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

frozenpenguin

IVF/ICSI/IUI/FET cycles currently ongoing

• Skaps: IVF. Stims 21/1, Cetrotride. EC 30/1, 12 eggs collected, 9 fertilised. 1 x 5d ET 4/2.

Ovulation induction
cwtw: Three rounds of ovulation induction by injections
lauraw82: Appointment 12/11, Clomid for 4 cycles
Slinky_selina: Clomid, HSG 5/1, appointment and scans booked


Awaiting FS/other appointment or making alternative plans
bigmomma051204: Appointment in November
choc-addict: Appointment early Nov, IVF Feb/Mar 2015
chocoholic_chick: Appointment 1/3
claretsgirl: Trying naturally
Fairy dust: IVF round 4, April 2015
Flee: ICSI
Floaty: Waiting for a date for the !!!!!! meeting at clinic
frozenpenguin: Appointment 4/3. Medicated FET to start with DR 19/3.
Gelly123: Blood tests for chromosome testing, results in 4-6 weeks
Goodvibes: ICSI 2=chemical. ICSI 3= 2015, follow up appointment Jan 2015
Harleyquinn2016: Trying naturally
Isla_red: Further treatment Jan 2015
lisawood78: Filling in forms for embryo adoption in Spain
lucyloves: IUI
pinkteapot: Trying naturally and considering options
Primmer: Adoption panel 19/11 - they said yes!
shrimpy_80: Referral in April, HSG and ultrasound in the meantime
TamVilla80: Appointment 26/2
Think Pink: Trying the NTNP approach for 6 months
vesper: Referred for IVF


Team wonderbra (lovely and supportive aunties)
codemonkey
tea lover


Recent graduates

• emmaj30: IVF. Stims 18/1. EC 29/1. 1 x 5d ET 3/2. 16/2/15
• Wonder_Woman: IVF round #3 with immune meds. 2/2/15
• Clevernamehere: Natural 28/10/14
• jazz25: Clomid. 16/10/14
• Gettingthereslowly: Medicated FET. Oestrogen (Progynova). Scan 12/9. 2 x ET 17/9. 1/10/14
• Danielley: LP. DR (Buserelin injections) 4/6. Stims (Merionel) 29/6. EC 9/7, 16 eggs collected, 11 fertilised. 1x5d ET 14/7. 21/07/14
• Carrot34: Natural 19/07/14
• Jammy26: Started Clomid (50mg) Jan 14. Diagnosed Fibroids. 19/06/14
• loveactually: LP. DR (Buserelin) 14/2. Stims 10/03. EC 26/3, 8 eggs collected, 2 fertilised. 1x5d ET 31/3. 11/04/14

frozenpenguin

shrimpy - just checked my notes about my HSG (which was, jeez 2 years ago now!) and all they said was that it had to take place at least 2 days after the end of AF and that they usually try and do it early on in your cycle. I'd agree with laura and code though, if you can get the day off, go for it, I remember being quite crampy afterwards and being glad that I didn't have to go back to work. xx


TamVilla - how did your appointment go? xx


Pink - excellent news on the weight loss, well done! Glad you're starting to feel a bit better as well xx


AFM - AF arrived today, did a few quick calculations with dates this morning and worked out that if we started on this cycle the transfer would likely be the end of April. Six months from when I broke my ankle will be 18th March so end of April will be well over the orthopaedic consultant's recommended waiting time. So I'm back into the clinic next week to do a stocktake of what drugs I have left and what I need again and then DR will commence on 19th March.

TamVilla80

Hi Frozen. Can't believe it's been 6 months since you broke your ankle! Doesn't seem that long ago, but I'm sure it felt like forever for you.

Appointment was good thanks, now that I've got over my post appointment sulk of being told I'm old, fat and barren! Managed to get oh in the car and he hobbled into the clinic bless him. He has been proper suffering after his op on Monday so just getting him there was a minor miracle. The cool hipster couple with the annoying baby in the waiting room got me in a mood straight away (you already have one, stop being greedy and showing off, shoving your baby in my face) Specialist was lovely but I had to go through everything from my op (they did it, surely they have the notes?!), decided to go on Metformin for two months to try and loose a bit more weight and sort out AF, then I can start on Clomid.
OH did cheer up when we went through his test results though, problem is definitely not with him! It was the face she did when I said I was 35 in April that was great, like a mechanic when you need as quote, she then made me go for a blood test to make sure I've actually got some eggs left. OH wanted to come with me so we went on a very slow walk across to the main hospital to get it done. Then went to my Mums to get some cake, was very well deserved for both of us I think! Feels like we are actually getting somewhere instead of just being told to go away for a few months and keep trying, so good over all I think. Picked up tablets today so better get taking...

chocoholic_chick

TamVilla glad the appointment went ok, what a cheek though pulling faces, you're 35, not 50!

