IVF / FET March/April 2022

[AliceAbsolum]

Thought I'd start a thread for those starting rounds in the next few months.

I'm 36. TTC for 6 years. This will be my 4th transfer. It's a double embryo FET in Cyprus.

Welcome welcome 😁

@Suki2020 I didn’t have many side effects. A bit nauseous on norethisterone and towards end of stims had some lower abdominal cramps and a very full feeling which meant I didn’t even want to go walks.
I had my egg collection last Thursday and just having my withdrawal bleed now. I have consent forms and a review appointment but I think I will have to call on day 1 of my next cycle to book in for FET. So they said will be end may/June.
Electrolytes and lots of water and extra protein are to help prevent OHSS which is usually a worry near or after egg collection so I started in the 2-3 days before my collection

@PMAmostofthetime I'm so sorry. Not the result anyone would want. It's OK to be angry or sad or whatever you feel. How many rounds do you get?

@Herewegoagain881 aww that’s lovely to hear you have a little one 💕 must be such hard work doing ivf with mummy duties to carry out too. Hope you’re finding time to relax and take care of your self too.

Thanks for the comments, I just assumed she was wrong. I dug out my paperwork (I missed the info they gave me on transfer day somehow as it’s the day my dh got Covid) and you’re right, test day is d9 or d14 after egg collection, and I suddenly feeling extremely nervous.

I'm having a stress out. I've read a few large, peer reviewed meta analysis on the effects of stress and IVF and luckily they all found no significant links.
BUT - Today has been a right nightmare. My mum was taken into hospital yesterday because she fell over at home. In her infinite wisdom she begged the 2 family members who knew about it not to tell me 'because I'd worry', wouldn't answer her phone, etc etc. So of course DH and I have been super worried all last night and all day as she would never just not call me back. We rang around the hospitals and were about to call the police. Anyway long story short I rang the hospital again and they told me she was there. And shes fine, a bit sore but they are just keeping her in for obs.
Why did the family members or her not tell me?! As if anyone didn't think that maybe if I hadn't heard from her I'd worry that she was lying on the floor unable to get up, or worse.
Today is 2dp and people say thats implantation day so now I'm worried the stress of it all has potentially reduced the chances of this cycle working. Urgh

@Agapanthus13 I've been lucky to be able to take holiday this week although it hasn't been overly restful as we've kept my DS off nursery because of a covid outbreak. My husband's been ill and off work with laryngitis/ear infection so we've done the childcare together and he's done all the heavy lifting.

Oh do they say to test 9 days after egg collection or egg transfer? 9 days after egg collection sounds too soon but 9 days after transfer should give a clear result with a 5 day blast. The FRER test is quite good as the results are very quick! I hated the clear blue digital ones as the results seemed to take forever to display!

@Herewegoagain881 sorry, my brains all stuffy with Covid- the letter says d14 after egg collection and / or day 9-12 after transfer (d9 if it was a 5day blastocyst which mine was).

I think keeping your ds home sounds like a very sensible decision, certainly seems to be an awful lot of cases around atm. And I do hope your dh feels better soon, great to hear he’s helping out so you’re not over doing it.

@Herewegoagain881 tested with a very cheap stick and have an extremely light line which is great, but a little worrying it’s so light. I Only have 1 FRER test in (and we can’t go out to buy more) so saving it for tomorrow and hoping to see something a bit more definite. 🤞🏻

@PMAmostofthetime oh love I'm so sorry to read your update. It's heartbreaking when it's not the news you hope for. But as the other ladies say, there is hope. They are better safely back inside warm and cosy and they'd not transfer them if they didn't think there was a chance. Allow yourself to be sad; get those tears out, it's ok to feel that way. But know what you do still have a chance, you aren't out. I am sending all my love and positivity. You are strong and you can do this xxx

@AliceAbsolum I'm so sorry your mum has had a fall, how worrying for you! I'm glad you were able to finally get an update. Through them not wanting to worry you, turns out they've worried you more. I really hope she is ok and on the mend. Try to relax now you know that she's ok, easier said than done i know, but that embaby has gotten this far and will be made of tough stuff! You've got this!

@AliceAbsolum so sorry about your mum's fall, and that they didn't keep you updated..it's exactly something my mum would do, not realising that no contact is so much more worrying.. It's good that you have looked into studies about it though and haven't found any that would suggest a link between stress and IVF outcomes, I hope you are able to distract yourself and relax for the rest of the day

@Agapanthus13 a line is very exciting!! If you are drinking a lot of water then the HCG levels may be diluted so definitely agree to hold off on using the Frer until tomorrow with fmu!

@AliceAbsolum don’t worry about the stress. I had two full on panic attacks during the TWW for the transfer that worked. Not to mention severe stress in the run up to transfer as I had a potential cancer scare and DH and I were ready to just throw in the towel on the whole thing.

Put it out of your mind and try do something nice or relaxing for yourself today. X

Ps I’m lurking here as we were on the TMI March/April back in the day and I am keeping everything crossed your transfer works. We were pretty much the only two who didn’t get lucky on that thread! Hoping this transfer is the one for you!

Thank you all for your kind messages for today. I’m back home. I’ve had my transfer today so I’m on the 2ww now.

@Suki2020 I started on buserelin to down reg (I’ve been on long protocol) and then ovaleap was my stims which I started after my baseline scan on day 6. My trigger shot was ovatrelle and now I’m on crinone pessaries. How are you finding things?

@Agapanthus13 everything crossed for you!

