IUI help!! With my progesterone pessaries

[Mrsrmcc]

Had my second round of iui this lunch time however this time I’ve been put on progesterone pesseries But like an idiot I forgot to ask the nurse when I’m suppose to insert my first pessary and my clinic is now closed until Monday!! Would I insert the first one tonight or start them tomrorow night? I’ve tried googling but its no help and I’m pure panicking now I’m gonna fuck it up

Yeah fair play at least they’re playing it safe, to be honest I think mine is a little high, our very first round of iui was cancelled because I reacted too well to the stims and it was only 75iu and all my other cycles I was only stimming 37.5 so for me it feels like a massive jump but my meds are coming this Friday before we’ve even had the treatment plan appointment so I dunno maybe I’ll mention it, we have our treatment plan/hiv rubella etc testing on 4th.

bet you’re ready to crack on now aren’t you I’ll be a week in front of you then if they go ahead with your july cycle as mines due the Saturday before 20th 🤣 so I’m glad we can talk about how we’re feeling 🙏🏼
yeah exactly the same I’m nervous about the OHSS especially cos I’m a bit of a hypochondriac so every little thing I’ll be like 👀. And especially sedation I hate the idea of being out of it or reacting badly to the sedation I just really don’t want to do it but we’re left with no choice at this point the fear of it failing again or never actually working is stronger than the fear of it all so I’m just holding onto that 🙏🏼 but I’ll still be a little chicken shit crying about it 😂. Xxx

@Mrsrmcc yeah worth mentioning it as they did ask me how I responded to stims during IUI. How many follicles did you end up with during your IUI medicated attempts? I did two medicated IUIs and for both ended up with about 6 or 7, a few on the smaller side though.

Yeah it's worked out pretty well that we'll hopefully be going through this at a similar time! Weird how things time out. Yeah I completely get what you mean about the sedation. I've never had any sort of sedation so I'm a bit nervous about how I'll respond. I've already said to my wife I apologise in advance if I start talking shit 😂xx

Oh really I did mention the cancelled cycle to him but I’m deffo gonna say something again next week. So that first round I think I had 8 but they were all mature on the larger side and then my 3 cycles after that I had 2 for each cycle but only 1 leading follicle I think the leading follicles were always around 2/2.3 and then the other was always 1.6/1.8.

no me neither I’ve been to sleep but never had sedation and he scared me when he said we’ll be using class A and class B drugs for your sedation id rather not know because I can’t help but google then 🤦🏻‍♀️😂. Xx

I just had my medicine haul, girl I hope you’ve got space for it all 😂

@Mrsrmcc ah okay yeah will be interesting to see what they say then but wonder if it's based more on AMH and AFC but who knows!

I've never been put under either so I'm quite nervous but apparently sounds like people quite enjoy sedation haha.

Omg so many drugs 😂 mine are due to arrive on Monday. Thankfully we have an American style fridge so will have space. They did say not to let the medication touch the sides of the fridge, maybe due to condensation/moisture?

Have they said anything to you about if there is anything you can do in prep for IVF? Like diet/exercise etc.? Mine hasn't but was just wondering. I've not had a drink for a few months and even before then haven't had many at all in the last year ish. Also barely drink caffeine now. Trying to keep healthy but also have some nice treats too!

yeah we’ve got a big American fridge so I’ve got a couple of boxes one fridge one not fridge for it all 🤣. One of them is an actual needle as appose to a pen so dunno how I’m gonna do that and it goes in the belly not the leg 🤢 I did my ovaleap in my legs last time my husbands a right wimp so no chance he can help me. My friend did say put an ice pack on 10 mins before it really helps.
you know what scares me the most with it like the initial 10 seconds of it going in your system you know when you’re still aware and then suddenly you start to feel out of control and then coming round when it starts to wear off and you’re getting your mind back but still feel wired 😵‍💫. I’ve been under a couple of times obv quite recently with my ectopic and they were the worst bits for me.
hey well done with the alcohol 👏🏻 I’ve always been quite a big drinker I’ve found that the hardest thing to eliminate usually I have a glass of wine with dinner but I’ve cut out midweek drinking and just having one at the weekend. I’ve cut caffeine only drinking decaf and I introduced CO-Q10 alongside my pregnacare about 4 months ago and an extreme green smoothy in the morning when I can be arsed to make it 🤣. And I’m an avid exersiser anyway I gym and run throughout the week so that wasn’t anything new. It’s so hard to change your lifestyle. Clinic never mentioned anything though to help what about yours? Xx

