Candle smugglers of the world unite! The Berries have loaded up the charabanc and have Barry on repeat. Destination BFP (via the pouch of Douglas)

[happylass]

The small print:

The Berries have strict entrance criteria: TTC #1 for 12 months+, over 30, NO instadiffers, must have a special pimping pot and absolutely no mention of baby dust/dancing. Not that we're fussy

Current passengers

Happylass, 37, TTC since Aug 2012. 2 failed ICSIs. Hopefully FET early May with only frostie. Long awaited NHS appt in June
Beaky 35, ttc coming up 3 yrs, 2x failed iui 1x long protocol ivf cancelled due to poor response. On the pill awaiting short protocol IVF in may
Minx, 34, both tubes blocked, 1 buried ovary, IVF info evening June, IVF "booking in" appointment in July
Nolly, 33, TTC 2.7 years, mc Dec 2014. awaiting ivf August 2015 while dh is off on a jolly.
Wild 40 - TTC for three years. Embies on ice and planning FET with immune treatment in 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 and all test results good. Currently in the middle of long protocol IVF, 13 eggs collected and awaiting news for next steps.
Gillster, 41, TTC since Feb 2012. Had IVF in Feb 14 and had 6 one cell embies frozen due to polyp. 2 x 2 day embies finally put back 14 months later on 16th April, BFP 28th April
Smidge, 39 this month, TTC since Jan 2013. Unexplained. IVF#1 Short protocol July '14 BFN, IVF#2 Nov'14 and IVF#3 Feb '15 both Long protocol BFNs. High NK cells immune treatment. 2 frosties due to be put back in natural FET in May or June.
Kuma - 40. TTC 2.5 years. Low AMH high FSH - DH antisperm ABs. Failed IVF June 14 and March 15. Looking to change clinic and try another natural cycle in June 2015.
Lucieloos, 35, TTC 18 months, low AMH & sperm motility. 1st ICSI in Czech Republic in April 2015. Awaiting results.
Barkingtreefrog, 35, ttc since Dec 2011. Clomid bfp summer 2013, mc @ 7 weeks. IUI bfp summer 2014, mc @ 7 weeks. Diagnosed with factor v leiden thrombophilia (but
not thought to be the cause of the mc's as they were too early). Failed IUI January 2015, failed IVF March 2015. No further NHS help. Going private for nk cells testing and a scratch before putting the frosties back, hopefully this summer.
Rain, 33 ttc since March 2012. unexplained. mystery bfp oct 13, MMC Nov 13. NHS IVF starting in June
Spare planning FET with remaining frosties shortly
Pont 1st IVF in Czech Republic in July.

To be fair I think I only mentioned egg/embryo donation in my email which explains their response. Think that's all we'll be paying out for in the future anyway. If the NHS doesn't work that'll be at least 3 failed fresh cycles and 1 failed FET so think I'll be ready to give up on my own eggs by then (don't quote me on that though. I may be tempted to try one last cycle in Athens!)

I am tempted to try serum as well. Although they have a deal of one cycle for 3000 euros or 2 cycles for 4000 so I would probably go with the two. Only problem is they want me to go over for an initial consultation and an aqua scan which is a bit of a pain. How long have you been waiting on the nhs? I rung ivf Wales recently and they told me 12 months wait for initial consultation and then 10-12 months after that for treatment

We've been on the list 13 months Lucie. We were initially told it would be a minimum 12, maximum 18 month wait for treatment from the time of referral. However a few months ago we were then told that our first appointment wouldn't be until July and we were looking at a 12-18 month wait AFTER that. At this point DH complained (very forcefully!) to a manager, mainly because of the mis-leading info we'd been given. Apparently we've now been moved on to a 'priority' list and this manager told DH to expect treatment 3-4 months after our appt next week (I'm very sceptical about this!). The manager admitted to DH that IVF Wales are in an 'absolute mess'. Also there are 2 lists: the normal list and the priority list (which is for those with a 'medical condition' and those approaching the age cut off points). DH argued that we did have a medical condition and so this is why we've moved on to the other list. However I'm trying to prepare myself for bad news when we get there next week. Won't be surprised at all if we are faced with another 12 month wait. . How long have you been on the list?

