Infertility investigations/IVF in Scotland - thread 3

[itsmschanandlerbong]

A thread for those of us undergoing infertility investigations or treatment in Scotland.

Thread 1 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/3742246-infertility-investigations-ivf-in-scotland

Thread 2 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/4138992-Infertility-investigations-IVF-in-Scotland-thread-2

@GemmTryTTC Yup, I think they need to stop taking on so many new patients for a bit as I've noticed a few things last few months that didn't use to be an issue. I think I know the nurse you mean (and if its who I'm thinking shes the one who came in and went for plunging needle into the bruise!), she didn't take my bloods on Monday when I bruised though (I think that was my fault for not pressing down long enough and not keeping arm straight afterwards).

@2mumlife they’re lucky they’re all nice nurses! But yeah going into a bruise… eh nope! And yeah they should start either slowing down or hiring more staff to go over this things with patients, we were forgotten about before starting treatment a couple of times and I had to send a couple of stern emails, it seems to be a bit better now.

@Hopewishprayer at the start of the pandemic we had also looked into going private but I figured with the waiting times it wasn't worth the money, like you I thought it would be better to wait and save the money for a private round in the future if needed. Remind me whereabouts you are again? I'm at Glasgow Royal and although they said it would be a year, I waited around 9 months from being added to the waiting list to actually starting stims.

@2mumlife not good! They can rarely find a vein on my right arm, so have to go into my left arm over and over which was a struggle when being monitored every second day whilst on stims!

@itsmschanandlerbong it will be Glasgow royal too - the consultant yesterday said around a year from now I guess I need to wait a few months to have an appointment there before being placed onto the list. It’s so difficult to decide - I do t like the idea of another year doing nothing -I am really concious that my clock is ticking 🙈 I have asked for some info from the private side of the royal so will take it from there once they get back to me

@Hopewishprayer it's so difficult to know what the right thing to do is, you're best getting all of the information and making an informed decision from there. GCRM also offer private but I'm not sure how much they cost and what their waiting list is looking like. I can't fault the service I've had from GRI. Some people in the group I'm on on Facebook have complained about a lack of communication and at times a rubbish attitude from staff but I honestly have no complaints, all of the staff have been lovely and supportive.

Confirmed chemical for us I'm afraid. Hate the idea of having to do another EC again...

@2mumlife I'm so sorry, sending a big hug your way. Have you thought of any next steps yous want to take now?

@2mumlife I'm so sorry, this fucking sucks. It's the cruelest thing to have a little bit of hope for it to be taken away 😔 sending big hug hugs xx

Really sorry to hear that @2mumlife

I'm so sorry @2mumlife. 💐

Thanks everyone. Its all just feeling like one really expensive way to feel shit. I just keep feeling like at the end of all this all we're going to be left with is a lot of dissapointment, an "unexplained" fertility issue I never started with, and a good 20k lighter in the pocket for nothing.

@2mumlife I understand! For us 2 women couple, at least me and my partner, we go into fertility treatments kind of blind, thinking it's not going to take too long as we have not much/if any experience with trying naturally, so went things go south or its more difficult than we thought it's a shock for the system.

@2mumlife I'm so sorry to hear this.

@GemmTryTTC Exactly this! Started off with just 'oh yeah, no fertility issues, IUI for you, give it 3 or 4 cycles" and then it all went south like you say.

I'm back on the wagon today, with supplements ordered and back to being strict about diet to get these eggs in shape for another EC round.

Has anyone here done/doing accupuncture? Its the only thing I've not tried yet. Is once a week normal practice for accupuncture and when did people start? I don't know if its something I need to be starting before another EC round or during or what?

@2mumlife Its so hard this, that's what I've been trying to do, is just focus n going forward for round 2. I'm considering accupuncture for the next round too. Someone on the page I'm on had recommended a place in the south side so I'm waiting on an email back from them. Have never tried it but I figure if it does nothing but help me relax then it won't be a waste of money.

