mitigating side effects of these weird drugs is much appreciated. I'm already staying hydrated, eating healthy, staying as active as allowable during this time.

Hi, welcome to new joiners of the thread!

I had a scan this morning. I'm on day 6 of stims on long protocol, first of 3 freeze all cycles for embryo banking and pgs testing. Things are progressing well, so I'm on track for EC next week, probably Wed. Next scan is Thursday.

My office is all working from home, so that makes it easier to flex time for appointments and for hopefully avoiding covid before EC. I've had all 3 vaccinations, and i didn't notice any chance to my period.

@ExpatLivingLondon I'm not familiar with all the meds for FET yet (i will hopefully have that pleasure in a few months if i get any pgs normal frosties), but I have gone thru 2 previous ivf cycles (1 failed, 1 mmc) and i feel your pain with meds side effects. I don't have any suggestions besides what you are already doing (hydrating, exercise, sleep) other than to say try to go easy on yourself, and perhaps buy yourself some comfy 'lounge' bottoms and bra. My side effects included headaches, tiredness, bigger more sensitive boobs, weight gain and/or bloating, sensitive ovaries, dry eyes, constipation, and mood swings. Not exactly looking forward to all that coming back! Hang in there & maybe it helps to know many of us are right there with you.

Welcome @Bluebonnet3 - great news to hear things are progressing well for you - fingers crossed for EC and lots of healthy frosties for you next week! I agree re WFH..... makes things so much easier to manoeuvre with work and help to avoid covid prior to procedures!

@ExpatLivingLondon sorry to hear you are feeling like this. I am also just at the beginning so no golden nuggets of advice I'm afraid. I have been TTC for a long time and have noticed that my biggest issue has been my mindset. Strangely i feel more positive at the moment than i have in a long while and i think that is mainly because i am doing something that actually might have some chance of working. I know the stats aren't foolproof but (depending on your reason for IVF) they are better than trying naturally.

I feel like i have been on the hamster wheel of hope, despair and natural TWW forever so trying to feel more positive about the reasons for doing it and having faith that the drugs are giving me what my body is not wanting to do on its own actually helps a little.

I have also been listening to a podcast ' Big Fat Negative' and downloaded a meditations app 'mindful IVF' which i have found useful. The podcast is not all good news stories, but there is some great advice and good to hear people talk that can relate.

Hope that helps a little bit?

I had my follow up scan today on day 12 of Buserelin. it has worked on one side but not the other and AF has just arrived. So looks like another week of jabs then back for a scan in a week to hopefully start stims...... sounds like i have lots to look forward to!! xx

@Bluebonnet3

Hi, welcome to new joiners of the thread!

I had a scan this morning. I'm on day 6 of stims on long protocol, first of 3 freeze all cycles for embryo banking and pgs testing. Things are progressing well, so I'm on track for EC next week, probably Wed. Next scan is Thursday.

My office is all working from home, so that makes it easier to flex time for appointments and for hopefully avoiding covid before EC. I've had all 3 vaccinations, and i didn't notice any chance to my period.

@ExpatLivingLondon I'm not familiar with all the meds for FET yet (i will hopefully have that pleasure in a few months if i get any pgs normal frosties), but I have gone thru 2 previous ivf cycles (1 failed, 1 mmc) and i feel your pain with meds side effects. I don't have any suggestions besides what you are already doing (hydrating, exercise, sleep) other than to say try to go easy on yourself, and perhaps buy yourself some comfy 'lounge' bottoms and bra. My side effects included headaches, tiredness, bigger more sensitive boobs, weight gain and/or bloating, sensitive ovaries, dry eyes, constipation, and mood swings. Not exactly looking forward to all that coming back! Hang in there & maybe it helps to know many of us are right there with you.

@Bluebonnet3 Thanks for your reply. Good to know I'm not alone.

My clinic nurse said the FET drugs aren't as bad as the stimulation drugs because they're not jacking up your ovaries, but personally, I don't find the FET meds are much of an improvement.

That said, everyone reacts differently, I never liked hormonal birth control because I thought it changed me. After a year or so of trialling, I ditched it for a copper coil. Perhaps I'm just more sensitive.

I'll deal with anything to increase my chances of a healthy bubba. It's just hard to let go, I'm an old-school person stuck in the 90s, a control freak with fat fear who admires Karl Largerfeld for calling sweatpants a sign of defeat.

Wishing you all the very very best on your next steps. It seems perseverance is the key to success in this IVF game.

