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

Great news @thislittlebird everything crossed for you. Laughing here thinking of mr little bird in his gown in the 30 degree weather. Hopefully a nice story to tell your future LO.

@Tinkerbell098 great that you're ready to get moving. Not so great on the buserelin shortage. Think I've always done short protocol so can't shed much light on long unfortunately. I have a low AMH and low follicle count so thin pong protocol could suppress my ovaries too much hence why short in my case each time. What is the timing diff for the long? Fingers crossed for a good scan tomorrow. Best of luck.

Hi @beckyCarlos great to see you back. Hope all is going well for you and enjoying the sunshine.

Playing the waiting game here waiting on CD1 so we can start again. Just got my extra femetab and prednisolone delivered today. Have to call the clinic and have a heated discussion with someone tomorrow as still heard nothing from our doctor since our call Thursday when she knew nothing about our complaint. So that should be interesting. On the bright side have acupuncture tomorrow evening and planning a nice takeaway after so yay.

@gracie2021 is it good that its CD1? I assume so so maybe they can book you for transfer soonish? I reckon I was far too suppressed by buserelin (had to have days and days of extra stims to get my poor 2 folicles growing! And even then only in one ovary!)

@tinkerbell098 (apologies for the wrong tag before!) I dont have a start yet, waiting to switch to private which I was assured moved quicker at my clinic 🤣 called them yesterday and just got a 'were sorry were really busy' message for at least 10 mins each time. My consultant said we couls start as soon as they can book me in though.

Other thoughts about long protocol: buserelin was (for me) knackering, I was asleep on the sofa at 8/9pm and I'm normally a night owl. I felt exhausted, struggled walking the dog etc. But no hot flushes or insomnia or brain fog like you can get. Its also worth noting that while I did only have 2 folicles, and one egg (and again there are so many other variables) that egg did fertilize, did make it to day 5, and did implant, so it does work, just for me with hindsight I'd have preferred a different approach from the start x

@Gracie2021 thanks for the reply. The difference would be a month due to the shortage (assuming they get the stocks in in august as they expect). Basically I can start next cycle if I go with short protocol. good luck with the call tomorrow! Let us know what they say x

@beckyCarlos hope the wait is not that much longer! Oh buserelin side effects don’t sound too great. Not looking forward to that (IF I do end up on the long protocol). Glad you’ll be tweaking protocol in the next round and fingers crossed you can start soon x

@Tinkerbell098 I recently listened to a podcast that explained the difference between protocols, which I found really helpful - it's called 40&infertile (!) which you're a way from yet, but it's not just for over 40s :o) I think the episode was called all about stimulations or something similar. I have only done short protocols because I'm over 40 with low amh so I think they get worried that if they shut everything down it may never wake up again :o)

@Gracie2021 hope cd1 comes around soon and you get the the chance to speak to someone at the clinic to get a better explanation for what happened, and reassurance it won't happen again!!

@thislittlebird super exciting that you are booked in for a transfer!! All fingers crossed for Sunday!

I have a mid-cycle monitoring scan tomorrow morning and oh has a sperm dna fragmentation test. Really hoping there aren't any surprises...

@99pctpractice ooh good recommendation, i love a podcast...not sure I can bring myself to listen to it with its name though 🤣

@gracie2021 just reread your post, misread before...waiting for CD1, not it is CD1 🙈 my head is not back in place yet lol

@99pctpractice found it! thanks so much i'll have a listen today. I think my AFC scan tomorrow will also shed more light into my ovarian reserves. Good luck with your scan today!

Hi @99pctpractice where did you listen to the podcast? I love a good podcast x

@RMS0209 this is what I found and think this is the one @99pctpractice mentioned:

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-and-infertile-a-fertility-podcast-for-the-40-and-older/id1612840924

@Gracie2021 he’s really not impressed, nor with the travelling lol. Our local station is shut so we’ll be doing a detour to the hospital.

Speaking of the heat, I’ve had enough of it. London is too hot, we bought a portable AC and I’m in bed with a migraine trying to resist putting it on.

