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?

@CreamLampshade yeah lucozade I think has electrolytes. I used some called Revive which actually taste good! Fingers crossed you aren’t too affected. Poor thing!

@2tuxedocats yay! Glad you can trigger! Exciting! How are you feeling?

@Ashleighlouise oh bless you! At least you’ll have done it after this and hopefully feel ok about it after! I’m feeling ok, quite crampy today and absolutely hating the Cyclogest tablets. They are absolutely disgusting. I’ve also put on 3 pounds overnight but I’m guessing it was from being a bit backed up after the drugs yesterday, as the progesterone has had the opposite effect (sorry tmi but to prepare you!). I am super bloated too, and very tired. Looking forward to a good sleep tonight. Glad of the bank holiday between now and finding out whether we can have our transfer on Tuesday afternoon, as hopefully we’ll be busy and it’ll go quickly!

@HopefulllHolly I hope I am like you and after I'm just like WHAT was I so worried about 😂 oh no are they really bad? I have those as well and have to do them 3x a day 😭 I definitely need to be prepared haha! Give me all the TMI information, I'd rather know now than later haha! Do you have many plans for the bank holiday? It'll be good to keep busy and hopefully time goes by quickly!!

@Ashleighlouise They are bad in the fact they are just gross! I had to do a double drop this morning which was awful but this evenings I seem to have managed ok. Wear a sanitary pad though, you literally leak white wax all over your pants. 😫 And I feel more symptoms from it than I did my injections, but could be the aftermath of the collection - feels like period pain/symptoms. You’ll be fine with 3 (I do 2 a day) but make sure you take them when you can have a lie down for half an hour after. I do mine 30 mins before I’d usually get up and then just before bed. But yeah, they are not at all sexy. Also my consultant said to take them up the back passage, so that’s a new experience for me 🤣🤣 apparently they absorb better (and I think can cause thrush up your minnie!). There’s all the TMI so far 🤣😳

Surgery all booked for 31st

now just got to keep my weight down and hopefully make it through finally I’m hoping after so many attempts

I was thinking about how they'll just leak out as you go about your day 🙈 I might try to do them before getting up/close to bedtime however the middle one is going to be during the day so no way I'll have time to lie down at all 😅 oh god - well I am SO prone to getting thrush so I guess it's up the bum for me as well 😂😂😂 honestly what a glamorous few weeks we will have haha! How has your OH been through everything?

That is great news! I'm not sure if I have missed it earlier in the thread but what is the surgery for?

@HopefulllHolly @Ashleighlouise
I haven't started the cyclogest yet but that's the part of this whole thing that freaks me out! I have never taken any medication from either entry points!

I asked my nurse if there's another option and she said jabs, but can have side effects like constipation and bloating. For fresh transfers our bodies produce some progesterone naturally, so taking injection version could lead to quite high levels of- not dangerous just has those side effects.

I will try withe the pessaries first and have heard it's easier up the bum as not much leakage and can get about your day without the 30 min lie down!

For now.. I'm still waiting on my period to show -1 week late ! I have PCOS, so I'm used to late cycles but the last 3 months had been on time, and now when I want it...it's a no show!

@Ashleighlouise My last couple haven’t been as bad so maybe I’ve got the knack down now. My other half has been good, he’s always a sweetheart tbh. I don’t think he really has a clue - he asks me the next step daily. Should’ve seen his face when I said after egg transfer next week hopefully that 2 weeks later you do a pregnancy test. Think he was shocked how quickly one cycle goes bless him. He’s desperate for a baby too, so he gets all wistful about it. Last night he looked lost in thought and I asked what was on his mind and he just said he was thinking about our embryos just in a lab on their own. 🥹 too cute! What’s yours like?

@positivepetal Hopefully your period turns up quickly! I’ve been doing my progesterone up the back passage too, but still have a lie down as it feels like it’s going to pop out when you have it up there 🤣🤣 The last couple haven’t been so bad really. The effects of it are quick though, I already have sore boobs and was boiling in my sleep last night. And I could sleep for Britain!

@HopefulllHolly and I've been told twice a day for 12 weeks if successful in becoming pregnant!

@Ashleighlouise egg collection am having a general full surgical setting

can’t believe it my periods decided to turn up and I’m due to start provera today

no idea what I’m meant to do and of course they’re shut now until tuesdsy lol 😆 taken it anyway for now guess it can’t do any harm !

Yeah, agree with all of you on the progesterone - in my first cycle the progesterone was the worst part. When I got my negative pregnancy test, the only silver lining was I could stop taking it hahaha!
I do think after a few days your body gets more used to it and there’s less leakage - I suggest trying to push it far up as poss as less comes back out then (sorry tmi).
It also felt quite cruel that the side effects of progesterone are the same as early pregnancy, and I spent a day getting excited about the nausea/sore boobs/bleeding gums until it clicked that it was the pessaries! Especially as i had zero side effects from any of the other ivf medication.

