IVF/ICSI April 2024

[Vian67]

Hopefully find others in a similar boat 🙏

Just made my ‘Day One’ call to the clinic this week to set the ball rolling this will be my second cycle, first one failed on 12th Feb 2024.

Bit of background to how we got here, I have had 4 ectopics since Nov 2020 2 resulting in emergency surgery and losing both my tubes. No reason why our first cycle failed, we will be doing IVF/ICSI this time round.

Anyone joining me in the April emotional rollercoaster? X

@Kp1210 glad you’re happy with your result!

How are you and @lemonyfox feeling?

I feel so much better than I did this morning and yesterday, my ovaries were so bulky. Some shooting pains and a bit of bleeding so far but feeling quite good. No signs of OHSS at all… they’re just basing it on follicle count alone. But I know symptoms can develop in later days, and I’ve to take cabergoline for five days.

The whole thing was such a strange experience. I felt quite a lot during the procedure so they upped my IV dosage. Would have loved to sleep for longer afterwards!

@Sierra26 i feel ok. I was in so much discomfort earlier that I feel 100 times better since coming out.
I had a nice Irish anaesthetist stroking my hair and then the next thing I knew I was in recovery. Apparently spoke some nonsense to my husband but don’t remember a thing

I’ve got enoxaparin injections for 10 days apparently due to my unusually high numbers and risk of OHSS

@Kp1210 amazing 😂 I had to transfer myself from the procedure table to the bed immediately after and it was quite the mission. Felt high as a kite walking back to the car with my husband, he had to hold my hand all the way. we had to go by the pharmacy and 10 mins later I thought we hadn’t been / couldn’t remember going.

did you know you might be at risk for high numbers and OHSS before?

@Sierra26 oh my goodness, you were flying!
are you away home for a nap?

yeah they warned me there was a risk from my first scan. If you’re not happy with their decision, definitely chat it through with them later

@Sierra26 yes it is, we're having a freeze all cos of our numbers too

Excellent news @Kp1210 (I know I will get low numbers and don’t take offence or upset to people getting more, that’s life! 😊)

@lemonyfox @Sierra26 great news and numbers! @Sierra26 that must be really annoying but I guess better to be safe than sorry. You wouldn’t want to put one back in if it meant you got poorly and your body was under stress.

No that's very true what @HopefulllHolly has said @Sierra26. As disappointing as it is, it's better for your body and better success rates for transfers if you have a freeze all with those kind of numbers ❤️

I had general anaesthetic for my collection, so I was totally out of it and feel a bit off kilter now. Mad how you could tell what was going on around you!!

@lemonyfox hope you’re feeling back to normal now! I am having conscious sedation and that makes me super nervous. I’ve never had anything like that before.

Did anyone else have it?

Just catching up,sounds like a great day for egg collection lol.

I had my transfer this afternoon ,they said it was a top quality embryo so fingers crossed.

Although they did say I had mild ohss which I thought my symptoms were related to the progesterone. Trying to get as much water in now lol.

Encase anyone is worried about numbers,they only got 6 eggs from me (they couldn't access the right ovary due to position)

We were so lucky all 6 were mature and all 6 still going today at day 5. So they froze another today and have to ring tomorrow to see if they can freeze the other 4. The embryologist was confident 3 of the 4 would make freezer tomorrow.

Hope this helps anyone else with low numbers that is worried,I certainly was.

Hope everyone is doing well x

@HopefulllHolly I had conscious sedation and it was actually fine. Having the cannula put in was the worst thing all day for me and you need that whichever sedation you have. It was just very odd as an experience. They got me to walk into theatre and get in place, then before they started they pumped in the fentanyl. I didn't really feel drunk or woozy or anything. They gave me gas and air and basically told me to go hard on that so I did. It started to hurt a bit once they had nearly finished one ovary, so they gave me a boost of more drugs and as they moved to the other side. It was totally manageable in terms of pain and it started gradually rather than sharply so it wasn't scary. It was a bit like bad period pain. I had a good 5 mins at the beginning where I couldn't feel it anything at all. I was chatting to the nurses in between chugging down the gas and air. I did cry a bit when it was all over, but I think that's common as the fentanyl can make you feel emotional. Then they told me how many eggs and wheeled me back into recovery. I was a bit woozy and shaky afterwards but it didn't last long. I was drinking a cup of tea within 10 mins.

Honestly can 100% say you will be totally fine. I have a needle phobia, am a total wimp, hate hospitals etc, and I thought it was ok. The thought of it was worse. I struggled to find anything on this before as most people say they can't remember, went to sleep etc. I was wide awake and remember everything!

Hey everyone, some great updates I'm so glad to hear you all got lots of eggs collected! I had my scan today and was very relieved to find out that the meds have actually been doing something. I currently have 19 follicles above 13mm so I've got my trigger tonight at 1am ready for egg collection at 1pm on Friday. I've been told I'll be a freeze all due to numbers. Does anyone know how long the wait is from embryo transfer?

