Toot, Toot. Calling all dirty chicks! Jump aboard the charabanc with Barry & The Berries. Destination BFP" (thread 26)

[happylass]

The smallprint –
Berries have a strict entrance criteria (TTC #1, over 30, TTC for 12+ months, NO instadiffers, must have a special pot and definitely no mention of baby dust or baby dancing).
Those not abiding by the rules may be escorted from the premises.

Current passengers:

Happylass, 37, TTC since Aug 2012. 2 failed ICSIs. Time to defrost the spare.
Beaky 35, ttc coming up 3 yrs, 2x failed iui 1x long protocol ivf cancelled due to poor response. Awaiting follow up with FC and possibly short protocol IVF next.
Minx, 34, both tubes blocked, 1 buried ovary, appointment with consultant early March.
Nolly, 33, TTC 2.5 years, BFP Christmas Eve, MC New Years Eve. Awaiting "spontaneous conception" before IVF starts, August 2015.
Wild 40 - TTC for three years. IVF double-stimms freeze all embryos cycle started in February - due to complete May/June.
HampshireBlues 36 TTC 3.5 years, unexplained. Cycle 1 chemical pregnancy, cycle 2 abandoned due to cyst, cycle 3 failed. Plan thrombotic profile, scratch and short protocol.
Lumen, 35, ttc since Nov 2011, unexplained, two IVF cycles in 2014, both bfns, waiting for lap&dye and results of numerous bloods, aiming for one last IVF cycle in the summer.
Tigerdog, 34 ttc since Jan 2013. Unexplained. Starting ivf in March.
Gillster, 40, TTC since Feb 2012. Had IVF in Feb 14 and had 6 one cell embies frozen due to polyp. Cancelled FET cycles in Sept 14 and Dec 14 due to more polyps. Awaiting hysteroscopy before commencing natural cycle FET. Hoping to be at least PUPO on the 4th attempt!
Smidge, 38, TTC since Jan 2013. Unexplained. IVF#1 Short protocol July 2014 yielded 1 blasto, BFN. IVF#2 in process - Long Protocol Oct/Nov 2014
Kuma - 40. TTC 2 years. Low AMH high FSH - DH antisperm ABs. Failed IVF June 14 and two cancelled IVFs Nov and Dec 14 due to poor blood results. Hoping for another try at natural cycle IVF end of Jan.
Jelliebabe - 40, Threw the pills away 8 years ago. Unexplained but have a very low AMH, 1st IVF with clinic in Prague, 2 embryo's, chemical pregnancy. 2nd IVF in London branch of clinic - 1 embryo, BFN. BFP Feb '15

Yay Gill on being PUPO, am keeping everything crossed for you and your two embies.

Lucie sorry I've missed the shenanigans about your scans but I'm glad that you have a clear way forward and have your schedule for EC.

Barking I am so sorry that you are having to cope with all of this and that DH cannot get the time off work (which in my humble opinion is shocking!). Do you have someone else that you can take along with you for some support and to ask the questions that you cannot? Perhaps taking them on paper may help just in case; not that you'll need it. I will be there with a virtual handhold.

Can't remember who asked by no anaesthetic for the scratch, just an antibiotic and some bum bullet pain killer but in all honesty I'm not sure how much it helped. So now awaiting AF the on to short protocol!

Oh god Kuma that is really tough. So sorry that you've had that news.

I guess it means that you have to rethink your plan of action. If you were thinking about donor then maybe talk to Jellie.

And of course you can ask about my test results. My AMH was 2.7 but my FSH was pretty normal at around 7. I remember feeling quite smug about the FSH and LH results and the consultant warning me that sometimes the AMH can still be low, which unfortunately proved to be the case.

When the consultant recommended the embryo banking approach he said that at my (our) age 80 or 90 per cent of the eggs would not be viable and so to have a chance of a pregnancy they would need to harvest as many as possible in order to get a good one. The other thing he told me was to go to speak to the finance department, because it was not a cheap option!

