New & terrified!

[Becs]

Just wanted to say Hi to you all. Have been reading the messages over the last few weeks and you all seem to support each other really well. My hubby and I have just found out we need ICSI to stand any chance at all of having a baby. Feel very odd, fluctuating between floods of tears and denial - is this normal? <br><br>Also all the literature Ive read terrifies me - is the egg collection as bad as it sounds?<br><br>Can anyone recommend a good unit in London or any to actively avoid? We are getting all the literature now - so many different statistics and so much money. Still it will be so worth it if it works.<br><br>Sorry I seem to have really babbled on here. Hope to get to know some of you - and learn all your abbreviations!!<br><br>Good luck all.<br>Becs x

[Tracy]

Hi Becks and everyone,<br><br>I am also new to all this. I started 'sniffing' on Monday and was so scared of starting the whole process that I was visibly shaking in the loos at work when I first sniffed! We have made a decision not to tell anyone about what we're doing, so work are completely oblivious to my plight. <br><br>I feel I have noone to talk other than DH so am so glad to have found you guys! Ours is a male factor problem - poor motility etc etc...I <br>can't quite believe we're gong through this as about 5 years ago his brother had exactly the same problem. They had 3 goes at ICSI and ended up having successful treatment but with DI. I can't bring myself to discuss our situation with them because I'm terrified that they will be negative about the whole thing.<br><br>Becks, we are having our treatment at the ARGC in London, which so far seems okay. I tried to research into other clinics in London but found it difficult to get more info. They were all reluctant for me to visit beforehand.<br><br>I've overcome my initial fear of the whole procees purely by reading the postings on this site. I can honestly say that knowing you are all out there has made me feel okay about things. My biggest fear now is the thought that the whole thing might not work!!! Can anyone tell me the time scale of things regarding the injections? I'm trying to predict when I will need to book time of work and I can't remember roughly how long you 'inject' for. The nurse did tell me but it was all a bit too much to take in.<br><br>Good luck to all you girls - 'new' and 'old'<br><br>Love <br>Tracy <br><br><br>

[Becs]

Hi Tracey,<br>Thanks for your reply. Reading your note made me feel a lot better - we havent told anyone yet either - not even our parents. I know my mum will be so upset that I havent told her but its not the kind of thing you bring up over dinner is it - especially as my sister is due to have her 2nd in a few weeks! I come from a line of very fertile females - twins have never missed a generation!!<br><br>What will you tell work after your egg transfer - is it advisable to have a week off? Its all very tricky isnt it. <br><br> Dont know about you but I have so many pregnant friends its kind of depressing. We also havent completely decided yet whether or not to go ahead. Hubby is quite reticient as he feels I go through an awful lot and it might not work. I think he is feeling really guilty which is daft but you know men - never great about verbalising feelings. he is the same as your hubby - poor motility etc, his count was also very low. <br><br>Are the nurses etc nice at the AR centre. I know on the phone they were lovely whereas the Portland and Lister were so rude it shocked me. <br><br>Anyway I hope we can keep in touch. Good luck with it all. <br>Love Bec x

[fiona_lk]

Hi Becs and Tracy,<br><br>I've copied a posting of mine from the 'old' site - hope it helps. <br><br>Nothing physically gets much worse than bad period pains. Emotionally - well, all I can say is everyone knows what your going through and can help and just keep talking to dh - sharing the pain does help. But yes, tears are very normal and so is denial at first.<br><br>Have either of your dhs had mumps when younger? A few of us seem to be here after the affects of this nasty bug!<br><br>This is a description of what I see as an 'average' long-treatment IVF cycle based on my recent ICSI cycle: <br><br>Day 1 of period (day wake up bleeding) - phone for treatment <br>Day 2 of period - go for blood test then wait for about 3 weeks <br>Day 21 of period - start down-regulating drugs (possibly sniffing/injecting) for approximitely a fortnight <br>Day 1 of next bleeding - phone clinic for instructions for rest of treatment <br>Approx Day 3 of this period - go for scan/blood test <br>Approx Day 5 of this period - start stimulating drugs (down-reg drugs reduce at this point) for approximately 10/14 days going for scans and blood tests every alternate day if not every day, the stim drugs tending to slowly reduce as the days go by. <br>When the follicles are big enough, hCG injection taken late evening/night (other drugs cease here) <br><br>As Jilly said, 36 hours later go for egg collection (ec). You will likely need this and the next day off to recover, plus the day after is embryo transfer (et), so you'd be better off work then too. <br><br>A few days later another hCG injection (or pessaries) <br><br>For me, the blood days are better than the scan days because the clinic start taking blood at 7:30 am and finish at 9:00 am, so I can get it done before going to work. The scan appointments vary from 7:30 am to late afternoon (unusual but possible), so its pot luck whether you have a long wait on the day or not. <br><br>Then after et comes the dreaded 2 week wait (2ww) - seems the worst that life can throw at you, but logging on here sharing worries/hopes helps the time go by. <br><br>The need to go through the IVF always outweighs the affects of the drugs and often most people don't feel too bad (although perhaps the chaps may say different). <br><br>If you learn how to do your own injections (not as bad as it sounds) or if you are sniffing then visits are a minimum for the initial stages. It is hard to predict when things are going to happen but you just have to try to take it in your stride, and remember that you are top priority. <br><br>Good luck, and I know you'll find this site as invaluable as I have. <br><br>Luv <br><br><br>Fiona xx

[fiona_lk]

Hi all,<br><br>Bringing this thread to the top so new girls can see 'typical cycle' description.<br><br>Fiona

[Alison]

Fiona you're so bloody efficient - what will we all do without you when you disappear to the other board?! I'm keeping everything crossed for you.<br><br>Love<br><br>Alison

[fiona_lk]

Hi Alison,<br><br>Sometimes think I'm too sad for words , but thanks for appreciating me and the kind wishes.<br><br>Hope you'll be available tonight for the chat.<br>Love<br><br>Fiona xx