When can investigations resume? (Scotland.)

[theotherfossilsister]

Just that really, I know it's a difficult time for so many people, but clinics shuttered just as DP finally agreed to get his semen analyisis done. My progesterone was normal, and I have regular periods, so I don't think Clomid would be an option for us. We've been trying for a year and a half, and I am 35 on Saturday.

If we do get a referral, and need IVF, how long will that take? So many questions?

Thanks

Oh wow! Thanks 😊 now we just need to be patient to hear from the hospital.

Ah, this is wonderful.

We are going to get partner's sperm analysis soon then. Does anyone know the length of time between going to the GP and getting the appointment to drop off the sample? I'm very aware that you guys have been in it a lot longer than me, but eighteeen months seems so long, especially now I'm 35, and am wishing we hadn't waited until we were settled to start trying.

What is the next step after the analysis? Will it be looking at my tubes? Also, will we get fast tracked if need be, as I am terrified I will have to go back on mtx and that will be our ttc journey over. (So many questions)

I'm so glad for those with procedures going ahead.

theotherfossilsister, My GP gave him a sample jar which we dropped off at the Edinburgh fertility clinic two days later and he got a call to do another sample as there was 'not much there' we were unsure if they meant sperm or volume (they meant sperm). A week later my husband called for the results and they said we need referred for treatment to fertility clinic but they can not say any more as it needs to be a fertility dr who explains it. We had to wait 12 weeks. My poor husband was so upset and worried. He had very very little sperm in his semen and the ones there had poor mobility.

Alongside your husbands test. You will get a blood test that will give them information about your hormone level. Mine was ok and because I have normal periods I had no other investigation apart from a internal scan thing when our IVF was approved. I am not sure of the process if the results are low.

It is a long wait. If you can afford it you could go private but it is a LOT and I have liked the Drs and nurses at the Edinburgh NHS clinic.

I think this is going to be the worst bit @BeHereNowx32 - knowing they're open and waiting to hear from them, all the while fighting the urge to phone them! 😩 They got the letters out pretty promptly saying all treatments were paused because of Covid19, so let's hope they're just as efficient about reopening 🤞

I had my initial investigations done down south before I moved up here @theotherfossilsister, but all clinics should be following the same national guidance so I guess my experience is still relevant 🤔 It basically depends on what they find at each test. You've already had your hormone levels checked and they were fine, so it's onto SA next. If they find something untoward with your DP's SA result, then they might not investigate you as thoroughly as they would if it was normal. My XH had 2 borderline results for forward motility, followed by one that scraped into the reference range, so then they started poking and prodding me instead! I had the HSG first to check there was nothing abnormal with my uterus or tubes - this was the most stressful of the investigations for me. Not because it was painful at all (no worse than a smear for me, but I do know others who hated it 😔), but organising it was a total ball ache! 😕 You can only go between days 7-14 (if I remember correctly 🤔), so you have to phone the x-ray department on the first day of AF. The place I was at seemed to either always be out of appointments or have a broken down machine for months on end! Drove me nuts! 🤯 Got through that eventually with a clean bill of health, so was then referred back to the clinic for an intravaginal ultrasound (has to be in first 3 days of AF, I think 🤔) to check there aren't any polyps or fibroids in your uterus that might be causing problems as well as counting how many follicles you've got in your ovaries (AFC). You'll have plenty of these as treatment goes on and you'll eventually have a special place in your heart for 'dildo cam'! 😂 Then it was just virology bloods and AMH at an appointment to discuss treatment options. At Edinburgh that was to choose whether to join the NHS waiting list or to self-fund through the NHS and get treatment started sooner rather than later (which doesn't effect your NHS funding when it eventually comes round).

... That was very long, but I hope it helps!x

@RonRon1 was the blood test 21 day bloods, I had that and it came back as 52, which GP said was normal. This was just before Covid closed everything. We also had STD tests which were thankfully OK.

Partner's SA is next, but worried about how it will work with CV. I think someone up thread said they are doing appointments only now?

I think what they did to you and your husband is really horrible, I can imagine knowing something must be wrong for twelve weeks but not what it is, how awful for him, and you.

After saying I didn't expect to hear for a while I've now got an online consultation tomorrow! GCRM, so private but that's my only option. I had amh and antral follicle count done about 18 months ago there so hopefully they'll be able to use those results as a rough guide although I'm now almost 42 and very conscious things might have gone rapidly downhill. From what i remember ahm was alright for age (!) but antral follicle count not great, only 6 in total if I remember which means I probably won't get that many eggs. I know you only need 1 but mine are more likely to be dodgy..

