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

Wow Jellie that is amazing news! I am so pleased for you and MrJ

Congratulations jellie! That's wonderful news.

My family took my mum out for lunch yesterday. Naturally they sat us in the 'family' room amongst all the screaming babies and toddlers. The youngest member of our party was 35. Ho hum.

Hugs to all the Berries. Here's hoping next year we can all celebrate Mothers' Day with our own (screaming) bundles of joy.

Ooh, how exciting Beaky - let us know how it goes with the house.

RP nice to see you - hope you are enjoying your little one.

Hi, glad I found this thread. I'm 35, TTC forever, IVF cycle 1 at the mo. Had 17.4 AMH and good follicles on scan but only 3 eggs. Out of these one was immature, one didn't fertilise so I was left with one. 3dt last Monday (9th) so on 2WW and I've come here because I am losing my mind and called my not so DH a cunt earlier.

What's an instadiffer?

Phe

Hi phe I'm also on ivf round 1! Over 3 years ttc here. Scan tomorrow to find out how the follicles are doing. I've had 6 months of clomid and two iui's before that, which got me two bfps (one from each) but both miscarried.
Good luck with your two week wait, it only takes one as they say which doesn't help I know

An instadiffer is someone who gets diffed (pregnant - derived from up the duff) instantly .

You're at home here, loads of ivf experience! Come make yourself comfortable on the pouffe of possibility and try to remain sane .

Welcome Phe - sorry you are having such a crappy time. The main problem with the 2WW in my opinion is that you can't drink in order to take your mind off it all. But welcome. Hopefully we can provide a small amount of distraction.

I just took my dozens of vits and supplements. The cat was sitting next to me and went wild for them, she was trying to shove her head in the jar. There must be fish in the supplements somewhere!

Hi,

I posted a thread and was kindly invited by Happylass to join you here so I thought I would take her up.
I am 35, I live in South Wales, TTC for last 5 years, 3 years ago I was diagnosed with severe endometrius and this time last year (after a ludicrous 14 month wait) had my left fallopian tube removed. The other is badly damaged but I was told by my gynae to try for a year, nothing happened (despite a lot of effort!)and I have only now been referred for IVF. My husband and i have had tests done, all is fine with him and I am ovulating monthly. Heard last week that I am looking at a minimum 12 month wait which I am finding incredibly hard to come to terms with. I am afraid I don't understand all your acronyms yet and I am totally in the dark about how IVF really works so bear with me please. I could just do with a bit support and maybe some insider knowledge on the process.
Thanks

Ponsian so sorry to hear your frustrating story, we know from happy that the system in Wales seems to drag out and make you wait forever, it's just not fair. There's plenty of experience in this thread, it's likely someone can answer any questions you have. Any acronyms you don't get just ask!!

Welcome Pon and Phe. Lovely to have new people. In the nicest way I hope you don't stay too long.

Welcome newbies! Ponsian your story is just so sad to hear. It is truly unfair that you have been unable to access the care you need. Have you considered private treatment? phe good luck with your 2ww, fingers crossed you're just passing through. Hormones are definitely to blame for the swearing and arguments!

Good luck with the house beaky, keeping everything crossed for you!

Ha, I wonder what it is in the vitamins that sends the cat crazy wild. I think my zita west vitamins are giving me heartburn, anyone ever experienced similar?

Thanks for sharing your downregging times smidge. I will be DR for 3 weeks before my first scan, and they seemed very confident that I would be ready to stim by then. I have 26-29 day cycles usually so hopefully the drugs won't delay it too much. beaky I have burserulin (sp?) then menopur.

Is it too early to go to bed berries?! Tired! Think I will listen to some meditation tracks and rest my eyes a little....

Sorry Barking i thought it was today - all the very best for tomorrow. I found the first scan nerve wracking but once you know the follies are there it just becomes a PITA.
Welcome Pontsian. Glad you decided to join up and double the number of Welshies . I contacted IVF Wales after our chat on the other thread and it is the case that if you have 2 cycles privately your NHS entitlement drops to 1 - a fact which no-one ever mentioned and which I'm fuming about!! I also read somewhere that the typical wait between cycles 1 and 2 is 6-9 months
Welcome also Phe. Sorry you're having such a tough time. I'm not going to lie - the 2ww after IVF is pure torture. All I can advise is be kind to yourself - lots of treats- the time will pass, even if it doesn't feel like it at the moment
Tiger I suffered with bad heartburn for the first time ever just after Xmas. I take Zita West vits and they don't usually pose a problem but I was on Omega 3s, aspirin and Norithisterone as well so I'm guessing it, along with the usual Xmas over indulgence, all contributed. Gaviscon is the way to go! I also used Buserelin and a Menopur for my cycles so any questions just ask. When will you be starting?

