IVF / FET March/April 2022 Thread 2

[AliceAbsolum]

Shiny new thread as we filled up the last one.

@ginandtonicformeplease yaaaay! Very happy to hear that. Another milestone reached.

Do you know why 8 weeks? Like not 6 or 9?

Oh my gosh @ginandtonicformeplease that's wonderful news!!! I'm so happy for you :)

@HJen22 hahaha I am the same, I've started the healthy lifetime about three times just in the past week. I'm really struggling with it because I lunch a bunch of weight a few years back, then gained it all back, and it's just so hard to motivate myself knowing how tough it was, and how hungry I was, and how quickly I gained it all back anyway... my bmi is 26 I think so I do want to get it down a bit, but it's nothing that worries me too much. It's more the sugar intake I wish I could control. But that's not happening this month - aside from the FET itself I'm so overwhelmed with work, I'm struggling just to get through each day.

@PMAmostofthetime sounds like you've tried all the coping mechanisms I was going to suggest! I do actually think learning a new skill can be super distracting. I learned punch needling last cycle and spent all my free time on it.
I find being at work the worst actually, I find it so hard to concentrate on work and not turn on my mobile hotspot and google symptoms all day long. When I'm at home, I can usually make time pass fairly easily. Now that it's spring, there are so many opportunities for walks and trips as well.

Honestly though I think the best 'distraction' for me is actually to lean into the fertility world rather than away from it. Watch/read other people's stories, listen to educational podcasts about fertility and IVF, track my symptoms, that kind of thing. Makes me think of it a bit more like, well, a new hobby or a skill I'm learning, or almost even a new language I'm learning to speak. Imagine how much we KNOW about this whole weird world of IVF that we didn't know before. I actually do really want to know how progesterone and estrogen levels affect a cycle, and how embryos become blastocysts, and all that. It speaks to the nerd in me. And helps me gain a bit of perspective with respect to my own treatment.

oh and also, Bridgerton was a great distraction for a couple of days there lol.

@Iwouldlikesomecake great news! Enjoy the injection free day tomorrow and all the best for EC on Wednesday!

@ginandtonicformeplease congratulations; so happy they came back where they want them to be! Wonderful news!

@PMAmostofthetime yeah i thought you'd tried lots of things already! Journaling is quite a good way of getting your feelings down. I do it now and again on the recommendation of my counsellor. Also just let yourself feel how you feel, sometimes getting upset at your feelings (because you don't want to feel that way) makes it harder. Acknowledge how you feel, tell yourself it's ok to feel that way and try and then move to a more positive thought.

Oh I've another good book haha it's called "Why has no body told me this before". It's a good self help book where you can just pick a chapter going by your feeling. I've got quite a lot of self help books as you can tell haha x

@ginandtonicformeplease and @AliceAbsolum my clinic scan 3 weeks after positive on OTD do that would be 5 weeks? I wonder why the difference?

@SamTTC I've watched Bridgerton and All 5 series of Chesapeake shores ( warning MC and ENDO in one of season 5'd episodes I cried through that episode) any other suggestions.

@HJen22 I love books- I'll look at that one now- I have also read the Thursday murder club books and think I'll start the Bridgerton books too. ( I do work I swear just need to fill every second atm) x

@Hopingforamiracle11 how are you doing? X

@PMAmostofthetime ah I watched all 5 seasons of Chesapeake shore too just before we started our cycle! Loved it! Have you seen This is Us? It's so good!! And there was a really good girly American one that I binged a while back called The Bold Type on Netflix.

Funny you should say that; I literally can't seem to get away from IVF on tv etc. I'm not even exaggerating when I say it's even on shows you'd least expect it like Grand Designs and The Dog House!

I started re-reading the Harry Potter books for some escapism but actually only still on the third one haha!

@Gigi89x I use Utrogestan pessaries. I was advised they go up the front, 4 in the morning, 4 at night and 1 orally at lunch. I would much rather have 1 big pessary then popping 4, but it’s better than shots for me.

@AliceAbsolum I'm not sure why 8 weeks. My last clinic was 7 weeks, which was because at 6 weeks it's not guaranteed to hear the heartbeat and so people start worrying, whereas if it's developing normally you'll hear it at 7.

@ginandtonicformeplease thanks for this - it helps knowing what to expect! The 30 mins laying down made me worried at mid day as if your out its not ideal! Good to know you didnt need to lay down

@PMAmostofthetime thank you! Im not sure how many hours apart yet - just been told what I'm having but haven't told me timings yet

@SamTTC exciting times for you! Keep us updated!! are you working from home or do you have to go in to work?

@TommieNC wow 4 pessaries in one go? I was expecting one pessary 3 x a day - but haven't got details yet🙈

@HJen22 thank you! When are you starting your fresh cycle?

