Assisted Conception (and the bits in between) Volume 10

[MoJangled]

Our new home, hope you all find me soon...

Got it wrong again used brackets ot starts please excuse me.

Happy weekend to all

beginning -good luck for tomorrow's testing!!

OMG BFP!!! I know it's still a long way to go but I am so excited! :-D
Sasha I will leap of the bench and let you have my spot as hopefully it is lucky, maybe you can share it with Frosticle? X

great news Beginning! The bench is still nice and warm for me. We are going for two embies.

Thanks for all the good luck messages ladies.

beginnng yay!!!!!!!! So pleased for you.

Good luck for today Sacha, I have just spent the last two weeks rubbing my tummy trying to relax and hoping/praying (couldn't decided it its fate or a higher power!) I had a bit of a melt down on transfer day and cried my eyes out at the embryologist when she asked me if I was ok...just to warn you as I thought I was feeling fine! X

Thanks Beginning. Clinic just called. We have 5 good quality embies so have decided to wait until Monday for ET when they get to blasto stage. Exciting stuff. Cxx

beginning congrats how exciting . Lots of good news on here hope it continues for us all! Waiting for AF to arrive today (feels wrong willing it to start) so I can get back on the IVF bus

Waves to everyone else

Beginning wonderful wonderful news. I am so happy for you

Now make sure you take it easy, put your feet up and enjoy!!

x

Dont stop believing

(sorry if this sign off is getting boring now, but i'm a bit supersticous and feel we're on a roll so want to keep it up!!).

Beginnings what fantastic, wonderful news!! So pleased for you!

Sasha all the very best for your ET of blastos on Mon!

Weller I hope that AF arrives soon so you can start preparing yourself to board that IVF bus.

Pocket good luck for Mon. I hope things have settled down for you and you are ok.

Bugsy don't be hard on yourself, it is not surprising you haven't sorted immunes yet with all you have had going on with your DM. Be good to yourself and allow yourself as much time as you need.

Hugs to all.

Don't stop believing

beginning absolutely fantastic news! A big congratulations to you.

sasha good luck for ET tomorrow. Sounds like you have a perfect haul of embies.

frosticle how is the bench? I hope you are staying remotely sane. When is OTD?

the cat, mini, mo, pocket how are all the pregnant ladies? I hope you are all doing well and those beans are going strong.

weller how exciting about getting on the bus again. Have you or your clinic made any changes for this cycle?

ginger sorry when is your follow-up consultation? How are you feeling about things now?

bugsy I agree with frosty you shouldn't be too hard about the immunes. You have a lot on your plate.

AFM well have picked up pace on the quest for our next move. Finally had NHS appt this week (took 4 months to get initial consultation but complicated by moving boroughs about a year ago). Pretty much as I expected, no surprises really, except that if we want to they could start a cycle with us in January. Which is much quicker than I had been told or anticipated. So of course, good news. But before we had heard about NHS appointment (only given like 3 days notice!) we had sent off the application form to follow in many ladies here for ARGC. And we've been given an appointment for 2 weeks time. So you may think it's an easy decision right? Of course the free option seems the most logical right? I know, two complete extremes here in every sense. But actually it's not that clear cut, and I certainly don't want to make any decision until we've been to the ARGC appointment. The NHS is I'm sure going to offer a decent service, and if we decide to go that option then we just need to take it for what it is. But it's pretty clear we won't have much choice during the treatment, from how many embies we can put back, to drug protocol, to anything. Also a little concerned that they were keen to do IVF when we were always told we needed ICSI.
The other big news is that finally we had a better meeting at our bank and yes a remortgage is possible. And it looks like they would give us the amount we are after. So this suddenly means that ARGC could be a real possibility. Of course it's not a decision to be taken lightly, borrowing against the equity in our home. So as you can see decisions, decisions!
I'd love to hear your thoughts, nothing better than from those who have been there done that. Or how you might have done things differently.
Sorry for big personal rant!

oxox

beginnings whoop whoop fantastic news here's to a very boring 8 months
sasha good luck for tomorrow.
sunnyg decisions are diff. Rl friend did private whilst she waited for time on nhs was the nhs one which resulted in DS. Could you not keep ARGC as a back up or is that too emotionally hard? Or can you postpone nhs in case it is needed?

Hi Sunny 2 options sound great. Whilst NHS may not give you much option in terms of protocol etc it sounds like they can do it as early as ARGC as am guessing Jan earliest of either place as Christmas is harder due to staffing etc (and I always think key staff off over Christmas so would want to avoid cycling then).

I guess the advantage of NHS is you can see what works, what doesn't and then use that information to tweak an ARGC cycle (ie tell them if definitely need ICSI etc etc due to how the cycle went if still need it). However, going to ARGC definitely is a great positive - they seem very detailed and test more than any other clinic I have heard of (which is why an NHS cycle after may feel more of a let down - so would you do 2 cycles at ARGC instead?)

