Thank you so much girls for all of your lovely support before my appointment yesterday, I can't tell you how much it helped. I have a feeling this may be an epic post, so apologies in advance! We went for our appointment at 8am yesterday and saw the lovely nurse, who knew we had to get to the wedding so she got us in bang on time and made sure we grabbed the nurse for the blood test immediately afterwards. The appointment was great, the nurse was very reassuring so it wasn’t too scary, though facing all the needles and the processes of the injections did make it hit home that this was quite a big deal. I’d been a bit of a wreck on Thursday, very emotional and woke up yesterday feeling as if I was facing an exam or an awful interview. I felt sick and so nervous and in turn I was worried that stress could affect my FSH. We were told that an FSH of 10 or below was good and we’d go ahead with the IVF this cycle, 11-14 and I’d probably be re-tested next month and 15 or over and we’d be referred for a chat about egg donation and that I wouldn’t be able to have IVF with my own eggs. It was that last category I was terrified about since I’d had a result of 7 last year and a result of 11 in March. Anyway, we managed to get away by about 9 and raced home to see if the drugs had arrived. They had and our lovely neighbour had brought them in and put them in the fridge. We whizzed about and got into our wedding finery pretty quickly. We then had to do the first injection – they’d said we should do it and if my FSH was too high we’d just stop and if it was good we go on. We took a little while over it to make sure it was right and it hurt a bit more than I thought it would, although just a sting as the fluid went in, but glad to get it done. Weird though not knowing if it was to my one and only injection or the start of many.

So, we got on the way and the sat nav said we were going to get to the wedding 20 minutes after it started. We were gutted but knew that we could probably shave a little off that time. As we were driving the bride called me on my mobile! She said she was running late and we knew then that we had a chance of getting there. We raced there and arrived at about 10 minutes after the ceremony was due to start. I flew out of the car while DH parked, ran in and saw the bridesmaids who told me that I’d just beaten the bride there! I legged it into the ceremony room (and of course everyone turned around expectantly thinking it was the bride!), sat down and tried to recover in time that I could do the reading without gibbering! OH also just made it in before the ceremony began, so we were chuffed to pieces. I did the reading, with the bride and groom and me all beaming at each other that we’d made it. The ceremony was brilliant, though I think we were mostly just shell shocked that we’d actually made it there!

The wedding was wonderful and the celebrations were just what I needed to stop me from just sitting and staring at the phone, waiting for the call. We had the entire meal and I’d heard nothing, so in the end I rang and one of the nurses said she’d get the result and call me back. More waiting and no phone call, so we went into a different room for the speeches. I was hiding out at the back in case my phone rang (on silent) which it did half way through the best man’s speech, so I snuck out. The nurse told me she had the result and she’d been speaking to the consultant. My heart dropped to my boots, but she then said my result had come back at 11 again and that the consultant felt that we should go ahead with the IVF this cycle, since although it hadn’t got any better, they didn’t want to risk it getting worse! I was so pleased! Although 11 is a little high, it’s not awful and I’ve read of plenty of people who are successfully treated with IVF with that level so we’re just delighted that after over 2 years we actually have a chance now of becoming parents. DH had snuck out as he saw me go so I was mouthing to him that we were going ahead and when I put the phone down we just stood and hugged each other to bits. We snuck back in and as we did the bride looked over to me and obviously wanted to know how we’d got on, I discretely put my thumbs up and she just beamed at me, I was so touched. So ladies, this really is it! I daren’t get my hopes up too much as I know how many hurdles we had to get over in the next few weeks, but at least we have a chance. They put me on a whopping dose of Menapur to stimulate my ovaries, so I’m nervous about what that will do to me, but I’m just going to take things a day at a time.

If you’re still with me, thank you for reading! It’s been very cathartic to write it down and if things turn out well, I’m sure it will be good to have a record of what’s gone on. We had the most wonderful day yesterday, the wedding was amazing and everything turned out well, but today I feel as if I’ve got jet lag and have just spent most of it since we got home snoozing on the sofa. Thank you again for all of your support and I’ll keep you posted as we go along.

Daisy

xxx

DG

Thrilled to read your post!! Was thinking of you yesterday, and it really sounds as though the day couldn't have gone any better. I'm so glad the consultant took the view that you should go ahead with the treatment.

I also have to say - what an amazing friend you have in the bride!! I know some ladies who have been - ahem - a little self obsessed on their big day, and wouldn't have been so supportive and wonderful. Really glad you got to do the reading as she is clearly a good friend.

Best of luck with it. I really, really hope the next few weeks go to plan.

This won't be to everyone's taste, but you might find this CD useful:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/IVF-Support-Relaxation-Self-Hypnosis/dp/1906044104/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247336929&sr=8-2 (if the link doesn't work, it's "IVF Support Relaxation and Hypnosis by Joanne Scurr)

Even though I am not yet at the IVF stage (we're on the waitlist for IUI), I really like using it to calm down and relax. I have never been into hypnotherapy or anything like it, but it's all about relaxation and positive visualisation - heck, I'll try anything in this baby making lark!!

xx

Thank you Mrs D - it really was quite a day! You're right the bride is one in a million. We did everything we could to try to keep all our troubles away from both her and her new HB but she was just so lovely and involved, wanting to know how things were going and really rooting for us. I wouldn't have blamed her for having a complete bridezilla meltdown with all the hassle but her and her HB was just so great and really pleased that we were able to get there.

