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

@Kay00 aww lovely I’m so sorry. I have no words 😞 glad you’re feeling ok though. Have you got anything nice planned for the weekend? Take care of yourself. Go get some chocolates and do whatever feels good. Thinking of you xx

Thanks @Tinkerbell098 My plan is to sort my shit out. I need to clear up my eating, start exercising and start costing up my next round(s) of IVF.

I am going to call several clinics today and ask for their full price list, and call my current clinic and request a de-brief with the consultant.

I also plan on cleaning and tidying my house top to bottom and pushing forward with the next part of our renovation: Booking the electrician and ordering our new patio doors.

I have a feeling today will be productive.

I think I need to feel productive because I am beating myself up a bit today. I am annoyed that I waited so long in my life before we started TTC, I am annoyed that I allowed myself a tiny glimmer of hope, I am annoyed that I didn't test earlier. I feel pretty stupid. But my brain knows that I'm being irrational so i think a full day of positive progress elsewhere in my life will be a good distraction.

Oh @Kay00 I'm so sorry hun, know there's no words to make it better right now. But please don't beat yourself up, you've been managing this whole thing like a rockstar and it's not your fault. None of this is your fault. It's just a shitty shitty thing that has unfortunately landed at your door but it is not your fault. Hope your day of productivity helps distract you and here for you if you need the chats or rants or whatever xx

@Kay00 oh hun, please don't beat yourself up. It's really not your fault and don't be annoyed at yourself for delaying TTC. None of this is fair, there are women falling pregnant without any hassel in their forties, and here we are. You've been amazing and brave. Don't feel bad for the choices you have made. It's really not your fault that this whole process is so shit and horrible. I'm glad you're focusing on more positive things and good luck xx

Oh @Kay00 I'm so sorry. It is so disappointing, and even if you're being your most pragmatic around the chances there's always a bit of hope there. Try not to beat yourself up about waiting too long, I do exactly the same (I delayed starting trying for a year because I was starting a new job), but actually I'll never know if it would have made any difference or not if we'd started trying earlier.

I've just been through that process of looking at new clinics so let me know if you'd like my pricing spreadsheet (nerd alert) - probably only helpful if you're in London though....

Hope you manage to distract yourself today, sending lots of virtual hugs xx

@Kay00 so sorry it didn't work out 😞
It's not your fault.
Good shout on productivity though... that sometimes helps reset things
Xx

Thank you ladies. I'm OK, really I am. I had a small cry in the shower this morning then started work super early.

@99pctpractice thank you for the spreadsheet offer ❤ I'm nearly done with mine, but I'm also based in the SW, so won't be travelling any further than Bristol most likely.

My clinic are arranging a debriefing session with the consultant, and I have a lot of questions! Particularly about the 92% attrition rate between days 3 and 5.

Hi Ladies!
Could I join this thread?
I have just had some private fertility bloods/scans wondered if I could share the results with you guys to get another opinion? my consultation isnt until 4th July so I have a few weeks to drive myself crazy until then x

@Tillybabs it really has been a treat having our own pool by the sea! It made the trip for me, just super chilled which I think we needed.

@beckyCarlos I also didn’t have progesterone side effects! Glad I had a test once to prove it was working or I’d think it wasn’t. I’m sorry to the Brits Abroad but I’m just not about that life. It’s very much been a low-key relaxing holiday though so I’ve mostly avoided what seems like half of the UK that’s over here. I feel embarrassed that I don’t have to speak a word of Greek, but the same thing happened in Iceland so it’s not just here. Let me at least try to to learn a couple of words of your language, goddamnit. I’m just randomly shouting ‘efharisto’ at people in shops who might be Cypriot.

@Gracie2021 amazing you banked another two, that’s great! And as others said, the quality isn’t a worry, they’re just as likely to work. Oh god, baby’s first steps at dinner might have sent me over the edge lol. I’m thinking about lying too. Might tell them it’s the end of July or something to give us a bit of respite.

@99pctpractice yeah the families and kids as exactly the reason we got the private villa tbh. I just had visions of what you described, feeling envious of all the families so I opted out of it. I have to say I’ve been ok, maybe it’s because I know we’re getting nearer to another transfer, but I haven’t felt too down on holiday so it has been mostly fertility troubles free, except for my mind drifting to how nice it would be to have a little kid here. Whinge away though, we all get it! It sounds like a nice break though, kids and families aside! The HSG will fly round, but missing a month is always a shit feeling.

@Kay00 ah no, I’m really sorry it was negative. But I know exactly how you feel. I kinda knew it hadn’t worked and testing just confirmed it. I found it harder in the days after I think, as it all sort of sunk in. Be gentle on yourself, none of it is your fault but do whatever you need to feel better. Like I know improving my diet and exercise might not help us conceive, but it is a factor I can control so it feels like it’s worth trying to improve for me. Same with the renovations, it could be a good distraction. You’ll have time to research the attrition issue and formulate questions to ask.

