IVF at Guy's & St. Thomas' & general process/timeline

[Lill02]

Hi all,

This is my first ever post, but I've been following for a while. :)

After having all the usual tests, including a hycosy and hysteroscopy, we were diagnosed with unexplained infertility a while ago. We have now finally waited long enough to be eligible for IVF on the NHS. We've got an appointment back at Guy's & St. Thomas' tomorrow (we had to see the GP and ask to be referred back as we've now waited the required time frame).
I'm not 100% sure what will happen tomorrow, but I'm basically hoping they will agree we've waited the required time and suggest we get the ball rolling for IVF, i.e. fill in our funding application, etc. I'm really hoping this will happen, I can't face being sent away again after we've waited so long...
What have your experiences been? Does that sound like realistic next steps? Has anyone been at Guy's & St. Thomas' and can share their timeline?

Thank you!

@RiverRiot correct I did. Because I was already under the acu and they're in the same dept as gynae, it wasn't hard to get the referral sorted. From what others have said on the different chats I'm on, the nhs only really investigate endo when you say painful periods, pain during sex and infertility. So be worth saying all that next time you chat to them @GJW2018!
@Etonmess20 yup it does! I much prefer when we have sex outside of FW. It's more like our usual way of doing it rather than just quickies basically 😆
We still tried last month as it was after the lap so thought one last roll of the dice and we'll chance the injections affecting implantation. Took a test yesterday at 10dpo and obvs bfn! Don't feel sad though as I know this month I'm handing it all over to the professionals! When's your appointment again?

@notyetamumbuttrying it'll be nice when it isn't all about TTC!
We had our appointment on 4th so are just in our 2-3 month wait at the moment 🙏🏼 unfortunately it's not even been a week & im already driving myself mad 😂

@Etonmess20 defo! Ah yes, I remember now. I'm sure it'll be next month btw! 🤞🏾

@notyetamumbuttrying oh don't say that to me 😂 I'm already a wreck!

How are you feeling about it at the moment? Mixture of nervous/excited? Such a big thing we've all been waiting for for so long it must be strange that it's finally almost green

@Etonmess20 haha 😂 sorrrrrryy!
Yep exactly that! Nervous and excited and the closer I get to next week, the more scared I get tbh as then it'll feel real. Actually speaking to ppl in person, getting scanned, swapping onto stimming. It's all more real then. This part just seems a bit removed for some reason.

@notyetamumbuttrying I am hoping I get the go ahead next month because then that would mean treatment in July anyway wouldn't it? Which would be approx 2 months. Just trying not to get my hopes up!
I feel like it's like when you book a holiday a year away & it feels like it will never come then doesn't seem real until you're actually at the airport! Have you had to go on the pill for the month before?

@Etonmess20 I think that's a sensible timeline to work with.
Yes, that's a great analogy! It's just like that! No, not gone on the pill. I think they only do that for ppl with irregular cycles and mine is always regular. Too regular at 24 days 😂 constantly feel on my period due to the pms starting about a week before I'm due. Be interesting to see what my period is like whilst down regging! Due on this Thursday.

@Etonmess20 Yeah it’s not as strict as I initially thought it was going to be actually but it’s a bloody pain in the backside having to do it every morning.
I did the fancy OPKs for a while too. The first time I tried them we DTD 7 days in a row! 😳 And then it was always 4-5 days in a row. Talk about how to ruin your sex life!
I feel these days that I know my body so well I’m literally pissing my money away on them. 😂
Like @notyetamumbuttrying says, it’s going to be in someone else’s hands soon enough anyway so. 🤷🏻‍♀️
Just wish they’d flipping hurry up and call now though. Looking at my cycles I was secretly hoping it would be beginning of June but looking more likely it will be the beginning of July now, poss even Aug. Not long I know but just wish I knew which so I can mentally prepare.

Good luck moving over to stims @notyet, hopefully they’re not too different from the down regs. 🤞🏼

@RiverRiot same! I always ovulated day 10 or 11, with the occasional 12 so never really needed to use them 🤦🏾‍♀️
Yeah the wait for the call isn't fun! I really hope you both get called soon!
Thank you, hopefully just one more week on these headache inducing ones and then I can switch. I reckon they'll make me do two more days of them so have mentally prepared for that already.

@notyetamumbuttrying @RiverRiot I will definitely be saying all of the above. I just want someone to go in and have a root around to see what’s stopping and causing this pelvic pain!

