IVF / FET March/April 2022 Thread 2

[AliceAbsolum]

Shiny new thread as we filled up the last one.

@PMAmostofthetime home improvements is a great idea to keep you busy! But also listen to your heart and head on the days you need a rest and do just binge Netflix! Those days are needed.

Oh I know 😞 sometimes it's so hard to keep it together, even when you think you're ok then all of a sudden you're not. Little things can upset me too, but the tears are better out than in.

What was your AFC at your initial internal scan? I had my AMH taken on the day of IVF referral because my AFC was 6. But I do have a friend who didn't have hers taken because her AFC was pretty normal for her age. However on a failed round with 2 eggs that neither fertilised she then had her AMH done afterwards. My understanding is that they do it to have a better idea of what medication to give. I was on max stims and will be again, what were you on again?

I agree, I've always said I'd never test early. I've never really been a POAS addict, it hurts too much. I'd rather wait for AF to come than do a test, it be negative and then AF literally M come hours later, which used to happen whenever I did tests pre-IVF.

@PMAmostofthetime ah yes of course! I was gonna say like @HJen22 says that if you have your age (obviously), your AFC and your TSH counts, the AMH might not be super important - at least it doesn't as far as I know affect your treatment, only the statistical likelihood of how many embryos you can expect (and what % of them are genetically normal).

The tube tests and a possible endo disagnostics however is crucial and it's frustrating that you had to go through all this to realise that it might be a possibility. Damn it but I am so frustrated with the fertility system sometimes - I understand intellectually that so much of fertility is essentially random and that it is very hard for the doctors to diagnose specific conditions without a lot of intentional and costly trial and error, but the factory line system really does not seem to benefit women who have even the slightest issues getting pregnant that might be easily fixable if they were actually discovered.

@PMAmostofthetime this cycle wasn't a waste at all! More first cycles fail than succeed, and they're like a test run to learn about your response, about egg quality, to set expectations, and for you to understood the full process... I think it was a really valuable investment of your time and emotion to set yourself up properly for future success 😊

And I agree with @SamTTC - the tube stuff is useful information, but more often as a factor in deciding whether you need ivf or if there's some other less intensive treatment that might work. In your case, I guess they thought ivf was anyway your best option - I had all clear tests and went straight to ivf anyway because I'm old and the clock is ticking 🤭 The AMH doesn't mean very much, they will have learnt as much from this cycle as they would have from that on your likely response... tbh it's just another this to obsessively Google 🤦🏻‍♀️

You won't recognise yourself in 48 hours without the pessaries!! It's magic, you'll feel so much better 😉

@HJen22 @SamTTC I didn't have a baseline scan either. On day 6 scan they told me they could see 22 follicles and I was in the normal range.
They said LSH and TSH was normal is all they have told me. I don't ovulate.
I'm 35 nearing 36 now.

I just had a call off the clinic-
I'll have a follow up appointment in 4-6 weeks. Where the nurse said I can ask all these questions. Seems like forever away. She also said they wouldn't bother with HSG as it's IVF my tubes aren't needed so I'm definitely going to the gynae for this.

Anyone else's mood swings been really bad I'm hoping this will lift now that the meds have stopped.

Annoyingly even though I have had AF since last Wednesday the nurse just told me it'll likely get worse now. So have that to look forward too.
Great stuff.
Anyone have any nice positive news?
X

So my amazing quick turnaround was not to be 😒 I went for scan/tests this morning to see if I could start stimming now, but my number were already borderline high, and they reckon it will be a bit of a wasted cycle if I start, and likely only get 1/2 greedy big follicles... so.... back to ovulation tracking and I'll start the pre-treatment in about 3 weeks and stimming on my next bleed in 4 weeks time....

It was too good to be true 🤷🏻‍♀️

Back to the gym and supplements for me #marathonnotsprint

@LuckyNovember Thank you- sorry to hear that you have to wait, it really does suck :( all we ever do is wait. Well that's what it feels like. Looking forward to the 48 hour fog lifting x

@HJen22 I was on 150 Meriofert and certrotide so a low dose maybe they'll up it next time? Who knows? X

@PMAmostofthetime I’m so sorry this cycle has been so horrid for you. Hopefully as the others have said once the pessaries are out of your system you’ll feel a bit better and then when AF is completely over and done with you can focus on the future.

@Suki2020 how are you? How did the collection go today?

I tested positive today! I’m still in shock. It’s always been negative or AF has turned up as soon as I thought about doing one in the past

Are you serious @Steph2345??? That is amazing news, after what you went through! I am so pleased for you. Crossing fingers the line will keep getting darker. -this is really great.

