FET February 2024

[kirstysmbc]

Hi, just thought I'd see if there was anyone else doing a FET cycle in February that is looking for a cycle buddy?

I'm due to start meds at the end of this month, hopefully with transfer mid Feb. This will be my first donor embryo cycle after final attempts with my own eggs failed last year.

Just back from a trip to paediatric a&e with my daughter, so much for a relaxing post transfer rest! Luckily nothing worse than a very bad ear infection, and in and out in less than 2 hours, but not doing much for my stress levels!!

Hello! Is it ok if I join this thread? I have my first FET in 2 days (Feb 19). I feel quite alone in the process. I just tried to rapidly read through this whole thread I see everyone is at a slightly different stage in their process. It's very comforting to read other people's stories and experiences. I'm 41, and we're trying to stay calm throughout this although we don't have a huge budget to try so many times, so trying to do everything the best we can. :-)

@kirstysmbc - oh gosh, so sorry to hear that! Hope your daughter is ok. It's mad how life conspires to keep you on your toes.

@kaydevo7777 - welcome! I have my transfer on the 20th, hopefully, so we are almost transfer twins ☺️ the financial side does add an extra dimension of stress, doesn't it? We are also moving from London to Nottingham in April, just to add to the chaos. At the minute, our clinic with our frozen embryos is a few minutes walk from our flat, so I'm hoping this round works as we won't be able to afford to do another for a while and it'll be so much less convenient.

@IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday - I agree, you have to laugh or you'll cry. I've loved all the descriptions of in-theatre jokes and will be doing my best not to wet myself on Tuesday. My pelvic floor definitely isn't what it once was 🤣🤣🤣

@muddlingthrou oh bless you I’m sorry you’ve had a rough time up to now although wonderful news on your daughter from round 1. Do you mind me asking you age? Also I saw you said you’re moving to Nottingham — I’m in Nottingham! Where abouts are you moving to? Are you able to move your embryos to a new clinic up here? I can recommend some of you did.

@kaydevo7777 hey 👋 it’s so hard not to feel alone in all this but chatting helps so do join in and hopefully it’ll help you feel less isolated. Did you have a fresh before or is the first transfer?

@IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday yeah no peeing on the table and remember they can see if you need a poo 😂😉

so I tested this morning 12dp5dt (otd was tomorrow) and I’m really gutted it was a negative 😔 third time lucky wasn’t the case and honestly really thrown as I kinda ‘felt’ it this time. I’m let down by my clinic a bit as their was some hoohar going before transfer that I felt hindered things. I’m ringing them in a second to discuss but we go again 😔 not sure how much more of this I can do.

Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that @GCS34 — how many more embryos do you have?

hello to this thread, I see some familiar names from past rounds!

@kirstysmbc oh no I'm sorry your LO isn't well. Ear infections are the worst. I scuba dive and get them a lot and the pain is awful but usually the antibiotics kick in quickly 🤞🏻

Hi @kaydevo7777 and welcome! Good luck with your transfer 🤞🏻

Oh I'm so sorry @GCS34 - a negative is always hard. Take some time for yourself this weekend digest x

Hi @girljulian - I recognised your name! Hope you're ok. When is/was your transfer?

@seekingbabyk thanks hun. It’s just a really bullshit game isn’t it? a really bad Casino where the croupier really does not like me! We have 2 remaining but I’m kinda just feeling like what’s the point as they’re not going to work either. I range the clinic and they’re ringing me back 🙄

@girljulian hey you! I’m so pleased you’ve decided to go again after everything last year. How are you doing? And where are you at? Xx

@GCS34 everyone I know who's had a negative feels like that. Just ride the wave, feel the emotions and you'll come back fighting. Right now isn't the time to think about what's next. You need your regroup and let your body heal. Were your embryos tested? If not there's every chance it wasn't viable anyway but your others might be. There are so many factors I don't think because one fails it means all others will xx

@kirstysmbc Sorry to hear your little girl is unwell, hope she is better soon.

