Looking for some info

[Nlm77]

Hi, I’m a newbie to this forum, I’m glad I came across it for some moral support. We had our second video consultation and ready to start this exciting but scary process of IVF with ICSI.

My husband is booked in for a repeat SA in 2 weeks time, and I have been prescribed Norethisterone to start 21 days after my period begins (period due around 7th Dec). I have seen a lot of people on here mentioning which protocol they are on - when will I find this out? The nurse on the video consultation ran through a schedule of appointments I will need to attend, baseline scan, egg retrieval, etc. Do they wait until period starts before sending appointment dates etc?

Should I be taking folic acid and vitamins already?

These video consultation are so impersonal - I wish I had asked all these questions then.

I’m with Aberdeen Fertility Centre.

Sending lots of positive vibes to everyone x

No personal experience with the clinic but I would think they would have decided which protocol if they've already given a rough schedule of appointments? If it's not obvious from the appointment schedule (long generally drugs to down regulate for a few weeks first then 2 weeks of meds to stimulate egg development and the short protocol doesn't have down regulation but there's lots of variability between clinics and regimes) then perhaps call the clinic? I'm sure they will be happy to clarify.
And I'd recommend folic acid now-its recommended to anyone who is TTC.apolgies if you knew some of the above already!
Best of luck!xx

Best of luck with your treatment cycle.

It appears that you are on long protocol. In short protocol you start the stims only from day 2/3 of your periods (contrary to you starting down reg medication from day 21 of your cycle)

Both long and short are usually tailored to your needs
e.g. depending on your scans and previous history you may be given high or low dose meds, stimmed for less days or more days etc

Multiviatmins - you should start

@Nlm77 Hey OP! You're the first person I have come across who is at Aberdeen also and just away to start!
I have my nurses appointment a week today so unfortunately can't help too much but would love to keep in contact with you and chat during this experience as I may be only a week or so behind you.

I had our consent forms appointment last week, I was struggling to understand everything but I actually asked the doctor at that time what protocol I'd be on and he said short. I didn't get much else out of him so was going to ask nurse on the 8th.

I agree the video calls are unpersonal and it feels super strange. I had a different doctor than I had seen at the clinic too.

Please keep us updated, would love to speak with someone else who's at the same clinic and at around the same time as me.

Thank you for your comments, I think I will gather my questions and call the clinic tomorrow.

@willithappen yay... we can be IVF buddies! I was hoping I’d find someone who was also using AFC. We had issues with our consent video call, we could hear and see the doctor but she could only see us and not hear, so we had to do a video call but on the phone at the same time - I was stressing as I know how limited their time is and how much I needed the appointment. The second video call was last week, but it’s so much information to take in, I was writing down dates and notes and then the nurse said it would be sent out to me, I’ve been checking the letter box and still nothing - and I don’t want to come across as needy (you would think it was Christmas haha)! Do you live local to Aberdeen? It would be great to keep in contact during our journeys, my first appointment in the hospital is 8th Jan for scan. I have done some research and I think I’m on the long protocol. I’ve just been to boots to get folic acid and vitamin D. Everyone on here know so much more than me... I feel like it’s my first day in a new job. xx

@Nlm77 I felt like that too when I first found out we needed IVF and had to google loads of the abbreviations! I found a website called the duff quite helpful and did quite a bit of research as to what the difference is between various protocols etc but I think to some degree you need to trust your clinic to do what's best for you
Trust me you will end up picking up loads as you go through your cycle xx

@Nlm77 same!! It's good chatting to people here but finding someone in the same clinic is sooo good. It's been hard to find someone going to Aberdeen too.

I'm about a 40 minute drive from Aberdeen so not too local but close enough :)
I couldn't understand our doctor at the video call for most of it and feel I just nodded and got on. It only lasted 15 mins too so was over in a flash.
Managed to get our bloods done yesterday too.
Noted for the nurses appointment I'll have a pen and paper handy. I'm the same and feel so new and lost to all this!
Did you have a long wait on the list?

@Roo45 your 100% right, I just need to have faith in the clinic, I just want to make sure I’m doing everything right at this end, and I like to be organised haha. I have had a quick look at the duff - thank you for the recommendation. xx

@willithappen we live an hour and a half away, so not too far either. I was referred in February, and then covid happened, so quite quick taking that into consideration, have you had a long wait?
I think I am going to get a calendar so I can mark everything on it - when to take tablets, injections, appointments- so it’s a bit clearer in my head.
It’s amazing to find someone at the same clinic and at similar stages xx

@Nlm77 we were referred in Oct last year, appointment through for the Jan and then has Hycosy and tests etc and officially put on waiting list in May this year
It's so good finding someone!
A diary to write dates sounds useful. Did they go over the drugs with you at your appointment? When are they being sent out?

@willithappen Yeah the nurse ran through all the meds with me on the last video call, the only prescription I have received so far is Norethisterone - which I picked up today. I’m hoping I will get a letter shortly just so I know what I’ve written down is correct. Have you been taking vitamins etc?

