IVF/ICSI/FET - June 23

[Lyrabee]

Hi!

I'm going to be starting my medications ready for a FET in June. Anybody else in the same boat or starting their cycles?

I've done one round of ICSI and had a fresh transfer in March that wasn't successful but we got 5 frozen day 5 blastocysts from it. Happy to answer any questions for anyone starting their journeys :)

@HopefulHead whaaaaat? Don’t you get time off for medical appointments? Please take care of yourself.

@Lyrabee sending love and hope you sleep well. Oh the mucus watch is weird. I think it’s difficult to know as I think the pessaries affect it - at least for me!

@Lyrabee All the best for today! Will keep you in my thoughts ❤️

@KG1244 I can take the time but have to make it back up, it’s a pain to be honest as generally I’m out of the office for 3/4 hours each time but I’ve seen on some of the threads on here how people have lost jobs etc as they’ve not been granted the time off at all so I try not to moan too much 🫢

@HopefulHead that’s so awful. When I spoke to my HR person she said that as it’s only women that are directly affected in terms of attending appointments, it would effectively be discrimination to negatively impact them at all from attending.

@KG1244 Maybe I should have tried that tact 😆
When I started the ivf I had a female manager so I just took what she said in terms of being allowed to have them but having to make the time up as correct, and my manager now is a man so I try to keep communication as minimal as possible
”have an appointment tomorrow, will make the time up” 😂
I did manage to get a copy of the maternity policy though so I’ll definitely be taking advantage of the ‘any pregnancy related appointments’ that I don’t have to make the time up for if my transfer is successful 😂

@HopefulHead I have a male manager now and the support I receive has nosedived. I just make sure I tell him stuff because realistically, if he wants to manage, he needs to get uncomfortable and learn about it.

Thank you all for the positive thoughts! My test was negative this morning so just waiting for the clinic to call me back.

Fingers crossed 🤞 and all the baby dust wishes for you guys! @KG1244 @pixiemum2

@Lyrabee oh I’m so sorry to hear. Sending lots of love and hope you’re doing as ok as you can xxx

@Lyrabee I’m so sorry to hear that 😞 I hope having a chat with the clinic will help you have some clarity and plan next steps and I hope you are able to take some time to look after yourself ❤️
Such a tough thing for you and my heart really goes out to you ❤️

Thanks ladies! I'm okay, I have an appointment booked with my GP to see if we can do our NHS round through the clinic. I'm also going to ask if we can transfer 2 next time and see if I can be signed off for the next round. As much as my work are amazing, I have a lot of responsibility so sometimes it can't be helped.

So sorry to hear that @Lyrabee, really hope you will get some clarity/next steps from the clinic. And yes - take some time for yourself too! Sending you hugs ❤️

Our messages crossed @Lyrabee - great that you're already thinking ahead! That's a blessing - that you have multiple embryos in the freezer which you can count on! Hope the GP appointment goes well and you can move forward with your plans!

@Lyrabee very sorry to hear your news. Great your booked in the GP already and thinking about the next steps. It’s such a painful process, sending lots of love your way!

@KG1244 i know your test day is soon! Sending all the luck and baby dust!!

@pixiemum2 good to hear your EC and transfer went well, always good to have a few in the freezer and blasts as well! Excellent, when is you OTD?

@HopefulHead so pleased your booked in for you transfer! Hope it all goes well for you!

Sorry for the silence for the week, we had our transfer a week ago and have just felt really out of sorts and negative since. Like I know it’s not worked, something about this cycle just feels so different. I can’t describe it.

My OTD is 9th July, and I’ve been naughty and testing since 5dp as this is when I had positive on both my last my cycles. And tests are negative so far, I know it’s early and FET can take longer to implant but I just don’t have a good feeling.

It’s also our last attempt, I know I’m so lucky to have my son, I don’t take that for granted at all.

