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

@Kamiros I'd ask the question. I don't think they'll do it (GCRM always seem really reluctant to do extra scans or bloods and things) but its worth asking the question I think, at least see what they say.

I'm still urgh. We'd planned to go visit my sister tomorrow to just get it over with, but now my parents are wanting to visit tomorrow, and its just too much for me to cope with having to deal with them simultaneously. So now reordering our day so I can get in and out of there without having to deal with them too (everytime I remember my dad repeating, incessently, how "lovely" the baby was when they went to the hospital it feels like daggers piercing my soul, so I just can't cope right now with having to sit in a room with that and all the insensitive comments). I would have just delayed having to go visit, but we're busy or away the next few weekends and working midweek, and then there is a "family get together" at the start of December (which I'm already secretly hoping to just avoid as my brother who I hate anyway is coming up and I try to avoid having to see him at the best of times), and I just want to get the hurt of having to see this baby over with in as least traumatic an envrionment as possible, and at least if we go this weekend I can do that initial having to meet the baby with no other family members making it worse, and being able to leave quickly if its just too much, so its really got to be this weekend we go get it over with. I think it all just doesn't help that I have PMDD anyway and I'm only just over a week away or so from period, so all the crap situational feelings are being mixed with a dose of crappy hormones as well.

Actually all I want to do at the moment is retreat into a blanket fort with my book for a week or so. How lovely that would be!

@Kamiros Ahh okay, the amazon warehouse makes lots of sense now! So we just need the right parcel to be brought off the conveyor belt, fingers crossed for us all.

@2mumlife thinking of you meeting the baby tomorrow - hopefully it'll be better once it's done (a kind of rip off the plaster type experience) but look after yourself, it's bound to be tough for you.

Argh sorry @2mumlife, you posted whilst I was writing. Def agree going on your own is good, at least that way you won't have the eyes of others on you xx

@LouScot Thanks. It was actually fine. I felt like I do after meeting friends babies actually - a bit more able to see it's not their fault, and a bit more generic pain / sadness that's not so related to that actual baby/mum any more. Glad I went and did it but also glad I left before my dad turned up, as he continues to be totally insensitive about the whole thing. Hoping the novelty wil wear off soon so we can have a conversation about something else

I just had my nhs call and would be added to their list in January. They’re saying 6-7mths wait then 2 appts before starting for bloods and consents.
We won’t be using nhs tho as they told us if we go private we won’t be entitled to any nhs. Die to age as I’ll be 40 by then

@TheDaydreamBelievers sorry that was supposed to be a reply to your question

@LT103 At least you know where you stand now. Hopefully you can get going with private treatment quickly.

General question to anyone who used NHS, how long did it take you to get referred from GP to NHS fertility clinic and for them to arrange call? Our final option is to go down NHS - as a same sex couple we HAD to pay for private treatment first before becoming NHS eligible, which we are now we've had 6 failed attempts. If this cycle starts we'll be looking at getting on the NHS waiting list in the new year, but not really sure of the whole NHS process?

@2mumlife my timeline is a bit off because I was on the waiting list at the start of covid. Also I don't live in Glasgow, but Glasgow were the closest hospital offering what we needed (ICSI). So we had some basic tests done by our GP around July 2019, then we're referred to the fertility clinic at our local hospital and we're seen there around September 2019. Tests included ultrasounds, sperm analysis etc. we found DH has low sperm account but I also needed an ovarian cyst removed, thankfully pre covid so had this done December 2019 and we were referred to the royal from there. Were seen February 2020, had to repeat some tests, then covid hit. Eventually got added to the waiting list July 2020, and got the first appointment through to start treatment February 2021. Hopefully it would be quicker for you, it felt like our timeline involved lots of faffing and time wasted that other couples probably wouldn't have to do. There is a Glasgow IVF/ICSI support page, maybe worth asking there for more up to date idea of timescales. I have no complaints about my treatment at the royal, communication was good and I felt the staff were caring and listened.

@LT103 I'm sorry to hear that, that sucks. At least you have a bit of a plan with GCRM though and can hopefully get moving with them soon.

