IVF Oct/Nov

[NorthernDuckling]

I can’t see a thread for anyone doing egg collection early November so thought I’d start one.
had my nurses appointment earlier this week to set out my plan with EC on 7/11 - eek. It’s my first NHS round (we were going to do it in April but I didn’t feel ready).
I was due to start period yesterday but it hasn’t happened and hoping it starts today, the clinic said there was some wiggle room but not much. Why is it I can usually predict it to the hour and when you need it to start it doesn’t 🤯
I would love to chat to anyone else with EC early Nov as DH is already fed up of me talking about it - it’s going to be a long 6 weeks!

@nizo1245 hi and welcome! I have had the same re work I only started my new job 3 months ago but have luckily just passed probation! For scans/blood tests I've been doing them super early before work and transfer I have taken annual leave. Last time when I was having egg collection I told my old work I had to have a cyst removed and would need time off to recover and follow up appointments. I feel like you def don't need to say anything usually the doctors are happy to write you a note! Hope your cycle goes well. I just started progestrone and it's also giving me headaches and tummy pains 😞

@nizo1245 welcome. Wishing you all the best for this journey. As @NS05 said, there are ways around the work issue. Personally ive told work, but my manager is very understanding and no-one else at work knows. I havent started my medication yet, but Buserelin is on there.

@TheRosePetals aww so sorry to hear about your experience with the injection. How are you feeling now? Hope you feel better soon. What's the next stage for you now?

@Thelotusflower , glad to hear that you looked into the exercise thing. Sometimes you worry about giving out wrong information on these forums.
My scan has gone well thanks. Next one is 28th. I have 22 and 18 follicles due to PCOS but they said that they don't want them all to grow cause it will be poor results then. Was scheduled for EC on 31st but they said with me being on a low dose and risk of hyper stimulation I might have to keep going on the low dose a bit longer.

@nizo1245 welcome to the group. I'm not on Buserelin. But I've started having the same symptoms on mine. I woke up on Sunday Morning with a bad headache like a hangover and it's been like that most mornings. My friend who's been through IVF said to drink lots and lots of water.
The injections seems to be getting more painful as well. I'm now on two each morning.

I've told work so it's been easy for me to adjust my working times around appointments. Taking day off for EC though.

Have a lovely day to you all ladies and looking forward to hearing more updates

Hey everyone hope your all ok,
I had my treatment plan today and start my meds for my frozen transfer on the 9th November providing my first day of cycle starts! My transfer then will be the end of November!

start on 2 tabs then 3 then 4 a day!
just want it to start now I’ve never been so excited to start a period it’s just so exciting but daunting at the same time

hope your all looking after your selves
good luck ❤️

@Ks04 How exciting. It is good when treatment can finally begin.

Looking forward to hearing some good news on here from lots of you.

@Ks04 aww it's great that you now have your treatment plan and dates. That's very exciting. Keep us posted.

@Thelotusflower - not long to go for you now. This time next week you would have started

Hi everyone, I finished the tablets and the bleed turned up so on track to start injections on Thursday - eek, EC still pencilled for 7/11, I’ve booked 7/11-11/11 off work which will hopefully cover EC.

Im just going to try to juggle work for scans, I have 16 employees and we are really busy and there is now way I’m going to tell them, I’ll probably just put in a few “meetings”. I don’t want everyone panicking thinking what will happen to the business/their jobs etc if it works. I also don’t want all the sympathy if it doesn’t work.

The only person who knows is my mum and only because DH told her as she kept on about grandchildren - he just turned round and said we’d been trying for almost 10 years and basically STFU because it’s upsetting and frustrating - it’s not been discussed since then.

Good morning everyone,

@BebeBelle - the rest of the injections so far have been fine, thank you! Think it hit a nerve or something 🤯

@NorthernDuckling - pleased to hear that your bleed turned up on track! It's so difficult with work - can you schedule in private appointments? I have spoken to my manager about it and she's been really supportive but I know it's v different when you have employees relying on you! I've told family and friends because they know we have been trying so long.

@nizo1245 welcome to the group! 🥰

• seems like we are all on a similar track! Like @Thelotusflower said, fingers crossed for some positive outcomes soon!!

