Only 3 Follicles after 8 days on Gonal F..disappointed..

[Junegirl01]

I have been on Gonal F injections for 8 days now and went for my 2nd scan this morning. I have 3 follicles. The nurse said its not "great" and then next breath said don't worry it only takes 1 !! I feel so emotional today but should be trying to stay positive but I can't help worry! First IVF treatment and wanted it all to go as good as possible. Looking for words of wisdom or advice?

[Hidden]

Hi

The point of the scan is to see how you are responding to the drugs, and to tweak your drug regime if needed.

Whilst it feels a low number, if they got 3 eggs and they all fertilised and remained healthy, that would give you something to transfer.

The other thing that they can do, if they only harvest a small number of eggs is to use ICSI, which because of how the egg and semen are introduced, gives the possibility of a higher fertilisation rate as they pick the healthiest sperm and insert them. That happened to me after my first round when I only had 3 eggs.

IF you aren't successful this round, this will also give your drs lots of information, which should enable them to tailor your treatment for the next round. But hopefully you own't need this.

Good luck

FG x

[Junegirl01]

Hi Flowergirl thanks for your reply this morning was my second scan since starting stimulation, I went on Wednesday and that's when they needed to double my dose but I still only have the 3. I know 3 is better than 0 but I'm panicking now. I have to continue taking my higher dose until Monday when I go for another scan but they said its unlikely anymore will develop.

The nurse didn't say anything about the egg retrieval not going ahead and she said its likely to be weds/thurs but reading things on here scare me.

X

[Hidden]

No worries, please try not to stress too much. They will do whatever they can to get the maximum number of eggs from you. I was a really low responder too so know it is stressful. The fact that they are continuing is what you need to focus on, and getting through each stage, rather than worrying about what might/might not happen. (So much easier to write than do). It's also not a competition, and the medical advances are amazing, so they don't need the massive numbers like in the past.

There are phases of your treatment, that reading about other people's stories doesn't help, as you take on their issues as well as your own - I'm very good at doing this. So really do focus on what you know about yourself.

FG x

[Hidden]

Hiya

I've read your post and I was wondering how your scan went today? I have been for my third scan today and have to continue on the injections for another 2 days and go back on Wednesday, im feeling a bit glum at the moment about it all.. How do you feel emotionally with the drugs and everything??? I just don't feel like me at the moment and feel a little isolated..

Love Sarah xxx

[Junegirl01]

Hiya Sarah

Scan went ok 2 follicles are ready & I have 1 that's nearly there. So 3 at a good size & 3 eggs hopefully! They have booked my egg collection for Thursday ! So that's good. There is also 1 smaller follicle lagging behind so I'm hoping that might be bigger by Thursday. Keeping everything crossed.

What dose drugs are you on and how long have you been on stimulation? Today is my day 11 on Gonal F

I know exactly how you feel Friday was an awful day for me i cried all day and I was so nervous this morning but I feel positive again today & have just decided that I've to take each day & hurdle at a time. It's such a rollercoaster!!! Completely understand how your feeling

Xx

[Junegirl01]

How you getting on Sarah? x

[Hidden in reply to Junegirl01]

Hiya

Sorry I did not get back sooner, I had the egg collection on Friday and they got 13 eggs in he end, 11 of which fertilised. I have just had a call from the hospital and they are taking us to day 5 as they are all of similar quality, they tell me this is a good position to be in and will increase my chances, I need old the increases as possible as I'm 38!!

How did you get on?

Xxxx

[Junegirl01]

That's brilliant is that having so many fertilised eggs is a great position to be in and blastocyst will help determine the strong ones. Keep positive sure it will all be fine.

I had egg collection last Thursday 5 eggs, 2 fertilised and had both embryos transferred on day 2. Just a waiting game now for 2 weeks.

All the best to you x

[Hidden]

Hiya

How are you feeling??

I had my transfer yesterday and then later on that night started sneezing constantly all evening with hayfeever so I now have it in my head that I have sneezed the little guy out :o(( although im assured this cannot happen.. I have a feeling the next 2 weeks are going to be very long..

xxx

[Junegirl01]

Hiya

Don't worry you defo can't sneeze them out although all sorts runs through your head doesn't it? How many embryos did you end up with? How many did you have transferred? What grade?

