FET/IVF July 2023 - Thread 2

[Olivia199]

Right. Sorry I've I missed any of you....!

@10degreessunny
@loulamay
@Lauralozzle
@ASGIRC
@TTCbabyno2in2022
@orchid29
@ttcsolomumtobe
@Walker12
@Bristol1988
@SH998
@Ivfround1
@wtawtaw
@IVFfirsttimer91

@Walker12 - Oh bless you lovely, the OHSS will just be resolving now! I know it's scary but it's definitely a good thing.

I just tested, afternoon wee after drinking tons and it was quite diluted but I got a dye stealer none the less! Feeling very reassured.

@Olivia199 No idea if they’ll do a natural FET but I do have very regular periods and do appear on the face of it ovulate.

But, seeing as we’ll be taking September ‘off’ old habits die hard and we’ll try for a miraculous conception! Fat chance of anything happening as we have poor fertilisation rate with ICSI but it just feels like a waste otherwise!

@Olivia199 Diluted pee dye steeler sounds good to me!

@Lauralozzle - Well that sounds like an excellent idea to me. Nothing wrong with DTD a time or three :D wishing you all the luck!

Funnily enough (and I'm sorry if you're sick of hearing crap like this) but a friend of mine tried IVF for two years, a few MC and a few chemical but mostly negative.

Clinic shut due to covid and poof baby.

@Olivia199 That’s the dream lol!

I bloody hate taking these pessaries. OTD is not until Friday but my period is pretty much here now. It’s nice and red, then I take the pessaries and for a few hours it’s just a sludgy brown mess. The cycle repeats.

I’ve stopped doubling up now though. Save a few for next time!!

Oh bless you lovely, it's absolutely grim taking them. But absolutely keep some for next time! Hopefully it won't be long at all.

@Olivia199 It's amazing to see those lines! Yes, the nurse seemed completely unconcerned about it, but she gave me some reassurance so hopefully everything is going on the right direction! 🤞

Just woke up, it’s our last day here in Greece and I had a strong + on Monday and Saturday on clear blue early tests. It’s my OTD and I’ve just used the test provided by the clinic and it’s come up positive but no where near as clearly is it because it has a different detection of hcg? I’ve not had this happen before because last cycle (my fresh transfer) it was as strong as the others

just ordered for FRER for when i get home tomorrow to put my mind at ease

@Olivia199 thank you, my lovely partner found a study which said the average recovery for late onset ohss was 8 days or something which made me feel a lot better. Crazy that I am wishing myself ill! I caved and did a test today and it was nice and strong, maybe not quite a dye stealer but it's getting there on an easy@home.

@Sangels267 Glad you got some reassurance and that your tests are progressing nicely :)

@Lauralozzle poor you, the pessaries are bad enough at the best of times!!

@JPG94 yes it's absolutely impossible to compare lines across different brands, and even if they purport to have the same sensitivity they don't always match up. Please don't worry. Hopefully the FRER reassures you!

@JPG94 You can’t compare different tests as they may have different detection levels of HCG.

I’ve decided to stop the pessaries last night and just get my period over and done with! That should stop the 10 day period I had last time. I know it’s before OTD but they’re just uncomfortable with the blood.

Still hoping I can get a review in before the end of the month.

@Lauralozzle makes total sense, you just want to move forward and get a plan together now to go again. Are you going private? End of the month for a review seems realistic.
@JPG94 the tests pick up different levels of HCG, my clinic test requires higher HCG than clear blue early detection test.
X

Hey guys. Had a little break in Cornwall and I thought I’d check in. Glad to see you’re all doing well.

Thought it might be helpful to report from the other side of unsuccessful transfer. As people don’t really seem to and there’s not a lot to go on….

Had a lovely break with my husband drank a lot of wine on day 1 at The Pig. Haven’t really touched it since. Have I gone off wine???

Period came three days after I stopped the pessaries. Pretty painful but not crazy heavy. Lasted about 5 days. My body is returning to normal after all the hormones. I think I can get my jeans on now. Spots gone. Starting to feel myself again.

