Starting the IVF journey - anyone want to come along for the ride?

[jemimafuddleduck]

I'm so excited and have to speak to someone other than my poor husband! No one even knows we've been trying, let alone heading along the ivf route so I'm feeling quite alone in all of this. Hence my MANY posts on MN, if you've seen any of them.

We had our first clinic appointment today, which I've been nervously/excitedly waiting for.

I have high FSH (17.4), and the consultant, although absolutely LOVELY, initially made me feel like I was pretty much in menopause.

Then she scanned me and said although she couldn't see lots of follicles, it was nowhere near as bad as she had thought.

However our CCG won't do IVF unless your FSH is under 12, so I'm out... unless I have AMH over 5.5.

I had an AMH test today and will get the results in a week or two.

If the result is ok, we'll go straight to NHS IVF immediately- no waiting list!

If it's bad... there are other options and this is already a long post.

Anyone want to share and keep me company? X

[jemimafuddleduck]

Ohhh @Booksandbaths1 I'm SO sorry you've been through such a tough time.
Obviously it's great that you have 5 on ice, but I can only imagine how you are feeling at the moment.
Sending you lots of hugs, please take care of yourself and be nice to yourself. Lots of treats xx

[Booksandbaths1]

@jemimafuddleduck sorry for not being in touch. I've had a hellish few weeks in amidst ivf as my gran died and my sister's in hospital with a serious neuro issue. Found out yesterday our ivf hasn't worked as my period arrived 8 days after our 5 day transfer. I'm feeling absolutely devastated. The cycle itself was do able but the emotional side is ruddy hard. I can't remember the last time I felt this low. I did respond ok to the meds (max dose) and have 5 embryos frozen.

[jemimafuddleduck]

How's everyone doing?
I have an appointment with the nurse on Tuesday to talk through medication, then start taking medication the following week (19th).
I've had a tough day emotionally today, and have had a heart to heart with DH who has been great. But we haven't told anyone what's going on with us (my choice) and I'm finding things really hard at the moment. Which is kind of ridiculous as we have a plan and will be starting v soon!
Does anyone else feel this way?

[Beetroot01]

@Jamimafuddleduck thank you for asking. I am good, still on Buserelin. My DR scan is on 21 November and then we will see can we start stims on 22nd. If everything goes by plan, before Christmas I will find out is it BFP or BFN :)

[jemimafuddleduck]

How are you feeling @Beetroot01 and @Booksandbaths1 ?

[jemimafuddleduck]

Hi all! So excited to say that we got a call today saying that the clinic have an egg donor match for us! Meds begin 19th November, then all being well with the donor, transfer is likely to be Christmas Eve!!!!! Eeeek!!! 🎅🤶😁

[Beetroot01]

Started Buserelin today :)

[Tasha1994]

Congrats😊 I hope your not waiting too long x

[Booksandbaths1]

Wooo hooo @jemimafuddleduck that's great news! All the waiting is so annoying (I'm bored of waiting in this ivf cycle already) but every little hurdle we get past is one closer to a baby. We may not know how many hurdles there'll be but we gotta keep moving forward, and you are!
I'm really intrigued as to what info they use to choose egg donor - are you at that yet? I ask as I wonder if we'll end up needing one.x x

[jemimafuddleduck]

WE'VE HAD OUR COUNSELLING AND ARE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR EGGS! YAY!!

Although, the coordinator has said it is unlikely to happen this side of Christmas, so that's a bit disappointing, but at least we are officially on the waiting list!

So pleased 😀

[Tasha1994]

I’m glad your finally getting a move on! I hope it work out for you. We were told we would get to pick a donor from the clinic. We’re in Scotland so I have no idea if it work differently up here? I’m just glad to have the ball rolling even if there is more hoops to jump through x

[jemimafuddleduck]

Hi @Tasha1994 and welcome to the board!

That's great that you've got your appointment soon, bet you're really excited! But tbh in terms of timescales it's how long is a piece of string. It will all depend on your situation, whether they order any more tests and whether they have a waiting list, plus what's the situation with donor sperm (which I assume you'll be using!).

To give you an idea, I was referred by GP in May, had my first appointment at the clinic in August, and after my appointment today will be officially on the waiting list for donor eggs.

I know the waiting sucks tho!

