November 2023

[Banana29]

Thank you Applecart and good luck with your scan.
Thanks LindaLu I’ll check the clinic out.

[Applecart]

Thanks Banana29. I have a funny feeling things might have gone wrong. I lost all my (limited) symptoms on Weds and I have been feeling back to normal ever since. When I looked back this is what happened when I had my mmc earlier this year but just didn’t realise at the time so I’m a bit worried. I have ordered a hcg blood test but think it will be ages before I get the results x

[Banana29]

Thanks Banana29. I have a funny feeling things might have gone wrong. I lost all my (limited) symptoms on Weds and I have been feeling back to normal ever since. When I looked back this is what happened when I had my mmc earlier this year but just didn’t realise at the time so I’m a bit worried. I have ordered a hcg blood test but think it will be ages before I get the results x

Sorry to hear that Applecart, hoping you are just having better days with no symptoms, not mmc.
Fingers crossed the blood test will confirm that.

I’m struggling a bit with the negative, losing hope and constantly thinking that it will never happen for me.
Sleepless nights don’t help with overthinking it.
Got a review appointment booked in for beginning of December but not expecting much from it.

LindaLu hope your transfer went well.

[AnnaBC]

So today was my test day, 3rd transfer, last frozen embryo and one one year since starting IVF.
It was negative. Absolutely gutted. I was hoping sooo much for it to work.

Will be starting again in the new year, thinking about changing clinic, hoping that will change my luck. Any recommendations?

Good everyone who is testing and having the transfers this week.

So sorry to hear that. Please take some time for yourself now. Do things you love and try to stay positive. Sending you hugs.

[AnnaBC]

Hi again. my FET was on Thursday last week. I have been trying to keep busy since then so I am not thinking about the results but it's hard some days. I have already read 2 books, done a 1000 pieces jigsaw puzzle, watched masterchef, and work full time. I am struggling with the side effects from Lubion and Cyclogest, particularly the stomach cramps. I don't seem to have headaches this time round. Do you have tips for reducing the stomach pain? I have heard that mint tea helps, but are there any other things I could try? Any tips are welcome. Thanks

[Applecart]

Thanks Banana29. I have a funny feeling things might have gone wrong. I lost all my (limited) symptoms on Weds and I have been feeling back to normal ever since. When I looked back this is what happened when I had my mmc earlier this year but just didn’t realise at the time so I’m a bit worried. I have ordered a hcg blood test but think it will be ages before I get the results x

Sorry to hear that Applecart, hoping you are just having better days with no symptoms, not mmc.
Fingers crossed the blood test will confirm that.

I’m struggling a bit with the negative, losing hope and constantly thinking that it will never happen for me.
Sleepless nights don’t help with overthinking it.
Got a review appointment booked in for beginning of December but not expecting much from it.

LindaLu hope your transfer went well.

Sorry it’s so hard! It’s difficult not to be negative when things have gone wrong so many times. I know you might not get much more info but hopefully the review meeting will give you a pan and something to aim for again.

[Applecart]

Hi again. my FET was on Thursday last week. I have been trying to keep busy since then so I am not thinking about the results but it's hard some days. I have already read 2 books, done a 1000 pieces jigsaw puzzle, watched masterchef, and work full time. I am struggling with the side effects from Lubion and Cyclogest, particularly the stomach cramps. I don't seem to have headaches this time round. Do you have tips for reducing the stomach pain? I have heard that mint tea helps, but are there any other things I could try? Any tips are welcome. Thanks

Well done for keeping busy! The waiting is so hard! I haven’t had bad cramps sorry so no advice but hopefully someone can help xx

[Frankiealice123]

Hi guys. I am new here. I have been reading all of your stories so thought I would add mine.

Had my EC 13th November. 15 collected, 12 fertilised and 8 blastocysts. Was a freeze all due to chance of OHSS (I have poly cystic ovaries).
My embryos are all 2-2’s and 2-3’s so was a bit disappointed with this result after reading they usually discard any with 3 grades.
Had fresh transfer booked in for 17th November but was cancelled when I got there as had some OHSS symptoms. Took my last progesterone pessaries AM 17th so am now waiting for my cycle to start. Will then start estrogen and progesterone ready for my FET in December (hopefully).

So sorry to hear your news Banana29. Sending you positive vibes for your next try x

Applecart how are you feeling today? X

[RB88]

Hi again. my FET was on Thursday last week. I have been trying to keep busy since then so I am not thinking about the results but it's hard some days. I have already read 2 books, done a 1000 pieces jigsaw puzzle, watched masterchef, and work full time. I am struggling with the side effects from Lubion and Cyclogest, particularly the stomach cramps. I don't seem to have headaches this time round. Do you have tips for reducing the stomach pain? I have heard that mint tea helps, but are there any other things I could try? Any tips are welcome. Thanks

Are your cramps like period cramps but almost sharper? I did suffer from cramps, especially in the first week after transfer. They have faded slightly now but did not rare to not get one (i'm 2 weeks 2 days post FET and on Cyclogest). I didn't do to much for them, mostly just warm water bottles (didn't want to go too hot) and just took it easy. I find the afternoon/evening tiredness the worst now.

