FET/IVF - January 2023

[Jane1284]

Hey

I would love to get a group together of some of us who are undergoing IVF or FETs in Jan. I found it really helpful to have the support of those going through similar last time (Nov 2020).

My story: I am due to start my first FET in January of my one and only frozen embryo. The embryo is from a cycle in Nov 2020 when I was almost 36. I have low AMH and AFC and it was my first and only NHS round. I got 4 eggs all which miraculously fertilised, 1 made it to day 5 and was put back in with a fresh transfer. Sadly it did not stick. 1 egg was left until day 6 and it finally made it to blastocyst. It has been frozen. Rather than having a FET back then they advised me to do a banking package of 3 cycles due to my low AMH/AFC so in Jan 2021 we started our first private IVF cycle with the same clinic (Kings). Once again I was on max stims (gonal f and menopur) and it looked like we would get 4 eggs again but when I woke from EC they told me they only got 2. I had a bit of a breakdown. I was so upset going through all that including over £2k worth of drugs injected to only get two eggs. It felt even worse as I had let myself hope it would go well. Out of the 2 eggs only 1 fertilised normally. On day 3 the embryologist told me it was average quality and she wasn't sure it would be good enough to freeze on day 5 if it even made it that far. I couldn't handle the thought of going through all that mental anguish to not have anything to freeze so I made a last minute decision to go in for a day 3 fresh transfer. I had zero expectations but somehow that average embryo stuck. I was so stressed all pregnancy and worried about everything but amazingly I gave birth to my first baby in Sep 2021. He is now 14 months and I am turning 38 in 2 weeks.

Now it is time to get back on the IVF/FET train. I have been for my initial scan and blood tests. The scan was fine. Still not many follicles but not significantly worse. Waiting for a consult with the Dr next week for an update on my AMH (can't wait.... ) where she'll also decide on our protocol. I am leaning towards a medicated FET just so we can plan it a bit better. If that doesn't work then it is back to a 3 cycle package of IVF.

I hope I haven't bored anyone reading this to tears. Would be great if anyone else out there would like to be a cycle buddy? :-)

@Lucy5yearsttc
Ah....I didn't have the trigger shot either, but not sure how the meds will affect it.
Really really hope it works for you - I can't imagine trying the length of time you have been xxx

Thank you. It’s been hell, that’s the only way to describe it.
good luck to you too, baby dust xx

@Greenlee yes, there's a lot of us doing the treatment in Spain. I just find it all very hard and stressful, doing it on my own. It has also been a long journey, I started preparing for this in April 2022.

It seems I will start with the patches tomorrow - the email the clinic sent has now mentioned if my AF arrives in a full flow in the evening I should start with the treatment tomorrow to count the full day. Well, AF started in the afternoon on a full flow so who knows when I need to start now...I will start tomorrow so hopefully that will be correct.

That will be fine @peonygirl I started my estrogen at about the same timing as you. xx

@Bellwells @torypops how are you ladies getting on? Are your transfers coming up this week?

Hey @Greenlee I’m on day 9 of down reg my next step will be EC as my 1 blasto from round 1 had the NF1 gene that i have so I’m not allowed to transfer it

Ah best of luck @Bellwells hope that your body does what you need and on time xx

@Lucy5yearsttc -yay! can deffo see a line! Are you going to keep testing every day or every other day to check progression?

Thanks Jane. I tested again today and it’s clearer so I think that’s positive!! I’ll now test everyday because I want to see progression! Fingers crossed!

Woo hoo! The first positive of the group. Let's hope there are loads more :-)

Has anyone watched the new fertility themed TV show 'Alex Jones: Making Babies'? I watched the first ep last night with my husband. I shed a little tear and I think he may have too. It is set in our fertility clinic (Kings) so it brought back lots of tough but also heartwarming memories. I also liked that they had a patient with a similarly low number of follicles to me. Gave me a bit of hope and reminded me it does only take 1. Looks like they will focus on new people each week. It was surprisingly good! Hoping some of my fertile friends will watch it so they realise how hard IVF is. Deffo recommend!

@Jane1284 which channel is this show on?

Yes, IVF is really tough. I didn't expect it to be so difficult and this is only my first rodeo. I salute all of you, ladies, that have been in this battle for far longer than me.

@Lucy5yearsttc so exciting to follow your progress. I am keeping fingers crossed it all goes smoothly from now on.

Thanks @peonygirl that’s so kind and wishing you all the best in everything ❤️❤️❤️

I was wondering if any of you have used acupuncture before or after the transfer? How did it feel? Would you recommend it?

@peonygirl Alex Jones: Making Babies is being broadcast on the W channel on Thursdays at 8pm. The channel can be found on Freeview, SkyTV and Virgin Media TV. Similarly you can watch episodes online at UKTV Play.

I did loads of acupuncture and found it relaxing but also unnecessarily stressful. The lady I saw made me feel quite bad about my diet (being vegetarian) and would contradict things my naturopath would say. It ended up stressing me out. Months before I started IVF I started seeing a lady to help with natural conception (no success) and then I did lots for my first actual IVF round. I shudder to think how much I spent. I'm in London so it cost me £70 a session and I was doing it weekly at one point! I even had it before AND after on the day of my first fresh transfer (lady came to my house). That round did not stick. The second round I was in such a bad mood and super negative so didn't bother. That round worked (miraculously).

I think acupuncture can be really good for relaxation and also for helping with natural cycles if you have issues there but the more I think about it I think the embryo is either going to stick or not and acupuncture won't change that. If you want to try it then go for it but do feel like it is necessary xx

*don't feel like it is necessary!

