The donor-cycle diaries, pt. 5, (the dreaded two-week-wait).
So here we are, the dreaded two-week-wait which, incidentally, isn't really two weeks if you've had a 5 day embryo transfer. But I'm splitting hairs. How ever many days it is, the key word is WAIT. It feels like an eternity and, combined with the drugs, it makes me go absolutely CUCKOO.
I have spent six years trying to conceive. I've experienced an array of two-week-waits in different shapes and sizes. I've done the casual 'I've only just started trying to conceive and I'm really breezy' ones. The 'it's been a few months and now we're really applying science' ones. The 'OMG I'm actually pregnant' ones. The 'I'm going to obsess about every single twinge' ones. And the 'I know this has no chance but I can't help but get excited every time I feel the slightest twinge' ones.
And it's the last of those that I feel now. After what was a pretty unlucky result, with only one "poor" embryo to transfer, straight out of the reduced-to-clear section, the embryologist implied that our little spark had only the minutest chance of survival given what had happened to its 13 sibling embryos that had already perished. It was the least positive start to an IVF 2WW we've ever had - which we were not expecting, given this was our first donor egg cycle.
But 'PUPO' (pregnant until proven otherwise) we are, all the same. The afternoon of our transfer, I lolled on my couch with Netflix for company while Husb stockpiled brazil nuts and pineapple core for my benefit. Does any of that really work???? Who knows, but it made him feel better to be providing me with optimal 2WW nutrition. The following day we headed down south, to my absolutely all-time favourite hideaway in Devon, which has become our regular 2WW retreat. Fresh air, gentle country hikes, amazing food, a comfy warm bed and a comfy warm Husb were just what the doctor ordered. Bliss. And so the official waiting period commenced.
I mentioned that I'm no stranger to the IVF 2WW. My seventh cycle, but first with a donor egg, at least this time I didn't have the gassy post egg-collection discomfort. But, instead, the embryo transfer had been particularly traumatic with a fair bit of rummaging and a catheter that just didn't want to go where it was needed. So, for the first two to three days post ET I had terrible period-like cramps.
And, unlike all my other ETs, I am on a different regime of drugs. Previously I'd only had Cyclogest pessaries. Now I'm on Cyclogest PLUS oestrogen patches AND daily Lubion progesterone jabs. So, I prepared myself for the fact that I might feel very different than on previous rounds.
When I got pregnant naturally, I didn't have any 2WW symptoms. In fact I was completely devoid of any until I had a positive test result - and then, almost immediately, my boobs became excruciatingly heavy and I was tired beyond belief.
When I got pregnant from IVF cycle #5, I had many of the progesterone symptoms I'd had on previous cycles (heavy boobs, tiredness). BUT I remember feeling a very sharp, repeated stabbing pain underneath my belly button (slightly on the right) a few days after ET and I felt certain that my period was going to come. On other cycles that hadn't yielded a pregnancy, I'd had a range of symptoms. I even got the same stabbing pain on cycle #6 even though that was unsuccessful.
So, how about this time? Well, bearing in mind I've pretty much written off any chance of success, it's been a fairly unusual cycle. But I'm putting that down to the new drugs.
Thirteen symptoms. Unlucky for some?
The one thing I've noticed, now I'm almost ready to test, is that I feel less "symptoms" now than I did a few days ago. I know that in pregnancy, this signified the start of my miscarriages. But, during IVF 2WWs it could be my body adjusting to the drugs.
So, where does that leave me? I'm pretty certain that I'm not pregnant. I know that many women say they have either "known' or been "pleasantly shocked" but, let's face it, the odds are pretty stacked against our little clearance embryo. But that hasn't stopped me spending my spare moments on Google (I know I should know better but still can't resist and have way too much time on my hands) reading all the hormonal and hopeful 'how to survive the 2WW' forum ramblings and studying anything that points towards 'success with a poor-quality blastocyst'.
Time has ticked on. Next time I update The Donor-Cycle Diaries, it will be with the conclusion to this cycle. Until then, thanks for sticking with me. And let's keep our fingers crossed.
I have spent six years trying to conceive. I've experienced an array of two-week-waits in different shapes and sizes. I've done the casual 'I've only just started trying to conceive and I'm really breezy' ones. The 'it's been a few months and now we're really applying science' ones. The 'OMG I'm actually pregnant' ones. The 'I'm going to obsess about every single twinge' ones. And the 'I know this has no chance but I can't help but get excited every time I feel the slightest twinge' ones.
