IVF / FET March/April 2022 Thread 2

[AliceAbsolum]

Shiny new thread as we filled up the last one.

@Gigi89x I was in a spare room but people would often just walk in and it was pretty awkward!
Good idea about wfh, no one needs a canceled cycle

@AliceAbsolum oh you poor thing, maybe they thought you were working out 😆

@SamTTC have you started your treatment for your FET?

Anyone who has had a FET what was your cycle duration . My consultant says it should be 21 days

What do you mean duration? Like minimum length?

Less than 3 days til poas time. Generally staying much saner than the last 3 times. Couldn't finish my yummy Greek salad for lunch today as felt too sick. Taking that as a good sign.

How's everyone else doing?
@LuckyNovember @Nutrinerd

Wow @AliceAbsolum almost through it... it must be so hard not to test but well done you, it seems like it is the right approach for your mental health!

@Gigi89x yes, I went for my baseline scan last Thursday and am on estradiol tablets right now, having my next scan a week from today... seriously, it's insane how much waiting we do in this process. Waiting for scans. Waiting for retrieval/transfer. Waiting for test day. Waiting for AF. Waiting waiting waiting....!
At least so far (knock knock) the pills aren't affecting me, I had some cramps the first few days but that was it. It's hard for me to remember to take them though - I don't have this problem with injections, but I'm terrible at remembering to take pills. Luckily the timing of these isn't so important, but I'm so worried about just forgetting entirely...

@AliceAbsolum i meant total days duration of your frozen cycle from the start till transfer

@SamTTC totally agree with the constant waiting 🤣 im WAITING 😆to start mine next month as they want a normal AF in between the last cycle after stopping meds and starting the next one.
Did you start meds on day 2 of your AF?

15 days from period to transfer. Medicated.

@Gigi89x I had utrogestan on my first cycle and thought it was great they came with applicators! They never told me to lay down after though. But they do have to be taken vaginally.
Been on cyclogest in the last cycle and now for this biopsy round and my clinic are happy for them to be taken vaginally or rectally. It's bizarre how clinics give such varying advice for the same drugs!

Just had my biopsy, was like severe period cramps for the minute whilst they scraped the cells but it was bearable. They said they were surprised at my pain threshold 🤷🏾‍♀️ They also said those muscles down there are good! Think they struggled just to get the speculum in!
And finally, the other half got to come in the room with me and be there for an appointment! Although must be weird having another man staring down your partner's nether regions whilst having conversation with you 🤣
Results hopefully in 2-3 weeks so a bit of a break now for us

@Coops0406 so glad that you got through it, that sounds rough! I've never had that done. What is the purpose of it again?

@Gigi89x I also had to take a pause cycle, that was even MORE waiting! I was so happy when AF finally started up again last week. I started meds on cd3, the clinic is ambivalent about whether to start up patients on day 2 or 3 (this is something I can't help but wonder about - does that one day more or less not matter? but what do I know). My next scan will be on cd14, so I am guessing that transfer will be fairly soon after - but I do need to be on progesterone for a few days first, so I don't know. I'm guessing transfer will be Wednesday or Thursday next week. And then two weeks till test day, which will be a few days after my AF is meant to start... honestly now that I'm writing it out, it doesn't seem like optimal timing? But if they 'take over' my cycle and I don't actually ovulate, is my receptivity window not dependent on the meds rather than my cycle length?
Ahh so many questions!

@AliceAbsolum ah so soon! Sounds like you are coping with the TWW so well, so be proud of yourself! I hope the next 3 days pass fast for you! And I have everything crossed!!!!!!!

@Coops0406 glad to hear your biopsy went well! And that your partner was able to go in with you! Really makes all the difference doesn't it. I hope your results come back soon! Enjoy the little break in between now and then.

How is everyone else doing? I hope well 💕

@Gigi89x I'm on utrogestan for this transfer: I do like the applicator! I found cyclogest easier just to do rectally - much less messy - but I do the utrogestan right before bed and then in the morning when I can sit at my desk (legs firmly crossed) for an hour or so. It was the global shortage that made me change too.

I had my transfer on day 17: usually I think it's between days 17-21, depending on your lining.

And no blood results yet - I'm going slightly insane.

