FET/IVF/ICSI - October 2033

[Lauralozzle]

Anyone due to start cycle/have transfer in October jump on board!

Little history:

TTC our first. Trying for 4 years. Officially unexplained but I only have one ovary that responds/works. Fertilisation issues. Positive Sperm Oxidative Stress Test (likely DNA Frag). So it’s really a bit of a mix.

Dec 22/Jan 23 - First ICSI cycle. 8 eggs, 6 mature, 2 fertilised. One poor blast to transfer. Nothing to freeze. BFN.

July 23 - Second ICSI cycle. Using AOA & ZyMot chip. 8 eggs, 8 mature, 4 fertilised. One fresh to transfer and 2 to freeze. BFN.

Oct 23 - First FET scheduled.

Currently waiting for my period to start so that FET cycle can start. Should start beginning of Oct, so FET likely towards end of the month.

@IVFKinster - I know - I was wanting some big fan fare or something but alas 😂

Ah! I might take him in then. My scan is on day 8 to see how the follicles are doing and as you say and I think he would also find it interesting!

I haven’t brought my husband with me so far - it’s all felt a bit anticlimactic and the clinic is an awkward location so not really worth both of us being disrupted with work… It’ll be a different story when I get closer to egg collection of course (all going well anyway!)

Have my 1 week scan tomorrow to see how I’m taking to the stims, hopefully well…! 🙈

Ah hope scan goes well @IVFDublin !

First injection done! ✅

@marshk definitely do what works for you both! After that scan I really felt fine going in for them all on my own 😊 so see how you feel. Well done on the first injection!

Goodluck today @IVFDublin!

Just out of my scan - actually good news, the last few scans only showed 5 follicles but now they can see 9, so feeling a bit more optimistic! In for my next scan on Monday and then looking at egg collection either Wed or Thurs… all feeling very real!

Great work on first jab @marshk - each one gets easier!

@IVFDublin Thats excellent news! Roll on Monday, hopefully you’ll be ready for trigger then. Egg collection next week!

@marshk Yay for first injection. Ball is well and truly moving now.

Nothing much to report here. I’m about 90% back to normal again and feeling much better.

Had a stressful last couple of days really. My neighbour is having his roof sorted and we share a chimney. We are the only ones who use it (have log burner) and the builders say it’s basically wobbling and needs fixing. Luckily he already has scaffolding up but as it’s 50% our chimney we’ve had to go half with him on fixing it. Seems the right thing to do as we’re actually using it! Dreaded the cost of it all as we’re currently renovating our house, plus the IVF loans. Luckily, the quote isn’t so bad so not half as much as I was expecting!

DH was also in a car crash. He’s fine, but we’re waiting to see if the car can be repaired. I really hope so. The amount we’d get back wouldn’t pay for a decent enough car and we were thinking about replacing it but in a couple of years time when we’ve made a dent on these loans argh! Luckily, we have my car but it’s tiny and not very practical!

This week can do one, honestly!

Happy Friday everyone!

@IVFDublin great news! 😀hopefully a smooth ride until egg collection

@marshk good job! first step is done.

I had my second injection this morning with a small cry session before because I panicked again.

@Lauralozzle seems like an eventful week for you. Maybe take is easy during the weekend. Glad nothing scary happened with the crash.
It`s so annoying when everything happens at once, pay for this pay for that...

@Melisss Well done on your second injection!

Probably should have a quiet weekend but… bedroom needs painting and I’m fed up of sleeping on an airbed in the front room. Once room is painted can put mattresses in bedroom for a decent sleep. It’ll be strange though! The bed frame has gone in the skip, it was knackered. We have quote tomorrow afternoon for carpet in bedrooms/stairs/landing. On Sunday my nana is visiting for dinner.

It’ll be a busy one.

I am seriously contemplating booking a week off during the 2WW. I think I’ll need it just to sleep!

@IVFDublin that's great news! Egg collection not far away.

@Melisss well done getting through your injection even with the crying and panic. It's so difficult but you're doing amazingly well! Keep going! Each one is another one done and dusted.

@Lauralozzle that all sounds exhausting and very stressful! Money and finances are a nightmare. Glad your partner is okay after his accident. Cars being written off is a bloody nightmare because you never get enough money from older cars to buy another car! Fingers crossed. Painting the bedroom sounds worth it if the reward is a better night's sleep! I actually have booked 1-3rd November off of work because in imaginary land where I get my transfer the week after next, that would be the end of the tww and I'll be too stir crazy to work by then.

I'm already feeling really low and having difficult thoughts again, I think from the increase in tablets yesterday and that means the 3 I've taken so far today are a bit closer together. I'm hoping I don't feel as bad as I did last week. And hopefully it balances back out again quickly 🤞 I was ready to pack it all in, pack my bags and leave the country by the time I finished work today.

@Lauralozzle oh no what a day! Glad your OH is okay! I'm so done with this week too 😅

@IVFKinster feeling low is totally normal with all of the stress of everything let alone the added hormones and craziness our bodies are going through!

