To any ladies who've done IVF/ICSI...

Hi Allowicious, So very sorry to hear you got a negative - I can totally empathize with your disappointment but I'm glad that you're starting to feel positive and looking forward to starting another cycle... hopefully soon! Good luck for your follow up appointment, I hope the next try will be the one for you :) Unfortunately I also had a negative, as expected but it was still a disappointment - when I spoke to the hospital in the morning and told them I had a negative hpt they told I shouldn't give up hope as the blood test may still be positive but then took from 9.30am to 4.45pm to tell us that it was indeed negative - a VERY long day as you can imagine! :( Sadly for us I think this is the end of the road. The Dr's told us that with 3 such good looking embies, my age and health, we should have had at least a single pregnancy easily so they think it is due to chromosomal problems that none took (and we didn't get any to freeze) and it would likely be the same result if we were to try again. With this in mind we're not planning to try again which has been quite a shock to deal with but I'm not sure we would cope with the strain of another failed attempt as well as the strain on our finances (we also have medical expenses to pay for family back home so it was a major stretch to pay for the first attempt) :( Feeling kind of blue, got my period today too to compound matters - I've spent the day with a hot water bottle on the sofa watching old James Bond movies! :) I sway between weeping self pity and feeling that there are much worse problems in the world so I need to cheer up! We've decided to take some time to think and will decide how to move forward in the New Year when hopefully we'll be feeling a little calmer after the emotional roller coaster of the last couple of years. In the interests of my sanity I don't think I'll be around on this board too much in the immediate future but you will remain in my thoughts and prayers and I wish you every success in the coming cycle, I dearly hope you get to add to your family. I wouldn't wish this particular journey on my worst enemy but despite the difficulties and the negative outcome I would still encourage others to try IVF, I've heard so many success stories and even though it hasn't worked for us I've been stunned to discover the world hasn't stopped turning and DH and I have become a much stronger couple so it's not all bad :) Stay strong and good luck to all those going through this weird and wonderful journey, wishing you every success xxxx

Hi Allowicious, I'm so sorry to hear that - I've been thinking about you a lot the past few days and really had my fingers crossed for you. I'm in the same boat, 10dp5dt today and got a BFN this morning :( I have my BETA tomorrow too but am trying to prepare myself for the inevitable. Oh how this whole thing sucks! Feeling very low and frustrated by the 'unfariness' of it all today but I hope once we get a final answer tomorrow it will at least enable us to move on with our lives. Thinking of you xx

Hi Allowicious, So sorry to hear you've had such a rough time of it :( It sounds like your clinic weren't very clear on explaining why they were doing what they were doing, you should definitely try to get some answers from them so you can adjust any further cycles you may want to do. I understand your DH's feelings about Dr Fakih, we were the same and I have to say I don't regret for a second going with New Hope. We can honestly say that if it doesn't go as we hoped we did everything humanly possible this time - everything was explained to us throughout and I felt very able to ask questions - the Dr even gave us her private cell phone number in case we want to check anything with her out of hours. At all times I was made aware of why she was doing what she was doing and was given options, if there were any, so I felt very in control. They were also happy to come in for ET on Fridays, holidays or just super early (as in my case) - they understood that my DH travels a lot and tried to work around this as much as possible and were my 'family' when I had to go in alone when he was out of the country. I cannot recommend them highly enough! I have my fingers and toes crossed for us both, you never know, as Flower33 said - it only takes one! PS. What does OTD mean? Is it the preganancy test or something else? I am going for my PG test on the 3rd, so not sure if I should be testing earlier based on your date??!

Just a quick update... I had the embryo transfer yesterday at 5 days and we transferred 3 (1 good and 2 not so good). It was completely painless and finally this morning I woke up hungry after days of nausea and vomiting so I'm feeling a bit more human which is nice... so now the wait begins.... we get to test on the 3rd and I'm already counting the days :) We only had 3 embies in the end, so none left to freeze which was a little disappointing but for now I'm trying to think positively about the ones we did put back and hoping that someone manages to stick! :) Allowicious - how did your egg collection go? Hope you're feeling OK?

