4 Leaf Clover IVF / ICSI Buddies

[Dipar_Butt3]

I like this group. Even though I’m not having the experience or the money to get an IVF. But when I saw the 4 leaf clover. I thought of that old school R&B from Atlantic Starr. Touch A 4 Leaf Clover

 

[noddysgirl84]

Hey Ladies, Hope you have all had a good weekend. I spent yesterday in the snow with my sister having a snowball fight and making snow angels!! Felt like kids again!!

Today I am off to my clinic to collect my drugs and have the needle training aaaahhhhh! I'm not great with needles TBH so will be happier when the stimms part is over. D'Regging with nasal spray!

Roll on Jan 2 so I can get started!

to all x x

 

[caline]

Good luck with today noddysgirl. The needles are quite tiny and I'm sure you won't find it as bad as you anticipate. Let us know how it goes.

I was out in the snow too with my little nephew whos 2. I sledged for the first time in years and squealed like a kid and laughed so much. It was great! Hope the snow goes now though so I can get to my clinic tomorrow for blood test to see if I've down regged.

 

[Doodar]

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[Mrs G]

Hey all

Just a quick needle tip. I started off injecting in my leg thinking it wouldn't hurt. TBH it didn't but bruised really easy. It feel's a bit odd a first but I PROMISE you that stomach is much much easier. Completely painless and no bruising.

Doodar, I think I only had one blood test at the clinic. It's not that bad hun, just don't look!! PS love the quote in your sig.

Hope everyone's ok.

xx

PS doodar, if you look at the hfea website you can compare clinics and see all their success rates. x

 

[Mrs G]

Mrs G, thanks for that and congratulations!!! Did you have sedation for the collection? Did you feel ok straight after? I am worried about feeling sick from the sedation as I have a phobia of being sick.

Thanks!

Yeah, I had heavy sedation for ec. I don't remember a thing after they put the mask on. It wasn't a full general cos that can leave you feeling sick but I was completely out. DH says I was gone for about an hour. I came back with dribble in my hair! but after a few minutes felt absolutely fine and after like I'd had a really good sleep!! I was really worried about it, I hate not being on control (!) but it was really nothing to worry about .

xx

 

[caline]

Thanks Mrs G. They use sedation at my clinic too, so I hope I have the same experience as you, including the BFP!! Lol.

I have an appointment tomorrow at 8am for a blood test to see if I have down regulated. We have had heavy snow all afternoon and we are totally snowed in. I have to assume things will be the same, if not worse in the morning and am really anxious that this is going to muck up our whole cycle. I am wondering if I might be able to arrange this blood test at my local hospital, which I could walk to, or if its something more specialised that needs to be done at the clinic. I am thinking its probably for oestrogen levels?

I am trying not to stress as the situation is out of my control, but its a real bummer!!

 

[Mrs G]

Thanks Mrs G. They use sedation at my clinic too, so I hope I have the same experience as you, including the BFP!! Lol.

I have an appointment tomorrow at 8am for a blood test to see if I have down regulated. We have had heavy snow all afternoon and we are totally snowed in. I have to assume things will be the same, if not worse in the morning and am really anxious that this is going to muck up our whole cycle. I am wondering if I might be able to arrange this blood test at my local hospital, which I could walk to, or if its something more specialised that needs to be done at the clinic. I am thinking its probably for oestrogen levels?

I am trying not to stress as the situation is out of my control, but its a real bummer!!

I'm not really sure what they test for after d/regs. I know it would delay it a little but you could always see if they would let you d/reg for a bit longer and then go for bloods when it is easier??

x

 

[Kelly9]

So ladies I guess I am finally off the wait list for ICSI, I had my scan a few days ago and called the clinic to tell them I wouldn't be needing it again and the lovely receptionist said congrats and we'll just deactivate your chart but if you ever need to go back on the active list just call and it's no hassle you will be put right back on there that day! So awesome.

Good luck getting to your appointment tomorrow! and good luck to anyone else who is d regging or starting soon.

Doodar I never actually made it to ICSI but I do know my clinic monitored bloods every 2 to 3 days after starting stims same with ultra sound. Good luck hun.

I'll be posting less on here now guys, but if its ok I'd like to pop over to check on everyone else from time to time!

 

[caline]

Thanks Mrs G. They use sedation at my clinic too, so I hope I have the same experience as you, including the BFP!! Lol.

I have an appointment tomorrow at 8am for a blood test to see if I have down regulated. We have had heavy snow all afternoon and we are totally snowed in. I have to assume things will be the same, if not worse in the morning and am really anxious that this is going to muck up our whole cycle. I am wondering if I might be able to arrange this blood test at my local hospital, which I could walk to, or if its something more specialised that needs to be done at the clinic. I am thinking its probably for oestrogen levels?

I am trying not to stress as the situation is out of my control, but its a real bummer!!