The Nhs have booked me in for a zoom appointment mid September which feels ages away. But I guess August is a holiday month for many. Think we will try again early September.

im looking forward to it, but guess I’m just a bit concerned that the same might happen again. I had an hcg of zero meaning no implantation at all. I’m keen to find out why.

i’m hoping that the timing was just not right for my womb lining. I have a 25 day cycle so I think the margins might be slimmer than with most.

Love and light to you all. Great to hear how everyone’s progressing.

x

@Lauralozzle sorry to hear that you’re going through that. I didn’t get my period until I stopped the pessaries luckily. Not fun.

@Olivia199 glad things are progressing!

@Walker12 hope youre feeling better!

@10degreessunny I’m private already. Our first round was NHS which was a failed transfer with nothing to freeze.

I have a x2 cycle multi plan with CARE, so covered for the FETS and another egg collection.

@Fluxie I’m glad you managed to get away after your failed transfer. I’ve been looking at cottages for a weeks break in September. I’ll get round to booking something when I have my review date confirmed.

I really found going away helped after my last failed transfer to just reset and be ourselves again where we can have fun and do what we love to do. It really helped my mental health. So, I’m looking forward to having a nice little break somewhere.

@Lauralozzle yes ours is not til sept 12th. A full six weeks after otd- but they did say they wouldn’t go again til October. Think we may just go again without further tests - if it doesn’t work next time I might need to have my sticky fallopian tubes removed. Ouch.

Clinic have just called after my email on Monday. I’ve been told to keep taking the pessaries until Friday (OTD) and then they’ll call me on the Friday.

I’ll dutifully do as I’m told. So I’ve just used two. Only missed two anyways. This is honestly a massive waste of time. Nurse was like, obviously you know your own body but keep taking them even though it’ll probably be negative on Friday.

Super long extended 10+ day period here I come.

@Lauralozzle I wouldn't. Pessaries are grim at the best of times, mixed in with period blood they must be a nightmare.
That is the kind of advice only someone who hasn't been through it would give.
Particularly as it won't make an ounce of difference.
If you're not pregnant, taking progesterone is not going to make you pregnant.

Sorry...this kind of nonsense really makes me angry.

@Fluxie glad you managed to have a nice break!

@JPG94 yeah,comparing different tests doesn't really work... I'm sure it means nothing!

My tests continue to be strong, but not dye stealers.
I ended up not getting the second beta, and I doubt I will, now.
Have debated getting another digital with weeks, but also scared it won't say 3+, so haven't 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️
Scan is a week tomorrow!!

And I have decided that I'm telling the family after the scan, if everything is ok.

I've been actively avoiding texting friends, as I know they will ask me, directly, if I'm pregnant already and I don't want to lie.
So I figured that I'll hold off until the scan, and if all is as it should, then I'll tell people who ask me (and tell the family, as so far only my mother knows)

@ASGIRC im still testing but not daily, maybe once or twice a week. Mine still remain dark.

How far will along will you be on your first scan? Are you still symptomless?

@SH998 I have a batch of cheapies, so I feel obligated to use them 😂😂
Not testing every day, though. Just whenever, really!

I will be 6+6 according to the FET calculator. So should be able to see everything, including heartbeat.

Yeap, completely symptomless, even though 6 weeks is just around the corner. Long may it continue.

At the same time, it makes me feel like I'm not pregnant. I don't even feel any emotion towards the pregnancy. But again, I'm very pragmatic, and until there is an actual baby, I don't think I'll be too attached... Or maybe it will change with scans!!

How are you feeling?

@Fluxie glad you had a good break, it sounds like you are taking a really positive approach to it all which I imagine can't be easy. The wine sounds great!

@Lauralozzle how frustrating for you, at least not too long until OTD now. Definitely get a nice break planned.

@ASGIRC I am also laying low until scan! No one has directly asked me yet which is a relief.