@RMS0209 welcome to the thread! We’re all familiar with the driving ourselves crazy stuff lol. Feel free to share, we’ll all be happy to help.

@thislittlebird thanks for having me!
so first thing.. my AMH is 58.5 ( I know this is high )
But I noticed a note on my results from the private scan saying "ovaries appear polycystic"
But I did get bloods done at my DR (nhs) this week
Full blood count, glucose, bio chemical, liver function, thyroid function & endocrine - they all came back "satisfactory" and Ovulation was confirmed this cycle.

I think I'm just looking to get some advice/help about what to do in the mean time until I have my consultation with the private clinic on the 4th.
I have asked my GP to call me this afternoon so I can speak to him, see if he can shed any light x
Ps... im glad its not just me driving myself crazy lol

@RMS0209 Welcome! I have an AMH level of 64.5, and my ovaries were also described as 'polycystic' because of the number of follicles, and as a result I was diagnosed with PCOS.

The good news is we have choc loads of follicles (great for IVF), and early treatment is quite straightforward; I was prescribed Metformin (a common drug prescribed for those with PCOS to help regulate insulin which in turn helps regulate hormones) and shortly after I was prescribed a six month course of Clomid, to induce ovulation on an earlier date (my cycles used to be very long).

On the downside you might notice other PCOS symptoms; for me I have belly fat, no matter how slim I get, the belly doesn't budge 😅You might also struggle to ovulate, or ovulate irregularly. My consultant suggested that I hadn't been ovulating at all in the year I had been TTC before the tests I took, and that's why my AMH was so high (because my body was holding on it its eggs).

Hi @Kay00
Gosh what a lovely threat, so glad you ladies have got back to me.

Its very scary, I am just a bit.. I don't know how I feel emotional at the moment I guess?
I "appear" to ovulate I'm glad I had a blood test to confirm this before I got my results.. here was me thinking it was all ok!.. although the last two months my cycles have went from 31/33 days to 37... (currently cycle day 36)
I have heard magical things about this Clomid!
How long are your cycles now?

I notice the hair thining.. I miss my long locks, but as I say this has all just been the last few months, my skin is a mess aswell.
Its very reassuring to hear from others in the same boat, makes it seem like a slightly less scary subject.
I just don't know what the next action plan is for me at the moment, I feel a little lost x

@Kay00 I'm really sorry, sending you lots of love and hoping that your debriefing session is informative and gives you the answers you deserve xx

@Gracie2021 that's amazing on two more embryos, and so exciting that you are gearing up for a transfer. Crossing fingers and toes for you!

@RMS0209 welcome! Like Kay00, I also have PCOS so you are in good company on this thread :) When I first came off the pill after 15 years to try to conceive, my periods were coming once every 5 or so months and I had acne and dermatitis flareups. My blood tests always came back 'normal' and I was diagnosed based on my irregular cycles and polycystic ovaries on scans. My AMH has ranged between 30 and 50 on tests. I too was prescribed Metformin but after some research decided it was best for me to not take it and instead concentrated on adopting a PCOS friendly diet, taking the right supplements and working on my gut health (which was really poor after years of the pill and antibiotics and I think is a major driver in my symptoms). This did help my skin clear up somewhat and stablised my blood sugar but didn't regulate my cycles. I then did three cycles of unmonitored ovulation induction with Letrazole (an alternative to Clomid), I ovulated but didn't conceive on cycle 1 but didn't ovulate on cycles 2 and 3 (then had a natural 30 day ovulatory cycle straight after cycle 3 - the body is so strange!). I took two months off to focus on my mental and gut health, then did cycle 4 of letrazole along with monitoring scans and IUI (no male factor issues but we were advised to do IUI to increase the chances) and on this cycle I did ovulate and conceive.

It's very likely if you have PCOS that there is some insulin resistence at play (where our bodies don't process carbs/sugar like other people which has a flow on effect to our hormone balance). If your glucose blood test was the HbA1c it wouldn't necessary show this. Other things to look out for in your blood tests/talk to your GP about may be LH/FSH ratio and testosterone levels.

Good luck with your journey and happy to answer any questions x

@Kay00 ah I'm really sorry your test was negative, was hoping to read a good news update from you today. Hope you've managed to have a productive day like you'd planned. It really helped me last week when I got my negative, to even just send some emails to get appointments booked etc.

@thislittlebird pics of your villa look amazing! Hope you're having a fab time, then the countdown to your next transfer can begin when you get home.

@Gracie2021 very exciting for you! Do you know what your protocol is going to be for your first FET?

I got my follow up appointment letter through the post today to discuss our failed cycle.. not until mid August! So we have our nhs andrologist appointment this month, private dr Ramsey appointment next month, then follow up the month after.. oh what fun things to look forward to!!!

