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 :)

So had my review and doc said it could have been anything that caused it to fail. There are some tests they can do but ideally we should try again before doing the tests which is what I want to do.

So @KG1244 I'll be joining you next month! I'll be on the same medication but only one pessary a day as the other is being swapped for lubion injections.

How are you @pixiemum2 ?

Is everyone okay?

@Lyrabee yay! That’s great news FET buddy 😊I was thinking the same with other tests if it doesn’t work again. Remind me, did you have injections last time?

@KG1244 so I had estradiol tablets and the cyclogest pessaries so I'll have the tablets again this times because there was no issue with my lining thickening. She said some people just react better to the progesterone when it's injected but the jabs cost more so they like to try full pessaries first.

@Lyrabee that makes sense. I’m a bit nervous about the injections with FET. I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be a long needle like my EC trigger shot 😬

@KG1244 I think the intramuscular ones are a thicker needle but I asked and the ones she's put on my prescription are the subcutaneous so in the belly which I can handle!

@Lyrabee interesting! I might ask for them and see what them say. Would prefer it… but also appreciate I will make do and cope 😂

@KG1244 did you have tablets before or just pessaries? I can't remember sorry!

I think I'll try anything at this point. If it doesn't work will go for the extra tests, probably the one where they do a fake round and send the lining off for bio

Hi all, hope you're well.

Not great news on my side I'm afraid. My HCG levels are not increasing sufficiently so it is very likely that I will have a miscarriage, and it could even be an ectopic pregnancy. I didn't think those could happen with IVF since the embryo is "placed" but seems it's more common in IVF than natural pregnancies.

Tomorrow I'll have a blood test and scan but doctor said it's unlikely to be a viable pregnancy.

Am absolutely heart broken. I thought the stims, egg collection, fertilisation, growing embryos, transfer and all of that was meant to be the hard part, but that was all quite straight forward. When we got our positive result I genuinely underestimated the chances that something like this could happen so it has really knocked me.

Kicking myself for being so naive!

@pixiemum2 I’m so so sorry for you 💔
Dont beat yourself up, there is nothing wrong with getting your hopes up and totally understandable that you would start to get excited seeing the positive test, after all the stims etc it feels like the positive test is the goal, it’s just awful that it wasn’t for you this time 😞
Hopefully your scan tomorrow will give you some answers and they can discuss the way forward with you.
sending you all the love and strength I can muster ❤️

@pixiemum2 so gutted for you ☹️ Urgh I can’t imagine how you must be feeling. Do they know why it could have happened? Sending you lots of love. Take care of yourself xx

I have had a call today to say our treatment isn’t going ahead for this month as they are moving clinics and no longer will accept my BMI at the new clinic so now need to lose weight before any treatment can start, I was also on day 8 today so thought our treatment was starting any day 😢 sad times!!! X

@Shan231994 That sounds very odd! I thought most clinics had the same guidelines for bmi but even so, surely if they’ve accepted you and said you could start this month that isn’t great to then change the goalposts!

@Shan231994 that's ridiculous! Is it NHS? I'm surprised they didn't know the clinic was moving so they couldn't tell you sooner!

@pixiemum2 lovely I'm so so sorry, that's awful and I agree we all focus on getting the positive test but I don't think any thing after is really explained to us :(
Don't bear yourself up, hopefully the scan and bloods can give you more info and I hope it's not ectopic cause I think that's hard to get past. Sending hugs and comfort to you xx

@Lyrabee just pessaries last time so was all pretty straightforward drugs wise. Fake round as another option sounds like a really good idea.

in case any of you haven’t seen it before, someone in another group shared this website set up by Sir Robert Winston. It does have a lot of really helpful information - some is a bit blunt so bare that in mind.

https://genesisresearchtrust.com/askrobert/questions-and-answers/

I felt especially comforted by his advice on average embryos

Thanks @KG1244 I'll have a look.
Will they give you meds this time do you know?
I signed the consent forms today so we just need to order the medication and get the protocol through. Hoping my cycle starts on time and doesn't make me wait like last time!

@KG1244 thanks for the link to the Prof Winston post, lots of good answers on there to questions that I think most of us will usually have!

@Lyrabee so is it a wait now until your period and then start meds? What meds will they give you, do you know?

I had the scan this morning, doctor could see a gestational sac and the beginning of a yolk sac, but he did say that in his experience it is rare for such a slow growing pregnancy to end well. I am waiting for the results from today's HCG test, depending on those they might ask me to come back on Fri for repeat bloods and another scan. It was somehow even more heartbreaking to see the pregnancy on the scan, but at least it's not ectopic.

@pixiemum2 rare but not impossible? I'm glad it's not ectopic for you. I'm confused about what they will class this as if it doesn't continue? I'm sorry you had to see it all on the screen too :(

I'm waiting for my period and then I'll start the estradiol tablets again and then about 10 days in start the progesterone. It'll be injection in the morning and pessary at night

Not impossible I guess but I am even less reassured now that I have today's HCG levels. Smallest rise to date so it is very likely I am headed for a miscarriage in the coming days. I am beginning to come to terms with it. Repeat bloods and scan on Saturday which I think will confirm this.

Very excited for you @Lyrabee and @KG1244 that you're starting again soon 🤗

I have been on the intramuscular injection for progesterone and it is indeed an uncomfortable needle but I have found warming the area with a hot water bottle helps.

I'm sorry @pixiemum2 :( I can't remember, did you have more embryos? I guess one thing to keep in mind is that it implanted which is a good thing but I can't imagine how deflating that must be.
The two week wait is one thing but the 8 month wait after sounds like torture. the things we have to deal with are heartbreaking.

The doctor said my injections will be the in the belly ones, not muscular so I don't know why it's different.

@pixiemum2 I’m so sorry, sending you a huge hug. I agree, it’s definitely a good thing that you were able to fall pregnant and hopefully the clinic might be able to advise why are are miscarrying. I also think (not that it helps the situation) that perhaps in circumstances where you don’t get a positive result at 2 weeks or during early pregnancy, it’s a sign that it wasn’t a good embryo and it’s better to know that at the earlier stage no matter how heartbreaking it is. Give yourself time to process and grieve. It’s so horrible and I hope you have people around you that can support you.

@Lyrabee good to know. I’m definitely going to push for belly injections if that’s possible. I don’t understand why there are differences but I’m definitely going to ask when I next go to my clinic.

@KG1244 Google hasn't helped me figure it out either. The instructions for the medication say the doctor will do it if it's in the muscle but I can't see that being right or you'd have to go in every day

Such a whirlwind, I should be able to order the medication tomorrow I'm just glad it doesn't need to go in the fridge!

So I messaged a friend who has had quite a few rounds. Apparently the muscle one is cheaper which would make sense as I’m under the nhs. I’m going to see if I can push for the tummy one. The muscle one is such a hassle. If it’s the same as the trigger, I had an ice pack on the site for 30 mins and had to get my husband to do it whilst I laid on the bed. I appreciate im very lucky to get another round under the nhs and I don’t take that for granted but it’s just going to be quite challenging if I want to go out in the evenings. I also have two weddings next month which I really don’t want to go to (but im going to try and force myself out) and won’t be able to ice ice baby for half an hour 😂

Omg. I don’t know whether using the phrase ice ice baby is genius or painful bullshit 😂

@KG1244 hahahaha I enjoyed that! Well the NHS saves a lot from refusing a lot of people so I don't see why you can't push for it!

@KG1244 if it helps - our cost for a 7 day oack of the lubion is £113 and I've been told to order 3 packs x