Anyone else waiting to start IVF? Please hold my hand!

[Shellster52]

I have no specific question or point, but just feel I need a couple of people to hold my hand for the next couple of cycles so I am not alone.

I have done 4 failed IVF's at a cheap clinic (am in Australia). I can now see why they are cheaper and have decided to fork out more for one or two shots at a more expensive clinic.

Nothing I can do in the meantime but think about my situation and stress, so I thought it would be great to have a place to get my thoughts and feelings off my chest in the meantime.

I am expecting my period any day now assuming I am not pregnant for the 32nd cycle in a row, and hoping to start IVF again after one or two more cycles. Anyone else anxiously waiting to start IVF and want to vent their frustrations at the world with me?!?!

[hedgehog1975]

Hi Shellster,

We are waiting too - we are going to be referred in 2 1/2 weeks, so we are a bit behind you. It should be around 4-6 weeks from then that we start, according to the waiting list on the clinic's website!

I still get hopeful every month and hope we can avoid it I am 9dpo at the moment and convinced it has worked this month! I'm sure I will come crashing down in 4/5 days though.....

When are you going to start the next cycle? It's an emotional rollercoaster isn't it?

Hx

[Dreamy33]

Hi Shellster,

We're waiting to start and I'd really love some hand holding too! We're hoping to start injecting in March with a private clinic but have also got an nhs appointment in a few weeks because we'd like to keep our options open.

As an utter control freak, I find the inability to plan tricky but I hope it will be worth it in the end.

We're on 36months with no sign of bfp so know how you feel. I still dream of avoiding all this treatment and falling pregnant naturally but sadly hasn't happened.

Fingers crossed for some good news in 2014!

[Shellster52]

Hedgehog, I am like you, still trying every month and hoping. This last cycle I tried the 'forget and it will happen' method. But it was impossible to forget! Anyway, today my period came and dashed my hopes again. I plan to start in two cycles time/approx 8 weeks so sounds like we will be starting IVF at around the same time so will be perfect timing for us to keep eachother sane.


Dreamy, I feel for you with 33 months of this long journey. Last time I started a thread for all going through IVF at the same time, every other woman who joined in got a BFP that IVF cycle except for me! Couldn't believe it. So stick around and hopefully I can bring the same luck to both of you this time (and me too this time!)

Do either of you have any diagnosis as to what is going wrong or done any investigations yet?

[Dreamy33]

It sounds like we're all hoping to start treatment at roughly the same time.

We've had all sorts of tests and have all come back clear. I seem to ovulate and dh's results were perfect. Tried clomid for a few months and started an ivf cycle last year only for it to be cancelled because of poor response. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm nearing the end of my natural fertility days . Officially unexplained but I have my concerns!

What about you both? Have you any idea the reason for your issues?

[Lauren83]

Hi girls, if you fancy an old timer for support I'm in, 7 years with no sniff on a BFP, had all the tests you could think of, 2 cycles of ICSI one was a BFN the other was cancelled, I have a huge list of issues so hopefully should be able to help you with any questions you have once you start

Lauren x

[suzylee73]

Hi,

I'm CD4 and going for my bloods and scan tomorrow, I'm on the long protocol so have my "teach" appointment on the 30th Jan.
I have had both fallopian tubes removed but I'm always disappointed when AF appears every month, ttc for years does make you a little crazy :)
The nurse has told me to only have protected sex from now on, made me laugh a bit!
It's your turn this round Shellster x good luck

[hedgehog1975]

Hello all,

I don't have a firm diagnosis, but in my one progesterone test on day 3 it showed I didn't ovulate that month. I am sure that I do ovulate, at least sometimes, but as far as a diagnosis goes that's all we have. I'm on Clomid at the moment and I'm sure it worked this month. I am 11 dpo and driving myself crazy with the waiting! I woke up with awful cramps on Saturday night, but they have gone away since. I am convinced that af is on its way, but still trying to hold onto that last bit of hope as this is our last chance before referral.

Have you all told people what is going on? I have told a good friend (who started trying at the same time as us and now has an 18 month old..) and have alluded to it at work with a couple of people. We are going to tell our parents when we get referred and I am dreading it. I'm also worried about telling work, although my immediate boss has been through the same thing (and eventually adopted) - he is quite open about it all, which I find refreshing, and I hope they'll be supportive about me going in late and taking leave at short notice for a couple of months.

