First appointment - Aberdeen Fertility centre

[HJen22]

Hi ladies. I was wondering if anyone could give me some advise. We have been TTC for over a year, and have just received our letter through for our first fertility clinic appointment at Aberdeen fertility clinic, over video call. What should I expect with this call? My OH has recently had SA which has come back above average and I had bloods done at the start of my cycle which also came back fine. Will this just be a chat about our lifestyle etc and then tests booked in for me? Any advise would be very much appreciated x

@HJen22 don't worry about hopping in and asking questions, from my experience I think we are all more than happy to be asked and have other people to talk about this all with! Haha

@HJen22 I had to go into the clinic for the ultrasound so met one of the doctors then, he was really nice and talked me through everything on the screen. The June clinic appointment I'm assuming will be to go through the procedure, etc but not sure what to expect.

@willithappen can I ask you how much time you needed to take off work for all the appointments? x

@SF84 oh yeah of course, I wasn't sure where they did the tests and things, is it all done at the fertility clinic?

How do you ladies manage stress and anxiety? I'm worried that's playing a part in this, but everything is just so long and a worry, I've tried so many things to relax, meditation, reflexology, hypnotherapy, massage, walking, reading, no social media, but my mood still always returns back to being down after even just a few good days x

@SF84 I ocassionally took a day off for some of the scans instead of having to make excuses to work, but I was working from home at that time so it was a bit easier to nip off.
I took one day off for a scan and the others I managed to fit in around work, I took the day of egg collection off, not the days after as I'm a desk job and was working from home still, then for transfer I took the day of transfer (tues) right through to the Friday but it isn't necessary, I just did it to try relax. Although I went to rugby training the same day I had a transfer. Doctor said it was better to go as activity is good for blood flow!

@HJen22 - it is just my personal experience but I found having the tests done at the FC was loads better, yes the GP was perhaps quicker but they weren't able to interpret the results and on more than one occasion I was in the loos at work crying as a doctor receptionist had just said "no ovulation detected" and basically hung up on me. The FC were able to give me a lot more context, discussion and options.

It is really hard to handle the stress and anxiety to be honest and I never really did find a solution. I enjoyed some reflexology and massage type stuff as I felt it helped me to feel like I was doing something to improve my chances rather than just willing the time away. I also did fertility yoga on YouTube which was pretty good. But on the whole just ranting and then accepting that it is hard, shit and unfair is probably as far as I got!

@florafoxtrot yeah I'm hoping the clinic can give us more information. When I first had tests for any sign of pcos I was just told by the receptionist all fine, it was then when I called at a later date I asked the Dr for more details as to what she'd actually had tested. Even then though it's hard to keep up! And after the day2 bloods again I just got a "fine". I will definitely take notes during the clinic appointment in June!

Same, I like to try these things to try and feel like I'm making an effort to manage the stress but realistically they last for a few days and then I feel rubbish again. We got a puppy in March so that was a distraction that month and we didn't even try but this month it's back to feeling down. I will keep on with the OPKs again this month I think, and maybe temp but I find that a bit much so early, when I've used OPKs I seem to get a peak but who knows! Just need to keep trying in the meantime I guess! It is hard and unfair isn't it 😔

@HJen22 the only tests I've had done were bloods by my GP for the referral and the ultrasound at clinic. I'm assuming any other tests needed will be done by the clinic.

@willithappen thanks for that. I'm hoping I'll still be working at home so it'll be easier to nip off for appointments. And glad to hear activity is good for blood flow, I hoped I'd be able to continue horse riding during treatment!

I've found that as soon as we got referred to the clinic my stress and anxiety started to fade because I felt that at least we're on the list now and felt like we're making progress. I'm sure that will change once the treatment starts although I'm a believer that if it's meant to happen it will x

@SF84 yeah I just had day2 bloods and my partner had his SA. The previous bloods weren't at a certain time in my cycle so don't think they'd have went towards the referral, but maybe, will be on my notes I suppose!

I am still working from home too so hoping any appointments will be able to fit in or even take half days to avoid saying to my boss I've "an appointment".

I had felt better when the letter came through, but think the PMS hit early this month! Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow! As you say, I also try to think it will happen when it's meant to be, sometimes just doesn't feel like that though! But on the right tracks now at least x

Hi,

I am sorry to jump on an old post but I wondered how you have all got on? I am tempted to give them a call to look into getting some self funded help, don't seem to be falling pregnant and my DR takes a month + to get an appointment with and I feel like I'm just going round and round in circles.

Thanks x

Hi l@RMS0209
My four month old dd is currently sleeping in her next to me right now :)
It all seems like a blur now, but everything worked first time for us so we were very fortunate and lucky. Lots of lovely nurses and staff at AFC

Hi @willithappen thanks so much for getting back to me.

That is lovey, really has made my day hearing that 💖 thank you. X

@RMS0209 hello 💕 I am just away to start my second round with Aberdeen. The Drs and Nurses are so lovely and I really felt supported and cared for last cycle, and sure I will again this one. I've called with plenty questions and they've always been so willing to help. Wishing you lots of luck if you do go ahead x

@willithappen congratulations on the safe arrival of your little one ❤️

@HJen22
hello!💕
thank you so much for getting back to me.
Excited for you starting 2nd round... sending all the luck.
Glad to hear you've called with plenty questions and got an answer - this is a big thing for me!
Will you please keep me updated with how you get on?
It's getting the referral from my Dr to go private for this will be the hassle I think.. I am going to try one more cycle this month and then push for it.

Wishing you lots of luck with round 2 and hope this is the one for a BFP for you! X

@RMS0209 you're very welcome, it's always nice to chat to people especially at the same clinic as a he clinics can be so different in how they do things!

Thank you, sadly we never made it to transfer last round but I'm hopeful this time we will. I have low AMH and AFC so I was always worried about even making it to egg collection. We did but we had an issue with the trigger (long story!) and only ended up getting one egg which did fertilise but sadly didn't continue to grow. Hoping this next round goes smoother. But what I can say is that from the outset the Drs really wanted what was best for us, it was even the main consultant who called me when the cycle ended to assure me we could go again. So just waiting to start the pill a week on Sunday to fit in with their scheduling and baseline scan 30th May! All getting very real again!

If your Dr is slow I would just get on at them now anyway in the background. I'm not sure your situation but my GP ran some bloods and my OH had sperm analysis with the clinic but referred from the GP. It took me a year from first speaking to the GP to starting my first round but that was NHS and there were tests and waiting lists. Thank you so much, good luck to your next steps. And of course I can keep you updated and any questions please do just ask, I had a lot Xx

Going threw Ivf