1st time IVF in Jan12 and looking for sme +ve experiences & advice on what to expect

[Mia01]

Hi Ladies,

Been TTC for 3 years now. Had Clomid, Metphormin, IUI and then fell utd naturally early last year however MC'd at 6 1/2 weeks.
Started seeing a new FS and now, after I had a D&C for possible polyp (which ended up being nothing), FS has directed us to IVF.
Am excited however nervous aswell, we have our first nurses appointment on Wednesday at westmead.
I'm on CD20 so still have another 10 or so days before AF is due so I can "properly" start but they said its perfect timing to have the
appointment.
Can anyone advise what the first appointment might intale? Will they weigh me or something?
FS gave me the whole speil about what will happen but I suppose they'll go through it again??
How possible is it to be successful first go?? (Im hoping beyond hope)
Anyways hoping for some feedback and maybe an answer as to why I'd have to be on the pill for the first few weeks of IVF??

[Maruschke]

Best of luck with it. Yes, many women have success first go.

The pill is to down regulate you... get your hormones back to baseline before the artificially stimulated hormones start. Not every clinic does this type of cycle (I skipped it).

I was never weighed at all for my IVF's.

Hang in there, by doing IVF your odds of success have gone up dramatically .

[Mia01]

Thanks Maruschke It makes a huge difference and help to get some answers and positive news on first time success so THANKS!
I might ask the nurse if we can skip the pill portion but I guess it will depend on how they do things right?? I would rather get on with it but I'm sure they're
used to inpatient women like me LOL

[nothing2lose]

Good luck Mia!

I have never taken the pill either. Different protocols, different clinics I guess.

I can't say you will definitely have success first go. As M said, lots do, but lots don't. Trick is not to get your hopes up. Yes, i know - impossible The FS will likely use your first go as a bit of an experiment to see how you respond to meds, etc.

I was weighed I think. I am also weighed at each pickup. I guess to determine anaesthetic amounts.

Good luck!

[Pholi]

Mia, I had (yet another) BT and was then was on Synarel from CD21 of the previous cycle to the main stim cycle. Synarel 'regulates' your hormones in preparation for the stimulation part of the cycle in a different way to the pill - it actually supresses your brain's control over the reproductive hormones, which gives the FS complete control instead. But different clinics have a different range of protocols, and different couples with different sets of problem will use different drugs at different dosages... My theory is that they know what they're doing, and make decisions for what are usually really good reasons, and they're perfectly happy to explain those reasons if you ask (if they're not, find someone else to ask!) There are lots of elements of the IVF process that are not well-proven one way or another, and different clinics do differently because of the opinion of the FSs that work there. My clinic is pretty clear whether a decision is made based on solid research, less solid research, theory or purely as 'finding out what works best for you.'

So it'll be a good chance for you to ask all those questions, to get and sign the consent froms, to find out what the details of the next step of the process are, and to learn how to inject/sniff/insert, etc.

And I was never weighed, even for the anasthetic, but they did ask and record my height and weight. I look like I have a healthy BMI (which I do, just) so perhaps that's why they were happy enough to take my word for it.

It's a pretty exciting journey, but for me it's been tougher than I expected, especially the final 18 days while I wait to find out if it's all gone to plan or not (I find out tomorrow! )

I agree with n2l, it's advisable but impossible not to get your hopes up, but I think you probably already know that from you experience with Clomid and IUI. I think IVF just magnifies every aspect of the experience because of the extra financial, time, risk and emotional comittments when you take the IVF step. The emotional bit is the hardest for me - because I know there were genuine, fertilized, growing and developing embryos transferred, and I'm already emotionally attached to them in a way I wasn't with the imaginary and hoped for egg/sperm combos with other froms of ttc.

Anyway, I wish you all the best for a sticky bub at the end of your IVF cycle!

[Maruschke]

Pholi I hope you have wonderful news tomorrow

[Mumma T]

Mia,

As you know I have no experience with IVF but I just wanted to wish you every success with the IVF. I hope everything goes smoothly for you and you get that little Mini Mia. Good Luck hun.

[glenny_c]

Just wanted to pop in and share some hope. I am one who fell first cycle- my DD is now 12 months and taking complete control of everything!! I took the pill at the beginning of the cycle and can't remember ever being weighed. Even in the hospital before the egg retrieval they just asked my weight for anaesthesia.