I'm ok felt bit rough since Tuesday just tired, mood swings & then started with sore throat. Was told that the pessarys can make you feel crap so it must be them.

Xxx

[Junegirl01]

Hiya

Don't worry you defo can't sneeze them out although all sorts runs through your head doesn't it? How many embryos did you end up with? How many did you have transferred? What grade?

I'm ok felt bit rough since Tuesday just tired, mood swings & then started with sore throat. Was told that the pessarys can make you feel crap so it must be them.

Xxx

[Junegirl01]

Hiya

Don't worry you defo can't sneeze them out although all sorts runs through your head doesn't it? How many embryos did you end up with? How many did you have transferred? What grade?

I'm ok felt bit rough since Tuesday just tired, mood swings & then started with sore throat. Was told that the pessarys can make you feel crap so it must be them.

Xxx

[Hidden]

Hiya

Because it had gone to stage 5 blastocyst and was off good quality they only put one in, I left the decision to them as they are the experts, I have 5 frozen too which im so pleased about as I did not want to go through the whole thing again as I have found it most unpleasant.

I have had a sore throat since I started the whole IVF process and swollen sore boobs too :o(( I have to say I have been on the cyclogest pessaries for 6 days now and I've felt better taking them. what kind are you on?

Im keeping my fingers crossed for us both hun xxxx

[Junegirl01]

That's fantastic stay positive if they left them to blastocyst and at the end of that they were good quality that's really positive.

I'm on cyclogest progesterone 400mg what abut you? Xxx

[missjanemarple]

Just reading you post and felt like I was reading my own thoughts! I had my second scan yesterday and was told the same by a very cold and disconnected nurse, whom came across as jaded and hardened to emotional patients. Actually it was worse as only 2 follicles. Heart broken doesn't even touch it!

[Junegirl01]

Oh no!! have they increased your medication dose? Do you have any

Smaller ones or is it the two? The only thing I can say from my experience is it really does only take that 1 egg, is this your first IVF?

[missjanemarple]

Hi junegirl01-yes first ivf and has been far more overwhelming than I had been prepared for. The nurse gave very little information and I was so blindsided by the news that any fight I had left to ask questions just evaporated. But I think it is just the 2 and am not sure of the size. We go back tomorrow for another scan but am dreading it. Feels like the end of the road for what has been such a long, drawn out process. No change in the medication which seems odd. No blood tests either, just 2 ultra sound scans. Do you know if this is this normal? We are nhs patients and only have 1 shot at this so the pressure is on. Seems as though there is more of a tailored approach at the private clinics. This experience feels like everyone gets the same mess irrespective of how you might be responding to them. I am trying to read positive stories but I can't shake off this fear that tomorrow will be even more depressing. Will try and remind myself of quality rather than quantity but is hard. Thanks for responding. Feels such a lonely time.

[Junegirl01]

Hi - wow your treatment from nurses sounds worse than mine was what area hospital is it? I find it very strange that they haven't altered your medication what dose are you on?

I totally agree that the you can never prepare for this process it's a massive rollercoaster !! I was nervous for every appointment and no matter what anyone said to me I still felt the same. Although I did try to remain as calm and positive as possible as I didn't want to mess anything up myself.

It really is quality over quantity as immature eggs don't mainly survive to fertalisation anyway so them 2 you have maybe just what you need. I know what you mean about feeling lonely but Just see what tomorrow brings for you it's not over until the very end just try

remember that

[missjanemarple]

Thank you for replying.

Went in today and saw another nurse who was a but better but very tern. The good news is that another follicle has appeared so a bit more positive today. I was so nervous I thought I was going to be sick during the scan!

I've been on 300 units of gonal from the very beginning. Seems so odd to have a pre-defined amount which isn't adapted to your progress. Plus no blood tests, not sure if that tis standard. Can't see how a one fits all policy can be that effective.

Thanks again for your positive words. Really helpful and lovely to hear.

Been such a long day so I will say nite nite.

X

[marchie]

Did you ladies fall pregant