ICSI January 2023 - thread 2

[Lauralozzle]

I’m sorry if I’ve missed people off but there’s no more space on the previous thread.

@autumbreeze

@brown269

@user491

@sj2505

CD day 1 today. Oh my effing god! So bloody painful! TMI but I’m so heavy, much more so than normal. Those norethisterone pills are bloody terrible!!!

Stims start tomorrow though, scan on Monday.

How is everyone today?

@Lauralozzle ask your clinic if they can look into some adjustments to existing process. After my last failed one I done a series of additional blood tests to check for any clotting issues, they didn’t find anything but felt better knowing they were doing something different.

Ive also heard of hysteroscopy where they check the womb for potential bacteria, if not done on the NHS it’s not cheap I’m sure I seen 2.5k and I think you have to have a break between this and another transfer (10 weeks rings a bell).

I also asked for my progesterone to be increased as I was bleeding before I stopped taking the pessaries on 2 of the transfers.

I was previously on 2 oestrogen and 2 pessaries a day, this time around I’m on 4 oestrogen, 2 pessaries and a Lubion injection a day. I’ve no idea whether this is why this transfer worked as I didn’t test my progesterone level last time but it’s worth an ask.

I’ve also added baby aspirin to this cycle, no idea if it helps but I’ll give anything a go.

Time away is definitely needed and will take your mind off all the stress of IVF for a little time, although I know it never truly leaves your mind.

Honestly don’t give up, I’ve been ttc for 7 years and never thought it would happen for me (time isn’t on my side either as I’m 40 next month). It will happen when your body is ready for it to happen, you have 2 frozen so hopefully you wouldn’t need another collection 🤞🏼x

@Lauralozzle bless you, I hope you are ok ❤️
Don't give up, we will all get there eventually.. I'm feeling deflated and I've not even got a date for my collection yet. Think after an unsuccessful first round, you just know if everything that can go wrong 😢

A break away if you get the bad news of definitely the best thing to pick you back up 🥰

How is you husband now?

@User491 He’s not great. He’s not good at talking about things, and there’s nothing we can do at the moment. Just have to keep trying and hope one sticks.

I’m exhausted with it. Think we’ll take September off and then look to start a FET in October unless I end up doing ALICE/EMMA/ERA. Worried about the costs of that though at £1.7k and it’s a dummy cycle isn’t it, so there will be med costs too so at least £2k. That’ll take about 4 months to save for… in which case I’d be doing that December time maybe if I end up doing it. We’ll see what the clinic says. I’m going to ask for lubion for next time though. I’m convinced my progesterone isn’t high enough. Even though this cycle I’ve doubled up the pessaries.

@Lauralozzle the hystersocopy can be done on the NHS if your referred (I don’t see why your GP can’t refer you even if you are paying private) but I was told the waiting list is about 6 months in my area so I decided against it.

My clinic doesn’t do progesterone testing so I paid myself and it was super high this time around, thankfully I’ve googled it and there’s no proven fact that it causes any danger to unborn or myself. Again that would cost you but from my point of view it was ticked off the list to say it was covered. I was convinced this was my issue too as I spot a week before my period each month and my period was trying to come on 2 of the failed transfers within a few days of the transfer (on the first FET I was spotting going into the transfer so knew that was game over straight away but was too late to stop it as they had thawed the embryo).

I also had I think it’s called thrombophila something or other screening (a lady mentioned them on the July 2023 thread) this tests for a range of things, not sure how much that would cost but no harm in asking about costs.

@SH998 I had forgotten about medichecks- they do progesterone bloods so might check next time with levels from them. That’s a decent idea, getting them checked yourself.

I know there are a ton of immune testing - it’s just knowing if I need that yet. They’re so expensive. Hopefully the clinic will have some ideas.

