Feb Bus Pt 3

[Juno231]

@MimiArm
@paintfairy
@MrsTwentyEight

Figured I'm not ready to let you ladies go ☺️

@paintfairy @Juno231 Hi ladies. How are you keeping?

I've had PCOS diagnosis confirmed (private doctor) and I've been put on Metformin tablets for 6 months initially to see how I get on.

Today I FINALLY received a call from hospital offering me an appointment on Thursday at fertility clinic in hospital!!! BUT, thanks to the PCOS I've gained two stone this year (yep, you read that correctly) so now I'm worried that as my BMI is 35 (!!!) I'll be disqualified from any free help. Surely though you'd think they would consider the PCOS given that I've not been sat here stuffing my face and this weight gain hasn't been my fault?!?

@MimiArm oh my days. Why does that not surprise me? Why is everything so difficult!
Hmmm, it has to be under 35 here too. But they don't just discount you. So I would go to the appointment. They might tell you to lose weight but if you've been put on drugs for 6 months anyway then you might as well use that time to diet too. Be really strict. If the tablets don't work you can then at least get help through the nhs rather than paying for ivf? Nothing is fast. Certainly not here anyway.

I'm OK. Awaiting the outcome of my final iui cycle. Test day is Wednesday. I've absolutely zero hope of it having worked. The sperm sample wasn't great and I'm not even sure their timing was right. I'm also spotting already despite being on double progesterone. 🙄 They did give me the ivf paperwork though. Which really stressed me out (relax they said!) with feeling we'd got to that point and also which clinic to pick. I could have sent it straight off but I thought I might as well wait now to be sure if the iui outcome. Not to mention i still can't decide. 🙈

@paintfairy - you're not out until you're out is what I say! I can understand why you're apprehensive about IVF (I was too). The way I see it now though is that they are doing the heavy lifting for you so it can only be a good thing, removing lots of hurdles our bodies can't seem to jump over by themselves. For that reason, I'd be jumping on those forms! 😊

It's funny in that this consultant who diagnosed the PCOS and gave me the pills - she's been the most helpful of them all - and I didn't pay one penny (private medical). She is anti private fertility clinic (and not shy about it) - I find the timing funny - it's almost like she's taken pity that much she managed to get me bumped up the queue somehow! (Probably not, but I have a niggle - she only does private work part time and is a consultant at hospital).

After my almost 50 day bleed, my lining was still full so she gave me progesterone to induce another big bleed. Bleed very heavily for 6 more days and on retest last week, lining is still full! So I can't get HyFoSy at private clinic yet (and im on a wait list again now thanks to the long bleed). She claimed that I don't need that test as tubes are clearly not blocked since I got pregnant before and they are just trying to rob me - probably true.

I'm naive to NHS funded IVF - I stupidly thought it was done in hospital. Is it at a private clinic, but they pay for it? How does it work?

@MimiArm I don't understand why most people in these jobs actually have zero interest in helping people? Its shocking really. I'm glad you've found someone useful! Fingers crossed.
I think the ivf varies by area. Some nhs ivf i think is done at the hospital. But some areas don't have the facilities. Ours does everything before that but not actually the ivf itself. So by that point they refer you on and have a set of private clinics they use. They give you a list and you can choose from those. They just then pass all your notes over. I think it's such a specific expertise that it makes sense to let people with experience do it.

@MimiArm our CCG is quite large so they give you a range of IVF clinics to choose from (4-5 I think) and it's a mix of private and NHS clinics. I'm so glad you finally got an appointment and that someone has taken your body seriously! I think my CCG says BMI under 30 and that you have to have maintained it for 6 months before being eligible so best double check what the requirements are where you are. The metformin should help you with that though! And stick to low GI food to avoid insulin spikes due to insulin resistance.

@paintfairy @Juno231

Hi both - @paintfairy, any update? Yesterday was test day?

I had appointment at hospital today. Did an internal ultrasound and that was it. Then whilst driving home, nurse called to say she was supposed to be there but couldn't make it so she asked loads of questions on phone.

She said since we've already done loads of tests, I've just to email the results to her. I should expect an invitation to a virtual consultation with the consultant in next two weeks (with consultation taking place also within next fortnight) and I will "probably" be offered either Clomid again for up to 6 months or injections to stimulate ovulation.