Also just an update I’m on day 5 of menopur injections and I can honestly say it’s been absolutely fine, no pain, no red marks, no bruising and I feel completely normal, no symptoms at all. Although now I’ve started freaking out about that as we have our scan Friday and I’m scared they’re going to say I’m not responding as they said I’d feel bloated etc and I’ve had nothing. Starting fyremadel in the morning so 2 a day from then. I’ll let you know if it gets any worse but I’ve been really pleasantly surprised at how uneventful/painless they’ve been as I was so worried about them!

@notyetamumbuttrying that's interesting actually, did they say if there'd be side effects to the meds? Or just usual hormone related stuff you'd expect?
Oh god I know & when you know your cycle so well it seems to be always just around the corner doesn't it? Hopefully I won't have to do the pill then as I'm also very regular! How's your DP feeling about it all?

@RiverRiot hahahahaha I'm the same with the literally pissing my money away, waste of life as my ovulation is always so regular & I feel like it just adds more pressure! I have a few left of a big pack I bought but will probably just use them next month then not bother with anymore. Will be so nice to be rid of them 😂
I do feel like I need to focus on sex life tbh, there's no way it can't not kill it after being so regimented for so long but now it's not going to matter for IVF I feel like we need the enjoyment back!
This is the torture of it, if they told you when they would expect it to be at least you could know, the not knowing definitely makes it seem longer. I'm hoping it's not too much longer for you (or any of us!!) Your appointment was a month or so ago now was it? Hopefully your call will be in the next couple of weeks with them giving you around a months notice!

@GJW2018 ooh good to know! Can't wait to switch onto them! Buserelin is not quite the easy ride 😩 not everyone is affected the same way so wouldn't worry too much honey! Others have told me that stimming is quite nice as it's the feeling you get right before you'd usually ovulate.

@Etonmess20 yep, they said headaches, hot flushes and mood swings 🥴 it's basically like the menopause as they're switching off my ovaries 😱 I still don't really get why tbh. Like I don't get why I can't do short and go straight to menopur like GJW2018. I've gleaned that the way I'm doing it, will mean more eggs, as my amh was low, but I just don't get how 🤷🏾‍♀️
He's fine at mo. Worried about me injecting but seems ok now.

@notyetamumbuttrying Gah sorry you’re suffering with the down regs! I don’t know much about long protocol but I can only guess (and I could be totally talking out of my ass here but) maybe on short they’re trying to mature the eggs we have knocking around whereas on long they’re actually trying to grow new ones? So they have to switch the ovaries off to then really ramp them up? Just a theory though. 🤷🏻‍♀️

@GJW2018 I wouldn’t worry too much about lack of side effects. My acupuncturist said they tend to be milder on short protocol and you might get a bit of discomfort close to egg collection but a lot of women tend to be pretty ok on them these days.

Interesting that you’re both on menopur, I think they said I’ll be on Gonal F. No idea why/how they pick which drug you’ll be on but I guess they do the same job eh? 😂.

@Etonmess20 Yep been a month now (longest month evvveeerrr) so if they do call in the next few weeks I guess I can hope for end June/beginning of July to start. 🤞🏼We may end up being around the same time which would be nice!

@notyetamumbuttrying oh those side effects sound delightful! 😬 strange they won't let you do short although I guess if they weren't quite sure which was best for you then they've been extra cautious getting you to do long. Less chance then of not getting any/enough eggs perhaps!

@RiverRiot oh I can bloody imagine! It would be nice to be going through it all similar times - the Dr did say the waiting list was getting shorter all the time too so got everything crossed 🙏🏼
Ooh how did you find the acupuncture? Did you feel it helped at all?

@RiverRiot that sounds correct and a sensible assessment to me! I thought it was that but couldn't articulate it so thank you 😊

@Etonmess20 they're the best 🙃🤣
Yeah I think that was the case, it's hard going now. Can't believe I have another week of this yet 😩 I feel all fidgety and not myself, it's quite disconcerting but needs must!

@notyetamumbuttrying bet it's awful, I had mild side effects when I took clomid but that was a similar feeling in that I just didn't feel myself.
You just need to get yourself through, even if it means eating all the chocolate & the carbs....😘

@notyetamumbuttrying I’ve got buselerin in the bag for trigger so looking forward to that 😕. @RiverRiot they did say it will get uncomfortable around egg collection. I had acupuncture today and all the points on my left were super strong and the ones on the right were dull so she said looks like my left ovary is responding more than my right, will be interesting to see if that’s the case on Friday.
It’s so confusing all the protocols, I have irregular cycles so would’ve made more sense to shut it all down first but they know what they’re doing I suppose 🤷🏼‍♀️. We’re freezing all of our embryos then going back in June/July so might be at the same time as some of you when we transfer!

