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

pinkteapot

Thanks for all the kind words, ladies. Feeling better now. It was CD1 when I wrote before which wasn't helping!

Consultant appt tomorrow to explain the IVF process, decide on a protocol, etc etc.

They sent me a 15 page document explaining the process but one thing I can't work out from it is how long a cycle actually is (end to end - start of drugs to implantation). Can anyone tell me?

I *think* from what it said that the whole thing will start towards the end of a normal cycle, so that won't be for a few weeks for me (CD3 now). We've already got a holiday booked at the start of June so now my new worry is that they won't be able to fit a cycle in before we go away. We've just moved house which has been exhausting and we're in desperate need of this break so we can't move it.

Really hoping I can do one cycle before the holiday so I know what it's like, know that it's not as bad as I think it'll be (!), and if it doesn't work, then have a rest for two weeks on holiday and come back fresh for the next cycle (NHS fund three cycles in our area).

lisawood78

Hi Pinktea pot
It really depends on protocol, if you do a short protocol with no scratch and no meds beforehand you do literally start stim drugs on day 2/3 have EC somewhere around ovulation and test at the end of your cycle (put simply) but if you need to down regulate you start the month previously with certain meds to put you in a medical menopause so they can control your cycle completely.
Good luck!!

Hi LA, good luck for EC, I really hope they find more than they are thinking, it does only take one tho so keep hope alive if you can, not long to wait now!
AFM, I have news. I am now PUPO!! When OH rang clinic yesterday they said they had 2 clear candidates for ET and I was to have them in yesterday (day 3) I was initially very upset thinking that oh there are only 2 that are even useable, didn't make blasts etc etc.
Went in and spoke to top embryologist man who explained. We actually still had 8 embryos growing within expected sizes but because we had embryoscope he coulda go in and review their progress.
1 had arrested early, but 8 had carried on dividing etc. 6 of these had grown incorrectly though, not dividing cleanly, losing cells then regrowing them, going from 1 cell to 3 etc etc, all things that they have studied show to be most likely defective embryos and while they might work initially they would in all likelihood fail, miscarry etc. but 2 had done 'the text book thing' divided cleanly and evenly with little fragmentation at all pretty much to the clock when they were meant to grow, one was 4/4 (top grade) and one was 3/4 which is also awesome.
So while the downside of embryoscope means we have nothing to freeze and didn't get to blastocyst , the upside shows that we have the 2 total best embryos on board and any that may have been frozen if we didn't know would most likely have been faulty anyway and offered false hope.
Hope that makes sense?
Back for intralipids drip on Friday to keep my immune system at bay and just resting now and hoping.
Not saying when test day is cos they've given me a stupid date and I can't promise to stick to it but won't be testing all throughout Ike I have before, just not worth it anymore.
Oh and if anyone else has to have prontogest injections, go for the side of your bottom and not in the middle, else you won't sit down for days!!

X

frozenpenguin

pinkteapot - the length all depends on what protocol you're on, usually short (starts on CD 3 or thereabouts) or long (starts on CD 21 or thereabouts). I was on a long protocol which started on 11th Jan with down-regulating, 5th Feb for stimulating and egg collection was 17th Feb. By the time we found out the result it was 8th March so 8 weeks in total for the whole process.
If you're on the short protocol, perhaps someone else can help with the timings?
The best advice I can give you for tomorrow is to ask as many questions as you like and don't worry about going over things again and again. Get them to write things down on your timetable and even if you think you've got a silly question, ask it anyway cos they've heard it all before and no question is as silly as being left all confused in the dark. xx


love - I think everyone's experience of EC is different. FWIW, I found it all to be nowhere near as bad as I was expecting. I was given conscious sedation but was out cold in about a minute and can't remember anything of the procedure. Afterwards, I'm not going to lie, it does hurt but it's like incredibly bad period pain and I was allowed paracetamol and neurofen which did help and made it a dull ache instead. A large bar of chocolate and a hot water bottle for the rest of the evening helped as well! Good luck tomorrow, let us know how it all goes! xx


AFM - quick update, DH has been referred for variococele repair and has to wait for a date to have it done. Plus we've got our IVF review appointment tomorrow. I have a small list of questions already but if anyone's got any advice on what to ask, it'd be much appreciated, ta! xxx

ETA: thanks lisa for the short protocol info and huge congrats on being PUPO! I'll update the lists xx

pinkteapot

Thanks lisawood78 and frozenpenguin. I was googling this morning and it looks like cycle length is really variable depending on protocol, so I'll chat to them about it tomorrow.

Re EC pain, I have a fibroid and so for the last few years have had shocking period pain. A few months ago I had a particularly bad one, where DH was woken up because I was doubled over on the bathroom floor moaning and crying in the middle of the night (I couldn't help it!). I'm hoping post-EC won't be any worse than that!!

frozenpenguin

IVF/ICSI/FET cycles currently ongoing.

• Star02: ICSI SP. Stims 5/3. EC 17/3, 17 eggs collected, 14 fertilised. 1x5d ET 22/3
• lisawood78: SP. Surrogacy delayed. Scratch 3/3. Stims 10/3. Scan and intralipid drip 14/3. EC 21/3, 9 eggs collected, 9 fertilised. 2x3d ET 24/3
• loveactually: LP. DR (Buserelin) 14/2. Stims 10/03. EC 26/3
• Wonder Woman: Endo scratch 24/2. DR 25/2. Stims 19/3 (tbc)
• tea lover: Norethisterone 14/3. Stims (Menopur 150mg) 26/3
• Isla_red: ICSI. 500mg Metformin 17/3. 1000mg Metformin 25/3.
• good vibes: ICSI SP. Endo scratch 20/3. Stims (Merional 300) 22/3.

gettingthereslowly: IVF late March. 29 March.
Picklekin: IVF in May
emmaj30: On IVF list. Between Apr-June.