It it's okay I might message after it tomorrow as I have a feeling I'll be quite low and emotional. I know the success rate is low ish for my age group. I'm overweight too which sucks, totally kicking myself for not using this time to get my act together, I've lost 4 llbs but need to lose way more!
Hope you all get news soon x

@BambiOnIce80 Thank you, wow, the idea of Dildo Cam. And thank you for listing all the procedures, it's long but the more I know the better. I'm someone who needs to know everything and feels better/reassured by more information. Can the referral be ongoing (like you're moving down the waiting list) while some of these tests take place, or do they all need to happen before you can join the IVF queue?

I think that with RA I might have Natural Killer cells which is preventing stuff, but everyone seems reluctant to look at this, yet. Will this be an option further down the line? Rheumatologist was quite open to suggestion at last appointment last week, and will include it in a summary of our discussion for my GP, but don't know how much difference the letter will make. I suspect that partner's sperm will be OK, and it is my immune system being horrible, but have no evidence to back this up.

@LouScot Oh no, you sound really down, but the appointment is a positive step, isn't it? And it is possible. It's just this hellish uncertainty. Please post tomorrow.

Thanks @theotherfossilsister. I'm just a bit bleuurgh, but yes, it's a positive step. Lucky to have a garden so going to potter about this evening and go a walk x

@theotherfosilsister the bloods took a week but it sounds the same as you. If your hormone levels were ok that is a really good start!

@LouScot I hate to hear you are feeling low. I understand your frustration I think we are all guilty of lockdown weight gain. 4lbs is a good start, you have the motivation you need now so you will probably find you are more 'on it'.

Good luck for your appointment tomorrow.

Definitely update us tomorrow @LouScot! Don't want you suffering in silence! ❤️ I'm hoping it's going to be a good experience for you though and you'll be filling us in on exciting developments! 😊

I'm the same @theotherfossilsister - I work in medical science, so the more information I have, the more in control I feel (in a situation I have no control over, but m'eh 🙄). If you've only had your 21 day progesterone checked, then I think they'll be wanting your day 0-3 bloods too (progesterone again , LH, oestradiol and usually a thyroid function test). If AF is coming up that may be worth having a chat with your GP about? In my experience, all the tests have to be done before you join the IVF queue (unless they find an obvious cause to your infertility, then they'll put you on straight away).

When we had our telephone consultation with the clinic a few weeks ago to discuss the miscarriage and next steps, the doc did mention NK cells as a possible cause (which surprised me, because the tests are 'red' on the HFEA add on list). She said she wouldn't advise referral for the tests unless I had another miscarriage though (they don't do them in Edinburgh), so I'm putting it out of my head for now. Might be different for you with your RA though - they may consider looking at it before? Definitely worth a discussion when the time comes 👍

@LouScot that sounds good. Debating whether to have my walk now, or wait until after my work Zoom meeting at three. I keep forgetting we're allowed two walks now.

Are you in Edinburgh too? I went up Arthur's Seat on Sunday with partner, and it was so magnificent, and I felt, weirdly healing.

Thanks @BambiOnIce80 - if that's the case I'll try and get a telephone consultation around a similar time partner has his. Period is due 6th June so that would make day three bloods on 9th. It is good to have knowledge & power when you feel otherwise powerless.

Do the looking-at-my-uterus tests also need to be done before the referral, or during it? Thank you so much.

I can't wait to be allowed to have a drink with people from here in RL.

@theotherfossilsister our reason for ICSI is MFI, so I didn’t need any further investigations, apart from what I had at the GP before referral. It’s hard for me to remember exact timelines because we started 4 years ago. But I don’t think the results for SA took long. A few days maybe?

@LouScot the waiting is so hard. I also put loads of pressure on myself, such as my diet etc. But it’s so important to look after yourself! But I also felt like it was good to have something to focus on and gave me some control. It will be good for you to go for walks etc and can hopefully help you to relax too. That’s good that you have your first consultation so soon. Let us know how you get on.

I have no idea when I will even be able to start FET again because I haven’t had a period since after my injection in March. I hope it goes back to normal before starting. They’re usually very regular

Thanks guys 🤗 @theotherfossilsister I'm outside town so Arthur's seat is a no go just now, but it's a great walk. Very calming. I've got some lovely walks close by, we're very lucky to have so much green space.

@BambiOnIce80 I work in research so fairly similar. I've had to ban myself from reading journal articles about antral follicle counts as it was stressing me too much!!

Hope the period comes soon @BeHereNowx32, its so ironic that when we're younger we all panic if we're late and now it's hurry up, I want to get pregnant!

Thanks all, its so nice to speak to people fairly close by!

My GP couldn't ask for the HSG @theotherfossilsister, so I think it has to be via the clinic when you get your referral 👍

@BeHereNowx32, I think the clinic can give some medication to bring your period on? I'm sure they'll talk you through what they can do when you get to speak to them before starting treatment.x

Oh @LouScot, it's a bloody nightmare isn't it?! Not enough knowledge to be an expert, but too much to take the 'ignorance is bliss' approach 🤷🏻‍♀️ The docs at my clinic are really good though and entertain all of my 'but this paper says...' conversations, rather than just dismissing me as a nutter! 🤪

@BambiOnIce80 Yeah, I think they do actually. Might have to pay for it, so hopefully I can avoid it. I’ve felt like I’ve had PMS for weeks now. Just feel sad. Hoping that when hormones are back to normal that will go away.

