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!

Thank you all so much for your awesome fertilisation thoughts, they seem to have done the trick and we have 14 doing their thing in the lab. Am slightly in shock tbh!
Booked in for transfer on Monday and all of this STILL doesn’t feel real. 😲

@GJW2018 I think I would do the same in your shoes and would definitely want to give it every possible chance.
The NHS are funny sometimes. At our form filling consult I asked about NK cells and DNA fragmentation and the Dr just basically said “Why would you waste your money?”. I felt like asking why they had info about NK cells up on their waiting rooms boards then if that’s how they feel?!

@notyetamumbuttrying Cramps definitely sound like a positive sign. Am thinking lots of implanting thoughts for you and Tues is so close now. Hope you have a fun weekend planned to distract you?

@RiverRiot 14 is amazing!! Attrition rate is around 50% so hopefully 7 or more embryos for you 🥳 it's so exciting isn't it! Monday will come and go in a blur, so happy for you!
I actually didn't make any plans, but decided yesterday that I'm going to visit my parents and my sister so I'll be travelling out on Saturday. 😊

@RiverRiot 14 is great! When do you hear next?

Did you have any nk or dna frag tests? Can’t believe they have nk info displayed but dismissed discussion of it. They’re very funny at times, and I’m not expecting them to help me in response to our complaint tbh. We’re having dna frag tests privately and I don’t expect them to take it seriously even if the results come back absolutely awful.

I do understand the argument of time wasting, because most people will likely need ivf either way, BUT ivf can fail, it seems very blasé of them, I dunno. I don’t want to spend this money we’re spending right now on investigations but I’m concerned cycles will fail and don’t have the money to pay for endless private rounds.

@RiverRiot 14 is amazing, congratulations!!! So so pleased for you & Monday is literally just around the corner!!

Sorry, missed where you said Monday when tired and skimming!

@GJW2018 I really don’t sleep well in this heat and I’m tired and not reading properly and missing things!

What made them diagnose you as PCOS? Was it the follicle count if other tests were fine? I had the recent consult where they said I’m not PCOS because it’s officially 20 follicles per ovary, I think.

Essay is welcome! It’s all a bit overwhelming. There’s so many things that could be wrong and hard to say what. The immune issues frustrate me. I seem to have both an under active and overactive immune system at different times, but it’s never been diagnosed or recognised by the nhs, just individual conditions treated. It’s clearly not right, but hard to say if it would impact ttc for me. It’s definitely something I’d have to look at if implantation failed. Will have to just give it a go and see what happens. Hopefully you’re doing everything you can and it will sort it.

Thank you guys! 🥰

@notyetamumbuttrying Ah thanks, I was trying to work that out, I’d be over the moon with 7. Sounds like you have a lovely weekend planned. Do they give you all the gradings and stuff on the NHS or is that just a private thing?

@thislittlebird We haven’t had those tests yet but if the embryos drastically drop off after Day 3 then we’ll look into DNA fragmentation privately. Likewise, if we get to transfer stage and start having implantation failure we’ll look into that. So many variables and things to worry about but I’m going to try and remain calm til Monday... We’ll see how well I do. Ha! 🙈

@RiverRiot 7 would be flipping fantastic!! I got the grades, just make sure you ask. I also asked for the print out of the embryo placement as well! The girls in there were lovely!
There are so many things to worry about but just remember worrying doesn't achieve anything except make you feel shit so just keep yourself informed. That helps me.

@RiverRiot that’s amazing! Such good numbers! Praying 7+ make it to day 5! My husband took the call to tell us about the day 5s as I was in class that day. I gave him all the questions he said she just said some of them are top top grade but she said they won’t freeze any that they don’t think will become babies. That was all the detail I got! 🙄
@thislittlebird they diagnosed PCO to be fair never PCOS as I don’t have any other symptoms then super high AMH and have 50+ follicles on a normal day. Doesn’t seem to have kicked my other hormones out but I have been on metformin for years for it because when I came off the pill my cycles went nuts. They’ve been regular for years now. It’s definitely all bamboozling. I just wanted everything tested for peace of mind. We had a chemical pregnancy 2 years ago and I’m convinced I only got pregnant then as it’s the only time I’ve had a cold in 10 years and as soon as I got better the pregnancy went.

