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

@Tinkerbell098 I also keep everything crossed for you today 🤞🤞 very promising test yesterday as well! Look forward to hear your news today 😃

@Imisscoffee2021 I hope the UTI has eased off by now. Must be even more unpleasant when pregnant 🙈🙈

@Spin101 no worries about the l arginine 😄 I didn’t ask myself when I was there last week 😄 I might just ask when the time comes whether they’d mind me taking it 😊 I don’t actually know if I had a full assessment of my bloods. I had a blood test on cycle day 21 as an initial assessment test before starting this whole journey. Not sure if that’s the one 🤔 I’m now also officially released from nhs funding I think after our two attempts. although nobody has mentioned my future funding yet.
At which points did you guys on private funding have to make your first payment? My consultant didn’t say anything about it but then I thought she is clearly on the medical side of things and not looking at the finances..

thank you all so much for your vitamin and supplements tips. I might have to have a look at that book too. I’ve just ordered a ton of stuff and hope it’s right. I also find it very confusing when there is different forms of things 🙈 I noticed a few of you take solgar supplements. I assume this must be a really good brand? So I wonder if the stuff I ordered from Amazon is equally good or if there are different levels of quality with these products?
and yes it does get expensive doesn’t it. But then I thought we have three more months to save more before splashing out on the two cycle package so May as we’ll spend some dollar on supplements in the meantime that will help 😊
And yes I also need to get myself back to the gym. It’s all about having a routine isn’t it. Before covid I stopped at the gym on my way home from work. Now working from home I don’t leave the house 😬 but yeah getting fit is also my main aim now. Just need to book myself to onto some classes. I like spinning, fiit and mainly yoga 🧘‍♀️ I just don’t do it regularly enough.
i did acupuncture for my first transfer at the clinic. Right before and after! It was very pleasant in terms of being totally relaxed! And I swear it helped me sleep like a baby for a week after. I was totally chilled 😎

Wow @Tinkerbell098 that is fabulous news 👏👏
haha @seekingbabyk it may well be two 😂
i guess just enjoy the time without symptoms @Tinkerbell098 ! I’m sure they’ll kick in soon enough 😄

@seekingbabyk @Honeybunie thanks both. That was my initial reaction as well! I've always wanted twins to be honest!

@Honeybunie yes, most of the supplements I used were Solgar brand, but I'm sure there isn't too much difference in the brands. Used to spend loads on supplements, and no idea if any of it did any good, just needed to do anything I can to help. Sorry can't comment on private funding as mine was NHS. It's good you have a plan for the next few months to get fit. It will make you feel better. I miss being active. I have asked the clinic if I can start swimming again and they said to wait until the scan. So need to find another way of staying active. It's hard as I too work from home. The only time I go out is to take the dog out.

Omg @Tinkerbell098 that's an amazing number!and yeah maybe there's double trouble in there! Can't wait to hear about your first scan :)

Little update from me too girls. So the nurse just called back after speaking to consultant and I mentioned supplements and she had put together a list for me too. They recommend 8 weeks of these before egg collection so we will put the next round off for a couple of months. Might end up cycle buddies @Honeybunie

They have suggested DHEA 75mg/day and CO-Q10 600mg/day just waiting to hear back on vitamins.

Our clinic is amazing but it's so bloody annoying that you have to specifically ask questions about things like this rather than it just being suggested from day 1. It's making me think would we have had a better result the first two rounds if we had been told to take all of this from day 1!

@Tinkerbell098 I would love twins too! Would definitely transfer two if they'd let me x

Aaawww wouldn't it be amazing if it was twins @Tinkerbell098 😊
I'm sure the supplements would have helped to a certain degree. I mean looking at the evidence I'd say they have. I didn't take many on a regular basis and I haven't had a slither of success yet. You guys have been on it for a long time and it looks very much like it's paying off 😍and wow it would just be amazing if you were successful on the NHS funding 😃Aw it's a great you have a dog too so you need to leave the house for a walks hehe. OH and I try go for a walk every day, but then I just end up working and he has even started to go without me 😕i really need to prioritise myself more and not work.. Yeah my gut feeling would also be to stay away from any pools at any critical stages at this journey. I had a thrush once after staying in the jacuzzi at the local gym too long. completely changed the way at look at these things now 😷

@seekingbabyk oh wow we're in the same boat 😊I'll have to check what DHEA is. Let me know what they say about the dosages for the vits please.