Best of luck for today Allowicious, hope it all goes well :)

Thanks everyone once again, I gain so much reassurance and support from all your replies and really feel like you know just how I'm feeling! Well, we had the phone call a couple of hours ago to let us know about fertilization - only 7 have fertilized, the embryologist reassured us that that was still a decent number and of course you really only need one but I still can't help feeling a bit flat after yesterday's elation :( Now we wait and see..... I started on the Progesterone supp's last night, so far no side effects :) I also started the Dostinex last night ( I was warned this has some quite vomit-y side effects but again, so far so good!) as I was displaying some symptoms of OHSS yesterday evening but these seem to have cleared for now. I am also downing gallons of water, quite literally, my insides feel like they're sloshing around in me right now! Allowicious, I only showed 14/15 follies on my last scan, the Dr told me there's usually a few hidden behind that you can only see once you start aspiration. I'm sure they will be ready - most of mine were showing at between 13.0mm and 16.0mm 48 hours before collection. The trigger shot was painless, my cousin (who gave me all my shots) said the needle was slightly more awkward and the Dr told us that the important thing with the trigger shot is to make sure you don't waste ANY as it's such a precise dose. So when you clear the air you just want the tiniest drop to show on the tip of the needle (don't be shooting fountains in the air as we did a few times with the cetrotide! ;)) and make sure that you hold it in for a few seconds after depressing the plunger before removing the needle. Fingers crossed for this evening, and of course for Sunday - waiting to hear your updates too! xxx

Thanks everyone for the continuing support! Dallydoo and Allowicious, it's great to hear of others in the same boat. Allowicious - wishing you all the very best for Sunday - I'll be thinking of you :) So, everything went well this morning :) I had sedation so was in and out of it for the whole procedure (I thought I was in there for 10 mins though DH says it more like an hour - so it can't have been that bad!) They retrieved 26 eggs!! I don't think any of expected that kind of result. Now we just have to hope they were able to find enough normal swimmers to use fertilize them all :) For the first time in weeks I don't feel super bloated and although I'm a tad uncomfortable I'm definitely not in pain (more like period pains). You were all so right - the canula was the worst part! I'll start progesterone tonight and also Dostirex to prevent OHSS. I just realised I haven't been given any antibiotics though - does anyone know if that's normal or should I chase up my Dr and request some? Now the waiting begins - hopefully we'll make it a Day 5 transfer on Tuesday...

Thanks Tabby, Labrador and Flower - it's so encouraging to hear your success stories :) So I managed my last shot (the trigger) last night after a 'Challenge Annika' style dash around Dubai! Unfortunately the nurse couldn't get to me so suggested we went to any Doctor/Nurse and get them to give me the shot. We then went to Medcare, WellCare, Rashid Hospital, and American Hospital, all of whom refused to administer it to me as it was not prescribed to me by them :-( Eventually after a lot of tears and frantic phone calls (my shot was supposed to be at 8pm and we were still at American hospital at 8.10pm!) my cousin saved the day and I had it at 8.30pm which the Dr tells me isn't a problem. Did anyone else have their trigger late and was it OK? Thanks for all the support, it's so nice to hear others' experiences (and know they survived;)). I'll keep you posted...

Oh thanks so much everyone! Poppy82 - thanks so much for your kind words, I read your own post earlier and like you I cannot offer personal experience in your situation but I do most sincerely send you my love and best wishes x Confusion - there are definitely hormones flying around all over the show - I'm now sitting here bawling my eyes out because you're all so lovely! I take my hat off to you - I don't know how you've managed to get through so many tries, you're really an inspiration! x Hilsbils - I've been told the same re. prep for the day in addition to nil by mouth after midnight the previous night. So far eggs look good and there seem to be 10-15 follicles - we have MFI so I'm hoping that if we manage to get some fertilised we will have a reasonable chance of success as my bits appear to be working as required so far... I've read some of your recent posts and hope you're doing OK, I've learnt so much from your posts and want to thank you for sharing and wish you all the best x I'm being treated at New Hope Hospital in Sharjah where I have the loveliest doctor imaginable who has been like gold throughout so far. We did go for a consult with Fakih but neither of us felt comfortable there as it seemed to be less personal and all about money though I believe they have good results. New Hope is slightly more expensive (and a much further trek) but throughout I feel I have been treated as an individual and cared for in a very personal way. This for us was a big thing as although we are obviously hoping for a positive outcome I do need that little bit of bedside manner too as I am petrified of needles and DH is petrified of ANYTHING medical (first consult we had to stand outside for 5 mins while he hyperventilated into a paper bag - and that was before anything had even happened!) :-) One of the nurses at the hospital is being kind enough to give me the trigger this evening knowing how bad I am with needles and wanting me to relax and not worry about whether we've done it right (which has been a theme so far!) :-) Thanks for cheering a very blue little me up today, I am feeling more relaxed and will probably read this thread a hundred times in the next 2 days to reassure myself! So far the 'washing' bit sounds the most fun part of this rather strange journey to date - I'll look forward to a good tickle! ;-)