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!

@GJW2018 aww cheers chick! Ooh sounds fun and know what you mean about preferring action! I hate feeling like I'm standing still, I may get bored easily! 
Smart move to call, sounds confusing! Hope you get answers! Thank you 🙏🏾
@thislittlebird I feel like that on the job front and a bit like that on the house front but we just had to take the plunge. If we've not managed a baby in a year or two and it's looking fruitless then I guess we'd sell up as sad as that feels to write. We've still got plenty of faith that it'll happen tho. I guess the number of embryos that hopefully get created will let us know if we're doing the right thing or not. We could always pull out still but would mean losing the reservation fee and peeing off our buyer but so be it!
Early June's not too bad for the next tests, June tomorrow after all! So will Dh get a testes exam and blood test? That's what mine had done.

@notyetamumbuttrying I think you're right on taking the leap of faith - our flat didn't work for us anymore after covid lockdown number 1. Could not spend a day longer both working from home in there with no outdoor space. We have every hope we will one day have a family to put in our family house but it's been just us for this long, so a little longer will be fine. You just have to have faith & go for it don't you? So nice you get to choose the finishes in your new house too, nice to know it'll be done when you move in too!

@thislittlebird glad to hear you're moving forward. I don't know why they can't just understand you're not unexplained 🤷🏼‍♀️ then they'd be able to push you through faster. Really hope you get some answers soon & get closer to the proper treatment you deserve.
I'm trying to wrack my brain to remember who I saw at Queen Mary's, I don't remember them being overly horrible so can't have been the same person (though it was ages ago in fairness)

@Etonmess20 it's a killer isn't it! We both sit on the dining room table and Dh goes into the bedroom for calls. We have a balcony but it's pointless as it doesn't get any sun so we're literally desperate to leave now 😂 dying for a garden, a separate living space, an office, stairs and an en-suite and we'll get all that with the house. A bbq will be one of the first purchases I think 😅 and a paddling pool for my nephews! My sister doesn't have a back garden so they've already requested one 😆
Defo have to have faith and go with it! Couldn't agree more!
Yeah just hope it all comes off. Bit nerve wracking but what will be, will be as they say!

@GJW2018 morning! Is it guys or st Thomas for egg collection? I was never told and now I'm getting the fear! 😳

@notyetamumbuttrying Good luck this morning! Have every appendage crossed for you! I can’t say for certain obviously but I would’ve thought it’d still be the ACU and you’ll be going through ‘the end doors’ with the shoe covers.
Will be thinking of you today. xx

@RiverRiot thank you lovely! We'll go to the acu then. Just suddenly thought oh shit is it where I had my lap instead as the sedation form mentions st Thomas's!

@thislittlebird I’m pleased things are moving forward for you. It’s crazy that a Dr like that is allowed to keep on practising. 😡
When you speak to Lister, ask them how much progesterone they think you need and to put it in writing. You should then be able to give that to your GP who can prescribe it for you (if Lister don’t give it to you directly of course).
You’ve had such rotten luck and it’s high time things started turning around for you! 💐

@Etonmess20 Yeah it’s very daunting to begin with but the injections are getting easier every day. I don’t know about menopur and other drugs but some of mine need to be kept in the fridge so I’d make sure you have a bit of space for them when yours arrive.

@GJW2018 Good luck to you too today, hope you get some answers and a timescale of when you get get one of your embies back. 🤞🏼

@notyetamumbuttrying Oh really? Maybe @GJW2018 would be best to advise then or a quick call to Guys?

I just always assumed the end doors were for egg collection and transfer as couples seem to go through there looking dead nervous (not that I’m nosey or anything 🙈😂) and it also seems a bit more clinical than the other rooms if you know what I mean?

@RiverRiot yeah I think you're right hun. Guys wasn't open when we left home to check. On the tube now and it's stopped, someone's not well! Hope it gets sorted soon!

@Etonmess20 I have no idea why they think we’re unexplained. I think she’s just uninterested or didn’t read the file properly 🤷‍♀️. She wasn’t horrible exactly but she was very dismissive and cold. Mr Ramsay said you need 20 million motile sperm, we only have 11 million, so in both tests he’s been below the required number by a fair amount. It’s not impossible of course, but add my progesterone into the mix and you have another obstacle, a pretty sizeable one.

@RiverRiot that’s a good idea. I’ll ask that. Need to come up with my questions again. I’ve changed surgeries and I’m speaking to the doctor about my repeat prescription today. I’m bricking it, I’ve had such a horrible year of fighting with doctors and I’m now very anxious about having to fight them some more for things I need. It’s exhausting.

