Starting IVF/ICSI March 2024

[AnnieStar12]

I'm planning to start my first round of ICSI with my next cycle - anyone else in the same boat and want some online company? Or anyone already been through this and got useful tips/advice?

Thank you @Steph2345 They advised to stay off work for the rest of the week to avoid getting anything else (I'm a teacher) and call on Friday nefore my appointment if I don't feel any better (my next scan os on Saturday to see if follicles are growing) but she was optimistic that I should be fine by the time I have my EC.

@Drzoem glad your EC went well and great you got 6!

I can't wait for my turn next week 🤞

@Capybara95 congrats on the transfer - so exciting! Booked in for ours tomorrow, but I’m worried about my bloating - think I have mild OHSS so they may say to freeze all after a scan 🤦‍♀️! How are you feeling after your transfer?? Xx

@Beka245 @AnnieStar12 lush news about the eggs and follicles, ladies, fingers crossed now for their development! Xx

@mlruirod - I left teaching in September 2023 due to serious stress, I know how it feels to want to push through and go into work, but seriously, just take time out and look after yourself. Had to keep saying to myself ‘it’s just a job’ but the guilt is real. Remember, there aren’t any medals for pushing through when you’re poorly, especially in these circumstances! best of luck and hope you can continue with your cycle! Xx

@IrisViolet exciting that yours is tomorrow! Fingers crossed it can go ahead and good luck! Are you due to get a scan before? They didn’t scan me just asked if I was feeling ok but you were maybe higher risk. I’m feeling fine after transfer, just normal really!

@IrisViolet sorry it's taken me so long to reply to your message, really appreciate your tips about the injections. Bet you're glad they're done for now!
Fingers crossed for your transfer going ahead as planned.

I've been really slow messaging on here but have been reading all your messages and wishing everyone so much luck. Thanks all for sharing your stories as it makes me feel more prepared.

Just trying to enjoy my last week of normality this week, as I'm away with work next week and then due my period on the Thursday or Friday so it will be all a bit of a whirlwind I think!

Good luck to everyone scheduled for the various scans / ECs / transfers over the coming days ❤️

@IrisViolet good luck for today!!

and good luck to anyone else with scans/procedures/updates today! Sorry hard to keep up!

has anyone else been told to stop their progesterone on OTD even if the result is positive? I always thought people stayed on it longer but I’ve only been advised until then

Just come out of my ER. Think they got 3 eggs, guess 3 is lucky for some 🤞

@Capybara95
@Lucylaughing

had a phone call this morning which was really disappointing saying that only 1 egg has gotten to the transfer stage and none of the others are viable for freezing as it stands.
at the hospital now waiting for the transfer but I literally feel so stressed and upset - how can it go from 13 to 1? I just feel so much pressure now! Xx

@IrisViolet I’m so sorry to hear that. It really only takes one though and hopefully the one you’re having transferred today will stick. Fingers crossed for you

I’ve had a call from embryologist this morning, out of 6 eggs, 5 fertilised. We’ll get a call on Friday (day 3 for an update) and hopefully a fay 5 transfer on Sunday if it goes according to plan. 🤞🏼

@IrisViolet I’m sorry you got only one but don’t forget it only takes one.. Good luck 🤞🏼

@AnnieStar12 well done for getting the EC out the way. Good luck 🤞🏼

@Drzoem thats great that’s 5 fertilised! Hope you’re feeling ok today. Good luck for the next few updates!

Ok ladies, please don’t think I’m crazy but I’ve been through the chat and I think this is the roundup of where most people are. I will have missed people so please add and don’t be offended if I’ve missed you:

@Capybara95 in 2ww. Transfer was this Monday (11/3)
@IrisViolet in 2ww. Transfer was today
@Beka245 EC was start of this week, transferred book for Saturday (16/3). 6 have fertilised
@AnnieStar12 EC was today, 3 collected
@2024forthewin & @Cathycatcat EC was today (no update yet)
@Drzoem EC done and transfer booked for Sunday (17/3) 5 fertilised
@mlruirod is unwell but continuing with meds and hoping EC will go ahead as planned
@Lucylaughing waiting for period (end of next week)
@HopefulllHolly have you had an update on which protocol you will be on?
@Olivia199 how are you? Are you having to freeze everything?
@Lavendermarshmallows how are you doing now? Have you had any chat with your clinic about next steps/FET?
@thirtyandmore how is the weight loss going? What’s next for you?
@Sarah000000 how are you? waiting for nurse appointment
@Rebekah77 how are you after having your cycle cancelled? Any update?
@Aroma220 having IUI - do you have any dates or anything?
@Lozzy000 are you waiting to start meds?
Me - waiting for my period (due any day now) to start stims ready for FET

xx

@Drzoem congrats, 5 out of 6 is a great result.

@IrisViolet fingers crossed this is the one you need 🤞good luck with transfer, when is your test day?
I know it must be so disappointing to only end up with 1 after you got so many eggs. This ivf business is just so random and such an emotional rollercoaster.

I am utterly dreading the phone calls from the embryologists over the next few days, I’m starting at such a low number compared to everyone else and based on drop off rates at every stage, I don’t know whether I’ll have anything at all to transfer on Monday. Just gotta keep hoping for that miracle!

@2024forthewin @Cathycatcat hope your retrievals go well today. Mine was first thing in the morning, so back home already planning to rest in bed all day. Me and OH both have the day off work.

@Steph2345 bless you for doing that! It’s so hard to keep track of everyone! How are you doing?

