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.

Oh gosh @Lauralozzle - sounds awful. I think I'd skip the wedding! Feel better soon.

I've recently started running (if we can call it that - jogging may be more appropriate 😂) within the last month or so. Do you think that's ok to keep up whilst on stims? I know they say no strenuous exercise - I just don't know how strenuous they mean!

@marshk my go to exercise is racquet sports so I gave that up after day 2/3 of stims as it's lots of changing direction and sudden movements. I'm just walking and doing a bit of yoga now as it's all I really feel comfortable doing at day 8 of stims.

Oh and thank you for the welcome @Lauralozzle 😊

Thanks @Custard7891 - I guess I'll just play it by ear but yoga sounds good. How are you feeling about egg collection?

I'm feeling pretty relaxed about it. As I had my operation to remove my tubes in March this year, and have done an egg collection already in August, the white coat syndrome is slowly fading😆It's good it's in the same clinic as it's familiar surroundings etc and I know the drill. Mainly excited to see the outcome given I have more follicles this time.

@Lauralozzle I'm sorry to hear you're feeling so rough! My period was very quick, 3 days of properly bleeding and then completely gone. I definitely have had stomach ache, nausea, painful twinges/cramps in the uterus area (this it probably post period related). I've had a bit of an upset stomach but not as bad as yours sounds! I've lost my appetite though. If it's so bad you can't make it to the office I'm wondering how you'd manage a wedding? It's okay to put your own needs first.

I'm personally struggling more with the mental health impact of these hormones. Yesterday I felt like I just can't do this. This journey, these tablets, life in general. I know it's the tablets because I've gone from feeling robust to feeling like nothing is worth it anymore. Not sure how I'll handle it going forward. It sucks so much.

I bet your period is 100% the norethisterone. Mine was evil on it - I was absolutely fine until a couple of days before I was scheduled to stop taking them, had horrific cramps and when the period came it was so heavy and painful!! It was awful. It was quick though - so heavy I only bled for 2.5 days but the amount of super tampons and night time pads I was using up every 2 hours was insane!

I think if I still feel off tomorrow I won’t go but I’d feel so bad about it.

I’m thinking the stomach ache and nausea might be these tablets then. We’ll see. I’m on a diet of toast at the moment! Well, silver linings and all, will help me lose some of the weight I’ve gained after two ivf stims cycles this year!!! which is about 3 stones. It’s not pretty.

I honestly think I’d rather have and go through stims and egg collection than this. I just feel constantly hung over.

I’m sorry you’re feeling down. Hopefully your mood will pick back up once we’re used to them, or maybe when we add progesterone it’ll even things out maybe?

@marshk I’d probably skip the jogging , because if you respond well, you don’t want massive ovaries twisting with the movement. I’d have been fine for the first week, by the second I couldn’t even walk as fast as normal because I was uncomfortable and very aware of my ovary. That’s with not many eggs and only one ovary.

Ah @Lauralozzle hadn't even thought of that - good point! Will give it a miss.

@Custard7891 keep growing follicles🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 for you!

@Lauralozzle so sorry you are feeling 🤢 make sure to keep hydrated, coconut water is great for that. I suffer from IBS so I always have some Enterorgemina on me when situation is critical (TMI - coming from both ends 😵‍💫). But check with your doctor, it’s a probiotic that helps restoring intestinal flora, shouldn’t interfere with treatment.