@Mrsrmcc ah with the medicated IUIs I tried it in my thigh but actually found that hurt unlike into my stomach. I found making sure it went in at a 90 degree angle was best. But I'm lucky that I don't really mind needles, I've given blood quite a lot in the past and that needle is much bigger and it's fine. I'm actually worse with seeing needles go into someone else than myself 😂

Thanks I actually didn't drink anything from like July until December last year in prep for IUI, but when the first IUI didn't work and I found out on boxing day I was like right I'm having a drink or two after that haha. Then had the odd drinks between cycles (I.e not in the 2 week wait). But once we knew we'd go into IVF I just decided that I'd rather just go without even if it only increases the chances by like 1%. I'd read that eggs take about 2-3 months to mature so cutting out alcohol about that time before IVF could help, however some sources say it makes no difference so who knows! I wouldn't say I'm a huge drinker really apart from special occasions where I'd have quite a few, I do miss cocktails and stuff though haha.

Yeah I've been taking the pre pregnancy pregnacare tablets with co-q10 in too, hopefully that might help. Sounds like you exercise more than me haha. I keep relatively active with walking and cycling sometimes but not regular gym going. I know too much exercise can impact on ovulation but I think the advice with IVF is to just carry on with your usual routine and try not to suddenly add loads of exercise. That's my excuse anyway 😂

Oh really! I nearly nearly did it in my stomach but chickened out 😂 im not bad with needles just the thought of doing it to myself makes me cringe 🤢
yeah I read the thing about eggs too. My first cycle I completely cut out drinking but i find it so hard when you go out socially to not have a little drink to loosen up life is miserable at the minute as it is I need a little happiness in there somewhere 🤣. But I think once I start stimming I wont have any and obviously 2WW I’ve never had a drink anyway. I have a hen do today and I said to my mum im not gonna go bonkers but I will enjoy a glass of wine with my dinner, compromise 🤣.

yeah with exersise I just play it how I’m feeling first ever cycle i stopped completely but it made me miserable and lonely I haven’t got many friends anymore since starting treatments so every cycle after that I carried on but slower and cut back on my sessions and just stopped in the 2WW.
xx

@Mrsrmcc had my medication delivered today. Thankfully not too much for the fridge (obviously quite a few boxes) but quite a lot that can be room temp. At least that's one more thing ticked off. Just waiting on a call from the GP this afternoon to sort an up to date Chlamydia test (typical mine has only just run out as it was just over a year ago) and the clinic charge £50 for the test so I'll see if I can get it done via the GP. I managed to get my thyroid one via the GP and saved £50 thankfully. I just think we've spent so much already having to self fund if I can get these tests sorted by the GP then at least our initial round of IVF is mostly funded apart from having to contribute £400 towards the cost of donor sperm.

Yeah definitely makes sense. I don't think a bit of alcohol will make too much difference. I've found more recently that alcohol can impact my mental health a bit so I may as well avoid it for now. I had a nice mocktail out with friends on Saturday (they are close friends so know why I'm not drinking) which tbh tasted very similar to a real one to me. How was the hen do?