From GP to first appointment with NHS fertility services was only a couple of months for us I think, @2mumlife.

@itsmschanandlerbong @Scirocco Thanks. I know I might need to repeat some investigations but it should be pretty quick I hope as I should, theroretically, be straight forward. Good to hear NHS doesn't take forever. We also don't actually live in Glasgow anymore, but from what I understand we'd be sent to Dundee for treatment.

Would anyone be able to post a link to the new thread? I can't find it anywhere 😂

Hey everyone - hope you are all ok.

I had EC yesterday and was pleasantly surprised that we got 7 eggs, this morning we got the call to update that only 3 were suitable for ICSI and that all 3 have fertilised. I can’t help but feel a little deflated with these results and now anxious about development over next few days. Does anyone have success with low numbers they can share with me? 💕

Hi @Hopewishprayer I had 3 eggs fertilise too. Only one made it to blastocyst for day 5 transfer, but she's currently at 28+6 and doing well.

I'd felt really down about how poorly I responded to stims (only 6 eggs collected despite good AFC and AMH), and about what seemed like a low fertilisation rate (3 out of 6), and about the drop-off by day 5. But the embryologist insisted I shouldn't give up as it's quality not quantity that's most important.

@Scirocco thank you for sharing, that’s wonderful, wishing you all the very best 💕💕

Hello all

Has anyone done bbt tracking? Xx

@Scirocco That's wonderful news! Wishing you all the best 🥰

So had day 3 call yesterday, not good news. All 3 embryos are developing but have fragmentation, the embryologist said that there is a possibility that by tue (day 5) we won’t have anything to transfer, she also said that sometimes they can correct and get rid of the fragmentation as they develop but at this stage no way of knowing. They need to wait until day 5 and call me before my scheduled transfer appointment and will let me know if we will go ahead. Feel like we are out, so upsetting wasn’t prepared for this kind of assumed I’d have at least one to transfer 😕
Anyone been in a similar situation? 💕

@Hopewishprayer I think fragmentation can correct itself, so you might still have something to transfer. It's really difficult to predict whether or not correction will occur though... Keep everything crossed and we'll do the same. 💜

@Scirocco thank you 💕 yes she said that and that they just don’t know just need to sit tight until tomorrow morning x

Hi @Hopewishprayer fingers crossed things correct themselves.

Hope everyone is is bearing up. Its so lovely to hear the success stories on here, so thanks those of you who've posted their happy news. Is there a new thread anywhere?

I've just posted on the over 40s thread, I'm struggling just now. I wanted a partner, someone who loved me and to have a baby with them, and here I am at 43 without either. Just need to have a good old greet tonight I think to see if that helps x

Hi all. Hope everyone is doing ok. I've been away from here for a bit, just trying to have a bit of a break from thinking about ttc. I'll need to read through and catch up today. I finally ovulated this month, first time since before my first IVF in April and for the first time since I came off the pill 4 years ago I had a perfect 28 day cycle- its huge for me as I was having 21-23 day cycles. Looks like my hormones are finally getting in line. Not sure if it's diet, Chinese herbs, sorting my thyroid or something else but don't suppose it matters. @Louscot I hope you're feeling a bit better today 💗

@Hopewishprayer Hope that you were able to transfer an embryo

@Kamiros That's great you had a regular cycle!

Wee update from our side - I had a super long cycle (even for me) last cycle, but AF came just in time to get the go ahead for FET, so I'm few days into meds for this cycle. Wont be getting scanned until 13th so hoping for a good and thick lining then

@2mumlife That's great news, fingers crossed. Clinic called me yesterday to say they can't fit me in this month, probably not next month either which is quite disappointing but is what it is.

@Kamiros How frustrating! I was really worried we wouldn't be able to go this cycle - AF came over a week later than I estimated, and whilst I have variable cycle lengths, even that for me is wonky. Anyway, they've found a spot and now I just need lining to grow well so transfer can be done before the cut off for clinic closing for Christmas. One good thing is with it being later the 2WW will be over Christmas, so I won't know outcome if it's not positive until after Christmas. And lots of distractions during the 2WW which is good.