I've been getting acupuncture on and off since last November and more or less once every week since March. It really works for me in terms of relaxation. Before my first ivf I was also nothing that my cycle was a bit longer ( I was only 23 days before) but I couldn't say whether that was acupuncture, diet or the DHEA. I go to the Natural Fertility Centre in Edinburgh, they're really lovely there and I enjoy having someone to chat to once a week. Actually on my way there right now.

Have just booked in for acupuncture, 2 weeks tomorrow. Can anyone who has done it give me an idea of what to expect? I'm feeling a wee bit anxious about it!

Sorry I haven’t @itsmschanandlerbong but I’m interested!

I’m feeling very sad today, I don’t know if it’s the hormones playing up but I can’t stop crying. It doesn’t help that I have no friends in Scotland, just in my home country… how does one make friends here!?! I’ve been living in Glasgow for aprox 3 years and I know some people from when I studied but we don’t go out… and I’m starting to struggle with loneliness!!

@itsmschanandlerbong I think its slightly different depending on who you see. I usually have a 5 min chat about how I am, where I am in cycle, any pain I have etc. Then she gets me to lie on the bed and puts the needles in. Depending on where I am in my cycle the positions change but usually feel, lower leg, tummy, hands and head. If it's first half of cycle I get a heat lamp on my abdomen then she turns out the light and leaves me to chill for about 25 mins. That's it. It can sometimes nip a tiny bit but usually I don't feel the needles at all. I've just arrived home from mine and feel very sleepy and relaxed.

@GemmtryTTC I'm sorry you're feeling like this, it's it's much harder during covid. Most of my friends aren't local either, though they are in Scotland. We're always here for a chat, though I know it's not the same.

@GemmTryTTC I'm sorry you're feeling this way, I go through periods of feeling pretty rubbish too. We're going through some pretty rough crap, alongside doing it in a pandemic, it's hard! It's more difficult to make friends in covid too I think. The friends I have made more recently have been through work. My friend had recently joined a walking group and has made some friends, that's the only type of thing that is going just now. I'm always happy to make new friends, feel free to send me a message, I'm in Glasgow too ☺️

@Kamiros thanks for this, I had no idea what to expect, I'm looking forward to trying it out though!

@Kamiros Really interesting to get an idea of what to expect. @itsmschanandlerbong Be interested to see how you find it. I've messaged some local to us who does fertility accupuncture for a bit more info. I have a second job that I was looking at cutting back some hours with, but discussed with DP that I'll keep the extra hours and use it to pay for accupuncture and give that a go.

@GemmTryTTC I understand a bit how you feel -, we moved out of Glasgow just before lockdown started, and don't really know people in our new area which was hard when we couldn't travel into Glasgow to see people. I've been working from home since march last year so I don't even get social time with colleagues any more, and it can get lonely.

Hey - just wondering if anyone can recommend a clinic for SSR? Thinking of doing self funding at GRI but they don’t do this procedure. GCRM do the procedure but said can’t do it because wait list is too long we would need to be having our private treatment with them ☹️ Would be grateful if anyone can share a clinic they have used or are aware of that can do this? Thanks !

Thanks everybody :) I am feeling a bit better today.
@itsmschanandlerbong I will message you shortly :) Thanks a lot!!
@2mumlife It doesn't help that I started working from home in January, I worked retail before so I saw plenty of people, not anymore! I may join a Meetup or two, but I am always weary of them, not sure why!
@Kamiros Thanks a lot! venting here helps a lot!

Hello I wondered if I could join? I’m not on ivf but just started clomid on cycle 1 cd10 xx

@Hopewishprayer sorry, not sure, maybe the clinic in Edinburgh does it?

@GemmTryTTC glad you're feeling better!

@J90A welcome! Best of luck with your cycle of clomid!

Feeling more positive this week. I took last week off work after the chemical to get my head together. I ate better, exercised, booked acupuncture and bought tons of vitamins. Back to work today, then went out a walk with a friend after work which also lifted me. The chemical was such a shitty outcome, but I can't change it, so I'm trying to focus on round 2. Hope you all have a good week too.