Hi Happy - God how depressing! But how would they actually know how many cycles you had, particularly if you went abroad?! I am seriously considering that route (going abroad) already. Another lady on here sent me details for a clinic in Prague where she is going in April for treatment so I am going to investigate that further. I really want to start treatment by the summer and that clearly is not going to be the case on the welsh NHS - more like summer 2018. has anybody else on this thread had experience of going abroad for treatment? Thanks

pontsian we've just an ivf twins announcement from jellie after ivf in Prague!

O wow! that's great news! Congrats Jellie! Prague is sounding more and more promising :-)

Pontsian when we did the consent forms at CRGW we had to say whether or not we wanted our GP to be informed of our treatment. As we didn't think we had anything to hide I think we ticked yes. I'm in the process of finding out if it actually has gone on our NHS records. I'll keep you posted!
DH and I have started to talk about possibly going abroad for treatment at some point rather than waiting for a 2nd NHS cycle so would be interested in how you get on. We wouldn't be able to go until next year though as I teach which obviously limits when we can travel.

Welcome Pon and welcome Phe!

Phe keeping my fx for you for a bffp!

Pon what a shitty time you've had too. I can't believe they made you try for 12 months despite your issues.

Barking good luck for your scan tomorrow, let us know how you get on!

Thanks for the good house vibes all, no progress yet though

Welcome newbies, make yourselves comfy, hopefully you won't be here too long.

Which protocol did you do Phe?

I can't believe the doc made you try for another year once they'd discovered your issues. Sounds like they were stalling for time. I'm cross on your behalf Pon.

Good luck with the house Beaky - stressful and exciting.

Hope you're managing the cetrotide a little better Barking and good luck for the scan tomorrow.

Also a belated "yay" to Kuma for finally being able to get the go ahead for natural cycle IVF.

Exciting times in Berry HQ!

barkingtreefrog thanks - an instadiffer broker her news to me yesterday and she is 9 weeks. They decided to try a post xmas and TA DAAAA - instant. Happy for her, not so happy for my work colleagues who watched me cry at my desk for around three hours yesterday. oh well, today's a new day and all that! Good luck for your scan today!

WildflowerMarmalade thanks - I could murder a gin, and my DH

pontsian - hello fellow welshie, I'm in S wales too. Are you with Wales Fertility Institute at the Heath or Neath or someone else? I'd be interested in the details of the Prague IVF if you've got it, I'm on the 2WW and trying not to be a pessimist but I like to have a plan/options :-) Also struggling with the aconyms

I had long protocol Gillster

Thanks for the big welcome all

Phe xx

Hi Phe,

I don't actually know what clinic I am with, I received a letter last week from my gynae which just said "Wales Infertility Clinic". I live much closer to the Heath (Caerphilly) but I doubt address would have influence with the Welsh NHS.
This is the website I was given for the clinic in Prague and the contact name of Eva. I am going to contact them today.
www.reprofit.cz/en/ivf

I just feel totally disheartened with the NHS here after over 4 years of being shoved around and fobbed off. First I had my appendix removed only to be told by the surgeon that it wasn't!, then dozens of "water infections" that all coincided with my period, then IBS, then Coeliac disease - the list is painfully endless until they finally listened to me after I had done my own research into endometritus. Then in June 2013 I was given the devastating news that it was severe and would have to have my left fallopian tube removed and IVF was my only real chance of having baby, wait another 9 months for that surgery (during which time I was hospitalised numerous times and developed severe anaemia). Go through all of that only to be told its another year wait until I can have a consultation is enough! Im off!!
Sorry for rant I've just reached the end and like Phe in the last 18 months I have had 5 girls in my department all pregnant and just when I hoped it was over a 6th has just announced so I am feeling particularly down at the moment x

what does it mean when someone says stabbing and stimming?

I have a fairly regular cycle of 26-28 days

My clinic starts meds on day 23 of cycle following another delightful dildo cam scan. DH, exclaimed 'I think I can see a baby' before deciding it all looks like outer space. Clown.

