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

@Gracie2021 do they say why you’re on baby aspirin and pred? I need to do some research into who they’re good for, after my first failure I’ve been thinking about whether I could need baby aspirin. I’ve never had a miscarriage, I know they’re often given to women who have had miscarriages.

I totally what you mean about testing in case of chemicals. I would like to know, but testing scares me and the idea of knowing it hasn’t worked early on is quite hard. The only good thing about the tww is the schrodinger’s pregnancy element of it. Could I be? Would it really work this time? I like and hate the hope all at once. Not sure what I’d do next really, I generally avoiding testing until I really have to but maybe I should be testing earlier in case of chemicals.

@JeanieJ I'm sorry about your husbands results. I don't know anything about it but I suppose it's good you have an answer as to why you miscarried and hopefully it's something that can be treated.

@pinkginpls 9 is amazing! You must be so chuffed.

I'm going to be quiet and just pop in now and then on here as I'm on this long downreg for 3
Months nothing much happening for me at the moment. I'm on week 3 and no side effects so far 🤞🏽

So glad you're not having terrible side effects @Tillybabs. Hope you have some nice treats planned to use the waiting time to look after yourself. Really hope it goes quickly for you. Waiting is such a tough part of all this.

@thislittlebird I have some immune response blood markers that could mean nothing but asked for some extra support just in case. Tbh it's the hope that kills me so that's an added benefit of testing early. I'd nearly prefer to stay low in terms of hope and be surprised.... the schrodingers pregnancy aspect of it would be tough for me I think.

@tillybabs glad your downreg is going well :)

@thislittlebird @gracie2021 I loved my schrodingers oregancy, maybe because it was my first cycle etc, I was just so happy to have the chance and (when I wasnt being neurotic about every twinge) liked the feeling that I might be pregnant. Whether that'll be the case second time around I dont know.

Currently messaging from the middle of the sea! (Well, ocean, we're near Porto (Portugal) but firmly in the Atlantic). The cruise is fab, but boy am I having a hard time relaxing 🤣 I'm getting there but every so often my mind is either 'ooh you could/should do x y z' or 'last holiday you hadnt been pregnant' 🙄 shush mind, I'm here to relax lol

@Kay00
2 more made it on Day 6 which makes a grand total of 11! If this number still doesn't make us a baby I don't know what will....

How are you doing? x

Hi @Diam0ndsareagirlsbestfriend @Flowerfan35 welcome 🤗

@Tillybabs hope all is going well with your protocol. 3 months will fly by. enjoy the summer!

@beckyCarlos have a fab holiday! I have never been on a cruise so jealous!

@Gracie2021 you mean pregnancy test? I am pro test 100%, just need to be in the know, one way or the other. otherwise I will drive myself up the wall.

11!!! That's flippin' amazing!!! Im over the moon for you 😁

I'm OK x I have spoken with a new clinic based in Plymouth and I'm waiting for the pack to be sent through in the post.

In the meantime I'm super busy with birthday parties, hen doos and a wedding!

So good news (ish) here this morning. 7.2mm and tri. 7mm is like the minimum they’d do it at in my clinic so I’m just in over the line but the nurse says the tri layer is the really important bit. Still some slight uncertainty as I have a 13mm follicle and apparently if you have one that over 10mm they do bloods as your hormones can be a bit out of whack. So if my LH and progesterone are both low they could time my transfer anytime in the next two weeks as apparently there’s no rush. If both are high which she doesn’t think they will be, they’d cancel the cycle. And if LH is high but progesterone is low they’d do the transfer very soon. So just waiting to hear now and hoping for the best 🤞 apparently they do them in the afternoon so will try book in an acupuncture session for that morning to have me nice and relaxed. Really hoping the bloods come back soon but she said it could be tomorrow.

Sounds like you have a lovely time of it @Kay00. Good that you have things moving in the background too. Hope you like the Plymouthclinic once you get the pack. Is it a tougher commute for appointments than your old clinic?

@pinkginpls 11 is incredible. Well done you. You must be over the moon. I'm the same about just needing to know. This time anyway. Tbh it depends how the emotions are from time to time.

@beckyCarlos that sounds incredible. I hope you have an amazing time. Hope your mind cooperates too. Maybe letting it wander where it will is a strategy to get it to quiet either. Hope the food sea and sun is good and does the trick for you.

@beckyCarlos that sounds amazing! Have a lovely relaxing time!

@pinkginpls woo! 11 is amazing! you must be so pleased X

@Gracie2021 that is really good news. Hope the bloods come back ok for you to do the transfer soon. Fingers crossed! I think I would be more inclined to test daily just to know even if it is a chemical as I have never had a BFP in my life!

Hello :)
Just hopping into this thread hoping you can answer some questions..
TTC for over 12 cycles now.. I've got a 21 day blood test and swob coming up.. anyone know what these check?
Once I've had these, we will get referred for other tests with specialist but the GP has asked for these first.

