Hi marmite, I will add to frustrated...
After your initial consultation at ARGC, if you decide to go with them, you'll do a monitoring cycle. This is something that ARGC insists on. The monitoring cycle consists of Day 1-3 bloods and mid-cycle scan to see if you are ovulating. If you decide to have immune testing, this is also done during your monitoring cycle, and is the most expensive bit-£860. All in all the monitoring cycle with immunes will cost £1000.
I was on the long protocol, so I started sniffing down-regulation drugs on Day 21 of my cycle. You'll still get AF while you're sniffing (which is three times a day, so I kept of bottle of nasal spray at home and one in my bag), but once that happens they'll scan you to make sure your ovaries are clear. I wound up having a cyst, so I had to bring on another AF, therefore I sniffed for an extra nine days. You'll be in every day or every other day for bloods, and they'll scan you once you get your period. Once your scan shows clear ovaries, and your lining measures correctly, they'll start stimulating you. You'll stimulate anywhere from 10-16 days, and you have to be at the clinic every day at 7:30 for bloods, a scan every other day, and often they'll ask you to wait around for repeat bloods around noon. You'll get a call from the clinic EVERY DAY from the time you start down-regging to let you know what your instructions are.
When you get closer to stimulating, ARGC recommend that you have a hysteroscopy. They take all the measurements of your uterus, ovaries, cervix, etc., so that when embryo transfer comes, they'll know exactly where they have to go. I managed to get my hysto covered by private insurance, by telling them that I was having painful and heavy periods, and therefore was able to have it at the Wellington. If you are unable to do that, a hysto at the clinic is £1160, or somewhere thereabouts.
Closer to egg collection, if you're having immune issues, they'll recommend therapy for you. I had my first intralipid infusion a couple days after my egg collection, then a second the day after my embryo transfer. They'll put you on loads of medication after the embryo transfer, including steroids, blood thinners, pessaries, etc.
I have spoken to a lot of women who live pretty far away, and they come into London for the two weeks of stimulation and stay at a hotel, hostel, rental flat, friends, etc. I don't think it's necessary for the down-reg period, but the stimulation is super important.
ARGC is a very intense place to get treatment. But I found a comfort in the intensity, as I knew that this place was going to do everything it could to get me pregnant and keep me pregnant. It is VERY expensive, but small comforts are that scans are included during stimulation, and any stimulation drugs you don't use can be returned and refunded, which is why I think you should get them from the clinic as opposed to an outside pharmacy.
That's about it, I think, other than always having some reading material or something to keep you occupied, because there will always be some waiting around to do. Sometimes you'll go in and do all the things you have to do right away, other times you can wait an hour at a time.
AFM, had a scan yesterday, and baby measured 51.3 mm and waved at me! This morning was the midwife orientation, and it was very thorough and informative. The midwife who was assigned to us went through everything with a fine-tooth comb, and managed to clear up some confusion as to what my appointment was on the 31st. That appointment is my dating scan and nuchal test, but she arranged for me to see a consultant at 14 weeks, as I told her about my concern over the cone biopsy I had last year.
Now I have a whole week and a half before I have to go to another appointment. Wow, a small mini-holiday!
Waves to everyone....have a great weekend!