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!

@Kay00 @Mickymackyboobaaboo thanks ladies

@Aliceinivfland I do hope you get a positive update soon and the cycle isn't abandoned.

Hi guys how many follicles did you have on your first scan after stims and how many eggs did you end up with,?

@Tillybabs phew that is a relief :) I guess they just want to monitor your progress?

@Aliceinivfland - fingers crossed things progress and your cycle isn't abandoned.

My AF is due in the next two days. Really thought we had a chance this month, but my classic pre-AF insomnia kicked in on Monday and stayed for a few days, so I know I'm out.
At least for my next TWW, I'll be on holidays which will distract me from symptom spotting.

Hope everyone is doing ok today
xx

@dogmam glad to hear you have two in the freezer! Amazing news. Can I ask what the short protocol day by day plan was? Not drugs so much as what days you started, finished, what days you would have wanted your partner there?

My husband has got a job in Cornwall and when the application went in it seemed like a good idea at the time. Now he has the job I’m freaking out about doing ivf alone and trying to work out when he’ll need to be there/when I’ll most want him there. The MMR delay means we won’t be able to start until late September/early October.

We can’t really move until the ivf is done/successful and the Guys referral is underway, I guess. It’s complicated and I’m in a panic.

@JeanieJ yes I guess so and it's part of the process

@thislittlebird is it a permanent job? As long as the process isn't on hold and you can continue you will be fine xx

@Tillybabs it’s permanent yeah, and unusual to get such a job down there. We have his family there and would have more help than in London because my family aren’t great.

In an ideal world this job would come up 1 or 2 years from now when we’re settled with a baby and looking to move. Right now it feels like awful timing and I’m freaking out a bit about him not being here with me for months on end. We can’t move until either private ivf works or I’ve completed a third round with Guys. It feels like a lot of pressure.

@thislittlebird all I can say is it's never the right time as they say and you can never really plan for these situations. You will find a way to make it work and it will work out in the end. Don't stress or feel disheartened by the circumstances, it will be fine x

Hi ladies. I got a call to say the clinic has received our funding so we have to go in again for another appointment together.

I guess this will be to discuss the process?

@Tillybabs that's exciting. Yes that will be to discuss when you can start etc.

@tillybabs sounds like you're so close to starting! The second scan will just be to check your lining to make sure you're good to start.

@aliceinivfland hi! Try not to worry too much about your follicles at this point, I know easier said than done though. You're probably sick of reading quality over quantity too, but that really is the case. I had well over 20 follicles measuring as they should have been just before trigger, and although 19 eggs were collected, only 10 were mature, so it's really not an indication of anything. Aw I bet hearing the cycle being abandoned has really stressed you out, but surely they won't do that when you have at least 4 viable follicles? Great news about your lining, that's one less thing to worry about. Hopfully you'll get an idea of a date for egg collection soon?

@purpleunicorn01 I had a scan on day 9 of stims, I had over 21 follicles, two that were 'too big and would probably lose' at 19mm and 21mm, then 12 that were 'intermediate' between 12 and 16mm, then the rest were smaller. Then my final scan on day 11 I had over 25 follicles all between 15mm and 24mm. I had 19 collected, 10 were mature and 6 fertilised. Try not to get too caught up in follicles at this point as it really can all change on egg collection day and onwards. That was the most challenging time for me.

@thislittlebird try not to panic, and try not to look too far into the future, take things day by day if possible otherwise it becomes extremely overwhelming I find. You can only do so much in terms of planning as things change day by day depending on how you respond to treatment etc. So I rang the clinic on a Monday when AF had started, I had my baseline scan on the Tuesday Cd2 and started my first stiming injection that same day. My next scan to check follicle growth was CD10 then again CD12, my trigger was CD13 and egg collection was CD15. Mine was a freeze all cycle but had I a fresh transfer it would have been CD20. For the tracking scans to check follicle growth I don't think it's essential your partner is there, mine was in the waiting room the whole time. The baseline scan is often where you get shown how to use the injections so it may be handy for him to be there and also obviously the egg collection he is needed to do his bit! Again though try not to over think as all the planning in the world can not guarantee dates won't change.

@PurpleUnicorn01 @dogmam yes it's happening quite fast 😃

It's really interesting to read about your follicles @dogmam.

@dogmam that's so interesting thank you. My scan is on Monday. It's a day 8 rather than a day 9 no idea why. Let's see what happens

Morning all, i had my first scan which was a 7 day, i have 8 follicles on 1 side and 1 on the other. They said they are only at 8mm at the moment but should catch up by day 9 to 12 mm. She said they are after quality not quantity. I feel bit nervous now.

Thanks @tillybabs @dogmam @JeanieJ unfortunately only 4 now after my scan today. We have decided to abandon due to the small amount, I cried and cried and cried on the way home. Even the Dr looked so sad for me. Anyway I'm looking at options for work, teaching and infertility don't work well due to having to tell work and also we have to schedule hosp apps around the holidays. I feel so heartbroken. How is everyone else doing? Any new cycles starting or egg retrieval? My Dr's were so confused by the results. Is anyone else on Meriofert? I haven't seen this mentioned much, I'm wondering if switching to another brand would produce more eggs 😞

@Aliceinivfland I'm so sorry hun. So they class 4 viable eggs as not enough? I'm really confused as thought even 1 would be worth trying with a transfer.

