Care Fertility Chester - just been referred

[ChristmasJumpers]

Me and Dh have been referred to Care Fertility in Chester for IVF. I'm 30, DH 27 and we're diagnosed with unexplained infertility after completing all of our tests at RPH.

We don't have an appointment date yet but apparently should get an appointment within 6-8 weeks.

Has anyone else been referred for treatment recently or is at roughly the same stage of diagnosis/waiting to see a clinic? It would be really nice to start the journey with others who are in a similar situation.

I've been reading IVF boards but it is blowing my mind reading about down regs/stims/egg collection etc. while we're still waiting for our first appointment!

@CurbsideProphet thanks for the good wishes

Our circumstances are a little different because I haven't taken any meds, but I'll tell you our process: I called the nurses (well, they called me back) and said I wanted a FET. They arranged a phone consultation for the following week, during which we agreed a natural FET (same as previous successful FET). Arranged a scan with nurses for the following week to check everything was okay in there and the forms were sent to the portal. At the scan appointment they said to call on day 1. I called day 1 and was told to call when I got a positive on opk. I did and they booked transfer. So very rapid!

But I don't even know if I spoke to the coordinator. How can she think you can take meds from day 1 if you only call on day 1? Do you already have the meds? I would definitely call the nurses for clarification. Maybe she wanted you to call day 1 of the cycle before to get everything arranged in time???

@Holskey

Also, I know this was back in August and maybe you feel differently now:

I keep asking my DH if he's sure he wants to do this. I feel it in my bones that I need to do whatever it takes but my worry is that he's just going through it for me. He reassures me every time but I still worry!

My dp wasn't hugely into the idea of IVF and absolutely did it for me. I ploughed ahead anyway because he definitely wanted children and I knew he'd be supportive. I think accepting we needed IVF was more difficult for him to accept than he let on, but he is extremely glad we did it and is wholeheartedly on board with tomorrow's FET. I'm glad I didn't let his concerns or reluctance get in the way of something I knew we needed to do.

@holskey Thank you for your reassurance! I think now that we've had time to settle into the idea and emotions are a bit lower, I am feeling differently and DH is all for it! We definitely both want children and almost 3 years into trying it's clear we need to give this our best try! He does keep mentioning how he'd do it instead of me if he could which is sweet (I'd let him do it in my place too haha)

@holskey also, I think the reduced numbers are due to Covid. Just checked my notes and it was 28 NHS and 28 private patients tat he said they could treat per month, not 14 sorry!

Your first time success gives me a lot of hope!! I know of someone else through a friend who is currently 9 weeks pregnant through Care Chester too

You're right, we've put so much on hold until now, a holiday is definitely in order

@maybemumma that seems like too long to wait based on my own experience and what others have said on here. We had a call 2 weeks after initial referral to book in our consultation. the consultation was 6 weeks later (8 weeks in total from referral to consultation). I'd give them a chase up to make sure you haven't been missed.

It does seem unfair to limit the numbers (it's 28 NHS and 28 private though, I got my numbers wrong in my last post!). My cycles are all over the place so I have no idea if I'll strike lucky and be early in the month or start on the very last day. Imagining the worst (starting a cycle in Jan that we have to ignore and then going all of Feb with no period, then potentially being turned away in March as they've filled quota!!) My mind tends to run away with itself though haha

@Holskey thank you so much. I'm having another period first which should start next week, but rather than risk any delays I'll ring the nurses. I need to be on my work phone a lot so it's a nightmare really leaving them messages then having to wait an unspecified amount of time for them to call me 😬 I've been using an ovulation predictor which has shown I didn't ovulate this cycle. I don't know if I actually do ovulate, so mentally I feel better going for medicated. At least there's no awful norethisterone!

The CarePals is a very new system, so I'm not sure if they're entirely clear on processes. Absolutely lovely and it's very nice to be in contact with someone before we get to FET and not just be left on our own, but I think that they're still learning.

@ChristmasJumpers
I think now that we've had time to settle into the idea and emotions are a bit lower, I am feeling differently and DH is all for it!

Do you mean you're not as into the idea of having IVF now? What are your concerns? (There's plenty to choose from, of course! Is it the needles? The intrusive scans? The emotional turmoil? 😂)

Glad dh is all for it though. That'll make such a difference. I mean, it'll still be almost all you, but I've read some awful threads here by women with unsupportive and unsympathetic partners. They must feel so alone.

@CurbsideProphet

Yeah the callback system isn't always convenient. I don't think they've ever answered my call!

The digital opk seems to work for me, but then I always get ovulation pain for a couple of hours later the same day (mittelschmerz) which makes me feel more confident. If there are any doubts, it's much better just to do a medicated. A precious embryo at stake! And 2k if paying privately.

Dr Sephton did my transfer. I hadn't met her before. Lovely! Though I think I may have met your brusque nurse too 😂 But then I did accidentally knee her whilst trying to put my legs in the stirrups way ahead of time 😳 I was nervous.

@holskey sorry I think I worded that funny! I'm feeling different as in not so worried that DH is doing this just for me. I'm still all in with the IVF, but I am terrified if needles (numbing cream and lots of tears at blood tests 😳).

Thankfully we've been advised to go for a short protocol so at least that's less days of injections.

@ChristmasJumpers oh, that's my fault! I literally said you may feel differently now about DH's feelings and then I misinterpreted you said you did 🙈

I watched videos and documentaries of people injecting themselves before mine, and although I knew I would go through with it, I actually thought it would be an enormous ordeal involving tears and maybe even tantrums. Really wasn't that bad at all! Hopefully it'll be the same for you 🤞 but I know needle phobias can be very tough. The things we go through!