@BebeBelle sorry forgot to say on last post 🤣 I've got one more day just with Gonal F, then a tracking appointment tomorrow and if all goes well I start Certrotide injections as well as the Gonal F - then potentially EC 4/11 (so trigger night before!).

How is everything going for you? Have you started injections yet?? I've found that I've had a few headaches so trying to keep fluids up to help!

Apologies for third post 🤣 just wondering if there's like a group chat or messenger / instagram chat for support with our journeys / or if not, should one be made? What do we all think? ☺️

Hi ladies, hope you are all ok.

@NorthernDuckling hope your injections go well tomorrow. It's good that your bleed showed up well on time.

@TheRosePetals glad to hear theatre you've been ok with the rest of the injections.
4th November is not far at all. Fingers crossed for you. Are you on a long or short cycle?
Yes I've started my injections from 20th. So day 7 today. Had day 6 scan, I spent all day yesterday worrying about the size of the follicles being too small for day 6. I thought they would adjust my dose or something. Spoke to the nurse today who said they should grow a bit more by my next scan on Friday. The lady who did my scan left me feeling a bit worried. Most forums people aim for 14mm+ at time of trigger. Here is to praying that it all catches up.
I've started having headaches as well and like you I'm drinking lots of water and herbal tea and that's helping a bit.

I don't know if there is any other group other than this chat here. Im helpless with social media so I can't offer to create one and I will be having surgery after EV so not sure how behind I'm going to be. It's a good idea though. If people are up for it would you create one?

Question for all of you ladies:
Im a hot water bottle addict- what are you all doing re:any form of heat near belly including hot water bottles?

Hello!

It sounds like lots of you are well on your way in regards to stims and drugs. This is my third round so an old hand at the old injections and side effects. Drinking loads of water, getting fresh air and taking paracetamol if you need it is the besdt way around it. I was told by the nurse that if it's safe to take in pregnancy then it's safe to take during IVF (even though the last thing you want to do is pump yourself with even more drugs!!) I was really nauseous last time round and the nurse told me this at the end of my stims when I could have taken anti nausea tablets all along!!

We could set up a WhatsApp chat if people wanted too? I'm happy to set it up. Would that be helpful for everyone? Not everyone is on social media and WhatsApp is more private and immediate for most anyway?

Hi everyone, I’m starting my down regulation this weekend and then stims mid November, egg collection hopefully end of November (if everything went perfectly to plan!) Please can I join the thread?

We got pregnant really quickly when we started trying 2.5 years ago and then miscarried at 10 weeks. No pregnancy since then and have been told MFI. So eager to finally get started with this cycle of ICSI.

just wondering did you guys swab your tummy with an alcohol wipe before injecting? Just wondering if I need to buy some! And after you’ve started a bottle of buserelin can you travel without it spilling?! Doesn’t seem to have a lid and I’m going away overnight so just wondering how that’ll work… so sorry these seem like really silly questions!

sending you all positive and hopeful thoughts for the different stages you are all at.

Oh and @BebeBelle im also addicted to hot water bottles! I’ve heard it’s good to keep feet and stomach warm through this process (especially if working from home/sitting still in a very cold house like me!) Not sure it’ll all make any difference but I was planning on carrying on with this throughout the cycle because I love my hot water bottle, have you heard it’s bad for any reason?

Agree for keeping feet and belly warm for sure! I did that last time and worked so will be doing it again! I have my transfer tomorrow eek- hope everyone is doing well!

Hi all,

Yes I think a WhatsApp group is a good idea @SportyAmy ☺️

Good luck with your transfer tomorrow @NS05!! You will have to let us know how it goes!

@BebeBelle I've used hot water bottles and a wheat grain bag on my stomach when I had a particularly bad injection - it helped so much! I think I'm on a short cycle but I'm not hundred percent sure 😂 also wishing you luck for tomorrow's scan ✨

Just an update - had my down reg tracking scan today. So far both ovaries are producing follicles and there's a good amount from the left and right that are over 10mm. I start Cetrotide tomorrow in the mornings and will continue with Gonal F in the evenings. Two scans next week and potential EC next Friday!

