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

Hey girls. Been trying to conceive just over two years. Discovered my prolactin is high and I’m currently on medication to reduce this. I’m 27 years old and had miscarriage when I was 18. I have had all the usual test done for high prolactin to rule out tumour, pcos, thyroid problems ect. So hoping the levels go down the longer I am on medication. I am being referred to fertility clinic mid March doctor promised. I know times will vary but how long usually does an the referral process take? I would really appreciate to hear some of your timings. Thank you

Hi @peaches02 😊 I think it depends where you are (and sometimes it feels like what day of the week 🤣) but we were referred March last year and had our consultant appt in June. So, about 12 weeks, we were originally told the waiting list was 16-18 weeks x

@Kay00 exciting that everything is starting up!!

@dogmam thanks! Motility was 73% so fingers crossed it works out. If I don't get pregnant this month I am having a HyCoSy in early March. Hope the AMH goes well today and so exciting it all kicks off for you soon!

@peaches02 agree that it is really dependant on where you are. I'm in SE London and was told a 3 month wait when I was referred but in reality I was called out of the blue for a consultation after 2.5 weeks!

@magnoliasinbloom glad that it's done and you're feeling more relaxed.

@Gracie2021 totally understandable that you're struggling and that's fine, try not to beat yourself up for finding this hard. I couldn't breathe properly for a week and think anxiety was a big part of it, I don't think we realise how this impacts us because we're constantly driving forward towards a goal without an end point. How long is your wait for the fertility counsellor? Hopefully it's quick there because it's private. One day at a time is the best we can all do under the circumstances.

I'm not sure that I'll be on any injections afaik, maybe oestrogen? Need to ask them. AF started today which was earlier than expected, and I'm pleased about that as I'm now on the countdown to calling the clinic again, just need to get through this cycle.

@beckyCarlos don't get me started on them, they're pretending covid has gone away when it will impact so many people whether they acknowledge that or not. Makes it harder to justify time off to work etc too. Just realised @dogmam said basically the same thing!

@dogmam omg what a long road! I told our in laws how long we'd been waiting and how our first investigations were July 2020 the other day and it dawned on me all over again. I definitely didn't intend to have a child at 39/40+ (if I ever do) and I really felt like we deserved some good luck tbh, it had been such a slog to get here and this is the only funded round so I'm relieved it's not wasted. Similar to you I'd like to get a bit healthier in the next six weeks. Right now I'm sat at my home desk avoiding the decorator lol. Considering joining the work gym, it's very cheap and they'll expect me to start going into the office again soon. Wrt FET, what meds were you on and what scans did they do beforehand? We're away 29/3-5/4 and my next period is due 24/3 (in theory...)

Hi @peaches02, as others have said, it's totally variable. Like @magnoliasinbloom I'm in SE London and it's been a complete shitshow. Referral from GP to Gynaecologist in Feb 21, waited three months only for gynaecologist to tell us to do one despite both having problems in May 21, changed GP and saw private fertility docs in June 21 and new GP referred us directly to ACU, saw ACU in August 21 for consultation, had IVF in Jan/Feb 21.

@Kay00 glad to hear the ball is rolling! How do you feel about clomid at this point? I was a bit dejected the letrozole didn't work but not shocked with DH's motility.

Sorry, that should say had IVF in Jan/Feb 2022! Didn't travel back in time for it, but wish I could have :/

@beckyCarlos 100% about the Covid fear. I think that's one thing massively affecting my anxiety and making the struggle worse. We've decided to isolate through this which is extreme but given the numbers here it's safest. But because of the cancelled round and now back to back rounds we'll basically be isolating from mid January to early April which is so long. Glad you're able to work from home which makes it safer but also harder from a mood point I think sometimes. I need to have a chat with my boss later today and not coming back to the office until April at the earliest.

Thanks so much @magnoliasinbloom this thread is such a lovely supportive place. Really helps to chat to people who get it too. Counselling is separate here and paid but I'd get half back on my health insurance so wouldn't be a massive expense. I think even a couple sessions might help me clear the decks a bit. How are you feeling after the IUI? Are you team no test or will you be able to wait?

