IVF November 2022 - thread 2

[countrypunk]

Hello everyone, shiny new thread for us IVF warriors.

@Crystal88
@Jx3303
@LF82
@Hopewishprayer
@Foreverhoping33
@Cat89

@Jx3303 it sounds like you have a lovely few days planned 🥰
I saw that late yesterday re works ivf day - definitely am amazing thing. 🤞for us all on our next steps of this bumpy journey! X

How is everyone? I hope all have a good week and looking forward to the weekend 💕

I need some advice. I'm still going back and forth with what to do next. I met my friend last night and it's got me back wondering. I really wasn't keen to do the third egg collection (not saying never but not right now) - do you ladies think I should before testing of embryos or that 4 is a good number and I should just get them tested prior to transfer?

I can see the pros to both - I guess I'm worried about the time and effort and maybe only getting say one embryo. It would also be my 5th collection (6th attempt). I know it makes sense to do the 3rd and test them all but it's so much, I really didn't want to be back down in Manchester for 10 days again stimming. Mentally it's harder for me than physically. Should we save the £1000 it will cost and that can go towards a transfer? I've said before I don't have a never ending amount of transfers in me so is it better to work with what we've got? And if it came to it, if I needed to do cycle 3 I could - and cross that bridge and the cost later? My OH also thinks his work do fund single cycles even if I had to do it that way. I know it's silly to pay testing twice but what if we don't need to do cycle 3. I've went from 3 embyros, to 2 embryos and I just don't think I'd cope well if I went all the way down and it got cancelled again or I came away with nothing as I know how heartbreaking that is.

Sorry that's a lot of me just getting my thoughts out. We've had a chat and my OH understands my point and is supportive in whatever I think, and I'm sure I can discuss with the Dr. Just wondered your ladies point of view ❤️

@Jx3303 No need to say sorry that’s what we are here for. It is so draining doing this journey especially being a way from home to do it. At least if you test now and only get one you will know it’s a good one. You need to take faith in knowing your body can get a positive result, and hopefully with a good embryo you will get a baby. But you need to do what feels right for you, don’t regret anything. In my last cycle they wanted to cancel after first scan but I persevered with it, I know it didn’t work but at least I don’t have the what if question of would it have worked. I believe my time will come when it’s meant to and hopefully yours will too.

my suggestion is go with your heart

good luck and remember we are always here for you xx

@Crystal88 yeah it really is, and I know we made that choice it's just a lot having done / tries so many collections. Another embryo would of course be amazing and I would be happy with another one, I'm just scared of doing it all and getting none when we could just test the 4. I know my OH kind of sees it as tying up loose ends, but i hope if I wanted to I could do the third later if I really needed to.

I think my heart says protect myself and my mental health and see what we can do with what we have. But then I am scared of regrets. It's not even really about the money as I know if we did have to do cycle 3 and test again, the money can be saved and earned. Gosh it's so hard. I've a counselling call next week so that will hopefully help give me a clear path xx

Morning @Jx3303 All the choices we are presented with in ivf are so so hard. I completely understand why you are conflicted and I would definitely suggest taking some time to think about it and as well as speaking to the counsellor maybe speak to one of the consultants or doctors again.
I know how hard I found 3 egg collections (with the added cancelled cycle), it really does take it out of you and I don’t think anyone understands what you put your body and your head through unless you go through it. So I definitely get why when you have had 5 you are so reluctant to put yourself through it again.
In terms of the pgta testing have they told you (or even can they tell you) what the odds are of getting embryos they say are good from the 4 you have? Not sure that makes sense but I guess if they think having maybe more to test will be best in terms of getting a ‘good’ embryo through the pgta
Ultimatley, I know you will make the right decision for you - protecting your mental health is so very important as well.
I so wish I could wave a magic wand for us all! Xx

@LF82 so the Dr I spoke to said they expect 50% to be abnormal. So I would really hope to get two we'd be able to try with 🤞🏻 although as we know, nothing is a given. I know it's possible to come away with no normal. If that happened I would expect they'd likely not think it was the best option to try with my own eggs. It's hard as it also depends on who you get for your call I feel. I loved the Dr, who I know specialises in testing, and I'd pay anything to reduce the chance of another miscarriage. But would another Dr have said the same? Who knows. I'm totally all for testing I'm just not sure about pushing my body any further right now.

How are you doing lovely, have you got a called arranged to discuss the next steps?

@Crystal88 and how are things with you? Xx

@Jx3303 its so hard isn’t it and you are right I do think each doctor says something slighty different. I am ok- I think ivf is a roller coaster for me and at the moment I am on the bottom as I just have to wait before the next steps. Naively when I started I thought by now we would have had at the very least a transfer attempt!
have asked my patient co-ordinator to arrange a call with the consultant or a nurse to talk me through what down reg actually means and entails but not heard yet. Though I did only email yesterday! Patience is a virtue I need to learn x

@LF82 I do fully trust that Dr and was glad to speak to him after he'd done my collection and transfer - it's nice to have some continuity rather than a different Dr every time; it's just a lot isn't it.