@IVFKinster YOU’VE GOT THIS! We are all rooting for you, sorry to hear that it has been so tough on you mentally - I will keep you in my prayers! 🙏🏻

@marshk your question was one of the first things I asked my clinic before starting treatment…I am quite an active person and being 2 weeks OFF from my regular activities would only drive me insane. The nurse was quite adamant on clarifying that as long as I am not doing anything out of my ordinary that I should be fine. But most importantly, to listen to my body and not OVER push it. So whilst I’m still going to work (I work with children with special needs), I’m not lifting/manual handling or doing anything strenuous for the next 2 weeks (my colleagues have been the sweetest about it and so supportive). Currently at the gym, keeping my daily workouts, but everything taken down a notch (not running or my usual treadmill incline), much lower than usual weights, no core exercise. I personally HATE yoga and meditation, it gives me migraines. So my answer to you is…if you are quite active, find a balance…not too much, not too little - for active people exercise takes their mind of the situation and helps release stress, so as long as it is safe and you are not at risk of OHSS I say, why not?!? 🤗

I think we all have to remember that a lot (if not all) of this process is out of our control…the only thing we have to do this next month is keep our sanity in check and be kind to ourselves/our bodies. Sending all of you a big hug ❤️

@Custard7891 those numbers look amazing!! When it your collection date?

@IVFKinster hormones can play havoc with mental health, you are not alone! Just take each day as they come. The fact you are even doing this just shows you how strong you are. You have got this! Keep going!! And talk to us don’t bottle it up.

@Lauralozzle i really hope you’re feeling better tomorrow. It’s so many things it could be but a wedding would be a lovely distraction if you are feeling well enough. But you are number 1 at the mo 🙂

@Steph2345 they thought Monday, but now they're saying I need one last check up on Monday (3rd scan) and then probably collection on Wednesday 🙂

@Lauralozzle thank you. Hopefully the HRT will help balance the Buserelin. Feeling pretty rubbish at the moment. Just trying to focus on the end goal.
Sorry to hear you are poorly. I hope you are feeling better soon.
I know everyone's experiences are different but I definitely preferred the stims and even egg collection compared to the medication for FET. I actually felt pretty good with stims. Definitely better mood and more energy apart from last few days before egg collection when I felt bloated and uncomfortable. Which is why I had to freeze it all.

@ivfkinster - I completely get the mental health side of this all. This process is incredibly difficult. Just keep taking one step after the other. It's great to have a group like this for support. Those who aren't going through it don't quite have the same understanding. My symptoms have been so bad at times this week I've also felt like I can't continue. But we are all strong enough ❤️

One thing I've learnt so far is that fertility treatment is like a rollercoaster completely out of our control

@Custard7891 - Good luck for egg collection! 🤞🏻 Your numbers sound great!

Thank you @LuckyPineapple, wishing you all the best in your journey too 😊

@ViVRe @Steph2345 @LuckyPineapple Thank you. I’m convinced it’s the tablets. Hopefully I’m on the mend a bit. Apart from two dodgy moments this morning at 7:00AM I’m feeling a little better. Still on a diet of toast mainly, with Lucozade! seems to be the only thing that is agreeing with me.

If I still feel like this - sort of ok if I don’t eat a lot, I think I’ll make it to the wedding this evening for the reception but I’ll just drink coke maybe and avoid the buffet, I’ll probably have a slice of toast before we go.

@Custard7891 Good luck for your scan tomorrow.

How is everyone? I hope you all had a nice weekend.

I made it to the wedding reception, it was ok, strange being totally sober though. Luckily no one noticed I was just drinking coke as they were all quite drunk!

Still have an awful dodgy stomach. Weighed myself today and I’ve lost 4lbs in a week. Although I can do with losing it, I’d rather not so quickly. Hopefully I start feeling normal again soon. By Wednesday would be ideal!

Thanks @Lauralozzle

Glad to hear the wedding went ok, but sorry you still feel so poorly. Hope you feel better soon.

@Lauralozzle I’m impressed you went to the wedding! Feeling sick and having to hide not drinking… I don’t think I would have been able! Hopefully better soon!

I had a very quiet weekend - started injections yesterday so trying to take it easy but really struggling with the no exercise! Was supposed to play a tennis match tomorrow and was very tempted as I feel fine but think I need to give myself a breather as I’m sure my body is already working hard enough! First scan is on Friday so fingers crossed…

@Custard7891 good luck tomorrow!

