ACU Ninewells

[RRk1469]

Hello,

Just wondering if anyone has been for a first appointment at the ACU in Dundee. My husband and I have our first appointment together at the end of January and just wondering what to expect.

@CuriousAries yeah I got my letter after consultation at end of December. No other news hence why I sent an email asking for more details. Argh I just want to know for something to look forward to! I know we get a letter and more consent forms but when! Aaahh

@CuriousAries

Our letter arrived at the weekend, was basically a dictation of the meeting with the consultant discussing protocol etc. It does say we are due to start in May and we will receive another letter from the secretaries in due course with instructions for starting treatment 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

@CuriousAries Been a bit of an exhausting week. Test date was Tuesday although bought some of the Early Response ones and tried on Sunday but was BFN. Thought it was too early, and tried again on Mon but BFN again.
Still tried to stay positive and tested again yesterday (test day) and then today AF arrived a day early so that's this cycle done.
So hard not to keep testing each day incase its changed. Will try not to do that next month as its been pretty exhausting seeing a BFN every day this week.

Been to pick up our drugs today to start them tomorrow and scan next weekend with treatment hopefully round about the 6th. It's just a bit mad to think that today we've been to Ninewells for our meds and got our next treatment all sorted out, and yesterday I had no idea that we were even unsuccessful. Things move so quickly.

I hope you all hear something soon. Sounds like there quite a few of you due to start in the next month hopefully!

@RRk1469 Did your egg collection go ahead? I hope you have some positive news

@TTTC86 so sorry to hear this cycle didn't work out. Here's hoping ypu get a BFN next time. At least youre getting to start ASAP and don't have a massive wait in between.

My egg collection was yesterday. I got 9 eggs and they called today to say 5 have fertilised. Just waiting for our update on Monday to see how many have made it and my transfer day is Wednesday 😬

@TTTC86 obviously that mean to say BFP. my brain isn't working this week.

@RRk1469 how did you get on with your transfer? Xx

@TTC86 fingers crossed you get a positive next time ❤️

@sjsjp00 hello 👋 transfer was good. The staff are all so amazing and just look after you so well.

We are currently 6dp5d hoping it's a sticky little bean too. Trying not to symptom spot but had a sore lower back, headache, and generally just crampy.

I'll let you all know next week 😁

How's everyone else? And further ahead?

@RRk1469 so glad to hear your transfer went well! Crossing everything for you! 🙏

I had an appointment last week with the sedationist as I am a little nervous about the cannula and being sedated! The sedationist was brilliant and completely put me at ease. We made a plan for the sedation when I come in for egg collection and I feel much better about the whole process. He also did a health check (height, weight, blood pressure) and updated my file. He said I would also have had my AMH done at this point but because it was done last May they won't do it again as the result lasts for 2 years. How long did everyone else wait from this health check appointment (if you had one) until starting? I'm really hoping we're not delayed in May as my period is due round the 1st/2nd! Just counting down the days now!

@R@RRk1469@RRk1469@RRk1469@RRk1469@RRk1469

Sorry I have no idea what just happened there.

I was trying to say @RRk1469 I'm glad your transfer went ahead. Hope you're coping ok with the 2WW..

Our cycle was cancelled this month, genuinely so gutted. Feel like we have waited so long to get to this point and its still just a massive waiting game.
Got a plan sorted for next month so will try again and just hope it works out this time. Trying to stay positive, but do kind of feel like all the effort this month has been a waste.

Anyone else got any more info of start dates yet?

@FSF85 I had weight, height etc checked end of Sept and then they were going to re-take it again at December appt but they decided no to re-do it.
Then had first treatment start of Feb but I don't think the timescales are always right as everyone seems to get different things done in different orders from what's been mentioned on here before to be honest.

I think if your letter says May then thats a pretty good thing to go on, as once we were told we would be starting on our Jan cycle we did.

Hey all.

The two week wait hasn't been a good one for me. I unfortunately got my period today after getting very strong positive tests day 5, 6 and 7. I know they say don't test early but I'm glad I did because its the most pregnant I've ever been and even though it was very short lived its the first time myself and DH have had that little glimmer of hope.

We're obviously devastated after 4years of saying "we'll have a baby this Christmas" we have to go another Christmas without being parents! 😭 I have no idea when we'll be allowed a FET. Ugh just feel so shit. Why are bodies so complicated!

Sorry for the rant. Hope everyone's getting closer. 🙏

@RRk1469 Oh I'm so sorry to hear this! That's so shit! Try to stay positive (I know easier said than done) and hopefully you don't have to wait too long for FET. Did they give you any indication of timings?
We've just booked a last minute holiday now that our cycle is cancelled and we know we don't have to go up to Dundee again for a few weeks. So if you can do that it might take your mind off things and let you relax a bit.

Keep telling myself this will all be worth it in the end no matter how difficult and how far away we feel from it just now.

@RRk1469 sending hugs 💖

Hello everyone, I hope this is alright to ask. Our first appointment in person is next month, I was just wondering how everythig goes at the first appointment? Like how was the amh/carbon monoxide tests? Sorry for just inserting myself 🤦🏻‍♀️ my anxiety is honestly off the charts right now

@ivfgotachance Hi, new to this thread also but thought I could maybe help ease your anxiety. I had my first appointment recently too and it was completely fine. The person I met was lovely.

The AMH is just a blood test like any blood test you will have had before. I didn't get a carbon monoxide test but I did have one done pre-referral. They also checked my BMI and asked about any medical conditions.

