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

[lisey]

Thanks for the good wishes everyone!

Posting on condition that nobody says stuff like "you're not out until AF is here" etc etc, as in LTTTC that is correlated with a 99.9% chance of failure in my (sadly, years of) experience! (and at least 90% failure in TTC)

On Monday I was optimistic as I had had 13 eggs collected and the growth of the eggs had been way way better than anything I'd ever had before. Hence me being excited about the CoQ10.

Unfortunately, the next day I found out that only 4 of those 13 eggs were mature, which is pretty poor ratio really.
Additionally, the donor stuff (despite me paying a ridiculous amount for what was supposed to be really high quality) was much less motile than it should have been, so I had to go to ICSI. Which adds another £1000+ to the whole thing

Of the 4 eggs, 3 fertilised.

Today I had 2 of those embryos transferred. They were both 8 cells, one grade 2, the other grade 3, on a scale of 1-4.
There is a 4-cell embryo left but it was of poor quality so I expect it won't make it.

Test day 5 April.

I'm coming down with a cold (have been feeling ill since Sunday afternoon with sore throat that just hasn't gone away) so not the happiest bunny in town.

20% - good luck with your cycle hun! Third time lucky xxx

That's frustrating about the sample, esp when you have paid extra for higher quality!!

I used to hate that saying too! People would always say it and it is to be nice but it's not actually that helpful.

8 cells are good though, wishing you lots of luck, I have everything crossed for you xx

 

[MrsLaw]

Thanks ladies.

Tinslecat, that's frustrating about the donor quality and having to pay extra. Glad you managed to transfer two embryos though, good luck!

Sorry Leah, no idea whether you should worry or not. Did you get in touch with the clinic? Could just be an abscess from the injection

 

[Syd43]

Hi Leah, I've heard lots of people say they get lumps when injecting, I know you said it's in a different area but I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. I would just mention it to the clinic though.

Tinselcat, totally understand how you feel. Getting a great number to start with and then just watching it go down and down is so upsetting. So was that a 3 day transfer you had? Thinking of you over the next couple of weeks.

 

[1sttimer]

Wow, ladies I've missed so much! It's all going on!

Tinselcat, it sounds like you're being really tested with this, and as much as people who don't get it don't understand the cost implications, to find out you've got to throw another grand at it for something that's not as good as you'd hoped its really tough. Plus the added disappointment of them dropping off from 13. However, having two put back is great - and I have everything crossed for you. Lots of mental relaxation needed now!

MrsS15, I have no idea with the lump but would imagine that as I'm late to the party you have called in to check it out now? Any more ideas? Otherwise all sounds like its really moving for you, so exciting!

20% - sounds like your doc is trying to manage your expectations but in the meantime putting you on a downer which is nice of them! There is no advice at this point that anyone can give that wont wind you up or you've not heard before. I suppose you just have to try and be as relaxed as possible with no expectations in the hope that your body proves you otherwise. (Even this is an annoying piece of advice!)

Ok, ladies interested in the Coq12 convo - I had an acupuncture appointment today and asked my lady about it. She said its amazing for people who are completing IVF at around 40 who might not have as good AMH/FSH as its purely for increasing egg quality. For anyone that has good FSH and AMH its a waste of time... so hopefully that helps some of you understand if it's going to help you.

Nothing to report from my end just wanted to check in on you lovely gals! I'm just busy eating iron/protein/vitamin c rich foods like its going out of fashion (I may possibly turn into a bird or a rabbit before the weekend is out) and getting ready for April xx (by the way - I just want to pass on an amazing little diet recipe I've got - it's a green drink, and it sounds rank but its actually really lovely - and its FULL of fertility related vitamins etc that we all need.... one kiwi peeled and chopped, 1 pear peeled cored and chopped, a handful of spinach, a few sprigs of mint and apple juice - sling it all in the blender and drink every morning,... iron, folate, vitamins C etc etc galore and all before you've even started your day! (Just thought I'd add that in as the 'eating' side of IVF is rarely mentioned as still so important) xxx

 

[MrsS15]

Hi ladies,

The lump is a reaction to the injections apparently. The doctor thinks I had a small lump of fatty tissue there before but the injections has made it more prominent and now it's poking through enough to be obvious and felt. He doesn't think it needs to be a worry, just to keep an eye on it incase it gets bigger or hot round about it etc. When he told me I just started crying, I've had a terrible day with work issues and the worry of this, I just convinced myself something was badly wrong and I would have to cancel the cycle. I feel very anxious at the moment, really on edge. I wish something would make me feel better!

