Anyone else awaiting fertility referral?

[MallonMary]

Hi all,

Been ttc (unsuccessfully!) for over a year and just found out there's a problem with DH sperm (low mobility and zero normal forms), so awaiting referral to fertility clinic to seek further help/advice.

Just wondered if there's anyone else in a similar situation about to embark on this journey too?

Also similar success stories welcome :) x

Good for you! Enjoy that chinese and wine you deserve it!
Wow, surely she’s meant to keep that confidential! I wouldn’t like being asked like that!! How awful! I bet that upset you! Some people don’t realise it doesn’t just ‘happen’! Have a lovely weekend 💕 I’ll let you know when my af finally arrives! X

Hi all
Sorry not been checking in regularly and finding it hard to keep up!
So frustrating your clomid hasn't arrived @Chochaw how long ago did you order it now? I would kind of like to try clomid but not sure if I should if I haven't been scanned at all? Also it annoys me that it is so expensive privately when I know the actual cost is very cheap! Like £2! I am the lead for medicines procurement for a large hospital trust.
I hope you enjoyed your wine and chinese, it's important to have something you enjoy when you are sad.
Also can't believe what they said in your zoom call! That is outrageous! I would be livid!

@Morpho123 hope AF arrives soon so you can move forward, did you decide if you are taking a break next cycle or trying clomid? Sorry if I missed you saying!

AF is due today and judging by my cramps will be here today.
The hospital called me Thursday to reschedule my appointment, booked it for Tuesday only for the medical secretary to call me Friday and say I need to change it as they booked me under a different consultant to the one my husband saw 😩 she was like 'oh you may as well just wait till your husbands next appointment on 21th August now' I was like errrr now I want an appointment sooner so I can get the tests rolling on me! So now waiting for outpatients to call me back and hopefully can get an appointment in before the bloody consultant goes on annual leave for an entire month!!

Why does everything just take so long?! It's so frustrating and like torture. I just know we will need IVF and want to get on with it! Not feeling in a very good place today but that's because it is CD1 I guess.

Have a lovely weekend ladies!

AF has finally arrived, just 4 days late 😂 it’s a painful one! But assume that’s because of the stuff I was on!

@Narwhal88 that’s so frustrating about your appointment! You don’t want to wait til the end of August! I hope they can sort that much sooner for you. This whole thing is such a waiting game, which is so frustrating isn’t it... I’m the most impatient person too lol! Hope you are feeling a little better today?? Everything is so difficult to manage, just when you think your getting close, things get pushed back!

I will do a clomid at home cycle this month, the first month I did it, I did ovulate- the clinic confirmed when we went for further tests, it’s the last pack I have at home, so I may as well use it up! Next month will be back at the clinic with Gonal f injection if this cycle doesn’t work. I have progesterone at home too, so will track my ovulation and take the pessaries after ovulation confirmed to support my luteal phase as I get so much spotting before AF!

Xxx

@Narwhal88 I ordered them on Tuesday but they were supposed to be delivered on Wednesday and still not here. It's probably for the best. I know I ovulate anyway so i'm going to take the month off OPKs and just try do it regularly and hope to catch it that way. I'm still holding up hope that NHS clinic opens in next few weeks and they can get me in to start IUI with next AF so I can fit a cycle in during the summer holidays. I can't imagine my HT would be too pleased if I have to have time off for scans when kids are only in part time.
I would say hang off using clomid if you haven't had any scans at all incase you end up with cysts. Chase up your appointment. Get your GP to do it. Tell them it is affecting your mental health and they can sometimes help. Do you ovulate regularly? Did AF arrive? It's normal to feel so rubbish and feel sorry for yourself. I honestly grieve every month when AF comes.

@Morpho123 I'm sorry AF came but at least you can start again. 3rd time lucky🤞! Clomid definitely gives more painful periods! I feel like someone is pulling my uterus out today 🤣.

@Morpho123 sounds like you have a good plan for this month! I would do the same in your position. Fingers crossed this is your month and you don't need the gonal f. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, I'm inpatient too, I don't want to just keep 'trying' when the chance is most likely very low, I want to get on with it!
I get a lot of spotting too. Though I have noticed if I take the Sainsbury's brand vitamin B complex it is a lot less. Tried that for 3 months then had tesco ones for 3 months and spotting went back to being 5 days long ago. This month started the Sainsbury's again it was only 2 days (which made me stupidly get my hopes up).

