First cycle - IVF / ICSI - Day 4

[Koalie]

My hubby and I are on day 4 of stims - our first IVF cycle. Just wondering if there's anyone else in the same boat who might want to share the journey? :)

@Izzie94x Well 10 def mature … not sure about the other 8, because they don’t strip them before mixing them with the sperm so I don’t think you get to find out which are mature of those but I’m pleased with the results so far. Just praying some of them make it and they’re not all crap 🙏🏼 lol. They seemed to expect me to be fine for a fresh transfer, as they said I don’t seem to have over stimulated 🤞🏼 but we’ll see.

Haha! Don’t dooo iiiiit. 😆 … I say that… I know I’ll probably be testing the day after transfer lolll xx

@Koalie sorry for taking so long to reply - our clinic is 2.5 hours away so an early start (awake at 4.30am 😫) and lots of travelling today. No sedation for me 🙈, so I was awake for the whole collection. But they gave me some fetanol and tbh I didn't really feel much, a little bit of pinching was the worst. It wasn't nearly as painful as the hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy I had without any drugs 😬! 6 mature eggs collected which I was a bit disappointed with, but the nurses say it's a good number and it only takes one so I have to hope that some have fertilised tomorrow 🤞. If good news I would do a fresh transfer on Wednesday.

18 sounds like a very good number, even if just 10 are mature it still gives you a great starting point. Fingers crossed some good news for you tomorrow too 😊🤞!

@ScottishRach gosh that is a lot of travelling ! Glad to hear it wasn’t too painful for you. I came out of there feeling great and like nothing had happened …. Feeling it now all the drugs have worn off though 🥺

6 mature is a good result! I’ve read of quite a few people on here with big initial numbers not ending up with a lot at the end (which is what I’m worried about) and lots who have fewer but better quality eggs.

Will let you know when I get my call tomorrow re how many have fertilised!🫣good luck with yours! 🍀

xx

@Koalie and @ScottishRach amazing!! So pleased for you both. Keep us updated with your embryo news!

I had my day 7 scan today (6 days of stims). I have lots of follicles.. bordering on too many. I have 9 on one side and 12 on the other but all around 10-12mm so all even which is great. Targeting egg collection for Thursday next week!

So all 6 fertilised 😁. Now just the long, long wait till Monday to find out if any have become viable embryos.... but if all good I'll likely transfer Wednesday, unless there is the unlikely situation of one good one on Monday in which case we would be asked to go through then.

@Koalie keeping everything crossed for you 🤞❤

@Strawberry08 that's great news, if all keep growing nice and evenly you'll hopefully have a good amount to go in with at trigger shot 😊. Wishing you all the luck for Thursday!

@ScottishRach Thats amazing news! 👏🏼 🥰 I’m still anxiously awaiting my call. Now sat on the sofa watching Alex Jones’ documentary. How you are feeling? I was really sore yesterday after all the drugs wore off but feeling better already today.

@Strawberry08 that doesn’t sound like too many, that’s a lovely number. And fantastic that they’re all growing evenly too! Mine were all over the place in size 🤦🏻‍♀️

x

I’ve had the call girls! Of the 10 ICSI eggs, 6 have fertilised and of the 8 IVF, all 8 have fertilised! Cautiously optimistic here, as I’m feeling like it’s too good to be true so far. 😬

x

@ScottishRach that’s amazing girl!!!💘💘 well done you!!!! Big numbers don’t always mean more eggs, so to have all 6 fertilised is amazing!! I bet you’re super pleased? Defo lifts the weight off your shoulders!!!

@Koalie OMG! That’s AMAZING too!!!! Ahhhhh I’m so happy for you, and @ScottishRach its the best feeling ever when it feels like it was all worth it!!!! when’s your transfer?

Sooooo, 5dp5dt - I just got my BFP!! I honestly can’t believe I’m writing this. It feels like an out of body experience. They were squinters, but they’re defo there!!!! And it’s not the trigger as yestedsy it was negative (so much for waiting for OTD) lol!!!! I’m so shocked, praying for the lines to get darker over the next few days.

hopefully this is the start of some really positive news on this group✨✨✨ xx

OMG @Izzie94x congratulations !! That’s amazing news. Keep testing and keep us updated! Don’t blame you for not waiting 😆 what lovely weekend news ♥️

@Izzie94x ah, that's great news 😊! Fingers crossed that line just keeps getting darker and darker ❤🤞. If we get some good embryos and make it to transfer I'm going to be dreading the wait period after, it must be the worst part of it all 🙈. The clinic will call Monday to advise, but if all OK most likely looking at Wednesday.

