IVF warriors - journey continues

[Tinkerbell098]

Have created this as our old one has maxed out. Let's continue to support each other in this challenging journey of IVF.

@Imisscoffee2021
@Decaffe
@seekingbabyk
@MinBins
@acaciabluebell
@MammyandAva
@Spin101
@1stcycle

@seekingbabyk I can relate to the rush and obligatory requests and trips. It can sometimes takes the fun out of things a teensy bit. Hope you're still able to get lots of festive fun and rest in over the next few weeks! Also totally enjoy the cakes and biscuits - it's what the holidays are for! 😂🙌🏼

Hope you're feeling better jet lag and covid don't sound fun at all.

Ah the mini cottage holiday sounds lovely and a nice little retreat after your transfer! @Tinkerbell098

I'm kind of okay with the stims so far, I'm feeling a bit bloated and swollen. But otherwise okay, think I'm over the worst of what I had before.

Also maybe I'm starting to get nervous about egg collection and what it'll entail and I'm thinking - so what if I stim for a little longer. 😂🙈

Hope you have a lovely Christmas @Honeybunie - the break to see family in Germany sounds fab! And the mulled wine 🍷 😍

I remember visiting Berlin near Christmas time and loved the festive feel of the Christmas markets and mulled wine!

P.S I feel you on the cold! 🥶 I have a 8am drive to the scan tomorrow morning and I think it's supposed to be snowing up here. We've just had frost so far.

@MinBins hope your scan went ok. DId they confirm when EC would be?

Thanks @Tinkerbell098 it went okay. I had one on Sunday and one today. They say I have good numbers (especially compared to last time). Think they're waiting for them to grow some more so they've got me on stims for two more days.

My EC is expected for Friday, and I have another scan on Wednesday and blood test to check my oestrogen levels.

I had some random questions that I've asked clinic (also if anyone here could answer id be totes grateful!)

• is it usual to have bloods to check oestrogen levels before EC? Think I'm just hoping it all goes ok for this next phase!

• I wonder if the number of eggs they count now are the number they go on to collect?

🙏🏼🙏🏼

Are you ready for your transfer day @Tinkerbell098? How are you feeling? Hope you've had a nice relaxed time in the run up to it!

@MinBins ah great you got a EC date now and great you’ve got good numbers. I had a blood test on day 5 of stims to adjust the stims dose if necessary but they didn’t scan me until day 10 so thought that’s why. Not sure if others have had bloods before EC. I think the number of follicles they count before EC above a certain size gives them a rough idea about how many they’d collect, but not every follicle will have an egg, and not every egg collected would be mature. Think roughly it’s about 80%. Obviously depends on person to person and cycle to cycle. I had 8 follies above the threshold (above 16 on trigger day) and they collected 5 mature. So it depends. Good luck for next scan!

@MinBins im feeling alright. Just so busy at work as I’m taking two days off this week so have to get everything finished before we break for Christmas. I’ve got Wednesday off so I can relax and get things sorted so hopefully it’ll work out that way.

Ah that's helpful to know, thank you! Hope you're able to wind down for the work to finish. I took a couple of weeks off as leave in the run up to Christmas and the work wrapping up was stress in itself.

Good luck for Thursday! I'll keep my fingers crossed for us both! 🤞🏼

@Tinkerbell098 forgot to tag 🙈

Hi all, I need to catch up on messages, I have been so busy!

It looks like we’re doing a freeze all egg collection cycle in the new year. My consultant wants me to have a recurrent implantation failure blood screen before we actually do any transfers; the cost of which is nearly £1,000. Perfect timing just before Christmas and a big birthday! I am tempted to see whether we actually get any embryos to freeze before shelling out? I just wondered if anyone else had done the tests? Apparently they look at immunes and clotting?

The last few days have been upsetting. In my PDR at work my manager decided to kick things off by asking me what my “plan B” was if IVF didn’t work. It was excruciating. She then went on to ask me if “adoption was my plan B?” I am not sure whether I was most upset by the insensitivity or the inappropriateness. Absolutely awful. The fact of the matter is I haven’t even allowed myself to think that far because it’s too painful. I really resent the fact that I was asked to do so in a bloody work meeting. Still haven’t decided what I’m going to do about it.

Think about you all a lot 🤍

@MinBins glad the scan went well and that you have a good number of follicles yay 😃and egg collection on Friday yay. Hope you're not feeling to uncomfortable and bloated. interesting that they check your estrogen levels! I wonder if this is to make sure that you have enough estrogen to thicken the lining nicely? Did they say why? I guess you can ask next time and fill us in :) I guess there is a chance that the number increases slightly still by Friday and then yes about 80% of what they collect should be okay.
Yes Berlin is exactly where we are going. We're off tomorrow. Just enjoying my days off and trying to get organised. I'm a late packer...
@Tinkerbell098 not long now until you're finished in work :) sounds stressful at your end, but maybe it takes your mind off the transfer a bit. i find work distraction can help to pass the time and not think about stuff too much. but yes will be nice to be off for Christmas and transfer day is nearly here :)
@Decaffe interesting.. how many transfers have you had by now without any luck? that is very expensive, but might we worth it? I've not heard of it yet no.
Wow your boss sounds like an absolute ...... I am pretty sure what she asked is unlawful. I watched those bloody anti discrimination training videos in work and I'm pretty sure they're not allowed to ask you anything like that. You can sue them for that. She probably caught you completely off guard and you probably didn't even know what to say. How disgusting. I'm sure you don't have to answer any such questions. But I guess in that moment you're just baffled. how despicable. That's the last thing you need. Talking private matters through with your bloody boss. What a b....

@Decaffe positive about the egg collection cycle being in the New Year.