@dogmam counselor never called me back so as with all things fertility and me, it's not going to plan 😂😂 so glad you had a good consult with your doctor and she gave you the time you needed to get reassurance. How are you feeling today about starting vs waiting? You're very sensible to even consider it. I'm starting stims again by Monday at the latest and diet has been shocking since my cancelled cycle two weeks ago as comfort food is always my coping strategy (very healthy I know 😬) but no way I could wait another month.

Thanks @Kay00 have a weekend trip away planned in April after these cycles are over so that's getting me through! How are you doing these days? Great to be getting these tasks ticked off and IVF underway. So happy for you with the momentum going.

Hi @peaches02 im no help at all as not Uk based but welcome 👋

@thislittlebird so glad AF has arrived and you're moving forward again. Really hope this month is your BFP! Everything crossed for you love! I was thinking the same about how long this whole thing goes and you don't notice the time going. I have a friend group and one is going on mat leave in two weeks, another is back from mat leave at the same time and the last just announced she's four months gone. Been lapped by all three of them now and all three at different stages... only realise how long it's been when I compare with them....

Had a really productive session with my doctor today. Will be starting stims anytime from Saturday onwards depending how long we can keep my period at bay with progesterone. Adding clomid and testosterone gel to try improve quality and follicle recruitment, taking away the steroids and baby aspirin since we're not doing transfers and adding a double trigger. Still waiting on my AMH but not dying to get that back as I think ignorance might be easier right now lol. Good to be getting back on the horse now anyway.

@dogmam forgot to ask in my previous reply, did you ever do any extra tests on DH? I feel like we chatted about it a while back. What doses were you on first time vs the next cycle? It's interesting because I was worried about how I'd pushed back on the young doc who weirded me out with her high doses suggestion. All the way through stims I though I've cocked up my own cycle by asking for lower doses but they weren't awful for me in the end, 13/15 eggs collected being mature was pretty good. No idea if our embyros will be any good but 4 chances is probably more than I've had to date.

The page changed so I can't see previous messages and missing out replies!

@Gracie2021 yeah, I get that. The comparisons are so hard. We started trying before two friends and their children will be 1 before I even get to a transfer. It's hard to deal with, I fully expect them to announce a second before I get anywhere near a first. Sounds like your work are being supportive which is good. You're starting stims again so soon, crazy how that's flown by and it sounds like you have a good plan in place! We said we'd try this month but part of me can't be arsed. Probably will though.

@Gracie2021 not a substitute for counselling (hope they call back!) but in the meantime, I've found the podcast Big Fat Negative really good. It's hosted by two journalists who both had long struggles with infertility and conceived via IVF. They interview a lot of fertility specialists and people who have been through IVF, and I've found it a very pragmatic but still uplifting listen!
I'll follow doctor's orders and test on day 14, just trying to focus on eating well, yoga and keeping warm until then. Although of course I did google what the due date would be if we did conceive lol

And glad that you can start your meds again so soon, but I'm still crossing my fingers for a positive result in a few days - you're not out until you get your period!

@gracie2021 stims on Monday! Crikey thats come quick! We can be injection buddies (if you believe in balance, my downreg should balance your stims in the universe!) 🥰

@gracie2021 p.s. it is a bag of (insert chosen expletive here) that the counselling people didnt call you back. I know everyone is busy but come on! Even if its a call to say 'we'll call you next week'... i dont know about you but I find it takes a lot of energy to build yourself up to talking about all of this, and thats without being 'honest' about how I feel, which I dont say to many people (a lot of my chat is 'oh yes its a positive step, yes I'm excited' etc but we all here know thats only 20% of the feelings) x x

Thank you everyone 🤍 best of luck to all of you. This is a bumpy ride!

@peaches02 sorry I can't help, I got impatient and paid for private consultations/scans/tests. My clinic didn't charge me for the Clomid treatment/scans though and I'm applying for NHS funded IVF atm, so it hasn't been a very expensive endeavour!

@thislittlebird Hmm, how do I feel about the Clomid? I think that it has clearly worked in so much that I am ovulating regularly, and strongly. My OH had decent enough SA results, so it should have worked, but it didn't. I suspect my issue is either just very bad luck, my egg quality is rubbish, or I have repeated implantation failure. I was crushed after the first time it didn't work, and by the third month I knew that it wouldn't work for me at all. I'm CD13 on my 6th Clomid cycle and I have zero hope for success. I have a horrible feeling the IVF won't work for me either...