@SamTTC thank you! Glad we have another thing out of the way! Just the small matter of waiting for results!
It's the ALICE/EMMA/ERA tests which check the microbiome, so good V bad bacteria, any infections that we don't know about and then to check the endometrium receptivity. Hopefully the microbiome will be okay as I've been taking probiotics since December, if it's Not then not much we sam do about that! So all just to check that the womb is good for implantation and when the endometrium is going to be most receptive for transfer.

@HJen22 thanks 😊 it is just nice for him to be involved in the conversations that go on when you're in there, rather than sometimes feeling like a bystander. Hopefully he can now be in all the appointments moving forward!

@Coops0406 glad your biopsy went well I think my OH would have opted out 😂 when I said I could film the ET- for him to see he was like why would I want to see that 🤣. When I explained it was the embies on the screen he was relieved.

@AliceAbsolum watched the vlog last night- look forward to the next one! Admire you for being able to share this.

@Suki2020 mine was like that the first scan, I went for the 2nd scan and triggered the next day.

@BlueSilver23 my boss knows and that's it! You guys on here are my saviours!

@Gigi89x welcome, I'm currently on cycles to so can't help, but I hope they don't switch me if I get a BFP! Because I couldn't do 3 x a day with work? How many hours apart do they want you to do them?

@TommieNC that's not very helpful, I'm sure your husband is right and at least it was an underside of it was wrong.
I don't get a beta at my clinics but test OTD in 9 days ahhhhh

How you feeling today?

@Coops0406 Does not sound pleasant! Bet you're glad it's done. How long until you get the results?

@ginandtonicformeplease Hurry up bloods!

@hjen22 1 day at a time!
How're you feeling about going again? When roughly would you start?

Oh I need to watch your new vlog @AliceAbsolum and I was sorry to hear you've lost some followers. I am sure you've also gained though with your honest and open story! Are you still in your Airbnb?

I'm not very sure, going from the last cycle, our nurses app was the start of January, Feb cycle day 21 started norethisterone and 28th Feb was first scan. So about 7/8 weeks from the call I think. However my cycle is due to start 2 weeks after our nurses call which might be too soon for their scheduling. If not though, I'd likely start the pill again mid May with starting protocol end of May maybe! I'm trying to not get my heart set on dates until we speak to them so I'm not disappointed.

@ginandtonicformeplease I hope you get your results real soon! Always SO much waiting! How are you feeling?

@PMAmostofthetime how are you getting on?

@Gigi89x I'm so sorry to hear your last round wasn't successful. So tough going through this. Wishing you all the very best for the next. I'm waiting to start again; but be another EC as well! X

@gigi89x I’m starting to get on with the utrogestan, the midday one is a bit of a pain for work, but with the applicator it’s less trouble than the estrogen and I usually just carry on with wandering round - clinic didn’t give any instructions on resting after but suggested it might be worth it for the estrogen which doesn’t seem to absorb as well. Funny how different clinics advise so differently for various things!

@AliceAbsolum hit by major nausea this afternoon as well - felt it a bit yesterday but this afternoon I’ve had to have a quiet sit down. Hope it’s a good sign for us!

@AliceAbsolum another great vlog! You guys are just the sweetest and such troupers! I felt very emotional watching you go in for transfer, what a special day so thank you for sharing. I so hope those embabies have snuggled in nice and warm x

@ginandtonicformeplease any news?

@HJen22 I think I'll be with you if I need a next round end of May beg June for next round, new EC for me too.
2ww is driving me insane- I go from being positive to being really annoyed thinking well it's not worked let's just let my AF come and get on with the next steps.

I was back in work today- thought that would take my mind off it a bit but nooooo- even though I was that busy I had to make a sign telling everyone that nobody was allowed to talk to me it just creeps up on you doesn't it.
I'm WFH most of the week now aside frim some meetings and visits so that's better as I'm conscious about lugging my laptop around. Iv even switched bags and taken lots of stuff out to make sure it's very light.
I can take a good old fashioned pen and paper to meetings and visits.
I think the progesterone is making me sluggish, I feel like I need a nap- going to try and stay away until at least 10.
Your nurses call is Thursday isn't it? At least you will have a plan then :).