My personal feelings around the test is that if it identifies an underlying element that can be improved for the next transfer, it would be worth it and may end up saving in the long term if that's the case. 1k is a lot for a blood test, so I can understand the caution before taking the step. Is there any alternative way you can get the test?

Sorry about your manager being intrusive and out of line with their questions. I do think it's well inappropriate. How insensitive of them. Sometimes when people put you on the spot like that, it's such a shock that we're often too polite / don't end up saying what we really feel. Definitely send them feedback or talk to them about it.

Thanks @Honeybunie - so their response was that because I've responded well to the medication, they wanted to check it's not too high and at a good range.

My lining was 12mm, it was 9mm at the last round at this stage of the cycle. I feel so bloated and swollen there, fingers crossed not long to go now.

What's the fun if there's no last minute adrenaline to fuel the holiday packing? 😂❤️

@MinBins oh that’s very good that they’re checking all of that 😃 wow 12mm lining is fantastic 😃 (I defo need to ask my clinic to get mine up to that level from my meagre 7mm 🙈)
haha 😂 yeah as long as everything is washed I’ll just throw things in and that’s it. Master packer hehe. My mother in law to be always looks at me in dread and disbelief when she asks if I’ve already packed (like days before) and I reply ‘no’ 😂 it’s so funny

@MinBins glad everything is moving along for you! I didn't have bloods before EC and I think it was around 75% eggs taken from number of follicles. I really feel for you now - that last few days before collection is so uncomfortable and you end up so fed up and it's lonely. Are you planning on going straight in for a transfer? Sorry if you have told us that already!

@Decaffe oh that's awful- why does it matter to them? Are they wondering if you'll have time off work, etc? Literally should make no difference at all I'm shocked that they asked that and not surprised you are upset! Try to draw a line and not think about it now because it'll ruin your Christmas! I think just plan to do the collection and freeze all and then look at what tests you need. You can spread the costs out then when you're thinking about transferring or see if nhs would do that test for you?

@Honeybunie I hope you have an amazing trip! Berlin at Christmas will be amazing!

@Imisscoffee2021 how you feeling now? I hope your flu has gone!

@Tinkerbell098 I think it's your transfer tomorrow so keeping everything crossed for you and sending lots of baby dust your way!

Thanks @seekingbabyk

I'm going for a scan this morning before they advise on EC. You're spot on, i was totally fed up by last night 😅 and would like to have some normalcy back. It's lonely too, you're right.

Im getting nervous about EC because I feel I'm going in for the first time and my brain is thinking worse case pain scenario. Gah! We go through so much. But it'll be worth it in the long run 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

How are you? Hope the week is going ok!

@MinBins I get being nervous - it's hard not to be! But ultimately means the healing can start! Both times I had had EC I thought afterwards why did I get so stressed about it! You'll be fine and you have the Christmas break to heal and recover.

I'm good thanks just running round trying to get stuff sorted for Christmas. Because I was ill last week I have a backlog of work too so feeling quite stressed but it'll be nice to have some time over the Xmas break to chill and regroup. Still feeling crap from no exercise, eating poorly and being stressed but it is my mission after Christmas to be back to feeling my best and get healthier!

Thanks @seekingbabyk - wise words! I'm going to try and stay chill in the run up to it.

Had my scan this morning and trigger is today. They're letting me know my estrogen levels and if there's a high risk of OHSS, then it'll be a freeze all this time round. Will find out later today.

Hope you're able to relax and enjoy Christmas - totally enjoy all of the food. New Year will be a great time to reset and be back to being healthier.

@MinBins wow that's exciting to trigger today! What time is your EC on Friday?

I had an email from the clinic today about what would happen if one of us dies. We originally decided that the other would have the embryos to use but apparently there's a new law/case where I then have to register as a donor and have £3500 worth of tests to be able to give hubby the embryos if I died. The other way would be fine as they are my eggs. We have now opted out of him getting them just because of the expense but how ridiculous that he couldn't use them with a surrogate if he wanted to!

Thanks @seekingbabyk it's at 12pm, trigger shot tonight at 2.30am ooff! They said estrogen levels are okay so it'll be both shots and possible transfer this cycle if there's embryos at the end of it.

I feel nauseous and slight temps this afternoon, took a long nap and it helped. Think just took it's toll can't wait for the EC to be done now!

I was told about this when I began IVF, think on my first consultation with nurse when I filled forms. They told me about the cost but very quickly and mentioned they could revisit later if needed. I agree it's so much extra, and a real shame.

@MinBins sorry you're feeling a bit rough. That last bit really is a slog isn't it! Wow 2.30am - what a time! Keeping everything crossed for you that you can transfer this cycle too. So if you'd EC is Friday that would put your possible transfer on 29th is that right? Still time to squeeze in getting pregnant this year!x

@MinBins isn't the trigger 36 hours before? Or is it different if it's a different trigger?

@MinBins happy trigger day! I was so nervous going into EC too but it was totally fine. I was asleep for the whole thing. Keep drinking plenty of fluids after and get some rest. I think i slept most of the afternoon that day. Take it easy X

@seekingbabyk thanks, yes it is tomorrow. Had a very busy day today. Basically a lot of cleaning, grocery shopping and cooked three dinners so I won’t have to for the next few days. Managed to squeeze in a swim and a jacuzzi after though so hopefully can have a relaxing night. Ah I can imagine how busy you must be with the backlog after being ill and having to host. Hope it all goes ok and you can have a relaxing time after. Yes we were also told about that new regulation on EC day out of all the days. We had to change our consent forms that day before I went into theatre as obviously I was too late to get all these tests done and sign other forms etc. we were a bit annoyed by the timing but I don’t think it was their fault. I think it had just changed that week or something like that.

@Tinkerbell098 awwww happy transfer day tomorrow! How exciting! How are you feeling?