I had my consultant apptmnt to discuss my failed cycle. The consultant wasn't really sure of any reason why it didn't implant. It was a grade A & i had a 10mm lining & embryo glue. Im adding in a progesterone blood test before transfer next time.

@PMAmostofthetime that's hilarious! Whereas I think my other half would be right in there wanting to have a go at putting the embryo in 🤣🤣🤣
I'm glad to say I'm no longer having to take the progesterone!! It's not nice and I think it's effects are so much worse after ET! I can relate to everything you are saying about it...completely messed with my digestive system and the bloating was horrific!!

@AliceAbsolum I think 2-3 weeks, we booked our appointment to discuss the results on 29th April but they said if they're in before then they'll call to move it forwards. My consultant doesn't work a lot though, far too busy doing other things so that was the only date he was in this month and had an appointment! But I'm happy seeing another doctor as our consultant will look at the results and review moving forward anyway.

@HJen22 I definitely think it's good not to get hung up on dates, it's so hard not to but I've realised it makes everything harder. I thought we'd be having a transfer by now but everything seems to always be so delayed! I'm now in the "go with the flow" headspace!

@ginandtonicformeplease excellent news!!! So so pleased for you and to hear this good news!

Excited to start hearing more good news from those in the 2WW!

We have booked a cheeky few days in the algarve now we know nothing is happening for a few weeks! All our fancy are there for a week so we're going to surprise them and turn up for a few days!! ☀️

@Gigi89x each pessary is 100mg and they are small’ish like a pearl.

@TommieNC thanks for sharing the photo! Do all your frozen cycle meds have long expiry dates on them?

@ginandtonicformeplease thats great news about your hcg levels & booking your scan! Exciting times ahead!

@Coops0406 that sounds so lovely to suprise your family & get a nice break in yourself!!

Hi ladies 😊 sorry I'm way behind... I'm away for work with a packed schedule, which is wonderfully distracting!!

2WW is fine, feel a bit more hormonal than last time. Burst into tears watching films on the plane a couple of times yesterday, which is not at all usual, not even for PMS/IVF... and I'm an ugly crier 😂

A couple of twinges, but I think they're a bit too far to the side to be implantation... not quite as far wide as ovaries, but somewhere in between... otherwise pretty much nothing to report. I wish I were nauseous like @AliceAbsolum and @Nutrinerd 🤮 I had some indigestion, but I'm pretty sure that's from the travelling food 🤷🏻‍♀️

On the utrogestan, I'm on 2x200 morning and evening; I sometime lie down, sometimes I just sit and have my breakfast, it seems fine, I ALWAYS wear a pad 🤦🏻‍♀️ it's pretty gross, but I find it takes about 3-4 hours for the remnants to "exit"...

Super News @ginandtonicformeplease 🙌🏻

@Gigi89x they will be so surprised! And I don't even think I care that I can't fit into my swimming costume nicely! Just feels nice to be booked in for some sunshine!!

@LuckyNovember oh god, tell me about the crying! I have cried at everything when I'm both on and off the meds!! I'm wondering whether watching the TV is actually just my outlet for all the locked up emotions of ivf! I hope you enjoy your time away and the distraction is good!

@ginandtonicformeplease amazing news I'm so happy for you! Massive congratulations!! 🥳

@HJen22 I love This is Us! I'm on season 5 so not much left now! I think I get teary or cry in pretty much every episode 😄

@LuckyNovember im glad you have your work trip to keep you busy in the TWW!! its nice to have a distraction & not google 24/7 as i did😆 have you gone anywhere nice?

@ginandtonicformeplease this is great news! Congratulations!! Xx

@PMAmostofthetime thanks for sharing your progesterone experience, helps to know it’s not just me. Xx

My belly has suddenly got seriously bloated this eve! I thought I’d left that behind after the EC 🤦🏻‍♀️

@SamTTC I'm finding it so hard to concentrate- I've been thinking about learning a new skill-maybe I'll lol into that tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion.

@HJen22 not heard of those but I will put them on my watch list, thanks

@Coops0406 that's a relief for you, obviously I'm hoping that I have at least another 10 weeks of taken it but in 4 mins I will only have 8 days to OTD when I find out.
Enjoy your holiday with your family
😀

@LuckyNovember enjoy your work trip. Glad the 2WW has not been so bad for you. All my twinges seem really high up near my rib cage 🤷🏼‍♀️.

@SamTTC oh I know, totally the same. I lost a bit of weight a few years ago and more or less kept it off, now it's back on and some more. It sucks doesn't it! Im really hoping to shift a little before next round. I'm sorry you're struggling to get through each day, you're doing amazing and we all have those days, but today is a new day x

@Coops0406 ah amazing! Such a great idea to get away for a few days and surprise your family! A well deserved break! Glad you're getting away for a break! When do you go?