Hello everyone - looks like will be having the transfer the week starting 17th January- scan that day so see where we are and then will go from there... not sure how I feel - anxious, scared and nervous but also excited!

@ExpatLivingLondon I hope you feel okay soon enough...the hormones are horrific but once you come out the other end you'll feel so much better. I definitely don't agree with anything that goes in me and feel like I have permanent PMT these days! Sending you lots of happy vibes 🥰

@Bluebonnet3 exciting that EC is coming up next week! Will be interested to hear how you get on. We are on our 3rd cycle to bank a few more euploid embryos hopefully, first was a wipeout but got 2 euploids on the second one which was a much better result! Fingers crossed for great results coming your way!

@Vslightlystressy I'm on the same path, scan on the 17th with hopefully EC on the 19th! Will be thinking of you! Just waiting for AF so I can start stims this Sunday 🤞🏾

@ExpatLivingLondon @Coops0406 @Bluebonnet3

Thanks for sharing

@Hopeful199

Hi. I am really intrigued to know how Buserelin works (I'll be starting soon in my new cycle for a frozen transfer).

You mentioned that you were on day 12 with Buserelin but AF arrived. Why was that?

Then, you mentioned you'll be on buserelin for another week. So, does that basically mean you're starting your cycle all over again?

Sorry for the idiotic questions, not very familiar with buserelin at all!

@EasterBunny7 I ve been told that bursellin takes over your cycle . It puts your body into a menopause state. Then you have a bleed and sheds the lining. Stops your ovaries doing what they should be . Then you stimulate them so they produce follicles for them to gather.

Hope that helps.

Hey @EasterBunny7!

I’m a newbie to IVF so this this the only bit I have any knowledge of so far….. learning as I go!

I’m not sure if it’s normal practice but they put me on Buserelin on day 18 of my cycle. Most things iv read say you’ll bleed a week later so was wondering what was happening when I got to day 12 with nothing but AF arrived today so we’re looking good.

As @Justawannabemam says, it is the drug for the down regulation part of the cycle. Essentially it quietens your ovaries and keeps the follicles small and stops you ovulating. They then take over and manage your cycle before they start stims which revs everything back up again.

My clinic rang back this afternoon and said that I need to go back in after 2 full days of AF for another scan and if the lining is thin enough then I can start stims. Fingers crossed that will be Friday / Saturday so just need a few more days Buserelin in the meantime to make sure it’s worked properly on both sides.

Hope that’s helps?

@Hopeful199

Welcome *@Bluebonnet3* - great news to hear things are progressing well for you - fingers crossed for EC and lots of healthy frosties for you next week! I agree re WFH..... makes things so much easier to manoeuvre with work and help to avoid covid prior to procedures!

@ExpatLivingLondon sorry to hear you are feeling like this. I am also just at the beginning so no golden nuggets of advice I'm afraid. I have been TTC for a long time and have noticed that my biggest issue has been my mindset. Strangely i feel more positive at the moment than i have in a long while and i think that is mainly because i am doing something that actually might have some chance of working. I know the stats aren't foolproof but (depending on your reason for IVF) they are better than trying naturally.

I feel like i have been on the hamster wheel of hope, despair and natural TWW forever so trying to feel more positive about the reasons for doing it and having faith that the drugs are giving me what my body is not wanting to do on its own actually helps a little.

I have also been listening to a podcast ' Big Fat Negative' and downloaded a meditations app 'mindful IVF' which i have found useful. The podcast is not all good news stories, but there is some great advice and good to hear people talk that can relate.

Hope that helps a little bit?

I had my follow up scan today on day 12 of Buserelin. it has worked on one side but not the other and AF has just arrived. So looks like another week of jabs then back for a scan in a week to hopefully start stims...... sounds like i have lots to look forward to!! xx

@Hopeful199 Many thanks for your reply! I should have caveated my rant with I'm a happy person, but 100% neurotic, controlling, uptight. The nurse told me many women feel almost nothing to only moderately bothered during this time, so I don't mean to put anyone off. I think I'm more in the "worst-case scenario" on the scale of side effects.

And to top it off, I struggle with needles. I know it's a bit childish, I just can't get comfortable with them. During the stimulation, the only needle that didn't make me nervous was the click pen one, I just clicked, shoved it in my stomach and screamed. No time to think too much about it. I don't like the needles that require preparation, drawing the solution and flicking the bubbles etc reminds me of something from a horror movie.

I think you have a very healthy attitude! I know positivity usually brings positivity, I'm just having trouble getting myself there at the moment. I'm a neurotic nutter, but usually an optimistic nutter, I don't know why this all feels so dark to me.