@notyetamumbuttrying That’s excellent advice, thank you! Will defo make sure to ask about grades too. So they gave you a picture of where they put the embryo in? That’s so lovely.

@GJW2018 Thank you. Men eh?! Although to be fair, he’d be writing a very long list of your embryo grades. 🤣🤣

@GJW2018 Posted to soon. Meant to say I’m sorry about your chemical. They’re such a mindf*#k.

@Etonmess20 really hope it wont be much longer for us! I don't think you are reading too much int the couple of weeks thing, I thought it was a great sign as well! And yes I had visited a few times and have alwats loved British culture and lifestyle so much! I think i will stay long-term yes, my DP was in Australia 5 years so it is his turn to be home now.

@RiverRiot so happy for you!! Those are amazing numbers. Bet it will be difficult to think of anything else this weekend. And thank you yes the weather is much better for me now haha :)

@Welshpea super exciting for you!!

@RiverRiot yea I actually felt glad after that I didn’t have letter headings because I would’ve just been googling the life out of it all so the less info I know the better probably! Thanks about the chemical tbh I found it really comforting to know that it could and did happen, I had positive tests for like 4 days then came on so wasn’t too much of a loss but it actually gives me comfort weirdly as it was a really good time in our lives. Was actually our wedding anniversary again just like our egg collection was. Obviously a babyish date!

@RiverRiot no problem 😌 yeah that's right! So I got a small print out and they pointed out that the light space was where it was placed. It was really nice of them as I think that's more of a private clinic thing.
@GJW2018 ah that date defo is a good omen 😘

@notyetamumbuttrying oh that's adorable that they gave you that picture 😍

@Vparisi ah glad to hear you like it here! I'm also glad it wasn't just me reading too much into it. Hearing everyone else get started is really making me want it to be our turn now!

@Etonmess20 I thought so too ☺️ they seemed a little taken aback when I asked 🤭
Are you still waiting for the call? Do you know how many weeks it's been now?

@notyetamumbuttrying hopefully you've started a trend & they may offer them more now!
So my appointment was 4th May so it'll be 6 weeks on Tuesday, still no call ☹️ how's things with you?

@Etonmess20 they were really nice women so I'm sure when asked they'd do it for everyone 🙂
6 weeks isn't too bad, I guess you were told 2-3 months? Hopefully just a month more now! Yeah all good with me thanks, still some cramps and a touch of nausea on n off but I know that can be progesterone too so not reading too much into it!

@notyetamumbuttrying we were told 2-3 months so yeah, hoping not too much longer.
Glad you're all good, this is the horrible thing isn't it - thing can be symptoms but can also be from the meds can't they! Really hoping Tuesday comes quickly for you! 🙏🏼

Hope everyone else is having a lovely weekend & enjoying the sun ☀️

@Etonmess20 interesting it has been 6 weeks as I remember @welshpea got the email asking for period dates at pretty much exactly 6 weeks so hopefully won't be long for our email?

@Vparisi would be nice, I suppose it helps them get a feel for who they can squeeze in when so fingers crossed!

@RiverRiot good luck today!

Yes good luck today @RiverRiot! ✨✨✨

Thank you @Vparisi!

I have a very good blast on board and two more good blasts for the freezer. So that’s my NHS quota covered which is awesome.

There’s also 7 more that they’re going to keep an eye on til tomorrow. They said they can’t guarantee anything and that turning into blasts is the hardest part for the embryos, but fingers crossed a couple more pull through. Am sending them growing thoughts. 🌱😂.

You and @Etonmess20 must surely be getting at least a check in call soon, am wishing the time away for you.

How are you getting on @notyetamumbuttrying? Not long til test day, I’m rooting for you and your emby!

Ah cross post @GJW2018. Thank you!