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

miss_hh

lisawood78 wrote: »

Sorry, in 9 IVF cycles I've never had to Take the pill so can't help you with that.
Have you had all the screening bloods/height/weight etc all done?
Normally if this is all done you get to a certain point in your cycle ( dependant on protocol) and start your meds that day, be it downregulation drugs or directly to stimulation injections.
Good luck

I have to make the app to receive all those bloods/height etc
Im not sure now why I have to take the pill to regulate my periods!

We are having ICSI IVF

bigzippy

Whattodonow wrote: »

So I just googled ultrasound scan and now know it doesn't cover blocked tubes. How do they investigate that? And would they do an investigation as standard? Just wondering what I'll be in for next. Only had the blood test to check how many eggs left and scan so far

As my standard round of tests I had:

• Swabs (check for infections etc) and internal while at the initial FS appointment
• CD2-5 blood test (checks baseline hormone levels & for rubella antibodies etc)
• CD21 blood test (checks for ovulation type hormone levels. She ordered this one twice - possibly cos of my irregular periods and previously proven PCOS?)
• SA for DH
• HSG - xraying whilst your womb is filled with dye which should then flow through your tubes (this shows some information about your uterus including shape etc, and your tubes. If they're blocked the dye doesn't go through, if they have some irregularities in the inside of the tubes that could show up too (there could be narrowing or widening shown where the dye goes, for eg) etc)
• Scan - was scheduled as pelvic, but ended up being internal again, mainly because I didn't have a full enough bladder and it was easier going for a pee and letting them do that, than trying to fill it up in time and going back for it to perhaps still not be clear enough (it can show up womb lining irregularities like fibroids, cysts on ovaries, or obvious signs of severe endometriosis, etc)

Some do a HyCoSy instead of HSG - I think the HyCoSy uses an ultrasound scan instead of an xray?

Whattodonow wrote: »

Thanks primmer. Ah of course it's the hsg. I remember BZ recently had this. I get confused about the different procedures...
Eek

I don't mind telling you - I freaked out about the HSG, before I had it done! The fact that the people on the end of the phone in radiology, when I was trying to book the damn thing, were absolute cowbags! I was kinda panicking that the people doing my test would be the same but I overlooked the fact that an actual doctor would be doing the procedure - which was very reassuring on the day!

Anyway, my point was, I now wish I hadn't put it off initially. In the end it took ages to actually get it done. It was nowhere near as hideous as I was working myself up to it being. They covered me up as much as possible, and in the end I wasn't even particularly concerned about the fact that the radiologist was a guy. There was a nurse type lady or two in there as well, and they were really nice to me too. They dim the lights and try and do their best to reassure you through it.

Even though the dye didn't go through, and they had to IV some muscle relaxant (to see if the tubes were just in spasm) and try 3 or 4 times etc, it still was nowhere near the kind of ordeal I'd been worrying about.

HTH

EverTheOptimist wrote: »

This time around we didnt have any to freeze which i am a bit pleased about, cos BZ i can see your point, not sure i could just leave a load of frozen embies to never be used. Also i dont have the faith in FET.

I don't have much faith in them either - for no other reason than it feels a bit like cryogenics! Plus, DH said something the other day about how bread you get out the freezer never tastes quite the same as it does before it goes in - and I can't get it out of my head now!!

BZ - hope the meds sort the bleeding out, also sorry cannot offer any advice or recommendations re your tubes as i havent been through it, but i am thinking of you.

Thanks it seems to have improved with only one dose! :shocked: It was really heavy today, til not long after I took my first dose while I was out, and it's been incredibly reasonable since! I hope it doesn't mean it lasts longer, but not being so paranoid about leaking makes a nice change though I only have to take it while AF's around, so that should make a nice change too. The main side-effects seem to be nausea related anyway, and I could probably do with the help to lose the weight

miss hh :wave: sorry to hear about OH's job Could you ring for the appointment and day you can't make it til next month or something? Put it back a little to give you the extra time for him to get a job? Although, you'll still have the time til the appointment, 3 months (I thought it was only one??) for the pill, another month for the treatment cycle, and then if successful another 8 months til birth... is it too stressful to you continue with the treatment while you're not so financially stable?

sarahs999

Thanks for asking Zippy. I am reading the thread every day but a lot of the things you ladies are going through are foreign territory to me so I'm just sitting and learning. It's difficult trying to find a place to fit in at the moment. Obviously I am thrilled to be pregnant and now I'm finally off the steroids I am sleeping better. But I'm still so scared that each scan will show the baby has died as it's what I've got used to, and it's very hard sharing that on a 'mums due' thread as most people just can't understand it. Even those who have had one or two mcs don't really get the impact of being a recurrent miscarrier.

Then there's a thread on mumsnet for women with my high natural killer cells problem, who are taking the steroids I've been taking. It should be the perfect place to post but there has been lots of bad news on there at the moment (in particular one woman who has just had a terrible 20-week scan and will have to end her pregnancy) and it just doesn't feel right to be bouncing around with good news. Tough. Also there seems to be a bit of a gap opening up between the ladies who are pg and those who are ttc - it makes me really mad because us pregnant ones were them, just a few months ago. We're no different, we just got our lucky breaks this time. But I suppose I understand it.