Great to have options. Hope ARGC appointment goes well for you.

Beginnings - Hoorah!! CONGRATULATIONS on your fab news and graduation from the bench!! Hope the nausea was a temporary thing and that you have a very smooth and happy pregnancy.

Sasha that all sounds great! Hoping for top quality blastos ready for ET tomorrow. Looking forward to your company on the bench. It's OK here but you might want to bring a cushion.

Sunnyg how wonderful that you now have such choice with your remortgaging approved and the offer of early treatment on the NHS. I guess if it were me, the decision would boil down to how much time I had. If you're young/have a low FSH and can reasonably assume you still have plenty of time, I would go for the NHS first (especially now you know you won't have to wait long). I agree with Hoops, if it doesn't work, it does at least give you valuable information to share with ARGC and you can then move on to the Rolls Royce service and still feel positive knowing you would get max testing etc there. If you do it the other way round and it failed at the ARGC, you would feel a whole lot less optimistic returning to the NHS. If you go for the NHS first and it works, you've saved yourself from a big fat remortgage!!! If you go NHS first, I would do everything else I could to increase the chances of it working, e.g. acupuncture on the run up to, before and after ET, cut caffeine and alcohol out or to absolute minimum, take Vit D supplements etc - the whole works! If time really isn't on your side, I would go straight for ARGC. Ultimately, you need to make a decision you feel most comfortable with and I'm sure you will make the right decision for you. My OTD is Wednesday. Not long now.

Thanks bugsy. hoophopes and frosty for your wise words. It does make total sense to take this NHS opportunity and give it a go. If it works, especially seeing then I wouldn't have to remortgage it would honestly feel like winning the lottery. But on the flipside I'm 35, 36 next June and if it doens't work I'd be closer to 36. I've already had 2 failed IUIs and 1 ICSI (egg-share as a donor) which gave me my first ever BFP but sadly resulted in a mc at 6-7 weeks. I think if I was 20 or even 25 it'd be a lot more straight forward for me. I'd be more than happy to give the NHS a go and possibly as many goes as I could. But then again, you are right frosticle then perhaps I could give the NHS a go, and if not have ARGC as a very good back up.
We are fairly confident that we could borrow enough for 2 cycles at ARGC, but you are right, if those didn't work, could I really face going back to the NHS after such a tailored treatment?!

oxox

Sunny I went with the NHS for my first two goes, and I did have a reasonable amount of choice re numbers of embies put back - they recommend only 1 put back if below 37 but if you were to only have 2 left, they will let you put both back. You can also request icsi as far as I remember, especially if there is probs with DH/P sperm. It is not as hands on as private, but probs worth a go first before ARGC? I am 36 and have only just done my first private cycle so I do think time is still on your side. Your decision though, I can understand the desire to use ARGC with their huge success rates. Good luck with your decision. x

it seems ginger that the NHS treatment can vary widely. Perhaps it's the good old postcode lottery at work again. I was told a very definite no to putting more than 1 back. The only exception would be if it was a day 2 transfer. Then two would be possible. We were originally diagnosed as mild male factor so that's why we've always been told we needed ICSI and had ICSI on our first go. NHS says they would make a decision on the day. DH's sperm has always had a low count and a varying motility. Although his last sample was much better, so perhaps that's why they are saying that. Anyway I'm sure we'll know the right path to take soon enough. Thank you for your suggestions.

Afternoon ladies. Itchy and Scratchy the grade I embryos have just been introduced to their new home. Lets hope they like it and stick around. They will let us know on 15/11/2012 apparently.

Frosticle. Thanks for the advice regarding the cushion. This bench is rather hard!

Xx

Sunny as twin pregnancies cost the NHS about 60k more than a single one on average (figures we were quoted by my obstetrician) the NHS only want one put back. On our NHS cycle we were told as under 37 could only have one put back, no matter what day the transfer was. However they will freeze all other embies and if the cycle fails will do FET's until a bfp or no more embies to use on that cycle. My NHS funds one cycle, with FETs included. Again we were told ICSI decided on the day, which is sensible as you never know male factors do change - and we did have ICSI as it was needed. My clinic was a private one, but NHS funding - nothing like the intensity of ARGC.

Hurray Beginnings!! So excited for you!

Sasha Good to hear that Itchy and Scratchy are on board. Hotel Chocolat recommended to take the edge off the bench...

Sunny On our NHS cycle they said they'd decide on the day between ICSI and IVF. We'd been told it would most likely be ICSI during our consultation because of DH's initial SA and then maybe IVF when he had a follow up SA the week before EC. Ended up with IVF, and 8 top grade embies so the changing of their approach didn't have a bad effect. I think that the thing to remember is that they want you to succeed and will do whatever they think is best.

thanks badger and hoops for your input. I've re-read over my posts and I realise I must sound very ungrateful that
a) I have these options
b) I am able to do the NHS when so many aren't even able to.

