Fertility Appointments and Beyond.... the next chapter

[Tinkerbell098]

I have created a new thread as the previous one is about to fill up. I've tagged some of us here, but apologies if I have missed anyone.

The thread is for anyone who has started/ about to start fertility investigations or treatment. Come join us, we are a lovely bunch :)

@tillybabs
@thislittlebird
@kay00
@jeaniej
@PurpleUnicorn01
@paintfairy
@dogmam
@flutterby8
@Ughmaybenot
@dancingfairydreams
@beckycarlos
@jkjellyhead
@juno231
@decaffe
@bumble44
@BritinNZ
@tinkerbell098
@pinkginpls
@thedaydreambelievers
@everymumday
@wanderlust16
@lori23ttc
@Gracie2021
@Sofasogood1
@99pctpractice
@magnoliasinbloom

@JeanieJ I tried acupuncture early last year and it did nothing for me. Went to a different acupuncturist last October and found them amazing. Completely changed my period and got me tri linings for the first time ever. I swear by it if you find the right person.

Big congrats @thislittlebird that's such good work. So glad it paid off and you can enjoy your holiday feeling great. Enjoy every minute. Tbh I had 16 the second leg of my last duostim, 8 collected and still 1 embryo so hoping to get more of the 15 collected this time and then hoping the HGH does the trick for egg quality but who knows.... either way starting off well.

@Gracie2021 it’s weird how much they vary isn’t it? I’m hardly a believer in the alternative scene so it surprised me to find it was making my periods ‘normal’ for me again. I need to email and book in with her for mid June.

I definitely have more work to go to get to a shape I’m comfortable with for my height but I’m getting there and it’s a big improvement upon last month. I’ll be able to wear swim wear and feel more comfortable at least.

ok maybe I got over excited lol. But still, you never know you might get more this time, especially if you try not to lose those ones.

@thislittlebird it's a massive achievement especially when you're in ongoing treatments. I'm at the heaviest I've ever been and IVF definitely had played it's part in that. I just know I don't have it in me right now to try lose it so trying to eat as healthy as I can and if it falls off it falls off. So mega props to you for doing it and enjoy every little smug moment on holidays!

My acupuncture completely changed my periods too, like unreal difference. Also i think its really helped me get through the last few months. It's my hour of self care every week. I'd recommend to anyone.

@Gracie2021 yeah that was me too. I think between the mental health side of infertility, the physical drugs side and stress of that, and then the pandemic and lockdowns I just kept putting on weight and the only 'good' side of the FET failure was knowing I had a couple of months to hit the diet and exercise, and also have a holiday which was great motivation.

Yeah, it's weird that it does make a difference. I haven't done any in some time because the FET failed and I just took a break. I'll rebook with her for mid June.

Thinking of you @dogmam
@gracie2021 wow! They are great numbers! Everything crossed for you!
@kay00 also great news about your embryos 🥰

How are you doing @beckyCarlos? Hope all is well x

@thislittlebird that's it exactly and tbh emotional eating and treats were a big factor in mine too.

Just heard back from the clinic. Another scan wed morning so more than likely trigger wed night for a Friday retrieval ahead of the bank holiday weekend.

Ahh @gracie2021 thats awesome! Time for those littlies to get bigger too 🤞

I'm doing ok thanks, feeling about 75% myself which is a big inprovement from last week! I'm even going to a yoga class tonight, when apart from walking the dog I've not really wanted to leave the house. And have acupuncture on Thurs too, really looking forward to it, feel like it'll be a good reset for my body and brain (I'm 100% an acupuncture convert) x

Not a happy update from me, it was negative ☹. I actually feel ok. Well, I mean obviously I'm devastated it didn't work, but I think Ive kind of slowly accepted it over the last 9 days, so it wasn't a massive shock this morning.
We are going to change clinics before we do another round, which will cause about a 6 month wait, but, I just want a fresh pair of eyes, instead of going again and not changing anything. My current clinic have a standard drug protocol for short and standard for long I.e the same drugs so just want to try something different elsewhere.
On our follow up appointment after our first round, I asked if we could see the andrologist specialist, we haven't heard anything and just pressed on with this second round but when we called the clinic with the news this morning we asked again for the referral and they've booked my other half in for an appointment at the end of June, so thats one good thing. I mean I'm not expecting much because the clinic don't do anything in terms of additional testing, dna frag etc but it'll be interesting to see what he says. Only issue is, I'll need to request my notes are transferred to a new clinic but obviously still want the appointment with the andrologist so that'll be tricky.

