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!

@dogmam the injections are the worst part of it all. The things we have to go through but it's all worth it in the end 🙏🏽

I wanted to ask is anyone having acupuncture and how often do you go and how do you find it?

So I've had 3 sessions and I feel like I'm not getting what I want out of it. Or maybe Im just expecting more and not understanding how it works?

So I normally have go in, she asks me a few questions and then I have my session and then that's it. Rarely any feedback unless I ask her.

How is it for others?

@dogmam fingers crossed for you with this FET cycle!

I've had acupuncture for a few months over the summer and I'm not sure I really got anything from it. However, I'm really open to trying it again with someone else - maybe a fertility specialist and more specifically a woman with lived experience?
Basically, I had acupuncture with a male acupuncturist who did treated lots of stuff included fertility, but I felt like he didn't speak to me much about my cycle, which I thought was weird.
The final straw was the day after I'd had a consultation with my doc and was relaying that I'd been referred for lap and IVF if that didn't help. The acupuncturist straight out said 'IVF doesn't work' ... when what he really meant was it doesn't work all the time ... but basically I really didn't need to hear that then as I was quite upset about my tube.
I honestly think 80% of acupuncture is the feeling of 'extra care', especially as contrast to the really cold medical environments we're in when going through fertility stuff.

I'd say keep going or try someone else xx

Hi all, just catching up after a busy week here. Hope you're all doing ok!

@pinkginpls Sorry you're stuck waiting but hope you get a date for the lap early in the new year. It seems to be that time of year where everything is slowing down for sure.

@dogmam So glad your FET went well and congratulations on being PUPO (is that the term I think?). Sorry you're struggling with the PIO shots, they're the one bit of the IVF process that I'm already dreading. I saw someone recommending tutorials by Nurse Linda on Sher Fertility Institute Youtube as being very good for tips if that's any help.

Won't be starting my new meds until next cycle and just 4dpo here but got a PB on my lining with 8.7mm this month which is great. Tbh while I'm so so grateful and know we're fortunate to be in a position to try diff medicated cycles until we do IVF in Feb, it kind of feels like just putting in time at this stage (6th cycle). Time will tell but I'm not building the hope fortress anyway.

Sorry I missed this whole new page of messages. I'm on my second acupuncturist @Tillybabs. Might be coincidence but got my highest previous lining result of 8.4 while with the first acupuncturist and have now reached 8.7mm with the second acupuncturist. We're throwing a lot of other stuff into the mix too so can't put it all down to the acupuncture. For me I'm not expecting any magic from it but from a selfcare perspective love it and always come out very relaxed so would keep doing it for the mental and emotional wellbeing even if there were no health benefits at all.

Hope I can join! I'm right at the start of this whole process and awaiting the results of Day 21 bloods. TTC #1 for over a year now with no hint of anything positive. The last 2 cycles have been completely messed up with a random 24 day cycle last month (usually 28-30) and my OPKs failing to detect ovulation this month (although I'm pretty sure I ovulated judging by CM so maybe my OPKs were faulty) so we'll see what my progesterone results say! Anyone else at the early investigation stage?

@Gracie2021 thanks for the feedback. I'm definitely going to continue with it in the new year but look for a new acupuncturist

@dogmam have everything crossed for you :)

@tillybabs its not for everone, and I was super sceptical before I went, but it has 100% helped my cycle regulate, my pms is better, my flow is redder (which means 'better'), my sleep is better, things that would have stressed me out at work before are more manageable...

Could just be a placebo effect but I've found it really helpful. Its also somewhere I can go to talk to someone who gets it. My lady specialises in fertility acupuncture, and she's had IVF herself, and shes given me loads of diet advice, books to read, and just generally provided an inpartial supportive ear.

Again, very aware it could be placebo effect, but I get a massive sense of peace when I have a session, everything just feels calm and...right, and when I leave the world seems brighter and more optimistic. X x

@beckyCarlos I'm definitely not skeptical at all. I had acupuncture years ago when I had sciatica and it did the trick.

I just think the acupuncturist isn't the right fit for me. I don't get much advice or feedback from her unless I ask for it.

Im going to have a look around and see if I can find another one who specialises in fertility near me.

@Tillybabs I had the same thing which is why I changed to a new acupuncturist recently. And find him heaps better. He spent the entire first session just talking with me and going through absolutely everything. I felt like my last was just poking the needles in and that was it whereas he seems to look at the overall picture. Hope you find the right fit for you.

@Bumble44 welcome! Do you temp at all? Might be worth it as neither positive opks nor CM means you ovulate, annoyingly enough!

@dogmam congrats on being PUPO! Do you think you'll manage to hold off until OTD?