[quote Tillybabs]@Aliceinivfland I'm so sorry hun. So they class 4 viable eggs as not enough? I'm really confused as thought even 1 would be worth trying with a transfer.

[/quote]
Thank you ❤️ they said because I am young, all the bloods are healthy and I don't have low overanian reserve, this is not great. They left the decision with me, so with the small amount and I really don't want to go under anaesthetic too many times if possible. I've said that we will abandon this time round as they think better results will come up next time. I see so many people lose their embryos after blastocyst stage. I think the low dosage hasn't helped my eggs in the early stages. I don't know, they didn't tell me how to improve it.

@Aliceinivfland ok I understand.

As too said, you are still young and you can try another cycle. They would have recommended otherwise.

I guess I better start reading up on the whole process myself as will start soon.

@aliceinivfland aw I'm so sorry, I feel really sad for you I've not personally heard of that brand but I'm no expert. Were you on a long or short protocol? It's so crap, there's so many hurdles to even just get to transfer stage. You're right though, with the drop off rate after egg collection of viable embryos being so huge, you've probably made the best decision. Being a teacher and working term time must be added stress you could do without. How many rounds do you get on the nhs? This won't be counted as one of them will it? If it was me, I think I'd want to change protocol. Look after yourself these next few days x

@PurpleUnicorn01 that sounds great. When's your next scan?

@dogmam thanks, that’s useful! Hoping to find out my plan on Wednesday with the new consultant.

Today has been ok but I’ve been very overwhelmed the last few days and felt very down. Keep thinking way ahead and panicking, like you say, need to take it step by step and not race ahead.

Just saw Mr Ramsay and he gave us the dna frag results.

Really pleased with them, motility has gone from 9% in March to 26% in early June. Normal forms have gone from 2.5 to 8! DNA frag was 59% normal so good for his age, 0% high levels of damage and even the sperm donor he showed us for comparison had 0-4% high levels of damage. Really great news tbh and nothing more needed, just said we can start ICSI whenever we want. Thanks goes to the impryl and ubiquinol, I guess? Frustrating we can’t try ovulation induction because we will be a few hundred miles apart most of the month lol.

Now if we have fertilisation issues it could be my eggs being rubbish but fingers crossed we won’t 😬

@PurpleUnicorn01 is that in line with your last scan numbers wise? Fingers crossed they all mature well!

@Aliceinivfland that’s a shame, I’m sorry it didn’t go to plan. what was your AFC pre ivf?

@thislittlebird wow what a fab improvement, that's amazing and deffinetly something to be super pleased with. Got everything crossed for you for Wednesday.

@Aliceinivfland really sorry to hear your cycle has been abandoned. All that build up 😢 💔. It sounds like you made the right choice & fingers crossed you get better results next time 🤞🍀
@thislittlebird that sounds like a great improvement 🙂🤞really hope everything goes well for you 🍀
@Tillybabs great news about the funding. 🙂hope they get you in for an appointment soon ☺️

Thank you all ❤️ I was on short protocol, I get 3 rounds thankfully and this doesn't count, only egg retrieval counts. I'm going to have a chat with HR when I go back, I'm such a private person so I'm dreading it. Looking in to leaving teaching and just tutoring to ensure I can give this 100%. I don't remember my AMH but the doctor and my nutritionist said it was really good, hence why they are stumped. I'm just so gutted about it all and 6 weeks feels like a lifetime.
@tillybabs that's so exciting, all the best of luck to you for the appointment x

@thislittlebird my DH had an appointment with Dr Ramsey and he wasn't that helpful which was unexpected due to his reputation. I'm really glad your husband has had such a great response with him!

@Aliceinivfland thank you. On the plus side, that's great to hear that this doesn't count as a round and you still have 3 rounds.

I hope you figure out a work life balance that works for you. This whilst process is not easy or straight forward. I wish you all the best for the next round. It sounds like they are on the ball where you are having treatment.

@dogmam thanks! I’m so pleased it improved, just gives me a bit more hope but who knows what it’ll be like on the day. Just so pleased the three months to refresh SA rule worked, you feel like it won’t when taking all the supplements.

@Aliceinivfland honestly it wasn’t really him if you know what I mean 🤐. The main purpose he served was a physical exam and sending him for tests, an IVF doc told us to take impryl back in March at Care and a few since then have agreed he needs to keep taking it. I can only think that + ubiquinol + daily ejaculation did the job (JR may have suggested the last one). Having now had the experience, I think you could see any urologist for the service provided. What’s your husband’s issue?

I can see why you’d want to switch jobs, it must be really hard to work around teaching. I’m lucky my workplace is accommodating and no one relies on me being there.