@AliceAbsolum how unbelievably irritating! I'm sorry that that happened to you and that your mum is OK. I can't imagine the stress of it. Good grief. People trying to be helpful and then it all goes arseways eh. I'm sure it won't mess things up for you - worrying about the stress causing problems is only more stress isn't it. I know it's almost impossible not to worry but do something nice for yourself now to relax if possible.

@Steph2345 Rest up - hope you feel OK after the transfer.

Thank-you ladies, your words helped. @HJen22 You're right, theyve survived being frozen at nearly -1500c and then thawed, they're robust little things.

@Dochas12111 Thank-you! Hopefully this one is my turn. Sorry to hear about your experience. Where are you at with IVF now?
PM me with your old username if you want?

@AliceAbsolum ah my apologies, the two embabies!! Not just the one!!! Both strong and I'm sure settling in nicely x

@Steph2345 and congrats on being officially PUPO! I hope your transfer went well and your feet are up for the next day or so xx

Bit of a rant, but I'm feeling a bit annoyed with my clinic! On ET day apparently my progesterone was 62 and they want 100, so they added 2 lubion injections and an extra cyclogest to an already really medication heavy protocol (previously 6 oral tablets, 2 vaginal suppositories, 2 rectal suppositories, and an intermuscular injection 3 times a week). So I was on craploads of progesterone and they added more. Anyway, I had another blood test today to check my progesterone levels with the new meds, and they are now 288! To me, that is super high and seems they increased my dose but too much.. I asked if I could stop some of the additional meds but the nurse said no..

Not only is it adding a heck of a lot of cost as lubion is so expensive, but it takes me a long time to do these extra jabs which is tricky with a toddler. I'm now having to have 3 jabs a day, or 4 on my intermuscular injection days... who needs that much progesterone anyway I really don't feel comfortable taking this much and now feel trapped in it!

@Steph2345 glad transfer went ok!! Did you go for one or 2 embryos? I’m getting so mixed up between everyone! 2ww time…good luck

@Somatronic @HJen22 @LT103 thanks ladies. I transferred 1 today. Waiting until tomorrow to see how the others are doing ready for freezing.
Feeling ok at the mo - I’m out for a work event tonight and my dress is definitely not progesterone friendly so will have to sit dead straight haha. Have the next few days off to go walking and potter about so hopefully it’ll help you never know!

@Herewegoagain881 I thought I was on a load of progesterone but that is a ridiculous amount! I suppose they're worried that if you decrease the dose now it might have an effect.

@AliceAbsolum I'm glad your mum is ok after all, it sounds just like something my mum would do. The IVF process is full of stress from start to finish: if stress stopped it working then clinics would soon be out of business!

@Steph2345 Congratulations on being PUPO. And yes, progesterone bloat is awful. I'm on steroids too, which are making me eat for Britain

I can't decide which day to test. I actually don't know if I want to. Tomorrow is 10dp5dt.

How exciting @ginandtonicformeplease !!!
Anytime from 14dpo (therefore 9dp5dt or 11dp3dt) is accurate; that's when AF would normally be due.... how do you feel?

@LuckyNovember to be honest, just scared. I don't know if I've got the energy (or money!) to go through this again if it hasn't worked.

I get that... but I suppose *when you test doesn't actually change the outcome... and if it HAS worked, wouldn't it be great? If you're not in a mad rush, I'd pick a morning when you know you'll have some peace and quiet and the space to divest the news either way.... hope it will be good news 🧡

I had a transfer today too of 1 untested grade 1 expanding blast.

I was nervous about my lining but luckily today it was up to 8.6mm.

Thanks everyone, I was going to thank you all individually but so many of you have said lovely things and sent good wishes that I couldn't I really appreciate all of your comments.

When I got to the hospital they advised me that that had continued developing even though they were slow. The 3rd one that they thought had completely stopped had started again but is not good enough to go in or to freeze.

They showed me a picture of them before they went in, I watched them going in and they gave me a picture of them.
The odds are very very low though.
So I am going to keep on doing my pessaries but I'm being very realistic after all the tears I shed and I'm taking this a a trail run, so I'll know what to expect.

I asked lots of questions and they told me they will arrange an appointment for three weeks time so we can go through it all and the next steps.

The pictures of them look like early blastocyst grade c ( from what I've frantically searched) but they are ungraded, early blast slow developing.

@Steph2345 @TommieNC
How are you feeling? I felt fine earlier now I have been having some cramps.

@SamTTC I think of there had been good blasts I would have been the same and tested early but now I'm just going to wait.

@Becomingmom so sorry to hear about your miscarriages 😢 how did you go about going to Turkey? This sounds Interesting.

@Agapanthus13 Welcome, so sorry to hear about the Covid that must make the 2ww even worse :(. Hope your feeling better and out of isolation soon.

@Suki2020 the protein prevents OHSS along with 3 litres of water a day and isotonic drinks.

@AliceAbsolum we get another NHS round and then we'll look into private.
Sorry to hear about your stress today. And everyone is right they are very resilient and

Continued

@AliceAbsolum and I asked today and they said stres becomes more of an issue further along pregnancy in regards to birth weight.

I expect your family thought that they were being helpful but hopefully they won't do that in future.

@Agapanthus13 amazing that's sounds promising congratulations.

@Herewegoagain881 I'd call them and ask for their reasoning tomorrow, write down a list of questions before calling them.

Again thank you everyone for your lovely words of support and I wish you all the best of luck with your 2ww's x