@99pctpractice It’s all a bit daunting because if this one fails I feel like I need to be doing more tests. All the bs around implantation failure and microbiome and immune system stuff. It could just be a duffer because of my age, but I will be worrying I should get tests just in case. At the same time, I don’t want more tests. 😩

@thislittlebird I understand, there's so much pressure on it happening and then so much uncertainty on why it didn't if it doesn't. Which makes you think you need to do all these new tests even if actually it might just be bad luck and nothing underlying. All fingers crossed this is your lucky round so you don't have to go through that...

I had my mid cycle monitoring scan / blood tests today and I think I made a mistake in getting the immune testing. I'm now paranoid that they're going to either be late back or reveal something that means I can't start a cycle in August...I don't think immunes are my issue, so not sure why in the moment I thought i should do it....probably just to make sure no regrets....in better news, my amh has increased from 2.7 in August last year to 6.2 now! So not sure whether it was a dodgy test last year or if something has changed (could it be taking DHEA?) but quite relieved as I thought it might be down to decimal places...

@99pctpractice christ on a bike! That is GOOD!!!!

@99pctpractice that's is bloody amazing. So happy for you. Off to a great start.

I'm the same about the heat @thislittlebird tbh I was perfectly happy with our nice cool slightly damp early summer 😂😂

Good luck tomorrow @Tinkerbell098

Still waiting on CD1 but think it's a bit off as haven't had my usual two days of pms depression that precedes my period. Have a follow up call with our doctor Monday about the complaint though which is good.

@99pctpractice amazing! hope you still get to start in August.

@Gracie2021 hope AF hurries up for you so you can make a start.

I'm just back from my AFC scan. They counted 10 (5 on each). No idea if that's good or bad, but it's over the clinic's threshold of 5 to start. I've been booked on to the needles training appointment in two weeks time. They're expecting Buserelin start of Aug, but haven't got any delivery confirmation yet. If it's available, they would put me on long. If not they'll try for short but nurse couldn't guarantee I would get appointments for short due to high demand for short because of the buserelin shortage. With long, she said they can have more control over my cycle so they can plan better in terms of theatres, staff,etc, whereas with short, they only have a tiny window where they'll have to organise everything and they're struggling. I really hope I can start in August, the wait is driving me crazy.

@Tinkerbell098 that's a great AFC!!

@thislittlebird Good luck for Sunday xx I'm currently on holiday in Cornwall (near Penzance actually), its so lovely here. What were you doing down here? Looking at housing/jobs? Or just enjoying yourself?

@99pctpractice wowzers!! That's an incredible jump!

No news from me... I think I'm somewhere around 10dpo but I'm not really sure whether I ovulated or not... I suppose I'll find out egrn AF turns up. Oh and I turned 37 a couple of days ago, so I'm a little bit older than I was before!

@tinkerbell098 thats amazing! Excellent count! Fingers crossed you do get a cycle in in August 🥰

@99pctpractice thats great news on the AFC! 🎉 yeah, that’s the thing, at what point do we say it’s something other than bad luck? 2, 3, 4 attempts? I have no idea. I know they might say three but I have three days embryos left, I don’t want to waste them if there’s something wrong with me. But maybe there isn’t???? It’s such a head fuck tbh.

@Gracie2021 i know, I don’t need this continued hot weather. It’s not too bad today but next week is looking horrendous 😩. When was cd1 due? Are you technically late?

@Tinkerbell098 so if you’re going with long they’re hoping for an august start?

@Kay00 that sounds like a nice break! We were catching up with family and relaxing mostly. Did go to see some new builds, which, if we move, I suspect we may end up going for to save the stress of moving across the country PLUS having house renovations to do on top of moving, finding jobs etc, and they’ll give us a lot more space which is the main issue in our current London terrace. But decent ones seem few and far between. We saw some by a big developer and yikes, a wall outside one of them looked like it was about to come down and they were very new. It’s so disappointing. Oh and then we drove into the town and saw one of them in the window of the estate agents being let for £1750 pcm 😦. What a joke.

There’s a small development I have my eye on, it’s not new new, they’re 2008 builds but they seem a lot better quality, more attractive and proportions than lots of them. Unfortunately it’s not exactly where I’d like to be but oh well, we’ll have to see what we can get nearer the time.

Oh and belated happy birthday 🎈 🎂 @Kay00

@Kay00 @beckyCarlos thanks!

