IVF November 2022 - thread 2

[countrypunk]

Hello everyone, shiny new thread for us IVF warriors.

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

@countrypunk hope the cramps go away quickly! Ahh so pleased your consultation went well and you liked the doctor - so important. Got my fingers crossed for you x

Hi all. I've found you again!! 😃
So sorry for disappearing, I didn't see the tag notification for some reason when this new thread was set up! 🙈

Been catching up on everyone's stories. Thanks for the reminder of each story, very helpful!

@Hopewishprayer - that's a fantastic number for the freezer, I bet you were super happy with that? I'm sorry you can't go ahead with a transfer yet though, I feel your frustration but keep us updated if the procedure is really needed or not 😬

@LF82 Sorry to hear about this cycle. IVF is still subject to chance and it's shitty when sometimes a cycle just doesn't go well for no real reason. Hugs to you xx.

@Jx3303 wow what a story to read! I'm so happy you've found success so far on this cycle, hoping soooo much for you for test day. When is it? I'm pretty sure we all feel each other's anxiety here too and want the very best outcome for you!

@Crystal88 Glad you've had your consultation and rooting for you for the next cycle!! 🤞

@countrypunk
Glad you'll be starting next cycle again soon. Hope it comes by quickly for you!

Update from me: I've got my Week 24 antenatal appointment on Monday, can feel baby movement almost daily now. I turned a corner after the week 20 anomaly scan showed everything to be perfect, up until then I still kept saying 'if baby is born' and now catch myself saying 'when baby is born'. It's a nice shift in mindset that's kinda just happened naturally with time. I don't at all miss the anxiety that came with IVF and waiting for that first test and first scan - thinking of you all and waiting for you to join me on the other side ☺️☺️🤞. It's weird how there were so many complications to get to a viable pregnancy, and then once that was overcome there's been no concerns raised whatsoever. I keep waiting for an abnormal test or scan but so far it's been perfect pretty much! Just goes to show one thing doesn't necessarily predict another and just need to be patient (very) to get over the initial big hurdle 🙂.

Sending lots of love and a happy weekend for everyone xxx

My story if helpful, which is slightly different I guess..

I'm 33 and had irregular periods for years and ovulation that was very unpredictable. Nonetheless I amazingly got pregnant quickly despite all the doom and gloom I'd read online about PCOS and infertility! I experienced regular light bleeding a few weeks after BFP and decided to get it checked out via an early scan in the early pregnancy unit. I was diagnosed as having an ectopic pregnancy. For those not aware, an ectopic pregnancy is when the embryo gets stuck and was growing in my fallopian tube instead of uterus, it's very dangerous and potentially life threatening to Mother if left too long as the tube will eventually rupture and cause catastrophic internal bleeding 😯🤯. So yeah I had a shitty first experience with a Week 7/8 scan and I had to take methotrexate to terminate and wait 6 months for it to wash out.

We tried again and unbelievably the same story unfolded! The Doctors don't see many double ectopic patients so they recommended I consider termination via surgery and in the process permanently remove my right fallopian tube. During the surgery they identified very mild endometriosis, this was complete news to me as I've never suffered any endo symptoms at all!! A lesion that was in an unfortunate location caused my right fallopian tube to become stuck and likely caused both ectopics. That was in Feb 2022 and it was a very difficult year mentally to recover from. I took time out and concentrated more on holidays, career, and getting back into my hobbies to find myself again as I had become quite resentful and bitter inside (tried always to be happy and smiley on the outside). We tried for a few months but I was becoming terrified of having a third ectopic (two different private doctors I'd consulted during this period said my risk now was about 20% as it could happen on my left tube, which pissed me off as the surgeon had initially told me the surgery would decrease the chance of it happening again! 🤬 ). I surprised my husband by announcing that I wanted to pursue IVF and would rather pay the money than risk going through the experience again. Mum and hubbie felt it wasn't necessary and I got really upset that they failed to understand how much of an upsetting time I'd been through and how difficult it was to mentally face the prospect of another failed pregnancy. They admitted they didn't fully appreciate the impact it had taken on me and how I really had been feeling.

Weirdly, on the IVF screening tests they diagnosed my hubbie as having low sperm morphology and advised ICSI. It was a bit of a gamble but I actually declined on the basis that we'd conceived naturally twice so I wasn't convinced it was a problem. I read that exercise can make a big difference and actually hubbie had suffered an injury since our 2nd pregnancy and had become much less fit. During the month wait for IVF he started running again every day and when the day came to give his sample it came back normal and ICSI wouldn't have been needed anyway. Thought I'd share that as it was all a bit strange and who knows, exercise might have created and resolved that situation!

I'm incredibly fortunate that IVF worked first time and currently am 24 weeks pregnant. I only had 2 viable embryos (1 in freezer) which I thought I'd be higher as egg/sperm/ fertility wasn't a prior issue per se, so again you never know with IVF and it's all a bit of chance and need to properly give it enough cycles (just like with natural pregnancy).

