Help with IVF please

Hi everyone,

I don't usually post in here but thought you ladies might be able to help me with something that is worrying me.

We are currently doing our 1st IVF cycle and am on Synarel at the moment. I took last OCP on Friday last week and I still haven't had a break through bleed, no spotting, nothing at all. I rang the nurses at Melb IVF just before and told her I have been having some achey type pains in my pelvis in the right lower quadrant, she said that could be normal but when I told her about not having any bleeding or spotting she agreed that it was definitely unusual. I am booked in for a scan at 7.30 tomorrow morning so all she said is wait for tomorrow and all will be revealed.

I am really panicking now, that either something is wrong or that I have stuffed up the cycle in some way. I have done everything I was meant to and the only time I have stuffed up is that I took the Synarel at 10.30 one night instead of 7.30 because I forgot. Could that have stuffed up the whole cycle? Should I worry? Or am I being a psycho?

Sorry to be a PITA but I am just hoping someone can give me some info.

Thanks for your help.

Mel :)

Don't panic Mel! I am with Monash IVF and they say not having a bleed is not unusual. I did not bleed and went on to have a normal egg collection. everyone's body is different and also remember the first IVF cycle is sort of like an experiment and no-one can tell what your body is going to do. good luck.

Hi Mel,

I just recently underwent cycle 3. When I was on synarel I was told that my hormones 'were stuck' and to just begin the next step. I didn't have AF but I still managed to get 10 eggs at collection.

I know it's a really daunting time, especially the first when it's totally new. I think the time delay with your synarel is okay - so don't stress about that.

Good luck with the scan and the cycle.

Mel,
I know it is so hard not to think to the worse, but dont hun it is so normal. Let them have a looksy and rectify the problme if need be or reassure that everything is going great. You havent started injections or have you? If not it might just mean a longer down reg still the levels bottom out.
This all coming from a girl who use to worry when the FSH injection site use to seep and I thought I was losing all the FSH. You have every right to worry and calling the nurses...hope I find them helpul soon ;)
Bec

Hi Mel
Hang in there hun...all they want is flat levels before you start your stim drugs...I'm sure you'll be fine...can't waste a bottle of synarel now! Time to get on to the heavy stuff! Will be checking on you tommorrow xxx

Thanks Anney, CeCe, Bec & Ellie,

I really appreciate your help. Its nice to know there are some people who didnt have AF and still got a normal egg collection. I think I am just losing my mind, cant stop stressing about whether it will work or not. Stupid considering there isnt anything I can do to change the outcome, it will be what it will be.

Bec, I havent started injections yet. They told me that when I have the scan tomorrow morning (7.30am :doh:) they will be able to tell me then when I will start the FSH.

Ellie, what levels need to be flat? I hope I dont sound like a bimbo, I just thought it depended on what your ovaries are doing :redface:

How did you girls go with your moods while on injections? I am already turning a little grumpy and well um psycho and from what I have heard it just gets worse. I think DH is scared :lol:

Thanks again, your replies have made me feel so much better :)

Mel,
I was no different on the injections but then again I'm a tad moody normally rofl. I think I was one of the lucky ones as I never noticed it till near the OPU when it started to get a bit bloaty and the ovary throb was more noticable.
Bec

LOL ok ok I admit I am prone to my moody moments as well, but just seem a little worse... or maybe I am just allowing myself to be cause I know I have an excuse! Ah well what DH doesnt know wont hurt him ;)

Thought I would update you all... Scan all good, lining thin (which apparently is most likely why AF hasnt arrived) and no cysts on ovaries. Bit of spotting today btw but he doesnt think it will turn into much cause there isnt enough there to have AF. Starting FSH injections today, and continuing Synarel as well. Having another scan next Friday and they said egg collection will definitely be some time in the week after next. Feeling a bit more positive today :) I am actually feeling excited, well not about injections actually dreading those, but thinking that maybe we have a chance and maybe something good will come to us :pray:

Great news Mel! Now you'll have a nice thick lining for bub to snuggle into...good luck with the injections!

Great news Mel...grow little foli's grow
Bec

That's great Mel. Good luck wit the injections - I've always found the thught of them worse than having them. I hope it goes well and you get a nice bunch of eggs.