@tillybabs @gracie2021 sometimes the talking part is what I need most! I found mine by going on the Zita West website and finding a Zita West trained/recommended acupuncturist near me if that helps x

@beckyCarlos @Gracie2021 thanks both I'm going to do some research for another acupuncturist. I've just Google Zita west and it's really helpful so thanks for that

* Googles fertility acupuncturist in Exeter * 😄

If nothing else acupuncture gives you 20 minutes to yourself, noone bugging you, no phone, just chilling 🤣

Hey everyone - what was your experience like once you received that one year mark? We had tests done at 8 months TTC and now we're only cycle 10. We have our next fertility specialist appointment in January and I'm very anxious about it. So far all tests came back fine, except for a septate uterus but I've been told it's nothing to worry about. Just wondering what the next steps would be. It's all very daunting 😢

Omg I typed a long af message and the page refreshed uggghh let’s try again

@Gracie2021 you hit a blood vessel? Arghhhh, I hate all this!

I haven’t heard back from the clinic since I sent my form back. I’ll chase them soon. I’m not interested in the pill, my periods are pretty regular too at the moment.

@JeanieJ @Tillybabs definitely get another one. Last December/January I was having horrible PMS, thought I was pregnant every month. I was not, periods were all over the place too. From about August to Feb they were very short and light and I was worried I was perimenopausal. Started acupuncture in February and since then they’ve gone back to normal length/heaviness and barely any symptoms. Last month I didn’t have any acu and guess what? Period went weird again. This month I had some and cd1 was yesterday and my period is back to normal. Maybe it’s a coincidence but I’m happy doing it for the moment. It’s like a little therapy session too and I get to offload and relax, tell her what’s been going on and she focuses on those areas. It is often anxiety lol

@Bumble44 welcome! Let us know how you get on with your tests.

@BritInNZ I think you’re in NZ (sorry if that’s not the case) so I’m not exactly sure. Do they give you any indication of what the next appointment is for or what the waiting times are near you for treatment?

@dogmam hope you’re doing ok x

I forgot to say, cd 1 means the three cycles of Letrozole, progesterone and trigger were a complete waste of time, but there we are.🥴

@thislittlebird thanks for the feedback I will definitely try someone else

@thislittlebird so sorry Letrozole didn’t do the trick for you. You go into the medicated cycles with such hope don’t you?! Hope you get word from the clinic soon 🤞

@BritInNZ we went for testing at cycle 10 but 12 if I count some dodgy NTNP and were actually put on medicated cycles with Letrozole while we waited on the testing to come back mainly due to a thin lining showing at my initial scan. Initial testing was bloods for me, scan and HSG for me and SA for hubs.

Bold girl here today. 7dpo and my meds for next cycle arrived which includes my first prescription for progesterone and I’m going to start the progesterone tonight. Probably too late to do any good but nothing ventured nothing gained.

@Gracie2021 yeah, I really hoped we’d have a chance but even with two eggs his sperm aren’t getting there. Onwards to IVF! I’m nervous but also tired of all this dicking around. Literally. Hopefully we can make some embryos.

On the plus side, my manager said I can take EC and transfer as sick today, which is nice. I was planning to take it as leave, but she said not to do that.

I don’t have any meds this month, but I have progesterone so I’ll probably take that a few days after a possible ovulation date. I have a face to face appointment with my GP next week, which is quite the novelty! It’s been two years. Going to tell him I might have PCO/S and request an insulin resistance test.

So.. I've had my nurse consultation and have dates and protocols!!!! I've just stopped crying (not sure why, overwhelmed, relief, anticipation, pms, all of the above 🤣)

I'm on a long protocol (which scares me...what if my ovaries dont come back on lol) but, depending on period dates, should br starting downreg mid jan and stims in Feb!

This is all dependent on another baseline scan to check that something very small and polyp like was just me shedding my uterus (was on day 1 of my period!) And not an interfering polyp 🤞 my last scan was in Aug so why this hasnt been done before now I dont know 🤣

@thislittlebird I'm also sad for you that the letrozole hasn't worked , I have a strong suspicion my three cycles of Clomid (to date) will be an equal waste of time... but I'm in my TWW and have entered the dangerous 'hope' phase of my cycle

@beckyCarlos yey!! I'm super pleased you have a dates and protocol and another early 2022 IVF starter!

I'm really looking forward to following all your journeys (and hopeful successes)!

@beckyCarlos that's great news! It is all a little bit overwhelming, it felt real when they emailed me, never mind when we get to the appointment eventually. If my IVF goes ahead when I expect it to, we'll likely be a similar time.

@Kay00 I'm sad about the interventions failing and we could keep trying but it's so expensive. Might as well save a couple of grand and put it towards private IVF if the funded attempt fails. You might be lucky with it, especially if you're doing 6?

Ok Guys emailed. Starting treatment w/c Jan 24th 😬