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.

I can’t keep up with this thread! Good luck for tomorrow @MoonlightDreamer and congrats on your transfer @Lauralozzle.

I finished Norothisterone yesterday. I have been a bit grumpier than usual but nothing major. Just waiting for AF to appear now.

@MoonlightDreamer I found the egg retrieval really fine so you’ve got nothing to be worried about 😊Just make sure you’ve got a very chilled day planned, I was more tired than I thought and napped a lot!

@Quickdraw23 oh that is unfortunate timing about the OTD! I think I’d probably test the day before but then again the day after? The suspense would be too much for me I think! My OTD is a Friday and I’ve stupidly got a full weekend of plans so I can really empathise 🙈

@GabbyGal I didn’t realise McDonald’s after transfer was an actual thing (I just thought you were treating yourself… which you would have been right to do!) - I am DEFINITELY getting one now!

@IVFDublin hooray transfer buddy! We have planned the equivalent of a KFC but a different chain/brand 😊 I'm excited and nervous (aka I'm freaking out but idky 🫣).

Thanks everyone for responses re. Partners. I know it makes sense for partners to experience it differently and I've tried hard to keep in touch with how he's feeling and previously I've been like yeah however you're feeling is fine. I just kind of want him to also be excited? I think he's just protecting himself by keeping a mental distance where I've decided to throw myself into a dangerous level of positivity. And I guess that's okay as we have to do what works for each of us ♥️

@Quickdraw23 from what I know my clinic give OTD 11 days post transfer and that will be my husband's birthday! I want to test the day before so we have some processing time and so if it's negative we won't ruin his birthday and then have to put happy faces on for family but he's adamant he wants to stick to the "rules"! If I could I'd test the day before. I know there's no way I'd be mentally present if I try to wait until the day after his birthday.

Oh @IVFKinster that’s so weird - my busy OTD weekend is because it is my husband’s birthday too! Such a weird coincidence!!

And I have also found him to be a bit more detached from it all - I think it’s because although it’s both of us, I’m the one with the prescriptions / scans / etc., so I think it probably feels more abstact?

Haha how weird @IVFDublin I like coincidences. They feel like good omens 😊 more abstract is a really good way of wording it that I couldn't quite find the words for. It makes sense I guess! He IS looking forward to hopefully seeing a "flash" on the screen tomorrow during transfer but I don't know if that always happens ....

Good luck for tomorrow @MoonlightDreamer!

I like a good omen!! Good luck tomorrow @IVFKinster 🍀

@Elkly88 that's a great decision to book in with the counsellor to talk it through! Anxiety is natural so is stress. I'm not convinced either have a huge impact at this stage and I think there's a lot of evidence that says it doesn't impact the outcome and for post bfp probably better for physical health too to be calmer. I'm not convinced by evidence suggesting it IS a problem to be stressed or anxious. However, taking care of your mental health, trying to support your anxiety or low mood levels can only be a good thing so worth doing!

@User491 @Babyplease23 fingers crossed for stims and scans going smoothly and being as easy as possible!

Goodluck to you too @IVFDublin ! 🤞 (Fingers mostly crossed for managing to hold bladders during the experience 😂). Have a lovely McDonald's!

This group is intense... I love it 😅

@MoonlightDreamer good luck on the egg retrieval tomorrow. Make sure you give yourself time to rest and recover

@IVFDublin & @IVFKinster fingers crossed for you guys on your transfers tomorrow 😃

I like all these little food rituals you guys have after transfers. I think i will go the materialistic route once it is my time 😅Maybe a trip to tk maxx to get a nice candle or something

Regarding partners I think it is probably hard for them as well cause they can only support and try to be there for us but they can t experince the things we go through. They are probably just trying to stay strong for us in case things do not go the positive way. In that case you can`t really show that much emotion.

Sometimes even the thought of it working out perfectly is scary. I know I feel that as well.