Anyway, you ladies are always in my thoughts. I'm still popping pills, injecting and shoving pessaries where the sun don't shine. I don't look pregnant yet though (14+2) which is slightly disconcerting. I haven't put any weight on either which I am utterly thrilled with - careful eating. Given that in all my other pregnancies I've either been overweight or obese, it's so nice to be weighed by the midwife and told, yes, you have a normal BMI, your weight's just fine, rather than get that eyebrow look and told to watch what you eat.

I think once I can feel things going on inside and have a bump I might be abit more secure. Next scan is next weds so my mind will be at rest (hopefully) for a couple of days before I start worrying again..

Primmer

Sarah - you remain in my thoughts and I am sure on a lot of other posters minds too. I truly hope that all works out for you and please do keep us updated. It is always good to hear from you and other members who have/still do post here. Sending positive thoughts for Wednesdays scan.

sarahs999

Thank you Primmer. That's really kind.

bigzippy

What primmer said! I personally like to hear back from this thread's graduates. It gives me more hope. And it makes it feel less like this is all there is. And it also keeps us informed with what's going on with you! To just sever a contact, just because you're pregnant, after all this shared heartache on here ...? Well, that just feels bizarre to me. :cool: Especially if you're still suffering in some ways, which it sounds like you are I can, from what you've written, understand (to some small degree) it must be hard to see where you fit now. I don't know when your latest stage mc was, but I'm hoping passing it gives you some comfort. I know you won't truly stop worrying until you're holding your healthy baby in your arms (and then a new kind of worry will take over ), and tbh, I hope I never have to feel that kind of fear.

A friend (from the other thread) had still born twins last year, then got pregnant again not too long after. She spent her whole pregnancy either in denial or anxious - the baby is now here and healthy, and 2wks(ish) old, and she still doesn't believe it I'm looking forward to that being you in 30ish weeks


Afm: I can't believe how quick the tranexamic acid worked! :shocked::D
I wish they'd given me this ages ago, when I was bleeding through my jeans while at the hospital with my dying MIL! :mad::o

Primmer

Feeling down today - not good news from the clinic. Of the 7 eggs collected only 2 fertilised but those two aren't great and have not yet had a cell division which is needed. They have booked me in provisionally for transfer tomorrow but if there is no cell division then transfer will be cancelled and this treatment cycle over

jujugaboo

EverTheOptimist wrote: »

Also i dont have the faith in FET.

Have the faith FET worked for me and I had 4 failed fresh goes at ICSI.

sarahs999 wrote: »

Thanks for asking Zippy. I am reading the thread every day but a lot of the things you ladies are going through are foreign territory to me so I'm just sitting and learning. It's difficult trying to find a place to fit in at the moment. Obviously I am thrilled to be pregnant and now I'm finally off the steroids I am sleeping better. But I'm still so scared that each scan will show the baby has died as it's what I've got used to, and it's very hard sharing that on a 'mums due' thread as most people just can't understand it. Even those who have had one or two mcs don't really get the impact of being a recurrent miscarrier.

Then there's a thread on mumsnet for women with my high natural killer cells problem, who are taking the steroids I've been taking. It should be the perfect place to post but there has been lots of bad news on there at the moment (in particular one woman who has just had a terrible 20-week scan and will have to end her pregnancy) and it just doesn't feel right to be bouncing around with good news. Tough. Also there seems to be a bit of a gap opening up between the ladies who are pg and those who are ttc - it makes me really mad because us pregnant ones were them, just a few months ago. We're no different, we just got our lucky breaks this time. But I suppose I understand it.

Anyway, you ladies are always in my thoughts. I'm still popping pills, injecting and shoving pessaries where the sun don't shine. I don't look pregnant yet though (14+2) which is slightly disconcerting. I haven't put any weight on either which I am utterly thrilled with - careful eating. Given that in all my other pregnancies I've either been overweight or obese, it's so nice to be weighed by the midwife and told, yes, you have a normal BMI, your weight's just fine, rather than get that eyebrow look and told to watch what you eat.

I think once I can feel things going on inside and have a bump I might be abit more secure. Next scan is next weds so my mind will be at rest (hopefully) for a couple of days before I start worrying again..

I'm still on my steroids and they have made me put weight on (I am usually slim) I look about 4 months pregnant already. I've got enough 7 weeks on the steroids they just make me so hungry all the time, can't wait to come off them and the progestrone (I'm on the gel). Hope your next scan is a good one, remain positive that you have got this far and take one day at a time.

Primmer wrote: »

Feeling down today - not good news from the clinic. Of the 7 eggs collected only 2 fertilised but those two aren't great and have not yet had a cell division which is needed. They have booked me in provisionally for transfer tomorrow but if there is no cell division then transfer will be cancelled and this treatment cycle over

Sorry Primmer its not better news, lets hope you get some division as it only takes one, everything crossed for you. Is this your first IVF round? as my first go was pretty poor too.

bigzippy

Sorry to hear that Primmer - hope you get better news tomorrow

sarahs999

Sorry to hear that Primmer.

And thanks BZ and Ju.