@Kay00 thank you Kay. I did pay privately for endocrinologist & internal ovarian scan. But felt for what I paid the process and timings were still long, roughly about 4 months for results and to see my endo for follow up. I got my follow up in December after originally going private in the summer and my nhs referral was January anyway. I will look into private again though and ask for wait times, is it right that it will be a gynaecologist that I am referred too from the doctor for fertility referral?

@peaches02 I'm not sure who your doctor will refer you too... its seems to differ from doctor to doctor/area to area. I'm based in Exeter, Devon and we have a fertility clinic at the local hospital which I think is where my doctor would have referred me if I had waited long enough. But I approached them myself and they arranged a consultation for about 6 weeks later.

@magnoliasinbloom I love the BFN podcast! I actually look forward to a new episode coming out so I can listen on my Tuesday dog walk haha gutted this series is finished. Wow motility was amazing, all the boxes are ticked for you so all that's left is a lot of finger crossing!

@Kay00 sounds like things are progressing with your having the BMI checked in. Is it standard at your clinic to do your partners BMI too?

@Gracie2021 omg can't believe the counseller didn't contact you! Sounds like your chat with the doctor was really productive and also exciting that there's a proper plan. How are you feeling about it all? A little better after your talk with the doctor?

@thislittlebird they wouldn't have frozen your 4 if they weren't any good, honestly you are in a fab position! I think your protocol was perfect for you, you've responded ideally, not too many and not too few. My consultant said that Rekovelle have recently released a new algorithm, its still based on AMH and weight so is very personalised but she said it will be better for me to potentially have a slightly lower dose as i had so many eggs collected and some nearly half were not mature, it should prevent losing the bigger follicles.. something along those lines anyway but I'm happy to try. She also mentioned less eggs would open up the possibility to have a fresh transfer if I wanted to. Have the clinic mentioned about a double transfer at all for you? God it makes you sick to think how long infertility have taken over our lives doesn't it.. hard not to dwell on it when anniversarys of first appointments come around though lol
So for my first FET, I started estrogen tablets x3 a day from day 2 of my cycle to build up my lining, then on CD 11 I had my first scan and because the lining was over 7mm the the following day CD 12 i started progesterone pessary then CD17 i had the transfer. So I was only in the clinic for one scan then once for the transfer. Second FET, my first lining scan was CD9 but it was too thin, so upped the estrogen tablet to x4 a day and had repeat scan CD 17 where it was thick enough so transfer was booked for CD24. I also had lubion injections aswell as pessary for additional progesterone, from 5 days before the transfer. So all in all you're only in the clinic 2 or 3 times for a FET, unless you do a natural cycle where you'll be monitored really closely as obviously they will have less control over time expectations.
I also asked the consultant about extra tests for my other half. My clinic are very evidence based so unless its concrete, they won't entertain it. She said she wouldn't recommend me paying for DNA frag test as the main way to reduce it anyway is lifestyle (i didn't argue that actually antibiotics can help). However she has referred my parter to the fertility urologist to talk about possibly getting his varicocelle embolised however this wouldn't be done before this round as the waiting lists are huge and it's not guaranteed the urologist would recommend it.. so we are just going ahead with the cycle with a view that if we need third cycle then we will have it embolised if necessary.

I have definitely decided to delay our second cycle by a month, just gives us an extra 5 or 6 weeks to feel as healthy and as ready as we can. I'm sure ill regret it when I'm willing the weeks away!!

@Kay00 yeah I get that. Month one of failure on letrozole was super hard, similarly by month three I was over it and knew it wouldn’t work. It confirmed my follicles would grow and that my progesterone can get high so that’s good, I suppose.

I think it’s natural to feel like it might not work for you tbh. I feel the same. I was convinced we’d have a worse outcome from the first ivf cycle but I was proved wrong in a good way, so far anyway. Having high AMH can be a good thing so try to remain positive. Every stage is a shitty hurdle. My next fear is I’ll have implantation issues, or immune issues.