Edinburgh Facebook put up a status to confirm they’re going ahead with treatment. They will phone people who have had cycles cancelled in the next couple of weeks. Asking people not to contact them as they will be busy with phones.

I’m going to try concentrate on other things until then, like decluttering and sorting my garden 😆 does anyone else have any projects??

@Beherenow I'm writing a novel, well rewriting it, while on furlough. I had an agent but lost her, and spend quite a lot of time on the writing and reading boards here. Also, reading Hamnet, organising book groups and social media for work, and long walks alone or with partner, plus cleaning, although dp is working crazy hours from home with constant meetings, which means I cannot hoover.

Conducting baking experiments too, some more successful than others.

Sorry, on phone and lots worse at typing and tagging on here.

@theotherfossilsister that sounds so interesting, what is your book about?

I am still working so not been overly productive but I am also spending this weekend in the garden... @BambiOnIce80 I always find it therapeutic!

x

Ohh, good luck getting a new agent @theotherfossilsister! I love reading, have been trying not to spend too much on kindle during lockdown! I'll join you in the garden @RonRon1 and @BeHereNowx32 - I'm actually still out now, been pottering about watering stuff and inspecting my not quite germinating seeds. Meant to be rain from tomorrow though I think. I'm working from home during the day mainly writing which is great otherwise I'd be struggling with thinking too much

AF was 2 weeks late for me after the miscarriage @BeHereNowx32 and I felt totally crap the whole week before she turned up, so hopefully your PMS symptoms are a good sign that she's on her way 🤞Thanks for the heads up about the extra info that's now out too ❤️ I was just reading the extra safety measures attachment on their website and it's certainly going to be quite a different cycle to what we experienced last time - needs must though 😏 DP's not so keen on the not being able to come into the scans or the transfer thing, but it is what it is 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oooh, a novel sounds more than a bit flipping exciting @theotherfossilsister! 🤩 Very much looking forward to hearing about that 😊

Looks like it could be a good weekend for the garden @RonRon1! 🌞

I decided to get myself running again whilst I was on leave after the miscarriage (hadn't managed it for 6 months between muscle injury, then IVF, then being pregnant 😔), so I did my first run in early April (which nearly ended me - I had to walk up the hills, I was so out of shape! 🥵). I managed 10k on Sunday 💪 Need a new target now! 🎯 Other than that, I've been planning a living room refurb after having been sat staring at it for 7 weeks and hating it more and more... quite difficult to do though when everything you need is in lockdown 😏 And now I'm back at work, I've no idea if I'll be able to execute it or not 🤔 Still good to have something else to focus on though.x

Hi, I've just had my Zoom consultation. Was only 10-15 minutes but covered a fair bit. I need to get an AMH test (had one 18 months ago). Dr did say it all depended on how much it'd dropped. It was 10 pmol/(l?? Not sure of measurement) 18 months ago and said he'd if it dropped to 6 (or below 6 i think) bearing in mind my age it might not be as successful. I need to make an appointment for that and a scan (with the dildo cam ) I didn't have a great antral follicle count when I went for tests 18 months ago even though AMH was okay for age. He did mention donor eggs as an option if things didn't work and I said at this moment I'm not in a position where I could do that - I think I would get there but it's not for me at this moment in time until I've given it my best shot with own eggs.

He said as I was a new patient it's probably going to take a few months anyway, especially as I need to pick a sperm donor (it's their eyes! I can't get an eye match). I quizzed him about dhea and he said if I was 38 then yes, but at 42 almost no. I said I was taking ubiquinol etc and he just said no harm but no proof. It helps me mentally though, knowing I'm doing something that might help.

So until I get AMH test and hear results I think I need to try and be positive.

Thanks everyone who has posted on this thread, means I feel a little less alone. Just off to read summary of lockdown easing measures now as was too anxious to listen before appointment!

How is everyone else? See the sun is shining still (in the east at least!).
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Thank you for saying novel sounds exciting, I'm on third draft now (or maybe fourth) and it's weird how much it's changed from draft one, had no idea it would be this much work, but excited, scared nonetheless. It's about a girl with autism, but it doesn't define her, as I am on the spectrum and you never see anything about people with a foot in autistic world and one in neurotypical.

@LouScot that sounds really positive, I think. I hope your AMH comes back OK, 42 really doesn't sound that old to me. I know what you mean about donor eggs, I too want my own baby, but I guess if it doesn't happen and I'm in my forties I might feel differently, and as long as it's still my partner's child, that is something.

Going to call GP Monday to organise initial AMH and SA.