Closed - old IVF thread

[LouiseB]

That soon?! So when is it all happening?

I want them to up my dosage to be honest. When i got 9 eggs, i only got 1 kind of decent looking blast - it could easily be none.

Plus my egg number is due another fall and i just can't afford it.

A 3DSIS is a procedure where they inject fluid into my uterus and tubes and use an ultrasound to see the surface to show up any lumps and bumps that shouldn't be there. I think, i have a leaflet somewhere

I haven't had it done before so it'll be interesting to see, but a little worried because it'll be a bit of a slap in the face if they find something wrong at this stage.

I don't know why everyone has disappeared I know it's hard to go through a failed cycle, and it's nice to have some head space, but it's been ages now. I'm really worried about Scotch. I'm wondering if she is going to try and squeeze a sneaky cycle in to see if she can come back with a BFP, but it's so hard going it alone like that.

We miss you all

 

[JJ Mum]

Well Lou that 3Dsis sounds a bit different! and any result , good or bad cannot be counted as a slap in the face, as you well know - a problem cannot be solved and ticked off unless it is found!! I would love to see the inside of my poor uterus - I would be curious to know how much scar tissue in there, wonder if my surgeon would take any piccys for me while i'm open! ha ha

Yes I'm worried about Scotch, perhaps she is just taking a break from here and ttc to get her and porkpie back on track with some kind of life without all this stress for a bit.

It actually would be very tempting to go away , get a bfp and arrive back wouldn't it.... no pressure atall if no-one knew... if the result was bad you needn't tell anyone till you were in a better place.

I told two people about the ivf , ones I didn't see often - I have only told one person about last natural FET, other than you guys! made it easier... I have only told one person about this new cunning plan, and if she doesn't ask for details, I won't be offering.. ha ha - it's less highs and lows and easier to emotionally detach yourself from it.. I do feel like a bit of a liar in conversations with close mates, and a bit boring , like nothing has happened to me since feb, when really it's been mad! I'm just keeping this one my little secret for now I think..

If I win big on the lottery tonight, after paying my TTC debts - I'm going to come on here and treat all you ladies all to a free round of fertility treatments.....

Well off to get my beauty sleep, it's been a long week

 

[LouiseB]

I meant a slap in the face for it being discovered after going through so much, not that i have something that needs fixing if that makes sense

Apparently 3D sis is another name for HyCoSy... but i wonder if they use 3D ultrasound instead of 2d? Whatever.

It would be good if going away would ensure a BFP for your return, but i'd worry that it might fail again and then it'd just compound the situation and before they know it they have completely shut themselves away from anyone.

My last cycle was a nightmare for everyone knowing. Belgium meant we needed to try and sort things out for the trip, so everyone knew why we was going and that it would be done by the end of it. It's a lot of pressure to have to worry about how other people feel about it when you can barely deal with how you feel.

Never again.

It's a bit crap though because i do have one friend who i keep updated and she's been really good because i see her when i want to and she listens. However, now my hubby has befriended her dad (they go fishing) so hubby tells him and now my friend and her dad seem to be in competition to know first

So the other day her dad phoned to try and arrange fishing with hubby but he couldn't go so they chatted for a bit and hubby mentioned something about London. The next thing i know my friend is on the phone randomly, "just seeing what is going on with me", but i only saw her the week before. She got around to asking what was going on in London

I've had the same thought about treating everyone to free IVF

You didn't say when your op and stuff was happening? I'm only about an hour from Nottingham if that is any use to you at any point xx

 

[Tinkerbell3]

Hi Louise & JJ, I'm here reading along now and then, sorry I've been quiet but I've been suffering a bit with my chest recently and been unwell plus I've been going through a time of 'struggling' to deal with the baby thing, it seems like everywhere I turn everyone is pregnant, popping out babies etc and I couldn't even get a BFP with IVF and I'm feeling like perhaps it's just not meant to be for us and will never happen
I know it was only one IVF cycle that we've tried but I'm feeling like if it was going to work then surely it would have first time which is so silly thoughts to have I know.