Yeah completely understandable with the exercise. I do find keeping active helps with my anxiety. I love a good long walk or bike ride just to brush the cobwebs away a bit, definitely helps my MH. I love that evenings are lighter now so going for a walk is much nicer xx

Oh too right I had mine done with my GP I wasn’t paying £50 per test 🤣. My rubella came back as equivocal twice meaning it’s neither positive or negative but I just signed a waiver to say I’d had my vaccine (which I have) so we aren’t delayed in starting.

yeah it deffo does especially if you’re feeling down already it just makes you feel even more depressed sometimes, I should take a leaf out of your book lol but I have made a decision now no more drinking for me until I have a bun in the oven!! Yes it was lovely thank you it was an older ladies hen do so was quite civilised thank god.

we’ve been in clinic today to sign all the consents and have hiv bloods done then going ahead next Saturday if my period arrives on time. Nervous now it’s getting more real 🫢 I also asked about my AMH and follicle count she said really it doesn’t matter that it was a little low as my follicle count was high at 21 so that’s sort of an indicator on how many follicles we‘ll get at retrieval so that’s put my mind at ease a lil bit.

how’s you any updates? Xx

@Mrsrmcc yeah thankfully it was so efficient, sorted with the GP, I've already had the Chlamydia test result back (negative woo) and sent it to the clinic. I know the NHS can be shit but I have to say my GP has been really decent with sorting these tests so that I don't have to pay for them at the clinic.

Aww that sounds like a good idea. Makes sense to stay off alcohol (but don't worry if you have the odd one before starting the meds)!

That's so exciting! Great to hear that you discussed it. Did you mention the dose or does that seem fine? So I think you'll be a couple of weeks ahead of me, keep me updated with how you're getting on and what it's all like.

Apart from now having all of the tests sorted (apart from screening ones that thankfully are funded and they'll do at the appointment) there's nothing else I need to do now. Got our next appointment on the 12th to go through the treatment plan. Then I'll be due my period in 2-2 1/2 weeks so will start the medication all being well. Typically I'm dye around when we're going to our best friend's wedding and being a bridesmaid... might have to pop off to go and inject myself. Oh well 😂

Yeah to be fair mine have been great and no complaints from me about the NHS we’ve been given so many opportunities to date so I’m really grateful for everything. I also found out we get 3 years of funded embryo storage which I’m Buzzin about.
I kinda skirted over it and said I’m used to 37.5 and she said well obviously we’re needing a lot more follicles this time and you’ll be regularly monitored so I’m just gonna trust the process 🙏🏼. Haha that’s typical about the wedding 😂 will you be just stimming or will you be doing the downer injection as well on wedding day? I think your downer starts around 6 days after you’ve started stimming so what’s that like a week after your period? At least both are fairly small so you can pop them in your handbag. I bet you’ll be a blubbering mess happy crying especially with all those hormones raging round your body 🤣 xx

@Mrsrmcc wow 3 years of storage that's so good! I think we get 6 months from a confirmed pregnancy but then it's only a few hundred a year to pay which isn't bad in the grand scheme of it all. I'm just so glad we have as many embryo transfers as we need funded following egg collection until we manage to have a child. However a 2nd egg collection and transfers from that wouldn't be funded so here's hoping that first egg collection works 🤞do you know what treatment you get funded?

Should just be the stimming then as I'm pretty sure I'm ovulating today/tomorrow as I have ewcm and some pain today so will be due about 2 weeks so basically the weekend of the wedding, great 😂 ah well we're staying at the hotel of the wedding venue so can just pop back to the room to inject if needed. At least our friends who are getting married know what is happening in terms of IVF. Omg I'm going to be so emotional, medication or not 😂xx

Omg that’s amazing!! So if you manage to get 5 embryos stored you get 5 transfers funded? I suppose after everything you’ve already paid for it’s only fair. So we get 1 fresh ivf and ICSI and then our storage funded. I’m hoping it works first time if not I’m praying that we get enough embryos to store that we just have to pay for FET which is obv cheaper than a fresh cycle.

ah that’s good news then at least you will have all your stuff upstairs to sort yourself out if you do get a bit emosh 🤣 when is it next weekend? I’m starting stims as of today but this time round they want me to inject in the evening? I’ve always done it morning time. I’m nervous now especially doing 300iu luckily we’re renovating the whole house and garden so plenty of stuff to keep my mind occupied but won’t stop me obsessing over every little twinge 😂 xx