The wait list for IVF is 2 years at their clinic so that's out (I'd be over the age limit by the time my turn comes about).

So we may as well park the private clinic and take the free help for now and see what happens.

@MimiArm I didn't bother wasting a frer. I was spotting from the Sunday night (despite double progesterone) and my rhr dropped Tuesday and carried on doing so. I did an IC yesterday morning (just in case) and stopped the progesterone. AF should be here today and isn't yet. But the progesterone can delay it. I started brown spotting again this morning (didn't have any yesterday).
I've sent my ivf paperwork off today though. So just got to await the next step i suppose?

I agree take any free help you can get. At least for now. The 2 year wait is crap. Do they not rush you through if you are older? That's terrible. I suppose at least when you've decided nothing else is working though, you can just go and pay for it and crack on when you are ready. I hope the drugs work for you though!

@paintfairy @Juno231

Well, today is the day I'm actually going to lose it ...

The nurse that I spoke with last week at hospital rang me. Said that she received the AMH and SA reports I emailed in and that DH's SA result is now too old. Also, before he has low morphology, they may not be able to offer treatment. Asked to retest SA and told that the wait list is 6 months so "phone up today to get on that wait list".

I said "I told you last week how old the SA report was, and also the results and you were very clear that we would have an appointment next week and also that we would start treatment very quickly. Based on that, we abandoned our private clinic", she said "yes, but I'm not a doctor and we just wouldn't offer treatment that's unlikely to work". I said "well it worked before and I don't have the luxury to waste yet another 6 months". Then I started to cry and couldn't speak.

She said she will speak to consultant later this morning and explain how we are "keen" to try something ASAP.

What the actual F. I can't take much more of this 🥲

@MimiArm oh ffs. It makes the nhs here look competent! 🤬 6 months?! If you get a private SA would they accept that? And yes being it worked before then you would expect it to again. Sadly there are a billion hoops to jump through and that's the issue. I thought here was useless but jeez. Its so very frustrating though.
I went for fertility acupuncture today. No idea if it works but worth a go. 🤣 She also did my arm for me.

@paintfairy - she rang me back and said sorry, we can't help you with a morphology at that level as "ovulation induction wouldn't work". I said "It did work before" and she said, wait for it "but the aim is not to get pregnant, the aim is to have a live baby" ... to which I replied in anger "oh I'm sorry, we were hoping for a dead one" you stupid woman.

I'm so angry and upset. I gave her an earful for promising the treatment last week.

She said if we get a new SA privately and the results are better, they would reconsider. Otherwise no.

How did you find acupuncture? I quite liked it to be honest. Have you been offered herbs? I've started fertility reflexology. Had two sessions over the past few weeks. The woman says I have twins in my feet. I wish. Going back next week again.

@MimiArm abnormal sperm can't even fertilise though. But yes it's box ticking. However it sounds like a right bloody carry on. Stupid cow. I would have shouted at her also.
I found out ok. Relaxing. No idea if it even does anything but thought it wouldn't hurt. No I've not been offered herbs. I don't know if I could have anyone touching my feet. 🤣 How do you find that?

@paintfairy you should look into the Chinese herbs. Some people swear by them and how they compliment the acupuncture.

I don't like people touching my feet either. This is not like a soft massage. It's VERY painful. She presses a small metal tool in between toes and on certain parts of toes and it hurts so much. But she gets rave reviews and I'll do anything if it helps. She says my hormones are completely up the left and she's working to balance them. Said she can also tell I've problems with my joints, which I do.

@MimiArm CD11 and spotting already. 🙄 Jesus. I don't think I know any herb people. Painful? That doesn't sound fun at all. I thought it was meant to be semi relaxing?

@MimiArm what's the latest? I just get angry reading your updates as the amount they're d*cking you about is just unreal.

@MrsTwentyNine how are you doing?

Nothing new to report here. My funding application has been with the clinic for 4 weeks no I think and still just waiting to hear back. Starting my new job on the 4th of Oct.

