IVF Scotland - thread 4

[2mumlife]

Hi everyone,

Started a new thread for the Scotish ladies

@LouScot
@Scirocco
@MrsTMcB
@florafoxtro
@Hopewishprayer
@ScottishRach
@Kamiros
@LT103
@itsmschanandlerbong
@connal

Please @ anyone I missed!

@LouScot it's crazy how fast it moves, considering I've been on a list here for 18 months already with no date in sight. Completely different approach too, they want to test everything before we transfer. it'll be a FET, they say it helps minimise stress.
Honestly I'm fine with it, I've had a long time to get my head round it as a possibility, I've researched it to death, had counselling etc. I know its the best chance of a healthy pregnancy and baby and generally feeling the most positive I have in the last 3 years. I just hope it continues this way.

There's a thread on here for people having ERA . . . I'll see if I can find it.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/4442943-era-emma-alice-testing-thread-3

Thanks @Scirocco - thats great

@Kamiros Wow thats exciting and really fast moving! I've not had an ERA or scope so no advice there, but sounds like they're checking things out thoroughly to try to give you the best changes this time around which is great! I honestly have found the FETs SO MUCH easier than a fresh transfer, so I can understand thier approach. It also will mean they don't have to try to sync your cycle to the donor, and as we know egg collections don't always go as planned so at least this way you're not taking any medication until you know there is a good looking embryo waiting for you!

I understand your hesitation around the annonymous donor. Going annonymous really wasn't for us - I felt a lot of responsibility / ethical consciousness to not deny a child information about their donor if they ever wanted it to be honest, so part of going to the ESB meant we have a lot more information to give a child than if we went with a UK donor (e.g. audio recording of the donor talking about themselves, a couple of photos of the donor at different ages (not just a baby) and a letter from the donor to any child conceived). I felt good knowing we could feel like we knew something more about the donor than just their physical features, and that there is information we can share with a child at any point they might need/want that. I know some people prefer annonymous donations, and/or have considerations like you have that there are far fewer egg donors in the UK. Its a shame so few people donate in the UK

I have a transfer date! (23rd June) This is insanely quick.

@Kamiros so glad to hear your appointment went well, and wow you've a transfer date already! Great news!

Are you managing to fit in your plans you had before then?

How long will you go out for? Xx

@HJen22 Yes it all works around that. I need to to next month for 2 nights to get all my tests done, they're doing a full mock cycle. We could probably get away with one night but with the flight times it wild be a rush. Then same again for transfer - 2 nights

@Kamiros that's great news! And really good that they are doing a mock cycle for you too. Transfer will be here before you know it. When I first said June out loud it felt like ages away but we're already half way through April!

Our next round due to start end of May/start of June. Currently I have Covid 😞 day 7 so hoping I'm on the mend soon cos I'm so over being ill. Calling CD1 which is due next week and start norethisterone again mid May. To fit in with their scheduling I might have to be on it for a bit longer then the 10 days last time but EC is scheduled for 13th June! Aaah! Really keen to get going again though!

Sorry I mean when I first got told our next cycle would be in June and I said it out loud it felt like it was ages away but it really isn't! X

Oh goodness @kamiros that is so quick! But delighted for you that it's moving so quickly now you've decided that's your route.

@Kamiros @HJen22 Great to hear you are both getting ready for next cycles - June feels like a lucky month! Crazy you both know exact dates for things!

May I join ladies? Our referral went to Dundee on the 28th March so playing the waiting game ✨

@HJen22 Good to hear you've got dates and are getting going again. Hope you're feeling better. Thanks @Louscot and @2mumlife.
@mrsmacmc Welcome. How are you feeling about it?

@Kamiros excited, nervous, anxious 😬 feel like it's been a marathon to get to this stage so far!

@mrsmacmc I know, its a lot to deal with. We're about to start round 4 and it doesn't feel that different to be honest, just trying to get my head around a different protocol now.

Keeping everything crossed for you @Kamiros 🤞🏻 and hope you have a successful round ❤️

I had a lap & dye test beginning of March and still waiting for the debrief, the consultant came to see me in recovery so have a patchy understanding of what they found. When I called to chase the outpatient appt up I was told massive delay due to COVID 😩

@mrsmacmc Welcome to the thread! Hope you get some answers about your test results soon and a plan for the journey ahead.

@Kamiros @HJen22 How are you both doing at the moment?

