Anyone about to start IVF

[csds]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone is about to start IVF. Would be good to go through this journey with someone/people. Share experiences etc.

So, I'm a bit crestfallen today. Had another round of bloods and scan and just received a call from my consultant. She is saying that my hormone levels are lower than expected and so far we only have 3 maturing follicles. She has upped my Gonal F dose again in hopes this may wake them up a bit, but potentially we may have to abandon the cycle if nothing changes. I'm gutted. I'm 30 and have been told by numerous consultants that I'm in tip top shape, so really wasn't expecting any challenges like this. Silver lining is that my womb lining is apparently great, but I'm struggling to focus on the positives given that news. Here's hoping that by Wednesday I'll have a few more eggs to show for all of this.

@Terry this happens when the Consultant asks to increase the dosage but most of time the results is great!!! Don’t worry I am sure your ovaries will produce some more follies! If your lining is great it means it is working....all the best for Wednesday.

@csds whoop whoop you go girl!!! In no time they will collect these eggs of yours you will see 😘

Yay csds you’ve started! I feel excited too - I’m so relieved to realise I can do the injections bit! First step taken :-)

Terry sorry to hear you had a bit of a shock with that result. If it helps, I have a friend who had exactly that scenario and got 4 eggs, one of which became her daughter. So you’re still definitely in the game. Quality not quantity and all that! Everything crossed for you :-)

Starlumiere, thanks, yes feeling full of energy and excitement right now.

Terry, I totally back what tryingto said, it only takes one! I remember reading on another thread that a woman had about 36 eggs collected. None! Federalised, it's not about quantity Hun, yes numbers help us get our hopes up. But if you've got one mega egg, game is not over. I can understand why you feel gutted but Hun, you have 3 nicely maturing eggs with a fab womb lining. If they all fertilise that's still two you've got to freeze. You're still in it to win it. X

Hello Ladies!

@csds glad to hear it! Keep it up sweetie!

@Terry how are you sweetie?

Well my AF has arrived so next month for my next cycle I start! 3 weeks before it all happens

I hope everybody else is well,

XXX

@Star - I'm feeling slightly better, just got off the phone to the on call Dr and she has put my mind at ease somewhat. Looks like I'm switching to Menapur for the last few days of stims to try and coax a bit more of a response. She said that there is still a load of time and to try and relax, also seemed heartened that I'm back to feeling like I've been runover this afternoon and have been crying on and off all day. Next scan is tomorrow at 8am so hopefully we will have a bit of an update then!

@Terry, aww sweetie I know it can be tough all these milestone we have to reach. It is great news there is a plan B and Gonal F + Menopur is what I took and it worked well. I am glad you feel better and it is true though - one injection can change tour EC date. Crying is therapeutic so not necessarily a bad thing. I have everything crossed for you tomorrow morning . Remember, you can do this despite the challenges. Try to relax and look after yourself. We inject ourselves with lots of hormones hence it is bound to affect us in many ways. It is a roller coaster of a journey, but think of the purpose of what we are all doing! Remember your goal! A huge hug & Love to you XXX

Awww bless you terry. Hope you are able to relax as much as poss and that your scan shows a bit of positive action. A lot can change in a few days so everything crossed for you x

Terry I'm rooting for you Hun, like the doc said, there's still time, all is not lost. They have a back up plan to switch your injections. It's all positive steps. Get your comfy's on, have your cry, eat your chocolate and watch your trashy tv. Tomorrow wake up positive, tackle the day and go in positive to that Scan. Hopefully you'll come out of it pleasantly surprised. But.... if you haven't got your zillion eggs, remember it really does only take one and you've still got to hold on to that hun.

Sending you lots of hugs and have everything crossed for you xx

Dear all, we went today for our first consultation at Basildon hospital. Have to have bloods etc and HSG as refused surgery. Was told to come back in 3 month but next avaiable ap is at the end of June.
Im 40 in few weeks, same with my partner, none of us have any kids, overweight, fertility problems with both ( very low SC
and im not ovulating) etc.
Can anyone tell me if it is normal for everything taking this long ( took us 2 month to get todays ap) and when we will know if we can have ivf under nhs? What are the criterias for being accepted? We dont want to wait ages and want to get going asap.
Anyone knows this hospital and has any exoerience with them?
Any help will be much appreciated

@kv785301 it depends of the area you are I think. I can tell you that where I am in Berkshire the NHS would not do anything for somebody over a certain age. I was 43 and had to go private. You should ask your GP. Once you know then you can plan. On the NHS the timings vary again, privately well you pay so it is a lot faster. I honestly believe that you could ask a lot of it to your GP. Or maybe somebody knows more ladies?

Good luck sweetie and don’t give up!