The only saving grace with the cost is that because the treatment is spread out over a few months I have sort of had a chance to catch up with myself financially as it went along, if you see what I mean. The extra months gave me time to scrape together some money for the next load of drugs.

It was when I was trying to decide whether to go ahead with this hugely costly approach that you said to me, Kuma, that I should do what I needed to do in order to be able to live without regrets in the future and to ultimately be at peace with outcome even if it did not finally end with a baby. I found that hugely helpful advice and so I'm sending it back to you with lots of love.

So sorry to read your news Kuma but at least it sounds like you still have options to explore.

That really is shocking barking that your DH is being pretty much banned from attending! I am sure the yr 12/13 could cope for an hour, they are not kids after all. It sounds as though his boss is not at all understanding of the situation you find yourself in. Hopefully a friend or family member can join you for support.

Is it tomorrow you fly out Lucie? If so loads and loads of luck and will you have Wi-Fi to keep us all updated throughout?

I had a smear today (despite so much business down there and my nurse being great I still can't feel comfortable with them!) I asked about having my AMH tested on the NHS. Unfortunately, yet predictably, she said they don't offer it on the Welsh NHS so it looks like I will taking my first private step on the IVF road shortly to have that done.

Hope everyone else is well xx

Kuma I'm sorry but didn't see your post before. I'm sorry about your news; I can't imagine how difficult it must be. It sounds like the tact switch was off! All I can say is take some time to think things through in a logical way; easier said than done I know but I second what what one of other berries said which is you need to do what you feel comfortable with and be able to say that you did everything you could. Big hugs.

So much activity in here today, I've had to take notes!

Tiger - great news on the scan and for getting your first stimming under your belt without any nonsense. Are you sure you haven't done this before? When does your time off start?

Spare fingers crossed for the defrosting tomorrow. How many are they taking out? I did have a laugh earlier at dance outfits being in the freezer along with the embies and a pea shooter. It also made me smile that there was a "serving hatch" in the theatre where the embies were passed through (presumably from the lab).

Lucie - good luck with the trigger tomorrow and the flight to Czech. Apart from doing the trigger and getting on that plane, everything else is out if your control so no point stressing. Lots of positive vibes for you lady and everything crossed for an excellent haul of the best quality eggs.

Barking, sorry you're having a shit time again. It must be incredibly difficult to do the key anniversaries. It would be remiss not to acknowledge them but you need to look forward too and focus on your plan. I'm sorry your DH can't be with you on Monday but you're one tough lady and I know you can deal with this. Look at how much shit has been thrown at you over the last few years but you keep picking yourself up and moving on. Others would have folded way before now. Write your questions down so you can always refer to them and there's nothing wrong with shedding a few tears if they do well up. You may even get what you want as a result! If the doc won't do what you want then you have the Coventry back up plan, don't you? Stay strong.

Kuma - that's incredibly tough news to take and digest and I'm so sorry you're having to go through this. I think Wild offers some excellent advice. The only thing I would add, is to ask yourself how important it is to you to have a genetically linked child. Is it nature or is the nurturing aspect more important to you? I have a 43 year old friend in real life who had a baby in Nov from a donor egg (and donor sperm because she was single but so desperately wanted a child). She also worked at the same firm our DHs do out if interest although has now accepted a partner role at a much smaller firm to have a better work life balance. Long story short - she is loving it. Obviously there's so much to digest and I hope you and your DH can get to the decision that's right for you both.

Finally HB - well done on enduring the scratch and roll on AF!

Phew I'm exhausted after all of that!

A tip for you Berries - during an IVF cycle when you have evening injections to do, that is not a good time to pull all your clothes out of the wardrobe to have a massive clear out. What will happen is that everything will be in a complete muddle when you need to do said injections. [sigh] Can you tell that I'm speaking from experience here?