We didn't do the IUI this cycle (October) as we are going through some problems with having to move all of a sudden and hubby wanted me to be relaxed when we do it and not stressed out with anything esle, so I'm just waiting for AF to arrive (should be Wed/Thur) and we'll be starting it that cycle.

I hope Scotch is ok too.
Louise noticed you'll be having 3D sis, have never heard of them but noticed you say they are another name for the Hycosy which I had. How comes they are doing that? sorry if I missed you say, I thought they weren't needed if doing IVF? I had mine before we found out that we needed it.

 

[LouiseB]

Hiya Tinker

I'm glad that you're.... alive It's nice to hear from you

How come you are having to suddenly move?

It's great that you are soon to start

I think they're doing the 3D SIS just to make sure that there isn't anything that might prevent implantation basically. I think that the state of my tubes doesn't matter with IVF but i still need somewhere comfy for the embryo to implant

 

[JJ Mum]

Hello Tinks - sorry youve been finding it hard at mo, it's hard to get yourself back in that place where you can see a light again at the end of the tunnel. So much luck in ivf isn't there, even if all on paper is looking good. Great your IUI is starting this week, prob a good call by hubby on making sure your in the right place to start it, then you can't look back and wonder if it made any difference - wishing you the best of luck with it all, keep us updated with how your going, it's more interesting to hear how what everyone else is doing and what their cycle involves, kind off makes us all feel part of it too..while were waiting..

Lou -sorry it's 3 weeks till my op! thanks for offer of help , your lovely you know!! I have to get straightback as hubby has to get back that same night to work at 8pm, so have to travel straight back somehow - thanks lots tho....

Oh and Re dose from London - you mentioned, you have some 75iu's of menopur left don't you, use them yourself to make it up if they drop your dose!! ha ha naughty I know... but one way to get back on the belgium dose, you know it was a safe level of dose ayway.

 

[skeando]

Back from eight days in Spain, great to relax and forget all about this ttc carry on.

On downside still no af, four wks since last injection. Had some spotting yest but that's it. Having scan and bloods done tmrw but guessing it will be provera and another wait

 

[JJ Mum]

Glad you had a lovely relaxing hols Skeando, sounds like just what the doc ordered to me...

Sorry your AF is being very shy and disobediant, best to get the pills and get it brought on, to be done with and you can get back on track asap

 

[Jacq23]

4 days til nurse consultation and start of IVF drugs. Am I silly to be excited?!

I have a question regarding IVF vs ICSI. Can I push for IVF even though the consultant recommended ICSI, or does it depend on hubby's sample on the day? The reason I ask is that first sample count was 1.2 million and second was 8 million. I know it's still low but he's been on zinc since then and now I'm feeding him with Brazil nuts and multivitamins to up his swimmers. He doesn't drink or smoke or have hot baths or wear tight underwear so don't really know what else we can do!

 

[Kay Kay]

Back from eight days in Spain, great to relax and forget all about this ttc carry on.

On downside still no af, four wks since last injection. Had some spotting yest but that's it. Having scan and bloods done tmrw but guessing it will be provera and another wait

Good to see you back, glad you had a nice relaxing holiday. How annoying AF is taking so long. Were your cycles like this before or is it the sniffing or injections last time that might be delaying it? X

Tinker, nice to hear from you too, sorry you're having a hard time. Sounds like we will be iui buddies (hopefully skeando too) in Nov x

Jacq welcome over here . I'm sure loub can answer your questions on ivf vs icsi. Good luck with it all I have everything crossed for you x

Well no real update from me as not much is happening. I'm about 6/7dpo and just getting on with things. Not long til my appt. I keep praying in the back of my mind for a miracle bfp before my appt. I'm totally kidding myself but I can't help hoping. After this month I reckon I will have Nov au naturale as I will prob start down reg towards the end of Nov. I suppose we all want to be that girl who gets her bfp before treatment starts...

 

[skeando]

Kay Kay,

When I first came off pill my cycles were haywire at ten weeks long for a year and half but then they sorted themselves out and ended up about 30-35 days long for nearly two years before started this. Maybe my cycles just like throwing a strop whenever they are messed with?

 

[Tinkerbell3]

Haha yes Louise, still alive I'll try not to stay away so often in future.

