New year, new 'starting the journey' thread

[CloudSway]

I know there are a lot of threads about people starting out, but they were all started a while ago and everyone seems a lot further ahead these days.

So.... newbies unite?

DH and I have been ttc for 2yrs. Saw our gp who ordered blood tests and sperm tests. He gave us a boat load of info..... jokes, he was pants. Told me I was 'fine' and husband was 'not fine', only detail was that DH has 4mil out of a necessary 16mil sperm, mentioned ivf and referred us to a specialist. That's all the info we got. Today I had a transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound. It was not the most fun 20 mins of my life but it was fine, now I'm trying to play Sherlock and figure out what the random numbers the radiologist was shouting about my ovaries meant. How about you?

Because I'm early stages, I avoided forums/Google etc because I'm prone to anxiety and didn't want to panic unnecessarily. Therefore apologies but I'm still trying to figure out all the abbreviations and lingo! Also sorry, I'm naturally sarcastic and a bit sweary, but that doesn't mean I'm insensitive - it would be great to share stories and support each other here

I watched the first episode of the Madeline McCann documentary tonight on Netflix. Random fact... she was an IVF baby!

@squirrelnutkins1 I watched a few of those. That's what I picked up on too! Bless her.
Got to ep 5 and haven't wanted to watch the rest

@kelly199 thanks my cycle is normally predictable we have mfi but saying that since starting pregnacare the last few months it has shortened my cycle by at least a day!!

I have recorded cheat so will be giving it a whirl!

@squirrialnutkins1 interesting does that mean the twins are aswell I wonder?

Not been on here for a little while but I had the call yesterday to go for my treatment planning appt next week, where they'll give us the drugs etc ready for me to start injecting on the 21st day of my cycle - we are doing the long protocol - anyone going through that at the moment? I don't know what to expect and have been told that all the extra hormones turn you into a raving lunatic! Lol.

@Kelly199 sorry i wasnt on yesterday its gd isnt it? @squirrelnutkins1 yh i heard Madeline was an ivf baby thats what confused me even more they obvs had to go through a lot to have her im sorry but id never leave my child alone to go out and have a meal terrible

@sl85 the hormones are such a worry hun x

@FinallytakingtheplungewithIVF glad it's usually on time!
@sl85 glad that the ball is rolling for you!
@2fingers22018 exactly what I thought!! Why on earth would you leave your child anywhere! From the documentary, seems as though they were dumping her off all the time because she was in kids club through the day. Bless her. So sad.

@Kelly199 @2fingers22018 I thought exactly the same! You have your 'adult' holidays before kids, then your hols will change, that's all part and parcel of having kids! they were just shoved off to be looked after by others all the time.
Then when Kate saw Maddie was missing she ran back down the street to alert everyone but left the twins in the room alone!?! Can't get my head round it all.

@sl85 all the best! Glad the balls rolling 😊

@squirrelnutkins1 @Kelly199 thanks both 😊

@squirrelnutkins1 exactly what I thought about leaving the twins to tell everyone!!!
Yes, totally agree with you with the hols part. You had children so you're now going on family holidays, not hols that you can palm them off onto people and leave them alone at night in a foreign place for you to wine and dine with your friends!! Infuriates me.
@sl85 keep us updated!!
Anyone on here had any scans yet? I don't think so, but double checking as it's hard to keep up with it all lol. Posted on a couple of threads, but nobody got back. I'm clueless about the scans what would be considered good/bad. Anyone know?

Hi @kelly199 I had a transvaginal ultrasound and a hsg. Is that what you mean? They went okay. On the hsg they said they could see the dye spill which means no blockages. What they see on the ultrasound depends where you are ein your cycle but think they were checking for any cysts/abnormalities

Hi @veeboo no sorry, I've had both of those.
I'm starting clomid next week so will be having 3 transvaginal scans next cycle (same cycle as the clomid) so they can monitor. Just wanted to know mm of follicles they like and how many is good and peoples experiences with amount of follicles and if they've allowed them to go ahead with cycle If there's 3 mature.
Just thinking of all avenues so I'm a little prepared sorry, should've been more clear! Thanks for replying xx

No scans here yet not till I start injections!! I already have to many follicles apparently 30 on my last scan so I am on the lowest amount of hormones they can give me as I have a higher risk of getting ohss which worries me! From other threads follicles seem to want to be 15+ but that’s for ivf is the principle the same on Clomid? Sorry I don’t know 🤷‍♀️ so many different things!!

@FinallytakingtheplungewithIVF thanks for your reply!
This is what I'm worried about as I have PCOS so I'm wondering if that means I will overestimate on clomid? I may not even be making sense because I suppose they wouldn't give it to me otherwise and prob doesn't work that way. I guess I'll have to wait and find out!
Thank you for the info.
When are you starting your injections?