Had a really tough one mentally today I've found this FET cycle tougher than I did my egg collection on stims (we did a freeze all due to ohss) in terms of emotions.

Had my scan (day 11) today to check on my lining and its still not there I was devastated and had a big cry in the car on my own after. The doppler shows blood flow is all good and they've upped me to 8mg of oestrogen now but I feel like it's too little too late for me now.

I'm with you @Lolly2507 , FETs are more brutal than I ever anticipated. We did a freeze all due to OHSS as well. And any future cycle I'll have will be the same so that fills me with dread.

I'm sorry your scan didn't go to plan. Did they say how thick your lining is? What's the plan for you? I had my scan on day 11 of oestrogen and I'm over 1mm away from where I needed to be. I don't think it's unusual (now that I've finished having my own breakdown about it).

Thanks @IVFKinster I think you're right we just need to go through the motions I know if this was a friend I'd tell them not to catastrophize but it's normal to feel these things! It was 5.5mm 😮‍💨 less than its been not on oestrogen haha so we've upped that now and another scan Monday. I read somewhere on here someone ended up on oestrogen for weeks as you can keep going until you get there so that's equally reassuring and daunting!

It's hard not to catastrophise. When they told me it was "perfectly fine, nothing to worry about, perfectly healthy just not there yet" I called my husband and told him we were probably never going to have a transfer and he had to talk me down. Fingers crossed we both get good news on Monday @Lolly2507 I can't bare the thought of being on these for longer than necessary but at least that's an option and it's just hopefully a waiting game. I've tried to make sure I'm drinking more water, putting a hot water bottle on my tummy for an hour each day, I'm gonna get some pomegranate juice and I'm doing more gentle walking everyday. Other than that I guess it's in the hands of... My uterus.

@IVFKinster @Lolly2507 I hear you, this FET cycle I'm finding really difficult, they upped me to 10mg of oestrogen and wow im all over the place. Thinking of you both and hope.you have some nice weekend plans ahead.

Omg @KI19 10mg?! 😬 no thank you. I'm sorry you're feeling all over the place bless you that must be awful. Imagine if we were all in the same room or working for same place. Like a storm in a tea cup! I can't believe these hormones are things our bodies normally produce (obvs to an exaggerated amount). I've no idea how I ever survive.

@IVFKinster Haha can you imagine!! I'm sure I've been a nightmare at work this week. I know, I was on 6mg last FET but I had some slight spotting before transfer so they have really gone for it this time, hopefully it works. What day of tablets are you on now?

@KI19 I have been doing a lot of crying at work. I never really cry! I also threw an actual temper tantrum. I'm sure they think I'm losing my mind 🫣
Good that your clinic have upped your tablets if you had some spotting. I had a tiny blob of pink the other day but as it was just one I didn't think to mention it to my clinic 😬
I'm on day 12 today! Only day 2 of 8mg though. Do you have a scan coming up?

This may be a dim question but I've just finished a gonal f pen. Do I just put this in the bin?!?

Hello all,

just catching up on everyone’s updates.

@Melisss @marshk how are you finding the injections so far? Better or worse than you imagined? @biscuitsndtea thinking of you when you do your first one today 🤞🏼

@marshk not sure if gonal pen is reusable like Ovaleap pen but I wouldn’t dispose of it in normal bin unless you were told to do so. If it’s reusable you might still use during treatment (this or any future treatments) and if it’s not then clinic should give you instructions on how to dispose of it.

@Lauralozzle glad to hear melting cheese has been a turning point tummy wise, girl you are due for a break…what a week you’ve had. Hope all the House and car things get sorted. Make sure to look after yourself and do some self-care/relaxing things if possible. Your transfer date will be here before you know it!

@IVFKinster @KI19 @Lolly2507 I am currently having a mental talk with all of your uteri to do the right things and stop playing games 😜 truly 🙏🏻 that all of this meds/hormones are worth it in the end! keep strong, we are here for you!

@IVFDublin great news from your last scan, how are you feeling emotionally/physically gearing towards the end of stims?

Girls that have done egg retrievals recently @Custard7891 and I don’t know if I’m missing anyone else, how are we doing with recovery post-procedure? Please all, share your tips on what was helpful as I am only taking 2 days off from work.