@Chochaw yeah AF arrived about 11am. I believe I ovulate regularly yes, regular cycles, always got a peak OPK day 11 and day '21' test showed I ovulated. I also temped for a while which matched the OPKs. So no reason to suggest clomid other then giving me more chances 😂
It's good to take a break from the OPKs, I haven't done them in months now as it just adds to the pressure. At least you ovulate so it could still be your month 🙂 I reckon a lot or most of the NHS clinics are starting up within the next few weeks. Just depends how quickly they can fit everyone in. Doesn't help that it's coming up to holidays when all the doctors go on leave for weeks! I find it so frustrating that I have to have another appointment just for the consultant to say 'right now I need to send you for these tests' when I could just be having those tests now and then have an appointment to discuss the results and next steps. Everything is just so slow.
If I don't hear anything Monday morning I'm going to ring the outpatients booking line and chase it up. I'm no longer being that person who just waits to be contacted, you have to fight to get things done. I've learnt working in the nhs it's the patients that kick up a fuss that get sorted quickly- not how it should be but it's the truth.

Hi all, sorry for the silence, Iv had SO much going on. I was made redundant Monday, and have an interview tomorrow. I’m glad to be out of that place so I’m not upset anymore, more angry for the years of hard work I have put in!

@Narwhal88 so interesting you say that about vitamins! The only thing that stopped my spotting was progesterone but I’m tempted to give the sainsburys ones a go!
How are you getting on? I think it’s always worth trying even if naturally is low because you really never know. I pray for a miracle!

@Chochaw how are you?? Where are you in cycle? My period lasted two days max as usual! It’s so short especially when my lining was good. That confuses me...
Anyway I’m CD5 taking clomid, I haven’t even thought about this month yet, I’m so busy trying to find another job and keep on top of housework and everything inbetween!

Hope everyone is good! Xx

@Morpho123
So sorry to hear about your redundancy. I hope your interview went well today?

I have also been quiet with lots going on this week. I finally found out which class I will have next year and it was not the class I wanted. 4th year I have taught most of the class. 4th year of moving classrooms. I swear HT only moves me so I can declutter every class as I move around the school 😡🤣. This is my 10th year of teaching and never has it been so chaotic. I changed to part time after having my DD. This year my jobshare teacher is not pleased to be put back in class teaching. She is a very experienced teacher but has been doing a job out of class(working with small groups) for 13 years now and is now in with me. She is lovely and I adore her but she is not the most tech savvy which is essential now with all the part time learning from home so my workload has grown massively plus I have the biggest class in school(28pupils when most classes have 15-20). Argh!! Sorry for my moaning!

CD7 for me. Not much going on. Clomid didn't arrive but I got a refund. AF was really heavy for full 5 days for me. I normally only have 2 heavy days. So just going to keep up with vitamins, try naturally with no OPK this month and hope IUI can happen next cycle.

Have you had the flushes this month? X

@chochaw man that sounds really stressful!! I do not envy you at all! It’s all extra stress you really do not need. How has it been being back? Are all children back? I don’t think they are down here yet!

Interview went well today, a little further than I’d like to travel so the wage needs to be a little more to cover, which I put to them so we will see.

No hot flushes yet for me! I’m CD6 so last clomid pill tonight. I started taking zita west dha, 2 times a day, it helps with inflammation which apparently at some point I had pelvic inflammatory disease as it’s on my notes but I didn’t know that??? Lol.

Anyway, I’m just keeping it really chilled especially now I have no income, I’d rather be in a job before I got pregnant but I won’t hold off trying. What will be will be! X

No children back here yet unless they are children of key workers and they are at hub schools. We only have till next Friday left before the summer holidays so we have been in setting up classrooms for social distancing in August and continuing with teaching online for the moment. Next week that will finally slow down. Looking forward to switching off laptop next week and having 5 weeks off.

Keep us posted on job. When do you think you should hear? X

Hi ladies, hope you are having a good weekend.

@Morpho123 I'm good thanks. Now in the 'hope' part of the cycle, due to ovulate in 2 days. Still trying naturally but just sick of getting my hopes up every month and then being heartbroken again.
Sorry about being made redundant, that really sucks. Good to see your interview went well, have they come back to you yet? Hopefully you can find something even better than your last job.
I would have thought you would know if you had pelvic inflammatory syndrome, I thought it caused a lot of pain?! How strange!

@Chochaw I bet this is a really strange time for teaching. Sorry you didn't get the class you wanted. That is quite sneaky of the head if they just want you de clutter haha! At least you can have a nice chill 5 weeks off soon 🙂 Have you heard anything further about your next IUI?

My appointment got rebooked for 30th June which I was pleased about. The pathology lab should hopefully be reopening for SA from tomorrow so my DH is going to ring and check, 🤞🏼
It's good to finally be moving forward again!