Yeah I’ve got my protocol and start date now which is now next month (around 21st April) as they don’t have any nurse availability next week which is very annoying but I guess another month of being healthy as possible (though all I want to do is eat chocolate from stress 😅). I am on short protocol not long which is fine, and with dual stim. So I feel a fraud for being in this group now! The midwife said I could phone up and check for cancellations though so I’m going to try.

@AnnieStar12 3 is fab! Well done! Now you can rest up. Hope you’re feeling ok!

And well done to others who have had their retrieval today! ☺️

@Steph2345 thats helpful :)
It’s really reassuring being able to follow everyone’s journeys and know others are in the same boat. Thanks for summarising everyone’s journeys, as hard to keep track!

How come you have to do stims for FET if it’s just the transfer and not a retrieval? And will that be around 14 days in to your next cycle? Feel like we learn so much as we go through this!

@HopefulllHolly glad you have clarity on the protocol. Duo-stims sounds like a good option for us with low numbers. That’s not an option for me sadly as I’ve paid privately through one of those ivf financing companies and they insist on completing one round and all transfers before moving to the next.

@Steph2345 thanks for putting together the summary! Really helps keep up with all the messages here!

@AnnieStar12 congrats on egg retrieval! We did ours late morning and got 8, which was more than I was expecting so that’s a relief. Hopefully they fertilise now. Apparently I was a lightweight and it didn’t take much to sedate me. Went to get a burger after as I was starving, now we’re both resting at home too. Hope you’re feeling ok and rest well :) not looking forward to the pessaries that have to go up my bum for the next few weeks, not sure but I may actually prefer injections 🫣

@AnnieStar12 stims was probably the wrong word to be honest, but I’m not sure what word it should be 🤦🏻‍♀️. Basically I will take medication to make my uterus lining really thick (which normal stims do too) just no effect on my ovaries. I start taking them the Sunday after my period so that my scan will be 12 days later on a Thursday and then transfer the following Monday (I guess that helps them plan their clinics). I’m on down regs so it doesn’t matter how long between period and starting next set of medication as nothing will happen with my body naturally

@IrisViolet I feel very worn down with the job ti be honest, and now it's such a difficult time with GCSE and Alevel exams approaching. I've been wondering whether my unexplained infertility has to due with the job as I constantly have headaches and muscle tension pains in my back and neck which I can only blame it on the pressure of the job.
I feel like leaving the job but it's the only job I've ever done (and it was my dream job since a child) so I fear I'll be too lost not knowing what else to do! May I ask what you went onto doing after leaving the profession?

And good luck fro your transfer tomorrow, I hope it all goes very well! 🤞

I'm so sorry about this. I didn't realise you commented this until after I replied to your previous message. How are you feeling?
Hopefully this one will be the one 🤞

@Steph2345 wow, thank you very much for that summary! That was very useful- it's so difficult to keep up with all the messages.
I hope you can start soon your new 'stims' and your new treatment goes well!

@AnnieStar12 congrats on getting 3 eggs! Ive heard that when there get less eggs, they tend to be better quality so hopefully you got 3 amazing quality eggs 🤞

@Cathycatcat congrats- 8 eggs is a very good number! Hope it goes well in the next few days

Thank you @Steph2345 the summary is great

I’m in bed after EC late this morning, they managed to get 7 eggs. apparently I was uncomfortable at one point, so they gave me extra sedation in order to proceed (I don’t remember any of this) and I could feel a bit of pain when I came round, so got some iv paracetamol and a heat pack! I’ll find out tomorrow how many have fertilised and transfer will take place on Monday, depending on how things develop (hoping St Patrick brings some good luck as Monday is a bank holiday here)🤞 🤞 🤞

@Capybara95
@AnnieStar12
@Drzoem
we just had a miracle phone call. Since this morning 4 more embryos have made it to viable transfer stage so we have 4 frozen. I am in total shock given the state of things this morning. So grateful as i know (as I felt this morning) this doesn’t happen for everyone.
Egg transferred this morning - just trying to almost not think about it - that probably sounds ridiculous but my anxiety has been off the scale and sometimes I find it easier to pretend nothing’s going on.

i wish this forum had a list of names at the top or bottom so I could remember who I needed to ‘@‘ - so sorry if I’m missing people.

@mlruirod I was basically told that the levels of cortisol in your system (stress hormone) can have a big impact on fertility. (but everyone copes with stress differently and I am a self confessed stress head!). Lots of people I know have gotten pregnant in high stress situations, but i was in a position where I morally couldn’t work for my school anymore. I was in secondary too and it honestly is the best job at times, but it also requires ALL of you. Teachers have many transferable skills - get into a recruiter as they can help discuss different paths you can take/ they keep an eye out for jobs for you.
I’ve gone into the energy sector - helping people reduce their carbon footprint - been going into school’s to show kids how to do it. I’ve been incredibly lucky, I haven’t ever thought ‘have I done the wrong thing?’ Even though I was the same as you - always wanted to teach. I’ve also not missed the holidays at all as I’m not burnt out daily. It’s a hard choice, but from personal experience, if you’re feeling anything like I was, take the plunge. I don’t say that lightly AT ALL.
feeling crappy and shattered after transfer but I think that’s very normal! Xx

@IrisViolet thats amazing news!! Congratulations on your 4 frozen!! Hopefully you can relax and get some chill time now after your transfer 😊

@IrisViolet congratulations what wonderful news, delighted for you!

@Steph2345

Weight loss not good just can't loose the final bit!!!! Literally just got a pound to go but literally gaining and losing the same pound over and over again. Period due next week so I'll probs be joining an April thread soon. ☹️