IVF buddies April/May

[ChristmasJumpers]

Sorry if there's already an April/May thread, I can't find it!

All of our tests have been completed (last August) and we were advised to call the clinic on day one of my cycle in April. AF arrived early for the first time in forever so I chanced ringing yesterday and we're good to go!!

Just waiting on a call back from the clinic with official dates and protocol but I know I'll be taking Norethisterone pills first so won't be dealing with injections for a good few weeks yet.

Is anyone else about to get started? It would be great to have some buddies along the way

I'm 30, DH 27. TTC over 3 years and delayed getting tests due to Covid.
We're at Care Fertility Chester and this is out first ever round (we only get one NHS funded - thanks postcode lottery)

What is everyone doing about telling other people? I have told pretty much everyone that we were referred for IVF because

1. I'm a talker, it's my way of working out my feelings
2. It stops the "when are you having a baby" type questions

Me and DH have decided that nobody except our mums will know the specifics now we have our start date as it takes a lot of pressure away from our OTD. It's killing me already, its so not in my nature to keep things to myself 😂

P.s. had my first injection dream last night. Horrid!

@ChristmasJumpers I’ve told quite a lot of people as I’m a mobile hairdresser so working via appointment isn’t easy when doing ivf and I knew I was going to have to change some people around. Our parents and brothers know and my best friend but I’ve not told the others. I’ve only told the clients I have booked in over the first 3weeks though. I’d rather have not said anything to my clients but thought I had to as I don’t know when my day 10 scan or egg collection day will fall on.

@suki2020 oh yes I've told my manager too and will have to tell the two girls who I share shifts with as I'll have to be a lot more flexible and I'll need shift cover at short notice. Just about to have my nails done and going to tell my nail lady all about it 😂 I want to shout it from the rooftops!!

@ChristmasJumpers go for it, shout it from the roof tops

Can I join? We have our nurse appointment on Tuesday and have been told we will start the next cycle (although we are on holiday right in the middle of it so likely to be May).
I’m 34, DH is 40, been trying for 5 years and were referred in June 2020 to Leeds.
We’ve never had a positive test, it feels like it has been a long road to this stage. I’d sort of come to terms with not having a baby as it’s been such a long wait. At the moment, I’m feeling nervous and a bit anxious about it all.

Hello, I'll be starting my FET in 10 days, period due soon. I'm going for baby #2. I had an egg collection in 2019, got four eggs. First one was my little girl 2020. Second round in this February failed. Hoping for some luck this time. Nice to meet everyone!

Hello! Can I join? I’m in the run up to my first FET - currently taking Estradiol and going for a scan to check my lining on Tuesday. Had egg retrieval back in 2018, and have ten 2-day embryos which were frozen from that before I then had 3 years of chemotherapy. Have been given a small window of time to give an embryo transfer a go so keeping absolutely EVERYTHING crossed! I started estradiol last Wednesday and this last week and a half has felt like one of the longest ever - and we’ve not even had the embryo transfer yet!!! How on earth do you get through this period without going bonkers just thinking and worrying?? Any suggestions much appreciated!

@ChristmasJumpers oh you just reminded me I had so many weird dreams leading up to my egg collection!

We haven't told many people. Just family and a few close friends. Oh and my manager who has been brilliant, had made skiving off for appointments easier!

@LouiseD2018 Thank you.. So we had ridiculously good news today. 21 embryos frozen. We are really lucky, I actually don't believe it.. and still no symptoms of OHSS so seem to have dodged that fortunately. Feeling a lot less bloated today.

@NorthernDuckling it is really nerve racking. I'd say just take it one day at a time and try not to overthink it all. Easier said than done though!

@IE00 that's so soon, how exciting. Fingers crossed for you

@pulfy sorry to hear youve been through years of chemo, that sounds really tough. how come you have a short window to give the embryo transfers a go? I have no idea how to get through it without going bonkers.. but if you find a way do let us know!!

@ChristmasJumpers I've told people who have asked about what our baby plans are. I never would have considered it an insensitive question before our two losses now it really does rile me! I told my immediate supervisor so she's been great allowing my annual leave and understands why I'll be using time to catch up with admin, I have to visit people in their homes usually I just don't think I'll be up to that the week of egg collection and for a few days after transfer.

Hi @NorthernDuckling I can understand the anxiety, I hope it starts to ease as you get further into the process. Good luck with your nurse appointment, is it the implementation talk through or an initial scan?

Hi @IE00 great that you were able to have enough embryos to freeze, wishing you lots of luck for this round.

Hi @pulfy keeping everything crossed for you!! What kind of cycle are you on, do you have an idea of what next steps are and when?
I felt a lot better when I had all the dates, although they are subject review I feel better with a goal or plan. It doesn't stop my mind from wandering mind, still a few nervous thoughts there. Just trying to cross one injection at a time!

My 3rd injection today really was quite painful not the injection itself but if definitely feels the fluid is moving and burning. I think on my first day I had the injection then sat down where as the next two I've been pottering around after. Tomorrow I'll try staying still for a bit after. I'm taking my first fyremadel in the morning, prefilled so a bit easier than menopur I just don't want it to hurt!

