Cycled/cycling with Victoria Wing Nuffield Woking for IVF - come join us!

[geeup]

Hello. Looking for other ladies (or men!) who are IVF cycling with the Victoria Wing at Nuffield Woking either privately or NHS to share what happens, how it's going, any tips (what's the car parking like?!), to support one another and success stories of course. My stats:
Geeup
Aged 34
Ttc #1 for 22 cycles so far (4 with Clomid)
OH has low morphology MFI (but it's varied)
NHS cycle - first appt 31st Jan with Dr Riddle
One question to get us going, anyone know what the policy is about having 2 embryos put in on first cycle? Thanks!

I definitely am with you on the cocktails and seafood. We've gone to the coast and I've had 3 gin and tonics and a fruit de mer platter!!

@geeup Sounds like the kinda night I need! We are so busy over the next few weeks it's hard to find time to do it, but we must!! And I'll make sure we do before the rollercoaster of meds & emotions arrive again!

Is there anything else other than the scratch & putting 2 back that you can think of I should do next time around?? Feel like as they are open to doing something different I should go for it all!!

Nothing that I'm aware of but would be interested if anyone can think of anything as well...

It's not VW related, but I have heard that hypnotherapy can be another good alternative therapy to try? I looked into it but a little late to organise it for my cycle but it was something I was going to consider adding in (alongside my acupuncture) if my cycle hadn't worked.

I'm not aware of anything else you can try hopeful, TBH I learnt most of the tips from this group.

geeup seafood and cocktails would be lovely. I have a 40th birthday party tonight and will obviously have to avoid the alcohol.

Hi everyone,
Hope you don't mind me jumping on this thread?
It's been really interesting reading some of your conversations and really helpful.
I'm on my final round of clomid (not fling hopeful) and currently waiting for my referral letter from Woking. What's on the first letter they send? Will they give me an appt date in the letter or will it just confirm my referral and tell me to wait?! We're on nhs referral if that makes a difference?

Sorry that there's so many lovely people on here, wishing everyone good luck!! X

Hi lil. Sorry you find yourself here but hopefully we're a nice bunch and you'll find it informative!
Sorry I can't remember what my first letter said - it was at the beginning of the year and feels like an eternity ago. I think my first letter said funding had been confirmed then my second letter said the appointment date and then it all went off from there!

Hi @lil1986 Welcome, I've only just joined but everyone has been so friendly and welcoming.

I too had clomid, 6 rounds, I did get pregnant with twins but was a missed miscarriage sadly and I've never been lucky enough to have another bfp since. I'm home tomorrow so I can check my paperwork but from being referred to our first appointment was about 12-14 weeks, I think! But at the time I called asking how long the wait was and they said at that time they were exceptionally busy so taking longer than usual...hopefully it won't be such a long wait for you. Wishing you all the very best!

X

Welcome @Lil1986 ...I'm afraid I can't remember what my letter said either! But I think we only waited about 8 weeks for our appointment so hopefully it won't be too long.

Hi @geeup @hopeful4ivf and @flamingo44
Thanks for the responses 😊 lovely to feel so welcome, I don't find many threads with such lovely people.
Really sorry you're all going through this too, it sucks! (Massive understatement!)
Thanks was just trying to set me expecrations about an appt and not get my hopes up. Hoping for a letter this week as will be 3 weeks since Mr Curtis referred us.
We're another case of frustratingly unexplained infertility
For some reason I always had a thought in the back of my mind about not being able to have children, can't believe it's actually true!

Hopefully you don't mind me asking (sure you've all gone through this enough) but where is everyone in their ivf journey?
X

I've just had my 2nd frozen transfer which resulted in another bfn. I had fresh cycle in January but didn't get to transfer any because I suffered badly with ohss, we had 6 frozen. So had my first frozen transferred back in April...and as mentioned only just finished my 2ww for 2nd fet. It really feels like it all takes such a long time, stupidity thought I'd be pregnant by now and I'm fed up of waiting so now I'm pushing for my next fet to start straight away and not having to skip a cycle... hopefully get a call tomorrow or Tuesday to say. FINGERS ARE CROSSED!

I stopped all my meds on Thursday night but still no af (typically) and my boobs are still sore and I get cramps during the night.

I'm hoping they will transfer 2 this time and let us pay for any additional extras they think will help.

I've been doing acupuncture for 18 months now as well...

I always worried that I could never get pregnant, I used to say to my friends I was worried about it as I never had any scares with my periods or any mishaps even if I'd accidentally skip the pill etc... it's been on my mind since my late 20s but only just met my DH recently. We have been ttc officially for just over 3yrs but the year running up to this we weren't safe and said oh well if it happens it's a bonus...but never did. We too are unexplained, DH has top swimmers apparently according to MrB, and my amh was a little on the high side but that was nothing to be concerned about...who knows...

