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?

@2024forthewin great news, yeah hopefully St.Patricks will bring us all some luck for embryo transfer day on Monday 🤞

I’ve already had a call from the clinic to say one egg wasn’t good enough, so I’m already down to two. They’ll call me in the morning tomorrow with an update on fertilisation. It’s so nerve wracking with these low numbers as it’s literally all or nothing at every stage. Like I don’t even know if there’s gonna be anything to transfer on Monday at this rate.

I’m still in quite a bit of pain. Can I ask how long did it take for all of your pain to wear off after egg collection?
I’m suppose to be back at work tomorrow and have a big event, but if I feel like this I don’t think I could get out of bed as it’s still uncomfortable just to walk around.

@AnnieStar12 i definitely couldn’t have worked the day after mine, I was still in a lot of pain. I was in agony the night of my collection though it seems most people aren’t as bad but I would definitely cancel tomorrow so you can rest.

@AnnieStar12 @Capybara95 that’s good to know as I’m also still in a lot of pain just went for a wee and very sharp pains in my ovaries. Hurts when I turn to one side too. Was googling OHSS there in a panic, but hopefully it’s just part and parcel of egg collection. I’m definitely taking tomorrow off.

Ah that’s reassuring it’s not just me in this pain!
For some reason I wasn’t expecting this much discomfort. I’ve got a hot water bottle which is helping, but defo still painful to walk around. Thanks for the advice, I think I’ll arrange someone to cover me tomorrow.

@Capybara95 @2024forthewin thank you so much ladies, I am just totally overwhelmed we’ve managed to get some Frosties.
fingers crossed all goes ok with your implanted egg now @Capybara95 - how have you been feeling?? Xxxx
@2024forthewin I definitely felt very odd after egg collection until late night Monday, so that would’ve been around 4 days of recovery, I don’t think I’m completely settled now, but it’s definitely better. Hold on in there 🩷🩷🩷

@IrisViolet I’ve been feeling good thanks. Just feeling normal but still taking some time to just relax and making sure I get plenty of walks and yoga in for blood flow. Trying not to symptom spot but it’s so hard even though it’s probably too early for anything 🤣

@AnnieStar12 fingers crossed for good news tomorrow 🤞 it’s all such a rollercoaster!

@IrisViolet thank you for the info, I’ll make sure to take it easy the next few days too. The stronger painkillers they gave me have taken the edge off now.

I’ve started on progesterone vaginal gel today, which I’m to take twice daily from tomorrow when the progesterone injections also start.

@IrisViolet congratulations on your transfer today fingers crossed for you, also amazing news about the 4 frosties!! ❤️
@2024forthewin @AnnieStar12 I had quite a lot of pain and cramping after my egg collection on Monday, I also felt really nauseous from the sedation. Yesterday still had some cramping and needed to rest up, but less pain in my ovaries. Today only mild cramps and some bloating, I'm hoping it will continue to get better each day fingers crossed you'll both start to feel a bit better tomorrow 🤞

Thanks @Beka245 that’s really reassuring. I was probably naive to the side effects!😅

@2024forthewin were you given strong painkillers to take at home? I wasn’t given any thinking now maybe that’s why I was so sore! Lol.

@IrisViolet omg, what a rollercoaster! You must be so relieved with those last minute frosties.

Hope everyone else is ok. Some really good numbers on here but I firmly believe that it does just take 1 and quality is so much more important than quantity 💚

What has everyone been given for sedation during EC? My nurse (and all the paperwork) says I'll be awake but I've seen a lot of people talk about being asleep / falling asleep during, so I'm just wondering if it's down to different medications? Or is it just the sedative makes some people sleepy and others not so much?

@Lucylaughing technically i was “awake” as it’s conscious sedation, but I have no recollection of anything at all! And I didn’t feel anything either.
I must have communicated with them at some point as my partner said when I was brought out I told him the number of eggs. So I guess I must have either heard or asked. but I don’t remember!
When is your EC day?

@Lucylaughing I was fully sleep!! Just remember waking up in recovery. Mine was deep sedation, propofol and fentanyl.

