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Conception

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Original poster

ANYONE OUT THERE HAD IVF AT LGI IN LEEDS

10 replies

malinki · 26/10/2004 08:22

Hi, not written in ages, still pursuing ttc #2.
Well gynie wrote to her bosses at LGI in Leeds, a Mr Tony Rutherford and Mr Adam Balen, and now I have my 1st appointment (only had to wait just under 2 months for an appointment which seems very strange, thought they had long waiting lists), my 1st appointment is 09/12/04, what should I expect to happen, I am not going for further treatments for PCOS, as when I spoke to the conception unit, they have me down for full blown IVF, someone please help!!!

OP posts:
jeddah · 27/10/2004 22:49

I have noticed that no one has helped you yet....I have no experience with this, but if you go to thread 12 ttc ask someome on that thread

Yorkiegirl · 27/10/2004 22:53

Message withdrawn

CookieMonster · 28/10/2004 08:21

malinki, sorry I missed this yesterday ... yes, I went to the LGI Assisted Conception Unit for a total of 3 years for IVF. I saw both Tony Rutherford and Adam Balen - both extremely nice.
Let me know what sort of things you want to know and I'll see if I can remember (dd is now 3y 8m so it's a while ago!)

Original poster
malinki · 29/10/2004 12:34

Thanks Cookie Monster, didn't know if you would still be around or not. What should I expect from my first meeting with the IVF team, will they want bloods checked and ultrasounds, I had a HSG in September and they unblocked my left tube, said it was a fluid blockage, they forced saline solution through them and my right tube was perfectly ok, still got PCOS though and my gynie consultant, consulted with her bosses at LGI and they told her that they would contact me directly. Should they send for my records from Dewsbury??? Is there anything I should do before my appointment, have been keeping a diary for the last 2 years nearly, in a way I'm glad I am being seen, but I hear so many stories of how things don't usually work on your first go at IVF that I am scared of that part, I am assuming though that my first meeting will be for a chat and nothing else?? How long did it take from start to finish on a cycle of IVF and what did you have to do, I hear you have to inject yourself for about 10 days, is this correct. Any input will be greatfully received

OP posts:
CookieMonster · 29/10/2004 13:33

Hi malinki, if I remember correctly I did have a scan on my first visit, but that was about all. There was lots of chat about what exactly would happen so don't worry, it will all be explained in minute detail. It will depend whereabouts in your cycle you are when you have the first scan, but basically you will start the 'down' regulation (sniffing 3 times a day) and continue that for about 21 days. You will have to go for a scan towards the end of the 21 days to see how you're doing and when he says you're ready, you'll start injecting. It's one a day for about 10 days, but again you'll go in for a scan around day 7 or 8 to see how you're progressing. When he says you're ready, you'll do the final injection (different drug) and then go in 36 hours later for egg collection. You'll get a light anaesthetic and it'll be over before you know it!
We then had to go back 48 hours later to discuss whether or not fertilisation had taken place and what quality the embryos were, and to then have the required number transferred - this is very quick and just a little comfortable, not painful.
Then comes the worst bit (for me anyway!) - the waiting. You go back after 2 weeks for a blood test - if that is positive you have another one 48 hours later.
Have just read that back and it sounds a bit vague, but I hope it helps a little. If you want to know any more, just ask. We had 2 attempts, a year off and then another 4 attempts and the whole thing was one huge rollercoaster ride, but we got what we wanted in the end so it was all worth while.
How does your dh feel about the whole thing? I ask because you need him to be fully committed - your moods will most likely be all over the place while you're on the drugs and he may need a lot of patience!
As I already said, just let me know if you want to know anything else and I will try to help. Best wishes ... CM x

Original poster
malinki · 30/10/2004 10:01

Cookiemonster, thanks for all of this info, I'm going to show it to hubby when he comes back from taking dd swimming. We really need a very good heart to heart and i'll let you know the outcome, DH hasn't said very much about it, as he says he doesn't know anything about IVF, he says we have to go to the LGI appointment (which I suppose is a good start), but we have no idea the costs involved or anything like that, also I am 34 years old, weigh 15 stone and am 5'8, so I don't know if I will have to lose weight or what??? The problem is I can't lose weight due to the dreaded PCOS........ (to be continued)

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CookieMonster · 30/10/2004 18:47

hi malinki and good luck with the chat with dh ... I really can't stress how much the two of you will need to be properly 'together' all the way through this. You're the one who will suffer from the mood swings with the drugs and from the physical intrusion and so on, but it's also a traumatic time for him - he has to watch you going though all this and I know that made my dh feel kind of helpless and frustrated, so you need to be there for each other.
As for cost, we paid £1700 per ICSI cycle (I think IVF is a bit less) plus £300 - £500 for drugs (but that was 4 years ago). The price of the drugs varied from cycle to cycle depending on what deals the LGI had done with the drug companies at the time.
Got to dash now but don't forget I'm here for any more info that you want ... CM xx

Original poster
malinki · 31/10/2004 12:57

Thanks for this info Cookie Monster, how long was the waiting list for IVF when you were waiting and did you have a go on the NHS and if so, did you have to wait long for that as well. A friend of mone has told me that she thinks the waiting times have fallen dramatically at LGI due to that cock up with the white parents having coloured children and I think they were racists, that happened about 18 months ago I think and they sued the LGI for mixing the sperm samples up. In my opinion any colour baby is a baby. Tried to speak to DH last night, but didn't know how to start off, so I printed the messages so far and left them for him to read, which he has done. , so again this is to be continued, we are going to Centre Parks a week on Friday, so DD is going to MIL for weekend, we should have plenty of time to talk then (hopefully)

OP posts:
CookieMonster · 31/10/2004 17:30

malinki, I wasn't entitled to any attempts on the NHS because I was 36 when I started and 35 was the upper age limit. When we started in 1997 the wait was about 9 months ... by the time we had our last attempt in 2000 it was down to a month! Of course that was for ICSI and we were told the improvement was because they had got more equipment and more embryologists trained up - afraid I don't know if IVF is the same.
Whereabouts do you live? If you want to meet up one evening for a chat, I'd be only too happy - do let me know.

Original poster
malinki · 04/11/2004 16:59

Hi CM, I live in Wyke, between Halifax and Bradford, anyway something is very wrong, I am feeling awful, not sick just constipated (over a week now, looks like rabbit droppings, doesn't hurt when I pass the stools - GOD I HOPE YOUR NOT EATING TEA!!!) and I have just posted a new message about very very sore boobs, what do you think

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