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'm only having my AMH test this Friday so I'm quite behind you.
Any ideas as to how long it takes to meet with the consultant once they have the results?

I think I had my AMH just before Christmas then consultation end Jan then implications third week of Feb. Depends on your cycle of course.

Thanks. geeup, good to have an idea of timings

Thought I'd just check in and see how everyone is doing. Geeup can't believe you are about to start tomorrow. It's very exciting! I am a very emotional person, absolute bitch on my period, and the drugs had no effect on my emotions at all. Hoping you sail through too.

Hey all, hope everyone is doing ok. Eek geeup so exciting!
we unfortunately had a BFN on our FET a couple of weeks ago. Bit gutted but hey. Mr Riddle thinks we should carry on with the frozens for now rather than have a new fresh cycle, and suggested having two put back next time, so need to think about that. I really don't want twins!

moggle so sorry to hear about your bfn.

Hi all. Thanks for thinking of me. Sorry to hear about your bfn moggle but hopefully one of those frosties is your baby!
I'm feeling ok about starting the injections tonight. Pleased to be getting going. I'm giving up alcohol for lent but it isn't going to be easy. My parents in law make such a fuss when I don't drink and we have a family birthday dinner tomorrow so I know it'll come up. Hopefully the lent excuse will be enough.

Sorry to hear about your BFN Moggle. Good luck Geeup with your first injection tonight. I'll be thinking of you

I had my AMH test today at VW and will know in 10days where we stand.

Hi all!
We have severe male factor infertility and have our initial appointment with VW on Monday. What can we expect? Will we be told if icsi is possible with dh results and will we be told if they recommend long or short protocol? Minus waiting for the appointment how long should we expect the appointment to last?
We were hoping to start end of April- may is that realistic? And lastly, will the weigh and height us?

Thank you!

We're paying privately btw

Hi MrsDarcy. I assume this appointment is with a consultant, do you know? If so, I don't have experience of male factor but I would expect they will give you their opinion on the best course of action at the appointment. Have you had any blood tests yet? That might affect whether they are able to recommend long/short protocol at this point, but if not, they will schedule them at this appointment.

Consultant appointments I have found last up to about half an hour, and then you usually have 5-10 minutes with a nurse as there's always paperwork to do and next appointments to book. It might be more than 10 mins if it's your first appointment as there's a lot of forms to read and sign to start with.

I can't see why starting end of april / start of may would not be realistic but couldn't say for sure. The thing is that as well as an AMH test for you and scan to check follicle count, there are various screening tests that you both need to have before starting including a hepatitis and HIV screen, chlamydia tests, you need to have an up to date smear test, and a rubella immunity test within the last 3 years. These can take time - doing them all at VW will be faster but more expensive. The nurse will tell you how much all of them will cost at VW so you can decide. We had them all done on NHS before our fresh cycle, but when I've had to update rubella and chlamydia tests for frozen cycles I've just done them at VW as they are only about £50 each.

We didn't get weighed and measured that I recall, however I don't know whether heavier people might be. If the problem is with your DH and not you then I can't see that they'd be fussed about your weight, and surely not his if his problems are that severe it's not like dropping a few pounds would make a difference.

Good luck!! It's exciting, that first appointment. But also daunting, there's so much to think about and so many forms to sign. The staff there are so lovely though so it does help. Just a word of warning there are hundreds of photos of their babies all over the walls!! I like it, now, but that first time you go in there I was a bit, wtf?!! Somewhere there's a pic of our DD in there but I've never managed to find it!!

Hi mrsdarcy. Exciting your appointment is nearly here. Re what to expect in your first appointment, our first (NHS) appointment after DHs SA and my AMH test we went through our test results with the consultant and he explained that we'd likely do ICSI and that I'd do long protocol (I think that's default). We also had an appointment with the nurse who explained exactly what would happen in the cycle so think we were there for about an hour. And yes we did get weighed and height measured.
The appointment after that one (implications appointment to discuss details of what'll happen plus ethical questions etc and learn how to inject) took about 2.5 hrs though. I picked up my prescription at that appointment.
Hope that helps. Best of luck and keep us posted!

Moggle have you done acupuncture? Do you know if VW have a recommended partner for pre and post transfer?

Hi, no I don't think they do. You really want someone close to where you live I think so I doubt they would recommend anyone.
I had acupuncture for our fresh cycle, had been having it for 6m or so beforehand already, and then continued to have it until a few days before I had DD. It was relaxing and nice to feel that I was doing something else, and we could afford it. Do I think it truly had an effect; no idea. With the frozen cycles I just haven't got the time or money to do it, and it doesn't seem as important - lining seems fine each time, and the embryos are already made.

Sorry - realise that pre and post transfer it could be near VW - but I don't recall that I've ever seen a specific recommendation.

If you need accupuncturist I know a fantastic woman who works in Guildford, Petersfield and Haslemere area.
She has a lot of experience with VW too

Yes please mother. Could you share the details please? Would be good to see if they might even come to my house.

Sorry for all the questions I also wondered if when your in treatment do you get your prescription so I'll can then get the drugs wherever you want?

And do you get the drugs for each few days or whole treatment?

I'm trying to workout if you get them every few days if I can go in for my scan before work then get the prescription done near work rather than waiting in vw. Obviously if I pre check with pharmacy that they stock the drugs

We've already have all of our pre treatment tests and bloods etc so hoping there shouldn't be too much more to get done before starting.

You get prescription for enough drugs to see you through to your next scan, or next appointment (basically the next time you are there). That way you aren't paying for drugs you don't end up needing, in general. So if it's a long protocol, you get a prescription for all the buserelin you need for the 3 weeks of downreg, then when you come in for the scan you get a prescription for the first week or so of stimming drugs, then at your first lining scan you'd get the prescription for the next few days of stims until your next scan, etc.
The pharmacy is open the same hours as the clinic, so you can always fill the prescription there and even at busy times I have never had it take more than 5 minutes. It will definitely be easier to do it at VW as they always have the drugs, and if i remember correctly from a bit of googling when we did our fresh cycle, the costs are comparable with anywhere else.

Thank you! There is Asda near where I work and they do ivf for cost price so it's quite a bit cheaper so just looking into the logistics of it.

Your reply is so helpful thank you

The clinic called at 4:30 to cancel our appointment on Monday and offered Tuesday but DH is working abroad Tuesday so we've not go an appointment now till 26th April !

We booked this appointment early January and been trying to conceive for over 3 years . I feel so disappointed

So sorry to hear that darcy. Must be so gutting when you've been mentally prepping for this for so long.

Thank you. I'm just worried that when we have initial appointment it will be a further 6 week, or longer, wait for the implications appointment

Hi everyone, I have been searching for a while to find this, I really wanted to talk to people who go to Victoria Wing as well. My doctor is dr Chandra I can see nobody mentioned her before ? Anyway, I am due to have my Baseline scan on Monday. So far all good this will be our first cycle and it's funded by NHS. Our infertility is unexplained, both my husband and me look healthy but trying for 3 years with no luck. I am 34 and really hopeful for this chance. Darcy, I am sorry to hear your appointment been postponed, but time flies by and April is around the corner! Hi Sunday 81, geeup, moggle, motherfeeder, drink your milk and belle82, trying to catch up with everyones Story, sorry is I missed anyone! I am struggling a bit with my injections, I'm scared every time i need to inject plus it's very itchy afterwards :( but will survive !