Welcome to the thread! I personally don't use alcohol wipes but I clean my stomach with warm water and soap before each injection and my nurse told me that it helps to soften the skin, too.

Ah so exciting @TheRosePetals that's not long at all!!! Thank you I'm quite nervous but just going to try and stay calm! X

@NS05 just a quick message to say good luck for tomorrow!

@TheRosePetals glad your scan went well. EC will be here in no time. Exciting!

@RainbowRoad44 welcome. I will be starting down regging wed next week, so we will be quite similar in dates. although im thinking my EC will be early december. Sorry to hear of your earlier miscarriage. Hope and pray this goes well for you.

Hello everyone that’s new to the thread!

sorry I’ve been awol, not much going on here! I did my first overleap injection yesterday, I have my 7 day scan booked in for 8am on 2/11 so should be able to get into work on time which eases the stress quite a bit. Has anyone got any days booked off after EC and if so how many? I’m not sure how much time it will take to recover I’ve provisionally booked 3 days off (expected day and 2 days after) fingers crossed it isn’t delayed!

@NorthernDuckling I did my first ovaleap injection yesterday too! My next scan is booked for Tuesday 1st Nov which will be day 6 of stims.
I haven't even thought about planned time off after EC, the clinic haven't given me a provisional date and are only giving dates 1 scan at a time.
When is your expected EC date?

I'm a bit worried about follicle numbers, they only found 2 on each side at my scan yesterday. Hoping more show up as the stims start kicking in!

Hi ladies just a quick update from me.

Just had my day 9 scan. Not looking very good for me I'm afraid. On day 6 scan I was told I had 22 and 18 follicles. I thought it was too much and the size was concerning to me as well as OHSS concern.

Today scan showed 22 and 29 follicles. Size still not good. Mostly 6mm and 7mm. The largest is 9mm. EC was booked in for Monday 31st but that's not going ahead now. They have put me on more Menopur without increasing dose cause of OHSS risk with PCOS.
Not much hope that there will be significant growth between today and Monday. I read somewhere that average growth is 1.5 to 2mm per day. She said if no improvements they will have to cancel the cycle so I'm just preparing for that now. I was sort of expecting not so great news going in but hearing it was so disappointing and glad my husband was there cause he managed to ask some good questions as I was just too upset to even talk. Still having to pay for more prescriptions and do the injections knowing that it may not come to anything also isn't the best.

@RainbowRoad44 my pack turned up without the alcohol wipes and when I rang them about it they said I'm better of just cleaning with warm water as the alcohol dries the skin.

@TheRosePetals sounds like it's moving in the right direction for you with the scans. Fingers crossed there is some positive news on the group.

@NorthernDuckling aww that's good news. Hope all goes well with the scan. I had only booked the EC day off but now need to cancel it. From the Forums some people were ok with just 1 day but those with OHSS needed more.

@nizo1245 hope it all goes well for you. I think the total of 4 is an alright starting point cause at times they get more than one egg per follicle.
This process is very stressful. It's either you worry about having not enough follicles or too many. With PCOS I knew there was a risk of getting too many follicles but not as bad as I got. I think in your situation you will likely have better quality than me who has the quantity rather than quality.
I will keep an eye out for your updates but like they say, you just need 1 good one and without the overcrowding you likely have a better chance. Fingers crossed for you and the rest of you ladies. I will let you know how my scan goes on Monday.

Aww @BebeBelle thats disappointing for news. I hope you can process, look after yourself and take the supoort from your husband. Fingers crossed that Mondays scan goes well.

@NorthernDuckling and @nizo1245 good luck with your upcoming scans. Another step closer.

Everyone else- thinking of you all.

Aww @BebeBelle sorry to hear I have pcos too and I know how stressful it can be I had delays the first time around with my transfer but in the end had lots of embryos so hope you will too!

Thanks for the well wishes @Thelotusflower one embryo safely on board 🙏 it was hatching which they said is a good thing.

Hope everyone else is doing well and has a lovely weekend! X

@NS05 oh wow! 🙏🙏 Hope it sticks.