And it's the last of those that I feel now. After what was a pretty unlucky result, with only one "poor" embryo to transfer, straight out of the reduced-to-clear section, the embryologist implied that our little spark had only the minutest chance of survival given what had happened to its 13 sibling embryos that had already perished. It was the least positive start to an IVF 2WW we've ever had - which we were not expecting, given this was our first donor egg cycle.
But 'PUPO' (pregnant until proven otherwise) we are, all the same. The afternoon of our transfer, I lolled on my couch with Netflix for company while Husb stockpiled brazil nuts and pineapple core for my benefit. Does any of that really work???? Who knows, but it made him feel better to be providing me with optimal 2WW nutrition. The following day we headed down south, to my absolutely all-time favourite hideaway in Devon, which has become our regular 2WW retreat. Fresh air, gentle country hikes, amazing food, a comfy warm bed and a comfy warm Husb were just what the doctor ordered. Bliss. And so the official waiting period commenced.
 |
| Stunning South Devon coast, perfect for blowing the cockles away during the dreaded 2WW |
I mentioned that I'm no stranger to the IVF 2WW. My seventh cycle, but first with a donor egg, at least this time I didn't have the gassy post egg-collection discomfort. But, instead, the embryo transfer had been particularly traumatic with a fair bit of rummaging and a catheter that just didn't want to go where it was needed. So, for the first two to three days post ET I had terrible period-like cramps.
And, unlike all my other ETs, I am on a different regime of drugs. Previously I'd only had Cyclogest pessaries. Now I'm on Cyclogest PLUS oestrogen patches AND daily Lubion progesterone jabs. So, I prepared myself for the fact that I might feel very different than on previous rounds.
When I got pregnant naturally, I didn't have any 2WW symptoms. In fact I was completely devoid of any until I had a positive test result - and then, almost immediately, my boobs became excruciatingly heavy and I was tired beyond belief.
When I got pregnant from IVF cycle #5, I had many of the progesterone symptoms I'd had on previous cycles (heavy boobs, tiredness). BUT I remember feeling a very sharp, repeated stabbing pain underneath my belly button (slightly on the right) a few days after ET and I felt certain that my period was going to come. On other cycles that hadn't yielded a pregnancy, I'd had a range of symptoms. I even got the same stabbing pain on cycle #6 even though that was unsuccessful.
So, how about this time? Well, bearing in mind I've pretty much written off any chance of success, it's been a fairly unusual cycle. But I'm putting that down to the new drugs.
- Sore heavy boobs - particularly at night. For some reason they are less sore now than they were a few days ago
- Period-like cramps for the two-to-three days after ET only
- Extreme tiredness in the evening
- Sharp stabbing pains below my belly button on day three after ET and a couple of time since (but less severe)
- Couple of extremely dizzy spells with a little nausea
- Sour taste sensation - I remember this from my two pregnancies. Can't remember if I had it during unsuccessful cycles
- Heavy feeling in abdomen - with weird sensation when I sneeze/cough
- Bloated like hell
- Freezing cold in the evening - every night I've gone to bed shivering, wearing a hoody over my PJs and socks
- Moody as can be for the first few days - less so now - maybe that was tension
- Ravenously hungry on some days, 'off my food' on others
- Sore tum - where I've been having the Lubion jabs my skin has become extremely sensitive
- Occasional warm/burning ache sensation in my lower back, buttocks and the side of my thighs. I've only ever felt this sensation during my miscarriages
Thirteen symptoms. Unlucky for some?
The one thing I've noticed, now I'm almost ready to test, is that I feel less "symptoms" now than I did a few days ago. I know that in pregnancy, this signified the start of my miscarriages. But, during IVF 2WWs it could be my body adjusting to the drugs.
So, where does that leave me? I'm pretty certain that I'm not pregnant. I know that many women say they have either "known' or been "pleasantly shocked" but, let's face it, the odds are pretty stacked against our little clearance embryo. But that hasn't stopped me spending my spare moments on Google (I know I should know better but still can't resist and have way too much time on my hands) reading all the hormonal and hopeful 'how to survive the 2WW' forum ramblings and studying anything that points towards 'success with a poor-quality blastocyst'.
Time has ticked on. Next time I update The Donor-Cycle Diaries, it will be with the conclusion to this cycle. Until then, thanks for sticking with me. And let's keep our fingers crossed.
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