Tinselcat, sorry you didn't get off to such a good start with the donor. I hope things still work out for you and those little embies stick! Lots of luck xx

 

[tinselcat]

Really worried my period is about to start.. That's what happened 5 days after egg collection for egg freezing a few months ago (no cyclogest then though) and even though I am taking the cyclogest this time, I am suddenly getting the same signs that I normally only get just before it starts

 

[xMillie]

Tinselcat what syptoms do you have? It could just be from the progesterone
I had no end of af/pregnancy signs and symptoms while on cyclogest
Fingers crossed for you this round x


I'm CD14 today soooooo hopefully in 2 weeks time I should be starting our next round!
but I'm worried right now that we might have to put it on hold because for the last 4 days I've had pressure in my uterus (I guess? Well that kind of area anyway) and I'm a little worried that something's up. Unless it's something to do with ovulation since that would be around nowish? I'm away and I wish I brought my opks with me! Will just see how it goes I guess

 

[20percent]

Tinselcat, i am sorry the egg quality wasn't as good as u were hoping but two 8cell eggs is great.....I know we know our own bodies but I really do hope u r worrying about nothing. I don't know what cyclogest is? A progesterone?

As for the donor "product"....how disappointing! Is there any come back from the bank if the motility is poorer than they advertised?

I've got everything crossed for u.

I'm glad u got to see ur gp Mrs S. Is very common (but still not nice) to get a little cyst build up at an injection site too and it will go away again, just keep an eye out for if it gets infected as the doctor has already said with looking for redness it getting hot etc.

I was really stressed on my first cycle too and broke down at the clinic when they thought I had 3 cysts and wanted to cancel (turned out it was 3eggs). I'm not usually one for crying but its very hard not to get worked up when it's all so important. It does get easier as u learn more about what is happening and why throughout the cycle. I'm on cycle 3 and whilst I still am desperate for it to work, I feel a lot more in control of myself cause I understand it all so much better now. U'll get through it fine xx

Me.....first scan yesterday, 3little follies all teeny tiny but it's only day 3. Start gonal tomorrow night and I have managed to put the next scan off until next Wednesday cause we know my eggs grow slow and I can't see the point of them looking at me on Sunday and Tuesday (day 5 and 7) when I have not ever been close to ovulation before day 18. Day 8 is soon enough and may avoid having to listen to more plumber style teeth sucking at how little they have grown in the meantime. Also avoids paying for pointless blood tests.....at £75 a pop it soon mounts up if they end up doing them every 2 days from day 2 to day 19 as I found out last month! I would hand the money over in a heartbeat if they did anything with the results or if they offered medication if my oestrogen is low....but they don't, so it just seems like we're going over old ground.

Ha....I sound like a right pain of a patient....I'm not, I'm only making common sense adjustments that the clinic agree with. I have spent so much money on IVF like a lot of people on here and there comes a point where u just have to consider that, whether the IVF is successful or not, there will still be life after it and the mortgage will still need paying. I would carry on trying for as long as my body produced even one egg if I could!

I hope everyone cycling has good scans and the jabs r ok too xx

 

[tinselcat]

Gosh, I haven't had a 2ww for 3 years! Can't say I missed the stress of them

The embryologist called yesterday. She told me not to worry about AF starting, as it was quite normal for women who had had egg collections done and then not had medicine after to get their periods a few days later.

The 4-cell poor quality embryo (at day 3) didn't make it to blastocyst - but no surprises there.

The embryologist also told me that it's the number of cells that is the most important factor in predicting success (over and above the quality measure), which I found interesting.

 

[1sttimer]

Hi ladies, hope you've all had a nice relaxed weekend. Mothers Day is a really tough one for all of us I would imagine so hope you all were able to bear it and the constant fb rubbish posted!!

Sounding positive for you tinselcat! What did she mean by AF appearing after egg collection? ... does that mean you can have a bleed after transfer and still the emby can implant ... or have I just completely misunderstood?

20percent, I totally understand what you're saying. Whether we like it or not the finances have to be a consideration, as after this is all over, we still have to manage, we still have to pay the mortgage as you say and as you get further through the process I think you can rely on your own instincts a little and go with your gut. If you feel its right to avoid potentially negative comments or further expense then def go for it! It sounds like you've got a really level head about the whole thing.

MillieX good news for you - hows the pressure feeling now?

MrsS15 - I know this might sound crazy but have you ever tried IVF meditation? There are CD's you can buy on Amazon that are purely geared around relaxation techniques during IVF - really might help with the anxiety?