So i got my medichecks result back, hoping some of you might have a more logical brain than me to help make sense of it a bit!
Hcg beta: 1651 (at 4w6d). My last beta was 416 around 114hours before this one, so on the online calculator it's about a 57hr doubling time but I know I can't properly estimate as I've had the tests further apart. Did I read something about the rise slowing a bit after 1200? My first ones were 205 > 416 in about 45 hours so that seemed all fine.
The bit that has really thrown me is that my progesterone has come back as 486 nmol/L which seems ridiculously high, and I can't see anything about such a high level anywhere.. only thing I saw mentioned twins or molar but I think both of those would come with very high hcg too.
Any insights gratefully welcomed!!

@Walker12 Ive already had 2 friends ask me directly, as soon as Ive seen them/texted them.

The one who texted, I sent her the pic of my line progression tests, and since people seem to not know what they are, Im not sure she realised I was telling her yes, I am pregnant already. I didnt elaborate, and we moved on to being ill (she was also ill over the weekend)

This is now the 2nd friend Ive sent the pic to, without saying what it is, who has NOT understood what they were seeing!

The annoying bit is that I WANT to text so many friends, just asking about their lives, in general, but havent, cause I know they will ask the question adn I dont want to answer it yet.

As for your hCG levels, they dont seem too concerning. They double every 48/72h. It is not an exact science. You last level seems fine when you look at it from that perspective! And yes, it slows down at 1200 and then even more at 6000.

@ASGIRC I can't believe they didn't know what the tests were, but I'm also quite envious of people who are so oblivious to the world of trying to have a baby!!
Thank you, yes thinking the extra beta maybe wasn't the best idea as it's thrown me a little. I am going to ask our ivf consultant about the progesterone level as I have a follow up about OHSS tomorrow and I wonder if the high number could be linked to that 🤔

@Walker12 honestly, Im baffled too. but not. Nothing. I had to explain it to my mom as well.
My guess is that if they dont see the big pregnancy test with the casing, their mind goes blind and they have no idea what it might mean!

I can only imagine if Id gotten one of those cassette ones, like the covid tests, that everyone would be thinking I had covid!

Yeah, I was gonna have another beta, but decided against it because of how much time has passed and how it might not evolve the way I expect it, and then Ill worry.

As for the progesterone, what are the normal pregnancy levels? I assume youre also plagued with taking LOADS of progesterone, so maybe thats why? Is there a down side to too much progesterone? I would assume not, as Im on 1200mg DAILY, so my level must also be ridiculous!

Hi guys!

Ive seen a few mentions of getting extra beta tests and honestly unless you think something is wrong I’d totally advise against it from my own experience with it. I had 2 48 hours apart to make sure it was doubling, then another a week later recommended by my clinic as I was having spotting and them calling me and telling me that the number hadn’t doubled as they expected really freaked me out (for no reason as baby is definitely there with a v strong heartbeat and measuring a couple of days ahead).

If I had to do it again I would not have the 3rd beta and would just book an early private scan, window to the womb is great and only costs £70 and they are all over the uk :).

lovely to hear from you @Fluxie and I’m really glad that you had a good time away!

@Lauralozzle i stopped taking my pessaries when I started bleeding last time, no amount of progesterone was going to stop what was happening. I think the advice to carry on taking it is really unfair and I hope you are ok xx

@ASGIRC yes I would definitely hold off on the beta!
A few sources online say progesterone in 1st trimester is between 7 and 45, I think ivf pregnancies are naturally often a bit higher end due to the pessaries etc but I can't see anything about it being this high! I am on 400x2 pessaries a day so not a ridiculous amount I don't think.. Will see if I get an answer tomorrow. The only thing I wondered was with it being a finger prick test they did say don't use the fingers you use to inset the pessary, which I made sure I didn't, but I wonder if it's common for it to be on the skin or something.
@IVFfirsttimer91 nice to hear from you and so glad everything is going well with your pregnancy. That's really reassuring about the betas not doubling not being an issue, I am really going to try not to get wound up about it- thank you 😊