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

@Imisscoffee2021 thank you!

Apparently it's checked before frozen but not again once thawed. Meaning they have no way of telling how high the quality is after the thawing process 😭

That's frustrating @MammyandAva especially the time, costs, and emotion that goes into this whole process - but I really hope that 4AA is the one for you🤞🏼

@MammyandAva oh no that is such a crap situation to be in and I'm so sorry you've ended up in that position. I had absolutely no idea that could even happen with donor sperm. It makes sense but I would have guessed a 25% decline in quality or something, not to that extent!

As the other girls have said though, your embryo is an amazing grade so fingers crossed you only need that one anyway.

Can I ask what meds you were on for your stims? I wonder if you could drop them right down if you did need to go again in the future as 23 follicles seems a lot so it's no wonder your recovery was rough!

Have you got a date for your FET cycle yet?

I’ve just had a phone call from the clinic about my blood test this morning. I am due to transfer tomorrow and my progesterone is only 8, when she said it should be over 25.

She wants me to use two pessaries tonight and two in the morning, rather than one, in advance of them ordering in some steroid injections.

I could cry. If two pessaries a day is only giving me a level of 8 then how are just two more measly ones going to get me to above 25 by tomorrow afternoon?

And why are they only calling me now?

It’s literally doomed to fail isn’t it? There’s actually no point having this transfer.

I just had to call her back as I didn’t take it all in. So actually they want me to go from two pessaries a day to six. I have to have two tonight, two straight after transfer and two tomorrow evening. Then continue with this routine until the Lubion is in stock which might be a couple of days!

She said I need a blood test in the morning but that due to turnaround times they can’t get the result of the blood test before it is time to thaw the embryo. So they are going to go ahead with the thaw and transfer and then I suppose we are just winging it that tonight and tomorrow morning’s two extra pessaries will magically bring my levels up

I am feeling sad that they didn’t test my progesterone at transfer last time. What if that could have made the difference?

I am feeling annoyed that for years I have been telling my GP/the NHS/this clinic/anyone who’ll listen, that I spot for up to one week before my period arrives.

I am feeling annoyed that I had to self-advocate to get this test today rather than tomorrow. To get this news at 7pm on the evening of transfer would have been awful. What about people who can’t self-advocate?

I am feeling utterly gutted that yet again my stress levels are now sky high. I thought the only thing I had to face was the risk the embryo might not survive the thaw. Now it seems that we are likely to be dooming the poor thing to failure even if it does defrost.

Also I’m wondering, how does the time of day affect the blood test? I’ve been taking one pessary every twelve hours.

So surely you’re going to get a large range of results if you have your levels checked 30 mins after a pessary, compared to 30 mins before your next pessary is due? I was given no guidance as to what time to take the pessary in relation to the blood test. Do your clinics give you any guidance?

Hi @Decaffe I'm sorry you have this stress - take a few deep breaths and try not to be upset or stressed because that can only make things worse. I'm 100% with you on this and just think thank god you did stand up for yourself. Don't worry about the what ifs now - you can deal with that in a few weeks.

Firstly if they didn't think this would resolve the progesterone levels enough, they wouldn't be going ahead if they haven't thawed your embryo yet so I think that's a really good thing and sounds positive.

Secondly, all that matters is that you did get the test, and they did find the levels were low, and you are fixing it. Right now that's all that matters so you have the best chance possible.

I think once you're feeling more clear and less upset about everything you can write an email or letter with all of this but right now you need to focus just on yourself and your embryo and giving this transfer the best chance possible.

There's been some really positive movement on this thread the last week or so so just trust that it's going to go well for you and all of us will have everything crossed for you. Sending huge hugs xx

Mind you I don’t suppose it really matters where in the day the blood test is taken does it, at no point should it be dropping down to 8 should it

Ah sorry @seekingbabyk I had my browser open all this time so cross posted.

I think you are right, I am just a bit worked up as to how all this has come about. The one consultant I spoke to (the only time I have ever spoken with this particular one) after the failed fresh, was the one who said I could have steroids and this blood test this cycle. And he said, “do it the day before so that we have time to fix anything.” Then when I was arranging the test with the clinic I had three separate people say to just do it on transfer day. I got the impression they thought I was being stubborn or a worrier or stressed or whatever. Well thank bloody god I am eh! I think that’s the thing that’s upset me. That and the worry that these extra pessaries won’t be enough for tomorrow.

I just need to go and finish my work now. But I know you’re right about everything you say. Thank you for the big hug. Xx

@Decaffe you absorb the progesterone really quickly and you could ask for lubion injections too, they should give you them for free really for not monitoring your progesterone early. My clinic checked mine 3 days before transfer and I pushed hard for lubion this time because I have naturally low progesterone, always borderline on 21 day bloods. My clinic said the FET drugs sometimes stops ovulation so you don't have a corpus luteum producing any either, not sure if that happened in yours but did in mine. Don't worry, mine went up from 32 to 58 quickly, and I'm on 4 pessaries a day, so 6 should get you there faster xx

@Decaffe don't worry- it is what it is now and you're doing everything you can to have a positive result. I completely understand your upset and honestly in a months time, whatever the result, we can all help you write the complaint email lol. But right now just get yourself into a good positive head space, try to relax and get a good nights sleep and do anything to take your mind off of it. Meditation really helps me and mindfulness but even watching tv can help take your mind elsewhere xx

Oh I like those stats @Imisscoffee2021, thank you. I take comfort in stats so that is good to know. She’s told me to take two together tonight and two together in the morning but I’m wondering if I should space them out? Literally one every four hours?