That makes sense, hopefully everything will look perfect. Is it exactly the same as the Hycosy then or slightly different? I remember when I had my hycosy aswell as checking my tubes weren't bloocked they also had a little look everything else look as it should.


JJ, you hit the nail on the head there I think, that's exactly how i've been feeling. How on earth do you get back to normal and feel positive that there can be light at the end of what feels like such a dark, long tunnel when your biggest hope so far didn't work? but it seems to be getting a little better now.

3 weeks till the op, is this the op to fix your tubes so that you can try naturally again? how are you feeling about it?

Glad you enjoyed your nice break away Skeando, nightmare still no AF must be frustrating for you.

Jacq - I think it's completely normal to be excited to start the IVF so don't be feeling silly for it. I know I certainly was the same during the few weeks before we were starting and for most of the cycle aswell to be honest.
Is there a reason why you'd rather do IVF over ICSI? if it were me I think I'd want to stick with the ICSI for a higher chance of better fertilisation rate.
We were referred for ICSI due to hubby's low count of 3 million per ml and on EC day his sample was much better, normal figures infact though only just and still not amazing but it all feels like a good thing anyway doesn't it? as we were down for ICSI they still did it that way though.

 

[LouiseB]

JJ - Alright, well just give me a shout if you think of anything. Three weeks! And how long before you can tcc? Right away?

In Belgium i was on the same dosage, i've always been on the same dosage for all my cycles. It's just that for my first two cycles i got 14 mature eggs, then third was 9 eggs, then fourth was 9 eggs again but over a long time - so now i'm scared it's going to go less or even slower for number five

Skeando - hello and welcome back! So glad you had a nice time

Sorry about AF but spotting has to be good. I'd let them know in case they want you in for a scan and use the spotting as AF?

Jacq - hiya Oh, four days away! That is really exciting

Why do you want to try and push for IVF > ICSI? You need about 100,000 *decent* sperm per egg for IVF but i do think that if you particularly want IVF that you should be able to insist upon it, especially if you are self-funded.

However, i don't understand why you would. The sperm attaching to and penetrating the eggs is a huge task for sperm and it opens up an extra opportunity for your cycle to fail before embryo transfer.

Maybe the birth defect thing... is it because of the ICSI procedure or is it because of the sperm requiring ICSI? Whether you'll be having IVF or ICSI, you'll still be using the same sperm

Kay Kay - i'll be keeping everything crossed for your shock BFP, but if not i hope treatment comes around quickly for you xx

 

[skeando]

Had scan today. lining still 8.5mm.

They did bloods and gave me provera, but then called me back in afternoon and said not to take the provera as bloods show period should be on its way.

Likely to have period this week (hopefully!) and have to go for more bloods/scan on 6th Nov, and period permitting should be able to start injections the following monday (12th)

 

[LouiseB]

That's great that AF should be on it's way

 

[JJ Mum]

Yayy great news Skeando, amazing how they can tell your af is on her way this week, by just bloods!
12th is not long at all... how exiting...

KayKay - you never know wasn't there another lttc lady recently who got her bfp just before treatment? I can't for the life of me remember her name.. - hoping for you , but either way really not long now for iui.

Jacq - Your dead right to be excited, 4 days - yayyy I remember myself in the same position counting down the days to start, then you will feel like your back in the driving seat doing something about your fertility - good luck to you

Lou - ahh yes I see what you mean now about the lower eggs each subsequent cycle , yet the same dosage, if you push the point, maybee they will upp it. If I did fresh again, I think I would want more eggs and higher dose, to allow for the low fert rate I lost half my 12 eggs, they said ISCI was not something I would need, so it must have been duff eggs, hope once you have explained it to them, and hounded them some , thhey will support your need for this, or at least explain why this won't change things.. maybee it would sacrifice the quality to have more eggs?

Yes I am having op in less than 3 weeks... I went on my running machine tonight , going to try and do it every day to make the most of the chance to get in shape, when I got preg before I had always been really fit, so that's the plan. Oh and yes Lou, apparently you can ttc as soon as you feel able , it's basically a C-section (without the baby), and the only layer they don't cut is the uterus, which is good for me, and also they fix the tubes if they can.