@Nlm77 ah I'm sure I will get all that info too then. Did she give you dates at that appointment also? I was only told by doctor that it would likely be after Christmas.
My period is due 15th Dec and then 12th Jan.

I have been taking the wellwoman pre conception ones for a while now and my partner on the wellman ones. I'm not sure how much/if they make a difference though and have only been asked to take folic acid and Vit D3

@willithappen I have just spoken to a nurse at AFC who has said I have to call the clinic on day 1 of my period this month, and then they will email over the protocol with dates of appointments etc. I’m so excited and nervous at the same time. This has been such a long wait, from TTC to getting some help. xx

@Nlm77 oh wow that's soon! Did you call them for an update or did they contact?
I was also wondering if they have said anything about self isolating at all?
I think my period dates knock me out for getting started this month.

@willithappen yeah, it’s very soon - I’m due my period next Monday, then to wait 21 days and then start Norethisterone. Then it’s all go go go! I requested a call back from them. Nothing has been mentioned about self isolating - that’s a really good question! xx

@Nlm77 did you say you would be long protocol? We might differ slightly in some of it as I'm short protocol.

I kind of feel like we don't get given much info as docs have us at unexplained and because we're younger I feel like they are just gonna give the standard IVF protocol and nothing tweaked to us specifically

@willithappen I think we are long protocol, my husband has 2 children to a previous relationship, but his last SA showered 1% morphology hence the ICSI, my ovulation bloods didn’t really go high enough, and I have a blocked tube (with no reasoning) we have been try for 6 years, 4 years ago we were referred for IVF but I fell pregnant naturally just before our appointment, however it ended in a MMC at 8 weeks. We are both early 30’s, but as the months go on I feel so much older 😩

@Nlm77 how strange we are also 1% morphology but been told no ICSI as all his other numbers are normal or above average so it 'cancels it out'

Ah what a stress for you. Sorry to hear you have had to go through that :( I also had my ovulation test come back .5 under what was needed but I think I maybe for it done one day too early. Can't be sure.
All we have had is one SA, day 21 bloods and HyCoSy and other than that no other tests done. I haven't had my AMH tested either.

@willithappen I have checked through our paperwork and my husbands SA showed morphology issues with absence of acrosome. I had a HSG done in Feb this year which showed the blocked tube.
In 2019 we had some tests done but paid private which included a baseline scan, and it showed a small endometrioma, my FSH was borderline, TSH level was normal, and the antral follicle count was satisfactory.

So quite a few “issues” and I guess ICSI was more suitable for us based on that.

More recently we both had BVV bloods and I had day 1-5 bloods done.

I think we are going to learn so much about ourselves and our body’s in these coming months, this was never taught in Sex Education haha xx

@Nlm77 ahh that would explain the difference then. It's all so confusing at times isn't it?

I had BVV bloods on Monday but that's the only ones I have been asked to get done currently. We have been ttc five years also so I think they are like - right it's just straight to IVF really and didn't bother with many other tests.
For my HyCoSy I was told one tube is open and the other is 'more than likely' open. Apparently the fluid came out the other end but they couldn't actually see it and follow it on screen so can't say for sure.

@willithappen We are really lucky to have the NHS, and the ladies at AFC are so lovely. I’ve never hoped for AF to arrive for years, but this time is different, once this one arrives we are on track for the journey.

I’ve been reading the other posts where people are on their two week wait... can you imagine that stage, seems so far ahead but so exciting.

I think I’m going to take a weeks holiday the week I have 3 appointments just so I don’t have to explain to work.

@Nlm77 yes exactly that's what I keep thinking how lucky we are to get this and not have to pay. It's such a weight off compared to if we didn't get it on the NHS.

Omg I know, that's exciting but still feels a while off. Although because it's been such a long wait on the waiting list I feel like everything else seems faster!

A week off work sounds good, I think I will do the same as I really don't want to have to tell work about this. I don't really want anyone in my life knowing as I can't handle the questions or pitty put my way

@willithappen Exactly, not only the emotional pressure, the physical pressure but to have financial pressure too. I was worried because my husband had 2 kids that we wouldn’t be eligible but so so thankful we are.

Your right, it’s seems far away, but once we get going we’re on the same route - that’s very exciting.

I’ve only told my mum as I had a bit of a tearful day, but don’t want anyone else knowing for the questions and pity too, but when people say “oh when are yous going to have a baby”... my awkward reply is “maybe next year” it’s such a horrible question fir people to ask, when we are in this position - but then I have to remember they don’t know 🤦🏻‍♀️

@Nlm77 I've tagged you to another thread with some AFC gals

@pixelflower there's some extra info here about the appointment you have tomorrow that may help guide you and give you an idea :)

@LabradorMum
This is the thread I mentioned

Thanks for the tag @willithappen
@Nlm77 lovely to meet another AFC person.l 😊
Notebook and pen ready for tomorrow! Will need to make notes prior, video calls make me anxious anyway, never mind for this!

@Nlm77 how are you getting on?