[Jane :)]

Hi Mia01,

Like you I am starting IVF this month. Whilst I am not taking the pill as part of my cycle I have been taking zoladex for the past three months which works as a down regulator (much like why people are often given the pill). I think... well this is how I understand it anyway. So whilst I started my IVF protocol back in Oct/Nov, I only expect to start jabbing etc this month. Being patient is so very hard. I understand what you mea about really wanting it to work. I am so very hopeful that it will work but also petrified about the possibility it might not. Either way this journey is not an easy one. But everyone at BB is so helfpul. I've really been finding this journry a lot easier since having joined. Wish you all the best. Let us know how you get on.

[Pholi]

Hi Mia,

Just checking in to let you know that yes, it can definitely work first go: I had my blood test today at 18 days post EPU, and we got a bfp!!

Good luck.

[Mia01]

WOW Pholi Thank you for your positive story and Im hoping to join you! All the VERY best hun with your little one!
One question, did you get 1 embryo implanted or 2? My FS says they only allow 1 on your first go and considering my age but she said sometimes they ask you
if you would like 2 put in (1 being the major emb and then the other could be one they would dispose of) however she told me not to do this as one of her patients
got triplets this way! Oops LOL

Gleny - thanks for your happy story also

Jane - so you're starting this month! Cool. I was told I'd be on the pill then they will give me the synorel (I think this is an inhaler?) and then the injections after that prior to egg retrieval. I will def be asking heaps of q's tomorrow and I suppose they'll also tell me cost etc. I agree I have been on here for 2 1/2 years and all the ladies I've encountered have been SO helpful and wonderful. Sending you all the best of luck! Let me know how you go

AFM I have my appointment tomorrow 11am. Am feeling positive and just want to get there and get onto the meds but I know this cycle isnt over just yet. Lets hope I will have a little Lilypie graph of my own SOON! hahaha I think this process takes 2 months or so, SO I'd know at the end of Feb early March if we were successful. Seems like a lifetime away but I know it goes quick with everything we need to do to get ready. Any ideas on how much time off work I'd need or if I should tell my manager about what I'm doing so she wont make a BIG deal about me having to take a few days here and there? Also what sort of side affects has anyone experienced with all the injections and meds?? I didnt have any with the IUI (that I noticed) and I was injecting the pen thing (sorry forgot the name of it puregon I think?) Also (sorry 101 q's) re ICSI when do they decide if this needs to happen as I see some of you ladies have had success with ICSI rather then straight IVF
Thanks again to all you ladies for chatting
Bubbat - thanks for the suppport

[Maruschke]

I didn't need any time off work except for the egg pick up because all of my appointments were between 6 and 8 am. I'd get an idea of your appointment times before you tell the boss . I had very few side effects with the meds. Best of luck

xoxo
M

[Mia01]

Thanks Marushcke and congrats

[liseyt]

Hi everyone,

Like you Mia and probably a few others, I am new to this world of IVF too.

I started officially in dec, but my cycle got cancelled before our harvest due to low oestrogen levels.
So I had to take provera for 10days to induce and breakthrough bleed and then started taking the oral contraceptive pill, which seems so dumb!!!!

Anyway, I am so glad to hear about success with any IVF, but especially first go ones! congratulatuons Pholi xx

I was weighed at first appointment and height and had a "couples photo taken", so they can identify us easily. I had done all the injections last time (except trigger), didnt have any trouble with them... But I am a nurse. I didnt use synarel- mine were both injections- Orgalutran and Puregon. But am changing to long cycle now.

Have next apppointment on the 10/1- to get meds and have bloods. If all goes according to plan, I will be scheduled for a harvest late jan/early feb... wish me luck.

good luck everyone else..
Mia I posted on your WFC question too (not stalking you, but seem to be in similar situation )

Lise xx

[Miss.B]

Hi Mia! GL in your treatment hun. I've done two IFV cycles, one fresh transfer 3 years ago which worked and one frozen embryo transfer (embryo from the same cycle) in 2009 which also worked. So I am very lucky the treatment worked so well for me so far. I'm about to start another fresh cycle soon, so am feeling excited but a bit scared too as I'm older now and I don't really know what to expect. I also got weighed both times. I ovulate on my own so I'm doing a short antagonist cycle again. All the best hunni, hopefully we'll see a nice pg ticker from you soon! xox

[Pholi]

Thanks, Mia and liseyt.