@LuckyNovember I hope your work trip is going well and glad to hear your TWW hasn't been too bad!

@Herewegoagain881 haha yeah I cry most episodes too! I'm up to date with season 6, I'll be so gutted when it ends. I'm already planning to go back to the start and rewatch!

@ginandtonicformeplease that’s fab news, congratulations!

@TommieNC thank you for letting me know, I will check them out x

@AliceAbsolum I found your vlog on IVF very emotional and super helpful. I can imagine it’s not easy talking about those things and posting it for the world to see, but what you’re doing is giving support to people like me, thank you so much xx

@SamTTC it’s super exciting your transfer will be happening soon!

@PMAmostofthetime thanks for asking x yesterday I rung my clinic in the morning to let them know about the result and they said I should expect to receive a letter within the next 3 weeks and a follow up appointment in about 5. How are you doing?? xx not long and you’ll be testing! Who knows, maybe you already have twins on board??

Ladies in regards to progesterone pessaries, I was using utrogestan 200mg, 1 pessary 3x a day. I don’t think that was enough for me, hopefully that’s something that they can change moving forward.

Good morning everyone, ive been reading and catching up again today.
Found the stimms wiped me out so much i was working, making dinner and pretty much falling asleep so never posted!

I had retrieval yesterday, got 9 follicles so should get a call today to tell us how many fertilised. Hoping that gives us a good chance of getting some strong ones from freezing/transfer.

Yesterday i dont remember much, felt drunk AF all day and eneded it with a take away chicken kebab.

Like others have mentioned i think this week for me will be keeping busy but also trying to get back to healthy. Lots of greens, protein, good fats. I've def gained weight but i imagine a big proportion of it will be water weight from all the hormones which is worth remembering.

Morning all hope everyone is doing well? Sorry, I’m struggling to keep up with everyone atm, it’s such a fast moving thread, I could do with a weekly summary!!! Is anyone else finding they’re struggling with memory? I’m not sure if it meds / hormones or emotional stress?

@Jampot36 well done for EC yesterday, fingers crossed for your call today, hope you’re happy with the results. Do you know if you’re having Ivf or ICIS?
I was exactly the same with the stims in that I slept ALL the time and just felt awful. I was really surprised reading that others dislike the progesterone as I love it, I start to feel normal when that’s added in / increased. It’s the estrogen I absolutely hate. The medicated FET I did was just awful. Anyone else find that estrogen stops you from getting on with normal life?

@Hopingforamiracle11 how are you getting on lovely? You sound so strong 💪

@ginandtonicformeplease that’s such lovely news 💕 Really excited you’re heading towards that next stage x

@PMAmostofthetime I’m so impressed you haven’t tested early. You’re doing such an amazing job x Hope you’re feeling ok.

@Coops0406 have an amazing time away!

Can I ask, has anyone done a natural / non-medicated FET? What do you need to do? Ie daily basal temperature? LH testing? I have a follow up consultation in a week, expecting they’ll ask me to wait a full cycle before the next transfer but want to make sure I’ve done everything required incase they say I can go ahead this cycle xx

@PMAmostofthetime I had a nice distracting time rewatching all of New Girl recently? It was better than I remember it. It’s funny actually cause I usually like a bit more action/fantasy elements but going through ttc my tolerance for dark and loud media is very poor. I can only digest happy relatively uncomplicated stories at the moment.
Oh actually the k-drama Crash Landing on You is super great as a distraction! It’s on Netflix. It’s the only k-drama I’ve seen so I don’t know how it compares, but I loved it sooo much.

@HJen22 I also tried reading HP a few years ago and got halfway through book 5, and then I just went cold on it from one day to the next and never finished the reread. And book 5 used to be my favourite too!
And it’s so frustrating about the yo-yo weight isn’t it? It really affects my self esteem too. I still try to fit into my too small clothing for work because it seems like such a waste to buy new clothes in case I’m about to be pregnant- but that’s been my reason for six months and it’s getting very silly so I might just have to go buy some jeans that don’t give me a stomach ache… 🙄

@Gigi89x I’ve been back in the office for a while but I’m going to try to scrounge some wfh days after my transfer when I know when it’ll be.

@Agapanthus13 never done that unfortunately! I think it depends on the clinic though, how much they monitor you vs how much you have to do it yourself?

@Hopingforamiracle11 well done getting through the phone call! Do you have a timeline on when you can start again, if you are doing another cycle?

@Jampot36 congrats on the 9 follicles! That seems like a good starting point :) hope you aren’t feeling too sore today