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

PS Kool I meant to say, it would have been rude to turn down the Lindt bunny. After all, Easter was a pagan fertility festival so I think we all owe it to ourselves to jump into the chocolate head first

Well done for phoning! June?! Oh that sounds so far away, I think I'll phone them tomorrow too then! I was dreading June anyway as it was my dd . I guess though if I'm being glass half full, it'd be a good start for a new beginning. One of the things I'm looking forward to is having someone else in control of my fertility. It's so hard that something seemingly so natural can be so difficult so now I'm ready for someone else to be in charge of it . I might get my cd3 tests done somewhere too then as that's in about a month for me which might be a bit close for the guy's appointment....
I found a good, apparently reliable ivf calculator. Will try to find it if anyone is interested?

Hi Kool I reckon it's definitely worth getting the LH/FSH tests done privately if you can before your appt - I wish I had! I'd already be on the down regs if I had.

Medicentre in Victoria station do them. I can't remember the exact cost but it's not astronomical ...

What is the ivf calculator?

I know what you mean about someone else taking charge. That's what I am really looking forward to. I am so exhausted by constantly thinking about which day I'm on, when I need to DTD and then spending the 2WW wondering if we did it at the right time, whether we did it often enough / too often, when exactly I ov'd, whether or not I lay down for long enough afterwards etc etc etc ...

Sorry to hear June was your DD

But depending on when in June you get your appt, you might be pg by the end of next month.

Yay, I'm loving the glass half full attitude....let's make it a

Right, I'm def going to get my tests done privately. And guy's are cool with that?

I'll try to find that link (scurries off, nibbling a creme egg....)

Online calculator article here. This is the article about it where you can find the link.

Of course we must be careful about stats.....but my attitude to them is to only like them and believe them if they're in my favour so make sure you do the same. If they're not good, they can't be true!

If you'd prefer the link to the calculator without the article it's here.

Oops I did that wrong....it's here

I think I might go with the odds my consultant gave me as they are a bit higher! Interesting though

Xxx

Oooooooooh, sorry, me again ... AF just started so will be starting the ivf drugs 21 days from tomorrow! Eeeeeek!

Sorry, will stop excessive posting now! Xxx

gardenpixie kooforcats am just home from work after a VERY long day but just wanted to quickly post to say thanks so much for the lovely welcome and all the info.

koolforcats (sorry if being dim) but is there any reason why you haven't had the day 3 tests before going to Guys? I got the impression from my GP that she wouldn't refer me to an acu unless the tests gave a reason for her to do so. Sorry if that sounds nosey/insensitive but just wouldn't want you paying out unnecessarily - though I'm starting to realise quite how much this ivf malarky is going to cost us so maybe paying for the odd test here or there will soon seem like peanuts!

Also sorry to hear about your DD x

Teds you are late home from work! Here, have a quick to help you get to sleep

Great news gardenpixie! Bring on the baby pixies! . I'm sure your consultant was more accurate with the stats, btw. The way I look at it, even when attempting to conceive naturally (pah! So 2010!) apparently there's only a 25% chance of it working, so I think this is definitely the way forward . This is going to be our year ladies

Teds - a good question and not at all nosey! We already know that our issue is male factor (I just don't like the expression at all as it implies someone is to 'blame' which sounds really mean to me) so that's why I just got the referral without having had the tests yet. Coincidentally though I was found to have severe endometriosis and ovarian cysts so recently had a laparoscopy to sort it out so I could well have had an issue too. That's another reason why I'm so keen to get started as the endo can come back

Erm....I'm a bit conscious that since I've joined the thread I've bombarded it somewhat....sorry to existing people on the thread .

Ooh, May the 4th be with you!

Kool the two consultants I've seen said that trying naturally (you are right, it is very last season) only gives you a 15% chance per cycle even if everything is working OK!

Loving "may the 4th be with you"

So I just called Guys and I am going in for blood tests tomorrow and I have to call them on Monday to sort out a time to discuss drugs and timings etc. Eeeeeeeeeek!

Hope everyone is well this morning xxx

Sorry me again! I'm a bit frustrated! I followed your example teds and called Guy's to chase things up and basically found out that nothing has been done with our paperwork yet.....grrrrr. She said the next patient info evening isn't until June. There is one one tonight and I pleaded to go but she said it's full and there is only one a month. I was almost tempted to point out that there is also only one AF a month but I figured I should stay friendly I'm usually a fairly patient person but this seems to be turning me into a child who wants to stamp her feet!

sorry pixie x posts! We must have been on the phone to guy's at the same time, glad you had more luck than me! V excited for you
teds I meant to say we'll prob be at the same patient evening

kool that is frustrating for you ... but don't worry, it shouldn't delay your appt or treatment. I know it all sounds very regimented but when we had our appt, the consultant said that they like people to have been to an info evening before starting treatment but it's not an absolute necessity as you can always discuss any questions with your consultant.

