1st Cycle IVF April 2013

[captainj1]

Hi girls, sorry I've been quiet, been on holiday and away on business so not been on the site.

TooExcited I'm so sorry to hear your news. It must be devastating to have such great news and then have something so tragic happen. I hope you are as ok as you can be and that you and DH are supporting each other.

2have4kids I think you should go for it if you and your DH are in agreement. I must admit DH and I have talked about what we will do if we are still not pregnant in two years time when I will be 40, and we are agreed that we will not go down the donor route or adopt. I would love another child but our situation is different in that we already have our miracle son and we have been honest with each other and said that we are not sure we could love a child that was not biologically ours in the same way. Not that we wouldn't love them, but we would always be comparing to our son and that wouldn't be fair to the other child. It is a very personal decision and I'm glad you and your DH are on the same page, as me and my DH are, as it can get very difficult otherwise...

AFM I had my follow up on my failed FET on Thursday and we are going to do a natural FET with our last embryo in October, there is a decent chance that we will have nothing to transfer as our thaw survival rate last time was 50%, hence doing natural cycle as other than clexane and aspirin I won't take any meds so won't risk going through all that for nothing. If it doesn't work we will go straight into a fresh cycle in November, at Liverpool rather than in London as we have done previously. Fingers crossed we get some success before Christmas, if not it will be 3 New Years Eves in a row that I'm wishing for the same thing...

Take care ladies xxx

 

[V2R]

Hi Ladies, how are you all? Any news from anyone? I've been thinking about you all.

I start my new long protocol (ICSI) in November I have to call hospital on the 1st Day of my November period then I will be told when to start nasal spray (I think it's day 21) then back to scans & injections again! I feel more ready for it this time & I'm hoping to keep positive about it all.

Not long time xmas so I hope some of you ladies have good news before or after the new year. xxx

 

[2have4kids]

Hi ladies, so captain are you doing a fresh cycle as well in November? V2R I wish you the best of luck with this one! Are they keeping your protocol the same? There has to be some success soon on this board.

I asked my friend and she at first was teetering to a yes and then she spoke to her partner and said no. Fair enough, there were benefits through doing it at home with a friend and negatives too. It would have been $13,500 + any time lost from work on her part and it would have taken at least 6 months.
So I decided not to go with the clinic in the USA, they will take a long time too and break our backs with debt. It would be $30,000+. I've signed on with a Brno clinic in the Czech Republic. It's the biggest clinic there and they have the most extensive donor list at 1500 egg donors. The cost is $7500 for everything. If I need to get pregnant in the future with frosties then I go back there. We have a weeks vacation and a big apartment booked in Prague starting Nov 30th-Dec 8th and then I travel and stay till the 12th in Brno. Oh goes back to Canada on Dec 8th for work. I'm really excited, this means that if it works I'll have a BFP by Dec 22.

This puts all three of us with another excellent chance of success before Christmas!

 

[V2R]

Hi 2have, I'm on a longer protocol & doing icsi this time. I will start nasal spray November. I feel more ready this time as I know what to expect this time so hopefully I will be more relaxed!

That's good you spoke to your friend, I can see why they said no it's alot to go through & her relationship could've fallen apart. It's very stressful. All our relationships must be strong to get through every month of let downs I always still have hope it would happen naturally. Great you'z have put another plan in action. Enjoy your break yes we do need some good news on this thread!

 

[2have4kids]

Hi ladies, it's time for an update. I want to hear how you've all been doing!
Captain how did the fet go and v2r are you almost near transfer by now?

I've just had my transfer today, i'm in Brno, Czech Republic. There were 6 of 10 eggs that grew, 2 grade A's were put back and if the other 4 make it to grade A they'll freeze them tomorrow.
I actually believe we saw the donor walking towards is on our first appt last week. She was tall and beautiful, blond really thick long hair, nice features and looked like she was in a lot of pain
Her bf was helping her walk. I wanted to reach out and hug her but couldn't betray the anonymity laws here. Here's the photos of the embies they put back:

Hoping for twin angels!!

 

[V2R]

2have this is fantastic news big congrats I really hope all goes smoothly for you how exciting you might have twins. How are you feeling today? Must be such an amazing feeling knowing they are now growing inside you

My update I started nasal spray on Sat I think I've had a few side effects but nothing to worry about I have to do this 4 times a day. I feel more mentally prepared this time so fingers crossed it will work. My scan is on 30th December then hopefully things will look good so I can start the injections. I'm off for 2weeks over xmas so I think it will help me relax more.