Welcome @kaydevo7777 - hope all goes well for your transfer..

I had my 5th Transfer on 13th - it’s a hard long journey, we have one DD and this will probably be our last go although have 3 Frosties left..

@GCS34 - Hope you are okay, it’s a rough time when it doesn’t go to plan. Hope you take some time for yourself.

Hi @seekingbabyk and @GCS34 — my transfer was yesterday! This was our last embryo from the second collection, fourth transfer total. Not sure how to feel about it after last time, when I had a MMC at 8 weeks, but I do know not to bother symptom spotting at least! Last time, my only proper positive, I had absolutely bugger all before testing positive.

@GCS34 - I'm 36, but I evidently have the eggs of a much older woman 😬

We are hopefully moving to West Bridgford - whereabouts are you? If this round doesn't work, then we'll consider either moving our remaining embryos to Nottingham or I'll stay at my folks in London. So I may well hit you up for clinic recommendations!

I'm sorry to hear about your negative test. I think give yourself a few days grace where you don't make any decisions and maybe have a couple of nice glasses of wine xx

@girljulian - exciting!!! Best of luck for that embryo burrowing deep xx

@Staryskylark oh you're one day before me! Keeping everything crossed for you. I don't have any left after these so you're lucky to have options in the freezer!

@girljulian oh I'm really sorry about your MMC - that must have been awful. Good for you for dusting yourself off and going again. This journey is a rollercoaster isn't it! Keeping everything crossed for you too xx

@kaydevo7777 Welcome! I had my daughter when I was 41 on my first FET, wishing you the same success.

@GCS34 I'm so sorry you had a negative test today. I hope you can take a bit of time to focus on yourself and digest the news with your partner. As @seekingbabyk says, don't think about making decisions on moving forward yet.

@girljulian Welcome, I'm sure I recognise your name from previous threads. I also had my transfer yesterday 😊 Congrats on being PUPO and I hope you've not driven yourself insane yet in the 2ww. When is your otd? I have to do a blood test on 28 Feb.

{mention:muddlingthrou}@Staryskylark@seekingbabyk Thanks, luckily she seems much better this morning, so fingers crossed the meds are kicking in quickly.

I'm so sorry @GCS34 that's super shitty! I was really hoping for third time lucky for you... I hope you have the support you need and can take some time to take care of yourself. I really hope your luck turns when you're ready to go again. Big hug xxx

@kirstysmbc congrats on being PUPO but I'm sorry to hear about the A&E trip... How stressful! I hope your daughter feels better very, very soon! How funny to have such different advice from the clinics! Mine literally said: carry on as usual but please no skydiving or bungee jumping 😂

Hi @girljulian I recognise you too! Congrats on being PUPO and let's hope this one is your lucky one 🤞🏼 thanks for sharing that you had no symptoms before your BFP... I'm 6dp5dt and I feel absolutely nothing since the cramps stopped yesterday afternoon 🤷🏻‍♀️
@IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday thank you! Nice plans today and tomorrow but still tearing my hair out, inside 🤦🏻‍♀️

@Staryskylark How are you feeling? I hope the wait to OTD flies by for you!

@muddlingthrou I'm sorry to hear everything you've been through since your daughter arrived and I really hope this round goes well so you can end on a high note with your London clinic! Good luck on Tuesday... Not peeing is tough for sure, so try not to laugh tooooo much 😅

Hi @kaydevo7777 and good luck for Monday! I find these threads a lifeline... Especially this hilarious one! Welcome and we're here to keep you company. You're definitely not alone although it often does feel that way!

@seekingbabyk how was your wine? 🤩

@beachbum85 didn't try it tbh - I'll try later! Glad your cramping had stopped. Hopefully that's a good sign 🤞🏻

@seekingbabyk thabk you for your message. I just feel angry this round which I’ve not felt before. Just angry and deflated like what the hell is wrong with me and my body?! 3 transfers and no baby — I’m no longer within the ‘statistics’ and just think why me? I know you can’t think that but it’s so hard not to isn’t it? No. My embryos are not tested. Are yours?

