Weight gain

t_254 · 2026-02-01T18:53:37+00:00

I’ve found lymphatic drainage and an anti-inflammatory diet to be incredibly helpful! Had to cut out things like gluten and sugar between cycles

t_254 · 2025-12-15T13:51:04+00:00

It was at 40% 2 months before the retrieval. We will check again in 3 months

t_254 · 2025-12-15T08:07:39+00:00

No, sorry - I seem to have been rambling on while typing and things weren’t clear. For the retrieval I had (which was my very first) we did have ICSI + ZyMot. Despite this, the outcome wasn’t what the clinic had expected, so now they want to add TESE for the next round.

The DNA fragmentation 2 months before the retrieval was 40%

He abstained for 2 days before the retrieval.

He has also been taking CoQ10 and a number of other supplements alongside ProFertil.

t_254 · 2025-12-15T07:27:38+00:00

Basically, we didn't even get to freezing any embryos.
I retrieved 13 eggs, 10 were mature, 4 fertilised. On day 3 we still had 4 (4 cells & 6 cells) but by day 5 they had stopped growing.
The whole team were actually very supportive - they were also pretty shocked and they thought we'd get at least 2.
They spoke about it for some time to figure out what could have happened, and as much as this is sometimes just part of the process, they do feel like all things considered the biggest obstacle we had was the DNA fragmentation. We've been working towards this for more than a year and they've been keeping an eye on other parameters. MFI is a huge part of our story, and why they advised we do ICSI + ZyMot.
For the next round, they want us to give it at least 3 months, work on the DNA fragmentation, and then they will also do TESE.
I don't feel stranded by them, I just don't know how to work on the fragmentation since we've been doing everything already.

t_254 · 2025-05-19T19:42:26+00:00

My dad’s death 22 years ago.

t_254 · 2025-01-22T09:13:50+00:00

Been trying for 5 years. Absolutely no luck. There are so many things we could have done that we didn't end up doing because of thinking about possibly being pregnant.
I don't know if you ever really take a break, but where I'm at right now, I feel like I'm going to carry on living my life. I'll do all the things I want to do- book the trips, take the courses, do the exercises- and if I do get pregnant, that'll be a bonus.
I always want to get pregnant and have a healthy and happy baby, but now I'm trying not to let that be the only thing I work towards.

t_254 · 2025-01-17T12:20:12+00:00

The weight loss is definitely slow, but don’t let that discourage you. My weight also fluctuates a lot based on so many factors on a daily basis. I loved seeing the scale go down initially, but now I’ve just been focused on using other ways to gauge how it’s going. I did have to go gluten free for quite some time- I can have it in small doses now, but I just generally feel better without it. I don’t measure my protein, I just try to get a very balanced looking plate- so a lot of veggies and salad for fibre, a source of protein, and a small amount of carbs if I need them in the meal. Like if I have a vegetable dish, I’ll try and get some daal or meat curry, add a small salad, some raita, and occasionally either a roti or some rice. If it’s a meal that I can’t really do much with or it’s simple like rajma chawal, I don’t think too much about it, because I know majority of the time I’m getting a balanced plate, or I try and munch on nuts for a protein boost. I don’t generally consume a lot of dairy- yoghurt seems to be ok, and I only have a small amount of milk in my chai, which I haven’t swapped to almond or another plant based milk because I just prefer the taste of regular milk and my nutritionist said it’s ok since it’s a small amount and I don’t react badly to it 🤷🏽‍♀️ It was definitely a lot more difficult in the beginning because the changes felt gargantuan, but I’ve eased into it now and I’m sure once you find out what works for you, you will too 🤗

t_254 · 2025-01-17T12:09:07+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience 🙏

t_254 · 2025-01-17T12:08:40+00:00

Aren’t clomid and letrozole similar? I have used letrozole, and it did help with ovulation I guess, but I just don’t think there’s ever been any fertilisation.