I think it's really for people who need to decide between IUI and IVF; and for those who don't know anything at all about the process. Needless to say when we went, I didn't find out anything new at all as I'd done loads of research but DH found the whole thing fascinating and very informative

They should be able to go ahead and schedule your appt for the first available one regardless

xx

garden love your message about diving in chocolate head first - LOL, I am doing more than my due of that, for sure I am day 30 so day 32 is Friday. I feel all the signs of AF (reinforced by DH) so I do not think this cycle is it... The good news is that my nurse got back to me and DH is picking up my prescription as I type.. :D so waiting for AF to come and then get started with the second IUI cycle :) The doctors who reviewed my first cycle have kept everythign as-is.. so here's to round two when that comes.

Hi Garden and Womanly, and huge welcome to Kool and Teds. Sorry haven't posted since last week was away for the long weekend. Kool and Teds funny that you guys, Garden and I are all at Guys all starting about the same time. I wonder if we will end up passing each other in the waiting room without knowing!

Garden and Womanly, sorry this month didn't show up the BFP and sorry you've both had some down days. Know exactly how you feel, the luteal phase always makes me feel the same, like my body is crying too! I'm really happy about our new team though created on this thread though and hoping we can help each other through it - as DH keeps saying 'looks like things are finally starting to go our way' (though he might mean the football!) Womanly how do you feel about doing a second cycle of IUI, is it any better or worse knowing what to expect this time?

Kool and Teds we were first referred in November from our usual hospital, Jan and Feb was doing some of the tests needed again via hospital and GP, then there was a bit of a hoo-ha about funding (outcome is we've got it for 1 cycle). We went for first appointment early april I think. We didn't go to an info evening, and on the day of our 1st appt we saw 4 seperate people, including pre-op assessment and got given all the sniffing and injection drugs. They were really helpful and knowledgable but also helped explain things with really simple analogies which was helpful for DH .

And tomorrow I start sniffing on the down regs!! aah, scary. really hope it isn't like clomid was. I started to read the side effects in the pamphlet that came with it and swiftly put it back down again!

Garden I love the comment about the introduction being over champagne and canapes!! I am going to remember that. I also keep remembering one of your earlier posts about 'what a lovely time of year to have treatment'! It surely is.

so think of me at approx 07.30 tomorrow as i will be standing over a plastic bottle with a big nozzle with DH saying 'are you ready'. Feel like I'm about to do a massive bungee jump.

Sorry, meant to say also high to Luck and anyone else viewing this,

womanly I still have my fingers and toes crossed for you that you won't need more iui as a bfp will show up soon. Especially as you are doing Easter fertility homework by dedicating yourself to chocolate eating! I've just done a big old stretch of it myself!

carebear great to hear from you and wow about the sniffing starting tomorrow - amazing! I will be thinking of you tomorrow morning

Waves and fertility chocolate all round

Xxx

Morning lovely ladies

carebear hope all went well with the sniffing this morning, thinking of you.

womanly also have my fingers and toes crossed. I'm hoping this will be a lucky thread for all of us.

kool we're 'male factor' too. I think DH fnds this hard but he is being absolutely, fabulously wonderful which is why I love him so [gushing emoticon] I think garden is right about the open evening - our GP was pretty clear that we'd need ICSI so I feel pretty well researched and happy to just get on with stuff (as long as Guys feel the same I suppose!)

Having spoken to Guys earlier in the week about needing to fill out paperwork and there being no appointments until June I got home last night to find I have an appointment the week after next!! It's from Gynocology and says I might have to have a pre-op assessment on the same day. Am confused, scared and happy all at once .

Right I should be working but have just tried to catch up with all the info on this thread - I'm crazing information!

garden just realised that you are having tests to day so wishing you a wonderful day. Not long till those eggies and sperm will be enjoying champagne and canapes

'crazing'?? 'craving' ahem...

Thanks teds ! Just got back home, the appt was super speedy - it was a drop in service for blood tests so I assumed I'd be waiting for ages but I was in and out in fifteen mins then had to go back to work

Information is the key I reckon, I feel far less wobbly about things when i know what is going on!

How is everyone else?

Hope the sniffing went well carebear !

Big election day waves to everyone. Is it wrong of me to be more interested in feeling excited abount imminent ivf rather than the potential change in the voting system? ... Although I did make sure i voted!

Xxx