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 ❤️

Ahh yes I'm doing provera for 5 days then normally bleed 3 days after then I think start oestrogen....?!

25th is with the nursing team, we have done all our consenting and watch the video about Zika virus for the millionth time !!! 🤣😂 Are you on a similar time frame ? Oh I know I feel so bad wishing away the days but next week can't come quick enough I am so keen to get back doing something proactive rather than waiting !

@Lowo21 that sounds basically the same except I had to take norethisterone for 9 days last time, bleed and then fyremadel and oestrogen

I can’t wait to never ever have to watch those videos again, I swear that’s the part I’m looking forward to the most 😂😂😂

I don’t think we had a call with the nurse last time, just a call with embryologist, they basically very quickly ran through the process, but the whole call was only a couple of minutes.

I had to go for a blood test to double check where I was in my cycle then started norethisterone the next day. I’ve not got the blood test booked in yet, I’m assuming they’ll do that on Thurs, will hopefully get it organised for w/c 28th so we can fit in a quick holiday first, so would hopefully mean transfer around the last week of Sep

Hi everyone,

Where is every upto in thier journey?

I'm currently 10dp5dt, I have my beta blood test on Friday which I'm absolutely crapping my pants for. I have been a serial tester and started getting a positive from 4dp. But I'm got no symptoms except I've been cramping 😩 why is this journey so hard. Even with a positive test I'm still anxious and thinking the worst!

@Doughnut89 I would honestly say if you can't deal with the turmoil of negative or faint line then defo wait it out, that's my thing. If I got a faint line I would become a constant tester and compare the lines I remember how mentally draining not drinking and holding my wee was for 4 hours when doing the LH tests for IUI was, that was in winter too... Would be killer in summer. I don't fancy 5 days of being consumed, would rather try ignore the signs and stay blissfully hopefully and have a much clearer answer on OTD.

I will say it's getting harder now ignoring signs and on an evening I do start to wonder what Monday will bring. Although I'm literally blaming the weather for everything 🤣 dry mouth at night, poor sleeping, new rash on my legs that's appeared today 🤦🏻‍♀️, tiredness, being moody hangry ... Because I think if I googled these I would be getting worked up and end up not sleeping even more or taking myself to A&E because as we know Google is the devil! 😬

@Belle26 hey, I'm 8dp3dt, first IVF transfer. I'm trying to stay strong on the testing front. OTD is Monday 21st which will be a urine test. My clinic offer blood tests for £50 each test with same day results so may consider those if I need reassurance.

Which tests are you using may I ask for you to be getting lines so soon? Get sign but yea I'm sure it's also hard.

@Belle26 congrats on the positives and the super early ones!! Amazing news 🥰 I hope it continues only 3 more days! I was the same with on/off cramping and then nausea from bang on 4 wks same as last transfer! My body must not like hormones 🙈luckily not too bad atm though just aware of it

@ttcsolomumtobe ooooh getting close! I’m sending positive vibes to that wee embryo to stick around! How are you finding it now you are getting closer? I started struggling the closer it got to OTD was just so hard to keep yourself in check from getting brain overload

@Ellenn yes defo getting harder, was tempted this morning as it was a day off work and woke starving and barely slept so my tired brain was like "I must be pregnant" but had already pee'd by that time so managed to put it off. Work next 3 days so won't as don't wanna be distracted either way, Saturday seeing a friend who doesn't know about the transfer so won't then and I feel like if I can make it to Sunday then it's worth waiting till Monday.

Think I'm guna be petrified when it comes to taking the test, like such a build up! Luckily have the week off and no plans for the Mon and Tues purposely so I have time to process it.

The thought of being pregnant and having a baby is the most exciting thing ever but it's also such a big change up to the life I know, doing it solo with limited family support means there's extra things to consider, all of which would totally be worthwhile yet a little daunting all the same

@ttcsolomumtobe thank you. I used clearblue early tests. I've heard the evap lines are awful with them though so I did double check it with a cheap test off Amazon. That's so exciting not long left for you either. Are you feeling good about it?