I realise I must also sounds very skeptical or suspicious of the NHS when I do know they of course want you to succeed and will do their upmost. I am truly grateful that I have these options. It's just that, as I'm sure many of you will understand, that the longer you are on this journey, and the older you get the higher the stakes get. So I just want to consider this next move, very, very carefully.

Many thanks to all for your suggestions, input etc.

sasha well done with Itchy and Scratchy and hope the bench is kind to you!

oxo

Sunny wow great news about having options, shame its not an easy decision though, but nothing is when it come to ttc! And you?re not ungrateful at all, you?re just at a point when you need to weigh up your options when the decision is not an easy one to make. We?d all be exactly the same.

NHS wasn?t an option for DP and me due to our ages so I cant offer any advice or opinion on that. So whilst we had to go private, it has been great being in control, my consultant is extremely attentive, I get very personal service and I can pick appointment times that fit around work. But the money side of things has spiralled as we?ve had three cycles (with donor eggs which is more expensive than straight ivf as effectively we pay for the donor?s treatment). What would I do in your shoes? I would go to the ARGC appointment and ask for a really detailed estimate of full costs including an estimate of meds (this may be hard dependent on what you might need but I?d hope you could get an upper and lower guesstimate), tests, scans etc ? we?ve had to pay extra for scans and blood tests which I hadn?t anticipated. Or have you done that already ahead of your mortgage conversations? Ask ARGC for reassurance that they will take on board your previous cycles and really build on these going forward ? btw, do you feel you need immunes? If so, ARGC is potentially a better option than NHS ? but them I?m no expert on immunes or NHS. Lastly do you live/work conveniently enough to make the regular visits needed for ARGC? Mini has been going every couple of days, could you do that?

I do agree totally with Frosticle?s rationale about trying the NHS route if you feel you have time to try this. And if it works, then you?ve saved lots of money. If it doesn?t then you have the backup of ARGC? but if you?re older (like moi) I?d be tempted to go straight for the Rolls Royce option. I empathise with the money side of things as we?ve racked up a small fortune but after a while paying it off just becomes the norm? and given our BFP, right now, I?d say it was worth it.

Good luck making your mind up and cant wait till you announce your BFP in early 2013, whichever route you go!

Dear Frosticle how are you feeling ahead of Wednesday, you sound impressivly chilled. Will you POAS or blood test?

Ginger I?m sorry but I cannot find the immunes thread on FF ? but hopefully you have your questions ready now. Best of luck with your appointment. I really hope you get some answers and can move forward swiftly.

Sasha well done on the embies, just rest and put your feet up for the next few days. And keep away from Google as that will drive you crazy. My recommend is always daytime movies for a bit of light distraction.

Huge waves to all the other ladies.

AFM, repeat bloods today show progesterone is good and hcg is increasing (had tears of joy on the train home as this is actually happening). Next appointment is our pregnancy scan, two weeks today. Yikes!!

Really don?t stop believing

Good news on blood tests pocket - great news!

Sunny some good points by pocket. I would also ask ARGC when they could start your cycle and how long inbetween they would want between cycles - so if they say they can't fit you in until March and need no gap that solves your problem!!

Sasha well done on your two fab embies on board, I hope your time on the bench goes swimmingly.

Sunny I totally agree with the advice from the other ladies, and I hope I didn't come across as accusing in my post, you have every right to consider your options very carefully. It is such an important process for all of us, I know exactly what you mean about the length of the journey, and high stakes etc. I hope your appointments with both help make up your mind, and you feel happy with your decision, and get that lovely BFP we all deserve!

oxox

Don't stop believing

Sasha - hoorah for Grade 1 Itchy and Scratchy!!! You've got the best possible chance and every reason to believe it will work. Good to have your company on the bench!

sunnyg - I honestly don't think you're being ungrateful at all! It's tough to go through one round of this process, never mind several rounds and with each round, it gets more wearing and harder to remain optimistic. Pocket makes a very good point about considering how far away you live from ARGC and how easy it will be for you to get there. They can, during the 2 weeks leading up to EC, need to see you as often as twice a day for blood tests. I believe they do testing every morning before work and during the second week, potentially again at lunchtime.

Pocket I am so happy for you that all your blood results are good. Crying on the way home (proof of all those hormones!) and just two weeks until a scan? Marvellous!! I am strangely chilled on the bench. I had a few days of flirtation with Mr Google but I think I've run out of things to ask him now so I've stopped. My DP wants me to wait until OTD (Wednesday), which is also when he gets back from the US, and for me to do the blood test (I don't think he appreciates how accurate the POAS is). The POAS does however call to me every morning from the bathroom cupboard - the rascal!!