Fertility Appointments and Beyond.... the journey continues

[Gracie2021]

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!

@tillybabs
@thislittlebird
@kay00
@jeaniej
@PurpleUnicorn01
@paintfairy
@dogmam
@flutterby8
@Ughmaybenot
@dancingfairydreams
@beckycarlos
@jkjellyhead
@juno231
@decaffe
@bumble44
@BritinNZ
@tinkerbell098
@pinkginpls
@thedaydreambelievers
@everymumday
@wanderlust16
@lori23ttc

@thislittlebird The gynaecologist whom has been following my infertility investigation said she will apply for funding. So instead of my GP? I have gone through numerous blood tests, hycosy, even a laparoscopy, the gynae said all investigations are done so they are recommendation IVF. Hope they aren't going to throw my case back to my GP and expect him to do anything, which he is clueless from the start.

@pinkginpls if they’re saying you need IVF then it should be fine. We didn’t have to do anything to apply, they did it for us, she will do it for you. Do you have a meeting planned to discuss it?

@thislittlebird that's cool. I am expecting an appointment for post op and following up so if I don't hear anything this week will sure to ring them up. x

@pinkginpls I got funding in SWL CCG and although the policy gives you a list of clinics to choose from I never got a choice. The gynecologist put a funding request through directly with the hospital I'd been having all my treatments in (Kingston). Thing is that still meant doing transport IVF with Kings as Kingston doesn't have an embryo lab so I was fine with it.

@Juno231good to know! Would you mind sharing how long did you wait from applying to actual appointments? I am with St Helier Hospital so really quite close!

I found out my friend didn't tell me she was heavily pregnant and I'm kind of upset. We're not in the same country now so it's not like I don't see her but it hurts that she didn't tell me. She told me they were trying a few months ago and that was that. Now I found out from someone else she's basally due soon.

@thislittlebird I'm so sorry that sucks. Did she know that you were struggling and that's why she didn't say anything or has she just not said it to a lot of people? Horrible to be blind sided like that.

@Gracie2021yeah, she knew we were due to start treatment and I'm guessing that's why. But finding out through other people and her saying they were only trying is weird to me because clearly she was rather pregnant when we last chatted in December. Ugh. I can't even be bothered to contact her about it, I'll wait until I'm in a better place. I'm definitely not in a celebrating other people's pregnancies place right now.

Hi ladies

@thislittlebird im so sorry about that. You are entitled to feel hurt.

I had my lining scan but it wasn't thick enough and they accidentally told me to take progestrone so now my cycles cancelled and i have to wait to come on my period and start again down regs on day 21. Argh. Oh well waited this long another few weeks makes no difference. I might be cycling with some of you?

@thislittlebird I like to think your friend was not sharing because she knows you are getting treatment. Anyway learning other people's pregnant news sucks. Hugs and kissess x

@PurpleUnicorn01 sorry to hear that. crazy that they can prescribe the wrong meds by accident, imagine if it is some serious drugs! (not that progestrone isn't but you know what i mean!)

I'm so sorry your cycle was cancelled @PurpleUnicorn01. How thick did you get to? Happy to be support for your next cycle and yes we could very well be around the same time. Are you doing ok today?

@thislittlebird how does she think that's a better way of handling it than just being upfront. Sorry 😢 I have to admit one of my friends is trying and while most of me is hoping she has her success soon and avoids going through this crappy process, another part of me was so relieved when she got the booster and at least I knew she wasn't pregnant. Rotten of me but there you go..... I think people on here are the main exception for me, for some reason easy to be happy for those that have struggled on the boards with us but the drive by BFP's and the real life BFP's I'm 100% struggling with!

Omg @PurpleUnicorn01 I misread that and didn't see the accidentally wrong medication. Such a pain!

@purpleunicorn01 we might cycle together, depends on instructions after polypectomy but that would be cool!

@thislittlebird I'm sorry, thats rubbish! I guess it came from a good place but its very misguided, and in reality has made it worse. You sound so blue at the moment, sending you a big virtual hug and a large metaphorical glass of your favourite drink! X

@pinkginpls thank you

@beckyCarlos @gracie2021 i was 5.9mm needed to be 7mm so not far off just more estrogen next time. When are you ladies starting roughly

It’s like more of a shock coming from other people and them saying “we thought you’d know” because I’m closer with her. And I’m like hahaha yeah well she mentioned plans to start a family but not that she’s about to give birth 🤨

@PurpleUnicorn01 can’t believe they told you to take the wrong thing. When would you roughly be beginning again?

@Gracie2021 I am happy for people on here but everyone else can get in the bin 😂. I feel like we’re all overdue a turn, not them! 🙈

@beckyCarlos Thanks, I am really down but feel a bit better today. Did a workout yesterday and got some sleep. Me and DH are sleeping separately for a few days at least so I don’t worry about disturbing him on top of the other worries.

So lots of you have told no one about ivf. Meanwhile this fool has told everyone. Like I literally cannot stop saying it, it’s verbal diarrhoea. I don’t know what’s wrong with me but whenever someone asks about kids or pregnancies planned I can’t hide it and I’m just like “well actually we’re starting ivf soon”. I just told our window cleaners who I chat to when they asked if we’re planning kids ffs asdfgshejjsjsjakwk 😭😩😂

I need an intervention. Or a gag. Funnily the guy was nice and said sorry for asking but they struggled too and it took them three years to conceive. I was pleased he said that because I was already spiralling from the embarrassment of oversharing.