@Rebekah77 congrats on finally getting a date! Has your clinic not given you the out of hours number?

My first Menopur injection went okay! So delighted that I’m now on day 2 of stims so am actually moving forwards

Yeah for emergencies lol I didn’t really think my period was an emergency 😂

arg so annoying now in agony slightly confused and at work all weekend

That's good - I guess eventually your body will get used to it all and adjust! My other half has been the same, I think he's just came along for the ride not actually knowing what's going on 😂 yesterday at the appointment discussing egg collection and transfer dates etc he just sat there like 😵‍💫 bless him! I think it's slightly easier for us in the sense we have probably googled a loooot more than they have haha! He's feeling excited though, probably wants the egg collection over with just for my sake haha!

@AnnieStar12 yes ive heard that progesterone just exaggerates all those symptoms which are basically the same as early pregnancy symptoms! Need to remember this in the TWW and not symptom spot to much!!! Again easier said than done 😅 glad your injections are going well! I just took my last one this morning and trigger shot is tonight! Crazy how fast it's all gone!

Why is it these things happen at the most inconvenient times 🙈 I'm sure if it was important they'd have mentioned something about getting your period/whether or not to do the injection so I'm sure it'll be ok!

Yes my nurse said if I am hopefully pregnant il take them until 12 weeks as well 🥹 it'll all be worth it in the end 🤍🤍

Will anyone be testing out the trigger after your transfer? I've never gotten as far as the tww yet but I don't think I'd be able to resist testing for 2 weeks 😂

I am definitely resisting the urge to buy a batch of pregnancy tests - for some reason I just feel like it's only going to do more harm than good for my mental and emotional stability 😂😂 I will definitely test before the day my blood test is booked! No way I'll be able to go the whole 2 weeks!

Not really thought that far tbh but I have so few eggs I’m really not in the mindset that I’ll even get to transfer at the moment. Just taking one day at a time. But will
definitely test earlier than the OTD but I’ll try and hang on as long as poss I imagine rather than drive myself mental.

I’m actually not minding the progresterone too much aside from the bloating and constipation - it’s not pleasant putting them in but I quite enjoy having an excuse to stay in bed a bit longer in the morning! I also wonder if they’re making me feel a bit calmer as apparently that’s what this hormone does? Def not got to the teary part that people get to when they’re pregnant..

I did actually get a call this afternoon from guys even tho they said I wouldn’t, which was nice. Looks like we have 2-3 of the embryos developing well, which I’m really chuffed about. Crossing all my fingers they all keep going!

@Cloclo93 i don’t know what I’ll do re testing… maybe wait as that’s going to be the most accurate? Tho does anyone know how it works? Do they tell you there and then after a blood test or do you get a call? I’d rather not be told there and then in case bad news so if it works like that I’ll do one myself in advance.

I also have to take cyclogest starting Monday evening and like a few of you said, 12 weeks into pregnancy if we are lucky enough to get a BFP. My lovely wife has offered to help me insert them 😂 might try one of each and see which one is easier!! TMI 🙈

I had my reflexology today to prepare for Monday and she immediately picked up on me feeling bloated and my right ovary where my biggest egg is. I still think some of it is like going to a witch doctor 😂 but I’m feeling quite relaxed now. I’ve only put on half a pound this week so hoping a lot of it is just water.

Does anyone have any tips for the waiting before the test? I’ll have to wait two weeks to find out and I’m a big worrier; I know stress plays a part and want to keep my mind occupied.

Hopefully is ok to take the tablets fingers crossed 🤞 I’m in so much pain bloomin endo

hopefully feel ok to go gym tomorrow need to keep weight down next weighed in a week

Great to hear you aren't minding the progesterone too much! I feel like all through these injections I haven't felt this very emotional or teary half as much as I thought.. I'm already a super emotional person but if anything I've felt calmer 😵‍💫 not that it's a bad thing haha!

Amazing that you have your 2-3 embryos that are growing well!! Sending all the positive vibes that they keep going strong 😍😍😍 when will you get another update?

Little test run to see what works best 😂 I definitely don't have the time to lie down for 30 minutes before each one so I think the 🍑 will be the best bet for me haha! That great you're feeling relaxed, hopefully that continues 🤞🏼🤍✨

I have no idea about distractions in the two week wait! I definitely need some tips also! I'm going to see Taylor Swift in June so I am making some bracelets but doesn't help my brain going 1000 miles an hour haha!!

Woohoo for trigger tonight @Ashleighlouise ! Hope it goes ok, definitely ice pack before, mine stung like a B!!