I will give your podcast rec a try! too. In the meantime, you're in my thoughts and hope your wishes come true. Regarding the stimulation drugs, if I can egt through them, I think literally anyone can. My only advice for the stimulation is to keep track of your bowel movements and try to keep things moving. I didn't do this, was too occupied screaming into pillows after giving myself jabs , then found myself dealing with some serious constipation after the egg collection (no poo for two plus weeks, ended in a trip to the A&E ). I wish I had kept track of this so I would have known before the surgery to take something to help and followed a stricter diet.

[quote Coops0406]@ExpatLivingLondon I hope you feel okay soon enough...the hormones are horrific but once you come out the other end you'll feel so much better. I definitely don't agree with anything that goes in me and feel like I have permanent PMT these days! Sending you lots of happy vibes 🥰

@Bluebonnet3 exciting that EC is coming up next week! Will be interested to hear how you get on. We are on our 3rd cycle to bank a few more euploid embryos hopefully, first was a wipeout but got 2 euploids on the second one which was a much better result! Fingers crossed for great results coming your way!

@Vslightlystressy I'm on the same path, scan on the 17th with hopefully EC on the 19th! Will be thinking of you! Just waiting for AF so I can start stims this Sunday 🤞🏾 [/quote]
@Coops0406 Many thanks for your kind message and words of encouragement. I feel like a raging loon at the moment, but I'm hopeful. Hoping this doesn't cause any irreversible damage.

Thank you both @Justawannabemam and @Hopeful199

It makes sense now. They'll get me to start buserelin on day 21 and hope that I bleed by day 30.

December whizzed past which I'm grateful for but already, January feels doom and gloom and is dragging its feet. I just want to get started already!

Good luck everyone with each of your journeys this month/ next month!

Hi, this is my first ever post. I had my first injection last night, I am on the short (flare) protocol. Can I please ask what others are doing regarding isolating? My clinic have recommended to avoid social contact as much as possible for the whole of the treatment.

@Jennie154 Welcome, how did you get on with first injection?
I am on 7th day of injections short protocol worried about a positive COVID test messing up the cycle but the clinic haven’t even referenced COVID at all. Just hoping I get at least to EC. I can imagine it would waste funding too but again unsure they haven’t said anything.

@EasterBunny7 My first ivf round was short protocol with no down reg, so didn't take buserelin. But my second and current rounds are long protocol and I started taking it on day 19 / day 21, and both times my period started on the 11th day of taking buserelin (suprecur) -- which was roughly 5-6 days delay to my normal cycle. Once i started stims, i continued on a lower dose of buserelin in the mornings with the FSH in the evenings for a few days, before doing the stims on their own for a few days. I'm planning to do a back to back (dual stim?) egg collection straight after this, so it will be interesting to see how buserelin will be used in that situation. (And what back to back really means.)

Hi @Bluebonnet3 can I ask was your AF heavier than normal? mine is a couple of days later than usual and much heavier / clotted (sorry for TMI!)

Once AF had started how soon after could you start stims? i am going for another scan tomorrow and hoping i can get going? Also, did you always take Buserelin in the mornings or did you change times when you started stims?

Sorry for the questions...... trying to knowledge gather for the next stage! Thank-you!

@Hopeful199 The first round with no down regulation I started stims the evening of day 4, round 2 started stims on day 1, current round started stims on day 2. The buserelin was always in the mornings and the FSH (fostimon or meriofert) in the evenings.

@Newbee33 the first injection was fine. We were due to start in December but OH got covid. I’ve been told that if I get covid during treatment it would be cancelled and I may not got NHS funding for another round. I have got this week off work then after that I would have to get signed off by the GP.

RE: injections, I get my dh to give them to me, as I'm a bit squeamish. And it gets him involved in the process. I have had to do it myself a couple of times when he was away, but i still prefer him to do it. I don't mind prepping the syringes though.

Hey

I was wondering if anyone else is using synarel for their down reg? I am 5 days in and feel fine, I am wondering if it’s even working or if I am taking it properly?! I am very bloated and get quite hot at night / through the night but that’s about it. Are you supposed to have a breakthrough bleed at all? I’m due on on Friday and hoping if it doesn’t show that that’s my reassurance the spray is working? I am on long protocol and start my stims (ovaleap) in a couple of weeks. My husband And I will be isolating from this weekend until transfer. I can’t risk us catching it and our funding runs out in March!