Captiain you should be underway with your treatment, howz it going this time?

xx

 

[2have4kids]

V2R wishing you the very best. Please keep us updated, i'm looking forward to sharing ms with you lol

 

[captainj1]

Hi girls, exciting times for you, I'm keeping everything crossed!

AFM, my FEt got cancelled as I either didn't ovulate or ovulation was missed, so I did fresh cycle ivf in November, got 10 eggs, 8 fertilised, 2 good quality embryos transferred on day 5 and none to freeze, BFN so fairly gutted.

Going to try unmedicated FET again in February with that last embryo and then assuming it doesn't work or the embryo doesn't survive the thaw, run some immune tests in March before doing another fresh cycle in April. Not quite ready to give up yet although it is so frustrating not knowing why it isn't working. Even if I have immune issues, I've done steroids and intralipids on the last 2 cycles so that should have dealt with it. Hey ho.

 

[2have4kids]

Captain i feel so terrible for you, how frustrating!! Fx for feb's FET. I'm glad to hear you're not giving up. Keep going, i'm glad they're treating you for immune issues as a pre-caution. I'll be in the same boat if this donor egg stuff doesn't work. Just more testing but what else would I do really besides adoption? I'm terrified it'll come to that.

 

[V2R]

Captain - So sorry when reading it sounded a real sucess that 8 fertilised & there were 2 good ones. So one was transferred? & you have another one? This is extremely frustrating you must have been feeling positive. Dont give up.

Its difficult when we are labeled 'unexplained' as there must be something going on inside our bodies that they could detect what is wrong. I sometimes think it would be easier if I knew I actually had a problem it's the not knowing whats wrong bothers me!

I'll keep all crossed for you xx

 

[2have4kids]

I'm getting the immune treatments too along with baby aspirin. This maya sound crazy but I also bought some turmeric and have been taking this morning and night just incase inflammation is a factor for me. Also salmon oil and eating lots of salmon & oily fish lately. I notice tingling in my hands sometimes when i eat chocolate and I won't touch bread now that I'm aware of how badly I'm effected by gluten. Turmeric has more anti-inflammatory benefits than a handful of over-the-counter drugs. I don't know what else to do. This feels lime my last go at being a mom.
https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/spices-and-herbs/212/2

 

[2have4kids]

Hi ladies, just wanted to ask how everyone's doing? I've mc'd one embryo last week and thought I was mc'ing the other this past Friday as I've had HEAPS of bleeding, clotting & cramps (sorry tmi). I lost 2 lbs over the weekend, all of my pants fit again, the bloating's gone and was sure the fat lady has sung for this round. I nearly fell off the bed when I saw the blob in my blob on the ultrasound monitor with a flickering heartbeat this morning. I had truly packed it in and just wasn't expecting it. I feel this will be a sticky bean since all that has happened and it's survived. But there's still another 20 weeks until I'm out of the danger zone so I'll hold my breath until then.

I hope something good has come your way too V2R, TooExcited, & Captain? Wishing for you three in 2014. Hope you're holidays were relaxing and fun.

 

[V2R]

Hi 2have, nice to hear from you Oh no thats not good about your bleeding so sorry you have lost one but so happy you have seen a heartbeat for the other it will be amazing & such a relief you know the other one is ok. I hope the bleeding stops I have heard of women who bleed all through pregnancy like they are getting a period but obviously this is alot worse with clots. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
I am now on my 2nd treatment I on buserelin nose spray 4 times a day my lining is looking good so started Menopur 300iu injections on Friday 3rd I am in for a scan tomorrow then Friday to see how things are going. I'm a little scared but excited I feel alot better on this protocol I dont know if that is a good or bad thing!

How is everyone else? Happy new year everyone I really hope we all have some good news this year xx

 

[2have4kids]

V2R that's fantastic, let us know how it goes. We need some more success in 2014 and it'd be great if you could be that bfp!

 

[TooExcited]

2have - I had no idea you were preggers! Huge congratulations! I am so so pleased for you. I'm sorry you have lost one embie but the other one sounds nice and strong. Fantastic news.

V - I have been stalking your progress on the ninewells thread. This cycle sounds so much more suited to you. I have everything crossed. When is EC?