The worst bit was the parking😅

@BNA23 thank you! Is the blood test relativley quick? I know I'm gonna need to get over needles quick but honestly I'm a big wuss lol

@ivfgotachance I'm exactly the same! I told them I was a giant wimp when it comes to needles and felt embarrassed admitting that when I know what's about to come. However he didn't make me feel silly at all and really put me at ease. I just looked away and it was over really quickly! We build these things up in our head to be so much worse than they are.

Welcome @BNA23 and @ivfgotachance 👋 I usually look away whenever I get a blood test as also not a fan of needles, but last week had to give myself the HCG shot so that was fun 🤣 but not as bad as I'd built it up to be in my head.
I feel like this whole experience just makes you get over any fears relatively quickly, and all the staff at Ninewells are so lovely that any fears you have they will understand and reassure you.
The carbon monoxide test was fine too just have to blow really hard into a big straw like thing.

Hi folks, thought I’d send a wee update.

We had our FET (1st attempt) a couple of weeks ago. Everything seemed to go well, we had a hatching, good quality embryo. I felt positive to begin with, but doubts started to creep in after week 1. I felt like I knew in my gut it wasn’t working.
I managed to wait to test on our official test date 2 weeks after transfer. Mostly because my work was insanely busy.
Unfortunately, it was negative. Not even a glimmer of a faint line. I called the clinic to inform them and was told to stop all medication and to expect my period in a week or so. They explained that we would go back on a waiting list for another FET (around a 4 month wait, although through past experience the wait times are not very reliable).

A couple of days later I had the most excruciating period. I was not prepared for the pain. I understand the lining is thick, but I had no idea how sore it would feel. Not sure if this is normal? I was physically sick with the pain.

Such a lot to go though to get to this point; we were referred back in November 2021, this was after several months of tests with our GP. We had our egg collection in Oct 2022. And first FET last month.

Send out so much hope to everyone going though this! What a rollercoaster!

UPDATE

I've officially started!
Just completed my first injection and my reward to myself was to come on here and tell all...and have some chocolate 🤣

Where has the time gone?

So from my last post...got letter (or the 'pack') to say phone on April period before Mid March. Phoned at weekend, in for baseline scan today and injection started tonight! Start morning injections on Saturday then back in for scan on Monday. Surprised they are leaving me a week without checking but least less travelling! Expected to not get in first time, then thought I'd have cysts on baseline scan...so it hit me when there was no more obstacles in the way this morning!

How strange through- that my March period was 5 days late instead of coming on the 1st- but that actually meant I didn't have the next period at end of March which would have meant I would have had to wait until the end of April. Then April came 3 days early instead of today. Meant to be!

Off on Easter holiday for 2 weeks which is going to help.

Injections- the Gonal F is like an insulin pen with a much smaller needle than expected. Not sore at all- although did take abit of psyching myself up!

Check consents!!!!- so my new consents that came through mid March had me down as standard protocol and I'm on the short one. I signed it and thought I'll just email just to make sure it's not a mistake etc...the reply was who told you you are on the short? (That didn't give me much confidence!!) I told them the consultant did in January. Turns out it wasn't updated properly and my prescription went out with standard (don't know why they prescribe before starting!) and they said correct letter would be sent out. Which it didn't and I had to chase and I had to redo that section of consents after me chasing them. So just a heads up to flag anything that isn't 100% incase it causes any issues down the line.

My anxiety has been bad the last week or so feeling out of control and in limbo....but feel instant relief at appointment today feeling in control of injections and next appointment. Suppose it's just going to be up and down!

Been chatting more openly with bosses and couple of friends and for the first time ever it's made me excited...mixed with fear and nerves! Bosses are supportive and told me to take time off if I need it as this needs to be a priority in my life- so that's helped!

So that's all about me...please give me time to scroll back and reread everyone's updates ...welcome new friends as well.

@DDucky4 just to let you know after my negative transfer I got the worst period ever! It was horrible. I was also sick and very dizzy to the point I had some very faint feeling moments and could barely stand. That only lasted like a day then it was just really really heavy for a few more days.

I also was told around 4 months wait 🙄 very annoying but just trying to put it to the back of my mind.

Hello @BNA23 @ivfgotachance welcome! Hopefully all the posts below are helpful- but you can see all our journeys and timescales have been different.

@FSF85 fingers crossed you are starting in a couple of weeks. Look out for consents/ letters coming through soon.

Sending my love to you @TTC86 @RRk1469 @Ducky4. Allow yourselves to do what ever you need to do to get by- eat, sleep, holiday etc!
@Ducky4 @RRk1469 did they say why it's a 4 month wait? Just because of how busy they are? From other forums (not Ninewells) others have spoken about having 1 normal period afterwards then try again.
@TTC86 why was yours cancelled when you picked up the meds and had a scan booked in?

@mrsmacmc hope you are getting on well! Have you found out gender?

@Ducky4 Sorry to hear that. Hopefully next time is better for you, and it comes round quickly.

@CuriousAries How exciting!! I hope it all goes well for you.
Our cycle was cancelled because we went for a tracking scan and the follicles weren't big enough yet so we were sent away to come back for another scan 3 days later but in that time I ovulated already so it was too late.
Was absolutely gutted as I was obviously prepared to go and had taken the meds already. It's just made me so paranoid now for future cycles, and can't rest until it's actually taken place.
Thankfully we have had the go ahead this time and are now in the 2ww again. So fingers crossed this is our time. Third time lucky so they say.