42 and starting IVF treatment tomorrow - would love some company for the journey ☺️

[Sheffters]

Hi ladies, so, as the title reads, I start the injections tomorrow evening. I have an appointment with my clinic (Care) tomorrow morning for the baseline scan and to get the treatment plan. Meds have arrived so we are ready to go! My AMH is 8.3 with follicle count of 14.

I had my son via IVF 11 years ago and was very lucky that it worked first time and on the NHS. This time it's private and costing a fortune. This is the only shot we have at this so we are feeling the pressure for sure.

I fell pregnant last month naturally (first time ever due to PCOS) but that ended in a chemical at 5 weeks. We are opting for PGTA testing and keeping everything crossed for a euploid.

Is anyone else starting this journey?

Oof @PearOpal that’s excellent news. Someone upthread said that 30-50% make it to blast on average so you are looking at great chances there!
I’ve just had my scan, I think that my clinic deliberately flash the screen at you quickly so that you can’t obsess! From what I could see the 7 from before are still doing well and I think that there were another 3-4 at 8mm, so in theory they could grow enough in the next few days. The rest were tiny. She said egg collection will probably be on Weds or Thurs which is perfect timing for us as our 3 year old is in nursery those days.

@overwork thats so exciting!!! Still a few days for those smaller ones to catch up! I know nothing about the science had 6 of my 13 that weren’t the right size at my last scan and they caught up so I feel like you absolutely have a chance of them maturing and being ready to go! Glad the timing works out better for you with your family. Will you be able to take off for your ER to get some rest?

@PearOpal that's a really good number! Is this your first time doing IVF? I've seen so many different accounts of drop off but you can never know. Really hope you have good numbers on day 5. Are you having a fresh transfer?
I have 3 more days of stims. Feeling apprehensive and all the little anxieties of each step creeping back in!

@overwork I think they can grow 1-2mm per day so absolutely have a chance of getting to the right size!

Oh that’s good to hear, thankyou. Seems like the majority of your eggs were of excellent quality too! I’ve said that I need 2 days off for a medical procedure next week and will give the exact days when I know. They haven’t said yes or no, (I’m not sure that they can say no)? My sickness record is impeccable (which is pure luck I know) but it’s not like I take days off lightly. If it’s Thursday I don’t work Fridays anyway so would only need the one day, and my partner would take the day off to be with the toddler. That will hopefully save me some good will for the next round!

@Magix86 Yes this is my first time doing IVF. I was in the process of prepping for an IUI and then had tubal factor. Between that, the one ovary and not the best AMH my doctors cancelled and just sent me straight to IVF. For me it was a bit sudden so while I’m grateful to not have lengthy delays on this journey I feel like I’m barely keeping up with what’s happening.

how’re you feeling? Does 3 more days of Stims mean you’re about to trigger? Fingers crossed for your ER!!

@overwork I’m sure they’ll approve your leave and even if they don’t see how you feel and absolutely take the days off. Your health comes first and with a clean illness record I’m sure they know you wouldn’t call out if it wasn’t necessary.

@Magix86 sorry I didn’t answer your question! They were considering a fresh transfer but my levels were too high so we’re doing a FET. They said just call whenever I get my period so I guess that’s a normal one? I’ve seen some people talk about break through bleeds vs. real periods after ER but I’m not sure how I’d know the difference. Are you planning to do fresh if all goes well?

@PearOpalI have absolutely no experience here, but the clinic said to expect a breakthrough bleed a week or two after egg collection, and then after my next proper period we’re going to for egg collection round two. So the only way I’ll know the difference is that the first one doesn’t count if that makes sense!

Mine told me 7-10 days but they called it a period so it seems like the same thing. Maybe it doesn’t matter for a medicated FET? I guess this is my new research project!

@overwork are you doing two ERs to embryo bank? Or does your clinic just always prepare for that?

