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

ERI still waiting on a couple bits of paperwork. Then they are hoping to start treatment from Monday... I have an appointment booked on Tuesday to go in for the tablet. But that could all change. More waiting! 🙈 x

@BeHereNowx32 Thanks for update, sounds promising.

Oooh, fingers crossed for Monday then @BeHereNowx32 and @Daisz 🤞🍀🤞🍀

Hello, just checking in to say I got my period yesterday. Two days early so a 26 day cycle. It seems quite punitive this month, like it's revelling in it's victory. Had a truly horrible day of thinking I will never get pregnant and the wait for answers now feels unbearable. How long will it take from SA to hsg? I feel there is something really wrong and hitting eighteen months really got me.

I hope you're all doing ok.

@theotherfossilsister Sorry about your af. I remember that hopeful feeling month after month, and then the disappointment. I always tried to do something new at each cycle, taking different vitamins, different foods, trying to put off the inevitable trip to the GP for as long as possible, to ask for a referral at infertility. I was 36 when I decided that things just were not going to happen naturally. I was 38 with 3 failed cycles when I finally got pregnant, so within 2 years I had all the tests and several rounds before success, and truthfully it felt like a whirlwind, once the ball is rolling it feels non stop, it is frustrating because we are waiting for everything to start, but once it does it will feel relentless. Now at the age of 42 I am waiting to do it all again. Success is out there, I did not think it would happen for me, and I keep thinking I won't be that lucky again, but I am trying to stay positive. If it happened before it can happen again. That goes for you as well, you have as much chance as anyone else of success.😀

Also thank you for starting this thread it is really helping lots of people. I know it is helping me.

I'm so sorry that AF is here and about the way it's making you feel too @theotherfossilsister 💐 Infertility is so unfair and the journey is the hardest I've ever been on. Timescale wise for investigations, I think everything is a bit up in the air because of Covid19, but my pre-covid19 experience was that the GP referred us to the clinic after the SA results were back and I'd had my day 0-3 & 21 bloods done. The referral took about 12 weeks, I think 🤔 Then at your first appointment the clinic will look at all your results and probably arrange an HSG, an intrauterine ultrasound and virology bloods. Once all that is done (and if they don't find a cause for your infertility) then they'll put you on the IVF waiting list if you've been trying for 2 years. If you haven't, then you've got the option to self fund or go elsewhere if you don't want to wait for the 2 years to come around. If the HSG/US finds something then you may need some other steps before you progress to IVF. There's just so many variables! 🤯

And I absolutely second what @Daisz said - thanks for starting this thread ❤️ It's really helping my anxiety to keep in touch with you all and have a better idea of what's going on in these strange times.x

@BambiOnIce80 I know I first started on the ivf journey six years ago, and things may have changed, but at the time, you only needed to be trying to conceive for 1 year before being referred, and then after the initial checks ivf was pretty much offered straight away, around 3 months after my unexplained diagnosis. Sorry @theotherfossilsister hadn't realised it had to be 2 years now.

@theotherfossilsister so sorry. It is heartbreaking when AF comes, even when you’re so used to it.
We needed to be trying for 1 year, then we had tests with the GP. Because our SA came back with zero sperm, we were referred straight away, and it was a year wait. I didn’t need any further tests because it was MFI. So, once you’re able to get SA, it should hopefully all get started. I hope things start up again next week. I will let you know what the hospital say on Monday x

It was the same when I started out down south in 2013 @Daisz , but by the time I'd moved to Scotland the NICE had changed the guidelines in 2017 to say that couples (in most scenarios) had to have been trying for two years before they could be offered NHS IVF funding (part based on evidence and part money saving exercise, I think 😏).

Yes, please do report back on Monday @BeHereNowx32 ❤️ Yours and @Daisz 's updates are the only thing that's stopping me from caving in (aka. keeping my crazy in-check 🤪) and bothering the clinic with a phone call!x

Thank you so much @Daisz @Bambionice and @Beherenow

I was imagining a long wait, ie SA not possible until July, three months for referral to clinic then a year after that. So I guess I'd be looking at starting treatment in October 2021. Do they fast track for being over thirty five or having rheumatoid arthritis? If not I totally get it. I just really feel scared of having to go back on immunosuppressants and everything stopping.

I just hoped so hard this month and did so much right.

Lovely receptionist at gp said to call June eighteenth, so will try then. I think eighteen months was the point for me to finally accept that this will never happen naturally, and that was such a gutting realisation.

I hope everything starts soon for all our sakes. I am scared of how angry and bitter this makes me feel. Thank you for being here.

I don't know about the fast-tracking @theotherfossilsister 🤔 They didn't fast-track us when we went to them (when I was still 38) and our NHS funding comes around next month (and I turned 40 last month). They might because of the RA though if you can't take drugs that you need to control it whilst TTC. Did your RA consultant write to them in the end?