@Koalie that's also fantastic news 😊! Interesting that the ICSI ones were a little less successful than natural, but between both you've got a great number to be continuing on with ❤. I've been feeling just grand. I kept myself topped up with paracetamol yesterday but honestly didn't feel any pain at any time. Fetanyl is lovely. I'm actually just glad to have all the swollen follicles away and feel a bit more human. Were you given progesterone pessaries or injection? I got the pessaries.... A bit messier 🙈, but I'm glad there are no more needles for now!

@ScottishRach I’m jealous (and glad) you’re feeling OK 😆 I am still feeling super bloated and tender. I’ve not had any paracetamol today though so maybe that’s why 🤔 I’ve got the pessaries too … absolute nightmare! Doing all 3 at night before bed but they’re still making a mess in the morning 🤦🏻‍♀️ x

@Koalie so pleased it went well and what an amazing result, you must be over the moon, fingers crossed for you!

@ScottishRach same for you, wonderful news 😊 1 more day to wait for the next update!

@Izzie94x wow that's amazing, so so happy for you 🥰 have you tested again today?
I hadn't even thought about the trigger injection so hadn't tested at all, did one this morning and it was negative, I've 5dp5dt too and I know it's so early, but I'm a bit gutted now that it's all maybe not worked 😢
I have bloating on and off, a few twinges here and there, woke with a bad head and got some hormonal spots, so thinking that it's bad news 😬
Have you had any symptoms at all?

@User491 don’t lose hope! @Izzie94x ’s were only squinters at 5dp5dt so it could just be your hormones aren’t quite high enough to be detected ! Maybe give it a couple of days and try again, that way you won’t feel like you’re guessing so much? You’re def not out yet though! Xx

@Koalie @ScottishRach Yayy!! Thrilled for both of you. So so exciting, have any updates since?

@Izzie94x awww amazing!! Keep us updated on that line progression. Must be the best feeling in the world.

@User491 ah don’t worry just yet. Super normal for a test to be negative at 5 days post transfer. The clinics usually tell you to wait for 14 days. You still have just the same chance of it being positive.

I know what you ladies all mean now about feeling very ‘full’. I’m on day 8 of cycle (day 7 of stims) and I feel full. Still targeting collection on Thursday but I do have a feeling it will be a freeze all cycle as my risk of OHSS is high.

@User491 definitely don’t be discouraged lovely!! Honestly, it was so light, I couldn’t even get it on a picture. I thought maybe I was going mad lol! 5dpt is really early, and I only done it because (I sound crazy) but that night I had a full
pregnancy dream! And I’ve had them before but always at the end of the dream I’m not actually pregnant! This one I WAS😂 so I done!! All I’ve had is a tiny few twinges, and last night some major almost like trapped wind pains/ mild period pain. You’ve got this💖💖 you’ve got days yet! Also, mine was a PM test, not sure it would have shown anything in the am!!!

@Koalie literally so squinty it hurt my eyes to keep checking 😂 how are you feeling lovely? Not long now! Eeee!!!

@Strawberry08 completely agree! There’s a reason the clinic tell you to wait, and I’m just so impatient lol! I’ve seen lots of women on here not get positives till OTD @User491 🥰 omg I remember that fullness feeling! It almost hurt to sit down!! Was defo uncomfy. But that soon goes after EC. When’s your EC? Keep up the protein!!

I know it’s a really hard journey, so I don’t want to be insensitive at all talking about my line progression, so please please just say if you don’t want me to update you guys. I get it💖 this journey is a mind fuffff! But my line was lovely this morning, definitely there but not getting too excited yet (or trying to lol) a long way to go but I’m hopeful xxx

Thank you everyone ❤️❤️
I actually think it was the hormonal spots that made me think it's not worked, but it's so early, so I will keep my fingers crossed 🤞🏻

@Strawberry08 yes that full feeling is awful ha, at times I felt like I needed to hold myself to walk and that was with only 12 follicles 🙈🤣
Fingers crossed you will be ok and no OHSS 🤞🏻

@Izzie94x aww bless you, please keep posting 👏🏻😘 so pleased you got a great line this morning, such fab news ☺️
I had the bloated/wind feeling last night, so so uncomfortable 🤣 was thinking it was what I had ate 🙈
It's so hard when af symptoms are so alike the early pregnancy ones 😬
Ps love the fact you tested because of that dream.. that is amazing!!

Morning lovely ladies!

