Ladies doing IUI or IVF - 2016 (11 BFPs so far!)

[Syd43]

Thanks all. OH and I are discussing next steps at the moment so we'll see. I think I may have to accept that at 45 my own eggs are just past it although I am looking at all the hidden infection testing etc that can be done.

Millie, I'm sure the clinic won't be in any way pushy about that. If it turns out to be a bfn (still a way to go) then there's no point in you going for an fet until you're ready.

MrsLaw, congrats on getting started. I did short protocol rather than long but I think all the ladies that have been through either will agree that it feels slow to start with but it soon speeds up!

 

[xMillie]

I said my test was negative but now I'm torturing myself wondering was it actually negative? I didn't use fmu.
There was a sort of line? but It looked more like a shadow in the thick plastic test window (decided, I really hate Superdrug early tests) so I just took it a no.
I know that you shouldn't take a result from a test hours later but when I went back to it and took it apart (lol never taken a test apart before) there was a very faint pink line. Of course this could mean nothing as it was way past the time but I know I saw a shadow in the time limit. So I don't know.
Again I'm probably just torturing myself.
I started spotting last night too, which didn't happen at all last time round. I'm sure it's far too late for anything and I'm just driving myself mad for no reason.
I'm okay but I'm not okay.

 

[Syd43]

Millie, any chance you can get a blood test? I did that just to get a definitive answer although admittedly it's very easy to do here.

I've been investigating going to Serum for donor egg treatment but it turns out that a. it's very hard to transfer frozen sperm from the UK to Greece, certainly to Serum' b. they used more sperm than I realised for my IVF so there's only 3 ampules left c. the only time my OH may have been able to get to Athens is end May and they're fully booked then. We want to stick with Greece rather than Spain as you get more information about the donor. I'm not ruling Spain out completely but honestly, I think this could be the end of the road for us. It's just not supposed to be this hard and I have to accept that it's just not meant to be.

 

[Clementine]

Millie, any chance you can get a blood test? I did that just to get a definitive answer although admittedly it's very easy to do here.

I've been investigating going to Serum for donor egg treatment but it turns out that a. it's very hard to transfer frozen sperm from the UK to Greece, certainly to Serum' b. they used more sperm than I realised for my IVF so there's only 3 ampules left c. the only time my OH may have been able to get to Athens is end May and they're fully booked then. We want to stick with Greece rather than Spain as you get more information about the donor. I'm not ruling Spain out completely but honestly, I think this could be the end of the road for us. It's just not supposed to be this hard and I have to accept that it's just not meant to be.

Syd, although the clinic in Ireland doesn't use Irish egg donors it does allow for Identifiable Egg Donation http://www.eggdonation.ie/identifiable-egg-donation.791.html it might me worth a phonecall to check what countries they partner with. If you were going down the egg donor root I would definitely get the DNA fragmentation testing done first, can your OH have it done in Japan? I'm also 45, it's like there's a bloody big clock ticking over my head it's such a pain in the bum. I brought up egg donation with my hubby he can't get his head around it as he wanted our baby to be from both of us, I think he'd almost adopt quicker. Your previous email on the what-ifs summed up all my thoughts exactly. I always used to believe That's what's for you doesn't pass you. But I really don't want this to pass me!

 

[20percent]

Hi ladies! Just popping by to see how everyone is doing? 😊 Sorry to everyone who is having a tough time at the moment.

Hang in there Millie!

Syd, I'm going down the donor route and it is so complicated isn't it??!! I've decided to go for treatment here (well, south London). It's £7.5k in theory but the meds are on top of that and the ICSI so it's gonna be £10k

I chose the uk because I prefer the idea that the donor could be contacted in future, that is a very personal choice to each individual though. I looked at buying in eggs from the USA cause they have the largest range of donors by far, but the eggs are priced by how desirable they are and having green eyes prices me out of that market!

I do wonder just how much physical matching matters sometimes.....my best mate is olive skinned with nearly black hair and brown eyes, her little girl (who was conceived naturally) is as fair as can be with blonde hair and blue eyes! She basically looks just like her dad, which is a shame cause he is a complete arse (he is now her ex husband).