@Terry thinking of you and wishing you the very best tomorrow at 8am!! 🌟✨🍀🙏🏻😘

kv785301, I'm now private due to circumstance but I started off trying to go the NHS route, it seemed slow. I was waiting months apart for appointments and it was feeling like it was taking forever. I am aware from other forums that it is a postcode lottery. I'm not sure about the age factor but have heard things about age limits. But as for the speed of things it depends how many patients a hospital has at that time having fertility treatment (as it's all to do with funding). As Star said, your dr should be able to give you more of an idea as to waiting times x

You might find some useful info here, kv: www.fertilityfairness.co.uk

But also as other people said check with your doctor as it totally depends on your area. Which is terrible, but sadly it is the way it is at the moment. Best of luck to you xx

Stressful morning! So I've gone from two strong follicles to five, with a fair few catching up. However, my estrogen is still too low and so they have switched me to Menapir for two more days and have another scan on Friday at 1pm. There is still a real chance that they will cancel my cycle if my bloods aren't good enough. So! Trying to stay positive and just hope for the best. Thanks everyone for being so sweet and supportive. I lost it in the waiting room today, surprising for how a room full of women who as really going through similar treatment just watched on as I blubbed to myself in the corner.

Hi @Terry happy to hear you went from 2 to 5 follies! Great progress. Menopur will sort you out, otherwise there is an estrogen called Progynova that is taken after the EC, couldn't they give this to you? I don't know, I am just speculating. But Menopur is strong sweetie, so I am positive you will be fine.

Lost of love to you and big hug ,
XXX

Thank you for the supportive words :)

What I'm upset about it the lack of clear information - I'm at the lister in Chelsea and it seems that other clinics give women a lot more information in regards to their levels, follicles etc. All I'm really told is the very basics - maybe that's to stop me over thinking it all.

Also, due to having a good amh and being young(ish), my consultant seems to think that I can "do better" and seems to be keen to scrap it all and start again with different Meds. We are paying privately so this is an extra 2k that I wasn't expecting and I'm a little surprised about how sort of flippant it is. Part of me wants to ask them to just go ahead and collect whatever eggs I have!!

Sorry - feel like I'm dominating this thread with all my moaning. :(

@Terry please do not apologies. We are on here for exactly this, Oman, ask and share. You are rightly annoyed as well. It is not like you are exaggerating. They told you a story, you go ahead and buy the meds they prescribe you, but then meh not what they expected. Ask question sweetie, don’t feel shy! I flipping did! I have asked how many mm my follies were, how big they should be, why they should be that way, when should it be, why the sky is blue, why chocolate is so good!!! 😂😂 no honestly we are paying for a service and expect it! Plus it is my body and I usually don’t even take a nurofen so you have a lot of explaining with all these mess ha!

At the end of the day, it is your body, your money, your decision. Please do not give up on this cycle. With 2 more shots I went from 4 to 8 eggs with Gonal F and Menopur!!! What’s your dosage? Keep smiling, there is always a solution. I know it is tough, I miscarried twins the last week of 2017, but hey we want this right? 😘💫💕🎉🍀🙏🏻

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Oman is meant to be moaning!!! 😂😂😂😂

@Star Thank you :) Will start asking more questions for sure. They have taken me off of Gonal F completely and swapped me on to 225 Menapur. Apparently people with similar issues respond well to that. I think their biggest concern for me is low estrogen as on my day 7 scan it was only 665, apparently this needs to be in excess of 1000. Not sure what today's blood results are but I have my next (and probably last) scan and tests on Friday afternoon. Fingers crossed I guess!! I've taken some time off work to de-stress and give myself the best shot at this.

I totally agree with everything star said, firstly don't apologise to us, these threads are here to help us support one another, moan, cry, shout , scream and celebrate.... there's not exceptions. Secondly, don't give up and don't let them force you into giving up, if you had just one follicle, that's a chance and no offence to anyone but your paying out of your own pocket so you stand your ground.

Having some time off work sounds like a plan, do something that relaxes you, calms and chills you out x

Sorry you’ve had such a tough day, terry. 5 follies is a great improvement from 2, and I really hope the Menopur does the trick for you and things move on. Take care and do some nice things for yourself, you definitely deserve it. Time off work sounds like a really good plan x

How you feeling today Terry?

I'm OK, feeling very "womby" today and very aware of my ovaries for some reason! I think the menapur is doing the trick.

I spoke to a nurse this morning about my estrogen levels - looks like they are up to 1200 now which I am really happy about. She seemed positive, which is great. Fingers crossed!!

How are you all?

Glad things seem better Terry, so when is tour next appointment?

I'm good thanks, injections seem to be going ok. I'm next at the hospital on Saturday for bloods and scan. X

Oh that’s great news, terry, sounds like you’re responding really well to the Menopur. Hope things are all good tomorrow and you’re ready for egg collection v soon!

Glad you’re doing ok so far csds! Hope scan is all good and you’re on track too :-)