FET / IVF August 2023

[KG1244]

I’m due to start my second round of FET in August so thought I would set up this group for some treatment buddies ❤️

@Ellenn forgive me for being a bit simple, but what’s a beta and is that something you do yourself? What made you do that Thursday? Exciting tomorrow is OTD and no AF yet. Defo positive signs. 🥰 will the clinic do a blood test tomorrow then? X

Thank you @Ellenn ... that's reassuring and helpful . I'll try to keep calm.. and that's for the App reco, I'll check it out!

Very exciting to hear some positive news out of this group ❤️

@scaredynoob i honestly wouldn’t read into symptoms. I had tons within a few days and got a negative result. The progesterone is an absolute bitch! I

@scaredynoob honestly every feeling/twitch/symptom you have could be any of the following... progrestone/ pregnancy/ time of the month or just all the anxiety of the whirlwind of the last few weeks, with them the cumulative pressure of however many years in planning this has been for you. I had insane headaches and mental blocks the day or 2 after my transfer but I think it was just pure relief of getting to a transfer, the body reflects some pains/emotions in different ways too or sometimes just doesn't show anything.

I don't say this to seem cruel 🩷 but you will drive yourself mad in the next 2 weeks watching and waiting on them all and fingers crossed you get a positive test, yet when you do with how you feel right now you are likely setting yourself on anxious footing for a further 34-38 weeks.

During the first 7 days I just reminded myself a test will likely show nothing or too weak to give reassurance and now another week to go and I feel like I would rather have a very clear answer and test on OTD and remain hopeful and happy to be in a position and have a better chance than I did months ago/years ago etc. Everyone is different but if I've learnt anything from being in the June and July month groups is that testing early or analysing every symptom is just giving your tired body and brain more work and your heart alot of pain.

You have done everything you possibly can to get to this point, try take these 2 weeks to be kind to yourself, eat good things that will replenish your body, do things that make you smile, allow yourself to look at baby clothing items and remain hopeful.

I also say these after doing 3 back to back IUIs in the middle of winter, all of which failed, I was such an anxious mess throughout it all, lost my desire for anything in life apart from a baby and it resulted in feeling the worse my mental health has been in my entire life and some of the darkest thoughts I've had ever so had to had 6 months away from fertility and had counselling. Just knew going into IVF I couldn't fall down that rabbit hole again.

I hope you manage to do things to make this 2WW easier x

@GCS34 beta test is a blood test that gives you definitive level of hcg rather than just positive/negative. There are initial values that can help predict if going to be successive but a lot of it is making sure it is increasing at a normal level! Which I think mine is going up since I got progression on the clearblue and strong positives 🤞

I wanted to do a beta first as hated the idea of seeing faint lines incase it was a biochemical again. I’m just very cautious due to previous outcomes not being great but it’s a start at least ….

I’m going to ask my clinic tomorrow if I could come in on Wednesday to get another blood sample done when I collect the lubion 😁

Hi all, just an update, back from EC this morning. All went well, funny enough probably the best part of all this - you are out of control, sleeping:)
They collected 8 eggs, no idea how many mature.. they will call us only next Monday with full report on how many if any they took for PGTA...no intermediate calls! Oh maybe better this way 😬 Then next EC cycle in 6 weeks..Dr said she will increase the dose as with my hormone level she expects more

@GCS34 yes ! Exactly the same day as you 25th sept for my next consultation and then 30th sept for my scan then hopefully start medication for my FET shortly after. How are you feeling now? It felt better for me to have some dates in the diary and we have just booked a short weekend get away too (where are you going) which will be something to look forward to. I don't know about you but each day is a roller coaster of emotions at the moment. From convincing myself of failure then a flood of positivities ! I haven't looked into the testing have you? I might have a look but I am slightly hesitant.... I think if we have several failed transfers I might ? What are your thoughts ? Hope you are doing ok 😊

@Lowo21 ahhhh my consultation is 25th August, as in a week on Friday, not September 🙈Then paperwork 'admin' week (I've no idea why they can't send me this before but whatever), then hopefully starting meds mid Sept. Hopefully. Famous last words ay! Was the 25th Sept the earliest they had available? I am with another Dr that isn't my consultant - not sure if you could try that to get a sooner one?

Yeah ditto - just some dates and clarity makes it a lot easier to mentally manage, and you know that between now and then nothing can happen, so you stop obsessing. Well, I do anyway! Where are you going away? And when? Definitely feeling emotional ups and downs - And I think one thing I wasn't prepared for was the IVF weight gain! I (fortunately) have just got back to pre-stim weight, but I gained 2kg over the past month and it's made me feel worse. How is your husband - is he supportive and understands the ups and downs like you? Or is he positive / typical man not understanding 😂

Ditto on the testing - I don't know if I want to. Sometimes ignorance is bliss, and also, it's a heck of a lot of money p/embryo and if you find out that none of them are suitable - you've just spent £thousands on nothing essentially! I've read some articles on mosiac embryos, and it just shows that testing and grading really means FA! And I just looked on a study from the UK medical board, and said this:

@ttcsolomumtobe - that is such beautiful advice, and it's heartening to hear it raw from someone who has gone through it and knows exactly how I'm feeling right now.