Welcome @SaraSS as Agra as I remember they'll check progesterone to see if you've ovulated but possibly others to such as AMH.

Panicing here a bit as the clinic has come back and scheduled transfer for 14 days time 😣🤯😣 with progesterone to start in 8 days so transfer would be on CD28 which I've never heard of. Especially with me having a 13mm follicle. Bloods still to come back tomorrow and apparently the only option are this schedule or cancelling depending if they're ok or not. So completely black and white and no grey area. I'm convinced it's a scheduling thing for the clinic. So stressed!

Hello all. I'm back after a month (or two?) off. I've done a name change too. I was sofasogood :-)

I had a failed frozen transfer in April and was going to transfer the next and last embryo but am instead going to do a fresh round of stims. Waiting for my period and will start down regging in a couple of weeks with stims beginning August maybe?

I've got a lot of catching up to do! But I do remember @thislittlebird you were going on holiday! How was it?!

@beckyCarlos enjoy your holiday x

@pinkginpls 11 is amazing! Do you think you will transfer two at a time?

@Lovelycheese welcome back!

@Gracie2021 sorry I don't know much about how the FET cycle works but having a tri layer is really good. I guess it will be dependent though on your follicle which means you feel a bit in limbo at the moment. It's so frustrating how unpredictable these cycles can be

AF is due any minute now and I’m struggling a lot. I had a job interview, same internal team I had my last one with, and I really didn’t feel I did as good a job as I could have, I was chaotic and nervous, didn’t explain things well. I haven’t been rejected yet but I know it’s coming, same shit happened last time when they said they’d let me know that day, and they did not because they clearly told the other candidate and then told me nothing until HR emailed to say I was runner up. Second choice, not good enough. I’m so tired of the rejection in everything, my body, my work, I’m exhausted. Felt like shit, anxious, emotional for a couple of days now so I really need this period to start so I hopefully feel better and can call my clinic to start again.

This job stuff has totally ruined my diet and exercise too.

@beckyCarlos i obviously wasn’t pregnant but it was nice to believe I could be for a week or so. But I knew deep down I wasn’t, everything was normal for me. Obviously your situation was different but I feel like I’m going into transfer two with expectations through the floor. The cruise sounds great!

@Gracie2021 have you heard anything more? That seems odd that it’s so long away

@Lovelycheese Cyprus was great, loved having our own pool! But now I’m back and miserable again, so nothing new here lol. Waiting for AF to do the next transfer. Good to hear you’re doing another collection! Is your period due soon too? Mine is probably tomorrow based on me feeling like absolute shite.

@thisthislittlebird I'm sorry you're feeling like shit. Work stuff going on isn't what you need right now. Crossing my fingers for you anyway.

Period due tomorrow/Thursday.

@Lovelycheese I want to leave really, because I'm struggling to get the promotions I'm going for. But I don't want to lose my maternity pay so round and round we go. Maybe I'll look once we've exhausted this crop of embryos.

We're still cycle buddies lol. I'm expecting AF tomorrow but could be later, I didn't check for ovulation.

Hi, I wondered if ok to join or get advice?
I havent started any fertility treatment, in fact not sure if there is anything wrong yet but struggling to conceive at year point. I posted more details on another thread I created. Some kind people gave me advice and said fertility service referr and analysis of partners sperm next. I guess I wanted to ask what the fertility steps are. Do you have to wait a long time on NHS for appointments? I'm a bit nervous I'll end up going down this route due to a lack of success. I want to know what to expect. Thanks.

@thislittlebird that's so shot about the job and very unfair treatment. It sucks to be stuck in a job that you're not invested in anymore but completely get you about the leave. Hope your period arrives soon as that few days before everything just seems so dark. Go easy on yourself. Them hormones gave an awful lot to answer for. Not sure if this is a bright side or not but looks like we'll be FET around the same time after all with all my delays. Silver lining for me anyway to have company.

Hi @Lovelycheese best of luck for the new round. How are you feeling about it all?

@Tillybabs bloods came back normal so apparently all is a go but still waiting to talk to anyone in my clinic about my concerns about the delay. Fingers crossed I get to talk to them soon.

Welcome @Bobbi44 afraid I'm not much good with advice as I'm not NhS based but tons of helpful people here.

@Bobbi44 hi, it can take a while but it really does vary by area. First steps would be check your local CCG guidance, see what they require to make a fertility referral (for instance, my area wanted three years of trying before they’d refer to ivf and I had to challenge that) and go from there. Get an appointment with your GP and ask for initial tests such as blood tests/semen analysis. If they find anything wrong they’ll refer you on from there. Some ladies on here have had fairly fast turnaround from initial GP test results, others have been very slow including my own. Your age may also be relevant so worth looking up cut offs in your area in the guidance. If you have specific questions I’m sure lots of us here would be happy to answer.