I doubt my gp would refer me for hysteroscopy (sp?). It took two years to be referred to the fertility clinic. It’s a struggle getting them to get my TSH below 2.5 because they insist up to 5.5 is normal. Never offered a lap because my tubes are clear, no evidence of polyps or fibroids so I would have to pay privately and with no evidence of these things (my womb always looks good on ultrasound scan) I wonder if that’d be worth it for the cost.

I think I’m definitely going to ask about careunity though and EMMA/ALICE/ERA even if they don’t think it’s needed, I want to know when they would recommend it.

Did you start taking baby aspirin off your own back, or was it part of your protocol?

Tested on FRER today - 9dp5dt. BFN. I think I can safely assume I’m out. It’s 14dpo.

@Lauralozzle Oh I'm sorry to hear that news, I was hoping it was a late implanter :(
No matter how well you prepare yourself for that result it never ever gets easier.

Everything is so costly and no one wants to pay out unnecessarily, it is difficult to know which test is worth the money. I would deffo look into progesterone testing, that might be a cheap one to knock of the list when done.

A lady on here said she had started taking it for one of her transfer so I started off my own back, I started about 19 days before transfer. I thought there cant be any harm in it, I was at a point I would try absolutely anything.

Get booking that trip away, you will have something to look forward to then.

@Lauralozzle I am so sorry 😢
Thinking of you both, it's really crap.

Maybe the frozen ones will have more success.. I've seen a few people that a fresh transfer didn't work for but frozen did, I don't know enough about reasons why though.

When will you need to call the clinic? Are you at work today? Hope you can take a bit of time for yourself, and 100% get that break away booked ❤️

@User491 I’ve emailed the clinic and said I’ve started bleeding over the weekend and did a test which was negative. I’ve told them I’ll continue to take the progesterone but wondered if I could my OTD earlier. I’ve asked them to get back to me. They will say continue until OTD but at least they have it in writing that I’ve started bleeding again before OTD. Hoping that means the consultant will be aware come our review.

OTD is Friday, I’ll look to get a review in as soon as possible once they’ve accepted the negative. Hoping I’ll get in end of this month. It was pretty quick last time.

Whilst this is not the result I was looking for, this cycle has been much better than the last one. I have two frozen, two more tries before going through egg collection again.

I’ve heard FETS can do better. My body won’t be recovering from egg collection. I’ve been looking at cottages to see if we can squeeze a week away in September. September will be a busy month anyways, hubby has a stag on the second, I’m going to hen party on the 29th. We have a joiner coming on 28th to fit new doors and skirting boards. I have to finish stripping the bannisters, paint the hallway and sort out woodwork before he comes really. Lots to do!

Then full steam ahead for FET come October unless I’m having additional tests!

Hey @Lauralozzle how are you doing? Have the clinic came back to you?

100% although it's not the outcome you would want, there is major major improvements from this cycle and that is brilliant.
The break away will do you the world of good.

I had my second scan yesterday and good to go, so did my trigger tonight and egg collection is 9.30am tomorrow.
I feel nervous and flat about it all tbh. I don't know if the hormones are playing a role in that, or whether I'm just bracing myself mentally for it not to go how we want it to.

I didn't seem to have as many follicles this time, I had 5/6 good sized ones 15-20, and some smaller ones that are doubtful they will be any good.. then we have the dreadful waits looming 🙈

*did my trigger last night 🙈

@User491 They contacted me today. I have to keep taking the pessaries until Friday which takes the piss. They’ll ring me on Friday.

Yay for trigger! Injection free day today?

Good luck for collection tomorrow.

I’ve felt flat constantly this cycle. I think after last time you just prepare for it. Don’t have the hope of before. You had a right rollercoaster of a time last time which sounded horrendous so you’re probably just trying to protect yourself a bit this time.