Ah. I need to update. First IVF scan (a friend said its to check for egg numbers?) Is in 2 weeks and DH is having an SA. Then we have our first phone consultation the day after. Hopefully then a plan! Or they might say don't bother. 🤷‍♀️ Who knows. 🤣

@paintfairy that makes sense - I think we've heard others have that too. Even thislittlebird from our other thread had one last week before they decided to put her on clomid? I'm living vicariously through you so am so excited to see your IVF progress.

@Juno231 Hey hey. Nothing to report here. Since the NHS almighty cock up, I've been waiting on a call back from private clinic. That's going on 3 weeks now I think. I give up 🤷‍♀️

On cycle day 37 so "cycles" still f*cked up too (even though they are anovulatory, it would still be nice for them to be regular again). This is my fourth week on Metformin. I've felt like crap the first three weeks as dose was increasing but I'm in maximum dosage now and the side effects are wearing off this week at least. So, just sitting waiting for a miracle to happen!

How has this year flown by so much. When you said earlier in year that you would be putting it on hold until your new job, it seemed like ages away! Sounds like things should be starting up again soon for you!

@paintfairy Hey! Sounds like things are happening at your end as well!

@MimiArm I can't remember if we've spoken about this before but have you tried inositol? My friend has been taking it for pcos and its regulated her cycle. It took a few months she still has a couple of days variation but nothing like before. Where it was 27 days and then she'd have a 40 or whatever and possibly some cycles not ovulating too. Back when they were trying to test progesterone they had to just do like day 18, 21, 24 etc to try to catch it. Where as now she's pretty regular. Think she's been taking it since maybe April time? As for the clinics and NHS, I have no words!

@paintfairy : it's funny you've suggested that (and thank you). When I got the diagnosis I bought a book off Amazon about PCOS, written by a gynae. She said in the book that the absolute first thing to do is to buy inositol so I did!

I took it for a week then forgot and still haven't resumed (the whole remembering to take the 3 Metformin pills I even struggle with on work days when the days are hectic!

I will make an effort though to take it regularly , even putting it in the water I use to swallow the Metformin would solve the issue!!!

I second the inositol - and one of the ladies from another thread I'm on who also has PCOS had a lot of luck with Proceive. Her cycles completely changed and she's ovulating regularly all of a sudden. She's also just started metformin maybe just a month or so ago!

You're right about time flying @MimiArm - I can't wait to start TTC again, I've felt a bit lost/frustrated without it.

@paintfairy you're all systems go this week aren't you? Best of luck!

@Juno231 yes, rammed around everything else! Can't keep up with myself. Had acupuncture earlier and now I've got a headache. 😫
Tests tomorrow and follow up phone appointment Thursday.

Update - sorry been manic since my appointment!
Scan was much more useful than the nhs one. I have a slightly heart shaped womb apparently! But it was thorough compared to nhs ones. Dr was nice. DH had his SA which oddly showed better motility but only 3% morphology. Go figure?
Follow up with consultant - he recommended ICSI due to fluctuations in SA, age, and the one shot we get on nhs. We can start this cycle but I'd need to start buserelin Friday and I've not yet managed to speak to anyone since. So whether we will, or cycle after, I'm not sure. But it's not really that long to wait anyway. Whole thing seems scary!

How are you? @MimiArm
And not heard from @MrsTwentyEight in a while?

Oh I hope you can start this Friday @paintfairy - got everything crossed for you. Will you ring them again today to chase? So does this mean you're going for long protocol? Interesting about the heart shaped womb but also bonkers no one has mentioned it before now (a bit like me and my one abnormally small ovary lol). Glad it's not heart shaped enough to cause worry though.

@MrsTwentyEight @MimiArm I hope you're both okay xx

@Juno231 I'm not sure if the hospital scan could tell you. I'm no expert but the machine looked different. I read they can only tell with 3d ones. He was showing me all sorts on the clinic one. I wonder if the hospital one was 2d. He didn't give an option but I think with age you maybe respond better to long? They go on number of eggs they see on the scan last week I think. He didn't even actually say, but Google tells me you only have buserelin with long. They tried to call me Friday but I missed it. They emailed me. I've emailed back to say I'm available to talk any time this week, so I'll see if they call. I've signed the consent form today but I've got 3 other things to go through and fill out and they are long. So we'll do that tonight.