@Kay00 happy belated birthday! I'm not too far behind you. Turning 37 in two months time. Started TTC when I was 34 so it is depressing whenever a birthday is looming around.

@thislittlebird sounds like you had a nice relaxing break and house hunting is always exciting! If we go with long, yes, I'd pretty much start on the 1st of Aug, provided they get their Buserelin delivery (no confirmation from the suppliers yet). If not, they will try to do short if they have any availability, if not, it would be September start. I will only get to know in another two weeks time.

@beckyCarlos @Tinkerbell098 @Gracie2021 @Kay00 @thislittlebird I know, right!! Couldn't believe that it had actually gone up!

@Kay00 happy belated birthday!!! Hope you had an awesome holiday - Cornwall is so beautiful when the sun shines! @thislittlebird i can see why you'd like to move there, it would be quite a contrast to London life!!

@Tinkerbell098 that's great news on the afc!! Crazy that a medication shortage can influence what protocol you wind up on. Hopefully they manage to sort it out.

Hope everyone's surviving the heatwave!! We're away in Copenhagen for the weekend, meant to be flying home on Monday and praying that the weather doesn't mean we wind up stranded here or at the airport in London if nothing is working because of the heat!

@Tinkerbell098 I guess on the plus side it’s only a month’s difference. I had to tell myself that with Christmas delays. I’ve waited this long, I can do one more month.

@99pctpractice massive contrast! Here’s a sunny cornwall pic or two from last weekend. It would be very different for me, but I feel like I’m ready to move. I’ll absolutely find it hard for a year probably but I’ve been in the same area of London forever.

Hope Copenhagen is lovely! I went a long time ago now.

Transfer done! Embryo survived, was 75% in tact and expanding after the thaw, so that’s good. Let’s hope attempt two is better than attempt one. I have to test on July 28th. I’m taking my probiotics this time, hoping they’ll help.

@thislittlebird thats great news! Those pics look lovely :)
Apparently it's going to be 35 here on Monday, and 38 on Tuesday 🥵 its currently 25 right now but its cloudy so feels like a normal day, than if the sun was out and heating the house! If its +30 and sunny I'll be spending my day working from a full cold bath 🤣

@beckyCarlos I think it’s going to be 37-39 in SE London, I’m cracking out the paddling pool and the new air con unit in the bedroom is about to come into its own!

@thislittlebird that's fantastic news. So glad it went well and looks like you were in the right place for some relaxation before it too. The heat is a killer, hope you have a nice cool spot. Paddling pool sounds ideal. Sounds like you're using this time wisely and getting your research done. Is the move starting to feel more achievable?

Don't know how ye're managing @beckyCarlos it's giving 28/29 here the next two days and I'm already dreading it. Can't imagine 35. So hard to keep the animals ok in yhe heat too.

Sounds like the perfect weekend @99pctpractice hope yeve no issues in the airports. Madness and chaos lately by the sounds of it.

@Tinkerbell098 so much uncertainty with this whole process. Hope they figure out the plan for you soon 🤞 either way not long now.

Hope you enjoyed your holiday @Kay00 and happy belated birthday. Hope your beautiful hounds are managing ok in the heat. Did they go on holidays too?

CD2 here and just started my meds. Back on baby aspirin and steroids and an increased dose of 8mg estrogen to try suppress me a bit better this time. Have our follow up with the doctor tomorrow morning too so going to see if we can scan early at CD7 and CD10 and hoping if I'm ready early they'll just transfer early. Have the heat pads and Brazil nuts on the go 😂😂

@Gracie2021 our garden gets sun all day after about midday so we’re putting a sun sail up 😂. Trying to increase the shade, the brolly won’t be enough.

I’m not sure it feels more achievable yet tbh. Main reason being there’s such a dearth of decent housing stock down there, landlords and second home people have bought so much of the property. But it’s possible, all depends on the ivf really

Glad you’re back into it already! You’re fully prepared and fingers crossed this one goes to plan. Reminds me, I need to email the nurses about when they’ll test my progesterone levels for this cycle.

@thislittlebird Sounds like a plan! I'm on countdown to it breaking. Wednesday is meant to be cooler. Cannot wait. Housing is crazy here too. But at least you're ready pounce when you see the right one? When do you get your progesterone tested after transfer?