@kirstysmbc @girljulian @Staryskylark thank for your messages. It doesn’t get any easier each time. I’m just not sure what’s gonna change with the other 2 and think what’s the point as they’ll fail. But woe me but it’s just hard to see a change when you’re doing the same thing each month.

@beachbum85 thabk you darling. We are selling our house atm so had 3 back to back viewings so hopefully something good from one of those and we can move to hopefully the one weee buying. how are you doing?

@muddlingthrou ahh I used to live in bridgford. I live in radcliffe on Trent now in the countryside but it’s only about 10-15 mins to bridgord. How come you’re moving? Thanks for your message - it’s just a lot.

@GCS34 : I know exactly where Radcliffe on Trent is, as my DH grew up there and my MIL still lives in the village! What a small world. We are also in the throes of moving - which adds a lot of stress to an already stressful time.

I'm so sorry you're feeling downbeat about it all - it's totally understandable. Maybe embryo testing could be an option for you if you decide to go again? It is so very unfair, that is undeniable. Sending you lots of love and hugs. I hope you've got some people you can lean on in real life xxx

@GCS34 I’ve also had 3 transfers and no baby so you’re not alone. But I think the statistic is three rounds rather than transfers? The reason being that when they test, sometimes they find that one round has all genetically great eggs and another one has abnormal ones for no real reason. Some women have 9+ transfers and still come in as successful within 3 rounds for statistical purposes!

Thanks @beachbum85 I recognise you too!

@kirstysmbc lovely to have a transfer Buddy, although my OTD isn’t until 2 March…my clinic says 15 days for whatever reason, and I religiously test only OTD.

@GCS34 no mine aren't tested either. I'm the same our first round was 18 months ago. We did 3 back to back im rounds pretty much with 2 average graded blasts out of it. Other people's stories having loads in the freezer etc makes me realise the road we have ahead of us but I think you just keep going until you can't and if it doesn't happen what more can we do about it. We have a great life with lots of travelling etc so just trusting the universe with whatever our path is meant to be x

@muddlingthrou thank you — I don’t think we’ll be doing embryo testing tbh. Theirs so much controversy around it and it not being designed for people under 38, and I’m part of the cynic camp a little bit with it that it’s miss sold and used for certain patients. Not all, but my clinic don’t push it to me and have said theirs no reason for us to need it due to age and things like my AMH etc so I don’t think we will personally. I agree it’s beneficial for certain people mind. Jusy not sure I’m quite ready to risk it yet. I dunno. I think the jury is still out on it. Are yours? Or would you consider it?

I spoke to the clinic and they said carry on the drugs retest Monday and they’ll call me Monday to discuss next steps if req. which it is inevitable it’s going to be required but whatever. I’m considering a HRT priming protocol due to issues with my lining that I have a history with, which they talked about last time. We’ll see Monday. Thank you again for your kind message. I’m currently on the sofa with a magazine having had a long walk so I’m a better place I think. 🤍

how are you feeling? And yes what a small world hey! You’ll have to DM me your In-laws names and I’ll see if I know them! When do you think you’ll move and have you got a house under offer up here?

@seekingbabyk yeah we just have to keep rolling with the punches don’t we. I wouldn’t mind if I know that in a years time I’d be pregnant, I could deal with that even though it’s a year away, but it’s the not knowing that is hard and the biggest challenge isn’t it? We have 2 left in storage, so we’ll do them before another fresh round but like you, my collection was almost a year ago now and a year on, you can’t help but worry.
hows your tww going? And like you and @beachbum85 said — the wine has been bought, the chocolate is in full flow and I’m going to have a very hot bath tonight! 😂🙈

@seekingbabyk - Ahh I think Valentine’s Day is a nice day to have a transfer.. Fingers crossed for you. Are you going to wait the full two weeks to test?