@Izzie94x i totally don’t blame you for testing after your dream! We have had names picked out since we were pregnant in Aug 2021 (ended in MMC) the boys name being Leo and on our way to egg retrieval on Friday there was a car in front of us with the number plate LEO4NOV !! So now ever since, I’ve been convinced that I’m going to end up with OHSS and have to do a frozen transfer next month which would make our due date some time early Nov if it works! It’s driving me mad! Doesn’t help that I am still quite sore, especially when I walk and go to the toilet - is it normal for the pain to last this long? So paranoid about OHSS 😆

Anyway, I’ve had the call from the clinic this morning… Of the 6 ICSI embryos, 5 have divided and 4 are looking really good! & of the 8 IVF, all 8 have divided and 4 are looking really good!! COME ON MY LITTLE EMBABIES 👏🏼👏🏼 I feel like I’m cheering on my kids at sports day 🤣

On a separate note - anyone find the progesterone makes you really emotional? I’ve felt really teary and down the last couple of days. Also not enjoying the mess they make at all! I think I’d rather have it in injection form tbh 😆

Hows everyone else doing? ☺️

xx

@Koalie hey lovely!! Omg we’ve had names too!!! We started trying 3 years ago and I always just assumed it would happen right away (lol so naive) 😂 love Leo!! So cute! Omg it’s a sign. I’m massssively into seeing signs. Loads of our IVF Apts we’re on 9th, or 19th, etc and I remember thinking omg in angel numbers it means “complete” ✨ hehe

Do you ovaries feel very full!? That’s how I felt! Like I felt like I was sitting on them every time I sat down😂 luckily, transfer was fine. No sign of OHSS, but since getting my positive pregnancy test I’ve got so many symptoms 😅 not to mention I’ve ballooned like I’m 20 weeks!!!! Apparently HCG can make OHSS worse so that’s great lol! Hopefully you will be fine!! They’re really good at monitoring it! And it doesn’t effect a pregnancy, just yourself 😂 oh my god, THATS AMAZING!! Go little embabies 🥹✨💘 it’s such a good feeling sint it!!! So all set for a transfer Wednesday? Eeeek! OMG!

I defo cried at more things than I usually do Hahahha, but I use them rectally. Honeslty sounds grim, but there’s NO messs!!! Just these weird white poops the next day😂😂 I bought some gloves off Amazon! So much better. Unless yours are specifically one route lol. But our clinic said either! Xx

@Izzie94x Glad I’m not the only one! Haha. Although in April last year on ovulation day I looked out of the window and there were 4 magpies in my garden !!! I was so convinced for the rest of that cycle that I was going to be pregnant with a boy but obvs I wasn’t 🙄 lol so maybe I need to not take so much notice of the signs 😆

Yes, my ovaries feel sore but I also feel like really bloated and full. I think I’ll ask them to do a scan before they transfer on Wednesday just to be sure!

Re the pessaries, I had read of people putting them up the bum lol but the thought of that freaks me out 😬 I don’t know if I could! Xx

Also had a right chuckle at this last night …

@Koalie that's hilarious 😆. I had my smear not long ago so was telling my hubby about the lovely position with your feet together and hands under bum while someone is staring at your cervix and talking about weather. He thought it funny on my collection day that some was down there sticking needles through my vagina and at the same time we were all (me, nurses, consultant) chatting about getting a MacDonalds 😆.

Great news about your eggs though, that will hopefully give you a good number to freeze too 🥳!

I had 3 top quality eggs, 2 have fragmented so won't know their quality for another couple of days probably, and 1 just didn't continue growing.... so all set for transfer on Wednesday 🤞

@ScottishRach hahaha! And did you? Get your MCDonalds? 😆

Thats amazing news about your 3 excellent embabies and transfer on Wednesday 👏🏼 are you still in any pain at all? My ovaries still feel huge and tender 😩 x

@Koalie I most definitely did, and I'll be getting another on Wednesday after transfer 😆. It's apparently what people do for good luck.

Poor you ☹. I honestly felt fine after the collection. I little bruised but nothing major at all. I'm starting to feel a little uncomfortable again now but I honestly think that's the progesterone. I'm not looking forwards to having to have a full bladder for transfer though, the wand used always makes me need to pee badly 🙈

@Koalie keep up the protein, milk and electrolytes drinks🤞🏼 hopefully you’ll be absolutely fine. I did feel uncomfy for days after my EC. By day 5 transfer I felt so much better. But obviously must have had it mildly to get OHSS now! 😅 I couldn’t even sneeze without them being a bit painful! 😂 ugh, what we go through!!

@ScottishRach oh that’s amazing!!! Good luck for your transfer!! 💖

oh and ladies for transfer - Personal recommendation, empty your bladder 30/40 minutes before your appointment and then just drink a bottle of water/ something! I did the stupid thing of having a ridiculously full bladder and I was nearly in tears!! I couldn’t stand up straight lol and I had to ask to go 3 times (they let you do a 5 second wee) because it got too full!! Then I had a sore bladder all that evening! I googled it and loads of websites / mumsnet said about the 30/40mins being way way more comfortable!!!! Xx

Hi all
Hopefully I can join the thread?
It's been very interesting to read your experiences as you are mostly 1-2 weeks ahead of me. I have just started stims yesterday and planning for EC next week all being well. It's our first cycle, TTC 3yrs with no sign of a BFP.
I'm nervous as hell but your positive stories have made me feel better. 💜
Anyone else at a similar stage?