I'm try hold out to end of week and go for a beta hcg. I can't deal with the uncertainty of poa. Mentally its drained me over last few years. Will keep you updated

Thanks ladies.
Have to be up at 4am to allow time for travels as my check in time is 7am. I'm dreading a 2 hour drive on an empty stomach. I think the nerves are kicking in as I'm struggling to sleep tonight

Completely understand where you're coming from @IVFKinster I feel like I've been full of so much positivity this round and my partner has been very much "well we don't know that it'll definitely work..." And he's right, but I'm like pleaaaaaaase share a bit of positivity with me 🤣 I do understand it's hard for them to connect in the same way when they're not physically going through it though... And I think he's trying to protect himself from potential disappointment which I also understand. We all deal with things differently, that's why it's nice to have this thread so we can vent to each other!

@4thcyclelucky It was prescribed. So, during both my fresh transfer I started bleeding 7 days post transfer. With this FET, consultant upped my progesterone and said I’ll have a blood test before transfer. If my levels are below 45 I’d add lubion to the mix too. So it’s all prescribed- I haven’t had to fight for it. It’s bloody expensive though! £130 odd pounds a week from Stork! But I needed it for tonight so got some from clinic and ordered from stork too.

Thanks @Lauralozzle for the information. Here’s wishing you all the best with this one ❤️

Have you tried Asda pharmacy? I’ve gone to them this time for the stim injections and it’s quite a saving.

@4thcyclelucky I haven’t yet, because stork have been very quick and no fuss but if this works, I might, to try and save a bit of money!

@MoonlightDreamer Good luck today with your egg collection!

@IVFDublin & @IVFKinster Transfer day! Yay!

I think I’m coming down with something, which is typical. I had a scratchy throat yesterday, today it feels like it’s turning into a cough and sore throat. With a head cold. I’m in the office today as well which isn’t ideal so I’ll have to actually get dressed and not hibernate in a dressing gown all day!

@Lauralozzle amazing news on the transfer, interesting about the progesterone too, fingers crossed it's the magic missing part 🤞🏻that's so bad about the embryo video, hope they come back to you today with an apology!
I feel good on the stims thank you, fingers crossed for a good check up scan on Thursday!

@GabbyGal good luck to you too following your transfer 😊

@IVFDublin and @IVFKinster hope your transfers go well today 😊

@MoonlightDreamer good luck for collection today 🤞🏻

So much happening on here. I really hope we all get what we are dreaming off 🤞🏻❤️

Well ladies I didn't get much sleep last night .
I'm sitting waiting to get wheeled in for my retrieval. I'm shitting bricks to be honest

Good luck @MoonlightDreamer - it will be over before you know it!

@MoonlightDreamer the waiting is the worst part. You're going to be okay. You've got this and it'll be over before you know it ♥️ what do you have planned for afterwards?

@MoonlightDreamer you'll be ok!! Someone above described it as a lovely nap, and that's exactly it. Honestly :)

@Lauralozzle sorry to hear you're feeling crap!! Lots of water and you can flush it out? Sometimes I do find that a busy day when I'm feeling bad actually makes it better... like I can't dwell on feeling ill if that makes sense? Hopefully it passes soon anyway!

Feeling a bit nervous (excited?) myself - I don't think I had thought about the fact that I'd technically be pregnant! For anyone in the TWW... how strict are you being in terms of cutting things out? E.g., I use whitening toothpaste! Should I get something pregnancy-friendly? And other than unpasteurised cheeses, salad meats, alcohol, sushi... is there anything else I'm missing?

Looking forward to my McDonalds anyway 😂

@MoonlightDreamer Collection is fine honestly, I was a bit uncomfortable for the rest of the day and very sleepy, so just plan to rest up for a day or two. Best of luck, you’ve got this 💪

@Lauralozzle do you think it's being exacerbated by the progesterone? I always get a cold in the tww (in non IVF cycles obviously). Hope you don't feel too rough by the end of the day!

@Babyplease23 that's exactly how I feel. I want us to be positive together but I get that we're both dealing with it differently 😊

Thank you @User491 !

@IVFDublin I have been awake since 4am against my will as I got very caught up in everything I don't know about how to technically be pregnant? I started worrying that I'd walk with too much strut after transfer and jiggle the embryo too much 😂 I got up at that point before I went crazy. Interested to see what I didn't know I didn't know based on the responses you get!