Anyone else about to start IVF?

[gardenpixie]

DH and I have our first IVF consultation in a couple of weeks and I just wondered if there was anyone out there who was in the same position?

We've had loads of tests done already so the Dr says we may well be able to start the treatment cycle sometime next month or early May.

We've been TTC #1 for 3yrs now and I am on cycle 5 of clomid so will continue with that until I start the IVF drugs. There are no obvious medical reasons why we haven't conceived naturally, just a case of unexplained infertility, I guess.

I know the odds of getting pg still aren't great but I am really excited about the fact that IVF even exists (isn't amazing what they can do?) and, although I am a bit apprehensive of everything it will involve, I am thrilled to be given the chance to see if it might work for us.

I would love to hear from anyone with any advice or who is in the same boat,

thanks for reading

Hi

Just joined this site. i am a little confused and have no one to discuss my concerns right now. So really hoping someone here can help. We have our first IVF appointment in September but I have already had my FSH, AMH, Thyroid, internal scan done at the RMU in UCH. Can someone please explain what further tests we need to get done on our first visit and will this need to be done when I'm on my cycle again which means waiting another month. It would be great to know what the next steps are going to be and what i should expect.

Thanks so much

SBarrett

1 day left before EC! Took my ovitrelle shot last night- needle was blunt ish! Was so annoyed as at least with Gonal I can change needles etc but this 'handy' thing came ready prepared.

ellangirl which clinic are you using? We chose CRM in Zlin- Czech republic and
are thrilled with our choice, they are amazing and go out of their was to accommodate you.

sbarrett my first appointment was fine, I had to go on day 2 of my period, had day 2 bloods taken again (actually have bloods done at every app. So they can change meds in needed) it depends on
whether you will be having down regulation drugs, where they switch things off, in terms of repro hormones being produced so that body responds better to stimulation drugs or short protocol where they start you on stimulation injections on day 2/ 3 of your cycle.
I then had an external scan, spoke to dr and was shown how top use my medication and was given a diary sheet with dates for check up scans etc.

I then had 2 internal scans booked for about 5 and 10 days into my injections (roughly) to check internally the size and number of follicles, lining depth and again bloods were taken.

Apologies if this doesn't appear correctly on screen am typing on tiny blackberry!

Lou

louise we are at leeds- we live on an island with no fertility centre so can't be treated here, hence the flying over for treatment. How does it work with goin to Czech rep? Who does your monitoring in the UK? Have you timed it to fit in with school holidays too? Few other ladies on here have!
SBarrett really it depends on your individual circumstances, what clinic you go to and what protocol you're following. For example, I have not had my AMH tested at all. They will need to test for other things tho e.g. HIV and hepatitis, but that will be done right before you start treatment. You will get very used to the 'dildo-cam' too as you have to have loads of internal scans to make sure you don't have any cysts before you start treatment. Basically, expect to have lots more blood tests and scans through the whole process! What is your situation if you don't mind asking?
kool are you ok? Am worried!

Aw thanks everyone for your very kind wishes, you're all so lovely! Sorry I didn't post yesterday....my 5am (!) test was a bit inconclusive as there was a line but it was so faint I wasn't sure if we were trying to convince ourselves it was there. Cue waiting for Sainsbury's to open, no pregnancy tests left (?!), cue tannoy announcement (seriously - by which point I felt like I was a character in a sit com), then onto the chemists where I finally found a clear blue digi, which gave me my bfp . I didnt dare believe it tbh though and was a bit worried as I've had a bit of a dull tummy ache, and after my mmc last year, the joy of finding out is a bit overshadowed with anxiety. But I don't want to sound ungrateful, of course we're delighted and just hope and hope that this one works out. Caramel I'm so sorry that it wasn't both of us at the same time, this is such a difficult, emotional journey and I send big ((((hugs)))) to everyone on it xxx

Wow! That's brilliant kool! I had cramps for a good few weeks with my DS in early pregnancy- for a week I just thought it was my AF coming. Love the picture of you in the supermarket with the tannoy announcement :)

Thanks Ellan, that's exactly what it feels like so now I'll try to stop obsessing worrying about it! xx

Hurrah for kool ! I'm delighted for you

Welcome sbarrett and louise :)

Thinking of you owl , I hope your owlet is snuggling in nicely

Also thinking of you, luck I'm sure you have your EC soon, I hope it all goes well

I'm starting sims tonight.