Fingers crossed for everyone, hopefully we will all get our bfps soon!

Hx

[suzylee73]

It is hard to know who to tell. I have only told my mum and my mother in law. It's not that I don't want to tell friends, I just don't want to have to tell them if it fails.
I keep reading about cycles being cancelled! Does that happen a lot? I'm worried as I only have funding for one round

[Jimbobbity]

Hi Shellster and everyone, I saw your posts and wondered if ok to join you? I'm very, very new to all this and like you looking to find some people to go on the journey with. It already feels like such a roller coaster getting to this point.

We have been funded through the NHS for a round of ICSI and I contacted the clinic on "day 1" last week. They've called me in for my appointment on the 27th of this month and the drugs are being delivered on Friday. I realise there is still so much I don't know and have lots of research to do - I am presuming they are starting me on on the 27th will be the ones that stop my cycle (it will be day 20 of my regular cycle). Is that right? And then the injections come a bit later?

We have been trying to conceive for almost two years but once GP referred us on we found ourselves starting this roller coaster really quickly. Morphology & motility of sperm have been identified as an issue for us though I guess this is just the start... wishing you all all the very best of luck with your rounds. Here's hoping 2014 will be a good year :) x

[suzylee73]

Hi Jimbobbity
I have my appt on the 30th and also doing the one funded round of ICSI, looks like we are days apart :) My appt is on the 21st CD and I think we start the injections straight away. Exciting times

[suzylee73]

Shellster, when are you planning in starting ivf again?

[Shellster52]

Dreamy, to answer your question, my DH has 100% abnorml sperm morphology. Although like you, I am also a very poor responder to IVF. Will be nice to do my next IVF alongside you if you are a poor responder too and can understand what I am going through.

Lauren83, love to have an old timer on board! My last IVF I started up a thread on here for all those doing IVF at the same time and every other woman on there got a BFP except me! So it is nice to meet those with more complicated issues who are struggling as well. Are you just trying naturally now or heading for another IVF?

Keep us posted on your progress Suzylee. I am on CD3 now. I plan to start IVF after two more periods if that makes sense. So that should be Mon 10th March assuming this cycle and next cycle are textbook 28 days.

Not sure if I am not understanding you correctly Hedgehog but you say a day 3 prog test shows you didn't ovulate - but of course you wouldn't have ovulated yet if it is only day 3? I have told people we are doing IVF but have decided not to tell anyone the specific dates of our next IVF. Like Suzylee, it just feels like extra pressure because I will have to report back to them. Any sign of your period yet?

[hedgehog1975]

Oops, I meant day 21 test. You're on the ball Shellster No sign yet, but another low temp this morning (not below the coverline yet though). I am sure it is imminent and wish it would hurry up so I can book myself a nice massage, and so that next ov date coincides with when me and dh are off together!

It looks like a few of us will all be around the same time so fingers crossed for everyone.

Hx

[Lauren83]

Sorry late reply hectic at work this week....I remember back when I got referred to gynae when I told my GP I couldn't conceive, I had high prolactin and a short luteal phase and was convinced that was it and I would just need clomid and everything would be fine, fast forward a few years I have had...
Countless bloods
Ultrasounds
MRI scan x2
HSG x3
Laparoscopy x2
Cystoscopy x2
Colonoscopy x2

Been diagnosed with...
Low AMH -2
High FSH -23
Low AFC-4
POF/Early menopause
Stage 4 endometriosis
Tubal issues-Hydrosalpinx
Male factors-Low count

During my ops had stage 4 endometriosis removed from my bladder, bowel, my tube removed and 1 unblocked, teeters unblocked, everything untangled, ovary resection, cysts removed even had one at 15cm, I had my bowel reinforced as they thinned it so much and a bag for my bladder for a short while as I couldn't use the loo after.

I then had 3 months in Prostap (chemical menopause)

Had a cycle of ICSI with a double transfer and never made it to test day, started a second cycle at at my baseline scan my FSH was 19 so they cancelled, it was 8 and 9 the whilst 2 years previous, they rechecked the month after and it was 23! Got called in to see the Dr last fri and they have withdrawn funding as you can only cycle with FSH of 10 and under, so.... I'm now trying to battle my CCG to let me to transfer my last 2 funded cycles to a private clinic for donor egg treatment.