@TT82 - gaaaaahhhh I loved the drugs!!!!!

@TT82 I think the no between calls is kinda a nice thing, it's hard to wait on them, hear and make sense of them when still recovering from the EC, also just so much can change. Hope all goes well and you are looking after you.

@scaredynoob I honestly know it's such a horrible position to be in and fertility is all consuming. Took me a while to realise that all the stress/worry and heartache in this 2WW is only affecting me, making me sad and isn't guna change the outcome, be it a positive or negative test, I know even with a positive there can be further hurdles so not at all saying it's all all clear point. Yet I have opted to cautiously embrace the PUPO.... Took my little egg transfer pics off on days out 🤣, kept a little diary of things "we've done", made little promises to take future child to some of those places in future and hopefully if it's a positive test I will keep it going through pregnancy and be able to save it to share with my future child.

Also the writing down and trying to find the positives is a good way of unloading and reminding myself of the nice bits of the day that almost feel overshadowed by the anxious moments.

@GCS34 doh ! I meant 25 Aug and then 30 Aug for scan ! Sorry on route to see some family and chaos on the road (husband driving) - I will reply properly as I want to look at the bits your posted properly ! Thank you !

Hello all
Wondering I can join the chat please? Have been on this journey a while done 3 rounds of egg collection and my first transfer was exactly a week ago 3 day transfer so I'm in the 2WW! Anyone else waiting to test? Xx

@ttcsolomumtobe - that's so beautiful, I'm so glad I found you ☺️ I'll inculcate those tips.

@Pinklady81- welcome!!! Lots of us either already tested or awaiting. Wish you looooots of baby dust

@scaredynoob I said I wouldn't test but I have done this morning and driving myself mad now !! Thank you for replying xx

@scaredynoob 🩷

@Pinklady81 yes, I had a day 3 transfer (first ever IVF transfer) on Monday 7th so a week in, OTD is 21st and determined to hold out. How are you feeling? Hope you are being kind to yourself. Do you think you will wait till your OTD, if so when is it?

@ttcsolomumtobe exactly the same day as me for transfer I feel rubbish tired headaches full feeling in stomach but I'm blaming that on the pessaries!!! thought period was on its way yesterday so resigned myself to the fact. I've done a test this morning which I shouldn't have done !! OTD is this a Friday how about you? Xx

Welcome @Pinklady81 ! We are also transfer date buddies and we have the same OTD this Friday. Hope you’re doing ok during this horrible wait!

@IVF23 hello !! Hope you're doing ok I've been fine up to this point trying to stay busy etc but the anxiety got me yesterday and thought it was all over

@Pinklady81 I’ve been the same to be honest, up until this point ok but this morning got hit with the ‘it’s never going to work’ thought and have felt really down. It’s such a rollercoaster of emotions.
Is this your first IVF round or have you been through it before these 3 collections?

@Pinklady81 it's horrible with the cramps feeling period like. Did you test show anything may I ask? Reassuring to know people with same transfer date have got an OTD that's earlier than mine... Hopefully mine being Monday 21st will show some clear signs.

Haven't been tempted to test yet but have lined all the tests up this morning in my draw so feels like the are egarly awaiting... I say all like it's full of them 🤣 my clinic supplied a Clearblue blue dye one which I've heard bad stuff about, panic bought 2 FRERs when they seemed impossible to get hold of and got 2 B&M cheapies from previous month's.

@IVF23 it's my first transfer done 3 egg collections prior to transfer as that was suggested for me due to age endometriosis etc. I have had 2 natural pregnancies both resulting in miscarriage so the anxiety is next level !!

@ttcsolomumtobe I have a photo but don't want to post on here as it is such a sensitive subject I'm just unsure my trigger was 12 days ago how about yours?

No that's understandable, if it gives you any reassurance I took 2 cheap 25iu test 7 hours after my trigger... Just out of absolute curiosity as to what a positive pregnancy test looks like. There were lines from the trigger but very minimal so think 12 days after you would be totally clear of trigger, specially if you only had one. Some people have multiple. My trigger would have been the same as yours.
@ASGIRC tested out her trigger in the July group and I think it was gone by day 5 after her transfer.

@ttcsolomumtobe ah I read reports it can take up to ten days so it's been 12 today. I did have a double trigger shot though so unsure if that would make a difference ?

@ttcsolomumtobe it was at 2dpt! And it was absolutely clear by then. I took my trigger a week before the transfer, so that would have been 9 days after the trigger.

By 5dpt I already had faint positive lines (even though I wondered if they were evaps, as they weren't visible while the test was wet)