Thanks @IVFDublin. A fellow tennis player, how exciting! I too have matches this winter and it's been difficult giving my availability. Best not to play during stims. Wishing you all the best with your jabs.

@Custard7891 Thank you. I hope your scan went well today!

@IVFDublin A nice relaxing weekend sounds great to me! I feel like I need another weekend to recover from my weekend! Looks like quite a few of us have scans this week.

I’m hoping when they scan me on Wednesday my lining is already thick enough! It probably won’t be, but I really hope so!

Hello IVF gang. Start my meds tomorrow and was just thinking about what I need to do that important and thought I would share something I learnt that may help.
HYDRATION
I started working with a nutritionalist about 8 weeks ago. I always thought I was quite a hydrated person but after him making me with drinking 4 liters a day I realised I probably rarely get enough fluids. I have one of those large 2 litre gym bottles and aim to have drank 1 by lunch and the second by 6pm (then only sip water past this time otherwise you will get no sleep from constant toilet trips- learnt this the hard way 😂)
Whenever I go and have blood taken they usually struggle first thing in the morning and on a few occasions have made me go and drink a couple of pints and come back and then it's easy to draw blood from me. I think this demonstrates the importance. So when thinking about keeping good blood flow to the uterus WATER IS KEY!! Our blood cannot move freely unless we are hydrated. Im going to really focus on this, this time around so thought I would share.
Also high healthy fats (nuts/ seeds/ avocado/ peanut butter) and full fat dairy (not low fat dairy- messes up our hormones apparently)
Hope this helps. ❤️❤️

Thanks @Kitt86 - I am TERRIBLE for drinking water, but bought one of those huge Stanley cups over the weekend (I'm an influencer's dream) and it definitely makes a difference. I was also about to go get some biscuits and tea as a snack so you've inspired me to get more water and almonds instead :)

Really struggling with work - it feels a bit surreal going through something so physical / hormonal / emotional, and having to pretend everything is all the same with your colleagues! I'm totally distracted, almost getting insulted by any emails that land my way 😂

What kind of side effects have people had from the injections? So hard to know what's in my head vs what's actually happening!

This is so funny @IVFDublin - I've done exactly the same thing 😂

Yeah, my last two rounds my work and colleagues knew about but this time I've kept it a secret. Although I decided to tell my one "work bestie" who I trust. Then I can have a little chat about it sneakily here and there but without the whole world knowing. Do you have 1 work person you could tell to make it more bearable. I am also sooo completely distracted and if anyone saw my Google history they would definitely lock me up. Talk about obsessive. If I can think of ANYTHING IVF related to Google I will,and I will send myself down a complete rabbit hole 😂 I would be embarrassed to even share with you guys the shit I've googled. But sometimes it feels comforting, when you don't want to bore others with the obsession 😂
Unfortunately I work from home quite often which means I have too much time to look things up. Last night I contemplated writing a book about all the research I have discovered 🫣😆

So, had my first scan this morning 5 growing follicles (2 on the left, 3 on the right)…plus other 3 on the right that might still grow. 🤔

I have honestly been so “blasé” about all of this, I didn’t have a number in mind, but equally I am not naive on how many eggs retrieved and mature/frozen it takes in order to have a good shot at having a baby. So, no emotions from me…except the REALIZATION/CONFIRMATION that it will be a LONG road ahead before I feel comfortable with embryo making/genetic tests and IVF altogether.

For now, I will keep telling my eggies to grow grow which is what I’ve been doing every day since last Wednesday. I started the Ganirelix injections yesterday and the 1st one stung like a B!tch but the one this morning I numbed the area extra extra so it wasn’t so bad 🤗

I am trying to log in to the clinic portal to see the updates they have made, whether they are happy with protocol or if they want to tweak things around. I am already on a high dose of Ovaleap (450iu) so don’t know what else there is to it.

hope everyone is all right, I am rooting for all of us and for the wishes of our heart to become a reality some day ❤️🙏🏻❤️