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

@itsmschanandlerbong glad to hear you are feeling in a positive mindset 💕

Hi ladies, just catching up a bit. We had a wedding at the weekend which was so lovely, nice to have seen people and feel like life was a bit more normal. Obvs also rushing around doing secret stims injections but it was all fine. I'm in tomorrow morning for a scan to see how it is going. Not feeling that hopeful, last week was stressful and I'm full of the cold/hayfever so can't see how my body would be behaving itself.

I'm so sorry the chemical was confirmed @2mumlife. I've not had acupuncture but did have reflexology and fertility massage when TTC the first time around. It felt positive to be doing something to try to improve our chance when it can all feel quite hopeless. And the time out to just relax was also lovely.

Glad things were a lot better after second scan @Scirocco. What are next steps?

Welcome @J90A. How are you finding clomid?

Glad you're feeling a bit better this week @itsmschanandlerbong.

@florafoxtrot I've had some pain again this morning, called EPAS and was told by a healthcare assistant that because I've already had a scan which showed it isn't ectopic, they won't see me or scan me as they "only scan for ectopics". She suggested I phone my GP in case it's a UTI.

My GP actually laughed in disbelief when I contacted her. She was stunned that that was the response I received.

I've another private scan booked for tomorrow evening - if there's something wrong, it's better to know sooner than later, especially considering large ovarian cysts can twist and rupture and have complications. Overall, I'm not feeling very hopeful.

However, I am feeling sick every day for hours, which is good, and exhausted after work, which is also good. I think...

Bloody hell. Why are all these people being so insensitive?! Does my head in.

Really hope pain is just things stretching and everything is ok. It really is such an anxious time and not helped by a lack of proper support from the professionals. Sincere apologies if this is a daft question but could the ovarian cysts pop?

@florafoxtrot fingers crossed!
@Scirocco I'm hoping you get more answers, it baffles me the insensitivity!
@J90A Welcome! :)

Hi, yes the cysts can rupture. Which is very sore and what probably caused the pain when I had to go to hospital before...

I hope you guys are all doing ok?

@Scirocco I'm so sorry this has been so difficult for you, made worse by bloody idiots 🤦‍♀️ I hope your scan goes well tomorrow and you start to feel better.

@scirocco Sorry you're going through this and that they're not being very helpful or sensitive.

@florafoxtrot Best of luck for tomorrow

I'm feeling frustrated today. I'm bleeding again- for the 3rd time since my failed ivf 9 weeks ago. That's been 3 months since the prostap injection now and I was really thinking I'd be back to normal - it scares me that I haven't ovulated yet. I really wanted to get going next day 1 but we don't see the endocrinologist until next week so I don't think I should go ahead until that's sorted.

@itsmschanandlerbong Glad you're feeling more positive. Are you having to do a fresh egg collection too? I've got my review consultation booked in now to make a plan for another egg collection round, and I've re-vamped up the healthy eating and supplements to get these eggs into shape

@GemmTryTTC If you like walking take a look at Lilidots on Meetup. We go walking with them sometimes - its a bit of an older crowd, but everyone is really nice.

@florafoxtrot Hope your scan goes well today! I've made an appointment to give accupuncture a go - DP and I have agreed since its the last egg collection for us we'll just throw everything we can at it.

@Scirocco I hope you get some reassurance at the private scan

@Kamiros Oh Geez, sounds like you need a bit of a 'reset'. Could you perhaps look at going onto the pill for a month? Seems like a lot of NHS clinics put patients on the pill so they can 'batch' patients but might help in your case?

Everythings fine here. I've been back at the gym after chemical which has been good for my soul. We're also off to Ireland to see my DPs family shortly, so I think the change of scene will be good.

@2mumlife Glad you seem to be doing ok, highly recommended the acupuncture.

That's a thought actually. I did even wonder about 10 days of norethisterone to see if that did the trick. Even if it stopped all this constant bleeding it might help - it's exhausting.

How are you feeling today @Scirocco?

That doesn't sound good at all @Kamiros. Hope the endocrinologist has some good suggestions next week.

Glad you've decided to go for it @2mumlife. I have heard good things.

Scan this morning was fine, about 10 decent sized follicles on each side so another 2 days of stims, another scan on Friday and then likely EC on Monday. I honestly can't decide for the life of me how I am feeling about any of it [smiley]

@florafoxtrot Glad it went well. Its hard to know how to feel, such a mix of emotions.

