3rd IVF Cycle, 1st FET sorry for long post.

[Dream32]

So this is my first post since signing up last year. I have always found the site so helpful and heartwarming. Here's my story and I hope my experiences can help others.

So me and my partner had been ttc for five years we should of seeked help earlier but we started our fertility joinery last year and we had our fresh cycle Sept/Oct 2017. I am fit healthy, I didn't want to obsess on diet although my diet is generally good, I drank proxeed vitamins, folic acid, iron, b12, vit d and vit c. I exercise regular and I drank alcohol up until egg collection which was just be odd glass on wine every now and agin nothing excessive. I went dye test and one tube was slighting blocked then I started my first cycle. I was on Buserelin and Gonal F I had 10 eggs collected, 6 fertilised and one made it to 5 day blast top grade which was tansferred.

The egg collection was horrendous I was in so much pain after going to the toilet was hellish I have never experienced anything like it.

After a very stressful tww we have our first ever positive test on otd, we did it again and again. We were pregnant, it was such a happy time. I was booked in for my first scan and it was everytime to us. A few days later I just had a feeling I did a test and it was negative, I totally freaked out I rang the clinic the nurse shouted at me for testing again. The next day I started to bleed and it was game over. The most upsetting time of our lives.

In Jan 2017 I had endo stratch and NK Cell test which showed I had a high raised NK cells, I proceeded with my next cycle the gonal f was changed to Menopur at a high doe and I started to take presnisolone and cyclogest pessaries. This time I concentrated more on diet and I did not drink alcohol through this cycle. This time I started to take Coq10 in my vitamins, I got 13 eggs 8 10 fertilised one top grade blast which was transferred and 4 blast which were frozen. Egg collection this time round wasn't as painful and the aftermath wasn't too bad. I think I was just unlucky the first time round.

Although I had remained positive throughout both cycles there was a lot of doubt with my second, I started acupuncture quite late on just before transfer which I loved and found relaxing. Unfortunately this turned out to be another chemical pregnancy, nothing can prepare you for that moment you see that second line on a test then before you know it your entire world comes crashing down.

From this moment I did not want to started another cycle without investigating with more test, so I paid for the blood tests for factor 5 etc all came back ok. Over the last three years I have struggled with bloating etc I have always been told by doctors it was IBS. I mentioned this to my consultant and he booked me in for a Laparoscopy which I had in July on endometriosis was found and taken away from my bladder, uterine and cervix. My consultant said this could of been a factor for chemical pregnancies or it could just been down to bad luck.

So here I am, I am very much into my FET cycle I have been taking buserelin for two weeks, I had my first scan yesterday which was fine and I started my Progynova tomorrow. I have never stopped taking all my vitamins, I have one black coffee in the morning throughout the day I will have lemon and ginger, peppermint or green tea. My diet is good with some treats thrown in because this process is hard enough and I haven't drank since my buserelin and I kinda cut alcohol out really since my last cycle.I have been doing acupuncture from the beginning of this cycle very week it is costly but it relaxes me. I was not prepared for this cycle like my others because I was told this was the best time to do to after having endometriosis removed . I had another endo stratch and my tubes are fine. Although I had two weeks off work after my cp's and two weeks for my op. I have a very stressful job, it's physically dangerous, I work shifts I work in a environment where if I was put on other duties I would be asked endless if I was pregnant. There are two females at work one who announced her pregnancy last week which I took really badly I ended crying in the toilets so I went to the doctors who has signed me off for this whole cycle. I feel like a massive relief not being here, I have never put myself first and I actually said out loud to myself I CAN DO THIS.

This can be a lonely process, this site gives me hope, advice and dreams I just want to say thank you. x

[E_05]

So sorry to read all you've been through, it's a hard thing to do but I'm glad you've been able to put yourself first for this cycle. Like you've said this is an emotionally and physically draining journey and we have to look after ourselves. It sounds to me like your already doing everything right in preparation for your FET, wishing you lots of luck xx

[Dream32 in reply to E_05]

Thank you and congratulations on your BFP. If there's any tips or advice you can give for FET that would be very much appreciated x

[E_05 in reply to Dream32]

I pretty much did what you've already said, Acupunture, vitamins, and a healthy diet but also didn't completely deprive myself of something if I fancied it. I drank the pomegranate smoothie to help with womb lining and then after transfer ate pineapple including the core and Brazil nuts to support implantation x

[Dream32 in reply to E_05]

I have Brazil nuts at the ready and I hate pineapple but I'm going have to give it a go. I've never heard of the pomegranate so I'll give that a whirl although my acupuncturist says I can't eat or drink anything cold so I'll make sure it's room temperature. Thank you x

[itsworks17]

Thanks for sharing and good luck 😌🤞

[Dream32 in reply to itsworks17]

Thank you x

[Hannah_J]

Hi dear,

I'm really sorry to hear about your rollercoaster( I wish you all the luck in the world! You are doing a great job with preparation to successful cycle! I hope you will have all the needed emotional strength and support. But there's one thing that should be changed. You mustn't go through the so much stress. If it's possible, could you change your job? Or at least try to avoid any stressful situations?

[Dream32 in reply to Hannah_J]

It's definitely been a rollercoaster, my partner is my rock I don't know where I'd be without him . Work is stressful it could be better but they aren't very supportive as they have been with others in my position not sure why so that's why? So I had no choice but go the doctors and I hve been signed off for all this cycle and my doctor is really supportive. I already feel like a different person by just not being at work, hopefully this will help. Thank you x

[baby2016]

Hello Dream32 😊 I read your post and parts of it felt like I'd written it! Apart from the endo side of things we have similar stories.

I too worked in a job that sounds very similar to yours, and the constant 'are you pregnant' questions whilst I was on desk duties drove me mad. To the point that after my 3rd miscarriage it was one of the big factors in me leaving that job that I once loved, but felt the shift work, the danger and all the questions were not helping with me trying to have a baby. I'm now in a completely different industry that's safe, no shifts and a brilliant work life balance, however I've continued to miscarriage and have chemicals.

I've taken all the tablets you and and accupuncture along with reflexology, but my main factor is now age and poor sperm quality of my hubbys. I'm now pursuing DE down the private route, and as much as the NHS were good to me my one regret is that I just didn't go straight to private for ivf with my own at the start of all this journey as feel the quality of care, questions, investigations is much smoother and quicker than NHS.

I've also got high NK cells of which have had conflicting reports as to wether to take the steriods or not, but for my upcoming DE cycle we will be continuing with them.

I want to wish you all the look for your upcoming cycle. Sounds like you've got some good quality blasts there and I really hope one of those sticks for you xxx

[Dream32]

The constant pregnant questions are unbearable I went back to work in my second ttw week last cycle and I lasted three days and I had to go off sick because of that reason.

I'm still not sure about the steroids to be honest, raised NK cells seems indicate an inflammation of some kind and that is what needs addressing not taking steroids to cover it up almost. I believe my endometriosis was the reason for my raised NK cells. Although I'll be still taking those steroids this time round though.

I feel very lucky to have been funded through the NHS financially we couldn't of done it privately, but I totally what you mean when I go the clinic I feel like I'm on a conveyor belt.

Good luck on your journey I wish you all the very best, don't give up hope and miracles do happen x