Well it all feels real for us now, appointment yesterday went well, I've got my bags of drugs and have to start the injections Monday... EEEEK!!!! It was quite surreal going through my timetable, this is when we'll do this scan, this is when we'll do egg collection, this is when you'll have your pregnancy test etc. Still hard to get my head around how regimented and clinical it's all going to be for us.

I misunderstood how many attempts we'd have on the NHS as well, I thought 3 cycles meant 3 goes, I didn't realise that if they collect say 10 eggs and freeze them then you use them up then if it doesn't work a fresh cycle is classed as the second attempt. Feels like there's a little less pressure now.

Really hoping I manage OK with these injections, slightly dreading having to do them, being scared of needles, just have to keep reminding myself it's a small price to pay if it works!

pinkteapot

fp - thanks for updating my status without me having to work out how to word it

choc - good luck with the injections! Breathe in, jab, breathe out as you plunge.

shrimpy_80

FP = thanks for checking that for me, really appreciate it. It will probably be the week after next I think, already have a pretty busy week at work lined up so hopefully can get in on Monday or Tuesday afternoon otherwise I'm going to struggle. Oh well will cross that bridge when I come to it! Agree it doesn't seem like six months since you broke your ankle - has it healed ok now?

Glad your appointment went well TamVilla, I got 'the Face' as well as I am 35 this year.

Chocoholic-chick - didn't realise that about the cycles either, wonder if that is the same everywhere? I know I only get 2 cycles where I am. Good luck with your injections x

skaps

Good luck Chocoholic-chick I would do my injections in the evening and always would lay in bed for at least half an hour afterwards and then I felt better.

You may get bloated in this time, this was something I did not expect so make sure you have lots of comfy clothing.

chocoholic_chick

Skaps funnily enough they haven't mentioned bloating, so thats another one to add to the list, OH is in for a treat! I was told to do them in the morning? I think if I had to wait until the evening I'd just be worrying about it all day though so getting it over and done with is probably a good thing

Shrimpy I don't know, thats the first time it was explained to us in that way, they said it's cheaper do keep trying with the frozen eggs so I can see why the NHS would prefer you to use up those stocks first really, if it works it's cost less than another full cycle. It does seem a little unfair that it's a bit of a postcode lottery with how many attempts you get though

skaps

It's different with everyone about timings for injections. Hope your first one went well.

frozenpenguin

Tam and shrimpy - it's strange, when the consultant in the hospital said I had to wait 6 months before starting treatment again I thought that seemed like an absolute age but it has gone fairly fast (I suppose learning to walk again takes up a lot of time )
It's kind of all healed up thanks, the bones are strong but the scars will take several years to fade and even now there's a slight limp as the right ankle is nowhere near as strong as the left. I'm at the end of my physiotherapy though - and that involves a 6 week exercise class (I'm on week 3) which I'm quite enjoying!


Tam - glad your appointment went well although that's definitely not on, there should be no face pulling of any sort at any fertility appointment!


chocoholic - exciting times! Hope your first jab went well. I was told to do mine in the morning as well (as then if they needed to up the dose after a scan, they could). You're very lucky getting 3 goes as well! Our stingy local authority only give you one and even then, it doesn't include any frosties. Definitely make full use of those goes! (although of course, you won't need the second or third ones )

Also skaps is right, you'll probably feel quite bloated doing the jabs. My advice:
- big high-waisted granny pants (they don't sit on your swollen area)
- I wore leggings and dresses all the time (as tights were too tight and the waistlines on skirts/trousers felt irritating)
- smaller meal portions (as anything big just sits there and feels uncomfortable)
- I also popped a pillow under my belly when I was asleep on my side in bed


Good luck with it! xxxx