I've sadly lost a lot of fertile friends on our journey, a lot of them start to avoid me and I know what is coming...the fb scan pregnancy announcement so I've actually removed myself from all social media... I can understand they don't know what to say when it happens to them so easily but it also makes me feel out of place...it's been a very lonely journey and I now only have a couple of friends that I talk to and even then they don't necessarily understand as they have kids and I don't think until you're in the situ you can never truly understand how it effects your every day life...

Sorry I've ranted a bit, think I felt a bit off when I turned up at my cousins yday to find my other cousins 'girlfriend' is 3 days overdue and I didn't even know she was expecting!

Hope you get your appointment soon, I'll check my timings tomorrow but I'm sure it was roughly 12-14 weeks... but some seem to get seen quicker.

Fingers crossed for you @hopeful4ivf that you get that call today or tomorrow! And don't be silly apologising for ranting that's exactly what test pages are for surely?! Even the people I talk to about it I never fully let them know how I feel just because they don't really understand (not their fault).
I have one freind who already has 1 child but is struggling to have a second and has had multiple miscarriages sadly so we talk to each other quite a bit.

You sound similar to me, been trying for just over 3 years now. Had 1 early miscarriage in 2014 and nothing since.

I'm currently giving myself the fun job of organising my best mates baby shower. So happy for them and I see her pretty much daily for lunch but it definitely gets hard sometimes and does get me down.
I've got freinds that are on baby no.2 now and we started trying before them....Also fun!

I'd not heard of ohss before, had to Google it! It doesn't sound fun, seriously fingers crossed for 3rd time lucky!!

It's funny isn't it after so long of trying you'd think a few months wouldn't make a difference but I HATE the waiting. When I needed my hsg test and was told it was a 3 month wait time I paid to have it done privately because I didn't want to wait!

Thanks for sharing your story. It sucks that we're all here in the same place buy at the same time it's so good to have people to talk to who really understand

Happy Monday everyone! X

@Lil1986 I did my first fresh IVF cycle May/June this year and am shocked to say it worked first time! I am currently 8w5d pregnant and am still nervous but just trying to count down to the 12 week scan! Our cycle went well and as well as the one they put back in we have 5 embryos in the freezer should we need them for future cycles.

We were unexplained too, although my AMH is a little low for my age (but my follicle count was ok so it was a little confusing). We had tried a couple of rounds of clomid last summer with no luck and were TTC for around 2 years before this BFP. It was the first time I'd ever had a positive test in my life!

Compared to others my story is a pretty straight forward and short so I know really I'm one of the lucky ones. But I was the same in finding the waiting so hard. When I'd gotten my head around the idea of us needing IVF I just wanted to get going as soon as possible.

I'm still lurking whilst I'm nervous and also because I really want to see success stories for everyone else on here!

@Hopeful4ivf Sorry to hear you've been feeling so lonely on this journey. It's definitely tough when everyone around you seems to be able to get pregnant at the drop of a hat! Most of my friends who've tried seem to have managed it and their children are all 1 or 18 months by now which is hard. I do have 1 friend who is also struggling and 1 who is a midwife and took around a year to get pregnant so they're both quite understanding. I don't really speak to the others about it. It's good to find these forums as hopefully they offer some support and understanding so it takes the pressure off your friends who are unable to understand.

@flamingo44 that's amazing news congratulations! I can imagine I'll be the same (if I ever get a bfp) and will worry non stop! Haha.
You've still had to go through ivf so wouldn't necessarily say you're a lucky one but again massive congrats on a bfp after 1 round. Fingers crossed for you that everything works out perfectly!!

Right off for lunch with my heavily preggo best mate
X

Thanks ladies for being so nice It really means a lot.

I know what you mean about friends being on their 2nd already, some of mine that started similar time are discussing if they want a 3rd, frustrates me that they can talk so freely and blasé about it.

Anyway quick update - Clinic just called, been given the go ahead to go straight back into my 3rd fet!!! I am having the ending scratch in 2 weeks, eek! Does it hurt??? And they are posting my treatment plan tonight, can't wait to see the dates and put it all into my diary Feel like I can forget what's just happened and get straight back on the horse! Lol Oh we have also got the go ahead to transfer 2! They will use the lower grade ones but hey I'm happy and praying this will make them fighters!

