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

@chochaw well I think they will give me a smack on the hand for using 2 rounds without monitoring and one round privately 😂 I’m too scared to go back 🤣

I don’t blame you. You can only wait so much and it’s so frustrating! Xx

@Chochaw yeah I've heard it's painful so not looking forward to it (though I want to get it done ASAP)! So annoying about your clinic. If you do private could you go back and do NHS after do you know?
Ooh where have you booked your holiday for? It's always nice to have something to look forward to.
I always used to panic about having some alcohol in tww but I don't worry so much now. Though I'm not drinking anyway as DH gave up alcohol and trying to be supportive, have slipped up a couple of times though 😂

@Morpho123 yeah I found it really positive! I was surprised as well about her saying she didn't want to waste time but I agree!

It's good that the progesterone seems to be working, hopefully this month is it for you, but don't give up hope if not! I understand about not wanting to go back to nhs to get told off 🤣 now it's technically unexplained infertility have they said how long you would need to be trying for ivf or iui etc?

@Narwhal88 we don’t get any funding where we are based, it’s awful, so it would be whenever we wanted to! I wouldn’t bother with iui though, I don’t think that will work for us, the consultant said my husbands sperm was perfect now so iui wasn’t going to do anything that we couldn’t do ourselves. So it would be ivf. We agreed to go for ivf end of the year, or sooner if I get a job 😂🤷🏽‍♀️ Xx

@Morpho123 that's rubbish. We get 2 cycles where I live so I'm grateful - it's sort of private too anyway as they don't do it at my hospital trust so we get referred to Care I think. At least it means you know you don't have to wait and can do it whenever you feel ready (or get a job 😂).

Hey ladies,

How you all doing? @Morpho123 When is AF due? I'm due on Sunday. I've been away since Friday and it has been great and really relaxing. X

Hi @Chochaw glad your break away went well! Where did you go? Sorry I forgot!
Af came today! Bang on time. I took a test Tuesday morning which was negative. I had to because I had an mri with contrast early Wednesday morning- so I needed to know. As soon as bfn I stopped the progesterone pessaries! I didn’t want to delay af anymore/ as last month they delayed it by 3/4 days!

Me and my husband have agreed to start the ivf process in October, so once paperwork done and protocol we would be injecting/ retrieving mid November for a transfer November if all went well.
We have decided to go with access fertility because iv lost my job It keeps a lot of pressure off us should it not work 1st/2nd time!

I’m going to see an acupuncturist tomorrow actually as I was interested and heard some good and bad things. Just got a consultation to see what I think/feel.

How are you getting on this month? Any symptoms? Xxx

@Morpho123
Sorry to hear about AF but that is exciting about IVF. When do you have your consultation with clinic? I have never tried acupuncture but I loved reflexology when we were TTC with DD. Did uour scan go ok?

We've been in Hastings at a holiday park. It is close to my husbands family so good to catch up and see all the family.

I took a test this morning and got BFN. I have been bloated the last week and been queasy with smells so I was hopeful that I caught it. X

@Chochaw I feel like I should be excited but I’m not. I’m so deflated that it has come to this if I’m honest. We had all our original tests and met our consultant. There is no waiting list so will meet with him late September/ early October to get a protocol. And then we will proceed ASAP after that.

Iv kept telling myself it might happen naturally stil but it just never has, and I just don’t know why 🤷🏽‍♀️

I get my scan results in a couple of weeks, so hope that’s okay!

Sounds like a lovely little break. The bfns are a killer aren’t they. I’m sorry xx
I have no more pregnancy tests in the house so I won’t be buying anymore. I’ll wait for my period every month now until ivf! The reason we are giving it a few months is because Iv been on clomid and progesterone, I want everything out of my body and to give my body a break before the next lot of drugs!

Take it easy, and fingers crossed for next month xxxxx

Sorry to hear both of you are out this month.
@Chochaw sounds like a good break. I'm off work next week and definitely need the break, I haven't been off work since February. It's so disappointing when you think you may have symptoms then it's BFN. It's hard to ignore 'symptoms' even when you know it doesn't mean much. I haven't actually tested since last year as I can't handle waiting those 3 mins and then seeing that single line.

@Morpho123 sorry it's come to this but it's really good you have a plan and can get going quickly now. I really can't wait to get going with IVF as I think after processing our results I've accepted it's going to be the only way we will be able to get pregnant now (or a miracle!). Though I'm also terrified it won't work.

I'm cycle day 3, had my bloods today for FSH, thyroid, etc. Tried to book my HSG only to be told radiology STILL aren't doing routine x rays etc so I can't get it done and don't know if I will be able to next month. Can't get my ultrasound either. So frustrating. If we didn't get 2 cycles of IVF on NHS I'd just go straight to private.

Do either of you have a TTC Instagram account? I discovered the community there a few months back and I'm finding it so helpful and inspiring.

Sorry to hear both of you are out this month.
@Chochaw sounds like a good break. I'm off work next week and definitely need the break, I haven't been off work since February. It's so disappointing when you think you may have symptoms then it's BFN. It's hard to ignore 'symptoms' even when you know it doesn't mean much. I haven't actually tested since last year as I can't handle waiting those 3 mins and then seeing that single line.

@Morpho123 sorry it's come to this but it's really good you have a plan and can get going quickly now. I really can't wait to get going with IVF as I think after processing our results I've accepted it's going to be the only way we will be able to get pregnant now (or a miracle!). Though I'm also terrified it won't work.