@PMAmostofthetime 22 eggs sound very ideal for your age and it is reassuring with the numbers, but you know what, I do think they should have done the AMH and I hope they do it for your peace of mind. It sounds like there isn't much transparency at your clinic? Oof you are right, sooooo much waiting! When is your gyn appointment?

I finally got some information about my frozen embryos - on the topic of transparency! Turns out I have one 5-day and one 6-day, and here I thought I had two 6-days. They say the number of days on progesterone ahead of transfer doesn't need to be tailored to the age of your embryos, so I just need to start taking it four days ahead of transfer regardless of which they choose/which one survives the thaw. I have read some studies that suggest this isn't the case, but I'm also really wary of getting too hung up on things mr. google tells me. There are soooo many conflicting studies about every aspect of this process, and I do think a big part of taking care of your mental health in all this is to decide to trust your clinic/team, unless you have a really good reason not to. I think I'm in really good hands especially compared to my last clinic, so I think I'll take a pause from googling... or I'll try, anyway! I am an information-seeker by nature so it's really hard not to go down all the research rabbit holes (and think I'm an expert after 30 mins of reading abstracts haha).

@LuckyNovember aw damn it, but good thing they aren't letting you waste a cycle! I really admire your back to the gym attitude! I don't know what's with me lately. I just can not be motivated. And it's chocolate season, too! Terrible.

@Steph2345 that's amazing news congratulations!!!!! How are you feeling? 

@SamTTC it was 22 follicles they got 8 eggs at EC.
Are you having one or 2 put back in this time? Its reassuring what your clinic has said. I know Mr Google has been my friend and for throughout this. I am also an information seeker which annoys me why I just let the clinic do what they wanted without a million questions like @LuckyNovember though I thought this was it. So Naive- definitely not naive going into this next cycle.

@Nutrinerd how are you doing since your BFP?!
X🍍

@Steph2345 Congratulations! Fantastic news after everything you've been through. I'm thrilled for you.

@LuckyNovember I'm sorry to hear that you have to take a break. Hope you're OK - the constant waiting is killer.

@PMAmostofthetime hopefully they will take a look at your protocol and maybe up it next time. I'm sorry you have I wait so long for a follow up 😔 wait after wait isn't it. But I hope that you can start to progress forward, take steps to feeling better and looking towards the next cycle. I hope we have better cycles next time, let's use the first as a practice and now we know a little bit about what to expect x

@LuckyNovember oh how disappointing, I'm sorry! That's rubbish when you had originally been told different. But I guess at least they are monitoring and don't want to waste a cycle. Hopefully the time between now and then flies by!

@Steph2345 oh my goodness huge congratulations lovely 💕 such wonderful news! How are you feeling? Well done for holding out! I hope you are feeling better and your BFP has got a very big smile on your face x

@SamTTC thats great you've finally got some info from your clinic. I agree, as easy as it is to google I now try and stay away and trust the Drs and clinic. It's too easy to read so much conflicting information it can end up causing more worry. I'm so glad that you feel you're in good hands, it really does make a huge difference doesn't it. I'm so demotivated too, next week I'll start again 😂 once I've gotten rid of this damn Covid!

Congratulations @Steph2345 I'm super happy for you, especially after all you have been through!!

I'm trying to take a step back from the internet (I was googling way to much) and binge watched Love Life on Netflix instead, I think it was a nice easy going watch.

I am in low beta limbo, having a scan tomorrow to see if it's ectopic or not, or if it's a blighted ovum or viable. I had no symptoms for about a week but feeling tired and just a bit weird today, like fuzzy, who knows what that means though I haven't been sleeping well. My numbers are increasing a reasonable amount, although that can happen anyway with MMC/blighted ovums/ectopic, so I just have to wait for the scan.

I haven't caught up with the thread much lately but wishing you all the best for your upcoming EC's, transfers and 2wws!

Hello ladies, anyone with CRGH or IVI London please or anyone who had experience with ICSi using Zymot? We are deciding between these two clinics. Had one unsuccessful IVF round elsewhere so looking for a new clinic and these are the contenders. Both clinics suggested similar new protocol and PGT-A but one wants to do another level of ICSI called PIMSI and other wants to use ICSI with Zymot which is a new technique. There isn't much written on neither of them, so hard to make a decision.

Woohoo @Steph2345 🎉 gréât News! Congratulations! I've read stories like yours before, where OHSS was provoked/exacerbated by implantation... what a FAB outcome to your rough 2WW!!

Good luck tomorrow @Herewegoagain881 Hope you get the news that will allow you to relax and enjoy all of this 😊

Yes @Steph2345! Congrats!
Saying it all causal at the end of your post like 😅😘
How're you feeling?

@Herewegoagain881 Best of luck with the scan tomorrow. Be good to get some answers.