@Ellenn yes your body mustnt like hormones 😂 but having symptoms is great for that little bit of reassurance. I'm so scared for my beta I hope the numbers are good so I can relax a little

That's sounds positive @Belle26 good luck on Friday 🤞🤞

I’ve just had some spotting and it’s making me really nervous. I had a chemical pregnancy previously and prior to it I had been spotting every other day 😔

@ttcsolomumtobe make sure you hide those pregnancy tests really good or put them in a place it’s quite an effort to get to. This time I intentionally got no tests so didn’t have any options but to wait, it’s just so tempting when you have the tests there for me!! It actually is such a scary moment, so much pressure on one result 😳 also I bet you are going to nail the baby part and be an amazing mumma!

I still feel that part is so far away/unreachable atm but maybe if my next medicheck test comes back ok and scan then I might feel more positive about everything. Just really aware of not allowing myself to get carried away as still so early days.

@Belle26 yes!! Sounds like you might have good numdbers if you got such an early positive result that embryo was keen to get going 😁

@Doughnut89 its so common to get spotting in early pregnancy but I totally understand and I’m really triggered by any sort of bleeding too. Fingers crossed it calms down and sorts itself out. Do you have a scan booked soon? xx

Hi ladies

I've got horrendous back ache and awful pain on my side not had pain like this before so god knows what this is ! My energy levels are zero but forcing myself to get my 10,000 daily steps in and drinking lots of water . Hope everyone is doing ok, it really is the longest 2 weeks of your life !

@Ellenn thank you for your kind words and defo such a big moment with lots of pressure.
It's strange, I can think of the practical future stuff once a baby is here, again because I've already had to start planning and saving for that but like you, the hopefully positive test to baby arriving I haven't thought much about and don't wanna let myself get carried away with. I do hope for everyone there comes a time in their pregnancy that they can just sit back and enjoy it, yet feel for alot that's much further down the line in terms of weeks.

@Doughnut89 my clinic advised spotting can be common, if defo triggering to see it. Maybe call your clinic and see if they can give you reassurance.

@Pinklady81 I've tried to stay busy throughout but there's defo days when energy levels are low. Don't beat yourself up about it, just try be moving little and often

Thanks @Ellenn and @ttcsolomumtobe
I don’t have a scan booked in yet as I’m only 6dp5dt and my OTD isn’t until the 22nd. However as I was nervous and felt I needed to know either way, I took a pregnancy test this morning and it came back positive quite quickly.
However because of what happened before I’m still really nervous and I’m still bleeding.
l have emailed my clinic this morning to see if they can advise and will also try calling them when they’re open.

@Doughnut89 that is great if you already have a good line super early at 6dp5dt! I think sometimes the pessaries also can make you spot/bleed a little if you are taking those? will keep my fingers crossed 🤞 hope your clinic can reassure you xx

@kirstysmbc love this way of looking at it. Great analogy. Totally stealing that and passing it as my own 😂😏

@Doughnut89 really good signs having lines already. Technically you’re 11 days, so frer should pick it up. Have you done the bloods like @Ellenn mentioned?
also, for some reassurance. My sister had ivf and got pregnant, and throughout the TWW, and the the consecutive weeks after had bleeding on and off. Was adamant it was a missed misscarriage, but she’s fine and she’s made it o her 20w scan, having a boy, had NIPT testing and everything is set for birth December. So hopefully brings you reassurance however I appreciate it’s still a worry. X

@Ellenn the pressure thing is so true. And I don’t know anyone in the TWW who doesn’t wake up at 4am on test day to test 😂 how are you feeling? So exciting for your scan!!! Only 2 weeks tomorrow right? I think this is the 3ww after the TWW that no one preps you about!! I think it’s almost worse. Really hope this is your time. You deserve it.