Barking infertility is a condition which affects a couple, not just one member of that couple, so to my mind that means that your DH's boss is basically refusing to allow him time off to attend medical appointments. Seems pretty out of order to me. I know you are having a really rubbish time at the moment with your anniversaries and this appointment and your dad all coming one on top of the other after the IVF. I'm so sorry things are tough.

Thanks everybody for your kind and helpful words. Despite the consultants pessimism I took all of this with the knowledge that on my private cycle I did get a top quality fertilised egg, so whilst I acknowledge that we had a bad outcome this time, I have at least a tiny bit of hope. I'd still like to try another cycle, but DH is out tonight so I haven't been able to talk about it with him yet.

Wild Thanks for sharing your results, my FSH was 15, so higher than yours. I am still encouraged by your success so far doing stimulated cycles.

Gill Make sure you put your feet up this evening - according to my hospital pack all exertion is to be avoided including housework

Spare I have my fingers crossed for your frosties tomorrow.

Kuma I'm so very sorry you've had such a difficult appointment today. I have seen posts on other threads/forums from ladies with a lower AMH than yours who have had successful treatment. There is always hope. Gill raises a very good point about nature v nurture though. DH and I have already had this chat so that we know where we both stand. We are all thinking of you and are here when you need us
Barking that's rubbish of your DH's school. Do they/the LA have a fertility treatment policy for LoA? I know mine do (which basically says that leave must be granted during treatment) but fortunately my Head has been fantastic so I haven't had to quote it yet. Also as Pont says, Yr 12/13 are the easiest to set work for/work around. Could he possibly arrange to see them in a free period/lunchtime/after school instead? Otherwise (again as others have said - lots of sound advice being given this evening!) you are one tough cookie and are more than capable of handling the docs on you're own. Great idea about writing your questions down - I so wish I'd listen and do that!!
Pont what nonsense from your nurse. I had my AMH done on the NHS - and I didn't even ask for it! Not sure whether the GP will do it though, mine was done through the Royal Glam pretty much the only thing they did do
Lucie all the very best for your trip to Prague. Keep us updated. Totally agree with you about Jodie at CRGW. She did both my ETs and wrote a little good luck message on the envelope with the pee stick in. Such a sweetie!
Hope everyone else is doing ok. So much going on at the moment!!
Does anyone know of a clinic in Athens called Serum? My friend mentioned that she knows someone who got pg there after several failed IVFs here. Apparently she had her uterus cut in a 'criss cross pattern' before having a IVF there. Anyway, I've just been looking at their website and they offer a huge amount of tests I've never heard of. They have a detailed questionnaire that you can submit in order for them to recommend the best treatment for you. May give it (the questionnaire) a shot if the FET doesn't work out. No mention of costs though

Hey Happy that is interesting to hear re: AMH testing. I have an appt. on the 27th so I will ask and see what she says. "criss cross" on her uterus?! blimey! Think i'll google that over the weekend!

So much happening it's hard to keep up!

Gill hooray PUPO!!! and how lovely things worked out for your friend with the baby!

Kuma you know, that is one experts opinion but it's exactly that, an opinion. I'd say get a second one and also if people didn't do something because someone else said it wouldn't work, we wouldn't have any of the amazing inventions we've had in the world. Having said that I do totally acknowledge what a stressful thing emotionally and physically it is to go through. I echo your own advice to lovely Wild, you need to feel you've done everything you can before you give up so you have no regrets. Brilliant advice. Just out of curiosity, how do you feel about donor eggs?

tiger glad you managed the stims no problem! How are you feeling now you've moved on a bit?

Barking I was going to say exactly the same as Wild, FC appointments are not just yours they are his too. Also what kind of a wanker says a person cannot attend a hospital appointment with their dh/dw! It's entirely unreasonable. Anyway, sending and a hug your way.

Spare very best of berry luck to you for tomorrow! I'll be practising my acrobatics for when they are needed!

lucie good luck to you too and safe trip, let me know when you need some cartwheels!

Pont I had my amh on the NHS, I think sometimes it depends on who you ask!