I'm 5 weeks today, but can't deal with grad threads or the pregnancy board, so I'm just going to hang out with you ladies if that's alright xx

Thanks @LuckyNovember @AliceAbsolum I'm feeling quite anxious about it because my husband can't get the time off. It's going to feel pretty lonely getting scanned by myself and having to deal with the news alone, although I think I'm pretty mentally prepared now as I've had 5 days already knowing things aren't looking good.

Totally know what you mean @AliceAbsolum re. pregnancy boards, it took me a long time to join one last time.

@Ivfhopefull I can't comment on egg collection as I did that years ago with another clinic, but I'm with CRGH and I rate them for frozen embryo transfers. I did 3 medicated FET transfers with them and all 3 have resulted in pregnancy. Not all were successful but probably for other reasons, my 1st transfer we used an untested embryo and had a MMC at 9.5 weeks, 2nd transfer was a live birth, 3rd one I'm testing positive but my beta levels are crazy low so will find out tomorrow where the pregnancy is and if it's viable.

Their medication price list for the medication I need to take is expensive, I'd advise sourcing it somewhere else (we use Asda) if you go with them.

@PMAmostofthetime good that you have a timeline for your follow up appointment. I really hope you feel better in yourself once the meds wear off and that AF doesn't stick around for much longer! I never got my AMH tested either or any of the day3 bloods for that matter, all I had was thyroid and progesterone levels tested. I had a HyCoSy which I think is similar to HSG to check tubes and all was fine with that.

@LuckyNovember sorry to hear you can't start again this month, that sucks. Might be nice to give your body a break though, and your attitude to working out is fantastic, I wish I had that motivation!

@Steph2345 oh my god that's amazing new, congratulations! Was today OTD? I don't think I'll be able to hold out on testing when the time comes.

@SamTTC great that the clinic gave you some more info on your embryos. Are you planning on transferring both? Whens transfer day for you?

@Herewegoagain881 all the best for your scan tomorrow, I really hope it goes well for you and you get some answers. I know what you mean about googling too much, it seems to be all I do these days to try get as much information as possible but then worry myself when I come across information I don't want to read! 🙈

So a little update from me, I had my 2nd stims scan today and I've been told all looking good for egg collection on Friday 10am! I was originally booked in for Monday next week but apparently my follicles are growing quickly so they have brought it forward. Or they maybe just don't want to work over Easter weekend haha.

I was told they look for at least 3 follicles over 18mm and I have 2 at 18mm and 1 just below. And others around 14-15mm. Around 9 or 10 that she thinks will be viable. So last Gonal-f and Cetrotide injections have been done and trigger tonight at 10pm 😊

@AliceAbsolum aww yes please keep hanging out with us we might be a bit more depressing but still! XD how are you feeling at the mo?

@PMAmostofthetime sorry I meant follicles not eggs. :)

@Herewegoagain881 crossing fingers for your scan tomorrow, how nerve wracking. Really hoping for good news.

@Autumn245 that's very exciting! It's good that they've moved your EC up if you already have big enough follicles. Good luck with the trigger!

And yeah just transferring one at a time, as my clinic doesn't allow otherwise, but I also prefer it that way... if I have any implantation issues it's more likely that they'll figure it out if I have more separate transfers I think. Only hoping there are no issues thawing of course. Only six days to go now (but who's counting!).

@Steph2345 Congratulations that is such fantastic news!

@AliceAbsolum I haven't joined any grad threads either, I feel it's all too new.

@Herewegoagain881 I've been there at the scan receiving the news by myself: it is hard. I would just make sure that you have somewhere private to go afterwards. Will you be able to contact your DH afterwards? I hope all goes well.

Thank you all! It was a real surprise this morning, I still can’t quite believe it. I’m feeling ok thanks, the OHSS symptoms are still with me and probably won’t fully go for another few weeks but I’ve noticed improvement over the last day.

@Autumn245 how exciting you have your collection date!! And it sounds like you’ve got a great number of follicles too!

@Suki2020 hope you’re doing ok

@Steph2345 that’s lovely news! Hope the remaining OHSS symptoms settle soon

@Herewegoagain881 will be thinking of you on scan day tomorrow

@AliceAbsolum get what you’re saying about the “grad” boards, I don’t feel ready to join them yet either.

Been getting some odd pains today away from where I felt what I guess were the implantation pains. No bleeding but it’s making me feel quite anxious. I’m finding it so difficult to relax - with so many meds through the day it’s almost impossible not to think about it and successfully distract myself.

@PMAmostofthetime the bracelets look lovely, that was very sweet of the Etsy seller to add in the extras. I kind of want a little pineapple talisman after it’s appeared on this thread so much! I hope that you feel a bit better as the meds wear off, I am finding them a struggle (poor DH probably more so with the crying and moods!)