@Chickencrazy3356 how are you feeling ohss wise? And how’s the uti? I think @ttcsolomumtobe put so eloquently - support is readily available if you think it might help with the feelings of guilt. My dad was very ill with cancer (and unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances we lost him - not saying at all this will happen this was just a totally unique situation that happened) 10 years ago when I was 24 and the support from MIND I found really helpful. The guilt side of things was the hardest bit. Trying to move on with your life and focus on positives left you racked with guilt at doing so. Also, there is counselling as part of majority of clinics treatment package too, Jusy fyi. Thinking of you.

on the flip, the grading thing messes my head. I find it all abit ‘braggers rights’ with it and almost feel like it’s a status thing and because I feel ours aren’t great, I’m left feeling like we’re fucked. I think what @kirstysmbc sums it up amazingly!

so good yours are doing so so well. I’m ringing my clinic today about mine to understand them more as I’m so anxious about them. In my head I’m already planning when I get the second transfer for when the first fails. Anyone else have that sick sad mentality?!

@Doughnut89 will be interesting to see what your clinic say. Did you have a single or double trigger? You'd hope all of that would be out of your system by now too so congrats on your line!

@Lowo21 ahhj ditto. In that case we really should be on the same timelines. My clinic are being dick heads about the consenting and sent they can’t send me the videos and forms until after our planning meeting on 25th as don’t know what protocol I’m on. Maybe yours was easier as you e had your protocol mapped to you previously on your frozens? Or have I made that up. I’m ringing them to get some clarity on my embryos too. Did you get pictures? But yes - 25th is Jusy a virtual chat. We go on holiday on the Monday after (bank holiday) so hoping they can send all the consents then and we can do while we’re away (and drinking aperol 😏😉)

28 eggs? Great little harvest festival. And 6 Frosties is some good odds! I had 40 in the end. And we had 14 embryos but they didn’t make the grade and only 5 got frozen. What does impact quality? Do you know? Can’t help but feel it’s my fault!

the fitness thing is so true. I literally cannot walk or move my upper body from the gym Monday / yesterday. 😂🙈 I do miss this doms feeling tho! how’d you find the run?

that a lot to deal with funding wise. It’s hard and such bullshit rules around it. Not sure why that rule is in place as it’s not you is it? It wouldn’t surprise me if that got changed in the near future. Have you done access or anything? @Steph186 what ‘start’ date you got for your FET? And are you medicated too?
how long is the protocol? I can’t see dates in the pic unfortunately. X

@GCS34 I stole it from someone else, so feel free to use as much as you like!! I liked the analogy on one of the videos that was shared earlier on this thread on Professor Robert Winston's site - grading for embryos are a bit like looking at someone on the tube and trying to decide how intelligent they are. Fingers crossed for some super clever (but maybe slightly stupid looking) ones for you 😊

@GCS34 thanks 😘 we are always counting down the days to something arent we 👀 15 day wait now just need to pretend I’m not pregnant which is hard as I feel quite sick 🤢

I definitely know what you mean by planning the second transfer and I already had in my head ‘it will be likely this month’. I think it gives you something to almost control and I totally get it. I’m sure you will have a baby in your embryo collection somewhere (although obvs hope it’s the first chosen one to save some pain 🤣) hope the clinic can give you some reassurance today xx

I’m starting to do exercise again I asked my clinic and they said no evidence to say exercise is risky in early pregnancy but just do what I feel comfortable with. Bit nervous but I have a dance course next week, so wanting to build up back to normal. I think I wouldn’t be so worried about it if I haven’t had the last two weeks with no exercise after transfer 🫣 just feels like I’m really unfit and a few people say you shouldn’t even get out of breath when you exercise? Has anyone been told this? Not going to lie I don’t think I can go a run without getting out of breath maybe it’s just me 🙈

@Ellenn that's good to hear about returning to exercise, I really cannot wait to go swimming and go back to Zumba, not done it during the cycle. Having next week off I will be straight back on it after OTD. Probably could return this week but have a busy week and think holding off to OTD isn't a big ask.
Made me laugh about the running... I can barely walk fast without my boobs hurting.... Running sounds like hell 🤣

Embryologist hasn't phoned yet for fertilisation rate and I feel so impatient and nervous. Shouldn't they have phoned by now?

@ttcsolomumtobe I was like that when I took pessaries, they were so painful 😣 but really not too bad atm. It’s weird how different advice you can get about exercise, suppose it means there isn’t really conclusive evidence either way 🤷‍♀️

@Purtyburty did they say would phone a certain time? I usually got phone calls in the afternoon with updates but it may vary with different clinics. Hope you hear news soon xx