@2mumlife OK, but it's been a bit chaotic the last few days. Spain want some results/ pre tests done so running around trying to organise that and coordinate between GCRM, my GP and Spain. I think I have an appointment of some sort every other day for the next two weeks 😂 How are you keeping?

@mrsmacmc welcome! I hope that you get your results and plan soon! I felt and still do feel all of those feelings, it's a lot isn't it! Once you have start dates I think the time goes a little less slow, when you have something to aim for in the calendar! We are waiting to start our second cycle with Aberdeen, after a first failed round in March.

@2mumlife good thank you, how are you keeping? Currently waiting on AF to arrive to call the Clinic. It was due today but no sign yet, but a few days late could be a good thing as it should mean less time on norethisterone. Last cycle was 10days but due to scheduling it was maybe going to have to be 16 days. I have just had Covid so no idea if that will have effected my cycle, I hope not!!

@Kamiros that sounds like a lot of appointments and planning. I hope you are coping ok with it all. It's great that things are moving for you though! When do you head over to Spain? xx

@HJen22 Hope AF comes soon so you can get going.

I think I'll be OK, I actually think the chaos is a good thing as its all practical arrangements and not much time to think. We go on 11th May for mock cycle. I just realised I need to inject now while on holiday so trying to contact airline and arrange doctors letter to travel with syringes- hopefully it'll be ok. Meanwhile organising caterer and decorations for my party next weekend - never boring is it 🤣

@Kamiros Oh my goodness! Fertility treatment can feel a lot like having a second job some days, but that sounds like a really intense few weeks you have coming up. Hopefully you're finding everyone willing to coordinate. Is the Spain clinic one that GCRM recommended / have worked with before? I've done meds on holiday before, but just UK based holidays with no flights. Putting progesterone pessaries up in the backseat of a car / lying down in bushes on a walk is always interesting though! You've got to still be able to get on with life though or else the fertility journey takes over too much.

@HJen22 I've heard about the covid vaccine delaying AF but not sure if covid itself does the same thing. Less days on norethisterone is always good. How are you feeling moving into the second cycle?

All is good here. We had the 20 week scan yesterday and everything is looking normal, so just feeling really grateful and relieved to hit another milestone, and looking forward to a short caravan break near the Lake District first week of may, and a week in Majorca for a sun holiday first week in June

@Kamiros thank you! Typical isn't it when you're waiting for it to arrive!

I've got back to the gym after Covid and I'm attempting a healthy fertility diet, I bought the it starts with the egg recipe book which I like so far. I just needed to make a proper plan for breakfast lunch and tea with the recipes. I am terrible if I don't have things planned out. So fingers crossed I'll lose a few lbs before next round!!

Yeah it's good when you're actually doing something isn't it, to be proactive and "in" it! 11th May will be here in no time; can't actually believe it's almost May! I'm sure it will be ok, but just another thing to organise isn't it but I'm sure others will have travelled with meds before. Haha you are busy! But the party planning sounds fun! You deserve a very fun birthday xxx

@2mumlife yeah I have heard the same, so not sure if it has an effect after having Covid or not! I am trying not to worry abut any possible ill effect on eggs and sperm.... I haven't told my clinic yet but from my concerns before our first cycle, the nurse assured me that as long as we didn't have covid for EC (and actually my OH wasn't even tested) and were well it was fine.

Ah congratulations on your 20 week scan, how lovely! Are you finding out the gender? I hope as the weeks go on you are enjoying the pregnancy and able to relax. A weekend away in a Caravan and a week in Spain will be great, where in Spain are you going?

We would love to get away this year, my OH turns 40 in September. A bit hard to plan, I think if next round works we will book for Sept, if not we will maybe book before then as if not who knows what will happen. It's so hard to plan things when everything is so unknown.

I am feeling ok, eager to get going again. I have started a fertility friendly diet, bought the It Starts With the Egg fertility cookbook, in the hope to lose some lbs and eat stuff that's good for fertility. I like the recipes so far, and it helps to have some that I can properly meal plan, if I don't plan breakfast, lunch and tea I end up eating rubbish! I do however have drinks with my friends this weekend, I stopped drinking last August but since our failed cycle I have allowed myself a few as a wee break. So that will be nice, but then after that its back to T total in prep for next cycle!!

Oh sorry Majorca! That will be lovely, some sun is what we all need isn't it! The sunnier days are cheering me up a bit x