IVF February 2023

[HJen22]

Haven't seen a thread for February cycles so if anyone is waiting to start in the next few weeks and fancies some cycle buddies ❤️

Little about me, 34yo TCC #1. Low AFC/AMH. After two disastrous NHS cycles (NE Scotland) which resulted in no transfer, we went private and are away to start our second mild IVF cycle at Create in Manchester x

@Purplemichelle awe defo a little monkey already! Congrats on the transfer! Xxx

@Purplemichelle eeee so exciting! Hang on in there little one! ❤️

@Purplemichelle congratulations on your transfer, have fingers very much crossed for you!! My clinic do offer counselling so I will take them up on it - have been very upset but looking forward to meeting my consultant on Friday so hopefully I’ll know more about what might have happened then.

@VioletCookie Thank you for your message, it’s been a really hard few days and haven’t been able to sleep through the night. Hope your doing ok. I do think early testing is just not good for mental health, things are still so uncertain until the end of the 2ww. Really hope it works for you and the HCG is just still rising with it being such early days xx

@Purplemichelle congrats on the transfer! Got my fingers crossed for you x

@AM08 @LF82 @THISISIT23 thank you so much. Xxx

@AM08 good luck for Friday. Xxx

Has anyone had any successful egg collections from follicles that are above 23mm?

Been reading that if too big eggs could be over mature so now worrying as I
Have two over 23 and two tailing behind at 12/13.

Thanks everyone!

Apologies for disappearing for a few days - I feel like I've missed so much!

Home after collection, they managed to get 13 eggs so keeping my fingers crossed for tomorrows update on how many fertilise. Currently sat in bed with a hot water bottle and been napping on and off.

@Sj2505 they are wary of OHSS - just got to be careful and take it easy over the next few days. Hopeful we'll get a fresh cycle this round.

@Purplemichelle hope your
Transfer went ok, got everything crissed for you xxx

@TTCRose
I had my last scan Friday and collection on Monday.
One of the follicles measured 23mm on Friday and like you I panicked and asked was that too large, the nurse advised it wasn’t. As collection wasn’t for a few days later I assume that it had grew again by Monday.
I had a call yesterday to say all the eggs collected had fertilised so that larger one would have been included.
Hope all goes well for you 🤞🏼 x

@AM08 I totally get that 😔 Easier said than done but be kind to yourself, take the time to relax and only do what you feel up to doing. These are such difficult emotions to process and you may not feel it but you're being so strong! This whole process is so demanding. I should have taken counselling last year and really regret not doing it, so would strongly suggest trying a session. I truly hope everything works out for you lovely xx

@SH998 ah thanks for that...it's on my mind that my large ones will be too big and over mature and the little ones will be too little!

@TTCRose you will be absolutely fine, have they scheduled your collection? X

@TTCRose yay for trigger! They sound like good follicle 🤩

@Purplemichelle glad your transfer went well! When's OTD?

@AM08 so sorry to read your not in a good place ♥️ I hope you get some answers on Friday.

@West8690 I'm so pleased EC went well! 13 eggs is amazing! Get some rest and hopefully you'll feel better in no time and avoid OHSS.

@SH998 that's great that all your eggs fertilised ✨ will you get a day 3 update?

I had my second stims scan today. They still don't have a great view of the entire left ovary, they measured 5 follicles but said there's likely to be more, they were 15-21mm. They're not sure if they'll be able to reach it at EC 😕
I have 10 dominant follicles on the right which are 12-16mm and other smaller ones which could continue to grow.
I have another scan for Friday as I'm not quite ready for EC, they're predicting that for Monday.
They've warned me I am at risk of OHSS, so I'm now drinking tons of water and a high protein diet, but the consultant might still decide on a freeze all on the day.
I'm feeling tender around my ovaries, uncomfortable bloating and extremely tender nipples. Just a hormonal mess at the moment haha.

@Sj2505 thank you. It’s 7th March, feels like an eternity away. Glad your follicles are progressing nicely. The clinic will know what they are doing so just relax as much as you can and keep those follicles warm. Xxx

@Purplemichelle keep yourself busy and it should hopefully go a bit quicker! I will have everything crossed for you. Keep us updated on how you're feeling.
Thank you, I just have to put my complete trust in their judgement I guess. A freeze all wouldn't be the end of the world and if it's for the best then I have to respect that.

