The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Conceive when its just not happening (12m+)

Murray

chickpea wrote: »

I have decided that since doing what I'm doing isn't working, I should...do something different..!

I think I'll make myself a bit scarcer on here for one thing - I'll pop by once a month to check in or so, but that's it. It'll be hard, because it's a bit compulsive, but I need to be more 'zen' about the whole thing.

Good luck [STRIKE]nearly always [/STRIKE]always nearly CB

ginvzt wrote: »

I am considering trying out acupuncture. It is costly, and I am trying to justify this in my head. If you had acupuncture, how often would you have treatments? Is it once a week, once a month? I have found out that there is someone locally that does this, and she is on Zita West website too. From what I see it is £35 a go, so if it needs to be done very often to have any effect, I just wouldn't be able to afford it.

Hi Ginvzt, I've just started having acupuncture with a lady that specialises in infertility. My first appointment cost £53 and lasted about 2 hours, subsequent appointments are £33 each and last an hour and I am having them weekly - I'm in her hands to tell me when I can go less frequently and I trust her to do that because I've had lots of positive feedback from other satisfied customers.

Its not a level of expenditure that I can keep up indefinitely but offset against the cost of IVF and the inconvenience and discomfort of further treatment, I think its worth it for now.

Murray

QQuaver wrote: »

Same here. I think I'll leave this thread too, but will pop back once in a while. Hoping to see many BFPs this year:beer:

I'll be sorry to see a familiar face (well, avatar) go . Good luck though, I'll be stalking you and hoping for positive news

mrsvicx

Hello *waves*
Can I join you please?? I've just moved over from tfab thread, we've been trying for just over a year and I've just made my first appointment today to see the doctor....

Runnerduck

welcome mrsvicx, hope things go well with your doctors appointment

chickpea and qquaver, hope things go well for you both, pop back regular and let us all know how you're getting on.

started my injections saturday night, going well so far except for a blue belly! can anyone who has had IVF or ICSI before give me any info on whats best to do regarding time off work, i only do part time but its gardening so lots of digging wheelbarrows etc any advice would be great

ginvzt

Runnerduck - good luck with the injections. I must admit, I didn't find them as bad as I was imagining.

As for time off work, I just had couple of hours for each scan. I had a day off for egg collection - it was on Thursday. I took Friday off as well, as even if I was feeling ok (honestly, I wasn't feeling bad - I ended up baking all morning and helping out our heating engineer with fitting the new boiler), I didn't want to be in the office when I got the phonecall with the results of how many embryos fertilised and when the ET is going to be. As I only had 1 egg collected, it was a daunting time, I was expecting them to tell me that unfortunately it did not fertilise. But, it was a fighter at that stage, and fertilised, so they did ET the following day, Saturday (Day 2 transfer). I was back at work on Monday.

Next time I would like to take more time off, probably a week or so after ET - just to let myself to have some time for myself, instead of running around, have a sleep in, etc. And more rest before EC - I was always busy with something, sorting out trades (heating, doors) for the house, dealing with them, and then also redecorating one room (still am) - stripping wallpaper, filling walls, sanding the wood, etc.

jujugaboo

ginvzt wrote: »

Hello all and Happy New Year.

I am back. We've just had a letter thoguht with the date for our follow-up appointment (January 31st), so will see what the doctors think about our first cycle.

I am considering trying out acupuncture. It is costly, and I am trying to justify this in my head. If you had acupuncture, how often would you have treatments? Is it once a week, once a month? I have found out that there is someone locally that does this, and she is on Zita West website too. From what I see it is £35 a go, so if it needs to be done very often to have any effect, I just wouldn't be able to afford it.

I hope it would sort some things out. For example - my skin, which was blemish free during the IVF treatment when the drugs where there, but now my face looks like a map!

Oh, and I am back to weight loss - I have gained a bit over Christmas, and I want to get it down again before we try next cycle, whenever that may be.

I have had acupunture both times now during my IVF and she is great, she actually trained at Zita West. I only have it about 5-6 time over the whole process. Normally a couple of times to get the blood flowing to get a thick lining and to stimulate the ovaries when stimming. I have one pre transfer and post transfer too. It costs me £39 per time but find it helpful and relaxing. Get an acupunturist that specialies in fertility.

I also found when I was on the drugs my skin was really clear and bad when I was off them - you would think it was the other way around!

jujugaboo

Runnerduck wrote: »

welcome mrsvicx, hope things go well with your doctors appointment

chickpea and qquaver, hope things go well for you both, pop back regular and let us all know how you're getting on.

started my injections saturday night, going well so far except for a blue belly! can anyone who has had IVF or ICSI before give me any info on whats best to do regarding time off work, i only do part time but its gardening so lots of digging wheelbarrows etc any advice would be great

The injections are not that bad once you start doing more. I use to rub really hard or pinch the skin before.

I took time off work for scans as its was only an hour in the morning, then had a day off for ec and was going to go back for work for a day before transfer but was told to rest especially as I had a GA and wasn't up to going back to work and wasn't allowed to drive. I had 1 week off post transfer for my first time but took the whole 2 weeks of the second time as I wanted to give myself every chance. The first 3 days after transfer are very important and complete bed rest is needed. Its hard as you don't feel ill but you just have to lay there. My hospital signed me off ill for the 2 weeks which helped.

liloandstitch

Hiya everyone, Hows it going?

Chickpea/QQuaver - totally understand, I have to say I am not on here all the time for the same reason - you can get too involved in it all.

Good luck with the injections runnerduck, and welcome mrs vicx

In my new laid back way, AF is due at some point soon! Dont know exactly when as I cant be bothered to look at the calender - think its this weekend. Had a day 21 blood test last week, dont really know what day it was on!!!! Ah well, never mind.

Hope everyone had a good new year, LOL lilo

jiblets1

Runnerduck wrote: »

started my injections saturday night, going well so far except for a blue belly! can anyone who has had IVF or ICSI before give me any info on whats best to do regarding time off work, i only do part time but its gardening so lots of digging wheelbarrows etc any advice would be great

My ICSI happened to fall during my summer holidays, but I was going to have a fortnight off work (I'm a teacher). My head knew all about it and was very understanding about the whole thing. I had checked it out with my union, and as far as I know the whole official guidance thing on fertility treatments is a bit cloudy, but that schools were advised to be sympathetic.

I do also know of a fella that ensured his wife was signed off by the doctor for the duration of the jabs, treatment and 2ww - so if you were to have any problems getting time off, then perhaps the doctors could be an avenue to investigate.

If you have a physical job I would certainly fight to get the 2ww off. You just don't want to have that 'what if' hanging over you if (god forbid) it doesn't work out. For my sanity I had to ensure that I felt I had done everything humanly possible for my shot.

Best of luck!!!

Runnerduck

thanks all for your replys i think i will stop the very heavy work ( i'm spending a lot of time chopping wood with an axe at the moment as the weather too bad for other jobs) from when i start the second lot of injections then have a complete break after my egg collection until i know the outcome, as i kept working when i was pregnant last time, then felt realy guilty when i miscarried even though the doctor said it would have happened anyway