Ovulation induction (Clomid unless otherwise stated).
Floaty: Starting 3 cycles of Clomid (50mg) next CD2 (Apr) while on IVF waiting list.
cwtw: Started Clomid March 2014
Jammy26: Clomid started Jan 14. 50mg. Feb results very strong. FS appointment 10/4/14
Littleme82: Clomid. HSG looks fine, FS appointment 04/03/14, extended for 3 months.
MrsDavo: Clomid 150mg and Metformin 1500mg to try and induce ovulation, Next appt 7th August 14.


Awaiting FS or other appointment.
angeltreats: Awaiting IVF and varicocele repair in early 2014
Bigmomma: Referred to Gynae, appt 21/3/14
Carrot34: FS appt 20/3/14 to discuss results and plans.
Chocoholic_chic: CD21 Bloods in Feb
Clevernamehere: Referred to FS for fibroids.
codemonkey: Deciding on next steps
Danielley: Discharged from FS, referred for IVF
FairyDiamond: IVF Consultation 3/2/14
frozenpenguin: IVF review consultation 26/3/14. DH referred for varicocele repair 24/3/14
Gettingthereslowly: First IVF meeting 4/2/14
GlasweJen: Surrogacy preparation.
Lucyloo77: Hysteroscopy. 28/2/14
onestep: Adoption
Picklekin: 2nd opinion referral
pinkteapot: first IVF appointment 26/3/14
Skint_Catt: Awaiting referral for pituitary growth
Smookle: IVF/ICSI referral Jan 2014
tia86: PCOS scan w/c 17/2/14. FS appt start of March
vesper: Doing d2/21 bloods at the moment. Appt 8/2/14. Fighting NHS for losing tests!






Recent graduates:

• Tinkwings: Monitored cycle. 23/03/14
• Chickpea: Natural 21/03/14
• Sewit: IVF LP. DR 13/1 Prostap. AMH4, Gonal F 375. Endo Scratch 3/1 (CD12). EC 10/02. 17 eggs, 8 embies. ET 13/2. 2x3dET 13/2. 26/02/14
• Whattodonow: IVF LP. DR 15/12. Stims 4/1. EC 17/1. 19 eggs collected, 16 fertilised. 1x5dET 22/1. 225iu Merional 02/02/14
  
• Time2deal: ICSI SP. Stims 3/1. EC 15/1. 9 eggs collected. 5 fertilised. 1x5dET 20/01 AMH 6.6. 450iu Menopur + Centrotide. 01/02/14
• Peonie: IVF SP. Stim 1/1. EC 15/1. 13 eggs collected. 8 fertilized. 1x5dET 20/01. 31/01/14
• teaandcakeordeath: Natural from 'just relaxing'! 26/01/14
• Purcy81: Natural 7/12/2013
• Derby2: Long Protocol IVF 1/12/2013

tea_lover

Ooh lisa, exciting!! I am doing a little dance for you... an embryo shimmy if you like :j. I'm excited about using the embryoscope now .
PTP - it really does depend on protocol. Hope you get all the answers you need tomorrow x.
good vibes - hope stimms are going ok for you. When's the next scan?
isla red - hope AF behaves, and hope we can be cycle buddies!!

AFM - they weren't wrong about norethisterone giving a b&%^ch of a period! I'm used to some shockers (cheers endo) but oh my, this is a killer! Had a busy few days as well so v much looking forward to watching the sewing bee in my pj's this evening .

cwtw

Hi all. Sorry I've been MIA but have had a relaxing holiday. Congrats Lisa on being pupo, I have everything crossed for you. I shall join in the egg dance for everyone that needs it, and will eat a few creme eggs to help the process!
I had my day 21 bloods today for my first month on clomid. Not sure I've ovulated this month, but we shall see. Frozen, do you mind updating me to started clomid March 2014. Thanks.
Take care everyone, I love the idea of booking a treat for ourselves once a week when we've got stressful points in our journeys.

frozenpenguin

cwtw wrote: »

Frozen, do you mind updating me to started clomid March 2014.

Done

I agree with the idea of booking things at stressful times - we put in a couple of comedy shows while I was down-regging and stimming. We've also got a short weekend away near Minehead on Friday (a couple of days after our review appointment). Anything to get you through it all methinks! xxx

Loveactually

Hi All,

Thanks for the wishes and Info regarding EC.
Done the trigger yesterday at 11:30 pm and back in hospital tomorrow at 10am.

So happy to say I am injection free today

Lisa - congratulations on being PUPO.

Pinkteapot - I was also on Long protocol started on Feb 14th but had to DR for many days started stimming on 10th and EC is scheduled to be tomorrow. already in the 6th week so by week 8 I may know the results. sometimes its hard to pin point the exact timing as it depends on how your body reacts to the hormones.

I also had tickets to India booked on 5th April - 22 April for Easter holidays but had to cancel them as I will just have ET at that time and dont want to take any risks.

Loveactually

ladies I have a very silly question if someone can help me.

Last month I got my AF on 28th Feb and today is CD26.

Most probably ET may be on CD29 - CD 31. My normal cycle usually is 30 days.

I am worried that I may get my AF as soon as they put the embryo inside. can this happen or will the AF be delayed because of all the medication I am taking?