Melbourne IVF - my first cycle

[runnermum]

hi there,
I have posted a few times here but now I am starting IVF and its long journey. I have a beautiful 4 year old boy concieved naturally and tried for 20 months for a second, so hence IVF. I have had a lap for endo in Oct last year, still no luck...

I have been on the pill for 10 days now....I get daily headaches and some slight nausea, but not too bad so far. I have had my first nurse appointment from the Ringwood clinic, very nice nurse named Anna, taught me how to use the injection needle and nasal spray.

Anyway, just LOVE this forum and its wonderful support so wanted to share my journey and offer my support to other women as well.

talk to you all again soon,
Runnermum

[MargOZ]

Hi runnermum, just wanted to duck in and say good luck with your IVF journey - here's hoping a it's a short and successful one for you and your family.

Take care,
Marg

[Minky]

Runnermum,
Good luck my little one is a blessed MIVF babe, I wish you all the luck in the world
Bec

Hi Runnermum!

Good luck with your cycle!

I'm also at the Ringwood satelite clinic. Anna is one of the most wonderful nurses and has been my saviour through many cycles. Greg is my FS, they are a wonderful team

I hope you have some success with them!

[Melbo]

Good luck, Runnermum. We are happy MIVF patients too and conceived on our first cycle. I hope the same thing happens for you.

[runnermum]

thanks ladies - I can only wish this is one journey I want to be short.......but really I don't want to get my hopes up because it will just hurt even more. I am starting the Nasal Spray this weekend.....what side effects did you ladies get (if any)...?

Sorry to ask but I have Jim Tstalas as my Gyno, but a couple of ladies have mentioned Greg as their FS - what does this stand for?

I hear Jim is wonderful

FS - Fertility specialist.

Synarel can give varying side effects like headaches, funny taste in mouth, runny nose...they are the only ones I got, but they weren't unbearable.

Good luck with your cycle!

[sonya1]

i have been on Synarel for 4 weeks now and my side effects ( apart from gross taste down throat) is headaches which have now cleared up and hot flushes, so much that i sleep with the upright fan blowing on me. its not really bad at all, quite manageable.

[runnermum]

thanks for the replies ladies - sonya -why do you have to be on Synarel for so long ? I have been told to start this Saturday and take it for about 2 weeks at most.

I started to bleed yesterday while on the combined pill - I have called the nurses and they do not seem too worried - it is light, but more than spotting. I have never been on the pill before. Anyone else get this? I stop taking it in about a week.

hardest thing is just keeping calm, especially when my 4 year old son with Asperger's Sydndrome is having a bad day. I have taken to reading and slowly incorporating Buddism practices in my daily life....and find this helps. Running, cycling and swimming helps too (I am a triathlete/runner) - however it can also be frustrating as I have no real sporting goals at the moment (for obvious reasons!).

of course, this forum is just wonderful, and I think I will be visting it everyday to remind myself i am not alone in this journey. thank you.

[runnermum]

The bleeding has stopped, thank goodness. I start the Nasel Spray tomorrow - oh, joy! Actually, I try to look at it as one step closer to having another baby.

how is everyone else? hope you all have a good weekend.

[shazld]

Good Luck runnermum, hopefully your journey is a short one!!

Shazz.
xx

[runnermum]

thank you very much for your support!

Oh that's great news!! Yes, definately one step closer!!

Look forward to hearing how it all goes!

[runnermum]

well, had my Ist scan today and my lining is nice and thin so away we go with the FSH injections for 7 days and then another scan...

However, now I am scared that I may produce too many follicles like one of the other ladies has just posted and then the cycle was cancelled.......how horrible and frustrating..god, this is hard on the emotions.

Question: If everything goes well and I get to the Embryo Transfer....how many days does it usually take for the embryo to implant or establish itself? I want to know how long to 'take it easy for' as I am such an active person -it is VERY hard just to relax physically.

Question 2 - How long does the embryo transfer procedure take? I don't need to under anaesthia (sorry spelling!) do I? My hubby will be away at this stage overseas and wondering what to do with my toddler during the procedure.... I have heard that there is child care at the Melbourne Royal Women's Hospital?

thanks everyone -this forum is invaluable to me and so supportive !!

[anney]

Hi runner,
Remember me? I live in blackburn. well done on getting this far.

on your questions. implantation usually occurs 6 to 10 days after ovulation and when doing IVF your egg pick up day = ovulation day. so if you have 5 day blast put back then they should implant in the next few days after transfer but if you have 3 days embies put back, you wait a bit longer for implantation.
transfer is just like a pap smear really, just takes a bit longer and is done in a chair with your legs up in stirrups (or it is at Monash) so no anaesthesia. I have heard of people taking their young kids to transfer with them but I would not do it myself. You would only need to leave your DS with someone for 15 minutes probably so if there is some kind of childcare, that would be good or perhaps talk someone into coming with you and they can just sit with DS while you are having the transfer.
good luck with the FSH.

[runnermum]

hi there,
I had another scan today. Been on the FSH injections for 1 week now....doctor Greg Fox said that I have 6 good looking eggs and probably a couple more to come by early next week. That is good news SO FAR. I will probably have OPU on Wednesday or Thurs.

What was the advice to your partner about when is best to produce sperm prior to OPU day? 2 days before or more? We were always under the impression to 'clear out stale sperm' (sorry if that sounds gross but cannot think of how else to say it!) about 3 to 4 days before the 'best sperm' is needed (on OPU day).... what do you think?

I am getting dizzy in the last day or so - is this the excess hormones? Some mild headaches too.

how did others feel after their OPU procedure?

Congratulations! Sounds like everything is going wonderfully!

Q1 - Transfer takes 10-15 minutes, you won't need anything sedatives or anything, it's all done in a chair, Greg will show you the embryo on screen, check all is ok, and it's transferred in with a tiny little cathetar. Minimal discomfort.

Q2 - DH AND DS always come with me, and I've seen plenty of others take their children in with them, in fact, Greg is quite encouraging and doesn't see it as a problem. We always put DS in his pram and he sits behind me with a book, so he doesn't see anything anyway. Greg chats with the 3 of us about what is going on, chats with DS and I like that we have that relationship with him (but I have been seeing him for nearly 10 years!).

DH was told to ejaculate 48 hours prior to giving sample, so they get fresh on the day.

I had no problems with EPU, and I was awake and watched the whole thing, Greg talked me through it and what was going on. I recovered within an hour and went home, just felt a little crampy for the next 24 hours. Or you can be knocked out if you choose..up to you!

Good luck! Sounds like it's all going beautifully!

[Sarz]

Hi Runnermum,

Just wanted to pop in a say congratualtions on getting this far, sounds like everything is going fantastically! I am also with MIVF (Ringwood) and my doctor is also Greg, he is a wonderful man! I only just started Synarel this morning so I am a bit behind you. Looking forward to hear how you go and hearing about what I should expect in the next few weeks! I will keep my fingers crossed for you!

Sarz