Good luck with ur decision making. Xx

 

[xMillie]

I'm not sure about a blood test, I guess I'll only contact my gp for one if my period doesn't show up
But I think it will be here by morning as spotting is getting heavier now and cramps are getting worse
It's odd that last round I didn't bleed until 3 days after I stopped taking pessaries
I just did my last pessary just now

Test day in morning even though it's pointless!

 

[Syd43]

Millie, hoping you get a lovely surprise this morning.

Clementine, my OH just can't get his head around it either. Thanks for the link, I'll have to do some investigation on that one, I wonder what the waiting list is like. We'll probably be in Ireland in the summer as OH is Irish so we'll be visiting family.

I've also always said "if it's mean to be it will be", along the same lines as "what's for you won't pass you", I'm not sure I've ever truly believed it until now when I keep wondering why I'm pushing something so hard when it clearly isn't meant to be. Then I see a pregnant woman and something inside me feels like it's being ripped out of me...

20percent, very best of luck. Is it a long wait with your clinic or are you using an egg donor agency? That's another whole area I'm trying to get my head around.

 

[xMillie]

Well that's another negative for me
At least I know I can take something abit stronger for the cramps now

I don't know what's next other than a break!!

 

[20percent]

So sorry Millie. A bit of a break really does help to clear ur head and gives u the mental strength to decide what to do next xx

Syd, there's no waiting list at my clinic, they use a donor list from various banks but it will be fresh eggs not frozen ones.

I'm just booking my initial appointment with the donor egg nurse today, this one appointment is free (OMG!! ). She specifically deals with the donors so is confident she will find a close match. The clinic do everything though so it should be fairly low stress (fingers crossed) I'll get the rest of the info when I see her. I'm not rushing too much as I think I do need a break from the IVF rollercoaster I was on for the last 8months. Making the decision to go for donor has actually taken a lot of the pressure off....before I was very aware that I didn't start until I was 38 so I needed to do it now or never....now I've got until I'm 50! I'm not planning on waiting anywhere near that long, however it is my 40th at the end of October so I am hoping to get everything in place so that I can enjoy a very good night to celebrate/commiserate leaving my 30's and then have the first (hopefully only) transfer in November.

Good luck luvvie, it is an awful lot of reading and trying to take information in xx

 

[Clementine]

Millie, hoping you get a lovely surprise this morning.

Clementine, my OH just can't get his head around it either. Thanks for the link, I'll have to do some investigation on that one, I wonder what the waiting list is like. We'll probably be in Ireland in the summer as OH is Irish so we'll be visiting family.

I've also always said "if it's mean to be it will be", along the same lines as "what's for you won't pass you", I'm not sure I've ever truly believed it until now when I keep wondering why I'm pushing something so hard when it clearly isn't meant to be. Then I see a pregnant woman and something inside me feels like it's being ripped out of me...

20percent, very best of luck. Is it a long wait with your clinic or are you using an egg donor agency? That's another whole area I'm trying to get my head around.

Syd I wouldn't say there is too long a waiting list (but I could be wrong) I think they're based in Dublin. x

 

[Blueflower]

Hi ladies! Sorry there haven't been any more BFPs on here but glad some of you are considering donor eggs. I sometimes feel sad I can't see myself in Jacob and Robert but wouldn't swap them for the world and egg sharing is the only reason I'm now a mummy. A girl I met at a tots group said they got embryos from Spain from donated eggs and sperm which was less than £2000. So not from her or her partner but she got to carry them. Might be an option. xxx

 

[Syd43]

It's all gone a bit quiet on here at the moment.

Clementine - where are you with the whole DE train of thought now?
20percent - when do you have your initial consultation?
xMillie - have you decided on next steps? If I haven't already said it, so sorry for the bfn.
Blueflower - thanks for your note. Really glad to hear you and your boys are doing well. I've heard the donated embryo route is cheaper, not an option for us as we only need DE and OH can't even get his head around that!
MrsLaw how's the down regging going? Are you onto the stimming stage yet?

Hope everyone else is ok.