@Sqiggle85 thank you. Testing day is tomorrow for me so feeling very panicky and nervous. Sorry to hear you’ve been feeling out of sorts, I cannot believe how challenging this process is. Give it some time, my clinic said to wait the full 11 days so you never know…Sending you lots of love. X

@Lyrabee In pleased to hear you’re feeling ok ❤️ You’re definitely one strong woman 💪🏼

@Sqiggle85 Thank you 😘
Sorry to hear you’re feeling quite negative 😞 wanting a second child doesn’t mean you’re taking it for granted you already have one, i a shine the desire for a second child is just as strong as for the second so please be kind to yourself, this journey is just as difficult for us all, no matter how different our circumstances all are ❤️ And I will keep everything crossed for you, it’s not over yet!

Oooh @Sqiggle85 try and stop yourself testing my lovely, it's hard I know but you definitely need to look after yourself. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

@pixiemum2 I do feel incredibly lucky to have my frozens 💛

Thanks @HopefulHead We can all be strong for each other, it's such an unsure time for us all 💜

Our review is booked for 21st. I've been told to expect a bleed in the next two weeks that could be heavier than normal but if it doesn't happen I need to contact them. Working it out I'm estimating it'll be end of August I'll have my next go x

@Lyrabee Very true ❤️
Have you been able to stop taking the pessaries now then?
I’m glad it looks like you won’t have to wait long to go again, gives you something to focus on doesn’t it.

@HopefulHead yes stopped the pessaries and the tablets!

@Lyrabee Hopefully your body won’t take too long to get back to ‘normal’ then ❤️

I really love how you're approaching this @Lyrabee and I will definitely be taking a leaf out of your book if I find myself in the same situation. End of Aug doesn't actually feel so far away!

I went for a blood test today to check my progesterone levels. My clinic asked me to do this every other day. They called me in the afternoon to confirm what medication I'm on (progesterone injection, aspirin and blood thinner injection). They said to continue but they noted my progesterone levels are quite high, they would like them to be above 100 and mine was 400. I have been taking a natural supplement (cordyceps) which my acupuncturist recommended and it does also increase your progesterone levels.

So of course I googled (stupid mistake!) and found a few studies that show that high progesterone levels can result in poor embryo implantation. Am driving myself crazy thinking that I should have stopped the cordyceps and I have messed this cycle up.

And while I can't do anything at all now except to wait, I'm just finding it hard to bring myself out of this negative head space :-(

Anyway sorry - just needed to vent. Hoping tomorrow will be a brighter day!

Not a good result. Feel in shock. I was so sure it was going to work and no idea what to do now.

Oh no! So so very sorry to hear that @KG1244! I'm thinking of you ❤️ Not easy to process this moment. I hope that you get the time and head space to do so. Do you know what your next steps would be? (totally get if it's too early to know/say)

@pixiemum2 im not sure. We have three frozen embryos but they are low quality so don’t know whether it would be better to do a whole fresh cycle

@KG1244 Im so sorry 😞 this process is just so unfair and so cruel, I hope you’re able to take some time to yourself to process it today?
I know your head will be all over the place right now and not know what to do but you have to remember that they wouldn’t have frozen the other embryos unless they thought there was a chance they would work ❤️ I’m sending you all the love I can muster to help you get through this ❤️

@pixiemum2 Im sorry you’re having a tough time too :( like you say you can’t change that you took them now and we all know it’s never wise to trust google! So try not to give up hope, you’re still PUPO now so you’re still in with a chance ❤️

Hey @pixiemum2 it does seem like progesterone needs to be high but not too high although I didn't know the levels. I wouldn't worry about it and definitely don't Google. You'll read one thing and then something completely different!

@KG1244 I'm so sorry lovely, you've got frozens which have been kept for a reason though! I'm sure you'll get a review meeting booked in soon, just take your time today and look after yourself x

@HopefulHead thank you. It’s so hard and I feel like you walk into IVF thinking it will work first time and friends & family think the same.

@Lyrabee im going to the clinic today to get a blood test and hopefully can discuss next steps. I will try and take your approach, you’re so strong.

I know I probably need to give myself a bit of time to grieve but I also kind of want to put plans in place for the next round. Have any of you had 2 embryos implanted at once? I’m not sure if my clinic will definitely let me but thinking that perhaps two poorer quality embryos together could increase my chances for the next round.