Fertility Clinic Appointments and Beyond..

[dogmam]

New thread for us to continue our fertility clinic appointment progress...

Some of us are waiting for initial appointments, some are having tests and some are starting treatment!

I agree i hate those ultrasounds. Embryo transfer is uncomfortable agreed. Its more the squishing on the bladder and then them trying to position the embryo. I was just focusing on the screen the whole time.

@dogmam Exciting! Please keep us posted next week !!

@thislittlebird Wow, lots of progress for you too ! When I had my ultrasound my only issue was that my bladder was full, despite having a big wee before I went in. I needed another wee just after I left too

I'm apparently 8DPO according to FF (could be anywhere up to 11DPO though), on my last non-medicated cycle, although its likely to be a dud though as we didn't DTD much .

But I have a dilemma...

My sis in law has come to live with us: she has fled her abusive husband and I have offered her a sanctuary, until she gets back on her feet. So she could be with us for months (until she is able to get out of her current rental agreement etc). And the situation isn't very conducive towards us DTD. Also.... If I take Clomid then I might be emotional, or have other noticeable side effects. Plus I'm exhausted, trying to keep her from thinking about returning to him.

What's worse is she was also about to start a round of Clomid with her husband (they have been trying for years), and she has been really open with me about her journey, and I have never even mentioned that we want kids to her. My OH is very certain that he doesn't want anyone in the family to know we are trying.

Urgh... I don't need this level of complexity in my life. Esp. when my step mum is in ICU with Covid, and my little brother has also been admitted to hospital with Covid. Which is why I haven't been on Mumsnet much recently.

Hope you lovely ladies are all well xx

@Kay00 that is a dilema, i personally wouldn't tell her as it may cause her some distress given she was also going to do a clomid cycle. It sounds like you have a lot going on. If possible try do some things for you even if its like reading a book you like for half hour or having a soak. X

I hope your family feel better soon. I had 3 members in at one point. Thankfully they are all okay now. More people survive covid than have anything too serious happen x

@purpleunicorn01 thank you x I think my brother will be okay as his observations have come back good, but he is immuno-supressed. And my step mum is recovering from cancer so her immune system is rubbish too.

I guess I will continue with my Clomid cycle, as I could be putting things on hold for a long time otherwise 😕 I hope she doesn't ask too many questions when I'm popping out for my scan and blood tests.

Hi all, we're not at the clinics yet but just wondering how long did it take from referral to first appointment and did your GP refer you right away? We've been TTC 2 years now so will be going back to the GP. Had bloods and sperm analysis at 1 year and came back fine, both 27, healthy weights so don't suspect there's much in the way of a referral.

@rathernotshare i think about 3/4 months but id keep chasing it. It depends on what area you live in.

@Kay00 sorry to hear about your step mum and brother. I hope they make a speedy recovery. I take it they don't let visitors in?

I wouldn't tell your sister in law either. Gosh what a situation to be in. I feel it for her and you.

@rathernotshare I had my first GP blood test in July last year - took us until Oct to get all the preliminary tests, US and SA done. Referral sent off in Nov and I had my first fertility clinic appointment in February.

@Kay00 that is tricky but I think it's just best not to overthink it. DTD is definitely still doable and honestly as your OH is the reason why you can't tell her about this stuff I think it's his responsibility to cover for you/come up with lies as to where you're going/ why you're unwell or whatever. It's unfair of him to put you in that position. Also surely if you're off to scans and tests all she has to know is that you're popping out for some errands?

@thislittlebird I keep thinking of you lately - one of my friends has been TTC 2-3 years but is absolutely clueless as to how things work (like, doesn't know about LH surges or what they mean or anything). She's adamant that she ovulates fine as that's what the doctor told her but her progesterone never seems to have had a reading higher than in the 20s. I suggested BBT to her this cycle to check - seeing as she hasn't caught a peak in like 6 months and her temps are completely flat/definitely no rise but she's ignoring all of it because the doctor said she's fine... It's hard to convince her to perhaps challenge them when she thinks their word is gospel so I'm leaving her to it. Anyway it makes me think of you as you had similar progesterone and low temps!

@rathernotshare it does seem to vary. I first called the gp last July. Was August before I managed an appointment and then September by the time they did my first bloods. DHs GP was more efficient and he managed to get an SA within that time. They messed up my bloods though so my referral didn't get sent until early jan, once they were correct. My first fertility appointment was February, so it really didn't take long.

@rathernotshare it’s a bit messy for me but went like this:

July 2020 first GP call + SA and day 21 tests. They did not refer us right away, told they were fine, they weren’t.
Feb 2021 second GP call + SA and day 21 tests. Agreed to refer us here after a second set of tests because I realised the tests were not fine after a few more months of trying.
May 2021 gynaecology appointment (sent us away, said nothing was wrong 🙄)
May/June 2021 private clinic tests
End of June 2021 new GP refers us direct to guys
End of August 2022 first appointment with nhs clinic

So although it didn’t take long in the end (2 months), I suspect our messy route there and private tests and letters (and complaints) in between sped things up.