@IrisViolet oh wow!! What a great phone call! Congratulations!

hope all those who have had the EC over the last few days start feeling better soon. I remember it being pretty painful for quite a few days so make sure you all rest and get waited on 🙂

@AnnieStar12 im sorry to hear 1 hasn’t made it so far. It’s a really tough journey but you’ve got this! Keep thinking of that magical one

Ah ok, that sounds different. Mine is just fentanyl and they let you have gas and air. How nerve wracking!

@AnnieStar12 thanks for letting me know, I'm hoping I don't feel or remember anything either! It won't be for a while, maybe 3ish weeks: I'm waiting for my period which should arrive next Thursday-ish then will be starting stims.

Think I've just about got my head around the injections, now stressing about the egg collection! Probably should just take it one day at a time in case cycle gets cancelled or something else

Had my update from the embryologists, only one egg fertilised overnight 🤦‍♀️
They will update me again on Saturday. I’m gonna have to be very lucky for that one to make it to day 5 for transfer.

Hope others get better news.

@AnnieStar12 I’m really sorry to hear that but you still have one in the running so I am hopeful for it for you! The waiting is just awful, hope the next few days go in quick enough for you

@AnnieStar12 sorry to hear that but hoping it will be the magical one!!

Apologies in advance as this is a bit graphic, but today was a bit of a low point for me as I shat myself about half an hour after putting the progesterone pessary in. It’s been giving me diarrhoea since this morning. I’ve been asked to do it vaginally from now (they asked me to do it rectally until this morning in case of infection after the EC but my body isn’t happy about the whole thing). Does anyone else need to take progesterone pessaries? I asked if there was an injection instead but they don’t seem to offer it at my clinic.

I guess silver lining is I feel fine pain-wise after the EC. Also got an update on the fertilised eggs and we have 3 (3 of the 8 collected weren’t large enough and 2 didn’t fertilise). Numbers dwindling quickly but that’s sort of what we expected.

@AnnieStar12 so sorry to hear this. I hope you get good news in the coming days. Thinking of you

@Cathycatcat i think we all have to do pessaries after transfer so don’t worry you are not alone. They aren’t pleasant but at least you get to lie down for 20-30 mins a day 😂

@Cathycatcat I’m sorry you’ve had a bad reaction to the pessaries. I’m taking them as well but have been doing it vaginally. I wasn’t actually given any instruction on how to use them from my clinic so I assume this way is ok. I wasn’t told about injections or anything.

That’s still great to have 3 fertilised! Hopefully they will all keep going to day 5 for you!

@Cathycatcat I also have the pesseries to take. My nurse said it didn’t matter which way they went in! But the instructions said vaginally if it’s for IVF, so that’s what I am doing. This morning it fell out which was a surprise!! I reckon it’s just a matter of us getting used to it.

I think I’d also prefer to do injections than pesseries. Just feel Ive just had enough going up my vagina after 7 months of fertility treatment! Having done 3 rounds of IuI, one miscarriage with surgical management and now one round of ivf I’m just fed up of all the scans, procedures, retrievals involving something going up there!

Anyways, very good news you have three fertilised. Hopefully they’ll all be going strong still by Monday. Will your clinic give you a day three update or just wait until transfer day?

@Cathycatcat omg what a nightmare! That sounds horrible, sorry you're suffering. Let's hope that you can look back and laugh about it in future (may be a very distant future!)

My nurse said that I can use them (when I get to that point) either way, so hopefully vaginally instead will give you some relief from the side effects.

@AnnieStar12 so sorry to hear. Staying hopeful for you for good news on day 5 🙏

@Cathycatcat hopefully taking the pessaries vaginally works out better for you. There’s always something on this rollercoaster journey!

I’m on vaginal progesterone gel and progesterone injections from today, but I’m in Ireland so maybe treatments are different.

Got my update from the embryologist - 5 out of 7 have fertilised and they’ll give me an update on Saturday. 🤞 🤞

Mine was the same don’t remember anything although a vague recollection (like a dream) of a split second in there, which must have been when I was “uncomfortable” (as the dr told me). The consultant has recommended I have conscious sedation for the transfer as a result… I’m having private treatment so I guess I have the option.