Ivf / Icsi May 2022

[RoseWrites]

I'm starting ICSI on 2 May and wondered if anyone else is starting at a similar time? I found this forum so helpful the first time around in 2017 and would love to chat to those going through it too :)

@RoseWrites I'm starting stims on 2nd May for my first cycle and one and only NHS funded round. Currently taking norethisterone and trying to wrap my head around the injections starting 2 weeks today!
Was your round in 2017 successful?

Hi both, I’ve just started norethisterone this morning. I also find these forums helpful; it’s good to have others to chat to who can understand the range of emotions we go through.
My FET will be towards the end of May. This will be my 5th transfer. I had 3 rounds on the NHS and now private. This will be my second transfer from our donor eggs.

Everything crossed for us all x

I will be starting my second cycle end of May beginning of June x

Hey im brand new to this and have our planning call 11th may and I guess will start injections end of may (is the first lot of injections the day of your period?).
we’ve done all the consent forms etc and so will know more after 11th may.
im 44 and have never been pregnant so I’m praying for a miracle (I know I know donor eggs are recommended but we want to try mine and go from there, we know the stats etc but keeping realistically positive)

i have a few questions if you don’t mind answering for those who know the journey?

what diet are you on to help with conception?

what emotions are likely for when I am in the middle of it all ? (I’m working full time in a new job so already feeling a bit stressy 🤦‍♀️)

do you have any too tips to help through this time?

Thanks for reading and I wish you all the best of luck xxx

@Icamehere4lovey My job is stressful, I was up and down with emotion's and one day the headache was that bad I had to take a day off but aside from that I managed ok. Whilst on stims, you need to drink 3 litres of water a day and eat lots of protein to reduce the risk of OHSS and continue this for a few days post Egg transfer.

Hope this helps x

Helllo everyone :)

@ChristmasJumpers Love the name! I start stims too on 2 May. Are you injecting Buserelin? And yes, our ICSI in 2017 was successful :) We were lucky - I'm feeling a bit daunted this time around...

@Zedann Fingers crossed indeed :) How are you feeling now treatment has started? Is FET - Frozen embryo transfer? We have never had any that were freezable so I'm not sure of the lingo.

@PMAmostofthetime Nice to meet you :)

@Icamehere4love Very happy to answer questions! We had our first ICSI round in 2017. My husband has low (read: pretty much zero) sperm. After producing lots of embryos, we ended up with 1 embryo on transfer day. I felt very upset, but thankfully, it worked, and our little miracle baby is now sat next to me. In terms of how i felt, I found egg stimulation very uncomfortable, but it was manageable (i.e. I could still work, do light activities, etc). Beyond that, I found the emotional side quite draining - I read into it all loads and found it hard not to obsess over every stage, twinge, headache, etc. The 2 week wait (tww/2ww) was also quite tough. I have no advice beyond go easy on yourself :) and in terms of diet, I didn't change anything - I let myself enjoy all the things I like i.e. tea and cake, chocolate in the evenings. I did take folic acid supplements though. Let me know if you have any other questions :) x

@RoseWrites I'm injecting Ovaleap and then Fyremadel. I'm at risk if OHSS so might need a freeze all but really hoping not!!

I'm so glad I joined forums like this as I have not been advised by the clinic to drink lots of water and up my protein, I've only ever seen that advice on mumsnet! I don't drink enough water (sometimes none) in a day so that will be interesting come next week 😁

Nearly time for those injections now, I'm incredibly nervous. How are you feeling?

I'm starting my injections on 15 May followed by ICSI and then eventually a FET. This is my first time doing IVF after 3 miscarriages. It's all a bit terrifying isn't it?

@ChristmasJumpers I'm on day 3 of injecting buserelin. It stings a bit, but it's ok. Not great, though, is it?! :) How are finding it?

@Rtmhwales How are you getting on? It's nice to meet you :) I'm the same - one minute i feel ok, and then I feel like I'm going to burst into tears. It's all a bit full-on indeed! How are you feeling about stating the treatment? I'm on day 3 of the injections and trying to take one day at a time... x

@RoseWrites day 3 for me too of Ovaleap. So far so good, ibwas so scared but the dlfear has melted away now that I know they don't hurt 😊
I have a day 5 scan on Friday which I can't wait for as I didn't have a baseline scan so looking forward to seeing what my follicle count is

@ChristmasJumpers good luck for Friday! :) I don't have a scan for 3 weeks which feels ages away!

@rosewrites that's so ling to wait! Are you on long protocol?

@Christmasjumpers I'm not sure what protocol I'm on?! Sorry... all I know is that it's 3 weeks on Buserelin for down regulation.

Is that the same for anyone else?

@RiseWrites I think that sounds like long protocol. I took Norethisterone pills for 15 days to induce a bleed and then started stims on Monday which should last no longer than 10-12 days.
Just had a scan to check my follicle growth and I have 11 on one side and 4 on the other. I'm hoping those are good numbers!

Hey, how is everyone getting on?

We had an embryo transferred yesterday. We only had one after 22 eggs collected and 16 fertilised. I had the same numbers last time but feel quite crushed.

I just have this sense that it has not worked. I'm struggling to be upbeat and cheery about it.... Any tips?!

Our official test day is Saturday 25 June, which feels like ages away.

Last time I tested 10 days after my trigger shot and feel very tempted to do the same, but worry that I'll get a false negative and feel terrible. Or a false positive and feel even worse.