@Sj2505 thank you!! Fingers crossed they are!

@SH998 due for egg collection Friday morning!!

@Sj2505 yes, I’ll have a 3 day call tomorrow morning, providing all ok then I’ll be having the transfer Saturday. I can sense already I wouldn’t be sleeping much tonight lol 😂 x

@TTCRose good luck for Fridays collection 🤞🏼 x

@Sj2505 ill try my very best to keep busy. And yes, do update us with your progress.

@VioletCookie ah I’m sorry to hear you’re went through a hard time last year too, I’m going to reach out to the councillors tomorrow to get booked in, and have found a bit of solace in telling some friends today what happened and just having their support. How are you feeling about everything now? Am I right that your doing a test tomorrow? If that is the case, then fingers very much crossed for you - please keep us posted xx 💕

@Sj2505 thank you, it’ll be good to talk and also just hear about when I can expect my period, I thought it would have been here by now.

Your stims sounds very much similar to mine in terms of number of follicles and risk of OHSS, I know you will most likely want a fresh transfer but if it is a freeze all it will be good to let your body recover as OHSS is just horrid xx

@AM08 sadly we had 2 transfers and 2 miscarriages last year. Yes bloods day tomorrow! I've had an incredibly faint positive but mostly negatives, plus today having such bad cramps and feeling like my period is about to start. Really not sure what to think im just so on edge/exhausted. I hate not having control of this 😬 have your friends been good? Some people can really suprise you, I've found a distant friend to be so incredibly supportive we now speak every day. Just wish I could make this better for us all! xx

@Purplemichelle how are you feeling this afternoon, have you had a relaxing day? X

@VioletCookie thanks for checking in. Feeling good and have had a chilled day. Back to work tomorrow and my emails have gone out of control in just one day. Will need to take it easy tomorrow and not sweat the small stuff. I’m reflecting on our lost embryo too and sad that the embryo inside me really is our last chance. Would have loved to have a fall back but that’s not to be. Xxx

@Purplemichelle I'm so sorry to hear that, it must be so difficult coming to that decision. Would you consider other options? I know it doesn't help, but I'm really rooting for you. I understand there's a lot riding on this, if you need any support happy to talk. I'll stay optimistic for you and hope for the best xxx

@VioletCookie oh I’m so sorry to hear about the miscarriages, were they following the 2 transfers? This will be your year. Its such a weird one testing early and seeing results - never again. Good luck for your bloods today and try and keep busy whilst waiting for the results. My friends have been a real mix, pretty much everyone but my best friend (had a baby in the last year) and manager (life has always went her way and she lacks any empathy for people) have been great! Good to hear you have someone close to speak with, also this community is fab.

@Purplemichelle it is sad about the other embryo, it would be nice to have a back up but I have seen so many stories where someone was giving it a last shot, managed to stay positive and it happened for them - you got this.

@AM08 yes sadly they were both lost following FETs, I've never had a natural pregnancy. First I was told I didnt ovulate and had a thin lining, then after being on clomid and Letrozole for 9 months someone else calling it unexplained 🤷🏼‍♀️ The test line this morning is incredibly light and not getting darker over 4 days, plus I have no symptoms like before. I've been self diagnosing on Google and have convinced myself I have bad eggs! We only had about 23% make it to blastocyst, I was 34 at the time so assumed this would be much higher. Bloods have been taken, awaiting this afternoons call. It's bittersweet really, if we are pregnant again I'll spend the following weeks waiting to lose it 😔

Funny that you mention your best friend, mine has been a similar situation. She's pregnant with her second and keeps complaining about it, I want to scream at times 🤣 but I know it's awkward because she doesn't understand it from our perspective so I try to hold it in 😅 I've been TTC since before her first 🙈

What's the next steps for you? X

Thanks @VioletCookie and @AM08 for your support. I will stay positive and put all my energy into this little embryo I have inside me. We have discussed other options yet as ivf itself it’s all consuming as you know. Hope to be lead to the right decision if we need to think about that later on. On the plus side, if we never have kids then we will have a lot of fabulous holidays 😁

@VioletCookie good luck for this afternoon’s call. Xxx