And your ‘lol’ made me laugh @seekingbabyk so thank you for that.

I have just put another log on the fire while I finish off some work, DH is having a snooze in front of the football but hopefully there’ll be a cuppa on the way soon.

Honestly thank you for talking me down! Really appreciate you all so much 🤍 Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

@Decaffe we're all keeping everything crossed for you - what time is your transfer?

2pm with defrost at 10am.

I need to have a blood test before 10 for it to be a same day result. Perhaps I could be in the building at the same time as defrost, who knows?!

Ok will be thinking of you at 2 x

@Decaffe sorry I've just seen your messages. I'm so sorry you are stressed. As the other girls said, please try and relax now and have positive thoughts for tomorrow. Good on you for pushing to get this blood test done. I hate it when health professionals don't listen to you and think we are clueless and overthinking. As @Imisscoffee2021 said, pessaries work really fast so I'm sure you'll see the effects quite fast. Good luck for tomorrow, will be thinking of you X

@Decaffe good luck tomorrow! Not sure about spacing out, especially as you don't want lots of residue from pessaries near cervix for the transfer, I skipped mine the morning of my fresh and for my FET just did them early in the morning, then whacked some in when I got home after the transfer. Two at a time may flood your system better too xx

@Decaffe how are you this morning? Sending all positive vibes your way. All the best X

Morning all. Just had another blood test and now in a cafe waiting to hear from the embryologist as to whether it has thawed ok. They can’t get me any Lubion until tomorrow. I just have to stick with 2x pessaries 3x a day, today and tomorrow until it arrives. But who knows if I’m absorbing it?

I talked with two nurses about the fact my level is only 8. One said she didn’t know much about the research on progesterone levels but thought that previously they had had women go on to get a BFP with a very low level. The second nurse looked really shocked and asked me why we were still going ahead with transfer today. When I said that’s what last night’s consultant told me to do, she wondered if maybe the fact it’s not being cancelled is related to NHS funding/the implications of a cancelled transfer.

Not feeling entirely optimistic tbh. Didn’t get much sleep. Roll on January egg collection!

Can anyone cheer me up with some good news on their cycles please?! 😊

Oh @Decaffe you must feel so disheartened right now. Try to stay optimistic- it could be that your test comes back close to 20 today and that everything aligns for you. Just trust the universe that if this is meant to be it would be, and if not at least you have your next round booked in and ready to go. From my experience they do a debrief if it doesn't work and change things.

No good news here. I'm still feeling pretty rough after EC. Definitely think there's a mild case of OHSS. Keep feeling nauseous, the bloating is unreal and my belly is so tender. The nurse called me yesterday and was asking a lot of OHSS related questions which they didn't do last time and she said it's because the follicles were so big so they're monitoring. Wondering how much they haven't told me. But I feel better than yesterday and I'm sure it'll be gone in a few days time. A few days discomfort will be worth it if we get a good number of blasts. It's definitely making me feel more hesitant about doing another round though

Well after an anxious morning looking at my phone for this 10am phone call, I have just popped back into the clinic to be told all is okay with the thaw. So no one thought to phone me…

Sorry you feel uncomfortable, just think of those nine eggs ploughing on! I hope you’re feeling more comfortable soon. 😊

@Decaffe they sound disorganised, it's not on when they know how much ladies in their care are basing their lives around these ohone alls, updates and medical regimes! We have to put so much trust in them and it's a knock when you feel there's been a breach, but I've read alot about progesterone (having worried about it for my FET) and there's evidence that above 10 is fine and above 25 is deal, so you'll be nearer 25 than 10 by now with your pessaries. When do you get the results for your progesterone?

@seekingbabyk how rubbish to be dealing with those side effects, hopefully it won't last long and it'll just become a memory and enable you to do the last round. It's natural to not want to feel awful again!

@Decaffe I'm hoping I have good news to bring tomorrow after my first ivf clinic scan, should be 6+6 so fingers crossed beans still in there with a beating heart 🤞

@Decaffe exactly what @Imisscoffee2021 said! They don't realise the implications of their work on us do they! I think that's pretty crap they didn't call to let you know that but tbh we didn't know last time until we got there for transfer. The clinic said they would only let us know if it didn't make it! Not long now until you are PUPO!

@Imisscoffee2021 that's so exciting! I'm sure everything will be fine and it will be lovely for you and hubby to both see it this time too! How are you feeling now?x

This morning’s test has come back at 10.1 so they’re not sure we should go ahead.