Sorry that was a rather long story!! X

@countrypunk glad to hear all went well and you can get moving again soon

@Jx3303 hipe your holding up ok during your 2WW not long to go now, hoping this little embryo has stuck!

@Cat89 lovely to hear your update, glad everything is going well and that you are in a positive mindset

update from me: I went for scan last week at 7+2 and everything is looking on track, measuring exactly as should be and we saw the heartbeat! I was so nervous as last 7 week scan we went to that’s where we found out mmc and so the relief that everything was good was overwhelming. I felt reassured for about 2 days and now back into being anxious, every feeling in my stomach I’m worried and on days I feel ok and have no nausea I am worried, but I believe a positive mindset really makes a difference so trying to remind myself that for once the odds are in our favour!

hope everyone has a lovely weekend x

@Hopewishprayer that's fantastic!!! 😃😃😃
I was exactly the same, would feel an absolute high coming back from a positive scan and then 2 days later I was worrying about lack of symptoms. What are we like! I had no symptoms apart from lots of bloating. I also didn't show until Week 20.
The risk drops substantially after Week 6/7 confirmed heartbeat, that's hopefully all the reassurance you need as lack of symptoms means nothing x

Thank you all you lovely ladies ❤️ I had my bloods done Thursday (10dp5dt and I managed not to test early!) and got the results yesterday, and we have our first ever BFP 🥹 cautiously thrilled. Followed up with a digital clear blue today. I won't be going down to Manchester for my 7 week scan as it's just too far and costly so we'll have one done up here 🤞🏻 have only told my best friend so far. I know it can be tough reading others updates sometimes so I tell you all with love and sensitivity 💕

@countrypunk I am so glad and happy to hear that you liked the clinic, sounds like you got a good feeling and like it's the one for you. I have everything crossed you can get going soon xx

@Cat89 lovely to hear you and bump are doing well! And that's lovely you can now say "when" and not if. So happy that you've had a smooth last few weeks, long may it continue xxx

@Hopewishprayer sorry I also meant to reply to you! Absolutely fantastic news about your scan and hearing the heartbeat, that must have been amazing! So happy for you! I hope that when you feel anxious you can get back to the positive mindset. I agree - it really does help. I've done some yoga and meditation in the tww which I've found super helpful xx

@Hopewishprayer so lovely to hear your 7 week scan went well! I think that one is such a key milestone (where we fell down last time too) so it is amazing to hear that all is going well! As @Cat89 said I think the risk drops off a lot at this point so hopefully that is a reassurance to you! Keep up the positive feelings!

@Jx3303 ahhhh congratulations on the positive result!!!! I’m so so pleased for you!!! Try not to look into symptoms and just enjoy it all as much as you can. Stay positive and take each day at a time! Lovely that you have confided in a friend too.

update from me I have asked doctors if we can try for a FET end of May cycle rather than doing a hysteroscopy hoping my body just needed a rest and then will play along 🤞🤞🤞🤞. In the meantime I’m doing everything I can think of to help lining increase (yoga, castor oil, CoQ 10 etc). If it fails to get thick enough for my next cycle at end of may I will then look to do the hysteroscopy but very much hoping it won’t come to that.

hopefully this means @countrypunk @Crystal88 and @LF82 we will all align for next cycle and can support each other through it again. Of the group we have 3 pregnant already just the 4 of us left to go 💪💪💪

@Cat89 thanks for sharing your journey so far, I don’t think I knew about your ectopic pregnancies. That must have been so tough! I completely understand why you would have wanted to do ivf rather than risk another I think I would have been the same!

im so glad to hear things are going well! And especially that you are now saying ‘when’ not ‘if’. Being pregnant seems like such a special time and I don’t want ivf to take it away from us and make us riddled with anxiety instead so it’s nice to hear that you are feeling less anxious and can start to enjoy it! Xxxx

@Jx3303 amazing news!! So happy to read your update, I hope everything continues to go well for you. We didn’t go back down south either for scan and used window to the womb, I thought there were very good.
@Cat89 thank you, yes just keep reminding myself that the odds are in our favour now - it’s so odd as the odds have always been against us past 4 years! Just need to get through next 4 weeks now!
@Foreverhoping33 i hope you can go ahead with FET in May, also try a few Brazil nuts each day - heard that’s good for lining too! X

@Cat89 so lovely to read your update! Glad it’s all going so well 🥰

@Hopewishprayer amazing! So pleased

@Jx3303 yay to getting a BFP!!! That’s such good news!

am loving all the fab news on this thread - it’s given me such positivity! (It’s been a hard week)

@Crystal88 @countrypunk @Foreverhoping33 🤞for us on our next cycles! And yes let’s definitely support each other - this thread is such a help x

Oh @Jx3303 that is absolutely amazing news!!! You must be over the moon! I'm thrilled for you. I know the worry doesn't go away but try to allow yourself to relax into it. You deserve to enjoy it. Xx

It's great to see pregnancy happening for so many women on this thread, especially after everything we've all been through.