Thank you too for the CD recommendation. I'm hoping to borrow a similar sounding one from my acupuncturist but if I can't I'll definitely get hold of that one. I know just what you mean, you end up trying anything with this LTTTC lark! If I had a spare kitchen sink to throw at it I'd do that too!

When do you get to do your first IUI? I hope you don't have to wait too long (or that your get a lovely BFP before you get there!).

x

Daisy - what a roller coaster of a day! I had tears in my eyes reading the bit about the phone call and the bride rooting for you. I am so glad it's going ahead. I will have everything crossed for you and your hubby XXXxxx

Like Kaycee I too had tears in my eyes as I read with the anticipation of what your result was. I am so very pleased you have been able to go ahead with it all and am truely hoping it results in your bfp. Im sure you still have a small way to go but stick with it and stay strong xxx

Grrrr - my reply got eaten!!!

DG - We start IUI in September. I was disappointed when they told us in March we'd have to wait so long, but the plan for the summer has been to get ourselves into tip top condition. So... I'm back at yoga, MrD even runs from time to time, I've changed to a less stressful job, we're popping vitamin pills, I'm keeping my accupuncturist in business and I've even started the hypnosis CD.

If we manage to get our miracle BFP this summer, then we'll be delighted, but if not then we want to be all set for IUI - basically MrD's swimmers need to perk up and get some sat nav!!

Pretty sure that with our healthcare trust we do four rounds of IUI before IVF. To be honest, I'd rather go straight to IVF. The stats for IUI are never great, but for my local unit in my age range they are just 3%...

Sounds like an eventful day hun - fingers crossed for ya.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

What an eventful day!

Sadly i'm sure u'll get a bit more use to the injections, but hopefuly only for this one cycle!!!

Fingers crossed for you, Dh, and the beany ur about to start growin!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

aw DG I have done nothing but htink of you all weekend and am in tears of happiness as I am typing this, I am so pleased you can go ahead with the ivf you have no idea lol, i am overjoyed for you and your oh and glad you had such a wonderful weekend, it'll be a fab stroy to tell your little one when they get up a bit, what is life without a little adventure along the way, it makes it all the more exciting.

So how long does it take before egg collection is it two weeks form now??? aw i'm just so chuffed for you this is it mrs!!!!! You look after yourself and relax and get those eggs ready for fertilisation.

love you loads chick xx

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!

Absolutely fantastic news DG. I was racing through your post thinking come on FSH Levels please be okay and yay you are good to go!!!

This has to be it for you now my love, I just feel it in my bones. Can't wait to follow your success over the next few weeks xxxxxxx

Thank you for your lovely replies girls. It's all felt like a bit of a rollercoaster but so pleased to be moving forwards. Will let you know what happens as we go along.

Moonbeam and Lilac you are lovely popping back. Hope so hard I'll be joining you over in PG soon!

xxx

me too chick I cant wait xx

hi DG
so sorry not to have been on for a wee while - lots been going on. But just to say a big 'YEY!' to you and well done on getting started. Sending you all my best wishes, hopes and prayers for the coming weeks. xxxxx

Hi, sorry I missed this yesterday-i wondered how you were getting on and I'm so pleased that you had good results and that you are getting the IVF with your own eggs. It sounds like the wedding was great too.
Everything crossed for this cycle,
H.xxx

What a day indeed. Your friend, the bride, sounds like an absolute gem, thinking of you and what is going on in your life on her special day.
So glad that you got to their wedding in time.

It really does sound like a rollercoaster of emotions but what great news that, despite your worry over your FSH, you have started the treatment.

Keeping everything crossed for you that everything goes well and you'll be telling us about your BFP soon.

Good luck with it all

x

Thank you again girls for all of your support, I honestly don't know what I would do without you and I have a feeling the next four weeks or so could see some ups and downs so I'm so glad you'll all be out there!

Moonbeam - I didn't answer you re egg collection. We're booked into theatre for 27th July - 2 weeks today!!! I hope so hard that there will be eggs to collect! All being well we then have embie transfer later that week. All seems so far away at the moment though - only just starting stims tonight (which I'm a bit nervous about).

Mrs Bambino, thank you for your message. I thought I hadn't seen you about much since I got back from hols and had a look back through your posts. I'm so sorry I missed your post about your AMH while I was away. Sounds as if we're in a similar boat. I don't think I've had my AMH measured but my FSH is saying the same as you - that I'm at risk of a deceased ovarian reserve. How are things with you now? Do you have a plan going forward? I'm just really hoping that the high meds they have me on will produce some eggs - it only takes one!!

xxx

good luck with the stims tonight chick and iwll keep the 27th in my mind so that I can say a wee prayer for you and your eggs, oh DG I am so happy for you it'll drag but'll fly in too xxxx

Oh Daisy Girl! I am so so pleased for you and your oh :) What fantastic news. What an eventful day but soooo worth it. It really was a lovely story of a day. I have absolutely everything x for you and send you a huge hug :) good luck! Thinking of you xxxxxx

WOW what a day, sounds eventful!

So pleased your able to go ahead with treatment. Ive got everything crossed for you, good luck and big hugs xxxxxx