[Tasha1994]

Hi, I’ve been reading this post and all the comments. I think it’s great yous are all supporting each other and it has honestly helped calm my nerves about a lot of questions I had. Hope yous don’t mind me jumping on the bandwagon. I got diagnosed with pcos last year, as my partner is female and we can’t exactly ttc we were referred to a fertility clinic after having several blood tests and scans done. All confirmed I haven’t ovulated although do have eggs?! Our first appointment has finally came through for 2 weeks time! So excited honestly! Told we were referred for iui. Ca anytime tell me time frame from this first appointment to possibly first attempt? Done with waiting now x

[Beetroot01]

@jemimafuddleduck thank you, I waited for this to happened for so long, I am so excited xxx

[jemimafuddleduck]

@Beetroot01 aaaaahhhhhh!!!! How exciting!! So pleased for you.

Thanks all for your messages. Tried to be a bit more positive today.

[Beetroot01]

We had a nurse app today. So we are starting at the end of october with buserelin, then on 21 november scan, if ok on 22 november starting stims with Meriofert. I am so excited, happy and a little scared :)

[ChrisPrattsFace]

They’re ok thanks! We have an appointment tomorrow where we hope to start clomid or similar. Last appointment I was told as I’m under 35 I’m not priority so would be difficult to move forward with me...
We’ve asked to see another dr for this next appointment after that!

[Booksandbaths1]

Hi again @ChrisPrattsFace how's things with you?

@jemimafuddleduck I totally understand - I found our ivf form filling out appountment very stressful and felt quite anxious afterwards. I hope you soon feel a bit calmer. We've got a counselling sesh thru the clinic on Thursday.

[Booksandbaths1]

Hey guys! I'm still on the downreg meds (1 week done) and tbh they aren't that bad. My dh may disagree as I've been a bit naggy today but I'm generally feeling ok. Ive been getting him to prep and inject me to sprrad some of the responsibility around. I'm kind of trying to not think about it much as it's a long process so I am trying to keep my cool at this early stage. I'm quite sure I'll have meltdowns later 😂

[jemimafuddleduck]

Hi @ChrisPrattsFace - welcome back! How are you doing? What's happening with you?
We had our nurse appointment today which was all the forms and legal stuff. It went well but I came out of there feeling a bit upset... even though that's a bit ridiculous because things are moving in the right direction. Not really sure why I felt sad.
Counselling this time next week, then we are officially on the waiting list for eggs!

[ChrisPrattsFace]

Hi guys! Commented at the beginning and just been reading along since!
How are you all doing? Where is everyone at?
I hope it doesn’t take so long for your jemima, it’s awful when good news comes with the bad news! Hopefully as others have said, it’s expectstion management... not that it helps!

[jemimafuddleduck]

How are you feeling @Booksandbaths1 ? How has it been so far?

[Booksandbaths1]

I was going to say similar @jemimafuddleduck - in that they probably say 3-12 months to manage expectations. It might even be nice to have a lovely relaxing Christmas knowing that the process will kick off early in the new year? But I understand we how frustrating the lack of info is and not being able to plan.

We are self funding this cycle as we don't qualify for our 1 nhs cycle til spring next year and with my low amh we felt we wanted to crack on. I'm 34. Plus I know the chances of it working are lower with my amh of 5 so felt if we end up doing egg donor then best to know sooner rather than later. It all takes so much waiting and I'd rather not be too old a mum. I wonder if this cycle fails badly of we could ask to be put forward for donor eggs on the nhs like you... I'm really interested to hear the process you're going through as we may find ourselves there soon enough. I start down regging today and then in 2 weeks start stimming. Will be on max dose of the stimulation meds in the hope of getting some eggs.

[jemimafuddleduck]

Remind me sorry @Booksandbaths1 - are you private or NHS?
So what's than plan for you? How long will you be on meds etc?
I'm ok thanks. Had a lovely holiday but back to reality now!
We have our nurse appointment a week today, then our counselling the week after, and then in theory we're on the waiting list for our eggs!
I randomly saw my fertility doctor at the weekend and mentioned to her that I'd been told the wait was 3-12 months (she was the one who told me there was no waiting list!). She reassured me a bit, said that the coordinator would say that to manage expectations but in reality it wouldn't be anywhere near that long.
I still don't think it'll start this side of Christmas but you never I know I guess.
Just trying to take things one step at a time x

[Booksandbaths1]

Thanks @jemimafuddleduck v sweet of you. I'm flipping between feeling quite calm about it to freaking out and feeling anxious. But on the whole I'm ok. Trying not to think about it too much - taking it one day at a time. I'm also trying to see this cycle as an exploration to hopefully find out more about quality/quantity of eggs and sperm. How are you feeling about things? Hope you had a lovely hol last month.