IVF November 2022 - thread 2

[countrypunk]

Hello everyone, shiny new thread for us IVF warriors.

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

Wow I sound erratic 😂 it's begun 🤦🏻‍♀️

@Jx3303 your messages made me smile! I would definitely be like you 🥰
They didn’t mention my lining at the scan but he did say after egg collection there was evidence it had started to disentegrate which is wierd as last time they said throughout his good my lining looked. Am definitely going to ask more about that as I wouldn’t have been able to do a transfer this last time given what he said about my lining x

@LF82 I started laughing at myself. I'm such an overthinker at the best of times 😂 I so badly don't want to overthink and symptom spot and stress but I know with this journey, that's extremely difficult at every stage!!

It is strange isn't it, especially if your lining looked fine throughout scans. My cancelled cycle my lining was only 3mm or something, so it meant I couldn't even change to FET. I think first cycle they said 5.6mm at last scan before collection, so 6.5mm at this recent last scan was better. They scanned again at collection and the Dr said it wasn't quite at 7mm but that it was also about how it looked and he said it looked good. It's a minefield isn't it. Perhaps they can give you something to reduce the chance of it happening again.

@Jx3303 I over think everything too so you are in good company! Yeah definitely going to see what they suggest x

@Jx3303 Yeah they're shitbags. But it makes the decision to go elsewhere very easy.

I understand. My first line was very light, but then I did use a cheapie on afternoon pee. So if you do test at home, don't do that!

Very impressive that you're managing to stay off Google. It definitely makes you feel worse! I had two cups of tea a day. I think you should do whatever makes you feel good and less stressed. But yes, a cup of tea is not going to harm you or your little emby.

You're already three days in! 💛💛💛

@countrypunk well yeah exactly! Although costly, the care with private is amazing and I have found the communication and speed of things make it also very worthwhile.

Ah fab thanks, I'm going to stick to tea and decaf coffee. I like a hot drink in the morning and I have a bit of a 3pm coffee ritual so I'll pretend with decaff 😂

To be honest, I'd quite happily stay in this unknown but hopeful bubble. I am absolutely NOT dying to test. I have even found that I'm too scared to look at the tissue when I go to the loo already. I know if I see anything I'll freak out and google, and there are always so many different stories, so I'd rather be oblivious. Not sure this is a good approach however! I'm not religious but I've even found myself praying this week! I have a counselling call today, so it will be nice to get all my feelings out xx

Sorry I just repeated myself there 😂 I'm losing it haha

@Jx3303 😂

We were actually with a private clinic before, just funded by NHS. I do wonder if they treat the private patients differently...

It's great you're not dying to test because it can drive you absolutely potty - and then you crack and test early, which is bad. I think you're being sensible.

Hope your counselling call is a good release xx

@countrypunk oh of course, I forget up in Scotland we just don't have the same. My clinic was NHS with the option also for self funded but same care. With my create clinic I think they did NHS cycles which is just amazing they had the same access to the advanced technology and protocols (I think) as private. But yeah, no idea if patients are treated differently - they shouldn't be. I could be wrong though - maybe they just did conventional IVF for NHS patients.

I think because it's taken SO long to get here, I haven't really looked past this part. I just want to enjoy the hope and the best chance we've ever had.

It did, she's amazing and was so happy to hear we got to transfer ❤️ she's seen me at some very low times over the last 18 months xx

@Jx3303 I have now managed to make myself believe decaf coffee & decaf tea (Yorkshire) taste the same as the real thing 😂 Though maybe the next few weeks I can have some of the good stuff!

@LF82 me too 😂 I’ve been drinking it that long I’m used to it now - DH also drinks it but he doesn’t know that 🙊

@Hopewishprayer I dod the same with my DH for a day and when he didn’t notice I told him! He now takes decaf tea bags into work off his own back 😂

hi all- quick question … do you all take CoQ10 tablets? My GP & the clinic never mentioned it - both said take pregnacare vitamins which I do but have read a lot of women take this too. If anyone does what brand do they get? Thanks! X

Yeah decaff does just taste the same doesn't it! Shame it doesn't have the same perking up powers mid afternoon 😂

