IVF/ICSI May or late April

[AnnieStar12]

Is anyone else gearing up to do IVF/ICSI in May?

My meds have arrived and I start my down regs next week to start a long protocol ICSI cycle, my egg collection will then be mid-May.

Had my first ICSI cycle in Feb which resulted in only 1 embryo which was transferred on day 5, but BFN. I found the support group on here super helpful with my last cycle, so wondering if anyone else is in a similar position?

I worry alot too! I do waaaay to much googling, thinking of trying acupuncture for this cycle to help relax! I've read good things about it! But I'm just waiting for AF to arrive so I can start up injections, gonna do icsi this to avoid the zero fertilization again, when will you be doing your transfer? 🥰

@AnnieStar12 @wishfulbean fingers crossed for you, good luck

@wishfulbean I haven't noticed anything except that my recent period was slightly earlier/lighter, which is actually what prompted me to take the test (cos I read that DHEA normally does the opposite to your period). Consultant said elevated DHEA-S result actually means the supplements are doing its thing, increasing DHEA in blood and hopefully ovary. I also just started growth hormone priming which I guess would be stronger than DHEA if anything, but haven't felt anything yet

@Cloclo93 acupuncture sounds fab! I’ve been thinking of getting it too, maybe in the two week wait? transfer will be on Monday hopefully, if they reckon I am ready for it!

Thank you everyone for the good luck vibes! Scan went really well - 21 follicles so ready for egg collection on Monday, all the follicles were at varying sizes between 13-22mm so hoping we are able to get some good strong eggs from some of them🤞🏼🤞🏼 they said a follicle count over 20 is at risk of OHSS - so to be vigilant of that but everything else looked great and the consultant said I have responded really well.

@AnnieStar12 sorry to hear the cyst is still there 😫 stubborn little thing!! Hopefully the bloods will at least come back at a better level so you can start to progress! Fingers crossed the injections are ok for you as well!

Yay @Ashleighlouise thats wonderful news! Keep your fluids up and buy some electrolytes to help prevent OHSS. Sounds like you’ll have a great number of embryos!

Thank you! I am relieved - explains the heaviness I am currently feeling right now 😮‍💨 I am just so nervous for this next step but trying to keep calm 🤪 oh thank you for the tip! I am on the ball with the water intake but wil get some electrolytes to help!!!

@Ashleighlouise Youll be totally fine I promise! I was nervous beforehand but I had absolutely no reason to be. I actually quite enjoyed the day which is a little weird 🤣 I didn’t have many eggs though so maybe that’s why as I didn’t really have any pain after at all (I do now!) and I was high as a kite all day. I felt really happy! So that’s kind of how I’ve remembered it now. I’m sure you’ll be nervous too but it’s genuinely a million times better than I thought it would be.

@Ashleighlouise thats a fantastic number, congratulations!! Not surprised you’re feeling a bit heavy! I had 17 follicles I think and also felt quite heavy, altho weirdly a lot heavier now and a bit of pain - is it the same for you @HopefulllHolly? wondering if it’s mild ohss as didn’t have this for my egg freezing rounds! I guess they’ll tell me on Monday!

Hi guys! Hope it’s okay for me to join too?

I have been following silently as I was not sure whether my cycle would be delayed/cancelled again or not.

My experience has been nothing short of a rollercoaster! Almost a year on and I am finally feeling optimistic.

During the first of many baseline scans, they found I had some cysts. But after a lot of back and forth, I have been on the down regulation cycle since mid March with 1 cyst remaining. I was starting to feel really down about it all as it didn’t seem to be having an impact on the cyst plus each time I thought this was it the stims would be delayed because of the stubborn cyst.

My cyst was aspirated last week and was able to start my stims the same day. I’m now on day 8 with 21 follicles (the smallest few are less than 6mm with biggest one at 15mm) and I am finally feeling positive about it for the first time in a long time.

I personally recommend acupuncture as after I had it done there was a lot more new follicles than on the day of the cyst aspiration. I honestly think that it made a difference to my follicles count.

Wishing you all luck! Congratulations @Ashleighlouise @HopefulllHolly @wishfulbean that’s amazing news!

@CreamLampshade I think mines the progesterone - I feel very bloated and gassy (sorry TMI 😳). Definitely won’t be OHSS for me I don’t think. Can you call the clinic if you feel progressively bad?

@Feelingmindful Wow you have a rollercoaster journey too like @AnnieStar12, glad you’re on your way now and with a nice amount of follicles. Mine grew quite a bit from day 10 to when I did the trigger. Keeping my fingers crossed for you that you!

@Feelingmindful congrats on getting started. Sounds like it’s going really well! That’s a fantastic number for this stage in the cycle! I found mine really grew from day 10 to 12, a couple of mm a day I reckon.

@HopefulllHolly to be fair could also be the progresterone for me - I’m also feeling mildly nauseous. And tired! I guess the only way to know is a scan on Monday! I was worried that the progresterone would bring my mood down but so far seem fine thank the lord!