Yeah, and would get up to that number of transfers funded until we managed to have a baby. If we had any left over and wanted to try for another then we'd self fund that. I'm just hoping it works and I don't need another egg collection as it's more to go through and to pay but of course we would if we had to. My wife said yesterday whilst I'm doing the stims, around the egg collection, and after she doesn't want me to do too many household jobs so will do most which I'm looking forward to 😎 I think it's because the nurse during our appointment on Friday said only gentle exercising such as walking and no heavy lifting during the stims and around egg collection, so my wife has really taken that to mean not carrying the washing basket etc. 😂

Yeah next weekend so whether I have started my period or not I'll be taking the medication with me just in case as we are there for a long weekend. Ooh exciting that you start today! Yes I was always told evenings during IUI ones as they scan in the morning so could adjust my dose if needed for that day and also if I got any side effects I could sleep them off. I'm just going to try not to have too many evening plans in where possible in terms of the timing and also if I feel really bloated. Is that your plan too? Xx

That’s brilliant 🙏🏼 hopefully you won’t need it but at least you know you can keep going if the first one fails and not have to worry about funding it finally. Ah I love that what a gem 😂 I never knew that they didn’t mention it to me about gentle exercise maybe I will stop running you know I don’t want to fuck anything up 🫢. I mean I know you’ll potentially be starting on the wedding weekend but at least you will have a great distraction those first few days I dunno about you but my mind goes into overdrive the first couple of days until I get in the swing of it. Oh really I always did mine in the morning but they said skip the dose the morning of the scan then have it after in case we need to adjust it but makes more sense in the evening. To be fair I’m a bit of a loner since starting treatment I seem to have lost a lot of friends so my plans are pretty boring anyway 😂 I have a bbq next weekend for a family birthday but everyone knows what’s going on with that other than that it won’t be anything out of the ordinary for me 🤣 xx

I just have such anxiety that something will go wrong... like even if there are loads of follicles there are going to be no eggs, or none will fertilise/get to day 5. And worrying about OHSS and then a fresh transfer can't happen. I know it's silly to worry in advance but it's the type of over thinking person that I am 😅 do you get those worries?

Ah I wouldn't worry. I asked if I could cycle and she said it could be best to avoid it, just because of ovarian torsion 🤢 but I think they were probably being overly cautious just to cover themselves.

Yeah I don't think I'll feel happy until the first scan to see how I'm responding and even then I'll be nervously waiting to see how it all plays out. Honestly I think this is such a hard process and trying to also then work around it, urgh. But I can usually manage my work diary (to a certain point) so I'm keeping it lighter during the stims part and then taking leave for when I think it'll be around the egg collection and transfer. I've not booked it yet as I said to my manager I might have to book it in retrospect as some of it may be authorised sick leave for it (so I'm not using up annual leave for it when I know I'm entitled to paid sick leave for it). My manager is lovely, very supportive and flexible with it.

Thankfully the close friends and family that we are planning to see in the next month or so all know about the IVF stuff so if we have to cancel last minute they won't mind and will understand. I've tried to avoid booking in plans with people who don't know about the IVF for now. Sad that you've found you've lost friends during the process, clearly they were proper friends then? Xx

Oh absolutely my mind is on auto drive constantly at the minute just non stop I can’t sleep at night without Stephen fry reading me a bit of Harry Potter 😂 my husband thinks I’m crackers.
ah really I’m stopping then no chance am I risking that it sounds horrific.
no im exactly the same I used to say I wish I had a little peep hole into my ovaries just so I could keep checking what was going on in there the anxiety is rough! I’ve just done my first dose and already I’m freaking a bit inside the pen just seemed to go on forever injecting the liquid but I did check it a million times and made my husband check the pen and the paperwork to make sure it was alright 😂 crackers I know!
Thats good though that they’re flexible with you half the time you don’t know when you’re gonna be in for a scan until the day before! But I don’t blame you trying to get the most out of your sick days it’s a medical procedure at the end of the day No different than if you had an operation for something non fertility related so it’s only fair.
I know it’s shit really a lot of them have kids now soooo many babies been born since we started our first iui so it’s just really awkward xx

Haha what a great choice! Definitely double check with your clinic though, they may be able to reassure you. I know your running helps your wellbeing😊 omg I'd love to be able to see what is going on in there. I just hate the waiting and unknowns!

