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!

Oh god. London, I really don't know what to suggest... I think as Gee says, the best is to be entirely straight. However, if you live close and you can get your mail redirected would be tempted to keep schtum to avoid this....

I spoke to my GP who didn't understand what the hospital wanted as she says they don't make funding decisions, it's the CCG. she wants the hospital to call her directly, which pissed them off. Guess I'll see tomorrow whether they've resolved this.

From what I've read, you only need to be registered with a GP in the area to get funding, you don't have to live there. But the GP isn't obliged to keep you registered if you move. Mine is happy to but won't do home visits. Those seem to be the rules and we meet them, so I really don't know why they are holding up booking me in for May. Some of the other criteria, being registered at the same GP - we don't meet that, my OH is registered elsewhere but we already had one round so they obviously didn't check that.

Hi everyone, can I join?

I'm Holo, long time lurker, age 30, TTC #1 for 22 months. Recently completed all our fertility tests which revealed low egg reserve for me (AMH 7.4) and today DH's semen analysis came back at

Welcome holo. We basically have the same AMH and our husbands have almost the same morphology so you'll fit right in. Sorry you've had to join us but welcome aboard. What's your next step - have you got funding from your CCG yet?

Hi Geeup, thanks for the welcome . Our CCG has given us funding for 2 cycles. Today was our first appointment at our local fertility clinic where the consultant went through all our test results and the protocol he will put us on. Now we wait for our IVF schedule to arrive in the post, I call the clinic on day 1 of my cycle and start downregging on day 21.

It's kind of scary to think I will be starting our first cycle in April. After all the time it's taken to get all the referrals, tests and results suddenly things feel like they're moving pretty fast!

Welcome boo and holo. Good luck with your cycles! We are all here to hand hold and to listen to any ranting!

Blue I agree with the other re counselling if you have the opportunity. It would be something I would consider and we have been offered it at our hospital.

Sorry you seem to be having GP troubles star and London. Are the boroughs you are moving to have the same number of funded cycles? Hope you get it sorted star not what you need right now when you want to get started again. London I would be inclined to be straight with them too...

AFM I had my appointment yesterday! All consent forms signed and prescription received - for blimey, what a list!! Some things I've never heard of on there - I've got norethisterone, buserelin, menopur, doxycycline, pregnyl, cyclogest, diclofenac, dalteparin (heparin) and estradiol valerate! I ordered the prescription prepayment certificate for 3 months and will collect it all when it comes through. I was also given a bag of needles, sharps bin etc. No antisceptic wipes though - will ask for those I think.

So I just call when I get my April period (in about 2/3 weeks) and confirm dates and then get going - eep!

Star I think we will keep schtum. I checked the new CCG IVF policy and its worse than our current. We can pop back regularly to pick up post - or get it redirected as you suggest. Cannot face starting again.

Welcome holo my DH has low morphology too; last year it was 2% then 1%. He went onto Proxeed and it's now 4% although impossible to say whether that made the difference. That's great you are starting ICSI so soon - we've got a 6-8 month waiting list on the NHS

Wow maple that's a lot of drugs! Exciting it's starting so soon

Good luck with your scan today geeup

Funding is such a lottery especially in London where each borough funds different things. We had no frozen embryos after our ICSI as i only produced 3 eggs :( and it was hard to be told 'thats it, thats your go over' we are about to embark on self funded but it puts so much extra stress on you as a couple. My husband and I are self employed so we are just saying F**k it and going for it. I earn more than him so he's agreed to pay for the drugs and me the treatment. Its totally worth it though if it works but quietly you just feel like nothing is going to work when you've been trying for so long. Good luck everyone i have fingers crossed for you all. :)

Thanks london. Wasn't great to be honest. Only 4 follies on one side and 1 on the other. Not great - they'd expect 4-5 on each side. And lining quite thin too. Feeling very but trying to remember it's quality not quantity.

Welcome holo, my dh has fluctuating morphology too - latest was 4% but it's been as high as 8% and as low as 2%. Been on proxeed for over a year and it's really helping, especially with the motility which was 18% a year ago and at the latest was 65%. Still not pregnant though and we started in November 2014

Gee, I'm so sorry it was disappointing but it's still early days. At least things are developing so moving in the right direction. Are they going to up your dose or just see how things go? They can keep you on stims for a little longer if not happy with the response. At the end of the day you're right - quality over quantity, it only takes one! Good luck. When's your next scan? Christ, this thing is nerve-wracking isn't it

Maple, congrats on being all ready to go. Good luck!

Good luck boo. It's so tough with only one funded cycle on the NHS. We had a round cancelled last month and luckily since we didn't reach egg collection it doesn't count as a go.

Star - yes they've upped my stims dose so fingers crossed that works. Next scan on Monday so hopefully that shows radical improvements!

Welcome boo and holo sorry you find yourselves here but we are glad to have you and i wish you all the luck with your cycles.

The thread has been so busy, its hard to keep up with where everyone is at! I hope everyone is doing ok x

Started my injections yesterday, higher dose than before, another scan next weds to see how things are going then will be looking at EC the week after x

Thank you everyone for your kind welcomes, I've held back from posting for a long time but I'm glad I have as I'm already learning things!

Such as fluctuating morphology - thank you star and London for sharing your experiences. I think DH was feeling a bit disheartened after yesterday's results but I showed him your posts and now he's feeling a bit better that it's not just him!

London I know we're very lucky that the wait in our area is so short. 6-8 months is a frustratingly long time! I can also understand why you don't want to start over with a new CCG, especially if you'll be worse off. If I was in your position I'd be inclined to get post redirected to your new address and maintain your registration at your current GP surgery.

