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 😁

@AliceAbsolum I know eh! I keep saying to hubby as we’ve researched the process (and dug into more detail with the clinic) that I’m completely overwhelmed by the science! It’s SO crazy how far it’s come and then things they can be doing now… I’m a big nerd haha.

@Coops0406 I’m so sorry for what you’re going through (just catching up on the messages here) - fingers crossed for you!

@Coops0406 thank you, I spoke with my counsellor yesterday and see her again next week. Will see how I am the next week or so. I'd rather keep trying to cope with all the methods and things I do already. She always makes me feel better telling me how I feel is normal, I just sometimes worry it's not.

How are you doing? And all you other ladies?

I'm now just on the countdown to starting norethisterone in Feb x

@Coops0406 I keep forgetting you have to wait a few weeks. Keeping busy sounds good!

It would really annoy me that the information about the gender was there but I wasn't allowed to know. But I'm not good with beaurocacy and rules at the best of times.

@hjen22 Waiting lists just hugely depend on your area. You can self refer to your local iapt service. It is normal how you are feeling but that doesn't mean you have to just accept it. It's like having unmanaged arthritis or diabetes - you don't need to suffer without treatment.

@Yognog1 I did all my injections. Wouldn't trust DH to do them. The first few were a bit never wracking but you get used to it so quickly. Day 3 and it's routine. Now it's my 4th go I'm not fussed at all.

I always forget how expensive meds are. 1 injection, sourced in the UK 150 quid! Madness

@hjen22 How you doing?

@AliceAbsolum a little better thank you, my OH has been taking such good care of me. I really don't know what I'd do without him. How are you?

@Coops0406 when should you have an update?

How is everyone else doing? Can't quite believe it's February xx

For me I found out PGTA results from this cycle yesterday and had baseline scan for (natural) FET today. I'm wary of doing FET immediately after EC again because last time my LH surge was on cd21, so about 4-6 days later than usual. I saw a study showing that doing FETs with LH surge 5+ days later than normal cycles had lower success. So hoping my LH surge is at least a few days sooner this time, just have to wit and see!

@hopeaheadca thank you 😊 just moving forwards with sorting meds out for the ET dummy run with biopsies!

@HJen22 how long now until you start your norithisterone? I'm doing good, had the world's worst period, I'm guessing my ovaries were complaining! But finally the major bloat and pain has gone, honestly it was like I'd just had EC all over again! But the good news is that I start tablets on my next one which hopefully might be end of feb (March sounds so much later!)

@AliceAbsolum isn't it weird that someone, who has done all the genetic tests, knows the sex! It's mind blowing! Only a month until you go away, are you getting excited? I bet it feels like forever away!

I've actually forgotten when we hear about these 2 embryos, I think because I've written them off in my head. It was supposed to be 2 weeks so I don't know when that is, maybe next week?

@tulipsandsnow how were your results from PGT-A? How many did you have tested? So if you're having FET on the next cycle when do you think that should fall?

We had a fabulous weekend away in the Lake District with family...barely any reception, wi-fi didn't work, it was bliss! 😍

@Coops0406 tested 9, 4 normal and one inconclusive. Thing is they are not good quality (30%-50% chance each) and also I have health issues that make IVF extremely challenging. So its not quite the relief it could/should be- I was praying for 5 or that the worst quality ones wouldn't be euploid (but like last cycle, again the worst graded were euploid) to help my chances a bit more.

if transfer goes ahead, likely mid to late Feb, but my cases is tricky so we'll see. just trying to get through every day until this nightmare period of life is over!

@tulipsandsnow so they have told you the quality of the embryos too? I literally have no specific info about my last 2 that are frozen.
Ahh, I'm sorry to hear that things are complicated, I really hope all goes well with the transfer. Will they put 2 in or only one?

@Coops0406 yes, my clinic and I most I've seen on here with people posting tell you gradings of 5/6 day blasts! Most clinics and almost all scientific literature use the Gardner system (so its number-letter-letter, where the number is how expanded, the middle letter is the ICM grading, and the last letter is the trophectoderm grading). So 4CC = poor, 4BB = fair, 4AB = good, 4AA = excellent etc

Thanks! single transfers :)

How is everyone doing?

Finally got AF & my schedule from the clinic. Stated suppression (BC) yesterday, take until Feb 28. Injections start March 6 - Rekovelle and Menopur, adding Cetrotide after a few days. Likely EC around March 17-19 and FET mid to late April. The countdown is on!