@Gracie2021 turns out this time they didn't want me because, despite appearing confident, I didn't give strong/clear examples (I knew this, I was freezing and struggling with it in the interview) and they don't want to train me, would need someone to 'hit the ground running'. Great. No one internal got it, they'll be re-advertising it, but they reassured me something more 'my level' might come up. So that was a huge kick in the face considering it's only one pay grade above my current one which I've been in for YEARS, and I want to go to bed and cry tbh. I have twenty years experience, I changed careers to try to specialise in something and I still don't seem able to do it. I'm so sick of this demoralising, water-treading bullshit. I will look around for another job probably, if this transfer fails. We want to move to Cornwall, but I'm scared to move to the south west in case we can't find jobs very fast and we need money coming in. I dunno, maybe we should just do it, I'm clearly not getting anywhere with my London job that I've stayed in too long for mat pay. I just worry about the cost of relocating across the country when we're about to enter into the world of private IVF if the next transfers fail. We'll likely be done by September and starting privately.

Very dark right now, just want to get this stupid period over with. It's suffocating.

We're back in sync lol. We were in January too so it's weird how it works out again!

@Tillybabs this round is funded by NHS so I am not sure if they will recommend 2 at a time. I will take anything!

@thislittlebird I am ok with my job now but main reason I stay is I naively thought I could be benefiting from mat leave in any moment - that's two years ago. Could I be in a better position career wise? probably. infertility really does put your life on hold which sucks.

@Bobbi44 definitely start with your GP first. Things with NHS is it can take time. Although there maybe nothing wrong with you or your OH, just reassuring that help is there if you need it. Maybe by going for consultation take some pressure off things and you will naturally get pregnant!
Speaking for myself, from the first GP appointment to my first round of IVF took about 18 months. That's SW London. It may vary depending on where you are but no harm to check it out.

@pinkginpls that's the thing. I think I would have moved on by now, I took it partly for the good benefits and assumed other internal opportunities would come up. Only two have, and I've not got either of them. It'll be 4 years here in December, it's too long without making any progress and the IVF situ is why I'm still here. If this transfer fails I think I'll have to look around.

I can never remember how long you have to be in a job to qualify for mat leave, I think it might be something like 3 months at my place. But I waited a year before we started trying because I didn't want to go straight on mat leave lol. error.

Hi can I join please ? I'm not sure if it's the right place but I've 3 miscarriages in a row. And been told I'm being referred for some tests or investigations! X

@Gracie2021 feeling ok! Bit nervous but what will be will be. Our issue is male factor and sometimes I feel DP could be doing more to help (lifestyle stuff) so am occasionally very frustrated about that given us women have to do so much!

@thislittlebird my friend is in a similar position at work albeit without the added complications of IVF. Sounds very tough but I would prioritise the IVF for now and as you say reassess after your transfer. Are you looking to WFH in a similar field in Cornwall or completely change direction?

Welcome @bobbi44 it took us around 18 months from GP to treatment too and it was PAINFUL. Sperm tests are cheap - I'd recommend getting one privately. I also had a private check up before going to the GP just to know where we stood.

@Lovelycheese I get you on that. My OHs input in all of this has been minimal. Women really get screwed no matter what. On the bright side I see in a lot of cases on forums anecdotally that male issues can sometimes be easier and quicker to resolve with IVF so hopefully that's the case for you guys 🤞how had your first round gone?

Hi @CocoLady so sorry to hear of your losses. Hope your referrals for investigations go quickly.

@thislittlebird that sounds like such a pile of crock. And then to go externally anyway is just BS. Hate when they won't give an opportunity to someone who's earned it internally. Really hope this transfer goes well for you and maybe you can spend your maternity leave moving to Cornwall and finding a new job. Really hope all your roses come up at once 🤞 my transfer is def on for 11th after chatting to the clinic but I did manage to get them to book me in for another scan this coming Monday so at least we'll be able to get some reassurance that my lining is where it needs to be before starting the progesterone on Wednesday. Just realised that the week of 11th is crazy busy in work but going to tell my boss I can't do overtime that week and hopefully the busy work hours will keep me from obsessing. Additionally had a commiseration holiday booked for august that I need to cancel before 14th July so that's not really working out to plan. If transfer had been earlier would have known in time to cancel. Oh well. My own fault for trying to game the system and have some control over anything. Struggling seriously hete at the minute too and think, like you, not being able
To control anything and being at the mercy of IVF for everything is really getting to me. Missing a few social events in the next couple weeks too as too afraid of Covid.

Thanks for welcoming me and for the advice. I have an appointment Friday so fingers crossed I can make some headway concerning myself. I have already paid for a private bloodtest about 6 months ago. This blood test didn't just look at basics, it included anti mullarian and other bits. Everything came back in normal range except my oestrodiol. I put on my other post that I'd raised this with my GP and they were very dismissive telling me that it was only slightly out of range and wouldn't effect anything. I'm not 100% sure about that. I had some bloods done by them and once the progesterone was low.the other time they said it was fine ( they made me re-do it). I do have irregular periods though, which complicates things! Mine range from 28-35 days. Has anyone had experience of a hormone imbalance at all and is it a quick fix so to.speak? Thanks