IVF warriors - the journey continues 2

[Imisscoffee2021]

@Decaffe
@seekingbabyk
@MinBins
@acaciabluebell
@MammyandAva
@Spin101
@1stcycle
@KLM25
@ralno2
@acaciabluebell@Tinkerbell098

Another thread needed ladies! Please tag if I've forgotten someone! :)

Thanks @Imisscoffee2021

I was hoping it would clear up itself after a few days but doesn't seem to be, I hope I haven't caused any harm.

I am only 5 weeks 4 days pregnant today so filled with lots of worries at the moment! Just can't wait to get through the next few weeks!!

I know exactly how you feel, I was the same! You won't have caused anything, I had mine a little while before seeking gp help because I wasn't sure it was a UTI at first.

I'm just kicking myself at the moment - I used 2 cystitis sachets not even thinking and then I read the back of the box yesterday and it said Do not use when pregnant. 🙃

Thank you ladies for your kind messages ❤️

I was told by a doctor they can refreeze a thawed embryo in exceptional circumstances but not sure if that’s 100% true. It takes a few weeks to find out at my NHS clinic when my follow up will be and then another few until the appointment. I’ll wait until I see the consultant but think I need a different protocol for next time to help my lining.

@seekingbabyk I hope you’re feeling better about the embryo grades. I feel as long as they are genetically fine, the grading doesn’t indicate success chances.

@Honeybunie I agree, I should give it another shot before asking them to thaw all my embryos 🙈 I will certainly ask about vaginal viagra and anything else we can do when I see the doctor

I’ve had some sort of allergic reaction POST stopping the Lubion injections. All my previous injection sites have flared up and quite red. It’s itchy but not sore. I’m really confused as to how that’s happened. I’ve emailed the clinic with pictures. Hopefully they come back to me tomorrow. It’s been getting worse since Friday (I stopped Lubion on Thursday).

@Spin101 sorry to hear it didn’t work this time!

its OTD for me, and the tests are very dark now…my spotting however has gone a bit heavier now, I started to have cramps about an hour ago and had red gush of red bleeding. feels exactly the same as last time, this happened then overnight it was very heavy! I’ll call the clinic in the morning and I assume they will tell me to come in for a blood test. I feel like it’s turning into a chemical pregnancy as it just feels the same as last time, so feel crappy now!

Oh sorry @1stcycle I hope it doesn't go that way for you, especially as you tested so early and the tests are dark! I had two big red gushes, was yours just freshbred blood with no clots? Might be similar to what i had if so, could be alot of things. Got my fingers crossed clinic gets you in quickly xx

@Imisscoffee2021 thanks I hope that is the case, just feels exactly the same as last time so I’m not holding too much hope. Only difference to last time is the tests were faint and this time they are dark. Yes just fresh red blood no clots. I really hope that is the case when did you get your red gushes?

@1stcycle I got pink near OTD, the day after I think, then a red gush probably 2 or 3 days later. Then another one about 5 days after that and wince then nothing. Obviously with some brown lingering spotting after as old blood came out x

@Imisscoffee2021 fingers crossed it’s something similar. did you have any cramping at all? Xx

I had lots of cramping at times in first trimester, it's mad how close period symptoms are to early pregnancy ones! I was still getting them at around 12 weeks as uterus grew, and i get them now if i over do it with alot of physical activity. Hard to believe at so early but so much is happening in there so cramping was seen as normal when I spoke to the ivf clinic about it. They were strong ish when I was due on my period the 2nd month of pregnancy which is also quite common apparently. I just made sure if inwas cramping I'd rest up, preferably lie down and take it easy, or sit up in bed with drawing board and laptop on my lap so I was comfy on days I had work I could do at home. Same with bleeds, I took the day off work and one after and put myself on bed rest essentially, the ivf clinic advised that when I rang them about the first one

@Imisscoffee2021 thanks for sharing your experience it does make me feel better. Like you said it’s so confusing when the symptoms of both early pregnancy and period are basically the same! One thing I read says it’s common and fine happened to loads of people, then next thing I read is could be a chemical! My cramps are not too strong so I’m hoping all is fine. I guess just need to try and relax tonight and whatever will be will be. Xx

Morning all.