Sorry I haven't replied to everyone individually, I'm still getting used posting on my phone!

Hi everyone. I've been feeling a bit better lately and decided to start exercising again. I went to Zumba this morning and then came back and took my little dog for a run in the sunshine. Was feeling great and then some dicks slowed down and yelled abuse at me out the window of their car. Something along the lines of "why don't you try eating less, love?" And then laughed and sped off. I just started crying as I kept jogging but soon stopped and finished by walking. I can't believe some people are such assholes. I was near our family friendly neighborhood, not someplace you might expect this. I am overweight by about 1.5-2 stone but even if I was very overweight I don't think there is any excuse for that. I feel shit now. :(

Bluebird don't take the slightest scrap of notice. Honestly in one ear and straight out the other my love. They are clearly very unpleasant and maybe not very happy in themselves to attack someone else in this way. Don't give them the power to upset you! Focus back on the sunshine ☀️ xxx

Sorry the scan was a little disappointing gee - I hope then next one is much better. Absolutely quality over quantity too

What arseholes blue. Just try and forget them, they are completely outside of your life and their opinions are of no consequence to you. Focus on the lovely day today and have a cuddle with DH and dog. You are beautiful inside and out. Their loss if they can't see it.

Thanks london and gee.

And gee I second what london said...quality over quantity. I had 18 and only one good last. But tea had 12 and ended up with 3 I think. Too many and quality goes down. Plus there are loads of ladies on here who got. Ore than expected after the first scan so try not to worry.

Yes I do hope so. Had some acupuncture today and hoping it does something positive. She burnt some weird herb on my tummy too!

Have been lurking as not got anything to report, still waiting for ccg to approve our funding. Was told it would take three weeks max but then when I phoned last week the receptionist told me it might take 4 so to phone this Tuesday if I haven't heard by then. I hope there isn't a problem, we meet the criteria so shouldn't be but this whole process so far has been full of irritations and unexpected delays

Anyway, delurked to say, blue what arseholes. In my experience it actually has little to do with what you actually look like and more that they are just looking to shout something. They are clearly just ignorant twats who get off on upsetting others. Don't give them a second thought.
I was at traffic lights once and some guys in a van pulled up next to me and made loads of gross gestures and sexual comments. I felt really shaky but then I got angry and so pulled off behind them and called the number on the van and made a complaint to their manager

gee absolutely quality over quantity. Sending positive vibes.

Can't remember who else said what so all round.

Also delurking to say ignore those knobs Blue!

Thanks for the support everyone. I don't think really cared that much about the incident as much as the 'why me, why now?'feeling. Like it hasn't been difficult enough ttc for 2 years, having IVF, it failing on my birthday and then when I finally feel a bit better and try to make a positive change, for the world to throw me that karma! My dh was really sweet last night and offered to go running with me next time (something he is loathe to do). Have spent today gardening in the sun and feel better for the extra vitamin d.

Bummer about the ccg just. We didn't have to go through that. It was automatically approved once we were referred to the acu. Hopefully it comes through soon. It's not another stressor that you need right now.

I've been thinking about acupuncture gee...how are you finding it?

Well I did acupuncture for 3 months ago last year when I was ttc naturally. It was ok - very relaxing and I often fell asleep but it didn't change my literal phase during that time which I'd hoped for. I stopped as wasn't really getting along with my Chinese practitioner. Think something was lost in translation as I didn't find her very empathetic.
The new one seems very nice and way more empathetic. Tried a few needles to help my anxiety, to help thicken my lining and hopefully grow the follies a bit from that first session as well as burning a herby powder on my tummy in cones (!). She suggested it would have been better to start when my period started but they couldn't fit me in. So now I'm just going before and after embryo transfer and hoping for the best! Who knows if it'll help at all but at this stage I'm willing to try anything.

Well something worked for me because between Friday as today my follies and lining sped up. Now doing collection Wednesday and crapping myself. Hoping there's a couple of extra follies hiding in there but otherwise just have to accept it only takes one and hope for the best.

Yeay Geeup! That is excellent news - a surge over the weekend! Maybe it was the acupuncture Whatever it was, I'm really pleased for you and wishing you all the best for egg collection tomorrow. eek!! Can I ask what your dose was before and after they increased it? My consultant has dropped my dose by just 25iu as he says that responses can be so sensitive and just a little change can have a big effect. Maybe that's what happened with you.

As for me, things are back on! Got a voicemail from the clinic this morning and I was totally shitting it. Happily they said they've been in touch with my GP and all is OK with my funding and have booked in my nurse's appointment. Phew! It's all go for my May cycle, thank goodness. I'm not sure what convinced them in the end. But London, I think you're making the right decision by keeping quiet about your move. Once treatment has started you can come clean and they will keep treating you but you just want the paperwork sorted first. That's my (dodgy) advice.

Argh, Blue - why oh why does the universe do this? As if you don't have enough to deal with without total ignorant morons just adding to your woes. Please don't give them a second's thought - they're not even worth the words we've all typed about them so far. Bastards.

Hope everyone's doing well considering. I'm coming into my fertile week and with that comes a certain calm and foolish hope

That's great news Star. Really pleased for you. Re my dose, they whacked mine up - I was on 300mg of menopur and they added a third vial of powder so went up to 450! Obviously did the trick. Not sure how they'd make a smaller incremental change but maybe there are smaller vials of powder than 150?
Am in a panic as worry that either my trigger was too small (they weren't sure whether to trigger me with 2 or 3 vials of pregnyl but went with 2 in the end) or that my follicles have already burst and there'll be no eggs to collect tomorrow. I'm so worried there'll be nothing to work with as only have 8 follies but one probably a cyst and one very small. Arghhhhh.