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.

Won't let me edit previous post.

This thread is the only place I can find on the internet that discusses Ninewells and I am ever so grateful 🙏🏻

I agree, I was so relieved to find a dedicated ninewells thread thinking "ok everyone will be in the same boat" but that's defo not the case 🙈

ART - Assisted Reproductive Technology appointment

I think this is what we've just had with Ninewells and it was with consultant to discuss the treatment plan / pencil in cycle

Would be so much easier if all units followed the same timeline 🙄 really glad I found this thread too ❤️ x

@mrsmacmc thanks for confirming, this sounds like what we had over the phone with the consultant back in April/ May time

Was yours over the phone or in the actual clinic?

sorry if you have already said, I'm new to mumsnet and also a mess at the moment so struggling to keep up 🙈x

@CuriousAries sorry I realised I hadn't actually answered your question fully from earlier on in the thread about AMH test 🤦‍♀️ the one that's just been done and came back as 1.9, was done at Ninewells the same time as my BMI check which the nurse took verbally from me and didn't check me on the scales that were in the room! ECG done too and went through our details form again to check nothing had changed. Again like @MrsMacttc I found it mind blowing the AMH blood was couriered to Glasgow - WE ARE CLOSER TO GGOW 🤦‍♀️

@MrsMacttc no problem, it was a video appointment. Our next physical trip to ninewells is November Day 3 of my period for baseline scan and injection training ❤️ subsequent scan visits on day 8,10,12 to get to the magical 2 follicles of at least 18mm in size then trip up again 48hrs after my trigger for EC & sample production by DH and then 5 days after EC for ET. Tying myself in knots about that as didn't really want to tell my work it is for IVF and I may need to drop things and run at short notice (using leave as have saved that up this year).

Ah not long to go then 🤞🏼I understand not wanting to tell your workplace, maybe speak to your manager and say something vague like "I have some personal stuff going on in November and I might need to request time off at short notice" it would be very unprofessional of them to probe you any further and if they did you could say that you wish to keep it private. I totally get that it's not always as easy as this but maybe better to have the awkward conversation now before November comes around so you don't make yourself ill with stressing about it nearer the time x

@CuriousAries Sorry just catching up.
Think we were sent to the Vic for the tests because we live in Fife. I think its only Fife patients who go there though.
I'm assuming theres no infertility clinic in your catchment which is why they will have sent you to Ninewells for them?

I'm also so glad to have found this forum, it's just good to chat to others going through the same thing. Although as you say I'd expected us all to follow the same initial route until treatment lol

Jeezo just came home today to an appointment on 12/10 for AMH bloods and other things.
This is all of a sudden moving quick!
Had it in my head I wouldn't hear anything until after Xmas!
But sounds like after this appointment there will be another one to discuss protocol then onto another waiting list of a few months before actually starting???
So spring time for starting roughly which is what I initially expected with the 6-9 month wait.

@CuriousAries That's great things are moving for you!
I've still had nothing about bloods all we had was the consents then the phone appointment in a few weeks. So Im now doubting whether we are as far along in the list as I initially thought....

We are just waiting our AMH levels but I asked if we could begin our IVF treatment in January 2023 and they said this shouldn’t be a problem…. All becoming real now!

Had a bit of positive news today; managed to speak to the clinic (which is a feat in itself) and found out we have been allocated a provisional start date for IVF treatment of April next year. There will be the initial appointments (ART appointment I think some of you have mentioned above) prior to this to discuss treatment options and protocol but finally feel like there is a bit of a plan and things are starting to happen!!

Sorry relaised I hadn't replied...haven't been getting notifications for some reason. That's great to hear you've got/had you phone appointment. Fingers corssed for starting treatment soon. I found out today we've been provisionally scheduled in for April next year...bit worried about my AMH as I had it tested in May this year so that will be almost a year and it may have dropped since then

@sjp00 that's amazing. Not long to wait at all.
@FSF85 that's great! Yea think after the initial appointments things move quite quickly.

Anyone else any further forward?

Our phone appointment got changed to in person and it was realy good to go over everything. Got bloods done too and should get results next week. Hoping we can get a start date for treatment soon too now that all the tests are completed.

Sorry ladies I've been MIA. Currently in that weird timeframe of waiting for the month to change to November so we can get moving on our cycle. Still hoping we might get there through conventional methods 🤞🏻

Work have been told and to date have been supportive if a bit slow with responses as they don't have a specific assisted fertility policy. I've given them as much info as I can and signposted them to the fertility network employer guide. I've also spoken to my union rep just in case.

DHEA is very odd.... my hairdresser commented that my hair is looking fabulous apart from the fact I'm moulting like no tomorrow. She asked if I had changed shampoo 😂. Going on nightly chin hair hunts with the tweezers and have regressed to being a spotty teenager with huge sore spots 😖 DH has also noticed I'm swinging moods wise and is trying his best to be supportive (I cried like a child as he had cooked the most perfect macaroni cheese the other night).