I'm currenlty waiting for my period to appear. I think the FET meds in the cycle before have messed up my body a bit. My temp has been all over the shop this cycle and it has been unusally low in the luteral phrase. Might not have produced enough progestoron myself after last cycle's meds. So I'm waiting.. I'd like to know so I can make a prognosis of when I could start in May or June. It's so bloody annoying not being able to plan things in the future isn't it @Spin101 because you just don't know how things pan out. I'm sure you can travel in the car after the transfer tho. I took it really early after my transfer - I may as well have sat in a car for hours lol.

My preference would not be twins lol. mind you, if it was a boy and a girl maybe as then you have one of each gender in one go 😀

@Imisscoffee2021 thanks :) now I am panicking again thinking what if the high hCG is due to something else like a molar pregnancy? Oh dear, I should stay away from google and focus on the positives.

@seekingbabyk I would definitely transfer two if they let me too! Ah it's great your clinic is so helpful. It makes sense to try some supplements before your next round, it will be worth it in the long run.

@Honeybunie I think IVF cycles can mess up the natural cycles, but hopefully you can get your cycles back fairly soon. Did you do any OPKs by any chance as that would give you some idea when you'd get your AF.

@Honeybunie so they just said take a preconception tablet. Apparently if you increase from those amounts it can be detrimental so I'm actually going to just take the pregnacare one a day, DHEA and COQ10

The said DHEA is only usually recommended in low ovarian reserve but beca my two collections have only led to 3 blasts, they recommend it for me. She sent me a study link -

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3112409/

It sounds really good and it'll be good to see the difference it makes on my next round.

Anyway now I have 8-10 weeks to kill I guess I'll get back to looking at holidays 🤷🏼‍♀️

Eek such good news @Tinkerbell098 🎉🎉🎉

@Tinkerbell098 don't worry too much, I know exactly how you feel and Google daily, every twinge!! Doesn't help. You should be able to get a private scan soon with that hcg, there'll definitely be something to see!

@Tinkerbell098 that’s amazing news!!! 🥰🥰 Google really can be your worst enemy at times!

@Honeybunie I think other supplement brands will be perfectly fine provided they have good reviews etc. Definitely prioritise yourself! I try to get a walk in in the mornings. That way being tired isn’t an excuse. I’m starting my weekly yoga class too after the Christmas break. I try to do a peloton yoga class a few times a week. I think I need to do a few strength classes too to get the blood flowing. If you have the space at home, and haven’t tried it, I recommend peloton (not the bike, just the monthly subscription).

@seekingbabyk love the getting back to looking at holidays!! 😃 it is frustrating you don’t get given a list of supplements to take to maximise chances of success. It’s good you’ve made the decision to delay the cycle to give yourself the best chance with supplements.

Not sure if it helped at all but I also drank tart cherry juice as she mentions it in starts with an egg.

@seekingbabyk good idea to get vitamined up first! I also read It Start with the Egg and tried alot of her advice, with Coq10 and high dose vit D etc, stopped wearing nail varnish (my nails were awful!) Stopped using perfume and scented candles, stopped using plastic water bottles and avoided eating things stored in plastic, so many things! No idea if it helped us at all but to know you did all you can is a huge help to the psyche. Also started using organic aluminium free deodorant, just loads of little things. I'm a veggie so found it hard to up my protein intake though.

@Imisscoffee2021 awwww thanks - I'll definitely do some of these!

It's so annoying that some girls can get knocked up from a one night stand whilst drinking heavily, sometimes drugs involved, smoking, etc and for others it's this hard!

I have really good faith in this last round though so going to download the audiobook and make that my next read. Currently listening to 'feel the fear and do it anyway' which is pretty good too x

@seekingbabyk isn't it just! Literal junkies getting pregnant and people.who just live on Yorkshire pudding and gravy and we're honing our bodies!
And I have to say all that health went completely out of the window during first trimester, couldn't stomach much at all except bland carbs and this seems common! I like to think the nutritional efforts built a good foundation before though, and trying to get my vegetables again now!
It Starts with the Egg is a really short read, probably could listen to it in a few sittings. I hadn't thought much about plastics and chemicals really but was quite an eye opener from a qualified source! How long are you giving yourself to build up a bit?