URGH. Sorry for the moan!

Hope everyone else is getting on ok? xx

@RoseWrites it's hard to stay positive, I think it's a defence mechanism if we think it's not worked we think we'll feel less hurt if it doesn't bit we never feel like that anyway.

Try and put some plans in, have something to focus on. Try not to test early o did llasy cycle as AF came 8dp5dt and even though I knew I was out I still carried the hope as the clinic wouldn't accept the negative result until OTD so i stupidly felt that there was a tiny bit of hope when I was on AF!

I was delayed so only started Burserelin yesterday for down reg and EC approx 11th July.

There's another group on here I'll tag you in where some ladies are at the same stage as you in 2ww x

@RoseWrites try and stay positive I know it's hard but it only takes one. Sending you hugs and have everything crossed for you

I had my frozen transfer (donor egg) on 25th May. I have my BFP!! Still in shock. Our 2nd round ended in early miscarriage so I'm nervous although have lots of symptoms so trying to stay positive. First scan on 22nd June. Praying for a heart beat. I'm 41 now and been trying since I was 30 so hopefully it's our time.

Love to all you ladies. Good luck ❤️

Oh @Zedann that is AMAZING! I'm so delighted for you! That news has definitely brightened my day. How exciting :) And not long now until your scan. Sending loads of love x

@PMAmostofthetime Thanks for your kind, and very sensible words :) How are are you feeling so far? x

@Zedann that's amazing news- others positive stories give me hope :)

Is this your 3rd cycle? Research suggests it takes 3 cycles on average. (wish the NHS would get up to speed with this.)

@RoseWrites day 3 of Burserelin- I feel a little bloated but otherwise ok- Thanks
How are you doing today?

X

@Zedann congrats!!

@RoseWrites I'm really crossing my fingers and toes for you.

I had to take a step back from all the infertility boards while I went through IVF as I found it way harder physically and mentally overwhelming.

I started stims on 15 May and was a super responder - they put me on the lowest doses possible and the clinic said typically those doses result in 1-2 viable eggs. I was miserable and waddled everywhere. Had my retrieval on 27 May and they collected 45 eggs. I was at high risk of OHSS so I always knew it would be a freeze all cycle and due to recurrent miscarriages we decided to test 8 embryos if we got any.

Of the 45 eggs, 30 were mature, 24 fertilized with ICSI, and 23 made it to freezing on Days 5 and 6. Which in theory sounds amazing but I'm pretty sure there's something wrong with DP's sperm. Anyway, all were BB, I was a bit disappointed about not having any A embryos. We sent 8 off for testing and got the results back on Monday .. 2 healthy, 3 mosaic (so iffy), and 3 discarded. The genetic counselor said it was a bit disappointing as she'd have hoped 50% tested were healthy.

Now I'm just waiting for my cycle to start late June so we can do a transfer. I'm a bit happy to have a break as I feel IVF is never ending between the tests and drugs and poking and questions and I needed a break for my mental health.

For those who had the transfer.. how was it? I'm dreading that next awkward step!

Thanks ladies

@PMAmostofthetime this is our 5th cycle we had 3 cycles with the NHS, and now private.

@Rtmhwales Thanks lovely :) and that is a crazy high number of eggs! No wonder you felt bloated!!! My clinic will stop things if it looks like you're likely to make more than 25. But it must feel good to have so many embryos now :) the testing sounds interesting. What happens with those results? Do you get the embryos regraded?

In terms of embryo transfer, we had that on Monday. It is so quick. in fact it was so quick I thought they were still setting up when the doctor shook my hand, wished me luck and left! By far the easiest part of the IVF/ICSI whole thing.

@PMAmostofthetime @Zedann @ChristmasJumpers @Icamehere4love How are you guys getting on?

I'm now 4dp5dt. I know I shouldn't have tested but I did one this morning. I didn't think anything had happened so I was about to lob it in the bin and just assume that the trigger shock is now out of my system. I then saw the faintest of faint lines. I'm not sure if it's still traces of my trigger shot (I had that 11 days ago) as it takes 10 - 14 days to leave your body, or if it's a very, very early BFP.

I actually feel quite calm about it now. As I feel like I have a plan - I shall test every day and see if the line gets darker. If not, at least I'll be pretty certain it hasn't worked, the uncertainty will end, and i can take some time out before thinking about going again.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend :) x

@RoseWrites hopefully the trigger is all out of your system now and it's good news!! I'm really toying with how long I'll be able to hold out once we've transferred, I think I'll drive myself mad either way!

We've had a bit of a journey. 72 follicles (that they could see) so I was super uncomfortable towards the end. We got 25 eggs, then only 7 fertilised. The 5 day wait was torture as they said the 7 embryos looked poor quality from the start and not to expect any to survive to blast. Worst 5 days of my life, I was unlucky and in tons of pain and struggling to walk, sleep and breathe for a few days post collection too.

In the end we got one for freezing which is a relief but terrifying!!! I've just stopped norethisterone last night to induce another bleed so I can start a medicated FET. All being well I should have a transfer in around 3 weeks time 😊

@Rtmhwales that's incredible! And at least two really good blasts out of many 😁 I didn't know you could test just a few. We didn't test ours as the clinic don't recommend it at my age and with no particular reason to expect issues.

@Zedann massive congratulations!!! I hope these next 5 days fly by for you and your scan goes well 🥰