I had to stop looking at the ivf thread I’m on because seeing people who had multiple failures for transfer freaked me out earlier on tbh. We haven’t discussed where the line is for us. In my head that line might be 3 full rounds, but maybe I won’t feel that way when we get to the third. On the plus side we should be able to get two private rounds done fairly quickly once this nhs round is done, although I’m hoping we won’t need them 😬

@dogmam will be interesting to see how you get on with the new algorithm! No mention of a double transfer, probably because I’m under 40 and they don’t like to transfer top quality ones (which will be the first transfer) with any others. I think after the first transfer I’ll be talking to them about double, and initially will go single. Have you discussed doubles?

Did they base your oestrogen quantity on your early lining or just blindly said to take it? Reason I ask is because I have always had a good lining so far, and I’m wondering if they’ll make me take them. I would be in Scotland around cd11/12 most likely, so not around for a scan . Also not sure when I’ll ovulate, it can move around 🤨. I’m going to be so gutted if I miss another cycle.

At least the frag test and embolisation are still in your arsenal if you need them for a third round, I can only go by our experience which is his frag was good (didn’t need varicocele fixing) and so was fertilisation, but we did it all privately and just made sure he was on impryl and others, in total for about a year by the time the ivf came round. Good that the urologist will see him though, hopefully it won’t be too long to wait.

I should be getting healthier this week but so far decorator thing is getting me down. Sick of him being in my space, and honestly it’s all looking a bit slapdash. I’m kind of annoyed, this was supposed to be a good thing for us to save us doing it ourselves and speed it up, get the house refreshed etc. Nothing is ever without stress! I’m going to definitely rejoin the work gym, they’re doing 4 month memberships which is fine for me.

@thislittlebird I have decided to sort my lifestyle out too. Starting 1st March (when I'm back from my mini break) I'm going to reduce my calories intake (not by a huge amount, just enough to be in deficit), increase my protein and reduce sugar. My SIL is a personal trainer, so she's putting me together a 3 month exercise plan, and im going to join a gym. Im dragging my OH along too 😆

How rubbish about your sloppy decorators! Hopefully they'll shape up for the final touches.

@dogmam I think waiting a few extra weeks is a good idea, it's nice to know these are choices we can make.

And in answer, yes, its standard protocol here to test BMI for OH as well as me, but we are both within range so it shouldn't be an issue.

Hi all, can I chime in on the thread as well?

I have just started my nhs fertility treatment after a few years of trying with no joy. My partner has no issues but I have horrendous PCOS and am at the start of a long waiting list in NI for IVF. Our consultant has put me on Clomid to give it a shot while we wait for IVF.... he thinks it's worth a try! I have just finished my first dose of clomid now, am on CD8 and getting a follicle tracking scan on Friday.

I did not enjoy the clomid side effects Had constant migraine style headaches, nausea and felt sad quite a lot. I lost my mum a few months ago, and I cried about it several times a day, everyday I took the tablets, which is so unusual for me! I have a feeling the clomid is not going to work for me, but I'm trying to be positive.

Has anyone else used clomid? How did it go for u?

@dogmam a break sounds good 😊

@thislittlebird I hate having people in my house (doing things, not mates) it puts me weirdly on edge, and its always loud and messy (not like I'm quiet, and I'm definitely nor tidy lol)

@emm01 hey! I'm not on clomid but I cry at everything now 🤣 have accepted it as a trade off for keeping all my other emotions about everything safely in 'the box' lol x

@emm01 welcome! I have PCOS and am on Clomid 😊 I'm currently on my 6th and last cycle of Clomid, but haven't had any luck so far. I have been ovulating, but not getting pregnant. I have been lucky enough not to have any symptoms with the Clomid, but then I didn't get any symptoms (well, not many) with Metformin either, so I think I'm just not very reactive.

Sorry you are feeling low, and I'm sorry to hear about your mum xx I lost my step mum a few months ago, and the grief my poor little brother and sister are going through is terrible xx

@dogmam it was a very happy episode to end the season on! Agree sad that there's no more podcast for a couple of months! Glad you have the option to delay and you can prioritise yourself and feeling good for now :)

@EMM01 I have PCOS too. Isn't it a shitter? I've never taken Clomid but I am on my fourth cycle of Letrazole (first with combined IUI). On the first and fourth cycles I have ovulated but the second and third I didn't - no idea why my response has been different month to month. My side effects with Letrazole have been physical only, not emotional. I'm so sorry for the loss of your mum x