UPDATES on my end:

Had my last scan yesterday, only 5 follicles and one of those follicles is really big and probably over mature…so yeah, my numbers/expectations are not great 😏 it’s definitely a bit disappointing but I feel like, if I get any eggs out of this cycle I will be less hurt than if I get no eggs at all - I think I am truly hoping for a miracle that even if little numbers the quality of these 🐣 are good. I keep on telling myself that this is just the 1st of 3 cycles and it’s always a dab into the unknown as I’ve never done this before and doctors/nurses don’t know what to expect and how my body will react to proposed protocol. But yeah, High stim dose but not a brilliant response is definitely worrying 🫣

anyways, I will be collecting any eggs or just fluid on Monday morning. I am excited to do my final shots today (Ganirelix in the morning, Ovaleap at 7:30pm and trigger shot Ovitrelle at 8:30pm). Injection free day tomorrow…wooohoooo, and excited to be off from work till Wednesday. All in all, I didn’t feel too bad during stims, definitely felt some side effects (slept 5hrs today, so Insomnia being one of them), High back pain, more tired towards end of the day, minor bloating. But truly, nothing too crazy. And I have also kept my sanity, did light work outs, went out last night to meet up with a cousin and his family who was visiting London from America (hadn’t seen him in 22yrs but it was wonderful, just like old times growing up together). His two little boys were precious and called me auntie, one ended up falling asleep on my lap 🥹🥹🥹 and it was just wonderful being with family (all of my family lives overseas, and despite that we are all still very close/supportive of each other).

More than ever I am realizing that keeping strong mentally and in my faith/relationship with God will be my biggest triumph card in this fertility journey. But also, I owe it to all of you ladies a BIG THANK YOU for allowing me a space to vent, share, and be open about a journey that is often too solitary. I am all emotional and teary now…oh well, I will blame it on the extra dose of hormones 😭😭😭

@ViVRe - oh I'm glad you haven't found it too bad this time round and kept busy - I bet it was so nice to see your cousin and his family! Keeping my fingers crossed for you for Monday!

Injections have been fine actually. A lot better than I was expecting. I've heard ganirelix can be a bit more painful - have you found that? I start taking that from Tuesday.

Meant to say I had a bit of a headache over night and this morn but I've no idea whether that is due to the stims or whether it's just a normal period/hormone headache... or both!!

@ViVRe the one this morning stung like a b..ch 😅 hope I won't bruise. My poor partner is always worried that he is hurting me. I will give the icepack a try tomorrow.
Glad you are keeping positive and do stuff like go out. Probably not always easy but having a fun time with friends/family can be a good distraction.

A question for all you ladies...are tips on diet turing IVF? Anything to avoid or things I should eat/drink more of?

@IVFKinster Hang in there. These meds are horrible but think of the end goal. You can do this, we’re all here for you.

@Lolly2507 I really feel for you having to increase your tablets. They are horrible. Hopefully your lining gets there soon though.

@KI19 10mg! 😳

I really do think getting stabbed during stims is so much easier than having a FET. I can’t imagine how the increase in tablets are for you all because 6mg affected me so much last week and week before. You’re all bloody super duper warriors!

@ViVRe They have always collected more eggs than they counted for me, so hopefully you’ll have a few of them. Injection free day tomorrow! Yippee 🥳 Sounds like you had a wonderful catch up with your family!

@Melisss I think they say limit sugar, up protein etc. Drink enough fluid for your eggs! I wouldn’t do anything to drastic, eat healthy, everything in moderation.

I don’t really have an update. Thanks everyone for your well wishes. I’m just glad the bloody week is over. Done some painting, waiting for floor person to come and quote us for carpet.

I am feeling much better now. I’m glad that’s passed!

@marshk well done on starting your injections! I found the ganirelix (aka fyremadel) okay. Had to inject in public toilets a few times when out and about, so found the preloaded syringes handy. The needle is slightly thicker than Ovaleap, but nothing alarming, don't worry. Just use ice to numb the area.

@Melisss well done on your injections too!

@Lauralozzle I'm sorry you've had a bit of a stressful and busy week. Hope you can find some time to relax.

@IVFKinster @KI19 sorry you both feel quite low. I'm potentially going to be doing a frozen embryo transfer depending on what we get from this round, so it's good to be aware that the drugs are strong. I hope you are both okay.

@ViVRe I pretty much felt okay straight away after egg collection, both times. I took a day and a half off work last time, but just took a day this time. I work a desk job though. I felt a bit bloated and had a little bit of cramping on and off in the days after, but nothing paracetamol didn't sort. I have a cold now which is worse 😂 Try not to feel disheartened about the low number of follicles. I too was on a high dose of Ovaleap last time and assumed it would equal a high number of follicles. This time they changed the meds and I had more. They just need to fine tune the meds as like you say they don't know what's going to work best initially. Wishing you all the best for collection ❤️

An update from me - we had our day 3 update and apparently all 12 fertilised eggs are still going. 9 of them are at the expected amount of cells, 2 are slightly ahead of the game and 1 is lagging behind. Really pleased with that outcome, but we are fully preparing ourselves for the expected drop off by Monday. Last time we had 5 on day 3 and we thought that sounded good, but by day 5 we only had low grade E and F embryos and nothing to freeze.

Ah amazing update @Custard7891 - you must be happy but as you say prepared for a drop off.

Glad ganirelix is ok - I'd read a few things on here about it not being ok. Tbh I can't really feel the gonal f injection to the extent I was worried this morning it hasn't gone in 😂😂