Well the FS was wrong, the spotting didnt stay spotting - I have been feeling like I am haemorrhaging... OK OK so maybe a bit dramatic but is it so much heavier than AF and it started Friday afternoon and continued to last night (not too much as yet this morning) and now I am soooo worried that my lining wont be thick enough for implantation next week because I thought it needed a couple of weeks of building up beforehand. Anyway so I am a little stressed that we are doomed now. And also, already starting to feel a little crampy in my lower abdo and wondering if that is normal? Maybe it is all in my head. Its not too bad, but just like pre-AF cramping sometimes.

Can you girls please tell me if I am a nutter or if its ok?

Thanks :hug:

P.S. Oh and the injections arent so bad, they dont hurt at all - but as yet I cant bring myself to stick the needle in still, DH has that job and he is doing great considering he nearly passes out when he has to have an injection himself, or anything remotely medical for that matter (men :rolleyes:).

Thank Kim, I didnt want to call them cause I dont want to be a complete PITA. I am meant to be having another scan this Friday so I guess they will be able to tell me then whether the lining is thick enough. You know how it is though, worry worry worry. Plus I am home today which means alot of time to think LOL.

Thanks for your help :)

Mel,
Because you did a downreg cycle the bleeding prob shouldnt be there but on flares which was all I did you start injections day 2 usually during a bleed. The lining was always good and never had any problems Give the clinic a call , they love to call you back rofl, quiet often I have talked to the embroygists there they love it too :) So they tell me
Bec

Hi everyone,

I had been panicking later in the week cause I have been having EWCM and still spotting up until yesterday even. So thought 1 - something was wrong, and/or endo wouldnt be thick enough; thought 2. I had o'd because the nasal spray wasnt working :redface:...

So had scan yesterday morning, FS away so someone filling in for him. She said everything looks great, EWCM is just because of build up of hormones and follies are growing nicely but need a couple more days of injections. And she said endo is a good thickness and she cant explain spotting but not to worry about it.

So I have to continue FSH inj until tomorrow night, then have HCG inj on Monday night (apparently I have to ring them and they tell me the exact time to do it). And they have scheduled EPU for Wednesday and then transfer for Friday. She said that with my age and my medical history (being no medical reason for infertility) that I have a good chance of falling this cycle.

I am excited at the prospect that I have a "chance" of being pregnant soon. But then the little red angel on my shoulder reminds me that just because I get pregnant I wont necessarily bring a baby home, I was pregnant with Nicholas afterall. But I have a great OB (thanks to Bec G :hug:) who I have complete trust in so trying to keep myself positive as much as I can.

How did you girls handle the TWW? I think it is going to be the hardest TWW of my life!

Bec - I noticed your sig says TTC dec/jan. Do you have to go through IVF again? Do you have any frozen eggs in storage? Oh and I did call them again, and they did say I wasnt a pain - somehow I just didnt believe them LOL.

Mel, getting through the TWW is probably the hardest part of the process. I've found it best to try to distract myself and not think about what is going on. The worst moments were the ones where I sat and obsessed about symptoms... Find a project to work on, good book to read, something, anything to keep your mind off things.

Good luck, Mel. The trigger is probably the most painful of all the injections, but still isn't that bad. The wonderful Sushee suggested putting a 50c coin in the freezer, and then using that to numb the injection site before hand. It certainly helped for me! And yes, the time does need to be very exact for that one.

BW

It is extremely hard not to obsess about symptoms, but I have to admit I have done that every single month I have been trying - nutcase here LOL. Surely we were all the same - I cant be the only nutcase :dunno: I will have to try and throw myself into work for distraction I think... hard bit is I will be working at home 4 days per week so will have alot of alone time.

Melb IVF did warn me the HCG one is the more painful one, so thanks for the tip, I will definitely use any trick to minimise the sting!