@Etonmess20 nooooo 🙈 I'm meant to be staying away from all that 😂 need to lose weight before transfer so carbs and chocolate are my enemy ❌
The things we put our bodies through eh! Better bloody be worth it 🤪
@GJW2018 by day 3 I had a mild headache but today, I feel nuts 😆
Ah, how come you're freezing all first? Are you going through pgd testing?

@notyetamumbuttrying have you got much to lose or do you just want to feel better?
I'm trying to lose more weight before we start, the not drinking will help & am trying to exercise more/ eat less carbs & chocolate (very difficult 😂😂)

@Etonmess20 I could do with losing a stone and a half but a stone would do too. Obvs won't be able to do that in 3 weeks lol so just anything at mo. I was 4lbs down but then ate out sat n sun and weight has gone bk already! It'll come off again by the end of the week but means I'm staying the same instead of losing. May was possibly the worse month to do ivf due to all the social events and eateries open etc but hey ho!
It's so difficult reducing choc and carbs isn't, they're the best of all the food groups 😆

@notyetamumbuttrying I think because my AMH is ski high I’m high risk for OHSS so they want my body to calm down before putting the embryos back in. I think for PCOS it seems to work better as there’s a lot of inflammation anyway.
Also reeeeaaally struggling to stay away from biscuits/sugar/carbs then when I know I shouldn’t have three the rebel in me makes me eat them even more. Work is like one big biscuit factory! I have been letting myself have one at lunch and one at the end of the day. Worried on the scan my ovaries will just be full of custard creams 🙈

@GJW2018 ah I see!
😂 Omg I love custard creams!! Haven't had one in a few years though. Might have to buy a pack for the tww 😁

@GJW2018 Custard cream ovaries, that really made me laugh! 😂😂
Must be frustrating to have to wait for a freeze all but I’ve read that statistically FETs have a slightly higher pregnancy rate so 🤞🏼 for you.
It’ll also be interesting to see if your acupuncturist is right.

@Etonmess20 Yeah I really like going to acupuncture. She was instrumental in helping us advocate with our GP/clinic and it’s like a mini counselling session each time too. She also helps me with stress as my work has been super full on this year. But y’know after four months I’m still not upduffed so who knows. My DP thinks it’s because his troops are swimming in circles but I’m sure we’d know by now if that’s the case. 😂

@notyetamumbuttrying I’m with you on the sod’s law of everything opening up. I have so many things booked and as I’m rather partial to a tipple, everyone is going to assume I’m pregnant if I’m not drinking. The irony! 🙄

@notyetamumbuttrying it's so difficult isn't it? Plans always seem to revolve around food too don't they? We've got a few drinks days with friends/family coming up & im dreading the excuse around not drinking 😬
Haha chocolate & carbs are the main food group in my life 😂
Hope you're feeling a little better today 🙏🏼

@GJW2018 custard cream ovaries has to be one of the funniest things I've ever heard 😂😂😂😂 can imagine the doctor like "are they custard creams" 🤣

@RiverRiot oh that's interesting, I don't usually go in for alternative therapies but I do think I need to chill out as this whole IVF thing as well as work stress has been getting to me in the last 6 months or so. I guess even if it helps you relax it's worth the money!

@RiverRiot I'm very partial to a tipple or two 😂 the irony indeed! It's really annoying that they'll think that. Most of my friends know about ttc but not ivf so they'll defo assume I'm pregnant 🙄 I'm just saying it's due to losing weight (which is it tbf), as well as trying to be healthy before transfer.
How many SA's has Dh had? We never got told the direction of travel on either of them, but they can go in circles which blows my mind! Or backwards 🤯
@Etonmess20 food and drink in my case! Just say trying to be healthier/lose weight etc. I've been having one alcoholic drink and nursing it and then swapping to soft. I'm also thinking of just ordering tonic and if anyone asks I'll say it's gin and tonic. Quite difficult when you can't order at the bar so that trick will be for after the 21st June 😏
Yeah feeling ok thanks although I'm getting period type pain as I'm due on on Thursday so that'll be fun, not 😆 how you getting on?