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? :-)

@Frosty91 of course call her and ask some surgeries are nice.
I've here in UK for 5yrs and I always been registered with the same GP - the hardest part is to pass the interrogation from the receptionist 🙄 literally they are horrible
They didn't even give the option to speak to the doctor to ask for the HCG test they decided I can't have it pffff

@AnnaPr1992 oh no really. Well if it wasn't IVF the process normally is when you find out your pregnant to get a confirmation test from pharmacy or yourself and inform the GP. And if you have any doubt they will do a blood test for you. And get you put through to a midwife etc. I will double check with mine next week and let you know. X

@Frosty91 ahh that sounds good I didn't know x
I looked for HCG blood test at the private clinic where I will have the scan and they asked for 80£ for a blood test hahaha that's ridiculous 😅 I was like I don't have those money iam just a nurse 😂😂😂

@AnnaPr1992 my brother is a GP doctor. They still do blood tests for there patients. Maybe try calling again sometimes it depends on the receptionist who picks up lol or sometimes you can do an e consult online and request one x

@AnnaPr1992 defo £80 is a rip off. Too expensive x

@Frosty91 totally a rip off hahah
I will try again why not 🥰
Thank you so much 😊

So lovely to hear of more BFPs on the thread.

The progesterone is really kicking my butt this cycle. I'm exhausted, have terrible wind and bloating, sore boobs, thumping headache. Also got awful back and leg pain but that could be to do with an underlying condition.

Have read lots of conflicting things but am in so much pain I'm going to do a hot water bottle for my back.

GPs don't do bloods in my area for pregnancy, or even confirm it with a test. It's simply self referral to a midwife. Weird how it varies so much from place to place.

@Fourfrosties and some areas offer more than one NHS cycle and some only offer one. Wierd how things depend on your postcode.

Back pain has been a nightmare I been using the hot water bottle too. Rest up x

@Frosty91 you are right it varies so much from place to place and I don't get it
I have ivf via nhs in a hospital in London and we had 3 cycles funded and 10yrs free storage for our 8 embryos
*
just a small advice be a bit mindful with the use of heat pads or hot water bottles after transfer and in early pregnancy as isn't ideal for the embryo**

Yep, the postcode lottery is a real shitter. I was told I needed IVF and that they'd apply for my nhs funding for them to then check my postcode and say I didn't qualify for another year 😩 so we were fortunate enough to be able to go private instead

@countrypunk As far as I can remember, acupuncturist advised to test on day 10p5dt vs 14dpt as she felt it would give more information: If it's negative, she said that indicates it possibly never implanted, so next steps might be to test the receptivity of my womb. If its positive and subsequently turns negative by OTD, this could suggest a problem with my immunity and she would be able to advise some tests to have run before doing another transfer. (I think i have this correct but im not a medic, so please don't rely on this viewpoint anyone!) She is a fountain of knowledge and has helped me hugely thus far with her advice, so for that reason I'm going to give it a go! 10dp5dt is also a bank holiday here in Ireland, so I'll feel better having the day to process the news either way before going back to work!

@ali2021 Thank you, that's really interesting. My OTD is 11dp5dt, so I might follow your acupuncturist's advice and test the day before. Best of luck to you 🌻

Lovely to hear of more BFP's!!!

I'm really struggling to keep positive, I'm 3dp5dt, i woke up early hours this morning both with period pains and back/thigh ache....honestly feel as if my period is coming with bad pms symptoms 😪 I also feel a change down there (sorry tmi) as keep thinking my period has came and feels quite wet different to the pessaries...
Im feeling so low and irritable today, this 2ww is torture!

@Claireabella05 with you on the period pains and back/leg ache 😕just trying to put it all down to the hormones, after all pregnancy and pma symptoms are so similar due to the hormones involve

Hi, just jumping on... Going in for egg collection tomorrow after short protocol with the NHS.

This is our second round. The last was long protocol back in June, we only had two eggs and only one made it with ICSI to an embryo, so had none to freeze! Unfortunately it didn't stick so back to it again! My guard is definitely up this time though! I'm hoping I have more eggs this time... just love one or two to freeze!

I can see the messages are in full swing here! Hoping for lots of sticky beans! I know what a rollercoaster this can be and how heartbreaking it can be to!

@Fourfrosties it's so hard isn't it! I suppose there is no really way of knowing what the symtomsmean until test day which really sucks....
I was so sure it had worked on my previous unsuccessful cycles.
Don't know why, but also have that feeling it hasn't for this one.

@Autumbreeze good luck for your EC, I’ll have my fingers crossed for you xc

Thank you @Laura23FE it's top secret this time! Only my mam and work knows. DH doesn't drive so I had to tell my mam so someone can take me to egg collection. Less pressure of people asking questions.

@Autumbreeze Good luck for tomorrow, I'm also on the total down low with this one - only my boss and one friend at work who's also having IVF know! I think it's helping me stay saner than last time.

@Claireabella05 I feel the same. But you're right, you just don't know until you test.

@countrypunk so nice to have someone to talk to who gets it! I have two friends having/had IVF (one is now 18 weeks pregnant with twins after three transfers) and this time I've kept it from them, but if it's bad again they will be the first two I go to. My best friends don't know anything as they just done get it!

Definitely easier and less pressure... telling people it didn't work makes it so much harder doesn't it? I need to be more positive though. Just after last time I'm guarding my heart a bit I think. This is our last NHS round and not sure if we can afford private.

I took a bit of a little break from mumsnet yesterday. Tried to catch up as best I can! Good luck tomorrow for everyone doing egg collection and yay for everyone who is now PUPO.

Trigger done! Last night at 9:45 on the dot!

Gosh, my stomach is so sore from all the injections! It hurts to bend over. I feel pretty swollen, a bit like marshmallow man from Ghostbusters!

No injections today! I have my nanas little birthday do today, so that should be nice. It all feels a bit surreal at the moment!

Hi everyone!

There's so much good news on this thread, it's lovely to see 🥰

I've started my pessaries today - joys! And still on for FET on the 3rd Feb. How long does it take for them to absorb before it's okay to go to the toilet? Is it around 30 mins?

I've also got a terrible cold after avoiding being ill over Christmas! Is there anything I shouldn't be taking? I know (i think from memory 🤣) ibubrofen and any decongestants are a no go during pregnancy? So I wont take anything after my transfer but should I be careful now?

@laurapop hi Laura welcome to the group 😊
And good luck with your FET!!!
30minutes of laying down after each pessary is absolutely fine I have searched a lot about them coz I freaked out when they leak thinking I don't get the full dose but no you get it , they get absorbed pretty fast and the leak is just the coating of the pessary !!
If you feel symptoms like you are getting ill I would recommend get plenty of rest, plenty of fluids , hot tea 🫖 , plenty of vitamin C - always does the trick- either form fresh oranges or supplements (H&B has vitamin C the ones which dissolve in the water ..are my favourite!!! )
and paracetamol is safe , try that instead!

@AnnaPr1992 thanks for your reply, trying to have a bit of rest today - I've just been soldiering on but obviously not the best thing for my body right now. Hopefully I'll feel better for my transfer on Friday!

@Autumbreeze I was quite shocked by one of my friend's reactions when I told her I was having IVF the first time. She just reacted with an emoji and then changed the subject to her. I guess some people can't handle it, or maybe it was a painful subject for her for reasons she hadn't shared. I don't know, but like you it's definitely made me more guarded about it. That why I'm so active on here - speaking to strangers is such a release!

I have everything crossed that now is your time.