Bit of a journey but I'm not giving up yet! Just need to wait for that magic letter from the postman seeing if we after accepted

Nice to have you on the Facebook group Tilly and Hedgehog

Shellster have they given you any possible reason for your cycles not working? Did you not get a BFP at all? Not even a chemical? Have you looked into immunes testing?

Lauren xx

[Lauren83]

Just pasted that over think I posted on the wrong thread!

Lauren x

[Shellster52]

Keep us posted Hedgehog. Sounds like AF is on it's way with temps dropping. Glad you have appt booked for a referral to give you some hope for the future.

Wow Lauren, what a history. Glad to know I am not alone here in the low AMH department. No official reason given as to why IVF did not work but have seen embryo quality improvement over last 3 IVF's so I just keep taking the supplements and special diet and see what the next IVF brings. Will be doing next IVF at a new clinic which costs a lot more but they do ultrasound guided embryo transfer so I hope that makes the difference.

[Over40ems]

Hi shellster
I read ur last journey and so pleased that uve not lost the drive to carry on.
I'm not great with all the terminology but learning quick.
I'm on my first ivf journey.
I've been I think on the long journey down regulating from 29 dec now doing stim drugs for 1 wk.
All tests show I'm ok but partner has only 25% normal swimmers lol.
Been ttc for 28 months.
I wish u all the best in 2 cycles time. Xxx

[hedgehog1975]

Argh, still no AF!

I didn't take my temperature this morning, it's making me wake up too early, so I decided to stop for now. I had bad cramps last Saturday (they woke me up in the night they were so bad), then the same yesterday morning, but nothing still.

I'm now 16 dpo and my usual luteal phase is 13 days. I daren't test as a) my temps dropped slightly on Tuesday (although still above coverline) and b) this happened 2 months ago, I went right up to 17 dpo, lots of bfns and then af arrived at 18 dpo (my acupuncturist thinks I may have been pregnant then, but I'm not so sure....).

What is going on?! This is torture!

Hx

[Shellster52]

Hi Over40ems, so warming to hear you say you read my last journey. Thanks for you caring words.
I don't know if I have the drive to carry on or if I am just forced to carry on; because if I stop then I am going to have to face the grim reality and I can't accept that.
Will be thinking of you so please post again and update me after your first scan - do you know when that will be?

Oh Hedgehog, how frustrating. I daren't say 'hopefully this means you are pregnant' because I know how it is to get your hopes up and then you just have further to come crashing down. But I really do hope so!. So is your cycle usually the same length? What day of your cycle is this?

[hedgehog1975]

I know, I keep thinking ‘could I be?’, but then remember how I got my hopes up last time, and let’s face it, it’s not particularly likely after 3 years, 2 weeks before referral!

My cycles are fairly regular (28-29 days), although can vary by a few days (24-30) – I’m only on CD 29, but my luteal phase has always been 13/14 days, no matter what the length of the cycle is and now it is 16!

I’m sure that posting on here that I’m late will make af arrive, it did last time Maybe it's the Clomid extending it, although having said that, I was having a month off from it last time.

I hope you’re ok Shellster. I think it can be a real rollercoaster sometimes. Hopefully starting at a new clinic will make you feel a little more positive – Have you spoken to them about how they might do things differently to the old one? Do you have to pay for all of your treatment in Australia?

Hx

[Over40ems]

Hi shellster
First scan tomorrow to see if on track for EC next week.
Let's hope these ovaries have responded lol. Keep u posted x

[hedgehog1975]

Got a

[hedgehog1975]

Sorry - hands still shaking..... got a bfp this morning. In complete and utter shock!

Hx

[resipsa]

Congrats!

[Shellster52]

Wow Hedgehog!!!!

That's funny you had to type twice because your hand was shaking. LOL. Bizzare that you normally ovulate anyway but Clomid did the trick. Who cares, it worked. Did you get monitored by ultrasound to know how many mature follicles you had. You could have ovulated more than one egg?!?!

See, last time I started a thread while I was doing IVF, everyone who joined got a BFP but me. I'm sure I'm sending out BFP vibes somehow... just can't seem to reflect them back to myself.

Stick around Over40ems and I am convinced you will be next! I will be checking this thread tomorrow, anxious for you to hear about your scan results.