@Coops0406 I start norethisterone on the 15th Feb so not long now! I've got it ready and waiting. Still waiting to receive my schedule via email.

Oh no not good you had a painful period! Not what you need! I'm glad the pain and bloat is away, sounds so uncomfortable. I have everything crossed for a positive update on your two embryos soon 🤞🏻

That sounds like an absolutely lovely weekend! And well deserved 🥰 I'd love to to, we drive that way from Scotland to get my stepdaughter and it looks amazing! I think next staycation we're going to do Loch Lomond. My OH has asked if I want to go away for my birthday but I'm unsure as it could potentially be around test day if the cycle went well!

@tulipsandsnow im sorry to hear IVF is particularly challenging for you, that must be extra hard. Know that you are strong and will get through this, that's what my counsellor tells me. But I know the feeling of wanting this period of time to be over x

@hopeaheadca all the luck for your cycle 🍀 I'm on a similar ish expected timeline, with baseline scan 28th Feb and EC w/b 14th March. How are you feeling? X

@AliceAbsolum my goodness I know eh - I picked up my first 6 days of stims and got coffee up my nose at the $2500 price tag! Never going to get used to that spoiled as we are with most medical stuff.

@tulipsandsnow Sorry to hear there are challenges for you, my fingers and toes are crossed for you! Hopefully despite it all you can have a successful transfer with one of the four!

@Coops0406 sounds like a lovely holiday, good for the soul - I'm glad you got away! Was just talking with hubby last night about trying to sneak a little trip in while we're in "waiting mode" to unplug from both work and this constant anticipation! Keeping hope for you in your PGT results too, keep us posted.

@HJen22 overall I am just feeling impatient! I'm excited to finally try a different option (we've tried naturally for 4+ years) and that's giving me a long forgotten feeling of hope but super anxious about not being overly hopeful and then disappointed, etc. While I'm really nervous about injections (I HATE needles, I sweat at the sight of them) and how I'll feel physically during all of it, my control freak side will feel better when it's March and I feel like "taking action" is happening! How are you feeling?!

@Coops0406 I'm mildly excited...more sort of dreading it. If I could fast forward to POAS day I'd be happy. Normally I struggle much more with the 10 day wait after IVF than any other time, so I'm dreading that really. Plus the transfer last time was brutal, not quick and simple like my other ones, so yeah. In fact. Just skip to the bit after the birth, that'll do me :D
Glad you're feeling a bit better. Onwards and upwards!

@HJen22 loch Lomond is lovely, DH and I went there last year on route to the NC500. Really liked walking Ben Nevis too, and the Isle of Skye.

I have no info on my frozen embryos either, I'm convinced one is a morula. Asked an embryologist on Reddit, she agreed

@hopeaheadca 4+ years must have been hard going. Oh I know, I'm more worried about whose administering the medication than the needles themselves 😂 bless my OH but he's not a nurse. I'm sure he'll do great though and we've been having a joke about it. I'm feeling pretty anxious but trying so hard not to overthink and worry about each stage and just focus on the first one coming up. I worry how I'm going to cope emotionally but I'm really hoping when I'm "doing" it it will take my focus and I'll not be so sad.

@Coops0406 oh yeah we went to Skye in 2020 and loved it! Such a pretty place! Didn't walk up Nevis but did a lovely walk with a waterfall close by.

@AliceAbsolum do you have much to organise before you to? Haha skipping to after birth would be great wouldn't it! X

@hjen22 Not a huge amount to organize really. Especially not compared to doing the tandem cycle where it was basically 2 rounds at the same time as my cycle had to be synchronised with the donor etc. I'm pleased I'm not doing EC this time.

Brought the thinnest mask I could find off etsy for the flight and embryo transfer. I'm exempt but won't be for the transfer obvs. Bloody covid!

www.amazon.com/Worry-Workbook-Overcome-Anxiety-Uncertainty/dp/1684030064?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Pressed send too early. This is a really good book for managing worry and coping with the future uncertainties. It's evidence based too 👍👍

@AliceAbsolum gosh yes that must have been so much organisation! I'm rubbish at planning and organising things!

Thank you so much, that's so kind of you ❤️ I also have a book called The Universe has your Back which is meant to be good!