I've let the worry take over and did an online consultation with a doc yesterday for my suspected UTI. He put me Cephalexin for 5 days - has anyone been on this?

Also, what's worried me most is that I have done a clear blue dating test this morning (to put my mind at ease) and it says 2-3. I should technically be 3+ now as I am 5 weeks 5 days.

I am not sleeping with the worry from thy is UTI and the CB test this morning has not helped.

Morning ladies. Awww @ralno2 sorry you are going through that. Have you had your scan yet? Could you book a private one or another blood test? Might be worth calling EPU if you are worried?

@1stcycle I'm sorry you also are having a rough time. As @Imisscoffee2021 said though that can be completely normal so try not to worry. Do you have your blood test booked with clinic?

Thanks @Spin101 - yes I'm ok with it I can't change anything. I just really hope we don't go through the rest of the year on this emotional rollercoaster and not get success at the end that's all x

@ralno2 UTI’s are the worst and I can imagine even more stressful when pregnant so I hope the medication clears it up quickly for you! Have you tried lavender spray on your pillow? I always find this helps me sleep better when I’m struggling to sleep.

@Imisscoffee2021 @seekingbabyk its been a rollercoaster of emotions. I genuinely thought I was out yesterday but then the bleeding stopped when I went to bed and had gone back to spotting brown. Took tests this morning and they look maybe slightly darker and had a 2-3weeks on digital which was 1-2 weeks on sat. I called the clinic and explained and I had a positive yest but slight bleeding but it’s gone back brown now and she just said that’s good book you in for scan 21st March. So I said do I need bloods or anything cos of the bleed and she said it’s common and should all be fine but if I do have any more bleeding to call them. so they don’t seem concerned. I was kind of hoping for a blood test just to put me at ease a little. But I will just try and stay calm and probably continue to test next few days in hope they don’t get lighter. The worry continues haha!!

@ralno2 so sorry you're going through this. It's so hard to stay calm and positive in those early weeks, I know I was a nervous wreck. I've heard so many stories about the CB not progressing to 3+ and it's given a lot of people heartache unnecessarily! For that reason, I didn't test after I got 2-3. Did your clinic do a blood test? You could request a repeat one or as @seekingbabyk said, you can ring up EPU for an early scan? That's what they're there for.

@1stcycle So sorry, it can be really scary! The lines being dark is very promising though, which won't be the case if it is a chemical? There must be some underlying cause and bleeding in early pregnancy can be very common as @Imisscoffee2021 has experienced too. Really worth ringing up EPU. They were great when I had a bit of spotting. If it's too early to scan, they can run 48 hour bloods to reassure you. All the best X

Sorry for the radio silence, I'm down with another cold and I was feeling terrible the whole weekend. I know your immunity drops in pregnancy, I didn't think it would be this much! I had a cold just a month ago and for me, this is not normal. I think the weather changing didn't help either. I'm feeling much better today though, so hope it won't get any worse. I've also got my scan this afternoon, so glad I'm feeling better. Feeling both nervous and excited for it. @Imisscoffee2021 is yours this afternoon too? All the best, will be thinking of you X

@1stcycle Think I was replying at the same time as you so missed your message. Great about the CB result, and good that the bleeding has stopped. Clinic not being too concerned is positive. Everything crossed for your little bean X

@Tinkerbell098 thanks, I know it’s always scary when you see blood and then you read so many experiences of people going through the same and everything is fine like @Imisscoffee2021 and it does make you feel better. I think we will always just be cautious of anything. Hopefully I will start to accept it better soon as it’s costing me a bomb on tests lol! Sorry you’ve been unwell, hopefully now the weather is changing colds/flu will die down a little! Good luck for your scan today, i bet you are excited!