@Narwhal88
That's great you got your appointment rearranged.

No word for me about IUI yet. I was told the clinic would be ready to go end of June/beginning of July. My husband will need another SA before we do it because it has been too long now since last one. AF due around 12th July and I was hoping to start then so I could fit a cycle in during holidays but i think it is unlikely now. We are going away for a qeek 4th July so if they contact to do it we wont be able to. I might phone tomorrow and see if that part can be done yet.

@Morpho123 how you doing?

@Narwhal88 hi!! Sorry I didn’t see your message before! It’s so hot in Essex right now!
I have been using clearblue opks this month and I got my flashing smiley yesterday and static today! Which I wasn’t expecting so quickly!
No news on interview yet but they had a few people to see this week, so I should hear by the end of the week!

How are you feeling? How many dpo are you? I know what you mean about the hope zone, I always get sucked into it and then get really disappointed! 😔 it’s like a cruel merry-go-round 🎠

@Chochaw defo chase them up to see if you can get the sa done ASAP... when would your next iui cycle be roughly? Will it be while you are away?

Xx

@morpho123 Af due is the 12th July so if clinic opens it would be baseline scan on day 2/3 and then injections if all is ok. I get back the 11th so perfect timing and means I get a cycle in during summer holidays and school starts back. New announcement yesterday that schools to go back full time now! What an absolute joke this whole thing is. We've all been in for last 2 weeks setting up classrooms for social distancing and now change with 2 days to go. Oh well. I am not thinking about it now till August. We just don't know what is going to change so no point in stressing about it.
Do you think they will be raging if I phone again to ask about SA? I don't want to be known as the 'difficult' patient.
🤞 for interview for you and good luck with OPK this month.

I have honestly not taken any this month. It feels strange. App says I am entering fertile window so we will give it a go. DH did say this morning- you must be ovulating because that is twice youbhave suggested sex 🤣. X

@Chochaw did you end up calling and asking about SA?
I wouldn’t stress yourself over work, try and enjoy the break and deal with it as it comes. Too many days are lost spent worrying!
I really hope you get your next iui during your break, that would work out perfectly 🤞🏽

I have never been more relaxed than I am now. Not working and having a break is doing me a world of good. I don’t even feel stressed about ovulation or anything. We will continue to dtd every other day as I think clomid can mess up the opks? I read that somewhere so I’ll continue for now!

I had such a lovely day yesterday, my husband took me shopping and it was so empty there- not everything was open, but all the shops I like were! So it was nice to feel normal again and enjoy a bit of time out. Luckily he can work on his mobile so he just took some calls whilst we were out. I feel like I’m on holiday all the time 😂 hope the weather is nice for you in Scotland! Xx

Hi all

@Morpho123 I'm good now thanks. Got my appointment on 30th June and DH has his next SA booked in for 3rd July (his birthday bless him 😂)
It sounds like you are in a good place. Enjoy the time off, hopefully the weather stays nice! Your day yesterday sounded lovely! I haven't been shopping (except food) for so long but I'm still quite nervous of going out as I've got really strict with social distancing and it keeps winding me up when people don't follow it 🤣 I was also put in a kind of protective bubble at work during April as I was so critical to covid they didn't want me to get sick! So I'm paranoid!

My promotion officially started yesterday, feels weird in these times. My manager is retiring soon so it's part of the planning for that.

@Chochaw that timeline would be so perfect, fingers crossed for you that it works out. Omg the government guidelines are so annoying how they keep changing things. It's a pain in the arse for us in NHS as well. We basically did nothing for 12 weeks in regards to social distance measures etc and now all of a sudden we are in masks and getting screens put up.

It's so hot today in my office!! I have to put a mask on if I leave my desk and omg you just can't breathe! I feel sorry for everyone wearing them full time in this weather!

@Narwhal88 what a lovely birthday for him 😂😂 at least you have them booked in, well done!

I didn’t get the job, I was too expensive for them, they want someone who they can pay less- which means less experience in my opinion!

I can’t wait for it to cool down a bit tomorrow! It’s been far too hot!

Me and my husband said about trying naturally for a few months after this. I’m hoping we fall in the bracket of people who conceive within 2 years?! Lol 😂

We are technically unexplained now, so I literally haven’t got a clue what to treat. But I do not I’m a lot more relaxed and don’t feel the stress that I used to from work!

Have a lovely weekend girls! Xx

Hi ladies,

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend. Yay summer holidays for me! I am CD16 so due yo ovulate tomorrow but I am not testing so we will see what happens. I called my clinic and got the grumpy receptionist again who said they would call me when it is my turn and wouldn't give me anymore info.

