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 😁

@HJen22 Aww there is a lot of worrying steps but you've just got to try and stay as positive as possible ! Always easier said than done I know ! My first cycle was November! So I gave myself December to try and accept what happened and then decided to just keep trying !

I have! I picked up my medication today and I am to start oestrogen tomorrow until the 22nd which is scan day to check out my lining, and then I should start on progesterone ready for transfer on the 28th (provided everything is working) ! It's just nice to get a bit of a schedule! Now I'm about to google if there's any side effects to watch out for whilst on oestrogen ! lol :)

@Bonster37 how are you doing today? Keeping my fingers crossed for you, it is such an emotional journey!

@HJen22 they just suggested ERA which is the Endometrium receptivity, then the ALICE/EMMA which is looking at the good bacteria and checking if there are any specific bad bacteria they need to get rid of. Aside from that they haven't mentioned anything but I have heard of tests for NK cells which people who've had recurrent miscarriages have had, not that I've had as never had a positive any but may ask them about it whilst they're doing checks.

That healing yoga sounds interesting! I can never switch off!

@IVFGotThis05 so good you have all your dates through...literally just around the corner! My friend said oestrogen was supposed to be the happy one and progesterone the opposite, but she said she was a nightmare to live with on oestrogen!! Either way, I don't think any of these drugs help with mood swings and bloating! 🤦🏾‍♀️

@Bonster37 Sorry about the bfns now 😔 Horrible to have that hope potentially dashed. But you never know, urine can be much more diluted than it seems. At least bloods will give you a guarantee either way.

@hjen22 That yoga sounds fun, whatever helps right! I'm quite into meditation. Have you ever been on a retreat?

@Bonster37 I'm so sorry 😞 that must have been so difficult. I hope things turn around for the better and that's good that you've got bloods booked in for Friday.

@AliceAbsolum It was quite bizarre but I liked it and came away relaxed. I went to a "retreat" thing the other weekend but it was just a 3 hour thing that included yoga and sound meditation. Anything to try and relax my mind I'm keen to try!

Meditation is so good, if you've not I recommend downloading mindful IVF. There are different ones for each stage, I'm doing the 10 day prep meditation just now and then there are ones for being on the pill, stims, egg collection, transfer etc. and it's a lovely Irish man!

@Coops0406 ah I see, that's good that they can do all that testing to investigate further prior to transfer. Give you the very best shot at success ❤️

@IVFGotThis05 that's fab news you have all your dates! And transfer is just around the corner! I'm already worrying about side effects of norethisterone haha im anxious about being anxious 😂 but I've been eating mega healthy this week just in case I put on a heap of weight!

@HJen22 that's really cool about the Yoga class. My Chiropractor recently told me a should start Yoga. I'm currently seeing a chiropractor, massage therapist and acupuncturist and have been on a low carb diet for a month. Willing to do anything!!

@Bonster37 I really hope your blood test today yields a positive number.

@Coops0406 it's good you're having all of the testing done. I told my Dh if this transfer is straight up negative again, I'll probably try to contact someone down in London to do whatever tests before we do another transfer.

@TommieNC yeah it's a good way to relax and it wasn't any of the standing on head sort of stuff 😂 i hope your massages and acupuncture is helping to keep you calm and happy. I have been going for regular massages as well, feel like a lot of the stress is on my shoulders and back! I've been doing low carb this week too and now starving today! Going to have a treat this weekend for sure!

Does anyone have any nice plans for the weekend? Xx

Hi everyone - hope it’s ok to join.
I’m in the middle of an IVF cycle at the moment and starting to struggle with it all so would be good to chat to others.
My DH and I (both 30) have been ttc for 15 months and found out last year we both have fertility problems.
I took my last stims last night and my trigger injection is tonight ready for EC on Monday. We’re doing a freeze all cycle too as I’m at risk of OHSS. I’m really really nervous for EC, I think it’s the most daunting part for me so far.

Is anyone at a similar stage?
Hope everyone has a lovely weekend ☺️

@HJen22 Love a massage. Cant go wrong. I had a Thai massage in Benidorm on Christmas day this year 😅 Was lovely.
Weekend plans - I ran 11 miles this morning from Lagos in the Algarve, really sunny with beautiful views, then DH and I went for a fancy burger on the marina. Now eating portgugese tarts guilt free. Can't complain!
I'll miss being able to do those sorts of distances soon as I'll cut right down for the FET. I gave up running in previous cycles but I'm not doing that again this time. Won't do anything after transfer though.

@Hols01 It's understandable to be worried about EC, I was anxious on the day, but honestly it was fine. It helped me to think that all I needed to do was to stay calm. You just lie down then you wake up, that's it. I didn't remember a thing. Having something like a filling is worse because you're awake. You'll be fine

@AliceAbsolum oh lovely! And on Christmas! Oh I didn't realise you were away already! When did you arrive? I hope you are enjoying some R&R in the sun before transfer. Wow 11miles well done you that's amazing!! I love a marina, always so pretty.