I'm sorry, delays and hoping to be at a certain place and then not is so hard. I understand the frustration. I hope that you get a call organised soon with the clinic. Patience is very hard in this, we are all always waiting for something aren't we 😞

@Jx3303 we are definitely always waiting!
its so good you have had some continuity with the doctor, long May it continue!

@LF82 I hope so, I'm definitely going to request the next call is with him anyway!

How are you? Have you heard back from the clinic? X

@Jx3303 I am so pleased it’s nearly the weekend! I have not heard from them yet.. which is annoying! If I don’t hear by early next week will ring. It’s not urgent as nothing can happen until my AF after my withdrawal bleed but I would just like to get myself prepared! X

Hello, How is everyone doing? X

@LF82 Hello, I'm afraid not brilliant today. I woke up to spotting and I've had mild cramping all day. Weirdly it's also been my first day of feeling properly sick.

Spoke to the clinic and they just told me to use more progesterone.

Can't help but think it's the start of another miscarriage. I have my scan on Friday so not long to go until I know for sure.

How are you doing?

@countrypunk stay positive hopefully it will all be ok, IVF plays havoc with our bodies xx

i have my feedback call tomorrow see if they had any answers why it failed and if they have any ideas what to try next

I still feel very hormonal and very bloated still I thought my body would of recovered by now xx

@countrypunk oh I
so sorry to hear that, I have everything crossed that it will be ok. I can only imagine how much it will be on your mind and impacting you. Have you worked today or taking some time? Thinking of you

@Crystal88 I hope the call tomorrow brings you some answers & a plan for what to do next.

xx

just had call they want me to have another AMH blood test to see whether my levels are ok to be with ABC or whether i need to go with Create, booked in next week for that . They said they are worried has i only got 2 eggs and i should of had more. state the obvious. They have also set me a target to lower my BMI need to lose a stone and half by when i come back from holidays in October. So really no answers just more challenges, they said it will be November before i can probably start again, due to having to lose weight. Feeling very deflated, i really thought i might have some answers, but to blame it on my weight, my BMI is 30 which is what they ask for. Now they are saying they want it to be 27, so not only am i still down about cycle not working, feeling very hormonal still and still bloated, i now have to try and lose weight xx

@countrypunk/@LF82 how are you today xx

@Crystal88 Oh I'm sorry to hear that. It's all so frustrating. I really really hope they do some investigations around why you didn't get more eggs last time and have some ideas up their sleeve. Do you know what your AMH is/was? Clinics should be doing absolutely everything they can to ensure each round is a success given the money and emotion of it. Too often it feels like they don't.

I'm not feeling hopeful. I feel like it's gone. Still cramping and it's very much like you do just before your period comes, plus spotting. I'm definitely going to have more investigations before the next embryo transfer. It could be that both were abnormal but I want to check there isn't something else going on before I lose another embryo.

@LF82 I'm working, but not very effectively! I felt so sick yesterday on top of the other stuff. Feel much less sick today. Of course that's also worrying me! God it never ends.

@Crystal88 I am so sorry you are feeling deflated, this whole journey is so so hard. Especially when no one can give us the answers we need and are looking for. It’s so unfair for them to talk about your weight right now whilst you are still bloated/full of hormones as it’s not an accurate reflection! I have set myself a challenge to try and get more active and lose some weight over the coming months as I have definitely put a lot on since the start of the year. Sending you lots of hope & positive thoughts xx

@countrypunk the worrying never ends does it no matter what. Make sure you take time off work between now & Friday if you need to. Though I guess it might be helping to occupy you. I truly hope it’s not bad news for you.

I have a treatment consultation on Thursday with one of the nurses about next steps so will see what that brings

@LF82 Ah that's good. Progress. Let us know how it goes.

@countrypunk /@LF82 thank you both just been for a nice walk and feel slightly better.

my AMH was in 2021 11.7 but i dont think i have had it tested since. i think it has to be 10 to go with ABC but not sure if it decreases over time

maybe i should go with create although its more money at least they can try me with different drugs, than stick to the same ones which dont seem to be working xx

@Crystal88 Could you have a couple of consultations with different clinics, explain your situation and ask them how they would approach your case?

10.7 is not bad at all. I'm obviously not an expert but I would say there must be another reason why your egg retrieval numbers are small. My AMH was 7.1 this time last year and 3.6 now. Although my doctor did say it could fluctuate and different labs will get different values. Not very helpful!

From what I hear Create take less of a one-size-fits-all approach. I think they do a 3 cycle deal, back to back embryo banking? I think that's what @LF82 is doing.

Sorry @Crystal88 I think you've been with Create before so know far more about them than I do!

@countrypunk no never with create, only the sister company ABC.

its the same clinics but the difference is ABC is cheaper has they only use certain medication and isnt flexible with it, one size fits all approach and nurse led. Where Create has more medication available and more tailored the more i think about it the more i think i want to do that route. I don't think i could do 3 cycles back to back has i am too impatient lol. Lets see what AMH level are and then i will decide from there. What will be will be xx