Still waiting for local hosp records , hoping this week I can get them and then I will feel less in limbo and if it's good news, then I can goahead, as there still is a chance I may cancel the op. if records show huge lengths of tube are missing.

 

[Jacq23]

Jacq - hiya Oh, four days away! That is really exciting

Why do you want to try and push for IVF > ICSI? You need about 100,000 *decent* sperm per egg for IVF but i do think that if you particularly want IVF that you should be able to insist upon it, especially if you are self-funded.

However, i don't understand why you would. The sperm attaching to and penetrating the eggs is a huge task for sperm and it opens up an extra opportunity for your cycle to fail before embryo transfer.

Maybe the birth defect thing... is it because of the ICSI procedure or is it because of the sperm requiring ICSI? Whether you'll be having IVF or ICSI, you'll still be using the same sperm

Thanks Louise, you always seem to put things so well and I am so grateful for your thoughts and experience! It was more the birth defects thing that was swaying me for IVF as I really believe in that 'survival of the fittest' thing, but you are right, it's hard enough for the sperm to penetrate the egg in the first place and they'll feel so pressured with a £6K price tag on their heads So I think perhaps we'll just go for ICSI.

Do you know if they do actually decide on the day or is it agreed at consultation and then not changed dependent on the sperm sample?

Two days to go! I have called the clinic just to confirm our appointment as we have not had a letter and also I hadn't received the drugs. It turns out that had 'slipped through the net' But they said it was because we'd normally have the nurse consultation before starting the drugs but ours has to be the same day due to lack of appointments and me being away a few days last week. Hmmm! Anyway they have ordered the tablets and nasal spary but we will talk about the injections on Thursday as I have to decide which one I want. Any recommendations? I think I want to go for the pen one because I am a sissy and don't really want to stick a needle in myself and I think if it's more like an epipen (I've had eopipen training for kids at school with allergies) then it won't be so bad. But I'm not sure which is the better drug

 

[JJ Mum]

I used the nasel spray and then menopur but not with the multidose pen, as it was cheeper that way, but anything that helps make it easier tbh, but mine were fine too Jacq - good job you called!!

We had IVF, hubby had great swimmers apparently, and we got 12 eggs, 11 were mature, and only 6 fert, so maybee icsi is a good option X

 

[LouiseB]

JJ - you're right that it might sacrifice the quality a bit, but I'm thinking that I'm still "young" and without ovulation issues so better to take the risk now.

I think the reason the egg quality is reduced is because there is an excessive amount of the drugs compared to how the ovaries can respond to those drugs. Younger people should be able to use up any access to create more follicles so less exposure to toxic levels, that is why younger people are at more risk to OHSS too.

I actually saw a post just yesterday where a women who was 28 had a cycle and somehow she produced 20ish eggs and 17 fertilised with ICSI (male factor) and then come day 5 she only had one decent one (the others weren't suitable for freezing = crap) and I reckon that they must have the same spam quality as my hubby even if they don't know it.

If one egg has been overlooked then shouldn't they all be

She got pregnant off that one decent embryo so that is the scenario I'm hoping for.

Oh, I'm getting a treadmill! It should come within a week or two. I'm hoping to just get in better shape but I'm not going to have much time so going to have to really blast it. I don't want to be killing it during stimulation.

Jacq - I have heard about it being changed to IVF on the day depending on the sample so if you are comfortable with any risks then you should definitely make a point about it to them and I'm sure they'll comply

How annoying about the drugs, a great start to creating a sense of confidence in your clinic At least they know now

Which drugs are you choosing between? xx

 

[Jacq23]

The nurse didn't name them but said one was a powder you mix then put in the syringe then the other was in a pen, but I don't know the names. Any advice on ones which have more side effects?

I just called the drug company and they have my prescription marked as urgent so hopefully will get a call for delivery tomorrow. All cutting it a bit fine for my liking. Funny you mention confidence in the clinic as we're going to ask to change consultants when we go as our one called hubby the other day and didn't even have the latest test results and didn't know we are booked in for the nurse consultation. What a ditz! I'm not paying him £6K for that kind of incompetence!