Amazing to read your story @Cat89, thank you for sharing. So pleased that everything is going swimmingly for you and your little bub. Exciting times ahead.

Love your message @Foreverhoping33 ♥️💪🏽 Yes, we'll get there and we'llsupport each other through whatever lies ahead @LF82 @Crystal88
I hope we do all cycle together - fingers crossed my lining is playing ball at my next scan.

Love to all x

@Jx3303 that’s great news so happy for you xx

@Foreverhoping33 thank you 💕 yeah I'm trying to remain chilled, take each day as it comes. We told our parents and my sister at the weekend too, they were delighted. We had sort of thought we'd wait til first scan but my family knew we'd done a transfer so thought onto fair to let them in on the secret early x

That's great you've asked your doctor to try for your FET end of May rather than wait for the hysteroscopy, I really hope you can 🤞🏻 sounds like you are doing everything possible to help your lining.

@Hopewishprayer thank you ❤️ yeah I've booked a 7 week scan today. There aren't many places where we are that can do it so early and my preference their sonographer is off on long term sick. But I've managed to get somewhere on a Saturday morning. How are you feeling?

@LF82 Thank you 😊 sending you all the best for your consultation this week! I hope it is very informative and the consultant can give you an insight into what they think what happened and the protocol for next time. I hope you're feeling ok in the meantime xx

@countrypunk thank you ☺️ super over the moon! Can't quite believe it! I've been running on adrenaline the last few days! I was an anxious mess on Friday waiting for the results 😂 when do you go for your first scan with your new clinic? And did they discuss what protocol they think is best? Be great if you ladies can all cycle same time soon, and we're all here for support ❤️

@Crystal88 thank you 😊 how are you doing? Xx

@Jx3303 I'm so, so happy for you. It just goes to show that IVF is worth the stress and money and emotional rollercoaster. Have you booked your scan yet?

Scan is next week! We talked to the doctor about protocol. I was on 225 stims and we got 10 eggs last time. She said that was a very good result for my AMH which is (was) 7.1. She thinks next time we'll go a bit higher and see what happens. She said she's not a massive believer in low stims but I know from anecdotal evidence - you! - that it can work effectively when higher stims don't. So we'll just see what happens with this round. If it's bad we may go to Create and do mild IVF. I'm trying to just take it all a step at a time. It often feels like there's just no telling what will work for you and why.

@Jx3303 Oops just seen you've booked your scan! ♥️

@Jx3303 glad to hear you’ve managed to get your scan arranged, gives you the next thing to focus on! ive not been feeling great, nausea is coming and going and really tired but no complaints! I am going to book another private scan I think as don’t think I can hold out another 4-6 weeks!

@countrypunk it does ❤️ I hope for you, like they did for me, positive outcomes give hope. Yup just booked, I'd have loved to have went to Manchester for it but just didn't make sense.

10 eggs is a great amount and I understand why they don't want to go too low when you have a good number. I had such a low follicle count and amh, I think the most I ever had was 8 at my initial consultation and it's never been that since, typical! Sure each cycle started with 5/6 and then not all develop to where they need to when the bigger do - hence the 4 eggs and 2 eggs.

Definitely take it one step at a time ❤️

@Hopewishprayer yeah it's a bit gap between first and NHS isn't it. That will be nice to see baby again! Sorry to hear you're feeling sick, I've had a few waves but nothing major, just dry boking which makes me laugh a lot 😂

@Jx3303 only time I’ve been sick was when DH arranged a boat trip for my birthday, the motion sickness was so bad, spent the whole time in a corner with a sick bag at the ready 😂🙈🤢

@Hopewishprayer oh gosh I would not have been ok either , I get sea sick so bad in general on boats! Let alone when you already have nausea. Haha your poor DH, lovely thought but perhaps not your favourite one haha 💕

@Jx3303 i never have sea sick, ever. It was so strange. Definitely a birthday I won’t forget 😂

@Jx3303 I’m doing good, almost ready for holiday, we fly out Saturday morning. It’s the first time in ages I won’t be on my period for holiday which will be a plus

just gonna enjoy it before I start on the ivf adventure again xx

@Crystal88 amazing! Not long at all! Are you all packed? Not sure how it is with you but we've had sleet and hailstones the last few days! Some sun will be lovely 😊 and yes definitely enjoy it! I enjoyed a week all inclusive before we started again and the break away did me the world of good so I really hope you come back feeling refreshed xxx

@Crystal88 a holiday sounds perfect! I would love some sun right about now!

We had our consultation with the Dr today. As expected he could really explain why first cycle went well and the second didn’t. He is going to initially increase my gonal f from 150 to 200 but might reduce as the next cycle progresses. He suggested proxeed plus for my DH as well as the pregnacare and omega tablets we both take and was neither here nor there re the coq10 tablets!
overall he was positive so I guess we shall just have to see what happens next round….
Now for the waiting game again!

Hope everyone is doing ok x