Welcome @Hols01 I'm sorry to hear you are struggling, we are all here for chats and support. I've not quite started my first cycle yet so unfortunately don't have any advice. But I'm also nervous for EC. I hope the sedation sends me to sleep! Xx

@HJen22 We're in Portugal atm. I work remotely and we live full time in our converted van at the moment. Having as much fun as we can following the miscarriage and the pandemic.
Flying to cyprus early March 👍

@AliceAbsolum ah of course, sorry that confused me with Portugal there 😂 I did think you weren't due to go just yet!

That's amazing you can do that, must be nice to see different places and still work. Definitely have to have as much fun as you can. I said to my OH today I want to go away for some sun this year. Hard to be able to plan since everything is unknown but we're ok with last minute anyway. See what happens! Our weekend is an ikea trip today and a new long dog walk somewhere new tomorrow if it's not pouring of rain!

@AliceAbsolum It’s so amazing that you can work from anywhere, I bet it’s wonderful where you are now!!

@HJen22 treats are the best!! I had a chocolate milk from M&S yesterday and enjoyed every minute of it!! Ha ha!! Low carb can be really hard, but my fertility doc said it’s good for PCOS patients.
I hope you get something cool at IKEA.

@Hols01 welcome, I’ve never made it to EC so I’m of no help, but most of my friends have said you just go to sleep and it’s very relaxing.

As for us, we went on a walk through the woods yesterday and today are going back to Dreams to pick a new mattress. We’re both side sleepers and I knew full and well that we needed a medium firmness mattress. However I let the sales guy and the “SleepMaster” magic bed tell me I needed a firm. It’s horrible and even though they said it would soften in a couple of weeks I’m on night 19 and it’s still hard as a brick and I now have back and hip pain, which I never had before. I’m learning to listen to my gut.

@TommieNC oh yum! Weekends need to have treats! We stopped at KFC after IKEA!

How are you feeling about getting started soon? Was your first successful cycle of your son in Czech Republic too? Your transfer day is on my birthday, I hope it's a lucky day as I have a feeling that I hopefully all going well should have an OTD around then too 😱

How annoying about your bed and your sore back and sides! Sales people can be so persuasive! I hope you you find a great new one! A comfy bed and a good sleep is massively important, especially going through this. I find I'm more tired than I've ever been, physically and mentally drained. Although the dog just woke me up far too early for the toilet and I'll not get back to sleep now 😭

@HJen22 I normally go to KFC for my treats too 4 mini fillets. I love some KFC!!

That’s also very cool about your birthday, hopefully it’s a very lucky day!! As for me I’m feeling hopeful, but also not trying to get my hopes up too high.
Main thing that’s annoying me is that I’m on day 19 of bleeding on BCP. I read though that Microgynon 30 can do that so I’m praying the Zoladex injection calms things.
Yes, my first fresh transfer during that first DE cycle in the Czech Republic resulted in our son. We were insanely lucky getting 6 highest quality blasts, where they only promise 2, but more being a bonus.

Do you have a busy week ahead?

@TommieNC you can't go wrong with a KFC can you 😋

I am the same. Have you got the mindful IVF app? If not it's great. The guy on there says you can be hopeful and it not work and be devastated or think it won't work, it doesn't and still be devastated. So I am trying really really hard to be hopeful that it could work 🤞🏻 and if not, we have options and private to consider, we've discussed that already. At least with private too you don't have to wait and wait. It's been a year now since I first spoke to the GP. NHS is great but it's been a lot of waiting.

Sorry what is BCP? I'm new to all of this. But 19 days of bleeding doesn't sound nice at all. Can you maybe speak to a nurse at your clinic tomorrow?

That's amazing you got 6 🥰 are you in the UK? And what made you go with Czech Republic?

I finally start norethisterone on Tuesday to control my cycle, stop it on the 24th and have my baseline scan on the 28th. I'm hoping I don't have bad side effects on it cos I've read some that don't sound very fun! But at least it's finally the first stage. What about you? X

@TommieNC Same thing is happening to me! I've been bleeding for 14 days, it's brutal. Common side effect of BC though I think. I'm going to message the nurses at my clinic just to confirm I shouldn't be worrying.

Ah sorry is that birth control pill? The same as what I'm away to start to cycle control?

Birth Control Pill yes 👍

@HJen22 I’ll have to look into that Mindful IVF app. I wasted a lot of time I didn’t have with the NHS. They only tested my LH and FSH and told me that I didn’t need to worry until I was 40. However when it was finally time for IVF they stopped funding it in my area so I had to go private and was told my AMH was already 0.21 at 37 and I should move straight to donor eggs because they doubted I would ever make it to egg collection. Unfortunately, they were right, but we got extremely lucky with donor eggs and were blessed with an amazing little boy. I really hope they’re treating you right and it’s great that we have options.