Thank you @Jane1284 for this honest reflection. I am afraid of needles and I am worried it will stress me out but I am also seeking something to help my body. My goal is to get my body into optimal state I can get it in. My psychologist is wonderful and has said yesterday to do "what feels right, not what should feel right." I am reflecting on that quite a lot. And I agree with you - it will stick or it won't, we have no control over it. That has been the most difficult part of my journey - I have control over everything and make everything work out. I am the fixer - you give me a task, I do it, irrespective of how complex things might be. But here... it is not up to me, it is up to my body. So I try to do the second best - prim my body to its best shape it can be in.

I moved out of London to give myself a chance for fertility at all. It is horrid with the prices of living and all medical expenses. But I live in Yorkshire now so any blood test, scan...it is cheaper but I need to travel for it to a larger city. So I don't know, either way it is stressful.

@Lucy5yearsttc huge congratulations. This makes me feel so excited to hear of the first success of the month!

@peonygirl, I have to say I have absolutely loved acupuncture. I am also afraid of needles but they are so fine, you barely feel it going in. She puts about 8 needles in and leaves me with relaxing music for about 30 mins to relax and switch off. To be honest, it's more the acupuncturist herself who I love more than the acupuncture. She is an absolute wealth of information and a fertility guru. She has been able to suggest supplements, things we have been able to do to support our own fertility etc. and she has been more of a counsellor for me than anything else. For this reason, if you were considering it, try to get a recommendation of somebody who is decent, otherwise it could end up being a fruitless exercise if you're stressed about the needles and an acupuncturist who isn't supporting your needs.

@Jane1284 Thanks for the recommendation on the Making Babies programme. I saw an ad and honestly, I thought it would be too upsetting for me to watch. But good to hear there's successes on it. Hopefully things are portrayed positively! When are your doing your FET transfer again, Jane?

I have my lining scan on Monday and while I'm a little apprehensive for fear of something being off with my lining, I am so excited to have a date for our transfer. The nurse predicted some day between 24th and 31st January. Time is moving backwards this month :)

@peonygirl What @ali2021 says is so right. It is completely down to the practitioner. If they lift you up and make you feel better then they are worth their weight in gold. Definitely worth getting a recommendation for this reason!
I completely understand what you are saying about control and struggling with the process. I am someone who works really hard and will do anything required. Unfortunately with IVF you can do everything possible and it not work out. I learnt that the hard way. First round I gave up booze and caffeine, ate super healthy, took so many bloody supplements, meditated daily, paid for a naturopath and a fertility acupuncture and my good 4AB embryo did not stick. The round after I overindulged in booze over Christmas and didn't do any of the other bits and it worked. I honestly think we do what we can but sometimes we can get more stressed by thinking we need to do all these things. Your psychologist's advice is spot on. Love that.

@ali2021 I found it a good mixture of being realistic (sad) but also uplifting. My tears were happy tears.
I am waiting for my period which is due on Sunday (will prob be late to tease me)- then starting meds. Progress scan on day 8-11 followed by hopefully the transfer 5 days later if lining looks good. It is my first FET so no idea how I will respond. Good luck for Monday! Keep us posted on how it goes and your transfer date xx

@Lucy5yearsttc congrats im due hopefully this weekend to start cycle so i can start meds im on short protocal first ever time doing ivf seeing results like yours really makes me feel like this is achievable :-)

@Jane1284 haa I had a really similar experience with acupuncture. Did it because I knew I’d feel guilty if I didn’t, and just wanted to do all the things I SHOULD. But didn’t find it especially relaxing and found the advice on diet and lifestyle quite contradictory to drs. And was also made to feel bad about being a vegetarian! Anyway, that round didn’t stick despite 5aa so I’m going to be much more chilled with FET. Also stopped exercising before but planning to keep it up this time as it chills me out.

it’s so nice to see good news on the tread already. I’m waiting for my period to start (hopefully tomorrow) and am starting to feel more positive after stories of success with second best embryos!

@PimlicoMum4 sounds like such a similar experience! I remember being told I had to always wear socks and eat warm foods. I find it can be quite upsetting being given such random advice because when things don't work you can begin to wonder if it was because you didn't follow the advice down to the letter. Then you just end up more and more stressed.
Keeping exercising sounds like a good plan. I find it helps with my stress too.

@Lucy5yearsttc There is definitely a line there 😍 🤞 do another in the morning xx

@IVFbeenverylucky Good luck and lots of baby dust 👼👼👼🍼 time to relax and take it easy xx

@peonygirl I'm also doing FET in spain, bit daunting. I'm due to start in Feb 💙 nice to know I'm not alone xx

Congratulations on your bfp @Lucy5yearsttc its amazing to see and gives everyone hope!!

@peonygirl I have tired acupuncture but i didn't enjoy it, just because I felt like I couldn't relax and felt on edge duirng it, but having said that, I think go with whatever you feel will help you relax and most people find it helps...
I do think we all give ourselves such as hard time in thinking about what we 'could of done' . Im always punishing myself thinking about it, but im going into to try and go into this cycle carrying on as normal as possible and do my workouts and eveything i normally (with in reason) and hopefully feel less stressed. Well that's my plan anyway, whether it works and I follow my own advice will be another story in a couple of weeks time, haha!

My period has arrived today, yay, so day 1 tomorrow and start my medication day 2 :)

Has anybody been watching the IVF documentary - Alex Jones; making babies? Very eye opening!!

Thank you! I feel like it’s been a very long time coming. Best of luck to everyone on here. Feel like this is such a nice and supportive group!