The wait is so long! I tried to keep as busy and preoccupied as possible but it was still tough.

[Applecart]

Frankiealice, I’m pretty resigned to it a having gone wrong again. I just feel normal.
I get the disappointment with the gradings but I have read loads about the grading being quite limited and people getting pregnant with their worst grade embryo. I have had 2 miscarriages with 10/10 scoring embryos so

RB88 the exhaustion is hard isn’t it but that’s what suddenly disappeared over night for me and why I think it’s gone wrong x

[RB88]

Frankiealice, I’m pretty resigned to it a having gone wrong again. I just feel normal.
I get the disappointment with the gradings but I have read loads about the grading being quite limited and people getting pregnant with their worst grade embryo. I have had 2 miscarriages with 10/10 scoring embryos so

RB88 the exhaustion is hard isn’t it but that’s what suddenly disappeared over night for me and why I think it’s gone wrong x

Hoping for the best for you. My exhaustion has got much better than it was in the first 10 days or so. I've almost gone the other way and waking up most nights at 2/3am and unable to get back to sleep, so now I'm just tired because I haven't slept.

[AmericanGirl]

Hi All, So I had a fresh cycle in November, with my transfer on November 11. My husband and I had convinced ourselves I was pregnant because of all the symptoms I had, but I just tested yesterday as instructed and it was negative. Then my period started later that same morning. It’s devastating. It’s so hard to get your hopes up and have them dashed so many times in this process. And now to be bleeding and cramping worse than a normal period as well just adds insult to injury.

[Applecart]

Hi All, So I had a fresh cycle in November, with my transfer on November 11. My husband and I had convinced ourselves I was pregnant because of all the symptoms I had, but I just tested yesterday as instructed and it was negative. Then my period started later that same morning. It’s devastating. It’s so hard to get your hopes up and have them dashed so many times in this process. And now to be bleeding and cramping worse than a normal period as well just adds insult to injury.

Sorry to read it was a negative for you. It’s so hard isn’t it. I had a chemical pregnancy earlier in the year and feel like I had similar feelings to you with my hope up because of the positives and then the crushing disappointment of them getting fainter. It must have been a shock for you seeing the negative. Be kind to yourself xxx

[AmericanGirl]

Hi All, So I had a fresh cycle in November, with my transfer on November 11. My husband and I had convinced ourselves I was pregnant because of all the symptoms I had, but I just tested yesterday as instructed and it was negative. Then my period started later that same morning. It’s devastating. It’s so hard to get your hopes up and have them dashed so many times in this process. And now to be bleeding and cramping worse than a normal period as well just adds insult to injury.

Sorry to read it was a negative for you. It’s so hard isn’t it. I had a chemical pregnancy earlier in the year and feel like I had similar feelings to you with my hope up because of the positives and then the crushing disappointment of them getting fainter. It must have been a shock for you seeing the negative. Be kind to yourself xxx

Thanks Applecart, it’s nice to hear from someone who’s been in a similar situation. I hope yours going right this time. Since this was our first try, could I ask you a question? Do they try anything different when you go again? We have an appointment with the doctor in 3 weeks but it seems ages away and the nurses won’t tell me anything. It would make me feel better to just have a plan, you know?

[Applecart]

Oh yea I know what you mean. It does depend a bit on your circumstances. We had a successful fresh transfer in 2020. My doctor said that she thought it was just luck for us and that eventually we would get another embryo that was normal and would develop as it should. We didn’t change anything for our second FET but then before our third (this last one) I took a course of antibiotics and then probiotics just incase there was something. I had a pocket of fluid on one scan pre transfer but it had gone by transfer day but the doctor prescribed the antibiotics just incase. Sadly I don’t think this pregnancy is going to continue either. Hopefully find out tomorrow but my beta hcg blood test results aren’t looking great and my symptoms disappeared overnight one day. It is frustrating not having much/anything to change but with 40% ish chance of success each time I guess it can just be a numbers game. The wait for the follow up appointment is hard xx

[AnnaBC]

Hi, my pregnancy test was negative this morning. I did it at 6:30am! I feel a bit lost at the moment. I am not sure if I am sad or disappointed. I have had 1 fresh transfer and 2 frozen ones so far. 2 frozen embryos left in storage. The next review appointment they had with our doctor was in January!!! so they ended up booking me with someone else for this afternoon. I don't even know what to ask them. Everytime they say they don't know why it hasn't worked, there are no tests they can do. Will they at least change the dose of my medication? Any tips on what I should ask are welcome.