@Imisscoffee2021 well I am most certainly not giving up Yorkshire puddings I can tell you that much! 😂 definitely going to up the protein though! I eat healthily anyway to be honest - I crave fruit and veg and not massively into greasy food or anything.

She said 8 weeks but I think my cycle would be in 7 or 11 so will just play it by ear and see how it works out with trips, work, etc. going to take the pressure off a bit!

Yes I've heard lots of stories about living off of beige food in the first trimester. Are you feeling a bit better now?x

@Imisscoffee2021 you just reminded me of all the changes we made after reading that book! We threw out all our plastic Tupperware, replaced all our non stick pans with stainless steel. The things you do for a baby (and I know it’s better for our health too) and then like you say @seekingbabyk there are people who get pregnant even though they are putting lots of toxins into their body! So crazy!

I even downloaded an app (not sure how reliable it is lol) to check all the skincare products I’m using are safe! I genuinely forgot about all of this

It's sometimes feels a little unfair knowing how much extra effort we put in around food and cutting out elements of our lifestyle to help us.

On the subject of foods and carbs - I totally caved in today had a pret chicken baguette 🥖 and began overthinking whether there were too many carbs. In reality all I want right now is coffee, carbs and chocolate. 😂🙈

@seekingbabyk thanks for the info and the link! I was thinking too much of something can be detrimental, so I want to make sure I take the right doses. and OH too! I accidentally poisoned him with double the amount of Vit C before. He couldn't stop pooping and wanted to go see the GP, before I went and checked what I had prescribed him 🙈😂😂
Also got myself the book now to sort my doses out and will make a proper list and fill our Monday to Sunday pill dispensers 😂
I'll look into the DHEA. Maybe something to add for me. Although the amount of pills I've got to take now already feel like a whole meal 😂
It's also so annoying - I thought I had ordered ubiquinol, as the CoQ10 I ordered before was the Ubiquinone, and now I accidentally ordered the bloody Ubiquinone again 😫Had to order another jar.. So much money.. And the natural form of folate is super expensive too jeezzzz.
So where do you think of going for your holiday then @seekingbabyk ?

@Spin101 thanks for the advice! I checked out the Peloton app thank you! I was going to go to Yoga tonight, but maybe I'll do a trial on the app. Throw some moves in the kitchen hehe

@Imisscoffee2021 ah yeah plastic is a big problem too isn't it. I've tried moving away from it since I read plastic had been found in placentas and babies.. it's just everywhere in our life now isn't it. it's awful

And yes it does feel very unfair how other people don't even have to think about any of this and pop them out left right and centre. OH's school mate just fathered the third baby in three years! and he smokes, takes drugs and drinks I think pretty much every day! and he's 44. How does that even work. Maybe because the ladies were a lot younger. Hell of a guy 😝

@Honeybunie no idea yet re the holiday but definitely some sun! My husband did the same with overdosing on vitamins! It was him who chose what to take though but ended up feeling really depressed. Was fine within a week once he stopped!

@seekingbabyk Oh dear! That’s awful! And I guess taking quite a few supplements it’s be tricky to identify which ones cause problems. Will have to look out for any side effects 🙈

@Honeybunie I'm sure you'll both be fine but yes definitely worth keeping an eye on things x

@Honeybunie I wasn't aware there were two types of q10 - are you sure you can't use the ones you have? I just found this

natalist.com/blogs/learn/ubiquinone-vs-ubiquinol-which-type-of-coq10-is-better

Sorry i'm so uneducated with all of this! Is one not recommended then?

Luckily the nurse just sent me the link to the one they want me to take -

www.biovea.com/uk/product/detail/1158/coenzyme-q10-coq10-100mg-60-vegetarian-capsules/?deptid=0&cid=0&mid=0&kw=Coq10+100mg

But I can't see anything that even says which one it is on there!

@seekingbabyk I think what the book said was upbiquinol was a purer form of ubiquinone and is easily absorbed by the body. I think she also mentions, if you take ubiquinone, go for a higher strength. I'll add a link to what me and OH took last year. I took this up until transfer day and stopped. I think after you freeze all, there won't be any point, as all eggs have been harvested then. I took it during my frozen cycle in case it didn't work and I had to have another egg collection.

amzn.eu/d/2Thuwq5