IVF April 2023

[charja100]

Hi all,

I'm about to start my first IVF ICSI cycle. I expect to start my stims next week and all being well will have a fresh transfer in April.

Looking for buddies to come on this journey with me.

@MRSLMF i totally agree with your points above about stressing about the small stuff. I swear its why ive just fallen pregnant, we werent trying, just enjoying ourselves i had a couple of drinks here and there and just wasnt thinking about it. Unfortunately for me its not an issue with getting pregnant its always been staying pregnant. Im on day 6 of constant cramping now that feel exactly the same as period cramps. I just dont have the bleed and im putting it down to the progesterone stopping the bleed. No medical prof. can seem to give me any advice on it except to wait. Im going to do another test tomorrow and compare it and if its got lighter im taking it upon myself to stop the progesterone and i swear i will then start bleeding finally. Im getting so uncomfortable now and fed up of it all. No pregnancy symptoms, when other pregnancys that also failed i had really strong ones. Its just not working out again and put a big delay on my transfer now. Another thing that has made this difficult is i have to inject blood thinners which out of all the injections ive done ive found them to be the most painful. Now im injecting them for the first time whilst pregnant and wow they hurt even more. Im struggling to see how id cope doing it for 9 months but of course i would if it meant a healthy pregnancy. Im also having those feelings of its never going to happen for me. Sorry to go on i needed to offload.

@charja100 sorry your transfer was such an ordeal but glad all is ok now. Got any plans for the wait?

@charja100 you really have been through it haven't you, I'm so sorry but also really pleased they completed the transfer. Congratulations on being PUPO! Do your clinic do a blood test or TWW and home test? I really hope this is the one!

@MRSLMF I really needed that msg, thank you!! Had 4 glasses of prosecco last night (over 6 hours) and have been beating myself up today about driving to the festival and not drinking. I also work with a lady who did IVF, had given up all hope so got really drunk the weekend before her transfer and it resulted in her son! Also not saying alcohol is the answer, but I agree perhaps just relaxing once in a while is good for us and long as not OTT. I'm sorry you're struggling, how do you feel today? This journey is so bloody difficult and emotions are all over the place. Have you got a nice weekend planned to occupy you? It's always in the back of your mind through isn't it!

@VioletCookie thank you, I'm hoping so too! My clinic do HPT and my OTD is 13dp5dt on Thursday 27th. Seems so far away!

Have an amazing time today! I hope that that the weather isn't too miserable for you.

@Flowerlover010 I cant imagine the turmoil your in at the moment, you know your body best but if it helps I've always still bled on progesterone even when I had lubion and x3 cyclogest so no bleed could be a good sign. But of course that doesn't help your turmoil right now I really hope this works out for you in one way or another. The mental exhaustion of it all is unbelievable.
@VioletCookie go the festival, have fun, do what makes you happy :) try not to beat yourself up for being happy in the moment I'm sure our little eggs/embryos like happiness.....and besides there is enough lows in this journey without putting ourselves under intense scrutiny :)
We had day 10 scan yesterday, lots of growth, rescan Monday and hopefully collection on Wednesday! We are looking at potentially collecting 8 eggs this time which is better than last round where we got 4 and then 2 embys.
TMI but today but my bloating has disappeared and lots of EWM! I'm stressing I've ovulated but surely not on the buserelin?!
Xxx

@MRSLMF i had the same before egg collection its normal because u have lots of oestrogen in you. I thought exactly the same that id already ovulated but no its completely normal. Thanks for your words. I am confused about whats going on but still very sure its going wrong. I just bloody hope its not complicated or really dragged out and I really hope it happens naturally this time and no need surgery or meds.

Thank you @Flowerlover010 I don't remember having this last time hopefully it's a good thing then and means eggs are growing :)
I'm praying for you that you have an answer soon, it's so hard that its literally just "wait and see" if only they could do a hcg blood test to reassure you! I believe you can get hcg blood tests privately but I've no idea how or cost etc or if it would even give you an answer
Xx

@MRSLMF read this. https://www.draimee.org/7-ivf-facts

Hopefully it is a good sign!
Being in limbo is the worst, its all i can think about whilst just waiting. Nhs wont give me blood test i tried, and there seems to be no where privately that does it in my area. The only one ive found is online where u prick yourself which i dont fancy plus by the time it gets here, i send it off, do a 2nd one a few days later i feel like it will already be over by then! So im just going to go off a urine test. They are pretty accurate.

Tank you for the link @Flowerlover010 I feel reassured reading that :)
How did you get on this morning with your urine test?

@MRSLMF as i feared it hasnt really given me the straight answer i needed. The test is still very positive and i did a weeks test which said 2-3 which may not be incorrect but i need to do another one probably about a week later now to see if it goes up to 3+. If it had been 1-2 then id have definitely known it was game over. If it had been 3+ id have felt a bit happier but im not joking when i say i have really got period cramps for now 7 days constantly. They dont come and go they are constant. The doctor even said it was odd. Still no blood though...im so uncomfortable its like that feeling when u want u period to just come as u know u will feel better and u get this release. Ive looked everywhere for a blood test and cant find one near me. If i order some to do at home by the time ive got the test delivered, done it, sent it off, waited 2 days, done another, send off and wait for results id probably have had a nhs scan by then or do my own weeks urine test and can tell from there! Even so it doesnt make a difference to the outcome! So as per everything fertility i will just have to wait it out and in the meantime drive myself mad!!