I've found that the anger and bitterness comes and goes, so hang on in there ❤️ I'm OK with us not having children - we love each other and our little life together as it is, so we know we'll be happy if this is it... but I'm still pretty f🤬king angry that the right to choose to have a child has been taken from me by biological bad luck, rather than being the result of my own decision. It's 💩.

Let's hope it's good news tomorrow and the clinic will be allowed to get on and do their thing 🤞🤞🤞

@theotherfossilsister I also don’t know the answer about fast tracking. And I was googling for an answer at 2am when I couldn’t sleep 🙈 sorry. When we first found out we needed ivf, we paid for private tests with spire. Not sure how they will be working at the moment, if it’s the same rate as the nhs Lothian. They will do fertility tests, but not actually ivf/icsi procedure. It was dr Thong who done our tests at spire, as well as nhs at ERI.

Hi BeHereNowx32, hope you’re well. I see that your issue is/was mfi? Are you managing to use your partners sperm for treatment?

@mabel9 hello! Yes, we are able to use DH’s sperm. They were able to extract through sperm retrieval op. Then we used it for ICSI.

@theotherfossilsister I don't recall any negative comments about my age at the time (36) or the need to speed up the process being mentioned.

Have you been for counciling with regards to your feelings? I always imagined it may be of some help, but have never done so myself. I still have periods of anger and bitterness that resurface from time to time, and that is with one successful cycle. No one prepares you for the people you end up mixing with after you have had a child, their throwaway comments that you can't relate to, the expectation that you can just churn out another baby on demand, it can really really mess with your mind. I don't know if anyone else on here can relate to feeling that they have absolutely nothing in common with other women that have had a child the normal way. Ivf changes your perspective forever. Also I have not told any of my friends, so I suppose I lack people in my life that 'get it' which is why feelings build up because there is no one to off load to.

@BeHereNowx32 that’s great. We are in a similar position, my husband has Severe Oligospermia but we’ve been told it’s a production issue so the urologist doesn’t think we’ll find any sperm through retrieval. Good luck with your next round 😊

@mabel9 it’s so stressful. We were very lucky that they could retrieve sperm. He didn’t have any blockages on scans and all blood tests are normal. Good luck to you too!

ERI are going ahead with treatments. So, I have an appointment tomorrow to get my period started again.

Hope everyone has good news soon

Fantastic news @BeHereNowx32! 🎉🥳🎉🥳 Thanks so much for that very welcome update! 😃 I hope tomorrow goes well for you as well 🤞

I think I'll wait another 2 or 3 weeks before I call them for an update. Hopefully that'll give them enough time to get you guys into your cycles and give them a better idea of what things are looking like going forward 🔮

Great news @BeHereNowx32. delighted for you! So glad to hear things are moving. Keep us all posted. Hope you are all ok.

Just spotted this update from the clinic (and I really hope I get a FET phone call over the next few weeks then! 🤞🤞🤞):

services.nhslothian.scot/edinburghassistedconceptionprogramme/Pages/COVID-19.aspx

@RonRon1 it sounds like IVF/ICSI cycles might be starting sooner rather than later after all 🍀

@bambi actually crying I am so so happy at the announcement

Well, I certainly didn't want to make you cry but I'm delighted that you're happy @RonRon1! 😉

Having thought about it, I don't think I'll be hearing from them anytime soon 😔 Our FET should be next month, but if they're only doing March going into April now, then it'll be April into May next, then May into June, then June into July... I've basically probably got a good 4 months still to wait 😓

I just hope they do go ahead as planned. I hope there is no second wave of covid 19. Its crazy this has all happened. Poor us eh.

I feel bad my best friend is pregnant. Due any day and keep having to bite my tounge as evey time she complains I just think... Least u will have a baby any day now! But I think this has impacted us all in different ways and we a r all allowed a little moan. let all keep each other posted when we hear. I was. April treatment so when I hear u will have more of an idea! At least it's moving x

I have my tablets to bring on my period, after that FET will be a quicker process. So, hopefully everyone will get seen sooner. It was strange, as I was the only patient there, and had to wear a mask, and a few other changes. But that’s it all started back up again.

Great news @BeHereNowx32! 😃 Must have been very weird being the only one there, but as long as you're getting your treatment that's all that matters! Do you have to ring them when AF rocks up and then what happens next? Sorry - FET newbie and many, many questions!

I'm worrying about the same thing @RonRon1 - I'm praying that they don't have to close again 🙏🏻 Every time there's a lull in my work I end up checking my phone in case there's a missed call... it's going to be a loooonnnnng wait for this phone call, isn't it?! 📞😣 Even bloody longer if it's going to be at least 4 flipping months away! 🤯