Been staring at my phone all day, just got the call, they said my levels have gone right down so we can start with the stims tonight despite the cyst still being there as it’s no longer functional - I don’t really understand the whole cyst business tbh, but they said they’ll aspirate it at EC. But I’m just relieved I can get started!!! Honestly feels a weight has been lifted. Now I can start worrying about something else, lol!

All the talk of acupuncture, I actually looked one up this morning and have enquired about doing that during stims. I’m normally a bit sceptical about alternative therapies, but I think it’ll just help me have something else to do and if it relaxes me that’s no bad thing either.

Well done @Ashleighlouise that’s a great result. Hopefully lots of growth before Monday’s EC 🤞

@Feelingmindful welcome to the thread, glad I’m not alone with these annoying cyst and pleased you managed to get started eventually! I was starting to think I’d be on down reg forever, lol! When is your EC booked in for?

My EC will be either 13 or 15 May depending on progress (my clinic don’t do ECs on Tuesdays)

Ah congrats @AnnieStar12, fabulous news!

Yayyyyy @AnnieStar12 that’s so great!! I feel relieved for you! Big night tonight then 💜 so exciting!

@HopefulllHolly @CreamLampshade that gives me hope for the smaller follicles! I find the suspense/waiting daunting.

@AnnieStar12 that’s brilliant news! Omg yes - the down regulations felt like it was never ending.
how long have you been on the down regs? how are you finding it? 2 weeks in when it didn’t have an affect on the cyst (they thought it would shrink) they doubled my dose so I found the side effects horrendous at that point.

They have told me EC will either be 8th May or 10th May. The midwife said EC will be similar to the aspiration - I think she was trying to help but it did the opposite as I woke up in the middle of it like it! I think the experience I had with aspiration is making more anxious about EC.

@Feelingmindful I’ve been on down reg since 16th April. Appreciate that’s much less time than you had to do by the sounds of it. But it’s felt like forever!! I was suppose to start stims last Friday so I’m a week behind where I thought I would be, which I guess is okay in the grand scheme of things but feels like a life time when you’re in it.
I don’t really have too many bad side effects, apart from being a bit hot and sweaty so I’m needing to shower twice a day!
Sorry to hear you woke up when sedated. I’ve not heard of that before, maybe you can ask for a double dose next time.

I think I might actually have ohss, still very bloated and struggling to move around normally. Occasional pains / lots of aching but generally feel very ‘tight’. Also just noticed my breaths per minute last night was 20 which Fitbit flagged as out of range as usual number for me is 15-17. Hasn’t ever been that high in years so I am guessing I am a bit short of breath (does feel that way a little, not too bad but guess I should keep an eye on it). Doesn’t seem there’s any point in going to a&e as others experiences on here say there’s nothing they can do until it’s really bad.

@CreamLampshade oh no I hope not! Maybe it’s just recovery? Can you can your clinic and see what they say? I think it’s generally rest and fluids, but worth letting them know if you are worried. Hope you feel better soon!! I’m in pain and have real bad tummy issues today, but feels like period pain rather than anything else. And the tummy stuff I’m certain is from the progesterone, but it’s really not pleasant! The progesterone is my least favourite bit of medicine so far, I’d take 3 injections a day any day!

I hope so @HopefulllHolly ! It’s just the ovary pain / being short of breath and not feeling comfy enough to really walk for the past couple of days that makes me think it is… saying that I also have trapped wind which is not helping which is probs from the progresterone!! Just sent partner over the road to see if he can get me some windeze! And also have some lucozade to start guzzling as apparently that’s good?!

@AnnieStar12 brilliant news my lovely, I’m so pleased for you.

Another successful scan today, I trigger on Sunday morning for my IUI on Monday! I’m so happy that we’ve finally got to this stage after 8 months of unsuccessful tries since the last round. I’m having a brownie to celebrate tonight!!

@AnnieStar12 that's amazing news! So happy you've been able to start! You must be feeling relieved that you are able to move on to the next step! Thank you - now apprehensive for Monday for egg collection but just going to chill over the weekend and try not to be tooo anxious!

I've been given some tablets to take on the Sunday night and Monday morning to just ease my anxiety and hopefully relax me a little 😂 I just need to remember to chill out which is easier said than done haha! Hope you're feeling ok this evening!

@CreamLampshade sorry to hear you're feeling a little unwell! I am also at risk for OHSS so will be eager to hear how you can get on/how you manage to ease any symptoms if you can as I am definitely going to be on high alert after EC! I have also read lucozade sport is meant to really help!! Hope you're feeling better soon!

@2tuxedocats glad to hear your scan went well!! Exciting times, a big relief knowing things are moving in the right direction!!

@Feelingmindful welcome!!☺️ sorry to hear the journey has been a bit of a rollercoaster.. amazing news about the number of follicles and sizes, I was probably around the same on my first tracking scan and they have definitely ramped up with growth after todays appointment! 🥚

I'd love to try acupuncture, if we have to do another cycle I will definitely I've it a go!