@kelly199 yes the consultant said I might have PCOS because of how many follicles I have but I have regulars af was every 28 but seems to have gone to 27 recently! When I had all my bloods done I went back to my go to save some money and asked him to do day 21 to check for ovulation which he did and came back indicating ovulation so I don’t think I have? How were you diagnosed if you don’t mind me asking?
I would think they have prescribed you what they think is the right dose and along with your scans they should be able to alter your dose if it looks like it’s to high! Are they doing bloods aswell?

I have to wait for af then I can start on bemfola! I am on short protocol and at create so I only have to do about 10 days worth of injections not to bad compared to reading others doing long protocol! I am on the lowest dose and depends on how it goes depends on which trigger shot I ha r to do as they have given me both! So confusing!!

When i seen the gynae she told me (im 99% sure) id be doing short protocol ivf which i just cant get my head round shes not even tested my hormones or done scans at this point its like how the hell would u know yet? I DO NOT like her shes very arrogant i asked at the hospital if i could see someone else they said no so i dont want to push and make my wait even longer😥

@2fingers22018 might be a silly question but do they do both long and short? At create they don’t do long as they are all about milf IVF but I think it can vary on medication and so on.

@FinallytakingtheplungewithIVF mine opposite end, I'm usually later some months. Although, still not really irregular as I'm between 29-36 days. I know some people can go a long time without a period.
🤞🏼 I don't jinx myself!!!!
I've had initial bloods with my gp and she said my results showed suspected PCOS due to hormone imbalance and showed I didn't ovulate and so she needed to refer me to hosp for scans. I then went for a transvaginal in hospital and results showed PCOS due to number of follicles I had on each ovary. Then went back to gp and she referred me to a specialist. This is where I went private to avoid the wait. Had hycosy with her where they also do transvaginal during procedure and she confirmed it too.
Have had numerous bloods since then. Waiting results today, got to text her to ask.
That's for repeat day 26 bloods to see if I ovulated but irregular. My repeat 21 were too low, so perhaps I have anovulatory cycles due to PCOS or irregular.
Yeah, I think so. I'm starting the clomid either wknd or next week, depending when it shows. I'm only on 50mg/day, so would've thought that's a low enough dosage. They're doing 3 scans in the cycle and repeat 21 day bloods anyway, so they'll see if I have overstimulated.
Never heard of bemfola!
Hope it all goes well for you.
I haven't heard of the short/long protocol?

@2fingers22018 really sorry you've got someone arrogant!! Not nice when you're going through this journey. Maybe she will get better! I thought with mine she was like that at first, but as I saw her more, she got better. (I know they shouldn't be like that anyway, but hopefully she'll improve).

I think the NHS is an amazing thing and we're so fortunate to have it..... but I do hate how you have to almost prove yourself. I know there must be a lot of fakers out there but that ruins it for everyone else.
My gynae/fertility guy really didn't believe my symptoms sounded like endometriosis and then was sheepish after my lap!
For years I've was fobbed off by gp's saying I was too young or I've got ibs (I don't!!!)
We just have to push through and keep going. Shame we have to deal with the arrogant or rough blood taking nurses etc type along the way tho 🙄

@squirrelnutkins1 totally agree with you. We are fortunate to have it, but I felt like by paying private she took me more seriously!
It is terrible!!
Just hope we can all have a positive at the end and when we look back it'll all have been worth it!! 🤞🏼

@kelly199 wow well least your dr was helpful and got thing sorted for you!
It sounds like you will e monitored well so fingers crossed for you!
Bemfola is what they use to stimulate the follicles I start that on day two of my cycle I think have to ring the clinic on day 1 to arrange scan/bloods on day 6 and then I have scans on day 8 and 10 aswell and I think day 6 I have to start taking cetrotide to stop the eggs being released and then once I’m good to go I can use the trigger shot!
Yes not sure on the long one but I think that is done over 5/6 weeks not sure so a lot more injecting I think! Don’t quote me.

@FinallytakingtheplungewithIVF I know! She is lovely!
Oh right! Thank you for explaining.
Really hope it all works out for you, good luck! You have a few scans ahead too! Xx

@FinallytakingtheplungewithIVF im not sure she just said theyr not gettin great success rates with the freezers atm @Kelly199 I hope she improves lol she was too busy to do my hycosy when i went someone else did it and i was sooo glad her and the nurse were lovely @squirrelnutkins1 exactly because of the minority we suffer and have to almost prove we re not liars its ridiculous..horrorific day today my dog died and im devasted just another kick in the teeth!

@2fingers22018 oh no sorry to hear that!!