Lucie serum is sounding very tempting at those prices. Perhaps I've discovered my holiday destination for the end of August?!

happy when is your appointment? This coming week? I have everything crossed that they don't move the goal posts again, it's a ridiculous situation .

Serum is closed for the whole of August Barking! I even looked in to popping there from our holiday in Kefalonia before I found out they wouldn't be open!
Appt is next week, the 11th.

It's ridiculous isn't it happy. We only went onto the list this March so I know we are looking at at least 2 years which is no use to us. I would either have had a baby by then or moved onto donor eggs. It's a very unfair system when people in other areas can begin their treatment within about 6 weeks! I think they should be sending people from ivf Wales to other health authorities until they have managed to sort things out. I really hope that your appt goes well with them.

Aww yes unfortunately serum does close for a month in August. It would be a great holiday destination though. I know people there at the moment and they have all their scans in Athens and then hop onto a boat and head off to the islands for a few days. Sounds lovely and I will definitely be considering them if this next treatment is not successful.

What?! Why do they close in August?! Do they have something against teachers from England & Wales?!

Oh well, that might have to be the October half term holiday instead then... I assume they close over Xmas as well, which would be the next time I could go out with DH!

To be fair, I might not have had the FET by August, depending on how things go tomorrow etc.

Too hot to work in August apparently! All the very best for tomorrow Barking. Let us know how you get on.

Unfortunately most places in the med are closed through August which is very inconvenient!

Hope everything goes okay for you today Barking

Hope the appointment goes well today Barking

Good luck barking, hope it goes well x

Barking
Hope today goes well.

Hello everyone else. Hope you had good weekends

Really sorry to hear about your dad's fall, barking. and good luck today.

beaky your flu sounds horrendous, poor thing. CAn you sit in the garden at least and doze? It won't affect the embies - they're stuck right into the tissue. Think of liver (minging i know but i was scarred at an early age by seeing, post-home birth of sibling my mother's placenta on the draining board).

I am off sick berries. Not sleeping very well & also insane. thank christ for got. SPOILER ALERT so pleased king bieber is now dead.

Nolly aww you poor thing, I hope you feel better soon and the insanity subsides, but also, ewwwww - wtf! Haha yes that would scar anyone I think. Trying not to picture it but it's not working....
I am going to put a Harry potter on and try and eat something. It's very cold and windy here although I have managed to get out briefly with the dog.

Minx well done on getting through the baby shower, I find prosecco and gin help most things how's the new house?

Spare was thinking about you over the weekend, I hope you managed to enjoy what you could of it.

Interesting chat re clinics abroad again, it's definitely a consideration costs wise for us I think. Happy I really hope your follow up appointment can make some helpful suggestions for you.

Kuma did you have your nurse appointment to get booked in for your next round?

Hope everyone is ok for a Monday

Ooooh, Serum have got back to me. That was quick!

They are suggesting going out there from Day 7 of stims until 14 days after ET..! Not sure we can get that much time off work, but they are making some interesting suggestions about antibiotics for both of us.
They say that their tests aren't widely done outside Greece, but as it happens, a couple of the doctors at our clinic are Greek, so I will ask them if they will do the tests/prescribe the antibiotics.

I know, what is with the weather; it's June FFS!

Nolly sorry you're not feeling too well; not sleeping is the pits and I'm sure you're not insane (insane people don't tend to know they are insane!)

How was Harry Beaky and how is beakypup?

Wow Spare that was quick; that seems a long time out there (mind you the rest and sun would do you good). I wonder what they do for the 14 days?

minx I can see how prosecco could help a baby shower become tolerable .

spare did they say what they would be doing with you after transfer?

