IVF stims Oct, egg collection Nov

[PimlicoMum4]

Hello, wondering if anyone else is on a similar IVF timeline. I’m on short cycle and started stims 20th October. I’m on meriofert 225, which doesn’t seem to be a common drug. I’m with the lister hospital in London as a private patient. We have a 2 year old (conceived naturally) but need fertility treatment because my husband had cancer last year and the chemo damaged his sperm. Luckily we froze sperm in advance. I was thinking treatment would be simple as I’m youngish (32) and have no know issues. But the pre tests already showed polyps and thyroid issues so had delays sorting them and now I’m getting so nervous. We haven’t told many people we need ivf so I’m also nervous that friends will be assuming I’m pregnant as I’m not drinking and likely to get more and more bloated! Would love to chat with people at similar stage.

@PimlicoMum4 I hope the thyroid and polyps are now sorted. Could you tell your friends you’re doing dry October/November? I know it’s easier said than done, but finding ways to relax is so important to help with the nerves.

I’m on my first cycle of IVF, been on stims for a week now. I’m on 150IU menopur. I feel there are quite a few different stims that hopefully all do the same thing!

There’s a thread called ‘IVF cycle Sept/Oct 2022‘ which a few others are on if you wanted to join.

I’ve been saying sober October but already had someone raise an eyebrow and say ‘oh really’. Clearly I’m too much of a boozer normally! How are you finding the stims? Any side effects? I have first scan (since baseline) tomorrow

I wish people would keep those ‘oh really’ comments to themselves. Even if they suspect you’re pregnant, it would be nice if they just waited for you to share!

I’ve got my first scan since baseline tomorrow too. I’m on the NHS for this cycle so not sure if that’s why my first scan isn’t until day 8 of stims. I’ve had twinges in my lower abdomen but been feeling ok otherwise. How about yourself? How have you found the injections?

Good luck with the scan. I have to mix the meriofert myself for each jab, which is fiddly and a faff. But the actual injecting bit is fine - no bruises yet. And no symptoms either.

Hi,
I'm on down regulation injections at the moment and due to start stims this week.

Not sure which medication they're planning for me yet but a bit nervous as I'll be doing 2 injections per day.

I haven't told my boss about it and don't intend to so my biggest worry at the moment is managing time off without causing a stir. My absolute worst nightmare is people assuming I'm pregnant.

How have you found the injections so far?

@PimlicoMum4 Thank you! They said my follicles are responding. The thing that baffles me is not knowing if the response is sufficient. I thought they might do bloods, but they didn’t, perhaps because it doesn’t look like I am at risk of OHSS. How did your scan go? Luckily, I haven’t had any bruises either. This morning’s fyremadel was a bit sore for longer than usual but seemed fine after a bit.

@nizo1245 are your injections stims or is one to prevent you from ovulating? I hope you’re able to manage the time off work. If not, I hope you can do them at work. I’ve found them ok so far. I feel a few twinges but I am on day 8 of stims now, so that could be why.

@Spin101 i had the same frustration with the scan today. Said lining looks good and could see 8 follicles but no sense of how many there ‘should’ be. They did take my blood but said I would only get a call if problems. Otherwise I’m adding second injection (fyremadel) from tomorrow and going back for scans on Wednesday and Friday. Was hoping for a sense of when egg collection may be, but guess too early. When’s your next scan?

@nizo1245 hey! The injections have been no problem, after 6 days of 1 and about to go up to two a day. Hiding it from work is so tricky, especially as I’ve found some scans can take ages as have to go back and wait for nurse to take bloods. Can you try to wfh at all? I didn’t down regulate as on short protocol but have heard that is the worst bit, so hopefully the rest will be simple

@PimlicoMum4 I have PCOS so had more than 10 in each ovary. 4 are above 12mm but I honestly don’t know if that’s good or not. I would have appreciated a bit of an explanation. My EC is tentative for Friday but next scan on Wednesday will confirm that. One of the nurses said to me if there are a few that are catching up to 17mm they might stim for a few more days to allow them to with the hope of getting more eggs. My clinic isn’t open on the weekend so I’m not sure they will push it to Monday. Oh and they said my lining was on the thin side, which has always been the case

@PimlicoMum4 hello! We're just on our first cycle of mild IVF. I started Bemfola last Thursday evening and had our first scan today. Started Cetrotide when we got home and to continue with that in the morning and Bemfola at night. 2 of the follicles are at 13mm and 6 or 7 are about 10mm. There's about 6-7 more but they're quite far behind apparently. They said the plan is to get the middle ones to catch up with the front-runners. Got another scan booked on Wednesday but they tentatively said it would probably be Monday (31st) for EC.