If it had been done properly then maybe about 5 months from referral to first appointment.

@Kay00 that’s a really difficult situation and I do not know what I would do if I’m honest. Maybe try as much as you can rather than delay and not telling her is probably best. Sorry you’re having such a hard time with family being unwell too.

@Juno231 yeah your friend sounds a bit like me. The old ‘you have regular periods so you’re fine’ thing women are told is such nonsense, and very damaging in hindsight. Add to that GPs who often don’t have a clue about this stuff as far as I can tell. I trusted them for a few months before I started to question them, maybe she will too? How long has it been since she got tested?

Definitely been getting right ovary pains for 24 hours or so. Got another scan tomorrow but nothing much showing up on the old OPKs. As ever. I’ll be keen to see if they work once I get the trigger shot.

@thislittlebird nah she's blissfully unaware. She's about to start her IVF funding application when in reality I think she probably could have tried clomid/letrozole for 6 months first. She's pretty much 3 years in TTC (a bit on and off though) and her tests are from last year.

@thislittlebird could be follicles rubbing? Especially if you have many and they're getting big.

@Juno231 frustrating. Especially when there’s potentially an easier solution. I find it really odd that the nhs aren’t more keen to try Letrozole or clomid for women with low progesterone, seems very hit and miss. It’s cheap and may well reduce some of their nhs waiting list for the right people. They should have offered me it rather than sent me away but here we are.

When I go on Friday I’m going to ask how they’re growing and how my lining is. I was a bit rabbit caught in the headlights yesterday because the scan took ages and distracted me, was just pleased it was all ok and nothing funny was going on in there. Although I was reading this morning that Letrozole doesn’t impact lining like clomid does.

Ah crap - my IVF funding came through today and my first appointment is already on Tuesday!

It says to let them know asap before the appointment if I plan on delaying the IVF... I think my brain says definitely delay until Jan but my heart doesn't want to admit it :(

@Juno231 yayyy that's exciting

So I called the ACU and asked whether I should move the appointment as I'm planning on delaying IVF until Jan due to starting a new job in Oct. The nurse was helpful if a bit brusque - but basically said def to move it as otherwise they'd get "twitchy" about the big gap and if I backed out before starting later I'd have wasted everyone's time.

So got the appointment for the 26th of Oct! She said they then aim to do IVF after the second bleed - but with that being Dec with xmas and new years it will be straightforward for me to have it done in Jan.

@zibidee How did your transfer go in the end - was it a BFP?

@Juno231 mine might be a similar time to you then. I’m guessing I’ll start early December and will likely need a freeze all. Who knows, Guys might surprise me with a November summons

Thanks everyone! I still can't stop looking at my little embryo picture.

@thislittlebird sounds like you are having great progress, I hope this works for you. Good luck for the scan tomorrow. Yeah, you want your lining to be thick, so deffinetly ask them.

@kay00 your dilemma sounds really stressful, bless you. Your poor sister in law too, you sound like you're doing loads to help her, especially whilst having a tough time with your other family in hospital. Hope you're managing to take some time out to look after your self.

@rathernotshare think you can probably see from everyone's responses that it varies quite a bit. I think mine's been quite quick. GP tests were October last year, referral the clinic the same month i think. First clinic appointment was January and I started IVF at the very end of June.

@Juno231 yeyy how exciting that you have progress though! Is the reason you don't want to start so soon in terms of work, because you won't be entitleted to maternity leave if everything worked out? Or also because you just want to get settled and focus on your new job for a few month first? That must have been a hard decision to push your appointment back but at least you have a date and as you know there will be many various appointments with them before the actual treatment so at least you'll have a good few months before anything happens. Pleased for you though, I know it's been a long journey for you.

@PurpleUnicorn01 ah I bet you can't wait for your scan. How are you feeling? Have you told anyone yet? I can't wait to get to your stage!!

@dogmam trust me the time flies. Im nervous an excited. I was the same looking at the picture. Its amazing isn't it x

@dogmam @PurpleUnicorn01 very excited for both of you and sending lots of 🍀🍀
@thislittlebird @Tillybabs best of luck with everything over the next few weeks 🤞
🙂
I'm still in waiting mode for my lap, but hoping to get an appt with doc in the next month or so to see where I am on the list 🤷🏻⏱
In the meantime, I'm still in the monthly cycle of TTC 😶
Need to learn some patience! 🙃

Yes! I got a BFP!!! But trying to stay sensible about it until the 7week scan, and probably again until the 12 week scan.
Everyone talks about the two week wait, no one talks about the 8 week wait until you're likely in the clear!

@Zibidee congratulations!!

@JeanieJ I hope you get your lap booked in soon. I remember reading there's a bit of a wait at Croydon for that.

@Zibidee very true. Its just on top the next level of anxiety. Congratulations though!