OK off to put my 50c in the freezer ;)

Mel - I must agree with BW that the hcg one hurts..................but you have been through so much already so you can get through this :hug: The 2ww will be long and hard but just know that you have lots and lots of support - and you can call me anytime about anything (one nutcase to another!!LOL!! ;) ) You are right about the little angel but also remember that your little angel will also be there to help you bring your next bub home :hug:

Going in for EPU at 9am tomorrow. Had trigger injection last night - could be in my head, but my belly feels reeeeeeally heavy and tender today. Was told GA main thing with EPU, and that no pain or discomfort afterwards which is great. Then having ET on Friday and was told that is simply like a pap smear, I can handle that.

Been worrying since yesterday though, cause nurse told me that I take trigger shot last night at 9.25pm (which I did) and to not take my evening Synarel or FSH and then no drugs today at all. I keep remembering that one of the nurses told me that I must remember to take Synarel because it is the only thing that stops me from ovulating. So now I am a little worried that I will have ovulated and there will be no eggs to take. But... then I remind myself that I was freaking out last week and everything was perfect, so maybe I should just trust them. Man its hard!

Thanks to you all for your support, it has really helped me get through the last couple of weeks :hug:

P.S. BW - the coin worked a treat :D

Great news Mel! Best of luck tomorrow! Looking forward to more great news xxx

I am loving that tip about the 50c coin in the freezer. I am having my trigger tomorrow night.

Good luck Mel. I know that it get a little overwhelming at times that you might not be doing the right thing! I sometimes question myself too - worried that we have spent all this time and money and one little stupid mistake on my part might stuff it up.

Good luck with EPU tomorrow!

Mel, it's ok. The day of your trigger, the only thing you have is the trigger. Ovulation will occer between 36 and 38 hours afterwards, which is why you need to be so exact with the time. I do recall the heavy, draggy feeling, too.

Just so that you can feel a little more comfortable with things... my final puregon injection was given on a Thursday, along with lucrin (instead of synarel). On the Friday I only had lucrin (I was badly hyperstimulated) and on the Saturday my only injection was the trigger. What you've done is normal and ok.

As for the no pain after EPU - only if you're not hyperstimulated! I was in terrible pain, but I know that's not normal. I would suggest you have a heat pack handy, as well as gatorade. Glad the coin thing worked - you can thank Sushee for that one!

BW

Good luck Mel :pray: I will be thinking of you tomorrow - let me know how it goes :hug:

Oh Mel good luck for tomorrow!!!! (Great day for it - my birthday!!)

I was reading back through your thread and noticed you are with Melb IVF - who is your Dr? I am there also!!

Oooh Mel how exciting are you having OPU at Freemasons or RWH?
Ahh yep I have 2 FE on ice have been back to the FS and got my drugs just waiting for AF, part of me would like to hang off till Jan just cause I am a tight a$$ and will give me the option to do a Stim and be under the MC threshold.
Single transfers is a pain!!!, did they give you any idea how many are looking good for the pick up?
So many questions....I really hope you have your head on a pillow and you are letting Nicholas give you angel kisses to get you throu the next month.
Bec

Thinking of you today
Bec
xx

Thanks for all of your well wishes, it means alot to me - I didnt reply yesterday cause we had a Sids & Kids meeting and got home after midnight.

OPU went really well today, they got 22 eggs :D The nurse who told me that result in recovery was really surprised at that amount, she said that is a great results, but I wont know until Friday how many fertilise. But still, I cant complain about that.

Murlsa - I am through Melb IVF, my dr is Lyndon Hale. He is so nice, he was away last week and he had a fill in by the name of Fleur but I dont know her last name. :happybirthday: by the way, hope you had a good one.

Bec G - I had the OPU at FMC. They told me last Friday it looked like about 10 follies, so I was shocked today. I wouldnt worry about being a tight-a, we have already met our safety net threshold and it does make a huge difference. None of us are loaded and we have to think about that stuff. The only thing I can say about it though is that you will meet safety net for the rest of this year with IVF costs but you will also meet it next year with OB costs. And if you claim family tax benefit threshold is only under $600 so you will meet that pretty quickly. Are you going to same OB next time?

Lynn - Thanks, I will probably be on he phone at some stage over my 2WW asking you to tell me I am not going crazy ;)

BW - Oh how right you are, I am in so much pain. Have slept on the couch most of the arvo, but just got up to have dinner. Its ok sitting or lying but if I try to walk around I feel so sore and heavy, but its all for a good cause so I will shut up and not whinge.

