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 😁

@PMAmostofthetime I hope you’re doing ok this evening. You’ve got 2 chances that might be doing better in their new environment now, none of us know at this point and we’ve just got to get through the next 2 weeks without letting the inner mind-mutterings get to us too much.

@AliceAbsolum Wishing your mother a speedy recovery and you a settled evening. Mine did this last week - I found out the day after she’d had a horrible fall. It’s far more stressful to not be told!

Thank you @Nutrinerd
How are you doing? X

Still trying to figure out how to manage life around currently 7 medication times a day when between injections and pessaries it’s just not as straightforward as popping a pill! Just going one day at a time, I like seeing guides as to how many new cells there potentially are each day.

@Nutrinerd

That does seem excessive and difficult to manage, how long do you have to continue with that regime?

X

@Nutrinerd I like this one too... there was a table someone posted during my first round saying what should be happening each day of the 2WW, with implantation day 7-9 dpo... so far I've felt nothing... but then I don't feel a lot during stimms, AF, any of it, so probably wouldn't anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️ Overall I seem to have lighter trigger shot/progesterone symptoms this time (bloating and ginormous boobs being my main ones), just waiting for the mind games to start Friday-Sunday 😬

@PMAmostofthetime 12 weeks - apparently that’s when the placenta will be producing enough estrogen/progesterone to take over, this phase should be done by the ovaries but mine took early retirement!

@LuckyNovember I had to buy a new bra yesterday. Combination of too much galaxy and hormones! I had some funny little cramps yesterday but it’s all felt pretty strange since starting the hormones, so who knows!

I’ve bought myself a new cookbook and am going to occupy myself finding obscure ingredients and making DH grumpy by feeding him green things!

A week today and I'll know...its going quick for the first time ever. So thats nice!

But I've mildly lost the head game. Started having bleeding gums and nosebleeds from the f*cking blood-thinning injections. Spoons me out after the Haematoma last pregnancy.
But I've taken some action - there is a private womens clinic near me and they have a consultant Gynecologist who is an expert in IVF and miscarriage, so if this cycle works I'm going to spend £250 on a consultation with her at 5 weeks to get a 2nd opinion on this Clexane. Really dont like the way some clinics shove you on all these meds and then post transfer there is no follow up care.

@ginandtonicformeplease Thinking of you if you if decide to test today x

Morning @AliceAbsolum I hope you’re feeling a little calmer today and that your mums ok? Mines exactly like that, doesn’t tell me stuff to not worry me and it just makes me panic all the more, sounds like you had a real shock with this one though. On this round, I caught Covid on d2 and spent most of the day crying and stressing that it would cock things up. Then I spent the next day stressing that the stress would have messed up implantation. But I’ve just tested this am and although faint, I have a line. I know my stress sounds minor in comparison to yours but it’s not how I felt at the time, and I hope this gives you some comfort that our embies are pretty tough little ones x keeping everything crossed for you x

@Agapanthus13 Yay! A line! What dpt are you again?
Doesnt sound minor at all, I'd right stress out if i got Covid. I think you dealt with it well. Thank-you for your experience, its so helpful xx

@AliceAbsolum I totally agree! In my last pregnancy I started getting ectopic heartbeats (additional heartbeats) in my first trimester, and I think it was partly hormone related. I have a heart murmur and the rise and fall in hormones seemed to affect my heart rhythm as I had the ectopic beats in the first trimester and after birth. I don't have blood clotting disorder but I'm also on blood thinners as it's part of the protocol, it honestly makes me cringe all the stuff I'm putting in my body at the moment..

@Agapanthus13 so exciting! Are you having bloods today?

@Agapanthus13 Congratulations! And it sounds like you dealt with Covid really well - I'd have been a stressed mess.

I followed @LuckyNovember 's advice and picked a time where I'd have some peace and quiet to test - 2.30am this morning 🙈 There's a line Of course I didn't get back to sleep and am now at work being a bit of a zombie.

I want to shout it from the rooftops, but after previous miscarriages I daren't. I just hope I can hold onto it, and am just sharing it here with you all

@ginandtonicformeplease Yes!! BFPs are coming thick and fast. VERY happy for you. But also 100% understand the caution with previous losses. Fingers crossed for a very sticky bean. Will you have an early scan?

@ginandtonicformeplease that’s wonderful news 💕 congrats to you xx what day are you on? I’m still catching up x

Thanks @PMAmostofthetime @AliceAbsolum @Herewegoagain881 I spoke to the nurses this morning who were a little concerned about the lack of progression on the cheap tests and they suggested I come in for bloods to check hcg, progesterone, estrogen levels etc to see if they need to change meds to provide extra support but when I mentioned Covid they said I can’t come in til I test negative (regardless of the 10day rule). Which I totally understand but I just feel so upset. I’m terrified of it not progressing due to not being able to adjust my meds? I really don’t mean to be so insensitive as I know how desperate we all feel wanting to see a double line, I’ve waited 5years for this but all I feel is upset and worried with no excitement.