I'm sure you've done it correctly. Do you know when your first scan will be?

Yeah definitely, I'm barely ever off sick so I feel like I have to remind myself that sick days are there is needed and to be kind to myself!

Aww that must be so hard. I think I'm lucky that in my friendship groups people are either single or in earlier stages of relationships so less likely to have children yet. Although I wonder if my friends who are getting married this weekend might start trying soon so potentially could be trying at the same time who knows! Might be nice to have people who are trying/might have children at similar times xx

I’m in on Friday for my first scan so I’ll check then although I’m absolutely done in I feel so tired and sickly this time round?! I don’t know if it’s cos I’m on a higher dose. I’d deffo done it correctly my mind just runs away with me sometimes 😂 I’m alright now did my second dose last night which was a breeze 🙏🏼.
That would be lovely if you both had children at the same time it’s someone to share your maternity with too 🤣 xx

Ooh not long to see how you're responding then! Let me know how it goes! How are you feeling at the mo? Any bloating etc.?

Haha yeah it would be funny if we did. I think she's very casual about the idea of ttc, like no huge rush, but I wonder if that will change once they start trying. At least I can give her some info around ovulation etc.! 😂xx

No fingers crossed there’s some juicy suckers in there! I’m ok, very tired and a banging headache all the time but generally not too bad. I’ve not filed for divorce yet so I think I’m handling the hormones pretty well 🤣. Yeah today is the first day I’ve felt very bloated my stomach is usually flat but this morning I woke up and I’ve got a Pooh bear belly, I’m feeling quite tight in my clothes but it’s expected isn’t it. Few little twinges down below but nothing major. How’s you are you excited to get going? When are you due Saturday?
lol I bet it will although I forget people actually conceive so easily naturally to me it’s like a myth 😂 xx

Fingers crossed there are! Do you feel more bloated as the days go on or not too bad?

Yeah I'm excited but nervous, period is due in the next couple of days I think. Unless I start my period properly tomorrow then I won't need to inject on the day of our friends wedding, but we'll see. I don't actually mind having to do that if needed!

Omg I know right haha. I mean obviously my wife and I can't conceive naturally but I wonder if we were a straight couple if we'd have managed to 😂xx

Yea deffo feeling more bloated and getting quite a few twinges now especially since I had my scan, I found that a little painful more than when I’ve had them before I wonder if it’s cos they’re more full and they press on your ovaries don’t they. Head is constantly banging and I’m so tired but other than that no other nasty symptoms.
I had roughly 24 follicles in there, obviously not all up to size yet but she said things are looking good and my lining is thickening up nicely so I will be starting my downers tonight just waiting for them to call me to say it’s been signed off by the doc. Back in Monday to see how things are.

yeah I was very nervous too but now I’m in the swing of it I’m ok just want to crack on now 😂. Has your period arrived? Xx

Oh wow that's amazing. Bet you're feeling relieved now the scan is done?

Nope! I'm still waiting on my period which I thought was going to arrive yesterday or the day before. But I do think I roughly ovulated two weekends ago so should be due any time. Typical that I was stressed about it around the wedding and I've not even needed the meds that I brought to the wedding. I was so stressed about keeping the meds cool enough too during the journey and staying over. We're staying here for another night too. I'm usually a 27 day ish cycle gal but if it starts today it'll be 29 so I do think I just ovulated a bit later than I usually do. But the wedding was amazinggg, and I was so pleased not to have my period when I was dancing for most of the night 😂