I'm cycle day 3, had my bloods today for FSH, thyroid, etc. Tried to book my HSG only to be told radiology STILL aren't doing routine x rays etc so I can't get it done and don't know if I will be able to next month. Can't get my ultrasound either. So frustrating. If we didn't get 2 cycles of IVF on NHS I'd just go straight to private.

Do either of you have a TTC Instagram account? I discovered the community there a few months back and I'm finding it so helpful and inspiring.

Didn't mean to post that twice!

@Narwhal88 I do! My insta is ttcbabypineapple - original or what 😂 I literally didn’t know what to call myself! It’s brilliant, such a good community! and I only allow fellow ttc people! Iv learnt so much.

Frustrating about your hsg and ultra sound. I think nhs are taking so long to get up and running! Keep positive it’s only a matter of time now!

I saw an acupuncturist today, she actually said my body internally was really cold. To eat/drink warm foods only and wear socks. She told me to never eat drink directly from the fridge and defo no ice! Might be worth considering girls? Apparently my lining is thick but not nourished, so I’m going to concentrate on staying warm.
Unfortunately I cant afford the acupuncture and herbal stuff they want me to have, because it eats too much into our ivf budget!
But it was a good consultation and I felt I got a lot from it!

@Chochaw hope you are okay today, we will all get there in the end, as deflating as it is right now 😔 Iv had a migraine all day! Xx

@Morpho123 I'm ok. Still holding out for miraçle this month. I am always the same till AF shows up 🤣.
That is so interesting about acupuncture treatment! Definitely something to consider.

Monday's job for me is phoning NHS clinic again and just asking for update and saying that I wasnt sure if they had tried to contact due to being away.

@narwhal88 well done you for resisting urge to test for so long. Every single month I put myself through hell testing and testing again and again. We were told we were allowed to access private amd then go back and use NHS IVF if needed. It is so hotrible having to wait all the time.

I have instagram but never post about TTC. I do follow a lot of TTC pages. I posted on my personalxFB a couple of months ago during infertility awareness week and someone told my dad that I was doing it to get attention. X

@Chochaw sorry what?! Doing it for attention!? Who do they think they are! Probably someone who falls pregnant straight away with no worries! Absolute idiots! I’d really recommend setting up a private ttc instagram under a different name, like mine. People on there are so helpful! And so many people going though the same thing and have advise! Iv asked so many questions and so many people respond with help. It’s been a life saver for me.

I’m shocked someone said that to your dad. I would have been fuming x

@Morpho123 I think we are following each other on insta already! I am dreaming.of.babyh 😂 also very original! It's such a helpful community and makes you feel less alone. I've not posted anything on my personal social media accounts as we are not ready for everyone to know.
Really interesting about being cold, I have heard that before. I am a very cold person so I always have a cardigan on or the heating. I've had my heater on at work this week 🤣 I also only drink tea at work and generally wear socks unless it's really hot. I always think I don't drink enough and maybe my lining is thin because of it.

@Chochaw omg I can't believe someone would actually say that! What the hell do they know about what you are going through! Good plan to keep on at the clinic, make sure you are at the front of their mind! We have to keep pushing!
I would go private but I just keep thinking hopefully it won't be too long to get all the investigations done and i'd rather save the money towards IVF in the future. I tried to see if anywhere private does HSG but couldn't find anywhere.

@Narwhal88 yes we do! 😂😂 friends!
Try and drink room temp water too, to keep hydrated as tea can be quite dehydrating.
She specifically told me to drink ginger tea, buy ginger root and boil it! So I’ll start doing that. I need to eat more protein so Iv made sure I’m eating eggs and all the leafy greens!

Xx

@Narwhal88 and @Morpho123 that's me connected on instagran now with you both. I'm new to it and feel like a technophobe with it 🤣🤣.

AF hasn't arrived yet for me. I was travelling through the night to get home (550 miles of driving) so I never tested. I was feeling really queasy in the car so praying it's start of morning sickness but probably not. I arrived home and had a letter from the hospital. It was so vague and basically said they will contact me when they can offer treatment to see if I still want it. No dates or anything 😕.

@Chochaw yay for insta friends 🤣 I'm still learning a lot about insta, it took me ages to figure out how to do stories haha.
Positive that AF isn't here yet, fingers crossed 🤞🏼 wow 550 miles is a long way to go! Are you in Scotland I can't remember? I live in Kent, fairly near Hastings.
Argh so frustrating about your letter. The vagueness is what drives you mad! They don't understand how much it affects your mental health not knowing how long or when things might be happening. Infertility is already so much waiting. I hope you hear something more concrete soon.

@Narwhal88 yes we are in Scotland.

Ladies, I just tested and got BFP! I'm so excited but nervous too!
I'm at the stage where every toilet trip is a worrying experience and will be here for anither 8 weeks. X

@Chochaw omg!!! Honestly I was going to tell you to test!!! Omg omg!!! I know the anxiety is high but try and relax, was it a strong line? Xx

OMG @Chochaw 🥳 congratulations! Really pleased for you! I understand the anxiety but right now you are pregnant, take each day as it comes and try and enjoy it! X

@Chochaw absolutely amazing and so over the moon for you!!

Thanks ladies. I have taken 3 tests. 2x cheapiea and bith strong lines and a clearblue digital whixh said pregnant 1-2 weeks x

What a great feeling to see that on the test! 😍

I think it's ovulation day for me. We dtd yesterday but I don't think we'll manage tonight even though I think tonight would be prime time. I'm kinda just rolling with it and see what happens now we're officially on the waiting list

I have ovulation pains though. Seems to be the right side this month

Hi! We were referred by our gp and finally got a letter.. but it is only a telephone appointment from the fertility clinic, and seems for my DH only. Is this normal?