Hi, I was wondering how your treatments are going. I'm starting in January (at Chester), egg collection at the end. I'm a tad nervous :(

@Bl0rnky

Hi, I was wondering how your treatments are going. I'm starting in January (at Chester), egg collection at the end. I'm a tad nervous :(

I was due to start in January too but have pushed it back to Feb as we're on holiday in Jan! How are you feeling now that it's so close? I've been an emotional wreck the last few weeks!

@Bl0rnky also due to ring up at the end of jan to hopefully start. Hoping that boris hasn’t put a hold on that! X

@ChristmasJumpers I'm ok I think. bit sad. but mostly just scared. I'm worried my ovaries will explode with eggs, ovulation can be painful enough as it is with just one egg! Is this the first time? Hope you have a nice holiday!

@Maybemumma I hope so too. I don't think it'll stop what ever he does, not like the original lockdown when everything ground to a halt.

Yep it's the first time for us so I'm very nervous. Not a fan of needles, unknowns or waiting so IVF was definitely not made for me! 😂
I've never felt any ovulation pain so my worries go to the extremes of over stimulating and getting OHSS right through to not responding at all.

One thing I never expected was the sadness as the IVF gets closer. It's hard to accept that ttc naturally is coming to an end even though we've never had a bfp in 3 years

@Bl0rnky I'm starting on norithisterone on 20th December with provisional EC on 19th jan in Chester. This is my 3rd cycle but this is an embryo banking one to freeze whatever we get for future use as I'm 39. We had 2 failed cycles but are lucky to have 2 frozen embryos, just trying to bank one or 2 more

@Coops0406 is that with Chester? They've told me to ring on the first day of my cycle in Feb but I'm still not sure what happens after that! Think I may need to ring them to see if I need to start norethisterone as my cycles are all over the place! I'm not sure if I'd need to start it in Jan or if they'll discuss that with me in Feb

@ChristmasJumpers I just read your previous post and although it feels sad I honestly feel like IVF is an amazing thing and gives us that little bit more hope when maybe we would have none. It has helped me so much to think that way and even after a disastrous first cycle I'm still so positive.
I'm with Liverpool but the EC is at Chester. I rang on my first day and norithisterone starts on day 16 (or 17) then once you've had that you have a bleed then start on the injections. The amount of days on norithisterone is usually to get you in with their scheduling

@ChristmasJumpers, I don't mind needles but unknowns drive me crazy! I've found it sad and difficult to accept we need help in this area given our histories.

@Coops0406, what is norhisterone? I feel very un prepared in the way of medications, no idea what I'll be getting or when yet. Do you know if they give progesterone supplements after an embryo transfer?

Thanks

[quote Coops0406]@ChristmasJumpers I just read your previous post and although it feels sad I honestly feel like IVF is an amazing thing and gives us that little bit more hope when maybe we would have none. It has helped me so much to think that way and even after a disastrous first cycle I'm still so positive.
I'm with Liverpool but the EC is at Chester. I rang on my first day and norithisterone starts on day 16 (or 17) then once you've had that you have a bleed then start on the injections. The amount of days on norithisterone is usually to get you in with their scheduling [/quote]
You're absolutely right, it's an amazing thing and we're very lucky to have access to it. I think my sad feelings are more because I was hoping to be one of those who miraculously fell pregnant just before starting IVF but it's not to be, my next AF is likely to be in Feb now so that's that.
Thank you for explaining what happens with the norethisterone, that makes perfect sense!

@ChristmasJumpers it doesn't help when you have people tell you that they were thinking about IVF but miraculously fell pregnant just before they were about to go! But you just have to be on these forums to realise how many of us are struggling with fertility to know it's not just you and there is so much support. We will get there! 🥰 now you can enjoy Xmas without the pressure if ivf and look forward to hopefully a positive next year.

@Bl0rnky it just delays your period so they can time things in with their schedules. I've had it a long time ago to delay my period for when I was going on holiday. You usually bleed a few days after stopping taking them so it is used to time that bleed ready for when they want you to start your injections.
Progesterone is usually started a day or so after EC in readiness for embryo transfer...and is continued until either a negative test on testing day or if positive then right through until about 9-10 weeks

@Coops0406 Thank you! I think low progesterone caused my miscarriage 3 years ago so this puts me at ease

@Bl0rnky after my last embryo transfer my period came during the 2 week wait so before I stopped the progesterone which shouldn't have happened...so they will probably increase the amount they give me. Just make sure you tell them about low progesterone levels in case you need more than normal

How is everyone getting on? I find communication difficult with Chester which makes everything more stressful 😩

Hey @CurbsideProphet, hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.

We’re waiting for the start of my new period (due around the 20th) to call and see where we are on the list and if we can start meds. We’ve just paid for caremaps as apparently the cost is going up from Jan.

Feeling very anxious about the new year! How are you doing?

Hiya @CurbsideProphet. I've just started the norethisrone and its going ok, just half expecting something to go badly wrong!

I've found the communication difficult too, keep missing each other by phone, them asking me to pay for medication I knew nothing about. Found the medicine delivery people very unhelpful too, so the week before Christmas was extremely stressful! I don't like that fact I've not had one single conversation with a Dr, its all been through Nurses, although maybe its a good sign, who knows!

How are you? have you started treatment?