@Flowerlover010 how frustrating for you! I think your right about blood test by the time you get answers from it you would know either way already so probably just be a waste of money and effort!
Have you got much planned over the next week for distraction? Days feel like months when your waiting for things fertility related! I'm just desperate to get to egg collection on Wednesday now! This long protocol has been mental torture! Hopefully will result in more eggs/embryos than last time and be worth the wait!
I've been the gym today and then did a 2hr walk to distract myself! 3 more sleeps!
If I could be put in a medically induced coma and just wake up pregnant that would be great ha ha!

@MRSLMF it is so hard to keep my mind busy because even when im doing something its all i think about. The pains got more "there" yesterday but seem to have eased a bit today but definitely still going. Ive spoken to my clinic today and they were quite helpful even though im technically discharged from them at the moment. They are going to refer me to EPU but theres still no point me going until 6 weeks as there wont be much to see but yesterday i did start to panic myself about an ectopic! Just dont understand why im having these pains for so long and no one can come up with why. I may ask my gp for a UTI test just in case.
Are you triggering tonight then if EC is weds? Did u have another scan?

@charja100 how are you coping? Hope you're ok

@VioletCookie any sign of AF yet?

Scan this morning was really good, looking like 14 eggs to collect yay!
Trigger at 12:30 tonight for egg collection 12:30 Wednesday! I'm excited but nervous, I've developed anxiety that I'll release the eggs early or something!
How far away is 6 weeks, as in would that be another 4 weeks from now you have to wait? It's almost cruel isn't it.
Definitely worth ruling out UTI or other causes of your pain xxx

@MRSLMF oh thats fantastic news so your ovarys have surprised you! Will u stay up since its 12:30 or set an alarm? I was lucky mine was 10:30pm.
Sorry 6 weeks pregnant so i think thats only next week but feels like an eternity! Ive got to ring them tomorrow to book in.

Girls after all my stressing about 1 glass of prosecco I drank for the whole festival and was doing bloody shots 🤣 I haven't really drunk for over a year I'm absolutely shattered!! AF is due next week so I'm going tee total again, but I really needed that weekend of fun it was so worth it!

@charja100 how are you feeling, managing to keep busy? Have you taken any time off work or has it calmed down?

@Flowerlover010 I know a week feels like an eternity, I'm not sure how I'd be coping! Hopefully this 6 week scan can put you at ease, can they book you in now so you can get in there in a week's time?

@MRSLMF that's great news! Also well done on all the excersize, great way to occupy your mind!

@VioletCookie brilliant so glad you let go and enjoyed yourself! Its so needed and deserved!!

I will ring them tomorrow and see when they think i should come in

Yesss @VioletCookie I love this! Last blow out before the rollercoaster ride starts again :) good on you!
@Flowerlover010 hope you get a date booked in when you call tomorrow and then you can finally rest your mind xx

Hi ladies.

Thanks for asking @Flowerlover010 and @VioletCookie so I'm trying so hard to be zen... why's it so hard 🤣. I'm analysing every twitch in my body subconsciously and I'm wishing the days away already. I don't know how people stay so calm and patient, the TWW is the worst big for me. I just struggle with the unknown. My OTD is so far away too which make it impossible for me to hold out to.

I haven't taken any time off but I cancelled a ton of meetings for this week and Im making space to find balance. I drew some boundaries with my direct report and that's helped a ton. Work has always been my sage space which is why I think I found it so hard. I also have a counselling session on Thursday which will help further I'm sure. I will take time off if I feel I need it though.

@VioletCookie so pleased you had such a fab weekend. It's so important to let your hair done once in a while! You have lots of time to be good now.

@Flowerlover010 violet cookies idea of getting booked in now sounds good. I find having things planned helps me. I'm so sorry you're going through such uncertainty.

@MRSLMF such good news on the scan! Congrats on pulling trigger tonight! I found it such a milestone moment.

@charja100 proud of you. I know it's really hard but I'm glad you've stepped back and said no to things. Work will definitely help to keep your mind off things. When is OTD xx

@CR7 thank you.
So OTD is the 27th July which seems so long compared to other clinics.

I had my transfer on a Tuesday and OTD was on a Monday. Is that less time than for you? Xx

It'll be 13 days post 5 day transfer. It is what it is, I think it's standard for Care. It just feels later than a lot of other clinics.

@charja100 I was with care also so you're probably right. I reckon two days before that you would get a pretty conclusive test result x

@charja100 that TWW is tough! So good that you've cancelled some meetings and took the stress off a bit :) have you got any nice plans to distract yourself?
My clinic is 11dp5dt so I think if you text 25th you'll get a pretty accurate result....6 more days!
In my last 2 transfers I tested from day 5 but made the whole thing worse for myself, if we are lucky enough to get embys from this collection I have no idea how I will resist this time haha!
I cant remember if you feel bloated on the progesterone? I did a natural fet last time but back to progesterone for this next one...if we get embys!
I've got major anxiety I'm going to ovulate before collection!

@charja100 my clinic is 12 days post transfer so not far behind. Hope you have some nice things planned to distract!