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?

Test day and this morning it was a negative. Our second of this round of ivf. Feeling gutted and not sure I want to do this again. Maybe we will be one and done, which of course is a lovely thing, but two would be nice… just the mental energy, the cost, the tiredness. It’s so much. 😞

@EalingLucy thank you! I did think this and gave it a miss for now! I am at slight risk of OHSS so probably not ideal to be doing any twist and turns so soon after EC but will keep it in mind in for a few weeks time!!

@Ginie2024 thank you so much! I hope your 3 are continuing to grow big and strong as we speak! Do you get any other updates before Saturday? Or is it just no news is good news until the day? What time is your transfer? Mine is at 9:15am!

I'm not sure on exercising, I think I'm just going to keep up my walks but take them slower than usual for a few weeks!

@Ginie2024 Oh no you’re quite right! I would absolutely do it for your reasons, but as I only got two fertilised eggs this time I went without it. I too wouldn’t be able to deal with any more miscarriages in your position, heartbreaking. I had my 5 day transfer yesterday, so it’s safely on board now, we will see what happens.

@Folklore9074 Really sorry you didnt get a BFP. Hope you’re ok and looking after yourself. Trying to conceive is the pits. Sending you hugs xxx

I'm so sorry to hear it hasn't worked this time 😢😢 I can't imagine how hard it is to accept that after everything you have to go through to do this - it must be gut wrenching to see a negative test. Hope you have some time to take it easy and look after yourself! 🤍🤍

I'm so sorry to hear this 😞 that is devastating, do you have any embryos frozen? Take some time to heal and maybe you might feel differently about trying again in a few months ❤️

@Folklore9074 I’m so sorry it’s a negative. Take some time and work out what’s best for you. I’m also here trying for another!

Currently at the clinic waiting to be seen for my first monitoring scan. Really hoping I have a handful of follicles in there 🤞🤞🤞🤞

Thank you. Another four frozen, which is great in some ways but also I could just go on and on doing embryo transfers until I’ve ripped through my savings, I’m well into my fourties, I’ve spent precious months/years of my sons life, my life focused on something that ultimately ends in sadness. I don’t know.

Of course there are positives but just feeling very much the negatives this morning. Will take some time. Luckily my clinic offers x2 councilling sessions with each cycle so I lined one up for this morning just in case.

Thank you. I thought maybe ivf might easier the second time around, and it is a bit I suppose… it still sucks though.

Really hoping for the best for you and your follicles today 💐

Good luck with your scan @AnnieStar12 keeping my fingers crossed for you having lots of follicles growing (not that it matters if you don’t really 😊)

Im already going mad thinking about when we can test 😂😂 the 20th feels like so far away and falls on a Monday so I think we’ll test on the 18th instead as if it’s a negative I can have a meltdown and still work on the 20th. I’m not feeling well today, got a sore throat and stuffy nose, so having a very lazy morning in bed. Really wish I’d booked Thursday and Friday off work too! It’s going to be a long couple of weeks 😖😂

@Folklore9074 I’m sorry it’s not a BFP for you, fertility really is horrible isn’t it. I hope you’re looking after yourself.

Good luck @AnnieStar12 🍀

@HopefulllHolly it’s bloody ages away isn’t it?! The only thing that’s good is that the 24th is a Friday so if it’s negative I might take the day off and have a long weekend then half term to recover. Sorry to hear you’re feeling poorly. I feel fine except for feeling tired and having twinges every now and again. I’ve had zero side effects from the pessaries so far and keep having these thoughts that nothing has/will happen but it’s really early days.

@Folklore9074

So sorry to hear about the negative result. It can be so frustrating. Take the time you need and take care of yourself! 🤍

@2tuxedocats maybe not having any effects from the pessaries is good as if you do start getting them from pregnancy you’ll spot them easily? I’ve had sore boobs and tiredness from the second day of taking them. Today I just feel like I’ve pulled muscles in my lower stomach/ovary area and the sniffles/headache/minor sore throat. But they were digging around for ages inside me yesterday trying to get in my cervix 😂 so probably explains why I feel achey. I was also soaked in sweat when I woke up this morning, what a delight I am!! I hope everyone stays in this group once they are in the TWW so we can keep each other going while we all go slowly mental. 😂
A long weekend and break for half term sounds lovely but I hope you have a good result! Fingers crossed we’re a lucky bunch! 😊