@LF82 I took coQ10 for months (for 6 months prior to my first cycle) after a nutritionist told me to. I tried lots of different brands but made sure it was the higher dose, I think normally 200mg tabs - always just brands off of Amazon. I spent a lot of money on supplements for months and eventually stopped after either failed cycle 1 or failed cycle 2, I can't quite remember. After that i just continued to take those that are advised as standard, folic acid and vitamin D. I think clinics and Drs don't mention it as I'm not sure they believe there's enough evidence and research currently. I could be wrong though x

@Jx3303 thank you- can you tell I am at the what can I do differently this time round stage of the process?! 😂 x

@LF82 I totally understand that. I did a lot of research and tried all sorts, believe me! You name it, I tried it. It's normal to want to try things to improve results. For me, I'd spent so much money and still had terrible results and I just couldn't keep it up - but I had been told to take such a concoction and when someone tells you it might help, it's hard not to want to try. I would speak to the Consultant and see what they think about coQ10. I'm also a believer though that if it helps you, mentally to try something, then why not xx

@LF82 I am the supplement queen. But I've recently found a prenatal supplement that contains loads of the extras including coq10. It's called FH Pro for Women. It's ridiculously expensive. I don't even want to say how much because I'm embarrassed to spend that much on a bloody pill. So I take that, and every day I also take:

1/2 teaspoon of powdered açai (for the antioxidants)
Magnesium
Vitamin C
Calcium
Vitamin D
Green veg powder (mixed with water and tastes truly vile)
NMN

That looks completely mad doesn't it.

There is research behind coq10 improving egg and sperm quality, definitely.

And I'm trying to eat better. But that's my Achilles heel - I ♥️♥️♥️ food and hate feeling deprived.

@Hopewishprayer 🤣 I might try that with mine. He drinks about 10 cups a day.

@Jx3303 I think that's great, and you should enjoy it! I'm glad your counselling call went well. Xx

@Jx3303 thank you will - will see what the consultant says x

@countrypunk thank you- that’s very helpful! I think I might add coq10 to my pregnacare and omega 3 tablet. I am with you on living my food! Trying to eat healthy but do like my treats! X

@countrypunk it doesn't look mad. At one point I took about 10 different supplements, and did all the dietary stuff too cutting out basically anything and everything.

For sure there's research, and sees to be even more so now! I just mean I have never been told by a medical professional at either of my clinics to take it, and I assumed it's not a standard thing they tell you take perhaps due to evidence. But I did read it starts with an egg and fertility nutritionist etc always talk about it. So I also don't see the harm in trying. I completely understand the want to take all we can, I was the same. But yeah you're right - it's so so costly!!

I tried to eat salmon twice a week, no gluten, sugar, dairy for 2 months, all the supplements, didn't drink for 7 months before my first cycle, tried hypnotherapy whilst TTC (pre-ivf), reflexology, yoga every single day to relax me for an entire month and then my cycle got cancelled, manifesting, all the self help books, meditation, the list goes on - I have tried everything. So nothing seems crazy to me 😂

@LF82 The consultant might totally support it. I remember telling my NHS Dr all the supplements I took, they didn't tell me not to but also just advised folic acid and vitamin D. I just know, on top of everything the supplements can get very expensive. But do what feels right for you ❤️ as I said, totally get it and I did the same, I wanted to try xx

@Jx3303 I am impressed you managed no dairy & no sugar! That I definitely can’t do 😂 not that I currently add sugar to anything but it’s the chocolate x

@LF82 I relate! I can't stay away from chocolate 😬

@Jx3303 I did low carb (ish) for about 3 weeks and then cracked. I just can't. I reckon it's better to be relaxed and have a less than perfect diet than stressed but eating 'perfectly'. That's science that is.

@LF82 i only managed for 2 months and gave it up way before I actually did my first cycle! As @countrypunk says, it's better to be relaxed than so stressed about what you can and can't eat. It became too difficult! So I wouldn't recommend 😂 I am a massive lover of chocolate haha.

My best cycle was the one where I ate whatever I wanted prior, I had an all inclusive holiday with many drinks 2 months before 🍸 and probably actually weighed more than before, and took the bare minimum supplements. Mentally though, I was in a much much better position ✌🏻

There are so many things to try. I would go with the ones that are the least stressful x

Least stressful is definitely the best idea. I do find that hard though! X

@LF82 I can really relate - I have been stressed even when I thought I wasn't that stressed. It's really hard not to be!

it's next week you have the consultant call isn't it? Xx