My IVF Drugs

The drugs side of things does seem to be a bit of a palava this time round so I though I would share a picture with you...

What on earth is an arcuate uterus?

Had second scan today and there is an improvement on the response from the last cycle so things are looking up. Still not great but there are 5 follicles around 15mm and 4 hovering around the 10mm mark which hopefully should catch up. Im only on day 5 of stimms so I have a bit left to go.

I was also told that I have an arcuate uterus. Yep, I had no idea either. The top part apparently dips down a bit and depending on the degree of dip into the uterus can cause fertility problems. I was told by my ever so communicative consultant that mine was "a variant of normal and so it is not a significant issue". However, he only told me that after rabbiting on about an operation and the uterus not forming properly, various measurements etc etc. I dont think he had any idea how worried he was making me!

I have a spa day booked tomorrow with a friend and am looking forward to that. Perfect timing to have something relaxing to look forward to.

All set to go - round 2!

Has first scan yesterday and got the go ahead to start on friday. So glad that I dont have to down regulate first, but it means that it all happens so quickly. I am already booked in for Egg Collection in 2 weeks time on the 28th October.

I had 10 follicles sitting ready and they have doubled my dose of Gonal-F from last time in an attempt to motivate them to do something! In fact the consultant said "Lets see how many of those we can recruit this time"; I liked the idea of that!

I understand doubling the dose is a bit naughty and against the rules the PCT set for funded patients under 35. Im only supposed to have 150IU apparantly but they seem to think that might be a waste of time for me since I only stimulated 4 follicles last time and so 300IU is justified.

So, start injecting Friday and 2nd scan is on Tuesday, fingers crossed!

Heron Poo

This is why I am losing my mind...

When driving home on Friday I saw a heron flying past. As it came close it dropped its load, so to speak, and heron poo splattered my windscreen.

Stupid as I am, I thought that it might be some kind of sign; like a stork dropping a baby and that perhaps we wouldnt have to go through IVF after all as by some miracle I would be pregnant before hand.

They should lock me up right now!!! :-)

Feeling anxious about staying relaxed

Crazy isnt it!?!

I am now finding myself being anxious about trying to relax and not think about the whole IVF thing in an attempt to get my body to work in a timely fashion this month so we can get started. Ahhhhhh!!!

At least I know that for me, any physical, emotional or mental stress interferes with my hormones and consequently my cycles and ability to ovulate. So no doubt also has a massive effect on whether I can conceive or not. Im doomed!

I can completely see why people say to stop trying and it will happen - i.e. no longer stressed about it. But in practice that is absolutely impossible. Its like giving up on a dream. If you think there is a chance then of course you are going to try. I cant imagine how you can stop trying. After IVF failed the last time, I definitely relaxed a great deal about it for the last 9 months, buts its always at the back of your mind. You cant stop watching your cycles. 

I think the only way you can truy relax about it is if you have been told it is impossible and so there is then no point trying. Or it has gone on for so long, you really have accepted that its not going to happen and move on to alternatives such as adoption.

So, to think positively, I am trying to eliminate stress for the next two months, though its easier said than done.  I have actually told my line manager this time and she seems quite supportive and understands I need to scale things back a bit. I will climb no mountains, I learnt my lesson last month! And I will try not to engage in anything that could be emotionally challenging, not sure how yet though.

Fingers crossed!

I walked up a mountain and then failed to ovulate

Doh doh and doh again!

I was gearing up to start in September and it was all going so well until.. I walked up Snowdon. I can only guess the physical stress meant my body protested and couldnt muster up the hormone peak to trigger ovulation. Therefore the big O didnt happen until day 29 and that means that we cant do it next cycle as hubby will be away for the weekend around the time of egg collection as he is starting a masters degree course!

Ahhhhh I knew as soon as he said he would be away for a weekend in September that it would cause problems. I have waited 9 months since the last attempt and had just psyched myself up to start again and Septemeber was fixed in my head. I was so upset. I dont know if I can bring myself to do it in October or whether to say forget the whole thing until next year!

So, rather than news of starting injections etc, I'll leave you with a picture of the view from the top of Snowdon (the highest mountain in Wales for those of you not from the UK!).

Signed, sealed and ready to go.

Consent signing appointment went fine today. All forms are signed and all tests are now up to date and they confirmed that we will be doing the short protocol this time so no need for down regulating (yay). At least that means that the whole thing should be shorter.

All that we need to do now is ring on day 1 of next cycle and off we go! Im not sure if I feel optiistic yet or not? I guess it will start to seem more real once I start with the injections again and then it will all come flooding back!

We are going for a week away in a pretty little cottage in north Wales in a fortnights time so should have some relaxing time before it all starts. Hopefully that also means I wont be too stressed, ovulation wont be delayed and I might even have a reasonable length cycle; stranger things have happened!!!