Infertility investigations/IVF in Scotland

[justbeingelle]

Just thought I'd start a thread for those who are undergoing infertility investigations/IVF in Scotland because it seems as though it can vary from the rest of the UK.

DH and I have been TTC since June 2018. Started investigations around July 2019. I have a large ovarian cyst which will be removed, hopefully after Christmas. Getting a laparoscopy and dye to check tubes too. I have very regular periods and I am ovulating. DH has a low sperm count, but the ones he has are good quality. Still awaiting results from ultrasounds, genetic tests etc so still feel like we're at the beginning of our journey. This is our first time TTC and we've not had a hint of a BFP.

Anyone else?

[justbeingelle]

@NG9876 gahhh comments like that cut deep 😣 yeah we were placed on the waiting list for ICSI in Glasgow at our appointment in December so I'm hoping we'll be seen summer time.

[NG9876]

@justbeingelle Fingers crossed! 🤞

[Pinecone88]

@justbeingelle Thank you 🤗 I do appreciate the support here on MN.

I told my direct manager today about our upcoming treatment. She was really nice about it and said that some women in her family have also gone through it. I will have no problem getting the time off and if I need to reschedule my days at the last moment I can just let her know.
I have a pretty chill office, so I am lucky that way thankfully.
Will you ladies tell your work?

[justbeingelle]

@Pinecone88 that's fantastic re: your work, that will definitely make things easier. I think I'll need to tell my work, unless I can use annual leave to cover days I might need. It's probably a good idea to tell them because I have quite a stressful/high pressure job, although past experience tells me they won't make many adjustments regarding this, aside from time off for medical apts 🙄

[Pinecone88]

@justbeingelle I will take annual leave as well, but I find it easier when manager knows as if I need to change dates for transfer then I won't have to stress out. Infertility is stressful enough as it is.
Well hopefully your work can accommodate you and take off some of the stress during IVF 🤞, but some employers do still need to learn some emphaty and compassion on the topic.

[NG9876]

My boss is quite new, I haven't told her yet. I had two appointments in a week in December but didn't say what they were. I will tell her soon and I know she'll be flexible. I'm a teacher so thinking it may end up being during school holidays although would prefer if it to be sooner. My husband is a teacher too so holidays would be convenient. I don't know how often you have to go to the hospital but we are an hour and a half drive so don't know how Ll the time off would work.

[MelAndShoe]

@Pinecone88 glad your boss was so good that's positive

@NG9876 I'm in schools too and one of my colleagues had ivf and school were fab about being off for appointments and stuff.

Just reading back about Christmas struggle posts. hard time of year.

I had my 1st appointment at the Royal (Glasgow) staff were so good. Have 2 more appointments through. Does anyone go to the Royal? I like to arrive early cos of parking etc and found it quite a stressful hosp to hang about in before. QEUH I know where the wee coffee shop is etc and will sit there/go for a walk in grounds. Is there a place to hang out in Royal if early? I didn't see any coffee shops? But I dont know the hosp at all. Not a big problem obviously but i end up working myself up pre appointments and would be nice to go in more relaxed!

[justbeingelle]

@MelAndShoe I've been placed on the waiting list for ICSI there as our local fertility unit doesn't do that type. Was that your very first apt for fertility? How are you feeling after it? I've never been to the royal. Is that at the back of Glasgow city centre, nearby Strathclyde uni? There might be coffee shops nearby if you couldn't see anything in the hospital. I thought they'd have had a wee restaurant or something but maybe not.

[MelAndShoe]

@justbeingelle yes that was 1st one at infertility clinic. They said return appointments time is around 8 weeks and then have also got one before then for an endocrine dr within the ACS clinic.

They did as scan as part of appointment even though I have a separate referral for a scan which was good. Have sent of for more bloods and to go for another scan as couldn't see what was happening in ovaries very well.

Are you on the Facebook group for ivf at the royal? It's quite useful. Depends if you are happy being on it with your fb account through. I don't post much personal stuff on it rather be anon on here but it is useful for info.