@PearOpal I get that - this whole process can be a bit of a whirlwind once you get started! So yes just like @overwork says, your breakthrough bleed should be 1-2 weeks after your egg collection and then your next bleed will be your normal one. I've read your normal bleed can sometimes be a bit delayed following an egg collection.
I'm feeling good so far! Trigger should be Monday if all well at the scan and then egg collection Wednesday. We're also doing duostim so will freeze everything from this round and then go again for another egg collection after my next bleed. That is unless we get a really great number of embryos this time then I'd ask to change and go for a fresh transfer instead. It's so hard not knowing and having to wait for all the updates and then see what the drop off is like

@PearOpalpretty similar to @Magix86, we’re expecting to do 2 rounds back to back, because of how many embryos I’ll need at my age to a euploid one! I can’t do a fresh embryo transfer because I have fluid in my lining. Consultant says if we get 4 she will ‘experiment’ with drugs to try and dry the fluid up and I’ll have a FET. But if we only get 1-2 (which looks likely!) she’d rather not risk a transfer until I have surgery to sort out the fluid. My NHS appointment for that came through… for next April . I think I’ll have given up long before that point

@overwork ugh that's so frustrating! Are there no other options apart from either experiment or have the surgery? It might be worth calling the hospital and seeing if they can get you in earlier if they have any cancellations.

I don’t think so, I think it’s a bit of an emerging phenomenon for some people who have had previous c sections. There’s not a big consensus on what to do about it. But they won’t put an egg back in if the fluid is present, and it’s always there (I’m a sonographer, I have been monitoring my lining ever since I realised we weren’t getting pregnant!) so something has to be done to get rid of it first. It can also irritate your lining so there’s a few issues with it

Booked in for retrieval on Monday. Got four they like the look of and another couple that may catch up. Excited and terrified and trying to not jump 47 stages ahead.

@overwork that sounds incredibly frustrating, I really hope you don’t have to wait

@overwork Oh I didn't realize they did that but it makes perfect sense. I'm doing IVF in greece so they have very strict restrictions on when you can do testing and I don't qualify so that's another point of ignorance. That sounds really frustrating re: the fluid issue. Seems like something that shouldn't be so uncommon that they don't have a good solution to it yet but I'm glad you've got a doctor who is willing to try something new if circumstances permit even if the wait sounds incredibly frustrating

@Onesaddog Congrats on getting to the end of ER stims! Wishing you the best for your retrieval. Hopefully you can get some rest and relaxation in for the weekend through the weekend while you wait

@PearOpal my trigger is STILL lingering. I am not doing so well. I am convinced it hasn't worked, I am extremely hormonal, close to tears at all times and super irritated with everyone and everything. Eugh.

How is everyone? X

@Sheffters all of those symptoms could be early pregnancy too. It’s such a difficult line to walk between staying hopeful but protecting your heart. Everyone wants it to work out for you x
I feel like I’ve been hit by a tonne of bricks today. So tired, I tried to get up at a normal time but my limbs were having none of it. I’m on my third nap of the day! Anyone else had similar on day 7 of stims or do I need to toughen up!

Ooh @Onesaddog not long now then! Will be thinking of you on Monday.

@Sheffters I'm so sorry you're feeling this way, it must be so difficult. How many days past transfer are you now? Its still early days isn't it? Sending hugs

@overwork yes I'm tired. Had a bad migraine last night too. Feeling a bit crampy today but just hoping it's all what should be happening at this point!

@overwork I was the same on the stims, so tired!

@Magix86 I am 5 days post transfer.

@Sheffters im with @overwork that absolutely could be your trigger transitioning to a faint positive!

@overwork i also had a drop in energy. Could barely drag myself out of bed for work and was taking naps after work and still going to bed at a normal hour. Give yourself some grace you’re almost there! You and @Magix86 are getting to the finish line

Thank you @Magix86

ohh @Sheffters i am keeping everything crossed for you, it is such a rollercoaster. Never known anything like it. And @overwork, same, the fatigue is crazy!

I’ve just thought of a single upside to not being able to conceive naturally, I don’t have to force us to have sex in 30+ degrees!

@overwork 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Hahaha that's made me chuckle! But so true 🤣

😂😂😂😂 yep!

@Onesaddog good luck today!!