TTC for 18 months or more. Moving onto IUI/IVF/ICSI -part 2

[bluebird3]

We have relocated from the conception board where we were previously chatting under the thread 'ttc for 10 months or more'. A lot of us are now long term ttc-ers and are going through infertility treatment or looking to take steps in this direction so we feel this might be a more suitable home for us!

Feel free to stop by and say hi and hopefully we can share the journey together and make it a little easier along the way!

Definitely makes sense geeup when I was told it would be IVF I was so upset. And angry and frustrated that i couldn't do this the 'normal' way! Clomid and/or metformin is the much less invasive option. I have my fingers crossed for you!

Thanks all

Rosie with clomid, I took it for one of my IUI but it really thinned my lining. Also I think they like to check with scans stimulation as everyone reacts to it differently. I had no side effects with it (only 50mg) and I took it at night to "sleep through" any I would have.

I know what you mean about not having a plan! I'm glad I've got my info session and consultant follow up booked in but just itching to get started with the actually cycle!!

They said waiting is down to 5 months from initial IVF meeting which was 15th November for me so I think April to cycle, hopefully earlier as they said they had quite a few cancellations.

Blue I asked about the scratch at my appointment yesterday - he told me they would consider it if an IVF cycle failed. Not sure if it's still worth contacting the study contact anyway - might ask again at the patient info session in a couple of weeks.

maple the study is only for first cycle IVF so you could still have the scratch on future goes but it wouldn't be part of the trial. We only get 1 cycle on the NHS so would be paying for it if we have it on future cycles. If you're lucky enough to have more than 1 NHS cycle then it probably doesn't matter if you wait till go #2.

How does everyone deal with the boredom of all this waiting? I can't think of anything else. I'm going crazy!

I do have some fun things planned this weekend though. It's our 5th anniversary tomorrow so we're having a nice meal out tonight and hopefully going for a lovely country walk if there isn't too much snow/ice tomorrow. Think I'll put some prosecco in the fridge and enjoy some bubbles as I'm hoping I won't be able to soon.

Ah congrats blue. 5 years is a milestone!!
I've very excited as finally confirmed my first appointment with the ivf clinic. I'll be seeing them on 31st. Hurrah! Only 2 weeks and a but to wait till it feels like we're doing something. Another TWW!!

Hey all waves
I am a newbie to this thread to

Age: 31 (only just though, was birthday last week!)
Ttc: 21 months
I feel bad here as i had a bfp at 19 and had a termination and a bfp at 22 who is now my 7.5 year old dc.
Severe mfi (less than a mil total count) and I no longer ovulate due to pcos

It's so frustrating as although we have been ttc for 21 months I haven't ovulated AT ALL in that time, so absolutely zero chance. I have a private prescription of clomid although again, we know it's pretty pointless I can't bear doing nothing! Also I would like to ovulate and have a period just to feel a bit more 'normal'. It's the weirdest thing going almost 2 years without af. Not had any scans or anything but I think its worked to ovulate so I'm pleased about that.
We are self funding as I have dc already so unless we win the lottery or someone gives us thousands of pounds we probs won't be doing anything til mid 2018. Which is so far away I could scream!!!
So I'll be more seeing what you guys are up to than really having much to say lol. I'm hoping to convince OH togo half and half woth saving and borrowing to shorten the wait but he is v against it cos paying back if it fails would be miserable. Which I agree with. but I am impatient as heck and feels like forever already.
I appreciate I am v lucky to have dc though. My mum said I should just give up and be happy i had one. If only it were that simple! I wish I could. Would save a lot of heartache not to mention money lol
Good luck to you all cycling soon. Glad to see (although sorry you are in the same boat!) others with MFI issues too, feels like we are the only ones sometimes!

Hi pteradactyl. It's so hard isn't it? We have one free round coming up. Up I'm already starting a contingency plan for when we need to plan additional rounds. Every time I'm at a shop I think in terms of 'would this money be better saved for IVF?' It's so unfair that we have to spend all this money and there is no guarantee it will work. I'd probably finance half because I'm impatient but I see your dh's point in how awful it would be to make payments on a failed cycle.