 

[FBTTN8079]

Millie, any chance you can get a blood test? I did that just to get a definitive answer although admittedly it's very easy to do here.

I've been investigating going to Serum for donor egg treatment but it turns out that a. it's very hard to transfer frozen sperm from the UK to Greece, certainly to Serum' b. they used more sperm than I realised for my IVF so there's only 3 ampules left c. the only time my OH may have been able to get to Athens is end May and they're fully booked then. We want to stick with Greece rather than Spain as you get more information about the donor. I'm not ruling Spain out completely but honestly, I think this could be the end of the road for us. It's just not supposed to be this hard and I have to accept that it's just not meant to be.

Syd I've just been catching up & I know I'm the last two weeks serum have obtained their licence for transporting sperm etc & I've seen Penys donor matching & she's amazing with it !

Clementine have you both ever though of doing the process abroad? Xx

 

[20percent]

Hi Syd.

How are you getting on with getting ur other half on board with donor eggs?

My initial consultation was supposed to be Wednesday just gone but they messed up so it is now next Friday. I'm sort of looking forward to it, sort of dreading beginning the treks to the clinic again! 😬

 

[phonixgirl]

Hey ladies

Sorry no BFPs I would use donor eggs if they found that was the issue. Personally I just don't think it is with me though.

DH is really struggling atm - doesn't want to be around any children at all etc, which I understand completely.

I'm still waiting for my lap and dye and hysteroscopy. Hospital did ring on Thursday saying they had a cancellation for Monday but of course I'm on AF so can't take it (how frustrating).

TMI but I've stopped all supplements and my last two AFs have been awful. Last cycle I don't think I ovulated, then a week or so before AF was due I started spotting black. It got worse and worse until AF started. Cramps weren't too bad but AF was light and mostly dark brown/black. Urgh.

This cycle I did ov and had heavy bleeding with it. I had the pre-AF spotting again but very bad cramps this time.

I don't know what I'll do if they don't find anything in this op xx

 

[xMillie]

Syd, I'm not sure. I'm in a weird place, find myself occasionally trying to convince myself I don't want this anymore and couldn't care less. But of course that's not how it is or how it ever will be. I've thought of using the clinics counselling but I can't see how anything anyone else says will make me feel better.

I have a review on the 5th (which is only 2 weeks away) and really not feeling ready to go back to the clinic. Im really hoping I'll feel a little better by then?
I just feel so bitter and angry right now.


It's been almost 2 weeks since my last progesterone shot and my boobs have been sore ever since, one of them is bruised too. Feels like a massive kick in teeth.

 

[phonixgirl]

Millie, I know how you feel - I'm exactly the same.

Just out of interest, have you had a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy as I am due to have? Sorry if you've said before. I know this can provide some answers. Xx

 

[xMillie]

Phonix, sorry you were unable to have your lap and dye on Monday
hope you can have it done soon and hopefully get some answers x


I've had a hsg but not a laparoscopy, Im hoping our review will give us some idea of what to do or try before next transfer

 

[MrsLaw]

Hi ladies, it did go very quiet. I hope your appointments come around swiftly.

I've just had my baseline scan today after my down reg, so i'm now on CD 2. How lovely it was to have an internal scan during AF :/ At least all is well, no cysts despite my PCO.
I'm starting my injections tomorrow, merional and fostimon then after a few days will start cetrotide...and starting on the lowest doses to prevent OHSS. Pretty worried about that to be honest, and anxious about the pain i'm about to go through.

 

[Syd43]

Thanks so much FBTTN, they did actually email me to let me know they should be able to ship from the UK soon which could help a lot!

20percent, we haven't even discussed it He's so stressed with other stuff going on it's just not even on his radar. Annoying about your consultation, so it's happening this Friday?

Phonix, that's so frustrating! I'm thinking about stopping most of my supplements, it's so expensive to keep up with them and it doesn't seem to be doing me any good. Obviously would keep folic acid going.

MrsLaw, what pain are you worried about particularly? If it helps at all, I didn't find anything about the process painful, injections were very mildly uncomfortable at worse, my ovaries only got a bit sore, nothing drastic. Great that you're on to the next stage.