@beachbum85 I am doing okay thank you, had the week off to rest as my last transfer I went away for the week and think I over did it so have been more cautious this time.. hope you are okay??

Although I don’t know about everyone else but it’s so hard to know what to do for the best.. so much conflicting information and advice.. so have gone with the opposite of my last failed FET and trying to take things much slower this time.

@girljulian 15 days is a long time for the OTD.. which is another confusing thing as everyone’s clinics say different times.. hope the transfer went well for you though..

@GCS34 we wanted to do all the collections first to future proof so we had enough in storage but that hasn't worked out. I'm 39 next month and it's an egg quality issue with us so I didn't want to be waiting to get as many as possible but we bought a 3 cycle package including transfers and that runs out this month so just decided to do the transfers before working out our next steps. Someone on another thread I've been chatting to has lining issues and her consultant has just put her on estrogen patches this time as it apparently gets in your system quicker so that might be worth asking about. Enjoy your wine, chocolate and bath ❤️

@Staryskylark our OTD is 12dpt which is a Monday. I'll probably wait until Friday so 9dpt to see what's happening - I would think I'd know by then. Trying not to think about testing and just keeping busy. So hard to not overthink the twinges and stuff though

Hi, hope you don’t mind if I join.

A bit about me:

Currently on our fourth transfer, which is our second FET. Our last transfer (first FET) was in October. All 3 previous transfers have been negative so potentially looking at recurrent implantation failure.

We’re trying a natural modified FET this time which so far has felt so much better than the medicated FET last time - the estradiol made me so ill! We were tracking my ovulation this week and on Wednesday I triggered. Progesterone pessaries started yesterday, I have a progesterone blood test on Tuesday and down for a transfer on Wednesday.

Feeling quite anxious about it. It’s a day 6 blast as it was a bit behind on day 5 so I don’t have my hopes up really.

I shall catch up on the thread later. 😊

@kirstysmbc I'm so sorry to hear about the ear infection. hopefully you are finding ways to relax despite this - sending you calming vibes ! and That's so encouraging to hear that your first daughter with a FET at 41. :-)
@muddlingthrou transfer twins! Yeah the financial aspect is real. Nothing is covered for me, so I'm just emptying out my savings. I was happy to have 4 good embryos. Your transfer on the 20th is your 2nd transfer? both frozen? May I ask if you're transferring 1 or 2? I'm sorry to hear about your first one. I'm trying to find that sweet spot on being hopeful and excited, but also maintaining realistic expectations haha, very contrasting moods.
@seekingbabyk thank you! You transferredd 2 frosties on the 14th? So you're in your TWW - I hope you're able to find some nice distractions for yourself :-)
@Nk11 Thank you! Yeah i feel like my first round numbers seem positive. This is my first time chatting with others and hearing other experiences, so I was having a hard time gauging if my numbers were even good. haha I was told for 41, they were good results, but yeah it's all relative. Thanks for the good advice ! When is your transfer date?
@Staryskylark thank you! So you're in your tww now ? I hope it's all going smoothly. May I ask if you have been transferring 1 or 2 ? I only have 4 frosties total, and have decided to transfer 2 at a time
@beachbum85 thank you! and yes it is ! I feel quite supported by this. Trying not to make every conversation I have with my partner about this process so we stay in the moment and relaxed, so it's great to have another outlet. You're 8dp today? Sending you all the best vibes
@GCS34 This is my first transfer. My body reacted quite strongly to the hormones, and I have a high amount of follicles for my age, so they opted to do frozen first time. I'm sorry to hear that you tested negative this morning. I hope your discussion with the clinic can provide some thoughtful insight, adapted approach? I can imagine it's so disappointing especially when you 'felt' it - before doing IVF/ICSI, i had a couple cycles where I was almost 100% in my body/gut before the disappointment. Sending you positive energy

*Sorry for the long message: Just wanted to make sure I responded to everyone who messaged me. It's so great to have this community <3 Trying to take it easy this weekend in preparation for my first FET this Monday (2 frosties, grade 3bb)