Thanks gee. Dh and I went out for a lovely meal and after a few cheeky cocktails we actually dtd for fun (in the kitchen...and the lounge !) Almost forgot what that was like!

Exciting about your upcoming appointment!!! 2 weeks isn't too bad. And hopefully it will move quickly after that. Yay!!!

blue its been a long time since i dtd for fun . You made me chuckle there!

Today I completely got it into my head that i had bacterial vaginosis and draged DH round all the pharmacys to buy testing kits and i got it in to my head this must be why i cant have a baby and the doctors must have missed it! it came back clear obviously . I should be banned from google!!!!!

On the plus side i had been asked to lower my BMI to under 30 and today i weighed my self and bmi=29.7 I HAVE DONE IT YAS (Yes) i miss food . So i have decided that for one night i will have a night off of sex and lettuce. Movie and Kebab it is! Just the one treat.

Scottish well done for getting your bmi down. Losing weight is tough so congrats. Your story gave me a giggle, sorry!! I too need banning from google. I can waste half a night trying to find miracle cures for infertility lol. Enjoy your evening off!

And thanks blue. It is so hard, never imagined being in this position (who does?!). Wish I could get another freebie baby. Thinking too much on the financial implications makes me panic a bit!! Hopefully you won't need a private cycle. Glad you enjoyed your evening the other night too 😉

Sex and lettuce Thistle - love it! I think you definitely deserve a night off!!

All my drugs arrived today! So many different things! Roll on the 24th Jan when I can start using them

And yes, google is not your friend!

Hi all. So I'm CD1 :( worked out that at my first appointment I'll be day 17. Seems unlikely we'd have time to have our implications meeting and get all the drugs in time to start the down regging on day 21 so assume I have one last cycle to try naturally. What do you guys think?

Hi gee I think you are probably right - 4 days doesn't sound like a lot to get everything organised and the meds need to be delivered in good time too. another month wait wont be too bad to let everything sink in! I had my nurse consultation on day 5 I think and was really overwhelmed to be able to start the same month but I'm on the short protocol so not sure if that makes a difference? Even though I've been waiting nearly 3 years, it all seems to be happening too fast now! At least you will have a definite date and everything confirmed to start at your next appointment which is great.

Great thread, I'm Penny.
30 now TTC 4 years, thought it would be easy given my age. It was so hard to feel so defeated every month.
Tests early last year and we have MFI low morphology and low motility
Had an ICSI cycle in November, got my BFP but sadly ended in a chemical. Trying to have a positive attitude (nearest we have ever been) trying to be good again. I have reflexology every week and I find it great. So relaxing, I get easily stressed. Has anyone else tried it?
Gearing myself up for Icsi #2. Just started my period this morning and as it's a longer cycle will probably have my prostap Injection on day 23. Will ring clinic tomorrow morning and know then.
Excited but nervous. Sending everybody positive wishes! X

Oooh tea exciting. 24th, not long to wait now!!
Gee I haven't had any cycles so no idea but i think that seems like it would be cutting it fine in 4 days.
And Penny so sorry for your chemical. I hope this doesn't come across as odd but do you feel a little better for it knowing you can get pregnant?
I haven't tried acupuncture but toy with the idea. I have heard good things about it.
Afm, I am trying to lose weight while we are saving like mad. I piled 2 stone on in a very short period of time just before I stopped the pill. A few months before while I was on the copper coil I had regular periods and I have heard rapid weight gain can almost trigger pcos, so I am hoping weight loss will get me back on the right track at least. Then we can actually try, even if the odds are miniscule!! x

Blue congratulations on your anniversary! What is this "sex for fun" you speak of?! I thought only scheduled and in the bedroom sex existed?

Welcome to the newbies!

Pteradactyl I think I would borrow half too as I wouldn't want to wait. I tried acupuncture but I couldn't afford to go once a week and decided if it was going to help I needed to go once a week - so I stopped going. Heard good things though from some people! Won't hurt to give it a try.

Thistle yay for BMI - well done you! Did you enjoy your movie and kebab? I think it's fair to treat yourself! Google is never my friend either!