@Lauralozzle what!! No way that's just ridiculous.. it's strange how the all have different OTD. Mine will be 9 days after transfer (if we have anything to transfer)
So sorry you're going through this 😢

Yes, so nice to not have to do any more for now 😂 thank you 🙂

Yeh I think your right, maybe the best way tbh. But family that know are all happy and I'm just like hmmm yeh it's good 😬

@User491 I know the difference between clinics and the OTD is ridiculous. It’s pretty grim using pessaries and bleeding at the same time.

Fingers crossed for your collection tomorrow

@Lauralozzle see bless you, last day tomorrow 😢 thinking of you! Hope you have a nice weekend planned!

Thank you ☺️

@User491 How are you getting on?

OTD today and it’s a negative, which I knew it would be. I’m ok.

WTF appointment is in the diary, 21st August.

Morning @Lauralozzle
Bless you, pleased you are ok ❤️ Not long to wait for your app at all, hopefully you can get some answers soon 🤞🏻

I'm devastated 😢 only got 3 eggs, 2 mature and just 1 fertilised 😭
Just got to pray this one makes it 🙏🙏

@User491 Oh no! That sucks. Fingers crossed it makes it. Are they looking to do a day 3 or 5 transfer?

@Lauralozzle I know I am devastated. No idea why we've had such a poor turnout this time. Only change was the ovaleap instead of the menopur.
There wasn't any mention of a 3 day transfer, I think it's always a day 5.
I wonder whether I should have asked that question now though..

@User491 It’s so tough isn’t it? I did better on Gonal-F and meriofert than I did with Ovaleap. But Ovaleap is very similar to Gonal-F from what I understand.

I really hope that one that has fertilised will go the distance and you get to transfer.

This ivf malarkey is exhausting.

Will they give you updates? I’m with CARE and they don’t, unless you contact them I think.

@Lauralozzle everything with IVF is tough! When I googled the difference from menopur to ovaleap a lot of people said the menopur was alot more effective, it could just be difference of rounds though I suppose.

Thank you, I really hope so 🤞🏻 was in a right mood yesterday and upset, but then thought I need to remain positive, so that is what I am focusing on doing 😊 yes I will get an update tomorrow, and if it's looking good they will provisionally give me a date for Tuesdays transfer 🙏

Have you got anything nice planned over the weekend? Hopefully lots of wine 🍷 🙂

@User491 Fingers crossed for your update today.

I don’t have much planned today. My sister is popping over to visit this afternoon though which will be nice. So, main aim is to clean the bloody house! lol. I had a bit of a lie in today, which has been nice.

I’ll be happy when this period ends to be honest. It’s been quite heavy since Thursday , it’s usually died down a bit by now but my last bleed was from when I was taking the norethisterone and that was quite short so, I suppose this is making up for it.

@Lauralozzle
Anxiously awaiting our call 😬 still trying to keep a positive mindset but it's hard 😢🙏

Hope you had a lovely afternoon with your sister, does your family know everything about IVF?
I also had a good clean yesterday, makes you feel so much better doesnt it ☺️

Bless you, hopefully the period finishes soon. Your review app will be here before you know it too 😊

@User491 I hope everything went well with your update today!

My sister is the only person who knows about IVF. It’s nice to have someone to talk to about it.

Well, the house is certainly cleaner than it was before! It needed it to be honest. The big box of medication is gone now so there isn’t a constant IVF reminder everywhere anymore. I’ll get it back out when we start our FET.

@Lauralozzle just had the call. So up in the air tbh, they said they would class it as an average embryo and it has 7 cells currently, I have a transfer time, but they will ring me on Tuesday morning to let me know if it will go ahead or not.
I asked for any statistics of it going ahead, all they can say is 50/50. Really hope it makes it 🤞🏻😢

Yes I totally get that, alot of my family know which is great in one respect, but harder in others, at least you have your sister to talk things through with tho ☺️
I have all my stuff in a drawer after the last time I left it all in there and didn't have a clear out until I got all my new meds, I think I liked the fact it was just there but hidden.

Ahh the ups and downs of IVF, it's just shit isn't it 😭