11th - 22nd Feb - Suprecur
23rd Feb - 4th March - Suprecur + Menopur
4th - final doses of all and Ovitrelle
6th - Egg Collection - only 3 retrieved (despite AMH 17.4 and 18 visible follicles)
7th - only 1 fertilised (1 immature, 1 didn't fertilise)
9th - Transfer of 1

Hope that helps pontsian if your clinic starts on D23 too

Phe

Sorry to hear you are having an equally crap time with the same clinic I am with - what I would say though is that once you are at the top of the waiting list they really are wonderful. The Consultants there are fab as are all the staff.

It's just such a nonsense to have to do all this waiting. I've also had my appendix out (nothing wrong with it), horrendous kidney/UTI's and awful back pain.

Finally saw a gynae in Dec 2012 who immediately said that he was sure I had endo and put me on a list for surgery and did referral to IVF at the same time (he must have known how bad the wait was).

First appt with IVF Aug 2013 for initial consultation. They have tried to tell me since that the waiting time starts from this point - but that isn't what I was told by the gynae, he said 18 month max from his referral. IVF said 12-18 month wait from date of their first consult.

Things have changed though - the contract was taken away from Cardiff and Vale NHS board and now all the staff at the unit are employed by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board!

Surgery for endo in Oct 13, hoped to conceive naturally as no other problems (DH had done sperm analysis ahead of appt in Aug 13).

As far as I was concerned I should have reached the top of the waiting list 18 months after Dec 2012. In reality it took till December 2014 for me to get another appointment. From there though things really did happen fast. That's the only saving grace.

Also they say you can have two cycles but after cycle one if you have any spare embryos they will freeze them and you will get a frozen cycle before you do another 'full' cycle - I didn't know that before. Unfortunately I didn't have any spare to freeze though.

Keep us posted if you decide to go to Prague, I'll have a look at the clinic now xx

Scan went ok, phew, there's something in there! I have 3 leading follicles at around 14, and 4 smaller ones. Need more cooking time. Scan again on Thursday. EC predicted to be either Saturday or Monday please please please on Saturday so I get the weekend to recover
AND she said my womb lining was looking lovely - definitely the best she was likely to see all day

phe stabbing is injecting and stimming is injecting whichever drug you're on to stimulate the ovaries to produce follicles. I'm on gonal f but it varies according to clinic and protocol.

great news barking! been popping in to see how you got on. Best all day, eh? weight off the mind.

Hi newbies. This is a nice place. Sorry you all find yourselves here. I would stay and introduce myself but I have 3 formal complaints and a few job applications to do by the end of the week so better dash... ;)

Phe good but depressing to hear your experience of IVF Wales. I was told minimum 12 months, max 18 months from referral but given that it's been 11 months already and I've not heard a thing , I'm not holding out too much hope. If they say 18 months from first appointment we'll definitely have a few more attempts privately/abroad before then. When is your OTD by the way? Keeping everything crossed for you.
Pont I understand your frustration. It's so unfair. The first thing the gynae at RGH said to me was your eggs are getting older every day. That was 18 bloody months ago!! I'm not too far from you, just south of Pontypridd. I'm expecting to be treated at the Heath but as you said, who knows!
Glad all went well with the scan Barking. Hope you're not getting too uncomfortable. Waving those pom poms for you!
Kuma how are things with you? When are you expecting EC?
Beaky any news on the house?
Hope everyone else is ok. In no mans land here. Still waiting for AF to rock up, so nothing to report.

Just an update for you Pont. My DH has just spoken to a manager at IVF Wales as I rang a month ago and was told we'd hear from them in 3/4 weeks but we've not heard anything. The news is pretty grim I'm afraid. They basically said they are in a right mess. We probably won't be seen for an initial consultation until July/August and then we are looking at at least a 12 month wait after that, but probably more. They are currently calling those who were referred in March 2014 for an initial appointment. We were referred late April (but didn't get the confirmation letter until July ) 1 consultant out of 2 there) has just come back after 6 weeks off sick and now the other one has gone off ill. I'm gutted as, in my head, I thought we'd be getting treated by the end of this year at the latest. It really is beyond a joke. I just wish they'd tell people the facts so that they can make informed decisions
Sorry for hogging the thread everyone else!