Mia, Synarel is a nasal spray... I got mild headaches from that for the first week or two. Then from Gonal F injections I was a bit emotional, but who knows how much of that is directly due to the drug and how much is because I was going through a hig stress/high emotion process. For me the real side effects didn't start until a few days after transfer - then I got bloating, nausea, gassy, tired, etc, all of which can be put down to the hcg boosters and progesterone support (but can also be pg symptoms!)

I had 2 t/f'd on day3. I fully intended to have one 5day embryo transferred, but we only got three eggs, and although they all fertilised, one looked a bit dodgy from the start. At day three, there was still one looking good, and the second best was a bit behind, too, and so they strongly recommended a three day transfer of the better 2 embryos, which would give me the best chance of a pg. The whole point of waiting til day 5 is to be able to choose the strongest of a bunch, and if there's only 2, there's no advantage in that. There are no guarentees in these choices, and we decided to go with the FS's and embryologist's combined gut feeling.

Re telling your boss, keep it minimal! I'd just say at most that you've got a short series of medical investigations and procedures that 'they' want you to have, and there might not be much warning for time off becuse the timing depends on test results. It adds a lot of pressure if people know it's IVF/fertility related, and like Maruschke said, many clinics do very early BT/scan appointments, and even transfers, so you may just need a couple of days off for the EPU anyway.

Re ICSI, in our case our problem was purely MFI (DP has almost blocked ducts, so very few swimmers make it through) so were were told ICSI was the only option right from the start. It seems that for non-MFI problems, most people have IVF, and on future cycles they sometimes try ICSI if the fertilisation rate wasn't very good with IVF. Good luck for your appointment today.

liseyt, how frustrating to have the cycle cancelled! At least they know what needs correcting this time. I found the injections surprisingly easy to give myself, and relatively painless most of the time, too. Best of luck with cycle #2.

[Amy_jellybean]

Hi girls,

Just subbing so I can come back tonight and do a bigger post in here. We had our appointment with the FS yesterday and picked up meds for another stim cycle. We only had one embie in storage and it isnt very good quality so they didnt want us going through everything and then being disappointed if the embie didnt survive the thaw

This time I will be on puregon and Orgalutran.....no more synarel for me!!!! yay!!!! I got really bad headaches on it last time. A lot of people talk about how much they hate the taste of it in their throat but to be honest it didnt bother me at all. The puregon however was really hard. I got bloating so bad, I honestly looked like I was about 5 months pregnant and they still only got 11 eggs. I was on a very low dose of 125 last time because of my age, this time they are starting me on 250 and will monitor it from there.

AF is due around 22 Jan and I will start jabbing on day 3. Egg pick up will be early Feb so I think DH will be away at work when I have it done Yay looks like we will all be in the TWW together lovelies

xxx

[Mia01]

Thanks Pholi, Miss B and Amy
It really helps to have you ladies who have been through it or are going through it now to chat too and ease my stress LOL

Lisey and Amy I will prob be up for egg collection late Feb so I'm a little behind both of you but All the BEST of luck! Please keep incontact to let me know how you ladies fair xox

AFM - I went to my appointment today and like Lisey advised got weighed and a pic taken just to make sure we're both identifiable LOL
The appointment went REAL well, the nurse was REALLY nice and patient. We were with her for about 2 hours and she discussed the whole process.
My heads spinning a little with EVERYTHING I have to do but I'm sure I'll be guided by them each step of the way.
Now I just have to wait for AF which should be here around 12-14Jan and start on the pill, 2 weeks after starting that I need to get onto that synorel spray. The nurse was super nice and said I can take panadol or in worse case panedein forte if I get migranes (I usually get migranes) and not to "put up with it" and not take anything cos I'm thinking about conceiving LOL This is something I do (put up with them) normally so she made sure DH was also aware that if I get them I CAN and SHOULD take pain relief
Feels like I'm about to undertake a marathon but all going well it will be SO worth it! She told me at this clinic they ONLY put 1 emby back so I have NO choice about that. But I'm happy with that. I'm not in it to get multiples I just want 1 healthy baby, thanks no fries with that! hahaha
Anyways thanks for the support, as always and will keep updating as I go and will follow you ladies who are going through it so please update or let me know where I can stalk you LOL