I've also emailed Dr Ramseys secretary to get an appointment arranged to see him.

So all in all, a shit, but productive Monday.

Oh @dogmam I'm so sorry. I'm glad youre feeling somewhat at peace with it. And it sounds like you have a plan for next steps which is good! As my mum always says, a change is as good as a rest, and if they're not willing to flex anything its less likely to change your outcomes. Sending lots of love x x

@dogmam I'm so sorry 😔that's rubbish news. I completely support the idea of switching clinics, I think change is a positive thing, and hopefully they can try something new.

@thislittlebird wow! Epic weight loss, and what a lovely cozzie! You must be feeling very body positive right now 😊

I have had my embryo transferred, and I'm home with my feet up. It was a 3AB which the embryologist was really pleased with.

The slightly disappointing news is that the other 11 didn't make it to blast yet, and quite a few of them never will. The embryologist was surprised at the drop off rate and had to ask another embryologist to check them. There is still a chance a few could make it to blast tomorrow, so I will keep my fingers crossed. I am also eternally grateful that at least one made it to blast and has been transferred.

I do think its interesting though. I know a drop off between day 3 and 5 is usual, but I wonder as mine is usually high whether this has been the issue I have been having all along. It could just be bad luck of course. I will wait and see how the rest do tomorrow, but the embryologist wasn't looking too hopeful 😕

My plan for the afternoon is: dog walk, food shop ready for camping trip and McDonalds chips 😜

Hi ladies! I'm hoping you guys can answer a question for me?
I've been TTC for over a year, with efforts being up and down over the months.. at the start I monitored everything, took tests all the time.. now we monitor nothing and I just take a test sound the time I'm due on.
So question, how long do we need to be trying before we can get any tests on NHS? We're ideally looking to get the little swimmers checked out first as that seems easiest initially?

Hi @SaraSS it depends on your CCG, but most say 1 year of trying before the NHS will refer you to a specialist, or 6 months of trying if you are over 35. So you're certainly at the right stage.

The NHS can send you for some tests now whilst you wait for NHS referral. Sperm analysis is a good one, although your OH might need to request it. For you you can do a baseline hormone blood test on day 3 of your cycle (just after your period starts) which will look for imbalances in testosterone etc.

Hi Kay00
Thanks for your response. Yeah I'll ask my OH to book a Drs appointment to see if he can get a sperm analysis sorted.
I'm completely new to the subject of these tests, obviously for the boys, they provide a sperm sample, but what tests do they do on us girls? What should I expect? What kind of things can they tell from the tests?

@thislittlebird well done on the weight loss and I hope you have a fab holiday.

@Kay00 I'm glad all went well today. That is surprising about the drop off rate but you never know, more could make it. I remember we had two that took an extra day to develop and they said that's normal.

@dogmam I'm so sorry. It sounds like you are taking it well and at least have a plan in place

@dogmam oh I'm really sorry 😢 I hope you're being good to yourself 💕💕

@Kay00 all my fingers & toes crossed for you over the next 2 weeks & hopefully some of those little blasts will make it Xx

@Gracie2021 Wednesday night will fly round! Are they open over the bank holiday?

@beckyCarlos glad you’re feeling a little better!

@dogmam really sorry to hear your update but what you’re saying makes total sense about changing. If they’re not willing to make changes then someone else will be. Let me know what this specialist doc says, I’m interested with the male side of things. I think i felt the same for my failure, devastated but I already felt like I knew before I did the tests.

@Kay00 somewhat more body positive but still a way to go lol. It’s a good start! 3AB is great, let us know how today’s update goes. Is the camping trip this bank holiday?

@SaraSS like Kay00 said, a year is fine to start tests but I would suggest you check your local CCG guidance to see what they want in terms of trying time and what they offer. They’ll do semen analysis on your partner, blood tests on you for hormone levels and sometimes a transvaginal ultrasound but they varies a lot depending on where you are. We were referred on the back of bloods and an SA alone to the gynaecologist. If your results are subnormal and you get referred to a specialist they might do more tests then.

@Tillybabs thanks! Has AF arrived yet?

@dogmam so sorry to hear your update. Know it has to be so tough but you're so on top of things looking at next steps and sounds like a new clinic might be a good option for a fresh pair of eyes and a fresh approach. I'm DOR too and have seen very different results from trying different protocols (even though all so far have ended in the same embryo number) but definitely worth trying something different. Hope you have good support around you and maybe a few treats before ye dive back in.

@thislittlebird none of the clinics here open over the weekends. Think some limited procedures on bank holidays but closed Saturday and Sunday's so I'm counting on Friday being ER and trigger tomorrow night.