Glad the scan went well @florafoxtrot - nearly there :-) !

From the scan today it looks like the pain is from the cysts but they aren't twisting or anything too worrying - probably going to be annoying like this for a good few weeks yet but the pain isn't related to the pregnancy and everything else looks to be developing ok for now. I'm going to be having a couple of monitoring scans over the next few weeks to make sure the cysts go down. Phew!

@florafoxtrot glad it’s going well! The days before egg collection are weird, excitement and nerves mixed up! 🤞 I’d say take care after it, not only physically (duh!) but mentally too, hormones made me quite depressed after, 2 weeks past it and I’m much better 😊

We got a date for the FET planning appointment at the GCRM… 26th of July! I think our FET will possibly be at the end of august with my mid- august period? It all depends on how this next cycle is for me post-IVF really!!

Wow @GemmTryTTC that's not long to go now - keeping my fingers crossed for you. 💜

Glad the scan went ok @Scirocco. Hope things start to settle down soon, I guess your ovaries are effectively switched off now so fingers crossed the cysts start to just reduce and hopefully disappear. The stress is always there but does sound like all looking good.

Thanks for that advice @GemmTryTTC. Feel like my hormones have just recovered from the nothisterone! Found that really tough to be on. Not long for you to wait now then!

@Scirocco thanks! I'm glad the cysts are a bit better and that the pregnancy is going well!
@florafoxtrot it's alright! I wish I knew to keep an eye on my mental health after. I already have anxiety anyway, so it took me by surprise! It was manageable to be honest, don't overthink it either as everybody reacts different to it :) Good luck!

Sorry for the radio silence -

Just thought I'd pop on with a wee update.

Started stims with GCRM 20th June and have been scanning every second day since 25th June. As expected I had 1 dominant follicle and 4-5 very small under 6mm which was identical to my cancelled cycle in March. Anxiety was very high at this point!

They have let me continue and as the scans have progressed I still have the 1 larger one but 3-4 smaller follicles and growing slowly so we've kept going and delayed the planned collection for tomorrow.

Instead I'll scan again tomorrow and likely head for collection early next week. Aiming to collect from 3-4 follicles instead of just one. Which feels like a minor miracle.

All in all it's been a emotional rollercoaster but I am taking the small wins where I can - On my last scan they saw 11 follicles in total - lots are tiny and aren't going to offer anything to this follicle party but as someone with very low amh seeing my ovaries pop out more follicles instead of casually snoozing while on the job was very exciting. Not sure the Nurse got my excitement. LOL

@comiston34 That's great news. I remember them being totally confused when I was delighted with my 2 follicles. Had totally expected to not respond at all. Anything is a big deal for us low amh ladies.

Hi all, have been reading through this thread and you all seem such a lovely supportive group. I am halfway through treatment of letrozole to induce ovulation with no success yet. I haven’t been given any really explanation as my ultrasound was normal but essentially I just don’t ovulate. Three more months then we will be on to IVF. The whole process is daunting and I have never been through such a rollercoaster with the nerves each month hoping then feeling devastated when my period arrives. I have a wonderful supportive partner but just really wanted to find somewhere to talk to women who are going through the same experiences.

@LisZZ Welcome!!! :) It does help to be able to share our experiences here, it's a hard process and a rollercoaster indeed! I haven't been on Letrozole but maybe somebody else here has.

Morning ladies this may seem random- but I wanted to ask your thoughts- I have an appointment for eyebrow micro blading in Aug and not sure if should go ahead with it - I know that before starting treatment you are asked if had any tattoos in past 12 months (not sure if micro blading counts as a tattoo?) so I wouldn’t want to risk treatment being delayed due to this. Now I have only just been referred so likely it will be about about a year before starting but you never know it may be sooner 🤞not sure what to do 🙈

I think microblading is considered tattooing by quite a few NHS departments, but it might be best to check with your clinic what their policy on it is?

Lovely to have an update from you @Comiston34 and sounds like things are looking promising. Wishing you lots and lots of luck for the next stage!xx

Welcome @LisZZ 👋

Hi everyone thanks for the welcome. I wondered if anyone who’s been on clomid has pains ? I’ve had pains on my left side. No sure if I’m ovulating it was pretty painful yesterday during sex I was on the verge of having to stop. I’ve got pcos so I don’t usually ovulate or get a true period very often.

Hope everyone is well look forward to reading about the journeys xx