AFM - we are still doing things naturally. We have an apt next week to kick off our next ivf cycle. I'm still praying it won't be necessary but we shall see. I had an endometrium test in December to see if I have any "killer cells" in my uterine lining. We should have the results in the next few weeks. The procedure was quite like an endo scratch so I'm hoping that might help our last few natural cycles. I'm having a new kitchen fitted so I think we're going to postpone the ivf until it's all finished. I can't imagine the stress of the 2 projects going on at the same time!

Let's be better at keeping in touch xxx

 

[2have4kids]

Tooexcited you're so fortunate to be able to get testing in the UK for NKC. I'd do exactly as you're doing and finish that kitchen first renos are a boatload of stress!
Wishing you all the best with your upcoming ivf, let us know how things go for you!

 

[V2R]

Too Excited nice to hear from you. defo get that kitchen finished pronto so you have no stresses. Fingers crossed you might fall pregnant naturally I always kept hoping that it might just happen when least expected. Have a look back a page 2have put a picture up of her embies it's nice to hear a success story.
I wonder what stage everyone else is on who has commented on this thread? Be nice to know.

I had an appointment today so all looks ok, I'm back Friday for another scan then if all ok I will be in on Monday for EC..I am frightened about ec but I do feel loads better on this protocol & they are keeping a closer eye on me. I have done things different this time so fingers crossed. xxx

 

[TooExcited]

Thanks 2have.

It isn't routinely offered here. My FS was aware of a research project which was being carried out at a hospital 100 miles away (not much I know) and offered the test to me. We had to pay for it but it will be worth it either way once we get the results. If they find the cells then they can treat it and if they don't then we have nothing to worry about.

Back at hospital a week today so will hopefully find out the results of my clotting test then (am guessing as i have heard nothing that all is ok?) then i should have the NKC results in the next few weeks. The other hospital will email those directly to me then follow up with a phone apt with the consultant.

Yep - project kitchen first I think. Unless mother nature gets there first. My cousin has had his baby today (well his GF has but you know what i mean!) so that has properly rubbed my nose in it ha ha!!!

Keep me posted with your scan progress please.

V2R - great news on your scan today. I have my fingers crossed for even more follies to pop up. Don't fret about not feeling anything. Last time I had loads of OV pain on my left side and there was only one follie developing and i had nothing at all on my right where there was 14 follicles!!!

 

[2have4kids]

V2R let us know how it goes Friday. Do they knock you out for EC? Here in Canada they just give you a local and you're awake. Hopefully it's quick and you don't get any OHSS!
Well let us know Tooexcited how it goes with your NKC test. Do they test for the other immune factors as well?

 

[captainj1]

Hi girls

Wow congrats 2have! Like TooExcited I was completely unaware you were pregnant! Brilliant news.

Glad to hear the cycle is going well for you so far V2R. I have been reading dr Sher's website and he believes that the key to ivf success is individualised stimulation protocol, so fingers crossed you have found yours! His website has led me to question whether the antagonist protocol I've done for my two fresh cycles so far is the right one for me. I've always responded well and got plenty of eggs with high fertilisation rate and seemingly good quality embies though...anyway cgh testing on next fresh cycle will tell us whether the resulting embies are chromosomally normal or not.

AFM, I'm having another go at the unmedicated FET with my last frozen embryo on my next cycle, which should start on about 19 January. The same risks are there - the embryo might not survive the thaw - but nothing to be lost. I will be on aspirin and clexane and scanned and monitored via blood tests for ovulation this time so that we don't miss it.

If it doesn't lead to a pregnancy I am doing immune testing and chromosome testing on DHs sperm in March and then another fresh cycle in April with CGH testing on the embryos that we will hopefully get. That will give us more information on whether the embryos are chromosomally normal - the risk is that none of them are so there are none to transfer, but I'd rather that than go through the tww with no hope of a pregnancy because the transferred embryos are abnormal.

Apparently at my age only 1 in 6-8 of my eggs are I likely to be chromosomally normal, so it might take a few cycles before we get an embryo that is normal and can be transferred. CGH testing is v expensive, but we need more information to determine whether the problem is with the embryos or the uterus, so I think it is worth doing.

We have decided to continue to pursue pregnancy until I am 40 (July 2015) after which move on with our lives one way or the other. I need to stop grieving the child I can't conceive and concentrate on enjoying the miracle that is the one that I have.

Good luck everyone! Xxx