I'm not really sure what they test for after d/regs. I know it would delay it a little but you could always see if they would let you d/reg for a bit longer and then go for bloods when it is easier??

x

I guess you're right, I'm just psyched up for this and want to get on with things. I'll just have to see what they say.
Thanks

 

[Mrs G]

I guess you're right, I'm just psyched up for this and want to get on with things. I'll just have to see what they say.
Thanks

Completely understand, they told me they'd have to put EC back a week and I completely freaked out!! FX you get there tomorrow. xx

 

[MissMonty]

Hi ladies, I hope everyone is ok

Caline - I hope you get to your appointment tomorrow morning and everything goes well, we've got snow here too although its been raining tonight so I hope it will melt a little. I've got my injection training tomorrow afternoon so if weather is not good we'll have lots of time to get there. Start down regging on Wed!

Doodar - hello, I'm having ICSI via CARE, my PCT funds one cycle plus transfer of every embryo until all used or if cycle is sucessful. Good luck x

Congratulations Mrs G and Kelly9 xx

 

[MissMonty]

hi ladies,
I won't be officially joining you until January when I start down regging. Missmonty, what are your doses like for the meds? I just called my doctor and they want me on three vials of bravelle and one of menapur. I guess it's a three and one protocol? All this lingo is really confusing me. I went to the workshop on injections a few weeks ago and it really did clear things up, although of course I'm still nervous about all of the mixing, etc.

Hi brooklyn, I recieved my protocol the other day but tbh I don't really understand it, I've got my injection training tomorrow and then start down regging on Wednesday so I hope I can get my head round it tomorrow. Looks like I'll be having 0.5ml buserelin to down reg plus Menopur to stim once down regging has been confirmed, the lingo if defo confusing to me too. When I got my meds there was also two different types of needles, I was rather overwelmed when I opened the box. Not long till January x

 

[Doodar]

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[MissMonty]

Hello - thought I would share this with you - when I recieved my protocol from CARE there was the following alert re Chinese herbal medicines:

'We have recently seen a number of couples who had unexpectedly poor fertilisation following IVF/ICSI having previously had good fertilisation rates. Close questioning revealed that the patients had recently started taking Chinese Herbal medicines and these were the only identifiable changes in their cycle. Recent advice from the committee for safety of medicines has highlighted the variability in quality of ingredients in these medicines and, more worryingly, on occasions high levels of heavy metal and other toxic residues.

It is therefore CARE policy to advise patients NOT to take ANY Chinese herbal medicines in the run up or during the treatment cycle as these could seriously affect the outcome of the cycle.'

I was wondering if anyone else had been given this information from their ferility clinic? x

 

[MissMonty]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the replies.
Miss monty how many blood tests do care require you to do throughout the process of icsi and would they allow me to go to the clinic to have the injections there rather than inject myself I really really dont think I am going to be able to do it.
Good luck to all those about to do needle training I really am feeling for you wish you loads of luck.x

Hi Doodar, I had several blood tests done via NHS FS before being referred for treatment. There is no mention of blood tests on my CARE protocol. I'm not sure it would be possible for you to go to the clinic to have the injections as you will need to injection everyday for several weeks, unless you use the nasal spray to down reg and then it would be the stim injections plus a couple of others you will have to do. You will have to attend injection training before you start, I hope this will put you at ease, I have to attend training with DH, the plan is if I can't do it myself he will have to do it for me. I know its difficult, try not to worry too much, its usually the anticipation of an event that can make it seem more scary x

 

[Doodar]

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[Doodar]

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[caline]

Miss Monty, I was told that by my accupuncturist. He told me that the chinese accupuncturist clinic in town prescribes herbs but that these had been shown to be detrimental to fertilty treatment!

Doodar, I really feel for you. I have a phobia of being sick, and although its a different thing, I can relate to the fear you must be feeling. I am using the nasal spray to down regulate and wasn't given the choice for injections for this bit. Have you seen the needles that go with the stimming injections? They are much smaller and finer than the ones for blood tests or usual injections. The needle goes into the top layer of skin, not deep into the muscle. I haven't started injecting yet, but am a midwife and have put insulin needles into my leg as part of a diabetes course, and you hardly feel it, honestly. Insulin needles are the same as the stimming injection ones..I don't know if this is reassuring to you, as its probably not the pain of it that is worrying you.

Can you take your other half to the injection training and have him do the injections for you? At the end of the day, its a fear and probably no amount of reassurance is going to help. Once you have done it, or have had it done a few times I am sure you won't be quite so scared about the whole thing. People are always telling me that my perception of how awful it is to be sick isn't as bad as what its really like, and I kind of have to believe them.

Probably not a good idea to watch TV stuff either as they always over exagerate (spelling!) everything anyway! It makes better TV.

Try not to worry too much.

 

[caline]

Oh, and by the way, I got to my appointment! Had the blood test and will find out tomorrow if I'm all down regged and ready to stim.