I'm starting to get pink CM so looks like I'll get my usual spotting in the run up to AF which is due a week today - so I'll be able to make that call next week! A bit disappointing as I have been taking Maca and hoping it might help with the spotting but looks like it will still appear just like it always does way too early - oh well, we'll see I suppose! Not sure why I care as when I start IVF all that will be irrelevant but it still makes you wonder if that's what's been causing the problem all this time each time it arrives x

 

[xMillie]

I think it could have just been something to do with ovulation, I'm feeling fine now
I always worry about any odd twinges after a year of bad smears and an op to remove the bad cells
But I think everything is ok!
Cd16... can it drag on any longer

 

[xMillie]

Acupuncture was amazing!
She said I take wayy too many vitamins and to stay away from google lol
I was planning on taking less soon anyways
Got another session booked for next week!

 

[1sttimer]

Acupuncture was amazing!
She said I take wayy too many vitamins and to stay away from google lol
I was planning on taking less soon anyways
Got another session booked for next week!

Haha... good advice!! Glad you loved it!

 

[xMillie]

It left me incredibly relaxed and so sleepyyyy
I think I was asleep before 10pm last night lol
Then I had a dream where I had a baby boy and wow did that feel real!

I just feel so damn good today! Feel like I'm doing something positive

 

[20percent]

Ah, everything about IVF feels so much more manageable when ur in a positive frame of mind doesn't it Millie! Really pleased the acupuncture has helped you....long may it continue to!

Had my 2nd scan today....day 8 and now there are 5follicles! That's two more than I've ever had. Course it doesn't mean they'll all grow and no one will know what quality any eggs may be until they are out but it's gotta be a good thing to have more to work with so I'm feeling happy that my body is doing its absolute best for me

I think taking a much more chilled out approach this cycle is definitely helping me, I'm not half as knackered as I have been at this stage the last cycles. Have to go back Friday for another scan as the doc I saw today measured one of my follies at 11mm but I know from experience that, bless her, her measurements do tend to b a few milimetres on the big side and both cycles the eggs have turned out to be considerably smaller than they r when she measures them on the next scan. I like seeing her though cause she is the one dr who is always just straight up positive and encouraging.

Does anyone else see different people for every scan? I'm very lucky as all of mine are lovely.....because my cycles r so long I saw a total of 8 different ones last cycle! I'm getting to know their quirks now too....today's always measures too big, the consultant always thinks they are cysts until day 16, the practice manager is more fascinated by the "perfect" fibroid my body has somewhat inconveniently decided to grow right in the middle of my uterus than my eggs, the group head of clinics is just extremely sympathetic whether things r good or bad, the doc who got ferried in from a sister clinic when they were short staffed was far too handsome to be working around a lady's downstairs (surely there should be a rule about handsome doctors getting involved in gynaecology) was actually very annoying as he wouldn't have the screen so I could see it too....didn't like that, it's not that I know what I'm looking at, I still can't really tell the difference between a blood vessel and an egg....but it's still nice to see what they're measuring! My favourite doctor is a tiny lady who is just sensible.....its nice to just see someone who is completely straight with you but who is able to make you feel a little optimistic at the same time.

Well, I'm clearly in a chatty mood today....sorry for jabbering ladies. I hope everyone else is doing ok too 😊 Xx

 

[Syd43]

I saw lots of different people for my scans and handsome doctors should DEFINITELY not be allowed to be gynaecologists! Are you a "Friends" fan? There was a good storyline based on that

xMillie, fab that you're feeling so positive

 

[20percent]

Hi Syd,

I always enjoyed friends but don't remember that story line.....if it was based around how traumatic it is to have a gorgeous man who is a complete stranger ferreting around down there whilst ur brain reminds u that u couldn't be bothered to shave ur legs that morning and ur bikini line could probably do with a veet attack, then it was thoroughly accurate! xx

 

[tinselcat]

Good luck 20%

I've not noticed any handsome doctors scanning me, lol

I'm feeling ridiculously thirsty today. Test day is Wednesday.

 

[tinselcat]

Sounding positive for you tinselcat! What did she mean by AF appearing after egg collection? ... does that mean you can have a bleed after transfer and still the emby can implant ... or have I just completely misunderstood?

Ah sorry if I was being confusing! For people that are doing egg collection but not continuing with a fresh transfer of embryos for IVF, e.g. people that want genetic testing, or in my case, egg freezing, then you don't get any further medicines after the eggs are collected and your body is left to figure things out for itself.

When you're doing IVF with a planned fresh cycle, then you start taking progesterone supplements as soon as egg collection is over (well, that evening anyway).

So the embryologist meant that without further medication, it is normal for AF to appear quite early after egg collection, if that makes sense

Did AF turn up for you? xx

 

[tinselcat]

It left me incredibly relaxed and so sleepyyyy
I think I was asleep before 10pm last night lol
Then I had a dream where I had a baby boy and wow did that feel real!

I just feel so damn good today! Feel like I'm doing something positive

I've heard really good things about acupuncture for fertility! Am glad it has the side-effect of making you relaxed & positive, yay!