@seekingbabyk sorry you were a little upset about the embryo grading. But have to agree with everyone else that the grading doesn't really mean much unless it's been genetically tested. Anything that's freezable has potential. Glad you can start again very soon. Regarding protein, I loaded myself with chicken breast, lentils, chickpeas, egg and spinach mainly in the two weeks I was stimming. I tried to eat at home during the whole IVF cycle and not get too many takeaways. Even when we went to Cotswold after my transfer, I took a load of fresh fruit and a whole bag of spinach with me😂I'm the opposite now though, and have been eating all sorts of junk in the past few weeks, which I really need to change.

@Tinkerbell098 yes mines an hour after yours today, looking forward to hearing how yours is! How many weeks are you now? The first trimester junk binge is inevitable I think, my great IVF diet went out the window at 8 weeks when the sickness ramped up and I just could only face a very narrow range of food!

@1stcycle so glad the bloods tailed off, sounds exactly like what I had. You spend so much of adult life thinking pregnancy =no period so no blood but its so so common! Lots happening hormonally in there.

@ralno2 if it's worrying you alot you could get a blood test, I think alot of places do them privately if your clinic won't. My clinic never tested my hcg, I paid for my tests privately in the fjrst week or two. Like tinkerbell said lots of peoples CB digital never progresses beyond 2-3 and they're not diagnostic of a progressing pregnancy, only a scan or an HCG will give you a good indication of progress. It's so so hard the first few weeks, I remember it well, the worry was all consuming sometimes and so often there's nothing to do but wait, which is like mental torture! Xx

@ralno2 I can't remember what meds I had for UTI but the Dr wouldn't give you anything not safe for pregnancy, and incase on a 5 day course too so sounds right. Whenever a midwife has talked UTIs to me it's been in the context of them causing early labour if left to run rampant, so early pregnancy mild ones i think aren't too dangerous and just best treated so you don't get a worse infection or let it reach kidneys etc.

I had a full flu at 9ish weeks pregnant and was so scared for the baby, with the hacking coughing constantly and high fever. He was totally fine in his safe little world, they're well protected so try not to worry :)

@seekingbabyk I've got high hopes for your last stim cycle, and that you'll end the year where you want to be with a bun in the oven :) it's such a worry and a valid fearful thought tho, so don't blame you for worrying xx

@Imisscoffee2021 going by the last scan, I'm exactly 12 weeks today (fingers crossed!). We are also thinking about ways to break the news to family this week all being well. OH wants to tell everyone today after the scan itself, but I'm keen to wait for the test results first. We have come up with a couple of cute and perhaps cryptic ways to tell family. Hope they will get it haha!

@Tinkerbell098 so fun planning all that! I waited til tests came back and they were very quick, 4 days later I had the letter :) I just called my family in the end as theyre all up north but it was lovely surprising them as they thought I was still waiting on NHS referrals! My poor mum didn't know what hit her 🤣

Good luck for your scans today @Tinkerbell098 and @Imisscoffee2021 - excited for you both!

@1stcycle hoping everything is okay - a darker test like and progression on the weeks is a positive sign!

@ralno2 ah I hope you're okay - perhaps EPU could put your mind at ease, or if you're able to get an early scan booked in for 6 weeks. It's so nerve wracking in the first trimester! But I'm hoping all is okay for you and if you can (I know nearly impossible) try to keep your mind off things - the stress also makes us feel worse. Hope you get some well deserved rest and sleep 💕

My work has been busy, and so I've not been able to catch up as much on messages - my scan is Friday so trying to stay chill till then 🙈

Thanks @Imisscoffee2021 and @Tinkerbell098 - yes fingers crossed for this round and I'm definitely going to try to eat well on stims this time. I'm not an unhealthy eater anyway but the stims definitely had an impact on me mentally and then I get into a "treat yourself" mood so hopefully I'll do some meal planning this time and try to treat myself to some nice healthy meals and shopping trips instead lol

Good luck both of you today with your scans! Can't wait to hear about them later x