Tea hooray for drugs delivery! Not long until 24th Jan - what will you be on?

Gee hope you do get to start this month and they manage to get the drugs to you quickly.

Penny I'm sorry for your loss. Good luck with cycle 2!

Thanks maplebaby

pteradactyl At the start I was devastated It felt like a cruel joke but now overall I am feeling positive. When I was at the clinic last week getting my script etc the nurse told me that I was lucky in one way because they know I can get pregnant now. So focusing on the positives.

blue laughing at sex for fun too!

penny I think that you definitely have the right idea to focus on the positives, tough as it can be.
I am nervous tonight. OH had genetic testing done waaaaay back in July and we were meant to get results at follow up in October but they hadn't been sent through. The consultant said he would send them through to the docs but chased a few times and nothing. Anyway they called him tonight and he just missed the call, rang back and phonelines closed cos the surgery has shut. Fgs. Anyway! He is calling tomorrow. I sort of feel it must be bad news or she could have just said in her voicemail all was clear. Hopefully I am wrong though. Scary stuff. Genetic testing adds even more expense on fingers crossed. If its genetic we kinda said it was a no go and I really don't want that

pteradactyl I'm crossing my fingers for you tomorrow. If it's not good news surely someone would have been in touch by now.

Welcome penny. Really sorry for your loss, but glad you are feeling positive again.

Good luck tomorrow pteradactyl. I feel like with infertility all you get is blow after blow till the point you expect bad news. Here's hoping that it's good news for you tomorrow.

I started opks for the scratch trial today. It's nice to feel like I'm doing something again. The last few months since we found out about MFI it's all felt a bit pointless.

Thanks lovelies. Penny you would think so wouldn't you? That's what we had thought but I am not so sure now. Hopefully all is clear though.
You are right blue, it is always crap news after crap news. Everyone says infertility is a journey full of highs and lows but we have only ever had the lows so far lol. Maybe today will be a bit of good news.
Exciting about the scratch trial too, I bet it feels so good to finally be doing something again.
I hear you on the pointless feeling too. OH's count means the consultant said for us to conceive naturally would take a miracle. Sometimes I just dont see the point in dtd at all. Not a nice feeling! OH is convinced we will fall naturally too, something I find both sad and annoying in equal measures
Hope everyone has a good day today, whatever is happening :)

Also blue i meant to ask but got a bit wrapped up in myself what is the process for the scratch? At what point in the cycle is it? Sorry if you mentioned this already, I didn't see it when I reread the thread. Am I right in thinking the scratch is done in the cycle before you start the ivf too?

pteradactyl yes, you're right...the scratch is done the cycle before. So I am cycle day 11 now and have to opk. When I get a + I will ring the acu and they will schedule the scratch 7-9 days after the +opk. So I guess it's about day 21ish. Then I will begin IVF on the next cycle.

Any news from today?

Must be exciting being close now? Do you ov pretty regularly so can guess the most likely day for the +ve?
Nope, no news sigh. OH called docs to be told he needs to contact the lab in Oxford directly....who told him the dr needs to request the results from them, not him. The docs will 'call him back' which means in a week he will get sick of waiting and they will say they have no news, if their track record is anything to go by!!!

Oh pteradactyl I hope it doesn't take too long for the docs to get back to you - that is so frustrating! Fingers crossed it's good news when you finally hear!

Sorry about delay in answering blue re the meds I'm going to be on. I can't remember all the names without looking but it's two types of injections (1 daily for 5 days and then both daily until egg retrieval), anxiety medication for the night before egg harvesting, antibiotic pessaries, progesterone injections, another small pack of meds called pregnyl (might be progesterone too) and of course a very snazzy sharps box! I can get all the proper names for you if you like though? I'm just trying not to obsess/think about to try and remain stress free and have been doing lots of smoothies/green juices and vitamins so fingers crossed it helps!

Oh and ladies on the scratch trial, please let me know how it goes!

Hi everyone
Sounds exciting tea! Good luck with staying chilled - love the sound of all your smoothies.
Does anyone know if you're allowed to add "extras" to an NHS round if you pay? I.e. Could I pay for a scratch if I'm doing NHS?