Nellie - It is like that, 1 single mistake and the whole cycle is gone - along with lots of money. The hard bit is that we cant see whats going on in there, the amount of times I have thought I o'd I swear I am a nutcase. Good luck with trigger tonight, with the coin trick it wasnt so bad actually. Does that mean you will have OPU on Friday?

That's it for me, off to rest up on the couch (I could probably milk this for days... but that would be wrong yeah? :p)

Take care all :)

Excellent news Mel! :dance: I everything crossed for you for a great transfer on Friday :pray: Rest up and take care :hug:

Excellent numbers there, Mel. Just keep an eye on OHSS symptoms. I had 26 eggs collected and then spent three weeks recovering. Keep your fluid levels up, drink lots of gatorade and REST! Take care, and I hope we hear good fertilisation numbers soon.

BW

Wonderful news Mel...sounds like a beautiful number, now just the waiting game I guess you are doing day 3 transfers.
Yes the same obst couldnt possibly think about changing when you know you have the best you stick with them even if I am going to drive 1.5hrs to see him:)
Take it easy petal rest up and give that little embie a wonderful place to nestle into .
And Mel wash your mouth out for saying a few days...you have another 2 weeks to be delicate :)
Bec

Wow, 22 eggs. Fantastic news Mel

Mel: 22 eggs is just wonderful news!!! You are doing amazingly well and I hope with every little bit of me that your BFP is just around the corner.

I hope you are taking it easy, milk it for all it's worth girl.

Take care sweetie,
Lv Spring

Thanks for the support girls, its so encouraging :hug:

I am going in at 11am tomorrow for the transfer, they couldnt tell me how many fertilised and said I will find out tomorrow :doh: Ah well it was worth a try! Bec, yes they are doing day 3 transfers and I hope they get a few healthy ones. But then hopefully they will only need one iykwim. I am going to try to talk them into transferring 2 (I have changed my mind now, woman's perogative LOL) but I dont like my chances, they seemed fairly adamant that they would only allow 1 transfer on a fresh cycle - dont know what the diff is but anyway.

Anyway, still very sore but stocked up on panadol and powerade (couldnt get gatorade but was told it was same thing) so off to milk it - DH is going to run me a bath ;)

Take care everyone. Nellie if you are having your OPU tomorrow, best of luck :crossfingers:

:

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Murlsa - I am through Melb IVF, my dr is Lyndon Hale. He is so nice, he was away last week and he had a fill in by the name of Fleur but I dont know her last name. :happybirthday: by the way, hope you had a good one.

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I see John McBain but Fluer did my last transfer. She was lovely! Oh and thanks for the b'day wishes, I hope that my birthday bring you good luck and lots of little embryos!!

Take care of yourself with the OHSS, it really takes the wind out of you! Rest well!

Just an update, had my transfer today so now we just sit and wait I guess... well apart from the lovely gel that goes you know where every night :redface:

The FS said it is a great result - of the 22 eggs 19 were usable and 12 fertilised, and from that 12, 8 were considered to be high quality. So after the transfer today, we will have 7 frosties waiting :)

I did try to talk him into transferring 2 today and he said he would be willing to, but strongly encouraged us to consider the risk of a twin pregnancy on top of the risk I already have with my blood condition so we decided to follow his recommendation and go with 1. And I think I will freak out even more in the next pregnancy worrying about 2 babies, its gonna be hard enough with 1.

So thats the story so far... :pray:

Well done Mel,
Its all a waiting game now :) fantastic result in the 8 being high quality.
You take it easy and feel every symptom that may be coming your way.
Sticky sticky
Bec

Thanks Bec, Ill be a nutcase by the end. I am already researching how long it will take now to implant and bla bla bla :rolleyes: Google... a nutcase's worst enemy ;)

LOL I know ;)

Ah Mel...great news hun...now the dreaded TWW!!! We are all here to ensure you don't turn into a 'nutcase' coz hey...it takes one to know one right!@?! Have everything crossed for you xxx