Waves to everyone else

Thanks Bodeccia and all the best with starting your stims xx

Hi everyone, congratulations Kool!!! I am delighted for you!
I once had a similar experience buying a pregnancy test, I took mine to the counter in chemist and after the trainee had waved it under the scanner 1000 times and allowed a tutting queue to form behind me she then pressed Cash instead of Card and had to call her supervisor. Ill never forget the moment of horror when the supervisor walked round the corner and I discovered it was one of my parents from school!! To make it worse it was my first year of teaching and I was very young and unmarried!

Good luck Bodeccia with your stims, I was so looking forward to starting mine although I didn't miss taking them this morning!

Ellangirl- it fell nicely with the school holidays but we did wait a month so that I'd have time off work. I had monitoring scans in Zlin but as it went so well and had no issues if we ever went through IVF again in the future I'd have them done In the UK and email the results to IVF dr.

The scans, along with all appointments and the offer of doing my injections everyday for me, plus DH appointments and freezing cost approx 1500 uk sterling. Then on top of that we had to add flights, hotels and meds- approx 800 uk sterling.

Thinking of everyone, whether you are down regging, stimming, waiting, pregnant or starting again, lovely positive vibes from me!

EC tomorrow at 9am- its getting near now! Fertility report will be phoned through on Monday at 9 ish they said!
Lou xx

Whoop whoop for Kool I am so pleased and happy for you. Just a short post as I am visiting a good friend who's baby girl is nearly 4 months old conceived through ICSI-So gorgeous-Love to all xxxxxx

Kool, am overjoyed for you, you so deserve it. Big hugs. x x x

kool that's such lovely wonderful news to log-on to! Whoop!! Hope you have a lovely uneventful 8 months or so xxx.

Hello to sbarrett and louise and Bodeccia hope all goes well with the stims tonight.

Waves to everybody else x.

Wahoo FANTASTIC news Kool, am so so happy for you! Sorry testing was an ordeal (did chuckle at the tanoy bit) but you got that BFP that you really deserve my lovely. I can't stop

Hope everyone one else is having lovely weekends, promise to catch with all tomorrow xx

Thank you, dear pumpkin and care, your kindness is especially generous especially as you've had to encounter the bumps in the road of this journey. I'm so incredibly touched by this thread, it's so special. That people who have never met bother take the time to say such lovely, supportive things is really wonderful. Well done Gardenpixie xxx

Thanks Teds, yes! Uneventful sounds wonderful! Btw I was telling Charlotte the other day about the anonymous MN recommendations she's been getting (as Bondi recommended her to me and then me to you) and she was really pleased! Now I wonder even more if I've walked past you or Bondi without realising it!

Hee hee skitoo I'm glad I entertained you!!!! Thanks for your very kind message.

Welcome and thanks Louise. I'm also a teacher so could very much empathise with the hideousness of your pregnancy test buying ....ooh I bet you were the gossip of the gate for weeks!

I'm aware that I've been a bit slack and haven't been catching up with the thread properly so I resolve to be better in future, if you'll keep me! Owl I do hope you're as relaxed as could be, I think I found the middle bit of the wait the hardest and really found that planning things, meeting up with friends etc really helped as a distraction.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend in the sun

Morning ladies,

Kool I am just unbelievably thrilled that KittenKool has made an appearance! Well done to you, Mr Kool and your LO. And please do stay on the thread for as long as you like; we need the benefit of your wisdom! And, in the nicest possible way, I wish you a very boring next eight months or so xxxx

Louise All the best with your EC today! I will be waggle dancing for a the collection of many top quality eggs and a successful date later today between them and your OH's swimmers! Not sure how you'll feel after the proceedure but do keep us posted if you can

Owl hurrah for having two blastos frozen! Not that you'll need them though as I'm sure owlet is already nicely settled in and almost ready to make his / her presence known. I hope you are not going too bonkers with the 2WW ... I am waggling for you that the next few days speed by!