@Becky105 hi, I think they usually like you to have at least one natural cycle in between to let your body recover. Hope all goes well for you

@Hopingtobe4 ahh amazing! Incredible news and numbers, I’m so pleased for
you. Fingers crossed for a sticky little grade an embryo sticking in there! Thanks for sharing your story, makes me feel much less anxious.

@Lucylaughing ah thank you! That really helps! I’ve been reading on here and there are some quite funny horror stories (someone who woke up with a handprint bruise on them because they had to be pinned down as got aggressive on the drugs 🤣 IMAGINE!!) How long were you in and out that day? Also thinking about whether we need to drop my dog off with friends for the morning. He’s fine on his own for 4 hours but I don’t like leaving him for longer really (hes very much my fur baby 🥹)

@Becky105 wow thats some mega good numbers! Good luck for the trigger tonight and your collection on Monday! How exciting!! It’s weird how much you worry that drugs aren’t working isn’t it. I think maybe you just read so many stories about how awful the process is but really it’s the waiting and the what-ifs that are the horrible bit in my opinion.

@HopefulllHolly I think I went in for 8ish, my EC was 10am, I came out of theatre at about 25 past (?) 10, recovered for an hour and then left at 11.45ish. They won't let you go until you've eaten, had something to drink, you don't feel woozy, and you've had a wee. And there's the cannula to sort out and forms to sign. I'd ask your friend to take the dog for the morning just so you're not worrying about getting back in time. Think some people feel sick afterwards and need a bit more time to recover

@Lucylaughing thanks that’s so helpful! Sounds like it was really quick then, that’s a relief!

@Becky105 gosh sorry about the 1am trigger shot!

I was advised to wait for my withdrawal bleed after collection, then we can do a frozen transfer with my next natural cycle after that. They said they'll need to scan after my bleed to check everything has calmed down and gone back to normal.

Thanks @Lucylaughing and@lemonyfox I always get confused with withdrawal bleed then one cycle... I don't really understand how long in weeks that is. One nurse could see I wanted to get going with things and said, you can start after your withdrawal bleed. The other nurse was talking 1 or 2 periods. Then said have your withdrawal bleed and then go on your May or June period. I was still confused because I thought withdrawal bleed would be within 2 weeks from egg collection... Then will a new menstrual cycle start? So it'll be like 30 days from then before next period? (just confused and I've had 2 frozen cycles before but still can't remember).

@lemonyfox i wasn't thrilled at my 1am trigger. I'll be half asleep and have to mix two powders with a liquid.

Has anyone else had decapeptyl as trigger? Just wondering if it's stingy or if I'll sleep straight after.

@HopefulllHolly thank you and I completely agree the waiting and wondering is the worst bit. I'm content now I know there is something to collect

Well done everyone on your ECs and transfers today! Hope it all goes well.
Those on freeze alls- I ended up on freeze all for both cycles and thought I had to wait 3 months before the FET (as originally advised by the clinic) they've now said I can start after my second bleed (so first period after withdrawal bleed)

@Sierra26 saw that you are on cabergoline, I had to go on it for 8 days but only lasted 3-4 days. The side effects were rough, so I really hope you are ok on it! Take it before bed to hopefully let most of the effects pass over night.

@Lucylaughing did you have your last hcg test today? Hope you've been ok

@Natty2 hi lovely, no, more bad news today unfortunately. HCG has risen from 81 on Fri to 526 today. Could be ectopic or something like a blighted ovum. Or some other miscarriage that's yet to show itself. I have to wait a week and go back for a scan as they should be able to see something then (6 weeks). I'm feeling a lot better OHSS -wise though, in itself quite odd given HCG rise, so I'm going to try and get back to work tomorrow. Might need to take more time off later of course. I don't think there is any chance of a viable pregnancy but we just need to wait and see what next steps will be. Poor little embryo!

How are you?

Sorry if this is doom and gloom for everyone :(

@Lucylaughing not doom and gloom! I feel so sorry for you and the little embryo! It’s clearly tried for you. Sending you lots of hugs, must be so confusing and horrible not to have an answer. ❤️

Sorry to read this,it really is a hard journey. .

Don't be sorry for sharing its what this post us for.

Look after yourself and take as much time out as is needed ❣️

So sorry @Lucylaughing sending you love ❤️

@Becky105 it's confusing isn't it, and every clinic seems to be different. I'm expecting a withdrawal bleed in 2 weeks, then once my next period starts in June I'll be doing a FET according to my clinic.

Keep looking at my phone for any calls from the embryologist for the maturity update, this is friggin torture 👀👀👀

So sorry to hear this @Lucylaughing
Hope you're holding up ok and taking time to look after yourself 💛

We've had 18 out of our 24 eggs fertilise 🎉 thank GOD.

Hope everyone else is doing okay x

@lemonyfox amazing!!