Scan done! So the good news is there are about 6 follicles in there. But the bad news is only 1 has grown to a good size so far. They’re adjusting my meds and scanning again on Friday to see if the others start growing. Argh!! Never simple is it! IVF is just never ending waiting…

@HopefulllHolly pregnancy testing is tough and very personal what’s best for everyone. Some people find it better to wait and test on a given day when you know you’ll get a 100% accurate answer. For me, I’ve always tested early and let myself be gradually let down, I think I started testing 5DPT last round. After TTC for so long I just know what works for my mental well-being so I buy those cheapie boxes on Amazon and test when I want to otherwise I spend too long thinking about testing!

@AnnieStar12 six is good! I’m sure the others will catch up. How small are the other ones?

Yeah it is, I agree. From TTC for 5/6 years now, I know I’m a bit of a mental case with testing every day, always trying to see a second line. So I think I’m going to try and hold out as long as possible and aim for the 18th. My other half doesn’t want to test early so he’ll stop me, and I wouldn’t be able to hide my feelings if I was sneaky and tested early, even though I’ll be tempted! Especially if I’m already fixated on it now. 😂😅
Thankfully work will distract me the next couple of days as I know it’s busy, and then have plans with friends on Saturday and Sunday (plus the weather is amazing) so it’ll be a week in in no time I’m sure!

@HopefulllHolly I mean they were so small they didn't even get measured!! I think I'm gonna try hard to not over think it, it's less than 48 hours until I am scanned again and I'm working today and tomorrow so I'll be distracted. And they will scan again on Monday. I asked the doc if she's seen eggs catch up after day 6 and she said 'yes definitely' so I'm just holding on to that hope. In some ways I'm reassured my body can respond as I had started to panic I was about to have a premature menopause with my AMH dropping so much.

@AnnieStar12 mine were all small until day 10-12 and then the little ones caught up, so I’m sure you’ll be ok! Yeah I felt the same before I started too, I cried when I got my AMH because I thought I was menopausal. Especially with my low estrogen and my FSH was at 9. So many worries in this journey aren’t there!

Good luck for monitoring @AnnieStar12

so sorry @Folklore9074 it’s so so tough , rest & all the self care

in so much pain I hate this provera just one more week and weigh. Hoping my meds aren’t completely frozen fingers crossed lol 😂 been in the fridge since Christmas and it’s rather temperamental!!

@AnnieStar12 6 is great. They still have loads of time to grow. Worst case, they may extend the stims by a few days.

Most of mine grew after day 8. Approx half were still lagging behind that were much smaller so they decided to extend the stims by an extra 2 days to give them more time to grow.

The clinic took my bloods after the scan today and forwarded me that they may change to a frozen cycle if my progesterone is too high. I won’t find out until EC on Friday.

@Folklore9074 oh, I’m so sorry! I can’t imagine how difficult it must be. I hope you are giving yourself some TLC and taking it easy ❤

Sorry to hear it was a negative pregnancy test @Folklore9074. this fertility business can be exhausting and thankless, and I’m sorry it was a disappointing result for you today. What are your plans for the rest of the day? Hopefully something to make you feel a bit better?

@AnnieStar12 6 is great! Mine didn’t get going till day 10.

what do people think about me ordering a cheeky burger and chips? I’m really craving one but know I’m supposed to be eating healthily! How seriously are other people taking it? I was pretty good during stims apart from a few bags of crisps and a bit of chocolate…

@CreamLampshade have your burger I say! I’ve been really good with food but I still allowed myself emotional support chocolate every now and again so I’m sure it won’t hurt! We’d all go mental if we didn’t allow ourselves treats. ☺️ Make it a good burger!!

Done @HopefulllHolly. it’s a double cheeseburger with loads of fried onions, fries and a chocolate milkshake!

@CreamLampshade I take all that advice with a pinch of salt as in the "real world" people get pregnant every day eating whatever the hell they want and without replacing every product in their house and swallowing buckets of supplements!! Of course I try to stay healthy and active (and take all the supplements too), but I don't think a burger will make any difference apart from to help you enjoy a tasty treat! Enjoy your lunch!!

Enjoy the burger I say!! If I wasn’t being weighed every 4 days I would absolutely be enjoying something nice 😊 @CreamLampshade

Thanks all. It was very tasty!! The two embryos made me do it anyway!