@notyetamumbuttrying good luck today! Oh and we already have a paddling pool, but not for kids, for us. We get it out on the hottest days in summer and sit in it in the evening lol.

@notyetamumbuttrying forgot to say he’s had the physical exam already, they’re sending him for an ultrasound of the testicles to check the size of some veins to rule in or out varicoceles. He’s having in depth semen analysis but not blood tests (I think, doctor said based on examining him he thinks his hormones are fine). Having a Comet test which isn’t the cheapest, but hopefully worthwhile. It’s for dna frag, and I’m not expecting good results if I’m honest, based on his motility.

@notyetamumbuttrying sorry just woke up! Yes @RiverRiot is right end doors with shoe protectors in the ACU! Although I’m sure you’re there and know this now! Sending lots of love and luck! Xx

Made it in all fine! And it is the usual acu at guys! It's defo that end room @RiverRiot never been told to sit in waiting room c before, serious business today 😆
@thislittlebird haha amazing!!
Mine had the ultrasound too but nothing was shown. He did have a small cyst and that was it! Great you're getting the comet test done! Hopefully everything's ok x
@GJW2018 hehe yes I am! In my fetching gown and hair net 😂

@notyetamumbuttrying good luck! I have literally everything crossed for you 🙏🏼 eeeeek about the "end doors" btw, we also summoned thats where it would be as everything in & out of there looks extra official!!

@thislittlebird Like you say, it makes no sense but how you would go about convincing a dismissive doctor in an appointment you're already anxious about is beyond me 🤷🏼‍♀️ hope PALs come back to you - maybe the other person you saw could write down that he thinks you're not unexplained cus of XYZ though who knows of the NHS will take that

@RiverRiot thanks for the tip, sure it feels extra stingy to be injecting yourself with fridge temperature medication 🥶

@Etonmess20 aw thank you! Yep it is.
Out and eaten something now. Just recovering still before getting dressed. 10 collected so will see how many fertilise tomorrow!

@notyetamumbuttrying glad you're all finished now & 10 is a really good number, congratulations! Sending all the fertilisation vibes for you 😘
Take care on the way home, bet it's hotter than the sun on the tube 🥵

@Etonmess20 thank you! We're in an Uber 😉

@notyetamumbuttrying good shout that is!!! 😉

@Etonmess20 mad traffic out there tho! Home now tho, yay! Dh is whipping up last nights risotto for me and I'm laying on the sofa 😁 you have to drink 3 litres of water a day 😳 I usually manage 2 on a good day!

Woohoo! Well done @notyetamumbuttrying! Yes to the sofa and being waited on! I binged Netflix for 2 days was devine! Xx

@notyetamumbuttrying oh he's a good egg! How was he with doing his sample this morning, quite daunting to think this is "the one" I expect?
3 litres?! Christ! Just for today or throughout the process?
Were you completely asleep for the procedure or do you remember anything? Have you been feeling alright since?

@GJW2018 did you have two days off then? I said I'd work tomorrow and have rearranged appointments for then too 
@Etonmess20 he was done within minutes, I was like Jesus what were you watching 😆 he said it's amazing what you can achieve under pressure (we had to leave within 15 mins). I think that's just today, but will have a re read to make sure!
Completely knocked out! I remember her saying you'll be asleep in 30 seconds and it was more like 10. When I came round I said where's my husband, or is my husband still here or something 😂 🤦🏾‍♀️ feel alright apart from soreness.

@notyetamumbuttrying 10 is great! good that it’s all over with! I find the idea very intimidating. How long was it from start to finish, that you recall?

@Etonmess20 I’m just wondering when PALS will respond. Any day now...

Just had a call with my new GP surgery . Very mean doctor, didn’t want to prescribe me anything my dermatologist had told them to prescribe me. I’m getting very tired of being told I can’t have any NHS healthcare lately.

@notyetamumbuttrying I took two days off just because my jobs quite physically demanding but if you’re working from home will be fine. I was still sore the next day, felt like I couldn’t straighten up properly or something would tear but by the next day I was right as rain again and back in work! I was the same he went ‘you might feel a bit dizzy’ I just went ‘yea’ and conked out! DH said I was only in there 20 mins for the procedure so it’s an in and out job!

@notyetamumbuttrying Yay 10 is a great number! Glad everything went well and you got there ok. Also a bonus that your DH is good under pressure! 😂😂

Enjoy your day of relaxation and am sending fertilisation vibes too! Do you know if it’ll be IVF or ICSI?

@Etonmess20 Luckily the fridge is just for storage, you take it out 30mins before use to take the chill off. Although in a day like today, I want to climb in the fridge myself! 🌋