@Spin101 surely the more the better? But yeah a cheat sheet or just some round guidance on what size they’re meant to be would be so helpful. I’m going to write down a list of questions for next appointment!

@maybebaby2023 hey! We’re exactly the same timing - different drugs though. Also have my next scan weds. Wishing you luck!

@PimlicoMum4 i had questions ready to ask but wasn’t given the opportunity to ask them. I’m going to make sure I ask them all tomorrow! I also wonder if my dosage should be increased for the last few days but it will he too late my tomorrow if EC will still be on Friday

@Spin101 they're to stop me ovulating at the moment. Starting stims on Thursday so it'll be 2 a day from then.
I haven't done any of the injections myself yet, my husband has been doing them so far as I hate needles. I know they're not painful but the thought of having to actually inject myself is just a bit too much 🙈

@PimlicoMum4 sadly working from home isn't much of an option for me as my job involves a lot of on-site meetings. People at work love a good gossip so my absolute worst nightmare is becoming the subject of everyone's speculation. I have a generic letter from the hospital to say I'll have lots of appointments, but still really worried about being asked awkward questions.

@PimlicoMum4 wishing you luck too! Fingers crossed for a good result tomorrow and we might have a better idea of when the next steps will be happening 🤗

@nizo1245 Good luck with your cycle! I haven’t done any of mine either 🙈 My husband has done all of them!

urgh so fyremadel is def worse than my other jab. Needle itself isn’t too bad (I’m fine with needles and jab myself) but it stings so long after and is all red around injection site. Anyone else have this?

@PimlicoMum4 Agh that’s rubbish. I started Cetrotide yesterday morning… it felt nippy going in and had slight red rash immediately after but then it was fine. This morning’s was much better. I have heard of people describing it to jaggy nettles being rubbed over your tummy so I think what you’re describing is normal 😩

@maybebaby2023 ah good to know it’s normal at least, but yeah felt like a wasp sting. Good luck with your scan tomorrow; hope the follicles have caught up!

@PimlicoMum4 i have the same with fyremadel. It stings post injection and remains red around the injection site for up to an hour. Hope your scan goes well today!

still 8 follicles, which google says is the lowest limit for it being worth egg collection at my age, tho sonographer seems more chill about it. Feeling really disappointed as was hoping this round would give us a chance to maximise embryos. I figured that transfer and likelihood of it sticking is basically just a gamble but had assumed getting the eggs would be simple as age and amh levels all good - and was risk of overstimulation. Apparently egg collection likely around Tuesday.

@PimlicoMum4 i wouldn’t be too disheartened. My AFC is 19 but only 7-9 look like they’re going to amount to anything. Here’s a pic of the progress since Monday. The left (beige) is definitely the harder working of the two. I’ve to up the dose ever so slightly to try and push them up to the line a bit and then rescan Friday

@PimlicoMum4 I second @maybebaby2023. I had my day 10 scan today and approx 33% of AFC might mature. EC likely to be Friday but I’m waiting for the nurse to call me with results of my bloods.

Hi, reassuring to hear people getting on ok with jabs - I’ve got my baseline scan and will start with stims tomorrow. It’s a few years since my last round of ivf, trying for a second.

Last time I was so focused on the process and this time I’ve been burying my head in the sand that we’re starting again, I’m really grateful to have a reminder of what normal responses might look like, and the doubts and questions that come up.

@PimlicoMum4, sometimes quantity comes at expense of quality, hopefully you’ve got some good ones in there x

Thanks @Spin101 & @maybebaby2023 , sounds like you’re both progressing well. I feel more chilled now - was v emotional at the scan but I think it’s the hormones as well.

welcome @Lem44 and good luck , I’ve also been in total denial about treatment and buried my head in the sand until the scans started. Now I’m overcompensating with lots of googling and second guessing my drs 🤦🏼‍♀️

@PimlicoMum4 when’s your next scan, Friday?

@maybebaby2023 yep scan tomorrow, can’t see that there will suddenly be more follicles but am hoping for quality over quantity now.

just did acupuncture because I wanted to feel like I was doing something productive. No idea if I believe in it, and didn’t really help with the sense of feeling like a pin cushion!

hope everyone is doing okay xx