How is everyone? I've called to chase up my protocol and was told it was done on the 26th but I've not got it yet. Hoping to will be with me soon so I can see in black and white what I'm going to be doing x

Hi, can I join your discussion please? Great to hear about what's going on for you all. I had egg collection yesterday and feeling quite ill today which I'm not sure is normal or not. Thanks

@HJen22 it's so nice to see it laid out isn't it?! When I got mine on Monday I wrote it out in pretty colours on like 4 different calendars which I found therapeutic! But I have a sick love of organizing and colour coding haha! I'm just passing time waiting to get started now and thinking of planning a little trip to the east coast to break up the wait. Also had a great conversation with my boss this week and shared what's going on (I flip flopped a lot on whether I should be specific or vague because it's so personal) but he was incredibly supportive and open to me taking some time off so a huge sense of relief there. I hope you get your protocol today, so exciting!!!

The weekend away was perfect, just what we needed. And since Wednesday night I've felt the best I've felt since starting fertility treatment back in 2020!

We got a call today and completely surprised that one of the 2 embryos tested is euploid! 😍 Over the moon with that!

@hopeaheadca I was looking at a trip abroad but it's impossible with everything...we are going to Paris on the 18th feb for the weekend which was supposed to be inbetween Xmas and new year but France wouldn't let us in...so that will be our last little bit of fun before we head into the biopsies!

@AliceAbsolum all the waiting is painful! And ivf just seems to be lots of waiting to find out some news to then figure out what next! I hope you manage to relax out there during the 2WW!

@HJen22 it really is one step at a time. It's so overwhelming to think of everything so take it all step by step and you'll get there. I think once you are "doing" like you say rather than thinking about it, it will be better.

@TTCinmy40s hope you are okay. EC affected me differently each time, the last one had me on the sofa for all of the next day in pain. As long as you aren't getting short of breath etc then I think it's all quite normal. How was your EC? Is there the potential for OHSS? If so just keep an eye on things, but most fertility places are more than happy for you to call for some reassurance if you feel quite bad

@TTCinmy40s welcome! I'm sorry to hear you felt unwell after egg collection, how are you feeling today? Better I hope 🤞🏻

@hopeaheadca got my protocol through today! It was a total anti climax ha a one page document! Although I'm guessing they'll go into more detail re the injections when I go in for baseline scan. I've got appointment times now and know which meds start which days so that's good. All becoming very real now...

That's so great your boss was supportive 🥰 it really makes all the difference doesn't it. My boss knows too and it's made me stress a little less. My colleague went off on Mat leave this week so I'd told my boss a while ago to hopefully make them more likely to get cover for her and not add stress to my role, which thankfully they have xx

@TTCinmy40s welcome! How are you feeling now from your EC? I hope better!

@Coops0406 EEEEE so exciting about the euploid embryo!!! 🥰 What a relief that must be. When will your FET take place? Paris sounds amazing... living in Canada I am like jaw-dropping over being able to go to Paris for a weekend 🤣

@HJen22 when is your baseline? I got the details of my protocol the day of my scan since it informed how much dosage I would need, etc. Although honestly still a lot up the in the air since they don't really know how long I'll have to stim for before EC because they don't know how I'll respond to the meds. So it's all "ranges" of days right now. I'm nervous about the needles but ready for March 6th to come so I can stop fretting and start jabbing 🤣

@Coops0406 ah no idea how I missed your message! That is the best news, I'm so so pleased for you 🥰 you must be over the moon! When does biopsy testing start?

Paris will be amazing 🤩 something to look forward to and some time away!

@hopeaheadca my baseline scan is 28th Feb with stims starting on 1st March. Same, they can't confirm EC for me but the nurse said should be week beginning 14th March 🤞🏻 I've got one injection for 4 days then another added so two a day until hCG trigger. Yeah I think once we've done a few we will be ok, im hoping so anyway!

Ugh just received a letter for jury duty 21st March which I don't need in the possible TWW! Will have to see about deferring 🙄 xx

Had a random convo with DH last night about what we do if for some reason one of the 2 embryos in 1 straw doesn't survive the thaw. I said maybe we just stick all 3 in. Lighthearted. He was really keen on that and talked me around! Something I never thought I'd consider. But the clinic do 3 as standard and the 3.5k could then be put on another round if we wanted too. Eep. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.