@Okdaisy 21 my goodness that is amazing!! Especially to have you avoiding ohss too. Did you say the transfer would be planned for May?

@Okdaisy wooooh that is AMAZING! You are so lucky. Are you going for a fresh transfer?

@pulfy thanks for the welcome. Wow 3 years of chemo you are clearly very strong. If you don't mind my asking, why were they frozen at two days? You've got plenty so you have options, best of luck for this round

@LouiseD2018 thank you. And no one should ask you about your baby plans jeez.

@LouiseD2018 I’m not sure, it’s over zoom but I was told I wouldn’t need more scans because I’ve had so many done…. I think I’ve had 6-7 since I was referred but I’ve lost count! I guess we’ll see on Tuesday. The consultant I saw at Xmas said this appointment would be to get me booked in and work out what my protocol would be etc and that it will probably be quite mild because I have about 30 follicles on each side (although not got PCOS).
It’s frustrating because it was delayed from feb/March so we will be on holiday right in the middle of when I would need to be monitored if they use my next period so I guess we will need to wait (again) - the only time in my life I’m grateful to have periods every 23-24 days 🤣
I wish I could go back to June 2020 and just go private. I was 32 when I went to see GP and I’m 35 in a few months. In hindsight it wasn’t worth waiting for the 1 NHS go.

@NorthernDuckling bless you it is close to torture waiting over and over. My gosh 30 follicles each side is amazing! Well hopefully the nurses appointment will answer and final questions and get your meds prescribed and initial dates pencilled in to start. It will hopefully go fast especially with your holiday part way through. Exciting times!!

Talking of dreams most nights I think my literal thoughts follow me to bed, will my body produce enough eggs etc, but the othernight I dreamt we kept putting of buying baby things for one reason or another. Next thing we know I've gone into labour and we are not ready, we have no car seat, no clothes, nappies bottles, I am on the phone to a frantic DH reading out a list of things we need whilst Im in hospital, telling myself he wont get the right things- he never listens 😆. It was quite funny I woke up smiling which doesn't happen often!

@IE00 it’s apparently standard when they’re rushing you through fertility preservation prior to chemo - they freeze at two days as you won’t be transferring them back for a while (if you are ever lucky enough to do so - and I feel super lucky to have this chance!)

@Okdaisy my oncologist has given me a year off chemo and then I’ll have to go back on (hopefully just to adjuvant tablet based stuff to keep any recurrence at bay) - so it all does feel quite intense!

@LouiseD2018 I keep having super intense dreams at the moment along those lines too! Just really hoping that we all get to be in that position!! I’ve got a treatment protocol from the hospital but it all seems pretty straightforward - two weeks of estradiol tablets, then hopefully my lining is thick enough, then progesterone whilst the embryologists do their thing before popping a 5 day blastocyst back in - I’m sure it’s not going to be quite so simple though…!

@LouiseD2018 yeah transfer will be in May.
@IE00 no we aren't doing a fresh transfer. The plan was to freeze all, I'm actually quite glad to have a break. Think it has taken the pressure off the egg collection process without worrying about the next steps.

@pulfy oh that sounds stressful having a set timeframe. I have everything crossed for you

Started the second injection today fyremadel, it didn't sting like menopur does but the needle was a bit bigger made me bleed a little.

I started getting a little anxious all of a sudden earlier, I should feel relief no side effects as yet, but its niggling at me that it may not be working as expected.

I was feeling so optimistic suddenly I'm counting down the days to the next scan hoping to see I'm responding as expected! The days are going to drag!

Oh really? I had the opposite, found fyremadel more stingy than the menopur. I worried the same thing, as I didn't have any side effects the whole time until the bloating kicked in. When is your next scan?

Yes the menopur I've found hurts if I'm active right away, it feels like I can feel it travelling and burning. If I sit still I've worked out it doesn't hurt as much.

Wednesday is the next scan, when did your bloating start would you say?

@LouiseD2018 I found the menopur ok but the fyremadel to sting for a few mins afterwards. I’m finding I’m starting to bloat now and have a sicky feeling every so often. Are you feeling bloated?

That's good you've found that helps.

Oh still a few days for you then. It is weird doing all the injections and not knowing what's happening isn't it. I can't quite remember, but it was quite far in. I think it was just the day before egg collection that I started to feel uncomfortable with it. And then after was ridiculous. I couldn't even fit into my most baggy lounge wear! Make sure you have some nice comfy clothes!

How far in to the process are you? Hope the sickness isnt too bad @Suki2020

@Okdaisy oh gosh does the bloating get the bad? Maybe it’s my nerves about the whole ivf that make me bloated and it’s all a physiological effect.

@Okdaisy I’m only on day 7.

@Suki2020 maybe beginners luck with the fyremadel for me then, when I saw the different needle size I thought I had better numb the area well, the icepack is my best friend at the minute!

No bloating yet, when did you start to feel bloated? I did feel a bit peaky earlier but I put that down to hunger we had a late lunch.