Luck 13 follies is great news! Well done your ovaries ! Sorry to hear that your ovaries have wandered off to strange places but I'm sure the Drs know what they are doing and that EC will be fine. What a PITA (literally) about the, ahem, side effects of the stims - here's a nice hot for you to see if that helps!
Yes I had heard of NFN - hilarious! Very fitting for my crazy in-laws too. They are all mental. It's amazing that DH has turned out to be as sane as he is (which, BTW, isn't THAT sane ...)

Lucy ooooooh wine and chinese ! I am not on my stims yet but, even after three and a half yrs of TTC, I lay off the booze in the 2WW. Obviously not that I'm expecting it to make a difference but it's a habit I guess. So please fit in an extra for me next time you open a bottle

Ellan how are your stims going? I hope you are not having any horrid side effects and that the injections are all going smoothly

Bodeccia how are your stims? I know you've only had one lot but I hope it was OK. The first one is the hardest! Hope you're feeling OK on them too

SBarrett welcome! The tests thing is tricky - as others have said, it depends on where you are having your treatment and if you are going through the NHS or not. The NHS has certain criteria and testing protocols that everyone having NHS funding has to follow, and then your PCT can also have others. FWIW, here is the link to the bit on Guy's & St Thomas website outlining all the tests they do - I think they are pretty standard and cover all of the NHS ones. Sept is only a month and a day away so you'll be starting soon! Glad you found us and do shout if you have any other qus as the ladies here are fabulous and knowledgeable

Waves to everyone else! And womanly if you're lurking, I hope you are OK and enjoying a nice relaxing weekend.

Not much to report from me - AF still hasn't arrived but I'm not sure when I ov'd this cycle. Usually I can feel it but, after producing over 50 follicles last time round on the stims, I think a measly single follicle didn't even register! So I guess it will start any time between now and next weekend. I am exercising furiously to bring it on but have a big work project on the 8th and 9th of August so I'll not be too troubled if AF starts just before then as i won't have to squeeze in scans etc while rushing about to meetings.

Also, we are almost out of space! I will sort out a new thread this morning for us all - unless anyone else wants to...? Don't want to be greedy and start two in a row!

xxxx GP

I took the plunge and started a new thread here

Hope that's OK

I see this post is a bit older and really hope you were successful with the ivf. If anyone else is about to embark on ivf, i would also recommend (apart from the obvious weight/diet/lifestyle factors) a course of acupuncture between egg retrieval and egg transfer, studies have shown an improvement in success rates when acupuncture has been tried. Am currently 6 months pregnant with an icsi baby girl which thankfully worked first time....good luck to all those undergoing ivf, keep the faith....

I guess my story i so much like the rest of yours but also so different, please follow my story online www.ivfjourney.com thanks you and good luck to all

Hello everyone, i start my nasal spray on monday then the injections a few weeks later...i'm excited but scared too. The main thing thats worrying me is the side effects and how bad does it get and also i feel like a bit of a baby just thinking about doing the injections...i just keep thinking if this works it will be so worth it

my brother who travelled the UK coastline for me kirk woodend www.ivfjourney.com has found that after not running his own business for so long has left lasting effects, if anyone needs any help or advise with dog training then try my brother www.downmeansdown.co.uk or www.birminghamdogtrainer.co.uk thanks in advance

Congratulations Anna, I think that you are so happy, Can I speak with you on privat???? Please.Thank you.

Would not recommend Lister Hospital. Not what was expected. I went to Lister hospital for egg freezing. I had Dr Jaya Parikh who performed the surgery. On the cycle I was due to start, my follicles were low compared to the previous cycle. I was concerned but Dr Parikh seemed very commercial and money driven and persuaded me that l never know if the next cycle is going to be good cycle in terms of higher number of follicles. So l went ahead. She also said there was a polyp in my uterus that needs to be removed. In fact l never had a polyp and Dr Parikh proliferated and the dialator went through my uterus and l had to do an emergency laporoscopy to check for internal bleeding. I also only had 2 eggs retrieved. Very disappointing. I went to private thinking that I will get better service but please be cautious. I was otherwise healthy now l have scars from laporoscopy and a damaged uterus. Be warned of Dr Parikh, she is not good doctor, and she became very defensive, no apology at all from her. I want to write this, so that other patients do not go through what l did. I also asked for refund and they refused to give me back the £5.8k I spent on the egg freezing. My social life has taken a bad turn as a result, it has left me psychologically damaged.