Going to enjoy the next couple of weeks of no meds And then straight back into healthy fet eating...also considering Weight Watchers as the meds over the past 6 months have made me gain a few pounds

Should say Endo scratch! Not ending scratch! Stupid autocorrect

Welcome lily1986.

I am in a very similar situation to flamingo, I have had a bfp on my first go. I did fall pregnant naturally 5 years ago and had to let my baby go due to downs and too many defects. I don't think anyone will understand what infertility is like unless they go through it. I felt like there was no purpose in life if I couldn't have a child. I feel really happy when I hear someone has fallen pregnant that doesn't seem to bother me but I did think 'when will it be my turn?'

Sorry I think I feel a rant coming on. It really bugs me when my friends moan about their kids and wish they never had them because they are naughty. And it bugs me when friends don't invite us to events coz it's a kids party and assume we don't want to be there.

I have a couple of friends that have gone through ivf but I actually found the best support from this group. And again the same as flamingo I still check in to the group. I genuinely hope you get your bfp's and I hope I can provide support or encouragement where I can.

Good luck ladies! X

Sorry am a bit behind and on phone so can't scroll to do individual responses. But in answer to your question lil about where we're all up to:
I am currently in "fertile" (ha as if) week of my cycle after 2nd failed fresh cycle. I have 4 embryos in the freezer (1 from first cycle 3 from second cycle) so planning a FET for as soon as blood

Oops. Hit send by accident. I meant as soon as bloody possible! Period due in about two weeks, then I'll do scratch on day 21 and start downregging and then do a FET about 2-3 weeks later hopefully. The time cannot come quick enough.
My best friend told me she's trying for her third so am currently dodging calls from her as I know she'll fall straight away and it'll be painful. All my friends are currently pregnant with their second or have had their second. It hurts a lot but you all know that too well...

@hopeful4ivf that's great news that you can get started again straight away! Fingers crossed for you.

Hi @8um8le8ee, thanks
Congratulations on your bfp bit sorry for what you've already had to go through!

I know what you mean, I had someone on facebook today moaning about what they're meant to do with their kids in the holidays?! I dunno, spend time with them!? Have fun together!? So frustrating.
Then someone else tonight (who doesn't know my struggles) giving me advice to travel loads before having kids as you never have any money, yeah thaks for together that one!

@geeup again good luck for your next (and hopefully last round!)

There's so many things I'm having to Google on here. Ohss, endo scratch, fet haha so many names and abbreviations I can't keep up!!

And yes I'm up at 2am thanks to a trapped nerve in my arm agony anf can't get it into a comfortable position, driving me nuts!!!!

X

Hi All,

Havent been on for a while as ive been away for my best friends wedding! My final blow out before starting treatment and going t-total again!

Welcome Hopeful and Lil!

Lil - I'm am also with the NHS after two failed self funded cycles at the Lister. I received an initial letter to say they had received my referral and then another later around 4 weeks later with an appointment for a further 4 weeks later. I have to say though the staff there are so welcoming and friendly.

Hopeful - I am booked in for a scratch tomorrow morning so I will let you know how it goes!
I've had the hycosy and hysteroscopy so I'm not expecting it to be much different to that.

I'm then ready to start down regging on Saturday! Feels like we have waited forever!

How is everyone else getting on?

Hi @NorthSouth85

Sorry your first 2 rounds didn't work but good luck and fingers crossed for this next round and hope the scratch goes ok tomorrow!

Down regging? Can someone help me out with that one? Lol. Feel like I've got a lot to learn!

X

Hi

Thanks!

It's when you take the suprecur (buserelin) injection to put your ovaries to sleep. You do this through the whole cycle xx

Hi @NorthSouth85

Good luck with your scratch tomorrow and yes please do let me know how it goes and what to expect. Are you going alone or with your OH? Also the nurse said they are posting a prescription for my scratch, I was with my nieces at the time so couldn't ask too many questions So wondered what this was for?

@Lil1986 - so sorry I've had my nieces over to stay the last 2 nights so it's been near on impossible to get anything done! I'll check my letters and work out timing tomorrow afternoon and let you know. I do remember we paid privately for SA otherwise the NHS appointments would have delayed us by another 8 weeks! Apparently all these tests have to be within a certain period of the referral being accepted and booked for next step.

Hope you're all doing well...cd2 today and looks like my af is thinning out already

Hi guys

Went in for the scratch this morning and it was absolutely fine! Hycosy was definitely more uncomfortable.

It was over within seconds and all went well. Had a little cramping afterward but that's it. Was done by Dr Riddle.

Hopeful - they give you two tablets which are antibiotics incase of infection. And a suppository (that unfortunately has to be inserted rectally) which is a painkiller.

Now we can wait till Saturday and get going!