[Applecart]

So sorry AnnaBC. It’s so hard when they have nothing to change. The only thing they have tried with me is a course of antibiotics and then probiotics but don’t think it has made a difference this time as I think we have had another miscarriage. In some ways you want something to be wrong don’t you so they can do something about it. Very frustrating. I’m sorry I have no advice but just wanted to reply xx

[LindaLu]

My transfer was cancelled. I will try again in a new year

[AmericanGirl]

Hi, my pregnancy test was negative this morning. I did it at 6:30am! I feel a bit lost at the moment. I am not sure if I am sad or disappointed. I have had 1 fresh transfer and 2 frozen ones so far. 2 frozen embryos left in storage. The next review appointment they had with our doctor was in January!!! so they ended up booking me with someone else for this afternoon. I don't even know what to ask them. Everytime they say they don't know why it hasn't worked, there are no tests they can do. Will they at least change the dose of my medication? Any tips on what I should ask are welcome.

I’m so sorry AnnaBC. It just sucks, doesn’t it? I’ve only had the one failed transfer so far and am waiting for my appointment with the doctor, but my cousin in America said that for her second transfer, she is going to do jabs every day for 3 weeks leading up to the transfer and then for the whole first trimester if it works. They were also going to do some transfusion to lower her immune response since they think her body might be fighting the embryo. I figured I would ask my doctor about both of those things. What did the doctor say to you yesterday?

[AmericanGirl]

My transfer was cancelled. I will try again in a new year

So sorry they canceled it. I’ll be right there with you in the new year trying again. Hopefully we both have better luck in 2024

[Applecart]

Sorry it got cancelled! It’s so disappointing, I had that in May xx

[AnnaBC]

Hi all, thanks for your supportive messages. The review appointment didn’t take place in the end and I was very annoyed. I ended up waiting in the TEAMS call for 25min with no one showing up. I then decided to call the admin team to find out what’s going on, only to find out they had rescheduled the appointment for the 7th December without telling me. And they couldn’t even tell me why or who rescheduled it. I now feel the 7th is too far away in the future. I want some answers and to make a plan but will just have to wait. I am with the Cheshire clinic in Daresbury by the way.
I am really hoping they don’t have a long waiting list for January.

@LindaLu why was your transfer cancelled? I experienced the same in August and was very very upset. I cried for days after that.

Something that surprises me is that they don’t do any blood tests before a transfer, to check if levels of vitamins is okay for example. Or a full blood count. I know levels of Vitamin D, folate are vital. There must be others too. I didn’t get offered embryo glue this time. And I forgot to ask them. Only remembered after the transfer…

[AmericanGirl]

That’s so annoying AnnaBC! Mine is still 2 weeks away, cause just want I need is another TWW. I hope they show up next time and that you get some answers.

By the way, I did embryo glue but it didn’t seem to help for me, but I’m not sure why they don’t do blood tests. I feel like the transfer is so unscientific compared to the rest of the process, don’t you?

[AnnaBC]

That’s so annoying AnnaBC! Mine is still 2 weeks away, cause just want I need is another TWW. I hope they show up next time and that you get some answers.

By the way, I did embryo glue but it didn’t seem to help for me, but I’m not sure why they don’t do blood tests. I feel like the transfer is so unscientific compared to the rest of the process, don’t you?

Well they called me yesterday, telling me they are changing the time of the appointment, altough the date is the same. I am hoping they don't cancel it altogether, the way things are going. I didn't give them a particularly positive review this time.
Some parts of the process have been very structured and scientific, and others not so much. I wish they were able to tell us why it hasn't worked and give us some hope for next time.

[AmericanGirl]

That’s so annoying AnnaBC! Mine is still 2 weeks away, cause just want I need is another TWW. I hope they show up next time and that you get some answers.

By the way, I did embryo glue but it didn’t seem to help for me, but I’m not sure why they don’t do blood tests. I feel like the transfer is so unscientific compared to the rest of the process, don’t you?

Well they called me yesterday, telling me they are changing the time of the appointment, altough the date is the same. I am hoping they don't cancel it altogether, the way things are going. I didn't give them a particularly positive review this time.
Some parts of the process have been very structured and scientific, and others not so much. I wish they were able to tell us why it hasn't worked and give us some hope for next time.

Yeah, in some ways I want them to tell me exactly what went wrong, but then in other ways I want to hear that everything is right and it was just dumb luck. They can’t win really! Not until I have a baby, you know?

I feel like even as I type this, I’m having arguments against myself in my head. That’s how this process has all been for me - me warring against myself emotionally.