Nolly and beaky sending wishes of good health to you both!!

King beiber?

Love to our poorly berries nolly and beaky. Hope you're both doing ok.

Well done on surviving the baby shower minx!

How was it today barking?

That's a long trip spare. I'd do it, if I could get the time off, but that would be unlikely. Hope you're doing ok and had a good weekend away.

Thinking of self medicating with asprin this cycle. What advice have people been given about taking it? Trying to work out when in cycle to start.

It's ruddy freezing here too. Hot water bottle for me tonight I think and am going to have a hot almond milk.

Have booked a holiday. We've opted for a city break in Lisbon including a festival and hopefully some beach time too So many places in Greece were already booked up, so think we'll do a longer holiday later in the year when we know what the next IVF plans are.

It was bloody painful tiger! It required a whole box of chocolates to recover... And I might need a small glass of wine as well... Should get the results in 3-4 weeks.

Aspirin - as I've no doubt bored everyone by saying before, at my repeat miscarriage clinic one consultant told me the latest evidence was against it, and that it could cause mc. The other consultant said it might help and I should take it from cd1 during ivf.
Outside ivf I'd be tempted to take it from ov onwards as it could thin the womb lining (which isn't a problem during ivf given all the drugs to support it).

Tiger I took it for about 5 days (75mg) while stimming after the scan which only showed 1 follie, there was a possible 2 on the next scan and then by EC there was an extra 2 small follies, so that's either down to aspirin, the stimming, taking more supplements, or the dhea (but that would be very quick for the dhea to take effect). I haven't taken it afterwards, I didn't think it was supposed to be taken during LP, but I don't know! Lisbon sounds lovely and also it might be nice to keep busy rather than totally switch off on a beach.

Spare that sounds super fast! That is a long time away as you say. When will you and Mr Spare have your next appointment?

Barking yes it sounds like it would be painful. Will they get you in for another appointment after the results come back? Will you be able to ttc again while you wait?

HB beakypup is my little sweetheart! She keeps me entertained and is a lovely fluffy cuddle (when she lets me!) she is totally mental in an energetic way. Are you feeling any better at the moment?

minx it's gale force now eh! Hope you are snuggled up in the new pad with MrM.

Happy I hope the first day back to school was ok for you.

Oops, beaky is right, I meant up to ov, not from it. shit, please ignore any further bad advice from me

beaky, yes, no reason we can't ttc again next month. The biopsy also has the same effect as a scratch (just more bloody painful as he was in there for what seems like ages collecting enough of a sample) so it's worth trying (ha ha). I'm thinking of trying Angus castus and I'm going back to acupuncture. Also tempted to self medicate with cyclogest to prolong my lp... not desperate at all

Spare, serum told me that I would need to go out from day 7 until after transfer which would be about 12 - 14 days after that. Is that what you mean rather than 14 extra days after having the transfer? I haven't come across anybody who has stayed there that long!

Hello berryfolk. I've been trawling the Internet over the past few days for holiday options for when MrSmidge and I are back in England in August. Is so strange to have spent so much time on the computer and yet find myself having to catch up on berry news .

AF held off til yesterday, hurrah. So that will make Day 10 (Intralipid infusion) fall exactly on the day after we get back from Tasmania. Perfect. Also means it will be easy to count cycle numbers this month as my days coincide with the actual date! I'll have to call the nurses today to find out when the want to start the blood tests to check for ovulation, but I'm guessing day 12.

happy that FB person sounds a complete idiot. The irony of complaining about wasting NHS funds for fertility treatment when she is in a council house is out of this world. Not that I can ever give the time of day to someone who writes etc as ect anyway .

Hope you start feeling better soon Beaky, but I'm sure the coughing won't impact implantation. AliG's image of a grain of sand in a peanut butter sandwich kind of works to reinforce that.