Well done on your transfer @Kay00 3AB is fabtastic. Fingers crossed for the rest of your blasts today and some frozen for you too 🤞 the drop off from day 3-5 always seems to be the highest unfortunately.

@beckyCarlos so glad you're feeling more yourself and hope the yoga was lovely. I've acupuncture tonight and like you, look forward to it so much. Complete convert here too. What are your next steps again or have ye decided?

@gracie2021 it was lovely, it was an overall class but with a focus was on Pigeon which is my absolute favourite. I almost feel like someones stretched me back out and I feel a lot...free-er? Less tense? Hard to describe but it worked. I got a bit sad during savassana, but then the teacher laid a blanket on me, and it was just what I needed (very woo, but it was very fitting!)

We have a review appt with our consultant on the 16th, so hopefully hes going to set out next steps which I'm hoping will be short protocol. I've got DOR too, and long protocol was clearly not the one for me! X

@dogmam so sorry to hear that. Sounds like you're doing ok - a fresh perspective is probably a good idea. I have just had consultations with 3 potential new clinics and it has been interesting just to understand how/if they would do things differently.

@Gracie2021 sounds like you have a great number of follicles developing!! V good that your clinic is open on the bank holiday for retrieval and that you'll have the weekend to recuperate afterwards. Are you doing duostim again?

@Kay00 congratulations on the transfer!! All fingers crossed for good news today and that you have some to freeze!

@JeanieJ it's so hard to tell if it doesn't matter, is accidental omission or if they just didn't understand it. Esp if it is your gp receiving the results rather than a fertility clinic sometimes they just aren't as familiar with what the results mean. Might be worth getting a DNA fragmentation test for peace of mind?

@thislittlebird brilliant work on the weight loss!! I'm really struggling - had a massage at the weekend and it made me really self-conscious!! So good to have a massage though - I sent my OH to my acupuncture lady (because he had a really bad allergic reaction) and now he's seeing her for reflexology and for some reason (I'm sure irrational) I don't want to see her anymore...i think it just made me uncomfortable when I saw her afterwards and she told me things he had said to her (and probably a feeling that I was being told off for him not getting his allergic reaction sorted sooner, which again is probably irrational but I don't go to acupuncture to be made to feel bad about myself!). Anyway, need to find a new acupuncturist! I miss my sessions!

@SaraSS normally they do a baseline hormone blood panel on you on day 2-3 of your cycle. Then a day 21 progesterone test to confirm you're ovulating. Most CCGs will also want you to have an ultrasound. Get the ball rolling now on all these with your GP as inevitably it takes a bit of time to get everything done and usually they want the results of these (+ the semen analysis - which could have a 3 month waiting time unless you go private for the test) before they refer you to the fertility clinic. Feel free to DM me with any queries if you want!

@dogmam I'm so sorry about the negative, I had everything crossed for you. I think you're right in trying something new for the next round, hopefully they'll have more insight on what needs doing to make it successful.

@thislittlebird fantastic work on the weight loss and losing three whole inches! From memory you had a bit of a moon face going on from your meds last year - did that go down with time? Enjoy Cyprus!

@thislittlebird no AF yet no. Wondering whether to test but I'm pretty sure AF has been coming since last Thursday!

I've called the clinic and they said if I start my period during the bank holiday, Monday won't be too late to have my shot which is good.

@Tillybabs I was going to say maybe you should test just in case? You can always leave it to the last minute just in case.

@Juno231 Yeah I'm really pleased with the progress in just a month, I'll have until the next transfer in early July to keep going. Omg the moon face is the bane of my life lol. I have never lost this extra fat around my face, and previously my face never gained weight, it's so very frustrating because I still don't feel like it's my face when I smile. I read reddit posts from people on Prednisolone whose faces just went back to normal after 6 months! A year + on and my fat is reduced but isn't budging. I'm hoping if I keep the fitness and weight loss up eventually the face fat might reduce too.

@99pctpractice thanks, I'm super pleased! Will keep it up when I'm back from holiday because I still weigh more than I should and am out of shape. Ohhh yeah that's an annoying side effect of both partners seeing the same person, had not thought of that. You should find yourself a new one, you don't need irritation like that.

@Gracie2021 fingers crossed for Friday then! Thursday and Friday are a bank holiday here so at least you don't have that issue.

@thislittlebird she's on her way as can see a slight pink tinge

@Tillybabs oh course she is lol, never lets us down like that 🙃

@thislittlebird yep lol! At least I can get my shot tomorrow now before the long bank holiday 😃