Happy how long til your FET? Oooo how painful does the criss cross thing sound!

Wild good luck for your scan tomorrow, I will knock out a couple of lucky handsprings for you

HB when is AF due? Glad the scratch went ok!

gill I hope you're settling into your PUPO state! Congratulations on getting to this point and I hope that the 2ww flies by!

barking that seems very unfair indeed. These are medical appointments like any other. I'm cross on your behalf. Sorry that you're having such a tough time. Tight squeeze and a paw hold from me.

kuma that must have been hard to hear but there certainly options for you explore and the others all give fantastically sound advice as ever. I hope you manage to have a good chat with dh and decide on a way forward.

hb well done on surviving the scratch and roll on af!

pont glad the smear wasn't too bad. I paid for my AMH as it wasn't offered locally - information and practice seems to vary everywhere you go. The nurse probably means it's not available on the NHS at your GP practice, however if happy has had it that would suggest it would be possible via the fc - different budgets and rules between hospital care and GP care.

So are you doing your injections in the evening wild? Seems better than first thing - I've felt a bit sleepy after some of mine but then had to get on with my day! Good luck with the scan tomorrow.

spare I'll be cheering on your frosties!

beaky did you start the pill today? Another step closer! I'm feeling fine, good to be moving on to stimming but not really keen on the additional injections - they were stinging and the powder mixing is a faff!

So happy is your fet due in a couple if weeks time?

gill one more week at work to go...sod's law means my time off is really badly timed but not much I can do about it now. Hope your work isn't too hectic.

I can already feel something happening following the first stimming dose probably imagining it

You lot are all bloody amazing by the way!

Just popping in quickly (did 32km on the bike with my best mate tonight which was lovely, but now I'm knackered!) to say thank you so much for all the lovely replies. You've all made me feel a lot better about things. DH has his meeting tomorrow to 'discuss all his time off' so we'll see how that goes.

Beaky/Tiger I have a scan booked for next Fri which will be cd10. No idea what happens after that cos I forgot to ask but from what I've Googled all being well they'll do the FET 5-7 days after OV. Given that I usually OV fairly early it should be just over 2 weeks away.
I think the Implantation Cuts is what my friend must have been talking about. The woman in question had Endo plus some scarring from treatment for pre cancerous cells. I'm more interested in all the other tests they offer for immunology etc. If the FET doesn't work (which if course it will - woo woman says I must think positive) I'm definitely going to look in to investigations in to why it isn't working. Can't keep throwing time/effort/money at this unless I get some answers.
www.ivfserum.com/hysteroscopy-with-implantation-cuts/

Congratulations Gill, that's great news! I am having embryo glue and we are also trying PICSI for dhs sperm.

Barking sorry that your DH is not allowed to take the time off. That doesn't seem very fair at all. I have done the majority of our appointments and scans on my own so far, it's obviously nicer to have someone there but you will be ok. Do you have anybody else you could take?

Kuma I know plenty of people with a lower amh than you who have had successful ivf. Come out to czech with me!!

How old are you if you don't mind me asking wild? I'm just wondering what % of my eggs will not be viable?

Pont I am on the way to Stansted as we speak! I think I will have wifi out there so shall keep you posted. I'm triggering tonight and will have egg collection on Sunday so will update after that. I couldn't get my amh on nhs either. I booked in for the first steps infertility at crgw. It was quite good value as I had a pelvic ultrasound to check lining etc, amh and DHs sperm analysis for around £200.

Happy, that is so nice of Jodie, she is a little sweetie and very reassuring. I preferred her to Debbie and would only book in with her again.

That's about it for now. Next update from czech x

Spare any news on the frosties?

Tiger my stims felt really stingy too, also it's a good sign that you can feel something already, I remember commenting to the nurse after my first scan didn't show much that I remembered thinking I couldn't feel much going on and usually I can feel something at least. I'll do some pompoms for your follies too!

Happy are you still doing reflexology? I think that sounds sensible about more tests if you need them but fx you won't!