A strange left field one, the counsellor has suggested a playlist of music for me to listen to during EC and ET. I'm more concerned that under sedation I'll give them a really bad one woman concert 😂 any suggestions?

How is everyone else getting on? ❤️

Had my AMH appointment today and got BMI rechecked and blood pressure. Letter said carbon monoxide would be checked and maybe ECG but none of that.
Another wee questionnaire to do as well.
Was told that results take a few weeks to come back from Glasgow, then consultant looks at it and decided protocol and then we will get letter with the results around 6 weeks from now.
Then consultant appointment to discuss it all probs another 4-6 weeks from letter and then begin- so she said around Feb/March maybe!
Thinking of you all!

@CuriousAries 🤞🏻 it comes back soon for you and all is well 🥰 counting down the days here till November so we can get started on our first cycle ❤️

@mrsmacmc Not long for you at all now! I hope all goes well once you get started. Keep us updated worh how you're getting on.
@CuriousAries sounds like things are moving quickly now for you, hope you're results come back for you soon.

Sounds like everyone has been given more of an idea as to when we can all start now. It does make it feel more real.

We've been told we can start treatment after the New Year as they close down in December for a few weeks, but not been given a date yet so just hoping we can start in January cycle. It feels like we are getting so close to what's been a long wait.

@TTC86
You said you had an in person appointment recently- are you expecting another one to go over AMH results and protocol?

@mrsmacmc not long now! Have you had any more bloods since AMH or do they do that when you start treatment?

From what I've gathered I thought they test for deficiencies and HIV etc....I've heard of virology just before treatment- does anyone know if that's it?

I had expected this to be done at AMH since that will be roughly 3/4 months before starting treatment...and since it takes 3 months to create new eggs (not the right terminology) I had hoped I would find out what supplements I should be taking now to avoid deficiencies etc and get the eggs as healthy as possible!

So if we have no formal personal guidance on supplements...can I ask what is everyone else taking on the run up to egg collection other than folic acid?

Read bits from It Starts With The Egg....Vit D, CoQ10, DHEA......but just don't know about taking it all...and the cost of it all!

I'm just on folic....And don't have the healthiest of diets....really need a kick up the bum!!!

@TTC86 I will do 🥰 really trying not to jump too far forward however the ET stage is really starting to freak me out big style 😥 got an appt with the counsellor on Wednesday so will reiterate how I'm feeling to them.

@CuriousAries I've had no further tests since AMH, I think they did HIV etc at the same time as there was more than one vial drawn! Supplements wise I'm on Pregnacare pre conception and DHEA as advised by the consultant.

Feeling a bit blah tonight, I think my endo is flaring as got pelvic pain which has been gnawing since Wednesday. I daren't speak to any HCP about it in case they try and pause next month, POAS just in case we had managed but it came back negative

@CuriousAries No we didnt get AMH done with the bloods as we are going to try IUI first and then if this is unsuccessful we will move onto IVF where will get AMH level taken.
Think because we are a same sex couple it is slightly different. To be honest I would have liked to have had my AMH done just to give reassurance as this could have changed our decision of trying IUI first.
I'm not sure if we have another appointment before treatment starts, but we have had counselling via video call.
@mrsmacmc Its understandable to feel like that as it's unfamiliar but the counsellor will work through everything with you, and hopefully you'll feel better after speaking to them. The counsellor we had was great.

Hello all!

So glad the wee thread I started has had some love. I've tried to read through most to catch up!!

I'll give a wee update to where I am.

Dh and I have been trying to conceive for around 4 Years (should have got checked sooner in hindsight) but we're only 6 weeks from starting our first round 😱😱. I've to call ACU on the first day of my December period. We've had all our tests but had a wee delay as they realised I didn't have my MMR as a child 🙈. We're doing the long protocol. I don't really know all the different methods. As long as it works eh!!

Hello @RRk1469 so lovely to hear from my OG Buddy!

How you feeling about it all?

Was your DH 2nd sample better?

@RRk1469 I'm glad you started this thread, it's helped me feel less alone ❤️ ✨ for your cycle in December. You should get eLearning and more forms added to your ACU portal logon prior to your cycle commencing. I'm doing short protocol so unsure what long protocol is 🥰

@TTC86 I hope the counsellor listens to me and doesn't give me platitudes. I'm getting tired of having to constantly self advocate and explain myself. Prior to ACU I have had really bad experiences at our local gyane unit, trying not to let it floor me or cloud my view. I try not to 'sweat the small stuff' as DH puts it however I've always been a devil in the detail person 😂

Going for a massage tomorrow to see if that helps distract me!

Hey! Aww I know I've been pretty rubbish. It's all just been so long! Second sample wasn't any better. We need ICSI as the morphology wasn't good either 😕. Glad it's nearly here though. Unsure of how it'll work over Xmas as I know they're shut for 2 weeks but unsure when. Foes anyone know?