[justbeingelle]

@MelAndShoe that's good, I know I felt better when I felt things were moving forward if that makes sense? No I'm not on it, what's it called? I wonder if it's a private group? Then will it still show on my profile as having joined?

[MelAndShoe]

It's private and doesn't show on profile/doesn't show if anyone looks at group who members are unless they are in it too.

Risk is you join group and then have a mutual friend/friend of friend who then tells someone else.

I've not told lots of people about my diagnosis but it isn't a secret either so I didn't mind. But for more feelings and in depth stuff would prob use on here. But for learning about which number to call/what protocols/what's usual for that hosp it seems useful. I'll pm you the link to it.

[nextweek]

Hi all. So my AF arrived today, not really surprised as I know the chances of us conceiving naturally are very slim. Feels a bit pointless to continue trying while we wait for IVF but I can't help but hope for a little miracle!

Hi @MelAndShoe sorry I can't advise as I'm not in Glasgow, but I know what mean about arriving early then feeling anxious while waiting around. I always get to my appointments super early because I worry so much about being late!

[MelAndShoe]

@nextweek not pointless at all, read often about people who randomly fall preg despite the odds etc so worth still trying.

Yes I like to have a safe wee routine of where I can go before appointment. I'm sure I'll get to know the Royal!

[justbeingelle]

@nextweek not pointless, you never know!

@MelAndShoe used another profile to join that group, hopefully I still get accepted 🙈 I was paranoid about my full Facebook feed finding out I'd joined haha.

[Pinecone88]

@nextweek It's so funny though, even though we know getting pregnant naturally is very, very unlikely to happen, we still kind of hope every month 😃
I'm starting IVF meds at the end of the month, but still think, well maybe my period won't arrive and I will get pregnant. But thinking logically - it's been 5 years! What are the chances! Seriously!
Brain just doesn't give up hope 😆

[nextweek]

@Pinecone88 The end of the month is not far off, how are you feeling about getting started?

[Pinecone88]

@nextweek I can't wait! Feeling pretty calm about it, meditation is def helping.

[nextweek]

@Pinecone88 That's great that you're feeling calm. I checked out that app you mentioned, I've kept a note of it for when I'm starting treatment. When I think about starting I feel about 10 emotions at once, from excited to scared, but I think it's just too far away for me still for it feel real.

[Pinecone88]

@nextweek I was quite anxious before I knew my starting date as it's constant wait on the letters from the hospital 😬
I hope you will start soon, waiting is the worst part of this whole thing 😶

[Scotgirl1]

@nextweek totally normal to do that. I still hope each month too but at least now it’s not the same level of disappointment when AF comes.

We haven’t told anyone so when I joined the Glasgow royal Facebook group I noticed some people I knew / had in common with friends and left. A shame though as it is probably a really good support network.

Regarding Glasgow Royal. I always go in via the John lister building. You can park in the multi story, go by A&E then take a right. It’s up some steps and on your right. One day we had to go in and out the front entrance and it’s right next to the maternity wing. It hurt a bit seeing all the bumps when your just walking out of a fertility appointment :(

[Scotgirl1]

Meant to say that’s where the coffee shop is so I’d rather not sit there!

[justbeingelle]

I got rejected from the fake profile I used so just bit the bullet and used my proper Facebook profile. Could use the support. I'm struggling tonight. I'm off work sick and I think that's probably contributing to feeling quite low at the moment. Just feeling quite hopeless and like it'll never happen. Gahhh.

[nextweek]

@justbeingelle Sorry you're feeling down at the moment. I used to try to force myself feel better when I was having bad days, but now I just let myself feel down/angry/frustrated, whatever it is, and wallow for as long as I need to then pick myself up again. Hope you feel better soon, feeling unwell definitely doesn't help matters

[justbeingelle]

@nextweek you're right, thank you. Feeling better today. Just has a wee moment last night 😅

[justbeingelle]

@MelAndShoe I had the same experience re: number of friends with friends in common. It really is a small world.