@AliceAbsolum @Nutrinerd @LuckyNovember @Steph2345 and anyone else any tips for 2 WW please?

Good news about nausea @AliceAbsolum and @Nutrinerd. Eagerly awaiting your OTD.

Do different clinic's have different amount of days?

X

@PMAmostofthetime don’t ask me how to cope!! I’ve had to distance myself for a couple of days to stop myself comparing “symptoms” to other people and getting myself down/disheartened if I haven’t noticed the same thing as someone else. And I’ve struggled a couple of days here and there with the progesterone mood swings! Felt like a teenager in puberty the other day so had to have a word with myself.

How are you finding it?

@Steph2345 completely get the Teenager thing! I have spots, moody, irritable no motivation and if I wasn't actually an adult, who has to work I would probably sleep till noon each day.

Progesterone sucks right!
I've also had constipation and bloated as hell- I think this is what the cramps and the back ache are from- again from progesterone.

Also since the stims I have had incredibly sore boobs and I'll cry at anything.

We all had different stims- and those of us who had the same still had different side effects, I know it's easier said than done but try not to compare..................................says the person who frantically googled early blast and Morula success stories at least 7 times a day.

I found this and I think this helped me to realise that any symptoms at 5dp5dt are just progesterone

dpt ..embryo is growing and developing 
2dpt... Embryo is now a blastocyst 
3dpt....Blastocyst hatches out of shell on this day 
4dpt.. Blastocyst attaches to a site on the uterine lining 
5dpt.. Implantation begins - the blastocyst begins to bury in the lining 
6dpt.. Implantation process continues and morula buries deeper in the lining 
7dpt.. Morula is completely implanted in the lining and has placenta cells & 
fetal cells 
8dpt...Placenta cells begin to secret HCG in the blood 
9dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops 
10dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops 
11dpt...HCG levels are now high enough to be immediately detected on HPT 


This is what happens in a day 5 transfer : 

-1dpt ..embryo is growing and developing 
0dpt... Embryo is now a blastocyst 
1dpt....Blastocyst hatches out of shell on this day 
2dpt.. Blastocyst attaches to a site on the uterine lining 
3dpt.. Implantation begins,as the blastocyst begins to bury in the lining 
4dpt.. Implantation process continues and morula buries deeper in the lining 
5dpt.. Morula is completely implanted in the lining and has placenta cells & 
fetal cells 
6dpt...Placenta cells begin to secret HCG in the blood 
7dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops 
8dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops 
9dpt...HCG levels are now high enough to be immediately detected on HPT

I'm comparing myself as somewhere between the two.
X

@PMAmostofthetime oh what a rollercoaster of emotions every step of this journey is isn't it. Do try and stay positive; you are by no means out. I know the embabies weren't as strong and developed as you'd hoped but they are in the best place. I'm sending all the positive vibes. I really hope that this is your time.

I hope work can distract you for the rest of the week! Sometimes it's just really hard to not focus on it, when all you want is a break. That's why I like sleeping so much haha although I had an awful IVF dream last night! You've done things like colouring in and stuff haven't you?

Yup call on Thursday! So then we'll have our plan. I'm looking forward to moving onto the next round. Taking the positives and looking forward. My gym and diet went out the window last week so back to it today, for the millionth time haha!

@Steph2345 @Nutrinerd @LuckyNovember I hope you ladies are getting through the TWW ok, a normal "before ivf" TWW is hard so I can't imagine what this one must be like! Everything crossed for you all!

Just checking in- 3 good size follicles and lining is all good and so trigger is tonight and EC on weds. Fingers crossed there are any there to collect.

The call finally came in - HCG levels are where they want them to be The nurse is going to call me back tomorrow to arrange an 8 week scan

@HJen22 I have tried reading, craft, binge watching Netflix, shopping ( that didn't go well- I'm bloated and I'm short and am not allowed to stretch up)

Sleeping is the only time I'm not thinking of it but I go to sleep thinking of it and wake up thinking of it ( the pessary alarm or the bursting bladder from all the water I have to drink doesn't help that)

@Iwouldlikesomecake great news good luck- enjoy your injection free day tomorrow. I had 3 good size and triggered.

@ginandtonicformeplease Congratulations 🥳 lovely news x