Hi @magnoliasinbloom
Honestly - thank you so much for taking the time to write that all out for me, means so much.
I did not realise how common PCOS is!
My periods have lengthened as I said but it also does appear I ovulate each cycle (well I did this cycle confirmed)
My progesterone level was good my GP said? Not sure if that makes any difference?
My AMH was 58.5 and I am 28 (29 in a few months..)
I have been doing some research into PCOS drugs.
Did you have to request from the GP for the Metofrmin or just get it?
When I contacted my Dr today to tell him of the results from the fertility clinic he had 0 idea... he said "maybe the AMH is something that gets higher as you get older" (wtf!?)
Told me he is confident I will get pregnant naturally and just to "relax" and give him a call mid July after my consultation with the fertility clinic (again wtf) 🫠 I think I came off the call more stressed and upset than I was already.

I have bought a PCOS diet book, I also am a vegetarian and have saw some nice recipes so I'll get some things sourced at the weekend.
I have also purchased some Zita West Inositol and Folate from Amazon, that arrives on Sunday so I will start taking that.. that will be ok will it?
Wow the Letrazole - how strange our bodies really are.

I would love to take a month off but I think I I'd beat myself up more if I did, ttc is such a mentally draining exercise.
I am so happy to hear you did conceive 💗🤞🏻
I have looked into IUI (previously just while online researching before my assessment)

Could you recommend anything else for me to do/try/buy/request? I just want to make sure I am doing everything right and get the help I need. X

@RMS0209 I think you're on the right track Insitol. I took Conceive Plus Ovulation Support (contains Myo-Insitol and CoQ10) for about 2 months before I started the Metformin and those two cycles were about 30 days long, and im sure I ovulated around CD16. Could just be a coincidence but it might have really helped.

@Kay00
Silly question... I can take the insitol if I buy the conceive plus ovulation also? I do have COQ10 vitamins (orange capsules) as I bought them for my other half, might have to pinch them back 😂

I really appreciate the advice/help very much x

@rms0209 hey :) sorry you're finding yourself here but you've found a good space :) my jaw is on the floor at your GP saying AMH going up as you get older, I know theyre not experts but come on, if you don't know dont guess!

@kay00 I'm so sorry love, i hope you feel a bit better after your productive day. Please dont feel silly for having hope, its natural, and you need it!

Thank you for all your kind words today ladies x

@RMS0209 I wouldn't double up on a dose, I'd either take the Insitol you have ordered + the CoQ10 you already have or the Conceive Plus Ovulation Support. Maybe check out the Conceive Plus ingredients list for an idea of quantities.

Also I am so sorry @Kay00 I just had a proper read a few pages back 💗 sending you big hugs.
Ok thank you I will give it a research tonight in bed x

Hi @beckyCarlos thank you for the welcome - you ladies have already made me feel a bit more calm about it all.

You can picture how I was on the phone... my jaw was underground pretty much.. trying to explain to the DR that it doesn't work like that, looks like it's going to be difficult to get help/support through my GP for this :( x

@RMS0209 hello 👋. I am also like @Kay00 and @magnoliasinbloom .

2 yrs 3 mo TTC
AMH 45.5
Some cysts on US
Very irregular menstrual cycles off of pill (72-161 days).
Soft symptoms = hair loss, breakouts, belly fat, discolouration of skin under arms, lots of skin tags (self esteem is not great right now...)

Now on letrozole 5mg which ?may be working?
Weirdly not prescribed metaformin, not sure why.
Concerned as 5mg cycle was only 26 days and seemed to have a short luteal phase.
Currently take inositol (Myo and d chrio at 40-1 ratio), and a prenatal, and high strength vitamin D (90% of women with PCOS vitamin D deficient).
May add Q10
Think I should pay lots more attention to diet.

@RMS0209 sounds like you’re on the right track! I take inositol and was taking CoQ10 when ttc. I found NAC to be a supplement that works well for me too - it also helps with insulin resistance. I’m sure you’re already taking but if not, a multivitamin with good levels of magnesium, zinc, b12, selenium and d as often we can be deficient in these things. I got a private PCOS diagnosis so my Metformin prescription was private (never filled it though) - however the NHS accepted my private diagnosis and this accelerated my referral to an NHS fertility clinic without having to wait for a year of ttc. X

Yeah what @beckyCarlos said. Say you don’t know what amh is without saying it lol. Could be thinking of FSH, but still dumb.

I’m back from holiday and I’ve come crashing right down. My weight has snapped right back to what it was before I went away, meaning I’ve gained 6lbs in a week according to the scales this morning. Depressing tbh. I was looking forward to improving on my weight loss for the next transfer and now all I can do is start again and hope to make the same progress I did before we went away. Sigh. Welcome to being 39, I guess, my metabolism is a piece of shit now.