Safe flight, Lucie and good luck for your trigger.

Barking hope your dh's meeting goes ok.

Wild have you had your scan yet? How were the follies?

Nolly are you on hols now? How's things? When does your dh go off to save the world?

I did start the pill yesterday, Tiger so I've three weeks of that then a bleed and start short protocol. I already feel nauseous from the pill. I've realised that I'm going to need to keep my IVF drugs in the fridge while we stay with family as we are moving out next week but can't move into the new one yet! not sure what to do as no one knows. Also I got the all clear from my consultant about the skin carcinoma! I've been discharged

Berries I'm sick of reading articles about babies and should you have them or why people choose not too (no mention of infertility) and someone I know is sharing lots of this on fb due to their job at the mo. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Good luck lucieloo! Safe journey.

Happy I think we'll be 2ww buddies if all goes to plan.

Second stim injection done. Powder mixing is a faff but I think I've got it now.

Friday....yippee!

Beaky - great news about the carcinoma, you must be so relieved. Not sure what to suggest about refrigerating the drugs, put them in a lunchbox and hope nobody looks inside..?

Spare - any news?

Lucie - I spent lots of time on the internet again last night doing research incl reading about Cz clinics for ED IVF! It looks like Genett have a London clinic who will do all the prep prior to ET which is very close to my office. Really I just wasted my whole evening in the Internet trying to take control of my situation, which really, I can't do. Still one more try can't hurt and I still need to speak with Mr K who wasn't home until way after my bedtime last night.

Nearly the weekend

Lucie - safe travels by the way and best of luck.

Tiger - glad you're getting on ok with the stabbing. I agree that the mixing is a faff though!

So hard to remember what to reply to on the phone!

Kuma, yes Gennet have a great reputation and do indeed have a sister clinic in London for scans etc if you live in that area. I am going to Reprofit who also have good reviews but not such a long waiting list. I definitely recommend it. Catch up with you soon.

Cross post beaky, great news that you've been discharged though, one less thing to worry about!

What needs to go in the fridge? I was advised only the trigger and I decided I would only collect that on the day they tell me to trigger to avoid any paranoia about storage! Could you tell them it's related to your skin thing and keep it in a Tupperware that isn't see through? Blurgh to pill sickness, it didn't agree with me when I was on it last, although that was 10 years ago!

I agree with you in the baby article front. There also seems to be loads of irritating columns in national newspapers that have turned into baby focused bs.

No news yet... Hopefully they'll call in the next few hours. I'm staring at my phone!
They've provisionally booked me in for 11am tomorrow for the transfer, and I started the Clexene injections and fanny candles yesterday, and will start the steriods today.
Bon voyage Lucie! You'll be pupo when you get home!
barking I'm furious on your behalf that DH has been pulled into a meeting about that. Hope it all goes ok...
Beaky great news! And second a lunchbox or similar to keep them in (but keep the needles separately so it doesn't hurt when you inject with icy metal!) When I collected my drugs from the clinic, they put them in an insulted zip box thing, which I don't need any more so could post to you?

Place marking

I'm on tenterhooks here Spare....

Just had my scan and have five big ones and five smaller ones of varying sizes - some of which could make it. We shall see.

Will look back properly when not on phone.

Great news on getting the all clear Beaky. Do you know which drugs you'll be on for stimming? The Menopur I had, was originally in powdered form which had to be refrigerated until the liquid was added. Once the liquid was added it was fine at room temperature. As I was quite a high responder, I still have an unopened vial in the fridge nestled among DH's beers!

Keep us posted Lucie if you can and hope it all goes smoothly. Don't worry too much about egg viability in relation to age. Whilst the egg quality does generally decline, it's also very individual. I got 12 eggs the month before my 40th and 6 of those fertilised normally (and hopefully 2 of those are propagating nicely inside me).

Sounds promising Wild, have they given an indication for when EC will be?

Come on Spare's embies!

I am off for a gentle stroll after gorging myself on property shows.