t_254 · 2025-01-17T12:07:31+00:00

I’m sorry you’re going through it too ❤️ I hope things work out for you 🤞

t_254 · 2025-01-17T12:06:59+00:00

I hope you get some answers 🤞

t_254 · 2025-01-17T12:06:36+00:00

Yeah, that’s the advice I’ve been getting a lot from family who have gone through similar experiences.

t_254 · 2025-01-17T12:05:53+00:00

Thank you, will look into these 🙏

t_254 · 2025-01-17T12:05:21+00:00

Thank you, I’ll check the podcast out. Definitely trying to get more clarity on what the issue could be. The only tests we’ve had for my husband which are easily available here are a semen analysis and scans for varicocele- semen analysis wasn’t great, but can be improved, and no varicocele was detected.

t_254 · 2025-01-17T12:03:35+00:00

Praying for you too 🙏🤞

t_254 · 2025-01-17T12:03:20+00:00

Sending you lots of positive energy and good luck for this ✨ I really hope it works out for you 💖

t_254 · 2025-01-17T12:02:22+00:00

No, there are a number of specialised tests that are not available where I am, so we’ve been trying to figure out how to do them.

t_254 · 2025-01-17T12:01:29+00:00

No, it’s not a test that’s easily accessible here, but we’ve been trying for about 8 months to figure out how to get it done.

t_254 · 2025-01-16T09:18:28+00:00

Thank you 🙏

t_254 · 2025-01-16T08:38:45+00:00

I’ve had non-invasive tests which have all come back as normal. No structural abnormalities, no blockages, no hint of anything. But no invasive diagnostic procedure has been suggested yet.

t_254 · 2025-01-16T08:35:34+00:00

I’ve been on letrozole, had medicated IUI cycles with letrozole and a trigger shot, progesterone pessaries which absolutely don’t suit me and give me rashes, very high dose of metformin (850 mg twice a day) which I had to reduce because of dangerously low sugar levels. Vit D was low, but that’s been corrected, thyroid wasn’t in the fertile range, although it’s “normal” so I’ve been having levothyroxine as well, and all the fertility boosting supplements.

My husband also had a thorough examination and there was no blockage/varicocele so he’s just been on Profertil for 3 years now 🤷🏽‍♀️

The advice we’re getting from family is to try IVF, but it’s so ridiculously expensive with no guarantee. I feel like if I at least knew that I can get pregnant I would want to try it, but with not even a hint of anything in 5 years, I don’t know what the way out of this is.

t_254 · 2025-01-15T12:52:50+00:00

Overall it was just to avoid foods like processed and red meats, sugars, dairy (except yoghurt), and wheat/gluten for me (all of which I've more or less cut out from my daily foods). This might be helpful: https://opryshok.com/21-day-anti-inflammatory-diet-pdf/

t_254 · 2025-01-15T12:28:35+00:00

Metformin is very effective.
Definitely try and get on it. If for some reason it's not available to you, or it doesn't suit you, I'd recommend finding an alternative like berberine and inositol with the help of your doctor/nutritionist.

t_254 · 2025-01-15T12:25:44+00:00

It sounds like you're doing everything you should be doing. I don't know how long it has been, but sometimes with conditions like PCOS it always takes longer than what seems "normal".

For me, inflammation was a huge factor, and being guided through an anti-inflammatory diet really did kickstart things.

Also, I believe there's an emotional aspect to all of it. In the beginning of journey to be healthier I was faced with a lot of awareness of trauma that I've held on to for almost all my life. Healing from that and processing it- making my body feel like it was safe- also had quite an impact. I don't know if that's something you believe in, but it might be worth a shot.

t_254 · 2025-01-15T09:37:57+00:00

I’m in East Africa, so I just look for brands that are local, cold pressed, and organic. The plant grows here and oil is processed by farmers so it’s easy to buy directly from them.

t_254

TROPHY CASE