@thislittlebird I've told 14 people (just counted). Rather more than I'd thought tbh... anyone important in my life pretty much knows. For me it was too much to go through this and not say it. That said I've only shared anything specific with a small handful. I th think whatever you need to do to get to the other side, go for it. Different for everyone!

That is such a pain @PurpleUnicorn01 and so close but good to know it was working and a bit of an adjustment next time and it will come good. I struggle with thin linings too, was at 5.5-6.5 for a long while there even on Letrozole. Acupuncture, vit E and a heat pad on my stomach each evening in the room up ovulation has helped me to get to 7-8mm is it's any help to you at all. The heat pad is also just really soothing and lovely. I'll be starting around 27th so probably mid February for transfer assuming all goes smoothly. How long do they expect it to take to reset your cycle?

@Gracie2021 it’s weird because I feel like the “right” thing to do is keep schtum to protect myself. But ultimately most of the randos I’ve told aren’t going to be checking in on me for updates. The most weird ones are the nurse at the vaccine clinic and the window cleaners, but other than that maybe about 10? If I include a few colleagues, family and friends. Part of me doesn’t want to be embarrassed about saying it either, I need to care less. But most people, bar family and one friend only know we’re going to start ivf, they don’t know details.

My EC is likely around the 7th and transfer tbc. Might have a freeze all.

No, more than 10 if I include colleagues. Probably similar, 14 or 15.

@thislittlebird @Gracie2021 well they said i should have a bleed within 2 weeks roughly. So 21 days from then would put my day 21 around 16th Feb to start down regs again. Nice valentines present lol id prefer flowers but still lol

@PurpleUnicorn01 Oh no I'm sorry your cycle was cancelled. I know its only a few weeks in the grand scheme of things but I imagine you had worked yourself up and prepared for a cycle happening now. Hugs xx

@thislittlebird I'm surprised your friend didn't tell you personally too, but I suppose its possible she has been having a hard time of things and maybe she was worried about upsetting you/her further (playing devils advocate here), either way, it would have upset me too xx

If it helps @thislittlebird I have also been desperate to tell people, especially my mum, and closest friends (bar one who I accidently told). And it has been hard not to, because I am usually an over-sharer too . But my OH is a very private person and our TTC difficulties are shared difficulties, and he has sworn me to secrecy lol.

He has, however, agreed that I can tell my mum/friends when I start IVF as I will likely need additional support and it would be easier than making up excuses for random absences etc. My mum and friends will be really surprised when I tell them!

@PurpleUnicorn01 that’s not too long at least.

@Kay00 yeah we’re shared too and he’s DEFINITELY more sensitive than me and I am a massive oversharer. It’s like a nervous energy thing?! Mine has come round to me being open because it’s hard to combat my nonsense but I’m not sure I’ll tell him I told the window cleaners 😭😭😭

You will definitely need that support so you should totally do that. Everyone who knows is leaving us alone really, which is nice, not being harassed for updates.

@thislittlebird haha, if it helps my cleaners know all about the bowel issues was having last year .

I think my over-sharing comes from a nervous energy, but also I just don't give fuck what people think (other than my OH, hence why I'm trying very hard to keep quiet), and I don't embarrass easily (extrovert here!). I actually don't think we should feel embarrassed to talk about infertility or about TTC generally, as the silence makes us feel like we are going through this on our own, when I think a large number of people struggle. But here I am, keeping quiet about it anyway x Thank god I have you lot. I think I'd explode if I had no one to talk to!

@thislittlebird oversharing can be a sign of past trauma as well! I wouldn't worry though, I told over 20 people! Honestly I got to the stage where if someone at work made a joke about me not having kids or asked me when I'd have them I'd snappily respond that perhaps it's not that easy for everyone.

@pinkginpls remind me what stage you're at? I sent my funding request through early August and got it approved early Sep with my first appointment booked in the following week. I postponed it to end of Oct but if I hadn't I reckon I'd have had my first cycle in late Oct/early Nov already? So not long at all!

Lol @thislittlebird I'm howling! This is the sort of thing I do! Just dont tell your DH, I'm sure the window cleaner will never mention it 🤣

I'm not sure about my clinics policy on cycles after hysteroscopy/polypectomy, but from what I've read online its ok to go on the next cycle...as I'm on long protocol I dont know if they'll let me down reg from this cycle (currently on day 4) becuase its 21 days, then 21 days after that is stim, or whether I'll wait for next cycle (so another...20 ish days, then down reg on day 21 from there...)

@Juno231 that's really quick actually! I literally came out of the laparoscopy which they found out I don't have the left fallopian tube last friday and the gynae will start applying for the funding. So I am waiting for a post op call and hopefully to tell me the application is sent.

Thanks all for sharing whether to tell people or not! That's really interesting! I am preparing myself to tell my manager and HR so they know what I am going through. I have been having the odd sick days and people just thought I had covid! I think I want work to know so they are more sympathetic...