I’m in the UK but my clinic is in the Czech Republic.

@hopeaheadca Yeah, I’ll probably email my clinic too, but they already said not to worry about bleeding during bcp or even the Zoladex injection.

@TommieNC it's really good, the guy is Irish and has a lovely voice. I've got one day left of the "prep 10" meditations then move onto the "pill days 1-10" tomorrow. There are loads of free ones for each stage and then some you can pay for.

I'm so sorry to hear your experience and time with the NHS wasn't great. I can't believe they stopped funding in your area, had you been waiting up til that point and when you got to the top it was no longer available?!

Did you try a round with your own eggs? I have low AMH and AFC too, I'm not sure the exact AMH as I told them I didn't want to know. I knew id google and upset myself.

So amazing you had a great donor and are blessed with your little boy, I am sure he is extremely loved 🥰 I really hope this round makes a sibling for him xx

@HJen22 exciting times now you start the norithisterone tomorrow! It's nearly here!!
I've downloaded the app so once we come back from Paris will try and get into a little routine, with some exercise too! Since this fertility journey started I am 8-10kg heavier! Each time I've been to EC I have had to go on the scales and been 3kg up from the last one! 🤦🏾‍♀️
IKEA is my idea of heaven...but not my bank balance's! Lol.

@TommieNC we decided to just add on the tests as I'm 40 this year and I think we're lucky to have these 3 euploids so just want to give it everything.
I found the nhs quite rubbish with the whole fertility, from the GP telling me that I was still so young at 36/37 to bring misdiagnosed with pcos and put on clomid! Such a waste of over a year and a half before getting a refer all for ivf! There is another thread on here about all the tests...I think it's just titled "ALICE/EMMA/ERA tests continued" in case you want to have a nosey...full of very knowledgeable women on there.

@Hols01 i found the sedation at EC was one of the best sleeps ever, I didn't want to come round from it. After EC can be uncomfortable but then the first time a felt nothing after at all so I think it can vary. Just take paracetamol if needed and I think they can offer something stronger, but usually feels like period pain.

@AliceAbsolum wow! I'm impressed! I used to run regularly (not that far!) but it's so good for the mind don't you think! I have avoided any cardio for this whole journey (possibly used this as an excuse to be lazy...I walk the dog and then on the odd occasion do some other exercise but want to get back to some form of regular exercise! I have an app that has Pilates, barre and light weights, no high impact in there and only 30 mins 3 time a week...I still can't motivate myself to do it 😩

@Coops0406 Really good for the mind. I stopped exercising at points too, but always regretted it as lost fitness for no reason. Getting back into running is hard work.

Also found the nhs pretty bad. My AMH was 6, at 32 years old, they told me that was normal, kept me on the waiting list for 3 years and by the time I was offered the one nhs cycle my amh was below 1. So I lost the chance to have my own children as had to move onto donor eggs. Despite every single staff member telling me how young I was. Infuriating.

When I say own children I meant biologically my own. Tricky with language, ykwim.

@Coops0406 yup I've added the pills to my wee pill pack thing with all my supplements. The nurse said I could just take 3 at a time so I'll just do that to save me worrying about forgetting!

Oh tell me about it, I am around the same! I stopped weighing myself between June and September as we had the referral in August. And before I knew it half a stone was on and it just kept creeping on since and I never really got a grip of it. I definitely used the IVF and "you've got a lot going on" a bit too much, but at the same time I do have days where I'm like give yourself a break! But I've managed to shift a bit last week, I think having some control over my diet helped mentally as it's the only control I really have right now! But I'm the same, the only exercise I do is dog walking. And I used to be good with the gym and classes. I'm very much really into it, or really not! But we do need to be kind to ourselves.

I'm sorry you had such a rubbish time with the NHS too! It's such a shame. I've felt like it's been ok this far but it's been slow, but I guess could have been worse. I don't think they really prepare you for how long it may take. It's a lot of waiting. But I'm fully prepare to have to go private if the first round doesn't go as we hope. But trying to remain positive.

@AliceAbsolum how was your weekend? 3 years is such a long time isn't it 😞 I'm sorry that you also weren't treated as you should have been. The whole age thing is annoying isn't it, my Dr recently said to me I had age on my side but I'm away to be 34 so it's not as if I'm in my twenties! Xx

@HJen22 my Irish dh has been annoying me recently so I'll listen to the app and try not to hold it against him, ha ha!! jk

Yes, I jumped through every hoop, did clomid, waiting 6 months between every appt, lost a ton of weight and when it was time, they dropped funding. We went private immediately where we found out my AMH was 0.21 and tried a round with my own eggs. It looked good at first, but then all of my follicles collapsed and my cycle was cancelled. We were told there was no point trying own egg again and we needed to move on to donor eggs.

Thanks and I really hope this round gives you a little miracle too.