@Narwhal88 good luck with your appointment on Tuesday!

@Morpho123 I am glad you are feeling more relaxed and sorry you never got the job. If they don't realise your worth they don't deserve you.
X

@Chochaw hope you managed to dtd over ovulation! Sometimes it’s best not to take tests!
So disappointing with a grumpy receptionist! This situation is stressful enough! So rude!

I have another MRI next Wednesday with a dye injected around my body. I’m 13dpo that day so will do a test to be sure before. I just literally never think it’s going to happen anymore. I honestly was so naive before this! Xx

@morpho123 I have managed every 2nd day this cycle which is an achievement for me. App says today but who knows? I am not stressing and it feels good to not be testing. It looks like we will miss next cycle with IUI because i've not heard from clinic yet.

Definitely take a test before MRI. You should get a positive by day 13 if you are pregnant. Is MRI for your MS?

I have been looking at holidays for later in year but keep putting off booking because I say but I might be pregnant. I think I might just do it.

Good luck tomorrow @Narwhal88. Let us know how you get on.
X

Thanks @Chochaw so frustrating about your clinic and receptionist grr people could at least be helpful and kind instead of rude and grumpy. I have been looking at short breaks in the autumn/ winter but not sure if we can book with covid at the moment?? So I may wait till nearer the time. I'm not worrying about being pregnant anymore. If I am then it's an amazing reason to cancel if need be and if not then at least I get a holiday!

Definitely take a test @Morpho123 as you have just as much chance since they haven't found anything wrong now! I know what it's like to give up on thinking you might be though. Sorry about the job but hopefully something better will come along who value your worth 🙂

@chochaw that’s annoying about your iui, you had it timed so perfectly and they let you down. Always the bloody way right!
I’d book the holiday if you can, I think the same as @Narwhal88 on this. Last year I stopped booking things ‘just in case’ and then it made the event of a holiday emotional for me because I thought I’d be pregnant.
We plan on going away October/November. I don’t put life on hold anymore because it’s too much pressure and stress.

Yes my mri is for MS, they need to see if any inflammation floating around my back/ brain! I take a high dose vit D, which is meant to help with MS, and now I don’t work in an office I’m getting a lot of sunlight which is helping!

Thanks for the positive vibes @narwhal88 I just literally wonder why, when there is actually nothing wrong anymore, does it not work? There must be something they haven’t found surely. IVF is just getting closer! X

My appointment went well, I feel this doctor knows what she's talking about at least! She's sending me forms in the post for TV scan, day 3 bloods with thyroid panel, I have to call radiology on CD1 and book a hysterosalpingogram (dye test). She said once she analyses the 2nd SA she will decide whether to run genetic testing on my husband and referral to specialist urologist in London if necessary. She said if she doesn't think its necessary then straight to ICSI IVF as otherwise it will just waste time.

@Narwhal88 great news! I'm so pleased for you. I had HSG and found it pretty painful. Definitely take some ibuprofen before you go in. It is good to get the ball rolling.

I've still not heard from my clinic so I'm guessing they have had delays opening it😞. I booked a holiday for November! Can't wait now! Something to look forward to now. I'm CD20 so just started 2ww. We are going away on Friday for a week to see family and I normally don't have any alcohol during 2ww but I am fed up being good all the time and it not having any affect so i'm just going to enjoy myself.

@Morpho123
How you doing? Are progesterone helping yhis month?x

@Narwhal88 sounds like a really susccessful appointment! I like the fact they don’t want to waste time! We wait long enough for things during infertility!
All sounds so positive, fingers crossed for you!

@chochaw how you been? Annoying about your clinic- so frustrating. I know my nhs clinic hasn’t opened up either yet! But I won’t be going there anyway as Iv used all my clomid 😂
I’m 6dpo I think today, I’m okay, just enjoying a break at home, a bit of exercise, walking and generally keeping myself busy!
Progesterone is helping the spotting. Although it wouldn’t have started yet anyway, but last month I had no spotting before af which is so unusual so it defo works, it delayed my period by a few days whilst it was dropping so it 100% works for me.
It’s a little messy though 😂 I hate doing them, but I’m praying it will be just what I need but as last month didn’t work I don’t have much hope! Xx

@Morpho123 🤞3rd time lucky and all that. Would your NHS give you anything else other than clomid?
I'm doing ok. Loving the holidays and feeling quite chilled this month. If NHS doesn't contact me in 2 weeks I am just going to pay for the consultation and tests at the private clinic to start in August. The timing will be awful with starting back work but I'm so disappointed that we will have missed our perfect opportunity during the holidays x