Hello both @Needtotalkivf19 and @ijustlikefood.
So sorry I haven't replied sooner, had so much on! The appointment went well thank you, I start treatment day 2 of my next period which all being well, will be around the second week of Feb. Due to the numerous problems I have it's rare that I have regular periods, but for the last 2 months I've been like clockwork, so I'm really hoping that for the 3rd month in a row it's the same otherwise it's a waiting game, and stressing my self out waiting for my period won't help but I just want to start now. When is your next appointment @Needtotalkivf19 ?
Hello @Ijustlikefood - This is my second round of IVF so hopefully I can answer some of your questions. My first round was funded with the NHS, I had lots of problems in the beginning so had to wait nearly a year to start treatment, then when we got the ball rolling I was on injections for about 10 days and went in for a scan every other day round about to check the progress of the eggs. After egg collection I had the same day and the day after to recover, I had it done on the Tuesday and was fine to go back to work on the Thursday. I just felt a little tired after the drugs but I'm a lightweight with anything, even with paracetamol so I knew I'd feel that way. I told work just because of the job I do it would have been difficult to constantly be in and out of work without a proper explanation, it's also helpful that my boss had to have IVF with his wife so he's really understanding. I told quite a few people on my first round because I was that excited to start, this time I'm telling as less people as possible, my two managers know and my immediate family, I haven't even shared much information with my best friends, but thats through personal choice.
This time my treatment is a little different to my first, the hormone injections are completely different, and this time I will be on the injections for as long as they see fit so that we get a decent amount of eggs. The NHS have certain deadlines and as I was on a short protocol, they weren't allowed by law to keep me on the injections for longer than 10 days. This resulted in only 4 eggs but all 4 fertilised. However only 1 survived the process which we had transferred back in but unfortunately ended in miscarriage. In my area we are only entitled to one funded round and because we had no other eggs left over this was our only shot for free. Me and my partner did months of research, we even applied for more funding through the government, it ended up in parliament and everything, our local MP was so good with us. However this got declined. We didn't' want to waste anymore time so we chose the one that kept coming out on top when we did our research. I never asked why ABC were so cheap as I didn't want to question it haha, I just know they used to be a research lab, and due to their years of research they have now been able to open a clinic on the back of all their research and knowledge which is why they are able to offer it at such a good price.
People say that ABC is a shoe box, however I have to disagree. This is because they have said I may need to be on the injections for longer than two weeks, I may even end up needing to be on a long protocol, which would change all the medication. However while I'm on the short protocol they said they may up the amount of hormone injection amounts, or put me on them longer, whatever my body needs they'll do it. And this is all included in the fixed price of 2.5k, the only extra thing we would need to pay for is embryo freezing which is about 1k more, thats if we're lucky enough to get some more to freeze.
I've only been twice, I didnt need any tests or blood tests because they have my file from my old clinic. Once I start the injections I'll probably need to go every few days for a scan, it's two hours from where we live aswell but it's worth it!! My partner is from Blackpool and I'm from Leeds, before we settled in Wakefield we used to drive up and down the M62 most days to see each other so the travelling doesn't actually phase us at all. But I can imagine how daunting it is when your not used to it. We've said that in that first week of us needing to go frequently we're going to take a few days off work and stay in a hotel near there as it's actually a lovely area too.
If you have anymore questions just let me know, or if you want to know anything about my previous history with it all I'm happy to share! Hope I've given you as much information as you need. Good luck to you both with it all xxxx