@Agapanthus13 I'm sorry to hear that and I'm surprised they aren't letting you in given you should be way past the infectious period by now.. blooming covid.. do they think extra meds could help? Is your partner still testing positive, if not maybe he could collect meds? I really hope it all works out well for you xxx

@ginandtonicformeplease massive congratulations on the bfp!

@ginandtonicformeplease congratulations this is lovely news!
I couldn't test a 2:30 am as I'd wake up my street if it was positive. Amazing news for you.
No gin and tonic for you now 😀

@Agapanthus13 I order tests off Amazon, I have prime so free next day delivery.
You can also order beta blood tests that are done with finger prick- I know it's not the same as the clinics but may help you u til you can go in. Sorry your going through this I totally understand after yesterday/ I really thought this was our chance.

@AliceAbsolum how are you feeling today? More relaxed than yesterday I hope? A week left that's not long! How long are you in Cyprus for?

@Nutrinerd I have to have 2 400 pessaries a day until negative outcome or 12 weeks too, but yours seems insane.

Any tips ladies on what I should and shouldn't be doing post ET and up to test day. Given that even with 2 we only have under a 10% chance I'd like to make sure I have done everything possible. And not affected the small chance in anyway.

@Steph2345 how are you feeling today?

X

Woohooooo @ginandtonicformeplease @Agapanthus13 🤩

I get the reluctance to celebrate, if I ever join you I will be the same after the sh1tshow that has been our TTC.... but I'm sure your hearts are bursting right now, and so they should, and hope soon you feel comfortable enough to really enjoy that feeling 💫

@Agapanthus13 if your clinic can't see you, is there anywhere else you can go for a blood test? A walk in place, or even your GP? (People attend clinics when they're sick - that's what they're for 🙄) then the clinic could advise you over the phone on increasing meds or something like that? Sorry you're worrying about this... Hope they can propose something 🧡

@PMAmostofthetime I think they say no bending or strenuous exercise, but walking as normal is fine, a healthy diet, lots of water, and no baths, saunas etc

I kept my diet pretty healthy during the 2ww last time, and ate a lot of avocado, porridge, egg and walnuts over that period, I'm replicating it this time out of superstition. I can't remember why I ate those foods now, I must have read it somewhere, but I guess it's protein and fat rich!

Thank you so much ladies for your suggestions. Started to calm down. I have just ordered extra tests on Amazon Prime to come tomorrow and looking into the finger prick blood tests too. I’ve also spoken to another nurse who thinks I can come in once I’ve done my 10days isolations (ie Monday) and she’s just checking on that for me 🤞🏻Thank you all again xx

@PMAmostofthetime how are you feeling today? My only tip would be to drink lots of water, the nurses told me 2-3 litres a day to help flush out your system, don’t quote me but I think she basically said to flush out the nasties from all the meds etc. And ensure you don’t over heat. I also haven’t been to the gym etc. Everything crossed for you x

@Herewegoagain881 how are you doing today? You sound like you’re taking everything in your stride 💪 Are you 1week off your otd now? X

@Herewegoagain881yes you just reminded me I was told to eat lots of protein too, good shout!

@PMAmostofthetime I think different clinics recommend avoiding different things - my previous clinic had a whole list of things I couldn't do during the 2WW (not that I was tempted to take up marathon running even before they said I couldn't!) whereas my current one just said to get on with life, but obviously avoiding alcohol etc.

@Agapanthus13 Do you definitely need bloods? I just ask as my experience is that clinics are usually happy to up the dose of progesterone/oestrogen a bit without bloods.

@AliceAbsolum I think the clinic includes one at 7 weeks or so. Must check that though. I haven't told them yet as I feel a bit naughty having tested before OTD They like to do bloods to confirm pregnancy so hopefully there'll be a good level of HCG there.

Is the gynae in Cyprus? £250 for a consultation is really good value.

@Agapanthus13 Congratulations! I'm sorry about stupid Covid! I hope that you can go in on Monday and that you're OK in the meantime.

@ginandtonicformeplease Congratulations!

The gynecologist is in the south of England so I'm quite surprised you say it's good value!

We fly back on test day. Either anxious and pleased or angry and dejected. We're going to film it to for the vlog so that'll be weird.

I've attached my dos and don'ts again but I honestly think 1/2 of them are ridiculous!

Congratulations @ginandtonicformeplease so exciting about the positive test! Sending you all the good vibes :)

@PMAmostofthetime I feel like there is so much conflicting advice but I like to think that it’s probably true there isn’t much you can do either way at this stage- if the embryos are able to produce pregnancies, they will. I find that comforting.
I read to eat Brazil nuts for some reason?. I don’t remember why though…

@AliceAbsolum wow I understand your family was trying to protect you but I’m so sorry it had the opposite effect. As others have said, stress shouldn’t affect your chances! Im glad your mum is okay x

@Agapanthus13 yep it's beta day next Friday! I haven't been really able to get IVF out of my brain mainly because it could be the last time we try, I caved and tested today which is super early (6 days post transfer). I am happy to have tested positive which I'm tentatively excited about but I have put myself in the same situation as last time where I'll now be testing to check line progression, I didn't really want to do that again. It's going to be a long week but I guess it would be either way!